TUNE INTO THE TOWN: TORONTO’S SHARE OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET

It’s a busy week at Toronto City Hall as Mayor Olivia Chow and councillors react to what was in and not in the federal Liberal budget delivered on Tuesday.

And the mayor and councillors today and yesterday have also been taking care of city business which includes the debacle around the rollout of the vacant home tax and how to improve it.

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, Alex Blumenstein, Co-Founder of The Peak and David Crombie, a former Toronto Mayor.

PREMIER DOUG FORD CALLS TO REVERSE THE BAN ON KEFFIYEHS AT QUEEN’S PARK

A call by all of Ontario’s party leaders, including Premier Doug Ford to reverse a ban on wearing a keffiyeh in the legislature has failed to pass in a unanimous vote this morning.

The speaker, Ted Arnott, who originally imposed the ban acknowledged the request to have the ban reversed and when it was put to a unanimous vote, he said he could hear some “NOs”.

So for now, the ban stands. Jane Brown was joined by both Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, and Richard Robertson of B’nai Brith Canada.

TRIAL OF UMAR ZAMEER WHO WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING A TORONTO POLICE OFFICER COMES TO AN END

Jane Brown is joined by Criminal Defense Lawyer Ari Goldkind.

The trial of a man accused of killing a Toronto police officer back in July 2021 is coming to an end. The late Const. Jeffrey Northrup was struck by a vehicle while responding to a robbery report in Toronto’s city hall parkade. Umar Zameer was arrested and charged as a suspect. Host Jane Brown discusses the trial, the accused pleading not guilty to first-degree murder and the rise of recent cop killings.