Ontario Today Phone-Ins

Ontario Today sits down with Kate Mulligan, the scientific director of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing

Your stories with Caroline Fitzpatrick, the Canada Research Chair in Digital Media Use by Children. Her latest research suggests too much screen time for preschoolers could lead to emotional and anger management problems.

Your stories with guests Jon Allen, former Canadian ambassador to Israel, and Raja Khour, former commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner and founding president Canadian-Arab Institute.

The Ontario government is looking to raise the speed limit to 110 km/hr on more 400-series highways. Hear what listeners across the province think of that idea, and also views from Brian Patterson, head of the Ontario Safety League.

Paul Zammit is a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

Justine De Jaegher was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder in her twenties. It was a disorder that she tried to hide from friends and family. Now she's trying to get people to talk about OCD -- to increase public understanding of the disorder. Justine is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Caitlin Claggett Woods.

Everyone has words that bring out their "Inner Grammando" or "Inner Wordie". That's the thinking from English professor Anne Curzan in her new book "Says Who? A kinder funner usage guide for everyone who cares about words." We hear from her, as well as sociolinguistics professor Sali Tagliamonte. And of course, listeners favourite and least liked words.

The provincial government estimates the cost of congestion is close to $11 billion a year in lost revenue. But what is the cost on you? Our guests -- urban planning professor Matti Siemiatycki and civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe -- evaluate the province's latest solutions, including the proposal for a major tunnel project under Highway 401.

Sports referees are often on the receiving end of verbal abuse from coaches, players, and parents. Now there are more efforts to stop this behaviour -- so that referees don't quit. Ontario Today invites Harry Smith, a hockey referee in Etobicoke, as well as Scott Oakman, the executive director and chief Operating Officer of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Our guest is Metis elder Tony Belcourt, the founding president of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Zammit is the professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

Your stories with language researcher Federico Rossano, Associate Professor in the department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego. The Comparative Cognition Lab, has some 10,000 dogs participating in a study, where they are learning words from a sound pad in their homes.

Your stories with disability advocate, David Lepofsky who shares stories from his latest memoir about his fight for rights for the disability community.

Your stories with American researcher Gloria Mark, who has recently published: Attention Span, sharing scientific findings about multi-tasking, smart phones, and the need for "right to disconnect" legislation.

The Ontario government says the law helps to free up limited hospital beds. But some advocates disagree. Joining us to take your calls is Dr. Maurice St. Martin, a family doctor and the medical director two long terms care facilities in Sudbury.

He's a Professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

Our guest is Toronto city councillor and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie who says yes.

The Ontario Government is asking for input on what practical skills should be added to the school curriculum. You weigh in with the CEO of People for Education Annie Kidder, and Diane O'Shea, a member of the Home Economics Association.

Filling your spare time with side hustles can put more money in your pocket, but what will it cost you? Deena Ladd, executive director of the Workers Action Centre, joins Ontario Today to hear your stories about the impact of the gig economy.

Your stories about turning to the food bank with the head of Feed Ontario, Catherine Stewart. Feed Ontario's recent astonishing report showed a record breaking year in food bank use, up 25 per cent from last.