Ontario Today Phone-Ins from CBC Radio

During this week's gardening column, we talk about dividing some of your perennials. Our expert gardener, Paul Zammit, takes your gardening questions. Paul is a Professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

As the trade deadline looms, Ottawa tells premiers that U.S. booze may need to be put back on the shelves should the two countries reach a trade agreement. We dig into the latest with Rob Benzie, Queen's Park Bureau Chief of The Toronto Star.

We hear about the moments that hooked callers on gazing up at the night sky and we speak to Diane Ferguson, an organizer with Star Fest, Canada's largest amateur astronomy conference and star party.

We take your calls about heroism in the ER with Dr. Brian Goldman. He's the host of CBC's 'White Coat, Black Art' and 'The Dose.' He's written a new book called 'The Casino Shift: Stories from an ER on the Edge'.

New data from SickKids and CHEO points to a rise in e-scooter injuries in children -- even though kids under 16 are banned from using them under an e-scooter pilot project in Ontario. We speak to Pamela Fuselli, President and C-E-O of Parachute, a national charity focused on injury prevention. We also hear from Catherine McKenney, NPP MPP for Ottawa-Centre.

We speak to Kathryn Bakos -- Managing Director of Finance and Resilience, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo about those record-setting rainfalls. Then, we hear from the Mayors of St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake whose communities were hard-hit by back-to-back floods.

We hear your thoughts on who should the Ontario Liberal Party. Plus, we'll hear from Sabrina Nanji, journalist and founder of Queen's Park Observer.

This week, we talk to our gardening columnist Paul Zammit about saving the seeds of your favorite plants from this year's garden, planning ahead for 2027.

Taking a break isn't just for students. Your stories of mid-career adventures with Michelle Dittmer, President of the Canadian Gap Year Association.

Rates of substance use and overdose are higher in the trades than other types of work. We hear why from callers and Brian Webster, an addiction and mental health counsellor with the Canadian Mental Health Association of Thames Valley. We also hear from Trevor Botkin from the Canadian Men's Health Foundation about a peer-support network he's building.

We hear your thoughts on the federal government pulling support for expanding the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and we'll hear from Rob Benzie, Queen's Park bureau chief for the Toronto Star.

Our regular gardening expert Paul Zammit talks about deadheading and other August jobs in the garden and takes your plant-related questions.

We hear how noise in the city is changing life for you with Ingrid Buday, founder and executive director of No More Noise, a group that advocates for measures to limit noise in Toronto and beyond. We also hear an update from Coun. Lily Cheng who is trying to put forward a noise camera pilot project in Toronto.

Callers tell us about what they would have done differently to avoid unnecessary pain and heartache in a bad breakup. Our guest is relationship and sex researcher Serena Corsini-Munt, she's an associate professor at the University of Ottawa.

Your stories and we hear from Dr. Kerstin de Wit. She is an emergency room doctor and the research director for the department of emergency medicine at Queen's University in Kingston.

New research out of TMU in Toronto shows how the deep cut in Canada's immigration levels had a dramatic effect on city growth. We speak wtih Sabrina Maddeaux, Associate Vice President of Communications at the consulting firm Global Public Affairs and co-host of the Missing Middle podcast, about why more and more people are leaving Toronto.

Gardening expert Paul Zammit talks about why you should consider growing milkweed and takes your gardening questions.

We hear about the difference a new international crossing will make for Ontarians and speak with Marta Leardi-Anderson. She's a cross-border expert at the University of Windsor and worked as executive vice president of P3 procurement and policy for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

We hear about the roadside attractions that made you stop and we hear from Troy Young, CEO of Attractions Ontario.

The former president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Alika Lafontaine shares a new way to frame outrage in a new book called: "The Outrage Cure: How Overcoming Anger and Betrayal Can Transform the Way We Live, Connect and Heal"

We hear from pet owners across Ontario and Charmaine Brett, CEO and president of the Ontario SPCA about the rising cost of pet food and veterinary care.

You weigh in with international trade lawyer and policy strategist Barry Appleton, former advisor to BC and Ontario on NAFTA. We also hear from CBC senior reporter Janyce McGregor who is following the premiers' meeting in Prince Edward Island.

There has been a rise in applications for gun licences in the Toronto area since 2016 -- listeners tell us what's behind the trend. Our guest is AJ Somerset, former soldier and author of Arms: The Culture and Credo of the Gun.

Our gardening expert has some tips on growing the sought-after flower that has a reputation of being a little high maintenance. Paul Zammit is a professor horticulture and environmental studies at Niagara College.

We bring you updates from efforts to control wildfires primarily in northwestern Ontario and relief efforts to help evacuees in Thunder Bay. Voices in the broadcast include: Environment Canada, Mayor of Thunder Bay and we hear from wildfire emergency expert Eric Kennedy.

We hear how smoke and wildfires are affecting your life and we hear from Eric Kennedy, associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University. We also hear from Dr. Sehjal Bhargava, incoming president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and New Democrat MPP Lise Vaugeois.

Stories from patients sharing their experiences tapering off anti-depressants and anxiety meds and the growing movement to deprescribe with psychiatrist, Dr. Gary Rodin.

A host of new rules come into effect in the regulation of immigration consultants in Canada starting Wednesday. We hear from callers about their experiences with immigration consultants and we hear from lawyer Eoin Logan. He specializes in professional negligence claims against immigration consultants and lawyers. We also hear from immigration consultant in Brampton, Manan Gupta.

Pipeline announcements are making headlines in Canada this month which, if they go ahead, would increase this country's emissions -- at a time when parts of Canada and Europe are roasting. The Climate Action Network Canada predicts 2026 will be one of the hottest on record, along with the past three years. So how does a climate warrior keep up the fight? We hear from callers and Canadian author, environmental activist and legendary broadcaster David Suzuki. His new book is called Lessons From a Lifetime: Ninety Years of Inspiration and Activism.

Our expert gardener Paul Zammit starts the show by talking about how green thumbs can lend a hand in the community and we hear your gardening questions. Paul Zammit is a professor of horticulture and environmental studies at Niagara College.

Two people were killed and four others suffered wounds after gunfire erupted Saturday evening at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair festival, one of the city's largest annual celebrations of Latin culture. We hear from callers about whether violence has them thinking twice before attending outdoor events and we hear from Coun. Josh Matlow, who represents the ward where the shooting took place.

People who love pickleball, love it hard. So what's the appeal? Jonathon Moody is the president of Pickleball Ontario. He joins guest host Stu Mills to hear what's drawing so many people to the sport.

The Buy Canadian movement began out of anger and the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. And for awhile, everything from American orange juice to American clothing brands to travel to the United States was shunned. But how strong are those sentiments today? We're joined by Moshe Lander, a senior lecturer in economics at Concordia University.

You weigh in as Ontario raises the speed limit on more highways. Our guest is Angelo DiCicco, President & CEO of the Ontario Safety League.

Starting July 1 big changes are coming to car insurance in Ontario -- the number of coverage requirements will but reduced so Ontarians will have more choice in what coverage they chose to pay for or not. Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations with CAA Insurance, breaks down the changes and tries to answer whether reducing coverage will really save you in the long run.

Our regular gardening expert Paul Zammit offers up his tips for how to manage your garden during extreme weather and takes callers' questions. Paul Zammit is a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

Ontarians tell us about a time they realized the joy of getting older. Our guest for the hour is Janet Torge, author of "I Can't Believe I'm Old: Essays on aging."

Your stories with screens researcher and neuroscientist Emma Duerden. The University of British Columbia's Dr. Mariana Brussoni, who researchers children's play, also joins us.

On the eve of Canada Day, you share stories about your sense of national identity with journalist and "Gloves Off" podcaster Stephen Marche.

Paul Zammit shares some tips on protecting your garden during the hot summer months and takes caller questions. Paul Zammit is a professor Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College and Ontario Today's regular gardening columnist.

Ontarians talk about why they're watching their team now, as Team Canada wins a stake in the next round. Sports commentator, Nicco Cardarelli hears their stories. He was only two years old when the Canadian men first qualified for a World Cup in 1986.

Callers under 19 take over the show and take us into their lives this past year. From cellphone bans to teacher absences, students lived through a lot this year. We'll hear what it was like from their perspective. Our guests are two recent high school graduates in Ottawa, 17-year-old Jayden Gnanapragasam and 18-year-old Chiara Frangione.