The Craig Needles Podcast

03/08/2025

It's a double episode day!

Karina Gould joined Craig to talk about the Liberal leadership race, as well as what Canada can do to create more housing and why the Liberals have struggled communicating during the final years of the Trudeau era.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

Classic Rock 98.1

As Canada goes through trade war turbulence, the Liberals are in a leadership race. Canada’s next Prime Minister will be revealed Sunday and candidate Karina Gould joins Craig on the podcast to talk Trump, housing, affordability and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and...

03/07/2025

Friday Round Table!

Craig is back at it with political insider Ryan Gauss, organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid.

The panel discusses the Trump trade war, whether Mark Carney should be favoured to beat Pierre Poilievre in the net federal election and the latest round of executive firings at the Thames Valley District School Board.

Brought to you by Covent Garden Market Canada and Downtown London.

Classic Rock 98.1

We cap off tariff week by breaking down the ever-changing news with political insider Ryan Gauss, organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid. They tackled the latest Trump craziness, the ongoing Liberal leadership race and then the latest changes at th...

03/06/2025

Amid all the tariff chaos, Peter Fragiskatos stopped by the studio to talk to Craig about what the government can do during unprecedented economic uncertainty.

New trade relationships with Europe? Finding more ways to buy Canadian? Craig and Peter explore those ideas and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

Classic Rock 98.1

What is the government doing as Donald Trump tries to, in the Prime Minister’s word, annex Canada? London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos joined Craig to talk about the latest from the Trump administration, the 30 day auto sector pause, the Liberal leadership race and more. The Craig Needles Pod...

03/05/2025

As we navigate the Trump Tariffs arrival (for now), Craig talked with Mahmood Nanji, Policy Fellow at Ivey Business School and a former Associate Deputy Minister at Ontario’s Ministry of Finance about what may be around the corner for the Canadian economy.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

After an illness-induced break, Craig is back and talking tariffs. The 25% tariff on Canadian goods entering the US has been imposed by Donald Trump – and Canada is striking back. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have both held news conferences today, explaining their re...

03/01/2025

No Friday Round Table today due to illness. We'll be back next week.

02/21/2025

Fanshawe College politics professor Matt Farrell joined Craig to talk about the provincial election!

They went over the Ford vs. Trump aspect of the race, other issues the opposition is trying to push, London races and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

As we get closer to election day in Ontario, Craig is joined on the podcast by Fanshawe College politics professor Matt Farrell to talk about the race, the key issues and whether Ontario voters will actually go to the polls in large numbers. Can we beak 40% voter turnout during a winter election? Th...

02/20/2025

On the latest podcast, Craig catches up with London North Centre Green Party of Ontario candidate Carol Dyck.

They talk about the challenges of a winter election, what voters are talking about at the door, what the big election storylines are and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Covent Garden Market Canada AND Downtown London.

The provincial election is less than a week away! London North Centre Green party candidate Carol Dyck stopped by the studio to talk about the challenges of a winter campaign, what voters are saying at the door and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden M...

02/14/2025

Friday Round Table!

Craig was joined in the Covent Garden Market Canada studio by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Cheryl Miller and advocate Dr. Jeff Preston to talk about the week's top stories - including the latest homelessness direction change at London City Hall, rising rents making London unaffordable and what may happen locally in the provincial election.

Council changes direction on homelessness, Londoners can’t afford rising rents and the provincial election continues – with Doug Ford in Washington. Craig is joined in the studio by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, former city councillor Cheryl Miller and advocate Dr. Jeff Preston joined Craig a...

02/13/2025

New podcast!

Craig was joined by Peter Bergmanis of The London Health Coalition to talk about the provincial election and the healthcare messaging (or lack of) that the party leaders are sharing.

We're getting a lot of family doctor promises - but how easy will those be to keep?

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

Does the 2025 Ontario election even have a focus? Lots of talk about tariffs and ‘protect Ontario’, but we seem to be short of concrete policy so far – at least from the Progressive Conservatives. London Health Coalition co-founder Peter Bergmanis joined Craig on the podcast to talk about what...

02/11/2025

Some illnesses and scheduling conflicts means the regular Tuesday podcast is going to be out later this week!

ICYMI, here's Friday's Round Table with Ryan Gauss, Kelly Ziegner and Scott Kitching.

The panel breaks down the provincial election, Mark Carney's chances in the next federal election and why data says Londoners are unhappy.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

The provincial election rolls on and Canada’s next Prime Minister may have visited London this week – plus, are people sad about living in the Forest City? Craig is joined by a panel of United Way Elgin-Middlesex CEO Kelly Ziegner, political insider Ryan Gauss and Blackburn Media News Manager Sc...

02/06/2025

The provincial election has focused on economic issues, healthcare and poverty - but should it also be about grief?

Advocate Bronagh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to share why she thinks the answer is yes.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

Classic Rock 98.1

Healthcare and poverty are already big election issues. But what ties them both together? Grief. Advocate Bronagh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to talk about why she fees navigating grief should be an election issue during the Ontario campaign. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown L...

01/31/2025

First of two episodes from today.

Councillor Peter Cuddy sat down with Craig to explain his side of the video that shows him getting into a heated confrontation with political strategist Zak Rahim.

What happened? Why was Cuddy working with Rahim? What's the status of the lawsuit? And why was Cuddy kicked off the London Public Library Board?

Craig tackled those questions and more on the podcast - powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

A video shared by CTV London shows Ward 3 councillor Peter Cuddy getting very heated when confronted by political strategist Zak Rahim – when Rahim was trying to serve him with a lawsuit. Cuddy sits down with Craig to explain what happened, how he’s trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again ...

01/24/2025

Friday Round Table!

Elizabeth Peloza - Ward 12 Councillor & City of London Budget Chair, Jennifer Dunn and Frances Moore joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market Canada studio to talk about the Ontario election call, whether London's property tax increase can get under 5% next year and the city's slow response to the bone chilling weather earlier in the week.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by the Market and Downtown London.

Classic Rock 98.1

On this week’s Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by City of London budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, London Abused Women’s Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and advocate Frances Moore to talk about the week’s top stories. First, it’s election season in Ontario! Doug Ford n...

01/22/2025

A new documentary about homelessness in London called 'Atrocity' has a screening next week.

The filmmaker - former London Police officer Nigel Stuckey - joined Craig to talk about people who are struggling, safe supply and government failures and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

A new documentary about homelessness in London – called Atrocity – is out and there’s a screening next week (get tickets here). The filmmaker is Nigel Stuckey, a retired London Police officer with more than 30 years of experience. He joined Craig to talk about the documentary, drug addiction, ...

01/17/2025

Friday Round Table!

Shawn Lewis, London Politics, Nathan Caranci and Mojdeh Cox joined Craig in the studio to talk Liberal leadership race, Ford vs. Trump, London's population surpassing 480,000 and more!

On this week’s Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, organizational consultant Mojdeh Cox and political insider Nathan Caranci to break down the week’s top stories. First, it looks like it will be Mark Carney vs. Chrystia Freeland for the Liberal leadership. Does it ma...

01/07/2025

Back from the break!

Liberal insider and strategist Andrew Perez joined Craig to talk about Justin Trudeau's (eventual) resignation, the race to be the next Liberal leader and what sort of leader the party should be looking for.

Brought to you by Downtown London and Covent Garden Market Canada.

Classic Rock 98.1

Justin Trudeau is resigning… eventually. Parliament is prorogued until the end of March, and the Liberals are going to try and find a new leader. Who should it be? How quick should the process be? Craig chats with political commentator and strategist Andrew Perez to get his thoughts on that – an...

12/26/2024

The Christmas lights in Victoria Park should probably be on... on Christmas, right?

12/20/2024

Friday Round Table!

Kelly Elliott and Mojdeh Cox joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market Canada studio to talk about the week's big stories including the drama in Ottawa and what appears to be the end of the Trudeau government.

Then, London City Councillors voted to dock Susan Stevenson 30 days pay. Do we need to change the way councillor behaviour is monitored in Ontario?

It been a crazy week in Canadian politics, and Craig is joined by organizational consultant and community activist Mojdeh Cox and former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott to break it all down. Chrystia Freeland is out. Mark Carney won’t be coming in. Justin Trudeau is facing pressure to res...