On June 3, Ontarians will cast their vote in the provincial election. While all polls point to another four years of Doug Ford, the real debate taking place is about who will take second. This week, host Amanda Galbraith is joined by colleagues Mike Van Soelen, Colin MacDonald and André Turcotte to unpack the race so far, and share their predictions for the final outcome.

The Battle For Second Place (w/Mike Van Soelen, Colin MacDonald & André Turcotte)

Political Traction takes you behind the scenes for an insider’s look at what’s really going on when it comes to the country’s biggest political stories. Each Friday, host Adam Owen sits down with an insider – from politicians to journalists, diplomats to political strategists – to guide listeners through the backroom machinations shaping the news cycle. Political Traction is powered by Navigator, Canada’s leading high-stakes public affairs firm.

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Faced with volatile economic circumstances, the federal government presented its 2023 budget, which Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Freeland argue will help Canada and Canadians respond to global trends like friendshoring and the shift to green energy. Billed as a plan to build a stronger, more sustainable and more secure economy, Budget 2023 includes substantial tax credits for clean tech, new taxes on stock buybacks, and modest efforts to address affordability. Adam is joined by Alex Ballingall, a reporter for the Toronto Star's Parliament Hill Bureau, and Navigator’s own Daniele Medlej, a Liberal strategist and former communications director, to dive into what implications this budget holds for Canadians.

Federal Budget Business (w/ Alex Ballingall and Daniele Medlej)

On Thursday, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented his third provincial budget – signalling a shift in focus from COVID-19 to weathering the coming economic headwinds. On this week’s episode of Political Traction, Adam is joined by Laura Stone, Queen’s Park reporter for the Globe and Mail, Colin D’Mello, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for Global News and President of the Queen’s Park Press Gallery and Navigator’s very own Brayden Akers, to unpack Budget 2023.

Budget Day (w/ Laura Stone, Colin D’Mello and Brayden Akers)

Last month, the federal government banned TikTok from being installed on all government-issued devices, citing security concerns related to the app's ownership by a company with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This week, Adam Owen is joined by Chris Nardi, parliamentary reporter for the National Post, to discuss the government's decision and its framing within the larger issue of CCP’s interference in Canada's internal affairs.

Is TikTok’s time up? (w/ Chris Nardi)

Following more than a decade in some of the highest-ranking positions in the previous Ontario government, Charles Sousa has returned to public service as a Member of Parliament in Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. This week, Adam Owen is joined by Charles to explore his decision to come out of political retirement, and the role he sees himself playing at Parliament Hill.

Sousa’s Second Act (w/ MP Charles Sousa)

With Chinese weather balloons, an American news anchor threatening war against Canada, and public broadcasters getting political, silly season has officially begun. This week, Adam is joined by Tasha Kheiriddin, a principal in Navigator’s Toronto office, and Catherine Moar, an associate principal in Navigator’s Calgary office, to discuss these recent issues and the impact they’ve had on the current political landscape.

The Battle For Second Place (w/Mike Van Soelen, Colin MacDonald & André Turcotte)

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