On The Ledge

The week, our On the Ledge crew got bigger!

We're excited to add former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former Ontario P.C. Leader Tim Hudak to the Roundtable with veteran pollster John Wright, Queen's Park Commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford. 

In this episode, the crew "digs" into Doug Ford's call for a Brampton-to-Markham tunnel under the 401.
Is it just a back-of-the-napkin pipe dream or big thinking and big ideas when we need them most?

What's to be learned after Toronto school kids went on a field trip that ended up at a pro-palestinian protest?

The province's long term care fix is short term pain. Bill 7 is designed to free up scarce hospital beds but it's forcing patients into LTC homes of the government's choosing OR it's fining families $400 a day.

And the premier's answer to homeless encampments is "get off your A.S.S." and get a job!

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

John Wright says the Ford government may have won the battle but the union got a better deal than they demanded in the first place, despite a disastrous communications strategy

Or...was the contract package already baked into the government's plans even before the workers walked off the job on July 5th?

It was a long term win for Doug Ford. But he and his team keep laying rakes down and stepping on them when it comes to the Ontario Place rebuild plans.Seems the premier is shocked to learn that underground parking on the Lakeshore is not only expensive, it's likely to FLOOD when we get the epic rain events we saw in July.

We also touched on Deputy Premier "What's her name?" announcing plans to allow expand pharmacists role in treating ailments. Minister Jones REFUSED to say how much the program will cost.

And, as we watch crews sift thru the charred remains of Jasper, where are governments, at all levels, in all regions with their commitment to investing in smart forest management?
The wildfires across Canada are only intensifying and all were left with are a "thoughts and prayers" response from first ministers and ministers responsible for climate change and the environment.

The Carbon Tax isn't a solution. Neither are heat pumps and EVs

Read Jamie Stephen's LinkedIn post if you want to understand how government should be responding and investing. 
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesstephen_jasper-faces-significant-loss-of-buildings-activity-7222187533596540929-fO0H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios


AND..BTW...
OTL is going on hiatus for the month of August. John, Keith and Dave will be back in your podcast feed after Labour Day!

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford lay bets on when the LCBO strike will end. The loser buys!

Another report, another reason to "decommission" the Ontario Science Centre. It's become demolition by neglect.

And we just can't avert our stateside gaze, rubbernecking the slow motion train wreck that is likely to end with a second Trump term in the White House!

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

Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford dissect the fallout from Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

Also, how does the outcome of the federal by-election in Toronto-St. Paul's affect the Ontario Liberal party? Does leader Bonnie Crombie barely see the PM or does she work closely with Justin Trudeau?

A week after the surprise announcement, he Science Centre closure is a done deal and what's going on at the LCBO as it faces a possible strike?

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford are around the table this Friday. And they start with a shout outs to Laura Babcock and the OShow! and to Sabrina Nanji at the Queen's Park Observer.

Alright, now that we've taken attendance..

This week, Marit Stiles is set to light a ground fire at this weekend's Ontario NDP gathering in Toronto. 

Carolyn Parrish is the new Mayor of Mississauga and is set to launch her charm offensive, (as opposed to her offensive charm!)

Is Elizabeth May sure she read the un-redacted intelligence report on foreign interference in Canadian politics?

And federal  Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tries to convince us the new Capital Gains Tax measures will prevent untold unwanted pregnancies.

You don't wanna miss this episode!

In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast.

Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford pick through the entrails of the suprise cabinet shuffle and Premier Ford's decision to recess the legislature for more than four months.

• Do they only serve to set the stage for an election call in the Spring of 2025?
• Is Stephen Lecces dancing a happy dance?
• And did Steve Clark sound like Scooby Doo when he was welcomed back from the wilderness as the PC's House Leader?

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast - Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford weigh in on the 34 felony convictions for Donald Trump before turning to the games at Queen's Park.

The Premier was commenting on the recent shooting at a Jewish school in Toronto and, in so doing, seemingly took aim at immigrants for the violence.

"Enough is enough," said Ford. "You're bringing your problems from everywhere else in the world, you're bringing it to Ontario. and you're going after other Canadians, as the Prime Minister said, unacceptable. I got an idea. Before you plan on moving to Canada, don't come to Canada if you're going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods."

At worst, Ford is being accused of "othering" immigrants. At best, the premier was ill prepared to answer an obvious question from the media.

Then there is the matter of the push to accerate beer and wine sales in grocery stores and convenience stores. That means breaking the contract with the Brewers Retail to the tune of $225 million. But it appears that's only part of the cost. All in, the price to eliminate the Beer Store could land somewhere north of a billion dollars!

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

It was a classic Friday Dump! The Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend, the Ford government announces its intention to use an enhanced ministerial zoning order to cut the City of Toronto out of the planning process for Ontario Place.

Also, the Ontario government 's defence of its third party ad restriction get a rough ride in front of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The province also lost in the Court of Appeal this week. The panel upheld the right to strike for TTC workers. Why doesn't Ford just invoke the Notwithstanding Clause, reinstating the TTC as an essential service and save the GTA the grief of a transit shut down?

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie attempts to muscle her way into the headlines by calling on the RCMP to provide an update on the Greenbelt investigation.

And, how much mileage can the Premier get out of re-announcing plans to expand beer and liquor sales and how much will it cost for the province to buy its way out of its contract with Brewers Retail to accelerate the plan?

Ugly shirt season has begun! It's the Victoria Day Weekend edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast!

Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford pay tribute to David Rider for his 14-plus years of service as the Toronto City Hall Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. David's moving on to take on the role of Senior Political Reporter in the GTA! Well done!!

Also, we dig in on some of the head scratching stories to come out of Queen's Park this past week, Including:

• The staffing crisis in healthcare, particularly the need for nurses and personal support workers, is a significant concern. And why did the Health Ministry stiff Colin D'Mello's FOI request for the staffing stats but gave them up to Canadian Press without an argument?? (Could it be Ford Nation just doesn't like the Global News QP Bureau Chief? FOR THE RECORD: We love the guy!!)
• The province should take the initiative and provide better support and resources, including healthcare and mental health services, for veterans and their families.
• AND...the Solicitor General has done NOTHING in response to 57 recommendations from a coroner's inquest into the death of Soleiman Faquiri. He died while in 2016 while he was in custody at the Central East Correctional Centre. The coroner ruled his death was a homicide.

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

So many QUESTIONS!

The pollsters are at odds over what's weighing on the Ontario Liberals. Is it the lack lustre performance of the Trudeau government? Is it Ford Nation's ability to frame and define OLP leader Bonnie Crombie as the "Queen of the Carbon Tax"? Or is it simply an electorate that just isn't paying ANY attention to the minutiae of the daily grind at Queen's Park?

Do the latest email revelations connecting the Greenbelt scandal to another Ford staffer move the needle on Doug Ford's approvals?

There are more signs the Toronto Polic Service is facing an intergrity crisis. The Stacy Clarke case lays bear several layers of systemic issues that are reputational problems for Toronto cops.

And the Health Minister says there's no need to worry about the family doctor shortage when 2 million Ontarians DON'T have a GP!