Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter
Village Media Inc.
179 episodes
20 hours ago
Send us a text Last week, Amazon announced the elimination of 14,000 jobs worldwide as the retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence. "Some may ask why we're reducing roles when the company is performing well," wrote Beth Galetti, a senior vice-president at the company. "What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly. This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we've seen since the Internet, and it's enabling companies to innovate much f...
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Send us a text Last week, Amazon announced the elimination of 14,000 jobs worldwide as the retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence. "Some may ask why we're reducing roles when the company is performing well," wrote Beth Galetti, a senior vice-president at the company. "What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly. This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we've seen since the Internet, and it's enabling companies to innovate much f...
Send us a text Will this be the night? The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from their first World Series title in more than three decades, and they’re hosting Game 6 Friday night at Rogers Centre. Win, and they’re the champs. Lose, and it will all come down to Game 7 Saturday night. Whatever happens, this has already been a World Series for the ages — a politically charged match-up that featured two international superstars, an 18-inning marathon, and some heartwarming side stories. Join...
Send us a text “Canadians have changed the way they use the postal service, and we must change with them.” That was the message this week from Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger, after dozens of managers were laid off as part of an ongoing overhaul at the Crown corporation — which has racked up massive annual losses since 2018 and needed a $1-billion federal loan earlier this year just to stay afloat. “We need to ensure our costs better align to our financial realities, which means our organizat...
Send us a text Doug Ford’s anti-tariff commercial has stopped airing on U.S. networks, but the controversial ad is still getting plenty of attention. According to multiple reports published today, Donald Trump’s Ambassador to Canada was so furious over the ad that he angrily confronted Ontario’s representative to Washington at a Monday event. Pete Hoekstra reportedly dropped some f-bombs while scolding David Paterson. The Globe and Mail reported that the ambassador was overheard saying Cana...
Send us a text Have you tried returning any empties lately? It’s not as easy as it used to be. Nearly 100 Beer Stores have permanently shut down since the Ford government expanded alcohol sales to corner stores and grocery stores, and more are expected to close in the coming months. But here’s the problem: although all grocery stores with a license to sell liquor will be required to accept empty bottles and cans as of Jan. 1, only a small percentage have actually started collecting. And as ...
Send us a text Last week, we told you about a new rule impacting Canadian snowbirds: if you plan to stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days, prepare to be photographed and fingerprinted at the border. This week, another new rule that impacts all U.S.-bound travellers — not just snowbirds: the American government has announced plans to photograph every foreign visitor when they enter and exit the country by all modes of transport. The regulation is set to take effect on Dec. 26, and will like...
Send us a text Doug Ford never did secure a one-on-one meeting with Donald Trump — but the U.S. president definitely knows who he is. In a fiery social media post late Thursday night, Trump abruptly cancelled all trade talks with Canada because of the Ontario government’s anti-tariff commercial featuring the voice of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Trump said the ad “fraudulently” claimed that Reagan opposed tariffs “when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECU...
Send us a text The Carney government is promising to create Canada’s first-ever national anti-fraud strategy, including a new financial crime agency aimed at cracking down on sophisticated scammers. Fraud has taken a massive toll on Canadians in recent years — not only on their wallets, but on their emotional well-being. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, more than 23,000 people this year have already reported losses totalling $544 million. And that’s only the fraction of people w...
Send us a text Big bats equal big bucks. The Blue Jays’ thrilling comeback victory in Game 7 of the ALCS didn’t just propel the team into the World Series. It set up the city of Toronto for a huge economic score. Hotels, restaurants, transit services and local tourist hot spots will rake in millions of dollars in extra revenue when fans flock to Toronto for Games 1 and 2 of the Fall Classic, which starts Friday night at Rogers Centre. Will it compare to the massive economic spinoffs from Ta...
Send us a text Canadian snowbirds are starting to flock south for the winter — but many are getting quite the surprise when they reach the American border. U.S. officials have confirmed that anyone entering the country for more than 30 days, via land, must agree to be photographed and fingerprinted. The new regulations stem from U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that requires many foreign visitors staying a month or longer to register with the government. How ...
Send us a text Not so fast. That’s the message from a growing number of Ontarians trying hard to convince Premier Doug Ford to ditch his plan to outlaw speed cameras. Protesters in cities across the province rallied against Ford’s proposed speed camera ban on Monday morning, just as MPPs returned to Queen’s Park for a new legislative session. Ford has called the devices nothing but a “cash grab,” and his government is promising to introduce legislation that prevents cities and towns f...
Send us a text In the face of so much economic uncertainty, is it time to rethink how we deliver postsecondary education in Canada? A new report says yes — and that the necessary changes must be “urgent and coordinated.” Released this week by the Royal Bank of Canada, the report calls for a “postsecondary pivot” to advance national goals, including a focus on defence and space exploration, artificial intelligence and major energy projects. Some of the notable proposals include retraining au...
Send us a text An American has been sentenced to four years in prison for a mass cyberattack that targeted school boards across Canada, including Ontario. Matthew D. Lane appeared in a Massachusetts court this week, where he pleaded guilty to charges relating to the cyber extortion of two companies. One was PowerSchool, a software and cloud storage firm used by school boards across the province. The cyberattack breached the personal data of millions of students and teachers, including...
Send us a text The Skipper and The Gipper? That’s one way of putting it. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is spending big bucks to try to convince Americans that tariffs aren’t the way to go — and he’s enlisting the unmistakable voice of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to help in the fight. Ford revealed Tuesday that his government is launching a $75-million advertising campaign across most major U.S. networks, highlighting the pitfalls of protectionism for American workers and consumers. The ...
Send us a text Leafs tickets, a Parisian wedding, Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner — even Drake. This evolving story out of Queen’s Park has it all. Last week, Ontario’s auditor general had some scathing words for the Ford government’s $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund (SDF), which supports “innovative projects” aimed at hiring, training and retraining Ontario workers. Shelley Spence found that the selection process was “not fair, transparent or accountable” — and that provincial lab...
Send us a text Canada’s Bolo program — “Be on the Lookout” — has released its latest list of the country’s most-wanted fugitives. But if you scroll through the website, you’ll notice a modern twist to the mug shots: artificial intelligence was used to make the heads move and the eyes blink. The list of 25 fugitives includes alleged murderers, drug trafficking and gang members who are wanted by various police services across the country. If you spot any of these individuals, do not approach ...
Send us a text The Princess of Wales has added her prominent voice to the urgent discussion around kids and their cellphones. In an essay co-authored by a Harvard Medical School professor, Kate warns that smartphones and other digital devices are responsible for an “epidemic of disconnection” that threatens the development of young children. “We’re raising a generation that may be more ‘connected’ than any in history while simultaneously being more isolated, more lonely, and less equi...
Send us a text Marit Stiles is still the face of the Ontario NDP after surviving a leadership review at her party’s September convention. But she is the first to admit that the result — 68 per cent support — wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. “I’m not satisfied with that, and the message I got very clearly in talking to NDP members at our convention a couple weeks ago was people want to defeat Doug Ford in the next election, and they were not happy that we weren't able to do that i...
Send us a text For many Blue Jays fans across the country, Jamie Campbell is the face of the franchise. The longtime host of Blue Jays Central on Sportsnet, Campbell is the first person viewers see when every game broadcast kicks off. He occupies a special place in fans’ hearts — and at Rogers Centre, in his trademark desk behind the left field stands. In advance of tonight’s Game 3 match-up against the New York Yankees, Campbell was kind enough to carve out some time for a chat with ...
Send us a text Everyone loves Marineland? That famous jingle hasn’t been true for years — and even less so after this weekend's disturbing headlines. The now-shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls says it will have no choice but to euthanize 30 beluga whales unless the federal government steps in with emergency funds to help pay for food and care. The cash-strapped aquarium blames Ottawa for its predicament, calling the “devastating decision” a “direct consequence” of the federal government’...
Send us a text OK Blue Jays? We shall see. Toronto is prepped for some October baseball, hosting the New York Yankees Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. The Rogers Centre will be rocking — and fans across the country will be watching (mostly on the edge of their seats). Is this the magical year for Canada’s baseball team? Can the Jays beat Aaron Judge and the Yankees in a best-of-five? How deep will Toronto go this postseason? Joining us on tonight’s Closer...
Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter
Send us a text Last week, Amazon announced the elimination of 14,000 jobs worldwide as the retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence. "Some may ask why we're reducing roles when the company is performing well," wrote Beth Galetti, a senior vice-president at the company. "What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly. This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we've seen since the Internet, and it's enabling companies to innovate much f...
