Today on NOW and NEXT:

The reasons we aren't buying up EV in this country are because the auto companies aren't producing the vehicles most of us want, there's next to NO charging infrastructure in place, and dollar for dollar - they're too expensive in a world that becomes less affordable every day. Ask yourself, would you buy a gas fueled SUV if there were no gas stations between your home and your office?
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/electric-cars-low-emissions-climate-1.6381856

The Ford government must have sore arms after all the effort they've made patting themselves on the back over increasing Ontario Disability Support Program payments by $58/month and indexing the pension to inflation. Reporting from CTV Toronto makes it pretty clear, Queen's Park has little or no intention to put more money into the program to lift people out of poverty.https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/documents-reveal-ontario-has-no-immediate-plans-to-increase-odsp-ow-funds-despite-steadily-growing-caseload-1.6498417

Toronto has to stop crying poor. Some important reporting and insights from Matt Elliott at City Hall Watcher says the city is sitting on billions of dollars in reserve funds rather than spending them on much needed programs. https://toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw238

Democracy might be a great "concept" but Professor Shaun Narine at St. Thomas University reminds us, the most powerful of 21st century democracies, (Canada included), have ben built on the suffering of others. Check out his piece at the conversation.com. https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-most-powerful-democracies-were-built-on-the-suffering-of-others-208443

Can we crown Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee a year before the Republican convention? Niall Stanage at The Hill says "not so fast". https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4129822-will-trump-inevitably-be-the-gop-nominee-heres-the-case-for-and-against/

Canada was "well beaten" in the final game of the first round at the World Cup this week. Australia won by a 4-nil shutout sending the Olympic champion women's squad home. The question about a lacklustre performance will be part of the post-tournament discussion. But it's worth noting Captain Christine Sinclair's post match comments about Canada Soccer which has decided its in the best interest of the women's game to nickle and dime the program.

"(I)t is like a wake-up call for our federation -- the lack of a professional league, the lack of support for our youth national teams.

"I think you're just going to continue to see teams reach our level, surpass us, whatever you want to call it if things don't change."
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/canada-captain-christine-sinclair-sounds-warning-in-wake-of-early-world-cup-exit-1.6501064