The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 381: Susan Stevenson motion draws ire from agencies, colleagues

Ward 4 councillor Susan Stevenson is back in the news - this time because of a motion perceived by some to have questioned the integrity of some local social service providers.

Stevenson says that is not the case, and joined Craig on the podcast to explain why she wanted to see some agreements the city completed with Unity Project, London Cares and Atlohsa.

Why did Stevenson want to see these contracts? Why does she think the backlash was so intense? And what would she do differently in the future? 

These questions and more on The Craig Needles Podcast - brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 380: Friday Round Table with Frances Moore, Carol Dyck and Sara Mai Chitty

The Ford government's highly controversial Bill 5 was the big Ontario political story this week, so Craig is joined by advocate Frances Moore, former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck and first time round tabler Sara Mai Chitty to break it all down.

Why is the bill so controversial? Why are Indigenous communities, especially, so concerned by it? And what could the political impacts be?

Then, Craig and the panel look at the potential budget cuts at London City Hall. Council wants to save money, can they do that without major service impacts? What should council be focused on to bring down the tax rate.

Then, they wrap up by quickly discussing the city and Farhi Holdings working together to convert office space into housing.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 379: Dramatic Hockey Canada trial is almost over

Seven years of legal twists and turns could soon come to an end for former NHLers Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote.

The final legal arguments in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case are being presented next week.

Craig is joined by defense lawyer Alison Craig on the podcast to talk about the case, the various bizarre legal happenings surrounding it and what the outcome might be.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 378: London Music Week!

It's London Music Week!

Craig is joined by Mario Circelli to talk about everything happening from June 1st-8th, the music scene in London, how we can make it better and lots more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 377: Friday Round Table with Kelly Elliott, Mojdeh Azad and Jeremy McCall

The fallout continues at the Thames Valley District School Board, as another executive has resigned in the wake of major financial scandal.

What's next for the board? Will we ever have trustees again? How did this happen?

Craig is joined by a panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, organizational consultant and activist Mojdeh Azad (formerly Mojdeh Cox) and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to try and answer those questions and more.

Then, they look at a London Police officer facing criminal charges while still getting paid and potentially tough decisions council will have to make as they try and cut the tax increase.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 376: Executives, trustees failed TVDSB students

The TVDSB audit is out, and the results are bad.

Unauthorized promotions, random COVID payouts, questionable executive decisions - all that and more on the list of things that shouldn't have happened at the school board.

Craig's question: Why are some people letting the trustees off the hook here? Shouldn't they be accountable for the actions of now former Education Director Mark Fisher?  Could there be criminal charges here? And could these revelations change the way we run Ontario's education system?

Education analyst & researcher Debbie Kasman joins Craig to tackle these questions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 375: Friday Round Table with Frances Moore, Matthew Newton-Reid and Devin Munro

We know where that $60-million surplus the City of London has is going - sort of.

Some councillors may still try to see some of the cash get to community groups. Should it?

Meantime, London politicians and police are extolling the virtues of month one of their open air drug use crackdown. Is it actually working?

Also, week one of the new Carney government. Do the missteps on the housing file show they're going to have a rough time?

Advocate Frances Moore, political insider Devin Munro and former TVDSB trustee Matthew Newton-Reid joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss those questions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 374: The future of TVDSB with Cheryl Miller

Former London City Councillor and Thames Valley District School Board Trustee Cheryl Miller joins Craig to talk about the future of the board now that trustees have essentially been fired by the province.

How did this happen? Did the province make the right choice? Those questions and more, plus Cheryl shares thoughts on council compensation and the budget surplus debate.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 373: Shawn Lewis on Council Workload, London Transit and TVDSB

It's been another whirlwind news week in London.

Councillors anonymously sniping at each other (via survey), London transit busses are late (surprise) and we still don't really know what's happening with the Thames Valley District School Board after the province essentially turfed the trustees.

London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis joined Craig on the podcast to talk about these issues and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 372: Over 100 Supportive Housing units coming to London

A huge announcement from Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services - as they're creating 115 new highly supportive housing apartments thanks to a big investment from the Health and Homelessness Fund for Change.

The units won't be online until fall 2026 (in SoHo) and winter 2027 (on Huron Street) but Mayor Josh Morgan says the announcement is a huge step in battling the homelessness crisis in the city.

Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about the announcement and some of the positive trends he's seeing in London's core areas.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.