The Bill Kelly Podcast

A handful of Members of Parliament will be back on Parliament Hill on Wednesday to decide whether to dig more deeply into the federal ethics watchdog’s scathing report on how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau handled the SNC-Lavalin affair. But has the public already made up its mind and do they care?

Guest: Henry Jacek. Professor of Political Science, McMaster University.

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Showing a fresh willingness to play politics along religious lines, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American Jewish people who vote for Democrats show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” 

Guest: Barry Kay, political science professor at Wilfrid Laurier University. 

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The Ontario government has released the new sexual-education curriculum, replacing a much-criticized teaching plan brought in after the Progressive Conservatives took power last year. At first glance, the new curriculum has some strong similarities with the Liberal government’s curriculum it replaces. So what is the reaction to it?

Guest: Carly Basian, BA, MT, Sexual Health Educator, www.mysexed.ca  

Bill follows up with Lloyd Ferguson, Ward 12 councillor for the city of Hamilton, at the gathering of municipal leaders in Ottawa. Yesterday he heard Ontario Premier Doug Ford announce his governments’ revised plan for cuts to public health programs. Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, had previously told Councillor Ferguson that the announcement would be “good news.” So what is Councillor Ferguson’s reaction to the Ontario Government’s revised plan?

Guest: Lloyd Ferguson. City Councillor, Ward 12, City of Hamilton

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Graham Crawford has been invited to a meeting with Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt. Jasbir Dhillon, the new Community Liaison Officer for the Hamilton Police Services, has said the purpose of the meeting will be to identify ways to re-establish lines of communication between the 2SLGBTQ community and HPS. On paper, this sounds like a step in the right direction. But there are concerns being raised.

Guest: Graham Crawford, History and Heritage Owner, Active Resident.

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Family physicians and nurse practitioners – the primary care providers – are the front line of today’s health care system. But keeping pace with new technologies, drugs and treatments can be overwhelming, and a large amount of physicians learn about pharmaceutical products through representatives of pharma companies. The Centre for Effective Practice has developed educational tools tailored for real world use – including academic detailers who meet one-on-one with care providers, to make unbiased academic research on pharmaceuticals more accessible.

Guest: Tupper Bean is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Effective Practice

Ward 12 Hamilton City Councillor Lloyd Ferguson joined Bill to discuss Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement regarding cuts to public health and child care at a gathering of municipal leaders in Ottawa.

Guest: Lloyd Ferguson, City Councillor, Ward 12, City of Hamilton. Call 905-546-2704 905.973.1359

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Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters took part in a peaceful protest in Hong Kong on Sunday, for the 11th week of what have been often violent demonstrations. Meanwhile, China’s embassy in Ottawa told Canada to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs the day after a joint statement with the European Union was issued, defending the “fundamental right of assembly” for Hong Kong citizens.

Guest: Charles Burton, associate professor, Department of Political Science, Brock University.

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As of 2025, Ontario’s Blue Box program will be the responsibility of product manufacturers, not the province. The Ontario government says this will reduce waste and save millions for municipalities. Is switching more responsibility over to manufacturers a change that makes sense in the long run?

And Elections Canada has warned environmental groups that discussing climate change may be a ‘partisan’ issue. This could have serious consequences for environmental groups.

Guest: Keith Brooks, our Campaign Director for Environmental Defence

Tech Talk with Adam Oldfield.

Mark LeMire will not be returning to work for the city according to two sources familiar with the investigation into his job. Vice Canada had reported on his employment as well as his past ties to white supremacy and the privacy and safety concerns of his employment.

Guest: Lior Samfiru, partner, Samfiru Tumarkin LLP

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The Ontario government is going to be adding more trip options from the West Harbour GO Station as more trips have been added.

Guest: Jason  Farr, City Councillor, Ward 2

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The school year is almost here and with that come labour negotiations. How are they going, and how are they handling the changes that the government has made?

Guest: Harvey Bischof, President, Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation