The Craig Needles Podcast

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.

Episode 231: Friday Round Table with Kelly Ziegner, Ryan Gauss and John Fyfe-Millar

It's the final podcast of 2023!

Craig is joined in the studio by United Way Elgin-Middlesex CEO Kelly Ziegner, political insider Ryan Gauss and former city councillor John Fyfe-Millar for the Friday Round Table.

The discuss council reprimanding Susan Stevenson following a report from the Integrity Commissioner, the cyberattack on the London Public Library and another organizational nightmare for people on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.

Episode 230: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Jennifer Dunn and Jared Zaifman

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and London Home Builder's Association CEO Jared Zaifman.

They talked about the Integrity Commissioner recommending a reprimand for Susan Stevenson, the challenges in the city's upcoming multi-year budget process and the Ford government announcing expanded alcohol sale point options in 2026.

 

Episode 229: Integrity Commissioner recommends reprimand for Susan Stevenson

London's Integrity Commissioner says that councillor Susan Stevenson has broken the city's council code of conduct.

What does that mean at 300 Dufferin? What will the result of the December 19th vote be Craig shares his thoughts on this solo episode of the podcast.

Episode 228: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Steve Holland and Scott Kitching

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, CUPE Local 101 President Steve Holland and Blackburn Media News Manager Scott Kitching.

They tackle the city's key priorities at budget time, the debate over whether planning staff should be working from home and the impact that has on building, plus Pierre Poilievre's housing documentary.

Episode 227: Breaking down Pierre Poilievre’s ”Housing Hell”

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre - with his party already surging in the the polls - has released a documentary about housing prices in Canada.

The 15 minute video was posted to his X account and it has already been viewed millions of times.

What did he get right? Which parts are misleading?

Mike Moffatt, an economist and the founding director of the PLACE Centre joins Craig to break it all down.

Episode 226: Friday Round Table with Jessie Rodger, Kelly Elliott and Scott Collyer

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig and the panel breakdown the stories about a fire at a a homeless encampment in south London and what raises for London Police officers could mean for the city's budget.

Then, they share some quick takes about federal (the Trudeau Liberals and the NDP are neck and neck in the latest polls) and provincial politics (awkward morning at ONDP offices following a by-election blowout).

This week's guests are ANOVA executive director Jessie Rodger, former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and political insider Scott Collyer.

Episode 225: Treating opioid addiction

Opioid addiction, often impacting people who are homeless, is a massive issue in London and many other communities.

There's significant disagreement in the medical community on how best to treat it.

Dr. Joseph Mai and RPN Shelley West, who work at Central Community Health Centre in St. Thomas, join Craig on the podcast to discuss the way they treat the addiction - which they say has led to great success stories.

The conversation focuses on homelessness, the safety of prescribing opioids and the debate in the medical community surrounding safer supply.

Episode 224: Friday Round Table with Mojdeh Cox, Jeremy McCall and Nathan Caranci

On this week's Friday Round Table, activist Mojdeh Cox, former council candidate Jeremy McCall and political insider Nathan Caranci join Craig to breakdown the top stories in the city.

They discuss the LHSC travel scandal, hospital boards, the city's winter homeless response, and whether the latest fiscal update can do anything to help the Trudeau government's electoral fortunes.

Episode 223: Justin Bourassa’s family is suing London Police

The mother of a man killed in a Richmond Row alley during an interaction with two London Police officers has filed a notice of action.

Lorraine Bourassa, who's son Justin died on October 27th, 2021, and Bourassa's family, are seeking $3.9-million in damages from London Police Services Board, former police Chief Steve Williams, current police chief Thai Troung and two unidentified London Police officers.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has cleared the officer who shot Bourassa of any wrong doing, but during previous episodes of the podcast, Craig has examined how the logic of the story told by the SIU has a lot of gaps in it - to say the least.

In this episode, he looks at the notice of action and the latest in the case.