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Earlier this week, a second unanimous consent vote to reverse a ban on wearing keffiyehs at Queen's Park failed to pass. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath follow up on the ban at Queen's Park and ramifications of it.The Province of Ontario is investing billions into electric vehicle plants from car manufacturing giant Honda. The new plants announced this week are part of a larger plan to make the province into an EV powerhouse, but there have been a few stumbles along the way.The Ontario Basic Income pilot was abruptly cancelled in 2019 when Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party formed government. Many years later, a class action lawsuit certified by the Ontario Superior Court has the government paying for legal fees and the plaintiffs seeking millions more in damages. Steve and John Michael discuss what the program did and what the cancellation meant to participants.UDPATE: On Thursday after this week's episode finished recording, Independent MPP Sarah Jama was asked by Speaker Ted Arnott to remove her keffiyeh while in the chamber at Queen's Park, and when she refused she was asked to leave the chamber, which she declined to do. That came after the events on Tuesday that we discuss in this week's episode. We'll have an update on all of this in next week's episode.

John Michael’s column: Former basic-income recipients are taking Ontario to court. Do they have a shot? | TVO Today 

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
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The federal government has tabled its budget, which includes money for municipalities on housing and a tax on the rich. Details have been released piecemeal over the last several weeks, but now Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath will finally be able to digest the whole thing.  Highway 413 has cleared a major hurdle with the federal government removing the need for an environmental assessment. So, will shovels finally get into the ground for this new project? Not so fast, because there are several other issues that could get in the way.  Several MPPs at Queen's Park were quietly removed from their committee assignments last week. Steve and John Michael discuss these unusual removals and what they might mean.  Steve's column:  John Michael's column:  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.
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Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra unveiled The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, a new piece of housing legislation designed to get more housing built. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the omnibus bill and look at the housing policy blitz we've seen from both the federal and provincial government.The Office of the Premier has 48 staff members on the Sunshine List, which makes it one of the most expensive incarnations of this office ever. How does this expense square with Doug Ford's brand of fiscal responsibility?The Ontario New Democrat Party recently hit a record for donations, leader Marit Stiles is travelling the province, and the party has been putting forward strong legislation. So, why isn't Doug Ford taking notice? Steve and John Michael discuss the premier's choice of opponents.

Steve’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/do-doug-ford-and-pierre-poilievre-get-along

John Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-ford-government-needs-to-get-real-about-its-own-housing-statistics

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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Canadian government has announced a new infrastructure fund that would provide billions to provinces and territories to build up wastewater treatment capacity and housing. The money comes with strings that include a pledge to build ,missing middle, housing, which Premier Doug Ford has opposed. The premier says he would rather let municipalities decide what and where to build. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the premier's hesitancy to change course.Ontario has decided where its allotment of international students will go, and public universities and colleges are the big winners. Private career colleges will see a drop in enrolment and could be the first casualties from this new federal cap.There's a deadline to call a by-election and the time has come for Lambton Kent Middlesex, the former riding of MPP Monte McNaughton. Steve and John Michael discuss who will be running.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/a-conversation-in-hamiltons-tent-cityJohn Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/renters-in-canada-need-all-the-help-they-can-get-will-a-bill-of-rights-make-any-difference
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Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy has unveiled Ontario's budget and it's a big one. The province is spending an unprecedented amount on building infrastructure projects but is expected to see large deficits over the next two years. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into the details.

The Ontario Liberal Party has announced their candidate for the Milton byelection, and it's not Bonnie Crombie. Galen Naidoo Harris, the son of former Milton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris, will run. However, his candidacy leaves open the question of where the new Ontario Liberal leader will plant her flag.

And in Your Column, My Column, Steve and John Michael go over some specific parts of the budget that really grind their gears.

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/why-should-the-government-send-me-9-a-month-to-help-me-pay-my-hydro-bill

John Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/what-the-2024-budget-means-for-housing-affordability-in-ontario
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Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has said that if she becomes premier, she will not impose carbon tax on residents. This, among many other announcements, has made this a big week for her. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what's been announced so far.

In Your Column, My Column, Steve talks about Roy McMurtry who died on March 18. McMurtry was one of two Ontarians to hold the positions of both attorney general and chief justice of the province's highest court. He also championed human rights and legalized same-sex marriage in Ontario.

Then, we bring an end to the CPR West Toronto station story in our mailbag segment. Steve and John Michael remember that this story was never about the destination, it was about all the interesting train facts they learned along the way.

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 Roy McMurtry: https://www.tvo.org/article/remembering-roy-mcmurtry-one-of-ontarios-most-influential-attorneys-general

An interview with Roy McMurtry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SrxkBkJuKI

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

Clip courtesy: Office of the Premier of Ontario/youtube.com

JMM’s column on Bonnie Crombie’s new housing policy: https://www.tvo.org/article/will-bonnie-crombies-new-housing-policy-light-a-fire-under-the-ford-government
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.