The Alex Pierson Show

The week of the debates is upon us. Federal leaders from five parties will bring it all to the stage and try and convince the Canadian people that they and their party are the best for Canada. But what aren't they saying?Alex Pierson speaks with Communications Specialist, writer & public speaker Robyn Brayley. Robyn talks with Alex about how body language is an important facet in these debates. They breakdown the body language of all the leaders, who looks the most confident and comfortable, and who has the best chance of presenting a strong face for their party. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Missed the show? No worries, we got you covered with the ON Point podcast. ON this episode we talk with John Wright, the executive Vice-President at Maru Public Opinion at the Maru Group. They talk about the rising trend of people leaning towards the PPC, especially those who are opposed to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. They discuss the demographics that make up the party, how much support it is gaining, and what the rise of a new right leaning party could mean for the future of Canada's political landscape.Next, Alex checks in with Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter Tom Korski. They talk about the ongoing debates and why Maxime Bernier was excluded, the home equity tax, why Department of National Defence is launching a women's empowerment campaign, and why have Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada stopped giving COVID updates until after the election.And finally, Alex talks with Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Munk Sr. Fellow for Foreign Policy at Macdonald-Laurier Institute & Former Director of Policy to Canada's Foreign Minister. Somehow, foreign policy has been avoided in the all the major debates. And to some of the leaders, that may be a saving grace. Alex and Shuvaloy discuss why foreign policy is not a major topic in the debates, and which parties could benefit from it, and why its important. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global supply lines have been stretched thin over the course the pandemic. Now, with Delta variant fueling a fourth wave, supply chains are feeling it even more.Guest host Arlene Bynon speaks with John Keogh, the founder and managing principal with Shantalla Inc. & Professor of Practice at McGill University: Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics. John and Arlene discuss how far reaching this strain will be, what is causing all these disruptions, and how long these effects could be felt. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Far-right extremist groups have always been present in Canada, and throughout North America. Within Canada, there has not been a serious violence problems with these groups until recently, but all perceptions of domestic terror were changed after the January 6th riots on the US Capital. Guest host Arlene Bynon speaks with Dr. Lorne Dawson, a professor in the department of Religious Studies and the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies with the University of Waterloo, & Co-founder & co-director of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security & Society. They discuss how the definition of terrorism has evolved in Canada, how it differs from the U.S., and what this could mean for the future.  Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Arlene Bynon checks in with Yonah Budd, the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of The Farm in Stouffville & Recover@Home, Addiction & Crisis Therapist, and Host of Road to Recovery on 640 Toronto Saturdays from 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm. They talk about how the stresses and pressure of the world we now live in may be overwhelming for many. With the pandemic, vaccines and passports, and now an election, Arlene and Yonah discuss some good coping practices and ways to adjust to the new norm.  Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ontario, salons and barbershops had to close shop for most of the pandemic because they were seen as too unsafe. Now that the province has released its plan for vaccine passports, and salons are exempt. Guest host Arlene Bynon speaks with Francesca Rocchetti, the owner of Francesca Salon & Spa. They discuss what has happened to the industry after all these months of being shut down, why salons are exempt from the vaccine passports, and what the future of the industry is looking like. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Arlene Bynon speaks with Ed Dubrovsky, a managing partner of Cytelligence Canada & Executive Cyber Advisor to the CEO and Board of Qnext Corp. With the Premier announcing the new provincial passport, Arlene asks Ed about the security of the passports, how easy they will be to hack or manipulate, and if a simple QR code provides enough privacy. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we take a look past the veil into the stories that don't get the attention they deserve in Ottawa. Guest host Arlene Bynon checks in with Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter Tom Korski. They talk about how small businesses across Canada are in debt over $139 billon according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. They also discuss how the Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller spent billons of dollars installing water treatment plants before ensuring the first nations communities had trained managers to run them, and what is going to be the fate of the 1,250 Canadians who are still trapped in Afghanistan now that Canada and the U.S. are both out now. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Host Arlene Bynon speaks with Richard Shimooka, a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. They discuss the still degrading situation in Afghanistan now that US forces have completely withdrawn. There are still over 1,200 Canadians left in Afghanistan, and many more interpreters. They discuss Canada accepting assurances from the Taliban that any who wish to leave will be able to, the new agreement with the US to take 5,000 US rescued Afghans as refugees in Canada, and what can still be done to get our people out. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Arlene Bynon speaks with Roger McIntyre, a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto & Head of the Mood Disorders Pharmacology Unit at the University Health Network. With it being International Overdose Awareness Day, Alex and Roger discuss how the ever-growing opoid crisis has progressed throughout the pandemic, who is being effected the worse, and why street drugs are not only getting stronger, but a lot more dangerous. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices