When we talk about the affordability crisis, you sometimes hear the term “legislated poverty”, meaning the state of social assistance rates like Ontario Works and ODSP that assure people can never get ahead because the amounts paid never cover all the real costs of daily life. That’s why Mike Morrice decided to act when he was elected to the House of Commons in 2021, but like all great quests, it hasn’t ended up the way he envisioned. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #461 – Dispatches From a Quixotic Legislative Quest (feat. Mike Morrice)”
Category: Guelph Politicast
GUELPH POLITICAST #460 – Now What? (feat. Diana Chan McNally)
Although housing and homelessness has been THE issue for the last few years, it feels like they didn’t make a dent in the recently completed provincial election. As the news obsessively tracks the tariff war and Doug Ford’s response to Donald Trump’s latest drama, the struggles of growing unaffordability and homelessness seems to have taken a back seat., So now that the election is over, does anyone in authority still care about these issues? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #460 – Now What? (feat. Diana Chan McNally)”
GUELPH POLITICAST #459 – This Slushy Election (feat. Scotty Hertz)
It’s been four weeks since Doug Ford asked the Lieutenant-Governor to dissolve the legislature and it really hasn’t felt like anything has changed. Now, we will go to the polls on Thursday to decide who will form the provincial government for the next four years and despite all the issues, it feels like it’s still going to be the people who’ve run it for the last seven years. So what have we missed this election? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #459 – This Slushy Election (feat. Scotty Hertz)”
WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #458 – Runnin’ Up That Hilson (feat. Alex Hilson)
According to the latest polls, the governing PCs might be in minority government territory, and the spoiler might be a revitalized Liberal Party. In Wellington-Halton Hills it will be a big climb because while this seat is open, the Liberals finished fourth in a close race for second in 2022. Is there the possibility that without Ted Arnott on the ballot that voters might be willing to take a closer look at the man from Acton? Continue reading “WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #458 – Runnin’ Up That Hilson (feat. Alex Hilson)”
WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #457 – Green For the Bron-Win?! (feat. Bronwynne Wilton)
In 2022, the three major Ontario opposition parties finished very closely together in Wellington-Halton Hills with the Liberals finishing 804 votes short of the second place NDP, and 82 votes short of the third place Greens. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise then that the Green Party of Ontario sees Wellington-Halton Hills as prime target for an upset this election, but can the party be that upsetting with so much on the line? Continue reading “WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #457 – Green For the Bron-Win?! (feat. Bronwynne Wilton)”
WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #456 – A Vote for Consensus (feat. Ron Patava)
There are seven people running in Wellington-Halton Hills, but only one of them is a party leader. If you’re looking at this election and are thinking to yourself that it’s pretty messed up that the premier can just call an election 16 months early and in the midst of several intermingling crisis, and that there should be a better way, then you might be the type of voter that Ron Patava and Consensus Party is looking for. Continue reading “WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #456 – A Vote for Consensus (feat. Ron Patava)”
WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #455 – Yes She Kent! (feat. Simone Kent)
In some respects, Wellington-Halton Hills is the riding to watch this year because, for the first time in three decades. it’s competitive. Ted Arnott announced that he would not be seeking re-election at the end of the last term, and while the PC Party would like to hold on to this one, opportunity is knocking for the other major parties. Today, Ontario’s official opposition will make their case for the riding next door! Continue reading “WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS POLITICAST #455 – Yes She Kent! (feat. Simone Kent)”
GUELPH POLITICAST #454 – On Overthrowing “The King” (feat. Jacquie Wells)
ACORN is on the frontline of fighting the housing and affordability crises for low and moderate income people and in Ontario they’ve invested a lot of attention lately on one bad guy, Michael Klein. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the so-called “King of Renovictions”. Last week the two sides came face-to-face, sort of, at the Landlord Tenant Board, but don’t think this is the end of the fight! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #454 – On Overthrowing “The King” (feat. Jacquie Wells)”
GUELPH POLITICAST #453 – The Changing Food Bank (feat. Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy)
It’s hard to think of any aid agency busier these days than the Guelph Food Bank these days, and to prove it, they went to city council last November during budget delegation night to ask for help. It might come as a surprise to learn that the Food Bank has never received any government funding, but it’s proof that food insecurity is now outside their control, and it’s the reason for changes that they’ve started to undertake. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #453 – The Changing Food Bank (feat. Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy)”
GUELPH POLITICAST #452 – New Year, New CAO (feat. Tara Baker)
The CAO position is the highest ranking official in local government that doesn’t have the job title of either mayor or city councillor, and it’s the only staff position at city hall that’s hired by a committee made up of the mayor and councillors. So yes, it’s a pretty important job, and it’s not like there’s any shortage of issues or needs for the new woman in charge as she enters her first full year in charge. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #452 – New Year, New CAO (feat. Tara Baker)”









