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The Craig Needles Podcast

News & Politics Podcasts

Longtime London, Ontario media personality Craig Needles talks about the biggest stories in the Forest City with local newsmakers and commentators.

Location:

Canada

Description:

Longtime London, Ontario media personality Craig Needles talks about the biggest stories in the Forest City with local newsmakers and commentators.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Craig Needles Podcast Episode 346: Friday Round Table with Kelly Ziegner, Ryan Gauss and Scott Kitching

2/7/2025
The provincial election rolls on and Canada's next Prime Minister may have visited London this week - plus, are people sad about living in the Forest City? Craig is joined by a panel of United Way Elgin-Middlesex CEO Kelly Ziegner, political insider Ryan Gauss and Blackburn Media News Manager Scott Kitching to discuss those stories and more on this week's Friday Round Table. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:56:04

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Episode 345: Grief should be an election issue

2/6/2025
Healthcare and poverty are already big election issues. But what ties them both together? Grief. Advocate Bronagh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about why she fees navigating grief should be an election issue during the Ontario campaign. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:23:37

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Episode 344: Friday Round Table with Kelly Elliott, Scott Collyer and Steve Cordes

1/31/2025
Busy week! We're off and running in the Ontario election, London is fighting for cash to help with homelessness and a city councillor is in the middle of multiple media firestorms. The Friday Round Table panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, political insider Scott Collyer and Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to break it all down. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:52:49

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Episode 343: Councillor Peter Cuddy explains heated confrontation

1/31/2025
A video shared by CTV London shows Ward 3 councillor Peter Cuddy getting very heated when confronted by political strategist Zak Rahim - when Rahim was trying to serve him with a lawsuit. Cuddy sits down with Craig to explain what happened, how he's trying to make sure it doesn't happen again and the status of the lawsuit. They also Cuddy being removed from the London Public Library Board and his now-derailed plan to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in London-Fanshawe. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:25:02

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Episode 342: London is getting a HART Hub

1/28/2025
The provincial government (a few hours before calling an election) says that London is getting a HART hub. The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment hub - which will be run by CMHA Thames Valley - is scheduled to be open in April. How will the hubs work? Who will they help? CHMA Director for Supportive Housing Dean Astolfi joined Craig on the podcast to explain. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:17:01

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Episode 341: Friday Round Table with Elizabeth Peloza, Jennifer Dunn and Frances Moore

1/24/2025
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by City of London budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and advocate Frances Moore to talk about the week's top stories. First, it's election season in Ontario! Doug Ford needs a new mandate - so he says - so we're voting on February 27th. Will this backfire? Then, they look at Mayor Josh Morgan's State of the City address, which included talk of capping the property tax increase in 206 at 5%. Also, it was very, very cold this week. Did city leaders move quickly enough to setup warming centres? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:50:32

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Episode 340: Atrocity

1/21/2025
A new documentary about homelessness in London - called Atrocity - is out and there's a screening next week (get tickets here). The filmmaker is Nigel Stuckey, a retired London Police officer with more than 30 years of experience. He joined Craig to talk about the documentary, the people dealing with homelessness who he had conversations with and what governments need to do to solve the problem. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:32:57

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Episode 339: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Mojdeh Cox and Nathan Caranci

1/17/2025
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, organizational consultant Mojdeh Cox and political insider Nathan Caranci to break down the week's top stories. First, it looks like it will be Mark Carney vs. Chrystia Freeland for the Liberal leadership. Does it matter who wins as the Liberals prepare for the next election? Then they discuss how Doug Ford and the other Premiers are getting along (or in one case, not getting along) as they try to tackle the tariff threats from Donald Trump. And finally, London is growing. Fast. The city's population is over 480,000. How are we making the city a more welcoming place for those who are coming here? How are we keeping up with the housing demand? The Craig Needles Podcast is rough to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:01:07:20

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Episode 338: A trade war and two elections?

1/14/2025
2025 is shaping up to be a doozy. We start the year with threats of massive tariffs from Donald Trump - plus Justin Trudeau is going to resign in March and we could be heading to the polls provincially. Lots on the go! How is that impacting municipalities? And everyone else? Bradford-Westgwillamberry councillor Jonathan Scott joins Craig for his thoughts and some analysis on what might be next. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:19:52

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Episode 337: Is Ontario still going to the polls?

1/13/2025
Seems like we'll be going to the polls soon federally, will we be doing the same provincially? Things may have shifted on that front. Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner joins Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss that possibility, his visit to London, trading uncertainty with the US, housing, preparing for natural disasters and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:24:39

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Episode 336: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Jared Zaifman and Matthew Newton-Reid

1/10/2025
The first Friday Round Table of 2025 and things have changed since the last one - and a panel of former city councillor Cheryl Miller, London Home Builder's Association Executive Director Jared Zaifman and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid join Craig in the studio to talk about it. For starters, Justin Trudeau has resigned, so that's important. Craig and the group breakdown the Liberal leadership race that will wrap up on March 8th and look ahead to how the federal election may go in London and nationally. Then they discuss some affordable housing projects on the go in London and how we can get more of them completed. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:01:05:34

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Episode 335: What's next for the Liberal Party?

1/7/2025
Justin Trudeau is resigning... eventually. Parliament is prorogued until the end of March, and the Liberals are going to try and find a new leader. Who should it be? How quick should the process be? Craig chats with political commentator and strategist Andrew Perez to get his thoughts on that - and the international political issues that are in the background. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:23:36

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Episode 334: Friday Round Table with Mojdeh Cox and Kelly Elliott

12/20/2024
It been a crazy week in Canadian politics, and Craig is joined by organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott to break it all down. Chrystia Freeland is out. Mark Carney won't be coming in. Justin Trudeau is facing pressure to resign. And, by the way, Jagmeet Singh says the NDP will vote to bring down the government. Busy. Also, Susan Stevenson has been docked 30 days pay by her council colleagues. The panel shares thoughts on that decision and about how councillor behaviour is scrutinized in Ontario. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:53:11

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Episode 333: Did Susan Stevenson violate the council code of conduct - again?

12/16/2024
Oft-controversial councillor Susan Stevenson is in the news again. This time because the Integrity Commissioner has ruled she violated the council code of conduct - for a second time. However, she rejects the findings. Stevenson joined Craig on the podcast to discuss the findings and flaws in the report, and her efforts to jump to federal politics as she seeks the Conservative nomination in the riding of London Centre for the next election. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:53:29

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Episode 332: Friday Round Table with AJ Wray, Carol Dyck and Jeremy McCall

12/13/2024
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes city building expert Dr. AJ Wray, Green Party candidate Carol Dyck and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to the studio to talk about the week's top stories. They look at Doug Ford's pledge to fine encampment drug users $10,000 and send them to jail, whether Ontario will get an election this winter and the failures in the City of London's mobility master plan. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:43:53

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Episode 331: "Where are people supposed to go?"

12/10/2024
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to crack down on encampments - which could include using the notwithstanding clause. There's just one problem. As much as they've discussed increased addictions help and housing, those things aren't ready yet, so where will the people leaving the encampments go? Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner joins Craig to discuss. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:21:57

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Episode 330: Anybody else secretly paying Navigator?

12/6/2024
Navigator makes a lot of money in London, apparently! The latest publicly funded institution revealed to be paying them is the Thames Valley District School Board - to the tune of more than $225,000, according to the London Free Press. Craig has questions. Why won't trustees tell us what the money was for? Why did they need a hired gun if they had so many communications people on staff already? If you're communicating with parents and students, why are the stakes so high that you need Navigator? He tackles those questions and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:16:14

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Episode 329: Jeff Preston and Frances Moore talk accessibility

12/3/2024
December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day! Also, less than a month from today, Ontario was supposed to be fully accessible as a province. We aren't there yet. Advocates Dr. Jeff Preston and Frances Moore joined Craig in the studio to talk about where we are and where we need to go next. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:33:45

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Episode 328: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Cheryl Miller and Ryan Gauss

11/29/2024
On this week's Friday Round Table, London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Cheryl Miller an political insider Ryan Gauss join Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio. The panel gives their thoughts on London's 7.4% property tax increase and where additional savings could have been found. Also, are London city councillors underpaid? Then, they talked about how council meetings are conducted. First, a move to "call the question" at London City Hall during committee meetings - and an unhinged rant by a councillor at a budget meeting in Sarnia. Also, businesses don't seem thrilled with the upcoming GST break. Will this policy help the federal Liberals? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:56:26

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Episode 327: The Salvation Army aims to raise $650,000 and needs volunteers

11/26/2024
The Salvation Army has an ambitious goal with their kettle campaign in 2024: They want to raise $650,000. Can they do it? They'll need your help. London Community Services Executive Director Nancy Kerr joined Craig on the podcast to explain why they set a high goal, talk about the need in the community and share how you can volunteer. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Duration:00:14:29