On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast

The Ontario legislature adjourned for a five month break on June 3rd - the same day opposition parties and advocates called on the province's Financial Accountability Office to review the cost to build and operate Doug Ford's pet-project Highway 413. So far, the government has refused to offer any real details. It prompts the question: What is the Ontario government hiding about Highway 413? In th...

Ontario’s commercial property tax system is broken and it's costing business across the province tens of millions of dollars A YEAR. And all because of the municipal assessment policies set at Queen's Park. Premier Doug Ford knows there's a problem, yet has done nothing about it since taking office in 2018. In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast, Dave Trafford sits down wi...

This is a SPECIAL EDITIO of On the Ledge - you Ontario politics podcast. It's a "feed drop" from Newstalk 1010's Moore in the Morning. The politics of trade, tariffs and public space all collide in this week's roundtable . John Moore stickhandled ROUND ONE, featuring former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, Nexus Strategy Group CEO Marion Nader, and Story Studio Network’s Dave Trafford for a wide-rangi...

Ontario's legislature is heading into a remarkably long summer recess, but the political debates aren't cooling down. In this episode of On the Ledge, I’m joined by Tim Hudak, Kathleen Wynne, John Wright and Keith Leslie for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when MPPs leave Queen’s Park for nearly five months. Is this a reasonable balance between constituency work and legislative duti...

Premier Doug Ford’s latest comments about homelessness encampments and judges sparked another political firestorm — and the On the Ledge panel has a lot to say about it. This week, Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former PC leader Tim Hudak, veteran political journalist Keith Leslie, and pollster John Wright for a wide-ranging conversation about the politics behind...

What should school look like in an age of AI, anxiety, disengagement, and rapid social change? In this episode of NOW and NEXT, Dave Trafford speaks with educator and author Dr. Cinde Lock about redesigning education for a generation that needs more than standardized testing and rigid curriculum structures. Drawing on innovative programs developed at Pickering College, Dr. Lock explains how school...

Alberta separatism, Billy Bishop Airport expansion, Metrolinx transparency, Niagara politics, and Doug Ford’s latest infrastructure ambitions — this week’s On the Ledge covers a wide stretch of Canada’s political fault lines. Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, pollster John Wright, and veteran political journalist Keith Leslie for...

The “gravy plane” story refuses to go away — and this week on On the Ledge, the panel breaks down why the Ford government’s latest document dump may have created more questions than answers. Host Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, veteran political journalist Keith Leslie, and pollster John Wright for a wide-ranging discussion about accountability, affordability, and...

Doug Ford’s government is facing mounting pressure — and this week on On the Ledge, the panel breaks down why the controversy around the “gravy plane,” freedom-of-information changes, and Highway 413 transparency questions just won’t go away. Host Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, veteran pollster John Wright, and longtime Queen’s Park journalist Keith Leslie for a...

It was a rough week for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. His Tories are looking up at the leaderless Liberals in latest polling. His tone-deaf, off brand decision to buy a jet. An unhinged rant against Liberal MPP Stephanie Smyth. And gutting the Freedom of Information laws paint the Premier as unaccountable and sneaky. This week’s On the Ledge former Premier, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, former Ontar...

Host: Dave Trafford Guests: John Wright (CEO, Canada Pulse Insights), Kathleen Wynne (Former Premier of Ontario), Keith Leslie (CHTV, veteran Queen’s Park observer) This week’s episode captures a fast-moving and volatile moment at Queen’s Park, anchored by a controversial exchange in the legislature involving Premier Doug Ford and Liberal MPP Stephanie Smythe. The panel unpacks what they describe...

This week on On the Ledge, the panel navigates a rapidly shifting political landscape—both globally and at home. The conversation opens with the escalating instability in the Middle East, examining the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran, ceasefire tensions, and the broader implications for global security and energy markets. Back in Canada, the discussion turns to rising gas prices and the...

AN OTL BONUS DROP! This week on Now and Next, Dave Trafford and the comms and strategy team break down the stories shaping Canada’s political and media landscape. Guests: Bob Reid - Broadway Strategy & Communications; Lindsay Broadhead - Broadhead Communications; and Anne Marie Aikins - AMA Communications First, the panel dives into the NDP leadership race and what Avi Lewis’ win reveals about...

Dave Trafford is joined by Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, John Wright, Keith Leslie. This episode opens with a rare moment of collective optimism as the panel reflects on the Artemis II launch and the sense of wonder it inspired—especially for younger generations. That spirit quickly gives way to a wide-ranging political discussion, from the legacy of Stephen Lewis and the future of the federal NDP un...

Ontario’s latest budget is out—and as always, the real story isn’t just what’s in it, but what’s not. In this bonus episode of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford is joined by Jessica Smith Cross from The Trillium to unpack the government’s fiscal plan just hours after it was tabled. From Freedom of Information changes buried inside a massive omnibus bill, to record levels of spending and persistent defic...

It’s budget day in Ontario—and before the numbers even hit the floor, the politics are already in full swing. On this episode of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford sits down with a powerhouse panel—Keith Leslie, John Wright, Kathleen Wynne, and Jessica Smith-Cross—to break down what really matters behind the budget headlines. From the evolution of budget lockups to the strategic rollout of policy announc...

OTL BONUS! AI is no longer theoretical—it’s here, embedded in everything from healthcare to global conflict. In this episode of Now and Next, Dave Trafford is joined by the C.A.S.T. (Comms And Strategy Team) Bob Reid at Broadway Strategy & Communications, Anne Marie Aikens at AMA Communications and Lindsay Broadhead, Broadhead Communications to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping h...

Ontario politics doesn’t slow down — even on March break. This week on On the Ledge, Dave Trafford is joined by Tim Hudak, Kathleen Wynne, Keith Leslie, and John Wright for a deep dive into a political moment that’s equal parts strategy, controversy, and consequence. Despite softer personal approval ratings, Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives remain remarkably resilient in the polls. What’s dri...

An early drop in the OTL feed this week: I joined Jim Richards on Newstalk 1010 this week and we wonder aloud what Premier Doug Ford has to hide. He's announced his intention to gut Ontario's Freedom of Information Act - excluding the Premier, the cabinet and parliamentary assistants from FOI requests. FOIs have driven the investigative journalism at Queen's Park that uncovered important informati...

Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Tim Hudak – Partner, Counsel Public Affairs Kathleen Wynne – 25th Premier of Ontario John Wright – CEO, (Canada Pulse Insights) Keith Leslie – Veteran Queen’s Park observer In this episode of On the Ledge, host Dave Trafford convenes a wide-ranging roundtable with veteran Ontario political insiders to unpack another unpredictable week in provincial politics. The panel b...

Canadian politics is shifting—and so is the tone of its key players. In this episode of Now and Next, Dave Trafford is joined by our C.A.S.T. (Comms And Strategy Team) Bob Reid, Lindsay Broadhead, and Anne-Marie Aikins to break down the latest developments shaping Canada’s political narrative. The panel explores whether Pierre Poilievre is intentionally repositioning himself, following recent appe...

Toronto politics shifts again, questions swirl around billions in provincial spending, and Ontario’s mining future is back in the spotlight. This week on On the Ledge, Dave Trafford sits down with former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, political analyst Keith Leslie, and The Trillium editor-in-chief Jessica Smith-Cross to break down the biggest political stories shaping the province right now. The...

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: Host: Dave Trafford Roundtable: Keith Leslie, Tim Hudak, John Wright, Kathleen Wynne Healthcare costs are “unsustainable.” Niagara may be heading toward amalgamation. And the free trade era? It may already be over. This week on On the Ledge, we dig into what Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s warning really means for Ontario’s hea...

Enjoy this OTL Feed Drop episode of NOW & NEXT - your independent made-in-Canada, news and commentary podcast. Host: Dave Trafford The C.A.S.T.: Bob Reid (Broadway Strategy and Communications), Anne Marie Aikins (AMA Communications), Lindsay Broadhead (Broadhead Communications) This week on Now and Next, the CAST — our communications and strategy team — breaks down the stories when communicati...

This WEEK: On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast It's Healthcare vs. Education: Inside Ontario’s Budget Fight Over Spending and Student Loans. Host: Dave Trafford Roundtable: Former Ontario Premier, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Partner at Counsel Public Affairs and Former Ontario PC Party Leader, the Honourable Tim Hudak, Veteran Queen's Park Political Analyst Keith Leslie and Canada Puls...