On Point With Alex Pierson

Toronto Transit Gets a Boost in Vehicles from Ottawa and Queen's Park, but Funding Shortfall Leaves Them Sitting Idle. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Steve Munro, a transit activist and commentator since 1972, about 551 buses left idling during peak hours, along with 81 streetcars and 40 subway trains. When will this not become an issue anymore? Seems like funding isn't enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, managing editor of Blacklocks Reporter, about the potential strike with PSAC a union that represents around 155, 000 employees. If the government does not reach an agreement at the barganing table by Tuesday afternoon, this would be the largest strike in Canadian history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a thrilling ice showdown as the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up to host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs! Host, Alex Pierson chats with Wendell Clark, former Maple Leafs Captain about if he''beleafs'' the leafs will make it all the way this year and finally get their hands on the Stanley Cup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hockey Canada scores big with the federal government as funding is restored, but not without a few power plays - conditions must be met before financial support is handed over. Host, Alex Pierson chats with Robert Talach, a lawyer, whose client's sexual assault allegations against junior hockey player kick-started a reckoning around the national organization that represents the sport. Hockey Canada has been caught in a misconduct penalty box after using registration fees to settle a sexual assault case, putting the organization under the scrutiny of the public eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ontario is ramping up its education game by adding 1,000 new teachers to the roster, but some are questioning if it's enough to address the needs of all students. Alex Pierson chats with Paul Bennett, Director of the Schoolhouse Institute. His latest book is called ''The State Of The System: A Reality Check Of Canada's Schools.'' Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, is questioning Ontario's education plan, stating that focusing on just 20% of schools for math and literacy programs will leave a lot of kids out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, Alex Pierson speaks with Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, former senior government official who worked on China issues and now Senior Fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at University of Ottawa & David Soperman, Professor of Marketing and the Canadian National Chair of Strategic Marketing with the Rotman School of Management. Looks like Trudeau's foundation got a little too fond of the Chinese donations - but hey, who needs ethical governance when you have all that sweet, sweet cash? Ontario's new plan to ban athletes and celebrities from gambling ads is a hard-hitting reminder to Auston Matthews and other sports stars that their role model status comes with responsibilities beyond the rink. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Jon Reid, President of the Toronto Police Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, managing editor of Blacklocks Reporter, about how three political aides yesterday would not comment over an attempt to censor Facebook links to a 2021 Sun column critical of the government. Aides implicated in the failed scheme did not respond to questions: ‘They tried to have it banned as misinformation because it was embarrassing to them.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looks like the government will need to stock up on coffee, because those 120,000 federal public servants are about to take a looong break! Alex Pierson speaks with Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian taxpayers federation about PSAC declaring landslide strike vote victory for program, administrative, technical, education, and library workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Saunders, a candidate for Toronto mayor, has released a six-point plan to improve safety on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The plan includes increasing the number of fare inspectors and special constables, establishing a dedicated police task force, increasing the number of accessible stations, and providing mental health resources for TTC staff and riders. The plan also includes implementing a "yellow card" system to address minor infractions, developing a community-led safety audit program, and introducing a public awareness campaign to promote respectful behavior on the TTC. He joined Alex Pierson to talk further about his vision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trudeau stands with Ukraine: Announces military, economic and cultural support measures in the face of Russian aggression. Alex Pierson speaks with Richard Shimooka, Defense Expert and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute about Trudeau's Military Aid to Ukraine: Thousands of Assault Rifles, Dozens of Machine-guns, and Millions of Rounds of Ammo to Fight Russian Invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto's World Cup Hosting Costs: Taxpayers Foot the Bill, MLSE Takes the Win. Alex Pierson speaks with Michael Naraine, PhD Associate Professor, Sport Management at Brock University about Toronto scoring the World Cup hosting rights but will taxpayers be left on the hook? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matlow pledges to keep housing development in public hands. Alex Pierson speaks with Jennifer Keesmat, Partner, Markee Developments; CEO the Keesmat Group about Josh Matlow coming up with a unique proposal to tackle the city's housing crisis. Instead of relying on private developers, he's proposing to launch a new public agency called "Public Build Toronto" to develop housing on city-owned lands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Islamic community in Markham is calling for action against the tide of Islamophobia. Alex Pierson speaks with Rachel Noorman, Private Investigator and Security Specialist about an alleged hate-motivated attack at a local mosque that has left the community in distress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter, about how Inflation in Canada has been on the rise, causing concerns among Canadians about the increasing cost of living. Federal data suggests that high inflation rates, along with rising interest rates and unaffordable housing, are contributing to a sense of pessimism about the future of the Canadian economy well into 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson hails Rogers' takeover of TTC subway cellphone service, hoping it will lead, sooner than later, to reliable connectivity underground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Therme Group Canada is defending its plans for the transformation of Ontario Place. Alex Pierson talks to Simon Bredin, Senior Manager of Communications and Public Engagement at Therme Group Canada. They discuss the company's vision for the project and its commitment to working with local stakeholders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson speaks with Dillon Dodson, Senior Manager if Social Work at the Toronto Humane Society, Yvon Dandurand, Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley and Crystal Regehr, owner of candy company 'Canadian Candy Nostalgia.' Alex and Dillion discuss how the Toronto Humane Society is searching for the owner of an abandoned dog who was left in a park. Alex and Yvon discuss human smuggling. Are they a known practice and how are we going to stop this? Lastly, Alex and Crystal have a chat about chocolate....133,000 chocolate bars put one couple in a sticky situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson speaks with Jon Reid, President of the Toronto Police Association on crime and bail reform. Many officers have testified to this matter but no action has been taken yet. This is up to the Federal Government and it seems they don't want to take action. Canadians want something done now instead of waiting any longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Ron Butler, Mortgage Specialist with Butler Mortgage and Shahin Moghaddam, wife and son murdered on Flight PS752. Asher Honickman, Partner at Jordan Honickman Barristers practicing civil and public litigation joins Shahin. Alex and Ron discuss why 63% of Canadians feel owning a home is out of reach. Alex, Shahin and Asher discuss why the Government wants to drop the law suit in regards to the PS752 investigation. Shahin Moghaddam speaks out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices