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Earlier this week, a second unanimous consent vote to reverse a ban on wearing keffiyehs at Queen's Park failed to pass. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath follow up on the ban at Queen's Park and ramifications of it.

The Province of Ontario is investing billions into electric vehicle plants from car manufacturing giant Honda. The new plants announced this week are part of a larger plan to make the province into an EV powerhouse, but there have been a few stumbles along the way.

The Ontario Basic Income pilot was abruptly cancelled in 2019 when Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party formed government. Many years later, a class action lawsuit certified by the Ontario Superior Court has the government paying for legal fees and the plaintiffs seeking millions more in damages. Steve and John Michael discuss what the program did and what the cancellation meant to participants.

UDPATE: On Thursday after this week's episode finished recording, Independent MPP Sarah Jama was asked by Speaker Ted Arnott to remove her keffiyeh while in the chamber at Queen's Park, and when she refused she was asked to leave the chamber, which she declined to do. That came after the events on Tuesday that we discuss in this week's episode. We'll have an update on all of this in next week's episode.

John Michael’s column: Former basic-income recipients are taking Ontario to court. Do they have a shot? | TVO Today 

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda

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The federal government has tabled its budget, which includes money for municipalities on housing and a tax on the rich. Details have been released piecemeal over the last several weeks, but now Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath will finally be able to digest the whole thing.
 
 Highway 413 has cleared a major hurdle with the federal government removing the need for an environmental assessment. So, will shovels finally get into the ground for this new project? Not so fast, because there are several other issues that could get in the way.
 
 Several MPPs at Queen's Park were quietly removed from their committee assignments last week. Steve and John Michael discuss these unusual removals and what they might mean.
 
 Steve's column:
 
 John Michael's column:
 
 You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

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Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra unveiled The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, a new piece of housing legislation designed to get more housing built. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the omnibus bill and look at the housing policy blitz we've seen from both the federal and provincial government.

The Office of the Premier has 48 staff members on the Sunshine List, which makes it one of the most expensive incarnations of this office ever. How does this expense square with Doug Ford's brand of fiscal responsibility?

The Ontario New Democrat Party recently hit a record for donations, leader Marit Stiles is travelling the province, and the party has been putting forward strong legislation. So, why isn't Doug Ford taking notice? Steve and John Michael discuss the premier's choice of opponents.

Steve’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/do-doug-ford-and-pierre-poilievre-get-along

John Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-ford-government-needs-to-get-real-about-its-own-housing-statistics

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

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The Canadian government has announced a new infrastructure fund that would provide billions to provinces and territories to build up wastewater treatment capacity and housing. The money comes with strings that include a pledge to build ,missing middle, housing, which Premier Doug Ford has opposed. The premier says he would rather let municipalities decide what and where to build. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the premier's hesitancy to change course.

Ontario has decided where its allotment of international students will go, and public universities and colleges are the big winners. Private career colleges will see a drop in enrolment and could be the first casualties from this new federal cap.

There's a deadline to call a by-election and the time has come for Lambton Kent Middlesex, the former riding of MPP Monte McNaughton. Steve and John Michael discuss who will be running.

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/a-conversation-in-hamiltons-tent-city

John Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/renters-in-canada-need-all-the-help-they-can-get-will-a-bill-of-rights-make-any-difference

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Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy has unveiled Ontario's budget and it's a big one. The province is spending an unprecedented amount on building infrastructure projects but is expected to see large deficits over the next two years. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into the details.

The Ontario Liberal Party has announced their candidate for the Milton byelection, and it's not Bonnie Crombie. Galen Naidoo Harris, the son of former Milton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris, will run. However, his candidacy leaves open the question of where the new Ontario Liberal leader will plant her flag.

And in Your Column, My Column, Steve and John Michael go over some specific parts of the budget that really grind their gears.

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/why-should-the-government-send-me-9-a-month-to-help-me-pay-my-hydro-bill

John Michael’s column: https://www.tvo.org/article/what-the-2024-budget-means-for-housing-affordability-in-ontario

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Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has said that if she becomes premier, she will not impose carbon tax on residents. This, among many other announcements, has made this a big week for her. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what's been announced so far.

In Your Column, My Column, Steve talks about Roy McMurtry who died on March 18. McMurtry was one of two Ontarians to hold the positions of both attorney general and chief justice of the province's highest court. He also championed human rights and legalized same-sex marriage in Ontario.

Then, we bring an end to the CPR West Toronto station story in our mailbag segment. Steve and John Michael remember that this story was never about the destination, it was about all the interesting train facts they learned along the way.

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve’s column on Roy McMurtry: https://www.tvo.org/article/remembering-roy-mcmurtry-one-of-ontarios-most-influential-attorneys-general

An interview with Roy McMurtry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SrxkBkJuKI

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Clip courtesy: Office of the Premier of Ontario/youtube.com

JMM’s column on Bonnie Crombie’s new housing policy: https://www.tvo.org/article/will-bonnie-crombies-new-housing-policy-light-a-fire-under-the-ford-government

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Premier Doug Ford has been seen in recent weeks handing out large cheques to cities who have hit their housing targets through the Building Faster Fund. Most recently, he praised Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, whose record is worse than former Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why the premier is willing to forgive when it comes to certain cities.

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party has picked their nominee in the upcoming Milton byelection. Will Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie also run in that race? Meanwhile, Durham's new federal MP Jamil Jivani has stirred up the conflict between the provincial and federal conservative parties. It's all getting a bit messy.

There's a good chance this summer will be a lot like last summer. Wildfire smoke could blanket the province, so the climate is on our minds. Steve and John Michael highlight some upcoming changes to two environmental acts that could have implications for the future of the province.

John Michael’s column on Halton Region and CN Rail: https://www.tvo.org/article/how-halton-region-both-won-and-lost-in-its-fight-against-cn-rail-in-just-one-week

The Narwhal’s reporting on conservation authorities: https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-changes/

How wetlands are becoming toxic time bombs: https://www.tvo.org/article/how-wetlands-are-becoming-pollution-time-bombs

Why Ontario shouldn’t pave paradise to put up a highway: https://www.tvo.org/article/why-ontario-shouldnt-pave-paradise-to-put-up-a-highway

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Clip courtesy: Office of the Premier of Ontario/youtube.com

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The official opposition is calling on the Ontario government to remove tolls for truckers on Highway 407. Their argument is moving truck traffic to the toll road would save truckers time and taxpayers money while removing the need to build highway 413. But will Doug Ford budge on his plans?

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association is the last union to sign a tentative agreement with the province. If ratified, all the big teacher organizations will then have agreements for the next three years. We discuss the history of these conflicts throughout the years.

And Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the legacy of former prime minister Brian Mulroney who died at 84.

You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve’s column on Brian Mulroney’s unlikely friendships: https://www.tvo.org/article/what-brian-mulroneys-unlikely-friendships-say-about-his-political-legacy

Steve’s column on the titans of ‘80s politics: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-titans-of-80s-politics-are-gone-lets-hope-their-legacy-of-mutual-respect-endures

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

John Michael's column on sewers: https://www.tvo.org/article/want-to-boost-housing-affordability-then-start-thinking-about-sewers

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Ontario's provincial government is infusing $1.3 billion into the post-secondary education system, but is it too little and too late? Faced with funding pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic and new regulations around international students, Ontario's higher learning institutions were looking for closer to $2.5 billion and for tuition hikes. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what happens next.

Doug Ford has tripled down on his hope to appoint ,like-minded judges, on Ontario courts by appointing former staffers onto the committees that choose judges. We discuss whether this is a new practice or something all political parties do.

Mike Schreiner's housing bill has been sent to committee or, as John Michael calls it, legislative purgatory. We discuss the possible reasons for the move and how the bill could potentially be brought into other housing policy.
A note to listeners, the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/half-a-century-ago-ontario-got-its-youngest-ever-cabinet-minister

John Michael's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/if-governments-are-serious-about-fighting-climate-change-they-should-tackle-transit-report

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Clip courtesy Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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MPPs have returned to Queen's Park after their winter hiatus to a jam-packed schedule with the Ontario PC Government introducing the "Get It Done Act." Steve and John Michael dig into what's in that bill.

We're also responding to your questions and comments from the last episode of the podcast. Email us at [email protected] if you have a question you'd like addressed on the show.

A note to listeners, audio episodes of the podcast will be dropping on Fridays rather than Tuesdays. #onpoli is very excited to be introducing a video component to our show, but you'll still get the same high-quality audio in your feed every week. You can also see the podcast on the TVO Today YouTube channel and every Friday night at 8 and 11 pm ET as the first half of The Agenda.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

A Place to Stand (1967): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0F10Sc3Vcw

Ontario.ca's resource page about A Place To Stand: https://web.archive.org/web/20190622184444/https://www.ontario.ca/page/place-stand-ontario-song

Clip of Aislinn Clancy's entry to Queen's Park courtesy Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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