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This is Toronto

Get to know Toronto beyond the headlines. From City Hall showdowns to housing market woes, TTC growing pains to why so many bathrooms are in basements, we sort through the news, the noise and the stories driving Toronto and the GTA. Brought to you by CBC’s Metro Morning.

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  1. 220

    Ontario is getting sued over its speed camera ban

    A 15-year-old teen was struck by a driver and suffered serious injuries at an intersection where a speed camera was removed. His family is now suing the City, the province and the driver. Given the province's speed cam ban, is the government liable?

  2. 219

    Is Toronto ready for the next mega storm?

    Officials called it a 100-year storm, testing the city's aging infrastructure yet again. As Toronto's municipal election campaign ramps up, we ask climate experts how the mayoral candidates are addressing this issue — or not.

  3. 218

    Why does Toronto always flood after a major storm?

    As Toronto recovers from this week's storm, city crews are clearing debris and restoring power. In this episode, we look at the ongoing cleanup efforts and ask: Why is the city's infrastructure consistently overwhelmed by heavy rain, and what will it take to fix it?

  4. 217

    What’s this mayoral election really about?

    Torontonians will be heading to the polls to choose the city's next mayor in October, and the campaigns will be ramping up over the next few weeks. We ask three city hall journalists a simple question: what is this election really about?

  5. 216

    Toronto police are using AI to read license plates

    Police say it's a way to identify vehicles tied to potential criminal activity. But privacy advocates worry about the use of and lack of oversight around AI license plate cameras.

  6. 215

    Will GTA businesses be able to survive a trade war?

    The federal government has unveiled its support package for businesses caught up in the trade war with the U.S. But for many, it's not enough. Three businesses in the GTA explain what all this means for them.

  7. 214

    Can TMU manage protests around the Israel-Hamas war?

    After a review found that campus protests have been "symptoms of a deteriorating campus climate" at Toronto Metropolitan University, the university has appointed veteran politician Bob Rae to lead a task force on campus expression, antisemitism and community safety.

  8. 213

    Trump pauses tariffs. What now for GTA businesses?

    U.S. President Donald Trump has paused 50 per cent tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods. We hear from the Canadian correspondent with the Economist, and the National President of Unifor.

  9. 212

    Doug Ford's government says yes to data centres

    The provincial government has put out a document to "attract data centre investment," as cities across the GTA consider how to deal with them. Hamilton councillor Nrinder Nann and Ontario Economic Development minister Vic Fedeli weigh in.

  10. 211

    The Lower Don Trail finally reopened. What took so long?

    Construction of the Lower Don Trail was only supposed to take a year. It ended up taking more than three years and it's still not finished. Reporter Haydn Watters explores why it takes Toronto so long to build infrastructure.

  11. 210

    Are big crowds threatening the future of Toronto festivals?

    Street festivals are synonymous with summer in Toronto, but this year overcrowding has become a top concern for festival organizers. 

  12. 209

    Are e-bikes Toronto's greatest public fire safety risk?

    You see them in bike lanes, on roads, on sidewalks. E-bikes are everywhere... and increasingly, they're causing fires. Toronto's Fire Chief explains why.

  13. 208

    Is Doug Ford's government going tit for tat over Billy Bishop airport?

    Since the federal government pulled its support for the island airport expansion, several Progressive Conservative MPPs have come out against the Alto high speed rail project. Three strategists unpack the politics behind the move. 

  14. 207

    That condo locker you bought may be illegal

    If you live in a condo and have a storage locker, what would you do if you got a letter saying you need to clear everything out? Reporter Haydn Watters delves into why Toronto Fire is telling that to some buildings.

  15. 206

    The numbers are in: Crime in Toronto is going down

    Things may feel a certain way, but according to Statistics Canada, crime in Toronto and around the province is going down. Criminologist Scot Wortley explains why.

  16. 205

    Why are so many people leaving Toronto?

    Toronto was the fastest growing city in Canada and the U.S. in 2024. In 2025, we placed 412th. Researchers lay much of the blame on people leaving the city for other parts of Canada.

  17. 204

    Could gun violence reshape Toronto's race for mayor?

    Toronto mayoral candidates Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow have taken very different approaches responding to the deadly shooting at Salsa on St. Clair. City Hall analyst Matt Elliott explains how its playing into this fall’s race for mayor.

  18. 203

    Inside the 'human carnage' of Toronto's overdose crisis

    Toronto paramedics have gotten a spike in calls for opioid overdoses. We'll hear from a Toronto street nurse and an ER doctor dealing with these calls, who blame Doug Ford's closure of supervised consumption sites.

  19. 202

    Gun violence at Salsa on St. Clair shakes a community, and the city

    How does a community come together, after a usually joyous event was shaken by gun violence? In this episode we hear from people who were at Salsa on St. Clair when gunshots broke out, and try to understand what the shooting means for the community, and the future of street festivals in the city.

  20. 201

    Is Toronto's mayoral race getting tighter?

    Three political strategists weigh in on the latest polling numbers indicating the gap between Toronto mayoral candidates Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow may be closing.

  21. 200

    After 66 years, cuts kill Toronto Island science school

    The TDSB is shutting the beloved Island Natural Science School as part of its sweeping cuts. Since opening in 1960, it hosted tens of thousands of elementary students on overnight nature trips. Reporter Haydn Watters explores what legacy the school leaves behind.

  22. 199

    Was Toronto's World Cup stint worth it?

    With the sixth and final FIFA World Cup game hosted in Toronto now behind us, many are starting to reflect on the impact and legacy of the tournament. We hear from a former mayor and an urban planer who studies the impact of mega-sporting events in cities, and we send our reporter to ask fans how they think the city fared as a host.

  23. 198

    Does Toronto Need More Places to Party?

    Toronto has lost so many vital music and party venues, sucking much of the fun out of the city. How does a city of "no-fun" bounce back?

  24. 197

    Why does it cost $500,000 to close two blocks of Church Street?

    Originally budgeted at $150,000, cost have ballooned for a pilot to pedestrianize part of Church Street this summer. What do those costs reveal about the challenges of changing the city's streetscape in the 21st century?

  25. 196

    What's behind Doug Ford's sinking polling numbers

    Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative government have taken a hit in the polls. But with an election still years away, is this a temporary dip, or a sign of thing to come?

  26. 195

    Is youth gang violence in Toronto a form of human trafficking?

    There's been a number of cases lately of youth being linked to shootings and other violent crimes, some as young as 12 or 13. But while teens recruited into gangs may be the perpetrators, do we need to re-think how we approach the problem?

  27. 194

    Why the Billy Bishop airport expansion needs Indigenous consultation

    Plans to expand Billy Bishop airport are facing backlash from Indigenous groups who say they are being left out of the decision-making process.

  28. 193

    Will Toronto be able to afford this World Cup by reselling tickets?

    Last year, the City of Toronto spent nearly $11 million on match tickets. It's now trying to resell them for profit -- a move the City calls "revenue generation," but others have criticized as scalping.

  29. 192

    This GTA community fought an AI data centre and won—for now

    Hundreds of people protested a proposal to bring an AI data centre into a Hamilton neighbourhood. With many more proposals across the GTA, what does it actually mean when a data centre comes to town?

  30. 191

    Why Kenneth Law's guilty plea 'feels like a time-out'

    Kenneth Law is tied to at least 147 deaths worldwide. But after pleading guilty to counselling or aiding suicides in Ontario, the murder charges against him have been withdrawn, and he may never face charges internationally. Jerry Cohn's brother Benji is one of the many people whose deaths are linked to products sold by Law. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can use Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline by calling or texting 988. Kids Help Phone is available at 1-800-668-6868, or text 686868.

  31. 190

    The TTC is piloting steel barriers on platforms. Will they keep riders safe?

    The City is planning to install new technology to improve safety on the TTC — including platform barriers and AI cameras at TMU station. 

  32. 189

    Can Toronto's Police Chief win back public trust?

    Allegations of corruption, antisemitism and sexual assault -- just some of the issues involving Toronto Police, that have have surfaced in the last few months. The Police Chief, Myron Demkiw, has announced a number of changes to keep officers accountable, but will they be enough to regain public trust?

  33. 188

    How did a missing teen from Brampton die in remote Saskatchewan?

    A Brampton teen’s disappearance is now a homicide investigation in Northern Saskatchewan. An advocate on the issue of missing Black boys discusses why these cases are often mishandled.

  34. 187

    The $500 million bet on Toronto's condo market

    Toronto's condo market is in a slump, with thousands of units sitting empty. But in that cold market, Anthony O'Brien sees opportunity. He tells Chris Glover about his firm's plan to spend $500 million buying up condos in the city.

  35. 186

    TDSB cuts come for low-income schools

    The TDSB's celebrated Model Schools program funnelled extra resources to schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Now that's under threat. A trustee and a former Model School teacher tell us what it would mean to lose it.

  36. 185

    Why does it take a World Cup to clean up Toronto?

    With less than a month until the World Cup, crews are out cleaning up garbage, removing graffitti, and filling potholes. Journalist Matt Elliott joins to talk about the preparations, and the legacy of this event for the city.

  37. 184

    Why are so many Toronto restaurant bathrooms in dingy basements?

    If you’ve been to a restaurant, bar or cafe in Toronto and needed to use the toilet, there's a good chance you've been directed down a steep staircase. Our reporter Haydn Watters explores how so many bathrooms ended up underground.

  38. 183

    Doug Ford's popularity dips after private jet debacle. Can the opposition seize?

    Our political panel breaks down Doug Ford’s slump in the polls and what it means for the opposition.

  39. 182

    Meet the groups trying to sway your vote for Toronto's mayor

    Toronto's municipal election is about to officially begin. Rival advocacy groups Progress Toronto and ABC Toronto hope to influence who wins. Here's how they plan to do it.

  40. 181

    The TTC's CEO wants you to enjoy taking transit again

    With customer satisfaction around 64%, and a major international event on the horizon, the TTC's CEO Mandeep Lali is putting together a plan to win back riders.

  41. 180

    Doug Ford's private plane problem

    The province has now re-sold a controversial $28.9 million private jet, even though Premier Doug Ford keeps defending it as a useful way for him to travel around Ontario. A CBC investigation found the plane would have a hard time taking off from most runways in the province.

  42. 179

    Will marks for showing up fix Toronto's school attendance problem?

    The Province is proposing making attendance part of students' grades. We hear from students and an education policy expert about whether this is the right move.

  43. 178

    The Toronto MPs who won Mark Carney his majority

    Two new Toronto MPs are Ottawa-bound: Dr. Danielle Martin (University-Rosedale) and Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest). We hear from both, just after their by-election wins.

  44. 177

    BJ Birdy is back with the Blue Jays. No one told his creator

    The Blue Jays have revived BJ Birdy, the team’s original mascot. But as our reporter Haydn Watters found out, it’s much more complicated than that.

  45. 176

    Is the replacement for Toronto's drug injection sites working?

    When the Ford government moved to close supervised consumption sites, they announced a replacement -- HART Hubs. But a year in, very little is known about how those hubs work. Reporter Haydn Watters got a rare look inside.

  46. 175

    'There's no plan': Olivia Chow on Doug Ford's Island Airport ambitions

    Mayor Olivia Chow discusses her opposition to the Billy Bishop expansion and if the city can fight back.

  47. 174

    Why you'll see police with semi-automatic rifles around Toronto 'very soon'

    Toronto Police say they will be deploying officers with long guns to places of worship, tourist attractions and busy public spaces "in the coming days." We hear from the police chief and a criminologist.

  48. 173

    Ernie Clement is ready for the Blue Jays 2026 season

    He was a hero during the Blue Jays' post-season run last year. Now, Ernie Clement is getting ready to don the blue once again. He spoke with Anis Heydari ahead of the Jays' season opener.

  49. 172

    Vindication or cop collusion: OPP report fuels more chaos over Umar Zameer case

    The OPP released an explosive report into the Umar Zameer case, looking into if police lied. We hear from Zameer's lawyer on the need for a public inquiry and a collision expert on the differing viewpoints.

  50. 171

    Toronto transit success story? Why demand for Bike Share keeps growing

    Bike Share bicycles have become a fixture on Toronto's streets. But how can the program keep up with the demand? Jarrett McDonald oversees the program, and gives us a preview of how it's going to expand.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Get to know Toronto beyond the headlines. From City Hall showdowns to housing market woes, TTC growing pains to why so many bathrooms are in basements, we sort through the news, the noise and the stories driving Toronto and the GTA. Brought to you by CBC’s Metro Morning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does This is Toronto have?

This is Toronto currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is This is Toronto about?

Get to know Toronto beyond the headlines. From City Hall showdowns to housing market woes, TTC growing pains to why so many bathrooms are in basements, we sort through the news, the noise and the stories driving Toronto and the GTA. Brought to you by CBC’s Metro Morning.

How often does This is Toronto release new episodes?

This is Toronto has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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You can listen to This is Toronto on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts This is Toronto?

This is Toronto is created and hosted by CBC.
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