The Alex Pierson Show

Toronto's Catholic elementary teachers' union has filed a grievance against the school board, stating that the influx of Ukrainian children in schools is going well above their student caps and causing a shortage in resources. They're seeking a $25,000 payout for the influx in work and it's not going over well with the Ukrainian community. Markus de Domenico, Toronto Catholic District School Board Trustee for Ward 2, and Julie Altomare-Di Nunzio, President of the Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers, both came on to speak with Alex about the issue and get both sides of the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a Joe Rogan interview, Meta Founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was discussing how misinformation is dealt with on Facebook. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the social media platform for years, especially since the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Joining Alex to talk about this was none other than Dr. Brett Caraway, Professor of Media Economics at the University of Toronto and the Program Director for the Digital Enterprise Management Program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1045, Tom Korski, Managing Editor at Blacklock's Reporter, comes in and helps us do the deep dive into all things Ottawa because he gets the goods. Today he talks about how the Canadian Embassy in Washington had disclosed internal emails that it was under scrutiny by watchful U.S. officials over handling of vaccine mandates on truckers. He also talks about how researchers at the Department of Industry say that a third of Canadian tourism operators plan to sell their business or close for good. All of that and much, much more as he sits with Alex to discuss all things Ottawa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a new bylaw that was introduced in Toronto on Monday, residential homes can be used now to conduct business. So if you want to open a barbershop or nail salon or even a café in your own home, you can do that! But the question is whether or not this will cause more traffic in these residential neighbourhoods. To answer this, we spoke to Naama Blonder, an Architect, Urban Designer and Planner, and Co-Founder of Smart Density. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dove put out an ad campaign this week talking about how everyone should be supporting going grey and that women are, "being edged out of the workplace" because of their hair colour. This comes after long time CTV News anchor, Lisa LaFlamme, was let go from the company stating that it was a, "business decision." People are seeing this as a bit of a wink and jab at Bell Media over their firing of LaFlamme and people are beginning to boycott the media company. Is this what Dove was after? Elissa Freeman, Communications Strategist and Pop Culture Expert, joined Alex to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his tour with German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, throughout the week, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, made a comment about how Canada would be a reliable source of clean energy for Europe as a solution to their reliance on Russian oil and gas. What he's not sold on, however, is the idea of exporting liquified natural gas. To talk about this, Alex spoke with Dr. Chris Keefer, an ER Physician but also the President of Canadians for Nuclear Energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Officially throwing his name into the hat, John Tory announced that, if re-elected, he would work on Toronto's housing problem by building new affordable housing complexes. But with the price of everything skyrocketing, is that even possible to achieve? Eric Lombardi, Founder and Advocate with More Neighbours Toronto, joined Alex to ask the question, "Why now?" and explain whether or not this is a feasible solution to a major problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the flash flooding that came about in the GTA due to rainfall, it didn't take long for David Nunn, a 78 year old man, to notice his car was taking on water. In a conversation with Alex, he recounts his experience and the people who came to his aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in 20 years, Toronto has granted a permit to a street vendor that isn't a hot dog cart. Alexander Dalgliesh-Switzer of Switzers Toronto is the one man band who's selling pastrami sandwiches across the city, and he joined Alex to discuss how he managed to get the license, and what goes into making one of his delicious sandwiches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson talkes to Alfonce Nyamwaya about the tragic drowning of Hellen Nyabuto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is that time of the week where we check in with Tom Korski, Managing Editor over at Blacklocks Reporter, where he and his team dig deep to find us those juicy nuggets of information that matter most. Today, Tom talks to Alex about how there are too many MPs in Toronto, which could bring the total seats down, a Liberal MP who is carrying five mortgages, Canadian growth goes west, Rogers lawyers claim that the telecom competition in Canada is "intense," and the feds rushed an order of body bags. All of that and more on today's check in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RCMP Commissioner, Brenda Lucki, began her two day long testimony at the Mass Casualty Commission, where she is being asked to recall various events leading up to, during, and after the events that unfolded in Nova Scotia back in April of 2020. Raquel Dancho, MP for Kildonan-St. Paul, the Shadow Minister for Public Safety, and also the Vice-Chair of the committee, spoke with Alex today about what this testimony can mean on a national scale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadians across the country are feeling the pinch in their wallets, and polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows that 56% of Canadians say they can't keep up with the high cost of living. Shachi Kurl who is the Executive Director of the Angus Reid Institute, joined Alex to talk about the survey, and what the results are showing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson talks to Liberal MP Anthony Housefather about “disturbing” and antisemtic tweets by a senior consultant on an anti-racism project that received $133,000 from the Trudeau Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jewelers across the GTA are under immense fear given the high string of robberies in their stores. In Peel alone, they've had more than 20 general robberies with guns in just the last 30 days. Simon Thomas, President of CJB Insurance Services, came on to discuss with Alex what's been happening, and whether it can be prevented or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daria Dugina was the daughter of ultranationalist, Aleksandr Dugin, a self-educated philosopher and long a leading proponent of an aggressive, imperialist Russia who has been urging the Kremlin to escalate its assault on Ukraine. With many people pointing the finger in multiple directions as to who's responsible, we brought on Marcus Kolga, Senior Fellow Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad and Director of DisinfoWatch, to talk about what this could mean for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and whether or not this will cause a chain reaction effect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not long after it was flagged to the federal government, a consultant whose firm was funded by the Department of Canada Heritage, is going to get action taken on them for anti-Semitic tweets. Laith Marouf's tweets are being called out by Canada's Diversity Minister, Ahmed Hussen, as "disgusting." Avi Benlolo, Founder and Chairman of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, joined Alex to discuss this and what it means going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trudeau government is now in damage control after hiring an anti-racism consultant who had laid out a lot of his own hate towards the Jewish community. Jonathan Kay, Editor For Quillette And A Columnist With The National Post, joins Alex to discuss what the feds need to do now, and how damaging this can be in a PR sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a continuation to the story that Global News broke earlier this week regarding a Canadian veteran who was offered medically assisted death to cope with his mental illness gained through service, Alex spoke with Debbie Lowther, CEO and Co-founder of VETS Canada. She says that veterans are feeling, "not heard, discouraged, and a lot of them don't have faith" in the system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again we find a high ranking Toronto Police superintendent under investigation due to misconduct. According to sources, Superintendent Scott Baptist allegedly made inappropriate comments towards a woman during a Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Quebec City last week. Former Toronto Police Officer and 640 Security Analyst, David Perry, joined Alex to discuss this case, and what it means for the police force itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two and a half years later there is STILL no justice for the families of 176 people murdered by the Iranian regime which bombed Flight PS752 out of the sky. 55 Canadians and another 30 permanent residents were on that plane. Many of those families live here in the GTA. We have been told that while reckless and negligible, it wasn't intentional. Yet, new evidence suggesting otherwise was handed to the RCMP in 2020 that suggests otherwise. So, why did the RCMP tell the families in July it wouldn't do an independent investigation? Has there been a dereliction of duty? And where is the will of the Trudeau government which promised these families justice? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we bring on Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter, to give us the deep dive into all things parliament and find us those nuggets of information you need to know about. Today, Tom speaks with Alex about how Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino yesterday claimed federal agents had “a record year for illegal firearms seizures” in 2021. In addition, he speaks about how two MPs vying for the Conservative Party leadership say they’d repeal a Canada Revenue Agency regulation that tax filers must report the sale of their home under threat of an $8,000 fine. That and more on today's Blacklock's check in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Vivian Stamatopolous, an advocate for long-term, slams the Ontario government's plan to deal with so-called 'bed blockers' in the province. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deadline is looming for daycares to opt into a deal that would allow $10 daycare. But with less than 30% of daycare operators that have chosen to opt into the deal, the supply for cheaper daycare is, so far, exceeding the demand. Amanda Munday, Founder and CEO of The Workaround, a daycare and co-working space in Toronto, joined Alex to discuss what the deal entails and how much of a hit this deal could be to operators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're at a time when we can least afford to do what the Trudeau government is pushing when it comes to climate change policy. What's the plan? The Trudeau government is hoping to reduce emissions from agricultural fertilizer by 30% by 2030 and farmers across the country are raising the alarm on the net loss and the increase in what you'll pay for. Drew Spoelstra is the Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and farms in Binbrook, Ontario and joins Alex to discuss this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the spike in Covid cases amongst children, parents are flocking to the pharmacy in order to ensure their kid can fight off the symptoms. But just like toilet paper, people are buying up stock of medicine and causing major supply issues. Are you going to need a prescription to purchase medication for your child? Kristen Watt, a Pharmacist and Owner of Kristen’s Pharmacy in Southampton in Bruce County, Ontario, joins Alex to talk about this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The man at the center of the controversy of the Nova Scotia mass shooting in April of 2020, RCMP Chief Supt. Darren Campbell, testified to a House of Commons committee that he was pressured by RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to release details into the weapons used during the shooting. With the thought that there might be political interference involved in this case, Alex spoke with Paul Palango, author of the book ‘22 Murders: Investigating the Massacres, Cover-up and Obstacles,‘ to dissect the case and what we know so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we bring on Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter, to give us the deep dive into all things parliament and find us those nuggets of information you need to know about. Today, Tom speaks with Alex about how the feds knew airports were understaffed, how Cabinet thinks the CRTC has too much power, students think Ottawa is boring, and a record number of permits for migrant workers were processed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More patients died during the pandemic due to surgery or diagnostic waiting lists. That comes from SecondStreet.org, a think tank that analyzed wait times for things like surgery, CT scans and MRI scans in 2021-22. President of SecondStreet.org, Colin Craig, joined Alex Pierson to talk about this, and how the government can help make changes to this staggering data. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I can guarantee they are..." says Andrew Gidaro, Director of the Canadian Association of Amusement Operators. He joined Alex Pierson to talk about the fears people are beginning to have ahead of CNE opening its doors, about ride safety and the ongoing strike with safety inspectors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking the story today, Global News Ottawa Bureau Chief, Mercedes Stephenson, joins Alex to discuss a concerning case involving a Canadian veteran who was inappropriately offered medically assisted death by a federal government employee working for Veterans Canada. Are there more people going through the same thing, and what does this say about the way we treat our veterans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host David Peck is joined by George Stroumboulopoulos, a Canadian entertainment legend, host and producer of "The Strombo Show" on Apple Music and former MuchMusic VJ. George and David talk about the Canadian music and film scene, what projects George has coming down the pike, and why food security is more important now than ever in recent years. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TTC Spokesperson, Stuart Green joins Alex to talk about the discovery of a four-year old girl around 1:30am Wednesday along the TTC tracks near Warden Station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David is joined by Dr, Nir Lipsman, Neurosurgeon and Director of the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Lipsman and David talk about the amazing developments in Deep Brain Stimulation, neuromodulation and other treatments to to help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's. Let's get talking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Host David Peck is first joined by Larry Gifford, the National Director of Talk Radio for Corus Entertainment and host of the podcast "When Life Gives You Parkinson's". Larry and David talk about how debilitating the disease can be, but how it doesn't have to mean you can't live a healthy and rich life. Next, David is joined by Dr, Nir Lipsman, Neurosurgeon and Director of the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Lipsman and David talk about the amazing developments in Deep Brain Stimulation, neuromodulation and other treatments to to help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's. Let's get talking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Lantsman is the Conservative MP for Thornhill and Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport. She joined Alex to talk about a push to have Canada's Transport Minister explain why there are still massive delays at major Canadian airports.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Korski is the Managing Editor of Blacklock’s Reporter. He will join Alex Pierson live every Tuesday and Thursday on 640 Toronto. Today, he walked through a story detailing concerns being raised by The House of Commons' Ethics Committee. Members are expressing alarm over RCMP use of spyware capable of activating microphones and cameras on smartphones. MPs only learned of the practice in a routine House tabling of cabinet documents, that the RCMP used spyware to “covertly and remotely obtain data from targeted computing devices” including emails, photos, video, “audio recordings of private communications,” bank records and electronic documents since 2012. Listen to the their conversation and read more here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a Hamiltonian, Alex spends some time remembering 'Teenage Head.' Warren Kinsella joins the conversation and also shares some of the tragic details of Gord Lewis' death. You can read more of Warren's Toronto Sun piece here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freelance columnist, Rupa Subramanya joins Alex to talk about her piece detailing how Transport Canada tried to find a reason for restricting unvaccinated travelers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Pierson talks to Gabor Lukacs, President and Founder of Air Passenger Rights. This after we learned Canadian airlines are refusing to compensate flyers for cancelled flights caused by staffing shortages. Under Canada’s passenger rights charter, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), airlines are required to pay up to $1,000 in compensation for cancellations or significant delays that stem from reasons within the carrier’s control. However, airlines do not have to pay if the change was required for safety purposes. Air Canada recently revealed they consider staffing shortages a matter of 'flight safety.' Lukacs tells Alex Pierson, that's that true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host David Peck is joined by Aniqah Zowmi, a Specialist in diversity and inclusion. David and Aniqah talk about how people should learn to connect and empathize as an important trait, and what "Othering" is. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host David Peck is joined by Dexter J. Voison, a former dean at U of T who does comparative work between gun crimes in the US and Canada who is currently a Dean at Case Western University in Cleveland. David and Dexter talk about the Liberal government's plan to ban the importation of handguns into Canada, if its a good deterrent against gun crimes, and how it will really benefit. Let's Get Talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host David Peck is joined by Karen Craggs-Milne, the Head of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at ThoughtExchange. Karen and David talk about the disturbing trend of increased violent and gender based crimes, and how we could try and overcome these dangerous ways of thinking. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host David Peck is joined by Jeffrey Merrifield, the former Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to talk about the concerns of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Facility in Ukraine. Jeffrey tells David why the International Atomic Energy Agency is concerned about the condition of the facility, and if this is something we need to be immediately concerned about. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we take a look past the veil into the stories that don't get the attention they deserve in Ottawa. guest host Jay Martin checks in with Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter Tom Korski.Jay and Tom dive into if authorities have created a blacklist of funders after the "Freedom Convoy", why the Ethics Committee is questioning the RCMP & why the Governor General will have to cough up some dough. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Jay Martin is joined by the founder of the independent mobile on-site dental hygiene practice MobileDent.ca, Janet Amiel. As an independent registered dental hygienist, Janet tells Jay how important it is, especially during this pandemic, to maintain oral hygiene, and why her service makes it so easy that you almost have no excuse. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of the week where we take a look past the veil into the stories that don't get the attention they deserve in Ottawa. Guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq checks in with Managing Editor of Blacklock's Reporter Tom Korski. Rubina and Tom talk about why the Department of Employment granted dozens of permits to "massage therapists" without ensuring their employers are not involved in human trafficking. They also talk about whey a federal agency invested millions in a Chinese company that profits off slave labour and further inquiry into the bank freezes from the Freedom Convoy. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq is joined by Dr. Shawn Whatley, a practicing physician, Sr. Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute & Author of "When Politics Comes Before Patients - Why and How Canadian Medicare is Failing."Rubina and Dr. Whatley talk about why all the Premiers from the Provinces and Territories are meeting in Vancouver, and why the federal Canada Health Transfer is a big ticket on the table. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq is joined by Sherena Hussain, Founder of Academic Collaboration Consulting & an instructor of Infrastructure and Real Estate at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Rubina and Sherena talk about the expected Bank of Canada key interest rate hike, and how it can end up deeply affecting those making mortgage payments. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Rubina Ahmed-Haq is joined by Kristopher Goulart, a sales representative with Accelerate Reality Group. Rubina and Kris talk about why its so important to make sure to stress test and not try to purchase outside of your limit. Let's get talking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices