Scott Thompson Show

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The Professional Women’s Hockey League has reached its first quarter. How is the inaugural season going? The newest proposal for a ceasefire is reportedly being received well by Hamas leadership. Could this actually lead to a de-escalation and a path forward? As the foreign interference commission kicked off this week, details have already started coming to light. Canadians set to pay even more for groceries as the annual industry-wide price freeze ends. Earlier this week, city councillors sent Hamilton police’s 2024 budget proposal back to its board in the hopes of shaving off some of the additional $19.8 million the service is seeking from the city year over year. Do the Liberals have a problem with policy or is it a problem with communication? It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Ian Kennedy, feature writer with The Hockey news, focusing on women's hockey, social issues, and the global growth of the game, Author of ‘On Account of Darknes

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Niagara Falls may be the place to be, to take in the April 8 solar eclipse. Elmo asked us how we were doing, and we opened up. A lot. The Westdale theatre is preparing for the 5th anniversary of its re-opening and a celebratory gala fundraiser filled with music, entertainment and special guests on February 14. U.S. Senate hearings on social media and child exploitation. Foreign Interference, China and India named in a top-secret briefing report obtained by Global News, saying the government “must do more” to fight it. Earlier today at City Hall, Hamilton’s 17th annual honouree for Black History Month was announced: Dora Anie, founder of Schools of Dreams, who passed in 2019. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls. Steve Joordens, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Todd Lewis, host of Rec Culture TV, NASCAR announcer, ft. in Scouting The Refs & Racin’ It Out podcasts. Alysha Main, Executiv

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Why are school boards concerned about eclipses? The Russia-Ukraine POW swaps: are they a sign of de-escalation? What do they mean for the war? The affordability crisis is increasingly impacting the ability for Canadians to retire. The RNC and Trump’s relationship may make for a continually interesting race. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation president and CEO Catherine Tait told the House of Commons heritage committee she and the CBC executive team does not get “so-called bonuses” but isn’t ruling out “incentive pay” as the Crown corporation plans layoffs. In a recent piece for the Toronto Sun, Joe Warmington write of how the security threats that the Prime Minister has to face are unacceptable. The feds and the province of Ontario announced funding to curb auto-theft, gun violence and gang crime. The advances in access to Medical Assistance in Dying are on pause in Canada, but some are concerned what happens after the pause. Guests: Dr. Elaina Hyde, Director All

The Russia-Ukraine POW swaps: are they a sign of de-escalation? What do they mean for the war? Guest: 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: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls on CBC President Catherine Tait to commit to ending bonuses at the public broadcaster. Leon’s Furniture plans to build a new Toronto neighbourhood. How did this plan come about? One of Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants has been installed in a human for the first time. In a new piece for the Globe and Mail, Lawrence L. Herman writes that there is an electric vehicle trade-war brewing between North America and China, which will have some far-reaching repercussions. Ontario is planning to push ahead with a complete renovation of Pickering Nuclear Power Station, scrapping previous plans to retire the decades-old facility. Scott Kalbfleisch of Peterborough has independently published his debut children's book, "The Story of A Goat," about a goat named Wishwash with over-sized horns who learns to celebrate his differences. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Franco Terrazzano, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, F

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We look at the increasing role that Iran is playing in foreign interference. As parliament returns, Ipsos polling has brought us the results of their survey on what issues are the most important to Canadians right now. What is the issue with some Staples welcoming in Service Ontario locations in February? Abacus Data polling shows respondents think Pierre Poilievre would handle Donald Trump better than Trudeau would a second time around. A long-awaited public inquiry into the extent to which China, Russia and India may have meddled – or attempted to meddle – in the last two federal elections is begins today. The Conference Board of Canada has released a report sharing their thoughts on the holistic approach that is needed to solve the housing crisis. Canadian federal parliament resumes today! What would you do if you got a bill for taking a toll road that you did not drive on? Guests: Phil Gurski, President of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting, former CSIS ana

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The province is puts a moratorium on public-private partnerships for colleges in Ontario. The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the media company behind a fake hour-long comedy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic's style and material. The Staircase is having a “Re Re Re-Opening” event Saturday at 7:30 p.m.. Adam Oldfield joins us to discuss the steps he is taking to address issues with the encampment at J. C. Beamer Park in his neighbourhood. Crime Doesn’t Fly Here. That’s the new initiative at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, to further strengthen prevention of crimes that can take place at airports – such as smuggling of drugs and illegal weapons, contraband tobacco, vehicle and property theft and human trafficking. We discuss the situation around the five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey team players who were told to surrender themselves to police in London, Ont.,

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: McMaster residents at 10 Bay will be moving into a hotel while the school figures out what’s happening with the water. A staff report says that a contracted operator and not the City of Hamilton should run the LRT for the first ten years, with the right to step in afterwards. There is opposition to this suggestion. Is the Republican primary going to get uglier? Nikki Haley is still staying in the race, while Trump is warning that those who supported and donated to her campaign will be blacklisted. After a supermassive leak, experts are warning about the safety of digital data. Five members of the 2018 World Juniors team are to face sexual assault charges. Is it time for there to be a leadership change within the federal Liberal party? Who can help Bad Boy get out of debt? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBODY! 'Cause they’re bankrupt. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Elliot Goodell Ugalde, Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant,  Department Of Poli

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Late, great Canadian rocker Robbie Robertson of The Band is now nominated for an Oscar in the Original Score category for his contributions to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ on Tuesday. Where do the federal Liberals go, politically, following the ruling from Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley on their use of the Emergencies Act two years ago, in the face of “Freedom Convoy” protests? How will the cap on international student visas impact schools and their business, what about other areas of the economy? Leger polling shows respondents do not have high hopes about improvement to Canada’s health care system in the near future. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Duff Conacher, Co-Founder of Democracy Watch. Colin Mang, assistant professor of Economics, at McMaster University; an expert on fiscal policy, labour economics, and the cost-of-living. Eric Alper, Publicist and music commentator. Tim Powers, Chairman of Summa Strategies and Managing

The U.S. has been engaged in the Red Sea, along with Canada an other allies opposing the Houthi pirates raids on ships carrying supplies to and from Israel. Meanwhile, The Biden administration and Netanyahu’s government are finding themselves at odds over the future of Gaza. Guest: Elliot Tepper, Emeritus Professor of Political Science with Carleton University. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Norman Jewison, the acclaimed and versatile Canadian-born director, whose Hollywood films ranged from Doris Day comedies to social dramas, has died at age 97. StatCan says that the majority of Canadians now have more debt than savings. How will the cap on international student visas impact schools and their business, what about other areas of the economy? In a decision released just earlier this afternoon, Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley ruled it was unreasonable for the Liberal government to use the Emergencies Act to quell the “Freedom Convoy” protests in the national capital and at key border points two years ago. Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, joins us to discuss today’s announcement about kindergarten in the province. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Bill Brioux, television critic and author. Don Fox, Executive Financial Consultant, with The Fox Group, IG Private Wealth Management. Franco Terrazzano, Canadian Ta

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The government says it will approve approximately 360,000 undergraduate study permits for 2024 — a 35 per cent reduction from 2023. Trudeau and his federal cabinet are on retreat, to gear up for 2024 and prepare to not let it a repeat of last year. The Eaton Centre arrests: just because you are not arrested immediately does not mean you won’t be, eventually. Ron De Santis has dropped out of the race for Republican presidential candidate, and endorsed Donald Trump. Gen Z seems to care more about policy than party loyalty. Hamilton's iconic Soupfest is warming up for its 22nd year. We look at the significance of the Nunavut land return. The mayor of Kyiv is worried that the measure taken to defend his nation in the ongoing fight against Russian invasion is transforming Ukraine into an autocracy. Guests: Cassandra Fultz, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, and a Founder of Doherty Fultz Immigration Consultants, with whom she is a Senior Consultant Peter Grae

The mayor of Kyiv is worried that the measure taken to defend his nation in the ongoing fight against Russian invasion is transforming Ukraine into an autocracy. Guest:  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: Canadian children’s entertainer and television broadcaster Nerene Virgin has passed away. EV’s are affected by North American cold. What does that mean for their place in the market, and what does it mean for our budding industry? Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney issued a warning at the World Economic Forum that global supply shocks are becoming more persistent, forcing central bankers to adapt to tame inflation. Talk of Justin Trudeau’s Jamaican vacation, and the concerns around whether it was another ethical lapse, have continued throughout the week. In a new piece for The Bureau, Sam Cooper writes that – according to a new research paper by Ashleigh Rhea Gonzales – the Asia Pacific trade policies started by Justin Trudeau are incentivizing money laundering and Chinese interference. The Business Council of Canada wants the federal government to make legislative changes that would allow Canada’s CSIS to share threat intelligence with companies to help

Unlicensed online gambling being used by money launderers.  Guest: Moshe Lander, Senior Economics Lecturer with Concordia University. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: When is it too cold to take your dog for a walk? Amid a surge in auto thefts in the Greater Toronto Area, some insurance companies are now pushing owners of highly targeted vehicles to install tracking devices. For thousands of small businesses, it’s time to pay up. Is China on the precipice of a decline? Interim Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein has been called to testify on Justin Trudeau’s Jamaican vacation, but Democracy Watch has pointed out that there are questions around how Konrad was appointed to his position in the first place. There are now adults in the world who can remember this question being a part of their school experience for their entire lives: should we ban cellphones in classrooms? With multiple stressors affecting Ontario’s health-care system, the Ontario Medical Association has released an 11-point plan for addressing weaknesses in the system and pitched it to the Doug Ford government ahead of 2024 budgeting. It is all coming up

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: A modular housing builder is set to receive federal funding to upgrade its Ancaster, Ontario, facility and ramp up production to increase the country’s “attainable homes” supply. Bob and Doug Mackenzie are back! And they are challenging the beer tax hike, in new commercials courtesy of Beer Canada. Writing in the National Post, Tasha Kheiriddin says that Canada’s immigration policies are damaging the economy, citing findings from some of Canada’s top bank economists, including Stéfane Marion, chief economist at National Bank of Canada, who state that Canada has fallen into “the population trap” in which “you don’t have enough savings to stabilize your capital to labour ratio.” The Wedding, an immersive reception experience, is coming to The Cotton Factory next month – February 9th and 10th – and with it comes all the comedy and drama of two families coming together… and if you get your tickets, you’re not just a member of the audience, you’re a guest! The Canadi

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We recap the innovations and eye-catchers on display at the Las Vegas Electronics Show. Hamilton is set to become home to Canada's largest sugar refinery! Alberta’s power issues: are they a sign of what is to come? Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucuses Monday night, capturing the first state in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process as he seeks to quickly dispatch his rivals and consolidate his control over the party. A Brock University researcher studying the effects of kindness on mental health and well-being is encouraging people to practice kindness, especially during the winter months. According to internal government documents, Loblaws held meetings with Ford government officials, including the Attorney General’s office, to request changes around how the weed market works in Ontario. Statistics Canada says the annual rate of inflation accelerated to 3.4 per cent in December, thanks to gas prices and still sticky price hikes at th

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: One local Hamiltonian is testing out the idea of renting out a trailer for $700 as a living space – essentially treated as an apartment. The Canadian Taxpayer Federation says that the start of a new year is the perfect time for Trudeau to make a resolution to “slim down” that “bureaucratic belly.” The Emmy Awards are tonight! Are you going to be watching? Alberta’s power issues: are they a sign of what is to come? No more 50% off sales for items on their last day at Loblaw’s stores! An unstable home build in Hamilton’s North End had passed all previous inspections by city building inspectors, until an off-duty city building inspector noticed the home under construction on Ferrie Street East appeared unsafe and immediately notified the city, late last week. Immigration Minister Marc Miller says in the next few months he'll be looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in Canada, but he wouldn't say how great a reduc