Given that all of Ontario goes to the polls this month to elect a new roster of municipal politicians to govern local jurisdiction for another four years, it's time to talk local democracy. And who better to explain all the ins and outs of local politics than The Local host, Sean Conway, as he engages in a wide-ranging discussion with Michael Johnson, a former chief administrative officer for Renfrew County. What's up for discussion? Everything from why social media and artificial intelligence are now prickly local issues to what's happening to your local property taxes as market value assessment comes back into full force.

In 1902 The Eganville Leader was founded and 124 years later has become undoubtedly the best community newspaper in all of Canada and the largest paid-circulation weekly in Ontario. But this past February, The Leader almost ceased publication. Last Sunday, The Bromley Historical Society decided to find out what happened and so invited past and present Leader staff, along with it's current publisher and managing Editor, Gerald Trace, to speak about the paper's glorious history.

Last Sunday at the Bromley Historical Society, John Yakabuski gave undoubtedly one of the best political speeches ever heard in Osceola, if not possibly in the rest of Canada. With consummate humour yet shrewd insight, Mr. Yakabuski opened a window on his unique political heritage and eventual rise to power as one of Ontario Premier Doug Ford's formative cabinet ministers. He also shed considerable light on the realpolitik of how Renfrew County politicians get and keep their jobs.