In this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario Politics Podcast from Story Studio Network:

Dave Trafford, John Wright and Keith Leslie get into the tangled debate around the carbon tax, its impact on the economy and everyday life.

Will a three cent per litre increase at the gas pump really be noticed? How effective is the carbon tax in addressing climate change? The crowded agenda and competing priorities of the government are also explored. 
 
Also: The Ontario Superior Court has  approved a class action lawsuit against long-term care home operators in Ontario. The lawsuit cites the horror stories and outcomes in private nursing homes during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The provinces and the feds are wilfully ignoring a predictable health crisis.
 
Takeaways

• The carbon tax is a contentious issue that has captured political attention across the country.

• There is a need for a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, rather than relying solely on the carbon tax.

• The crowded agenda and competing priorities of the government make it challenging to effectively address climate change.

• There is a disconnect between the cost of the carbon tax and its impact on everyday life. The long-term care system in Ontario is facing a class action lawsuit due to the negligence and poor outcomes in private nursing homes.

• There is a need for better home care and access to primary care physicians to address the healthcare crisis.

• Technology and innovation can play a crucial role in improving healthcare outcomes and providing better care options.

• Government leadership and a long-term vision are essential to address the challenges in the healthcare system.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Carbon Tax
03:26 Complexity of Carbon Tax
06:31 Crowded Agenda and Competing Priorities
11:16 Need for a Comprehensive Approach 16:06 Disconnect between Cost and Necessity
19:24 Carbon Capture and Storage
20:50 Alberta's Potential for Carbon Capture
21:50 Long-Term Care and Home Definition
22:14 Horror Stories and Outcomes in Private Nursing Homes
23:09 Mortality Rates and the Need for Home Care
24:36 Decline in Home Care and Access to Primary Care Physicians
26:13 Shortage of General Practitioners and Lack of In-Between Care
27:44 The Need for Federal Vision and Standards in Healthcare
28:42 Aging in Place and the Gradual Transition to Long-Term Care
29:08 Provincial Responsibility and Lack of Long-Term Vision
30:35 The Role of Technology and Innovation in Home Care
31:36 The Urgency of Addressing the Healthcare Crisis
32:07 Lack of Strategy and Willful Ignorance in Healthcare
33:06 The Role of Private Industry and Lack of Government Strategy
34:18 The Need for Relationship and Emotional Contact in Healthcare
39:00 The Importance of Technology and Innovation in Healthcare
40:19 Lack of Strategy and Prioritization in Government
41:11 The Need for Leadership and Legacy in Healthcare
42:28 The Catastrophe Waiting to Happen in Healthcare
43:22 The Destructive Path of Inaction in Healthcare
44:02 The Importance of Experience and Reflection