Fight Back with Libby Znaimer

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in to talk about the trial of Umar Zameer, lack of care in LTC homes and much more.

TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO’S SHARE OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET It’s a busy week at Toronto City Hall as Mayor Olivia Chow and councillors react to what was in and not in the federal Liberal budget delivered on Tuesday. And the mayor and councillors today and yesterday have also been taking care of city business which includes the debacle around the rollout of the vacant home tax and how to improve it. Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak and David Crombie, a former Toronto Mayor. PREMIER DOUG FORD CALLS TO REVERSE THE BAN ON KEFFIYEHS AT QUEEN'S PARK A call by all of Ontario’s party leaders, including Premier Doug Ford to reverse a ban on wearing a keffiyeh in the legislature has failed to pass in a unanimous vote this morning. The speaker, Ted Arnott, who originally imposed the ban acknowledged the request to have the ban reversed and when it was put to a unanimous vote, he said he could hear some “NOs”. So for now, the ban stands. Jane Brown was joined by both Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, and Richard Robertson of B'nai Brith Canada. TRIALS OF UMAR ZAMEER WHO WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING A TORONTO POLICE OFFICER COMES TO AN END Jane Brown is joined by Criminal Defense Lawyer Ari Goldkind. The trial of a man accused of killing a Toronto police officer back in July 2021 is coming to an end. The late Const. Jeffrey Northrup was struck by a vehicle while responding to a robbery report in Toronto’s city hall parkade. Umar Zameer was arrested and charged as a suspect. Host Jane Brown discusses the trial, the accused pleading not guilty to first-degree murder and the rise of recent cop killings.

THE MEDICAL RECORD: CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES 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. It’s Wednesday, time to talk about your health. We’ll begin with the latest cancer screening controversy: a federally appointed body called The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health issues the guidelines that another group of medical experts are now calling dangerous and outdated. REACTION TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET RELEASED IN OTTAWA THIS WEEK Libby Znaimer today is joined by Taylor Scollon, Co-Founder of The Peak, Muhammad Ali, Liberal Strategist and Senior Consultant at Crestview Strategy in Ottawa, John Mykytyshyn, Conservative Activist, Political Consultant and President of Bradgate Research Group. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the federal budget this week. The budget is largely aimed at Gen Zs and Millennials as they face an affordability crisis. The budget also includes a disability benefit program that will see $6.1 billion in funding but payouts won't start until July 2025. THE LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP'S LEGAL TROUBLES Libby Znaimer today is joined by Dr. Chris Cooper, a Political Science Professor at Western Carolina University. Donald Trump continues to make headlines for his legal troubles he is currently facing the hush money trial. The question is: will this complicate his political campaign?

RECOVERING POLITICIANS PANEL: A LOOK AHEAD TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Lisa Raitt, Former Deputy Leader of Conservative Party of Canada, Cheri DiNovo, Former Ontario NDP MPP, and John Milloy, Former Ontario Liberal MPP who served as a cabinet minister under the Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne governments. Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers the federal budget to Canadians. STAFFING SHORTAGES IN LONG-TERM CARE Jane Brown is joined by Dr. Vivian Stamatopolous, a professor at Ontario Tech University who conducts research on long-term care issues and is an advocate for residents. What we know about staffing shortages in long-term care and how that may be impacting the province's ability to meet the required number of hours of hands-on care for residents. A MEMORIAL RIDE FOR CYCLIST KILLED IN TORONTO Jane Brown is joined by Albert Koehl, cycling and pedestrian advocate and an environmental lawyer and Fraser Chapman, President and Co-Founder of The Morning Glory Cycling Club. Hundreds of cyclists got together this week to pay respects to Toronto-based cyclist Vladimir Zotov who was struck and killed by a driver near the DVP on April 8th. He was 59 years of age. He also happened to be a member of the Morning Glory Cycling Club that Fraser helps to lead.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: CAN FOREIGN-TRAINED NURSES SOLVE OUR NURSING SHORTAGES? Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine, and Lorne Bozinoff, President, Forum Research Group. Today: the panel discussed what you need to know about the carbon rebate, the challenges that foreign-trained nurses face when it comes to practicing here in Canada and more. ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO IRAN'S DRONE ATTACK OVER THE WEEKEND Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah and a former Legal advisor to the IDF in Gaza, Martin Himmel, Award-Winning Investigative Documentary Filmmaker, and Vivian Bercovici, a former Ambassador of Canada to Israel. Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel. In turn, Israel alongside a coalition of countries managed to intercept 99 per cent of the fire marking an unprecedented shift in the conflict between the two countries. IT'S NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Libby Znaimer is now joined by Sharon Avery, President and CEO, Toronto Foundation and Joanne McKiernan, Executive Director, Volunteer Toronto. This week marks National Volunteer Week. Do you volunteer as part of your weekly or monthly schedule? Or would you like to learn about volunteer opportunities? Tune in to hear all about it!

Best of Fight Back Sunday April 14 Edition On Wednesday, The Medical Record panel kicked things off with a discussion about whether Alcohol should have warning labels and also about updated guidelines to the health condition Atrial Fibrillation. Then on the Show, primary care physician Dr. Jia Hu on the importance of getting vaccinated for Pneumonia. On Thursday, our Tune into the Town panel weighed in on the cost of redeveloping Ontario Place. Finally, we hosted a panel to react to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's testimony in Ottawa over foreign interference.

Best of Fight Back Saturday April 13 Edition We began the week with our Zoomer Squad and their reaction to the prime minister’s roadshow. Justin Trudeau has been touring the country making tens of billions of dollars in pre-budget announcements. Then on the program, the Toronto Police Association called on Mayor Olivia Chow to condemn a letter signed by some City Councillors that expressed concern about how Police responded to a recent Pro-Palestinian protest. On Tuesday we heard reaction from our Recovering Politicians Panel about Ottawa's updated defence spending policy.

Today on Free For All Friday: listeners called in about the state of homelessness in Toronto, litter on our highways and the federal carbon tax.

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 analyst. This week: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified at the Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference in Ottawa. Our experts react to what he said...and what he didn't. AMOS GUIORA GIVES US AN UPDATE ON ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at the University of Utah and a former Legal advisor to the IDF in Gaza. Amos weighs in on potential retaliation from Iran after Israel conducted a targeted killing of IRGC generals at the Iranian consular building in Damascus earlier this month, and the recent anti-government protests taking place inside Israel that are calling for the release of hostages still being held by Hamas and for an election.

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 expert in health policy, public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Hu discusses what you need to know about pneumonia and other types of pneumococcal disease and the important role of vaccination for older adults.

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 Znaimer is joined by Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton. Mayor Brown weighs in on the results of Project Vector that saw hundreds of stolen vehicles seized by the OPP and other Canadian authorities and whether he feels that enough is being done to curb this kind of rampant theft in Peel Region. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

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 ensure you protect your eyes during the sighting? Our experts weigh in on it all. WHY THE COST OF OWNING A CAR IN TORONTO HAS GONE UP Libby Znaimer is now joined by Julien Brault, CEO of Hardbacon. Get this: According to Hardbacon, owning a car in Toronto in 2024 costs $1,623 per month. Back in 2019 it was $1,068 per month. So what contributed to the spike?

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, possibly from your own driveway. Some people in Toronto aren’t waiting for it to happen and have hired private security to make sure their vehicles aren’t stolen. That’s where Tom Doyle comes in. He’s the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Protection and Investigative Services which provides security for those who want to pay for it. Joining him to discuss the results of the OPP's Project Vector is Detective Inspector Scott Wade with OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau. AN UPDATE ON TORONTO'S HOUSING MARKET Jane Brown is now joined by Jason Mercer, Chief Market Analyst & Director of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TREB) and Karen Yolevski, COO, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. A new report from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says there was enough competition among buyers that the average home price rose moderately from March of last year to March of this year to 1.12 million dollars. But overall sales were down 4.5 percent year over year.

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. JONATHAN CONRICUS JOINS THE SHOW TO TALK ISRAEL Libby Znaimer is now joined by Jonathan Conricus, Former Spokesperson for the IDF, Vivian Bercovici, Canadian lawyer and Academic and Former Ambassador of Canada to Israel and Uriel Abulof, a senior lecturer at Tel-Aviv University's Department of Political Science. Anti-government protests have been intensifying in Israel becoming reminiscent of those that took place prior to October 7th. Our guests react to that and the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war.

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 Preddie, Travel Expert and Travel Freelance Writer. The Niagara Region local authorities have declared a state of emergency over the expectation that as many as a million viewers will descend upon the Niagara Falls to watch the Solar Eclipse on April 8. But, really...is that necessary?

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?