On Point With Alex Pierson

In an early morning announcement, the federal and provincial governments of Ontario announced they reached an agreement which will see $375 million in federal funding sent right to the province. And in another major first, Queen's Park has just officially allowed a new language to be spoken in the legislature! Host Alex Pierson is joined by the man involved in both of these stories,  Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs, Housing, Minister of Legislative Affairs & Government House Leader Paul Calandra. Minister Calandra tells Alex why this deal with the feds means a big win for the province, how it can help get houses built, and why he helped MPP Sol Mamakwa gain the right to speak his mother tongue in Queen's Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Mark Miller announced that Canada will be increasing its cap on refugees from Gaza. But there are concerns that many of these people may be loyal to Hamas, so could this be a risk our intelligence agencies or authorities are worried about? Host Alex Pierson is joined by Phil Gurski, CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk, former CSIS Sr. Strategic Analyst on Terrorism. Phil tells Alex that this is something many are concerned about, and why the Liberal gov't may want to rethink its immigration policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss Immigration Minister Marc Miller yesterday said he wants no votes from friends of Israel who equate criticism with anti-Semitism, ''I don't want their vote,'' Miller told the Commons immigration committee, Cabinet Ministers have been ''drinking wine and schnapps'' with Jewish diplomats in Ottawa instead of condemning Israeli war crimes. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The protestors at U of T aren't moving. Today, lawyers are going into court to file an injunction. Next week is graduation week and the encampments need to be removed. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Ryan O'Connor, Partner at Toronto-based Zayouna Law Firm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Jewish girl school in North York was the target of a shooting. We have seen nothing from Olivia Chow and Myron Demkiw and this is fueling hate even more in Jewish communities. Actions speak more than words. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Rabbi Yaacov Vidal, Principal of the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A video was recently released showing 5 hostages being held by Hamas who were initially taken after a terror attack in October. One father saw that his daughter was still alive in the tape and is praying for her return, but questions if she's even still safe. Host Alex Pierson is joined by this father, Shlomi Berger, the father of Agam Berger, as he shares what is the most painful experience in his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traffic and congestion have built to insane levels in the past few years in Toronto...but could forcing drivers to pay a congestion charge not only address congestion, but also put some much-needed money in the city coffers? Host Alex Pierson is joined by Jennifer Keesmaat, the Founder of the Keesmaat group and the former chief city planner for Toronto. Jennifer is in favour of introducing this charge and its benefits, while Alex remains unconvinced. Take a listen to see who you would agree with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss Federal aid worth more than a half billion annually reduced the ''point-in-time count of homeless persons by about 6,000 people.'' Canada's chief bank inspector yesterday said the interest rate shocks on mortgage renewals remain a top risk, Housing Minister Sean Fraser yesterday said critics must ''not interfere''' in his plan to build 3.9 million homes. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ontario, there are regulations in place to ensure a workplace cannot be too cold, but what about when its too hot? Well, guest host Anthony Furey had the same question and asked someone leading the charge to change the books in Ontario, the official opposition critic for Climate Change, NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, who explains why his party believes now more than ever this needs to be laid out in law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The city of Toronto is moving forward with its renaming and rebranding of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, and its going to at least cost a few hundred thousand dollars if everything goes right...and much more if there are any delays. Is this really a good use of city funds, especially since we know just how broke Toronto really is? Guest host Anthony Furey is joined by a member of the "Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization" Dana McKiel, who breaks down just how dissatisfied Torontonians are with the rebrand, and why these funds could easily be used for something much more substantial and needed. Then, Anthony and Dana open up the phone lines and answer some questions from listeners on the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After weeks of uncertainty, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced that her party will be tabling the Capital Gains Tax motion before the house rises for summer break. She also has said that regardless if it is passed into law, the 2024 budget has said it will come into effect on June 25th. Is that right, and is it really the hill the Liberals want to die on? To get answers to this and more, guest host Anthony Furey turns to the CEO of BetaKit, Siri Agrell who has a firm understanding of this motion, and who it will be effecting. SIRI AGRELL: Siri Agrell LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Occasionally a crime is committed in Toronto that has all the makings of a Hollywood movie, and this is no exception. Guest Host Anthony Furey speaks with The Toronto Star City Hall Bureau Chief David Rider about a story he just broke, in which a former long-time bureaucrat for the City of Toronto was arrested and charged for his alleged connection to an illegal gambling ring operated by a Hell's Angel's hitman! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a weird move, the federal government announced a new framework to tackle rising auto theft across the country...but only did so on a Monday when much of the country was not working or watching the news. What could've been the reason for this, and what is new that we haven't heard before? Guest host Anthony Furey will not only help you understand but is also joined by Hank Idsigna who is a former Toronto Police Investigator as well as the 640 CFIQ crime specialist. Anthony asks Hank just why it's so hard to keep people's vehicles safe, why certain brands are being targeted over others and when Canadians can expect to wake up and not find their cars and trucks stolen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and other Iranian officials were killed after their helicopter crashed over the weekend, leaving many to wonder just what kind of ramifications could come from this. Guest host Anthony Furey had these same questions and is joined by Kaveh Shahrooz, a Lawyer and Toronto-based Human Rights Activist who is extremely versed in the Iranian regime. Kaveh and Anthony discuss what the atmosphere in Iran is right now, why Kaveh believes that this will not bring any serious changes to Iranian politics and who the former Iranian foreign minister blames for this crash. Kaveh Shahrooz Social Media: Kaveh Shahrooz - X Account Kaveh Shahrooz - LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Bank of Canada inflation numbers were finally released, and show that across the country inflation is getting back to manageable levels. But with millions lined up to renegotiate their mortgage payments soon, will it be enough to keep people from foreclosure? Guest host Anthony Furey is joined by Dr. Ian Lee, an associate Professor at Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, who has a strong grasp of the real estate and financial markets. Dr. Lee helps to explain how this was an expected move from the Bank of Canada, how it could affect mortgages and ultimately how it could help Canadians save money. Dr. Ian Lee Social Media Accounts Dr. Ian lee - Carleton University, Sprott School of Business Dr. Ian Lee - X account Dr. Ian lee - LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss a third of marijuana users still buy from black market dealers who offer better product, price and service, says in-house Department of Public Safety research, Federal prisons this summer will begin buying full body scanners five years after Parliament approved their use. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aiden Pleterski ''Crypto King'' is arrested and charged and Durham Police classify this as the largest fraud investigation that they've seen in that region. He is...arrested on bail. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Norman Groot, founder and managing Lawyer of Investigation Council PC. This is an 18 month investigation. Is this a sense of relief or anger? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

''Let's axe the gas tax during the summer.'' Given with what Canadians are going through, let's axe the gas tax from Victoria Day long weekend and all the way up to Labour Day weekend. Host Alex Pierson speaks with Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition Party of Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada's infamous "crypto king" Aiden Pleterski was just arrested! This is yet another major player in the crypto field who turned out to be misusing funds...but just how prevalent is this issue? Greg Gard, the Principal Investigator and Business Development Consultant for Investigative Solutions Network, and a former Toronto Police officer completely understands this issue, and helps our host Alex Pierson not only get a better grasp of the crypto world...but also why its so volatile for investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, the TTC is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, especially in light of the exclusive Global News Coverage of the 4 times hydraulic fluids spilt onto line 2...but the public was never made aware. Is there an ongoing PR crisis at the TTC? Who better to help host Alex Pierson answer that question other than the internationally respected "Train Daddy" A.K.A. Andy Byford, the Former Commissioner of Transport for London, TTC, New York Metro, Sydney RailCo, & now works with Amtrak. Byford tells Alex that when he was the TTC commissioner, he made sure to be public-facing and always be truthful with the public...a lesson that the current leadership could take a page from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices