The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 241: Do London Police need $672-million?

The London Police budget ask is a massive $672-million dollars.

Do they need all of that money to keep the city safe, as their chief and board have said? Where could they find cuts?

Former London Police officer and current professor at King's University College Dr. Lesley Bikos joins the podcast to share her thoughts.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London.

Episode 240: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Steve Cordes and Jared Zaifman

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes and London Home Builder's Association C.E.O. Jared Zaifman.

They discuss the $672-million police budget ask and the London Police Association statement blasting "defund the police zealots", as well as Mayor Josh Morgan's proposed 8.8% tax increase next year and the latest on the Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London.

Episode 239: What's next in Hockey Canada case?

Former Knight Alex Formenton, along with four current NHL players, have turned themselves in to London Police amid the 2018 Hockey Canada sex assault case.

What's next? How long will it take until we get some answers? How does the civil settlement impact the criminal case?

Defense lawyer Alison Craig discusses on this edition of the podcast.

Episode 238: Friday Round Table with Elizabeth Peloza, Jennifer Dunn and Mojdeh Cox

City of London budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and activist Mojdeh Cox join Craig for this week's Friday Round Table.

They discuss the Mayor's State of the City address, the police budget, the reported plan by London Police to arrest five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team and whether the kindergarten curriculum needs to change.

Episode 237: Can development be green?

In the middle of a housing crisis, London needs development.

But can that development be environmentally friendly?

On the heels of a conversation at city hall, councillor Skylar Franke and London Home Builder's Association CEO Jared Zaifman join Craig to breakdown what the city wants to do and how it could work for developers.

Episode 236: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Roger Caranci and A.J. Wray

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Roger Caranci and PhD candidate A.J. Wray.

They breakdown compensation for London City Councillors and what the future should look like, as well as an open meetings violation found by the Ontario Ombudsman and Doug Ford's plan to have people head to Wal-Mart or Staples to get a health card.

Episode 235: Hidden costs of Service Ontario's Staples move

Doug Ford's government has announced a pilot project that will see Service Ontario kiosks be located within Staples and Wal-Mart stores.

Critics have said the plan would end good jobs and send provincial tax dollars to major US corporations. But, some advocates are worried about legal outcomes for low income Ontarians.

Jamie Hildebrand, Executive Director of the Huron Perth Community Legal Clinic, which is funded by legal aid, joins Craig to share his thoughts.

Episode 234: Friday Round Table with Jeff Preston, Carol Dyck and Scott Kitching

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston, former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and Blackburn Media news manager Scott Kitching.

They discuss raises at city hall during a time of budget pressures, a positive report about homelessness in the London and whether a new series of complaints could move the political needle on the existence of the publicly funded Catholic school boards in Ontario.

 

Episode 233: Battling renovictions

Does London have a renoviction problem?

What rights to landlords have and when do those rights get blurred by taking advantage of loopholes in the system?

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis joins the podcast to talk about his plan to reduce the number of tenants getting kicked out of their homes while landlords renovate.

Episode 232: Indwell and the homelessness crisis

Indwell is a name we hear a lot in the news, as they're building housing for people with mental health challenges in London and other cities. 

How does the charity work? What are their housing goals? 

Indwell Regional manager Natasha Thuemler and homelessness advocate Dr. Abe Oudshoorn join Craig to discuss Indwell, the state of the housing crisis and more.