NOW and NEXT

Happy Sunday and welcome to this bonus edition of the Daily Brief. Today we feature another one of the shows we're producing at Story Studio Network. Why Meaning Matters is well into season 2 and in this episode we explore the future of cannabis consumption. Host Erin Trafford, MotivBase cultural anthropologist, Ujwal Arkalgud and MotivBase president, Jason Partridge bridge the connections between...

Happy Saturday and welcome to this Bonus edition of the Daily Brief. Today, we highlight a new show we're producing at Story Studio Network - Head for the Hills with Glenn Crouter. We talk to Olympian and World Cup ski champion Britt Janyk. She joins us from Whistler, BC. And Jonathan Reid, VP and GM at Horseshoe Resort in Ontario to talk about the March Break programming for the whole family. You...

Today on the Daily Brief, we mark the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic with our On The Ledge crew noting some school boards intend to extend the mask mandate for students. It's also two years and a few days since Steven Del Duca became the Liberal leader in Ontario and this week marks the fourth anniversary of Doug Ford's ascendancy to the PC leadership. Just so happens to be the same w...

Today on the Daily Brief, as we enter the third week of the Russian war in Ukraine, Professor Christian Leuprecht from the Royal Military College in Kingston offers his insights in what went into the the decision NOT to send MiG jets from Poland to Ukraine. And he expains why it's important for Justin Trudeau to be in Europe right now. You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel...

As we make a turn into week number three of the Russian war in Ukraine, the battles are being waged on the ground, in cyber space and in the media.  Today, we're joined by Bob Reid at Broadway Strategy & Communications, and Erin Trafford, Co-founder and Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network to talk about the role and responsibility of journalism and media organizations to "get it right"...

Today on the Daily Brief, FESTIVAL SEASON IS BACK! Michael Hollett is the President of NXNE and we talk about the new plans and the new look for this year's festival. Michael says there is going to be a special international showcase featuring the top 10 emerging international hip hop performers. They will spend the week at Hip Hop House, which will be set up on the top floor of the Gladstone Hote...

Friday marks the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. And now, just as we seem to be preparing for the recovery phase, we face the increased threat of a full-blown war in Europe - that could escalate into WWlll. Today on the Daily Brief, Mark Henick joins us to talk about the collective mental health crisis we're experiencing in the face of international threats that are out of...

It's Friday and that means we highlight On The Legde - the Ontario Politics Podcast as today's edition of The Daily Brief. Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman has announced he will not seek re-election in the fall. Instead, he is expected to land the Liberal nomination in the riding of Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte and challenge the incumbent Doug Downey, who is the Attorney General in Doug Ford's governmen...

Today on the Daily Brief, Professor Christian Leuprecht from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario offers insights and clarity on the lack of Russian military preparation for the invastion of Ukraine.  He also suggests China will likely be a player in bringing the conflict to some resolution because the economic sanctions slapped on Russia will have a significant effect on the Chinese ec...

Today on the Daily Brief, we welcome Toronto Region Board of Trade President and CEO, Jan De Silva to talk about the critical path to recovering econmically from the COVID-19 pandemic. How will we accelerate the transportation needs to support the two largest employment zones in Canada?  How will we re-create a "back-to-office" culture that will be criticial to support small and medium sized busin...

Today on the Daily Brief: Preventable injuries cost the Canadian economy $29.4 billion in a single year - $20.4 billion in direct health-care costs (70% of the total). Pam Fuselli, President and CEO at Parachute joins us to talk about the 333,971 potential years of life llost in one year, mostly among young Canadians.  You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subs...

Today on the Daily Brief, Russia's invasion of Ukraine happened quickly and most expected it the operation to end quickly. But that isn't how it's played out. These five long early and deadly days make me think we will measure the duration of this war by years rather than weeks or months. You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!) Follow Dave on Facebook...

It's Friday! That means we drop this week's version of On The Ledge into the Daily Brief feed! It's all about Ontario politics. The calendar says we're ten months from Christmas but the gift giving season is already upon us in Ontario. The Ford government is already trotting out pre-budget trinkets aimed at helping folks cope with the increased cost of living. That includes giving up an estimated...

Today on the Daily Brief, Digital and Cyber Security Strategist Ritesh Kotak says the war in Ukraine may be confined on the ground but it is an international battle in cyber space. Russia use cyber attacks on Ukraine government agencies and journalism outlets as the leading wave of the assault on a sovereign state. NATO may not be responding with conventional miltary weapons but how long will it b...

Today on the Daily Brief, the crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate. Vladimir Putin declares Ukraine to be a Russian invention to justify military support for Ukrainian separatists. David Schults, professor of political science at Hamline University joins us to talk about the latest developments in this international crisis.   You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be su...

I've set this episode of the DAILY BRIEF to drop at 2:22 on 22/2/22, which is why is TWOs Day! BTW, it last happened in 1622 and won't happen for another TWO hundred years. We celebrate this historic day by welcoming veteran sports broadacster Rod Black to talk about everything from Olympic fails to Thelonius Monk! You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscrib...

The Ontario legislature is set to get back to business next week following a 2 month recess. And there's no shortage of STUFF to get at today. Keith Leslie, John Wright and Sabrina Nanji from the Queen's Park Observer join me to review the latest in the Ottawa Occupation and the use of the Emergencies Act. How will that shape the ballot question for Doug Ford as we we head towards the June electio...

New numbers from Maru Public Opinion provide a stark and staggering insight into how Canadians view the ongoing occupation of Ottawa. Two thirds say they agree with the use of the Emergencies Act. So the prime minister can be pleased with that. The problem is 82% say the protest has gone on too long. Not so good for the federal Liberals. But, it's been a suck-and-blow affair on both sides of the H...

What does invoking the Emergency Act really mean? That question has not been fully answered yet that hasn't stopped all kinds of breathless reporting on whether there should be breathless reporting on the latest developments in the Ottawa Occupation.  Sure, the Trudeau Liberals are taking a pounding in public opinion over their inabilty to quell the crisis. And it's caught the attention of interna...

There are all kinds of reasons why I've ignored the Beijing Games.  First, they're in China. We shouldn't be there in the first place. Second, the 14 hour time difference is a games killer. As much as I love watching international hockey, I'm just not starting my viewing day at 11p ET. Third, even when I scrolled through the 7 Canadian television channels offering Olympic coverage, there were only...

The Ambassador Bridge is back in business, and I think it's remarkable that local, provincial and RCMP managed to bust up the Windsor blockade without even a hint of violence.  Might not be the case at other border crossings, but it is encouraging. Ottawa is a different picture. That occupation is dug in with no signs of giving in. We know the Prime Minister has decided to invoke the Emergencies A...

Today on the Daily Brief: Founder and Editor of the Queen's Park Observer, Sabrina Nanji joins us. Get-tough plans at Queen's Park are great but they're still just talk unless the OPP and local police forces are prepared to enforce the measures. Cutting off fuel and funding for the blockaders is a long game that might get results in weeks(?) The need for action is immediate. The border crossings n...

TODAY on the Daily Brief: Okay. I've know Maru Blue SVP John Wright  for more than 25 years. And I have never heard or seen him so exorcized. WARNING This is an F-BOMB-CARPET-BOMB show.  Who can we TRUST in authority and media? Political and media "leadership" is a long line of FOLLOWERS.  Where is the LEADERSHIP?  I'm not encouraged. Listen in!   You can watch OR listen to this episode on our You...

Today on the Daily Brief: We picked apart Pierre Poilievre's puerile pitch to be PM earlier in the week (say that 10 times fast!). He displays anything BUT leadership in his flirting with the fringe of facts and cries for FREEDOM. Candice Bergen on the other hand, who has more than her share of political baggage to slow her down, has shown what we need from leaders in Ottawa. Justin Trudeau could...

Just as a preview, and for those of you who are convinced I hate freedom and conservatives, I am going to tell you why I think the Interim Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition "got it right" this week in Ottawa.  But first, some fun in Story Studio Network. We're working on some NEW SHOWS I know you're going to enjoy. AND one of them is for all you guitar lovers out there! I am in the proce...