On The Ledge Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast - Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford weigh in on the 34 felony convictions for Donald Trump before turning to the games at Queen's Park.

The Premier was commenting on the recent shooting at a Jewish school in Toronto and, in so doing, seemingly took aim at immigrants for the violence.

"Enough is enough," said Ford. "You're bringing your problems from everywhere else in the world, you're bringing it to Ontario. and you're going after other Canadians, as the Prime Minister said, unacceptable. I got an idea. Before you plan on moving to Canada, don't come to Canada if you're going to start terrorizing neighbourhoods."

At worst, Ford is being accused of "othering" immigrants. At best, the premier was ill prepared to answer an obvious question from the media.

Then there is the matter of the push to accerate beer and wine sales in grocery stores and convenience stores. That means breaking the contract with the Brewers Retail to the tune of $225 million. But it appears that's only part of the cost. All in, the price to eliminate the Beer Store could land somewhere north of a billion dollars!

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

It was a classic Friday Dump! The Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend, the Ford government announces its intention to use an enhanced ministerial zoning order to cut the City of Toronto out of the planning process for Ontario Place.

Also, the Ontario government 's defence of its third party ad restriction get a rough ride in front of the Supreme Court of Canada.

The province also lost in the Court of Appeal this week. The panel upheld the right to strike for TTC workers. Why doesn't Ford just invoke the Notwithstanding Clause, reinstating the TTC as an essential service and save the GTA the grief of a transit shut down?

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie attempts to muscle her way into the headlines by calling on the RCMP to provide an update on the Greenbelt investigation.

And, how much mileage can the Premier get out of re-announcing plans to expand beer and liquor sales and how much will it cost for the province to buy its way out of its contract with Brewers Retail to accelerate the plan?

Ugly shirt season has begun! It's the Victoria Day Weekend edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast!

Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford pay tribute to David Rider for his 14-plus years of service as the Toronto City Hall Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. David's moving on to take on the role of Senior Political Reporter in the GTA! Well done!!

Also, we dig in on some of the head scratching stories to come out of Queen's Park this past week, Including:






The staffing crisis in healthcare, particularly the need for nurses and personal support workers, is a significant concern. And why did the Health Ministry stiff Colin D'Mello's FOI request for the staffing stats but gave them up to Canadian Press without an argument?? (Could it be Ford Nation just doesn't like the Global News QP Bureau Chief? FOR THE RECORD: We love the guy!!)The province should take the initiative and provide better support and resources, including healthcare and mental health services, for veterans and their families.AND...the Solicitor General has done NOTHING in response to 57 recommendations from a coroner's inquest into the death of Soleiman Faquiri. He died while in 2016 while he was in custody at the Central East Correctional Centre. The coroner ruled his death was a homicide.

In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

So many QUESTIONS!

The pollsters are at odds over what's weighing on the Ontario Liberals. Is it the lack lustre performance of the Trudeau government? Is it Ford Nation's ability to frame and define OLP leader Bonnie Crombie as the "Queen of the Carbon Tax"? Or is it simply an electorate that just isn't paying ANY attention to the minutiae of the daily grind at Queen's Park?

Do the latest email revelations connecting the Greenbelt scandal to another Ford staffer move the needle on Doug Ford's approvals?

There are more signs the Toronto Polic Service is facing an intergrity crisis. The Stacy Clarke case lays bear several layers of systemic issues that are reputational problems for Toronto cops.

And the Health Minister says there's no need to worry about the family doctor shortage when 2 million Ontarians DON'T have a GP!

In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

We pick through the entrails of two by-election wins for the Progressive Conservatives.

Two things are clear:
There's no "call for change" at Queen's Park. Are we on the verge if the next Big Blue Machine era of politics in Ontario?If Bonnie Crombie couldn't muster enough attention, support or money to win the race in Milton, what does that say for the future of the Ontario Liberal Party?Oh ya,,,,Go LEAFS!

In this week's edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast:

We remember the legendary broadcaster Bob Cole and then dig in on the latest stories coming out of Queen's Park including:

The Ford Nation reversal of the week.

The fallout from the NOT GUILTY verdict in the trial of Umar Zumeer - accused of murdering Toronto police Det-Constable Jeffery Northrup.

And would the premier seriously consider calling an early election?