The Trill

Hello politicos, and welcome to the Trill.

Our friends at TVO thought it would be fun to do a crossover episode — the Trillium and TVO, together at last.

We talk about an update on the Greenbelt Scandal and that has the opposition leaders licking their chops with giddiness. And about mayoral endorsements — Doug Ford has received endorsements aplenty during the campaign.
 
And we investigate why Ontario Progressive Conservative candidates are skipping out on local debates. The answer may surprise you... or come as no surprise to you at all.

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

Hello politicos. Municipal affairs reporter Jack Hauen hosts this episode of The Trill. 

That's because there’s a big brewing trade war about to break out with our enormous neighbour to the south, federal politics has been upended by the coming resignation of the prime minister, and Ontario will be in an election campaign any day now — so we thought, who better to talk about what really matters than a smart group of municipal leaders?

We're joined by Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor Jonathan Scott — and a special guest, Mayor Boileau's adorable and remarkably quiet baby. 

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

It's the last sitting week of the year, and on this week's podcast, we're bringing you the top five stories of the year that will still be in the news next year.

Our guests are the brilliant reporters who are The Trillium.

Here are the stories we talk about on the pod:

• Here's where the primary care crisis is hitting Ontario hardest
• 'Identity politics is dead': Bonnie Crombie seeks to centre Liberals
• Doug Ford suggests Canada should cut Mexico out of North American trade deal
• Internal Ontario government traffic forecast shows crushing gridlock ahead — even with the 413
• Draft briefing for cabinet warned bike lane changes could worsen congestion
• Ford tells cities to ask him to use notwithstanding clause against encampments
• Province will take action on encampments if municipalities won't: housing minister
• Ex-minister who was in Vegas with developer won't run for re-election

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

This week we examine Ontario's family doctor shortage and the province's promise to connect all Ontarians to primary care within five years. We talk with Liberal MPP and family doctor Adil Shamji about a leaked report he shared with the media this week and with NDP MPP Jessica Bell about the privatization of care in her riding. We also hear from Trillium reporter Jack Hauen and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. 

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

Hello politicos. This week, we dive into Ontario polling with two very smart guys. The first is Joseph Angolano, who does polling for The Trillium as head of Pallas Data. Philippe J. Fournier, editor-in-chief of 338Canada and an astrophysicist to boot, joins us as well. We talk about the state of play, what motivates voters, and why polls are the modern-day voice of God.

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

Hello politicos. It's the first week of the fall sitting, and The Trill breaks it down with MPPs Catherine Fife and John Fraser. The tunnel? Booze? Booze bags? Health care and education? We talk about what matters — and what doesn't.

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

The most ambitious infrastructure project in Canadian history? Or the biggest potential boondoggle since Muskrat Falls? 

By now, almost everyone has an opinion on the tunnel Premier Doug Ford promised to build under the 401. 

But we don't have any real details.

Thankfully,  a smart guy who knows a thing or two about infrastructure projects — University of Toronto professor Matti Siemiatycki — joined the pod to talk about what we know, what we don't, and where the proposed project could and should go from here. 

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

A two-parter! 

First, Mike Moffatt joins us once again to go over the latest federal crackdown on international students. How will it affect Ontario's housing market, particularly in places that have seen rents surge alongside a boom in the international student population? Can Ontario's colleges, which heavily rely on international student's tuition, survive?

Next, we welcome first-time guest Andrew Perez to recap the news out of the Ontario Liberal's annual convention in London over the weekend. It's the first time the province's Liberals have gathered together with Bonnie Crombie as leader. What does the meeting signal about the party's new direction?

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

Today on the podcast, McMillan Vantage's Ashley Csanady and StrategyCorp's Fraser Macdonald break down all the reasons why we may — or may not — have an early election.

We also touch on how the tumult in Ottawa could affect when the vote is called. 

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.

The Ontario Science Centre is no more — at least as Ontarians have known it for the last 55 years. 

On June 21, the provincial government closed the building, citing an engineering report that said small parts of the roof were unsafe and needed urgent repairs. The government chose to shut everything down rather than try to fix the problems and keep the institution open while a new science centre is built at Ontario Place.  

Critics, however, haven't drawn the same conclusions from that report. The decision — like almost every move made during the years-long science centre saga — has garnered fierce opposition. 

Lesley Lewis, who served as the centre's CEO from 1998 to 2014, and Kevin von Appen, the centre's former director of science communication, join us to walk through the building's longstanding troubles, moving to Ontario Place, and what's going to happen to the current site. 

"Lost in Translation" theme music by Wendy Marcini and Elvin Vangaurd.