TUNE INTO THE TOWN: FORD GOVERNMENT SETTING UP WORKING GROUP TO DEAL WITH AG REPORT

12:00-12:30

Marissa Lennox is joined by Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Glenn De Baeremaeker, a former Toronto City Councillor and Deputy Mayor and George Smitherman, former Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto Centre who also served as a health minister and deputy Premier.

Meanwhile, it’s Tuesday, and we’re kicking things off with our assembly of Recovering Politicians and a lot has happened since we last spoke with them, none more conspicuous than the lingering Greenbelt issue, which doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. The very latest is an announcement by the Ford government to establish a working group to deliver a quote “comprehensive response to the report” – a top priority for the government.

But what’s the actual deal here? Is this just a sideshow to divert attention from the fact that they’re resolutely treading the path toward development – the result is the same.

We’ll also delve into fresh numbers from Angus Reid: Trudeau’s crew is trailing Pierre Poilievre’s opposition by a seven-point gap. And we’re halfway home in this federal election cycle. So, how much weight should we give this? And what do you think about Pierre Poilievre’s new look? Is he beginning to resonate with you personally?

CANADA’S INFLATION RATE UP AGAIN

12:30-12:45 pm

Marissa Lennox is now joined by Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal.

Let’s shift our attention to the economy for a moment. Canada’s inflation rate climbed to 3.3 percent come July. It’s a drop from the peak of 8.1 percent we saw last summer, but it’s a step up from the 2.8 percent just last month. So what’s the key takeaway from these numbers? Let’s bring in Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal.

SOME TORONTO TENANTS ARE RENT STRIKING

12:45 to 1 pm

Marissa Lennox is now joined by Khalil, a resident at Thorncliffe Park Drive and an organizer of Thorncliffe Park Tenants and Adnan Subzwari, Associate with Mills and Mills LLP.

Tenants in a Thorncliff Park apartment complex, situated just North of East York in Toronto, have taken a stand by refusing to pay rent. Their protest stems from rental increases of nearly 10 percent over the past two years.

The rent strike has been going on for four months now, and is the second in Toronto spurred on by above-guideline rent increases.

One of the residents of the three-building apartment complex, who lives there with his family, Khalil Aldroubi, joined us to discuss.