Newstalk Today

Zain Velji fills in for Evan Solomon. He breaks down the key takeaways of the NATO, G7 and EU meetings, where Western leaders are discussing next steps to counter Russia’s month-old invasion of Ukraine.

On today's show: 

• Steve Day, former Canadian Special Operations Forces commander, on NATO's defence spending target. 
• Mary Lawlor, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, on supporting human rights defenders in Ukraine. 
• ‘Overhyped v. Underplayed’ with CTV political commentator Scott Reid.
• Stephen Carter, campaign strategist and former Chief of Staff to Alberta Premier Alison Redford, on the current chaos of Alberta politics. 
• Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, on the Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
• ‘Riskin It All’ with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist.

Tamara Cherry fills in for Evan Solomon. She discusses what we can expect from Justin Trudeau in the coming days as the Prime Minister attends an emergency NATO summit and meets with G7 leaders in Brussels.

On today's show: 

• Mike Blanchfield, international affairs writer for The Canadian Press, on what we can expect from the NATO summit amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. 
• Retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, former deputy commander of the NATO land forces in Afghanistan, on Canada’s support to Ukraine. 
• We discuss two new polls with Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research: One on Conservative party support, the other on Canada’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 
• ‘The War Room’ with former NDP leader Tom Mulcair, and political strategists Zain Velji and Tim Powers.
• Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association, on a new survey which found physician burnout has nearly doubled since before the pandemic. 
• We speak with nine-year-old Rio MacDonald and his grandmother Colleen. Rio came up with the idea of a Whistler-themed board game ‘Lifts and Runs’ when he was 6 years old.

Tamara Cherry fills in for Evan Solomon. She speaks with former NDP leader Tom Mulcair about what the Liberal/NDP confidence deal means for Parliament. 

On today's show: 

• Tom Mulcair, CTV political analyst and former NDP leader, on the Liberal/NDP confidence deal.
• Glen McGregor, senior political correspondent with CTV National News, on the agreement between the Liberals and New Democrats.
• We check in with Natalia Moussienko, who is living in downtown Kyiv. 
• Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, on a new poll looking at the Conservative leadership race and candidate support. 
• Aline Vlasceanu, executive director of Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, on the flaws within Canada’s Access to Information Act. 
• Paul Drecklser, a Florida tourist. He became an unintentional intruder when he mixed-up his Airbnb address and stayed the night in the wrong house.

Tamara Cherry fills in for Evan Solomon. She breaks down why the work stoppage at CP Rail is raising economic concerns for Canada, and discusses its potential impacts on an already-strained supply chain.

On today's show: 

• Major-General (Ret.) Denis Thompson on Canada’s support to Ukraine. 
• David Lavery (“Canadian Dave”), an ex-special forces soldier with the Canadian Armed Forces, who is on the ground helping support families in Ukraine.  
• Mark Agnew, the senior vice president of policy and government relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, on the CP Rail strike. 
• We reflect on the life and legacy of Andrew “Andy” Murie, the CEO of MADD Canada. He recently died after a short battle with cancer.
• Christine Latremoille, a travel expert based in Quebec, on plane ticket costs and what to know before you book your summer vacation.

Free For All Friday, hosted by Amanda Galbraith, features top talent from across the iHeart radio talk network. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week.

This week's show features panelists Al Ferraby, morning show host on CFAX 1070 in Victoria, BC, and Kathleen Wynne, former premier of Ontario and leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Topics: 

1. Ukrainian President Zelensky delivered a powerful appeal to Canada to do more to help his country fight Russia’s invasion. Was it effective?
2. It's already gloves off in the Conservative party leadership race, with Brown and Poilievre trading blows this week. Do attack ads work? Is this strategy effective?
3. Only 1.39% of Canada’s annual GDP goes to defence, far below the NATO standard of 2%. Should we meet this 2% target? Can we meet it?
4. Tom Brady has announced he's cutting his retirement short, returning to the Buccaneers for 23rd NFL season. Are people like Tom redefining what it means to be "old"?
5. Should Canada make daylight time permanent?

Evan Solomon speaks with Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Coyle, who is part of an effort that brought two Ukrainian children with cancer to SickKids for treatment. 

On today's show: 

• Retired Major-General David Fraser on Defence Minister Anita Anand saying Canada has exhausted its military inventory in terms of the lethal aid it can send to Ukraine.
• Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun joins the show. 
• 'Overhyped vs. Underplayed’ with Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator.
• Mike Coyle, retired Lieutenant-Colonel, who is part of an effort to bring Ukrainian children with cancer to Toronto for treatment. 
• Maria Maggiore, reporter with Investigate Europe, on EU member states exporting weapons to Russia after the 2014 embargo. 
• 'Riskin It All' with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist. 

Evan Solomon speaks with Conservative MP James Bezan over his party’s calls to secure Ukraine’s airspace.

On today’s show: 

• We play Evan’s full conversation with Conservative MP James Bezan.
• Major-General (Retired) David Fraser reacts to the Conservative party’s calls to secure airspace in Ukraine over humanitarian corridors.
• Ukrainian MP Dmytro Gurin, who is from Mariupol, joins the show. 
• ‘The War Room’ with political strategists Zain Velji and Tim Powers, and former NDP leader Tom Mulcair. 
• We play Evan’s full conversation with Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
• MPP Jeremy Roberts, who is fighting to eradicate Daylight Savings Time in Ontario.

Graham Richardson, filling in for Evan Solomon, breaks down the key takeaways in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Canada. 

On today's show: 

• Evan Solomon joins to discuss Zelensky’s speech to Canadian Parliament. 
• Major-General (Retired) Denis Thompson, former NATO Task Force Commander, on Canada’s support to Ukraine and what should come next. 
• Joy Malbon, Washington Bureau Chief for CTV News, who is reporting live from Lviv. 
• Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, on Zelensky’s address. 
• Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, on Patrick Brown attacking Pierre Poilievre over the 2015 niqab ban bill.

Evan Solomon speaks with a Canadian who is petitioning the federal government to stop a proposed condo development on Juno Beach, where hundreds of Canadians died during D-Day.

On today's show:

• We play Evan's conversation with Jean Charest, Conservative leadership candidate.
• Cindy Clegg, organizer of the ‘Save Juno Beach campaign’.
• Major-General (Retired) David Fraser on the proposed Juno Beach condominium and Russian troops launching multiple air raids on a large Ukrainian military facility.
• We play Evan's full conversation with Anita Anand, Canada's Minister of National Defence, on Canada's support to Ukraine. 
• Toby Price, an assistant principal at a Mississippi elementary school, who was fired after reading a children’s book called 'I Need a New Butt!'.

Free For All Friday, hosted by Amanda Galbraith, features top talent from across the iHeart radio talk network. Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week.

This week's show features panelists Ken Eastwood, morning show host on News Talk 1290 in London, ON, and Ryan Price, news director and afternoon drive host on CFAX 1070 in Victoria, BC.

Topics: 

1. Gas prices are climbing to record highs across Canada. Should governments lower fuel prices?
2. America's Haas F1 team has fired Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, there are calls for NHL player Alexander Ovechkin to step away from the league, and young Russian pianists are being banned from international music competitions. Are we going too far?
3. Jean Charest has officially entered the Conservative leadership race. Patrick Brown is expected to declare his candidacy this weekend. Do the candidates stand a chance against Pierre Poilievre?
4. Ontario will remove nearly all mask mandates on March 21st. Meanwhile, mask requirements are now lifted in B.C. Are you going maskless?
5. People are unhappy with an office building's attempt at welcoming people back. What was your reaction?