The Deb Hutton Show

Mark Towhey digs into Canada’s mysterious drop in public‑school enrolment—fewer kids in Grade 1 than Grade 12—and explores whether families are shifting to private schools, homeschooling, or simply having fewer children. He also tackles Ontario’s debate over shortening teachers’ college. On “Stupid of the Day” he  highlights the province’s stagnant welfare rates, previews the day’s top CTV News stories, and opens the phones for a lively “Swipe Left” round of dating dealbreakers.

Mark Towhey dives into everything from quirky city‑life observations and pop‑culture talk to a deeper look at the realities of low‑paid security‑guard work, before shifting into calls about Canada’s naval future.Professor and military expert Christian Leuprecht, joins to unpack Donald Trump’s newly announced “Trump‑class” battleships and what modern navies—including Canada’s—actually need in an era of drone warfare and autonomous weapons.

Mark Towhey is in for Deb Hutton and opened with guest tech expert Carmi Levy, who broke down the viral Waymo‑crash confusion and then discussedand explained the Pentagon’s push toward quantum navigation. Listeners then jumped in with their most disappointing tech purchases—from useless walkie‑talkies to tablets that never found a purpose—mixed with a spirited side‑debate about raisins ruining perfectly good baked goods. The hour wrapped with sharp commentary on Toronto Police communications, escalating protest rhetoric, and a look at how U.S.‑sourced guns continue to drive violence in Canada.

Mark Towhey is in for Deb and Jim today and he kicked off the show with a mix of fun personal observations—from great subway drivers and multilingual Toronto moments to rants about watch repair, Pilates confusion, and the menace of oatmeal‑raisin cookies—before diving into listener calls about the realities of becoming a school bus driver. The highlight of the hour was a conversation with Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston, who explained why the city’s new bright yellow-and-blue “Euro-style” cruisers improve visibility, officer safety, and community awareness. The hour wrapped with calls debating whether Toronto should move toward more high‑visibility police cars too.

Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, dives into the recent decline in Canada's population. He explains how government policies, such as caps on permanent residency, have led to net outward migration. The discussion touches on the challenges faced by temporary workers and the complexities of immigration categories. Bernhard argues for systemic reforms that prioritize retaining talent rather than simply reducing immigration. His insights shed light on the pressing need to rethink Canada's immigration strategy.

Jim has complete coverage. Plus – The Best Music Stories of 2025   GUESTS: Eric Alper - Canadian music journalist and publicist

The political picture ahead of the midterms Plus – Jim’s thinking about the legacy of Rob Reiner   GUESTS: Mark Mendelson - Newstalk 1010 Crime Expert and former homicide detective Joe Walsh - Host of "Social Contract with Joe Walsh." Former Republican Candidate for President. Former Congressman 

    Are you satisfied with his answer?   GUEST: Diana Martin - Senior Director, Clinical Integration and Partnerships at Kids Help Phone  

The OPP unveils a major car theft bust Plus – Talking to the protesters who caroled outside Doug Ford’s house   GUESTS: Daniel Tate - Executive Director at IntegrityTO Detective Inspector Scott Wade with the OPP Bruno Dobrusin with the York South Weston Tenant Union

The Premier wraps up a big year Plus – Why a delegation of Canadians was denied entry to the West Bank   GUESTS: Doug Ford – Ontario Premier Adam Zivo – National Post columnist