On The Ledge

Ontario&rsquo;s commercial property tax system is broken and it's costing business across the province tens of millions of dollars A YEAR. And all because of the municipal assessment policies set at Queen's Park. Premier Doug Ford knows there's a problem, yet has done nothing about it since taking office in 2018.<br><br>In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast, Dave Trafford sits down with property tax advocate Paul Sullivan to unpack the hidden consequences of Ontario&rsquo;s decade-long property assessment freeze.<br><br>Sullivan argues that because Ontario properties are still being assessed using 2016 values, the province has created a distorted and increasingly unfair tax system &mdash; especially for small businesses. While municipal budgets and tax rates continue to rise, the underlying assessments haven&rsquo;t kept pace with dramatic changes in commercial real estate values, consumer behaviour, development pressures, and post-pandemic economic realities.<br><br>The conversation breaks down how &ldquo;ad valorem&rdquo; taxation is supposed to work, why regular reassessments matter, and how freezing assessments has shifted disproportionate tax burdens onto local retailers, restaurants, and independent businesses. Sullivan shares findings from his analysis of more than 3,000 GTA property sales and reveals that many neighbourhood businesses are unknowingly paying thousands more in property taxes than they should.<br><br>Dave and Paul also explore the broader political and economic implications: municipal dependence on property taxes, provincial reluctance to reform the system, development slowdowns, rising costs for consumers, and the erosion of trust in public finance. Despite the complexity of the issue, the discussion keeps returning to a simple question: who is really paying the price for outdated tax policy?<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>.

This is a SPECIAL EDITIO of On the Ledge - you Ontario politics podcast. It's a "feed drop" from Newstalk 1010's Moore in the Morning.<br><br>The politics of trade, tariffs and public space all collide in this week's roundtable .<br><br>John Moore stickhandled ROUND ONE, featuring former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, Nexus Strategy Group CEO Marion Nader, and Story Studio Network&rsquo;s Dave Trafford for a wide-ranging discussion on reports that the White House intervened to cancel meetings Premier Doug Ford had planned during his latest trip to Washington.<br><br>What does it tell us about the state of Canada-U.S. relations? Is it a negotiating tactic tied to CUSMA talks, or a signal that trade discussions are entering a more difficult phase? Dave doesn't think the "snub" was hostile at all. It suggests there may be some opportunities brewing behind closed doors.<br><br>The panel also examines Ford&rsquo;s pledge to keep American alcohol off LCBO shelves until a trade deal is reached. Has Ontario&rsquo;s boycott already changed consumer behaviour? And could Ontario wineries, breweries and local producers emerge as long-term winners regardless of how the trade dispute ends?<br><br>If you want smart, informed analysis of the issues shaping Ontario politics and public policy, this episode delivers plenty to think about.<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>.

Ontario's legislature is heading into a remarkably long summer recess, but the political debates aren't cooling down.<br><br>In this episode of On the Ledge, I&rsquo;m joined by Tim Hudak, Kathleen Wynne, John Wright and Keith Leslie for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when MPPs leave Queen&rsquo;s Park for nearly five months. Is this a reasonable balance between constituency work and legislative duties, or does it weaken accountability and democratic oversight?<br><br>We also dig into the growing controversy surrounding Billy Bishop Airport expansion plans, including questions about lobbying, transparency and who ultimately stands to benefit from major changes on Toronto&rsquo;s waterfront.<br><br>The conversation then shifts to Ottawa, where reports of internal Liberal caucus tensions raise questions about Prime Minister Mark Carney&rsquo;s leadership style and how leaders manage dissent behind closed doors.<br><br>Finally, we look ahead to Ontario&rsquo;s next round of teacher negotiations, examining funding pressures, class sizes, declining enrolment, school infrastructure and what parents can expect heading into the next school year.<br><br>As always, the panel brings experience, perspective and a healthy dose of political realism to the discussion.<br><br>#OntarioPolitics #DougFord #MarkCarney #BillyBishopAirport #OntarioEducation #QueenPark #TeacherNegotiations #OnTheLedge #OntarioNews #CanadianPolitics&nbsp;<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>.