The Craig Needles Podcast

It's the Friday Round Table! Craig was joined in the studio by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and former Youth Opportunities Unlimited CEO Steve Cordes to break down the week's top stories. They begin with news that House of Hope is going to stick around on Dundas until March of 2027. Good news for the people who live there, but... what happens next? What should the funding model...

The City of London got a nice gift from the provincial government - an $11.2-million cheque for hitting housing start targets. The money will be used on a list of 'housing enabling infrastructure projects' set to come to council later this summer.  This is all good news, but what can we do to encourage more affordable units? When can we say London and Ontario are out of the current crisis? Craig s...

On a hot Friday in downtown London, Craig welcomed political insider Matthew Newton-Reid and former city councillor Cheryl Miller to the Covent Garden Market studio. They look at sinking London Transit ridership numbers - can the entire decline be blamed on fewer international students at Western and Fanshawe? How could we get more people on the bus? Then, a look at London's unemployment rate, whi...

Nicolas Saika-Voivod is a candidate in the Ward 13 London city council race - but over a dozen women have come forward telling stories of his misconduct.   The messages about his behaviour have gone viral online and one of the women involved, using the name 'Chelsea', joined Craig on the podcast to tell her story.   What sort of person do we want to represent us at city hall? That's the question o...

It's the offseason in the NHL, but that hasn't stopped league decision makers from giving out second, third, or fourth chances. The Edmonton Oilers have made Mike Babcock their head coach - despite a past checkered with bullying and mental abuse of his players. Their roles in the Blackhawks sexual abuse scandal haven't prevented Oilers GM Stan Bowman and Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville from gett...

Have you been caught up in major traffic backups this month? You aren't alone. Commissioners at Wellington has huge delays. Highbury is down to one lane each way for a large stretch. There's been major construction delays at Springbank and Wonderland. Plus lots of roadwork is happening downtown. So why is all of this happening at once? And when can we expect some relief? Jennie Dann is the directo...

London city councillors have a new downtown plan! It isn't the first time we've made a plan - but can this one work? Will it even be implemented? Craig was joined in the studio by London Property Management Association Executive Director Nathan Caranci and former Green Party candidate Dr. Carol Dyck to break down the plan and how the state of the core has a huge impact on other city issues. Then,...

It's been a difficult half decade for London Health Sciences Centre. Travel scandals, lawsuits, police investigations and more. But, the organization is ready to turn the page. They're starting recruitment for a new board after the previous one was removed by the Ministry of Health, and they've released a new public report looking into the events that led to the hospital going under supervision. L...

There's some new rules surrounding the controversial safe supply program - but will those changes actually make a difference in London? Craig was joined by political insider Ryan Gauss and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad on the Friday Round Table to discuss. Can the changes prevent diversion? Do we need to wind the program down entirely?  Then, some new polling shows Doug Ford's approval rat...

This week in Ottawa, Safe Social Media Act (also known at Bill C-34) was introduced. The government says their goal is to create "a safer online space for all Canadians, especially children". Will they accomplish their goal? What about privacy concerns? And why is unfettered access to social media causing so many problems for kids? Dr. Emma Duerden, an associate professor of education at Western U...

In the wake of the announced House of Hope closure, fingers are being pointed. Should we blame the provincial government? London city council? Everyone? Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller and advocate Dr. Jeff Preston to look at those questions. Then, a conversation about Canadian downtowns - including London's. Big City Mayors are asking fo...

London has often been criticized by commentators (Craig included) for being anti-fun. But is the city shedding that label? The Forest City London Music Awards are coming up - which means a city wide celebration that runs for more than a week! John Pacheco and Howie Kittleson - the co-producers of the June 14th awards show - joined Craig in the studio to talk about London's music traditions and mor...

It's been a messy few years at the Thames Valley District School Board. Scandal. Baseball trips. Criminal charges for an executive. Firings. A board of trustees sidelined. Now, the organization has what they hope is a new long term leader. Kevin Auckland, the board's incoming CEO, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how he plans to win back the trust of TVDSB parents, staff and students - while...

A supporting housing facility in downtown London is closing after the Ford government decided to pull the plug on their half of the House of Hope funding. 45 people who live there could soon be homeless. Can this housing be saved? Chris Moss, executive director of London Cares, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how this all happened and what the next steps might be. The Craig Needles Podcast...

A busy week in London! Craig was joined by advocate Frances Moore and former Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to breakdown whether more Londoners will vote in this fall's election than did in the one we had four years ago. Also, a report heading to a city committee this week outlines the potential future of London Transit - should the commission still be made up of councillors or should they...

When this election campaign started almost three weeks ago, we thought 13 of 15 members of council were going to run for their old jobs - then we got a surprise. Susan Stevenson running for Mayor means the race in ward four is wide open. Tom Cull, who put in his nomination papers on the first day of the campaign, joined Craig to talk about the new race, what people at the doors are telling him and...

It's official - Susan Stevenson is running for mayor. The often controversial Ward 4 councillor filed her papers this week - can she win? Craig is joined by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, political insider Scott Collyer and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to breakdown the race. The key takeaway from Craig: This could create an unexpected coalition for Josh Morgan. Also, th...

It's election season, so let's break it down on the Friday Round Table. London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and former city councillor Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to look at whether homelessness will be the top issue, their impression of the mayor's race after the first week of the campaign and how many competitive ward races London may have. Then, they talk about new...

Brett Broadfoot lost his daughter Breanna to intimate partner violence in 2024. Now, he's an advocate for change - locally and nationally. He and London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn joined Craig to talk about Bill C-14 , the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market...

It's election registration day! The municipal election is in October, but you can officially become a candidate for mayor, council or school board trustee - yes, even for the currently under supervision Thames Valley District School Board. Craig was joined in the studio by former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad to talk about the upcoming vote. First, they...

As the city rips up another major intersection for the southern leg BRT leg - this time Wellington and Commissioners - business owners and managers have concerns. Ian Sterling Leishman, President of the Old South Business Association, joined Craig on the podcast to talk about the potential problems, how BRT construction has impacted other city businesses and his proposed solutions.   The Craig Nee...

London City Council has asked the province for help - after downtown councillor David Ferreria noted problems popping up due to safe supply pharmacies in the core. Craig is joined in the studio by a panel of London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, political insider Ryan Gauss and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid to break down that story and more. They also tackle the Doug Ford 'gr...

Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area has received funding from United Way Elgin Middlesex for 50 years. But, amid economic pressures, the United Way has had to put a stop to the BBBSLA funding - which means the organization needs to chart a new fundraising path. Interim executive director Lisa McIntosh joined Craig to explain what that may look like and why the work of BBBSLA is so importan...

Former city councillors Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the studio to breakdown the issues of the week. First, they look at the proposed changes to the trustee role at Ontario school boards. Can we make the changes needed to get the education system on the right track? Then, the City of London has a multi-million dollar surplus from the property tax base. Should that be spent on ho...

Doug Ford's education minister Paul Calandra announced changes for the trustee role this week. He isn't eliminating the position - but instead limiting their powers and earnings potential. What will that mean at the Thames Valley District School Board? We still don't know whether trustees will be on the ballot this October! Trustee Marianne Larsen joined Craig on the podcast to share her thoughts...