The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 276: Friday Round Table with Mojdeh Cox, Jeff Preston and Ryan Gauss

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by activist Mojdeh Cox, disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and political insider Ryan Gauss.

The panel discusses the ongoing London Police investigation into what they're calling a potentially hate-motivated arson, more changes at the London Health Sciences Centre and cuts at the Thames Valley District School Board.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Covent Garden Market and Downtown London.

Episode 275: Dr. Sharon Koivu's concerns about safe supply drugs

London has become one of the centre of the safe supply debate in the medical community. The pro-side says that providing drugs that aren't from dealers will be safer and lead to fewer overdose deaths. The con-side believes that safe supply is only a temporary measure, with more harms than benefits.

Dr. Sharon Koivu, who has been practicing medicine in London for nearly 40 years, is firmly on the con-side of the conversation. She joins Craig to explain why and what she's seeing in the community.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 274: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller

Craig welcomes London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, as well as former city councillors Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller to talk about the issues of the week.

They talk about the state of long-term care in Ontario and Cheryl's husband being in the system, then they talk about the provincial cabinet shuffle, housing being put over top of farmland, renoviction rules in London and the lawnmower debate being reignited at city hall.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 273: Andrew Lawton talks 'Pierre Poilievre: A Political Life'

If you look at the polls, it shows the chances are high that Pierre Poilievre is going to be the next Prime Minister of Canada.

How did he get to this point?

Craig's former colleague Andrew Lawton has written a book about it. 'Pierre Poilievre: A Political Life' is available now, and Andrew stopped by the Covent Garden Market studio to talk about the book and what the next 18 months may look like in federal politics.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Covent Garden Market and Downtown London.

Episode 272: Ford spends big on big box beer

The good news: If you like to buy a beer, soon there will be more places to do it.

The bad news: It's going to be expensive.

Premier Doug Ford says alcohol sales will be expanded, with the rollout beginning this summer. The cost a $225-million payout to the Beer Store, plus hundreds of millions more in other costs, according to the opposition.

Ben Johnson, a local beer writer and the host of the Beer and Bulls%$t podcast joins Craig to share his thoughts.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Covent Garden Market and Downtown London.

Episode 271: Friday Round Table with Skylar Franke, AJ Wray and Carol Dyck

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by Ward 11 councillor Skylar Franke, PhD candidate AJ Wray and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck.

Among the topics is the city hall conversation surrounding gas powered lawn mower use after 6 p.m., office to housing conversions, the troubles with transit as west London develops and the potential hub on Wellington being shot down.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 270: New LHSC boss talks vision, hospital reputation

The London Health Sciences Centre has a new acting President and CEO.

David Musyj, who had been President and CEO at Windsor Regional Hospital, is temporarily taking over the top job at LHSC in the midst of ongoing questions about the LHSC's travel scandal and the absence of CEO Jackie Schleifer Taylor.

What are Musyj's priorities? Why did the take on the London challenge?

He spoke with Craig to talk about the answers to those questions and other issues facing London's biggest hospital.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 269: How is vaccine misinformation impacting our health?

During the pandemic, the term vaccination became a lightning rod for controversy and misinformation.

Now, illnesses like measles and whooping cough that were once thought to be a thing of the past are making a return.

Dr. Jia Hu, a physician and public health advocate, joined Craig to examine the issue and discuss possible solutions.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 268: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Steve Cordes and Steve Holland

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, YOU Executive Director Steve Cordes and CUPE Local 101 President Steve Holland.

 

They breakdown the latest issues at London Police Service where three senior officers are off on leave.

 

Then, they look at a similar story at London Health Sciences Centre (17:50), where a Windsor executive is taking over the top job after years of shuffling in the executive offices at the hospital.

 

Also, Craig and the panel talk about council rejecting the idea of hearing a funding pitch from SafeSpace (27:10) and look at the latest on a hub proposal on Wellington Road being called 'dead' (45:32).

 

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Covent Garden Market and Downtown London.

Episode 267: Jessie Rodger on frontline social services

Jessie Rodger, the Executive Director of Anova, joins Craig to talk about social service agencies that have been highly scrutinized in London over the last month.

They discuss sex work laws, addictions challenges and other issues facing these organizations in the community.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.