NOW and NEXT

THIS WEEK:

I sat in on ROUND ONE on Moore in the Morning on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto.

• Javani speaks for himself. Poilevre speaks for the Party
• Doug Ford wants to allow retail shopping on Family Day (really?)
• Ford says waste OSAP on "nice watches and cologne"
• Auto Insurance unaffordable for Ontario drivers.

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This week on Now and Next, the CAST — our Communications And Strategy Team — Bob Reid (Broadway Strategy and Communications), Anne Marie Aikins (AMA Communications), Lindsay Broadhead (Broadhead Communications) breaks down the stories when communications wasn’t background noise… it was the headline.

We begin with the response to the Tumbler Ridge school shooting and examine what effective crisis communications looks like in real time. From Premier David Eby’s remarks to the image of federal leaders standing together, we explore tone, humility, and whether political adversaries can momentarily transcend partisanship.

Then: Metrolinx. A derailment at Union Station caused system-wide disruption — but the bigger issue was transparency. Why did it take so long to explain what happened? And what role should a CEO play in moments of operational consequence?

Finally, we unpack a viral parliamentary exchange between Canada Infrastructure Bank CEO Ehren Corey and MP Sandra Cobena. Was refusing to “give the clip” smart strategy — or a communications misfire?

As always, we focus on the intersection of leadership, strategy, and the stories behind the story.

Subscribe for more conversations on politics, policy, and the communications shaping both.

⏱ Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: A Week Where Comms Led the Headlines
01:28 – Tumbler Ridge: Crisis Leadership, Tone, and Media Framing
13:56 – Message vs. Messenger: Carney, Poilievre & Political Pivot Points
29:58 – Metrolinx Derailment: Transparency, CEO Visibility & Operational Comms
42:41 – Ottawa Theatre: Canada Infrastructure Bank & “Giving the Clip”


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THIS IS A “RADIO DAYS” EPISODE OF NOW AND NEXT!
This week:

I had the chance to join Jerry Agar on Newstalk 1010 for his PARTY OF TWO.

• Canadian Curlers dropping F-bombs after being accused of cheating in Milan
• Toronto's answer to snow removal? Wait for warmer weather.
• Cheers to Crown Royal! Doug Ford backs off threats to ban the whisky from LCBO
• Should business consider allowing employees to take paid sabbaticals?

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This week on NOW and NEXT:

A shrinking landscape for transparency. I

n this episode of Now and Next, Dave Trafford sits down with veteran journalist Dean Beeby to examine why fewer Canadians — including journalists — are filing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

Beeby reflects on how FOI once powered major investigative work, but today faces systemic delays, heavy redactions, vague legal definitions, and rising administrative costs that produce fewer results. As journalism accelerates toward instant reaction and digital churn, governments have slowed the machinery of transparency. The result? A system that often delivers information long after its “best before” date — if at all.

The conversation explores the collapse of newsroom resources, the inefficiencies of paper-based government systems in a digital era, escalating court battles over mandate letters and cellphone records, and why legal ambiguity benefits bureaucracy.

Yet there is a modest bright spot: the federal Information Commissioner’s expanded authority to order document releases.

This episode asks a critical question: What are we losing when depth gives way to speed — and transparency becomes optional?

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
DT introduces Dean Beeby and the shrinking use of FOI requests.
01:07 – Journalism’s Speed vs. Government’s Slowdown
Why reporters are abandoning FOI as delays grow longer.
06:07 – Delays, Redactions & Fewer Users
Heavily censored documents and falling public participation.
11:20 – Paper Systems in a Digital Age
Government inefficiencies driving rising costs.
16:23 – Legal Battles & The Push for Reform
Mandate letters, cellphone records, and the Information Commissioner’s new powers.



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THIS IS A “RADIO DAYS” EPISODE OF NOW AND NEXT!

This week: 

I dropped in on Gene Valaitis on 610 CKTB Niagara’s News Talk.

• Donald Trump posts a racist meme about the Obamas
• Trump's social media tirade about the Gordie Howe Bridge and China stealing the Stanley Cup.
• The cost of Mark Carney's international travel fuels the rage farm
• And surely, the NFL needs to rethink its Super Bowl halftime show.

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This week on RADIO DAYS:
 
I dropped in on Gene Valaitis on 610 CKTB Niagara’s News Talk.

• Toronto Public Health spends $200k on giveaway condoms at FIFA World Cup
• Pierre Poilevre wins the room in Calgary. Can he win the hearts of Canadians?
• Canada Revenue Agency workers are misbehaving on the job.
• Days before the Olympics kick off in Italy, there's no running water in the hockey rink in Milan.

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I sat in on ROUND ONE on Moore in the Morning on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto.

• Marit Stiles loses her Deputy Leader to Team Carney
• Toronto bars can offer their first pour at 6am during the Cortina Games
• Stephen Harper preaches mature politics the same day Pierre Poilevre has a sit down with Mark Carney.

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Here are **robust show notes** for this episode of **Now and Next**, using **only information from the provided transcript**.
---
## Now and Next — Episode Show Notes
**Host:** Dave Trafford
**Guests:** Bob Reid, Anne-Marie Aikins, Lindsay Broadhead


This episode of *Now and Next* brings the C.A.S.T. (Comms And Strategy Team) back together for a wide-ranging discussion on leadership, political tone, and credibility in a rapidly shifting media environment.

The conversation opens with an in-depth analysis of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Davos speech and why it continues to resonate weeks later. Panelists explore how the speech marked a clear pivot in Canada’s global posture and aligned closely with current public attitudes, as reflected in recent polling.

From there, the discussion turns to how Carney’s approach reshaped expectations for opposition leaders—particularly Pierre Poilievre—and how his Calgary speech signaled a tonal adjustment toward optimism and hope. The panel examines the emerging contrast between “global leadership” and “kitchen-table politics,” debating whether Carney can translate high-level strategy into tangible, day-to-day outcomes for Canadians.

The episode closes with a sobering look at misinformation and deepfakes, sparked by a viral but fake video attributed to Warren Buffett. The panel considers the implications for political communications, public trust, and the growing difficulty of distinguishing authenticity from manipulation in what some are calling a “post-news” era. 



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THIS WEEK ON NOW AND NEXT RADIO DAYS!

I had the chance to join Jerry Agar on Newstalk 1010 for his PARTY OF TWO. 

We covered municipal, provincial, and federal politics as well as couples hooking up to save on rent!

• Toronto mayor’s 2026 budget keeps 2.2% property tax increase
• Doug Ford touts a fourth term in speech at Tory convention Saturday night
• Immigration minister says struggling universities must ask provinces for help
• Toronto daters are moving in together quickly to save on rent. It’s a risky move

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For more information go to Dave's website.

This week:
I dropped in on Gene Valaitis on 610 CKTB Niagara’s News Talk.
We talked about the 50th anniversary of Darryl Sittler's 10 point game against the Boston Bruins; the international vs domestic implications of Mark Carney's Davos speech; and the "civil war" in Minneapolis 


You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)

Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X

And you can leave us a voice comment here!

For more information go to Dave's website.