The Craig Needles Podcast

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.

 

Episode 59: Jeff Yurek on local races, Craig’s thoughts on ODSP policy

Former Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP and cabinet minister Jeff Yurek joins the podcast to talk about where he sees some local races going and what it's like watching an election from the outside. Then (15:39), the NDP and Liberals have shared their ODSP and OW plans - Craig says they're not nearly good enough.

Episode 58: Friday Round Table and Mike Schreiner

Former City Councillor Hollywood Cheryl Miller, Blackburn Media News Manger Scott Kitching and CUPE Local 101 President Steve Holland join Craig to discuss their thoughts on the provincial election kick off, and London councillors not voting to reprimand Michael van Holst (14:00). Then, Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner (29:56) talks about his stop in London and housing in the province.

 

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

Episode 57: Robyn Schwarz and Reproductive Rights

After that draft opinion from the Supreme Court un the US was leaked, abortion rights became the biggest political talking point for our southern neighbours. Can that spill over into the Ontario election? Will it? Reproductive justice advocate Robyn Schwarz joins the podcast to share her thoughts.

Episode 56: Mike Moffatt and the Campaign Kickoff

Economist Mike Moffatt from the Smart Prosperity Institute joins the podcast for the first of our daily provincial election episodes to talk about the key campaign issues, and what he hopes to hear from the opposition over the next month. Then, Craig shares his thoughts on London City Council declining to reprimand Councillor Michael van Holst (21:50). The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.

Episode 55: Sheryl Rooth and ”Buck-a-Ride” Transit Promises

London Transit Commission vice-chair Sheryl Rooth joins Craig to discuss the Ontario Liberal election promise that transit fares could be reduced to one dollar a ride in 2023 and 2024 - with the province paying the balance or municipalities. Sheryl explains her concerns with the plan, and gets into the biggest transit issues in the provincial campaign. 

Episode 54: The Friday Round Table and Marcus Ryan

London City Councillor Shawn Lewis, as well as political insiders Shobhita Sharma and Nathan Smith stop by the studio to talk about the happenings at the Thames Valley District School Board and Doug Ford's pre-election budget. Then, Zorra Mayor Marcus Ryan (28:46) explains his side of that tense TVDSB board meeting earlier this week. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Lexus of London.