On Point With Alex Pierson

We're seeing the headlines popping up more and more frequently of individuals online (or in person) targeting politicians with threats, harassment, and other vile talk. We just recently saw it happen to Pierre Poilievre, where someone online made a threat to sexually assault his wife. To talk about this and the group that the threat seems to be emanating from, is Warren Kinsella, Author of national best seller ‘Web of Hate’ and Postmedia Columnist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seems as if the idea of buying a home in today's day in age seems like a foregone conclusion. With rates still rising and an ever demanding market, can Canadians keep up with the volatile shifts in housing? To join us for another segment on affordability, Alex is joined by Kat Eschner, TVO's Affordability Reporter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We learn that Half of the children in Canada who need life saving medical treatment, diagnosis and surgery and are waiting far longer than clinical recommendations allow. Experts say this could have serious, lifelong consequences. We know that there are delays across the system, but now kids can’t even get timely care? Emily Gruenwoldt, the President and Chief Executive of Children’s Healthcare Canada and Executive Director of Pediatric Chairs of Canada, joined us earlier and said her organization is calling on the federal government to make children a priority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sable Island, a small island about 300km south of Halifax, is home to the Sable Island horse. The land, which is protected by Parks Canada, was just recently in the direct path of Hurricane Fiona, and as the dust settled, people were wondering if the horses were okay. To everyone's surprise, the horses are completely safe and didn't need any external intervention. To talk to us about these horses and the island itself, Alex is joined by Abbie Branchflower, Director of Education with Friends of Sable Island Society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.N. Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif has called for a "prompt, thorough, impartial investigation." Raisi has ordered an investigation, but protest organizer Nazanin Samavati argues Iran doesn't have an independent judicial system and is concerned its investigation won't be legitimate. Samavati organized the event to raise awareness about the situation for women in Iran and about the "unjust death" of Amini. Nazanin Samavati joined Alex to talk about the protest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another year and another delay for the Eglinton Crosstown. And locals are angry, some businesses are at their wits end. It’s been 10 years since this project broke ground and we’ve nothing to show for it. We spoke with Louroz Mercader, Manager of the York-Eglinton BIA, which represents the 200+ businesses along Eglinton Avenue West between Marlee Avenue and Dufferin Street, about how this stretch of the city has become the butt of the joke - and why Metrolinx needs to be held accountable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know there’s a deadline looming for another interest rate. We’re creating a perfect storm to drive up the costs of everyday stuff. The loonie is sliding down, and while that might be good for some businesses, it’s bad for you and I. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, professor in food distribution and policy, and senior director of the AgriFood Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, joined Alex and says a weaker currency during the winter months might pose a problem for our borders, when our grocers import food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we check in with all things Ottawa and that's where we find Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter, Tom Korski. Today Tom talks to Alex on how Cabinet followed the science in repealing the last travel-related mask and vaccine mandates, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. Also, more than 33,000 travelers have had smartphones, laptops and tablets searched by the Canada Border Services Agency, documents show. All of that and more is on today's Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Coulter, Co-Executive Director of 'HowAreYouFeeling.Org,' spoke with Alex, to talk about his 14-year-old daughter, Maddie, who died by suicide. Chris has been trying to coach parents with similar struggles with their kids. In many cases, these parents are barely holding it together. He knows because he was one of those parents. Now, Chris is talking to Toronto school kids, hoping to bring his program into public schools.. Here’s Chris on how his program differs from the mental health education offered by schools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The riding of Spadina-Fort York currently has 12 people running for a seat and one of them is Ausma Malik. She is currently running to be elected to the riding and says that it's unacceptable the way families are being squeezed out of Toronto because of the cost of living. Guest host, Rubina Ahmed-Haq, chatted with her about this and about the election in general, what she plans on bringing to the table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re five weeks away from the Toronto election, but is the municipal race getting the attention it deserves? We have one scheduled mayoral debate between now and election day, and it will take place at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, on Oct. 17, after the early polls have closed. There’s been a lot of criticism directed at Mayor Tory for suppressing the election discourse.. One of those critics being John Lawrence, Senior Editor of Spacing Magazine. He joined guest host, Rubina Ahmed-Haq, and said the lack of debates has an unhealthy impact on local democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a press conference Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government would match any donations made to the Canadian Red Cross to provide relief in the wake of destruction left by Fiona. Sounds like a decent idea, right? Well, one Toronto charity with expertise in disaster relief is questioning why the federal government is offering to match donations to just one registered charity providing relief in the aftermath of tropical storm Fiona. We spoke with Rahul Singh, Executive Director of Global Medic, a humanitarian relief organization that provides aid in areas affected by natural disasters, about how this move by the government hurts other charities trying to provide relief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by Iran's so-called morality police has sparked angry protests, with women burning their headscarves in a defiant act of resistance against the Islamic Republic's strict dress code and those enforcing it. Is this the point where Iran has to look at itself and wonder if this is the way to go? Mariam Memarsadeghi, Senior Fellow with the Macdonald Laurier Institute and Founder / Director of the Cyrus Form, joined Alex to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cannabis became legal in Canada in 2018 as part of an election promise made by Justin Trudeau during the 2015 election. Just like with tobacco, we've seen policies and regulations put into place. Alex spoke with George Smitherman, President and CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada, about the government finally announcing its plan to review the Cannabis Act. Smitherman noted the government’s already a year late and legal cannabis operators can’t hang on for much longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

St. Catharines’ residents have long suspected carcinogenic chemicals were in the mess of a former GM auto plant site. A 2020 report from the Ontario ministry of the environment confirmed it. Two years later, they’re still waiting for it to be cleaned up. Alex is joined by Ashley Okwuosa, who is the author of the article published in The Narwhal, to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caller Rich tells Alex Pierson students feel sexually intimidated by the dress of a shop teacher. Pictures of the teacher went viral after she was photographed wearing giant prosthetic breasts while operating a table saw. Rich says teens want to issue a formal complaint, but aren't able to have their voices heard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret that Toronto's council doesn't fully represent the citizens that they were elected for, so why do people generally distrust city hall? A recent report called, "Community Voices" was conducted and found that many of those who are distrustful of city hall, came from Scarborough and Etobicoke. Joining Alex to discuss this, and the upcoming election, is Dr. Kofi Hope, an Urbanist-in-Residence at the School of Cities, Co-Author of the report and Co-Founder of Monumental. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, starting making threats this week, saying that, “To defend Russia and our people, we doubtlessly will use all weapons resources at our disposal... This is not a bluff.” While the illegal invasion into Ukraine was the main topic of discussion during the UN General Assembly this week, many are wondering if these are idle threats, or if Putin could be serious this time. Dr Erika Simpson, Associate Professor of International Politics at Western University, the President of the Canadian Peace Research Association and the Author of ‘NATO and the Bomb,' joined Alex to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a decade, a lawsuit involving famous tourist attraction, Marineland, and a former trainer, has now been resolved. This means the last two walruses in the park will be removed from the facility and brought into the wild. Phil Demers is a former mammal trainer of Marineland's stadium show and joined Alex to talk about this win, and the future of Smooshi the walrus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is that time of the week where we check in with Blacklock's Reporter, where we find all those deep dive stories happening in Ottawa, and at the heart of it we find Managing Editor, Tom Korski. Today, Tom speaks to Alex about how Attorney General David Lametti said yesterday, that criminal law should not punish misguided drug dealers who just want to “put bread on the table." He also talks about how a police blacklist of bank account holders named as Freedom Convoy sympathizers was emailed to lobbyists, records disclose. That and much more on today's Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices