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, our veteran pollster and co-founding host, Keith Leslie, veteran Queen’s Park broadcast journalist, and Dave Trafford, Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network.
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On The Ledge - Podcast
59:24
Alberta separatism, Billy Bishop Airport expansion, Metrolinx transparency, Niagara politics, and Doug Ford’s latest infrastructure ambitions — this week’s On the Ledge covers a wide stretch of Canada’s political fault lines.<br /><br />Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, pollster John Wright, and veteran political journalist Keith Leslie for a wide-ranging conversation on the political tensions shaping Ontario and the country.<br /><br />Kathleen Wynne joins from Calgary with firsthand insight into the growing conversation around Alberta separation and Western alienation. The panel debates whether a referendum vote could become Canada’s version of Brexit, the role Danielle Smith is playing inside Alberta politics, and whether Ottawa is taking the threat seriously enough.<br /><br />Back in Ontario, the panel breaks down the political and economic questions surrounding proposed Billy Bishop Airport expansion plans, including concerns about waterfront development, infrastructure planning, transparency, and the lack of a public business case. The discussion also explores delays tied to Metrolinx projects, Niagara’s proposed mega Ferris wheel tourism concept, and the ongoing debate over accountability and political distraction at Queen’s Park.<br /><br />Plus: Niagara regional chair speculation, strong mayor powers, and a championship track-and-field story from the Hudak household to close out the show.<br /><br />#OntarioPolitics #DougFord #Alberta #BillyBishop #DanielleSmith #Metrolinx #TorontoPolitics #OnTheLedge #CanadianPolitics #NiagaraFalls<br /><br />Chapters<ul><li>00:00 – Introduction and Kathleen Wynne’s Calgary observations</li><li>02:40 – Alberta separatism, referendum fears, and Brexit comparisons</li><li>15:18 – National unity, provincial politics, and Danielle Smith’s political balancing act</li><li>23:01 – Billy Bishop Airport expansion and Toronto referendum debate</li><li>36:35 – Metrolinx transparency, infrastructure delays, and the Niagara Ferris wheel</li><li>49:43 – Niagara regional chair politics and closing moments</li></ul><br /><br />You can watch OR listen to this episode on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@davetraffordpodcasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube Channel </a>(Be sure to subscribe!)<br /><br />Follow Dave on <a href="https://facebook.com/dave.trafford.5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/davetrafford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-trafford-06584426/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> and<a href="https://x.com/PodcastPWR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> X</a><br /><br />And you can leave us a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/ontheledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">voice comment here</a>!<br /><br />For more information go to <a href="https://davetrafford.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave's website</a>.
01:02:39
The “gravy plane” story refuses to go away — and this week on On the Ledge, the panel breaks down why the Ford government’s latest document dump may have created more questions than answers.<br />Host Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, veteran political journalist Keith Leslie, and pollster John Wright for a wide-ranging discussion about accountability, affordability, and the political risks facing the Ford government heading into summer.<br /><br />The panel examines the nearly $200,000 in added costs tied to Ontario’s controversial aircraft purchase and resale, why opposition parties continue to hammer the issue, and whether Doug Ford’s recent messaging reset is actually connecting with voters struggling with grocery prices, fuel costs, and economic anxiety.<br /><br />Also in this episode:<br /><ul><li>The Auditor General’s troubling findings on trucking safety oversight</li><li>AI use in Ontario healthcare and the politics of “hallucinating” headlines</li><li>Ongoing failures at the Family Responsibility Office</li><li>Declining media scrutiny and the erosion of accountability mechanisms</li><li>Ontario Liberal Party infighting and the Nate Erskine-Smith nomination controversy</li></ul><br />It’s another candid, fast-moving conversation about the stories shaping Ontario politics right now — and what they could mean for the months ahead.<br /><br />Chapters<br />00:00 – Introduction and the latest “gravy plane” revelations<br />05:00 – Opposition strategy, political tone, and Ford’s messaging reset<br />13:00 – Affordability pressures, cost-of-living politics, and Doug Ford’s new video strategy<br />23:20 – Auditor General reports: trucking safety, AI in healthcare, and accountability gaps<br />34:15 – Government transparency, media decline, and the changing accountability landscape<br />51:20 – Ontario Liberal Party turmoil, Nate Erskine-Smith controversy, and leadership speculation<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Ontario Politics Podcast: Doug Ford Gravy Plane Scandal, Cost of Living Crisis & Auditor General Report</li><li>Ford Government Accountability Questions Grow | Ontario Politics, AI Healthcare & Liberal Party Drama</li><li>Ontario Politics Explained: Gravy Plane Costs, Affordability Anxiety & Nate Erskine-Smith Controversy</li></ul><br /><br />You can watch OR listen to this episode on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@davetraffordpodcasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube Channel </a>(Be sure to subscribe!)<br /><br />Follow Dave on <a href="https://facebook.com/dave.trafford.5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/davetrafford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-trafford-06584426/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> and<a href="https://x.com/PodcastPWR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> X</a><br /><br />And you can leave us a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/ontheledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">voice comment here</a>!<br /><br />For more information go to <a href="https://davetrafford.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave's website</a>.
51:21
Doug Ford’s government is facing mounting pressure — and this week on On the Ledge, the panel breaks down why the controversy around the “gravy plane,” freedom-of-information changes, and Highway 413 transparency questions just won’t go away.<br /><br />Host Dave Trafford is joined by former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, veteran pollster John Wright, and longtime Queen’s Park journalist Keith Leslie for a wide-ranging discussion about political tone, accountability, affordability, and the future of Ontario politics.<br /><br />The conversation examines Ford’s increasingly testy exchanges with reporters, the government’s effort to move the agenda back toward trade and economic issues, and whether voters are paying more attention to affordability concerns than political scandals. The panel also digs into the Ontario government’s handling of Greenbelt-related information requests and why critics keep asking one central question: <b>“What are you hiding?”</b><br /><br />Plus:<br /><ul><li>The escalating tone at Queen’s Park</li><li>Marit Stiles vs. Doug Ford</li><li>Why teacher negotiations could define the fall political season</li><li>Honda’s pause on Ontario EV investments</li><li>Whether Ontario missed its chance to build EV infrastructure properly</li><li>Nate Erskine-Smith and the Scarborough Southwest Liberal nomination battle</li><li>What Ontario Liberals still need before they can seriously challenge Ford</li></ul><br />The episode also includes a preview of an upcoming conversation about the future of education and innovative student-led learning models at Pickering College.<br /><br />Chapters<br />00:00 – Introduction and Ford’s difficult return to the spotlight<br />06:45 – Transparency fights: FOI battles, Greenbelt questions, and the “what are you hiding?” problem<br />17:05 – Schools, labour unrest, and why the fall political season could become explosive<br />27:40 – Political tone, civility, and escalating rhetoric at Queen’s Park<br />36:45 – Honda pauses EV investment and Ontario’s uncertain automotive future<br />45:25 – Scarborough Southwest nomination battle and Ontario Liberal leadership speculation<br /><br /><br /><br />You can watch OR listen to this episode on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@davetraffordpodcasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube Channel </a>(Be sure to subscribe!)<br /><br />Follow Dave on <a href="https://facebook.com/dave.trafford.5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/davetrafford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-trafford-06584426/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a> and<a href="https://x.com/PodcastPWR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> X</a><br /><br />And you can leave us a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/ontheledge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">voice comment here</a>!<br /><br />For more information go to <a href="https://davetrafford.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave's website</a>.