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  • "Routine Audit" of SDF Recipient leads to an OPP inquiry

    "Routine Audit" of SDF Recipient leads to an OPP inquiry
    2025/11/13
    Host: Dave Trafford
    Guests:
    • Tim Hudak – Partner, Counsel Public Affairs; former Ontario PC Leader
    • Keith Leslie – Political Commentator, CH Television
    • Kathleen Wynne – Former Premier of Ontario

    On this week’s episode of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford and the panel dig into what was supposed to be a quiet off-week at Queen’s Park — only to discover a flood of political controversies and policy battles.

    The conversation begins with birthday celebrations for Neil Young and Trafford’s grandson, before pivoting to the expanding scandal tied to the Skills Development Fund. The panel dissects the province’s revelation that a 2023 forensic audit uncovered accounting “irregularities,” now referred to the OPP, and what this means for Labour Minister David Piccini and Premier Ford’s cabinet stability.

    The group then unpacks the Fall Economic Statement, debating the government’s messaging around deficits, tariffs, and investments — and whether Ontario's spending priorities fail to address critical pressures in education, post-secondary institutions, and climate policy. A detailed discussion follows on the province’s renewed push for a $9.1-million feasibility study for a 401 tunnel, alongside broader questions about the Ring of Fire, Indigenous partnerships, and the massive infrastructure challenges facing Northern Ontario.

    Rounding out the episode, the panel tackles the Ford government’s moves on education governance and conservation authorities. With Bill 33 centralizing power the roundtable questions transparency, local accountability, and the government’s growing pattern of sidelining community-based institutions.

    Chapters & Timecodes
    00:00 – Introduction & Neil Young’s 80th Birthday
    Lighthearted opening, birthdays, and memories.

    03:15 – Skills Development Fund Scandal Escalates
    Audit “irregularities,” OPP referral, political fallout, and cabinet risks.

    10:00 – Fall Economic Statement & Ontario’s Fiscal Outlook
    Deficits, tariffs, spending priorities, and sector impacts.

    18:35 – 401 Tunnel Feasibility & Major Infrastructure Projects
    $9.1M study, withheld earlier reports, and unrealized investments.

    24:40 – Ring of Fire, Indigenous Partnerships & Northern Development
    Economic potential, social challenges, road access, and equity stakes.

    41:00 – Education Governance, Streaming Bans & Bill 33
    School board powers, parental access, centralization of authority.

    47:00 – Conservation Authorities & Local Decision-Making
    Cuts from 36 to 7 authorities, mandate concerns, process questions.

    54:00 – Closing Notes & What’s Ahead at Queen’s Park

    TRANSCRIPT

    You can watch 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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    57 分
  • Mark Carney's Big Spend and Doug Ford's Political Poll Dance

    Mark Carney's Big Spend and Doug Ford's Political Poll Dance
    2025/11/07
    Host: Dave Trafford
    Guests: Kathleen Wynne (former Ontario Premier), Tim Hudak (Partner, Counsel Public Affairs; former Ontario PC Leader), Keith Leslie (Political Analyst, CHCH), John Wright (CEO, Canada Pulse Insights)

    In this week’s episode, Dave Trafford and the On The Ledge panel unpack the political and policy fallout from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget—and the Ford government’s deepening Skills Development Fund scandal.

    Kathleen Wynne argues that Carney’s budget, while understated, delivers transformative long-term investments in infrastructure and economic development.

    Tim Hudak says the budget “shows trees, but no forest,” lacking a unifying vision for the post-tariff economy.

    Keith Leslie calls it a gamble on private-sector confidence, while John Wright warns the government’s narrative is missing “a political bone” to connect with struggling Canadians.

    Then, the panel reacts to The Trillium’s explosive reporting on the Skills Development Fund—a $10-million grant linked to a venue now licensed as a strip club.

    Journalist guests Jessica Smith Cross and Charlie Pinkerton explain how their investigative work exposed a pattern of questionable grants and Tory-connected recipients. The group debates Minister David Piccini’s future, Premier Ford’s handling of the controversy, and the broader question of accountability and cronyism at Queen’s Park.

    From the budget’s muted ambitions to a political scandal with burlesque undertones, this episode captures an Ontario government under siege—caught between defending its process and salvaging its credibility.

    Chapters & Timecodes
    00:00 – Introduction & Panel Welcome
    02:00 – Reactions to the Carney Budget
    14:00 – Ottawa vs. Queen’s Park: Competing Narratives
    33:00 – The Floor Crossing Fallout
    43:00 – The Skills Development Fund Scandal: The Trillium’s Reporting
    1:08:00 – Political Consequences & Closing Thoughts

    You can watch 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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    1 時間 16 分
  • Poking the Bear - the Reagan Anti-tariff Ad and Ottawa’s Silence

    Poking the Bear - the Reagan Anti-tariff Ad and Ottawa’s Silence
    2025/10/30
    October 29, 2025
    Host: Dave Trafford
    Guests: Kathleen Wynne, John Wright, Keith Leslie
    Featured Interview: Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank


    In this wide-ranging roundtable, Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, pollster John Wright, and journalist Keith Leslie to unpack a week of political turbulence—from Premier Doug Ford’s Reagan-themed U.S. trade ad and the resulting tariff tantrum from Washington, to the Ontario government’s omnibus legislation blitz at Queen’s Park.

    The panel explores how Ford’s “Captain Canada” messaging has inflamed an already volatile Canada–U.S. trade climate and whether Ottawa and Queen’s Park are working from the same playbook. Wynne argues for federal-provincial coordination; Wright warns about “freelancing premiers”; and Leslie questions the political wisdom of running ads that “poke the bear” during the World Series.

    Later, the discussion turns to Ontario’s new omnibus bills—from scrapping speed cameras to raising political donation limits—provoking questions about transparency, committee work, and the government’s appetite for real debate.

    In the second half, Dave sits down with Neil Hetherington of the Daily Bread Food Bank to dissect this year’s Who’s Hungry report: food-bank visits in Toronto have hit 4.1 million, a 340 percent increase since 2019, with one in ten Torontonians relying on food banks. The panel weighs policy failures, stagnant wages, and corporate responsibility amid record profits.
    They close by reflecting on poverty as an economic indicator and the political will required to address it—while predicting that both trade tensions and food insecurity will worsen before they improve.

    Chapters
    00:00 – Introduction – Dave sets the agenda: trade, tariffs, legislation, and hunger
    02:00 – Ford’s U.S. ad and the tariff fallout
    09:45 – Ottawa’s silence and the coordination gap
    20:00 – Inside Queen’s Park: Omnibus politics and missed debate
    37:00 – Neil Hetherington on Toronto’s hunger crisis
    53:00 – Policy, poverty, and political accountability
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    1 時間 5 分
  • BONUS - TRUMP'S TARIFF TANTRUM plus Piccini takes a political pounding

    BONUS - TRUMP'S TARIFF TANTRUM plus Piccini takes a political pounding
    2025/10/24
    We recorded this week's show about 12 hours before Donald Trump flew off his social media handle and trashed the Canada-US trade talks because of Ontario's anti-tariff ads running on US networks.

    For the sake of context this version of this week's show...includes commentary around Trump's antics and what Doug Ford may...or may not do about it.

    Otherwise...here's the show.

    ON THE LEDGE – YOUR ONTARIO POLITICS PODCAST

    Host: Dave Trafford
    Guests: Keith Leslie (CH Television), Tim Hudak (Partner, Counsel Public Affairs; former Ontario PC leader), John Wright (CEO, Canada Pulse Insights)

    Dave Trafford is joined by Keith Leslie, Tim Hudak, and John Wright for a lively roundtable that begins with the soaring cost of World Series tickets and quickly pivots into a sharp political discussion about Doug Ford’s government.

    Hudak shares his perspective as a former Consumer Minister on the futility of policing ticket resellers, while Wright and Leslie explore how technology, bots, and lax regulation have transformed ticket scalping into a billion-dollar business.

    The panel then dissects fresh polling data revealing Ford’s surprising strength in Toronto and the GTA—numbers showing nearly half of Torontonians approving of his performance, particularly on populist issues such as speed cameras and school trustees.

    The conversation deepens with the week’s political firestorm: the Auditor General’s revelations about the Skills Development Fund, questions surrounding Labour Minister David Piccini, and fresh allegations from “Mr. X” in the ongoing Greenbelt saga. Jessica Smith Cross of The Trillium joins the episode with her reporting, laying out the connections between political insiders, lobbying, and taxpayer dollars.

    The crew debates whether these controversies expose a deeper issue of cronyism and complacency within the Ford government, or simply the growing pains of a long-serving administration.
    The episode closes with reflections on accountability, transparency, and the political costs of loyalty—ending with a consensus that the Ford government’s biggest risk now isn’t its policies, but its optics.

    Chapters
    00:00 – Introduction & World Series Ticket Shock
    06:00 – Polling the GTA: Ford’s Populist Edge
    14:00 – The Speed Camera Debate: Cash Grab or Safety Tool?
    31:00 – The Skills Development Fund Scandal & Mr. X Allegations
    46:00 – Cronyism, Transparency, and Political Fallout
    52:00 – Closing Thoughts
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    1 時間 2 分
  • Conflicts and Cronyism - Piccini takes a political pounding over Skills Development Fund and the Greenbelt

    Conflicts and Cronyism - Piccini takes a political pounding over Skills Development Fund and the Greenbelt
    2025/10/23
    ON THE LEDGE – YOUR ONTARIO POLITICS PODCAST

    Host: Dave Trafford
    Guests: Keith Leslie (CH Television), Tim Hudak (Partner, Counsel Public Affairs; former Ontario PC leader), John Wright (CEO, Canada Pulse Insights)

    Dave Trafford is joined by Keith Leslie, Tim Hudak, and John Wright for a lively roundtable that begins with the soaring cost of World Series tickets and quickly pivots into a sharp political discussion about Doug Ford’s government.

    Hudak shares his perspective as a former Consumer Minister on the futility of policing ticket resellers, while Wright and Leslie explore how technology, bots, and lax regulation have transformed ticket scalping into a billion-dollar business.

    The panel then dissects fresh polling data revealing Ford’s surprising strength in Toronto and the GTA—numbers showing nearly half of Torontonians approving of his performance, particularly on populist issues such as speed cameras and school trustees.

    The conversation deepens with the week’s political firestorm: the Auditor General’s revelations about the Skills Development Fund, questions surrounding Labour Minister David Piccini, and fresh allegations from “Mr. X” in the ongoing Greenbelt saga. Jessica Smith Cross of The Trillium joins the episode with her reporting, laying out the connections between political insiders, lobbying, and taxpayer dollars.

    The crew debates whether these controversies expose a deeper issue of cronyism and complacency within the Ford government, or simply the growing pains of a long-serving administration.
    The episode closes with reflections on accountability, transparency, and the political costs of loyalty—ending with a consensus that the Ford government’s biggest risk now isn’t its policies, but its optics.

    Chapters
    00:00 – Introduction & World Series Ticket Shock
    06:00 – Polling the GTA: Ford’s Populist Edge
    14:00 – The Speed Camera Debate: Cash Grab or Safety Tool?
    31:00 – The Skills Development Fund Scandal & Mr. X Allegations
    46:00 – Cronyism, Transparency, and Political Fallout
    52:00 – Closing Thoughts
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    54 分
  • Doug Ford vs Stellantis and Home Depot Bandits

    Doug Ford vs Stellantis and Home Depot Bandits
    2025/10/17
    As Queen’s Park returns from its extended break, host Dave Trafford gathers the OTL panel — former Ontario Premier, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario PC leader, the Honourable Tim Hudak, veteran pollster John Wright, and CH TV commentator Keith Leslie — to dissect a turbulent week in Ontario politics.

    The conversation opens with the Stellantis decision to move Jeep Compass production from Brampton to Illinois — a move sparking outrage, legal threats, and anxiety about the province’s manufacturing future under a resurgent Trump trade agenda. The panel debates the economic and geopolitical implications for Canada’s auto industry and the broader economy.

    From there, the discussion shifts to healthcare, where the Ford government claims major gains in connecting Ontarians with primary care. The group questions the data, explores the roots of Ontario’s family doctor shortage, and debates the push toward privatization versus preserving public healthcare.
    Finally, attention turns to Premier Ford’s “Home Depot confrontation” story — an anecdote that, while amusing to some, raises serious questions about leadership, temperament, and the government’s focus as the legislature resumes.

    Chapters
    00:00 – IntroductionDave Trafford welcomes back the OTL roundtable ahead of the fall legislative session.
    03:45 – Stellantis Shock and Auto Sector FalloutFord and Carney brace for impact as Stellantis pulls production south; Wynne, Hudak, Wright, and Leslie assess the economic and political damage.
    17:00 – Ontario’s Healthcare Reality CheckThe government touts progress on family doctor access — the panel questions the numbers and the deeper system failures.
    37:00 – Doug Ford’s “Home Depot Hero” StoryThe Premier’s vigilante tale goes viral. The panel weighs the optics, the risks, and the erosion of message discipline.
    50:00 – The Bigger Picture: Leadership and VisionAs Queen’s Park reopens, the hosts ask: what’s Ford’s long-term plan beyond political theatre?

    TRANSCRIPT
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    53 分
  • Inside Ontario Politics - the Liberal Rebuild, the NDP Divide, and Ford’s Populist Power

    Inside Ontario Politics - the Liberal Rebuild, the NDP Divide, and Ford’s Populist Power
    2025/10/09
    Dave Trafford welcomes back the full panel — former Premier Kathleen Wynne, former PC leader Tim Hudak, veteran journalist Keith Leslie, and pollster John Wright — for a fall political reset at Queen’s Park. The conversation opens with reflections on the late Jim Bradley, the long-serving Ontario Liberal who embodied integrity, bipartisanship, and a deep respect for public service. The panel shares personal memories and stories that capture Bradley’s “old-school” approach and his remarkable 55 years in elected office.

    From there, the discussion shifts to the state of Ontario’s major parties ahead of the legislature’s return. Wynne assesses the Liberal leadership race, urging a timely process to give the next leader room to grow before the 2026 election. Hudak credits Bonnie Crombie for rebuilding the party infrastructure despite her short tenure, while Leslie and Wright note the Liberals’ resilience and the potential impact of generational change.

    Attention then turns to the NDP, where Marit Stiles faces internal divisions, slipping poll numbers, and a crisis of relevance. The panel contrasts Ontario’s left with more pragmatic western NDP governments, questioning whether the party can reconnect with working-class voters.

    Finally, the team examines Premier Doug Ford’s enduring popularity, exploring how his populist instincts and “Captain Canada” persona resonate across the province, even as critics fault him for weak policy and performative politics. With the legislature set to resume, the conversation sets the stage for an intense fall session dominated by affordability pressures, the Auditor General’s reports, and the evolving federal–provincial dynamic.


    • 00:00 – Introduction – The team reunites and celebrates The Arctic Edge awards
    • 04:55 – Remembering Jim Bradley – Stories of humility, legacy, and public service
    • 19:20 – Liberal Leadership Reset – The race to rebuild the party
    • 30:55 – NDP in Trouble – Divisions, direction, and the struggle for relevance
    • 44:10 – Ford Nation Rising – Populism, polling, and political staying power
    • 59:55 – Looking Ahead – The legislature returns and new battles loom
    TRANSCRIPT
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    1 時間 1 分
  • Bonnie Crombie Quits as Ontario Liberal Leader. Now what?

    Bonnie Crombie Quits as Ontario Liberal Leader. Now what?
    2025/09/17
    What’s Next for the Ontario Liberal Party After Bonnie Crombie’s Resignation?

    Bonnie Crombie resigns after a failed leadership review. On The Ledge panel asks: why did she step down, and who will lead the Ontario Liberals next?
    In this bonus episode of On The Ledge – your Ontario politics podcast makes a special appearance on Newstalk 1010 with Moore in the Morning.

    OTL Host Dave Trafford, former Premier Kathleen Wynne and former PC leader Tim Hudak, join John Moore to analyze what happened at the Ontario Liberal Party’s AGM, what the failing leadership grade (57%) means for Crombie’s legacy, and what lies ahead for the Liberals.

    Highlights
    Kathleen Wynne
    • “There was a tension in the air the whole weekend about what the leadership vote was gonna be. I mean, that was undeniable.”
    Tim Hudak
    • “In Bonnie Crombie’s defense, she took the Liberals back into official party status… She rebuilt their fundraising and credit to her.”
    Dave Trafford
    • “The folks around Bonnie Crombie… were reading their polling from right to left as opposed to left to right because they just turned the number completely around. Their 75% ended up being 57%.”

    What happened to Bonnie Crombie at the Ontario Liberal AGM?
    Bonnie Crombie received just 57% support in her leadership review, far below the 70–75% her advisors predicted. By the end of the day, she announced her resignation.
    Why did Bonnie Crombie resign?
    Crombie acknowledged the leadership review as “a message to me” and decided it was in the party’s best interest to step aside. Kathleen Wynne emphasized it was ultimately Crombie’s decision, not caucus pressure.
    What were Bonnie Crombie’s achievements as leader?
    • Restored official party status for the Liberals.
    • Rebuilt fundraising and organizational capacity.
    • Raised membership engagement after years of decline.
    Why did Crombie’s leadership fail?
    Dave Trafford argued that the problem was not only Crombie’s performance but also “a sense of unpreparedness around the Liberal campaign” and weak organizational support. Tim Hudak noted Crombie’s defeat in Mississauga sealed her fate against Doug Ford’s stronghold.
    What’s next for the Ontario Liberals?
    The panel agreed the party needs a leader with a seat in the Legislature to challenge Doug Ford directly. Potential names include:
    • Adil Shamji and Mary-Margaret McMahon from the current caucus.
    • Federal figures like Karina Gould or Nav Bains were mentioned as possible contenders.

    TRANSCRIPT
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    10 分