The Alex Pierson Show

Latest Episodes:

The Great Bus Mystery: TTC Leaves Commuters Stranded Despite Government Funding Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Blacklocks Check-In: PSAC Sets Strike Deadline: Government Shutdown Looms Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Lightning Beware: The Maple Leafs are Here to Tap the Competition! Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

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!

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Hockey Canada Gets Funding Back with Strings Attached! Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Ontario Cracks the Whip on Math and Literacy: 1,000 New Teachers to be Summoned! Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

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.

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A Tale of Too Much Talk, Too Little Action? Trudeau's 'Many' Discussions on Foreign Interference Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Next Mayor of TO has to address mental health crisis - should this include safe injection sites? Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

Host Alex Pierson speaks with Jon Reid, President of the Toronto Police Association.

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Blacklocks Check-In: Gov’t Censors Won’t Answer Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

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.’

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Union Flexes Muscles: Threatens Record-Breaking Strike in Canadian History Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Pierson Pushes Saunders On Plan to Improve Safety on the TTC Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

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.

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