progressive conservatives

Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath examine Doug Ford's new cabinet: the appointed, the disappointed, allegations of nepotism, the official opposition's reactions, and where Ontario goes from here.

Clip credits:

Premier Ford is sworn-in with new Cabinet | June 24 - Premier of Ontario/Queen’s Printer for Ontario/youtube.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Names for both the NDP and Liberal leadership contests - permanent and interim - emerge. Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath then parse through disproportionate representation and chat with Greg Lyle from the Innovative Research Group about what he's learned about Ontario voters this past election.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two platform launches and a debate—week two of the Ontario election campaign was jammed pack with policy announcements and trips down memory lane.

In episode two of Ballot Box, the team breaks down what you need to know from the policy-heavy week. 

The hosts also introduce you to three of the four major Ontario party leaders--Andrea Horwath, Steven Del Duca and Mike Schreiner--who all agreed to speak with the CTV News Toronto digital team one-on-one. 

PC Leader Doug Ford declined to participate.

Ballot Box is your one-stop shop for news from the campaign trail, breaking down the promises, politics and punches thrown during the week. The podcast airs every Friday on the iHeart radio app before becoming available on other streaming platforms.

Interview with Peter MacKay - Augy has been connected to Peter MacKay in various ways. Peter’s brother Andy has been a lifelong friend, their parents intersect in both politics and community engagement, and Peter has a love for sports that he and Augy share. If you have been following Canadian politics from the late 90s to present day – Peter MacKay resonates as a key figure in national and international government portfolios. This podcast episode will purposely not focus on power and politics…but rather on the community commitment Peter developed as he grew up in Pictou County and Wolfville, Nova Scotia. As Augy and Peter spend time reminiscing - a thread of family values, public service and community representation begin to emerge. In short, this episode reveals a personal and low-key side of Peter that is seldom portrayed in mainstream media.

Watch this Episode of EOTP on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/LjKrAXTQ8g8

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https://twitter.com/empathizeothers

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https://empathizeothers.com/podcast

We at The Forgotten Corner understand that most Albertans aren’t going to listen to this show and immediately adopt a new outlook on how the province should be governed. We know that being a conservative means a great deal to a lot of people here, and that feeling comes from their bones, from their blood.

Listen to Part 2 here.

However, as not only journalists but citizens of Alberta, if there is one thing we hope to help people realize, it’s that the United Conservatives are not the “conservatives” you might think they are. And, what better way to help shed some light on that than welcoming to the show a longtime conservative Albertan, who not only held several provincial cabinet positions and the Deputy Premier role, but who also personally knows the conservative leaders of our past.

In part one of our interview with Thomas Lukaszuk, we look back on his early life in Canada as a Polish immigrant escaping a dictatorship, through to his happenstance foray into the world of politics. Thomas takes listeners through the events that led to his first time on a ballot, the circumstances behind his 2004 three-vote victory, how he landed his first role in cabinet and what it was like to balance and compromise his way through several portfolios.

Part one caps off with Thomas’s views on what it was like to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership against eventual winner, the late Jim Prentice, complete with a compelling accusation you won’t want to miss.

Follow Thomas on Twitter at @LukaszukAB

Tune in next week for part two, where the former Deputy Premier pulls no punches on the kind of government brought in by Jason Kenney’s United Conservatives. Part two also contains plenty more about Lukaszuk’s lengthy political career, including the gift of hindsight and the parts of his tenure that he looks back on with want, or even regret.

Today on the Unpublished Cafe podcast: Is democracy under attack in Canada's largest city?   

Ontario's new government has turned upside down the upcoming Municipal Election in Toronto by announcing legislation to reduce the size of Toronto City Council from 47 this fall, to 25. As well, the Province is suspending the upcoming election of Regional Chairs in Peel, York and Muskoka riding (former OPC Leader Patrick Brown’s riding). Under the BNA Act of 1867, provinces have the power to make these changes.  Municipalities are creatures of the Province .

The Ontario gov't feels this move will save taxpayers about $25 million over four years although there is scant evidence to support that.  Abacus Data conducted a survey of Toronto residents and found almost seven in 10 think the idea should be scrapped or postponed until the next election. While there is little the federal government can do, there is a growing chorus of outrage about what is happening in Toronto.  


You can go to Unpublished dot vote to cast your ballot:  
Should Toronto City Council be reduced in size as the province has said it will do? (From 44 to 25) 


Yes    No

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Unpublished.cafe, UnpublishedOttawa.com, Unpublished.vote

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GUESTS

Adam Vaughan MP Spadina-Fort York. Parliamentary Secretary to PM on Intergovernmental Affairs

Duff Conacher., Co-Founder, Democracy Watch

Caroline Andrew, Director, Centre on Governance uOttawa

David Coletto CEO Abacus Data

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RESOURCES

http://abacusdata.ca/2-in-3-toronto-residents-think-ford-government-should-postpone-council-size-cut-until-after-the-election-or-scrap-plan-entirely/

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/unconscionable-nenshi-slams-ford-move-to-slash-size-of-toronto-city-council

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/will-doug-ford-s-plan-to-shrink-city-council-get-more-stuff-done-don-t-bet-on-it-1.4773764

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/toronto-city-council-reduction-a-distraction-from-greater-priorities

https://globalnews.ca/news/4373736/bill-kelly-reducing-the-size-of-a-citys-council-doesnt-save-money/

https://globalnews.ca/news/4356829/doug-ford-toronto-city-council-size/

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/christie-blatchford-cutting-toronto-city-council-down-to-size-is-a-much-needed-jolt-to-democracy

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-toronto-councillors-prove-why-they-need-their-walking-papers

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-doug-ford-expected-to-slash-unwieldy-toronto-council-in-half

https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8804459-should-doug-ford-cut-toronto-city-council-in-half-yes/

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/08/02/what-a-reduced-council-could-mean-for-toronto.html

https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/four-unanswered-questions-about-doug-fords-plan-to-shrink-toronto-city-council