THE MEDICAL RECORD:  THE EXTENT OF HOSPITAL CLOSURES IN ONTARIO + ROSTERING IN PRIMARY CARE Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto, Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, an  Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. According to a new report from the Ontario Health Coalition, a healthcare advocacy group, found that there were 1,199 closures at Ontario Hospitals between Jan 1st and Nov 24 of this year and that it was primarily urgent care centres that were affected. To be specific:  "868 temporary or permanent emergency department closures (one is permanent)". Meanwhile, we take a deep dive into the patient roster system in the context of primary care. Dr. Naiman explains how rostering typically works and what you need to know. BRAMPTON MAYOR PATRICK BROWN CALLS INTO FIGHT BACK Libby is joined by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown. Is Premier Doug Ford on the verge of cancelling the breakup of Peel Region? It was a promise he made to former Miss mayor Hazel McCallion on her deathbed but there are mounting fears that it will lead to big tax hikes and service cuts in Brampton and Caledon. THE AG REPORT ON THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTRE + URGENT CARE IN HOSPITALS Libby is joined by NDP MPP France Gelinas (Nickel-Belt) and health critic and Floyd Ruskin of Save Ontario's Science Centre. The AG’s report was tabled just over an hour ago and it is focussed on healthcare and the plan to build a new Science centre at Ontario Place. There are no surprises in the healthcare findings: that one in five patients who went to ER were only there because they did not have a family doctor, that there was no province wide strategy to prevent ER closures and that there has been too much reliance on expensive staffing agencies because of doctor and nurse shortages. The acting AG also found that the province’s case for moving the Science Center was missing key information.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: BONNIE CROMBIE IS THE NEW LEADER OF THE ONTARIO LIBERALS Libby Znaimer is joined by Janet Ecker Former Ontario PC minister of finance, George Smitherman, former Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre, minister of health and Deputy Premier and Cheri Di Novo, a former NDP MPP and a recipient of the Order of Canada. We kick things off with a discussion about Bonnie Crombie's victory as the new leader of the Ontario Liberals. Could she pave the way to a revival of the party? And, the next election is years away but what does she have to do in order to pose a serious threat to the Ford government? Also this week: a large gathering of members of Canada's Jewish community and their allies rallied at Parliament Hill in Ottawa in a show of strength against antisemitism. RETAIL CHAINS ABANDONING SELF CHECKOUTS DUE TO RISE IN THEFT Libby Znaimer is now joined by Ellen Roseman, Consumer Advocate and journalist and Bruce Winder, a Retail Analyst & Author. They’ve been around for about 30 years but self-checkout at the grocery store has become more ubiquitous than ever since the pandemic. Well now the backlash has begun with some chains removing them altogether or at least reducing their numbers. Not only are customers complaining that they are being taken advantage of by doing the work of paid cashiers but the retailers are finding that about a quarter of their shoplifting losses come from self checkouts. Loblaw got even more pushback when it started posting security guards to check receipts at self checkout.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: BONNIE IS THE NEW ONTARIO LIBERAL LEADER Jane Brown is joined by Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine, Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP and John Wright, Executive Vice President, Maru Public Opinion. It's official: Bonnie Crombie is the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. The mayor of Mississauga beat rivals Nate Erskine-Smith and Yasir Naqvi among other contenders. So, what does this mean for the party's future and does she pose a serious threat for Doug Ford?  And, on another note, Moncton's Jewish community wants to know why their city quietly decided to end the display of religious symbols on their property including the lighting of the menorah especially with Hannukah being around the corner. After public outcry, that decision is expected to be revisited by Moncton City Hall today. THE OTTAWA RALLY AGAINST ANTISEMITISM Jane Brown is now joined by Liberal MP Anthony Housefather (Mount Royal) followed by Deputy leader of the Conservative Party Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill). Today, a large pro-Israel rally is congregating at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Jewish organizations say it is a show of strength against the rising trend of antisemitism. THE “ATMOSPHERIC RIVER” IN BC + A MILDER WINTER? Jane Brown is now joined by Dave Phillips, Senior Climatologist at Environment Canada. The Southern coast of BC is about to get drenched in what is being called an "atmospheric river". That means a greater risk of flooding. Meanwhile, closer to home here in Ontario there is talk of a milder start to the winter thanks to El Niño. Dave weighs in on the latest. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

The Sunday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown Interviews with: - The Medical Record with Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Dr. Iris Gorkinkel, and Dr. Malcolm Moore offer expert feedback to Alberta's newly announced nursing strategy - Eddie Sheppard and David Ambroski discuss a survey which found two thirds of Canadians say this country's immigration target is too high - Tune into the Town with Alex Blemenstein, David Crombie, and Karen Stintz debate the Chow/Ford deal and discuss the future of Taste on the Danforth And the best calls of the week!

The Saturday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown Interviews with: - The Zoomer Squad with Peter Muggeridge, Rudy Buttignol, and John Wright discuss the worrying signs of rising COVID-19 cases learned from wastewater testing - Carolyn Stewart and Talia Bronstein react to reports that more people than ever are relying on food banks - The Recovering Politicians with Cheri DiNovo, George Smitherman, and John Capobianco with their responses to Mayor Chow's deal with Premier Ford to upload the Gardiner and the DVP to the province - Dr. Elena Elimova from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre discusses the latest research to battle stomach cancer - And the best calls of the week!

Today on Free For All Friday: our listeners reflect on the potential for Bonnie Crombie to become leader of the Ontario Liberals and what that would mean for the Party and whether that would pose a serious threat to the Ford government, and also we get calls about residents complaining that municipal taxes have gone up way too high.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: THE FUTURE OF TASTE ON THE DANFORTH Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak, and David Crombie, a former Mayor of Toronto. It’s Thursday time to talk about local politics! Up first, what is happening or not happening with the taste of the Danforth - one of our largest and most successful street fairs. Yesterday local businesses voted to cancel it rather than accept a 20% increase in their levies which their BIA said would be necessary to mount the event again. I Think this is a strategy to get either a sponsor or some level of govt to come in and provide the cash. And this is the first time we are talking since that historic funding deal between the city and the province at the beginning of the week. MOST ADULTS PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT WILL NEED TO MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES Libby Znaimer is joined by Hwan Kim, A partner at Deloitte Canada. If you are close to retirement, are your finances in order? A new report from Deloitte says most people in that cohort will have to make significant lifestyle cuts. THE LEGACY OF HENRY KISSINGER + WASHINGTON WANTS ANSWERS FROM INDIA Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Stephanie Carvin, Assistant Professor of International Affairs, Carleton University and an expert on national security issues and Phil Wasielewski, Director - Center for Intelligence and Nontraditional Warfare at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was the mastermind of US foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century. Henry Kissinger has died at the age of 100. He was the architect of the US opening to China, and a key negotiator in the peace deal ending the Vietnam war, although many vilified him as a war criminal for supporting bombing that killed thousands of civilians. Also the US has accused India of plotting to assassinate a Sikh activist in New York - an accusation that echoes a similar one from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: ALBERTA'S NURSING STRATEGY Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital and Dr. Iris Gorfinkel, Family Physician as well as Founder of PrimeHealth Clinical Research. Today: we kick things off with a discussion of both the province's wastewater signal and COVID-19 hospitalizations reaching a one-year high. It's a clear sign that the pandemic still poses a very significant public health threat. Meanwhile, we examine the use of virtual care in the context of urgent care. And, Alberta's plan to give nurses the ability to open up their own publicly funded independent practices as part of a strategy to address the primary care shortage. CONSERVATIVES WANT FURTHER CARBON TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR FARMERS Marissa Lennox is now joined by a cattle, grain and soy bean farmer based in Elgin County in Ontario and Glenn Wright, who has been the National Farmers Union’s point person on Bill C-234 and the carbon levy on agricultural fuels. We hear directly from farmers across Canada about how they are being directly being impacted by Ottawa's carbon pricing policy. CANADIANS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS IMMIGRATION + HOUSING Marissa Lennox is now joined by Eddie Sheppard, Vice President, Insights at Abacus Data and David Ambroski, Professor at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. According to a new survey by Abacus Data, 67 per cent of Canadians believe that accepting 500,000 permanent residents a year is too high. There are many factors that contribute to this shift in Canadians attitudes towards immigration with one key factor being the availability of affordable housing. Our panel weighs in on the latest.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: THE PROVINCE WILL NOW OVERSEE THE GARDINER EXPRESSWAY AND DVP Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, Former Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who served as a health minister and Deputy Premier, Cheri DiNovo, Former Ontario NDP MPP and a recipient of the Order of Canada and John Capobianco,  Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard HighRoad. It’s Tuesday: Time to talk politics and yesterday’s new deal between the City of Toronto and the province is being called historic. Actually my favourite commentary was in a tweet from Councillor Mike Colle - it said that Mayor Olivia Chow and Premier Doug Ford should get the Nobel Peace Prize! The deal earmarks up to 9 B from the province and much of that money will come from Queens Parks’ agreement to take over both the Gardiner Expressway and the DVP. There’s also cash for housing, for shelters and the TTC. In exchange, the city has agreed to let Ford have his way on that controversial Spa development at Ontario Place. Was that a fair exchange? FAMILIES STILL WAITING FOR HOSTAGES TO BE FREED Libby Znaimer is joined by Maureen Leshem who lives in Toronto and is the cousin of 23-year-old Romi Gonen--an Israeli who was last seen at the Nova Music festival on Oct. 7 and has disappeared. Romi, who is originally from a community in northern Israel, was last heard from her parents during the rampage by Hamas terrorists that killed hundreds at the Nova music festival. Romi attended the festival. Her family including Maureen are now looking for answers and calling for her return home. PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE RADIOTHON Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Elena Elimova,  a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Today, Zoomer Radio along with The New Classical FM are hosting the Third Annual Radiothon in Support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. In addition to raising awareness about the good things happening at the foundation, Libby reflects on her own personal journey in which she recently beat a third bout of Cancer and sets an example to us all about what it means to be a survivor. You can donate online at zoomerradiothon.ca / classicalradiothon.ca or call 1-888-388-3308.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: WASTEWATER SIGNAL AND COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS REACH ONE-YEAR HIGHS Jane Brown is joined by Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine, Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP and John Wright, Executive Vice President, Maru Public Opinion. According to the latest data, both Ontario's wastewater signal and hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have reached one-year highs respectively. It's a confirmation that the virus still poses a significant public health threat. Meanwhile, Jane and the panel weigh in on older adults (we're talking about adults 80 years of age and older) and their relationship with technology especially in the context of the busy holiday shopping where you can find such great deals online and also staying connected to their loved ones and family virtually. MORE ISRAELI HOSTAGES RETURN BACK HOME Jane Brown is now joined by David Matlow, a Toronto-based lawyer. Over the weekend, additional groups of Israeli hostages were released as part of ongoing negotiation deals between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group. David heard about one of the hostages, Ofri Brodutch, a 10-year-old girl and decided to start a letter writing campaign to her through the Canadian Red Cross. THE EXTENT OF FOOD BANK RELIANCE IN ONTARIO Jane Brown is now joined by Carolyn Stewart, CEO of Feed Ontario, and Talia Bronstein, VP of Research & Advocacy for the Daily Bread Food Bank. According to a new report by Feed Ontario, food bank usage went up almost 40 per cent last year. Our guests explain what this has meant for the food banks and how they operate and what the various levels of government need to do to help alleviate the situation. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

The Sunday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown Interviews with: - The Medical Record with Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Dr. Alisa Naiman, and Dr. Malcolm Moore offer insight on a new at-home HPV test - Bob Richardson and Jason Lietaer react to Ottawa's fiscal update - Tune into the Town with Paula Fletcher, Alex Blemenstein, and Karen Stintz respond to the lack of funding coming Toronto's way from the federal government - Phil Gurski takes a look at several news stories affecting Canada's security And the best calls of the week!

The Saturday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Jane Brown Interviews with: - The Zoomer Squad with Rudy Buttignol, Peter Muggeridge, and Anthony Quinn discuss the costs of long term rentals and the challenges of aging in place - Ashley Wallis responds to the federal court overturning Ottawa's plastics ban - The Recovering Politicians with Lisa Raitt, George Smitherman, and Cheri DiNovo try to explain why the Liberals are trailing Conservatives - Martin Firestone and Elliot Silverstein on busy winter travel and a new auto insurance policy - And the best calls of the week!

Today on Free For All Friday, listeners called in to weigh in on Justin Trudeau's performance as our Prime Minister, whether or not its time for him to go and who they are voting for in the next election.

The release of the first group of Israeli hostages held by the Hamas terrorist group is scheduled to begin this Friday. It is expected that 50 women and children will be returned as part of the deal. In a conversation with Libby Znaimer, Lt. Col. Conricus explains how the IDF will play a role in bringing the hostages back to safety in Israel, how their families will be notified and the aims of the IDF in the days to come.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: MAYOR OLIVIA CHOW DEMANDS MORE FROM OTTAWA Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO, Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak which is now part of the ZoomerMedia family, and Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth. It’s Thursday time to talk about all things municipal. And zmsyornOlivia Chow is pushing back against the federal govt in the wake of the fall economic statement which had very little for Toronto. She is also unhappy with the Immigration Minister’s offer of 5 million for a warming centre at the Better Living Centre. she wants to open the armories as a shelter but Ottawa is against that. Also the fallout from yesterday’s explosion at the Rainbow Bridge which is still closed. CANADIANS SHOPPING HABITS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON & BLACK FRIDAY DEALS Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Hutcheson, a retail expert and consultant with JC Williams and Barry Choi, a personal finance expert. Black Friday is tomorrow, as always the day after American Thanksgiving and we have all been bombarded with ads proclaiming huge Black Friday savings. It comes amid predictions that most of us are cutting back on holiday spending because of high inflation and a tight economy. How to tell if a deal is really good and whether it won’t be available after this sales period. WASHINGTON DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM INDIA OVER ALLEGED ASSASSINATION PLOT Libby Znaimer is now joined by Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants and a former strategic analyst at CSIS. We were very relieved to learn that yesterday’s explosion at the Rainbow bridge was not a terrorist incident. But the Israel-Hamas war and the huge increase in hate crimes here at home have everyone on high alert. Meanwhile, a jury found Cameron Ortis guilty of espionage…and two months after Justin Trudeau accused India of killing a Canadian citizen on our soil, the US has chimed in accusing India of plotting to kill a Sikh activist in America.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: A SAFE HOME TEST TO CHECK FOR HPV Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto, Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. It’s Wednesday time to talk about your health. Following yesterday’s economic update there are questions about what is not there. There was nothing about an expansion of the dental care program, something that would be critical for many Zoomers and also not a word about Pharmacare, even though the agreement with the NDP states explicitly that that file must be Acted on by the end of this year. Also, Zoomer women will remember the very uncomfortable routine of regular Pap smears. Canada is moving away from them and there is apparently a safe and effective home test to look for HPV. ISRAEL'S HOSTAGE AGREEMENT WITH HAMAS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah and a former Legal advisor to the IDF in Gaza. The truce and hostage release between Israel and Hamas is set to take place tomorrow. Families still do not know exactly who will be released but the first group of about 50 will be mostly children and women. REACTION TO OTTAWA'S FISCAL UPDATE Libby Znaimer is now joined by Bob Richardson, Senior Council, National Public Relations, and Jason Lietaer, Conservative Strategist, President at Enterprise. This week, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland released Ottawa's fiscal update. Our panel reacts to the highlights and what it did not include!

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: WHY THE TRUDEAU LIBERALS ARE TRAILING BEHIND POILIEVRE'S CONSERVATIVES Marissa Lennox is joined by Lisa Raitt, Former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada, Charles Bird, Managing Principle of Earnscliffe Strategies in Toronto, and Cheri DiNovo, Former Ontario NDP MPP and a recipient of the Order of Canada. Today: A Nanos poll shows that the Trudeau Liberals are trailing behind Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives and that the Conservative brand is "stronger now… than at any time" in the past ten years. Are we surprised? Meanwhile, The Ontario Liberal leader will be voted in next weekend with the results made official on December 2nd. Bonnie Crombie is the front-runner but two of her rivals, Yasir Naqvi and Nate Erskine Smith who are both currently MPs, have a strategy to try to beat her. STUDENTS AT MCGILL SUPPORT PRO-PALESTINE POLICY Marissa Lennox is now joined by Michael Mostyn, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada followed by Toronto-based criminal defense lawyer, Ari Goldkind. In the news: McGill's student union is supporting a pro-Palestine policy which both the university and Jewish community finds discriminatory. The university is threatening to sever ties with the union over it. And, the Durham College student who praised Hamas in a broadcasted statement is just one of many examples on social media whereby people are supporting Hamas here at home. So, how is social media fueling the problem. TRAVELLING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON + NEW AUTO INSURANCE POLICY Marissa Lennox is now joined by Martin Firestone, President, Travel Secure Inc. and Elliot Silverstein, Director, Government Relations, CAA Insurance. The busy travel season is upon us. Marty gives us travel insurance and booking tips as some of us get ready to celebrate American Thanksgiving across the border or gear up for holiday travel during Christmas. And, what you need to know about a new auto insurance policy coming out in 2024 that will potentially allow you to reduce your rates by opting out of certain options.

LEAD-THE ZOOMER SQUAD: REMEMBERING ROSALYNN CARTER Marissa Lennox is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP,  Anthony Quinn,  Chief Community Officer of CARP and Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine. This week: Ottawa is set to release its Fall fiscal update on Tuesday. CARP wants to know if there will be anything in it for its members. Meanwhile, the wife of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has passed away. Rosalynn Carter was 96. Our panel reflects on their legacy together. Also a report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows a trend of older adults choosing to age at home primarily due to greater wealth and health. The survey looked at major Canadian cities including: Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PARTS WAYS WITH ONTARIO PLACE DEVELOPMENT PLANS Marissa Lennox is joined by Walter Kehm, a former director of the University of Guelph’s school of landscape architecture and former senior principal at Toronto-based LANDinc and Norm Di Pasquale, Co-Chair of Ontario Place for All. A landscape architect has left his company which has a contract with the Ford government for the Ontario Place redevelopment project. He has decided to step away because he says the redevelopment poses a threat to the important wildlife habitat by leading to the clearing of hundreds of trees in the area. Meanwhile, there is also controversy over the 95 year lease that Austrian developer Therme signed for the $350-million spa it plans to build there. And, currently, the provincial auditor general is investigating the government's Ontario Place plans. So, where do we go from here? FEDERAL COURT OVERTURNS OTTAWA'S SINGLE USE PLASTICS BAN Marissa Lennox is now joined by Ashley Wallis, Associate Director of Environmental Defence. The federal Canadian Court has shut down Ottawa's single-use plastics ban. Tune in to find out why and what this potentially means for Canadian food businesses. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

The Sunday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Bob Komsic Interviews with: - The Medical Record with Dr. Amol Verma, Dr. Alisa Naiman, and Dr. Malcolm Moore respond to the Ontario Patient Ombudsman who has seen a spike in complaints - Neil Hetherington of the Daily Bread Food Bank breaks down the dire situation of food bank use that now sees more than half of new clients have someone employed in their household - Tune into the Town with Alex Blemenstein, David Crombie, and Karen Stintz discuss the problem with MPP Sara Jama - Kevin Donovan shares his experience with auto theft And the best calls of the week!

The Saturday edition of the Best of Fight Back, from the week that was, with Bob Komsic Interviews with: - The Zoomer Squad with Peter Muggeridge, Bill VanGorder, and Anthony Quinn on provinces lobbying the federal government to expand their carbon price exemptions for home heating - Ari Goldkind discuses Peter Nygard's guilty verdict - The Recovering Politicians with Lisa Raitt, George Smitherman, and Cheri DiNovo peer into the federal Liberal party's grim future - Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue defines what qualifies as a hate crime and what police can do about it - And the best calls of the week!