In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast:

Dave Trafford leads a dynamic roundtable with political veterans Tim Hudak, Keith Leslie, and John Wright, unpacking the seismic shifts in North American trade following Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement. From the economic aftershocks of “Liberation Day” to the potential realignment of Canadian politics, the panel delivers sharp, insightful analysis. The discussion touches on the targeted impacts of tariffs on Ontario and Quebec, federal political fallout, and the public’s mounting anxiety over affordability. The crew also examines campaign strategy pivots, polling signals, and the role of tone and leadership in a turbulent election cycle.

📌 Key Takeaways:

• Economic Fallout: Trump’s tariffs have already begun to shutter Canadian manufacturing (e.g., Stellantis plants), with the stock market in decline and global supply chains in disarray.
• Canadian Response: PM Carney and premiers are weighing cautious retaliation. Ford is praised for a strategic, measured approach.
• Targeted Impact: Tariffs disproportionately hit Ontario and Quebec, sparking regional tensions over national strategy.
• Political Shift: Carney’s poll numbers are up, but Conservatives under Poilievre show grassroots strength. Affordability, not Trump, is the campaign’s core issue.
• Campaign Strategy: Conservative tone has shifted. The panel suggests the “adult in the room” narrative and emotional tone could determine voter swing.
• Electoral Math: Conservative success hinges on NDP vote splits—now at risk with NDP polling near single digits.

A Special Edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast.

Host: Dave Trafford

Guests:

• Lauren Bates – Chair, Ontario Caregiver Coalition
• Daniel Nowoselski – Advocacy Manager, Hospice Palliative Care (Canadian Cancer Society); Board Member, Ontario Caregiver Coalition
• Malene Stewart – Social Worker, Educator & Co-Chair, Caregiver Collective

In this episode, Dave Trafford sits down with three passionate advocates who bring both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to the table. As Ontario marks Family Caregiver Day, the conversation sheds light on the real, often invisible, role of family caregivers in holding together our fragile healthcare and social systems. From personal sacrifice and financial strain to policy gaps and urgent reform, this roundtable discussion underscores a pressing need: support the caregivers who support everyone else.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• 💡 Scope of Caregiving: Nearly 4 million Ontarians are caregivers today—a number expected to hit 6.5 million within five years.
• 75 % of all the care that's provided is provided by family and friends
• 🧠 Mental Load & Grief: Caregiving often comes with anticipatory grief, isolation, and emotional strain, especially with illnesses like dementia.
• 💸 Financial Strain: Many caregivers reduce work hours or leave jobs entirely, yet 92% don’t qualify for federal caregiver tax credits.
• 🧍‍♀️ Policy Gaps: Ontario lacks a coordinated respite system, leaving caregivers without essential breaks.
• 🏠 Aging in Place: Housing limitations and care infrastructure are ill-equipped to support aging populations at home.
• 📣 Call for Action: The Ontario Caregiver Coalition is pushing for scalable, inclusive caregiver benefits and mental health supports.
• 🧭 How to Help: Visit ontariocaregivercoalition.ca or follow OCC on social platforms to support and get involved.

The Useful Idiot is at it again.

Whether he was simply trying to distract from the Signal App scandal in Washington or is Trump deliberately asserting himself into the federal election campaign in Canada, the 25% tariffs on the auto sector caught Doug Ford off guard. And it appears to be the final nail in the Can-Am relationship.

In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast former Premier Kathleen Wynne, former PC leader Tim Hudak, and pollster John Wright join Dave Trafford to dive into the latest threats from Washington and Trump's toxic tariffs.

This is an OTL BONUS! Welcome to POLITICALLY SPEAKING.

Three days into the federal election campaign in Canada and the latest polling aggregators have seat modelling suggesting Mark Carney's Liberals are in a position to win a strong majority.

But hey! It's early yet.

One thing we do know is it's shaping up to be a very close race between the Liberals and the Conservatives.

Veteran pollster John Wright joins Dave Trafford to take the pulse on the popular opinion.

We'll be adding episodes of POLITICALLY SPEAKING for you here in the On the Ledge feed throughout the federal campaign!

Hope you enjoy it.

John Wrigth and Dave Trafford break down the details of the election call.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has set April 28, 2025 as Election Day in Canada.

AND...Donald Trump and his trade tariffs are THE BALLOT QUESTION.

Who can handle Trump? Who can manage the cultural and economic angst of Canadians?

We're back with On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast!

Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, Queen's Park Commentator and broadcaster Keith Leslie, and our founding pollster John Wright are around the table with Story Studio Network's Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford.

Doug Ford and his "new" cabinet have been sworn in with a couple of new seating assignments but, for the most part, the same faces around the table. It's still the largest cabinet in Ontario's history.

What's next for Ford as Captain Canada?

Should he be visiting Alberta Premiere Danielle Smith to calm and quell her anti-Ottawa ranting?

He's unlikely to offer any help to Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming federal campaign.

Hello On the Ledge listener!

Welcome to POLITICALLY SPEAKING on Now and Next. Former Bank of Canada Governor and self proclaimed political outsider, Mark Carney won't nearly 86% of the vote in his bid to be leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

He set a new tone for the party while setting his sights on CPC Leader Pierre Polievre in anticipation of a soon-to-be-called federal election and he set the stage for the coming trade war with Donald Trump's America.

Joining us around the table is former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, founding co-host and pollster from On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast, John Wright and Keith Leslie, Queen's Park commentator at CHCH TV in Hamilton.

If you enjoyed this, be sure to follow/subscribe to NOW and NEXT where ever you listen to On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast!

We've arrived! It's the FINAL edition of the DAILY election edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast.

Ontario has voted and given Doug Ford another strong majority mandate at Queen's Park.

But the discussion got side-tracked by the latest GONG SHOW performance from the Oval Office. The screaming match among Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the crew wondering how the sheer chaos sets the tone for the tariff and trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa.

On the election results, each of the three major parties had wins and losses.

The Tories landed a third majority but end up with fewer seats than they had at dissolution.
The NDP won Official Opposition but their seat count dropped to 27.
And the Liberals won official party status but Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie lost her election bid in Mississauga.

We're joined by John Tory and Tim Hudak, both former leaders of the Ontario PC Party, and Keith Leslie CHCH Queen's Park Commentator.

We've arrived! It's the FINAL edition of the DAILY election edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast.

Ontario has voted and gave Doug Ford another strong majority mandate at Queen's Park. But the discussion got side-tracked by the latest GONG SHOW performance from the Oval Office.

The screaming match among Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the crew wondering how the sheer chaos sets the tone for the tariff and trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa.

On the election results, each of the three major parties had wins and losses.
The Tories landed a third majority but end up with fewer seats than they had at dissolution.
The NDP won Official Opposition but their seat count dropped to 27.
And the Liberals won official party status but Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie lost her election bid in Mississauga.

We're joined by John Tory and Tim Hudak, both former leaders of the Ontario PC Party, and Keith Leslie CHCH Queen's Park Commentator.

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

How, if at all, will the weather affect voter turnout, which is expected to be low?

How quickly does Doug Ford need to get back to the business of governing, (assuming the polling trend doesn't turn upside down).

Some seat models suggest the Liberals and NDP would win 17 seats each based on the latest polls? They'd both have official party status. Which party would be the Official Opposition? (HINT: Doug Ford could play a role in deciding).

We're joined by former Toronto Mayor John Tory, Tim Hudak - Partner at Counsel Public Affairs and Keith Leslie, Queen's Park commentator at  @CHCHNews11  in Hamilton.