640 Toronto (CFIQ): Overview of Toronto’s NewsTalk AM Station.

640 Toronto (CFIQ) is the voice of the “fed-up taxpayer” in a city where construction on Eglinton Avenue feels never-ending. While social media buzzes with unverified rumours, this station has remained a reliable — and often sharp-edged — source of news for the Greater Toronto Area since 1957.

According to Numeris data for 2025–2026, the station holds a strong audience during both morning and evening drive times. It’s radio for listeners who’ve outgrown “hits and weather” and want to understand where their tax dollars are actually going — and why Highway 401 is backed up again.

Best for: Driving through the 401 during rush hour when you need a sharp, unfiltered perspective on city politics and GTA gridlock.


Key Programming: Accountability in Action

The station is defined by its refusal to ask "polite" questions. Here is why their lineup stands out:

Mid-day with Alex Pierson

With over 20 years of experience, Alex Pierson is known for her "cross-examination" style. She is the leading voice for accountability regarding Eglinton LRT delays and city budget transparency.

Toronto Today with Greg Brady

Leveraging his deep background in sports media, Brady connects the dots between city politics and the logistics of major sports events at Scotiabank Arena.

The Ben Mulroney Show: Why It’s Worth a Listen

This isn’t just another news recap—Ben Mulroney’s show mixes personality, sharp humour, and real insight. It stands out for its two-layer format, starting with hyper-local GTA and Ontario issues, then expanding to national conversations with top experts and political figures. The result is a balanced, engaging listen that works just as well for office workers as it does for people on the road.

Listening Tip: how to find the show online Missed a live show? You can stream full episodes of The Ben Mulroney Show or Alex Pierson on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or watch studio highlights on their official YouTube channel.

Comparison of 640 Toronto and Newstalk 1010

While both dominate the talk format, 640 is traditionally seen as more hard-hitting and critical of government from a taxpayer’s perspective (especially with Alex Pierson), while 1010 is often viewed as the voice of the establishment—more moderate, polished, and restrained in tone.

Feature 640 Toronto (CFIQ) Newstalk 1010 (CFRB)
Best For Those who want straightforward discussions about taxes, housing, and "common sense" without political correctness. Those who want to know the official agenda, listen to top interviewers and national-level analysis.
Traffic Reports Every 15 minutes (on the :15, :30, :45, :00) "Frequent" during rush hour
Ownership Corus Entertainment Bell Media
Tone Edgy, blunt, and provocative. Polished, measured, and traditional.
Persona Your "blunt neighbor." Your "conservative grandfather."
Focus Hyper-local (garbage pickup, local closures). More national and broad-scope.
Key Audience Blue-collar workers, commuters, small business owners. Government officials, corporate professionals.
Political Leaning Center-right / Populist. Focuses on taxpayer accountability. Establishment Center / Moderate. Reflects traditional institutional views.

Sports & Technical Specs

Since 2013, 640 hasn't been a play-by-play station for the Maple Leafs. Instead, it covers sports from a city perspective—analyzing the economic and social impact of "Jurassic Park" and downtown logistics rather than just the final scores. Technically, its 50,000-watt signal from Lincoln, Ontario, ensures clear reception from Buffalo to Rochester, making it a vital emergency resource for the GTA.

Life hack: Navigating the Ad Breaks

AM radio carries significant ad loads (up to 18 min/hour). For ad-free segments, we recommend the Global News podcast archives. I especially recommend Alex Pierson segments—perfect with an evening coffee, when you want to hear someone truly criticize bad political decisions.

At a Glance

Frequency: 640 AM

Slogan: "Smart. Local. On Air."

First air date: July 1, 1957

Call sign: CFIQ

Owner: Corus Entertainment

Broadcast area Greater Toronto, Southern Ontario


Shows

  • The Employment Law Show The Employment Law Show

    Monday – Thursday 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Saturday 10 AM - 11:00 AM
    Sunday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  • No B.S. with Brad Smith No B.S. with Brad Smith

    Weekdays 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Toronto Today with Greg Brady Toronto Today with Greg Brady

    Mon. - Fri. 5:30 AM - 9:00 AM

  • The Alex Pierson Show The Alex Pierson Show

    Monday - Friday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    1:00 AM (replay)

  • The Ben Mulroney Show The Ben Mulroney Show

    Monday - Friday 3:00 PM - 6:00 P.M.

Comments

  • Kevin
    Where is Alex Pierson? Sure hope she's back soon. The fill ins (in particular, Shaye Ganam) are no where near as informative and interesting as Alex Pierson is. Shaye is a very biased host and terrible with his callers
    • Thanks for reaching out — you’re definitely not the only one missing Alex Pierson right now. There hasn’t been any official update from 640 Toronto about her being off air. Lately, her slot’s been covered by fill-in hosts like Shaye Ganam, which is pretty standard across the network when someone’s away for a while. We’re keeping an eye on the schedule and will post any updates as soon as something’s confirmed. Hopefully she’ll be back behind the mic soon!
  • Denise McLachlin
    Brad Smith is for the most part intelligent, articulate, and energetic. I enjoy listening to him UNTIL he starts YELLING. Please calm it down a bit, with PTSD I am listening with tension that he is going to off. Sometimes I have to turn off. Enthusiasm is wonderful but please Brad keep it under control. Thank you.
  • Edward
    Where is John Oakley where are you?
    • John Oakley concluded his radio career on November 28, 2025, and has since retired.
  • Hosts
    I do enjoy the hosts. Greg Brady is my favorite. I really do love when Lisa Raitt is on. Ben is ok but tiresome at times. Hes too often cutting off the callers and like a dog with a bone; just can't let it go. My feeling is he has room for improvement. Maybe talk less and listen more. Brad Smith is doing great and is quite entertaining and sincere. Alex is doing a great job. Keep up the great work team.
  • Frances Szakaczki
    Brad Smith is a fantastic radio host! Sooooo entertaining! Very fair and common sense opinions. So funny too! Love listening to him in the 9:00 am to 12:00 pm time slot. Great find for 640 Talk Radio!