The 905er Podcast

It may be over 20 years since Gord Krantz faced a serious challenger in Milton. Back then it was Colin Best who got as close as 1000 votes to beating Krantz, before settling for a long career as a Milton councillor. Zeeshan Hamid, first elected in 2010, has the background and credibility to launch a serious challenge to a mayor so confident in his position he acts as if it's 1965 and email hasn't...

We live in a country where the prime minister can't even declare a national day of mourning. So Ontario's workers will work while millions upon millions elsewhere in Canada and the Commonwealth nations either spend the day watching the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, or, just as validly, enjoying one of the tangible benefits of living in a constitutional democracy via an unexpected day off...

In the run up to the municipal election on October 24th we want to give our listeners the opportunity to hear directly from candidates in some of the most hotly contested and important races. Unfortunately we simply can’t cover every candidate in every race, but there are certain high profile races where we hope to bring you interviews with the candidates who seem to us to be among the front runne...

On the first day back at school we ask whether the province is looking for another fight with teachers, to restart the battle that was called off in March 2020. But teachers have been on the frontline of the COVID battle for the last two years, so don't they at least deserve pay increases that keep their salaries in line with inflation? The province says no. A story from the campaign trail in Hami...

As is the PC government's style since 2018, especially when it comes to municipal matters, a surprise announcement with major implications for at least two cities was announced as part of the throne speech on August 9th. It wasn't in the PC election platform (because they didn't publish a platform) and there wasn't even the pretence of consultations ahead of the announcement of a finalized plan to...

We have on this episode, old friends of the podcast! Laura Steiner of the Milton Reporter and Alan Kan of the Munipoli Matters Substack join us to give us their expert analysis of what this falls' municipal election could look like. As  well as what to look for in the various races around the 905. You won't want to miss out! This episode of The 905er is brought to you by our sponsor: South River B...

Well we're back folks! After a restful recovery over the summer, from the tumult which was our most recent Ontario election, Joel and Roland decided to return to behind the microphones.  Just in time for another election!  This falls' municipal election. With the deadline to register as a candidate recently passed, we decided to take a look at who was throwing their hat in the ring for this electi...

As one Ontario election ends, it appears that immediately we look at the upcoming municipal election in the fall. More specifically the rumours surrounding former Ontario NDP Leader, Andrea Horwath.  For a little while now, the rumour mill has been circulating that Ms. Horwath is possibly looking to throw her hat in the ring for Hamilton Mayor this fall.  What are her chances of winning?  Should s...

Last week Mississauga's city council got in the news for something they didn't do.  Specifically failing to address allegations of intimidation and vandalism on the part of one Councillor against another.  Karen Ras repeatedly brought to the attention of the city that her car was being vandalized in her parking spot at city hall.  Upon investigation by Peel police, they allege that her fellow Coun...

Originally aired on April 5, 2022     Don't worry, you didn't miss the week!  Due to a scheduling conflict, our Thursday episode of The 905 Round-Up is today! This week had huge news in Hamilton.  Local area MPP Donna Skelly earned some local headlines, by saying that #Hamilton city council made the wrong call in not expanding its urban boundary earlier this year. At the same time, the PC governme...

Originally aired on March 22, 2022   If you live in the 905 Region, there is a good chance you live relatively close to a gravel quarry, and there’s a good chance that the existence of the quarry is or has been controversial. Aggregates, to give them their proper name, are one of the constituent ingredients in a huge amount of infrastructure. Multiple environmental groups have recently formed the...

Originally aired May 24, 2022   Last but not least, we present our review and take on the Ontario PC Party's platform, or lack thereof, for the provincial election. This episode of The 905er is brought to you by our sponsor: South River Brewing.  Listen to this episode to see how you can save money on your next order by visiting the link below: South River Brewing It takes money and time to create...

Originally aired on March 1, 2022   Last year, we had on to the podcast Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada.  We discussed their made in Canada entry into the world of electric vehicles.  A bold and ambitious project to show to the world that the automotive industry here in Canada is poised to take on the 21st Century.  We had followed developments o...

On this episode of The 905 Round-Up, we have a special guest.  Alan Kan writes a municipal politics blog titled #munipoli Matters.  He is from Mississauga and often writes about what is going on in Peel Region.  We invited him on to the podcast to give us a different perspective on what has been happening at Mississauga City Council with Karen Ras resigning over allegations of bullying and intimid...

In the last few weeks for this podcast, you might have noticed that a theme has appeared.  Homelessness has crept into the forefront of discussions here in the 905.  Especially in Hamilton, where the city has struggled to get a handle on the problem and find proper solutions.  The public reception to the city’s policies has been controversial. In November, the police dismantled the homeless encamp...

Originally aired March 10, 2022   You just can't keep Patrick Brown out of the news this week, as his plan to run for the federal CPC leadership sees him put one story behind him, while another story is exploding in Brampton. We discuss what it says about him that he's trying to jump ship on another job. Then we look at a little bit of criticism we received for not being tough enough on Mayor John...

Originally aired March 8th, 2022     On February 8th, the province’s Housing Affordability Task Force released its report on how to make housing more affordable in this province.  Nobody can claim the recommendations aren't radical. And while the objectives of housing affordability are shared by all, and some of the ideas contained in the recommendations have been championed by advocates for less...

Originally Aired June 14, 2022   This week we are joined by Glyn Bowerman of the Spacing Radio podcast. Spacing is something special and increasingly rare - a quarterly magazine printed on paper. But Spacing is also an important website and a highly recommended monthly podcast, hosted by Glyn. It all its formats, Spacing exists specifically to promote ideas and discussion relating to urbanism in C...

Originally Aired February 22, 2022   Halton Regional Council has just taken one of the most important votes it is likely to take this decade. At a meeting that went late into the evening last Wednesday, with over 50 delegates attending to give their opinions, the regional councillors voted 15-9 for a motion that will prevent the Region from updating its Official Plan to allow boundary expansion fo...

Originally aired June 21, 2022   At the same time as the history of the Residential Schools was exploding on the front pages of newspapers, two women in Halton were creating something new and unprecedented with the potential to do much to bring about a genuine knowledge of the truth, and a real road towards reconciliation. They are seeking to bring healing to all based on indigenous treatments for...

Originally Aired April 12, 2022   There is carnage on the streets of Hamilton in recent weeks. It's too easy in the world of journalism and current affairs to reach for overly dramatic language when describing a problem. Too easy to suggest a disagreement is a crisis, or an inconvenience is a calamity. But if there is any word other than 'carnage' to describe what has been happening on Hamilton's...

Originally aired on April 21, 2022 We have talked about a lot of bad behaviour at city halls in the two years this podcast has been running. We've seen bullying and threats on social media. We have seen councillors who see their entire reason for existence as disrupting and derailing council meetings. We've seen activists and volunteers abused and cross-examined for hours as councillors call their...

Originally aired on March 15, 2022   Among the unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, surely one of the better ones is a nationwide rediscovery of the Canadian outdoors. Today we are joined by Eleanor McMahon, President and CEO of the Trans Canada Trail. Eleanor has over 30 years of experience within the private, public and non-profit sectors in a resume that defies easy summary because...

In our last episode before our summer break, we look at some different stories from around the 905. Rents have jumped in the last year. Why, and what are we doing about it? Gary Carr has announced he is running for Regional Chair again, torpedoing Jane McKenna's hope of an easy election to be regional chair of Halton. Does McKenna have what it takes to be a serious challenge to Carr? We look for e...

We invited back to the podcast, fellow amateur municipal political pundit Alan Kan.   For those who might not remember Alan writes the #munipoli matters newsletter, focusing on the news and politics of municipalities not just here in the 905 but across the country as well.  Today we talk with him and ask him to share his take on what he predicts will be the more interesting municipal elections in...