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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.

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Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter

No one loves Marineland right now

October 06, 2025 • Village Media Inc.

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Everyone loves Marineland? That famous jingle hasn’t been true for years — and even less so after this weekend's disturbing headlines.

The now-shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls says it will have no choice but to euthanize 30 beluga whales unless the federal government steps in with emergency funds to help pay for food and care.

The cash-strapped aquarium blames Ottawa for its predicament, calling the “devastating decision” a “direct consequence” of the federal government’s refusal to issue export permits for the belugas, allowing them to be moved to a facility in China.

Canadian law prohibits anyone from using whales or dolphins in performances, or importing or exporting marine mammals — unless it’s in the creature’s best interest. In this case, Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied the move to China because it would subject the belugas to future performing in captivity.

Thompson said all whales belong in the ocean, but that she’s open to “looking at other decisions that really speak to the health and well-being of the whales.”

What happens now? Will Marineland really destroy its belugas — the last remaining whales in captivity anywhere in Canada? Should Doug Ford step in to help find a solution?

Joining us on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is someone who knows the file very well: Erin Ryan, the wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection.

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 editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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