Best Gtha Podcasts (2026)

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What a Year 2025 Was... 1:07:34

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4d ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Well its that time of year again. As we close out 2025 we look back at what was. And what a year it was. Two general elections to start us off. The political landscape shifting dramatically for two major parties. One at the federal level and the other at the provincial. And of course all of this under the threat of tariffs aimed at crippling our ec…

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Acorn Ontario Gets Evicted from the Legislature 42:37

24d ago42:37

42:37

Last week, the Ford government passed Bill 60. The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act. According to the Ontario government, this will grow the rental supply in Ontario and take care of bad actors in the rental market. Critics, however, say all this will do is hasten evictions and exacerbate the homeless crisis in our cities. One organization is A…

1
Is Ontario For Sale? 58:40

1M ago58:40

58:40

The falls as seen the Doug Ford government defend itself from scandal after scandal. Elected board trustees are being replaced with hand-selected Tory loyalist supervisors, who are being promised $350,000 a year. The Skilled Development Fund is being turned into a transfer of tax dollars to whoever donated the most to the Ontario PC's coffers. Rece…

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Lisa Kearns on the Future of the Sound of Music Festival 42:59

2M ago42:59

42:59

Earlier this summer, we presented an episode on the Sound of Music festival. The free music festival is held each Father's Day weekend in downtown Burlington. The event has attracted big names in the past, like The Trews and The Arkells, to grace their stages. However, since COVID, the costs have risen steadily, and sponsorships have not kept pace.…

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St. Catharines’ MP Chris Bittle takes on Marineland 30:37

2M ago30:37

30:37

The embattled Marineland, a Niagara Falls theme park, made news again this month. As we discussed in our previous episode on the matter, Marineland is nearing the end of its existence. Brought down by animal welfare scandals and changing perceptions of animal attraction parks. Currently, the park is closed, no longer generating revenue, and, accord…

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Do We Need School Board Reform? With Andrea Grebenc 44:04

2M ago44:04

44:04

Here we are with part two of our series examining school board reforms. The Ford Government is keen on eliminating trustees from Ontario school boards. As of the recording of this episode, Minister of Education Paul Calandra has removed elected trustees from four school boards in the province. Appointing a supervisor to oversee decision-making at t…

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Do We Need School Board Reform? With Nokha Dakroub 38:46

2M ago38:46

38:46

The Ontario government has been busy over the last few weeks. Many wheels are in motion, including traffic cameras being forcefully removed from municipalities, as well as another brewing scandal involving the Skills Development Fund. However, there is one that we wanted to focus on for the next two episodes, and that is the question of the removal…

1
Laura Walton on the Labour Movement Revival in Ontario 46:16

3M ago46:16

46:16

By The 905er

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Is the National School Food Program Working? 40:00

3M ago40:00

40:00

We all know how difficult it can be to focus on the day ahead of us when we don't have a full belly. Hunger is a pretty good distraction from us succeeding in our day. Imagine if you're a kid, then, trying to focus on learning math, science, history, geography, as well as participating in phys-ed on an empty stomach? Too many kids go to school hung…

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Ryan Zeitz Discovers the Joys of Working from Canada's Wonderland 31:12

3M ago31:12

31:12

Why settle for a cramped home office when you can take your Zoom calls beside a roller coaster? Digital strategist and content creator Ryan Zeitz joins Joel to share how he turned Canada’s Wonderland—the GTA’s iconic amusement park—into his summer “home office.” Ryan walks us through: How a spur-of-the-moment season-pass purchase became a full-blow…

1
What Does the 905 Look Like Without Malls? 44:43

4M ago44:43

44:43

This week, I finally get to tackle a topic that’s been on my mind for a while: dead malls. You’ve probably noticed them too — those once-busy shopping centres across the 905 that now sit half-empty, a shadow of what they used to be. I’m joined by urban researcher and writer Sean Marshall to dig into why this is happening, what it means for our comm…

1
The Ontario Liberal Party's September Woes 35:20

4M ago35:20

35:20

The Ontario Liberals have been dealing with a lot of drama since February. A less-than-stellar performance, failed to deliver them out of third place in the Ontario Legislature. Their leader, Bonnie Crombie, failed to win her seat. The only gain that was won was a return to official party status. As we discussed with Nathaniel Arfin, of the New Lea…

1
Who Will Save The Sound Of Music Festival? 44:57

4M ago44:57

44:57

The Burlington Sound of Music Festival is a staple in the 905. Over the Father's Day weekend, Canada's largest free music festival is held on the shores of Lake Ontario in Burlington. Acts such as The Trews, The Arkells, Big Wreck, Walk Off the Earth, and Finger Eleven have all graced its stages. In recent years, troubled times have come to the fes…

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Emily McIntosh Explains Why the Women of Ontario Say No 33:20

4M ago33:20

33:20

We've covered the issue of Municipal Councillors bullying their fellow elected officials and even staff. The problem has seemingly always existed in politics. However, nothing is really done about it, because, well, there is no HR department for those we elect. They are held accountable for their actions, truly, once every four years at the ballot …

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Nathaniel Arfin Talks the New Leaf Liberals 36:12

6M ago36:12

36:12

In February Ontario saw a provincial election that returned the province essentially to the status quo. Doug Ford remained Premier, Marit Stiles remained Leader of the Opposition, and well Bonnie Crombie still didn’t have a seat in the legislature. The Ontario Liberals have returned to official party status with some new faces sit in the legislatur…

1
Sean Vanderklis Advocates for the Homeless 44:50

6M ago44:50

44:50

What are we going to do with the unhoused of the 905? That is becoming the question on the minds of every municipality in the region. Last week, we had St. Catharine's Mayor Mat Siscoe to discuss Niagara's housing plan. In that episode, we mentioned the encampment bylaw that the city enacted. To say that this is a controversial bylaw is an understa…

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Mayor Mat Siscoe on Niagara’s Housing Priorities 32:45

7M ago32:45

32:45

Last week we listened to Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s plan to build housing in Mississauga. Today, we travel down the QEW to St. Catharine’s to talk with Mayor Mat Siscoe about the recent actions Niagara Region has undertaken to work on the housing file. Last month, the region passed a plan to fund subsidized housing for low-income individuals. As well …

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Did Mississauga Solve the Housing Crisis? 33:06

7M ago33:06

33:06

When Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish was elected in a by-election to replace Bonnie Crombie, she came into office during a runaway housing crisis. Upon taking office, one of the first actions she undertook was to create a Housing Task Force to review Mississauga's by-laws, zoning and policies to find ways to spur new housing development. Talking …

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Is GO Transit the Better Choice Over the 401 Tunnel? 29:21

7M ago29:21

29:21

Doug Ford is hellbent on building a tunnel under the 401. It's his magic solution to solving gridlock traffic in the 905, by moving millions of cars and trucks underneath Toronto. Right now, no price tag has been placed on this massive project. However, all experts have put it into the many billions of dollars. Not to mention the feasibility of bui…

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Laura Steiner Explains Milton’s Final Say on their MP 48:30

7M ago48:30

48:30

As the country moves on from the latest federal election, some ridings are still being counted. Several ridings' final vote counts were so close that a recount was conducted to determine who the elected MP was under our rules. Normally, this is done fairly and with little drama. However, this time around, conspiracy theories are being thrown into t…

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Andre Picard Explains How Measles Got Away From Us 38:19

8M ago38:19

38:19

Only one month ago, we interviewed Jill Promoli and Alvin Tedjo to discuss the alarming situation of rising measles cases in Peel Region. Since that interview, case numbers have steadily risen in Ontario. As the time of recording this episode, over 1400 cases have been reported and that number doesn't seem to be slowing down. Premier Doug Ford, Min…

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A Matter of Distrust in Hamilton 47:09

8M ago47:09

47:09

During the federal election, we had to stop covering some local issues. That didn’t mean we didn’t keep an eye on what was going on in the 905 City Halls. One particular story caught our eye in Hamilton. In early April, a long-awaited report was released. The Mayor’s Task Force, consisting of 5 volunteers, reported on the gap of distrust between Ha…

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905 Round-Up - Election Aftermath 14:41

8M ago14:41

14:41

A short but to the point episode this time around. With the dust of the federal election finally settling, it’s time to look to the future of Canada and the 905. Joel gives his brief summary of what comes next for each political party. It takes money and time to produce this podcast. We love what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can,…

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905 Round-Up: Election Intimidation in the 905 58:29

8M ago58:29

58:29

As we head into the final week of the 2025 federal election, the desperate are coming out of the woodwork. Elections are democracy at its purest. Candidates and parties put forward their best to persuade us to vote for them. A key part of that process is the all-candidates' debate, a tradition going back to the town square. The public is able to po…

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How Do We Make the Right Decision This Election? 56:07

8M ago56:07

56:07

With only a few weeks left before the federal election, we ought to have a good idea of who the candidates are and what each party will be like for the next four years. The decision is looming, and a choice will need to be made. However, how do we know we're making the right choice? Ironically, just before the election, Joel read a book called Too …

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Is Maplehurst Ontario's Guantanamo? 46:49

9M ago46:49

46:49

With the federal election happening, a front-page news story from here in the 905 is not getting much attention. The Toronto Star for the past week has published a series of articles on abuse and inhumane conditions at Maplehurst Correctional Facility in Milton. The facility is an Ontario-owned and operated jail, where most inmates are charged with…

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Measles is Making a Comeback, What are We Doing About It? 37:34

9M ago37:34

37:34

It feels like we were settled on the case for vaccinations after COVID-19. Their efficacy and safety are reliable. And they are the best way to prevent public health outbreaks of preventable diseases. We all remember the pandemic, lockdowns, and the toll that all took on us. So why are we seeing a resurgence of measles in Peel region, along with ot…

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Well, Here We Go Again... 47:02

9M ago47:02

47:02

Just when we think we're out, they pull us back in. Back into election season that is folks! Less than a month out of the Ontario provincial election, Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a federal election for April 28th. Last year, the idea of a federal election struck terror in the hearts of Liberals across the country. However, in only…

1
What are the Solutions to the Auto Theft Crisis? 38:47

10M ago38:47

38:47

It is impossible to not hear a story from your city, town or neighbourhood about a car theft. You can find doorbell cameras of thieves stealing cars right out of a driveway in the middle of the night. Or you can hear stories of cars being stolen in mall parking lots. Auto thefts are an organized, big business in Ontario. Pressure is on for definiti…

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The 905 Prepares for a Tariff War 33:22

10M ago33:22

33:22

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Canada with on-again-off-again tariffs. Canada has in turn replied with reciprocal tariffs on American products. We are entering into an unprecedented period of antagonism between Canada and the United States. What was once the most prosperous trading relationship in the history …

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What Lies Ahead for the Ontario Liberal Party? 1:13:46

10M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

We recorded this episode the Friday morning after the 2025 Ontario Election. It was an election that didn't see the dynamic at Queen's Park change all that much. Doug Ford and the Ontario PC returned with a third majority mandate, Marit Stiles and the NDP returned to the official opposition, and the Ontario Liberals returned as the third-place part…

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So what comes after this election? 44:44

10M ago44:44

44:44

We are into the final week of this Ontario election. It seems that people are finally starting to check in to the fact that we are having one, and we're starting to see some change in the polls. But is it enough to change the government? What happens if nothing changes? What would happen to Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles's leadership? Both made pro…

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Can We Vote Smarter in this Ontario Election? 54:41

10M ago54:41

54:41

As this Ontario Election moves, the polls slowly shift away from Doug Ford's Ontario PC. Is there time for the opposition parties to capitalize on this trend? Or will the opposition once again split the vote? That's the risk in our first-past-the-post system. Without the anti-Ford vote coalescing around one party or leader at the moment, those who …

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What do our Municipalities Need from this Ontario Election? 47:07

11M ago47:07

47:07

As the Ontario Election moves a long, we seem to drifting further and further away from the issues that were prominent in our provincial dialogue only a few months ago. Housing, development fees, homelessness. These were the things that we were covering in previous episodes. The matters which were front and centre for many 905ers. Going so far as t…

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Hey Don't Forget There's a Provincial Election on Right Now! 48:09

11M ago48:09

48:09

It has been a whirlwind 2025, and we're only through January. Trudeau resigned, sparking a Liberal Leadership race, and most recently, as this podcast is being recorded, President Donald Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, sparking a trade war in North America. In the shadow of all of this, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has decided to c…

1
Loblaws and Sobeys Haven't Learned their Lesson 41:59

11M ago41:59

41:59

Earlier this month, the CBC broke a story detailing how Loblaws and Sobeys were overcharging customers for meat, but underweighting the amounts sold. With the cost of living increasing this was a blow to their brand and hurt consumers where it matters most. What was most shocking perhaps about the story is how it wasn't that shocking at all. This i…

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How Doug Ford Came Around to Agree with Kathleen Wynne 57:07

12M ago57:07

57:07

Whether or not we're going to an early provincial election has been hanging in the air over Ontario for a few months now. Doug Ford has been playing coy with will he won't he'll call one. However, the hints that he's keen to have been in the news recently. His government has announced several big policy initiatives. Minister of Energy, Stephen Lecc…

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905 Round-Up: Good Rental News and Teacher Investigations 46:35

12M ago46:35

46:35

Happy New Year 2025! We are back in the saddle for what is shaping up to be a huge year in Canada, Ontario and the 905. As we start the new year, we found some good news to reflect on. Rents in the 905 are dropping. As more and more inventory comes onto the market the laws of supply and demand the price of rent is dropping. After that, we look at H…

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905 Round-Up: Crombie’s Housing Plan and Ford Hits Back on Trump 1:04:03

1y ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Coming off our previous episode with Evan Scrimshaw, the Ontario Liberals announced a major part of their housing platform. Their plan would eliminate development charges from municipalities, replace them with a provincial fund, end the Land Transfer Tax for new home buyers and bring in phased-in rent controls for renters. Is this what progressives…

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Why the Ontario Liberals Are Going to Have a Hard Time in the 905 1:02:12

1y ago1:02:12

1:02:12

The Ontario Liberal Party attempted something of a rebrand of their leader, Bonnie Crombie at the start of December. At their leadership dinner fundraiser, the party brought in $1.65 million for their coffers before an expected spring 2025 Ontario election. However, what made headlines was her keynote address where she broke ranks with their federa…

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Mayor Carolyn Parrish Breaks her Silence on Police Funding 29:45

1y ago29:45

29:45

Police budgets are the biggest line item on any municipalities budget. It would logically follow that it would also be the most scrutinized. As it turns out it is virtually impossible to openly criticize and debate the use of tax dollars when it comes to policing in Ontario. This is something our guest today resigned their position on Peel's Police…

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Councillor Haley Bateman Stands Against the Notwithstanding Clause 42:25

1y ago42:25

42:25

We rarely expect to return to the topic so soon when we air our episodes. However, that was the case with our last episode with St. Catharine's Mayor Mat Siscoe. We spoke with him about his reasons for signing a letter with 12 other Ontario Mayors requesting Premier Doug Ford give municipalities the power under the Notwithstanding Clause to remove …

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Mayor Mat Siscoe backs his decision to request the Notwithstanding Clause 35:28

1y ago35:28

35:28

On October 31st, 12 Mayors from across Ontario wrote a letter to Premier Doug Ford, requesting more powers to deal with the growing homeless and encampment crisis in our cities. Five of those mayors were from 905 cities. In the letter, the mayors went the extra step to request the Notwithstanding Clause be used if necessary to give them the ability…

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Is Mississauga Changing the Ways Hospitals are Built in Ontario? 46:26

1y ago46:26

46:26

For the better part of a decade, municipalities have been expected to chip in a portion of new hospital infrastructure. This practice was brought in under the previous Ontario Liberal government and is continued by the current Ontario PC. When hospital infrastructure runs upwards into the billions of dollars this can become quite the burden on a mu…

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905 Round-up: The Malicious Incompetence of Doug Ford 1:01:58

1y ago1:01:58

1:01:58

There have been a few stories that popped onto our radar recently that made us think we ought to do a 905 Round-Up Episode to cover them all. In the course of our discussions about them though, we discovered a common thread. All of the problems we discuss are a result of the poor decision-making of the Ontario PC Government. The Mississauga LRT pro…

1
Is Ontario Facing a Teaching Shortage? 32:58

1y ago32:58

32:58

As reported by Global News earlier this month, an internal document to then Minister of Education Todd Smith states that the province could be facing a teacher shortage. Too many teachers are leaving the profession with fewer new teachers joining their ranks. The Ministry of Education is predicting that as early as 2027 we could start seeing a gap …

1
Does Marineland Have a Future in Ontario? 49:45

1y ago49:45

49:45

Last week saw news that another beluga whale died at Marineland. For years now, the Niagara Falls-based theme park has been under intense scrutiny, after evidence of animal mistreatment and deaths have emerged at the park. The Ontario Solicitor General has stated that the park is under inspection by the province but will not divulge what it has bee…

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Ahmad Elbayoumi on What Happened at the Ontario Liberal AGM 50:03

1y ago50:03

50:03

Last month the Ontario Liberal Party held their AGM in London. Normally this isn't newsworthy, but this time a few items put it on our radar. Policy proposals to change the nature of the party's provincial council, limiting the number of Young Liberals on it, as well as potentially changing the leadership review process allowing current Leader Bonn…

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905 Round-Up: We Call Out Doug Ford on his A-S-S 46:20

1+ y ago46:20

46:20

The last week has seen many out-of-touch comments on the part of Ontario's Premier, Doug Ford. A visit to Hamilton saw him brush off criticism of his failure of the housing file by stating that the plight of homeless encampments in 905 cities would be solved if those living there got off their quote 'A-S-S' and applied for jobs. The fallback positi…

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Downtown Hamilton’s Future 58:11

1+ y ago58:11

58:11

It seems that downtown Hamilton has been under fire for the last few months. The federal tax court recently shut down citing gun violence. Tent encampments are a feature in city parks, and most recently the President of LiUNA made the outrageous claim that busloads of homeless people were being brought into the city to take advantage of services in…