The Alex Pierson Show

It's that time of the week where we check in with Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter, for all things Ottawa. Today, Tom talks about how Chrystia Freeland says that adjusting interest rates aren't her job following the rate increase made by the Bank of Canada yesterday. He also talks about how data from Statistics Canada shows that Dr. Teresa Tam was wrong about Covid infection rates. That and more on today's Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Lisa Bentley, a dentist of over three decades and president of the Ontario Dental Association talks to Alex Pierson about today's dental announcement out of Ottawa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the Saskatchewan stabbings over the weekend, many fingers are pointing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the RCMP, who are faced with the second tragedy in two years. With a government that puts Indigenous issues first, why is it that these communities are still struggling when it comes to mental health, addictions, clean drinking water, and more? Speaking with Alex is Kevin Walker, Executive Director of Bear Clan Patrol, about the lack of resources in these communities and what needs to be done to support them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part one of a five part investigative series being conducted by Toronto Star, they deep dive into the story of a reality TV show where contestants could come on and get their business idea to save the world judged by people like Jeff Bezos and potentially get a stake in the process. But to get on the show, you had to pay a hefty sum of $25,000. Once the would be contestants arrived at the hotel where they were being brought to, they all soon realized that this was a scam. Kevin Donovan is Toronto Star’s Chief Investigative Reporter, and came on to talk to Alex about this elaborate scam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today the Bank of Canada announced they were increasing interest rates by another 75 basis points, bringing us to a total increase of 3.25%. When we see interest rates go up, we see cost of living go up, but those who are on ODSP, often get the short end of the stick when it comes to getting an affordable income to support themselves. To send a message to Doug Ford that this isn't an acceptable way to live, MPPs across Ontario are confining themselves to only spending $92.51 for two weeks worth of groceries to really understand what it's like to squeeze those dollars. Joining Alex to discuss this is David Lepofsky, a Lawyer and Chair with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally today is the day kids in Toronto go back into classes, but because of negotiations the teacher's unions, today was marked as a P.A. Day for teachers who said they didn't have enough time to prepare for class. So while kids in the rest of the province are in school, Toronto students are left a day short. Joining Alex to talk about the position of the union and where negotiations are headed now is Karen Littlewood, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we check in with Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter, to discuss all things Ottawa and see what deep dives they've done this time. Today, he talks to Alex about how the federal government is telling Canadians to get a Covid vaccine every 90 days, even after the Department of Health said once every nine months was more than plenty. He also talks about how Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez will not speak to reporters on why his department paid $133,822 for media workshops led by an anti-Semite who said Jews deserve a “bullet to the head." That and more on this Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, 10 people lost their lives, and 19 more were injured following a series of stabbings carried out by two alleged suspects. The search for Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, began early Sunday morning following multiple reports of stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation (about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon). While police have identified Damien Sanderson as deceased at this moment, Myles Sanderson is still at large, and has a lengthy criminal record. To tell us about the experiences and complexities of this, Alex speaks to Melissa Mbarki of Treaty 4. Melissa also has family on the reserve at the heart of these horrific attacks. Alex also speaks with Jim Van Allen, A threat and Risk Assessment Consultant with Investigative Solutions Network Inc. and Former Manager of the OPP Criminal Profiling Unit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomorrow, the Bank of Canada is expected to make an announcement on raising interest rates again. This time by another 75 basis points, bringing us to a total increase of 3.25%. While this isn't the highest we've seen interest rates, this is certainly going to be the highest we've seen them since the recession in 2008. Can Canadians afford another rate hike? To answer this, Alex is joined by Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carlton University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scams amongst seniors might not be new, but they're a big issue. York Region investigators have released a recorded interview with a Newmarket senior who was bilked out of $100,000 after he and his wife fell victim to a “grandparent” scam. Here to talk about this issue with Alex is Laura Tamblyn Watts, the Founder and CEO of CanAge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices