Closer Look

A recent report found that retail crime in Canada “has escalated into a national crisis” that costs businesses across the country a whopping $9-billion a year. The situation is so dire in Winnipeg that some businesses are considering drastic measures — including asking customers to hand over their ID before they shop, or demanding that diners pre-pay for food. On tonight’s episode of Village Media...

For reasons that still aren’t certain, colorectal cancer is striking younger people like never before. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, people aged 45 to 50 are now two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed than in previous generations. That is why experts are calling on provincial and territorial governments to lower the age of screening from 50 to 45 — and to provide peopl...

Three months ago, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under the age of 16. Many other governments are now eyeing the same idea, including Greece, Denmark, Malaysia and Norway. Should Canada legislate a similar social media ban? Prime Minister Mark Carney said he hasn’t made up his mind just yet, but he agreed it’s an issue that “merits an open and considere...

Today on Village Media’s ‘Closer Look’ podcast: We speak to the mayor of Selwyn Township about the push to erase the disgraced royal’s name from a local island. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and edito...

"Shocking announcement." "A recipe for a more corrupt government." A "bullshit" move that will "gut public trust." That was just some of the reaction to today's sudden news that the Ford government plans to overhaul the province’s freedom-of-information law to deny the public access to documents held by the offices of the premier and his ministers, and...

Premier Doug Ford says the province will take over the City of Toronto’s stake in Billy Bishop Airport , clearing the path for larger planes on the island. “This is a crown jewel,” Ford said of Billy Bishop. “We need this. We need this desperately.” Lots of details still need to be ironed out , but Ford insists that jets are coming "one way or another." Buckle your seat belts. Joining us...

Welcome to a special road-trip edition of Village Media's Closer Look podcast. On tonight's episode, we catch up with members of the provincial NDP who've spent some quality time over the past week driving along Northern Ontario highways. The MPPs are on a campaign-style tour, meeting with local residents and hearing ideas about how to improve the state of Ontario's northern hi...

Nearly 14 years after the roof caved in at Elliot Lake's shopping mall — killing two women and injuring 19 others — the tragedy is back in the headlines . A proposed settlement has finally been reached in a class-action lawsuit that was launched shortly after the collapse. If approved by a judge at a hearing scheduled for April 10, the settlement will see a long list of defendants pay a combi...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Premier Ford says he is considering filling in part of Lake Ontario to make room for a multi-billion-dollar 'shock and awe' convention centre in Toronto. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Few phrases get people more riled up than 'spring forward' and 'fall back' — so in advance of this weekend's time change, let's chime in on the debate. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond t...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: The number of people over the age of 80 in our province is set to soar, and advocates say we're not doing enough to prepare for the demographic shift. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightf...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: As Canada works to shore up its economy in the face of Donald Trump's tariffs, new research reveals the true value of protecting our natural beauty. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Investigative genetic genealogy is helping police across the world solve decades-old mysteries, including the crimes of a Toronto serial killer. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-dept...

Tonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Matthew Holmes from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce talks to us about the seemingly endless tariff war, and why he sees 'exciting' days ahead. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful...

'Schools cannot be safe places to learn if they are not safe places to teach': Tonight on the Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast, a new report sheds even more light on a growing problem. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in...

Tonight on the Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Should you stay away from Mexico? Cuba? Where should you go instead? Our travel expert has all the answers to your pressing vacation questions. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-d...

Are you one of the many Ontario students who rely on OSAP to help cover tuition? Brace yourself. The Ford government has announced billions in new funding for colleges and universities, but the cash comes in tandem with a drastic overhaul to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Until now, approximately 85 per cent of OSAP assistance came in the form of grants, while the other 15 per cent...

Canada has a new Chief Public Health Officer. Dr. Joss Reimer, a Manitoba physician who helped lead that province’s COVID-19 response, has been appointed to replace Dr. Theresa Tam, who is retiring. On tonight’s episode of Closer Look , we revisit a recent interview with Dr. Reimer, who spoke to our podcast about the country’s doctor shortage, the rise of medical misinformation, and why empathy is...

It was a huge day for Canadian hockey, as our men’s Olympic team won again in comeback fashion to clinch a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game. So on tonight’s episode of Closer Look, we’re going to stay on the ice . If you haven’t heard already, the legendary voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Joe Bowen — is retiring at the end of this season after more than four decades behind the mic. On Family Da...

The Ford government has promised to connect every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029 — and at last check, they’re making progress . But are the patients most in need of a doctor being connected first? A new study has found that Ontarians who lost their family physician face a higher risk of death — and that the risk is even higher for patients with multiple chronic health con...

We hear it often: democracy is broken. But is it? Or is democracy just stuck? That is the central question of the new book Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public , written by Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson. MacLeod is our guest on tonight’s episode of Village Media’s Closer Look podcast. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turne...

When Canada played the United States in the final of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, it was so much more than a single hockey game. It felt like our very existence was on the line. A new CBC documentary — released just in time for the Olympics — tells the full story of that historic tournament, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews. Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscola...

Imagine a car that can sense whether the driver is impaired. The technology already exists, and it’s far more sophisticated than traditional interlock devices that force a driver to pass a breathalyzer test in order to start their vehicle. Known as “passive impairment detection," the technology includes sensor systems that can detect alcohol levels through touch or ambient air, monitor errati...

Where is Liam Toman? More than a year later, his sudden disappearance remains a mystery . Last winter, the 22-year-old from Whitby, Ont., was on a ski trip with some friends in Mont-Tremblant, Que. After a day on the slopes and dinner out, he and a buddy made their way to a popular bar at the resort. Early the next morning, at around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2025, a security camera recorded Toman near...

Don’t have a doctor? Don’t do this. Nearly half of Canadians are turning to AI to diagnose or treat their health issues, according to a new survey — and the answers being spit out are putting a lot of people in danger. Released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the survey found that people who follow health advice from AI are five times more likely to experience harms than those who do no...