Shows
On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastTaking a break from politics to RememberThe OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion, Sabrina Nanji, Publisher and Editor of the Queen’s Park Observer and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:It’s Remembrance Day in Canada - November 11th.We take time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our military and their families.AND, we are featuring an archived presentation of Embedded in Kandahar - a radio documentary Dave Trafford produced with the late Christie Blatchford. The show is based on Christie’s Governor Genera...
2022-11-1122 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastCUPE's illegal strike responds to illegal legislation at Queen's ParkThe OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion, Sabrina Nanji, Publisher and Editor of the Queen’s Park Observer and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:Ford Nation may have won the battle, forcing a contract on education workers but what kind of war has begun?Has Ontario's use of the Notwithstanding Clause pushed Canada towards a constitutional crisis?This is the third time the Ford government has used the Notwithstanding clause to push legislation. In this case, it’s clearly contrary to t...
2022-11-0436 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWill Ford get an easier ride on the housing file with Horwath, Del Duca, Brown and Tory in the Mayors' chairs?The OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion, Sabrina Nanji, Publisher and Editor of the Queen’s Park Observer and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:Horwath, Del Duca, Brown, Tory and Crombie are likely to help Ford Nation move quickly on the affordable housing file.The province has a surplus! Good for taxpayers. Bad for Ford.What is Ford thinking by refusing to testify at the federal inquiry in the use of the Emergencies Act?We need to issue a BO...
2022-10-2932 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhat? CUPE's demanding a 50% increase for Education workers in Ontario? Stephen Lecce says so.The OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion, Sabrina Nanji, Publisher and Editor of the Queen’s Park Observer and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:The Ford government is prepared to cough up $365 million to parents of school kids while telling education workers the government doesn’t have enough money to meet contract demands.So much for not negotiating in the media. Education Minister Stephen Lecce tells Newstalk 1010, the CUPE demands amount to a nearly 50% increase.Will the threat of strikes lead...
2022-10-2133 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe contract dance continues between the province and education workers; Is it time to eliminate School Boards?Where is the Health Minister?The OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:Is there room for optimism in the education contract talks?Is it time to declare education an essential service?John Wright admits he’s not a Mathlete!Where is the Health Minister? Latest numbers say hospital wait times are up across the province..Newsrooms are dropping the ball when it comes to reporting on Queen’s Park!Does Alberta Premier Danielle Smith get a mull...
2022-10-1447 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastPoll says most Ontarians overwhelmingly think Ford Nation is mishandling healthcare, LTC and housingThe OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:Quebec re-elects Legault and the UCP in Alberta chooses Danielle Smith to succeed Jason Kenney and the province’s premier designate.It puts pressure on federal-provincial relations. Is Trudeau up to the task?An Angus Reid survey says Ontarians “overwhelmingly” say Ford Nation is mishandling the healthcare, LTC, and housing files four months into the PC’s second mandate.More than 20% of municipal election races are over. A...
2022-10-0737 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhy do we still have dozens of Boil-Water orders in First Nations communities on this Day for Truth and Reconciliation?The OTL gang is assembled! Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:We mark the second annual Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the truth is dozens of First Nations communities in Ontario remain under boil-water orders.We hear from Sol Mamakwa, MPP for the riding of Kiiwetinoog in Northwestern Ontario. One of the communities in his riding has been under a boil-water order for 28 years!Keith and John get into a spirited debate over claims that nuclear energy...
2022-09-3033 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastFord's approval rating drops four percentage points. Should he worry?The OTL gang is assembled! Sabrina Nanji from the Queen's Park Observer, Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:It's not debatable but we talk to Keith from his vantage point in Nova Scotia on his preparation plans as Fione bears down on NS, PEI and NL.The latest Angus Reid survey suggests Doug Ford’s approval rating has dipped four-percentage points settling in around 41%. John Wright says Ford Nation has nothing to worry about. Keith is surprised it isn’t lo...
2022-09-2335 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastFord Nation shuts down the legislature for 7 weeks?!!The OTL gang is assembled! Sabrina Nanji from the Queen's Park Observer, Keith Leslie at CHCH-TV, John Wright SVP Maru Public Opinion and SSN Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford are around the table.In this episode:MPP's barely got back to business at Queen's Park and the Ford government has adjourned the legislature until AFTER municipal elections on October 24th.The “More Beds, Better Care Act" is a complete misnomer and does nothing to solve the long term problems in long term care.Barrie Mayor, Jeff Lehman says he's considering a bid for the Ontario Liberal le...
2022-09-1633 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhat kind of Canada will we vote for on September 20th?This federal campaign has been dominated by wedge issues, personal attacks, and a disaster of a debate. Where is the vision? Where is the deep discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing Canada? Scott White, CEO and Editor in Chief at The Conversation Canada, joins John Wright and Dave Trafford in this edition of The WRIT Race.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to...
2021-09-1327 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastPolitical parties approach women to run so they can check a box.Erin Trafford and Amanda Galbraith join us for this special edition of The Writ Race to talk about the role women should be playing in Canadian politics. And we also explore the idea that Rural Canada is increasingly being left out of the political discussion in this country. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to Dave's website.
2021-09-0222 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastGetting to know Erin O'TooleSussex Strategy co-founder, Brett James joins John Wright and Dave Trafford in the DAY 9 edition of The WRIT Race. In this episode we talk about everything from Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole's efforts to ingratiate himself to Canadian voters, even if that risks criticism from the right-leaning element of the party's core to the effect of digital campaigns. And we close by remembering Rolling Stones legend, Charlie Watts.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us...
2021-08-2432 min
On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWrit Race Day 8 LIVE STREAM with Dave Trafford and John WrightICYMI: John Wright and Dave Trafford did the LIVE STREAM video version of the WRIT Race on Monday afternoon. Here's the audio from the show, if that suits you better. Otherwise, we'd encourage you to check out the YouTube show here. We're also broadcasting on Dave's Facebook page. We plan to do the video version every Monday over the course of the campaign and on Election Night. On Day 8, the Liberals get their hands slapped by Twitter for manipulating an Erin O'Toole video.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)...
2021-08-2422 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhat will this election say about Canada and Canadians?David Skok is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Logic. He joins us in this edition of the WRIT Race to discuss the media's role in covering the federal election campaign in Canada. And asks whether we're focused on the things that really matter. "This will be an election campaign framed as a referendum on Canada’s response to a global pandemic, with parties jockeying for position on how the governing Liberals did or didn’t manage the crisis. But I hope this election will also surface hard questions about the direction of the country."You can watch this...
2021-08-2222 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastHow are provincial politics affecting the federal election game plans?Today on The WRIT Race - the daily #cndpoli #podcast, John Wright and Dave Trafford are joined by Keith Leslie and Erin Trafford, who offer up insights into what happened in the #NovaScotia election. Also, will the federal Liberal party be able to resist running against Doug Ford @fordnation in Ontario? And we highlight a Master Class by Sean O'Shea at Global News Toronto on how-to-hold -political-parties-accountable. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a v...
2021-08-2027 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastIs it realistic to think federal parties can have national election platforms?Today on The WRIT Race daily #podcast, John Wright and Dave Trafford ponder whether there can be such a thing as a national election platform when the needs of Canadians in Atlanta Canada are different from the issues faced in the prairies and the territories. Also, how will mail-in voting/voter turnout affect the outcome in some key ridings on election day?You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!...
2021-08-1920 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastLiberal issues aren't resonating with Canadian votersYes, it's early in the federal election campaign in Canada, but there are already indications that the traditional Liberal issues aren't top of mind as priorities for most Canadians. John Wright SVP at Maru Public Opinion says the NDP and Conservatives continue to frame this campaign in terms of affordability. John says external events like Afghanistan and the Progressive Conservative provincial election win in Nova Scotia have set Justin Trudeau back on his heels.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
2021-08-1822 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastSo, remind me, why are we in an election campaign?Day 2 of the federal election campaign in Canada and the agenda has been overtaken by the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan. The Taliban's lighting like win over Afghan forces that put up no defence of the capital Kabul has dominated the domestic political debate and has the Liberal leader on his back foot. Justin Trudeau is being forced to display leadership, to govern and to develop policy on a major international file he can't control. It means he's distracted, (at best), from his re-election focus while the other leaders define the ballot question.You can watch this episode...
2021-08-1721 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe WRIT Race is under way!Hey there! I know you come here for your dose of Ontario politics and we usually focus our attention on Queen's Park. But for the next 36 days, federal politics will be Ontario politics. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it official yesterday, we are going to the polls on September 20th. So, John Wright and I have decided to return to the daily podcast during the writ period. (That's the way this show started when the 2018 election was called in Ontario). Buckle up. I don't know if this will be the most important elections we've seen in Canada, but it's likely to...
2021-08-1617 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastQueen's Park unveils plans to redevelop Ontario PlaceOkay, it's been all but shuttered since 2012, so the redevelopment plans for Ontario Place on Toronto's waterfront are long overdue. But, it would appear that plan is getting some pretty good reviews. The back-to-school-plan - not so much. Premier Doug Ford had promised to present a comprehensive plan before the end of July. Well, they missed that deadline. We're told to expect details the first week of August - mere weeks before the kids are supposed to be heading back to class. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow D...
2021-07-3028 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastTim Hudak joins the podcast to talk Ontario tourism, vaccine passports and ministerial failsIn this week's edition of On the Ledge, Ontario Real Estate Association and past Progressive Conservative leader in Ontario, Tim Hudak joins the podcast. Tim talks about his recommendations to get the province's tourism industry back to business. Does that mean we need to embrace a vaccine "passport" to ensure travellers and workers feel comfortable and confident to make that happen? Meanwhile, Ontario's Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Manitoba's new Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Affairs show us the way NOT to make your media debut in your new role.You can watch this...
2021-07-1629 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastCould the Friday Dump at Queen's Park be a Cabinet Shuffle announcement?This week on the podcast with John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford, the province is on the verge of blowing through its vaccination targets, (will the Ford government accelerate plans to open the economy?), the NDP is the first out of the gate with campaign ads, the Tories have named their platform build team, AND.. Oh ya, while we're recoding the show, Keith gets a text telling us we may have a cabinet shuffle by the end of business on Friday!You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow D...
2021-06-1828 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastDoug Ford's Determined to be the first Ontario premier to invoke the Notwithstanding ClauseOntario Premier Doug Ford was ready to use the Notwithstanding Clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to cut Toronto City Council by half, bu the Court of Appeal spoil his historic flirtation when a three judge panel said he could do just that. Now, he's ready to lob the constitutional nuke so he can restrict third party spending during an election campaign. And with few exceptions, nobody seems too fussed by it.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
2021-06-1126 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhat's in store for Ford Nation this summer?The Ontario legislature is now in its summer break. MPP's will be back at Queen's Park in September. In the meantime, there is a good deal of speculation, if not expectation, that Premier Doug Ford will shuffle, maybe blow up, his front bench. The Toronto Star is reporting that Ford is considering a major cabinet shakeup as he prepares to present a team worthy of re-election a year from now. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can l...
2021-06-0429 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWill Mr. Dithers stick to Doug Ford?What is keeping Ontario Premier Doug Ford from deciding whether kids will be returning to school this spring? Public health authorities across the province, including Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, says there's no reason why students can't be in class as early as this week. The "Science Table" is offering the same advice. Still, no decision from Queen's Park and Doug Ford's being labelled as "Mr. Dithers." You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can...
2021-05-3032 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastIs Ontario's re-opening plan the unofficial launch of the next election campaign?By most accounts, the Ontario government's three phased plan to re-open the economy over the summer months of 2021 is welcomed relief and a glimmer of hope. But will it be enough to reverse Premier Ford's slide in the polls a year out from the next election? We're joined this week by CTV's Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello to talk about the prospects for the Tories, the NDP and the Liberals and the idiotic call to change the name of this Victoria Day Weekend!You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)
2021-05-2131 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOntario turns up the heat on its Frog-In-Boiling-Water-Stay-At-Home-OrderThe Greater Toronto Area has been under a quasi-lockdown/stay-at-home order for nearly six months and Ontario Premier Doug Ford still finds it necessary to extend the order until June 2nd. It was a week of more flailing by the Ford government, engaging in a political slappy fight with the feds over who should shoulder the blame for their failures to manage the pandemic response. And so much for consulting the "Science Table". The premier cited "buddies" who like to carpool to the golf course and share a few pops after the match as the reason he refuses to open...
2021-05-1528 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastDoug Ford gives Merrilee Fullerton full marks for working hardOntario Premier Doug Ford publicly supports his Minister of Long Term Care, despite Dr. Merrilee Fullerton's dumpster fire reaction to the Long Term Care Commission Report on the government's response to the COVID outbreaks that have killed thousands residents and staff at LTC facilities across the province. But that didn't quell calls for her to be fired. Minister Fullerton may be correct when she claims no one saw the pandemic coming but she should have seen this scathing report coming. Yet, she was reactive as opposed to responsive when asked about details and accusations in the report. She even implied...
2021-05-0728 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastIt's not often you can say a government had a good week when the Auditor General releases a new reportAs we recorded this session, it was the first time in months that we could say, "Premier Ford didn't meet the media this week." (NOTE: He did so a few hours after we wrapped our recording). All in all, it marked a relatively better week for the Ontario government. There are still plenty of critical voices, pointing to the Auditor General's report on LTC during the pandemic, too few "paid sick days", and the Opposition managed to resurrect the Rod Phillips scandal. But the vitriol and steam have come out of the discourse, so that qualifies as a "relatively" good...
2021-04-3027 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastFord government gives a whole new meaning to the "Friday Dump"Bad days have quickly turned into bad weeks for Premier Doug Ford and his Ontario government. Now, it's clear that the province's handling of the growing COVID crisis has shaken public confidence in Ford Nation. Polling by Maru Opinion indicates 8 in 10 Ontarians believe the Ford government is "flying by the seat of its pants" and only 1 in 5 would commit to voting for the Progressive Conservatives. An emotional news conference by Ford capped off what is becoming a disastrous month for him and his cabinet.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)
2021-04-2329 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe only thing that's clear about Ontario's COVID strategy is a lack of transparencyThis edition of On The Ledge was recorded before Premier Doug Ford was scheduled to make his latest pronouncement on the province's strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19. We know it will be based on a series of layered closed door meetings with no indication of how the premier arrived at his decision. Politics has trumped public health so far. And it's becoming increasingly clear the Ford government is suffering on both fronts. We're joined in this episode by CTV's Queen's Park Bureau Chief, Colin D'Mello. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure t...
2021-04-1625 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastA Sh*t Show Week for the Ford GovernmentBarely three days into a province-wide "lockdown", Ontario Premier Doug Ford decides it's time to issue a province-wide Stay At Home order. It's another sign suggesting the provincial plan to control the pandemic is being driven by guesses. It's a sign that we continue to chase the virus rather than getting out in front of it. Brampton Mayor, Patrick Brown joins us on this edition of On The Ledge. In many ways, his city has been ground zero for the pandemic. He's happy the province has finally shifted it's vaccine rollout to focus on hotspot areas. Every postal code in...
2021-04-1025 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOntario's READY-FIRE-AIM Covid-19 strategy misses the markFive months ago, the On The Ledge crew asked the question: "Who's in control of an out of control pandemic?" That was the thrust of our discussion on November 12, 2020. We knew then we were facing the Second Wave. We knew then we faced out of control case numbers. We knew then that urgent measures were required. We knew then vaccines were on the way. We knew then we needed a comprehensive rollout and distribution plan for those vaccines. We know now the Ford government learned little from that experience. Today, case numbers are out of control driven by the exponential...
2021-04-0228 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastAre we overthinking the vaccine rollout?Why is it that an octogenarian who doesn't have a cell phone or a computer can't get a vaccine when he shows up at a clinic without making an appointment? We are overthinking the vaccine rollout. Now that the LTC residents and front line staffers have been taken care why are we so preoccupied by focussing on age cohorts and limiting access? The vaccine rollout continues to stumble along. The Ford government tables a "what else could we do budget". The Supreme Court of Canada rules in favour of Ottawa's carbon pricing. And John Wright says the majority of Canadians f...
2021-03-2635 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastAre Ontario campsites being grabbed up by online re-sellers?Doug Ford's approval ratings are dipping according to the latest numbers from Maru/Blue, but he's still 8 points better than he was when he won a majority at Queen's Park in 2018. Will the "COVID glow" last long enough to get Ford Nation re-elected next spring? Ontario announces plans to sunset 1500 fax machines. Yup. We're still using fax machines. And Keith Leslie is hearing that online re-sellers are booking provincial campsites! You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can l...
2021-03-1926 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastMarking the first CoronaversaryThere may be a glow of optimism on the horizon; there are more biceps being penetrated by needles; there are more vaccine doses "on the way". But we all have to be careful not to be doing a victory lap. As my dad would say, "Run through the tape". He was a sprinter in the day. You don't run to the finish line. You run through the finish line, through the tape. This week, we dive in on racism accusations in the ledge, a budget date, and TIm Hudak's task to breath life back into tourism.You can...
2021-03-1527 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastFAILING UP: Doug Ford's leadership team fails the Long Term Care testThe latest numbers from MaruBlue suggest the Trudeau government is getting a failing grade for it's handling of the COVID vaccine rollout. A majority of Canadians (57%) believe the Trudeau government has done a bad job in delivering vaccines to their province. Similarly, more than half of Ontarians believe the Ford government has done a bad job managing the vaccine rollout. These numbers come on the heels of scathing criticism of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, David Williams, Health Minister, Christine Elliott, and Minister of Long Term Care, Dr. Merrillee Fullerton after their testimony before the Long Term Care Commission...
2021-03-0428 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastLong Term Care in Long Term CrisisAs we were recording this episode, details of Dr. David Williams' testimony before the Long Term Care Commission were released to the media. Among other things, the transcripts indicate Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health said he saw no evidence that some PSWs were working in several homes or whether that could have contributed to outbreaks in phase one. There's also research suggesting case numbers and fatalities in for-profit homes were higher in phase two than in phase one. Oh ya,,,and Ontario's vaccine rollout lags behind jurisdictions across the country.You can watch this episode on our...
2021-02-2526 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWe're BACK! Just in time for the 3rd wave of COVID-19In this Back to the Ledge episode of On The Ledge, John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford dive in on the latest COVID-19 developments at Queen's Park, the Ford government's Greenbelt expansion plan (that includes the construction of Highway 413??). We also note that Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath has the distinction of being the longest serving leader of a major political party in Canada. But a year from the next provincial campaign, it appears she and the NDP are on track to slide back to third party status.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel...
2021-02-1923 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWho should get the COVID vaccine first?The accepted wisdom suggests long term care residents and healthcare workers should be at the front of the line when we finally get a COVID-19 vaccine approved. The logic is the elderly and frail are the most vulnerable and our healthcare workers punch the clock day in and day out in a petri dish that cultivates the virus. On the surface, this makes some sense. But, I only wonder whether we're looking down the wrong end of the telescope on this. The LTC residents aren't contracting COVID-19 simply because they're elderly and frail. They're contracting because an infected person is...
2020-12-0328 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastDoug Ford and Dr. David Williams get scorched over their COVID responseOne month before Christmas 2020 and Ontario's Auditor General dropped a lump of coal in Doug Ford's and David Williams' stockings. Bonnie Lysyk issued a scathing report on the provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lysyk says the province was not only ill prepared, it failed to learn important lessons from the SARS crisis in 2003. And the AG said, in no uncertain terms, criticized Dr. Williams as the Chief Medical Officer of Health for not leading Ontario's response to COVID-19.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook...
2020-11-2533 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe second COVID wave triggers a mental health tsunamiEvery day, the province of Ontario is setting new records for COVID cases, hospitalizations or deaths. The pandemic is raging out of control and the lack of an action plan is obvious. Media questions are met by questions from public health authorities and playback responses from politicians promising to do everything, at all cost to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. Yet, neither mental health nor long term care received any new funding in the November 5th budget. Yet, both files are a top priority, according to Premier Ford. #onpoliYou can watch this episode on our YouTube...
2020-11-1826 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWho's in control of an out of control pandemic?There are very few places on the planet where the number of COVID-19 cases isn't surging. Ontario is no exception. More than a month after moving the "hot spot" regions of Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa into a modified stage 2, the seven day average of daily cases has nearly doubled. As we mark the 8th month since the pandemic was declared, the question is: Who is in control of controlling COVID-19?You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you...
2020-11-1228 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastAt least Ontario's COVID colour code is festiveIn keeping with the coming holiday season, Ontario's government has adopted a festive colour code to determine which municipalities get to open for business and which ones get coal in their stocking. The Ford government has presented yet another plan to tackle the spread of the coronavirus at time when the province is reporting record increases and a 7 day rolling average of 950 new cases per day. It means Ottawa, Peel and York will be able to return to what was Stage 3, allowing for indoor restaurant dining, and gyms and theatres to reopen as of November 7. Toronto will have to wait...
2020-11-0325 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastCOVID cases keep rising in Ontario. You can't blame restaurants in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa!Another week, another lost opportunity for the Ford government at Queen's Park to present something that resembles a clear plan, let alone a message, on how we'll flatten this latest curve. The province has already moved restaurants, gyms and theatres in Toronto, Peel, Ottawa and York regions back to a modified version of Stage 2 - insisting the "numbers" indicate that's the best course of action without showing any numbers that suggest these business categories are the source of outbreaks or infections. This week, CTV's Queen's Park Bureau Chief, Colin D'Mello joins us to talk about the the COVID plans, one T...
2020-10-2828 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOntario Premier Doug Ford: COVID messaging is clear. REALLY?Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pushing back on criticism of his government's COVID-19 communications and public health guidance. Ford says "I don't think the guidelines can be any clearer." Really?? In this week's episode of On the Ledge, John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford are joined by Melissa Lantsman. Melissa's not only the VP at Enterprise, she was the Tory war room director during the last provincial election campaign. She says the Ford government is running out of chances to get the story straight. "Confusing public health advice across every single jurisdiction is undermining public trust. We need to...
2020-10-2126 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWhich Numbers Matter in COVID?Do you get the sense that we are feeling our way in the dark as the second wave of the pandemic comes crashing ashore? It's certainly the feeling the a number of industries have after Queen's Park decided to impose modified stage 2 restrictions on restaurants, gyms, performance centres in the Toronto, Peel and Ottawa regions. A ban on indoor dining, the closure of gyms, the cancellation of already restricted performance centres has left small businesses and not-for-profit groups grasping for financial lifelines. In this week's episode of On the Ledge we ask who's calling the shots in the effort to...
2020-10-1427 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastIs it a Sh*t Show or just a Thanksgiving Turkey?The province's management of the COVID testing program has been just shy of a shit show. Reporting this week by the Toronto Star makes it pretty clear the Ontario government wasted its only opportunity to put a robust testing program in place during the summer months. It appears, for all the commitment to "do whatever it takes", the Ford government refused to spend the money to set up a complete testing system. That means establishing testing locations, establishing criteria for those who should be tested, providing adequate supplies and personnel to administer the tests. But the tests are completely useless...
2020-10-0824 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe second wave is here and we're just getting around to protecting LTC homes?Bad News: The second wave of COVID 19 has arrived. Good News: Fewer hospitalizations. Bad News: Ontario is setting new records for daily cases. Good News: Queen's Park has finally stepped up to protect Long Term Care homes. Bad News: 46 LTC homes report outbreaks. Good News: (stand by) Bad News: Hmmm...Seems we've run out of Good News. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to D...
2020-09-3027 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Fall Plan: Does it include a snap election in Ontario?The Fall Plan is being presented one step at a time. It includes preparations for flu season, COVID testing at select pharmacies and Premier Ford's constant plea to Health Canada to approve saliva tests. But does the plan also include a snap election? John Wright's latest numbers from Maru/Blue suggest Ford's approval rating is starting to dip as his government struggles to get the kids back to class. Oh ya! And whatever happened to the public inquiry into Long Term Care homes? Seems the commission has been holding its hearings behind closed doors!(??) You can watch this ep...
2020-09-2424 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastWe're Back!The Ontario legislature is back in business and so is our podcast, On The Ledge. Getting kids back to school this week was akin to building an aircraft in-flight. Class sizes are larger than expected. Teachers are still learning who, what and where they're teaching. And dozens of bus routes have been cancelled because of a driver shortage. John Wright is Executive Vice President of Maru/Blue Public Opinion. Keith Leslie is political commentator at CHCH News and the Hamilton Spectator. And Dave Trafford is the Executive Producer of iContact Productions and host of the Weekend Morning Show on Newstalk 1010...
2020-09-1625 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastA 2019 Wrap with Special Guests John Michael McGrath and Steve PaikinThis is our 62nd episode of @OnTheLedgePcast and our final show for 2019. Our usual suspects, John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford are here along with special guests John Michael McGrath and Steve Paikin from TVO's @theAgenda. John Michael and Steve also produce and host the #OnPoli podcast. Their show gets down in the weeds - whereas On The Ledge gets down in the mud! We will take a hiatus for a few weeks while the legislature takes its Christmas/winter break. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast. That way you won't miss a thing! Merry Christmas! Happy...
2019-12-1647 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge EXTRA - Is LEADERSHIP the Real Ballot Question in Canada's Federal Election?This is a special EXTRA edition of On the Ledge. John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford explore the question of leadership as an underlying ballot question in Canada's federal election. There are several provincial and regional issues that have surfaced during the federal campaign but they have only been "used to divide" Canadians rather than viewed as matters that require federal attention and leadership. There has been a presumption that this campaign was a referendum on Premier Doug Ford's leadership in Ontario. But considering the way the polls have developed, it's apparent that this election may well be a...
2019-10-2116 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastFord stays out of sight while Scheer and Kenney campaign in OntarioJustin Trudeau barely gets through a stump speech or a Q&A with media without mentioning Doug Ford's name multiple times. He accuses the Ontario premier of taking care of his rich pals and cutting essential services intended to support the most vulnerable. Trudeau says a Scheer government in Ottawa would do the same or worse. The strategy is fairly transparent. The Liberals are not only linking Andrew Scheer to an unpopular premier, they're baiting Ford to engage in the federal campaign. But try as they may, the Trudeau Liberals have not been able to draw Ontario Premier Doug Ford...
2019-10-1526 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge Week 41 - Remembering David CaplanIn this episode, co-hosts John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford remember former Ontario cabinet minister David Caplan. Caplan died following a fire in his North York home on July 24th, 2019. Caplan had served in a number of portfolios, including Minister of Health, in Premier Dalton McGuinty's government at Queen's Park. Otherwise, it was a fairly quiet week for the Doug Ford government. Normally, quiet wouldn't be newsworthy but, as noted in this space over the past few months, quiet weeks have been a rarity at Queen's Park - so that makes it unusual and unusual is always newsworthy:)
2019-07-2830 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge Week 34This week mark's the first anniversary of Doug Ford's election as Premier of Ontario. And for all the tumult we've seen, the ON THE LEDGE crew gave the PC government a "B" for it's first twelve months on the job.The premier held a session ending news conference with his entire cabinet in attendance and Ford made it clear they'll be busy during the four month recess from the legislature. John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford are joined in episode by Amanda Galbraith - a Principal at Navigator. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be...
2019-06-0823 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 31It's the Victoria Day edition of On The Ledge. It's worth noting, Queen's Park, home of the Ontario Legislature, is Queen Victoria's Park. In this episode, the week ends with a flurry of "good news stories" for the Ford Tories. CH political analyst Keith Leslie, Dart Insights and Communications CEO John Wright and iContact Productions' Dave Trafford think it may be good news for MPPs who will be in their ridings for a constituency week.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
2019-05-1821 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 24In this episode, Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford go deep on Subways;) The Ford government has made it clear the province will not only control the design, planning and building of subways in Toronto, it wants significant changes to projects that have already started.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to Dave's website.
2019-04-0327 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge Week 22Everybody's back to work, back to business and back to school now that March Break has wrapped up in Ontario. But while the kids were out of class, Queen's Park spent most of its time and energy talking about Education. Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford also wade back into the Autism Program. It's time for the province to make it a health care priority. It doesn't belong in 'Community Services'You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd...
2019-03-1827 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 21Here we are into the March Break in Ontario. It means the Ledge isn't sitting this week, but there's plenty to talk about - including whether the Ford government will be able to keep its campaign promise that "no jobs will be lost" as they wrestle with the provincial deficit. Budge day is April 11! Former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford dig in on the issues.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X
2019-03-1124 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 20Healthcare and Education are the two big ticket items in any provincial budget and they were front and centre this week at Queen's Park. Dart Insights CEO John Wright, Keith Leslie, former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford dig in on some of the files that made the headlines. But they also wonder two things - will Finance Minister Vic Fideli's spring budget actually be an omnibus bill that touches on all of the key issues we've seen addressed by the Ford government AND what kind of fallout could the SNC-Lavalin scandal...
2019-03-0327 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 19It has been a LONG WINTER'S NIGHT since the Ontario legislature took it's Christmas break. But we're back! Dart Insights CEO John Wright, Keith Leslie, former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford are back with On the Ledge.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to Dave's website.
2019-02-2630 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge LIVE on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto - Week 18Here's our 2018 year end offering! We've assembled the On The Ledge panel, Queen's Park Commentator and former Canadian Press Bureau Chief, Keith Leslie, John Wright, CEO Insight at Dart Insight and Communications, and Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, to take a look back on what happened at the Park and a look ahead to what we can expect in the coming year.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!
2019-01-0414 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge Week 14More Ontario government announcements made "for the people", including welfare reforms and musings about future public transit plans. But who are "the people" benefiting? Even in the wake of the provincial economic update, it's becoming increasingly difficult to determine exactly what the Ford government stands for. John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford say it all comes down to a failure to communicate. You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!
2018-11-2621 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn the Ledge - Week 6It's earlier than expected, but Queen's Park is back and some would say 'with a vengence'. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's Park journalist, Keith Leslie take their weekly look at Ontario politics from their perch "On the Ledge". The Ontario Superior Court ruling that overturned BILL 5...has been met with brute constitutional force. Premier Ford came out swinging - determined to ensure that his agenda is not going to be fussed or tinkered with by an unelected judge. The premier has invoked section 33 of the...
2018-09-1724 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 5The summer session at Queen's Park has wrapped up after five busy, if not chaotic weeks that include a long laundry list of legislative tasks accomplished by the new provincial government led by rookie MPP Doug Ford. Premier Ford faces New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath as the leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. They may be barely 'two sword lengths' apart in the House, but they are miles apart on what they think is best for the province. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's...
2018-08-2024 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 4The Writ Race has been run and Ontarians elected a new Progressive Conservative majority government on June 7, 2018 - led by rookie MPP Doug Ford. Premier Ford faces New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath as the leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. They may be barely 'two sword lengths' apart in the House, but they are miles apart on what they think is best for the province. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's Park journalist, Keith Leslie take a weekly look at Ontario politics from their...
2018-08-1028 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 3The Writ Race has been run and Ontarians elected a new Progressive Conservative majority government on June 7, 2018 - led by rookie MPP Doug Ford. Premier Ford faces New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath as the leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. They may be barely 'two sword lengths' apart in the House, but they are miles apart on what they think is best for the province. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's Park journalist, Keith Leslie take a weekly look at Ontario politics from their...
2018-08-0324 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 2The Writ Race has been run and Ontarians elected a new Progressive Conservative majority government on June 7, 2018 - led by rookie MPP Doug Ford. Premier Ford faces New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath as the leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. They may be barely 'two sword lengths' apart in the House, but they are miles apart on what they think is best for the province. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's Park journalist, Keith Leslie take a weekly look at Ontario politics from their...
2018-07-2724 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastOn The Ledge - Week 1The Writ Race has been run and Ontarians elected a new Progressive Conservative majority government on June 7, 2018 - led by rookie MPP Doug Ford. Premier Ford faces New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath as the leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. They may be barely 'two sword lengths' apart in the House, but they are miles apart on what they think is best for the province. Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications, and veteran Queen's Park journalist, Keith Leslie take a weekly look at Ontario politics from their...
2018-07-2021 min
On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 7, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? ELECTION DAY:It's ALL OVER! Ontario is officially FordNation. Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government with 40% of the popular vote. As expected Andrea Horwath's NDP forms the Official Opposition and the Kathleen Wynne's Liberals were reduced to single digits in the l...
2018-06-0211 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 6, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 29:There is a certain breathlessness about this final day on the campaign trail prior to voting day. Each of the party leaders playing the game trying to rallying the troops to 'get the vote out'. I compared this campaign to a marathon. Kathleen Wynne s...
2018-06-0221 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 5, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 28: It's hard to see how the NDP can win this election. One day left in the campaign and Andrea Horwath's New Democrats remain tied with Doug Ford's PC's in the popular vote but those numbers break in favour of a Tory majority. The question i...
2018-06-0227 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 4, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 27: The public is still catching up to the Liberal bombshell that was dropped on DAY 25. But the campaigns are reacting. Kathleen Wynne is focusing her attention on Toronto ridings - trying to prop up incumbents in the 416. Andrea Horwath's NDP bus made 5 stops through t...
2018-06-0213 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 3, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 26:It's the first day of full campaigning following Kathleen Wynne's unprecedented election tactic - conceding that she as the incumbent Premier of the province will not form the next government in Ontario. In this episode, we're joined by Bob Richardson, Senior Counsel, National Public R...
2018-06-0220 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 2, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 25: Okay! Nobody saw that coming. Liberal leaders Kathleen Wynne admits her party's not going to win the June 7 election and the best she can hope is that voters will elect a handful of Liberals to keep the new government, under Doug Ford or Andrea H...
2018-06-0214 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race June 1, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 24: June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month in Toronto yet, Doug Ford seems un-prepared when asked whether he will march in the Pride Parade at the end of the month. It could be a problem for him OR a decided strategy by his c...
2018-06-0214 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 31, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 23:One week until ELECTION DAY in Ontario and the only thing that appears clear is that the Liberals are highly unlikely to extend their 15 years in office at Queen's Park. This is a campaign that has essentially be driven by two things: 1) Personalities and 2) P...
2018-06-0118 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 30, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 22: No sooner did we sign off from our last episode wondering aloud if or when Doug Ford's PCs would release a "plan" that resembled a platform than the party hit the send button on a package of promises. We've heard most of it. Some o...
2018-05-3116 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 29, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 21: A tentative day on the hustings in Ontario. None of the major parties has made any aggressive post-debate move to shore up about a third of the likely voters who haven't yet settled on a choice. Social media and conventional media discussion today still r...
2018-05-3017 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 28, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 20: It was feisty, it was frustrating, if not infuriating if you were hoping for some real debate and discussion of the issues facing the province. The Ontario Leaders' Debate was highlighted by hyperbole and histrionics. The format only served to reinforce the notion that p...
2018-05-2919 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 27, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 19: This is a special edition of The Writ Race, featuring pre-debate analysis from John Wright, Tony Chapman of Tony Chapman Reactions, and Tim Hudak, the former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. I had the opportunity to talk to all three on my m...
2018-05-2725 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 26, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 18: How are the media managing their coverage of Ontario Election 2018? We sit down with two newsroom managers to talk about the challenges and opportunities to tell the story of this historic campaign. Kym Geddes is the News Director at Newstalk 1010 in Toronto. Tim Richards i...
2018-05-2720 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race - Part 2 - May 25, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 17: Three polls hit the media today and each of them suggests the NDP is making gains at the expense of Liberals and PCs. But a deeper dive on the numbers based on CBC reporting says the New Democrats may be well ahead in popular v...
2018-05-2616 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race - Part 1 - May 25, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 17: Okay. I know it looks like we missed a day on the trail...and we did, but only because John Wright tangled with a dog and ended up with a K-9 bite! The headline reads: POLLSTER BITTEN BY DOG. The good news for John i...
2018-05-2614 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 23, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 15: Another day another poll telling us the NDP and the PCs are neck and neck across the province. As John Wright points out, the final outcome will depend on where the 'vote is thick' for either party. At this point, there still appears to b...
2018-05-2421 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 22, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 14: This election is Doug Ford's to lose and he's getting closer and closer to doing just that. The latest Ipsos poll done for Global News suggests it's a dead heat between the PCs and the NDP. Compare that to the Ipsos number released the d...
2018-05-2315 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 21, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 13: The polls say this Ontario election is coming down to Ford vs. Horwath. Listening closely, and both the PCs and the NDP are battling over the same voter. Ford's "for the little guy" left behind by elites and tone deaf government that wastes hard e...
2018-05-2215 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 20, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 12: The latest Abacus Poll shows the collapse of the Liberal vote and the NDP is within the margin of error of Doug Ford's PCs. It's Game On! and the game is clearly an NDP - PC showdown with 17 days to election day in Ontario. I...
2018-05-2115 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 19, 2017Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 11: NDP Leader Andrea Horwath slaps Kathleen Wynne with her gauntlet then throws it down in front of Doug Ford. Horwath says Wynne is not a factor in this election. It's down to her and Doug Ford.You can watch this episode on o...
2018-05-2114 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 18, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 10: More than a third of the way through Ontario Election 2018! And it looks like the Ballot Question is "Do you want change" and the resounding answer is "HELL YA!". The problem here is voting for 'change' is a dangerous thing. It avoids or ignores i...
2018-05-1920 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 17, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? DAY 9: More accusations of scandal levelled at the PCs. But John Wright points out, the Tories have dealt with each one quickly. The Premier tried to call out insurance companies for basing auto premiums on where drivers live. The problem is, it opened her up t...
2018-05-1820 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 16, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 8: The Liberals are calling out the Tories for two controversial candidates but that seems to be helping the NDP. Doug Ford's PCs commit to cutting 10 cents off the price at the gas pumps but can't/won't say how they'll make up the $1 billion gap i...
2018-05-1716 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 15, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 7: Here we are at the quarter turn in this election race and the latest Ipsos polling reinforces what Dave and John have been saying the past few days. This has quickly turned in to a race between the NDP and the PCs. Doug Ford's T...
2018-05-1615 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 14, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 6: The Liberals and the NDP tripped over their own messages today and ended up having to respond to the media's agenda. Ford was on message but still isn't ready to cost out his promises. The primary motivation for the large majority of voters is...
2018-05-1516 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 13, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 5: Do the math. Andrea Horwath's NDP may have momentum in Ontario Election 2018 but does she have enough racetrack to overtake Doug Ford's PCs?You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, I...
2018-05-1416 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 12, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 4: Is this already shaping up as a run off between the Andrea Horwath's NDP and Doug Ford's PCs? A new poll is suggesting an "anti-Ford" movement is gaining some momentum.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to s...
2018-05-1409 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 11, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? Day 3. PC leaders Doug Ford still like's Premier Wynne's smile and NDP leader Andrea Horwath was in her stomping grounds during today's debate on Northern Ontario issues.You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow...
2018-05-1215 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 10, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign? On Day 2: Who would have thought a Progressive Conservative Leader ever would have been talking about a tax cut for the middle class on the same day he highlighted a broad ranging child care program. Does an endorsement from a major teachers' union give the N...
2018-05-1117 minOn The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcastThe Writ Race May 9, 2018Thirty days. Thirty podcasts! Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions and John Wright, CEO - Insight of Dart Insight and Communications take a daily swipe at the Ontario campaign until election day on June 7th. They chase the race and follow the leaders. What should you expect? What didn't you expect in this campaign?You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and XAnd you can leave us a voice comment here!For more information go to Dave's website.
2018-05-1012 min