The Final Word

Friday, January 16, 2026 — In this episode, host Kinza Zafar sits down with Local Journalist Mia Johnson and Volunteer Coordinator Calan Pittis to discuss the ongoing NDP leadership race and what is, or isn’t happening within it. From an AI scandal to a staged protest at an official debate, the three journalists unpack it all.

Friday, January 9, 2026 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on the TTC 2026 budget passed on Wednesday. It includes a fare freeze and fare cap from September. Transit commentator Steve Munro says it makes few changes to service, and a budget crunch lies in the near future. Kinza Zafar revisits an interview with MP Jenny Kwan who introduced the no more loopholes act, aiming to restrict Ca...

Friday, January 2, 2026 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty is joined by the Local Journalism Initiative's journalist at Met Radio Mia Johnson, along with host of the Intersection Kinza Zafar. Met Radio's news team discusses news in 2025, and what they've learned reporting for community radio in Toronto.

Friday, December 26, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on the Allan Gardens food bank as part of Met Radio's holiday programming. Food bank usage has spiked since 2019, and the food bank has served over 63 thousand in 2025. Due to a redevelopment of the property, it will be forced to close in 2026 and doesn't yet have a place to go.

Friday, December 19, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on breaking updates from the Toronto Metropolitan Students' Union TMSU, which has an independent investigator looking at whether two student groups violated their policies. It follows a Nov. 5 off-campus event where the Students Supporting Israel group hosted an Israeli soldier, who physically confronted protesters. Kinza Zafa...

Friday, December 12, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on Mayor Olivia Chow's proposal to introduce fare capping on the TTC meaning riders won't pay after a number of rides per month. It is planned to be set at 47 rides in 2026, and lower to 40 in 2027. Post-secondary students are set to be left out of the changes, advocacy group TTCRiders explains the impacts and shortcomings of...

Friday, December 05, 2025 — In this episode, host Kinza Zafar reports on the University of Guelph cancelling a Palestinian solidarity conference, and the conference proceeding anyways with the help of the local community. Gabriel Hilty reports on the TMSU and the latest findings of over $1.4M in financial mismanagement by prior union execs by an independent accounting firm. Manju Boopathiraj has t...

Friday, November 28, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on the controversial housing law Bill 60 passed Monday by the Ontario government amid protest in the chamber In the interview, housing advocate Diana Chan McNally explains how the law rolls back protections and further burdens tenants. She was one of the people kicked out of the public gallery while protesting the bill. Kinza...

Friday, November 21, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty has the breaking report from the Friday candidate forum for the upcoming Students' Union election at Toronto Metropolitan University. Only a few candidates attended, and students were largely absent. Kinza reports on the fallout of Ontario's controversial Bill 33, with director Andrea Vásquez Jiménez of Policing Free Schools. Gabriel...

Friday, November 14, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty has the headlines covering a new TMU student residence, Toronto allowing neighourhood retail again and increases to TTC service. Kinza Zafar follows the story of Toronto city housing and senior workers voting for a strike mandate amid feeling a 'sense of despair'. Gabriel Hilty reports on homelessness in Toronto including the upcoming...

Friday, November 7, 2025 — In this LIVE episode, host Gabriel Hilty breaks down the 2025 federal budget introduced Tuesday. Economics professor Lars Osberg explains how the budget contains tax breaks for businesses but few affordability measures for daily life. Kinza Zafar reports on TMU community members speaking out, after students were assaulted by a former Israeli soldier at a Wednesday event...

Friday, October 31, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty talks with White Ribbon CEO Humberto Carolo on their new report on the rise of online misogyny its impact in classrooms. Kinza Zafar speaks with OPSEU president JP Hornick on Bill 33 and Bill 5, which they call 'power grabs'. Portley Ghartey-Johnson has this week's news roundup.

Friday, October 24, 2025 — In this episode, Met Radio's coverage on Bill 33 that is drawing criticism from various groups. It proposes more government control over various levels of education. Host Gabriel Hilty speaks with chairperson of the Canadian Students Federation Ontario on the impact the bill will have in post-secondary education. Kinza Zafar reports from a rally against the potential imp...

Friday, October 17, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports from the City of Toronto's first public budget consultation. Residents share why they attended and what's on their Toronto wish list as council faces a $1B shortfall. Kinza Zafar speaks with the artistic director at Native Earth Performing Arts ahead of their 28th annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival in November. Gabrie...

Friday, October 10, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty reports on the latest evictions at the Dufferin Grove Park homeless encampment. Also, a protest against suspending school trustees at the opening of a new TDSB school. Kinza Zafar covers how Toronto's controversial bubble zone bylaw could change protesting as we know it at universities, in an interview with TMU criminology professor Da...

Friday, October 3, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty gives an overview of the situation at TMSU: Fall elections will be held after a postponement motion fails, while an external report believes outside interference is likely. After the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Kinza Zafar covers a conversation hosted by the Canadian Freelance Union on how art drives resistance, amplifies...

Friday, September 26, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty speaks with an organizer and faculty at the walkout on TMU campus denouncing campus security and the university's stance on Palestine. Kinza Zafar talks with the Disability Justice Network of Ontario about their new campaign to support disabled workers. Gabriel Hilty hosts the news roundup, with files from Met Radio's community journ...

Friday, September 19, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriel Hilty speaks with Draw the Line organizer Syed Hussan, about how September 20 movement across Canada is uniting grassroots from Indigenous sovereignty to migrant and climate justice. Kinza Zafar talks to Workers' Action Centre director Deena Ladd, who helped organize a counter-rally to the anti-immigrant rally in Christie Pitts. The show c...

Friday, May 16, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriela Ponte speaks with filmmaker Eisha Marjara about her film Am I The Skinniest Person You’ve Ever Seen, featured on the National Film Board’s Asian Canadian Perspectives Channel. Then, we hear from Alpha House’s fundraising coordinator, Jack Wiley, about the recovery centre’s latest project, the Step-Up House. 

Friday, May 9th, 2025 — In this episode, we spoke with The Canadian Canoe Museum’s Executive Director Carolyn Hyslop and Curator Jeremy Ward about their Builders in Residence program. We also spoke to Pinock, a canoe builder who is part of the program about the significance of this for him. Then, host Gabriela Ponte interviews Curation and Programming Lead Mitra Fakhrashrafi about the Mayworks Fes...

Friday, April 25th, 2025 — This episode is part of the #AltElxn 2025 national election project, coordinated by the NCRA/ANREC. This initiative is supported by the Covering Canada: Election 2025 Fund, in partnership with the Public Policy Forum, Rideau Hall Foundation, and the Michener (MISSIONER) Awards Foundation. This episode was also broadcast on the Local Journalism Initiative’s platforms. Wit...

Friday, April 17th, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriela Ponte is joined by Special Advisor to the National Leadership Team of Scouts Canada Kaelem Moniz and Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation founder and CEO Gary Zed to discuss Scouts Canada’s 2025 Scoutrees fundraiser. 

Friday, April 4th, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriela Ponte interviews Real Estate and Mortgage Institute of Canada CEO and President Joseph White about a recent survey. And then, we learn about the migrant care workers and home workers pilot program application process and how it really went down from Migrant Workers’ Alliance for Change organizer Jhoey Dulaca.

Friday, March 28, 2025 — In this episode, host Gabriela Ponte speaks to Director General of the Collectif Social Collective Gisele Pouhe Njall about the more than 150 Canadian bars and nightlife spaces that have adopted the ‘Order an Angelot’ program. Then, we play you an interview with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Managers of Research and Policy, Octavia Andrade-Dixon and Abishane S...

Friday, March 21. 2025 — In this episode, we have another segment from our graduate J-School students and a piece from Met Radio’s intern, Delroy Davidson, on the TTC’s latest fare expansion changes