Fight Back With Libby Znaimer

ZOOMER SQUAD: WHAT IS THE PROPOSED TORONTO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE? Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Advocacy and Education Officer at CARP and Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research, and research adjunct professor at the Norman Paterson School for International Affairs at Carleton University Is there a demographic divide in the race to replace Justin Trudeau? And, Toronto residents got to see the proposed property tax increase for 2025: 6.9 percent (that includes the city building fee). We dive into those two topics.  ONE ON ONE WITH LIBERAL MP CHARLES SOUSA Libby Znaimer is joined by Charles Sousa, Liberal MP for Mississauga-Lakeshore. We get an update on the ongoing federal Liberal leadership race in Ottawa. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY: LET'S TALK TORONTO'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2025 Libby Znaimer is joined by Shelley Carroll, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 17 Don Valley North + Chair of the City's budget committee followed by Toronto C

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners weighed in on the ongoing federal Liberal leadership race in the aftermath of PM Trudeau's resignation announcement this week, President-Elect Donald Trump's comments about Canada and their thoughts on Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS &  SPEED CAMERA VANDALISM  Libby Znaimer is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, Jon Burnside, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 16 (Don Valley East) and Taylor Scollon, Co-Founder of The Peak. Toronto speed cameras are getting vandalized across the city and more are coming to city roads this year. Mayor Olivia Chow also makes a traffic announcement and we revisit the issue of homelessness and homeless encampments in our parks. AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL LIBERAL LEADERSHIP RACE Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Housefather, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal and Charles Bird, Managing Principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group in Toronto. It's time to get an update on the federal Liberal leadership race: who is a confirmed candidate and who are the potential candidates? And there are also concerns around the current voting rules and how they could abet foreign interference. LET'S TALK ABOUT RECIPES

THE MEDICAL RECORD:  SHOULD WE HAVE CANCER WARNING LABELS ON ALCOHOL? Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Keith Stewart, Vice President, Cancer and Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Program, UHN, Dr. Fahad Razak, General Internist at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Data and Analytics at the University of Toronto and Dr. Alisa Naiman, a family doctor practicing comprehensive primary care in Toronto. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling for cancer warning labels to be put on alcohol beverage products, pointing to the increased risk that alcohol consumption can have on cancers of the breast, colon, liver and more. Here are some staggering statistics: each year, alcohol consumption leads to 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S. and 20,000 cancer deaths. Murthy's office also explained that, "Alcohol consumption is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, increasing risk for at least seven types of cancer." Murthy

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: MORE REACTION TO PM TRUDEAU RESIGNATION    Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, George Smitherman, a former Ontario Liberal Deputy Premier and Health Minister and Tom Parkin, a social democratic commentator and writer. It's the day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement and his request of the governor general to prorogue Parliament until March 24. Meanwhile, who are the likely candidates running for the leadership race to replace him? CHANGE TO THE RRSP CONTRIBUTION LIMIT IN 2025 Libby Znaimer is joined by Jamie Golombek, Managing Director, Tax and Estate Planning at CIBC and Lesley-Anne Scorgie, Founder of MeVest, a leading-edge financial education company specializing in money coaching for Canadians. There's a change to the RRSP contribution limit in 2025 and other financial news to discuss. IS IT HEALTHY TO REUSE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR FOOD? Libby Znaimer is joined by Bryan Le, a Food

ZOOMER SQUAD: IT'S OFFICIAL - PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU IS RESIGNING Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, and Jason Lietaer, Conservative Strategist and President at Enterprise, followed by Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant. It's official: PM Justin Trudeau announced that he is resigning as leader of the Liberal party and as Prime Minister. This morning he asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24. He will stay on until a new leader is chosen. It comes after weeks of political drama that included the resignation of Chrystia Freeland from Trudeau's cabinet, terrible polling numbers for the Liberals and mounting pressure from within and outside of the party for Trudeau to leave. COURT CHALLENGE AGAINST TRUDEAU'S PROROGUING OF PARLIAMENT? Libby Znaimer is joined by Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch, John Milloy, former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty and

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners shared some of their New Year's resolutions, how they have felt about Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's track record so far, and whether they would vote for Chrystia Freeland if she were to be the future leader of the federal Liberal party. 

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: WHERE SHOULD TORONTO AND MAYOR OLIVIA CHOW'S PRIORITIES BE IN 2025?   Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Karen Stintz, a Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Eglinton-Lawrence, Jon Burnside, Councillor for Ward 16 Don Valley East and Councillor James Pasternak for Ward 6 York Centre. 2024 was a difficult year here in Toronto: auto theft, homeless encampments at city parks, terrible traffic congestion and construction, antisemitism and violence against the Jewish community just to list a few of the things we've been seeing. Then there were issues like the debate over the renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square and Mayor Olivia Chow's back and forth with the Ford government over bike lanes. But, we've also just entered 2025...perhaps a chance to turn a page to a new, more positive chapter for our city. Our panel details what they think should be the priorities for City Hall and Mayor Chow in the year ahead. WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT TH

A look back at the biggest Fight Back stories from the year that was.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: THE YEAR THAT WAS IN CANADIAN POLITICS Tasha Kheiriddin is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada, Bob Richardson, a public affairs consultant, and Tom Parkin, a social democratic columnist and commentator. 2024 has been a year of non-stop, action-packed politics right up until the end. Our panel reacts to the news that made headlines, from the drama in Ottawa with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau facing calls to resign to the four provincial elections that Canada saw this year. MAKING THE CASE FOR IMPROVED HOME CARE Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Sue VanderBent, CEO of Home Care Ontario. Home Care Ontario has launched a campaign dubbed “Home Not Hallways”; they want to see more support for home care and are highlighting their concerns around waitlists for long-term care and “worsening hallway healthcare”. Sue joins us to discuss. ERIC ALPER ON THE BIGGEST POP CULTURE ZOOMER STORIES OF 2024 Tasha

ZOOMER SQUAD: REFLECTING ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JIMMY CARTER   Tasha Kheiriddin is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP and John Wright, a veteran pollster. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100 after some time in hospice care. We reflect on his legacy during and after his presidency. A ROUNDUP OF THE BIG CONSUMER STORIES OF 2024 Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Ellen Roseman, a consumer advocate and journalist. Now that we are all done with 2024, it's worth taking a look at some of the biggest consumer stories that unfolded in the past year. That includes scams, the high cost of groceries, auto theft and more. Join us for a comprehensive breakdown. ARE YOU FEELING SAD? Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Registered Psychologist Dr. Oren Amitay who is based in Toronto. Are you feeling SAD? We're talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Dr. Amitay weighs in on

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in to discuss U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's joke about Canada becoming the 51st State and the ongoing political drama in Ottawa with calls for PM Justin Trudeau to resign, as well as to share their holiday messages with the Zoomer Radio audience.

A look back at the biggest Fight Back stories from the year that was.

RECOVERING POLITICIANS: TRUDEAU WILL SKI RATHER THAN WALK IN THE SNOW DURING HOLIDAYS Libby Znaimer is joined by Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Cheri DiNovo, a former Ontario NDP MPP, and John Milloy, a former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne governments. Our panel reacts to the ongoing turmoil within the federal Liberals and with Prime Minister Trudeau, who continues to face calls for his resignation. WHY PROPOSED CHANGES TO AIR PASSENGER RIGHTS CHARTER DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Gabor Lukacs, President of Air Passenger Rights and John Gradek, a former executive with Air Canada. Will Ottawa's proposed changes to the Canadian Air Passenger Rights actually going to make any substantial difference? We bring on Gabor and John to react to the latest. IN DEFENCE OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD  Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Patrice Dutil, Professor in the Department of Politics a

ZOOMER SQUAD: WHAT DOES THE FALL ECONOMIC STATEMENT OFFER OLDER ZOOMERS?  Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Education and Advocacy Officer at CARP, and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. Ottawa has just appointed its new Minister of Seniors as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle. The question is: how much can she expect to get done as the governing Liberals face a bleak future. Meanwhile, what does the Fall Economic Statement from Ottawa (which was greatly overshadowed by drama from within the Liberal party) offer up to Canada's Seniors?  PRINCESS MARGARET IS EXPANDING: HERE'S WHY Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Keith Stewart, Vice President, Cancer and Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Program at the University Health Network (UHN). The University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is expanding to meet the growing patient population and involves opening up a new building with more cancer care p

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners reacted to the dramatic week that was for PM Justin Trudeau, starting with the resignation of Chrystia Freeland from cabinet and ending with the cabinet shuffle earlier today.  

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: WHAT'S THE LATEST AT CITY HALL?  Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillor Jon Burnside for Ward 16 Don Valley East, Karen Stintz, a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada and a former Toronto City Councillor, and Taylor Scollon, co-founder of The Peak. This week: what are the hot button issues coming out of City Hall before the year's end? And, sadly, we have to revisit the conversation around traffic congestion in Toronto. A SYNAGOGUE IN MONTREAL TARGETED BY ARSON; POLICE FIND FIREBOMB REMNANTS ON THE SCENE  Libby Znaimer is joined by Amir Epstein, Executive Director of Tafsik, a grassroots organization combating antisemitism and Aaron Hadida, the founder of Magen Herut Canada. This week: Montreal Synagogue Congregation Beth Tikvah (located in Dollard-des-Ormeaux) was the target of a firebomb. It's the second time they've been targeted in the past 14 months. They are calling on government officials to take action in addressing the rise in antisemitism. THE MA

THE MEDICAL RECORD: WHY ARE THERE MORE HEART ATTACKS DURING CHRISTMAS WEEK? Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Malcolm Moore, Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Nadia Alam, a family doctor and anesthetist in Georgetown, and Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, Internal Medicine and Critical Care Physician at Humber River Hospital. Today: we discuss challenges in primary care, the spike in heart attacks during the holiday season and more healthcare news of the week. BRAD BRADFORD SAYS THAT MAYOR CHOW'S DECISION TO BOOT HIM FROM VARIOUS ROLES IS "POLITICAL"  Libby Znaimer is joined by Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford of Ward 19 Beaches-East York. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has removed Councillor Brad Bradford from the City's housing committee this week and from the boards of CreateTO and the Toronto Parking Authority. Councillor Bradford says that the Mayor's decision is a political one. He shares with Libby his thoughts on the situation. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT A STRING OF TORONTO JEWELRY HEISTS 

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: MORE REACTION TO FREELAND’S RESIGNATION LETTER  Libby Znaimer is joined by Bob Richardson, a Public Affairs Consultant, Cheri DiNovo, a former Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario, and Lisa Raitt, a former Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Our panel reacts to Chrystia Freeland's resignation letter she put out yesterday that was directed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  TERRY FOX WILL BE ON THE CANADIAN FIVE DOLLAR BILL  Libby Znaimer is joined by J.D.M Stewart, a historian and the author of Being Prime Minister, and Dr. Ronald Stagg, Professor of History at Toronto Metropolitan University. Canadian icon Terry Fox is going to be the next face of our five dollar bill according to the federal Fall Economic Statement. We discuss that and the importance of preserving our Canadian history. A CONCERNING REPORT ABOUT HOW A CANADIAN CHARITY IS SPENDING ITS MONEY Libby Znaimer is joined by Kate Bahen, Managing Director at Charity Intelligence in Toront

ZOOMER SQUAD: OTTAWA'S GST HOLIDAY AND LATEST ON CANADA POST Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, and Anthony Quinn, Chief Operating Officer of CARP. There is a lot to unpack today. The Trudeau Liberals' GST holiday is in effect. Meanwhile, Canada Post workers are being sent back to work tomorrow by order of the Canada Industrial Relations Board. It comes after a month of striking. And, Chrystia Freeland has resigned from cabinet. What comes next? A POST-ASSAD SYRIA: WHAT IT MEANS FOR ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST  Libby Znaimer is joined by Avraham Levine, a Major in the IDF Reserves, a resident of the Golan Heights and an expert with Alma, a research and education centre based in Israel, and Phil Gurski,  President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and a  former senior strategic terrorism analyst at CSIS. In a post-Assad Syria, a lot remains unknown about what the country's new leadership will mean for Israel and the res