It been a crazy week in Canadian politics, and Craig is joined by organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott to break it all down.

Chrystia Freeland is out. Mark Carney won't be coming in. Justin Trudeau is facing pressure to resign. And, by the way, Jagmeet Singh says the NDP will vote to bring down the government.

Busy.

Also, Susan Stevenson has been docked 30 days pay by her council colleagues. The panel shares thoughts on that decision and about how councillor behaviour is scrutinized in Ontario.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Oft-controversial councillor Susan Stevenson is in the news again. This time because the Integrity Commissioner has ruled she violated the council code of conduct - for a second time.

However, she rejects the findings.

Stevenson joined Craig on the podcast to discuss the findings and flaws in the report, and her efforts to jump to federal politics as she seeks the Conservative nomination in the riding of London Centre for the next election.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes city building expert Dr. AJ Wray, Green Party candidate Carol Dyck and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to the studio to talk about the week's top stories.

They look at Doug Ford's pledge to fine encampment drug users $10,000 and send them to jail, whether Ontario will get an election this winter and the failures in the City of London's mobility master plan.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to crack down on encampments - which could include using the notwithstanding clause.

There's just one problem. As much as they've discussed increased addictions help and housing, those things aren't ready yet, so where will the people leaving the encampments go?

Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner joins Craig to discuss.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Navigator makes a lot of money in London, apparently!

The latest publicly funded institution revealed to be paying them is the Thames Valley District School Board - to the tune of more than $225,000, according to the London Free Press.

Craig has questions. Why won't trustees tell us what the money was for? Why did they need a hired gun if they had so many communications people on staff already? If you're communicating with parents and students, why are the stakes so high that you need Navigator?

He tackles those questions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day!

Also, less than a month from today, Ontario was supposed to be fully accessible as a province. We aren't there yet.

Advocates Dr. Jeff Preston and Frances Moore joined Craig in the studio to talk about where we are and where we need to go next.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Cheryl Miller an political insider Ryan Gauss join Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio.

The panel gives their thoughts on London's 7.4% property tax increase and where additional savings could have been found. Also, are London city councillors underpaid?

Then, they talked about how council meetings are conducted. First, a move to "call the question" at London City Hall during committee meetings - and an unhinged rant by a councillor at a budget meeting in Sarnia.

Also, businesses don't seem thrilled with the upcoming GST break. Will this policy help the federal Liberals?

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

The Salvation Army has an ambitious goal with their kettle campaign in 2024: They want to raise $650,000.

Can they do it? They'll need your help.

London Community Services Executive Director Nancy Kerr joined Craig on the podcast to explain why they set a high goal, talk about the need in the community and share how you can volunteer.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes, Indigenous activist Frances Moore and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck.

They look at he ongoing council budget deliberations and how council spending will impact homelessness in the community, including ArkAid. Also, there's a new hub opening in the city - but why aren't there more?

Then, conversation shifts to federal politics including the promised GST cuts from the Trudeau government along with $250 being sent to Canadians who earned less than $150,000 in 2023.

And the scandal surrounding cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault - who appears to have lied about Indigenous heritage while a company he owns was bidding for government contracts. 

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Dozens of councillors in municipalities all over Ontario have signed a letter asking Premier Doug Ford not to use the notwithstanding clause to remove people from homeless encampments.

One of those councillors is Skylar Franke, who joined Craig on the podcast to explain why she signed the letter and what she hopes the provincial government will do next.

Also, the new Youth Opportunities Unlimited hub has opened at LHSC's Victoria Campus. Mayor Josh Morgan spoke to Craig at the news conference and shared his thoughts on what the Health and Homelessness Fund for Change has and will accomplish.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.