The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 346: Friday Round Table with Kelly Ziegner, Ryan Gauss and Scott Kitching

The provincial election rolls on and Canada's next Prime Minister may have visited London this week - plus, are people sad about living in the Forest City?

Craig is joined by a panel of United Way Elgin-Middlesex CEO Kelly Ziegner, political insider Ryan Gauss and Blackburn Media News Manager Scott Kitching to discuss those stories and more on this week's Friday Round Table.

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

Episode 345: Grief should be an election issue

Healthcare and poverty are already big election issues. But what ties them both together? Grief.

Advocate Bronagh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about why she fees navigating grief should be an election issue during the Ontario campaign.

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

Episode 344: Friday Round Table with Kelly Elliott, Scott Collyer and Steve Cordes

Busy week!

We're off and running in the Ontario election, London is fighting for cash to help with homelessness and a city councillor is in the middle of multiple media firestorms.

The Friday Round Table panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, political insider Scott Collyer and Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to break it all down.

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

Episode 343: Councillor Peter Cuddy explains heated confrontation

A video shared by CTV London shows Ward 3 councillor Peter Cuddy getting very heated when confronted by political strategist Zak Rahim - when Rahim was trying to serve him with a lawsuit.

Cuddy sits down with Craig to explain what happened, how he's trying to make sure it doesn't happen again and the status of the lawsuit.

They also Cuddy being removed from the London Public Library Board and his now-derailed plan to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in London-Fanshawe. 

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

Episode 342: London is getting a HART Hub

The provincial government (a few hours before calling an election) says that London is getting a HART hub.

The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment hub - which will be run by CMHA Thames Valley - is scheduled to be open in April. 

How will the hubs work? Who will they help?

CHMA Director for Supportive Housing Dean Astolfi joined Craig on the podcast to explain.

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

 

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.