#onpoli, a TVO podcast

Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled design plans for Ontario Place once it reopens, including a five-storey parking structure. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down this development and look at the timeline of what happens next. Sweltering temperatures in classrooms have the government of Ontario and school boards pointing fingers while students sizzle in the heat. Steve and John Michael discuss what schools are doing to keep kids cool while puzzling over the cost of retrofits. The province's plan to build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031 could be significantly higher, according to a briefing document obtained by the CBC. Steve and JMM discuss how housing starts look even more dismal than they did before. Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-toronto-is-spoiling-for-a-legal-fight-with-queens-park-does-it-have-a-case [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-toronto-is-spoiling-for-a-legal-fight-with-queens-park-does-it-have-a-case] JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-david-petersons-liberals-are-remembering-the-good-times-ontarians-should-too [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-david-petersons-liberals-are-remembering-the-good-times-ontarians-should-too] Credit: T-shirt image of David Peterson - King's Printer for Ontario/ola.org June 20 Frank Miller See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Project Ontario is a grassroots organization calling on the Ontario government to adopt more fiscally conservative policies. But how does their charge stand up against Premier Doug Ford's three majority governments? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what conservatives are saying. A new report from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario revealed that Doug Ford's staff members were using code words to talk about the Greenbelt deal. Steve and John Michael discuss the revelations and the connection to Ford's comments on First Nations relationships surrounding Bill 5. The Toronto Transit Commission has been given the keys to the Eglinton Light Rail Transit line, so does that mean an opening date is in sight? Steve and JMM discuss why people still need to hold their horses as the line heads into a long period of stress testing. Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-how-the-1985-election-changed-ontario-politics-forever [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-how-the-1985-election-changed-ontario-politics-forever] JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-could-ontarios-recycling-changes-leave-cities-holding-the-bag [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-could-ontarios-recycling-changes-leave-cities-holding-the-bag] Credit: T-shirt image of Frank Miller - Anthony Miles/King's Printer for Ontario/wikipedia.org See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The legislature has broken for the summer with MPPs set to return in October. Why such a long break? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into the hiatus. The Council of the Federation is set to meet in the Muskoka region this summer amidst threats of road and rail blockades after the passage of Bill 5. And wildfire season is raging in the province of Ontario, so what's the government doing about it? Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-common-sense-revolution-turns-30-and-its-architects-are-still-celebrating [https://www.tvo.org/article/the-common-sense-revolution-turns-30-and-its-architects-are-still-celebrating] JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-theres-only-one-way-out-of-the-housing-crisis-up [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-theres-only-one-way-out-of-the-housing-crisis-up] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Resistance to Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing its Economy Act, is heating up as it passed into law this week at Queen's Park. Will the bill lead to highway blockades and a resurgence of the Idle No More movement? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the growing dissent toward the government's attempt to fast-track infrastructure projects. Members of Provincial Parliament are receiving a pay boost after nearly 15 years and access to a pension. Steve and John Michael discuss whether people will rise up in indignation at the increase or if they think it's about time. A new report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario confirms that rocky economic times are ahead for the province. Steve and JMM dig into the details and some dissonance between what the province is saying will happen and historical trends that say otherwise. Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-ontario-will-uncrate-a-statue-of-canadas-first-prime-minister-what-took-so-long [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-ontario-will-uncrate-a-statue-of-canadas-first-prime-minister-what-took-so-long] JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-bill-33-doesnt-dissolve-ontarios-school-boards-but-its-yet-another-hit-to-their-power [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-bill-33-doesnt-dissolve-ontarios-school-boards-but-its-yet-another-hit-to-their-power] Credit: T-shirt image of Mike Harris - King's Printer for Ontario/ola.org See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

For third time ever, the monarch read the Government of Canada's speech from the throne. King Charles III reiterated Canada's sovereignty and ran through a laundry list of government priorities. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the speech. The Government of Ontario is amending Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, after pressure from Indigenous groups. Steve and JMM dig into the changes the bill is pushing forward and what opposition groups can do to keep it from passing. The Ontario Greens and Ontario Liberals are co-sponsoring a bill to tackled homelessness in the province. Aislinn Clancy says building bridges within the legislature is part of what she ran on and a bill like this could help end this issue within a decade. The #onpoli podcast recorded this episode at the Isabel Bader Theatre at Victoria University at the University of Toronto. Special thanks to everyone who came out! Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-the-51st-state-nonsense-is-over-someone-should-tell-the-president [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-the-51st-state-nonsense-is-over-someone-should-tell-the-president] JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/is-it-time-for-a-canadian-automaker [https://www.tvo.org/article/is-it-time-for-a-canadian-automaker] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.