The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 306: Will more London organizations hire Navigator?

The London Police Services Board is standing by the decision to spend $104,000 on Navigator - a PR firm who has worked with lots of high profile clients. 

A member of that board - Mayor Josh Morgan - joins Craig on the podcast to talk about the broader implications of that spending.

Will the London Transit Commission feel they have to hire Navigator now? What about the London Public Library Board?

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

Episode 305: The $38,444 Question

So, how did that TVDSB executive trip to Toronto happen, anyway?

Beth Mai, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, joins Craig on the podcast to share her side of that story, and talk about the reaction parents and teachers have had to the cost of the jaunt 17 executives took to the SkyDome Hotel being revealed.

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

Episode 304: Why Did the London Police Services Board Spend $104,000 on Navigator?

The London Police Services Board is under fire after, as per a story in the London Free Press, they spent more than $100,000 on Navigator to do communications surrounding their massive $672-million ask during the most recent budget cycle at city hall.

Why did they do it? Why choose Navigator, a rather infamous PR provider, of all firms?

Board chair Ali Chahbar joined Craig to explain the rational behind those decisions.

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

Episode 303: Can Bill Tucker repair the TVDSB's reputation?

We got the receipts for the TVDSB's jaunt to Toronto, and the numbers aren't good.

$38,444.22 for 18 executives to meet at the SkyDome hotel and maybe watch a few ballgames - all while the board is facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

Not great!

Bill Tucker, who retired as Education Director in 2013, is back! He takes over for the embattled Mark Fisher, who is now "on leave" from the role.

Tucker joins Craig on the podcast to discuss the spending scandal, how to repair trust in the community and more.

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

Episode 302: Friday Round Table with Hadleigh McAlister, Ryan Gauss and Jennifer Dunn

Busy week in the news!

Craig is joined by London city councillor Hadleigh McAlister, political insider Ryan Gauss and London Abused Women's Centre executive Director Jennifer Dunn for the Friday Round Table as they break it all down.

They start with the mess over at the Thames Valley District School Board, as Mark Fisher is "on leave" and Bill Tucker returns. Also, the trip Fisher and 17 other TVDSB executives took to Rogers Centre came in at a cost of more than $38,000.

Then, they look at the struggles of local food banks, proposed parking lot to housing conversions in the downtown core, the proposed Canada Life Place name change at Budweiser Gardens, the NDP potentially pulling the plug on the carbon tax and what celebrity endorsements mean in 2024.

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

Episode 301: TVDSB Turmoil

Mark Fisher (apparently) out. Bill Tucker in.

Big changes at the Thames Valley District School Board in the wake of the Blue Jays trip spending scandal.

What's next for the board? What's happening in the classroom?

EFTO Thames Valley President Craig Smith joins Craig on the podcast to discuss.

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

 

Episode 300: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Shawn Lewis and Carol Dyck

300 episodes!

Hard to believe, but here we are. Episode 300, nearly three years after the podcast launched.

Who else but former city councillor Cheryl Miller could Craig have on for this milestone? They're joined by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and Green Party candidate Carol Dyck to talk about the week's top stories.

They discuss Jagmeet Singh pulling out of the supply agreement with the Justin Trudeau Liberals, whether that means an election is around the corner and how the local races may shape up.

Then, the conversation shifts to some building issues at city hall. First, how tall should London buildings be? Then, the criticism over the renovictions by-law - coming from both sides of the issue.

They wrap up with the changes at London Health Sciences Centre, which include 59 managers losing their jobs and 71 more being restructured into new roles. Then, they look at the latest with the Thames Valley District School Board.

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

Episode 299: How Hamilton Road fits into London's road safety debate

Should council have asked for a quicker redesign for Hamilton Road between Adelaide and Highbury?

Ward 1 councillor Hadleigh McAlister thinks so.

He joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss that stretch of road, the council debate surrounding it and a larger view of road safety in London.

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

Episode 298: Friday Round Table with Kelly Elliott, Matt Newton-Reid and Shawna Lewkowitz

On this week's round table, Craig is joined by a panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, lawyer and former school board trustee Matthew Newton-Reid an former federal NDP candidate Shawna Lewkowitz to break down the top stories of the week.

First, they look at the Thames Valley District School Board - which is in the middle of a scandal after Education Director Mark Fisher and 17 other executives took a trip to Toronto and stayed at the former SkyDome hotel for three nights - while the Blue Jays were playing!

What should trustees do next?

Then, they discuss the rising cost of getting high school students to class on LTC busses and whether Canadians actually want a federal election - followed by some surprises in local nomination races.

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

Episode 297: Supervised consumption saves lives

The Ford government says they're closing 10 supervised consumption sites province-wide.

London's isn't closing, but advocates are concerned about the future of the local facility based on the Ford government's actions.

Middlesex-London Health Unit Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joanne Kearon joined Craig on the podcast to explain why supervised consumption and harm reduction are in the best interest of public health.

Then, Craig (15:20) shares his thoughts on the Ford government's decision and how the discussion around these sites has been hijacked.