Episodios

  • Are Special Economic Zones Redefining How Ontario Governs?

    Are Special Economic Zones Redefining How Ontario Governs?
    Apr 3 2026
    Under Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, the Ford government gave itself new powers to create "special economic zones," promising faster development and fewer regulatory hurdles. Those powers are now being tested at Billy Bishop Airport, where the province is considering expropriating Toronto's stake, overriding a decades-old governance agreement, and declaring the site a special economic zone to accelerate plans for jets. To probe what this shift means for economic growth, democratic oversight, and environmental risk, we're joined by Pedro Antunes of Signal49 Research, University of Toronto professor Jessica Green, and Ontario Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Tisch.

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    29 m
  • What Do Ontario's FOI Changes Mean for Transparency?

    What Do Ontario's FOI Changes Mean for Transparency?
    Apr 2 2026
    Ontario's 2026 budget and a proposed overhaul of freedom-of-information laws have dominated headlines, but critics warn some of the most significant changes are escaping scrutiny. As the Ford government moves to rewrite access-to-information rules and quietly advance key budget measures, transparency advocates and political observers ask what is being overlooked, and why it matters. We're joined by The Trillium's Jessica Smith Cross, Transparency International Canada's Salvator Cusimano, and TVO Today columnist and #onpoli co-host John Michael McGrath.

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    29 m
  • Can a Firearms Buyback Reduce Gun Violence?

    Can a Firearms Buyback Reduce Gun Violence?
    Apr 1 2026

    As the federal government’s gun buyback program faces growing criticism, questions remain about whether it will meaningfully improve public safety, or miss the forces driving gun violence in the first place. From the legal challenges surrounding firearms policy, examined by lawyer Edward Burlew, to decades of crime-prevention research outlined by University of Ottawa professor emeritus Irvin Waller, the debate extends well beyond legislation. It also intersects with lived realities on the ground, highlighted by a November 2024 shooting at a Toronto recording studio linked to rival gangs. Drawing on insights from youth advocate David Mitchell and music producer and business owner Shakkir Brown, this conversation looks at how policy, community, and culture collide, and what real change might actually require.

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    29 m
  • Is Ontario Really Fixing Its Primary Care Shortage?

    Is Ontario Really Fixing Its Primary Care Shortage?
    Mar 31 2026

    Ontario says its Primary Care Action Plan is working and promises universal access by 2029. But with many still without a family doctor and a deadline to publicly fund medically necessary care from nurse practitioners about to be missed, is the primary care crisis really easing or just shifting? Family physician and researcher Dr. Tara Kiran, Ontario College of Family Physicians CEO Deepy Sur, and Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario CEO Michelle Acorn examine whether government optimism matches reality and what stalled nurse practitioner funding means for the future of care.

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    29 m
  • Will Ontario's Budget Meet the Moment?

    Will Ontario's Budget Meet the Moment?
    Mar 27 2026
    Hundreds of pages and billions of dollars, Ontario's 2026 budget will shape daily life across the province, yet its true priorities are not always obvious at first glance. TVO Today's John Michael McGrath breaks down what's in the budget and why it matters, before a deeper examination of what the numbers reveal about this government's values and fiscal health. Then, as economic uncertainty grows, we ask whether Ontario is prepared for what lies ahead, with analysis from Ricardo Tranjan of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Rosalie Wyonch of the C.D. Howe Institute.

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    29 m
  • Is the Career Ladder Losing Its Appeal?

    Is the Career Ladder Losing Its Appeal?
    Mar 26 2026
    At the Grammys, Pharrell Williams urged audiences to "never stop grinding," echoing a familiar culture of constant ambition. But writer and broadcaster Amil Niazi challenges that mindset in "Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir," as a new generation of workers questions whether success has to mean nonstop hustle. Then, Tricia Williams of TMU's Future Skills Centre, explores how younger workers are redefining fulfillment, balance, and what it really means to get ahead.

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    29 m
  • What Comes Next for the NDP?

    What Comes Next for the NDP?
    Mar 25 2026
    As the federal NDP leadership race unfolds, a larger question looms: where does the party stand with Canadians and can its next leader reposition it as a credible alternative? Kim Wright, principal of Wright Strategies and a longtime NDP consultant, and journalist Luke Savage, author of "The Dead Center," examine the stakes of rebuilding the party. Then, Erin Kelly, CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc., digs into the data to ask whether or not public opinion suggests the NDP is poised for a reset.

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    29 m
  • Can Smarter Urban Design Make Toronto Affordable Again?

    Can Smarter Urban Design Make Toronto Affordable Again?
    Mar 24 2026

    Toronto’s affordability crisis is decades in the making, shaped by planning decisions that continue to price people out. Anne Golden and Ken Greenberg, co-editors of Saving Toronto: 10 City Builders Tell Us How, examine how the city got here. Then, Antonio Gómez-Palacio looks at whether smarter urban design could still make Toronto liveable and affordable again.

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    29 m