TUNE INTO THE TOWN: THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE CITY  Tasha Kheiriddin 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 and the CEO of Variety Village, Toronto City Councillor Paula Fletcher for Ward 14 Toronto Danforth and Barbara Hall, a former Toronto Mayor. Our panel reacts to the damning Toronto auditor general findings regarding City workers responsible for maintaining parks, an online payment system the City uses, and Metrolinx making changes to its senior leadership. Will that lead to projects like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT being sped up towards completion after years of delay?    PM TRUDEAU TESTIFIES OVER FOREIGN INTERFERENCE Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Will Stewart, a Conservative Strategist and Senior Vice President with Enterprise Canada, Robin Sears,  a Crisis Communications Consultant and former NDP Strategist and George Smitherman, a former Ontario Deputy Premier and Health Minister. This week: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified during the public inquiry into foreign interference. Closer to home, Ontario residents could see a rebate announced by the Ford government in its upcoming Fall economic statement. TIME TO REVISIT SAFETY AROUND PARKSIDE DRIVE Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Faraz Gholizadeh, a Parkside resident and Co-Chair of Safe Parkside and Jacquelyn Hayward, Director of Planning, Design and Management, Transportation Services at City of Toronto. We take a closer look at a final study produced by the City of Toronto focused on enhancing safety measures for Parkside Drive by High Park where, tragically, two seniors were killed in a chain reaction crash and many collisions have taken place over the last decade. Does the plan go far enough in making the road safer for residents?

THE MEDICAL RECORD: REPORT ON DISEASE SURVEILLANCE Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at Unity Health Toronto who served as a Scientific Advisor of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Dr. Aaron Schimmer, the Director of Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre as well as a staff physician and a senior scientist and Dr. Nadia Alam, a Georgetown, Ontario family doctor and anesthetist.  Even though it hasn’t been long since we’ve been out of the COVID pandemic, according to a new report it’s time to start preparing for the next global health crisis. COURT CHALLENGE AGAINST FORD GOV’T OVER ORCHARD VILLA LEASE Jane Brown is joined by Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition and Cathy Parkes, whose father passed away at Orchard Villa during the pandemic. Both Cathy and the Ontario Health Coalition are presenting a court challenge this week over the Ford government's decision to greenlight a new 30-year lease to Orchard Villa. They want the lease quashed by the court. TORONTO’S ACTION PLAN TO KEEP ITS "ECONOMY THRIVING"  Jane Brown is joined by Toronto City Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North) who is also Chair of the Budget Committee and co-chair of the Economic Advisory Panel. Toronto’s mayor and the city’s budget chief have both just announced a new staff report and plan called Sidewalks to Skylines: An Action Plan for Toronto’s economy. We get clarity on what it's all about.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: THE LATEST IN SPAT BETWEEN OTTAWA AND INDIA  Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP,  and John Milloy,  a former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne governments. This week: we take a look at the tense relations between Canada and India, and we also discuss the latest effort from within the Liberal party to oust PM Justin Trudeau as leader. ONTARIO PLANS TO GET TOUGHER ON BIKE LANES AS PART OF CONGESTION-EASING EFFORTS Libby Znaimer is joined by Trevor Townsend, Founder of Keep Toronto Moving and Albert Koehl, Cycling and pedestrian advocate. The Ford government has tabled legislation around bike lanes as part of its strategy to ease traffic gridlock. We discuss that plan in greater detail and whether or not it is a good idea. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LATEST CAMPAIGN BY SOME LIBERAL MPS TO OUST TRUDEAU Libby Znaimer is joined by Charles Bird, Managing Principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group in Toronto, and John Capobianco,  Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard HighRoad. Let’s get a closer look at the latest move to oust PM Justin Trudeau and what he might do to get out of it. The Liberals have said they don’t intend to pull the plug on this parliament to avoid a snap election. Do we believe them?

ZOOMER SQUAD: CARP ADVOCATES FOR SENIORS AS BILL C-319 STALLS, OAS REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY Jane Brown is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at CARP, Bill VanGorder, CARP’s Chief Advocacy and Education officer, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. The panel addressed the pressing issue of the Bloc Quebecois' Bill C-319, which seeks a 10% Old Age Security (OAS) increase for seniors aged 65-74. CARP’s recent survey reveals that 73.2% of respondents believe current OAS payments are too low, with 77.1% supporting the proposed increase. Meanwhile, discussions around the sustainability of OAS and GIS are crucial as Canada's aging population grows, highlighting the need for ongoing advocacy and support. FOOD BANK USAGE IN THE GTA & THANKSGIVING DRIVE Jane Brown is joined by Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, who reveals a staggering 35% rise in food bank visits compared to last year. Daily Bread has seen close to 2 million client visits in the past six months, a significant spike from pre-pandemic levels. As inflation and job market challenges persist, many are turning to food banks for the first time. Neil emphasizes the importance of community support and volunteer efforts to meet the rising demand. WHERE TO SPOT THE BEST OF FALL COLOURS IN ONTARIO? As we embrace the beauty of fall, it’s the perfect time to explore Ontario’s vibrant autumn foliage. Dave Hunt from Ontario Parks joins Jane Brown and shares insights on the best locations to witness the seasonal colors. While southern Ontario is nearing peak color change, northern parks like Lake Superior are already experiencing stunning displays. The Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report provides valuable updates on leaf change, helping visitors plan their trips. With maples, poplars, and birches showcasing brilliant hues, there’s no better time to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes as the season transitions into its colorful glory.

Today on Free For All Friday: our listeners phoned in to discuss Mayor Olivia Chow's absence at the October 7th commemoration in Toronto, vehicle access to High Park, the TDSB field trip to the Grassy Narrows protest, and more.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN:  TORONTO MAYOR OLIVIA CHOW ABSENT FROM TORONTO OCTOBER 7TH VIGIL  Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada Candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, a former Toronto City Councillor and the CEO of Variety Village, and Toronto City Councillors James Pasternak for Ward 6 York Centre and Brad Bradford for Ward 19 Beaches-East York. This week: Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is facing backlash for her absence at the October 7th Commemoration in the city. And, we get the latest update on where city council is at with regards to Billy Bishop Airport. HURRICANE MILTON: WHAT CANADIAN SNOWBIRDS NEED TO KNOW   Libby Znaimer is joined by Martin Firestone, President of Travel Secure, and Stephen Fine, President & Managing Editor of SnowbirdAdvisor.ca Hurricane Milton has left a trail of destruction damaging homes, flooding roads and knocking out power for millions. However, it “was not the worst-case scenario” that many had been bracing for. Still, where does that leave tens of thousands of Canadian snowbirds who make Florida their part-time home? RECIPE IDEAS FOR CANADIAN THANKSGIVING WEEKEND Libby Znaimer is now joined by nutritionist and author Rose Reisman to discuss the creative recipe ideas for Thanksgiving weekend and how best to prepare your Turkey (if that's what you'll be eating).

THE MEDICAL RECORD: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SCURVY   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 in Toronto and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. Scurvy - a disease we thought was consigned to the history books - has reappeared and food insecurity seems to be the culprit here according to a study published in in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. And, what a study out of the University of Waterloo tells us about breakfast. CRTC WANTS CANADA'S BIG CELL PROVIDERS TO LOWER THEIR INTERNATIONAL ROAMING FEES Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jean-François Mezei, a telecommunications consultant based in Montreal and Carmi Levy,  a technology analyst and journalist based in London, Ontario The CRTC wants Canada's three big cell companies--Bell, Rogers and Telus--to reduce their international roaming charges. We take a deep dive into what these companies are currently charging customers and how it compares to other countries in the world. HAVE YOUR GROOMING HABITS CHANGED SINCE THE PANDEMIC?  Libby is joined by Bernadette Morra, the former Editor-in-chief of FASHION magazine and now a luxury lifestyle writer, as well as Derick Chetty, a fashion professional with Zoomer Media. A Globe and Mail article on this very topic piqued our interest. If you are working from home, has that changed anything about your grooming practices? And what about those of us who are retired?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: HOW HARD ARE OUR CITY WORKERS ACTUALLY WORKING?  Libby Znaimer is joined by Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP, 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. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the October 7th massacre and we got to hear speeches from both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at a commemoration in Ottawa. And a report from Toronto's Auditor General shows that city workers responsible for the upkeep of our parks are working less hours than they are reporting in their logs. What will Mayor Olivia Chow do about this? THE SPENDING HABITS OF OLDER VS YOUNGER CANADIANS THIS UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON  Libby Znaimer is joined by Ellen Roseman, a consumer advocate and journalist and Bruce Winder, a retail analyst. We get a picture of what we can expect regarding the spending habits of younger Canadian adults versus older adults during this year's holiday season according to a new survey by PwC Canada. THE ANNUAL SALMON RUN THROUGH MISSISSAUGA Libby Znaimer is now joined by Andrea Dunn, Natural Areas Specialist with the City of Mississauga. It's that time of the year when you can witness the salmon run through Mississauga. Our guest details the best locations to spot it.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the October 7th massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists. It was the deadliest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. Ceremonies in Israel and around the world are marking the moment. Here, on Fight Back, we heard from Israelis on the ground and family members of hostages who shared their stories. We also discussed the rise of antisemitism both in Canada and abroad with local politicians. Today's episode featured: Vivian Bercovici, a former ambassador of Canada to Israel; Harel Lapidot, whose niece was murdered on October 7th; Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, named Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism; Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman; Maureen Leshem, who is a cousin of Israeli hostage Romi Gonen; and Maayan Shavit, whose cousin Carmel Gat was murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before her body was found by the IDF in Gaza.

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners reacted to the confounding conundrum of cars in High Park, Ontario's lease deal with European spa company Therme, the U.S. presidential election, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: 2025 CITY BUDGET CONSULTATIONS Toronto begins 2025 budget consultations; police in the GTA planning heightened presence ahead of October 7th Hamas terror attack anniversary; and the latest on the Ontario subway line. Jane Brown is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, a former Toronto City Councillor and the CEO of Variety Village; Councillor Paula Fletcher for Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth; and Councillor Stephen Holyday for Ward 2 Etobicoke, for a conversation about all things Toronto. POLICE PRESENCE AHEAD OF OCTOBER 7 ANNIVERSARY Greater Toronto Area police chiefs have announced plans for beefed up patrols and security leading up to the anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks this Monday and in the weeks following October 7th. Jane Brown is joined by Luciano Cedrone, Security Director with Triovest and with the Security Guard Association of Ontario; and Toronto Councillor and Deputy Mayor Mike Colle Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence, to discuss what this surveillance and security might look like. WHAT THE HILL IS GOING ON? (PARLIAMENT HILL, THAT IS) In Ottawa yesterday, the majority of MPs voted in favour of a motion on a private members bill by the Bloc Quebecois leader to increase old age security payments for people 65 to 74. The motion ultimately passed with the support of the Conservatives, NDP, Greens and five Liberal backbenchers. Most Liberal MPs voted against the non binding motion. Yves-Francois Blanchett says the October 29th deadline stands for the minority Liberals to join his efforts to increase pensions for younger seniors. But he also says if the Liberals don't give a royal recommendation to his bill within a few days, he'll begin talking with the other opposition parties about getting ready for an election. Jane Brown is joined by public affairs consultant Bob Richardson and John Mykytyshyn, conservative activist, political consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group, to make sense of all this.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: WHY BREAST CANCER RATES ARE RISING AMONG YOUNGER WOMEN   Marissa Lennox is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and a former head of BC Cancer, Dr. Alisa Naiman,  a family doctor practicing comprehensive primary care in Toronto, and Dr. Amol Verma, a clinician-scientist and staff physician in General Internal Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and new research from the American Cancer Society shows breast cancer rates are rising among younger women, particularly those under 50. What’s driving this rise? How should we be rethinking screening and awareness? And, with everything we know about early diagnosis saving lives, why are so many young women not getting diagnosed until later stages? IRAN ATTACKS ISRAEL TARGETING CIVILIANS & ISRAEL VOWS TO RESPOND Marissa Lennox is now joined by Richard Goldberg, a Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies who served on the White House National Security Council staff. He was also sanctioned by Iran in 2008. Yesterday, the world watched as Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel directly targeting civilians across the country. Most of those missiles were intercepted successfully by Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate saying, “Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay the price for it”. So, how exactly does Iran’s terror attack change the war  and how might Israel actually respond? ONTARIO INCREASES THE MINIMUM WAGE    Marissa Lennox is now joined by Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal. Yesterday, Ontario increased the minimum hourly wage from $16.55 to $17.20. What are the implications of that as people grapple with the higher cost of living?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT FACES PRESSURE FROM THE BLOC Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal MPP, Deputy Premier and Health Minister, Lisa Raitt, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP. In the news: we discuss how the Trudeau Liberals are doing in the polls and the demands being made by the Bloc which, if not met, could trigger an early federal election. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Elliot Tepper, a professor of International Relations at Carleton University and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants and a former strategic analyst at CSIS. First it was pager explosions followed by a wave of walkie talkie explosions. A short time after those developments, the Israeli Air Force successfully carried out a major strike on the Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah while he was meeting with other members of the terrorist group in his underground bunker in Beirut. And, just yesterday, we were getting reports that Israel has commenced a small scale incursion of ground troops into Southern Lebanon. Could a small scale mission by troops lead to a larger scale one? And, how far does Nasrallah's death set back the terror group that has been firing rockets at Israel for months? Meanwhile, according to reports from this morning, a U.S. government official has said that Iran is planning to "imminently" launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel. THE FUTURE OF BILLY BISHOP AIRPORT Libby Znaimer is joined by Warren Askew, Vice President, Airport, at Ports Toronto, followed by Norm Di Pasquale, Director at Large of Waterfront for All and Karen Stintz, a former city councillor and a Conservative candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence. Today, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and her executive committee are reviewing a city staff recommendation against extending the lease for Billy Bishop Airport for now.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: THE BLOC'S PUSH FOR AN OAS INCREASE Jane Brown is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at CARP,  Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer at CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. Today: we revisit the discussion looking into the Bloc's push for a 10 percent increase for the Old Age Security of Zoomers between the ages of 65 and 74, which according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, would come at a net cost of $16.1 billion over 5 years. Meanwhile, tomorrow is National Seniors Day, and Statistics Canada has highlighted some neat data regarding the older demo. So tune in! TODAY MARKS THE 4TH ANNUAL NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION Jane Brown is joined by Cat Criger, an Indigenous philosopher and wisdom keeper with deep cultural roots who works extensively in secondary and post-secondary institutions. Today is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday. Cat mentions the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action and discusses the importance of honouring the victims of the residential school system. SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SEPSIS AWARENESS MONTH September marks "Sepsis Awareness Month". Libby spoke with Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud, Scientific Director of Sepsis Canada, earlier this month to learn more about this life threatening health condition including how it can occur and the types of treatment for it.

Today on Free For All Friday: Listeners reacted to the TDSB meeting that took place this week after students were taken to an anti-Israel protest in Toronto and Premier Doug Ford's proposal to dig a tunnel under Highway 401 in the GTA with the aim of easing gridlock. But, how much will it cost? Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO IS GETTING A NEW CONCERT VENUE Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada Candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, a former Toronto City Councillor and the CEO of Variety Village, Barbara Hall, a former Mayor of Toronto, and Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford for Ward 19 Beaches-East York. Why does Ontario Premier Doug Ford want to build a tunnel under Highway 401 and how much will it cost? And Toronto is getting a new concert venue at Downsview.  A RECAP OF LAST NIGHT'S TDSB EMERGENCY MEETING Libby Znaimer is joined by Neethan Shan, Acting Chair of the TDSB, followed by Tamara Gottlieb, Founding member of Jewish Educators and Family Association of Canada (JEFA). A resolution came out of last night's TDSB meeting whereby students attending their schools are not allowed to go on field trips to demonstrations until an investigation launched by the Ontario Minister of Education--looking into how students were brought to anti-Israel protest--is concluded. IS PREMIER DOUG FORD'S IDEA OF A TUNNEL UNDER HIGHWAY 401 WORTH IT? Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Frank Clayton,  a senior research fellow with the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Ryerson University. We alluded to Premier Doug Ford's vision for an underground tunnel that would stretch across the GTA underneath Highway 401 as part of an effort to ease traffic gridlock. But, as we also talked about, we still don't know how much it's going to cost and what the timeframe of building it will look like. So is it worth it? Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

THE MEDICAL RECORD:  SYNTHETIC BONES FOR CANCER AND TRAUMA PATIENTS? Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and a former head of BC Cancer, Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at Unity Health Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto and former Scientific Director of the COVID-19 Ontario Science Table, and Dr. Alisa Naiman,  a family doctor practicing comprehensive primary care in Toronto. This week: we take a deep dive into the controversial Bill 7 here in Ontario (aka More Beds, Better Care Act) which is being challenged in court. And, a team out of the University of Waterloo is 3-D printing synthetic bone with the aim of helping cancer and trauma patients. SOME OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR DON VALLEY WEST COUNCILLOR Libby Znaimer is now joined by Anthony Furey, Rachel Chernos Lin and Dhruv Jain, all three of whom are among the candidates for City Councillor for Ward 15 Don Valley West. What are the priorities of some of the candidates running in the current Don Valley West municipal byelection in Toronto? ONTARIO EDUCATION MINISTER JILL DUNLOP LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO TDSB  Libby Znaimer is now joined by Tamara Gotlieb, founding member of Jewish Educators and Family Association of Canada. Ontario's Education Minister Jill Dunlop has launched an investigation into the TDSB after students were taken to a demonstration about mercury poisoning within Grassy Nation First Nation that turned into an anti-Israel protest. And, the TDSB is holding a "special meeting" tonight. Will they be getting to the bottom of what happened?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: CONSERVATIVES INTRODUCE NON-CONFIDENCE MOTION TODAY Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal MPP, Deputy Premier and Health Minister, Lisa Raitt, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and Cheri DiNovo, a former NDP MPP. Today: the federal Conservatives have introduced a motion of non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today. What will become of that? And, our panelists react to the TDSB facing backlash after students were brought into an anti-Israel protest the other week in downtown Toronto. BUYING A NEW CAR? HERE'S WHAT TO CONSIDER Libby Znaimer is joined by Robert Karwel, Director of Customer Success with J.D. Power & Associates, and Jil McIntosh, an auto writer who writes for Driving.ca among other publications. So you're thinking about buying a new car and you are looking to narrow down your options. Today, we discuss what consumers might consider as they determine whether a hybrid, electric or regular gas-run vehicle is right for them. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN TORONTO Libby Znaimer is now joined by Albert Koehl, cycling and pedestrian advocate, and Dylan Reid, Co-founder of Walk Toronto. It’s time to revisit the issue of pedestrian safety in Toronto. This week, one pedestrian was killed while another got injured in the City's Junction neighbourhood because of a two vehicle collision. Are we progressing with Vision Zero? What needs to be done to curb accidents and fatalities for pedestrians?

THE ZOOMER SQUAD:  ONTARIO'S BILL 7 FACES CHARTER CHALLENGE  Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at CARP, Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. The More Beds Better Care Act (also known as Bill 7) is being challenged in court today. Through this legislation, hospital patients are sent to a long term care home not of their choosing or otherwise face a daily fine of $400 to stay put. What do you think? TDSB FACES BACKLASH FOR BRINGING STUDENTS TO ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST Libby Znaimer is joined by Kevin Vuong, the independent member of Parliament for Spadina—Fort York and Bryan Passifiume, reporter with the Toronto Sun. The TDSB is facing plenty of backlash after students were taken on a field trip that brought them into an anti-Israel protest. The initial idea of the trip was to observe a demonstration calling for the government to address the problem of mercury poisoning within the Grassy Narrows First Nation. The TDSB board has since apologized, but is that really enough? HOW MUCH ARE HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES PAYING FOR PRIVATE NURSES? Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Doris Grinspun, Chief Executive Officer of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), and Dr. Valerie Grdisa, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nurses Association. A new report has quantified the amount of money health systems around the country are paying for private agency nurses. We dig into those details and the implications of it all on our healthcare system.

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on Toronto increasing the fines for its "Don't Block the Box" initiative as part of the overall strategy of easing traffic congestion, and the province is looking into not allowing bike lanes to be installed if it means those bike lanes lead to car lanes being removed. What do you think about it all?