The Alex Pierson Show

It was a hard fought riding, but for the community of Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, they remain with incumbent Gord Perks. With 35% of the voters, he won the riding, but it's who was neck in neck with him that has our attention. Chemi Lhamo ran to be councillor, and while she gained only 32% of the vote, she still had a platform that people believed in, making her the unexpected runner up in the election. She joined guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq to talk about her campaign, and her thoughts on some things that she believes should change in the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto city council is starting to look like the city it represents now, with a lot of younger incumbents and those who are more progressive leaning. Among the new councillors is Ausma Malik, newly elected city council candidate for Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York, and also the first ever hijab wearing Muslim woman to be elected to city council. She joined guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq to discuss her election win and how it feels to be representing Toronto women in this fashion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After only 45 days in office, Liz Truss has bowed out of leading the UK entirely. After only a few days, a victor has emerged in the Tory party and they've named Rishi Sunak to be the new prime minister. There's a lot of historic value to naming Rishi as the UK's newest PM. Not only is he the youngest in almost 200 years, he's also the first Hindu prime minister. Joining guest host, Rubina Ahmed-Haq, to talk about all of this is Professor John Grant, Department Chair of Political Science at King's University College. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The polls are open and it's time to cast your ballot in the Toronto 2022 municipal election. Guest host, Rubina Ahmed-Haq is joined by Ben Spurr, a City Hall Reporter with the Toronto Star, to breakdown some ridings he's watching, some issues that might be top of mind for voters, and also provide analysis on one of Mayor John Tory's fellow mayoral candidates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not just a mayor and councilors that you're voting for in this municipal election. You're also voting for school board trustees. But why should you care about it, especially if you're not a parent. Well who you vote for, ultimately decides who's on the board and will help shape the school system. Dr. Sachin Maharaj joined guest host, Rubina Ahmed-Haq, to talk about this and some concerns that were raised over certain candidates running. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Nanos polling shows that Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Party Leader, Pierre Poilievre, are neck in neck as to what Canadians prefer as a prime minister. In addition to this, we're seeing Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, take a page out of Poilievre's book when it comes to the economy. Could the Conservative leader's relentless pounding on the Trudeau government be having an effect? Adrienne Batra is Editor in Chief of the Toronto Sun and joined us to talk all about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civil liberties groups are demanding that the premier testify at the emergencies act inquiry. This week was the blame game with Ottawa officials blaming the ford gov for not sending help. It’s very clear now that neither the city nor police planned for anything. Not only that, but it also speaks to the fact that the decision to actually invoke the Emergencies Act was for a very localized problem. Alain Bartleman is a Lawyer and Special Advisor to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and joined Alex to discuss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of new information coming out from EQAO that only 47% students in Grade 6 are meeting the provincial standard in math, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced on Thursday that they will be giving parents a $250 payout per student so they can get tutoring. Lecce always says that he’s committed to keeping schools open but after two years of shutdowns from either the pandemic, or union action, the kids just aren’t alright. Michael Swaagstra is a Public high school teacher and also a Sr Fellow with the Frontier Centre, and says that it’s the extended closures that hurt the kids the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new thing in England has us looking to them as they about to trail noise-detecting traffic cameras in four areas in England as an attempt to crack down on “boy racers” who rev engines and use illegal exhausts. Joining Alex to talk about whether this is a good idea and whether or not Toronto could employ a similar tactic is Police Constable Sean Shapiro of TPS Traffic Services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not just Gil Penelosa who has ideas about the highways in Toronto. On Thursday, John Tory was speaking with Greg Brady of Toronto Today and said he might consider adding tolls to the DVP / Gardiner if re-elected. We spoke with Jay Goldberg, Executive Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Association, who says that adding tolls would hurt families and could be a gateway for more tolls on other highways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices