The Craig Needles Podcast

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.

Episode 331: "Where are people supposed to go?"

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants to crack down on encampments - which could include using the notwithstanding clause.

There's just one problem. As much as they've discussed increased addictions help and housing, those things aren't ready yet, so where will the people leaving the encampments go?

Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner joins Craig to discuss.

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

Episode 330: Anybody else secretly paying Navigator?

Navigator makes a lot of money in London, apparently!

The latest publicly funded institution revealed to be paying them is the Thames Valley District School Board - to the tune of more than $225,000, according to the London Free Press.

Craig has questions. Why won't trustees tell us what the money was for? Why did they need a hired gun if they had so many communications people on staff already? If you're communicating with parents and students, why are the stakes so high that you need Navigator?

He tackles those questions and more.

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

Episode 329: Jeff Preston and Frances Moore talk accessibility

December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities Day!

Also, less than a month from today, Ontario was supposed to be fully accessible as a province. We aren't there yet.

Advocates Dr. Jeff Preston and Frances Moore joined Craig in the studio to talk about where we are and where we need to go next.

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

Episode 328: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Cheryl Miller and Ryan Gauss

On this week's Friday Round Table, London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Cheryl Miller an political insider Ryan Gauss join Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio.

The panel gives their thoughts on London's 7.4% property tax increase and where additional savings could have been found. Also, are London city councillors underpaid?

Then, they talked about how council meetings are conducted. First, a move to "call the question" at London City Hall during committee meetings - and an unhinged rant by a councillor at a budget meeting in Sarnia.

Also, businesses don't seem thrilled with the upcoming GST break. Will this policy help the federal Liberals?

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

Episode 327: The Salvation Army aims to raise $650,000 and needs volunteers

The Salvation Army has an ambitious goal with their kettle campaign in 2024: They want to raise $650,000.

Can they do it? They'll need your help.

London Community Services Executive Director Nancy Kerr joined Craig on the podcast to explain why they set a high goal, talk about the need in the community and share how you can volunteer.

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