Newstalk Today

Barb DiGiulio fills-in for Evan Solomon. 

On today's show: 

We take your texts and calls on the arrest at a Calgary outdoor rink for breaking COVID-19 protocols.

We hear from Alex Coucopoulos, a University of Ottawa student who was asked to repay his $12,000 CERB payments after being told he qualified for the benefit. 

Sunira Chaudhri, Toronto-based employment lawyer and partner at Levitt LLP, discusses Peter Nygard's arrest. 

We carry Ontario Premier Doug Ford's press conference live.

Jim Richards fills-in for Evan Solomon. 

On today's show: 

We discuss CERB repayments with Rosa Saba, a Toronto Star business reporter.

Have you ever spent Christmas in jail? We hear stories from listeners. 

Sherron Grant talks about the Black Parents Support Group, a group she started for Black parents who have kids with disabilities. 

We take your texts and calls on COVID-19 limits on religious gatherings. 

Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation, CNN aviation analyst, and aviation attorney, discusses the latest updates on the Boeing 373 Max jets. 

Should businesses that turned a profit because of government subsidies during the pandemic have to pay back the money? We take listeners' texts and calls.

Jim Richards fills-in for Evan Solomon today. 

On today's show: 

Sara Mojtehedzadeh, Toronto Star’s Work and Wealth reporter, discusses her investigative piece on major safety concerns at Amazon's warehouses.

We take your texts and calls on break-ins at your home. 

Kate Valiquette, co-owner of Hope’s Kitchen, explains how the restaurant is helping homeless people during the pandemic. 

Richard Fadden, former CSIS Director, discusses CSIS's concerns about organized criminals interfering in Canada's COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. 

We take your texts and calls on your plans for the holidays. 

Jann Arden, Canadian singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author, shares her favourite Christmas songs and what she's looking forward to in 2021.

Evan Solomon covers all of the latest news from space to politics to music! 

On today's show: 

Procurement Minister Anita Anand discusses COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Canada.

Pam Palmater, Mi'kmaq lawyer and chair of Indigenous governance at Ryerson University, talks about Erin O'Toole's comments regarding residential schools. 

Jeremy Hansen, astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency, discusses the possibility of being selected to fly to the moon. 

Hamed Esmaeilion, a Toronto-area dentist who lost his wife and nine-year old daughter in the Iran plane crash, reacts to the new report on Iran's probe into the downing of flight PS752. 

Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin, plays Overhyped vs. Underplayed. 

Alan Doyle, Newfoundlander musician and actor and the lead singer in Great Big Sea, shares his favourite Christmas songs and discusses his new book.

Evan Solomon brings you the latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccines set to arrive in Canada next week. 

On today's show: 

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases physician at the Toronto General Hospital, discusses the latest COVID-19 vaccine news.

Richard DeLisi, America’s longest-serving inmate for a non-violent marijuana conviction, talks about getting released last week and what he plan to do next. 

Yusuf Faqiri, who's brother Soleiman Faqiri died in a jail cell at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont. in 2016, provides an update on his family's fight for justice.  

We take your texts and calls on a holiday lockdown. 

Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader, discusses CERB repayments.

Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy shares his favourite Christmas songs.

Evan Solomon highlights the best of times and the worst of times during the pandemic. The first Canadians receive the COVID-19 vaccine today, but a long and tough winter is still ahead. 

On today's show: 

Colin D’Mello, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for CTV News Toronto, shares the details on the first COVID-19 vaccinations happening in Canada.

Nathan Apodaca, the famous TikTok skateboarder, discusses how his life has changed after going viral.  

We play Evan's full interview with Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on the federal government's new climate change plan. 

We play Evan's year-end interview with Conservative leader Erin O'Toole.  

Hawksley Workman, a Canadian singer and songwriter, shares his favourite Christmas songs and what he's looking forward to in 2021.

Jim Richards fills-in for Evan Solomon. 

On today's show: 

Jim takes listeners' texts and calls on how online learning is going for their kids.

Laila Mickelwait, the founder of Traffickinghub, shares her thoughts on the news that Visa and Mastercard are blocking card use on Pornhub. 

Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, infectious disease specialist with Toronto's University Health Network, discusses the new national vaccine injury compensation program. 

Jon Erlichman, BNN Bloomberg anchor, talks about the federal government's plan to hike the carbon tax. 

Sister Helen Prejean, who advocates for the abolition of the death penalty, talks about Brandon Bernard's execution in the United States. 

Tom Mulcair, CTV News political analyst and former NDP leader, discusses the federal government's plan to hike the carbon tax. 

Stephen Leslie, owner of Monkland Tavern and Tavern on the Square, shares why he's disappointed that restaurants are shut in Quebec when they weren't included in the original shutdown recommendations by public health.

Evan Solomon discusses the second anniversary of Michael Kovrig's and Michael Spavor's arrests in China, and Canada-China tensions. 

On today's show: 

We play Evan's full interview with Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser, on vaccine distribution.

Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times Columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner, talks about his bombshell article on Pornhub. 

Eric Duncan, Conservative MP, explains why he wants the gay blood ban to end in Canada. 

Bob Fife, The Globe and Mail Ottawa Bureau Chief, and retired Major-General David Fraser discuss Canada-China relations. 

Matt Skube, 5:00 News Anchor at CTV Ottawa, plays Christmas vs. Hanukkah.

Evan Solomon brings you the latest updates on the Health Canada's approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. 

On today's show: 

We carry the government officials' press conference on Health Canada's approval of Pfizer's vaccine and the rollout plan live.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases physician at the Toronto General Hospital, discusses Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and the Health Canada approval. 

Tim Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and the host of ‘Timothy Caulfield’s guide to cheating death’ on Netflix, discusses his new book.  

Alberta NDP Health Critic David Shepherd talks about the new COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta. 

Scott Reid, CTV News political commentator and former communications director for Prime Minister Paul Martin, plays Overhyped vs. Underplayed. 

Listeners call in with questions and concerns about the vaccines.

Evan Solomon digs into the latest news on COVID-19 and discusses how the Chinese government is trying to use propaganda to change the history of the pandemic. 

On today's show: 

We play Evan's full interview with Procurement Minister Anita Anand on vaccine distribution. 

Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and President of the Craft Distillers Guild of British Columbia, explains why he's disappointed the government will pay foreign buyers for sanitizer but not compensate distilleries.

Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian Ambassador to China, discusses how the Chinese government is trying to re-write COVID-19 history. 

Keith Brooks, Programs Director for Environmental Defence, digs into the new report on how masks are polluting oceans. 

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, explains why food prices in Canada will rise next year. 

Tom Brook, host of the BBC's Talking Movies program and one of the first journalists on the scene after John Lennon was shot, recounts that day on the 40th anniversary of Lennon's death. 

Gary Bath, a member of the Canadian Rangers and Lynn Marchessault share a story about true Canadian kindness.