Shows
The 905er PodcastMerry Christmas 2023! A year-end Recap and Whats Next for 2024!!!This is it! Our final episode for 2023!As is usual for our year-end spectacular, and is the norm for every other news podcast and show, we wanted to focus on the year that was. What were the big stories, and how close did we get our predictions for this year? Well, as it turns out...we were pretty close. In 2022, we thought that the Greenbelt scandal would still prove to be a thorn in the side of Premier Doug Ford. Little did we realize how big of a thorn it truly was.We talk about...2023-12-2545 min
The 905er PodcastAre 905 Cities Able to Deal with our Homeless?Support us at https://905er.caWe bring to you our second part of our dive into the homelessness crisis in the 905.In our previous episode we talked with Michelle Bilek of the Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness, to get the grassroots perspective of the issue.This episode, we speak with two councillors of two of the largest cities in the 905 to find out what barriers our cities are facing to address the issue of affordable housing and homelessness head on. Joining us are Maureen Wilson, Hamilton Ward 2 Councillor and Joe Horneck, Mississauga...2023-08-2249 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Looks for a New Liberal Leader - Adil ShamjiSupport our work at our website https://905er.caWe complete our interviews with the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership candidates by sitting down with the last candidate to jump into the fray, Adil Shamji.Adil is one of two leadership candidates who currently has a seat in the Ontario Legislature. He is also a doctor who was on the front lines of COVID and ran and won in the last provincial election. So what drove Dr. Shamji to leave a promising career in medicine to jump into the mess that is Ontario politics and then...2023-08-0144 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Crosses Over With The Breakdown ABNow on Fountain.fmfountain.fm/the_905er987Support us there and help keep the podcast going!We are venturing outside the 905 today. In fact outside the province all they across the prairies to the great province of Alberta.Don't worry we aren't changing our address, but in light of the aftermath of the recent Alberta provincial election of Danielle Smith we wanted to look at the effects of it on the 905. This might seem like a stretch for an episode but there is a method to our madness. For sometime, t...2023-07-111h 39
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Looks for a New Liberal Leader - Ted HsuNow on Fountain.fmfountain.fm/the_905er987Support us there and help keep the podcast going!Our conversations with the Ontario Liberal Leadership contenders keeps going!We sit down with the only Ontario Liberal Leadership candidate who currently holds a seat in the legislatures. Kingston and the Islands MPP Ted Hsu joins us to discuss why he wants the top job in the Ontario Liberal Party.In the 2022 Ontario election, Ted successfully won back his home riding of Kingston and the Islands from the New Democratic Party. He c...2023-07-0436 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Looks for a New Liberal Leader - Yasir NaqviNow on Fountain.fmfountain.fm/the_905er987Support us there and help keep the podcast going!Our conversations with the Ontario Liberal Leadership contenders continues!On his episode we sit down the Federal Liberal MP, Yasir Naqvi to talk about his career and why now he wants to run for the top job in the party.Yasir is the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, and was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and President of the King’s Privy Council prior to stepping down to...2023-06-2046 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Looks For a New Liberal Leader - Nate Erskine-SmithThe Ontario Liberal Party leadership race is finally kicking off.For the last two election cycles, the Ontario Liberals have failed to attain even official party status in the Legislature. The party has failed to seemingly capture the imagination and the support of the Ontario public. Many are seemingly writing off the party as a shell of it's former self. No longer a contender in Ontario politics.For Ontario Liberals though the hope is that this leadership race and rekindle momentum to government. The question for us on the podcast was whether or not that...2023-06-1330 min
The 905er PodcastFrank Domenic Returns to The 905erNow on Fountain.fmfountain.fm/the_905er987Support us there and help keep the podcast going!We welcome back to the podcast Frank Domenic!Frank joins Roland and Joel to recap two previous episodes and look at where we stand now on their issues.Previously we had on Karen Brown, President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario to discuss violence in Ontario schools against teachers. Frank is a teacher himself and so his insight into the dynamic in the classroom was invaluable. We also talk about how...2023-05-301h 00
The 905er PodcastMichael Twigg Shares with The 905er a New Vision for The GreenbeltThe Greenbelt continues to be front stage in Ontario politics. Doug Ford's reversal on his stance to allow developers to begin building inside the Greenbelt is proving to be rather unpopular to say the least.According to the Ontario Progressive Conservative government the land is too valuable to not build housing on. However, is that the only way to view the Greenbelt? As a plot of land waiting to build housing on? Michael Twigg of the Smart Prosperity Institute says otherwise.He helped to author a paper which views the Greenbelt as an invest waiting to b...2023-01-2433 min
The 905er PodcastFrank Domenic Chats with The 905erWhile searching for stories to cover on this podcast, we often look through social media to keep an eye on what we think is relevant to life in the 905. In that process, we come across various personalities online.If you’re on Tiktok and follow anything political, chances are you’ve come across Frank Domenic. If you’re not entirely familiar with his online content we’ll provide a link to his profile in our show notes for you to get caught up.Those of you who do follow Frank, you are no doubt familiar with his p...2023-01-1738 min
The 905er PodcastKarl Dockstader and The 905er Ponder the Thin Blue LineWe are back from our break for 2023.Just prior to the New Year, word spread around the province of the tragic killing of OPP Officer Gzregorz Pierzchala in the line of duty, just outside of Hamilton. The accused in that case have been apprehended and will face their charges in a court of law. This episode is not about the details of that case.Instead this is about a tweet. Just after news of this tragedy spread across the province, condolences and messages of sympathy were expressed by all peoples towards Officer Pierzchala's friends, family and...2023-01-1053 min
The 905er PodcastOur 200th Episode Spectacular with a Special GuestThis podcast started as a bit of a passion project at the start of COVID-19. We wanted to be able to talk about the issues and news of the region in a way that legacy media just wasn't able to. A podcast seemed to be the best option to do that.Two years later, this is still a passion project for us but it's grown so much beyond just that for us. We have been wanting to grow and expand to reach more people and take this project to a next level. Recently an opportunity has presented itse...2022-12-0841 min
The 905er PodcastAmber Crawford from AMO talks with the 905er about Bill 23The latest law to upset Ontarians by the Doug Ford government is the More Homes Built Faster Act. Or Bill 23 as it's more affectionately referred to. This act is going to carve up 7,400 acres of the Greenbelt for developers to use free from oversight from conservation authorities and in violation of Premier Ford's word to Ontarians to leave the greenbelt alone. A major critic of the act is the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, or AMO. AMO is the go between organization for municipalities and Queen's Park to address the various issues and needs that would naturally aris...2022-12-0636 min
The 905er PodcastFranz Hartmann Talks to The 905er About Saving the GreenbeltBill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act is the latest controversy from the Doug Ford Ontario PC Government. It is an abrupt violation of a promise Premier Ford made to voters last election to NOT touch the Greenbelt under any circumstances. Well apparently his word doesn't count for very much.The More Homes Built Faster Act would open up 7,300 acres of Greenbelt land to development. Letting sprawl spread once again over Ontario's fragile farmland. Despite the government's own Housing Task Force report last year citing numerous opportunities to build homes within in municipal boundaries already.The...2022-11-2239 min
The 905er PodcastKojo Damptey Talks to the 905er About Why He Won’t QuitRacism has entered the Hamilton municipal race.Last week in Ward 14, candidate Kojo Damptey's bus shelter ad was vandalized by a poster saying "White Lives Matter" along with a link to a social media platform advocating white supremacist literature. The Hamilton Police Services have stated that they are treating this as a hate crime investigation. When something like this happens it draws our attention. We wanted to speak with the target of this intimidation, the candidate himself Kojo Damptey. Mr. Damptey is an Executive Director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusiveness. He is also a com...2022-10-1841 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Asks: ”What Makes a Strong Mayor”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 legislate.That announcement was the plan to introduce 'strong mayors' in two Ontario cities - Toronto and Ottawa - with the possibility that Hamilton could follow shortly afterwards.Prima...2022-09-0647 min
The 905er PodcastAlan Kan and Laura Steiner Bring The 905er Up to SpeedWe 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 Brewing. Listen to this episode to see how you can save money on your next order by vi...2022-09-0156 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - The 905 Round-Up: Bully Councillors and Secret SalesLast 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 Councillor Ron Starr. Why did the integrity commissioner fail to act for two years, and why was no action taken by the city council or Mayor Bonnie Crombie? Then Roland shares his perspective on th...2022-08-2338 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - Flavio Volpe Discusses the Aftermath of the Truck BlockadesOriginally 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 of the project and wanted to reach out to him to give us an update and see how it was all unfolding.That was back in late January.2022-08-0938 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - The 905 Round-Up: Peel Trouble and Green Steel in HamiltonOn 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 intimidation on part of another councillor. Then we look at Brampton City Council and its ongoing troubles with their CAO under charges of nepotism on part of Mayor Patrick Brown. What...2022-08-0448 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - Denise Davy Discusses the Root Causes of Homelessness in the 905In 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 encampments in J.C. Beemer park leading to a large amount of criticism of excessive force and questioning if they were the best tool to solve the issue. Recently a grassroots initiative of bui...2022-08-0244 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - 905 Round-Up: Patrick Brown wants out of Brampton; and is the 905er anti-Urbanist?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 Taylor and what role the municipalities played in the creation of the Affordability Task Force Report. Is the Affordability T...2022-07-2836 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - Mayor John Taylor Takes on the Housing Affordability TaskforceOriginally 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 car-centric cities, many have argued that the specific recommendations would not achieve their stated goals, and place all the blame on the municipalities for getting in the way of developers -- perhaps not s...2022-07-2638 min
The 905er PodcastHalton’s Boundary Expansion Vote - Paul Sharman and Jane Fogal Share Their PerspectivesOriginally 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 for further development.In doing so, Halton became the second council in recent months to vote against boundary expansion, in the face of both provincial and industry pressure to open u...2022-07-1940 min
The 905er PodcastMyles Rusak Jams withThe 905er about the Sound of Music FestivalIt's time to look forward to summer again.One of the largest music festivals in Canada happens right here in the 905. This year bands like Finger Eleven, The Trews and The Tea Party are playing to crowds of hundreds of thousands on Father's Day weekend in downtown Burlington. And most important, it's free. Yes, that's right free!The previous two years have been challenging for artists and live music fans due to the pandemic restrictions. However, as we start to put that behind us, it's time to get back to enjoying the things we love. To gi...2022-06-0737 min
The 905er Podcast2022 Provincial Election: The Green Party PlatformThe Green Party of Ontario's platform gets the 905er treatment today. But first, are we even smart enough to manage to download the darn thing? Listen to find out.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 BrewingIt takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you c...2022-05-1039 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Asks the Leaders the Tough Questions - Mike SchreinerAs promised, we are bringing you our talks with the leaders of the major Ontario political parties prior to the campaign starting next month.We had wanted to do this for some time leading up to the election. A chance to sit down with the various leaders and get a sense of how well they grasp the issues and problems we face here in the 905. Our goal was a simple interview where they would answer our questions, free from soundbites, spin and rhetoric. A chance for them to really project their vision for the region and province. And...2022-04-1938 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Fewer Masks & Why Can’t Parties Get Along More Often?We are joined by a special guest on this Round-Up. Milton Reporter, Laura Steiner returns to The 905er to share her insight on 905 politics!Doug Ford and the PC government is lifting mask mandates across the province, however...they forgot to tell the 905 municipalities. So every regional and municipal government in the 905 is rushing to hold special council meetings to repeal the mask mandates. We just ask, where is the debate over this? Shockingly there seems to be very little resistance to the idea of repealing mask mandates at the local level. Especially as the public mood over...2022-03-2447 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Paying Tribute to Mayor MulkewichThis week, Burlington lost an elder statesman of local politics.Former Mayor Walter Mulkewich passed away this week. His legacy in Burlington and Hamilton's civic as well as political life will be missed by many. If you were involved in local politics in Burlington, there wouldn't be any doubt that in some circle or another Walter Mulkewich would be a figure. And always for the better. Roland and Joel take time to remember the legacy of Burlington's former mayor and how he was truly a rare breed in politics. Willing to put aside ideology and rhetoric in favou...2022-03-0337 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Boundary Issues and Missing PopulationsComing off our well-received episode on the #halton boundary debate, Joel and Roland look at both sides and how we think the debate over land use needs to progress in #the905.After that, we look at recent statistics provided by our friend Alan Kan on #Mississauga's apparently drop in population. And lastly, we look at Doug Ford's loss of candidates leading up to this spring's #Ontario Election. Particularly Burlington MPP Jane McKenna's decision not to run again. What does it mean for the region?You can read Alan's piece here:https://mun...2022-02-2440 min
The 905er PodcastTed McMeekin Discusses the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS)Last Thursday we mentioned a new idea that had been mooted in Hamilton media the same day as a way to solve the current homeless crisis. That idea is being advocated by the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters - HATS - an alliance of poverty reduction activists, churches and Hamilton residents looking to reproduce a successful project launched in 2019 in Kitchener.To discuss the background to the HATS project, and why it is being argued to offer an innovative approach to providing decent transitional temporary housing for Hamilton’s homeless, we spoke to former MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, an...2022-02-0839 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Convoys and HATS for the HomelessOn this episode of The 905 Round-Up:Of course, all we can talk about is the trucker convoy in Ottawa. While the eyes of the country are on Ottawa right now, the convoy passed through the 905 drumming up supporters demonstrating at overpasses. One day the convoy is going to end and these people will return home, here to the 905. So what does that mean for our civil discourse and what ought to be done about it?Then on a note of good news, Hamilton has taken positive action towards the homeless issue in its city. Hamilton All...2022-02-0331 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Takes Time to Reflect on National Alzheimer’s Awareness MonthJanuary is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month.Alzheimer's is the most common form of a range of diseases that is collectively referred to as dementia. In Canada, dementia affects over 500,000 Canadians. The annual costs to the Canadian health care system come in at around $10.5 billion. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortcomings in our health care system and more specifically our long-term care home system have been exposed. As the baby boomer generation continues to age is not just the 905 but Ontario and Canada at large, it is becoming increasingly apparent that we are not planning properly for...2022-02-0158 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Pride and Progressive HousingOn this episode of The 905 Round-Up:Roland and Joel look at the long journey to raise the #prideflag at #HCDSB schools, and the perils of live-tweeting 5-hour long board meetings.Then Roland reviews the leaked proposals from the Housing Affordability Task Force as reported on by TVO. Could this be the progressive policy to transform Ontario's housing market? Will the Ford government follow suit on it?Lastly, Joel and Roland talk about the cruelty of #HamONT forcing away the homeless from getting warm at City Hall. Taking away options without providing new ones onl...2022-01-2741 min
The 905er PodcastTodd Coleman Explains the Future of COVID-19As the Omicron variant continues to paralyze the 905 and all of Ontario, we asked epidemiologist Dr Todd Coleman what we should be doing to live with COVID-19 as we enter the third year of this pandemic.Todd Coleman received his PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 2014 from the University of Western Ontario. After his PhD studies, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Ryerson University, then, as a Public Health Epidemiologist with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he teaches courses in...2022-01-2541 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up - Poor Media & Last Development of MississaugaFor this episode of The 905 Round-Up, Roland and Joel look at a story from Durham on the far side of the region and ask why didn't the local media cover it better? And on that note, why doesn't the local media in the 905 do a better job of covering the issues and stories that make an impact on the region. Well, thank goodness there is the 905er!Following up on that story, we look at a story from the start of the year in Mississauga and the last developable land being sold off. What does this mean for...2022-01-2042 min
The 905er PodcastBrenda Agnew Tries to Fly the Pride Flag at the HCDSB One More TimeDownload episodeOne of the biggest stories we have covered since this podcast began was last year's decision by Halton Catholic School Board over a motion brought that, if passed, would have seen the Pride flag fly over Halton's Catholic Schools during Pride month, along with a variety of other measures to demonstrate and support acceptance of LGBTQIA+ students in HCDSB schools.The motion, brought by Trustee Brenda Agnew following an initial question raised by a student, was not so much defeated as disassembled by a thousand amendments. But the message was clear - a...2022-01-1840 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Covid Deja Vu, Lawn Sign Loopholes and More Pride for HCDSBRoland and Joel are back at it!Our first episode of 2022, has our intrepid hosts looking down the barrel of another lockdown and shutting of schools to mark the start of the year. At this point it's clear our provincial government in Ontario is winging this pandemic from wave to wave, with parents, students and the economy considered collateral damage. What are we all to do going forward with Premier Ford at the helm?Then Roland looks at the city of Hamilton adjusting their rules surrounding lawn signs during elections. It ends up they took wha...2022-01-1338 min
The 905er PodcastThe Year 2021 in ReviewHere it is! Our last episode of #2021!Joel and Roland look back on the year that was and select our top three stories that we'll be keeping an eye on in #2022.We look at the HCDSB Pride Flag debate, the impact the Federal election will have on this year's provincial election in Ontario and of course the story of Burlington Taxi's closure in Burlington!You can listen to those episodes by clicking on the links here:The HCDSB Pride Debate: https://905er.ca/2021/04/a-question-of-pride-for-halton-catholic-school-board/Our Election Night Live Stream Sp...2021-12-2348 min
The 905er PodcastUrz Heer Shares How a Peel Community Turned the Tide on COVID-19This is our Penultimate episode before the holidays. So we wanted this to be a good news story.Back in January, we did an episode on Peel Region's struggles with COVID-19. At that time Peel was an epicentre of the pandemic struggling to get a handle on the situation.Today, the region is the top spot in Canada for Vaccination rates. A big factor in that turnaround was the mobilization of various communities to get their people vaccinated. Groups like the Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force worked to turn the tide on COVID-19. We invited Urz H...2021-12-2136 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Cabs, Council and PoliticsWe look at what we learned from our explosive interview with Scott Wallace of Burlington Taxi. Where is the outrage from Burlington City Council towards the failure of staff to follow through on its directive?Then Joel and Roland look at a recent poll of Ontario political leadership that shows a big uphill battle for Ontario Liberal Party Leader, Steven Del Duca as well for Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horvath. What do they need to turn things around in the #newyear? Stop operating like it's 1995 for starters.This episode of The 905er is brought to you...2021-12-1642 min
The 905er PodcastScott Wallace of Burlington Taxi Sets the Record StraightOn November 26th Burlington Taxi, which began operation 53 years ago, shut down for good, leaving many local services and the residents who depended on them without any immediate replacement means of transportation.In the days that followed, it became apparent that there were more factors at work than just the inability of the company to remain profitable. A key element appeared to be the failure of City of Burlington staff to follow through on a council direction back in 2018. Somehow, an instruction from council to staff simply went missing. What happened?Today our interview is...2021-12-1443 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Hospital Short Changes and Bad CallsIn this episode of The 905 Round-Up, Joel and Roland take a look at Peel region. Specifically, the fact that while Mississauga is getting massive funding for a badly needed hospital. To the tune of $3 billion. While its neighbour to the north is getting nothing. This isn't the first time Brampton has called for more attention to its health care system. And it isn't the first time they've been ignored. Since the start of the pandemic calls from Brampton has fallen on deaf ears at Queen's Park. What is behind this? Is it a feud between Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Pa...2021-12-0935 min
The 905er PodcastGraham Crawford Shares what Hamilton Thinks of its PoliticsIt is a tumultuous time in Hamilton, with major stories concerning the city's present and future cropping up every week. Events such as the recent violence associated with the clearing of the homeless living in J. C. Beemer Park, the successful Stop Sprawl HamONT campaign to persuade council to vote against urban expansion, and the ongoing saga of the behaviour of some of the most longstanding councillors.iElectHamilton, who we spoke to in the spring when their campaign for change at City Hall was launched, recently launched a survey of Hamilton residents and their views of the...2021-12-0740 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: Park Protests and Political PlansOver the weekend saw violence erupt in J.C. Beemer park in Hamilton over the tent encampments there. Protesters from Hamilton Encampment Support Network clashed with police. The details are being investigated by the province's SIU. However, the episode has brought to the forefront the issue of affordable housing in the city. Joel and Roland discuss the interconnection of the various issues that keep popping up in Hamilton, and the seeming unwillingness of city leadership to properly address them.Then Joel and Roland segue into the looming provincial election as NDP and Ontario Liberal Leaders both made big...2021-12-0243 min
The 905er PodcastLisa Kearns Discusses Why 905 Cities Need a Better DealToday's episode goes to the heart of the planning and development debate in the 905.The new council elected in Burlington in 2018 has undoubtedly achieved significant change to Burlington’s downtown planning framework, and extracted major concessions from the province--at least, it has on paper.Previously, the presence of Burlington’s provincially designated Urban Growth Centre and a Metrolinx Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) in the downtown acted like large neon signs pointing downtown which said ‘build highrises here’, regardless of what the city or residents wanted.All that appeared to change this year. On N...2021-11-3046 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up: A Grassroots Victory & First Nations SolidarityThis week saw a major victory for the grassroots organizers to protect the remaining rural area of Hamilton from development. Hamilton City Council voted not to expand it's Urban Boundary. This came after a sustained grassroots pressure from groups such as Stop Sprawl Ham ONT organized and campaigned to stop the expansion. Joel and Roland look at what this victory will mean for the city as it's undergoing a grassroots empowerment movement, and they ponder if this is a sign of a shift in culture from council.Then after the break, Joel and Roland look at how the...2021-11-2536 min
The 905er PodcastHow Do We Get Daycare Funding in Ontario?Something all parents are all too aware of is the price of daycare. Not just in #the905 but across the province. In some cases, the cost is comparable to a second mortgage on a family's expenses.Finally, the federal government is getting a plan in place across the country to help bring the cost of daycare down to $10 per day. However, to date, only New Brunswick and Ontario have yet to sign. We asked the Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould to come on the podcast to explain exactly what is the proposed offe...2021-11-2328 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up - Bad Democracy and Civil WarsToday Joel and Roland look over the Minister of Municipal Affairs finally moving the Urban Growth Centre. Spoiler it's a gift that's actually not a gift. The devil is in the details and it appears that Burlington is probably not getting what it actually wants. The fact is the development in this province under this government progresses no matter what.We then look at Hamilton City Council's decision to job interview for a new Ward 5 Councillor rather than ask the people of Ward 5 themselves whom they'd like to represent them on the council. It's anti-democracy in action at H...2021-11-1844 min
The 905er PodcastThe Need for a Living Wage in the 905This month the Ontario government announced it would be raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. A reversal of the decision to cancel the minimum wage increase when they came into power four years ago.As the Ontario economy recovers from COVID-19 the question of why now, and whether or not this is too little too late permeates the discussion. Some who are saying this doesn't go far enough are the people at Ontario Living Wage Network. They released their numbers for what the living wage in the province and the 905 should be, and the proposed minimum wage increase falls f...2021-11-1643 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round-Up - Bad Councillors and Redrawn MapsToday Roland and Joel discuss the recent report by the Hamilton Integrity Commissioner on Councillor Terry Whitehead's conduct. Spoiler alert...it's not a favourable one. Both our hosts discuss the antics that go on at City Hall and what ought to be done to hold bad municipal politicians to account.And in keeping with the Hamilton theme, the folks at Stop Sprawl Ham ONT have shaken up the debate surrounding the Urban Boundary Expansion. By using their know-how and hard work, they have identified all the vacant and used properties in downtown Hamilton which could be rezoned or...2021-11-1136 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 as Inspiration for ThrillsSomething we take for granted in the 905, is how unique a setting our own backyard can be. It can be a terrific backdrop to our imagination and whisk us away on adventures. One local Burlington author has done exactly that.Doug Cockell is a local author who has written a trilogy of supernatural mysteries, all taking place in the Niagara Escarpment. His novels: Requiem for Thursday, Requiem for Noah and most recently Requiem for Mary Mac are all currently on the Amazon Bestsellers list. Requiem for Thursday was a semi-finalist for the 2020 Booklife Prize Fiction contest. He j...2021-11-0932 min
The 905er Podcast905er Round-Up - Sprawl, Bikes, Vaccines and PersistenceComing off our episode this week with Stop Sprawl Ham ONT, Roland looks at using bike share and cycling as an innovative tool to help curb sprawl in 905 communities.Afterwards, Joel questions if the current Ontario government is giving up on getting vaccines in the arms of the remaining 20% of the population to be inoculated, as it appears all masking and vaccine mandates will be lifted in the new year.It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can...2021-10-2839 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast - Jason Cassis Opens Up About Opening Ontario UpOriginally aired - July 15 Almost exactly a year ago, Jason Cassis of Equal Parts Hospitality was one of the first guests on the 905er Podcast, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry. He returns now to give us an update on all that has happened in the interim - and there is a lot.While everybody knows that restaurants, bars, and so many other businesses have been hurt by COVID, Jason's description of the full spectrum of challenges - which are not likely to disappear quickly even if COVID is finally u...2021-10-1444 min
The 905er Podcast905er Election Night Special!We livestreamed election night, focusing on the 905 of course.We had a great time, with some terrific questions answered live on the podcast. Thanks to everybody who joined us.Not an election that will go down in the history books as being particularly memorable, when all is said and done, but we talked a lot about the way this election was run, and just why the opposition parties, above all the CPC, couldn't seem to make any significant headway against Trudeau and the Liberals.As Trudeau reaches the point in his career where...2021-09-213h 35
The 905er PodcastElection 2021: Adam van Koeverden on the Liberal Party‘s Record in Government and Platform for the 905In our second interview with candidates from the 905 Region ahead of the Federal Election, we talk today to Adam van Koeverden, who is seeking re-election as the MP for Milton for the Liberals, a seat he won just two years ago when he defeated former Conservative minister Lisa Rait.Van Koeverden was a Canadian household name as an Olympic Gold, and multi-Silver and Bronze medal winner in Sprint Kayak before entering politics. In his first term as an MP he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister...2021-09-1640 min
The 905er PodcastThursday Roundup - Who‘s afraid of the 905er? Why won‘t CPC candidates speak about their platform?Every CPC candidate in Canada is gagged---forbidden from talking to podcasts---or so we were told by a party operative. As some of the worst aspects of modern political campaigns dominated headlines and anti-vax PPC supporters threw stones, we searched in vain for a CPC candidate willing to take a free 30 minutes to talk about their platform in depth.Although actually we did find candidate keen to chat. A highly touted one, well capable of representing their party. Listen to the podcast to find out what went wrong.While the CPC aren't alone in hiding from...2021-09-0932 min
The 905er PodcastRebroadcast: 905 Round-up: Bratina Announces Plan to Quit in a Huff Over LRT, Eventually.[First broadcast on May 20th 2021]Bob Bratina, MP for Hamilton East--Stoney Creek is a man of principle, of that there can be no doubt. His outrage at the federal government's plan to invest unprecedented sums into his home city has distressed him so much that he has announced he is going to quit in disgust at a moment convenient to his own career interests. Namely, at the next election, which could be as late as 2023. In the mean time he will keep his backbench salary and the Liberal Party whip, while working to undermine Liberal Party policy.2021-08-1938 min
The 905er PodcastTaking Names: Roundtable with Laura Steiner of the Milton Reporter.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 aspects of his life.*Then we turn our attention to one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, Milton. Milton is also named for a person who never visited Canada, the...2021-07-0847 min
The 905er PodcastJay Kana of Modern Mississauga Shares His Take on the Flavour of the 905This 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 culture, living, technology, arts, entertainment, community, history, and much more. As is so often the case, our conversation with Jay went in a whole bunch of directions we didn’t expect, and subjects that certai...2021-06-2943 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905 Round Up - Whats in a Name? Talking about John A Macdonald Statues and Ryerson Public Schools RenamingThe 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 made explicit the case that statues and names on building does not make a historical legacy. Joel and Roland talk about the idea and how these icons make for pretty lazy history cl...2021-06-2434 min
The 905er PodcastLisa Kohler of Halton Environmental Network asks "how do we have a sustainable economy?"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 of Halton Environmental Network (haltonenvironet.ca/) and Halton Climate Collective (climatecollective.ca) joined us to speak about the Highway 413 story and much more, including the discussions around the proposed...2021-06-2250 min
The 905er Podcast905 Round-up: Two steps forward, one step back?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 committee to proceed with LRT. But can the anti-LRT/Stoney Creek alliance delay and disrupt the process so much that they can still refuse to accept a free transit system?
Burlington has received...2021-06-1752 min
The 905er PodcastSarbjit Kaur Joins The 905er to Explain How our Institutions Need to do Better on RacismThe 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 Islamophobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism and any other form of racism you can think of. When individual men act out on their racism, the country falls into a predictable cycle of shock and shame. Politicians at every...2021-06-1550 min
The 905er PodcastGraham Crawford and iElect Hamilton Part 2 - Positively Main Street (and King Street)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 decades on end in some cases, who are associated with the sewergate and Red Hill scandals, and who continue to foster the division between old-Hamilton and the suburban and ru...2021-06-1022 min
The 905er PodcastGraham Crawford Explains How iElectHamilton.ca Can Change Hamilton- Part 1This 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 Hamiltonians, and a storm of angry reaction from some of the city’s political grandees. It has already been described as a leftist takeover by university elites, and for being unfairly ho...2021-06-0840 min
The 905er PodcastLook Out Larry, It's the Leftists!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 leadership for a better Hamilton'. Roland and Joel unpack what it means when politicians start using the 'E' word.We also look at a strange article in the Toronto Star which...2021-05-2736 min
The 905er Podcast905 Round-up: Bratina Announces Plan to Quit in a Huff Over LRT, Eventually.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 time he will keep his backbench salary and the Liberal Party whip, while working to undermine Liberal Party policy.Bratina will achieve the six...2021-05-2038 min
The 905er PodcastLaura Babcock Asks: Why Can't Hamilton Have Nice Things?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 help us put this together:Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er w...2021-05-1843 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Checks on the State of Our Mental HealthA 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 Canadian Mental Health Association, Halton Branch, about how Covid-19 has affected our mental health services, and the fact that access to mental health professionals can be far more difficult than it should be, because...2021-05-1147 min
The 905er PodcastCan't We Do Better Than NIMBY or YIMBY? With Shannon GilliesJoel 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 cities for our future. And do we need stronger city governments and stronger democracy to overcome the dysfunctional patterns we see in many 905 city halls? Then we look at the recent revelations with...2021-05-0644 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Returns to 1492 Landback Lane with Karl Dockstader and Sean VanderklisToday 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.Thanks to those who help us put this together:Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er...2021-05-0456 min
The 905er PodcastPride and Prejudice: The Aftermath of the HCDSB Pride Flag Debate, plus Vaccinations and Sick DaysJoel 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! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables u...2021-04-2941 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Tries To Figure Out What Happened at the HCDSBWe 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 there was no decision. The numerous delegates who attended the meeting spoke and were questioned at length by trustees; over 200 members of the public provided...2021-04-2236 min
The 905er PodcastA Question of Pride for the Halton Catholic School BoardTonight will be a momentous night for the Halton Catholic District School Board.For weeks, the board has been wrestling with itself over whether or not the Pride flag ought to be raised over its schools. A motion brought by Trustee Brenda Agnew under the title "Supporting Our Diverse School Community" would direct the Pride flag to be flown over HCDSB schools and mandate a safe space poster in every class "to ensure that students in the 2SLGBT community are supported throughout the school year". This motion has attracted the support of numerous parents and students, who...2021-04-2034 min
The 905er PodcastParadise Lost?They didn't pave Paradise. Instead the City of Hamilton released 24 billion litres of untreated sewage into it.Thursday's episode covers three 905 stories: the latest changes of direction on our schools and an education minister with egg on his face; $5 million for Burlington City Hall's front yard; a new stinky mess in Cootes Paradise. But don't worry, the rotting mass of odiferous gunk is 'just algae', although that algae may be a product of damage caused by the sewage spill.Joel and Roland roll up their sleeves and dive in, so you don't have to.2021-04-1537 min
The 905er Podcast"They Don't Know How The System Works" - Andrea Grebenc and Patrick Murphy Speak Frankly About Provincial Education Mistakes"We should have approached [COVID-19] aggressively.""Now the scale has moved.""A target on our back.""Commodification and privatization.""A freight train that has already left the station.""They don't know how the system works."These quotes, taken from a wide-ranging discussion with Andrea Grebenc, chair of Halton District School Board, and Patrick Murphy, Chair of Halton Catholic District School Board, in an episode recorded on April 8th, illustrate the frustration felt by schools boards as they face a provincial government that doesn't listen, and doesn't understand Ontario's education system.In a frank discussion, neither...2021-04-1355 min
The 905er PodcastSan Grewal of The Pointer talks about the politics of the 905.San Grewal, award-winning journalist and founder of The Pointer (https://thepointer.com/) joined Joel and Roland to talk about legacy media's and politicians' lack of interest and knowledge about the 905 region, even while the stories that affect the 905 are the biggest in the entire province right now.Hours later, Peel's Medical Officer of Health made one of the clearest statements yet about the failure of the Ford government to make the right decisions for cities like Brampton and Mississauga, when he decided to close down Peel's schools.San gives a passionate and articulate account of...2021-04-0658 min
The 905er Podcast50 Shades of Grey - Is Ontario Heading Into A Third Lockdown?While Joel and Roland were recording this podcast, twice, due to technical problems, news was emerging of what appears to be a third lockdown starting this Easter Weekend.Our intrepid hosts give their reactions to the latest reports - which were yet to be confirmed at the time of recording. A provincial policy of confusing grey areas seems to be sending us all back into grey zones. Is their any truth to the premier's attempt to blame everything on Ottawa? Why are mass vaccination locations sitting empty on some afternoons?A little bit of frustration...2021-04-0128 min
The 905er PodcastShawna Stolte: The Myths and Reality of Life as a CouncillorWe pay attention to politics in inverse proportion to the extent it affects our lives. The political junkies among us religiously watch Power and Politics and have complex and well-informed opinions about what’s going on this week in Ottawa. But the same political junkies often struggle to remember the name of their city councillor. And yet at both city and regional councils, councillors make decisions that affect our lives every single day in a way the federal government seldom does. This dichotomy between the real and imagined job of local government po...2021-03-3055 min
The 905er PodcastElection Fever?Media is talking elections, and, whether it makes sense or not, history suggests that someone will blink and force a federal election before long.The 905 region could well play 'kingmaker' again. But is our region getting the attention and credit it deserves for it's outsized influence on elections, and the contrasting needs and motivations that shape the 905 cities' poulations? Which party would stand to win most from an election, and is there any significant hunger for change?And, it's budget day in Ontario. Are the arguments about debt over now that every level of government...2021-03-2543 min
The 905er PodcastMike Moffatt - A Moving Story of Ontario's Rising House PricesWhere Ontarians are moving is moving. Mike Moffat joins us to explore how, as the seemingly never-ending upward spiral of housing costs in the GTHA continues, and the population increases rapidly, many Ontarians are looking further afield for housing, with the result that some unexpected areas have become among the fastest-growing cities in the province. For instance, London and Woodstock.These are places that haven't necessarily planned for rapid population growth, and don't necessarily have the jobs and economic growth that would traditionally be expected to attract new residents. So what's going on? What is driving this...2021-03-2346 min
The 905er PodcastBrick (Thick as A) - Who is Paying for Bad Opinions and Bad Decisions at Queens Park?MPP Sam Oosterhoff apparently found the provincial advice to cover his mouth with a piece of paper or cloth overly arduous last year, and was proudly photographed ignoring the rules the rest of us are expected to keep. But this week he has again shown he is willing to advocate government control of a far more intimate part of women's anatomy. Why won't the premier get to grips with his unruly backbencher?Joel and Roland also look at the uneven vaccine rollout, and the missed opportunities to target vulnerable first nations residents in cities like Hamilton, and...2021-03-1837 min
The 905er PodcastBriar Emond paints a picture of being an artist in the pandemicOne of the reasons we began this podcast was to counter the perception of the 905 region as culturally irrelevant. We simply couldn’t accept that a region of 4 million people - larger than some small countries - should be routinely perceived as being uninteresting from the perspective of art and culture. And of course, there is a huge amount of innovative and exciting work happening for among of our regions different communities for anyone who cares to look.This week we’re speaking to Burlington Artist Briar Emond about what it’s like to be an artist in the...2021-03-1646 min
The 905er PodcastThe Hon. Paddy Torsney talks International Women's Day and 25 Years of the IWD BreakfastEvery International Women's Day in the 905, Paddy Torsney organizes and host an IWD Breakfast Event. The event focuses on the highlights and accomplishments of women of note in the region. This year marks a significant milestone of 25 years. We wanted to talk about this accomplishment, and the importance of International Women's Day for our society. As well as the impact adding more women to leadership roles can have for our society. Paddy is a long time friend of both Roland and Joel, she is a former Member of Parliament for Burlington, and is currently the Ambas...2021-03-0948 min
The 905er PodcastOur 50th Episode!It's taken almost six months to get here, but Roland and Joel reflect on the journey so far.Its been a winding path, but a lot the help comes down to our Patreon supporters. Their support has helped us grow this into what it's become so far. We are grateful for their support.This podcast has provided us a chance to talk about the forces that are shaping the region, and talk with the people who are influencing what that shape becomes. We hope to continue this for another 50 episodes and beyond.Thanks to...2021-03-0433 min
The 905er PodcastQueen's Park Round-up - Three Stories About the Provincial Government and the 905Three stories, all relating to decisions and actions of the provincial government, and all directly affecting our region.
Who said what, when with COVID-19? Did the politicians overrule the scientists? I the province trying to blame Dr Williams for their own failings, or do they have a point that he was slow to acknowledge what other scientists accepted much earlier in the year?
Is the province running scared on Highway 413? Recent statements by the House Leader suggest maybe.
Is there anything that can't be solved by letting wealthy developers and business owners donate twice as much to political...2021-03-0240 min
The 905er Podcast413 Reasons Why: A Vision For Vibrant Cities In A Post Commuter WorldJoel and Roland talk share their admiration for the Community Climate Council's webinar on Highway 413, get all misty eyed about the idea of after-work drinks in a pedestrian-friendly downtown, and then discuss a rare win for the City of Burlington at LPAT - why it was a win, and whether it will stay a win. Spoiler alert - probably not.Finally they discuss Halton Region's unanimous request to the Province and whether, for once, the Region is actually making a fair point.Thanks to those who help us put this together:Thanks to...2021-02-2547 min
The 905er PodcastShannon Gillies joins us to start off a new year on The 905erWe are back at it! After a brief break for the holidays, Joel and Roland are back to talk about what's in the headlines at the start of 2021! Friend of the podcast Shannon Gillies joins us to give a new perspective on the headlines.We talk about Rod Phillips jaunts to the tropics, politicians who like to do the opposite of what they say, vaccine roll outs, and one of us makes a bold prediction for the coming year! Find out who by listening! Thanks to those who help us put this together:2021-01-0541 min
The 905er Podcast32: The 905er Looks Back on the Year That Was, Part 2In the final two episodes of 2020, Joel and Roland look back over the first six months of the 905er podcast and themes that emerged. In part two, it's Joel's turn to pick the stories that he enjoyed most.Thanks to:Our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team.Wendy Nicholson: sound engineer, podcast consultancy.2020-12-2229 min
The 905er Podcast31: Review of 2020 Part 1 - 'A New Hope'In the final two episodes of 2020, Joel and Roland look back over the first six months of the 905er podcast and themes that emerged. In part one, Roland picks the episodes that stood out most to him.Thanks to:Our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team.Wendy Nicholson: sound engineer, podcast consultancy.2020-12-1731 min
The 905er Podcast21: The 905er Remembers the Battle of NormandyWe talk to Alex Fitzgerald-Black of the Juno Beach Centre headquartered in Burlington, about how the centre came to be, its mission, and the challenges of COVID-19.Make sure you check out the www.junobeach.org, which provides a fantastic resource for anybody wishing to learn more about Canada's role in the second world war.Also take a listen to the Juno Beach Centre's own podcast, available here.The museums we spoke to in episodes 20 and 21 for Remembrance week do fantastic work, and depend on public support to keep Canada's history alive. They...2020-11-1240 min
The 905er Podcast16: Jesse Helmer Helms our Chat on Ranked BallotsJesse Helmer is deputy mayor and councillor in London, Ontario. He is one of a tiny handful of Canadians - all in London - who have experience of being elected by both "First Past the Post" and "Ranked Ballot", in 2014 and 2018. He was a leading advocate for the adoption of ranked ballots in Ontario.He was shocked to discover at the same time as every other Ontarian that the provincial government had decided to ban ranked ballots as part of its omnibus bill, which is ostensibly about Covid-19 recovery. Why did the province want to take this p...2020-10-2734 min
The 905er Podcast14: Mike Gibbs Makes Sense of COVID-19 CommunicationsMike Gibbs is a former communications staffer with Public Health Ontario. He experienced Toronto's SARS outbreak first hand and has worked on pandemic planning in public health offices across the country. He has been highly critical of the current Ford government’s handling of COVID-19 communications and is author of a Twitter account (@Mikeggibbs) that provides Covid-19 policy opinion from an informed perspective. We invited him on to the podcast this week to share his expertise about how we got where we are today, and what is needed to get through this pandemic.With thanks to our 905er...2020-10-2049 min
The 905er PodcastEpisode 12: A Lack of Integrity in Hamilton - Part 1, Cameron KroetschThis week, for the first time, we shall be releasing two episodes of the 905er podcast, on Tuesday and Thursday. In our 'two part' episode, we take a deep dive into Hamilton politics, and explore why Hamilton City Council decided to launch an investigation by its Integrity Commissioner into the actions of a volunteer chair of one of its advisory committees - Cameron Kroetsch. We speak to Cameron to get his side of the story, and ask whether the claims against him have merit, why council would want to appear so heavy-handed with regard to the actions of a...2020-10-1334 min
The 905er PodcastEpisode 10: Trouble on the Grapevine?Some of the industries hit hardest by Covid-19 are those providing some of the more fun things in life - for instance food and drink, entertainment and tourism. As we find out this week, the Niagara Peninsula's wine industry touches on all three of those categories, with many smaller wineries dependent on tourist 'cellar door' purchases to remain profitable. But like so many other areas, businesses are innovating at an incredible rate to meet the challenges they are facing and finding new ways to succeed.This week we are joined by Andrea Kaiser, chair of the Wineries...2020-09-2952 min
The 905er PodcastEpisode 9: What's Up With Hamilton? (With Lorraine Sommerfeld)Politics is a rough business, but is it ever ok for councillors to insult and belittle members of the public? Lately some councillors in Hamilton appear to be making a habit of behaving towards the public and other council members in ways that - well, let's just say they lack 'decorum'.We're joined by Hamilton Spectator columnist, National Post auto journalist and onetime city hall volunteer Lorraine Sommerfeld, as we discuss some of the themes from the last few weeks in light of the behaviour we are seeing in Hamilton, and the general problem of how to...2020-09-2254 min
The 905er PodcastEpisode 6: Who runs our cities? Burlington's Official Plan and struggle to control local government.After 4 years, is Burlington's Official Plan almost complete? The marathon process of developing a new Official Plan for Burlington has in many ways typified the challenges being faced in every city in the 905 region - both in creating coherent visions for our future, and in implementing local democracy.This week we discuss the provincial background to how our cities are run with Zac Spicer, Director of Research at the Institute of Public Administration in Canada. Zac provides a wealth of insight, based on his years as a researcher into Ontario's municipalities, about the background context which shaped...2020-09-0150 min
The 905er PodcastEpisode 4: Pandemic Planning Part 2 - The Trustees PerspectiveThis week on the 905er podcast we are delighted to be joined by two people intimately involved in planning for children returning to school in September. Andréa Grenbenc, chair of Halton District School Board and a trustee in Burlington, and Marvin Duarte, vice-chair of Halton Catholic District School Board, trustee for Milton, join us an answer questions on the preparations being made for a safe return, the financial challenges being faced, the experience with online learning, and much more.Later in the episode Roland and Joel follow up on Burlington's planned discussion of ranked ballots, and R...2020-08-1855 min
The 905er PodcastThe 905er Podcast - Episode 1:IntroductionsRoland Tanner and Joel MacLeod introduce the 905er podcast - a podcast for the Ontario GTHA's 905 region outside Toronto. "The 905" is the economic powerhouse of Canada and home to 4 million people and growing, but receives little media coverage. We'll be uploading a weekly podcast discussing the important issues for our region, with interviews, round-tables and analysis of what's happening in our city halls and on our streets. Comments, corrections? Email info@905er.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon2020-07-2854 min