The 905er Podcast

Originally aired - July 15   Almost exactly a year ago, Jason Cassis of Equal Parts Hospitality was one of the first guests on the 905er Podcast, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry. He returns now to give us an update on all that has happened in the interim - and there is a lot. While everybody knows that restaurants, bars, and so many other businesses have been hurt by...

Originally aired - July 6, 2021   In today's episode, Roland and Joel look at three different aspects of modern Canada, and their ties to the past. The refusal to even acknowledge the dead being identified at Residential Schools across the nation by seemingly all PC and Conservative politicians on Canada Day. The environmental catastrophes seen in locations like Chedoke Creek, and the urgent need...

In recent news, the misbehaviour of Ontario university students has been in the headlines.  Recently at McMaster University, vandalism and violence were the hallmarks of an unsanctioned homecoming party.  And at the beginning of the year, the University of Western Ontario was dealing with allegations of widespread sexual assault in one of its residences.   This trend made us wonder what made this...

We cover the stories from around the 905 this week, including Joel's suggestion for reaching the final 20% of unvaccinated Ontarians, the latest development in the Haldimand Tract land dispute, and the physical and reputational damage done at the unofficial and unauthorized homecoming at McMaster University in Hamilton last weekend. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love do...

Following our Tuesday episode with Halton Catholic School Board Chair Patrick Murphy, we speak with Lauren Wallis of Halton Parents for Change (https://haltonparentsforchange.ca/, @HaltonPFC). Lauren gives her perspective on Chair Murphy's account of recent dysfunction at HCDSB and the Pride flag debate, and what needs to be done to make the board function effectively. Lauren is a mom of two, a da...

For our one-hundredth episode, we welcome back Halton Catholic School Board Chair Patrick Murphy for an in-depth interview. In June, the board took the unusual step of ordering an investigation into itself - to see whether the frequently argumentative behaviour of trustees at board meetings went as far as breaking their policies of civil behaviour, and whether there was behaviour contrary to the i...

Vaccine Passports are finally being unveiled in Ontario.  However, after being requested by public health for the summer, the rollout has been typical of the Ontario PC government.  It's messy and uncoordinated.  However, they are here now and what does that mean for avoiding a possible fourth lockdown in the 905?  And is it about time for the vaccinated to stand their ground and say enough is eno...

We livestreamed election night, focusing on the 905 of course. We had a great time, with some terrific questions answered live on the podcast. Thanks to everybody who joined us. Not an election that will go down in the history books as being particularly memorable, when all is said and done, but we talked a lot about the way this election was run, and just why the opposition parties, above all the...

In our second interview with candidates from the 905 Region ahead of the Federal Election, we talk today to Adam van Koeverden, who is seeking re-election as the MP for Milton for the Liberals, a seat he won just two years ago when he defeated former Conservative minister Lisa Rait. Van Koeverden was a Canadian household name as an Olympic Gold, and multi-Silver and Bronze medal winner in Sprint K...

This summer, saw climate change creep back into the headlines, stealing attention away from COVID-19.  And for good reason. This year saw a record-breaking heatwave sweep the west coast, resulting in a town burning to the ground. Climate change is killing people. And yet, it seems barely been a point of debate in this election. In keeping with our effort to focus on the issues that are important t...

Every CPC candidate in Canada is gagged---forbidden from talking to podcasts---or so we were told by a party operative. As some of the worst aspects of modern political campaigns dominated headlines and anti-vax PPC supporters threw stones, we searched in vain for a CPC candidate willing to take a free 30 minutes to talk about their platform in depth. Although actually we did find candidate keen t...

In the first of our 905 candidate interviews, we speak to Roberto Henriquez, who is running for the NDP in the Hamilton West--Ancaster--Dundas riding. Henriquez moved to Hamilton as a student, and now practices law where he represents 'everyday Hamiltonians'. We dive into the NDP's platform and look in particular at the housing affordability crisis that is a concern for millions of people across o...

In our Thursday 905 roundup this week we give our impressions of the early days of the 2021 election and why all the parties seem so far to be struggling to break through the apathy barrier, or find exactly what this election is about. The media landscape is dominated by pointing at the flaws of other parties rather than the qualities of their own platforms. It's a well-worn path, certainly, but d...

Weeeee'rrrrrreeee back from our August break a few days early so we can fit in some great election coverage that focuses on the issues the 905 is facing. We promise as close to zero coverage of partisan games and gotcha politics as we can get, and a maximum of investigating real, honest-to-goodness policies, both those that the parties should be promising, and exploration of the policies the parti...

[First broadcast on April 15th 2021] They didn't pave Paradise. Instead the City of Hamilton released 24 billion litres of untreated sewage into it. Thursday's episode covers three 905 stories: the latest changes of direction on our schools and an education minister with egg on his face; $5 million for Burlington City Hall's front yard; a new stinky mess in Cootes Paradise. But don't worry, the ro...

[First broadcast on November 20th 2020.] We are joined this week by Haassan Basit, CEO of Conservation Halton, and Janet Sumner, Executive Director of CPAWS Wildlands League, to talk about the province's proposed major changes to the powers of Conservation Authorities in Ontario as part of the budget 'omnibus' Bill 229, which, it is argued, weaken key protections that ensure safe development and p...

[First broadcast on May 20th 2021] Bob Bratina, MP for Hamilton East--Stoney Creek is a man of principle, of that there can be no doubt. His outrage at the federal government's plan to invest unprecedented sums into his home city has distressed him so much that he has announced he is going to quit in disgust at a moment convenient to his own career interests. Namely, at the next election, which co...

[First broadcast on January 19th 2021] Alyssa Brierley, Executive Director of the Centre for Equality Rights in Accomodation, joins us to discuss the waves of evictions that have been happening in Ontario since the summer under the auspices of the Landlord and Tenant Board, despite assurances earlier in the year about protections for tenants in financial difficulties because of the pandemic. These...

[First broadcast on March 23rd 2021] Where Ontarians are moving is moving. Mike Moffat joins us to explore how, as the seemingly never-ending upward spiral of housing costs in the GTHA continues, and the population increases rapidly, many Ontarians are looking further afield for housing, with the result that some unexpected areas have become among the fastest-growing cities in the province. For in...

[First broadcast May 18th 2021] With the guarantee of over $3 billion in funding from the federal and provincial governments to fund LRT - and only LRT - in Hamilton, Laura Babcock joins us to ponder why Hamilton City Council is still hesitant to move ahead. Laura is owner of POWERGROUP Communications a PR firm in Hamilton and media contributor on current affairs nationally, host of the OShow in H...

[First broadcast October 13th 2020] In this episode we explore why Hamilton City Council decided to launch an investigation by its Integrity Commissioner into the actions of a volunteer chair of one of its advisory committees - Cameron Kroetsch. We speak to Cameron to get his side of the story, and ask whether the claims against him have merit, why council would want to appear so heavy-handed with...

[First broadcast June 8th 2021] This episode was recorded before the hate-fuelled killing of a four members of Muslim family in London, Ontario. We added a short pre-amble in light of that horrific event. Our guest this week is Graham Crawford, one of the leads and spokespeople of iElectHamilton.ca, which was launched two weeks ago. In two short weeks, iElectHamilton.ca has provoked a wave of posi...

[First broadcast April 20th 2021] Tonight will be a momentous night for the Halton Catholic District School Board. For weeks, the board has been wrestling with itself over whether or not the Pride flag ought to be raised over its schools. A motion brought by Trustee Brenda Agnew under the title "Supporting Our Diverse School Community" would direct the Pride flag to be flown over HCDSB schools and...

As we recharge the batteries with a summer break, we hope you enjoy some highlights from the 905er's first year. In our second episode, first broadcast August 4th 2020, Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod were joined by Cindy Cosentino, who recently retired after 32 years as a teacher in Hamilton and Halton school boards teaching science and math. Cindy shares her concerns, and the concerns of many of...

Gerry Kavanaugh is an entrepreneur and CEO of Formula Solutions in Burlington. He started his first business at the age of twenty after initially trying his hand at motorsports. Since then he has built two successful companies in the field of carbon fibre composites, collaborated in creating equipment that helped Canada's snowboarders win gold at the Vancouver Olympics, and is now focussed in the...