『On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast』のカバーアート

On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast

On The Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast

著者： Dave Trafford and iContact Productions
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The Ledge, n: slang for the legislature. Mostly used by members of the legislative press gallery.
On the Ledge posts weekly when the Ontario Legislature is sitting. But there have been times when we've had to "recall" the Ledge for an emergency session to address pressing matters of Ontario politics when Queen's Park isn't sitting!

Our OTL team includes former Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, former Progressive Conservative Leader, (and Wynne's erstwhile parliamentary sparring partner), Tim Hudak, Queen's Park broadcast commentator Keith Leslie, John Wright, our veteran pollster and co-founding host, and Dave Trafford, Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network.Copyright D. Trafford 政治・政府 政治学
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  • What are the REAL costs of the construction of Highway 413?

    What are the REAL costs of the construction of Highway 413?
    2026/06/18
    The Ontario legislature adjourned for a five month break on June 3rd - the same day opposition parties and advocates called on the province's Financial Accountability Office to review the cost to build and operate Doug Ford's pet-project Highway 413.

    So far, the government has refused to offer any real details.

    It prompts the question: What is the Ontario government hiding about Highway 413?

    In this episode of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford speaks with investigative journalist Paul Webster about his years-long battle to uncover the true cost of Ontario’s proposed Highway 413 project.

    Webster explains how Freedom of Information requests led to a major legal confrontation with the Ontario government over land acquisition records tied to the controversial highway.

    The conversation digs into cabinet confidentiality claims, the role of the Information Commissioner of Ontario, and why the province is spending significant legal resources fighting disclosure requests.

    Webster also explores the larger implications of Highway 413 — from environmental concerns and urban sprawl to developer interests and taxpayer accountability. This episode examines:
    • Ontario Freedom of Information laws
    • Highway 413 land acquisition costs
    • Government transparency and accountability
    • Cabinet confidentiality disputes
    • Developer influence and land speculation
    • Environmental concerns surrounding Highway 413
    • The legal battle between the Ontario government and the Information Commissioner
    If you follow Ontario politics, infrastructure debates, environmental policy, or government accountability stories, this conversation offers an important look at one of the province’s biggest ongoing controversies.

    You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)

    Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X

    And you can leave us a voice comment here!

    For more information go to Dave's website.
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    33 分
  • Ontario’s Property Tax Time Bomb - A 10-Year Policy Failure Costing Businesses Millions

    Ontario’s Property Tax Time Bomb - A 10-Year Policy Failure Costing Businesses Millions
    2026/06/11
    Ontario’s commercial property tax system is broken and it's costing business across the province tens of millions of dollars A YEAR. And all because of the municipal assessment policies set at Queen's Park. Premier Doug Ford knows there's a problem, yet has done nothing about it since taking office in 2018.

    In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast, Dave Trafford sits down with property tax advocate Paul Sullivan to unpack the hidden consequences of Ontario’s decade-long property assessment freeze.

    Sullivan argues that because Ontario properties are still being assessed using 2016 values, the province has created a distorted and increasingly unfair tax system — especially for small businesses. While municipal budgets and tax rates continue to rise, the underlying assessments haven’t kept pace with dramatic changes in commercial real estate values, consumer behaviour, development pressures, and post-pandemic economic realities.

    The conversation breaks down how “ad valorem” taxation is supposed to work, why regular reassessments matter, and how freezing assessments has shifted disproportionate tax burdens onto local retailers, restaurants, and independent businesses. Sullivan shares findings from his analysis of more than 3,000 GTA property sales and reveals that many neighbourhood businesses are unknowingly paying thousands more in property taxes than they should.

    Dave and Paul also explore the broader political and economic implications: municipal dependence on property taxes, provincial reluctance to reform the system, development slowdowns, rising costs for consumers, and the erosion of trust in public finance. Despite the complexity of the issue, the discussion keeps returning to a simple question: who is really paying the price for outdated tax policy?



    You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)

    Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X

    And you can leave us a voice comment here!

    For more information go to Dave's website.
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    34 分
  • Doug Ford’s Washington Snub, Trade Talks & Ontario’s LCBO Boycott

    Doug Ford’s Washington Snub, Trade Talks & Ontario’s LCBO Boycott
    2026/06/10
    This is a SPECIAL EDITIO of On the Ledge - you Ontario politics podcast. It's a "feed drop" from Newstalk 1010's Moore in the Morning.

    The politics of trade, tariffs and public space all collide in this week's roundtable .

    John Moore stickhandled ROUND ONE, featuring former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, Nexus Strategy Group CEO Marion Nader, and Story Studio Network’s Dave Trafford for a wide-ranging discussion on reports that the White House intervened to cancel meetings Premier Doug Ford had planned during his latest trip to Washington.

    What does it tell us about the state of Canada-U.S. relations? Is it a negotiating tactic tied to CUSMA talks, or a signal that trade discussions are entering a more difficult phase? Dave doesn't think the "snub" was hostile at all. It suggests there may be some opportunities brewing behind closed doors.

    The panel also examines Ford’s pledge to keep American alcohol off LCBO shelves until a trade deal is reached. Has Ontario’s boycott already changed consumer behaviour? And could Ontario wineries, breweries and local producers emerge as long-term winners regardless of how the trade dispute ends?

    If you want smart, informed analysis of the issues shaping Ontario politics and public policy, this episode delivers plenty to think about.


    You can watch OR listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel (Be sure to subscribe!)

    Follow Dave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X

    And you can leave us a voice comment here!

    For more information go to Dave's website.
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    13 分
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