Pickering's nuclear plant lights another day

The official opposition is calling on the Ontario government to remove tolls for truckers on Highway 407. Their argument is moving truck traffic to the toll road would save truckers time and taxpayers money while removing the need to build highway 413. But will Doug Ford budge on his plans?

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association is the last union to sign a tentative agreement with the province. If ratified, all the big teacher organizations will then have agreements for the next three years. We discuss the history of these conflicts throughout the years.

And Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the legacy of former prime minister Brian Mulroney who died at 84.

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve’s column on Brian Mulroney’s unlikely friendships: https://www.tvo.org/article/what-brian-mulroneys-unlikely-friendships-say-about-his-political-legacy

Steve’s column on the titans of ‘80s politics: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-titans-of-80s-politics-are-gone-lets-hope-their-legacy-of-mutual-respect-endures

John Michael's column on sewers: https://www.tvo.org/article/want-to-boost-housing-affordability-then-start-thinking-about-sewers

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Ontario's provincial government is infusing $1.3 billion into the post-secondary education system, but is it too little and too late? Faced with funding pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic and new regulations around international students, Ontario's higher learning institutions were looking for closer to $2.5 billion and for tuition hikes. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what happens next.

Doug Ford has tripled down on his hope to appoint ,like-minded judges, on Ontario courts by appointing former staffers onto the committees that choose judges. We discuss whether this is a new practice or something all political parties do.

Mike Schreiner's housing bill has been sent to committee or, as John Michael calls it, legislative purgatory. We discuss the possible reasons for the move and how the bill could potentially be brought into other housing policy.
A note to listeners, the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/half-a-century-ago-ontario-got-its-youngest-ever-cabinet-minister

John Michael's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/if-governments-are-serious-about-fighting-climate-change-they-should-tackle-transit-report

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Clip courtesy Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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MPPs have returned to Queen's Park after their winter hiatus to a jam-packed schedule with the Ontario PC Government introducing the "Get It Done Act." Steve and John Michael dig into what's in that bill.

We're also responding to your questions and comments from the last episode of the podcast. Email us at onpolitics@tvo.org if you have a question you'd like addressed on the show.

A note to listeners, audio episodes of the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays. #onpoli is very excited to be introducing a video component to our show, but you'll still get the same high-quality audio in your feed every week. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

A Place to Stand (1967): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0F10Sc3Vcw

Ontario.ca's resource page about A Place To Stand: https://web.archive.org/web/20190622184444/https://www.ontario.ca/page/place-stand-ontario-song

Clip of Aislinn Clancy's entry to Queen's Park courtesy Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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Late last year, Energy Minister Todd Smith said he'd introduce legislation to reverse a decision made by the Ontario Energy Board. The decision would have put the cost of hooking up new homes to the gas grid onto developers, which, the minister said, would delay shovels getting into the ground. Steve and John Michael discuss the impact of this decision.

Online investigative magazine The Narwhal is reporting that the Government of Ontario is planning to expand its powers to expropriate land. Taking land is one way the government can use its powers to help infrastructure projects get done, but the normal process can take months and requires public consultations. Why is the government so keen to speed things up?

Premier Doug Ford said Ontario will soon see one of the biggest projects in the world coming to the province. It was a mysterious announcement that has Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath wondering what it could possibly be.

And a note to listeners, audio episodes of the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays starting February 16th. #onpoli is very excited to be introducing a video component to our show, but you'll still get the same high-quality audio in your feed every week. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed a request that would allow for the release of the Government of Ontario's mandate letters. While the decision puts an end to one hot button issue, it may have spawned another surrounding transparency in the government's decision-making processes.
 
Olivia Chow's gambit to lower the tax hike for Torontonians seems to have paid off. The Federal government has announced $362.4 million dollars in funding for refugee supports without which, Chow said, the tax increase would have been higher. Her recent interactions with the Federal government have put many partnerships across levels of government into the spotlight. 
 
The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is getting refurbished. The project is already slated to cost $2 billion for the initial phase, but it could cost billions more to complete. Why invest in nuclear? Why not invest in more solar like the rest of the world? Dr. Chris Keefer joins the podcast to discuss nuclear energy and why he thinks it's necessary to reach a clean energy future.
 
And a note to listeners, audio episodes of the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays starting February 16th. #onpoli is very excited to be introducing a video component to our show, but you'll still get the same high-quality audio in your feed every week.

John Michael's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-pickering-nuclear-refurbishment-is-the-path-of-least-resistance-for-clean-energy

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/this-former-cabinet-minister-has-seen-his-life-transformed

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

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Private emails sent between two aides have added a new chapter to the Greenbelt scandal that has plagued the Ontario PC Party. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss how this revelation might affect public confidence in government decisions.

A new cap on the number of international students could see Ontario's post-secondary schools facing dire financial straits. Schools are saying the decision was rushed, the Federal government says the two-year pause is necessary.

Parm Gill, MPP for Milton and Minister of Red Tape Reduction, has resigned from Queen's Park to run federally for Pierre Poilievre. His goal is to take down Justin Trudeau, but his move highlights a schism in Canada's conservative political parties.

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/rocco-rossi-isnt-retiring-hes-rewiring

John Michael's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/will-there-be-enough-evs-to-meet-canadas-target-or-do-we-need-a-plan-b

David Moscrop's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-greenbelt-scandal-takes-another-turn-and-trust-in-the-ford-government-takes-another-hit

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

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The Government of Ontario is set to expand the number of private health clinics allowed to perform certain types of surgeries and diagnostic procedures. Critics say the plan will further burden the healthcare system by pulling away hospital staff, while supporters say it's a necessary step to help struggling hospitals.

Mike Schreiner has called on the Attorney General to probe the recent deal allowing for ServiceOntario kiosks in Staples stores. Part of that announcement included the planned closure of a number of ServiceOntario locations, a detail that's caused some concern.

The Hazel McCallion Line is getting a new business case to lay out how it will connect Port Credit, Mississauga, and Brampton. It's one of several transit projects still being built in the province, but when will it open? That's the $4.6 billion dollar question.

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/at-95-ontario-political-legend-bob-nixon-still-has-stories-to-tell

JMM's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/is-first-past-the-post-unconstitutional-an-ontario-court-says-no-but-the-fight-isnt-over

JMM's column on Staples: https://www.tvo.org/article/please-premier-ford-dont-ruin-serviceontario

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Nerene Virgin on the TVO@50 Podcast: https://omny.fm/shows/tvoat50/todays-special

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It's a new year, but the same old priorities for the Government of Ontario: Housing, affordability, and healthcare. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss how they're going to, as Doug Ford says, ,Get it done?,

Toronto has released a first look at its budget. The city has a huge deficit to fill and a property tax hike seems to be the answer, but how have Torontonians responded to that? Not well.

Cyber-attacks seem to be growing and it feels like it's only a matter of time before the province gets attacked. The guys are joined by Donald Blair, an IT director, to discuss how to prevent a disaster.

Kat Eschner's piece on social-assistance rates: https://www.tvo.org/article/social-assistance-rates-in-ontario-should-set-off-alarm-bells-report

More from Kat: https://www.tvo.org/author/kat-eschner

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The Region of Peel will remain whole for the foreseeable future, bringing a close to a months-long ordeal for the workers in the region. Regional staff were working toward a January 2025 timeline to dissolve the region, but now the transition board assigned to oversee that will look to create efficiencies instead. So, why cancel the deal? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the details and the shrewd politics involved.

The sale of alcohol is expanding in the Province of Ontario to include corner stores, big box retailers, and gas stations by 2026. The province has already received a failing grade for its alcohol control measures from organizations like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, so why not fail even harder? It's a deal four decades in the making, so why did it take this long and what's at stake now that it's almost here?

Steve and JMM answer your burning questions before the end of the year in our annual year-end mailbag. Got a question, send it on through to onpolitics@tvo.org for future episodes.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

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Last week, newly minted Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie made her first appearances at Queen's Park. While she spoke about her priorities as leader, she also fired back against Doug Ford who had launched a series of attacks on her over luxury cars and a cottage in the Hamptons. The problem? She doesn't have either of those.

Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath then look into the auditor general of Ontario's latest report. The report revealed that the business case for moving the Ontario Science Centre might not be as airtight as the government said it was, and many more revelations.

And finally, Peel Region could be staying together after the Hazel McCallion Act nearly tore it apart. Steve and JMM discuss how the stunning numbers around tax increases were known for quite some time and why they're coming to light right now.

The Auditor General report: https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/annualreports.html

Region of Peel panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d8Ry5jeh54

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/bonnie-crombies-first-week-couldnt-have-gone-much-better

John Michael's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/doug-ford-has-no-excuse-for-sticker-shock-when-it-comes-to-dissolving-peel-region

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