Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter
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 new podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every weeknight, 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
175 episodes
Deadline looms for grocery stores to start accepting your empties
Have you tried returning any empties lately? It’s not as easy as it used to be.Nearly 100 Beer Stores have permanently shut down since the Ford government expanded alcohol sales to corner stores and grocery stores, and more ar...
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12:58
Not just snowbirds — all Canadians travelling to U.S. will be photographed
Last week, we told you about a new rule impacting Canadian snowbirds: if you plan to stay in...
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23:21
Doug Ford finally gets Donald Trump’s attention
Doug Ford never did secure a one-on-one meeting with Donald Trump — but the U.S. president definitely knows who he is.In a fiery social media post late Thursday night, Trump
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26:12
Been duped by an online scam? There’s no shame in that
The Carney government is promising to create Canada’s first-ever national anti-fraud strategy, including a new financial crime agency aimed at cracking down on sophisticated scammers.Fraud has taken a massive toll on Canadians...
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27:05
Blue Jays are World Series-bound, but they’re not the only big winners
Big bats equal big bucks.The Blue Jays’ thrilling comeback victory in Game 7 of the ALCS didn’t just propel the team in...
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17:15
Spend your winters down south? Prepare to be fingerprinted at the border
Canadian snowbirds are starting to flock south for the winter — but many are getting quite the surprise when they reach the American border. U.S. officials have confirmed that anyone entering the country for more than 30 ...
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21:30
Ban speed cameras? Not so fast, protesters tell Doug Ford
Not so fast.That’s the message from a growing number of Ontarians trying hard to convince Premier Doug Ford to ditch
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19:24
Times have changed, and our colleges and universities need to keep up
In the face of so much economic uncertainty, is it time to rethink how we deliver postsecondary education in Canada? A new report says yes — and that the necessary changes must be “urgent and coordinated.”Released this week by...
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23:27
Ontario school boards learn hard lesson on cybercrime
An American has been sentenced to four years in prison for a mass cyberattack that targeted school board...
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21:36
Why Doug Ford is spending $75M on U.S. ads starring Ronald Reagan
The Skipper and The Gipper? That’s one way of putting it.Ontario Premier Doug Ford is spending big bucks to try to convince Americans that tariffs aren’t the way to go — and he’s enlisting ...
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17:57
These are Canada’s most-wanted fugitives — and their new AI mugshots
Canada’s Bolo program — “Be on the Lookout” — has released its latest list of the country’s most-w...
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25:50
Kate Middleton is right — screen time is ruining our kids
The Princess of Wales has added her prominent voice to the urgent discussion around kids and their cellphones.In an essay co-authored by a Harvard Medical School professor, Kate warns that smartphones and other digital devices...
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27:07
‘I have to do better,’ says NDP leader Marit Stiles
Marit Stiles is still the face of the Ontario NDP after surviving a leadership review a...
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25:27
Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell joins us for a pre-game chat
For many Blue Jays fans across the country, Jamie Campbell is the face of the franchise.The longtime host of Blue Jays Central on Sportsnet, Campbell is the first person viewers see when every game broadcast kicks off.
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27:06
No one loves Marineland right now
Everyone loves Marineland? That famous jingle hasn’t been true for years — and even less so after this weekend's
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17:43
Just one more sleep until Blue Jays playoff baseball
OK Blue Jays? We shall see.Toronto is prepped for some October baseball, hosting the New York Yankees Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.The Rogers Centre will be rocking — and fans acro...
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21:15
Will scrapping home-to-home mail delivery actually save Canada Post?
After years of red ink, Canada Post insists it has a plan to finally deliver a major turnaround.Last week, the federal government paved the way for Canada Post to adopt a list of controversial cost-cutting measures, including ...
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32:55
How petty shoplifting evolved into a multi-billion-dollar organized crime
Crime is out of control at stores across the country.A new report released by the Retail Council of Canada says the problem “has...
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26:48
Family on a mission to fix ER wait times after teenage son’s tragic death
A grieving family from Burlington, Ont. is trying to turn their immeasurable loss into a force for chang...
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29:38
Doug Ford puts pedal to the metal on promise to ban speed cameras
Doug Ford is making good on his promise to ban speed cameras, call...
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26:55
Why some cities are creating ‘safe surrender sites’ for newborn babies
It’s known as "Hope's Cradle": a place for desperate mothers and caregivers to safely — and anonymously — d...
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19:10
Coyotes haven't taken over the neighbourhood, but it sure feels that way
It’s easy to feel like wild dogs have taken over the neighbourhood.Communities across the province are struggling to deal with problem coyotes that are venturing
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18:41