The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 341: Friday Round Table with Elizabeth Peloza, Jennifer Dunn and Frances Moore

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by City of London budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and advocate Frances Moore to talk about the week's top stories.

First, it's election season in Ontario! Doug Ford needs a new mandate - so he says - so we're voting on February 27th. Will this backfire?

Then, they look at Mayor Josh Morgan's State of the City address, which included talk of capping the property tax increase in 206 at 5%.

Also, it was very, very cold this week. Did city leaders move quickly enough to setup warming centres?

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

Episode 340: Atrocity

A new documentary about homelessness in London - called Atrocity - is out and there's a screening next week (get tickets here).

The filmmaker is Nigel Stuckey, a retired London Police officer with more than 30 years of experience.

He joined Craig to talk about the documentary, the people dealing with homelessness who he had conversations with and what governments need to do to solve the problem.

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

Episode 339: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Mojdeh Cox and Nathan Caranci

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, organizational consultant Mojdeh Cox and political insider Nathan Caranci to break down the week's top stories.

First, it looks like it will be Mark Carney vs. Chrystia Freeland for the Liberal leadership. Does it matter who wins as the Liberals prepare for the next election?

Then they discuss how Doug Ford and the other Premiers are getting along (or in one case, not getting along) as they try to tackle the tariff threats from Donald Trump.

And finally, London is growing. Fast. The city's population is over 480,000. How are we making the city a more welcoming place for those who are coming here? How are we keeping up with the housing demand?

The Craig Needles Podcast is rough to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 338: A trade war and two elections?

2025 is shaping up to be a doozy.

We start the year with threats of massive tariffs from Donald Trump - plus Justin Trudeau is going to resign in March and we could be heading to the polls provincially. Lots on the go!

How is that impacting municipalities? And everyone else? Bradford West Gwillimbury councillor Jonathan Scott joins Craig for his thoughts and some analysis on what might be next.

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

Episode 337: Is Ontario still going to the polls?

Seems like we'll be going to the polls soon federally, will we be doing the same provincially? Things may have shifted on that front.

Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner joins Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss that possibility, his visit to London, trading uncertainty with the US, housing, preparing for natural disasters and more.

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

Episode 336: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Jared Zaifman and Matthew Newton-Reid

The first Friday Round Table of 2025 and things have changed since the last one - and a panel of former city councillor Cheryl Miller, London Home Builder's Association Executive Director Jared Zaifman and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid join Craig in the studio to talk about it.

 

For starters, Justin Trudeau has resigned, so that's important. Craig and the group breakdown the Liberal leadership race that will wrap up on March 8th and look ahead to how the federal election may go in London and nationally.

 

Then they discuss some affordable housing projects on the go in London and how we can get more of them completed.

 

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

Episode 335: What's next for the Liberal Party?

Justin Trudeau is resigning... eventually.

Parliament is prorogued until the end of March, and the Liberals are going to try and find a new leader. Who should it be? How quick should the process be?

Craig chats with political commentator and strategist Andrew Perez to get his thoughts on that - and the international political issues that are in the background.

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

Episode 334: Friday Round Table with Mojdeh Cox and Kelly Elliott

It been a crazy week in Canadian politics, and Craig is joined by organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott to break it all down.

Chrystia Freeland is out. Mark Carney won't be coming in. Justin Trudeau is facing pressure to resign. And, by the way, Jagmeet Singh says the NDP will vote to bring down the government.

Busy.

Also, Susan Stevenson has been docked 30 days pay by her council colleagues. The panel shares thoughts on that decision and about how councillor behaviour is scrutinized in Ontario.

The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 333: Did Susan Stevenson violate the council code of conduct - again?

Oft-controversial councillor Susan Stevenson is in the news again. This time because the Integrity Commissioner has ruled she violated the council code of conduct - for a second time.

However, she rejects the findings.

Stevenson joined Craig on the podcast to discuss the findings and flaws in the report, and her efforts to jump to federal politics as she seeks the Conservative nomination in the riding of London Centre for the next election.

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

Episode 332: Friday Round Table with AJ Wray, Carol Dyck and Jeremy McCall

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes city building expert Dr. AJ Wray, Green Party candidate Carol Dyck and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to the studio to talk about the week's top stories.

They look at Doug Ford's pledge to fine encampment drug users $10,000 and send them to jail, whether Ontario will get an election this winter and the failures in the City of London's mobility master plan.

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