Scott Thompson Show

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Canada's inflation rate has fallen back to the country's target range for the first time in more than two years, but economists say the fight against high inflation is far from over. Nike’s decision to permanently end its sponsorship with Hockey Canada’s men’s program in the wake of several sexual assault scandals within the organization is a necessary part of the rebuilding process, says a Brock University expert. Burlington is preparing for its 150th anniversary celebration, Heritage Week, coming up in August. As the War in Ukraine reached its 500th day, some express their worry that the West is losing interests or succumbing to war fatigue. The International Gas Union’s annual LNG report, released last week, says that Canada has the planet’s second-largest pipeline of LNG projects at the “pre-final investment decision” phase. One-quarter of all new liquification capacity on the drawing board is in Canada. Canada's inflation rate has fallen back to the country

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: The original host of CHCH TV’s Tiny Talent Time, Bill Lawrence, passed away from a heart attack at the age of 91 while in the hospital on Friday night. From basketball and video game tournaments to employment workshops and paint nights, Hamilton is hosting its biggest Youth Rec Week yet, kicking off today! Nike has permanently ended its sponsorship of Hockey Canada, finalizing an earlier pause of its marketing support and dealing a financial blow to the organization as it continues to experience the fallout from a sexual assault scandal last year. At a time when skeptics are questioning Canada's plan to ramp up immigration, a new report argues the country needs to welcome a lot more newcomers to counter-balance its aging demographic. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police could one day transform into a federal police agency that operates more like the FBI under an ambitious but controversial concept that has gained new traction in the nation’s capital, the Star has l

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Leaders of a Hollywood's actors union voted Thursday to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with the studios and streaming services broke down. Our friend Professor Steve Joordens has been on an adventure this summer: he and his wife are undertaking a Canadian Motorcycle Odyssey. They are at the halfway point, back in Toronto to rest for the weekend before taking off. The Liberal Party of Canada launched more than a dozen ads on Facebook to promote the government’s messaging just days after the Trudeau government announced it would stop advertising on Meta-owned platforms because of the ongoing conflict over the Online News Act. The CEO of Hamilton Food Share has said that Hamilton is at a crisis level, with food banks registering 40 per cent more visits this past June compared with the same month in 2022. Many more Canadians will begin re

There continues to be developments around Wagner Group in Russia, even with the surprisingly more diplomatic approach that Putin has taken with them. Now, the Russian leader had announced that Wagner “simply” does not exist as a “legal entity” in Russia. GUEST: Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, documents they obtained show that The Bank of Canada handed out $20 million in bonuses last year as inflation reached a 40-year high. A tentative deal has been struck, potentially bringing an end to the B.C. Port Strike. Public transit in Burlington, Ontario, will be free for seniors all the time and free for young people on evenings and weekends starting in August. On Tuesday, City staff outlined where and how the Ford government will meet the goal to build 1.5 million homes over 10 years across Ontario, which will include a big chunk of the Book Road area in Hamilton’s southwest. Premier Doug Ford says a controversial push to mine a mineral-rich area of northern Ontario is being carefully watched around the world. Google is rolling out its new artificial intelligence chatbot, named “Bard,” across Europe and in Brazil, expanding its availability to hundreds of millions more users. It is all coming up on the Hamilt

Public transit in Burlington, Ontario, will be free for seniors all the time and free for young people on evenings and weekends starting in August. GUEST: Catherine Baldelli, Director of Transit with the City of Burlington. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: A legendary moment in music history, as well as the history of the city of London, Ontario, is being memorialized with a brand-new mural on the north wall of Budweiser Gardens. The founder of Giant Tiger, Gordon Reid, has died at the age of 89. The store may be popular and ever-present now but that was not always the case. If you have been delaying on your plans to get to the gym and pump iron, because you wanted to make heads and tails of the different strategies, researchers at McMaster University have some good news for you. The United States and global allies unveiled new security assurances for Ukraine at a NATO summit on Wednesday, designed to bolster the country’s defences against Russia over the long haul while Kyiv strives for membership in the alliance. The meeting of provincial and territorial premiers has wound down in Winnipeg, we look at what took place and what is expected to come next from their gathering. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Toda

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Pickleball is a sport that has picked up steam in recent years, with people of all ages getting involved. What is the appeal, what is the Pickleball scene like in Hamilton, and what are the risks? Housing in Hamilton is an ongoing concern. A recent report from the Smart Prosperity Institute shows that we are losing skilled homebuilders in our region. As the weeks drag on since Paul Bernardo’s transfer to medium security prison, more information pours out on who sent a note to whom without it being passed along and more. Wagner Group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin pledged loyalty to the Russian government in a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin five days after the commander led a short-lived rebellion, a senior government spokesperson said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as "absurd" the absence of a timetable for his country's membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance's leaders that was intend

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday blasted as "absurd" the absence of a timetable for his country's membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance's leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. GUEST: Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. 

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: We get a preview of what to expect coming out of Toronto Indycar. Shoplifting at self-checkouts are leading to some grocery stores checking your receipts as you leave. Elton John performed what he says was the last show on the final tour of his career, last Saturday night, in Stockholm, Sweden. The Premiers are meeting in Winnipeg, and while Officials from several provinces say affordability is their top priority, healthcare is also on the docket. What can we expect from this gathering? Groups with Beijing ties have publicized their efforts to help get out the vote during Olivia Chow’s campaign for Mayor of Toronto. Olivia reportedly had no knowledge of this, and her campaign did not request such help from the CTFBA, nor of the ‘Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations’ The strike by B.C. port workers is sending ripples across the Canadian economy as everyone from Saskatchewan potash exporters to Ontario importers of industrial parts feels the imp

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Radley: Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN that he listens to “Dad Rock” music like AC/DC, Guns n’ Roses, Eric Clapton while he works, and that it helps make managing the war effort more manageable. McMaster students and Hamiltonians from all over rejoice! This Saturday, from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m., you will have your chance to nab free poutine. Why? Because the 'Smoke’s Poutinerie World Famous Great Canadian Cross Country Plaid Gravy Train Fries Curd & Gravy Weird Wild and Wacky Poutine Eating Tour' will be stopping at the Smoke Poutinerie in Westdale (4B Newton Avenue.) Writing in the National Post, Randall Denley says that Ontario is not prepared for the immigration influx that is part of Justin Trudeau’s plans for Canada’s near future. El Nino is back for 2023. The WHO is preparing for its effects. What does this mean for Canada? It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Eric Alper, Publicist and music commentator. Tom Cooper, Direct

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Radley: A deal has been reached between Stellantis and the federal and Ontario governments to resume construction of the electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Windsor, Ont., the company confirmed on Wednesday. Be careful which emoji you send and whom you send it to… no, not just because you want to avoid accidental flirting. More Canadians are planning on spending less on summer travel or putting their vacation plans on hold completely compared to previous years, according to a new survey conducted by Nanos Research. A spoofed email and miscommunication within the Hamilton Police Service resulted in the publication by the CBC, and later by The Hamilton Spectator, of a false story about local teenagers stealing millions in cryptocurrency. The Foreign Interference Inquiry: Trudeau and Poilievre seem to be playing a game of chicken over the potential inquiry, holding everything up. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Marvin Ryder, Professor with the

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Radley: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has released a statement drawing attention to what they cite as a fundamental unfairness in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax policy: Quebec is paying a lower carbon tax than the rest of Canada. California startup Alef Aeronautics has been granted testing certification for its vehicle/aircraft, dubbed the “Model A,” making it the first fully electric vehicle that can both drive and fly to receive U.S. government approval. Ancaster Coun. Craig Cassar says finding solutions to the community’s road safety problems will “take time” and asked residents to be patient with the results. Writing in the Hamilton Spectator, Steve Milton says that “the math is already stacking up against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.” The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant may once again become a battleground: both Russian forces and Ukrainian forces are accusing each other of preparing to attack. Canadians eligible for the GST credit are expected to receiv

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Radley: Hamilton and the GTA are getting hit with a heat wave! Researchers at McMaster University have created a new packaging tray that can signal when Salmonella or other dangerous pathogens are present in packages of raw or cooked food such as chicken. Is Hamilton and the surrounding region losing skilled home-builders? A new report from the Smart Prosperity Institute says so. We take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and how they are fairing at the start of Free Agency. We look at Canada’s bid to make big tech pay for news, and see what we can learn from Australia’s similar venture. Was the Titan Submersible doomed from the start? We look at OceanGate and how it stacked up next to other “high-reliability organizations” that operate in hazardous environments. It is all coming up on the Hamilton Today Podcast! Guests: Ross Hull, Global News Meteorologist. Akansha Prasad and Shadman Khan, co-lead researchers on this work; PhD students in the Didar Lab at McMaster Univers

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: It’s time for the Canada Day long weekend! Let’s find out what the City of Hamilton has in store for us. As reported in the Hamilton Spectator, less than five hours before he was charged with killing his mother, Daryl Buckle stood before a judge and explained the reason he spat on police officers with no provocation was because “a voice in [his] head told me that if I didn’t do it, [his] mother would be murdered.” While Ukraine’s counteroffensive advances, there is a push from some NATO members to speed up the process of getting Ukraine into their ranks. However, Anita Anand has stopped short of joining that call to action. We get an update on the events that took place at University of Waterloo this week, which saw a stabbing take place in a philosophy class focused on gender. In an attempt to foster better relationships with Italy, Mayor Andrea Horwath along with the city’s community partners will be visiting Racalmuto, Abruzzo, Palermo, and Rome from 3-14 Jul

While Ukraine’s counteroffensive advances, there is a push from some NATO members to speed up the process of getting Ukraine into their ranks. However, Anita Anand has stopped short of joining that call to action. GUEST: Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and a Senior Member of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.

The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. says a $70 million Lotto Max ticket that had gone unclaimed for a year has not been physically validated and is now expired. Norway’s government said on Wednesday it has given approval for oil companies to develop 19 oil and gas fields with investments exceeding 200 billion Norwegian crowns ($18.51-billion), part of the country’s strategy to extend production for decades to come. In a press release the Hamilton Police Service announced that this week “downtown residences and businesses will start to see some familiar faces patrolling the downtown core. In response to requests for increased police presence, Hamilton Police have launched Core Patrol.” Hamilton Police (HPS) say they’ve stepped up their presence in the city’s downtown in an effort to “decrease” a recent rash of shoplifting, panhandling and property damage reported by retailers and residents in the area. Last Friday, Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre joined