The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 321: Friday Round Table with Steve Lehman, Matthew Newton-Reid and Jeremy McCall

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by city councillor Steve Lehman, former TVDSB trustee Matthew Newton-Reid, and community builder Jeremy McCall.

They look at the ongoing battle at city hall over funding ArkAid, new rules for encampments, a plan to build a sports park near the 401/402, another expensive trip for school board executives and what another Trump administration might mean for London.

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

Episode 320: The Future of the Covent Garden Market

After celebrating their 25th anniversary in their King Street building, the what's the future look like for the Covent Garden Market?

Does the changing downtown landscape (fewer office workers, more people living nearby) mean the market needs to change hours? Or vendors?

General manager and CEO Amy Shackleton joined Craig on the podcast to share her thoughts.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London.

Episode 319: Friday Round Table with Elizabeth Peloza, Cheryl Miller and Scott Collyer

A busy week to breakdown on the Friday Round Table as Craig is joined by a panel of City of London Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza, former city councillor Cheryl Miller and political insider Scott Collyer.

They examine the news that police are investigating "past financial practices" at London Health Sciences Centre, and the community reaction.

Then, conversations about what council can (or can't) do about boards and commissions spending money on outside PR help, and the update to London's four year budget - which includes a bit of a decline in what you'll be paying next year.

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

Episode 318: London Police investigate at LHSC, more tragedy at EMDC

Two big stories on this episode, as Craig breaks down what we know about the ongoing London Police investigation into "past financial practices" at London Health Sciences Centre.

What does this mean for the scandal plagued hospital?

Then, (8:36) Craig interviews lawyer Kevin Egan about Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre following another death at the London jail.

Why is the facility so unsafe? What should the government be doing about it?

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

Episode 317: Friday Round Table with Ryan Gauss, Carol Dyck and Kelly Ziegner

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by political insider Ryan Gauss, former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and Elgin-Middlesex United Way CEO Kelly Ziegner.

They chat about the turns in Ottawa as Justin Trudeau pledges to slash immigration levels and fends off challenges to his leadership from within his caucus.

Then, a focus on the London Health Sciences Centre's new direction and the "Community Advisory Committee" being appointed to oversee what's happening at the hospital.

Also, does London need tiny homes or 'quick communities'? The panel looks at the latest on the homelessness file.

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

Episode 316: What is the City of London doing about homelessness?

Homelessness continues to be the key issue in the City of London - so what's happening on that file right now?

London Mayor Josh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about hubs in the city, the province's HART hubs plan, addictions treatment, affordable housing and more.

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

Episode 315: Friday Round Table with Frances Moore, Jeff Preston and John Fyfe-Millar

London Police say they'll be arresting - but not charging - people using drugs in public. Is this the right policy for the city?

The Friday Round Table dives into that story with Indigenous activist Frances Moore, disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and former city councillor John Fyfe-Millar.

How should London Police approach a situation when somebody is using drugs in Old East Village? Or on Richmond Row?

Then they get into another story involving junior hockey sexual assaults - this time in an unnamed Ontario Hockey League city. 

Also, Doug Ford is offering the people on Ontario $200 each! Are we just heading straight for an election?

And analyzing the ongoing discussions between the federal government and Indigenous leaders on major changes to child welfare

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

Episode 314: Peter Fragiskatos talks Liberal caucus turmoil and more

Is there internal pressure for Justin Trudeau to resign?

CTV says some MPs - mostly based in southwestern Ontario and Atlantic Canada - have signed a letter asking for new Liberal leadership.

Peter Fragiskatos, the MP for London North-Centre joins Craig to discuss that story, as well as housing, bad Liberal polling, foreign affairs and more.

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

Episode 313: Friday Round Table With Mojdeh Cox, Jeremy McCall And Scott Kitching

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes organizational consultant and community actvist Mojdeh Cox, former council candidate Jeremy McCall and Blackburn Media News Manager Scott Kitching to the Covent Garden Market studio.

They talk about London Police sharing some stats at council and whether London will get bang for their $672-million buck.

 

Then, they look at delays on London Transit. Lots of construction in town, will it be worth it to get BRT?

 

And, the TVDSB missed the enrollment projections for this year... by a lot. Apparently, it cost millions. Whoops.

 

What does this say about the way the school board is managed?

 

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

 

Episode 312: Will 880,000 people live in London in 2051?

Projections from the province of Ontario show they believe London's population could be 880,000 by 2051 - while the region could be home to 2.63-million people.

Are we ready for it? What do we need to do?

Economist Mike Moffatt - a founding director of the Place Centre and co-host of the Missing Middle podcast - joins Craig to share his thoughts.

They also tackle the federal government's proposed housing reforms and whether extra taxation on empty lots is the way to encourage building.

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