We at the Great Canadian Talk Show break genuine news stories that matter to you the listener -- and provide the kind of challenging analysis that listeners have come to count on.
Whether it's
* the inoperative national CanAlert system,
* the worldwide food shortages caused by Bio-fuel subsidies,
* the laughingstock that is the Derelict Buildings bylaw, or
* the unreported links between the millionaires of the exclusive Manitoba Club and the Friends of Upper Fort Garry,
we consistantly break stories the mainstream gatekeepers try to ignore.
Here are the kinds of stories you hadn't heard or read about anywhere else, (and in most cases still haven't), that we did in April:
April 1st - Conservative justice critic Gerald Hawranik announced he would bring forward a private members Bill to curtail the rights of car thieves to get compensation and injury coverage from Manitoba Public Insurance. Weeks later this was discovered by the big-time, well-funded newsrooms of Winnipeg.
April 3rd- The CRTC announced a Show Cause hearing for June 4th, at which the licence of the non-functioning CJWV-FM (a campus station that has never had a student graduate from their course in 4 years and which cannot produce the required annual financial returns) faces revocation.
April 8th- Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs got all the space he wanted in the Free Press to complain that federal audits into how Indian Band Councils are oppressive and unwarranted.
Only TGCTS took the time to compare his whining with the finding in the Court transcript from a few years ago, when Evans used what was described as 'blackmail' in a blatant attempt to prevent his rival, Marcel Balfour from utilizing his authority as a band councillor to get to the bottom of the funding irregularities on the Norway House reserve.
April 10th- Police chief Keith McCaskill appeared in front of 200 frustrated residents at William Whyte School to announce foot patrols in the beleagured area, a move TGCTS had pressured city hall to do for almost 16 months. Missing from that gathering was Councillor Harry Lazarenko and MLA George Hickes, who continue to be MIA at important community events where they might be challenged by crime-battered voters.
April 11th- Manitoba Liberal leader Dr. Jon Gerrard exclusively revealed details of the rift between "the town and the gown", as anaesthetists at community hospitals face a forced fee of $7000 per year minimum, to support the research work of teaching hospital collegues.
The so-called "Tithing Agreement", which implies a voluntary charitable giving) is seen by the non-research contingent of doctors as anything but, as if they refuse to sign the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority may refuse the dissidents admitting priviledges to city hospitals.
April 16th- Elaborating on a Winnipeg Harvest study that inner-city grocery stores have jacked the prices on staples, Dr. Eric Bibeau of the University of Manitoba explained in plain terms how using corn and food crops to make ethanol as a petrolium substitute is backwards for two reasons- it costs more to make than what the savings in gas is, and the removal of arable land from food production creates and higher food costs and shortages.
April 17- We broke the news about the passing of Winnipeg lawyer, philanthropist and op-ed columnist Harold Buchwald, even before the Free Press knew about his sudden demise.
As we conducted an exclusive interview with his longtime friend Yoram East of Canada Sheli, we were honoured to receive an email about Buchwald from the Provincial Auditor, Mrs. Carol Bellringer, with her own kind words about the legacy to the arts Harold left.
April 24 - Coach Brian Smiley came into the studio to confirm he was not only going to receive the Nick Hill Memorial Trophy as MMJHL Coach of the Year, but that he had parted ways with the St. Boniface Riels after lifting the team from 5 to 20 wins and a playoff berth. Hopefully "Number 1 of the brothers 3" was going to leave the upholstery machine on overnight by accident again, and give the out-of-work coach a new couch to laze about on.
April 28- Smiley was back again, wearing his MPI hat to explain their rationale for donating $1 million to the Museum for Human Rights, after CJOB broke the story about how the NDP appointed boards of 4 Crown Corporations acceeded to Premier Doer's "encouragement" to support his pal Gail Asper's failing fundraising campaign.
We invited Manitoba Liquor Commission bosslady Carmen Neufeld to address our audience on the subject, and are still waiting.
April 30- Even more reason for elected judges, as Judge Ron Meyers gave bail to an accomplice in the car-theft crash that murdered Duffy's Taxi driver Tony Lanzalotti -- despite her laughing about his death to investigators. Of course the 16 year old girl promptly disappeared.
And we gave a going-over to the Kremlin-inspired Lobbyist Act, replete with the NDP defining what a "lobbyist" is and wanting them to report in advance the methods to be used to lobby on legislation and who will be approached, was dubbed the blueprint for the Doerstaate by one of our listeners.
And that was just in April.
So far in May, we had exclusive interviews with
- Tory MLA Ron Schuler, who revealed the NDP's proposed Election Act would force opposition MLA's to get approval from a government-dominated committee before their right to send information mailings to voters is allowed;
_ Councillor Lillian Thomas who wants a 6 lane replacement for the Disraeli Bridge, but didn't know it would add $100 million to the taxpayers' burden;
- Selina Driskell, whose 14 year old daughter's birthday party at their Flora Avenue home was invaded by rifle-totting teens who, when disarmed by the family, begged for their gun back;
- NDP MLA Flor Marcelino, who promised to appear at City Hall to defend the residents of West Alexander neighbourhood from the block-busting tactic of the expansion-hungry Health Sciences Centre *see below;
- and Julie Hart, former wife of legendary WWF champion of the 90's Bret "Hitman" Hart, who payed her own way to appear at a fundraising event at Costco for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
So if you are a news consumer who finds the MSM approach to news coverage inadequate -- or even a reporter looking for something interesting to bring to a morning story meeting -- you'll find news and analysis "alternative-media style", that is weeks ahead of the pack, every weekday at 4 PM, on 92.9 Kick-FM.
* Forgot to mention that during the interview with Mrs. Marcelino, we also broke the story of the land swap between the Doer government and Weston Bakeries that was announced to employees a few weeks ago.
According to sources, Weston is getting the never-used mega-courthouse in the Waverley/McGillvray area plus moving costs, in exchange for abandoning the inner-city location on Elgin Avenue. That area will become the site of the promised new Women's Hospital, as part of the HSC expansion. No word on the fate of the Child Guidance Clinic next door.
