CFRA Live! - Sound Bites
All the best audio from CFRA Live!
Episodes
Ontario’s brand-new bill to deal with misbehaving city councillors received royal assent this week, but there is currently no clear timeline as to when those rules will kick in, and what local powers will remain once Bill 9 is implemented. Under this new Ontario legislation, if a series of conditions are met, City Council would possess the power to remove a councillor from office. It stems from a string of inappropriate behav...
Ottawa’s infrastructure deficit currently sits at $229 million, and it’s not just a singular sore thumb. It’s an issue that multiple Canadian cities are trying to grasp, from aging roads to city-owned buildings. Here at home, the idea of an infrastructure levy is being debated to help rectify today’s lingering problems, as a chunk of Ottawa’s aging recreation centres are in urgent need of a facelift. A...
Amid 3 years of rapid growth, the PWHL will be expanding to 12 teams, as 4 new additions to the family assemble their rosters for next season. On Monday, a six-phase Expansion Process will commence, as the existing 8 franchises try to keep the band together. Technical producer Stephen Ellsworth joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
Expansion details can be found here: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2026/may/27/pwhl-announces-2026...
Yet another highly-anticipated season of Nature Nocturne is just days away – a party where no two events are ever alike. Dana Albright is the Head of Programs at the Canadian Museum of Nature. She joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
Rockland-born musician Elizabeth Royall is getting ready to release her debut EP. It’s called ‘You See An Angel’, and you’ll have the chance to catch some of her new tunes at LIVE! On Elgin this Thursday night at 7 o’clock. Royall previously took home a SOCAN award in 2024, was nominated for a Capital City Music Award in 2025, and was a part of last year’s Bluesfest lineup. She joins Andrew Pinse...
If you’ve ever visited Bel Air Heights, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Nepean’s ‘Bike Guy’. That would be handyman Grant Gilliland, who has given many broken-down bicycles a second chance at life. And then, he gives them away. Grant’s idea originated through a post on a local Facebook group in early-2022, as someone near his Quebec cottage was looking for a bike fixer-upper. One thing led ...
As the thermometer heats up in Canada’s Capital, residents might feel tempted to cool off and go for a swim. And with that temptation comes a heightened conversation surrounding water safety, especially around Ottawa’s beaches. Dan Kirvan is the Chief of Special Operations with Ottawa Fire Services. He joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
A group of Ottawa-based Liberal MPP’s were pushing the Ford government for answers this week about a wide range of local issues. Of course, the highly-anticipated upload of Highway 174 and Ottawa’s LRT was mentioned in detail. However, it was the brand-new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus that served as the headlining act, as many are hoping for clarity on the updated cost and timeline of the project. As they left Queen&rsq...
Over the coming months, Ottawa’s Mayor will be vying to keep his job. Mark Sutcliffe submitted his election papers on Monday, officially entering a mayoral race that includes Kitchissippi councillor Jeff Leiper, local economist Neil Saravanamuttoo, and local homebuilder Alex Lawson. What does the latest polling data say about each candidate, and who has the way-too-early edge? CFRA’s Andrew Pinsent crunches the numbers ...
Over the coming weeks, the Ford government will cease funding for Ottawa’s remaining safe consumption sites – the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre on Nelson Street and a trailer operated by Ottawa Inner City Health at the ByWard Market Shepherds of Good Hope. Earlier this week, Ottawa’s top doctor issued stern warnings to decision-makers and residents alike, fearing that the looming ripple effects could be dire....
CFRA's Andrew Pinsent digs deeper into the backstories of popular Canadian historical events, landmarks, and figures. Chiming in with his expert analysis every single Sunday is Craig Baird of Canadian History EHX. This week, we turn back the clock to 1961 when U.S. President John F. Kennedy paid a visit to Canada's Capital. And by the time JFK had left for Washington, any looming tensions between the two sides had turned into a sca...
Last week, Russian forces unloaded one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukrainian civilian population centres since the February full-scale invasion that triggered 4 years of bloodshed. On May 19th, the United Nations Security Council convened to address the rising civilian casualties in Ukraine. Days later, Ukraine struck back against Putin's army. Geoffrey Johnston, an International Affairs columnist with the Kings...
Later this Fall, Albertans will have a referendum on whether to hold a provincewide referendum. At least, that appears to be the gameplan from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who addressed her constituents on Thursday night. When asked about whether she would stick with Canada or split away from it, Smith has made it clear that she would vote to stay, referencing a string of positive discussions with Prime Minister Carney. Andrew P...
After nearly 3 decades of agony and a go-for-it playoff run in 2020 that never happened, Chicoutimi is hoping to hoist junior hockey's biggest prize for the first time ever. Sagueneens goaltender and Ottawa Senators prospect Lucas Beckman, acquired mid-season from Baie-Comeau, is catching fire at the perfect time for this resilient squad. This year's Memorial Cup hosts are the WHL's Kelowna Rockets, who improved by 20 wins to make ...
Special Education programs in Ontario schools have not ‘consistently fulfilled the requirements of students’, according to the province’s Auditor General. In her special report, Shelley Spence raised concerns about staff absences and undocumented exclusions, finding that the growth of children with special needs is outpacing enrolment. It paints a picture of a poorly organized system that is constantly struggling ...
While no official decision has been made on the high-speed rail system, and where each stop will be located, there’s a growing sense of trepidation in the neighbourhood next to Tremblay Station. This comes after Alto officials dumped a bucket of cold water on the idea of a Downtown stop. Alta Vista councillor Marty Carr joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
From 1985 to 1991, The Raccoons turned into one of Canada’s finest animated TV series. It also aired on Disney Channel in several U.S. markets during the height of its popularity. And now, 37 years later, the creator of this Canadian staple is bringing back the good times in musical form. Ottawa-born Kevin Gillis joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
As Canada’s Capital gears up for Ottawa Race Weekend, some journeys are so much bigger than setting a personal-best or recording a record-setting time. In the case of Jessica Halsall, she is running to support CHEO after they cared for her newborn son in the NICU last February. She joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Weekends.
2026 feels like a case of deja vu for the Ottawa Charge. Sneaking into the playoffs and reaching the Finals, they fought with pride and sadly came up 2 wins shy of their first title. And now, with a wave of PWHL Expansion upon us, questions remain as to who will be back for next year's journey. How soon could Ottawa make it back to the league's biggest showcase? Technical producer Stephen Ellsworth joins Andrew Pinsent on CFRA Week...
OC Transpo users have renewed concerns about whether Ottawa’s LRT system has enough staff to keep trains running reliably. During the Victoria Day Weekend, O-Train service on Lines 1 and 4 was shut down for several hours, with management citing a staffing shortage of controllers as the primary reason for the shutdown. Riders, as a result, had to take replacement buses. In the days that followed, the union representing transit...
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