

The Alex Pierson Show
640 Toronto / Curiouscast
The Alex Pierson show is an in-depth, no-nonsense look at the stories making headlines. Alex has more than 20 years in the field and behind an anchor desk, and is known and respected for her tough reporting style and accountability. Join the daily conversation with the Alex Pierson Show, and never miss an important story again.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 20, 2024 • 10min
Suspicious Senators & Concerning Connections
We have at least 2 Senators in Canada who have questionable ties to the Chinese government, and how are rumoured to be some of the names mentioned in the NSICOP report on foreign interference. So if that's the case, why is a group of concerned activists warning the federal government to approach this investigation with a level of caution? Alex Pierson had the same question, so we went to the source. She speaks with Cheuk Kwan, the co-chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in Canada about why he and his colleagues and associates in other organizations wrote this letter to the Foreign Interference Commissioner, and what it really means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2024 • 29min
IRGC Listed As Terrorists, Mortgage Frauds & Chinese Tariffs
On this episode of the Alex Pierson Show Podcast we first get to celebrate the fact that after almost a decade, the federal government has FINALLY designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. But why now? Could there be an alternative motive? Alex turns to Kaveh Shahrooz, a human rights lawyer and Iranian-Canadian on why this change is so important, but why he believes the liberals decided to do it now.GUEST: Kaveh Shahrooz, Human Rights Lawyer X(Formerly Twitter): @kshahroozNext, more information has come to light in a case that involved a double murder/suicide...but it turns out to be much more sensational and sinister in nature. Reports suggest that the shooter was the victim of mortgage fraud that left his life savings decimated, and he lashed out on the people who committed the scam. Just how common is mortgage fraud and why didn't the police arrest the known fraudster? Ron Butler is a broker with Butler Mortgage and exposes the seedy underbelly of the mortgage world, and how this crime sadly was able to happen.GUEST: Ron Butler, Broker with Butler MortgageX(Formerly Twitter): @ronmortgageguyFinally, after Premier Ford tweeted that he's urging the federal government to impose tariffs on Chinese vehicles, Alex gets a leader in Canada's automotive world, Flavio Volpe who is also the President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer's Association on what this actually means and how it could be done.GUEST: Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer's AssociationX(Formerly Twitter): @FlavioVolpe1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2024 • 11min
Blacklocks Check: ''Hopes and dreams,'' Liberal MP's will spend the summer talking to voters
Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss Liberal MP's will spend the summer talking to voters ''about their hopes and dreams,'' Government House Leader Steven Mackinnon said yesterday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she routinely shares password-protected news stories. All this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2024 • 33min
Heat Dome Harvests, Ring of Fire Roads & Strict Rules For Rover
On this episode of the Alex Pierson Podcast, Alex first start off talking to some of the forgotten heroes in Canada...our farmers. Dusty Zamecnik is the General Manager of EZ Grow Farms in Norfolk County and mainly deals with propagating strawberries for larger farms or distribution centres. Alex and Dusty discuss how these heat waves affect his crop yield, and what he and members of his industry are forced to do in order to adapt to our extreme weatherGUEST: Dusty Zamecnik - General Manager of EZ Grow FarmsX(formerly Twitter): @DustyzamNext, after Premier Ford announced that his government had reached an agreement with Indigenous groups to start building roads in Northern Ontario, host Alex Pierson asks a question that's plagued this province for decades...does this mean the Ring of Fire can finally be developed? To get the answers, Alex speaks with Heather Exner-Pirot the director of natural resources, energy and the environment as well as a Sr. Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Heather breaks down why the Ring of Fire has taken so long to see any progress, and why this mineral rich region is not only beneficial for Ontario, but for Canada as a whole!GUEST: Heather Exner-Pirot - Sr. Fellow & Director of Natural Resources, Energy & Environment with the Macdonald-Laurier InstituteX(formerly Twitter): @ExnerPirotAnd Finally, Alex speaks with a Basset Hound Breeder, Trina Gallop about the new changes coming to crossing the border with your dog. The new CDC rules could deeply affect the bottom line of breeders, show dogs and even those who just want to travel. Trina tells Alex how her industry is still reeling from this information, how it will affect her business and what the Canadian Kennel Club is doing to combat this.GUEST: Trina Gallop - Basset Hound BreederX(formerly Twitter): @tgallop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2024 • 32min
Is Free Speech Really Free, How Hot Is Too Hot & AI Learning From Us!
On this episode of The Alex Pierson Podcast, we first start off with free speech. After a group of law students signed an open petition against Israel, they are now starting to understand why free speech isn't free from repercussions. Alex speaks with Robyn Doolittle, an investigative reporter with the Globe And Mail who has been covering this issue and helps to explain why the letter was first penned, and why some of these students thought they would be safe.GUEST: Robyn Doolittle - Reporter with the Globe & MailX(formerly Twitter): @robyndoolittleNext, Alex sits with a landlord and board member of the Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO), Varun Sriskanda about new proposed bylaws coming to Toronto which could force landlords to ensure ALL units have A/C in extreme heat. Varun tells Alex that all landlords are not the same, and this bylaw could cause rents to skyrocket...or landlords to leave the city.GUEST: Varun Sriskanda - Member of the Small Ownership Landlords of OntarioX(formerly twitter): @VarunSriskandaAnd finally, Alex speaks with the former vice chair of the CRTC and current Sr. Fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Peter Menzies about why big tech are able to circumvent the Online News Act and freely access Canadian news. Peter explains why our tech laws are decades behind, and how this could hurt the news industry even further.GUEST: Peter Menzies - Sr. Fellow w/ MLI & former Vice-Chair of the CRTCX(formerly twitter): @Pagmenzies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2024 • 13min
The TDSB: Ignoring History and Propelling Hate
A new change coming to the TDSB is designed to combat rising hate...but focuses on "anti-Palestinian Racism" while underscoring rising anti-Semitism. Why is this the case, especially when the TDSB is unable to properly define what anti-Palestinian racism even is? Our host Alec Pierson is joined by a Toronto-based lawyer and also a concerned parent, Ian Cooper. Ian tells Alex his serious concerns, and why he believes the TDSB needs to abandon this plan ASAP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2024 • 11min
Blacklocks Check: Trudeau says foreign interference affects all parties, contradicting NDP leader Singh
Tom Korski, Managing Editor of Blacklocks Reporter joined Alex Pierson to discuss Trudeau appeared on CBC and seemed rather confused by comments Jagmeet Singh said that no one in the NDP caucus is a concern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2024 • 11min
Images Of Terror Fill McGill Encampment
Posters have recently been seen at McGill University advertising a "summer camp" that would teach Solidarity for Palestine human rights...but the images and messaging are seen as both extremist, violent and even hate-fueled....so how are they allowed to remain up and why aren't they being investigated for terror? Alex Pierson has these same questions and turns to Warren Kinsella, the President of Daisy Group who's been following these encampments since they first took root. Alex and Warren discuss how vile these posters are, how shameful it is that the university is doing so little to address them and why the authorities need to be investigating posters such as these ASAP. GUEST: Warren Kinsella, former strategist for PM Jean Chretien & the president of the Daisy GroupX(Formerly Twitter): @kinsellawarren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2024 • 31min
Are Final Exams Still Necessary, What's The New Tool To Fight Auto-Theft & Should We Privatize The LCBO?
On this episode of The Alex Pierson Podcast, we first start out talking about high schools, and if students really benefit from taking final exams to apply to post-secondary schools. There is a growing argument to ditch them completely, but how will that help the students? Alex Pierson speaks with Paige MacPherson, the associate director of education policy at the Fraser Institute who explains why students need to learn about being tested and failing before getting into the real world.Next, after Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown revealed Ontario's first "mobile x-ray" to check shipping containers for stolen vehicles, Alex Pierson has an important question that needs answering...why do we only have one...and why in Ontario? To help make sense of it all, Alex speaks with Bryan Gast a former OPP Officer and the current VP of Investigative Services at Equite Association. Bryan helps to explain just how useful this tool is, and how it ties in with the new National Auto Theft Plan.And finally, Alex talks about the one thing many people in this province have been asking for years now...should we consider privatizing the LCBO considering another strike is likely to happen? Aaron Wudrick is the Director of Domestic Policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and is well-versed in this issue. Will it be good, or bad for taxpayers? Would privatizing the LCBO increase or decrease liquor selections? Tune in to find out all the answers.GUEST: Paige MacPherson, The Associate Director of Education Policy at the Fraser InstituteX(formerly Twitter): @paigemacpGUEST: Bryan Gast, VP of Investigative Services at Equite AssociationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-gast-cfe-0a80ba161/?originalSubdomain=caGUEST: Aaron Wudrick, Director of Domestic Policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.X(formerly Twitter): @awudrick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2024 • 12min
AI On Duty: How A Virtual Lifeguard Can Save Lives
Alex has the pleasure of speaking with one of the leading minds of the next generation, 13-year-old Evan Budz, whose Science Fair project can save hundreds if not thousands of lives a year. Alex and Evan talk about why and how he designed, programmed and invented a virtual lifeguard imaging program to alert users if someone is drowning in the pool!So sit back and enjoy, the Alex Pierson Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices