Fight Back With Libby Znaimer

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: CANADA POST STRIKE REACHES DAY 26 Guest Host Jane Brown was joined by Cheri DiNovo, former NDP MPP, George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Cabinet Minister and Lisa Raitt, former Federal Conservative Deputy Leader. Mediated talks to end the Canada Post strike remain stalled, with no updates on resumption. The union's latest proposal includes a 19% wage increase over four years, down from 24%, and a guaranteed 20-hour minimum for part-time workers. Canada Post’s wage offer stands at 11.5%, with no word on further changes. The government has yet to intervene. REPORT: GTHA TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK COSTS $44.7B IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY ANNUALLY Jane is joined by Nadia Todorova, executive director of the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario and Teresa Di Felice, Assistant Vice President, Government and Community Relations for CAA South Central Ontario. Traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas costs $10 billion in lost opportunities this year alone, risin

ZOOMER SQUAD: OLDER CANADIANS SEE INCOME IMPROVEMENT SINCE 1976, BUT LAG BEHIND WORKING-AGE ADULTS SINCE THE 1990S Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP and John Wright, veteran pollster. A new Canadian Cancer Society report highlights the financial strain of cancer diagnoses in Canada, with patients and families facing an average cost of $33,000. While Ontario recently announced extra support for caregivers, questions remain about its effectiveness. Meanwhile, the holiday GST break on some food items has faced widespread criticism. SYRIA'S UNCERTAIN FUTURE POST-ASSAD REGIME Libby is joined by Dr. Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah and a former legal advisor to the IDF in Gaza and Dr. Elliot Tepper, Professor of International Relations at Carleton University. The Assad regime in Syria collapsed after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seized Damascus. The group, once linked to ISIS

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners phoned in to talk about the Canada Post strike, food insecurity, and much more.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TTC PROHIBITS E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS ON VEHICLES DURING WINTER MONTHS  Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO, Variety Village, Jon Burnside, City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East) and Brett Chang, Co-Founder of The Peak. The TTC has banned e-bikes from the subway during winter due to fire risks and space issues. A staff report opposed a permanent ban, warning it could harm low-income delivery drivers. Critics argue the move benefits companies like Uber, which are accused of exploiting workers, while also questioning the city’s cap on rideshare drivers. FOOD PRICES IN CANADA EXPECTED TO RISE BY 3 TO 5% IN 2025 ACCORDING TO NEW REPORT Libby Znaimer is joined by Kristina Kupferschmidt, a data scientist and professor at the University of PEI. A new report predicts food prices will rise by 3-5% in 2025, with Ontario seeing lower-than-average inflation. While some commodities like olive oil may drop in price, beef, citrus, cocoa, and coffee are expected to remain high. Beef

THE MEDICAL RECORD: NEW FERTILITY PRESERVATION METHOD GIVES YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS HOPE FOR HAVING CHILDREN LATER Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at Unity Health Toronto, Provincial Co-Lead General Medicine, Dr. Alisa Naiman, family doctor practicing comprehensive primary care in Toronto and Dr. Aaron Schimmer, Director of Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre as well as a staff physician and a senior scientist. Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie promises every resident will have a family doctor within four years, but is this feasible? Meanwhile, former Liberal health minister Jane Philpott is tasked with finding a solution for the PC government. In Alberta, innovative treatments help young cancer patients preserve fertility, and with Australia facing a record flu season, how will Canada respond? Plus, RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance could impact public health policies across North America. MINISTER WHO WAS PRESENT SAYS TRUMP'S REMARK ABOUT CANADA BECOMING THE 51

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: ONTARIO'S NEW AG SHELLY SPENCE'S NEW REPORT, METROLINX CEO LEAVES THE COMPANY AND MORE Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre, Health Minister and Deputy Premier, Cheri DiNovo, former NDP MPP and Janet Ecker, former Ontario PC Finance Minister. Ontario’s new Auditor General, Shelley Spence, has released a damning first report, sharply criticizing Premier Doug Ford's government. In education, the report highlights increased violence and financial mismanagement within the Toronto District School Board. Additionally, the resignation of Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster is seen as a win by many. GIVING TUESDAY, A DAY OF GENEROSITY Libby is joined by Sharon Avery, President and CEO of Toronto Foundation and Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO of Imagine Canada. Since its launch in 2013, Giving Tuesday has expanded globally, now being observed in 90 countries. The event, which takes place on the Tuesday after American Thanksgiving (this year o

ZOOMER SQUAD: EXPERTS WARN OF FLU SURGE IN CANADA AS AUSTRALIA FACES RECORD SURGE Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, Rudy Buttignol, C.M. President of CARP and John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Activist, Political Consultant, and President of Bradgate Research Group. Experts warn of a potential flu surge in Canada, following Australia’s record-breaking flu season. With vaccination rates lower than expected, health officials stress the importance of getting flu shots. Meanwhile, the ongoing Canada Post strike disrupts services ahead of the holiday season. Adding to the uncertainty, the promised $250 rebates are now in question, with initial exclusions now seemingly overturned. TORONTO'S FOOD BANK USAGE REACHES RECORD HIGH Toronto's food banks are facing unprecedented demand, with 40% scaling back services. Over a million people used food banks last year, and nearly half were first-time visitors. Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, and John Stapleton, Soc

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners reacted to the Canada Post strike, and PM Trudeau's temporary GST tax break as well as the $250 rebate that excludes retirees.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TTC CEO CALLS ON TPS CHIEF TO HELP GET RID OF ANTISEMITIC GRAFFITI  Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak of Ward 6 York Centre, Jon Burnside, City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East) and Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak. The TTC's CEO writes a letter to the Toronto Police Chief expressing concern around the issue of antisemitic graffiti on the transit system's property, a new report details how the City is falling behind its timeline targets for repairing potholes, and according to a Listening to Toronto survey, most Torontonians feel as though the city is not moving in the right direction. IMPACT OF CANADA POST STRIKE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND CONSUMERS Libby Znaimer is joined by Bruce Winder, a Retail Analyst and Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. The Canada Post strike continues, and talks between the union (CUPW) and Canada Post have stalled. We get a sense of how this is all impacting small businesses and

THE MEDICAL RECORD: DO YOU CARE ABOUT CALORIE COUNTS? Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at Unity Health Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto, Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family doctor practicing in Toronto, and Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Libby gives an update post-cataract procedure and we explore a study out of England that reveals the extent to which calorie counts actually influence our menu choices when we go to restaurants.  CALLS FOR PM TRUDEAU TO INCLUDE RETIREES IN HIS $250 REBATE Libby Znaimer is now joined by Will Stewart, a Conservative Strategist and Senior Vice President with Enterprise Canada, and Tom Parkin, a social Democratic commentator. PM Trudeau has excluded some very important groups from the $250 rebate cheques his government will be sending out to some 18.7 million Canadians. One of those important groups are pensioners who still pay tax! We've heard from

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL:  PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S TARIFF THREAT & FORD GOVERNMENT PASSES LEGISLATION ON BIKE LANES Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Health minister and Deputy Premier, Cheri DiNovo, Ontario NDP MPP and Janet Ecker, a former Ontario PC MPP and finance minister. This week:  President-elect Trump threatens Canada and Mexico with a 25 percent tariff on goods and the Ford government passes legislation pertaining to bike lanes. THE ZOOMER RADIO PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE RADIOTHON  Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Aaron Schimmer, Senior Scientist and Research Director at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Dr. Keith Stewart, Vice President, Cancer and Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Program, University Health Network. Welcome to Zoomer Radio's fourth annual radiothon in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.  Today, we highlight the important work being done at PMCC and the latest research and innovations regarding

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: PM TRUDEAU'S $250 REBATE EXCLUDES RETIREES Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP,  Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer and John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Activist, Political Consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group. Today: we get reaction from the Zoomer Squad regarding the fact that retirees are excluded from the Trudeau government's $250 rebate for working Canadians. It's an issue that many of our listeners expressed disappointment over during last week's Free For All Friday. Bill and Anthony also give us an update on what CARP members have been saying regarding the Canada Post strike and how the disruption of service has been impacting them.  GETTING CLARITY ON AMBULANCE FEES IN ONTARIO  Jane Brown is joined by Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. Another hot topic during last week's Free For All Friday had to do with ambul

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners are upset that the Trudeau Liberals's $250 "Working Canadians Rebate" excludes retirees. We discussed that and many more headlines from the week that was. 

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: ROAD SAFETY AND BICYCLE LANES  Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada Candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, a former Toronto City Councillor, Councillor James Pasternak of Ward 6 York Centre and Councillor Stephen Holyday of  Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre. Today: a discussion about road safety and bicycle lanes in Toronto, and the Ontario NDP enlist former Toronto Mayor David Miller as a "special advisor" to their leader Marit Stiles "on crafting a New Deal for municipalities" according to the Ontario NDP press release. THE UPCOMING PAUL BERNARDO PAROLE HEARING Jane Brown is joined by Ari Goldkind, a criminal defence lawyer based in Toronto. Paul Bernardo has a parole hearing coming up on November 26th. We found out late last night, the Parole Board of Canada is working with the families of Kristen French and Lesley Mahaffey to appear in person at Paul Bernardo’s next parole hearing on Tuesday after earlier saying they c

THE MEDICAL RECORD:  A MEASLES OUTBREAK & CATARACT PROCEDURES Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and former head of BC Cancer, Dr. Iris Gorfinkel, a family doctor based in Toronto and Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair in Data Informed Healthcare Improvement at the University of Toronto and a general internist at a Toronto hospital. We discuss a measles virus outbreak in New Brunswick, get reaction to Donald Trump nominating RFK Jr. to head the U.S. government Department of Health and Human Services and what to consider if you are undergoing a cataract procedure. IT'S WORLD COPD DAY Libby Znaimer is joined by Henry Roberts, Director and a co-founder of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Canada. Today marks World COPD Day. COPD is a progressive lung disease with symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness to name just a few. It affects about 1.5 million Canadians and possibly about a million more who are undi

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: WHAT'S THE LATEST REGARDING CANADA POST STRIKE?  Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal Health Minister and Deputy Premier, Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada and Robin Sears, Crisis Communications Consultant and former NDP Strategist. This week: Canadian MPs have come together to condemn an alleged Iranian assassination plot against human rights leader and former justice minister Irwin Cotler which was foiled by police. And, what's the latest on the Canada Post strike? BEST CREDIT CARD OPTIONS FOR CANADIANS TRAVELLING SOUTH OF THE BORDER? Libby Znaimer is now joined by Patrick Sojka, Founder of RewardsCanada.ca In this segment, we discuss some of the best credit card options out there currently for Snowbirds travelling stateside.  WHEN CARE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS AT MUNICIPAL LTC HOMES Libby Znaimer is joined by Jane Meadus, staff lawyer and the Institutional Advocate at the Advocacy Centre for the Elde

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: HOW CANADA POST STRIKE IS IMPACTING SENIORS  Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP,  Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Activist, Political Consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group. The Canada Post strike is still on. How is it going to impact the senior demographic? And, we continue the discussion about OAS. HOW WILL OTTAWA AND TRUMP APPROACH IMMIGRATION POLICY Libby Znaimer is joined by Guidy Mamann, a Toronto immigration lawyer and Partner at Mamman & Sandaluk LLP Immigration Lawyers, and Kelly Sundberg, an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University and a former CBSA Officer. We unpack what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his short video over the weekend that detailed Ottawa's shift in regards to its immigration policy. And, what will the Canada-U.S. border look like under a second Trump Presidency?  BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALLOWS UKRAINE TO USE LONG-RANGE MISSILES INSIDE RUSSIA  Libby Znai

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: WHAT IT WILL COST TO REMOVE BIKE LANES IN TORONTO ACCORDING TO A CITY STAFF REPORT Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada Candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence and a former Toronto City Councillor, Councillor Paula Fletcher of Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth and Councillor James Pasternak of Ward 6 York Centre. We continue our coverage of the deeply concerning news of a "vigil" being planned for Yahya Sinwar--the late Hamas terrorist leader and architect of October 7th massacre--set to take place at Mississauga's Celebration Square. And, why has the cost of Toronto's crossing guards program increased so much? THE LATEST SCAMS TO BE AWARE INCLUDING TAYLOR SWIFT TICKET FRAUD Libby Znaimer is now joined by Detective David Coffey of Toronto Police Service's Financial Crimes Unit. Libby shares with Detective David Coffey a scam she got recently, and he cautions about Taylor Swift concert ticket scams and how to avoid falling victim to them. OTTAWA SCHOOL BOARD TRU

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in with their concerns about a planned "vigil" for Yayha Sinwar in Mississauga and organized by an anti-Israel group, Donald Trump's cabinet nominations as of late and more news of the week.

THE MEDICAL RECORD:  WHAT IS THE ONE MEAL A DAY DIET? Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and former head of BC Cancer, Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family doctor practicing in Toronto,  and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. Have you heard of the one meal a day diet? It's a dietary trend that even high-profile figures like Bruce Springsteen subscribes to. The question is: how healthy is it for you? We discuss that and other health related topics of the week. HOW TORONTO IS PREPARING FOR TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERTS     Libby Znaimer is joined by Stuart Green, spokesperson with the TTC, Trevor Brodie, Director of Operations at Amsterdam Brewhouse and Tony Elenis, President and CEO of The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) Our local restaurants, hotels, and public services have been in preparation mode ahead of Taylor Swift's concert series and the wave of fans coming into town