The Alex Pierson Show

With around 1.2 million patients visiting Canadian hospitals last year, patients have paid a hefty fine accumulated by lost wages and productivity while waiting for necessary treatment. According to a new study from the Frasier Institute, Canadian have lost 3.6 billion dollars annually, that is $2,925 per patient waiting for treatment in hospital waiting rooms. Alex sits down with Bacchus Barua, the director of the study to talk about the cost of hospital wait times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As airlines are getting ready for the summer season, some passengers could be left stranded at the gate, due to labour shortages. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Captain Tim Perry, Canada President of the AirLine Pilots Association, which represents 1,850 pilots at Westjet and Swoop, about the upcoming travel season when it comes to adequate staffing, back up planes, lost luggage, cancellations and how to avoid long wait times like experienced last summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada's democracy is on the line; MP Michael Chong warns. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Charles Burton, Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, about Chinese state interference that is targeting both him and his family in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto courtroom bookings are booked solid until May 2024, with 16-month wait times. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Bruce Pardy, Executive Director of Rights Probe and Professor of Law at Queen's University, about Canada's terrible system when it comes to court wait times. Uncertain outcomes are leaving lawyers and clients in a nightmare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trudeau takes the stage at the Liberal National Convention and begins to set the stage for the upcoming election. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Warren Kinsella, Post Media columnist and president of Daisy Group, about Trudeau rallying Liberal supporters to go into a fourth election, while taking shots on Pierre Polivere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadians are already overpaying for wireless service. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with David Soberman, Professor of Marketing and the Canadian National Chait of Strategic Marketing with the Rotman School of Management, about Rogers getting rid of their fastest cell phone price plans ahead of upcoming battle with new competition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're seven weeks away from Election Day in Toronto - and we want you to hear from the main players in the mayoral race! Host Alex Pierson is joined by former Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes and columnist Anthony Furey for this week's mayoral candidate panel. Issues on the table are getting around Toronto, fixing the city's finances, and public safety. Have a listen and have your say! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trudeau claims ignorance on Conservative MP Chong's targeting, despite speaking up in the House of Commons. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a former senior government official who worked on China issues and now Senior Fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa about Trudeau slamming CSIS when it comes to the targeting of MP Chong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter about Alexandre Trudeau testifying yesterday and stating how Canadians ''need to recognize certain accomplishments'' at the Commons ethics committee, Anthony Rota being rejected during an emergency debate on Chinese intimidation by a MP, CRTC and if a newSroom can show it is a credible news organization that would benefit under Bill C18. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2022, Kevin Vuong was running in the federal election in the downtown riding of Spadina-Fort York. The young candidate was a rising political star, a youth advocate and a reserve officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. Now he claims that he is a victim of Chinese Interference after being dropped from the 2021 election because of a withdrawn sexual assault allegation. Host Alex Pierson speaks to Kevin Vuong to get to the bottom of these claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A CSIS report exposes China's tactics when it comes to Canada's Legislatures and Business Executives. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Charles Burton, Senior Fellow at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute and a former counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing about investigating a MP's relative when it comes to harassing pro democracy supporters in their foreign interference campaign in Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Dr. Nisrin Elamin, Assistant Professor of African Studies at University of Toronto, about her experience of evacuating Sudan with her young daughter after a family trip turned dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter about Conservative MP, Michael Chong and how a suspected Chinese diplomat is targeting his loved ones, Justin Trudeau's brother will be testifying on Friday over his role on the signed ''cheque'' for the Trudeau Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Chris Murie, Owner of The Dizzy Pub along Roncesvalles in Toronto’s West End, about how business is booming, thanks to the Maple Leafs playoff run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top-secret CSIS report reveals China's vast influence network uses 'incentives and punishment' to target Canadian legislators, business leaders, and diaspora communities as high-priority interference targets. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Steve Chase, Senior Parliamentary Reporter for the Globe and Mail, about the CSIS report exposing the extent of China's foreign interference in Canada, from probing Conservative MP's family members in China to intimidating pro-democracy Chinese students in Canada, shedding light on Beijing's multifaceted interference efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peel Region considers pulling the plug on popular online platform used by teachers to connect with parents and absent students. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Doretta Wilson, Retired Education Reformer, about Peel District School Board mandating the transition from Google Classroom to D2L Brightspace, citing advanced privacy and security features for student access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Shauna Brail, Economic Geographer, urban planner and Associate Professor at the Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto-Mississauga, about the impact of four-years of streetcar diversions for Ontario Line construction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrate Adopt a Shelter Pet Day this Sunday, April 30th! Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Melissa Shupak, Division Manager of Shelter Programs at Toronto Humane Society about National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day that brings attention to the thousands of animals in need of loving homes. Hurry on down to the Toronto Human Society April 30th and you can be going home with a furry friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Car dealers charging extra fees to exploit limited supply, and Ontario regulations fall short. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Krystyna Lagowski, Automotive Writer about car dealer regulators failing to keep up with the pandemic-induced price gouging and are now using unethical practices to sell their vehicles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wheels of justice have been turning in Toronto as more than 500 stolen vehicles were taken off the streets and 119 car thieves were charged and brought to justice. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with David Adams, the President and CEO of Global Automakers of Canada about Toronto police launching Project Stallion having already arrested 119 criminals and recovered 556 stolen vehicles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter about Bill C11; the first bill in Canadian history that regulates legal internet content, why Cabinet refuses to impose back to work legislation and the side effects, Marco Mendocino and the ''famous'' buyback program, and the 13 billion Volkswagen Canada subsidy. How does this work and what about the jobs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Toronto Sun Columnist Brian Lilley about why the Eglinton Crosstown won't open to the public until 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Premier Doug Ford faces backlash as his controversial proposal to lower education requirements for officers ignites a heated debate over the future of policing in the province. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Michael Kempa, a criminologist focused on the politics of security, public safety and policing and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa about the growing concerns over officer shortages, and Ontario's latest move to drop post-secondary education requirements for aspiring police officers has sparked controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Canada's Transport Minister unveils new measures to strengthen passenger rights and increase penalties, the proposed changes leave both travellers and airlines with divided opinions on the future of air travel regulations. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with John Gradek, about the new measures to strengthen passenger rights and increase penalties, and airlines with divided opinions on the future of air travel regulations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the blink of an eye, a wetland paradise turned into a barren wasteland, leaving an Ontario family heartbroken and searching for answers. Host, Alex Pierson speak with Lorraine Fuller, Apsley Ontario Resident, about a wetland oasis that once flourished in their own backyard vanishing because of a broken beaver dam, leaving the bustling ecosystem that once thrived in terrible distress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Canadian homeowners struggle to make ends meet, the traditional 25-year mortgage plan is no longer enough, leaving lenders to grapple with increased risk of loss, and pushing more and more Canadians into 30+ year payment plans. Alex Pierson, speaks with Ron Butler, Mortgage Specialist with Butler Mortgage about rising interest rates that are forcing Canadian homeowners into decades of debt, as a staggering 30% of mortgages are now stretched beyond 30 years, leaving many struggling to keep up with the increasing financial burden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto parents heroically perform life-saving Heimlich maneuver and CPR on their choking child, while desperately waiting for emergency services to answer their 911 call. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Tim Ray, father of 1 year old Asher, about the terrifying moment their infant stopped breathing as 911 puts them on hold for over five minutes, leaving them to desperately attempt to rescue their child alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Promised pandemic relief turns into a funding nightmare for Canadian women's shelters. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Jennifer Hutton, CEO of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region about women's shelters facing a devastating blow to their essential services, leaving many wondering how they will continue to provide lifesaving support to those in need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter about how The prime minister’s brother, Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau, will not have to testify before a parliamentary committee probing the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and allegations of foreign interference in federal elections. Alexandre Trudeau had reportedly negotiated and signed the deal for the foundation to receive a $200,000 donation from Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin in 2016.The Commons public accounts committee Did vote to have Canada Revenue Agency scrutinize the fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tarek Fatah, a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author known for his commentary on Muslim issues has passed away at the age of 73. Fatah is being widely mourned. Here is how Alex paid tribute to Fatah on her show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From deepfakes to digital dopplegangers, the music industry is just scratching the surface of what AI can bring to the table, and the Fake Drake controversy is only the beginning. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Alan Cross, host of the Ongoing History of New Music about AI taking over the music industry with Ghostwriter977's creation, Heart on My Sleeve, proving that the future of music might not be in human talent alone. Fake Drake & The Weeknd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The longer we stay locked up in our homes, the quicker our cities turn into ghost towns with empty transit systems and crumbling infrastructure. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Shauna Brail, Economic Geographer, urban planner and Associate Professor at the Institute for Management and Innovation at the University of Toronto-Mississauga, about hybrid work arrangements, risk of turning our office spaces into ghost towns , leaving behind a trail of vacant cubicles and unfulfilled lease agreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looks like someone took the term 'high-flying heist' a little too seriously at Pearson Airport, leaving a bank $22 million poorer and an airline with more questions than answers. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Brian Lilley, Toronto Sun Columnist about the thieves at Pearson Airport as they swooped in and snatched $22 million worth of loot, leaving TD bank and Air Canada in a state of shock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As websites target the track records of top mayoral candidates, the city's elections watchdog is on high alert and stirring up controversy. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Duff Conacher about the Toronto Election Investigation that has sparked a fiery debate when it comes to advertising for the Mayoral Race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Vice Admiral Mark Norman and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Tom Korski, managing editor of Blacklocks Reporter, about the public service strike, Dominic LeBlanc's sister stepping away as Ethic Commissioner, budget officer Yves Giroux dropping a bombshell on the Cabinet's poor spending and how Canadian Citizenships ceremonies to be replaced by a ''checkbox'' on a website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amidst growing frustration over the Halton District School Board's handling of recent controversies, a parent group demands swift action to hold senior staff accountable and ensure a safer learning environment for all students. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Celina Close, Students First Ontario parent supporter & recently declared candidate for the HDSB Trustee Position in Ward 1 & 2 about demanding urgent measures to restore parental trust after a salacious scandal involving an Oakville teacher's inappropriate attire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FBI's discovery of photographic evidence linking a secret police station in Canada to its Chinese counterpart sheds light on the sinister extent of China's covert operations, and raises concerns. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Steve Chase, Senior Parliamentary Reporter for the Globe and Mail about the shocking arrests of two individuals in New York, and the exposure of China's aggressive online harassment tactics and the pressing need for governments to take action to safeguard against foreign interference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keira's voice will finally be heard as her legacy lives on through the groundbreaking Keira's Law, which aims to bring justice for her and prevent such tragedies from ever happening again. Host, Alex Pierson speaks with Jennifer Kagan, Mother to Kiera about her uphill battle with Keira Kagan's tragic death at the hands of her own father. Jennifer is fighting for justice and shed light on the importance of addressing the flaws in Canada's family court system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ford's Government Plans to Breathe New Life into Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place by Relocating Science Centre to Toronto Landmark. Host Alex Pierson chats with Taylor Noakes, public historian and independent journalist about the Ford Government planning to revitalize Ontario Place and Ontario Science Centre by relocating the Science Centre from Don Mills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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