Today on NOW and NEXT:

I don't understand the hue and cry over the Toronto Star story detailing, (somewhat), a letter of intent from the city of Toronto to enter into a contract with MLSE to help organize and execute the 2026 World Cup games that are coming to the city?

The letter hasn't been seen by city councillors but there's already a lineup of "critics".

And the spin on talk radio in Toronto torques the story beyond recognition.

Why shouldn't the city be on the hook for $25 million upgrades to the stadium when that was part of the plan to land the games?

Why shouldn't MLSE share in revenues it will help the the city generate through "the licensing and sale of the World Cup’s commercial rights, including sponsorships, advertising, special events and VIP access"?

And why shouldn't MLSE be compendated for revenue losses when the Argos and Toronto FC have to relocate from BMO Field during the summer of 2026?

I don't understand the outrage.

Today on NOW and NEXT:

I thought it was interesting to sift through a report from Harvard University called the Canadian Media Index. It details the leading sources of news in Canada. Two numbers stuck out for me. One: MSN News was the number TWO source where Canadian consume news and information. Two: Global News is number five on that list BUT doesn't even register in the top 20 places where Canadian consumer the most DIGITAL News.

Check it out here.

Today on NOW and NEXT:

Veteran broadcast journalist Barb Digiulio is our guest and wonders whether the future of Ontario Place will be an issue that makes a difference in Toronto's mayoral race.

Also, how should we deal with high schools that inflate the grades of their grads.
And this is the best season to be a sports fan - from the Masters to the Jays' home opener, for the Leafs' prep for the playoffs to the NBA Mavericks being accused of tanking to land a better draft choice.

Today on NOW and NEXT:

We feature a conversation with former Toronto City Councillor and Toronto Transit Commission Chair, Josh Colle. Josh wasn't considering a run for the Mayor's chair. He's happy in his role as Senior VP at EY. But his phone started ringing shortly after John Tory's bombshell at the clam shell on February 10. He was being coaxed to throw his hat into the ring but decided against it.

What went into that decision and how does he see this campaign playing out over the next three months?

Today on NOW and NEXT:

Call it wilful ignorance or indifference. Either way it's led to a pattern and culture of inaction that all levels of government have normalized. Our governments have normalized poverty.

The Ford government and the Official Opposition at Queen's Park stand by mumbling meaninglessly while poverty grows at an historic and alarming rate in the City of Toronto. Ontario's MPP's choose to pay lip service, at best, to address what is well past a crisis.

Pre-pandemic research indicates poverty costs Ontario as much as $33 billion annually and no one who sits in the legislature appears prepared to do anything about it. That's a budget cut we should all get behind.

Eliminate poverty. Eliminate $33 billion in spending.

How can we possibly afford poverty when we have such financial pressures on Heathcare, Education and the cost of servicingin the provincial debt? Imagine what we could do with an annual boost to the bottom line of $33 billion!

The latest numbers from the Daily Bread Food Bank make it clear the province, the feds and the city have all failed to curb poverty. In fact, under the collective watch of Trudeau, Ford and Tory, the number of monthly food bank visits have quadrupled in less than three years. And there's no indication those numbers will slow down anytime soon.

In fact, it's clear that demand will outstrip the resources of groups like Daily Bread to meet the needs of those who can't afford to put food on the table. The Food Bank is now spending $1.8 million per month on food. That's more than 12 times the budget spent in 2019. Pre-pandemic, Daily Bread spent approximately $1.5 million A YEAR.

There are more than 12 thousand new clients walking through the food bank's door every month. And a third, 1 out of 3 food bank clients have a full time job.

Neil Hetherington, CEO at the Daily Bread Food Bank is demanding the province reinstate the emergency support programs offered at the outbreak of the pandemic. It was an income top up for all Ontarians who are on social assistance, Ontario Works and ODSP.

The response from Queen's Park has been predictable, tone-deaf and insulting to those who are struggling to feed themselves and their kids. A "spokesperson" in an "email" response boasts about the government's commitment to increase the monthly ODSP payments. That amounts to about $50-60 bucks.

Whether it's the violence on the streets, the safety concerns at the TTC, or the inability of families to put food on the table, the issues facing Toronto all stem from the increased number of people who live in or near poverty. The answers may not be simple but they are clear - affordable housing and basic income support.

Our governments have failed to address the solutions. Instead, they have normalized poverty.

Today on NOW and NEXT:

Abacus Data Founder and CEO, David Coletto offers some insights into the insights we can glean from polling done during Toronto's Mayoral By-Election. He says considering the size of the field, the number of candidates who have a shot at winning and the generally low name recognition of all those who've registered so far, the "horse race" headlines will be nearly meaningless.

So, what should we be looking and listening for from the pollsters?

Today on NOW and NEXT:

Bob Richardson, Senior Counsel at National Public Relations is no stranger to organizing and running political campaigns. Bob says the shortened mayoral campaign in Toronto is going to put a good deal of pressure on each candidate's ability to build an effective ground organization.

At this stage there are as many as 8 credible candidates with a real shot at winning this race. But Bob says don't be surprised if another name ends up on the ballot. He expects Olivia Chow will be the standard bearer for the left. He also expects her campaign will be formidable.

Today on NOW&NEXT EXTRA:

David Schultz, professor of Political Science and US Constitutional Law joins us to read the tea leaves now that former US President Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York Grand Jury.

Aside from this being the first time anyone elected to the Presidency has ever been indicted, it's hard to quantify the amount of history that was made in that moment and harder still to predict how it will all play out legally and politically.

Today on NOW and NEXT:

Jeremy Diamond, Founding CEO of the RCAF Foundation joins us to mark an historic anniversary. The Royal Canadian Air Force begins it's centenary year on April 1st, 2023.

To mark the occassion, considering it's also FEED DROP Thursday, we highlight on of the four episodes we produced for the Foundation called Pathway to the Stars. We feature the story of William Barker.

You can find all four episodes here:

Who was William Barker?
The Amelia Earhart connections to Toronto
The Sky's No Limit - Women in Aviation
The Avro Arrow Legacy

Today on NOW and NEXT:

More Pride celebrations in the NHL this week and obvious by their absence are any gay NHL players who are leading the Pride events. It begs the question, why are gay pro hockey players unlikely to come out?

Toronto City councillors and mayoral candidates sound like they're ready to run against other levels of government. Neither the province nor the feds accounted for any support to help the city deal with a billion dollar shortfall in the the municipal budget. It's worth noting, the federal Liberals hold almost every seat in the 6 and none of them, including Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has done a thing to advocate for the city.

AND, we meet the folks behind the second annual Virtual Reality Moot Court at the University of Ottawa!