#onpoli, a TVO podcast

Queen's Park is back and still talking about bike lanes. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the government's first big piece legislation and why it's so laser focused on bikes. Dr. Jane Philpott is taking charge of a provincial team that's looking to connect all Ontarians with a primary healthcare provider. It's an odd job for the former Liberal health minister although well within her...

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner joins the podcast to talk about his hopes for the party, the new session at Queen's Park, and much more. Want bike lanes in your city? Well, you'll have to run it by Queen's Park as the provincial government wants a say on where bike lanes go. Ontario Liberals are saying the Therme Spa deal is Doug Ford's 407. The NDP are calling for an investigation into...

The province is undertaking an audit of children's aid societies in Ontario. This comes after Premier Doug Ford's criticized cost overruns and manager bonuses. Unions representing the organizations say the criticism is a smokescreen for decades of underfunding that have worsened conditions. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the status of the system and what can be done to prevent trage...

Bhutila Karpoche is the third NDP MPP to seek a federal nomination. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath talk about why now might be the time to make the leap to Ottawa. Another transit headache for the City of Toronto as Mosaic, the builders behind the Finch LRT, sue the province over delays in opening the line. Should the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation be a provincial holiday in Onta...

Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie joins Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath to discuss her plans ahead of a potential spring election, the OLP's new slogan, and how she tries to get under Doug Ford's skin. Premier Ford's comments telling homeless people to get off their butts and get jobs has him taking heat, and leaves many wondering if he's unaware of the pervasiveness of this issue. Doug...

The Ontario PC Party has won the riding of Bay of Quinte, replacing former education minister Todd Smith. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into how this may affect a possible spring election. The Government of Ontario has released its public accounts, which show that revenues are up and the deficit is down, but the debt just got bigger. And the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario w...

The Government of Ontario is spending millions on upgrading the water infrastructure in Prince Edward County — ahead of a by-election next week. Coincidence? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss. Doug Ford believes Jagmeet Singh won't trigger an early election at the federal level due to his pension. The NDP leader fires back telling the Premier to stop focusing on alcohol in corner store...

A new ban on smartphones in Ontario's secondary schools has come into effect. How will students react to the new policy? Or will the province reverse course like the Toronto District School Board? Alcohol sales have expanded in Ontario to convenience stores and gas stations while supervised consumption sites have been shuttered. Steve and John Michael discuss the two decisions and their cognitive...

Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath return to the #onpoli podcast for a midsummer check-in from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference. Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/heres-how-to-beat-doug-ford-in-the-next-election JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/ottawa-is-in-rough-shape-what-will-the-province-do-about-it Councillor Nagy question at the AMO – The Women of...

Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath round off another season of the #onpoli podcast with a mailbag episode. They answer audience questions including one about the Ontario Science Centre closure, talk about the Toronto St. Paul's by-election, and announce the winners of the book giveaway. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the...

LCBO workers are in legal strike position, and they've set a deadline of July 5 to get a deal made. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss how this mixes with recent policy decisions surrounding beer, wine, and mixed drinks in corner stores. A legal challenge surrounding the redevelopment of Ontario Place has been dismissed by the Superior Court of Justice. Do advocates have any other ways...

Fresh polling shows the Progressive Conservatives would emerge victorious if an election was called early. Carolyn Parrish will be the next mayor of Ontario's third largest city. Premier Doug Ford signs another memorandum of understanding with a U-S state, this time it's Illinois. Are these deals really ,a thing,, or just fancy photo ops? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced a new cabinet with some major changes. We'll give you the backstory on who is in, who is out, and why now? Mississauga will vote for a new mayor next week. With no one named McCallion or Crombie on the ticket, the race seems to be wide open. Ontario is looking to grow the number of private health clinics offering publicly funded MRI and CT scans. Minister o...

Reaction continues to pour in after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the government would pay $225 million to end an agreement with the The Beer Store one year early. One of the questions being asked repeatedly - why pay millions to end an agreement that was due to expire next year anyways? Does it have anything to do with theories the Premier will call an early election? Steve and JMM discuss...

Back in 2021, the Ontario government used the notwithstanding clause to push through changes to campaign finance laws. Critics say these changes violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This week, the Supreme Court heard the case and its decision could have a major impact on the next provincial election. Back during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, provincial courts began offering a deal to...

The official opposition is accusing the Ontario government of shutting down debate on a private member's bill called Lydia's Law. The bill deals with sexual assault and was set to be debated this week before Progressive Conservatives sent it to committee. The PCs say they are trying to speed up the legislative process, but the NDP are crying foul. Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said this week tha...

A new bill could impose major changes to the province's universities, raising concerns about the independence of the institutions. A town in northern Ontario will hold an unexpected election, after the Ontario government has dissolved Black River-Matheson's local council. But first, co-hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath examine how the Ontario NDP is coalescing around the issue of the kef...

Queen's Park announces that ,back to basics, in Ontario schools means a cellphone and vape ban. Meanwhile, debates ensue over whether the Ford government's new Core Education Funding is a meaningful increase for our public schools. Ottawa gets their own regional office and the most vocal critic is from Doug Ford's own backbench, Nepean MPP Lisa Macleod. But first, a look into the byelections Thurs...

Earlier this week, a second unanimous consent vote to reverse a ban on wearing keffiyehs at Queen's Park failed to pass. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath follow up on the ban at Queen's Park and ramifications of it. The Province of Ontario is investing billions into electric vehicle plants from car manufacturing giant Honda. The new plants announced this week are part of a larger plan to make...

The federal government has tabled its budget, which includes money for municipalities on housing and a tax on the rich. Details have been released piecemeal over the last several weeks, but now Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath will finally be able to digest the whole thing.    Highway 413 has cleared a major hurdle with the federal government removing the need for an environmental assessment....

Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra unveiled The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, a new piece of housing legislation designed to get more housing built. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the omnibus bill and look at the housing policy blitz we've seen from both the federal and provincial government. The Office of the Premier has 48 staff members on the S...

The Canadian government has announced a new infrastructure fund that would provide billions to provinces and territories to build up wastewater treatment capacity and housing. The money comes with strings that include a pledge to build ,missing middle, housing, which Premier Doug Ford has opposed. The premier says he would rather let municipalities decide what and where to build. Steve Paikin and...

Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy has unveiled Ontario's budget and it's a big one. The province is spending an unprecedented amount on building infrastructure projects but is expected to see large deficits over the next two years. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into the details. The Ontario Liberal Party has announced their candidate for the Milton byelection, and it's not Bonnie...

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has said that if she becomes premier, she will not impose carbon tax on residents. This, among many other announcements, has made this a big week for her. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what's been announced so far. In Your Column, My Column, Steve talks about Roy McMurtry who died on March 18. McMurtry was one of two Ontarians to hold the posit...

Premier Doug Ford has been seen in recent weeks handing out large cheques to cities who have hit their housing targets through the Building Faster Fund. Most recently, he praised Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, whose record is worse than former Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why the premier is willing to forgive when it comes to certain cities. The Onta...