Fight Back With Libby Znaimer

TUNE INTO THE TOWN:  WHO'S PAYING FOR THE THERME SPA AT ONTARIO PLACE? Libby Znaimer is joined by Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, and David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto. Earlier in the week on Fight Back, Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid told Libby that the union has called on Mayor Olivia Chow to condemn a letter signed by some City councillors who expressed concern over a Pro-Palestinian protest in which some demonstrators were arrested for breaking the law. Since his appearance on the show, the Mayor has said she has no plans to condemn that group of councillors. So, how do you feel about this? And, Vaughan in collaboration with York Regional Police are working to crack down on illegal car rallies. PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU TESTIFIES OVER FOREIGN INTERFERENCE Libby Znaimer is now joined by Bob Richardson, Senior Council, National Public Relations and Phil Gurski,  President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and a former CSIS

THE MEDICAL RECORD: GUIDELINES FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION HAVE BEEN UPDATED Libby Znaimer today is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair in Data Informed Healthcare Improvement at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto. There have been a number of cases of bird flu among dairy cows in the US and the concern is that there could be spread of the virus into the human population. We ask our doctors if this is something we should be worried about here in Canada. Meanwhile, various medical authorities in the US including The American College of Cardiology and The American College of Chest physicians have introduced an updated guideline for atrial fibrillation. VACCINES FOR PNEUMONIA & OTHER TYPES OF PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Jia Hu is a family physician from Calgary who is also an

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL:OTTAWA'S SPENDING ON NATIONAL DEFENCE Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal Deputy Premier and Health Minister, Cheri Di Novo, former Ontario NDP MPP, Janet Ecker, Former Ontario PC MPP and finance minister. This week: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced billions of dollars in national defence spending, Premier Doug Ford wants paper bags at LCBO stores to come back and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre shows his support for Toronto's Jewish community. CRIME STOPPERS AND TPS LAUNCH HATE CRIMES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Libby Znaimer is now joined by Mark Cousins, Vice Chair of Toronto Crime Stoppers. Mark discusses the launch of the Hate Crime Awareness Campaign alongside the Toronto Police Service. According to Robert Johnson, TPS Deputy Chief, "of the reported hate crimes in 2024 over half are anti-semitic and last month was the highest number of antisemitic occurrences for the past 3 years BRAMPTON MAYOR PATRICK BROWN ON AUTO-THEFT Libby Z

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: MORE ON THE VACANT PROPERTY TAX DEBACLE Libby Znaimer is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP and Lorne Bozinoff, President, Forum Research Group. Today they discuss how thousands of Toronto homeowners have filed complaints with the City over the vacant property tax, and go over their own plans in regards to today's much-anticipated solar eclipse. TPA AND TORONTO POLICE ANGRY ABOUT SIGNED LETTER ON PROTESTS Libby Znaimer is joined first by Jon Reid, President of the Toronto Police Association, followed by Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth. We get reactions from both on a signed letter regarding recent pro-Palestinian protests that saw a number of demonstrators get arrested for breaking the law.

Our Wednesday Medical Record Panel weighs in on the use of AI for a bone cancer prognosis. Then on the program, our panel of real estate experts weighed in on the latest on Toronto's housing market. Later on in the week, our Tune into the Town panel weighed in the freeze of the controversial "rain tax" by Toronto City Hall. And finally...we had experts on to tell you what you need to know about getting the best glimpse of the Solar Eclipse and how to protect your eyes when watching.

Our Zoomer Squad reacted to the Ford Government's plan to spend $2 billion towards home care in its latest budget. Then on the show, Niagara Region declares a State of Emergency as they expect as many as a million people to show up to view the Solar Eclipse on the 8th. And... Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just gave federal MPs a big raise this week. And Libby gets an update on the latest developments on the war in Israel from a panel of experts in Israel.

Today on Free For All Friday: Plenty of our listeners have complaints about how the City of Toronto is handling the Vacant Property Tax. Tune in to find out why!

TUNE INTO THE TOWN:  A FREEZE ON THE "RAIN TAX" AND THE FUTURE OF TDSB ADULT CLASSES Libby Znaimer is joined by Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak, Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, and David Crombie, former Mayor of Toronto. This week: The City has put a freeze on its “rain tax”, also known as a stormwater charge. And, why is the TDSB suing social media companies like Tik Tok? SO...WHAT EXACTLY IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE? AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE PROTECTION WHEN WATCHING ONE Libby Znaimer is now joined by Rupinder Brar, Senior Teaching Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Ontario Tech University, and Dr. Philip Hooper, president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. The day until the Solar Eclipse--Monday April 8th--is quickly approaching. Niagara Region declared a state of emergency with the expectation that as many as a million people could congregate to watch it. That's a lot of people. So...what exactly is a Solar Eclipse and why is it so rare? Also, what measures should you be taking to

THE BIG SYSTEM OUTAGE AT THE UHN If you have an appointment today at any of the University Health Network hospitals, you have likely been made to wait even longer than usual due to a system outage caused by the spring storm. Then on the program, the ability of artificial intelligence to detect tumor cells could be key to more accurate bone cancer prognoses. Jane Brown is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, a Medical Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Fahad Razak, Canada Research Chair in Data Informed Healthcare Improvement at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, is an Internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital. AN ONTARIO/QUEBEC AUTO THEFT CRACKDOWN SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS KIND OF CRIME Everyone is talking about auto theft especially if your insurance rates have gone up because you drive a car that is on the list of most stolen vehicles. And, of course you’re talking about it, if you actually have had your vehicle stolen, p

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: IS OTTAWA'S FOOD PROGRAM JUST ANOTHER GREAT IDEA WITH A LACK OF A PLAN? Libby Znaimer is joined by George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal Deputy Premier and minister of health, Lisa Raitt, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and Cheri Di Novo, a former Ontario NDP MPP. This week: the Trudeau Liberals announced their plan to spend $1 billion towards a national school food program. And it is National Caregivers Day. TORONTO POLICE ASSOCIATION ON PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jon Reid, President of the Toronto Police Association. Today: Jon talks about the kinds of challenges that Toronto Police face when it comes to responding to Pro-Palestinian protests, and the measures they have in place to enforce the law should protesters break those laws. Last Saturday, Toronto Police arrested a number of demonstrators. Jon also responds to criticism that the force is not doing enough to make the local Jewish community feel safe.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: THE CARBON TAX GOES UP TODAY Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol,  President of CARP and Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. Today: our Zoomer Squad reacts to the Ford government's plan to put $2 billion into homecare as per their latest budget. And, the federal carbon tax goes up today. How will that impact the pocket books of Canadians? WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE LIST + HIGHLY PAID CANADIAN MPS Libby Znaimer is now joined by Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Franco weighs in on the latest Sunshine List out of Ontario--which now includes more than 300,000 people! Franco also reacts to the news that starting today, PM Trudeau is giving federal MPs a big raise making them the second highest paid elected officials behind their U.S. counterparts. SOLAR ECLIPSE STATE OF EMERGENCY Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls in Ontario, and Natalie

Best of Fight Back-Sunday March 31 Edition: On Wednesday, the Medical Record panel looked into the highlights of the ord government's budget pertaining to healthcare funding and give it a grade! Then on the show...we cover what we know so far about the Baltimore Bridge collapse that left 6 people presumed dead after a cargo ship collided into it. So...how are bridges designed to be safe? And what went wrong in this case? Then on the program, the CAA kicked off its annual worst roads campaign. Which roads do you find to be the most treacherous?

Best of Fight Back-Saturday March 30 Edition: -We learned that Princess Kate Middleton has been diagnosed with Cancer. Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of ZOOMER Magazine and EverythingZoomer.com, reacted to the bombshell news. -Then on the program, a recap on the events pertaining to the terrorist attack in Moscow, Russia that the group ISIS-K claimed responsibility for. -And the rising cost of private agency nurses has consequences. We take a deep dive into that.

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners debated whether Donald Trump becoming U.S President once again would be a good thing...and things got heated.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTONIAN SUFFERS LIFE ALTERING INJURY FROM DOG ATTACK Libby Znaimer is joined by Taylor Scollon, Co-Founder of The Peak, Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 6 York Centre, and Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth. Today's topics include: the city's garbage collection, dog attacks, and reaction to the provincial budget and how it may impact Toronto. MARIT STILES REACTS TO FORD GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET Libby Znaimer is joined by Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP to discuss the $2B for home care recently revealed in the provincial budget. GROWING PETITION CALLS ON LOBLAW TO REPEAL RECEIPT SCANNING POLICY Now we turn to the hugely profitable grocery chain that Canadians love to hate: of course Libby is talking about Loblaw and specifically their pilot project introducing receipt scanners in self-checkout areas where shoppers will be locked in if they don’t have that receipt. Now a growing petition organized by Leadnow is calling for that policy to be abolished.

THE MEDICAL RECORD:  ONTARIO'S HEALTHCARE FUNDING PLANS Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Alisa Naiman, Family Physician and Founder and Medical Director of The Medical Station in Toronto, Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Amol Verma, a staff physician in General Internal Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. This week: the province released its budget. Our panel assesses what funding it includes for the healthcare system and give the Ford government a grade on their plans. THE BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE: SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS AND BRIDGE SAFETY Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jim Bookbinder, a Professor in the Department of Management Sciences at the University of Waterloo and Rob Handfield, Bank of America Professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University. The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed this week after a cargo ship collided right into it. As many as 6 people are presumed dead and many questions rem

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: A LOOK AHEAD TO THE PROVINCIAL BUDGET It’s budget day in Ontario. Libby Znaimer is joined by former Ontario NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo; former Ontario Liberal Cabinet Minister George Smitherman; and former Ontario PC MPP and finance minister Janet Ecker to discuss. ONTARIO HOSPITALS AND LTC HOMES SPENT ALMOST ONE BILLION DOLLARS ON  AGENCY STAFF LAST YEAR According to a Ministry of Health document, Ontario hospitals and long-term care homes spent nearly $1 billion last year to fill shifts with nurses and personal support workers from private staffing agencies. Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Levin, Chief Executive Officer of AdvantAge Ontario; and Jane Meadus, staff lawyer and the Institutional Advocate at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly to discuss this contentious issue. A NEW REPORT IDENTIFIES THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH THE MOST PESTICIDES A new report has identified the fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides. Libby Znaimer is joined Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Directo

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: WHAT CARP WANTS TO SEE IN THE ONTARIO BUDGET Libby Znaimer is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP; Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer at CARP; and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion, for a conversation about tomorrow’s provincial budget, and other topics that matter to Zoomers. CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES, HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER Libby Znaimer is joined by Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, ZOOMER Magazine and EverythingZoomer.com to discuss the news that Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer. AN UPDATE ON RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Political Science and Jean Monnet Chair at McGill University; and Dr. Andriy Zayarnyuk, Professor of History at the University of Winnipeg who teaches about the former Soviet Union and Ukraine, for an update on the latest on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Best of Fight Back-Sunday March 24 Edition The City of Toronto says the Gardiner Expressway will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue for three years for some critical construction work, starting now. Jennifer Graham Harkness, Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction for the City of Toronto, joined the show for an update on the Gardiner. More than 12,000 vehicles were stolen across Toronto last year - roughly one every 40 minutes - and carjackings have more than doubled so far in 2024. Elliott Silverstein, Director, Government Relations, CAA Insurance; criminal defence lawyer Ari Goldkind; and security expert and former Toronto Police officer Ross McLean discussed this troubling trend. Tax breaks, free advertising space, and a requirement to cover up unsightly construction. Our Tune Into the Town panel took a look at the secret deals Toronto signed to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Almost 300 people in Ontario have been moved from

Best of Fight Back-Saturday March 23 Edition Amid rising hate crime statistics in Toronto, most of which are antisemitic followed by hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ and Black communities, and increasingly intimidating pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the Zoomer Squad took a look at the level of police enforcement of the laws. With the United States making moves to potentially ban the social media platform Tik Tok, Phil Gurski, a former senior strategic terrorism analyst at CSIS and president of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting; Philip Mai, co-director of the Social Media Lab at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University; and Rigatoni Garrido, an artist and animator who relies on Tik Tok to drive traffic to her business, examined the ramifications of this course of action. An 11th hour deal between the Liberals and the NDP agreeing to amend a controversial motion to recognize a Palestinian state saw the removal of the most contentious provision, allowing the seriously watered-do