ZOOMER SQUAD: REMEMBERING THE HONOURABLE DAVID ONLEY

Libby Znaimer is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Policy Officer of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion.

We begin the discussion off by remembering the late Honourable David Onley who died yesterday at the age of 72. David served as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario between 2007 until 2014. He will, of course, be remembered as well for his tireless advocacy for those living with disabilities. And, then we get our reaction from the squad regarding the province’s plans to expand the surgeries conducted in private clinics for things like cataract, knee and hip replacements as a way to address the current backlog in surgeries in the healthcare system.

PROVINCE TO EXPAND SURGERIES IN PRIVATE FACILITIES

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN).

The Ford government is planning to expand the number of surgeries that can be conducted in private clinics in the province in order to address the backlogs. This morning, Premier Ford made a televised announcement giving details of the plan alongside health minister Sylvia Jones. Is this the right approach?

REACTION TO OMAR ALGHABRA’S TESTIMONY AT THE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE IN OTTAWA

Libby Znaimer is now joined by Melissa Lantsman, Conservative MP (Thornhill) and the transport critic.

MP Lantsman gives reaction to federal transport minister Omar Alghabra’s testimony at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities on Jan. 12. The committee has been looking at the travel disruptions and delays that affected Canadians this past holiday season as well as air passenger protection regulations.