The Alex Pierson Show

Strong mayor powers change everything. Maybe we're okay with John Tory having these powers but will we still accept this reality when the next mayor is elected whoever it my be. We talk with Ben Spurr, Reporter with Toronto Star’s City Hall Bureau about the ramifications of this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food banks, charitable clothing stores, and more, are seeing more and more Canadians using their services daily. All of this is because of the extremely high cost of living we're seeing right now. What can we do to lessen the load, and what can you do to help ease the system? Let's ask Greg Thomson, Director of Research for Charity Intelligence Canada, and get his thoughts on what you can do to help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, a missile crossed into Polish territory and ended up killing two civilians. This caused an emergency meeting to be called between NATO members as to whether or not they should impose Article 5. What would that mean for the war on Ukraine if it was invoked? We asked Marcus Kolga, Director of Disinfo Watch, Senior Fellow Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad, and Expert in Russian and Pan Pacific Issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After many shutdowns and closures, the World Cup offers bars and restaurants an opportunity to regain some of that lost profit by opening their doors for games that happen very early in the mornings. But will the city push for it? Rocco Mastrangelo Jr., Owner of the popular College Street soccer bar, Café Diplomatico, said the World Cup is a huge part of their business, and pushing back the hours when bars can serve alcohol would help boost sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are the kids really alright? New survey reveals nearly 60% of Canadians think children are worse off today than a year ago. Between education loss and poor healthcare, the kids just simply aren't alright. Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada, joined us to talk about a new survey that reveals nearly 60% of Canadians think children are worse off today than a year ago. Sara said kids are speaking up but is anyone listening? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We need a new strategy to deal with China and the infiltration they've made into Canada's politicians. We already heard that CSIS had told the prime minister that China had dealings in the 2019 federal election and with the G20 currently going on, will there be a new strategy tabled on how we deal with the issue? Charles Burton is a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a Former Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, and spoke with Alex about it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Durham Regional Police officers were called to a home in Oshawa on Saturday where they found a 38-year-old man and his eight-year-old daughter dead. Police are calling this a a murder-suicide without any outstanding suspects. According to the latest statistics, one woman is killed every six days as an act of violence against women in Canada. Sandra McCormack is the Executive Director of The Denise House in Durham, and joined Alex to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We spoke with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklock’s Reporter, about how CSIS Director, David Vigneault, said “at no time” posed a threat to Canada’s security, and that were no signs of foreign interference. He advised cabinet that invoking the Emergencies Act could further inflame extreme antigovernmental rhetoric. To invoke this act there has to be a threat to national security. CSIS clearly said there wasn’t. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not just the cost of gas or groceries that's having Canadians feeling strapped for cash. It's also the cost of food and necessities for pets that's making Canadians make the decision between keeping food on the table, or keeping the pet at home. Pet adoptions skyrocketed during the pandemic so that everyone could feel some sense of connection, but now animal shelters are either close to, or at capacity for surrenders. Phil Nichols is the Chief Operating Officer at the Toronto Humane Society, and chatted with Alex about the need for support for the shelters, and individuals who own pets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turning people away, not getting tests done in time, or just long waits in general. That's the state of our hospital system right now, and it's not getting any better. Dr. Alan Drummond is a Rural Emergency Physician at Great War Memorial Hospital in Perth, Ontario, and authored a feature for Maclean's about just how bad the system is. He joined Alex to talk about it, and where we're headed now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices