The Bill Kelly Podcast

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien recently celebrated his 90th birthday.  Despite their political differences, another former Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, sent him a birthday greeting, suggesting that former opponents can bury the hatchet over time.  This display of camaraderie and respect between former leaders is a rarity in today's political climate.  In contrast, current politica...

As the Israel-Hamas war wages on, and the consequences of the actions (and inaction) of major global players is becoming more visible.  Is there a possibility of an end to the conflict? What are the challenges in achieving a ceasefire?  The war has now expanded with attacks on shipping vessels and the involvement of Hezbollah in the north of Israel.  We zoom out for a wide view of the war in the M...

Why do politicians in Canada routinely ignore intelligence? Are world leaders taking Canada less seriously because of their lack of intelligence culture? In episode 35 of The Bill Kelly Podcast, Bill is joined by Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting. Tune in as they deep dive into the ever-evolving world of terrorism, defence and geopolitics as we enter 2024. #TheB...

Who is winning the race for Ontario fundraising dollars in the Ontario’s political landscape? Why does it matter? LISTEN as we dissect the nuances of campaign financing from Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Premier Doug Ford, while exploring its impact on policy decisions, party dynamics, and the democratic process. Episode 34 of The Bill Kelly Podcast is available now with guest Steve Paikin, Ho...

A conflict spotlight shines across two battlefields: one in the forefront of the world, while the other, is seemingly getting lost in the fray.  We go inside Israel and Ukraine's battlefields with Elliot Tepper, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Carleton University, in Episode 33 of The Bill Kelly Podcast. #israel #israelpalestineconflict #hamas #gaza #russia #ukraine #putin #zelenskyy  L...

Some say 2024 is one of the most pivotal years in the history of American politics. The upcoming Iowa caucus may be the first domino to fall for the Republicans, as Donald Trump currently leads by a large margin and experts are questioning if any candidate can surpass his support.  Ron DeSantis, who has spent a significant amount of money in Iowa, is struggling and may not continue if he doesn't p...

The LRT. Homelessness. Lack of leadership. Elitism. An enormous tax increase. Many are saying these are the problems with Hamilton city council as we headed into 2024. What will be accomplished in 2024? We discuss the direction of the city in episode 31 of The Bill Kelly Podcast with John Best, publisher of The Bay Observer. #hamont #hamilton #hamiltonpolitics #bayobserver #thebillkellypodcast #jo...

The Ontario Liberals have a new leader in Bonnie Crombie: will she make her mark in 2024? The Ford Government continues to make strategic alliances with municipalities: is another large transit deal on the horizon? We look ahead at the landscape of Ontario politics in 2024 with Richard Brennan, a former journalist with The Toronto Star in episode 30 of The Bill Kelly Podcast! #liberal #ontariolibe...

It was a tumultuous year for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, as they navigated affordability, inflation, housing, and foreign interference to name a few issues, on top of an ongoing attack from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Will the back and forth continue in 2024? Can the Liberals gain the trust of Canadians once again? We discuss these very issues with Dr. Lori Turnbull,...

How much longer before the relationship between journalists & politicians completely disintegrates?! The deteriorating relationship between politicians and journalists is not new, however, with politicians resorting to attacking journalists when faced with criticism, something has to give. This behaviour is as a threat to democracy, especially in an era of widespread misinformation on social media...

Explore the risks of data collection on popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok in Episode 27 of The Bill Kelly Podcast. Phil Gurski, a former CSIS analyst and President of Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting, joins the podcast to discuss concerns about TikTok, a Chinese-owned platform, collecting extensive data that could be used by the Chinese government. Should Canadians to be caut...

Why does Alberta want out of the Canada Pension Plan? The decision by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has caused a swift reaction from the federal government. Is Alberta trying to score points against the federal government? Some say Albertans are paying too much into the plan and could pay less if they leave. However, the numbers and feasibility of this claim are questionable.  Additionally, the p...

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats season is over after a 27-12 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Semifinals of the CFL playoffs. Head Coach Orlondo Steinhauer chose to play quarterback Matthew Shiltz the majority of the game over prized offseason acquisition Bo Levi Mitchell. The often injured veteran was finally inserted late in the fourth quarter, with the game already out of reach. The team h...

Is it time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down? Recent polling shows 53 per cent of people have a negative impression of Trudeau, begging the question: would the Liberals be better off without him? Who would succeed him? In Episode 25 of The Bill Kelly Podcast, we discuss the state of the Liberals, and if the Prime Minister can win the public over once again with Dr. Lori Turnbull, Chai...

Hamilton transit workers are planning to strike due to low wages. This is part of a larger issue, as the city faces financial problems after the pandemic.  Compounding the issue is the lack of coordination between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments.  Would addressing regressive property taxation help?  John Best, Publisher of The Bay Observer, joins The Bill Kelly Podcast to unpack...

Today's podcast discusses the death of actor Matthew Perry and the reactions to it, focusing on the issue of addiction. Do we need a better understanding of addiction? Bill shares some personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of addressing addiction as a crisis. In Episode 23 of The Bill Kelly Podcast, we examine the complexities of addiction and the lack of both empathy and support for...

Will a scathing document dump be the final knockout punch for Premier’s Ford? From Environmental Defense:  “Released by Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as a result of a series of freedom of information requests show that it was partisan Minister’s Office staff — not civil service experts — who directed changes to municipal  Official Plans in ways that favoured select landowners...

It’s time to discuss listener feedback and broken promises! Bill dives into what he’s hearing from listeners, and the importance of dialogue as the podcast evolves. Then, we pivot to a full analysis of the Ford Government’s effectiveness leading Ontario thus far. This, after the Ontario Federation of Labour outlined the government's broken promises and political embarrassments in a recent publicat...

Why is Pierre Poilievre avoiding a security clearance and global issues? The Conservative leader continues to build his base on domestic issues such as affordability and the economy. Is this a winning strategy? Is it working? Check out Episode 20 of The Bill Kelly Podcast with guest Dr. Lori Turnbull, Chair & Professor of Public & International Affairs at Dalhousie University. #pierrepoilievre  #c...

The Canadian Football League playoffs have arrived, and the Ticats road to the 110th Grey Cup begins in Montreal versus the Alouettes in the East Semi-Final this Saturday. With a win, the Ticats will inch closer to its 23rd Grey Cup appearance, and its first since 2021 when they lost 33-25 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at home in Tim Horton’s Field. Waiting for the winner of Saturday’s game in the...

The United States is dealing with both another mass shooting, a new house speaker, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. With 18 people reported dead, the shooting in Maine is now the deadliest in the U.S. this year. The suspect, an army reservist trained in firearms, remains on the loose. Meanwhile, Mike Johnson, a new Republican speaker-designate, has been elected to the US House of Repre...

Is Canada’s economy finally on the rebound? Today, the Bank of Canada held its key interest rate at 5%, with some saying this is the floor for both the real estate market, and the beginning of a general holding pattern for part of 2024. Economists are projecting interest rates to begin dropping in mid 2024, with a settling point around 3% for the key interest rate, and ultimately, the finish line...

The Ford Government is free falling and trying to find their footing after back tracking on both the Greenbelt and urban boundary expansions. The Ontario PC’s reversed their decision to enforce an urban boundary expansion onto many communities across Ontario, including Hamilton and Ottawa, Waterloo and others.  Additionally, the Premier has lacked major focus addressing the housing affordability c...

Today’s focus is provincial politics, Canada wide, with notable events such as Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's pronoun controversy, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's attempt to opt out of the Canada Pension Plan, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford's ongoing investigation into the Greenbelt legislation.  We also dive into the controversial comments made by Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama about the Israeli-Pa...

The Middle East has been a source of concern and misinformation in recent days, with questions about the missile attack on a hospital in Gaza and the number of casualties.  The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to a resurgence of tensions between the two nations.  In addition, conflict between Hamas and other extremist groups has re-emerged, emphasizing the need for caution in absor...