Fight Back With Libby Znaimer

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the Ford government expanding surgeries in private care clinics, as well as two separate investigations looking into his government's Greenbelt housing plans. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village and Lauren O'Neil, Senior News Editor of BlogTO. Today: Toronto Mayor John Tory has announced that the City alongside funding partners like Metrolinx will provide $5.4 million to local businesses. And, a number of city councillors are supporting the idea of a commercial parking levy to deal with the city’s budget crunch.  Both Ontario’s Integrity commissioner and Auditor Generals are doing separate investigations into the Ford government’s Greenbelt plans. The question remains: did the Premier and housing minister tip off any developers? And, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is calling out the big grocery retailers for skyrocketing prices of their products. ---- THE GREENBELT INVESTIGATIONS: REACTION FROM THE NDP  Libby Znaimer is joined by Peter Tabuns, Interim Leader of the Ontario NDP. This week, both the province's integrity commissioner and the auditor general have announced that they are doing thei

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Peter Butt, Co-Chair of the project to develop Canada's alcohol guidance, Dr. Kevin Shield, scientist with CAMH's Institute for Mental Health  Policy Research and  Dr. Erin Hobin from Public Health Ontario whose focus is on warning labelling. Canadians got new guidance on alcohol consumption this week and the recommendation is that no amount of alcohol is safe and that it's risky if you have more than two drinks per week. One of the things that the report says is that if you have three to six drinks on a weekly basis, your risk of developing cancers like colorectal and breast cancer increases. More than seven drinks a week increases risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The report found that as many as 17 per cent of Canadians drink 3-6 drinks on a weekly basis while 40 per cent drink more than this a week. And, some experts want to see Cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverage bottles. ---- THE RISE IN THE POPULARITY OF MOCKTAILS Libby Znaimer is joined by Renee Suen,

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: ONTARIO EXPANDING SURGERIES IN PRIVATE CLINICS Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre, Deputy Mayor and healthcare minister, Janet Ecker, former Ontario PC MPP and finance minister and Peggy Nash, who is a former NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park. The big news out of Queens Park this week is the Ford government's three step plan to expand surgeries and some  additional services at private health care clinics in an effort t address the backlogs. Meanwhile, Canada's premiers are urging Ottawa to tighten the bail rules in the justice system. CONTINUED: ONTARIO EXPANDING SURGERIES & OTHER SERVICES IN PRIVATE CARE Libby Znaimer is joined by David Musyj, CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, Dr Fouad Tayfour, the hospital's chief of ophthalmology as well as Co-Owner of Windsor Surgical Centre and, later on, Ellen Roseman, a consumer advocate. We continue the conversation today on the subject of the Ford government's plan to expand

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. We begin the discussion off by remembering the late Honourable David Onley who died yesterday at the age of 72. David served as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario between 2007 until 2014. He will, of course, be remembered as well for his tireless advocacy for those living with disabilities. And, then we get our reaction from the squad regarding the province's plans to expand the surgeries conducted in private clinics for things like cataract, knee and hip replacements as a way to address the current backlog in surgeries in the healthcare system. ---- PROVINCE TO EXPAND SURGERIES IN PRIVATE FACILITIES Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Populatio

Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village and Lauren O'Neil, Senior News Editor of BlogTO. There's plenty to talk about today: Toronto Mayor John Tory has announced a property tax hike, he's also getting a 37 per cent increase to his own office budget. Yesterday, Libby asked the Chair of the Budget Committee, Councillor Gary Crawford, as well about a 31 per cent increase in food costs for city-owned long-term care homes but with food inflation being at 11.4 per cent, Libby asked him how he got to that number and he responded by saying he'll have to go back and check on the math. Our panel reacts to the latest. ---- FORD GOVERNMENT TO APPEAL COURT RULING ON LTC LAWSUIT Libby Znaimer is joined by Melissa Miller, Partner at Howie, Sacks and Henry LLP. The Ford government is appealing an Ontario Superior Court ruling to allow a class-action lawsuit against the province over COVID-19 long term care deaths during the pandemic. The lawsuit claims that

Libby Znaimer is joined by Brody Slacer, VP of Operations at Flashfood Inc., Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest and Rose Reisman, a caterer and cook book author. If you had the option to purchase produce at the grocery store that was near or at its sell-by date for a heavily discounted price, would you? For those willing consumers, there are grocery stores that are pushing this initiative to help combat food waste and avoid having perfectly fine food from going to the landfill directly instead. They are even working with apps like Flashfood Inc. to post these items and their respective prices. And, while it may be an environmentally friendly choice for consumers to make, it also can be a sound financial option considering how expensive food has become with inflation. ---- THE INCREASED COST OF LTC FOOD Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Levin, the CEO of AdvantAge Ontario and Councillor Gary Crawford, Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest and Chair of the Budget Committee. Yesterday, Mayor John Tory made his budget r

THE ZOOMER SQUAD; POLICE FUNDING; AND NEW OMICRON VARIANT ZOOMER SQUAD Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by David Cravit, Vice President of ZoomerMedia and Chief Membership Officer of CARP; Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine and Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP. Jane and the Squad take a look at the hubbub surrounding Prince Harry’s book, which is due out tomorrow; how to navigate dealing with a relative who needs to stop driving due to dementia; and travel hesitancy amid COVID-19 and a significant increase in violence abroad.

Today: Listeners called in to weigh in on Toronto Mayor John Tory's budget plans and Ontario Premier Doug Ford's housing plans on the Greenbelt. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Jane Brown is joined by David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village and Lauren O'Neil, Senior News Editor of BlogTO. Today: we reflect on 25 years since the City of Toronto was amalgamated and whether the City improved because of it. And we talk about Mayor John Tory's announcement of plans to increase the police budget by nearly $50 million this year. Also increasing are TTC fares --by 10 cents-- and the City is going to provide the transit system with more money to hire 50 additional police constables especially since violent crime has gone up on buses and subways including deadly attacks on women. Our panel weighs in on the latest. ---- BOLSTERING SECURITY ON THE TTC Jane Brown is now joined by Stuart Green, Senior spokesperson for Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Shelagh Pizey-Allen, Executive Director of TTC Riders. Our guests weigh in on the TTC's decision to increase fares by 10 cents and on top of that security will be bolstered on the transit system, as discuss

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Anthony Housefather, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, and Parliamentary Secretary Public Services & Procurement and Dr. Christopher Labos, a cardiologist and epidemiologist. In the aftermath of NFL player Damar Hamlin's collapse and cardiac arrest during gameplay this week, a wave of anti-vaxxers took to social media to spread conspiracy theories that the COVID-19 vaccine was to blame for his health condition. Our guests weigh in on this concerning development and its implications and Dr. Labos explains what may have actually happened to the player whose sudden collapse during the game sent a shockwave across the sports world and wider public. ----- THE STATE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RETURNS Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Hutcheson, a retail expert and consultant with JC Williams. Today: we have to discuss the state of customer service, which Libby and many others would argue, from first-hand experience, remains fraught with problems and often leaves the cust

Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, Former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada, Howard Hampton, Former Ontario NDP Leader and Gerard Kennedy, Former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as Ontario's minister of Education from 2003 to 2006. Today: we are going to talk about how last year government services across many areas just didn't function properly and as we enter the new year, international airports like Pearson, for example, continue to face many challenges. Meanwhile, Ottawa has joined a long list of countries requiring travelers coming in from China, Hong Kong and Macao to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before arrival. Some experts are calling this politically motivated and not based on science. Our panel reacts to the latest. ---- THE LATEST ON UKRAINE Libby Znaimer is now joined by Roman Waschuk, Former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine, Phil Wasielewski, a 2022 Templeton Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and Dr. Andriy Zayarnyuk, Professor of History at the University o

Libby Znaimer is joined by Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine, David Cravit, Chief Membership Officer of CARP, and Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP. Today: There are new tax changes that take effect today with more cash coming for low-income seniors and pharmacists will now be able to prescribe treatments for 13 kinds of ailments including urinary tract infections, Herpes and other conditions. Our panel has the latest. ---- THE LATEST ON ROGERS-SHAW MERGER STORY Libby Znaimer is joined by Stephen Zolf, a corporate lawyer with Aird and Berlis LLP who specializes in competition law and Ellen Roseman, a consumer advocate and journalist. In the news: the Competition Bureau has dismissed a challenge to the Rogers-Shaw deal by the Competition Bureau, and so now it is up to Ottawa to give final approval to the merger which is valued at $26-billion. Key questions remain: what kind of implications will this have for mobile customers in Canada and is it health

Today on Free For All Friday, listeners called in to weigh in on the future of single-use plastics in Canada and other topics making headlines this week.  Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Jane Brown is joined by David Crombie, Former Mayor of Toronto, City Councillor James Pasternak for Ward 6 York Centre and Ana Bailão, a former Toronto City councillor and deputy mayor of the City up until 2022. Today: How well is Toronto's Vision Zero working? Meanwhile our panel guests weigh in on their respective new years resolutions and the objectives of city council moving into 2023. ---- ELLEN ROSEMAN RECAPS BIGGEST CONSUMER TRENDS OF 2022 Jane Brown is joined by Ellen Roseman, consumer advocate and journalist. The year reaches its end and with that our guest today has prepared a list of what she thinks were the biggest consumer trends of the year including air travel and passenger rights, the rise of inflation, the Rogers network outage, the decline in demand for housing and the increase in demand for rental housing. ---- THE 2022 NAUGHTY AND NICE LIST BY CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION Jane Brown is joined byFranco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. To end the show,

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and professor at the school of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University and Dr. Alon Vaisman, an epidemiologist at the University Health Network. As we get ready to begin the new year and open a new chapter, one thing remains certain: COVID-19 remains with us and we continue to face the threat of RSV and the flu. Our health experts weigh in on the changing nature of COVID-19, and how we can continue to do our part in helping to prevent the spread of the above mentioned viruses. ---- THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON AND LUGGAGE WOES AT PEARSON Jane Brown is now joined by Dr. Karl Moore, airline industry analyst and professor at McGill University and Martin Firestone, a travel expert and President of Travel Secure Inc. Toronto's Pearson International Airport is making headlines again. Many travelers are complaining that it has taken days for them to get their baggage to wherever they flew out for va

Today on Free For All Friday, listeners called in about the snow storm in Ontario. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

CANADIANS ARE GETTING RELIGION A new survey indicates that Canadians are less likely than their neighbours to the south to prioritize their faith, but suggests that spirituality is rising in Canada, and may be declining in the U.S. Libby Znaimer is joined by Mario Canseco, President at Research Co. and Reverend Michael Coren, author, contributing columnist for the Toronto Star, and a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, to explore this issue. SNOW STORM COMING Libby Znaimer is joined by Doug Gillham, Meteorologist at The Weather Network for an update on this week’s upcoming wintry walloping. ONTARIO TO SWAP ORIGINAL BRAND-NAME DRUGS FOR CHEAPER BIOSIMILAR DRUGS FOR SENIORS Ontario is moving more seniors and people on social assistance from original brand-name drugs for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease to cheaper “biosimilar” drugs. But there are concerns that the switch could throw some patients off track. Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Kashif Pirzada, emergency physician in Toronto and