The Simi Sara Show

Thursday May 23rd, 2013

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12:35-12:45

ADRIAN DIX SAYS HE WILL LEAD THE PARTY… FOR NOW

A day after saying that he takes full responsibility for the stunning defeat of the NDP by the BC Liberals, NDP leader Adrian Dix was on with Bill Good this morning to discuss why the campaign failed. During the interview, Dix spoke about his mistakes on the campaign trail, such as focusing on a positive campaign and not holding the current Liberal government accountable. How does an opposition party believe that a positive campaign would work to win an election? Dix also discussed his future as leader of the NDP, but kept the details quite vague. Would it be best for the party for him to resign as leader?

Phone:              Hamish Telford

                        Head of the Department of Philosophy and Politics at the University of the Fraser Valley

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12:45-1:00

Open line: SHOULD ADRIAN DIX REMAIN ON AS LEADER OF THE NDP? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NDP’S MISTAKES WERE WHILE CAMPAIGNING?

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1:05-1:15

TERROR STRIKES THE STREETS OF SOUTH LONDON

Yesterday, the world was shocked to hear about a brutal attack which occurred on the streets of South London. A young soldier, recently identified as 25 year old Lee Rigby, was allegedly hacked to death by two Nigerian suspects who discussed Islam and condemned the UK for their involvement in sending troops to Afghanistan. Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that this is likely a terrorist attack and vowed that Britain would not be cowed by the horrific violence, and that it would reject “the poisonous narrative of extremism on which this violence feeds.” This is not the first time that Britain has been targeted by terrorists, but why would this group go after a lone soldier making his way back to the barracks? How prevalent are Islamic extremists in Britain?

Pre-tape:           Max Abrahms

                        Terrorism expert and professor at Northeastern University

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1:15-1:30

MP CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO SENATE EXPENSE SCANDAL

Green Party leader Elizabeth May says that an independent inquiry would be the best way to investigate the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, who stepped down Sunday after it was revealed that he had given Senator Mike Duffy a $90,000 cheque to repay his controversial expenses. What are her thoughts on the transparency of the Senate? Do other MP’s feel the same way about the Senate at the expense scandal?

Phone:              Elizabeth May

                        MP for Saanich-Gulf Island  

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1:30-1:40

CRACK-SOURCING:’ WOULD YOU PAY CASH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY?

According to American gossip blog Gawker and two reporters at the Toronto Star, a video exist of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. Presently, the crowd sourcing fund ‘Crackstarter’ has raised $137,000 out of the $200,000 needed to purchase the video. Our next guest is willing to donate $50,000 to Crackstarter, but there is a catch. Does he feel worried about the fact that his $50,000 will land in the hands of drug dealers who are exploiting the Toronto mayor? Also, why does he want to spend $50,000 on this video anyway?

Phone:              Steven Sal Debus

Toronto entrepreneur who is willing to donate $50,000 to the ‘Crackstarter’ campaign

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1:40-2:00

CONTRIBUTING TO THE CRACKSTARTER CAMPAIGN IS WORKING TO LINE THE POCKETS OF DRUG DEALERS

Our previous guest would love to donate to the Crackstarter, but Daniel Portoraro believes that contributing to the Crackstarter campaign is working to only contribute to gang violence in Toronto. The people who are donating to the crowd sourcing campaign are looking for accountability, so does he think that they are cognizant of what they are really funding?

Phone:              Daniel Portoraro

Writer for the Huffington Post Canada     

Open line: WOULD YOU DONATE TO THE CRACKSTARTER CROWD SOURCING CAMPAIGN?

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2:05-2:15

GAY MEN CAN NOW DONATE BLOOD… BUT THERE IS A CATCH

Canada is lifting a lifting a nearly 30 year ban on gay men giving blood, but there is a catch. The new policy, which Canadian Blood Services hopes to have in place by mid-summer, will allow men to give blood if they haven’t had sex with another man for five years before the donation. Is this really a lifting of a ban as it still does not allow a huge percentage of sexually active gay men to donate blood? In Britain and Australia, gat men who haven’t had sex with other men for at least a year are eligible to donate. In South Africa the deferral period is six months. Will Canada ever move to being more like Britain, Australia, and South Africa? What were the main factors for lifting the ban?

Phone:              Dr. Dana Devine

                        Canadian Blood Services' Vice President of Medical, Scientific and Research Affairs

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2:15-2:30

Open line: DO YOU THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO HOLD GAY MEN TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO DONATING BLOOD IN THIS COUNTRY?

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2:30-2:40

TBC

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2:40-3:00

OPEN LINES ON ANY TOPIC WE DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW & SIMI’S LIST