Newstalk Today

Evan Solomon chats with CTV's science and technology specialist Dan Riskin about what bizarre and fascinating things have recently been uncovered from Earth's past—from shipwrecks to ancient cities.

On today's show: 

• A conversation with Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair.
• Dr. Naheed Dosani, palliative care physician and health equity lead at Kensington Health in Toronto, on Ontario's 'Plan to Stay Open'.
• Arnaud Jerald, a French freediver who just broke the deepest dive world record—descending to a depth of 120 metres.
• Riskin It All with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist. 

Evan Solomon is joined by Dean French, former chief of staff to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, for an extended conversation. French led the back-channel negotiations between the City of Ottawa and Freedom Convoy protestors in February. 

On today's show: 

• Do you like it when celebrities support a cause? Should they should use their platform to stand for their passion? We take your calls. 
• The War Room political panel with Tom Mulcair, Tim Powers and Zain Velji. 
• A conversation with Dean French, former chief of staff to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Evan Solomon talks with Flavio Volpe, president of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, about Dodge announcing it will discontinue its Challenger and Charger muscle cars next year. 

On today's show: 

• A conversation with Flavio Volpe, president of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association. 

   

• Dr. Kevin Smith, president and CEO of the University Health Network, on an increase in spending on temp agency nurses.

   

• Mackenzie Gray, journalist with CTV National News covering Parliament Hill, on the Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry. 

• Maryam Sahar, a former interpreter for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, who is fighting for her sister, brother-in-law, and their new child to come to Canada.

   

• The politics of peeing: What are your cottage protocols? We take your texts and calls.

Evan Solomon speaks with Tim Laidler, President of the Board at the Veterans Transition Network, on Canada's resettlement efforts following the Taliban's seizure of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

On today’s show: 

• A conversation with Tim Laidler, President of the Board at the Veterans Transition Network.
• Dr. Anthony Fong, an emergency room physician from Vancouver who spent around nine days as the only doctor on Fogo Island—the largest offshore island of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

• Saba Eitizaz, a co-host and producer on the Toronto Star's podcast team, on the online harassment and violence she has experienced as a female journalist. 

• Jon Krohn, host of the Super Data Science podcast, on how Amazon’s ‘dead grandma’ Alexa is just the beginning for voice cloning.

• Jaida Lee, who made history when she became the first female to pitch in men's baseball at the Canada Summer Games.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1.

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• Garry Keller, conservative strategist and vice president at StrategyCorp, on former B.C. premier Christy Clark endorsing Jean Charest for Conservative party leadership.
• Miriam Porter, a travel blogger, who was left stunned after she ordered several vegan meals on a plane – but was served nothing more than a bottle of water during meal service.
• For today's cross-country road trip segment, we speak with Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2.

Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. This week's show features panelists Sharan Kaur, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Bill Morneau and current political strategist, and Natasha Hall, co-host of Montreal Now on CJAD 800 in Montreal.

Topics:

1. Air Canada is denying certain compensation claims through a regulatory loophole, calling staff shortages a 'safety-related issue'. Do you think their explanation makes sense?

2. Montreal will be holding an independent investigation into the last-minute cancellation of the city's annual Pride parade. Organizers say they had failed to hire the required security staff. Is this acceptable?

3. The male winner of 2022 National Bank Open will take home twice as much as the female champion. What are your thoughts?

4. A mother has sparked debate online after asking if her 18-year-old son should pay rent. Where do you stand?

5. A CEO from Ohio has gone viral online after he shared a photo of himself crying on LinkedIn following the layoff of several employees. Is his post is admirable or cringeworthy for demanding sympathy?

    

Tamara Cherry, filling in for Evan Solomon, speaks with a Windsor man who is laying charges against his former dog walker who refuses to return his pet to him.

On today’s show: 

• BC researchers are being excluded from review of the province’s drug decriminalization policy over potential bias. Dr. Bernie Pauly, a researcher at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, joins the show. 
• Canadian Blood Services is eyeing getting plasma from paid donors amid supply challenges. We take your calls: Would this deter you from giving blood for free?
• Betty Shaw, a resident of River Canard, Ontario, who has been driving the same ‘68 Ford Mustang for more than 50 years
• Nicole Payette-Kyryluk, whose daughter, Alexa, has a rare neurodegenerative condition and needs 24/7 specialized care. She discusses Ontario’s ‘broken’ health care system. 
• Matthew Bergman, the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center, which has filed more than two dozen lawsuits against Meta. 
• Greg Marentette, a man from Windsor, Ontario, whose dog was stolen by his former dog walker almost four years ago.
• Riskin It All with Dan Riskin, CTV science and technology specialist. 

Tamara Cherry, filling in for Evan Solomon, asks you to weigh-in: Do you tip your mechanic, barista, or the person who cuts your lawn? Experts say inflation could prompt more companies to add a tip option—a phenomenon known as "tip creeping." 

On today's show: 

• Dr. Nour Khatib, a GTA emergency room physician who is inviting Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones for a tour of an emergency department.
• Raymond Frogner, the head archivist for the Winnipeg-based National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, on finding images of residential school students in Rome archives. 
• The War Room political panel with former NDP leader Tom Mulcair and political strategists Tim Powers and Laura D'Angelo. 

• Eleanore Sunchild, friend of Dawn Walker—the Saskatchewan woman accused of staging the disappearance of herself and her son.

Tamara Cherry, filling in for Evan Solomon, discusses a new RBC report which says a housing correction in the Greater Toronto Area market could end up becoming one of the deepest of the past half a century. 

On today’s show: 

• A conversation with Jason Mercer, chief market analyst for the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.
• CTV’s Mackenzie Gray on the implications of Transport Minister Omar Alghabra being compelled to testify on airport chaos.
• Ron Rader, an Ontario man, attended his own funeral then died shortly after. Shirley Rader, his wife of 44 years, along with his two children, Jenna McBride and Ben Rader, join the show. 
• Lawrence Douglas, a law professor and the author of ‘Will He Go: Trump and the Looming Election Meltdown in 2020’, on former U.S. president Donald Trump saying FBI agents have raided his Florida home.
• Shawn Wilson, a Montreal Canadiens fan who created a life-sized Stanley Cup model using a 3D printer.

Tamara Cherry, filling in for Evan Solomon, speaks a former executive at Air Canada about the airline denying some passengers refunds for cancelled flights, citing cancellations caused by staff shortages as a "safety issue."

On today's show:

• A conversation with Duncan Dee, former chief operating officer at Air Canada. 

• Premier Andrew Furey on Newfoundland and Labrador declaring a state of emergency as a result of what Furey calls the province's worst wildfire situation since 1961.

• Declan Hill, an investigative academic and journalist specializing in the study of organized crime, international issues, and international sports, on the jailing of Brittney Griner.

• Carol Todd, mother of B.C. teen Amanda Todd whose story spread around the globe after she died by suicide nearly a decade ago, on a man being found guilty of extorting and harassing her. 

• Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist at Nanos Research, on the effect Stephen Harper’s endorsement had on Pierre Poilievre's support.
• Alishea Morrison, who saved Chay Feuser's 7-year old son from a cougar. They both join the show.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1.

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• John Gradek, academic programs coordinator in aviation management at McGill University who previously worked in senior roles at Air Canada, on Toronto Pearson's update on delays and flight cancellations.
• Christina Carello, flight attendant for Pivot Airlines who has been detained in the Dominican Republic for 120 days, and Eric Edmondson, CEO of Pivot Airlines.
• For today's cross-country road trip segment, we speak with Sandra Masters, mayor of Regina.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2.

Hosts from all over the country join the roundtable to discuss the five biggest stories of the week. This week's show features panelists Bob Richardson, senior counsel at National Public Relations and a former Ontario Liberal chief of staff, and Ryan Price, news director and afternoon drive host on CFAX 1070 in Victoria, BC.

Topics:

1. Is the healthcare crisis in Canada overblown or are you worried about what's to come?
2. Canada will be sending military trainers to the United Kingdom to help teach Ukrainians how to fight invading Russian forces. Meanwhile, the Canadian embassy in Kyiv is still shuttered despite ‘reopening’ in May.
3. Eight Canadians are suing the federal government over medical access to psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms. Should psychedelics be legalized in Canada?
4. More than a third of Canadians say they would completely wipe out their presence on the internet if they could, according to a new survey. Would you?
5. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Drake, Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner have been called out for how much they contribute to CO2 emissions through private jet usage. What are your thoughts?