Welcome to NOW and NEXT - the flagship podcast at Story Studio Network..

It’s our weekly offering - the newest episodes will drop Thursdays!

Stories, issues, problems and solutions that just don’t make the cut in the assignment meetings… But they’re stories, issues, problems and solutions that affect you, your family, your home, your job and your community.

This week….

• Now that city hall in Toronto has decidedly dinged the local home owners with a 9.5% tax hike… they’re back to the business of complaining about parking fees and dangerous dogs. THAT’S THE BUSINESS THEY SHOULD BE IN! NOT highway maintenance and sheltering refugees. The budget period might have been Olivia Chow’s toughest time so far in the Mayor’s chair. But the next six months will be her toughest test…following through on her “back on track” budget and making sure she delivers on the police, transit and housing promises she’s made.

• Back on track…it the political theme of the week….In Chow’s case…it makes sense. But it is the means of memes at Queen’s Park. Ford Nation’s introduction of the “Get it DONE” bill is aimed at getting the province back on track. Of course, the quick and obvious observation? The bill harkens back tot he 2022 campaign slogan. This week, it begs the inescapable question: What the hell have you been doing for the past two years? We will be diving into that and more this week as we gather for On The LEDGE - your Ontario politics podcast. It will be back in your podcast feed on Friday!

• Who would want to serve in government? A story at cbc.ca this week details plans to issue panic buttons to Senators in Ottawa…over safety and security concerns. The CBC reporting says Senators have “been targeted by online harassment campaigns and threatening phone calls in recent weeks. The panic buttons were offered to MPs in 2022 following the fallout from the Freedom Convoy/occupation in Ottawa.

• Last week we learned the FBI informant who was at the centre of the Biden bribery investigation is accused of lying about it. Now, this week, the feds stateside say Alexander Smirnov had ties with Russian intelligence affiliated officials. Prosecutors say Smirnov admitted in an interview following his arrest “officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved in passing a story” about Hunter Biden. The FBI would like Smirnov behind bars while awaiting trial. BUT the judge didn’t bite. Daniel Albregts allowed Smirnov to be released…but is subject to GPS monitoring.

• Are you a COSTCO customer? A great piece in the Economist this week explaining how and why the big box retailer is so beloved? HINT: forty or so years ago…a Hot Dog and Drink combo at COSTO cost $1.50. Today??? It cost $1.50. Check out the story in the Economist.

• DID YOU HEAR?….The PM’s pissed off…over the job cuts at Bell… The feds have summoned Bell Execs to the hill for a grilling over the latest round of layoffs…Can’t wait to see how that plays out. So far, Ottawa has managed to only add fuel to the media dumpster fire in this country. And. by the way, if the PM is pissed off about 400 or so layoffs at Bell Media (NO, BELL MEDIA DIDN’T CUT 48 HUNDRED JOBS. BCE CUT 4800 JOBS), where was the PM’s pissed-offedness when the CBC announced 600 layoffs just two months ago?
• AND…February 22 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It’s happening in plain view and close to home.
• We talk to Janet Campbell, CEO and President of Joy Smith Foundation.