The 905er Podcast

Joel and Roland look at three more stories from the 905 region, including the implications of COVID spikes in Burlington, a Go Transit announcement in Hamilton, and the behaviour of a Rebel Media journalist in a confrontation with a CPC candidate in Thornhill. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover o...

Over the last few weeks, observers of Burlington city politics have noticed a growing rift in council.  So much that when Joan Little of the Spectator commented on it in one of her columns, the Mayor decided a rebuttal was in order.  What is going on in Burlington City Hall?  Joel and Roland discuss what we know and what it means.   Then we take a stroll down to Hamilton, where this week Prime Min...

This week we are joined by Flavio Volpe, President of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, who talks to us about Project Arrow, and how it has the potential to change the auto industry in Canada, internationally, and be part of the electric future of transportation. Flavio was a wonderfully engaging guest, and you won't want to miss hearing him speak about the innovation and discovery that is...

We have another milestone to celebrate, and two stories that remind us why the news in the 905 Region needs more coverage, because they are issues that you are unlikely too see receiving much coverage in legacy media.  In the dock this week ... Hamilton and Brampton duke it out for the 'most dubious council behaviour' award. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Pat...

Roland and Joel welcome Laura Steiner, editor of the Milton Reporter to discuss the awakening to history that is happening right now, and the challenges it poses for our national self-image as 'Canada the Good'. Along the way we dive into how one of Ontario's oldest highways came to be named for a Scottish aristocrat who never visited Canada - Henry Dundas - and the problematic and contradictory a...

This week we’re turning our attention to Mississauga and asking whether Canada’s sixth largest city is maybe one of the most misunderstood and underestimated cities, not just in the 905, but across Canada. To discuss this with us, we invited on Jay Kana, the owner and editor in chief of modernmississauga.com. Modern Mississauga explores Mississauga through the lens of the 21st century, covering cu...

The debate over statues of John A. Macdonald and keeping the name of Egerton Ryerson on public schools has rekindled in the last month.  The discovery of 215 children in unmarked graves in Kamloops and the continued discovery of more unmarked graves in various Residential Schools across the country have given cause to examine these men's legacy. Roland wrote a piece for the 905er website which mad...

It seemed until the first week of June that Halton Region's opposition to the proposed Highway 413 was set in stone. And then a routine vote suddenly saw Milton Council reverse its position out of the blue. This sparked a wider discussion about what needs to happen in the 905 region generally to manage climate change and build for a sustainable post COVID-19 economy. Lisa Kohler Executive Director...

In our Thursday 905 Round-up this week we have three stories that have dominated news cycles in different parts of the 905, in some cases for almost a decade. Two will be viewed as positive steps, and one seems entirely negative. Judge for yourselves. Trustees at Halton Catholic and Hamilton Wentworth Public School Boards are in a hole and determined to keep digging. Hamilton councillors vote at c...

The combined tragedies of the discovery of 215 unmarked children's graves in Kamloops, followed by the horrific act of Islamophobia resulting in the murder of a family in London, has shaken this country.  Canada can no longer hide behind the polite veneer of multiculturalism and ignore the realities of life in this country for millions.  Hate exists in this country.  It takes on the form of Islamo...

The second part of our interview with Graham Crawford of iElectHamilton.ca. If you heard part one of the interview on Tuesday, you’ll know that Graham and a group of Hamiltonians have created an organization to campaign for a better Hamilton council to be elected in 2022, and for candidates to come forward who can bring a new look to city hall, replacing councillors who have been in place for deca...

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 positive support from many Hamiltoni...

Hamilton councillors couldn't talk about a $3.1 billion investment in their city without first losing quorum and then voting to deferring any decision at 5pm, thereby risking losing control of the entire LRT approval process until after the approaching summer recess. What is it about Hamilton council that means they can't even seem to stay in the (virtual) council chamber? A non-905 city you may h...

In our episode coinciding with the first day of Pride Month, we talk to two high school students, Hannah Strom and Annie Wang, and their teacher Caitlin Grieve, about their successful efforts with the other students in 'Ridge Pride', the Gay-Straight Alliance at Iroquois Ridge High School, to have three Rainbow Crosswalks installed in Oakville. We are also joined by Whitney Ross, one of the co-lea...

There is a spectre haunting Hamilton--the spectre of university graduates. All the powers of old Hamilton may enter into an alliance to exorcise that spectre.* So suggests former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni, who this week claimed Hamilton was facing a 'left wing takeover' by 'university and other elites'. This was in reaction to the launch of ielecthamilton.ca, a website calling for 'new leaders...

Three Hamilton apartment buildings have seen major outbreaks of Covid-19 in recent weeks, all of the more transmissible UK-origin variant. The worst instance was in Rebecca Towers, where well over 100 cases have been identified. These outbreaks immediately seemed to highlight Covid-19’s gift for seeking out the more vulnerable members of our communities. But did it also highlight the failure of mu...

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 could be as late as 2023. In the mean...

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 Hamilton   Thanks to those who he...

Joel and Roland roll up their pant legs and wade into a political mire of floods, climate emergencies, enfeebled and unambitious politicians and government staff and the absurd decision to halt delivery of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine and risk prolonging pandemic by Canada's two most science and evidence-resistant provincial governments. Along the way we give a demonstration of some important Anglo-Sa...

A year into Covid-19 and our already-stretched mental health services in the 905 region are seeing unprecedented levels of demand. Adults and children alike are finding the uncertainty and isolation of life during pandemic to be a challenge, and as months have become over a year, those challenges only become more difficult. In today's episode Joel and Roland talk to Melanie McGregor of the Canadia...

Joel and Roland welcome back 905er regular, first ever '3rd time guest' and awesome Patreon supporter Shannon Gillies to discuss some of the problems with how debates on urban planning and intensification are discussed, how inevitable public resistance to change is handled, and how it can prevent us approaching the more complex discussions that need to happen if we are to design the best possible...

Today we are welcoming back Karl Dockstader and Sean Vanderklis to speak again about the latest developments that touch on the dispute at 1492 Land Back Lane on the edge of Caledonia and the Six Nations Reserve about 20 km south of Hamilton. Sean and Karl co-host the fantastic 1 Dish 1 Mic radio show on Sunday Mornings at 10am on AM 610 CKTB. You can also listen to current and past episodes. Thank...

Joel gives a full account of the HCDSB meeting on Monday where the motion to fly the Pride Flag was 'compromised' out of existence among a campaign of obstructionism and delay and time-wasting by the anti-flag trustees. Later in the show, Joel shares what it's like to get the vaccine, and we talk some more about paid sick days.   Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons...

A year into the Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to take stock and remind ourselves why we locked down. Amidst the sound and fury of the political debates, the voices of those who have experienced Covid-19 have largely been drowned out. Ashley Comrie spent two months in hospital with Covid-19 a year ago. She is still recovering and dealing with serious ongoing physical and psychological health challen...

We are joined today by Dr Alexandra Power, a GP who works extensively with young adults through her practice at York University. Dr Power was one of the people who delegated on Tuesday night to Halton Catholic District School Board in support of a motion to fly the Pride flag over schools in June to show support for LGBTQ+ students in a motion brought by trustee Brenda Agnew. But on Tuesday night...