Inside The Village - A Weekly Podcast Featuring Newsmakers In Ontario podcast

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Send us a text This week on our 'Inside the Village' podcast: A wide-ranging conversation with Algoma Steel CEO Michael Garcia, an American citizen who holds a unique vantage point on the brewing trade war. Welcome back to Inside the Village , a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits. On this week's episode: An in-depth conversation with the CEO of Sault Ste. Marie's largest employer. Michael Garcia is chief executive officer of Algoma Steel, a company that ships approximately half of its output south of the border. He also happens to be an American citizen who served in the U.S. army and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. We invited Garcia on the podcast to talk in detail about how Donald Trump's threatened tariffs could wreak havoc on the Sault's biggest company, and why he thinks the U.S. president is so bent on protectionism. But our conversation covered a lot of other ground, too, including Algoma's shift to electric arc steelmaking and the company's legacy of pollution . Garcia also addressed the fact that as the company transitions to its electric arc furnaces over the next few years, the plant's workforce will drastically decrease — from approximately 2,700 today to roughly 1,700 by 2029. While a portion of those cuts will come through retirements, some job losses are inevitable. "That's one of the most sobering parts of this transformation," Garcia said. "We've tried to be open with our employees from the very beginning, helping them understand what this means, what the journey looks like, and some idea of the timeframe that these moves will be made in.” He said his goal is to make sure the process unfolds "with openness, respect and caring for everybody involved.” "We’re a family and everybody in Algoma Steel is a full, valuable member of the team right now and they'll continue to be that way until the day that they're not on the team," Garcia said. "And unfortunately, we're going to be a smaller team in the future. But we're going to be a sustainable company and we're going to be here for decades and decades.” It's a long interview — nearly 80 minutes — but the conversation provides a lot of insight into what is happening at Algoma Steel right now, and the major changes expected to occur over the next few years. Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province. Every episode can be found HERE . If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca . Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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INSIDE THE VILLAGE: For online gamblers, Ontario is the new Vegas 27:33

4 weeks назад27:33

27:33

Send us a text This week on the podcast: As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, nearly half of all viewers in Ontario are expected to place a bet — a process that's never been easier, or more enticing. Welcome back to Inside the Village , a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits. On this week's episode: Betting on the Super Bowl (and everything else). In 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate online gambling and single-sport betting, leading to what is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. But at what cost? For all the revenue the government pockets — and the endless ads encouraging us to place a wager — is enough being done to help people struggling with a gambling addiction? Melissa Toney-Williams, the associate director of prevention programs at the Responsible Gambling Council, is our guest on this week's podcast. She answers that question and a whole lot more. Spoiler alert: She isn't betting on Sunday's Super Bowl. Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province. Every episode can be found HERE . If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca . Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Inside the Village: Election campaign? There's a cap for that 26:49

5 weeks назад26:49

26:49

Send us a text This week on our 'Inside the Village' podcast: Ontario will be in election-campaign mode over the next four weeks — and your local news outlet will be covering every step of the race. Welcome back to Inside the Village , a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits. On this week's episode: Election season in Ontario! Like it or not, Doug Ford is sending us back to the voting booths a lot earlier than scheduled. Your local news site is ready to cover all the angles — along with The Trillium , Village Media's bureau at Queen's Park. On this instalment of the podcast, we lay out all our plans for covering the campaign. Spoiler alert: we're excited. Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province. Every episode can be found HERE . If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca . Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Amid doctor shortage, medical misinformation has gone viral 29:33

6 weeks назад29:33

29:33

Send us a text How bad is the country’s doctor shortage? So bad that the medical misinformation business is flourishing online. Alarming new data released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) shows that more than one-third of Canadians are getting health information from the Internet because they can’t access a primary care provider. Forty-two percent have tried medical advice found online, while nearly one quarter — 23 per cent — have experienced a negative reaction after following that advice. Joining us to talk about the survey results is Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the CMA. Also the podcast this week: Get ready for an early provincial election! Premier Doug Ford is about to trigger a snap election. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Why don’t we care about the homeless crisis? 28:06

7 weeks назад28:06

28:06

Send us a text A new report has painstakingly tallied the number of Ontarians who experienced homelessness last year — and the figure is staggering: 81,515. If things stay the same, that number is expected to double over the next decade (and potentially reach 300,000 in an economic downturn). What can be done to turn things around? The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), which commissioned the report, says the fix will cost $13 billion in government funding: $11 billion over 10 years to boost the supply of affordable housing, improve transitional and supportive services, and enhance prevention programs; and $2 billion over eight years to eliminate encampments. Joining us to break down all the numbers is Lindsay Jones, director of policy and government relations at AMO. Also on the show: It’s peak season for political junkies! Get your popcorn. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Kathleen Wynne weighs in — on Trump, Trudeau and tariffs 32:59

8 weeks назад32:59

32:59

Send us a text Frisco and Scott are back for a fourth season of Inside the Village — and we kick things off with a blast from the past. Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is now a professor at the University of Toronto and has plenty of thoughts on the big political news of the week, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and Donald Trump’s looming trade war. Should Premier Doug Ford call an early election? She has a strong opinion on that, too. If you’re a political junkie — or worried about the threat of tariffs after Trump is inaugurated — don’t miss this episode. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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We’ve hit 100 episodes! Let’s reminisce 57:42

10 weeks назад57:42

57:42

Send us a text Launched in 2022, this news podcast has covered a lot of ground. As we mark the end of 2024 — and the release of our 100th episode — we take a look back at some or our most indelible interviews, including Ted Nolan, Gurdeep Pandher, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and an 18-year-old lottery winner named Juliette Lamour. To everyone who has listened over the years, thank you. We look forward to putting together the next 100 shows. Happy New Year! Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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You’ve got no mail (but we have an interesting guest) 31:44

13 weeks назад31:44

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Send us a text Delivery date unknown. That’s the news at the moment when it comes to when a deal will be reached in the ongoing Canada Post strike. Both sides remain far apart on the key issues that triggered this labour dispute, and no new mediation is scheduled. Joining Scott and Frisco on the podcast this week is Jim Gallant, a member of the bargaining unit with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. We asked him a whole lot of questions — and he didn’t mail in any of his answers. If you’re looking to understand more about what postal workers are fighting for, this is the interview for you. Also on this week’s podcast (which just so happens to be our 100th): the launch of yet another new feature from Village Media. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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GST holiday? Not everyone is celebrating 32:58

14 weeks назад32:58

32:58

Send us a text It’s a tough time to be a small business owner in Canada. Surviving the pandemic was a massive hurdle in any community, town or city. Now, the stakes seem just as high with the impact of the two week old Canada Post strike, potential tariffs on goods to the US when Donald Trump becomes president, not to mention the upcoming ‘tax holiday’ that many business owners say frankly just isn’t worth the hassle. Dan Kelly, the president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business joins Frisco and Scott to tell us what it all means and how small business owners are bracing for impact. Plus, we’ve solved your flyer problems and take a closer look at a new feature we’re launching. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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You throw like a girl! Damn right 34:27

15 weeks назад34:27

34:27

Send us a text A new report says girls are closing the gap with boys when it comes to playing organized sports in Canada. A full 63 per cent of girls are playing sports weekly, compared to 68 per cent of boys, the report found. Although the numbers are up, the study also found there is still “more work to do.” The remaining 37 per cent of girls — nearly four in 10 — are missing out on the benefits of organized sports, a number that rises to five out of 10 by age 16. Joining us on the podcast to break down the stats is Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, the CEO of Canadian Women & Sport. She explains what still needs to be done, and how the emergence of the WNBA and the Women’s Professional Hockey League have played a role in boosting participation. Also on this week’s episode: the official launch of SPACES (and another project now in the works). Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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The Taylor effect: Eras Tour hits Toronto 26:23

17 weeks назад26:23

26:23

Send us a text When all is said and done, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour will have grossed over $2.2 billion. Every community on her tour has cashed in the concerts — including Toronto, where Swift is about to open a six-night run at Rogers Centre starting Thursday. Estimates have the economic spinoff for the Big Smoke to be over $280 million, including over $150 million in direct spending. TorontoToday reporter Alex Flood will be at opening night and joins Frisco and Scott on this week’s episode of Inside the Village. Also on the show: some behind the scenes moments from our chat with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. And yes, we have invited the other party leaders to be on our show. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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EXCLUSIVE: Justin Trudeau joins us for a chat — and insists he has no intention of quitting 39:08

19 weeks назад39:08

39:08

Send us a text Talk about good timing. On the heels of a caucus revolt, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat down with Frisco and Scott for a wide-ranging interview that was scheduled well in advance of all the political drama this week on Parliament Hill. Asked again if he has any intention of resigning, Trudeau was adamant he isn’t going anywhere. “I am determined to lead this party into the next election because we need to put all our tools together and I am actually really excited about this fight,” he told the podcast. Apart from the big news of the week, Trudeau spent more than 30 minutes answering our questions about immigration levels, public transit, affordable housing, the U.S. presidential election — even Taylor Swift. We also dug into Trudeau’s dismal polling numbers, and why he is still convinced he can turn things around and beat Pierre Poilievre in the next election (whenever that is). In one of the more candid moments of our conversation, the Prime Minister also talked about what it’s like to see his name plastered on all those “F— Trudeau” flags and bumper stickers. Whichever party you support, you’ll want to hear his answer. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Here’s a topic nobody is talking about: housing 31:10

21 weeks назад31:10

31:10

Send us a text Is it time to give up the dream of homeownership? Amid skyrocketing prices, scarce supply and longer mortgage terms, the goal of owning a home is slipping away from many Canadians — especially young ones. Diana Mok, a professor at the University of Guelph, says it’s time for society to reevaluate whether people need to buy houses at all. She suggests we need to stop putting homeowners on a pedestal and focus on creating cohesive communities, not wealth generators. It’s an interesting perspective — one that Mok discusses on this week’s episode of Inside the Village. Also on the podcast: Queen’s Park Today and Parliament Today join the Village Media family. Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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The cost of getting cancer can be staggering 27:23

24 weeks назад27:23

27:23

Send us a text Fighting cancer is hard enough. When the bills pile up, it’s that much worse. Anyone who has been touched by cancer knows it turns your life upside down — forcing people to take time off work, pay travel bills and incur other out-of-pocket expenses. A team from Sudbury’s Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) is trying to get a better understanding of just how costly cancer can be. This week on Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott are joined by Dr. Stacey Santi, one of the lead researchers, to talk about what prompted the study and what they hope to learn. Also on the podcast: the latest on TorontoToday! Reach out to us anytime: itv@villagemedia.ca Follow: X, YouTube…

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Code Blue: Hallway health care in Ontario getting worse 30:49

25 weeks назад30:49