On Point With Alex Pierson

In part one of a five part investigative series being conducted by Toronto Star, they deep dive into the story of a reality TV show where contestants could come on and get their business idea to save the world judged by people like Jeff Bezos and potentially get a stake in the process. But to get on the show, you had to pay a hefty sum of $25,000. Once the would be contestants arrived at the hotel where they were being brought to, they all soon realized that this was a scam. Kevin Donovan is Toronto Star’s Chief Investigative Reporter, and came on to talk to Alex about this elaborate scam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today the Bank of Canada announced they were increasing interest rates by another 75 basis points, bringing us to a total increase of 3.25%. When we see interest rates go up, we see cost of living go up, but those who are on ODSP, often get the short end of the stick when it comes to getting an affordable income to support themselves. To send a message to Doug Ford that this isn't an acceptable way to live, MPPs across Ontario are confining themselves to only spending $92.51 for two weeks worth of groceries to really understand what it's like to squeeze those dollars. Joining Alex to discuss this is David Lepofsky, a Lawyer and Chair with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally today is the day kids in Toronto go back into classes, but because of negotiations the teacher's unions, today was marked as a P.A. Day for teachers who said they didn't have enough time to prepare for class. So while kids in the rest of the province are in school, Toronto students are left a day short. Joining Alex to talk about the position of the union and where negotiations are headed now is Karen Littlewood, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we check in with Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter, to discuss all things Ottawa and see what deep dives they've done this time. Today, he talks to Alex about how the federal government is telling Canadians to get a Covid vaccine every 90 days, even after the Department of Health said once every nine months was more than plenty. He also talks about how Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez will not speak to reporters on why his department paid $133,822 for media workshops led by an anti-Semite who said Jews deserve a “bullet to the head." That and more on this Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, 10 people lost their lives, and 19 more were injured following a series of stabbings carried out by two alleged suspects. The search for Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, began early Sunday morning following multiple reports of stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation (about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon). While police have identified Damien Sanderson as deceased at this moment, Myles Sanderson is still at large, and has a lengthy criminal record. To tell us about the experiences and complexities of this, Alex speaks to Melissa Mbarki of Treaty 4. Melissa also has family on the reserve at the heart of these horrific attacks. Alex also speaks with Jim Van Allen, A threat and Risk Assessment Consultant with Investigative Solutions Network Inc. and Former Manager of the OPP Criminal Profiling Unit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomorrow, the Bank of Canada is expected to make an announcement on raising interest rates again. This time by another 75 basis points, bringing us to a total increase of 3.25%. While this isn't the highest we've seen interest rates, this is certainly going to be the highest we've seen them since the recession in 2008. Can Canadians afford another rate hike? To answer this, Alex is joined by Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carlton University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scams amongst seniors might not be new, but they're a big issue. York Region investigators have released a recorded interview with a Newmarket senior who was bilked out of $100,000 after he and his wife fell victim to a “grandparent” scam. Here to talk about this issue with Alex is Laura Tamblyn Watts, the Founder and CEO of CanAge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About $41 Million worth of road paving in the City of Toronto, which was slated to start this month, is now being delayed further into next year. City staff say they needed to revise the scope of the projects and provide clarity to companies bidding on the work. Will this cause more bad than good? Joining Alex to answer this is Stephen Holyday, Deputy Mayor and Toronto Councillor for Ward 2 - Etobicoke Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While in Alberta, Chrystia Freeland was speaking to reporters about a 10% luxury tax being introduced to all purchases of things like boats, planes, and other large luxury items. She claims it's to recoup money spent during the pandemic but with the cost of everything right now, is this what we need? Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of Canadian Taxpayers Federation, joined Alex to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are all the products you buy at a dollar store safe? Recent testing has shown that toxic chemicals are being used to manufacture these products. Something like the outer ring on a set of stereo headphones was found to have 24 times the legal limit of lead, and five times the legal limit of cadmium. Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence, talks to Alex about this and what the federal government needs to do when it comes to regulating these products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Accidental opioid poisonings have been on the rise in Hamilton, and they can happen to anyone taking an opioid – both prescription and non-prescription. From January 1 to August 9, 2022, Hamilton Paramedic Services (HPS) responded to 447 incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses. August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day and a timely reason to shed light on the need to take proactive steps to tackle the mounting accidental opioid poisonings in the Hamilton community. Harsit Patel, a Clinical Pharmacist at Hamilton Health Sciences, chatted with Alex about this and what needs to be done to make things better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do Canadians still have confidence in getting regular vaccines like polio, hepatitis, and others? A recent study shows that 55% of children and teens have vaccines against deadly diseases. So why is there such a drop? Joining Alex is Dr. Jia Hu, CEO of 19 to Zero, a 500+ member coalition of multi-disciplinary experts working to build confidence in vaccines and get Canadians vaccinated, to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we look behind the curtain into all things Ottawa, and to do that, we bring on Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter, to give us the little nuggets of information that most places don't get. Today, Tom talks about how Canadians feel the federal government overreached when using emergency powers when ending the Freedom Convoy protest. Also, he talks about what Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said yesterday about how politics are toxic and bitter. That and more on today's Blacklock's Check In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The High Commissioner of Pakistan is thanking Canada for their contributions to relief efforts during the flooding that has been taking place in the Middle Eastern nation. A Canadian based charity is sending over family emergency kits with a water purification unit, hygiene items and a solar light to help those affected, and Rahul Singh, Executive Director of Global Medic, a registered Canadian charity, is here to talk with Alex about the work they're doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto police have identified Angelica Sig-Od and her mother, Elvie Sig-Od, as victims of a fatal stabbing on Friday afternoon. Godfrey Sig-Od, who was the father, was arrested and has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. On average, Ontario sees three femicides — women killed — per month. Here to talk with Alex about femicide is Lieran Docherty, Director of Programs at the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's going on in Brampton? A video posted online shows a brawl of about a dozen men in a parking lot, but what really gets the attention is the use of swords and machetes by some of the men. We've seen these headlines more recently and it's raising questions about the brazen nature of these attacks. Brampton Mayer, Patrick Brown, joins us to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, a video surfaced online showing a man approaching Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, who was in Alberta, where he started cursing at her and telling her to get out of Alberta. The RCMP is said to be investigating this matter but can actual criminal charges be laid against the man responsible? Ari Goldkind, a Criminal Defence Lawyer, joined Alex to talk about this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After her life was changed due to a conviction in aggravated assault, Jennifer Murphy is hoping that the laws surrounding the disclosure of HIV to consensual partners, be changed. Joining Alex to talk about whether this case could be the catalyst for it, is Joseph Neuberger, Criminal Lawyer and Partner at Neuberger and Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scarlett Martyn had been a Toronto paramedic for 23 years when she was let go in January, becoming one of several hundred city employees fired for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID. Now with the win over the Toronto firefighters coming down, she's hopeful that it could open up the door to her returning to her job. Alex spoke with Howard Goldblatt, a Lawyer who represents the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association to talk about this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Public health officials in York Region are investigating after multiple people reportedly fell ill after eating at a Delight Restaurant and BBQ in Markham. Joining Alex to discuss this matter is Dr. David Juurlink, Head of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices