The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 69: Suze Morrison on polls, strategic voting and more

We're a week away from the vote on June 2nd. Suze Morrison, the outgoing New Democrat MPP for Toronto Centre joins us to talk about polls released by candidates, strategic voting calls, why they both like Tim Hudak and more.

Episode 68: Ed Holder Reflects on His Career

London Mayor Ed Holder has decided to leave politics when his term ends in November. Why make the decision now? What will he remember about his time as Mayor? He and Craig look both back and forward on this edition of the podcast. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.

Episode 67: Jonathan Scott on Ontario Politics, Ed Holder is leaving politics

Liberal insider Jonathan Scott joins the podcast to give his take on the election and what happens next. If Doug Ford is re-elected, what does the future look like for Steven Del Duca and Andrea Horwath? Why has this campaign been a 'sleepy' one? Then, Craig's takes on some local polling in London North Centre, (24:07), and LLondon Mayor Ed Holder's retirement from politics (26:12).

Episode 66: Del Duca talks ODSP, Zach Armstrong talks LNC

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca visited London on Monday. Craig asked him questions about his party's ODSP plan. Then, Zach Armstrong, the campaign manager for Kate Graham in London North Centre, joins the podcast to talk about that race. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.

Episode 65: Mike Moffatt and ODSP

What are the parties in the Ontario election proposing for ODSP rates? Economist Mike Moffatt joins the podcast to talk about the numbers and their impact on the election. Then Craig weighs in on Monday night's debate and why Steven Del Duca and Andrea Horwath aren't "working together" (23:11).

Episode 64: Jennifer Dunn and Jessie Rodger on Gender Based Violence

Jennifer Dunn, the executive director of the London Abused Women's Centre, and Jessie Rodger, the executive director of Anova, join Craig to talk about gender based violence and why candidates in the Ontario election should be discussing it. Then (17:55) Craig shares his thoughts on the "bombshell" Ontario Liberal announcement and whether elections can change due to a debate.

Episode 63: Friday Round Table with Matt Reid, Shawna Lewkowitz and Jared Zaifman

London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman, former federal candidate Shawna Lewkowitz and former TVDSB trustee Matt Reid join Craig for the round table. They discuss the provincial election not getting a lot of attention, ODSP (6:35), scandals for a couple of Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers (21:06), and Jagmeet Singh dealing with protesters screaming in his face in Peterborough (41:01). Then, they wonder why few challengers have put their name forward for the municipal election (49:20). The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.

Episode 62: Suze Morrison

Suze Morrison, the New Democrat MPP for Toronto Centre, isn't running for re-election. We get her thoughts on the race and what the key issues are both in Toronto and province-wide. 

Episode 61: Matt Farrell

Will the Ford government be easily re-elected? Polls are pointing that way, but what could happen in the next three weeks to change that? Fanshawe College politics professor Matt Farrell joins the podcast to discuss that and other provincial election story lines.

Episode 60: Sara Mai Chitty and Viral Tweets

Taking a break from election coverage to talk about social media, Craig welcomes Sara Mai Chitty, the Indigenous curriculum and pedagogy advisor at Western University, to the podcast to discuss the blowback she faced after sending a tweet that went viral last month. Those discussions also led to chats about Canada as a country - both the good and the bad - why why these conversations can be complicated.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.