Scott Thompson Show

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We look at the ongoing fallout from the Pearson Airport Gold Heist, as a sixth arrest is made. Andy Kim's "Rock Me Gently" is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. We are joined by Andy Kim! According to The Toronto Star “After more than a week, the Loblaw boycott doesn’t appear to have made a dent in the grocery chain’s sales, according to a group of suppliers. A surprisingly strong April jobs report is likely to “raise eyebrows” at the Bank of Canada, with economists and markets split on when interest rate cuts could begin. After a lengthy debate, Hamilton City Council has agreed to extend development fee discounts to developers for another eight years, at which time they will be phased out. Rex Murphy, the longtime former CBC pundit and National Post columnist, has died of cancer at the age of 77. We look at his impact on the Canadian journalism landscape. Business and legal troubles follow the stars around just as much as anyone e

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The Leafs have fired Head Coach Sheldon Keefe. According to new polling from the Angus Reid Institute, the popularity of federal party leaders in Canada is at its lowest ever. Mark Carney says the carbon tax served a purpose “until now,” suggesting that it is time for a credible alternative. A suspect in killing of temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar reportedly got a student visa in ‘days’. We look at consumer psychology and the Loblaw ban, with Professor Eugene Chan, who recently covered such issues in an article for 'The Conversation'. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and several other business groups have teamed up to call for Chrystia Freeland’s capital gains tax plan to be scrapped. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Ryan Kennedy, Senior Writer with The Hockey News. Dave Korzinski, Research Director with the Angus Reid Institute. Dr. Omar Khan, Assistant Professor with the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Departm

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The Business Council of Alberta says that Canada’s points-based immigration system is flawed, and has proposed their own fixes. Parents going in on home-ownership with their children, in order to assist the kids with getting in on the market: we get insight on when this is and is not a viable option. This week, it was announced that Russia would begin nuclear weapon drills after an angry exchange with senior Western officials. Theft and robbery are, reportedly, daily occurrences for LCBO locations. Some are saying that the handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' ejection from the House, and the way the Liberals took it, is a clear sign of desperation. Foreign interference and the legislation that could potentially guard against it. A new Leger survey suggests that nearly half of Canadians oppose the pro-Palestinian protest encampments that began more than a week ago, with students demanding their schools publicize and end their investments in Israeli defence companies.

Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, as the world becomes more tumultuous. This week, it was announced that Russia would begin nuclear weapon drills after an angry exchange with senior Western officials. Guest: Dr. Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Do protests like the encampments on university campuses accomplish much of anything, in this day and age? The federal government is granting B.C.‘s request to once again ban the public use of illicit drugs, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks said on Parliament Hill on Tuesday. We look at Canada’s Defence spending, since Defence Minister Bill Blair recently made a rare admission for a federal cabinet minister. In a new piece for the National Post, Tasha Kheiriddin looks at foreign interference – particularly from the government of China – and the Federal Liberal’s attempts to curb it. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Alan Cross, music historian, host of The Ongoing History of New Music. Jon Roe, Research Associate with Angus Reid. David Baxter, Digital Broadcast Journalist Global News. Colin D’Mello, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief, Global News. Richard Shimooka, Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (expertise in Can

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Randy Travis’s new song, created with the help of AI. Boeing's new Starliner capsule set for first crewed flight to space station. A developing story… Hamas has reportedly accepted the ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar. We look at Canada’s ongoing and growing tensions with India. The recent survey by Abacus Data asked 1,500 respondents about their impressions of seven “possible Liberal leadership candidates” to one day succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Spam texts are becoming a bigger nuisance, and pose security threats of their own. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Eric Alper, Publicist and music commentator. Paul Delaney. Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Science - Department of Physics & Astronomy at York University. Dr. Jack Cunningham, Ph.D., Program Coordinator at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History, in Trinity College and the Munk School. Specializing in British Foreign Policy, Ca

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Foreign interference did not change the outcome of Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections but did “succeed in part” because it eroded public trust. The theme of this weekend’s Doors Open Hamilton event is music and there is lots to see and hear. The Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline “victory” and the future of pipelines in Canada. A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger. We are joined by Pierre Poilievre to discuss drug decriminalization and other top stories from this week. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Christian Leuprecht, Professor at both the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University, and a Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute; author of the new book ‘Security. Cooperation. Governance. The Canada-United States Open Border Paradox’ from the University of Michigan Press. Randall Denley is an author and columnist for the Ottawa Citizen and the National Post;

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The Ontario government has revealed a plan for fast-tracking teens who want careers in the trades. The law enforcement practice of high-speed pursuit is facing increased scrutiny, following the deadly Whitby 401 crash. Freeland has left out the capital gains tax from the upcoming budget implementation bill. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing dissent over a decision to create an Ottawa office led by Sean Webster, the Progressive Conservative Party’s candidate who lost the 2023 by-election in Kanata-Carleton. Poilievre got ejected from The House for calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “wacko”. Was this a shrewd political manoeuvre? The Meta News Ban leaves Canadians in danger, according to a new piece in The Conversation, co-authored by Professor Archie McLean. Where is this situation going? We heard what Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce had to say about the cellphone ban, when he joined the show on Monday. Now, we look at the distraction factor posed

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We look at the planned boycott of Loblaw stores, and the reaction from the CEO. New polling shows that 60% of Ontario residents believe they will need a second job or side hustle to afford a home in the province. A North Korean missile landed in Ukraine, after seemingly being launched from the territory of the Russian Federation. Seems like they procured it from North Korea. Why is Justin Trudeau showing up on podcasts and pitching his messages to Americans? Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce joins us to walk through the updated rules around cellphones and vaping in our province’s schools. Chrystia Freeland has previewed a new omnibus budget bill with the proposed capital gains tax change left out. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Bruce Winder, Retail Analyst & Author, ‘Retail Before, During & After COVID-19’. Brian J. Karem, journalist and author, White House correspondent for Playboy and political analyst for CNN. Don Fox, Ex

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: A documentary that highlights the connection between exercise and mental health is coming to the Art Gallery of Burlington. Hamilton is set to go ahead with its vacant unit tax, following a procedural vote by city council last week. We talk about why you A.I. therapist is not your therapist. A group of Canadian MPs and senators who belong to an international parliamentary alliance critical of the Chinese government say the F.B.I. recently informed their organization that many in their ranks were targeted by hackers linked to Beijing. Are we ready for self-driving transport trucks on our roads? It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Ted Michaels, mental health and wellness advocate, avid runner, and radio personality. Kathleen Morrison, Hamilton resident who lives near the landfill. Esther Pauls, Ward 7 councillor. Christa Jackson, Falcon Watch Coordinator. Zoha Khawaja, Master of Science Student with Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University

Three peregrine chicks were sighted by Falcon Watch cameras on Saturday morning at the Sheraton Hotel 18th floor ledge nest, after cracks in the eggs first began forming on Friday. This is the 30th year that local falcons are nesting at the Sheraton Hotel site. Guest: Christa Jackson, Falcon Watch Coordinator. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We remember Bob Cole’s legacy as a broadcaster. A wrap-up of Trump’s week in court, and what is on the horizon. This weekend marks the 31st annual Paris to Ancaster Bike Race! The cost-of-living crisis facing Canadians is only getting more bleak, according to new polling that shows everything from buying a first home to affording groceries has gotten harder in the past year. The New York Court of Appeals, in a scathing 4-3 opinion, overturned Weinstein's conviction on sex crimes against three women, finding the trial judge "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes." How is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s popularity with Canada’s youth who grew up under his leadership? It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Bill Brioux, television critic and author. Brian J. Karem, journalist and author, White House correspondent for Playboy and political analys

The Hamilton Today Podcast with guest host Scott Radley: We look at The Leafs’ heartbreaking – to some – Game 3 loss. Balloon-powered Space Glamping. It’s not three random words drawn out of a hat, it is an option for space tourists in the near future. The question is, would you want to? Writing in the Globe and Mail, Don Drummond says that the Ottawa is manipulating markets with the capital-gains hike in order to score small, arbitrary goals. Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole has died at age 90. What is the impact of body cameras worn by police officers? Premier Doug Ford’s government is planning to relax rules on sick notes in a bid to ease the paperwork burden on busy doctors. The Jamesville development has yielded some surprising developments after the city, CN and the Ontario Land tribunal put their heads together in some ways and butt heads in others. Are you ready for a musical loosely based on the 2010 snowstorm that saw drivers on a highway east of Sarnia, Ontario, forced to wait out the inclemen

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Tasha Kheiriddin’s new piece for The National Post: “Anti-Israel hate marches holding the rest of us hostage while Trudeau shrugs.” What does the fast-moving ban on TikTok mean, and what are the concerns about the app? On June 14, 2024 – sixty years to the day since its arrival – the Lancaster is set to make a celebratory return visit to Goderich Regional Airport. NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet. The hunt for the origins of COVID-19 has gone dark in China, the victim of political infighting after a series of stalled and thwarted attempts to find the source of the virus that killed millions and paralyzed the world for months. Is Canada in a productivity crisis, and if so, how did we get here and can be done about it? New Leger polling reveal how Canadians feel about the new federal budget. The province is planning on upping the speed limit on certain 400-series highways across Ontario. Guests: Tasha Kheridd

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: What is behind the lack of enthusiasm for music festivals in 2024? Ottawa plans to turn post offices and historic armouries into housing. We look at Donald Trump, his “hush money” trail and gag order, as well as how the U.S. presidential election could be affected. The 2024 federal budget failed to spark a much needed rebound in the polls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s trailing Liberal party, according to new Ipsos polling released Tuesday. The Canadian Medical Association is warning that the federal government’s proposed increases to capital-gains taxes will pose a significant financial hit to doctors and may push some out of the profession. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Alan Cross, music historian, host of The Ongoing History of New Music. Frank Clayton, Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Toronto Metropolitan University. Jacquelyn LeBel, Regional Ontario Online Supervisor for News

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Now that we have digested the federal budget, we look at how will it affect small and independent businesses? The head of Israeli military intelligence said Monday he would resign because of Hamas' October 7 attack. A 15-year-old boy is in life-threatening condition after he and two other youths attempted to ride the top of a GO train that was in motion after midnight Saturday. A new Ipsos report shows that “two tier health care” is not the threat it once was. Among respondents, 52 per cent wanted “increased access to health care provided by independent health entrepreneurs,” against just 29 per cent who didn’t. A research institute in China that is affiliated with the ruling Communist Party’s foreign-influence operations compiled extensive profiles of members of Parliament with Chinese ethnicity, two sources say. Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton, Ontario, writes that the Liberals are not doing enough to combat auto-theft, in a recent article piece for the Nation

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We dive into Tom Wilson’s story, ‘Beautiful Scars’ with the man himself! Think being a ‘friendly neighbour’ is a dying art? High density might have something to do with that. Taylor Swift fans are losing their minds over leaked double album. More on the LRT saga. Middle-class Canadians could be hit by increases to capital gains tax. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Tom Wilson Tehoháhake, newly appointed member of the Order of Canada, Modern Mohawk visual artist, as well as Juno award-winning musician (LeE HARVeY osMOND, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Junkhouse), and best-selling author of ‘Beautiful Scars’. Dr. Meg Holden, Professor, Urban Studies and Professor of Resource and Environmental Management with Simon Fraser University. Eric Alper, Publicist and music commentator. John Best, Publisher of The Bay Observer. Dr. Jack Mintz, Distinguished Fellow with the Macdonald Laurier Institute and President's Fellow of the School of Public

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon have teamed up and released a new song together, ‘Primrose Hill.’ Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says. Doug Ford has weighed in on Ontario parliament’s keffiyeh ban. Like Provincial NDP leader Marit Stiles and Bonnie Crombie of the Ontario Liberals, Premier Ford also wants the ban reversed. What is the potential de-escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran, what may come next? Among people who immigrated to Canada in the last decade, more think Canada’s latest immigration targets will bring in too many people, a newly released Leger poll suggests, while fewer recent newcomers think the plan will bring in the right amount of people or not enough. A technical error by Tim Hortons led coffee drinkers across Canada to falsely believe they had w

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Gas prices are going up to levels not seen since 2022, according to our guest. The Conservative Party’s deputy leader joins us to share reaction to the budget. Ontario asks Ottawa to close loophole that's led to 'disturbing' rise in pay-for-care clinics. There have been Multiple arrests, 19 charges laid in $22.5M in the fallout from the Pearson Airport Gold Heist. What happens to Canada’s middle class now? There are plenty of concerns about our urban boundaries but is there enough concern about the need for development? It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable Energy, Former Liberal MP. Daniel Perry, Senior Consultant, Public Affairs, Hill + Knowlton. Melissa Lantsman, Deputy Leader Conservative Party of Canada, Member of Parliament representing Thornhill, Ontario. Colin D’Mello, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief, Global News. Hank Idsinga, 640 Toronto Law Enforcement Analyst, Retired Inspector with t

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Are the Tesla layoffs a sign of rough times for the EV industry – or is it something else? We look at the federal dental care plan, and the Ontario Dental Association's thoughts about it, in light of the hesitancy some Alberta dentists are expressing toward signing up. NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station. StatsCan released its March Inflation report today. Rising gas prices played a part in what we have seen. Tim Hortons has now made the jump to... pizza. It's part of a move to "stretch the brand" into the afternoon and nighttime. How will the budget play out, politically? Highway 413 is moving forward, with a memorandum of understanding being signed by the federal and provincial governments. What changed? We get The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s reaction to today’s unveiling of the federal budget. Checking in