Inside the Village - A weekly podcast featuring newsmakers in Ontario

Send a textAre you one of the many Ontario students who rely on OSAP to help cover tuition? Brace yourself.The Ford government has announced billions in new funding for colleges and universities, but the cash comes in tandem with a drastic overhaul to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).Until now, approximately 85 per cent of OSAP assistance came in the form of grants, while the other 15 per cent were loans. Under the new system, the grant portion will be capped at just 25 per cent.Bottom line: OSAP recipients will now have much bigger debt loads when they graduate.Joining us on Closer Look to break down all the numbers — and all the angry text messages students are sending Doug Ford — is Jack Hauen, one of our Queen's Park reporters at The Trillium.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca 

Send a textCanada has a new Chief Public Health Officer.Dr. Joss Reimer, a Manitoba physician who helped lead that province's COVID-19 response, has been appointed to replace Dr. Theresa Tam, who is retiring.On tonight's episode of Closer Look, we revisit a recent interview with Dr. Reimer, who spoke to our podcast about the country's doctor shortage, the rise of medical misinformation, and why empathy is sometimes more important than expertise.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca 

Send a textIt was a huge day for Canadian hockey, as our men's Olympic team won again in comeback fashion to clinch a spot in Sunday's gold medal game.So on tonight's episode of Closer Look, we're going to stay on the ice.If you haven't heard already, the legendary voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Joe Bowen — is retiring at the end of this season after more than four decades behind the mic. On Family Day, he travelled to his hometown of Sudbury, where he was the guest of honour at a Sudbury Wolves game.The best part? He joined his son, David, in the broadcast booth to call the game.On tonight's podcast, we revisit our in-depth interview with Bowen, who chatted with us back in December.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca

Send a textThe Ford government has promised to connect every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029 — and at last check, they're making progress.But are the patients most in need of a doctor being connected first?A new study has found that Ontarians who lost their family physician face a higher risk of death — and that the risk is even higher for patients with multiple chronic health conditions.Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, the study's lead author, says the research carries “crucial policy implications” for Ontario as it continues to link every resident to primary care. He is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textWe hear it often: democracy is broken. But is it? Or is democracy just stuck?That is the central question of the new book Democracy's Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public, written by Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson.MacLeod is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textWhen Canada played the United States in the final of last year's 4 Nations Face-Off, it was so much more than a single hockey game. It felt like our very existence was on the line.A new CBC documentary — released just in time for the Olympics — tells the full story of that historic tournament, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textImagine a car that can sense whether the driver is impaired.The technology already exists, and it's far more sophisticated than traditional interlock devices that force a driver to pass a breathalyzer test in order to start their vehicle.Known as “passive impairment detection," the technology includes sensor systems that can detect alcohol levels through touch or ambient air, monitor erratic lane departures, and even assess a driver's head and eye movement.If something doesn't seem right, the car is automatically brought to a safe stop and shut off.In the United States, regulators are pushing for all new vehicles to include this feature by 2030 — and according to a recent poll, Canadians are heavily in favour of our government following suit.“We need to do more of what we're doing: education, awareness, law enforcement,” said Steve Sullivan, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, during a recent interview on our Closer Look podcast. “But ultimately the solution will be in technology. That will have a huge impact, because it may detect, it may intervene if someone is impaired, and ultimately I think it'll be technology that will be one of the biggest game changers in this area.”On tonight's episode of the podcast, we revisit our in-depth interview with the head of MADD Canada.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textWhere is Liam Toman? More than a year later, his sudden disappearance remains a mystery.Last winter, the 22-year-old from Whitby, Ont., was on a ski trip with some friends in Mont-Tremblant, Que. After a day on the slopes and dinner out, he and a buddy made their way to a popular bar at the resort.Early the next morning, at around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2025, a security camera recorded Toman near the outside of his hotel. Then he vanished.As provincial police in Quebec continue to investigate, Toman's loved ones in Ontario have done everything they can to keep his case in the public eye.Our guest on tonight's episode of Closer Look is Liam's mother, Kathleen Toman. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Sûreté du Québec at 1-800-659-4264.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textDon't have a doctor? Don't do this.Nearly half of Canadians are turning to AI to diagnose or treat their health issues, according to a new survey — and the answers being spit out are putting a lot of people in danger.Released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the survey found that people who follow health advice from AI are five times more likely to experience harms than those who do not.“For years, we've been talking about how too many Canadians struggle to access health care when they need it,” says Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the CMA. “This leaves people little choice but to turn to dubious sources of information, and now we know that it is hurting them. We fear what this will mean for patients in the future if action is not taken now.”Dr. Burnell is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textPeople can be pretty biased when it comes to their hometowns. Ask someone which city is the best, and chances are they'll choose their own.But when it comes to livability, which Canadian city actually comes out on top? Is “good place to live” a concept that can be measured?The Globe and Mail set out to try — and the latest results are in.The newspaper's third annual “Canada's Most Livable Cities” ranking uses 58 variables across 10 key categories — from health care and the economy to housing and transportation — to produce a composite score for 454 different cities coast to coast.The detailed report also includes an interactive tool that allows readers to prioritize the attributes they value most. Click HERE to find out how your city measures up.Joining us on tonight's Closer Look podcast to talk about the project is James Cowan, The Globe and Mail's investing and personal finance editor.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send a textSid Seixeiro is back in the game.The longtime Toronto sports personality — who rose to prominence as one half of the iconic Tim and Sid show — launched his latest venture earlier today: a new live-stream solo podcast that runs every weekday at noon on YouTube, Facebook and X.As loyal fans will remember, Seixeiro walked away from his signature sports show in 2021 to co-host CityTV's Breakfast Television — but was abruptly fired last February, along with co-host Meredith Shaw.After spending the past 12 months on the sidelines, Seixeiro says he is excited to be back in front of a mic and working with Sick Media, an independent production company.“We have 100 per cent control of editorial so we'll decide where we go and when, and that includes Olympics, that includes World Cup,” Seixeiro told our Closer Look podcast. “I'm gonna get angry at some stuff. I'm gonna give some people some respect. I've been pigeonholed a little bit as ‘angry guy.' I'm not always ‘angry guy.' That's only 85 per cent of my day.”Asked about his high-profile break-up with Breakfast Television, Seixeiro told us he plans to address all the details on his Friday show.“I haven't really talked about it publicly, but something happened to me online after I left BT that I wasn't used to — people were nice to me," he said. "And so I'm going to go through my version of that later this week. It's not like some tell-all salacious thing. It's going to be rather boring, but there's more to it on my end than people know.”Click HERE to check out the official site of The Sid Seixeiro Show. 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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free

Send us a textNearly six years ago, the Trudeau government banned more than 2,000 makes and models of assault-style firearms, including the notorious AR-15.The legislative change raised the obvious question: If a person purchased one of those guns back when they were legal, what are they supposed to do with it now?The answer took years to materialize, but the promised federal buyback program is now live. Gun owners have until March 31 to declare their interest in receiving compensation in exchange for their firearms — and by the end of the year, it will be a Criminal Code offence to own any of the listed models.It's a controversial initiative, to say the least, with many critics adamant that the buyback won't do a thing to actually lower gun crime in this country, which is fuelled largely by illegal weapons smuggled into Canada from the United States. Some provinces — and many Ontario police forces — are refusing to even participate in the program.Our guest on tonight's episode of Closer Look is a man who spends more time than most researching gun laws: Noah Schwartz, a professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley, and author of the book Targeted: Citizenship, Advocacy and Gun Control in Canada.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textBack in 2018, now-Premier Doug Ford campaigned on a promise to end “hallway healthcare.” Eight years later, not much has changed.According to the latest available data, an average of nearly 1,400 Ontario hospital patients per day were treated in “unconventional spaces” — which includes not only hallways, but closets, cafeterias and even bathrooms.But there is one thing that has suddenly changed: the Ford government's willingness to publicly disclose the latest data on hallway healthcare. For years, that metric was included in an annual report released by Ontario Health, the agency that oversees the province's health-care system. Not anymore.One emergency room physician called the change “complete and utter malpractice in terms of public accountability and transparency,” while NDP health critic France Gélinas said it's clear the Ford government has “decided hiding this data is easier than fixing the problems.”Joining us on tonight's Closer Look to explain the change is the journalist who broke the story: Sneh Duggal, deputy editor of The Trillium, Village Media's bureau at Queen's Park.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textLast month, Rogers asked Canadians everywhere to donate their old hockey jerseys for a unique display of national pride and unity. They wanted a wide variety of colours and logos from coast to coast — from Timbits to beer leagues and everything in between.Cameron Lizotte took over from there.A former OHL hockey player who traded his skates for fashion design, the Sudbury native was handpicked to slice up the donations and transform them into five one-of-a-kind jerseys. His final creations — The Great Canadian Jerseys — were unveiled just in time for the Winter Olympics.Lizotte is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textNew research might help explain why some Ontario teenagers are feeling so distressed these days.The study, published in the journal Addiction, analyzed data from more than 35,000 students in grades seven through 12 — and found that symptoms of depression and anxiety nearly tripled over the past decade, from 10.7 per cent in 2013 to 27.4 per cent in 2023.At the same time, researchers also found that youth who used cannabis 40 or more times a year reported an 18 per cent higher prevalence of psychological distress in 2023.Does that mean cannabis use is contributing to youth mental health problems? Or are some teens turning to the drug to help cope with those problems?Our guest on tonight's Closer Look podcast is André McDonald, a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster University and the lead author of the study.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textDonald Trump's tariffs have forced Canada to take a hard look in the mirror. Simply put, a national economy based around U.S. dependency is no longer viable.Is it also time to rethink how we deliver postsecondary education in Canada? A new report says yes — and that the necessary changes must be “urgent and coordinated.”Released back in October by the Royal Bank of Canada, the report calls for a “postsecondary pivot” to advance national goals, including a focus on defence and space exploration, artificial intelligence and major energy projects.Some of the notable proposals include retraining auto workers for the shipbuilding and space sectors, teaching AI skills across all academic disciplines, and positioning Canada as NATO's “firefighting nation.”On tonight's episode of Closer Look, we revisit our interview with Jackie Pichette, director of skills policy for RBC Thought Leadership.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textFour stars? More like five-alarm fire.‘Heated Rivalry' is about as hot as a TV show can get, reaching huge audiences and critical acclaim across the globe.Filmed in Guelph, Hamilton, Dundas and Toronto, the made-in-Canada Crave series has also been quite a boon for local tourism, as fans of the show flock to visit some of the sites where the show was shot — including Dundurn Castle and the Sleeman Centre, home of the Guelph Storm.Joining us on tonight's episode of Closer Look to talk about the hit show — and the many hometown connections — is reporter Taylor Pace, one of our colleagues at GuelphToday.You can read her latest Heated Rivalry feature story HERE.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textNo matter how you crunch the numbers, the answer comes out the same: Ontario hospitals are desperate for more money.Last week, the Ontario Hospital Association told the Ford government that the sector is facing a structural deficit of $1-billion — a situation that requires not only more money this year, but a predictable, multi-year funding plan.A separate report says the problem is actually much worse. Released this week by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, the report says the provincial government would need to increase core funding by $3.2 billion in order to match per capita hospital spending in other provinces.A spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones called the union's interpretation “misguided.”“Ontario is proud to have one of the largest publicly funded health-care systems in the world, with the largest health-care workforce in Canada, and we continue to make record investments in our health-care system, including investing $91.5 billion this year alone, a $30 billion increase since 2018,” the spokesperson said.Michael Hurley, president of Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textImagine a world where every weekend is a long weekend.For Joe O'Connor, it's no pipe dream. He's been pushing the concept of a four-day workweek for a long time — and he's convinced plenty of organizations to embrace his vision and reap the rewards.To be clear, O'Connor is not advocating that people squeeze 40 hours of work into four days. Instead, he is trumpeting the many benefits of a 32-hour workweek.Not convinced? Check out his new book, co-authored by journalist Jared Lindzon: Do More in Four: Why It's Time for a Shorter Workweek.O'Connor is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textEight years ago, the entire country mourned alongside the tight-knit community of Humboldt, Saskatchewan.A bus carrying the local junior hockey team — the Humboldt Broncos — collided with a transport truck on April 6, 2018, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.Last week, Netflix released a teaser about a new fictional series that sounds eerily familiar: a team in a working-class town where hockey is everything — until a bus crash kills a group of young players and their coach.The show's concept doesn't sit well with a lot of people, including some who lost loved ones in the Humboldt crash. One of the family members speaking out is Scott Thomas, whose 18-year-old son, Evan, was among the players who died.Thomas is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textFor residents of northern Ontario, it's always tempting to poke fun at how people in southern Ontario react to a heavy dumping of snow.But the huge storm that hit the GTA this weekend was no laughing matter. The onslaught broke all kinds of weather records — including in Toronto, where Sunday's total snowfall (46.2 cm) smashed the previous single-day high of 39.9 cm.How bad was it? In Burlington, a city councillor took to social media today to tell local high school students that if they break out a shovel, their digging would count toward their mandatory volunteer hours.Joining us on tonight's episode of Closer Look is a person who has spent her career examining the forecast: Kim MacDonald, a longtime national host at The Weather Network.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textGolden years? Not so much, it seems.A new survey suggests optimism about aging fell sharply over the last year, with financial insecurity and loneliness dampening how many Canadians feel about their retirement years.The National Institute on Aging surveyed just over 6,000 adults aged 50 and older for its fourth annual report: Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada.While the majority of respondents — 57 per cent — said they had positive feelings about aging, that's down from 62 per cent in 2024.Another troubling figure: Approximately one in five respondents say they have saved less than $5,000 for retirement.Our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast is Talia Bronstein, director of policy at the National Institute on Aging.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textBy this point, you've likely seen the speech. Or at least parts of it.Prime Minister Mark Carney told the World Economic Forum on Monday that the rules-based global order is officially dead, and that “middle powers” like Canada must find a different path forward.“We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn't mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy,” Carney said. “But we believe that from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger, more just.”The prime minister did not mention Donald Trump by name, but the message was clear.“The powerful have their power,” Carney said. “But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home and to act together. That is Canada's path. We choose it openly and confidently.”Although many praised the prime minister's honesty, not everyone was impressed. Some political opponents say they're worried his comments will trigger President Trump's “wrath” at a time when trade negotiations still hang in the balance (Trump, for his part, responded to Carney's speech by saying Canada “lives because of the United States.”)The prime minister delivered another address today, speaking directly to Canadians in advance of a cabinet retreat in Quebec City. He reiterated that staying true to Canada's core values will be key to maintaining our sovereignty.Joining us on Closer Look to talk about Carney's high-stakes comments — and what comes next — is Peter Donolo, a political strategist who worked for years as the director of communications for former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textThe beautiful game could have some ugly consequences for Canadian hospitals.As Canada prepares to co-host the World Cup — with 13 matches set for Toronto and Vancouver — a new editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warns about the potential risks to our already-strained healthcare system.A mass casualty event or a disease outbreak would inflict huge pressure on local hospitals, “which are already at capacity or stretched,” the editorial reads.“Canada is increasingly vulnerable to events that may result in a surge in health care utilization, including climate emergencies, mass gathering events, infectious disease outbreaks, and global defence escalations,” the editorial concludes. “A coherent, feasible, actionable, and national plan is urgently needed to increase hospital beds and train the required personnel such that quality of care can be maintained.”Joining us on tonight's episode of Closer Look is the author of the editorial: Dr. Catherine Varner, an emergency room physician in Toronto and deputy editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.You can read the full editorial HERE.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textHow widespread is human trafficking in Ontario? Consider some of the headlines that appeared on our local news sites in the past few days alone.In Barrie, pre-trial motions are underway in the case of an alleged human trafficking ring that operated in Simcoe County and York Region. In Toronto, a 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly trafficking teenage girls in the city, including forcing them to take sexualized photos that were distributed online. And in Oakville, the owners of a sushi restaurant linked to human trafficking accusations lost their high-profile fight to regain their liquor licence.These stories are just the tip of the iceberg.According to Statistics Canada, more than 5,000 incidents of human trafficking were reported to police between 2014 and 2024, for a national average of 1.2 per 100,000 people. Among all provinces and territories, Ontario had the second-highest rate.Another recent report from The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking revealed that annual calls to its hotline reached an all-time high. In 2024, the centre fielded more than 5,100 calls from victims, survivors and others affected by human trafficking — an average of 14 every day.On tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast, we revisit a recent interview with Julia Drydyk, executive director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.More information about the hotline (1-833-900-1010) can be found HERE.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textU.S. President Donald Trump appears determined to take over Greenland — “one way or the other,” as he recently put it.Trump has justified his ambitions by arguing that the strategically located Arctic island, which is part of Denmark, should not be allowed to fall under the control of Russia or China.Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken out against Trump's “escalation,” saying Greenland's future security can best be safeguarded by NATO.But for Canada, another question hangs over the unfolding drama: If Trump is floating the idea of possible military action to acquire Greenland, could Canada be next? How plausible is that scenario? And what should the government be doing to prepare?All of a sudden, Trump's musings about a 51st state seem a lot more dire.Our guest on tonight's episode of Closer Look is Adam Gordon, a former senior legal and policy adviser to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs who is now an affiliated researcher at the Cascade Institute.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox.  Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textA new report confirms what many of us already see with our own eyes: the homelessness crisis in Ontario is getting even worse.According to updated numbers from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), nearly 85,000 people across the province were known to be homeless in 2025 — a jump of almost 8 per cent from the previous year, and nearly 50 per cent since 2021.The problem is especially stark in Northern Ontario, where homelessness grew by more than 37 per cent last year.Although the numbers are discouraging, AMO's report does lay out a potential path forward: an $11-billion, 10-year plan “that prioritizes long-term housing solutions over temporary emergency measures and enforcement-based responses.”If we don't act now, the report warns, homelessness in Ontario will likely double over the next decade — and potentially reach 300,000 in the face of an economic downturn.“It is absolutely not hopeless,” says Lindsay Jones, AMO's executive director. “We do know how to solve these problems.”Jones is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram,

Send us a textAt some point soon, the Ford government will reveal its plan for school trustees across the province.Education Minister Paul Calandra has made no secret of the fact that he's considering eliminating school trustees altogether — and he's promised to reveal his decision early this year.No news yet.In the meantime, the ministry is now in control of six school boards in Ontario, using words like “incompetence,” “mess” and “off the rails” to describe how things were going before the province seized the wheel.The Near North District School Board, which covers Parry Sound to North Bay, was the latest to be placed under government control.Jay Aspin was chair of the board when he and his fellow trustees were abruptly removed on Dec. 1. He joins us on tonight's Closer Look podcast to talk about why the decision was made, what the ministry told him — and why he is urging the Ford government not to get rid of trustees.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X,

Send us a textJanuary is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, which is why you might be noticing a lot of discussion lately about education, reducing stigma and supporting loved ones affected by dementia.According to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, there are close to 800,000 people in the country right now living with some form of dementia — a number that's expected to hit 1 million by 2030.There is, however, another group of elderly Canadians bucking that trend in every possible way: “super-agers.”What is a super-ager? Typically, they're someone 80 or over who has the memory and physical abilities of a person 20 or 30 years younger. They're sharp thinkers, extremely social, and often appear like they've discovered the fountain of youth.On tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast, we revisit a previous but timely interview with a leading expert on the elderly: Dr. Angela Roberts, a Western University professor who is helping to lead an international study examining super-agers.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textThe pandemic is long over, but the negative effects still linger.A new survey reveals that five years after COVID-19 thrust our lives into disarray, people in Ontario are struggling more than ever when it comes to harmful drinking habits and declining mental health.Released this week by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Monitor Report is an ongoing survey that's been conducted every year since 1977, measuring various substance use and mental health trends among Ontario adults.In this year's edition, the comparisons between pre- and post-pandemic are stark.In 2019, for example, the number of people reporting symptoms of alcohol dependence was 7.4 per cent. In 2025, it was 12.1 per cent.The percentage of adults with fair or poor self-rated mental health also increased, from 26.2 per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent last year.Joining us on tonight's Closer Look podcast to talk about the data — and where we go from here — is Dr. Leslie Buckley, Chief of the Addictions Division at CAMH.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Send us a textEven in death, some people still worry about their carbon footprint. Which explains the growing popularity of “green burials” — an environmentally friendlier way to inter the dead that involves no embalming chemicals, headstones or traditional caskets.There's even a company that offers coffins and urns made of fully biodegradable mushrooms.But what about human composting? Is that green option any closer to becoming a reality in Ontario?Known as “terramation,” the process uses organic material and a specially designed vessel to slowly transform human remains into soil. The practice is now legal in 14 U.S. states after New Jersey — “The Garden State,” ironically enough — became the latest to get on board.Nearly six years ago, in March 2020, Ontario put out a call for public feedback on "emerging alternative technologies" for disposing of human remains, including composting. Little has happened since. As of today, no Canadian jurisdiction allows the practice.On tonight's episode of Closer Look, we revisit a conversation from 2024 with Morgan Yarborough, the services manager at Seattle-based Recompose, the first funeral home in America to offer human composting.She explains in detail how the process works, why it's gaining popularity, and what advice she would give the Ontario government.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. 

Send us a textIf you're going to drink and drive in Ontario, be prepared to face some harsher penalties.New provincial rules that took effect Jan. 1 include lifetime licence suspensions for anyone convicted of impaired driving causing death, and mandatory remedial education for first-time offenders caught behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs.Time will tell if the stricter regulations make a difference, but this much is certain: sadly, plenty of people are still drinking and driving in Ontario.This week, on the heels of the rules coming into force, the OPP released the results of its latest Festive RIDE checks: in the month of December, nearly 1,300 people were arrested for impaired driving. And that's just the roads patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police; add in city police forces, and it's hundreds more.“Doesn't surprise me, never fails to disappoint me,” said Steve Sullivan, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, during an interview on tonight's Closer Look podcast. “There's no excuse, and it's disappointing that so many people make that choice. On the other hand, it's heartening to see that law enforcement are so active in trying to take as many drivers off the road as they can.”“No one ever thinks they're going to get into a crash,” Sullivan continued. “No one ever thinks they're going to hurt someone else, or hurt themselves or kill themselves. But it happens everywhere. It happens every day somewhere in the country.”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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textAs of today, the Ford government has taken control of six school boards across the province — using words like “incompetence,” “mess” and “off the rails” to describe how things were going before the province seized the wheel.The passage of Bill 33, which came into force in November, made it even easier for Ontario to intervene. The Near North District School Board learned that lesson the hard way on Dec. 1.Now that we've reached 2026, an even bigger question looms: Will the Ford government scrap school trustees altogether?Education Minister Paul Calandra has made it clear he's exploring the possibility — and that he's seen nothing so far to convince him his ministry's $43-billion budget needs to be delivered by trustees.He promised to reach a decision by early this year. The clock is ticking.Joining us tonight on Village Media's Closer Look podcast is our education expert at Queen's Park: Sneh Duggal, the deputy editor of The Trillium.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textEven now, months later, Liam Mooney has a hard time believing just how fast everything came together.One day, he and his wife, Emma Cochrane, were watching Premier Doug Ford on television, talking about Donald Trump's 51st state rhetoric and how Canada would never be for sale. A few days later, the Ottawa-based couple had stitched together a hat bearing Ford's patriotic message — a hat that Ford himself would soon be sporting.From there, the design went viral: “CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE.”As hat sales soared, Mooney learned a lot about the challenges of domestic manufacturing, and the lengths some Canadian firms must go in order to get their creations on local store shelves. His mission now is to share his many lessons, hopeful he can help other homegrown entrepreneurs catch the made-in-Canada train.Mooney is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast. As you'll see, he's much more than a talented designer and driven entrepreneur. He's a passionate Canadian who understands exactly what's at stake.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textYears in the making, Canada's new “grocery code of conduct” is finally in place. The enforcement powers officially kicked in on Jan. 1.Supported by the country's five largest grocery chains — Empire, Loblaw, Metro, Walmart and Costco — the code of conduct is designed to promote fair dealing between grocers and their many suppliers.What does that actually mean? What will change? Who will benefit?And most importantly, will the new code translate into smaller grocery bills for you and your family?Joining us on tonight's episode of Closer Look to answer those questions, and many more, is Mike von Massow, a food economist and professor at the University of Guelph.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textHave you seen this missing sweater? The family that's desperately trying to find it has done everything possible to track it down — tracing the cherished heirloom from Oregon to Ontario to a pop-up market in the small community of Meaford.From there, the trail has gone cold.Crafted in the 1950s, the letterman sweater belonged to an American high school teacher named Walter Skowhede, who passed away last summer. Only after he died did his loved ones realize his beloved article of clothing was gone — likely stolen, then sold online.After tracing the sweater to its last known location, the family reached out to CollingwoodToday, hoping an article about their search would prompt locals to check their closets.No luck yet.“I'm pretty committed to figuring this out,” says William Farnbach, Skowhede's grandson. “My grandfather is the kind of person we want to remember. This is a way for us to honour that memory.”Joining us on tonight's Closer Look to talk about the ongoing search is Jessica Owen, a reporter at CollingwoodToday who just so happens to have a pretty good track record of reuniting relatives with their family heirlooms.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textIn 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 daily podcast — Closer Look — is all about the stories we tell.Launched in September, our mission is to go beyond the headlines with in-depth, eye-opening conversations featuring Village Media reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and major newsmakers.Tonight, as we begin a two-week break for the holidays, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith look back at the wide range of stories that we featured on our new podcast. They also look ahead at what's shaping up to be a huge year for Village Media, the publisher that operates this local news site.Frisco and Scott will be back with fresh episodes starting Monday Jan. 5, 2026. In the meantime, we want to express our sincerest thanks to everyone who has tuned in, either here on your local news source or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.See you next year!Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textAustralia has become the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under 16 — a move welcomed by plenty of parents and child advocates.As of last week, popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat were ordered to block all Australian kids from using their sites or face hefty fines.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it "a proud day" for the country, saying the ban will “make an enormous difference” on the well-being of millions of children."It's a profound reform which will continue to reverberate around the world," he said.Should Canada follow suit? Would such a drastic step make any real difference? We ask an expert who knows a thing or two about kids and screens: Katherine Martinko, the author of Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance.Spoiler alert: Martinko waited until her son turned 16 before allowing him to have a smartphone. After watching tonight's episode of Closer Look, you might be convinced to do the same.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textFor decades, a serial killer in Ontario went completely unnoticed. No one had any idea he even existed.His victims — Christine Prince, Claire Samson and Gracelyn Greenidge — were sexually assaulted and brutally murdered in Toronto between 1982 and 1997. But for years, not a single piece of evidence led police to suspect their killings were connected.That all changed last week.Using an emerging forensic technique known as investigative genetic genealogy, Toronto Police and the OPP say they were able to “conclusively identify” the man responsible for the murders: Kenneth Smith, who died in Windsor in 2019 at the age of 72.The case has made headlines around the world, and police suspect there may be more victims. Born in South Porcupine, Ont. — and convicted of the rape and kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in Barrie in 1975 — Smith left behind a lengthy history of criminal convictions.Det.-Sgt. Steve Smith, who heads up the cold case unit at the Toronto Police Service, said his team was grateful to finally provide some answers to the victims' loved ones.“This was one of the cases that we were fixated on,” Smith said. “I know both the OPP and our investigators, they wanted nothing more than to solve this case, just because it was so unique. It was three vulnerable women minding their own business, and all three were taken, sexually assaulted and murdered viciously. So when we were able to actually say 100 per cent that Kenneth Smith was our offender, it was unbelievable for our investigators. Everybody was just so happy.”Det.-Sgt. Smith is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast. He lays out in detail how the investigation evolved, how the killer was finally exposed, and what the breakthrough could mean for hundreds of other cold cases across Ontario.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X,

Send us a textThe Ontario Legislature has adjourned for the Christmas break — until March 23. (Yes, you read that right.)But don't expect our team of political journalists at The Trillium to slow down as a result. Their work never really stops.Throughout the fall sitting, The Trillium's exclusive reporting on the Ford government's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund (SDF) led the conversation at Queen's Park. One company at the centre of the controversy is now under OPP investigation.As previously reported, we've also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay the hefty cost of ongoing freedom of information requests related to this story. You can learn more about that HERE and HERE.Joining us tonight on Closer Look to talk about the latest SDF developments is Charlie Pinkerton, a reporter at The Trillium.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textBuying some gift cards for Christmas? Don't get scammed.Like so much else these days, gift cards have become a prime target for fraudsters, costing Canadian shoppers millions of dollars a year. (The Retail Council of Canada reported $5.7 million lost to gift card scams in 2024 — up from $3.8 million 2021.)Last week alone, police in both Hamilton and Waterloo Region announced major busts involving fraudulent gift cards. In the Hamilton case, police allege a man was “manipulating” cards on display at a store by replacing the barcodes with ones that belonged to cards he already had.“As a result, when an unsuspecting customer purchased one of the altered cards, the monetary value loaded at the checkout would activate only the card held by the suspect, leaving the purchaser with a worthless card,” Hamilton Police said in a news release.Ritesh Kotak is not the least bit surprised by the recent headlines. A lawyer and cybercrime expert, he is our guest on tonight's episode of Closer Look.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textHow widespread is human trafficking in Canada? Two new reports offer the clearest evidence yet.According to Statistics Canada, more than 5,000 incidents of human trafficking were reported to police between 2014 and 2024, for a national average of 1.2 per 100,000 people. Among the provinces and territories, Ontario recorded the second-highest rate.The StatsCan analysis comes on the heels of another alarming report from The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, which revealed that annual calls to its hotline reached an all-time high. In 2024, the centre fielded more than 5,100 calls from victims, survivors and others affected by human trafficking — an average of 14 calls every day.Joining us on tonight's Closer Look to talk about the latest numbers, what they reveal — and what more can be done to help victims — is Julia Drydyk, executive director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.More information about the hotline (1-833-900-1010) can be found HERE.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textImagine looking at a billboard — then realizing it's watching you back.That's exactly what's happening near Union Station in Toronto, where certain signs are outfitted with small cameras that record every person walking by. Known as anonymous video analytics (AVA), the technology generates stats about people's estimated age and gender, then uses that information to determine which kind of ads to display.The company behind the billboards, Cineplex Digital Media, is adamant that nobody's image is stored or shared. In fact, if someone turns away from the camera and comes back, the company insists the device will think they're a new person.But those assurances aren't nearly enough for many concerned commuters, who want the signs removed because of potential privacy violations. This week, Canada's Privacy Commissioner launched an official investigation.Among those demanding the removal of the billboards is Technologists for Democracy, a newly formed organization that advocates for the responsible use of emerging tech, including AI. Adam Motaouakkil, one of the group's organizers, is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textCheers to charity? That's what the Ford government is being urged to do.For months, the LCBO has been sitting on an $80-million stockpile of U.S. booze — all of it yanked off store shelves back in March as retaliation for Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.The Ontario Liberals are now calling on the province to sell all that bourbon, wine and spritzers and donate the money to charitable causes — following the lead of other provinces, including Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.The Ford government hasn't completely ruled out the idea, saying it's “currently exploring options for the products.”“It seems like a no-brainer,” says Tom Cooper, a business professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the growing number of provinces selling its U.S. alcohol to benefit food banks.“I would encourage the Ford government, the Conservatives, to do this,” he continued. “It's a good political win for them to say: ‘Look, we took a hard line. We've been leading the opposition in Canada around the tariffs, but we decided to try and help some groups that really are trying to do good in the community.'”Cooper is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast. Fill a glass and enjoy the show.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textFor more than four decades, Joe Bowen's unmistakable voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season will be the last of his legendary career behind the mic.Bowen — the pride of Sudbury — is retiring from the broadcast booth after more than 3,800 NHL games and countless magical calls. And next Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs have a special on-ice tribute planned during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks, the same team on the opposing bench when Bowen first called the action way back in 1982.“I wake up in the middle of the night thinking: ‘What in the hell are you going to say after this is done on the ice?' ” said Bowen, during an interview on Village Media's Closer Look podcast. “I'm hoping that I don't end up being a bawling mess, but I think we have a few things [to say] and lots of people to thank, that's for sure."Bowen was gracious enough to spend 30 minutes on our podcast, reminiscing about his favourite calls, the many friends he's made in the game, and his plans for retirement. He also expressed deep gratitude to the many fans who've reached out with best wishes.“It's been overwhelming, it really has,” Bowen said. “I've gotten letters, I've gotten texts, emails…It breaks your heart sometimes, but it warms your heart so many times, all of the great stories that everybody has.”You can watch our full interview with Bowen in the above video, or in the YouTube clip below.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and

Send us a textThis lottery winner will need to spend a portion of his prize on a defence lawyer.A 70-year-old Toronto man is facing theft and fraud charges after allegedly claiming a $1-million Lotto Max prize that was actually intended to be split among three people.Ontario Provincial Police say they launched an investigation in September and confirmed that the winning ticket was part of a group play arrangement.For the many Canadians who play the lottery with a group, this case is a timely reminder to make sure you keep good records. What kind of records?Stephan Desbiens, a portfolio manager at Exponent Investment Management, has all the answers. He also has some good advice for the lucky few who strike it rich at the lottery kiosk.Desbiens is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textEarlier this year, the Retail Council of Canada released an alarming report about a "national crisis" facing its members: skyrocketing rates of theft, violence and organized criminal activity.This week, police in Halton Region added to the long list of examples.Three people were arrested for their role in what the cops described as a “large-scale liquor trafficking operation” that moved more than $1.3 million worth of stolen booze across the Greater Toronto Area. Police say the ring included at least ten groups of organized thieves who stole bottles from various LCBO outlets."Our community deserves to shop and work in safe environments," said Inspector Raf Skwarka. “The individuals involved in this operation showed a deliberate disregard for the law and for the safety of others."How is it even possible for a group of people to shoplift more than $1.3 million worth of alcohol? Is this one of the most brazen examples of the crime wave Canadian retailers are grappling with? What is the solution?Joining us on tonight's Closer Look to tackle those questions, and many more, is Rui Rodrigues, a loss prevention advisor at the Retail Council of Canada.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textDon't expect the new year to ring in lower grocery bills.The latest edition of Canada's Food Price Report, produced annually by several universities, projects that an average family of four will pay close to $1,000 more for food in 2026 than this year — for a total bill of $17,571.79.The report pegs the rate of food inflation at somewhere between four and six per cent, with items such as meat, baked goods and vegetables seeing the biggest price jumps.What's driving the ever-rising prices? What can shoppers do to find some relief? Our guest on tonight's Closer Look podcast is Professor Sadaf Mollaei, an associate professor at the University of Guelph's School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textHosted 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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textRaccoons as pets? Don't laugh.A new study has found that urban raccoons have shorter snouts compared to their rural counterparts — a sign they're heading down the same path of evolutionary domestication that dogs and cats did tens of thousands of years ago.TorontoToday reporter Emma Johnston-Wheeler dug a little deeper into the research, seeking out reaction in a city where the raccoon has risen to the status of de facto mascot.Johnston-Wheeler is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is closerlook@villagemedia.ca.

Send us a textThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed a harsh truth about Ontario's long-term care homes: many were woefully understaffed, a factor that helped fuel the rapid spread of the deadly virus.Doug Ford's government promised a major overhaul, including this key goal: by the end of 2024-25, LTC homes would have enough staff that each resident would receive an average of at least four hours a day of direct “hands-on care” from nurses and personal support workers (PSWs).As it worked toward that goal, the government crunched the numbers and regularly disclosed the provincial average. Although Ontario just missed its final target — recording an average of 3 hours and 49 minutes of hands-on care in the fourth quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year — it exceeded the four-hour mark the following quarter.But data on individual homes' performance has not been made public. Until now.The Trillium, Village Media's bureau at Queen's Park, obtained the internal government data via a freedom of information request. The exclusive report includes a searchable tool that anyone can use to access the data regarding their local long-term care homes.Jessica Smith Cross, editor-in-chief of The Trillium, is our guest on tonight's episode of Closer Look.Along with her investigative report, we also talk about The Trillium's ongoing crowdfunding campaign related to the Ford government's Skills Development Fund (SDF). You can find out more about that project HERE and HERE.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.Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel