Fight Back With Libby Znaimer

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners had a lot to say about Toronto Mayor John Tory's resignation after admitting to an affair with a staffer, the outcome of the Emergencies Act Inquiry report, and Canadians' attitudes towards tipping at restaurants.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: MAYOR TORY OFFICIALLY RESIGNS AND PREMIER DOUG FORD DOESN’T WANT A “LEFTY MAYOR” TO REPLACE HIM 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. A lot is happening at Toronto City Hall: the 2023 budget was finalized after a long and sometimes disruptive meeting in the city council chamber. Mayor John Tory made it clear that he would not use his powers to veto any of the amendments. And, Tory has officially summitted his resignation to the city clerk with his last day being this Friday. Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford openly said that it would be a disaster if a "lefty Mayor'' replaced Tory. He also said that everything is running "tickety-boo" for Toronto which leaves some of us scratching our heads and wondering if he has been aware that not all things are clearly functioning well here. CANADIANS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS TIPPING Libby Znaimer continues the conversation with Lauren O'Neil of

THE MEDICAL RECORD Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, a medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Dr. Amol Verma, a staff physician in General Internal Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital; and Dr. Sohail Gandhi, a family physician and a past president of the Ontario Medical Association to discuss Ottawa's new data-driven healthcare deal; and a new study out this week on Paxlovid. TORONTONIANS DIVIDED ABOUT WHETHER MAYOR JOHN TORY SHOULD RESIGN A recent survey indicates that Torontonians are pretty evenly divided on whether Mayor John Tory should follow through on his plan to resign after admitting to having a secret, extended relationship with a junior staff member in his city hall office. Libby Znaimer is joined by Lorne Bozinoff, President and CEO, Forum Research, to discuss this matter. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NORAD Since the so-called Chinese spy balloon made its way across parts of Canada and the U.S. and was ultimately shot down by the U.S. military, numerous foreign obj

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: MAYOR TORY’S RESIGNATION & THE CITY BUDGET 12-12:25 PM Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier, Janet Ecker, former Ontario PC MPP who served as a senior cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves and Peggy Nash, who is a former NDP MP for Parkdale-High Park. Today: we get reaction from our panel about Toronto Mayor John Tory announcing that he will resign after admitting to an affair with a 31-year-old staffer. This week he will preside over the City budget. Here's the thing: there is still a $933 million hole in the budget which the city wants other levels of government to help out with. Tory has a reputation of working well with the other governments and getting the City needed cash. So, how will things change now? And, if he's gone, will the next Mayor be able to get the job done? THE CITY BUDGET MEETING WILL GO ON AS PLANNED 12:25-12:40

ZOOMER SQUAD: MAYOR TORY ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION 12:00-12:20 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: We begin with reaction to the news of Toronto Mayor John Tory announcing his resignation from office and admitting to having an affair with a 31-year-old staffer. The Mayor made the announcement on Friday night and, this time, he didn't take any questions from the press. So, how does this affect Tory's image and what comes next at City Hall? And, changing the subject, our panel reacts to a bizarre suggestion from a Yale professor who said that Japan consider mass suicide or "seppuku" as a way to deal with the country's rapidly aging society. GIL PENALOSA IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR AGAIN AFTER TORY'S SUDDEN RESIGNATION 12:20-12:30 PM Libby Znaimer is now joined by Gil Peñalosa, the founder of 8 80 Cities and a popular urbanist. In the afte

Today on Free For All Friday: many listeners called in about their very expensive household natural gas bills from companies like Enbridge and also a list of fees from their local doctor's office that has them scratching their heads.

SEGMENT 1: TUNE INTO THE TOWN: BIKE LANES, CAFETO AND WARMING CENTRES Libby Znaimer is joined by Anna Bailão, former Toronto City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Stephen Holyday for Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre and Deputy Mayor of the west area of the City, and Ben Spurr, City Hall reporter for the Toronto Star. Today: we begin the discussion off with the hot topic of bike lanes. City Council has approved the north Yonge street bike lane pilot to become permanent in a 22-3 vote. Mayor Tory and others including Councillor Burnside were against this over reasons like congestion and safety. Meanwhile, the CafeTO program is also becoming permanent with a phased-in approach to fees for participating restaurants. In 2023, applications to join CafeTO will come at a one time cost of $285 while permits will be $14.56 per square metre for sidewalk patios, and $43.70 per square metre for curb lane patios. And, City Council rejected a motion to extend hours of warming centres for the homeless. Our revised municipal

THE MEDICAL RECORD: OTTAWA STRIKES A HEALTHCARE FUNDING DEAL WITH PROVINCES Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, a medical oncologist  at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist and epidemiologist at Unity Health Toronto, Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family physician and founder and medical director of The Medical Station in Toronto. This week: Ottawa has made a healthcare deal with the provinces. The feds will provide provinces $196.1  Billion over the next ten years with 46.2 Billion in new funding. $1.7 Billion over the next five years will go towards supporting hourly wage increases for PSWs among other promises. Libby and our medical panel discuss the implications such a funding deal could have on our healthcare system and where the money is needed most! WHY ARE WE PAYING SUCH HIGH NATURAL GAS BILLS? Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Warren Mabee,  Director of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen's University and Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for A

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: OTTAWA HEALTH CARE SUMMIT 12-12:30 PM Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Peggy Nash, former Ontario NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park, John Milloy, a former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty  and Kathleen Wynne governments and John Mykytyshyn, a conservative political consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group. Today: Ottawa is meeting with the Premiers in a historic summit to discuss a new healthcare funding model. The premiers have been calling on the federal Liberals to increase its portion of the Canada Health Transfer from 22 per cent to 35 per cent. Meanwhile, here in Toronto, the City will be voting on a motion to expand the hours of operation for warming centres serving the homeless. Many advocates have been calling on the City to improve the conditions amid frigid temperatures outside this winter. Finally, we discuss the upcoming U.S. State of the Union address by President Joe Biden wh

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She 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: We begin by doing a recap of the Zoomers who won BIG during last night's Grammy Awards including Willie Nelson who won best country album. Meanwhile, here at home, the province is looking into increasing fines for long-term care homes that do not have AC in all residents' rooms. The max. fine would be $25,000 if they choose to increase it. And, this Tuesday, Ottawa is set to meet with the country's premiers to discuss a healthcare funding deal. What will come out of that?  Our panel has the latest. ---- WHAT IS UP WITH THAT CHINESE SURVEILLANCE BALLOON Jane Brown is now joined by Charles Burton, Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and expert on Canada-China relations as well as  Cheuk Kwan of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China. The la

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the latest scams that are circulating both online and offline and other news making headlines this week. Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the latest scams that are circulating both online and offline and other news making headlines this week. Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the latest scams that are circulating both online and offline and other news making headlines this week. Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the latest scams that are circulating both online and offline and other news making headlines this week. Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the latest scams that are circulating both online and offline and other news making headlines this week. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village and Lauren O'Neil, Senior News Editor of BlogTO. If you are a homeowner in Toronto, today is the deadline to claim that it is occupied. Finally, a group of Toronto city councillors have submitted a letter to Mayor John Tory demanding answers over his decision to deploy 80 Toronto Police officers to address the spike in violence on public transit and the mayor of King Township has a beef with incoming Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles and it has to do with the Greenbelt. ---- THE LATEST GRANDPARENT SCAM  Jane Brown is now joined by Detective David Coffey of Toronto Police Service's Financial Crimes Unit. In the latest grandparent scam to go around, a 95-year-old Senior was told that her grandson was in jail and that they needed $10,000 to cover his bail. Detective Coffey joins the program today to provide tips to protect yourself from falling for such cruel scams that

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, a medical oncologist  at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist and epidemiologist at Unity Health Toronto, Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family physician and founder and medical director of The Medical Station in Toronto.  Today: World Cancer Day is coming up on Saturday. Meanwhile, Toronto's request for the decriminalization of personal possession drugs is still being reviewed by Health Canada, while BC is rolling out a three-year pilot program that will allow for possession of small amounts of certain types of drugs.  ---- CANADIAN YAZIDIS AGAINST REPATRIATION OF ISIS DETAINEES  Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jamileh Naso, President of the Canadian Yazidi Association.  Canadian Yazidis do not want ISIS-affiliated detainees to be repatriated to Canada. In January, Ottawa agreed to repatriate as many as 19 Canadian women and children from Syria where they were being detained in Kurdish camps. According to Jamileh, Ottawa's decision to repatriate

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto. New standards for Canadian long-term care homes have been published by The Health Standards Organization in a 60 page report. To be clear, these are voluntary standards but health experts like Dr. Sinha say that they won't be effective unless long-term care homes apply all of them.  Meanwhile, this morning, Ontario LTC minister Paul Calandra announced the province's plans to make it easier for residents to gain access to diagnostic services. Dr. Sinha gives us his reaction the latest news. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier, Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Peggy Nash, who is a former NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park. In Ottawa, Charles Sousa was given an applause as he entered Parliament and joins the federal Liberal caucus. Will he make the party a more fiscally responsible one? And, will he become the future minister of finance? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, here in Ontario, Mike Schreiner has responded to a growing number of calls from Ontario Liberal party members to join them and run for their leadership. He says he's seriously thinking about it. But what would such a move mean for the future of the Liberals and Queens Park? ---- NEW LTC STANDARDS Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto. New standards for Canadian long-term care homes h

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: We remember the life and legacy of "Hurricane" Hazel McCallion who served as mayor of Mississauga from 1978 until 2014. She was 101 years old and just shy of her 102nd birthday. Meanwhile, the funeral for former Ontario Lt. Gov. David Onley is being held today. And, in other news, the ratio of grandparents to children is a lot higher today than before. So, what are the implications of that? Our panel has the latest. ---- THE WHO ON THE FUTURE OF THE PANDEMIC Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and epidemiologist based in Montreal and Dr. Prabhat Jha, an epidemiologist and faculty member at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Today: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a global health emergency according to the World Health Organization. Direc

You weighed in on the wave of violent attacks taking place on the TTC and what authorities are trying to do to address the problem. And, callers talked about the importance of Holocaust education as we mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Libby Znaimer is joined by David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village and Jon Burnside, Toronto City Councillor Don Valley East, and Chair of the TTC. Today: we have a very important discussion about the recent wave of unprovoked attacks taking place on the TTC against both transit riders and employees. Why is this happening all of a sudden? And, what does the City of Toronto and the TTC have to do in order to effectively tackle this issue? ---- VIOLENCE ON THE TTC CONTINUED Libby Znaimer is now joined by John Di Nino, National President of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canada. Yesterday, TTC CEO Rick Leary provided comment on the recent wave of violence on the transit system saying that he is planning for more uniform visibility and upping the security presence. Meanwhile, John wants a national task force to be convened to address "crisis levels" of attacks. He wants the task force to look into whether additional mental health funding, housing supports, harsher pena

Marissa is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier, Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Peggy Nash, who is a former NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park. Today: we get reaction from our panel on a multibillion dollar healthcare deal that could soon be on the horizon between Ottawa and the provinces and territories. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking the Privy Council Clerk to look into how the government funded the ArriveCan app And, we look into another controversy which is that during Justin Trudeau's time in government, the federal government awarded consulting firm McKinsey with $100 million in contracts. ---- HOW A TRAVELER'S LUGGAGE ENDED UP IN THE HANDS OF CHARITY Marissa Lennox is now joined by Nakita Rees, a resident of Cambridge. Imagine taking a return flight home to Canada from your honeymoon only to find out that yo

Marissa Lennox is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP,  Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP and Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine, We learned late last week that Ottawa is close to striking a 10 year healthcare deal with the provinces and territories that would help address the issues of overcrowding hospitals, the shortage of nurses and physicians,  long wait times in ER, the backlog in medical procedures and other challenges that the healthcare sector is experiencing. Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says a deal could be made within weeks. The provinces have been asking Ottawa to cover 35 per cent of the cost of healthcare compared to the current 22 per cent of funding being made but the federal health minister did not disclose if they would indeed agree to this. Meanwhile, a study by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), found that patients were not making visits to the ER departm