Closer Look
In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find. This podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every Sunday morning at 8, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.
Episodes
289 episodes
Not even your gift cards are safe from fraudsters
If recent headlines are any indication, gift card scams have become a lucrative enterprise for organized c...
CTE is a devastating brain disease, but there is hope
If you're a sports fan, you've no doubt heard of the acronym CTE. It has made plenty of headlines in recent years.CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy — is a devastating, degenerative brain disease triggered by repetitive head injuries...
Spot the difference? How fake merch inflicts very real harms
This week, Toronto police displayed the fruits of a
Here’s what you need to know about Ontario’s new auto insurance rules
Here's a piece of advice: Take a good look at your auto insurance policy.Starting July 1, Ontario is introducing some significant reforms to auto insurance rules. Simply put, some coverage that is now mandatory will soon become optional ...
Why we’re spending billions to attract more people into skilled trades
Last month, Mark Carney’s Liberal government announced a $6-billion plan to help recruit, train and hire up to 100,000...
Voting really matters, but our democracy demands so much more
In communities across Ontario, nominations are now open for October’s municipal elections.It is local democracy in action: candidates put their names in the hat, lay out their promises — and you vote.But is that enough? Does democ...
Don Cherry's son talks about his dad, ‘you people’ and Ron MacLean
Even at 92 years old, Don Cherry is never far from the headlines.Back in February, the longtime co-host of “Coach’s Corner” was appointed to t...
Why banning kids from social media is a terrible idea
Back in December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under 16. Simp...
Our prime farmland in Ontario is rapidly disappearing
The Ford government says it wants to limit the foreign ownership of prime Ontario farmland, all part of proposed legislation aimed at boosting food sovereignty across the province.But some experts say the government’s focus on foreign ow...
Canada’s ‘Princess Warrior’ stops by our podcast (minus the sword)
Mary Walsh is so much more than one iconic character, but for countless Canadians she will always be Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior.Her sword-wielding alter ego — who ambushed politicians, cornered them with uncomfortable questions, an...
Nothing stays the same, and our podcast is no exception
Every day, our Closer Look podcast chases the same mission: to learn something new.Whether we're dissecting a pressing issue, or speaking to a prominent guest, we try to leave the conve...
This is why Canada’s Wonderland adopted a new chaperone policy for kids
Canada’s Wonderland rode a roller coaster of headlines this week when it announced a new chaperone policy for kids....
AI robots for seniors? Time we start talking about our aging population
In Ontario, the number of people over the age of 80 is set to soar — and advocates say we're not doing enough to prepare for the demographic shift.We are definitely not alone. Countries around the world are grappling to prepare for the i...
As final game looms, voice of the Leafs looks back on ‘dream’ career
For 44 years, Joe Bowen’s signature voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season
Every teenager needs to listen to this interview about jobs of the future
Our guest on tonight’s Closer Look is Ian Howcroft of Skills Ontario, an organization that empowers youth to explore careers in skilled trades and tech...
Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage
Ontario's minimum wage is set for another bump later this year, rising 35 cents to $17.95 an hour.But is t...
These hi-tech mugshots help police track down Canada’s most wanted
Six months ago, we told you about the
Ford plus Carney equals more housing across Ontario?
Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look podcast is Aidan Chamandy, a reporter at TorontoToday who covered
You have one more day left to tell the government about your banned guns
Six years ago, the Trudeau government made the decision to ban more than 2,000 makes and models of assault-style firearms, including the notorious AR-15.The legislative change raised the obvious question: If a person purchased one of tho...
Everything you need to know about Doug Ford’s latest unbalanced budget
The Ford government unveiled its latest provincial budget on Thursday — a record $244-billion fi...
Play ball! Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman joins us for Opening Day chat
The Toronto Blue Jays came oh so close to capturing a World Series title last season — uniting fans from coast to coast in the process.Can they finish the job this year? Does the latest version of the Jays have what it takes to go on ano...
What is ‘maple washing’ — and why are grocery stores getting fined for it?
The ‘Buy Canadian’ movement is still going strong — and federal food inspectors
Here’s a winning bet: Let’s lose all those gambling ads before it's too late
Bruce Kidd, a now-retired professor at the University of Toronto, is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti ...