Ontario Today Phone-ins From Cbc Radio

Education Minister Paul Calandra has appointed supervisors to balance the books at several boards citing deficits and depleted reserves. We hear your reaction. Our guest for the hour is Kris Rushowy, the Toronto Star's education reporter at Queen's Park.

Paul Zammitt is our expert gardener on Ontario Today. He starts off today's gardening call-in about ways to prepare your plants for a little neglect while you go away and enjoy summer holidays. 

Your stories about going for a dip in the lakes, ponds, creaks and rivers that run through Ontario's towns and cities. Our guest is Mark Mattson, the Waterkeeper for Lake Ontario and president of Swim Drink Fish Canada, a charity that helps restore the health of local waters

Our guest for the hour is Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, a group that advocates for trucking companies as well as owner-operators. His group is calling for the federal government to crack down on the use of independent contractors in the industry -- essentially gig work. We also hear from Navi Aujla, service director with the Labour Community Services of Peel who has helped drivers file labour complaints and we hear from CBC reporter Robyn Miller.

We hear your stories of downsizing and we hear from a GTA-based realtor Jacqueline Watson who says the pandemic changed her business to focus on helping older adults move into smaller homes.

We hear about the impact long commutes have -- especially for middle-class Ontarians who cannot afford to live close to work. Our guest is Jeanhy Shim, she co-wrote a CivicAction report calledThe Human Story of Workforce Housing.

Our expert gardener, Paul Zammit, says you might be surprised how much care goes into protecting trees. From not mowing around the base of trees to creating barriers that help to minimize compaction, there's a lot you can do help their longterm survival. Paul is a professor of horticulture and environmental studies at Niagara College.

In light of the tragedy unfolding with the Texas flash flood, we take a look at how Ontario is responding to natural disasters with Rahul Singh, Executive Director of Global Medic. 

Ambassador (Ret'd) Louise Blais joins us on American Independence Day for a conversation about Canada's strained relationship with the US. Blais served as a Canadian diplomat in the United States and is currently Diplomat in Residence at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia and Laval University in Quebec City.

American sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term the "third place" in the 1980s to describe where we find community outside of our work and home. We explore what those environments are in your life with our guest Debbie Rudman who's a distinguished professsor at Western University.

It's the time of year when people go on holidays -- and some take their furry friends with them. Veterinarian Dr. Cliff Redford hears your stories about holidaying with your pet, shares when it is a good idea (or bad one) to travel with an animal, and offer some suggestions on how to do make the travel plans go smoothly. Also joining us, Gord Hunter, executive director of the Kingston Humane Society.

We hear from Pride Toronto's executive director Kojo Modeste and board co-chair Nirmalan Vijeyakumar and we hear your thoughts on the meaning of pride this year.

As the school year wraps, 2050 graduates and co-hosts Nanak Sidhu and Bupa Zhang join us to hear student feedback from across Ontario.

Yale researcher and author James Kimmel hears your stories. Kimmel's latest book is called: The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It.

Your stories with Zane Colt, board chair of the advocacy group Conceivable Dreams. He and his partner have already conceived using IVF and surrogacy, and are now trying for a second child. We also hear from retired Ottawa fertility specialist, Dr. Art Leader.

Your stories about escaping the blistering heat and we hear from Caroline Metz, managing director of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at University of Waterloo.

Our expert gardener, Mary Shearman Reid, fills in for Paul Zammit. She offers some advice for gardeners during this heat wave and takes your questions.

Novelist Waubgeshig Rice and callers share stories of trying to learn lost languages, and what that teaches you about your people and identity. 

As Ontario mulls involuntary addictions treatment for people who are involved in the criminal justice system, we hear from a Hamilton-based addictions doctor who works in detention facilities, Dr. Lori Regenstreif.

Writer and educator Jay Dixit hears your stories. Jay just ended his assignment as Writing Community Ambassador with OpenAI, the creators of ChapGPT.