London Police say they'll be arresting - but not charging - people using drugs in public. Is this the right policy for the city? The Friday Round Table dives into that story with Indigenous activist Frances Moore, disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and former city councillor John Fyfe-Millar. How should London Police approach a situation when som…

Two big stories on this episode, as Craig breaks down what we know about the ongoing London Police investigation into "past financial practices" at London Health Sciences Centre. What does this mean for the scandal plagued hospital? Then, (8:36) Craig interviews lawyer Kevin Egan about Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre following another death at the…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by political insider Ryan Gauss, former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and Elgin-Middlesex United Way CEO Kelly Ziegner. They chat about the turns in Ottawa as Justin Trudeau pledges to slash immigration levels and fends off challenges to his leadership from within his caucus. Then, a focus on th…

Homelessness continues to be the key issue in the City of London - so what's happening on that file right now? London Mayor Josh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about hubs in the city, the province's HART hubs plan, addictions treatment, affordable housing and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent G…

Is there internal pressure for Justin Trudeau to resign? CTV says some MPs - mostly based in southwestern Ontario and Atlantic Canada - have signed a letter asking for new Liberal leadership. Peter Fragiskatos, the MP for London North-Centre joins Craig to discuss that story, as well as housing, bad Liberal polling, foreign affairs and more. The Cr…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes organizational consultant and community actvist Mojdeh Cox, former council candidate Jeremy McCall and Blackburn Media News Manager Scott Kitching to the Covent Garden Market studio. They talk about London Police sharing some stats at council and whether London will get bang for their $672-million b…

Projections from the province of Ontario show they believe London's population could be 880,000 by 2051 - while the region could be home to 2.63-million people. Are we ready for it? What do we need to do? Economist Mike Moffatt - a founding director of the Place Centre and co-host of the Missing Middle podcast - joins Craig to share his thoughts. T…

A busy week in news! Craig is joined in the studio by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, and two former city councillors - Cheryl Miller and Roger Caranci. They talk about the latest changes at the executive level at the Thames Valley District School Board, London leading the nation in downtown commercial vacancy rate, the somewhat controversial ArkA…

The changes at the Thames Valley District School Board continue, as three more high level executives are either on leave or no longer with the board. Craig shares his thoughts. Then, did you see that video of a City of London garbage truck backing into a car? Rebekkah Wilkin, the woman who was driving the car, joins Craig on the podcast to explain …

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston, police researcher Dr. Lesley Bikos and London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman. They talk about the latest at London Health Sciences Centre, where the board has been axed an replaced by David Musyj - who is now supervisor. Then, they look at the l…

The London Children's Museum - a gem in the city - is in the middle of a big move from their Wharncliffe Road location to a new spot at 100 Kellogg Lane. One problem: They're just short of their fundraising goals to get the doors open. They're asking for the community's help to raise $1,000,000 to finalize their move by the end of the year., Execut…

The Ontario Liberals are having their AGM in London, so leader Bonnie Crombie stopped by the Covent Garden Market studio to talk about the rebuild of party and some key provincial issues. Craig asked her about education funding in the wake of the ongoing problems at the Thames Valley District School Board, bike lanes, and whether we may seen an ear…

The London Police Services Board is standing by the decision to spend $104,000 on Navigator - a PR firm who has worked with lots of high profile clients. A member of that board - Mayor Josh Morgan - joins Craig on the podcast to talk about the broader implications of that spending. Will the London Transit Commission feel they have to hire Navigator…

So, how did that TVDSB executive trip to Toronto happen, anyway? Beth Mai, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, joins Craig on the podcast to share her side of that story, and talk about the reaction parents and teachers have had to the cost of the jaunt 17 executives took to the SkyDome Hotel being revealed. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by …

The London Police Services Board is under fire after, as per a story in the London Free Press, they spent more than $100,000 on Navigator to do communications surrounding their massive $672-million ask during the most recent budget cycle at city hall. Why did they do it? Why choose Navigator, a rather infamous PR provider, of all firms? Board chair…

We got the receipts for the TVDSB's jaunt to Toronto, and the numbers aren't good. $38,444.22 for 18 executives to meet at the SkyDome hotel and maybe watch a few ballgames - all while the board is facing a multi-million dollar deficit. Not great! Bill Tucker, who retired as Education Director in 2013, is back! He takes over for the embattled Mark …

Busy week in the news! Craig is joined by London city councillor Hadleigh McAlister, political insider Ryan Gauss and London Abused Women's Centre executive Director Jennifer Dunn for the Friday Round Table as they break it all down. They start with the mess over at the Thames Valley District School Board, as Mark Fisher is "on leave" and Bill Tuck…

Mark Fisher (apparently) out. Bill Tucker in. Big changes at the Thames Valley District School Board in the wake of the Blue Jays trip spending scandal. What's next for the board? What's happening in the classroom? EFTO Thames Valley President Craig Smith joins Craig on the podcast to discuss. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London…

300 episodes! Hard to believe, but here we are. Episode 300, nearly three years after the podcast launched. Who else but former city councillor Cheryl Miller could Craig have on for this milestone? They're joined by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and Green Party candidate Carol Dyck to talk about the week's top stories. They discuss Jagmeet Singh …

Should council have asked for a quicker redesign for Hamilton Road between Adelaide and Highbury? Ward 1 councillor Hadleigh McAlister thinks so. He joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss that stretch of road, the council debate surrounding it and a larger view of road safety in London. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by th…

On this week's round table, Craig is joined by a panel of former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, lawyer and former school board trustee Matthew Newton-Reid an former federal NDP candidate Shawna Lewkowitz to break down the top stories of the week. First, they look at the Thames Valley District School Board - which is in the middle of a sc…

The Ford government says they're closing 10 supervised consumption sites province-wide. London's isn't closing, but advocates are concerned about the future of the local facility based on the Ford government's actions. Middlesex-London Health Unit Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joanne Kearon joined Craig on the podcast to explain why super…

PhD candidate AJ Wray joins Craig to talk about a wide variety of stories in London this week. First, they talk about Petronella McNorgan, who woman who was sentenced this week for hitting a troop of Girl Guides with her car back in 2021. Why can't a judge take away her license for life? They also talk about transit villages in London (10:48), AJ's…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes United Way President and CEO Kelly Ziegner and the father-son duo of Roger and Nathan Caranci to the Covent Garden Market studio. They discuss the rising cost of living in Canada, an effort to cut taxes at London City Hall, and the temporary foreign workers program coming under scrutiny. The Craig N…

A report unearthed by CBC last week told some upsetting stories of racism within London Police. Chief Thai Truong says the service will do better, but, will his words match the results? Indigenous activist Frances Moore and anti-oppression consultant Mojdeh Cox joined Craig in the studio to dive into the report and share their thoughts. The Craig N…

Craig welcomes London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, Anova Executive Director Jessie Rodger and Steve Cordes, the Executive Director at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, to the studio for this week's round table. They discussed a report bout how Londoners feel about the city's police service, unearthed by CBC. The answer? Not great. But leadership is sayin…

Mandy Dostie was abused as a child. It was thought, at one point, that the effects of the injuries sustained during that abuse would last for the rest of her life. That's why Dr. Jonathan Lau stepped in. The London Health Sciences Centre neurosurgeon was able to insert a device into Mandy's brain - alleviating her pain and changing her life forever…

Kamala Harris has tapped Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her VP pick. Craig welcomes political insider Jonathan Scott to the podcast to breakdown that selection, and how the US election could impact Canadian politics. Then they talk about Pierre Poilievre's messaging, and the potential of Doug Ford sending Ontario into an early election before the n…

On this week's Friday Round Table from the Covent Garden Market studio, Craig is joined by former London city councillor Mariam Hamou, political insider Ryan Gauss and London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman. They talked about Jagmeet Singh's talk about rent controls when visited London and how the city is navigating the housing crisis. …

Darlene Zaifman-Guslits has been a pillar in London's Jewish community. Last week, she was kicked out of the Jewish Community Centre in London just before Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was set to address a crowd there. The video of the ejection subsequently went viral. Zaifman-Guslits joined Craig on the podcast to share her side of the stor…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by London Abused Women's Centre Executive director Jennifer Dunn, former London city councillor John Fyfe-Millar and political insider Scott Collyer to talk about the week's top issues. First, they address the London Police news conference, which put the safe supply conversation back …

According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, 2.5 million people in the province do not have a family doctor. How did this happen? Why is there such a large family doctor shortage? And what can we do about it? Dr. Mario Elia, a family doctor in London, joined Craig in the studio to discuss. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Do…

Craig welcomed federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault to the studio to talk about Canada's emissions, the best things this government has done for the environment, affordability problems in Canada and about the Liberals lagging significantly behind the Conservatives in the polls. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by…

Craig welcomes former city councillor Cheryl Miller, Elgin-Middlesex United Way CEO Kelly Ziegner and Youth Opportunities Unlimited CEO Steve Cordes to the Covent Garden Market studio talk about London's top stories of the week. The tackle the Ontario Civilian Police Commission report on Councillor Susan Stevenson, calling her social media posts "c…

It's been a time of transition at the London Health Sciences Centre. Will a change in management help get he hospital's finances in order? Board Chair Matthew Wilson and acting-CEO David Musyj join Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to discuss what's next. How can the budget deficit be fixed? What can the board do differently to avoid problem…

On this week's round table, Craig is joined by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman and former London city councillor Mariam Hamou to discuss the week's top stories. They look at the LCBO strike and the impact it may have on the Ford government, the battle over money between the province and the Thames…

The Thames Valley District School Board is facing a funding shortfall and problems are showing up in the classroom because of it. How did we get here? Beth Mai, the chair of the board, joined Craig in the studio for a wide ranging conversation on education, the provincial government and the future of school boards. The Craig Needles Podcast is powe…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, PhD candidate A.J. Wray and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to the studio to talk about the week's top issues. They dive into the efforts of some London city councillors to save some money on your tax bill - with some controversial ideas to som…

At a meeting on Wednesday, members of the London Health Sciences Centre board of directors were told that after running a $78-million deficit in the last year, they project to run one of $150-million in the upcoming fiscal. How did this happen? How can it be fixed? Acting President and CEO David Musyj spoke with Craig at the hospital to share what …

Economist Mike Moffatt, a founding director of the PLACE Centre, joins Craig on the podcast to talk about how the housing shortage is shaping Canadian politics in the wake of the Liberal by-election loss in Toronto-St. Paul's. How does a generation being frozen out of home ownership impact voting? Will Justin Trudeau soon exit political life? Will …

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by City of London Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza, former city councillor Cheryl Miller and political insider Scott Collyer. They talk about Shmuel Farhi's interesting (but perhaps unwanted) proposal for a new London city hall, changing ward boundaries in London, gr…

Why are advocates of Safe Supply so passionate about the positives of the program? Dr. Andrea Sereda of London Intercommunity Health Centre, one of the leading safe supply advocates in the country, joins the podcast to explain her side of the debate. She and Craig discuss the program's history, it's effectiveness, and the criticisms - both the legi…

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by activist Mojdeh Cox, disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and political insider Ryan Gauss. The panel discusses the ongoing London Police investigation into what they're calling a potentially hate-motivated arson, more changes at the London Health Sciences Cent…

London has become one of the centre of the safe supply debate in the medical community. The pro-side says that providing drugs that aren't from dealers will be safer and lead to fewer overdose deaths. The con-side believes that safe supply is only a temporary measure, with more harms than benefits. Dr. Sharon Koivu, who has been practicing medicine…

Craig welcomes London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, as well as former city councillors Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller to talk about the issues of the week. They talk about the state of long-term care in Ontario and Cheryl's husband being in the system, then they talk about the provincial cabinet shuffle, housing being put over top of farmland, renovic…

If you look at the polls, it shows the chances are high that Pierre Poilievre is going to be the next Prime Minister of Canada. How did he get to this point? Craig's former colleague Andrew Lawton has written a book about it. 'Pierre Poilievre: A Political Life' is available now, and Andrew stopped by the Covent Garden Market studio to talk about t…

The good news: If you like to buy a beer, soon there will be more places to do it. The bad news: It's going to be expensive. Premier Doug Ford says alcohol sales will be expanded, with the rollout beginning this summer. The cost a $225-million payout to the Beer Store, plus hundreds of millions more in other costs, according to the opposition. Ben …

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by Ward 11 councillor Skylar Franke, PhD candidate AJ Wray and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck. Among the topics is the city hall conversation surrounding gas powered lawn mower use after 6 p.m., office to housing conversions, the troubles with transit as …

The London Health Sciences Centre has a new acting President and CEO. David Musyj, who had been President and CEO at Windsor Regional Hospital, is temporarily taking over the top job at LHSC in the midst of ongoing questions about the LHSC's travel scandal and the absence of CEO Jackie Schleifer Taylor. What are Musyj's priorities? Why did the take…

During the pandemic, the term vaccination became a lightning rod for controversy and misinformation. Now, illnesses like measles and whooping cough that were once thought to be a thing of the past are making a return. Dr. Jia Hu, a physician and public health advocate, joined Craig to examine the issue and discuss possible solutions. The Craig Need…