On The Ledge

Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions
  • 4.2 (27)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
On The Ledge

The Ledge, n: slang for the legislature. Mostly used by members of the legislative press gallery. On the Ledge posts weekly when the Ontario Legislature is sitting. But there have been times when we've had to "recall" the Ledge for an emergency session to address pressing matters of Ontario politics when Queen's Park isn't sitting! Our OTL team includes the 25th Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader, (and Wynne's erstwhile parliamentary sparring partner), Tim Hudak,  John Wright, EVP at Maru Public Opinion, Keith Leslie, veteran Queen's Park broadcast journalist, and Dave Trafford, Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Doug Ford pushes to drop Mexico from the North American trade deal

    On the Ledge this week!   Kathleen Wynne wonders why school kids are less respectful and worse behaved than we were in the day.   Keith Leslie says we should all be ASHAMED of the staggering stats coming out of the 20224 Who's Hungry Report at the Daily Bread Food Bank.   John Wright draws a direct line between the national immigration strategy, the static housing starts and the sharp increased use of food backs across Canada.   Tim Hudak likes the idea of having the feds create an automatic income tax filing. That would help a lot of Canadians who live in poverty.   AND...DT gives kudos to Bonnie Crombie for her response to the Dougie Dollars handout.   YOU CAN NOW LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SHOW!   Let us know what you think.    Use this LINK https://www.speakpipe.com/OnTheLedge and LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE!   Meet the OTL Front Bench.   John Wright is a veteran pollster, taking the political pulse in Canada and the U.S. He's also a founding host of On the Ledge.   Keith Leslie is a regular contributor to CHCH News and spent more than more than half of his career at Canadian Press reporting from Queen’s Park. Keith joined On the Ledge in July, 2018. Tim Hudak brings more than two decades of experience as an MPP in Ontario and five years as the Leader of the Ontario PC Party to On the Ledge.   Kathleen Wynne shares her unique perspectives as the first woman elected Premier of Ontario when she joins the crew around the table at On the Ledge.   Dave Trafford is a “Podcast Journalist”, the Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network, and a Recovering News Director, (having led the news operations at Global News Toronto, Newstalk 1010 and AM640 radio in Toronto) with more than forty years of experience in Canadian media. He and John launched the podcast the same day the 2018 Ontario election campaign kicked off!

    55 min

  2. NOV 8

    What does Donald Trump's comeback mean for Ontario?

    In this week's edition of On the Ledge -you Ontario politics podcast. We can't NOT talk about Donald Trump's return to the White House! Our Front Bench weighs in on where the Democrats failed and how the GOP managed to grow its base into an unlikely coalition that landed Trump back behind the Resolute Desk. We also run through the pros and cons of voter-based subsidies for the provinicial political parties and do we need new laws to prevent protests outside places of worship. YOU CAN NOW LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SHOW! Let us know what you think. Comment on the discussion. What would you like us to talk about.  Use this LINK and LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE!   YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE   Meet the OTL Front Bench.   John Wright is a veteran pollster, taking the political pulse in Canada and the U.S. He's also a founding host of On the Ledge   Keith Leslie is a regular contributor to CHCH News and spent more than more than half of his career at Canadian Press reporting from Queen’s Park. Keith joined On the Ledge in July, 2018.   Tim Hudak brings more than two decades of experience as an MPP in Ontario and five years as the Leader of the Ontario PC Party to On the Ledge.   Kathleen Wynne shares her unique perspectives as the first woman elected Premier of Ontario when she joins the crew around the table at On the Ledge.   Dave Trafford is a “Podcast Journalist”, the Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network, and a Recovering News Director, (having led the news operations at Global News Toronto, Newstalk 1010 and AM640 radio in Toronto) with more than forty years of experience in Canadian media. He and John launched the podcast the same day the 2018 Ontario election campaign kicked off!

    58 min

  3. NOV 1

    Peter Bethlenfalvy says "NOW" is the time to hand out Dougie Dollars

    In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast our Front Bench sifts through the remains of the 2024 Fall Economic Statement.No one on the pod thinks Ford's plan to give every child, woman and man a $200 cheque is money well spent - UNLESS the Dougie Dollars are meant to buy votes.The province won't come close to hitting it's housing targets.The LCBO took a revenue hit this year. Is that a symptom of the summer strike? Meantime, the booze in grocery stores plan was so poorly rolled out, retailers say the bottle return requirement means it's not worth it for them to sell beer and wine.Why isn't Ford Nation more aggressive in the effort to solve homeless encampments?Oh ya, and we read the room on what to expect in next week's US election!YOU CAN NOW LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SHOW! Let us know what you think. Comment on the discussion. What would you like us to talk about. Use this LINK and LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE!   YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE   Meet the OTL Front Bench. John Wright is a veteran pollster, taking the political pulse in Canada and the U.S. He's also a founding host of On the Ledge   Keith Leslie s a regular contributor to CHCH News and spent more than more than half of his career at Canadian Press reporting from Queen’s Park. Keith joined On the Ledge in July, 2018.  Tim Hudak brings more than two decades of experience as an MPP in Ontario and five years as the Leader of the Ontario PC Party to On the Ledge.   Kathleen Wynne shares her unique perspectives as the first woman elected Premier of Ontario when she joins the crew around the table at On the Ledge.   Dave Trafford is a “Podcast Journalist”, the Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network, and a Recovering News Director, (having led the news operations at Global News Toronto, Newstalk 1010 and AM640 radio in Toronto) with more than forty years of experience in Canadian media. He and John launched the podcast the same day the 2018 Ontario election campaign kicked off!

    51 min

  4. OCT 25

    Doug Ford's kicks off the 4th quarter of his mandate. Too bad the Oppo's still in the 3rd quarter!

    In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast! The Ledge is back! And the consensus is Ford Nation's running up the score in the fourth quarter - heading for a campaign. But the NDP is still reviewing third quarter plays while Bonnie Crombie's Liberals are stuck on the sidelines. Former Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and former Ontario Premier Kathleen agree there's alway a good deal of excitement when the House reconvenes after a lengthy recess - but we may have triggered the Premier when we played a Question Period exchange between Doug Ford and Marit Stiles. MPPs are back in their seats at Queen's Park and, remarkably, NDP Leader Marit Stiles finally got the Doug Ford's attention - coaxing the premier to get out of his chair to "respond" to oppo questions. (Let's be clear, there were no "answers". That's why they call it "Question Period"!) Thanks for listening! HEY! YOU CAN NOW LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE ABOUT THE SHOW!  Let us know what you think. Comment on the discussion. What would you like us to talk about. Use this LINK and LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE!   YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE   Meet the OTL Front Bench.   John Wright is Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. He and his team provide public opinion measurement, interpretation, and advice and counsel to senior executives and public affairs/public relations leaders. He’s also a founding host of On the Ledge.   Keith Leslie spent more than three decades at Canadian Press and more than half that time reporting from the CP Bureau at Queen’s Park. Keith joined On the Ledge in July, 2018.   Tim Hudak brings more than two decades of experience as an MPP in Ontario and five years as the Leader of the Ontario PC Party to On the Ledge.   Kathleen Wynne shares her unique perspectives as the first woman elected Premier of Ontario when she joins the crew around the table at On the Ledge.   Dave Trafford is a “Podcast Journalist”, the Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network, and a Recovering News Director, (having led the news operations at Global News Toronto, Newstalk 1010 and AM640 radio in Toronto) with more than forty years of experience in Canadian media. He and John launched the podcast the same day the 2018 Ontario election campaign kicked off!

    56 min

  5. OCT 17

    Doug Ford's going to cut you a cheque for $200 (of your own money)!

    In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast. Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former PC Ontario Leader Tim Hudak, pollster John Wright from Maru Public Opinion, veteran Queen's Park commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford weigh in on the latest stories and developments at Queen's Park. This week: Rob Benzie at the Toronto Star reports Ford Nation will be sending each Ontarian a cheque for $200. It will be included in the Fall Economic Statement scheduled for October 30th.Another Ontario school board is fiscally tone deaf - spending $145 thousand dollars for trustees to travel to Italy to buy art work for a new school. Paper bags are coming back to the LCBO.The Ford governent is curbing bike lanes in cities across the provinceAND...there is a complete DISCONNECT among all levels of government when it comes to coordinating infrastructure projects.Listen to the show: On Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/on-the-ledge/id1388004807 On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/46BNcFqlmx6w86VrVbGqHk?si=ffa5f9ffbade4a1e And WATCH on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@davetraffordpodcasts

    54 min

  6. OCT 12

    A rough week for Olivia Chow and the Mounties are moving on the Greenbelt probe!

    Former Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, Maru Public Opinion EVP, John Wright, Queen's Park Commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford are at the table this week for the latest edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast. And we begin with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's brutal week. Katheleen Wynne makes no bones about it. Chow's no-show at the October 7th services was bad enough. It turned into a colossal "mess" when the mayor tried to explain herself to Newstalk 1010 morning show host, John Moore. We also weigh in on Rob Benzie's reporting in the Toronto Star about the state of the RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt. But after all is said and done, does the Opposition have what it takes to challenge Doug Ford's popularity?

    47 min

  7. SEPT 27

    Is Doug Ford's 401 tunnel plan a shiny object distraction or good local politics?

    The week, our On the Ledge crew got bigger! We're excited to add former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former Ontario P.C. Leader Tim Hudak to the Roundtable with veteran pollster John Wright, Queen's Park Commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network's Dave Trafford.  In this episode, the crew "digs" into Doug Ford's call for a Brampton-to-Markham tunnel under the 401. Is it just a back-of-the-napkin pipe dream or big thinking and big ideas when we need them most? What's to be learned after Toronto school kids went on a field trip that ended up at a pro-palestinian protest? The province's long term care fix is short term pain. Bill 7 is designed to free up scarce hospital beds but it's forcing patients into LTC homes of the government's choosing OR it's fining families $400 a day. And the premier's answer to homeless encampments is "get off your A.S.S." and get a job!

    57 min

  8. JUL 27

    Cheers to the end of the first LCBO Strike in history. But was it the LAST strike ever?

    In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: John Wright says the Ford government may have won the battle but the union got a better deal than they demanded in the first place, despite a disastrous communications strategy Or...was the contract package already baked into the government's plans even before the workers walked off the job on July 5th? It was a long term win for Doug Ford. But he and his team keep laying rakes down and stepping on them when it comes to the Ontario Place rebuild plans.Seems the premier is shocked to learn that underground parking on the Lakeshore is not only expensive, it's likely to FLOOD when we get the epic rain events we saw in July. We also touched on Deputy Premier "What's her name?" announcing plans to allow expand pharmacists role in treating ailments. Minister Jones REFUSED to say how much the program will cost. And, as we watch crews sift thru the charred remains of Jasper, where are governments, at all levels, in all regions with their commitment to investing in smart forest management? The wildfires across Canada are only intensifying and all were left with are a "thoughts and prayers" response from first ministers and ministers responsible for climate change and the environment. The Carbon Tax isn't a solution. Neither are heat pumps and EVs Read Jamie Stephen's LinkedIn post if you want to understand how government should be responding and investing.  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesstephen_jasper-faces-significant-loss-of-buildings-activity-7222187533596540929-fO0H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios AND..BTW... OTL is going on hiatus for the month of August. John, Keith and Dave will be back in your podcast feed after Labour Day!

    48 min
See All (273)

4.2
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

The Ledge, n: slang for the legislature. Mostly used by members of the legislative press gallery. On the Ledge posts weekly when the Ontario Legislature is sitting. But there have been times when we've had to "recall" the Ledge for an emergency session to address pressing matters of Ontario politics when Queen's Park isn't sitting! Our OTL team includes the 25th Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader, (and Wynne's erstwhile parliamentary sparring partner), Tim Hudak,  John Wright, EVP at Maru Public Opinion, Keith Leslie, veteran Queen's Park broadcast journalist, and Dave Trafford, Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    273
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Story Studio Network
  • Show Website
    On The Ledge

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada