In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast. Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford pick through the entrails of the suprise cabinet shuffle and Premier Ford's decision to recess the legislature for more than four months. Do they only serve to set the stage for an election call in the Spring of 2025? Is Stephen Lecces dancing a happy dance? And did Steve Clark sound like Scooby Doo when he was welcomed back from the wilderness as the PC's House Leader?...
Jun 09, 2024•32 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast - Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford weigh in on the 34 felony convictions for Donald Trump before turning to the games at Queen's Park. The Premier was commenting on the recent shooting at a Jewish school in Toronto and, in so doing, seemingly took aim at immigrants for the violence. "Enough is enough," said Ford. "You're bringing your problems from everywhere else in the world, you're bringing it to Ontario. and yo...
May 31, 2024•41 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: It was a classic Friday Dump! The Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend, the Ford government announces its intention to use an enhanced ministerial zoning order to cut the City of Toronto out of the planning process for Ontario Place. Also, the Ontario government 's defence of its third party ad restriction get a rough ride in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. The province also lost in the Court of Appeal this w...
May 24, 2024•42 min
Ugly shirt season has begun! It's the Victoria Day Weekend edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast! Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford pay tribute to David Rider for his 14-plus years of service as the Toronto City Hall Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. David's moving on to take on the role of Senior Political Reporter in the GTA! Well done!! Also, we dig in on some of the head scratching stories to come out of Queen's Park this past week, Including: The staffing crisis...
May 17, 2024•49 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: So many QUESTIONS! The pollsters are at odds over what's weighing on the Ontario Liberals. Is it the lack lustre performance of the Trudeau government? Is it Ford Nation's ability to frame and define OLP leader Bonnie Crombie as the "Queen of the Carbon Tax"? Or is it simply an electorate that just isn't paying ANY attention to the minutiae of the daily grind at Queen's Park? Do the latest email revelations connecting the Greenbelt...
May 10, 2024•38 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: We pick through the entrails of two by-election wins for the Progressive Conservatives. Two things are clear: There's no "call for change" at Queen's Park. Are we on the verge if the next Big Blue Machine era of politics in Ontario? If Bonnie Crombie couldn't muster enough attention, support or money to win the race in Milton, what does that say for the future of the Ontario Liberal Party? Oh ya,,,,Go LEAFS!...
May 03, 2024•29 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: We remember the legendary broadcaster Bob Cole and then dig in on the latest stories coming out of Queen's Park including: The Ford Nation reversal of the week. The fallout from the NOT GUILTY verdict in the trial of Umar Zumeer - accused of murdering Toronto police Det-Constable Jeffery Northrup. And would the premier seriously consider calling an early election?
Apr 26, 2024•46 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: Happy 3rd birthday to Story Studio Network! Doug Ford goes on an operatic RANT about gas price hikes and manages to lay it all at the feet of Justin Trudeau and Bonnie Crombie! All four provincial party leaders want the Speaker to reverse his refusal to allow the keffiyeh to be worn in the legislature. The housing file keeps getting more and more complicated and that's driving up the cost of home building. Vic Fideli doubles...
Apr 19, 2024•44 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politic podcast: We're joined by Tim Hudak, CEO at the Ontario Real Estate Association, tp talk about the housing initiatives annoucned at Queen's Park and in Ottawa this week. Tim says there've been some positive steps taken, such as increasing the amortization period and providing assistance for modular homes and apartment construction. However, he also highlights the gaps and the need for more bold and comprehensive solutions. The discussi...
Apr 12, 2024•40 min
In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: It's been a busy "media week" for Doug Ford - making almost daily annoucements about government spending plans one week after the 2024 budget was tabled at Queen's Park. But announcements aside, the PCs are spending a good deal of time and political capital defining Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie as the Carbon Tax Queen and re-defining Premier Ford as a guy who listens to the people when his government "gets it wrong" versus a leade...
Apr 05, 2024•41 min
In this episode of On the Ledge - Your Ontario Politics Podcast, John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford tackle the Ontario budget, the rhetorical distraction that is the Carbon Tax, and remembering Roy McMurtry. Ford Nation has coughed up another RECORD spending plan and, in so doing, have made it abundantly clear, budgets have become a nearly meaningless exercise. The rhetoric surrounding the carbon tax at Queen’s Park has completely distracted from the obvious point that the Ford governme...
Mar 29, 2024•45 min
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 ...
Mar 15, 2024•47 min
In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast, The Ford government was patting itself on the back this week after announcing a Ring of Fire agreement with two First Nations on next steps to build a road into the environmentally sensitive, mineral rich region of Northern Ontario. The announcement was long on self-congratulations but short on any commitment to ensure the project doesn't poison the air. The Ring of Fire is located on peatlands that cover an area the size of German...
Mar 08, 2024•49 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast, The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney passed away February 29, 2024 at the age of 84. Mulroney served as Canada's 18th prime minister from 1984 to 1993. John Wright , Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford set Queen's Park aside this week and reflect on Mulroney's legacy and career....
Mar 01, 2024•42 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: Ford Nation is getting around to "getting it done" two years after running on the Tories' "git 'er dun" campaign that won them a majority government in June of 2022. Ontario's MPPs were back in the Ledge for the first time in 2024 following their long winter's nap, AKA the Christmas recess. Sabrina Nanji at the Queen's Park Observers says it was only three days in the house but it felt a "lifetime" on the poltical beat with ...
Feb 25, 2024•35 min
This week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast - wraps up the fall session at Queen's Park with SSN's Chief Executive Producer, Dave Trafford, John Wright EVP at Maru Public Opinion and Keith Leslie, political commentator on CH television. There's A LOT to talk about including the government's lack of strategy in healthcare, the Auditor General's report, Bonnie Crombie's leadership win, and the need to revive the Liberal Party. The hosts discuss the tactical decision-making ...
Dec 08, 2023•41 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario politics podcast The Greenbelt is still a quagmire for Premier Ford's government but it's the fallout from the war in the middle east that fuels a growing concern in the legislature and, more particularly in NDP backrooms. Sarah Jama's censure by the majority government and expulsion from the New Democrat caucus continues to create challenges for party leader Marit Stiles. The Hamilton Centre riding association is calling for a leadership review. Th...
Nov 24, 2023•42 min
NEW: You can now leave us a RECORDED or TEXT message about anything you hear on the show. It's EASY. Click RECORD YOUR MESSAGE. Hit the RECORD button. Enter your name and email address so we can respond to your comment! And chances are you'll have something to say after listening to this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario politics podcast. Keith Leslie and Sabrina Nanji are at the table and we welcome David Coletto, CEO at Abacus Data, (filling in for John Wright!) We wonder whether pay incr...
Nov 17, 2023•40 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast: Dave Trafford, John Wright and Keith Leslie read the entrails following a week where the three main parties at Queen's Park were hobbled by sel-inflicted wounds. The Ford government is already stuck in the Greenbelt quagmire. In the past week, the interim Auditor General has opened inquiries into the Therme land deal at Ontario Place and the plans to move the Science Centre from beauitful downtown Don Mills to be an added lakeshore...
Nov 10, 2023•30 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario Politics Podcast Keith Leslie (CH TV), John Wright (SVP Maru Public Opinion), Sabrina Nanji (QP Observer) and Dave Trafford (SSN Chief Executive Producer) weigh in on the latest in the Greenbelt Quagmire. As noted in last week's show, we were expecting, and recieved, a 7 thousand page document dump that did two things. First, it put Premier Doug Ford squarely in the middle of the Greenbelt land swap scandal. Second, it took some of the heat and atte...
Nov 03, 2023•31 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: We said, a few weeks ago, Olivia Chow may be Doug ford's unlikely saviour. Today, we're getting more hints of that. There have been rumbles for a while and now the Toronto Star is reporting the Ford government is considering plans to upload the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway and could be picking up more of the TTC costs to support public transit in Toronto. If that's good news for the Ontario PCs, they're hap...
Oct 27, 2023•36 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario politics podcast! The Ford PCs and the NDP continue sniping at each other over New Democrat Sarah Jama's controversial tweet and non-apology-apology re/; the state of affairs in Israel and Gaza. Half of the NDP caucus walked out of the assembly on Thursday, while the house voted on a Tory motion condemning the slaughtering of Israelis by Hamas and endorsing that country’s right to self-defence. The remaining New Democrats abstained from the vote say...
Oct 20, 2023•36 min
In this edition of On the Ledge: The Premier's Office is in chaos at Queen's Park now that the RCMP is conducting a criminal investigation into the Greenbelt land swap. How can Doug Ford lead his caucus and cabinet, never mind the government, with that hanging over his head. There is a good deal of potential political jeopardy for the Progressive Conservatives in the coming months. And while there are already calls and questions about Ford stepping down, the premier does have time on his side. R...
Oct 13, 2023•27 min
In this edition of On the Ledge - Your Ontario Politics Podcast: We are heading into the Thanksgiving weekend and the latest numbers from Maru Public Opinion suggest 63% of Ontarians have dinner plans with family and friends. We appear to be past any significant concerns about gathering in groups even though COVID is still in the community. Being more relaxed about large gatherings is one thing. It's clear we're feeling the after effects of COVID on everything from our jobs to our household rout...
Oct 06, 2023•37 min
The Ontario Legislature is back in session, so it's time to reconvene On the Ledge, your Ontario politics podcast! Today, There's the Greenbelt. Then there's the Greenbelt. And, oh ya, the Greenbelt. Ford Nation might have wished it was a mere typo, but no! It seems the premier's team has messsaging issues and massaging issues - all laid bare this week as the Legislature got back to business at Queen's Park. John Wright, Sabrina Nanji, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford agree this might be one of th...
Sep 29, 2023•40 min
It's a BONUS edition of On The Ledge featuring an episode of our daily podcast, NOW and NEXT where we sift through the entrails of the post mayoral election results. We're joined by Bob Reid, Principal at Broadway Strategy and Communications, John Wright, SVP at Maru Public Opinion and Queen's Park Observer Founder and Publisher, Sabrina Nanji. Olivia Chow will face a number of challenges in her new role as Mayor of Toronto, beyong balancing the city's budget. Does she have the political capitia...
Jun 30, 2023•33 min
In this edition of On the Ledge: MPPs take their leave from Queen's Park for the summer break. They're back September 25th. Will Doug Ford's approval rating rebound? How will he respond to Toronto's new mayor?
Jun 09, 2023•22 min
In this week's edition of On the Ledge: Lots of chatter about a cabinet shuffle coming at Queen's Park and specualtion puts Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney in Doug Ford's cross hairs as the minister most likely to land in the back benches. For some unfathomable reason, Health Minister Sylvia Jones is immune from any possibility of losing her portfolio. It might be a different story if the people in Minden had a say in the matter after the Emergency Department was shuttered at the local...
Jun 02, 2023•37 min
In this episode of On The Ledge - your Ontario polticis podcast: Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion, and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table. Bonnie Crombie makes it clear, she wants to be leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. Doug Ford's shoot-from-the-lip response makes it sound like the 2026 campaign has started. Robo pollsters are deciding who gets on the debate stage in the race for the Mayor's chair in Toronto. John Wright gives us a How...
May 26, 2023•44 min
In this episode of On The Ledge: Dave's flying solo as the rest of the crew heads off for the long Victoria Day weekend. We take a closer look at the adminstrative challenges and the politics at play now that the Ford government has decided to dissolve the Regional Municipality of Peel. Is Doug Ford hoping this move stops any aspirations or plans Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie may be entertaining to lead the Ontario Liberals? Does this reinforce the PC's stranglehold on all the ridings in Peel...
May 19, 2023•27 min
