Episodes

  • Doug Ford's kicks off the 4th quarter of his mandate. Too bad the Oppo's still in the 3rd quarter!

    Doug Ford's kicks off the 4th quarter of his mandate. Too bad the Oppo's still in the 3rd quarter!
    Oct 25 2024
    In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast!

    The Ledge is back!

    And the consensus is Ford Nation's running up the score in the fourth quarter - heading for a campaign. But the NDP is still reviewing third quarter plays while Bonnie Crombie's Liberals are stuck on the sidelines.


    Former Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and former Ontario Premier Kathleen agree there's alway a good deal of excitement when the House reconvenes after a lengthy recess - but we may have triggered the Premier when we played a Question Period exchange between Doug Ford and Marit Stiles.

    MPPs are back in their seats at Queen's Park and, remarkably, NDP Leader Marit Stiles finally got the Doug Ford's attention - coaxing the premier to get out of his chair to "respond" to oppo questions. (Let's be clear, there were no "answers". That's why they call it "Question Period"!)

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    Meet the OTL Front Bench.

    John Wright is Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. He and his team provide public opinion measurement, interpretation, and advice and counsel to senior executives and public affairs/public relations leaders. He’s also a founding host of On the Ledge.

    Keith Leslie spent more than three decades at Canadian Press and more than half that time reporting from the CP Bureau at Queen’s Park. Keith joined On the Ledge in July, 2018.

    Tim Hudak brings more than two decades of experience as an MPP in Ontario and five years as the Leader of the Ontario PC Party to On the Ledge.

    Kathleen Wynne shares her unique perspectives as the first woman elected Premier of Ontario when she joins the crew around the table at On the Ledge.

    Dave Trafford is a “Podcast Journalist”, the Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network, and a Recovering News Director, (having led the news operations at Global News Toronto, Newstalk 1010 and AM640 radio in Toronto) with more than forty years of experience in Canadian media. He and John launched the podcast the same day the 2018 Ontario election campaign kicked off!
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    56 mins
  • Doug Ford's going to cut you a cheque for $200 (of your own money)!

    Doug Ford's going to cut you a cheque for $200 (of your own money)!
    Oct 17 2024
    In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast.

    Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former PC Ontario Leader Tim Hudak, pollster John Wright from Maru Public Opinion, veteran Queen's Park commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford weigh in on the latest stories and developments at Queen's Park.

    This week:
    • Rob Benzie at the Toronto Star reports Ford Nation will be sending each Ontarian a cheque for $200. It will be included in the Fall Economic Statement scheduled for October 30th.
    • Another Ontario school board is fiscally tone deaf - spending $145 thousand dollars for trustees to travel to Italy to buy art work for a new school.
    • Paper bags are coming back to the LCBO.
    • The Ford governent is curbing bike lanes in cities across the province
    • AND...there is a complete DISCONNECT among all levels of government when it comes to coordinating infrastructure projects.
    Listen to the show:
    On Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/on-the-ledge/id1388004807
    On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/46BNcFqlmx6w86VrVbGqHk?si=ffa5f9ffbade4a1e
    And WATCH on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davetraffordpodcasts
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    54 mins
  • A rough week for Olivia Chow and the Mounties are moving on the Greenbelt probe!

    A rough week for Olivia Chow and the Mounties are moving on the Greenbelt probe!
    Oct 12 2024
    Former Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, Maru Public Opinion EVP, John Wright, Queen's Park Commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford are at the table this week for the latest edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast.

    And we begin with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's brutal week. Katheleen Wynne makes no bones about it. Chow's no-show at the October 7th services was bad enough. It turned into a colossal "mess" when the mayor tried to explain herself to Newstalk 1010 morning show host, John Moore.

    We also weigh in on Rob Benzie's reporting in the Toronto Star about the state of the RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt.

    But after all is said and done, does the Opposition have what it takes to challenge Doug Ford's popularity?
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    47 mins
  • Is Doug Ford's 401 tunnel plan a shiny object distraction or good local politics?

    Is Doug Ford's 401 tunnel plan a shiny object distraction or good local politics?
    Sep 27 2024
    The week, our On the Ledge crew got bigger!

    We're excited to add former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former Ontario P.C. Leader Tim Hudak to the Roundtable with veteran pollster John Wright, Queen's Park Commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford.

    In this episode, the crew "digs" into Doug Ford's call for a Brampton-to-Markham tunnel under the 401.
    Is it just a back-of-the-napkin pipe dream or big thinking and big ideas when we need them most?

    What's to be learned after Toronto school kids went on a field trip that ended up at a pro-palestinian protest?

    The province's long term care fix is short term pain. Bill 7 is designed to free up scarce hospital beds but it's forcing patients into LTC homes of the government's choosing OR it's fining families $400 a day.

    And the premier's answer to homeless encampments is "get off your A.S.S." and get a job!
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    57 mins
  • Cheers to the end of the first LCBO Strike in history. But was it the LAST strike ever?

    Cheers to the end of the first LCBO Strike in history. But was it the LAST strike ever?
    Jul 27 2024
    In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

    John Wright says the Ford government may have won the battle but the union got a better deal than they demanded in the first place, despite a disastrous communications strategy

    Or...was the contract package already baked into the government's plans even before the workers walked off the job on July 5th?

    It was a long term win for Doug Ford. But he and his team keep laying rakes down and stepping on them when it comes to the Ontario Place rebuild plans.Seems the premier is shocked to learn that underground parking on the Lakeshore is not only expensive, it's likely to FLOOD when we get the epic rain events we saw in July.

    We also touched on Deputy Premier "What's her name?" announcing plans to allow expand pharmacists role in treating ailments. Minister Jones REFUSED to say how much the program will cost.

    And, as we watch crews sift thru the charred remains of Jasper, where are governments, at all levels, in all regions with their commitment to investing in smart forest management?
    The wildfires across Canada are only intensifying and all were left with are a "thoughts and prayers" response from first ministers and ministers responsible for climate change and the environment.

    The Carbon Tax isn't a solution. Neither are heat pumps and EVs

    Read Jamie Stephen's LinkedIn post if you want to understand how government should be responding and investing.
    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesstephen_jasper-faces-significant-loss-of-buildings-activity-7222187533596540929-fO0H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios


    AND..BTW...
    OTL is going on hiatus for the month of August. John, Keith and Dave will be back in your podcast feed after Labour Day!
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    48 mins
  • Who's complaining about the LCBO strike? And Joe Biden drives Dems to drink.

    Who's complaining about the LCBO strike? And Joe Biden drives Dems to drink.
    Jul 12 2024
    In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

    Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford lay bets on when the LCBO strike will end. The loser buys!

    Another report, another reason to "decommission" the Ontario Science Centre. It's become demolition by neglect.

    And we just can't avert our stateside gaze, rubbernecking the slow motion train wreck that is likely to end with a second Trump term in the White House!
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    46 mins
  • The LCBO strike contingency plans are enough to drive you to drink! And we couldn't help but rubber neck Joe Biden's disastrous performance

    The LCBO strike contingency plans are enough to drive you to drink! And we couldn't help but rubber neck Joe Biden's disastrous performance
    Jun 28 2024
    In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

    Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford dissect the fallout from Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

    Also, how does the outcome of the federal by-election in Toronto-St. Paul's affect the Ontario Liberal party? Does leader Bonnie Crombie barely see the PM or does she work closely with Justin Trudeau?

    A week after the surprise announcement, he Science Centre closure is a done deal and what's going on at the LCBO as it faces a possible strike?
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    31 mins
  • Marit Stiles is rallying the NDP ground game. Carolyn Parrish launches her charm offensive. And the Capital Gains Tax prevents pregnancy!

    Marit Stiles is rallying the NDP ground game. Carolyn Parrish launches her charm offensive. And the Capital Gains Tax prevents pregnancy!
    Jun 14 2024
    In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

    Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford are around the table this Friday. And they start with a shout outs to Laura Babcock and the OShow! and to Sabrina Nanji at the Queen's Park Observer.

    Alright, now that we've taken attendance..

    This week, Marit Stiles is set to light a ground fire at this weekend's Ontario NDP gathering in Toronto.

    Carolyn Parrish is the new Mayor of Mississauga and is set to launch her charm offensive, (as opposed to her offensive charm!)

    Is Elizabeth May sure she read the un-redacted intelligence report on foreign interference in Canadian politics?

    And federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tries to convince us the new Capital Gains Tax measures will prevent untold unwanted pregnancies.

    You don't wanna miss this episode!
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    44 mins