Ontario Loud

A few weeks ago it seemed like new Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca was going to start building an election movement against a deeply unpopular premier. The sands have shifted a bit, with a government most people approve of right now. What does the current environment mean for the opposition?

As it changes our daily lives, COVID-19 is already changing our politics. Abacus Data CEO David Coletto joins the pod to talk about how the crisis is affecting Doug Ford's poll numbers, what the mood of the electorate is, and what room to move opposition parties have.

Former Attorney General of Ontario Chris Bentley joins Ontario Loud to talk about the Ford government's changes to the legal system, cuts to Legal Aid, and why it is that justice is so hard to access in this province.

Chris sits down (virtually) with Dr. Casey Park, a critical care physician at Toronto General Hospital to check in on how preparations for the expected influx of COVID-19 patients is going. How prepared is Ontario for the pandemic, what is he worried about, and how supported do frontline healthcare professionals feel right now?

What a difference a week can make. Last week we were three guys, now we're three guys + Garima Talwar Kapoor in the middle of a public health crisis! We talk COVID-19, Steven Del Duca's win, Ford's communications issues with Rape Crisis Centres, and all the money we spend on tax cuts that go to rich people.

Chris, Sam, and Alexi discuss the Wet'suwet'en protests and associated blockades, and the impact they have had on our country, Doug Ford's continued difficulties creating a working license plate, and Canada's falling poverty rate! A packed episode for you. Listen in!

The Ford government is quietly pursuing a substantial overhaul of Ontario Works - Ontario's primary support mechanism for those who are deemed able to work but are not employed. The system has been broken for years, but Ford has a plan to change it. Will it be a good plan? Garima Talwar Kapoor joins to talk to us about what the future of OW looks like in the province.

Chris, Sam and Alexi go through the news, diving into the latest in Ontario's teacher strikes, Ontario's looming power shortages, the Ontario Liberal leadership race, and what the Financial Accountability Office says about Ontario's economy.

OREA CEO and former Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak joins Sam and Chris to talk about OREA's housing supply action plan - a series of measures put forward to address housing supply in the province - a key contributor to unaffordable housing. Tim also makes fun of Chris' name and Chris & Sam's Beards.

In the last of our leadership interviews, Chris sits down with MPP Michael Coteau to talk about his campaign for leader, polarization in our politics, why he picked such a specific climate change plan, and building a government that looks beyond the next election.