On The Ledge
Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions
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 former Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, former Progressive Conservative Leader, (and Wynne's erstwhile parliamentary sparring partner), Tim Hudak, Queen's Park broadcast commentator Keith Leslie, John Wright, our veteran pollster and co-founding host, and Dave Trafford, Chief Executive Producer at Story Studio Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 18, 2019 • 28min
On The Ledge Week 22
Everybody's back to work, back to business and back to school now that March Break has wrapped up in Ontario. But while the kids were out of class, Queen's Park spent most of its time and energy talking about Education. Keith Leslie, John Wright and Dave Trafford also wade back into the Autism Program. It's time for the province to make it a health care priority. It doesn't belong in 'Community Services'
Mar 11, 2019 • 25min
On The Ledge - Week 21
Here we are into the March Break in Ontario. It means the Ledge isn't sitting this week, but there's plenty to talk about - including whether the Ford government will be able to keep its campaign promise that "no jobs will be lost" as they wrestle with the provincial deficit. Budge day is April 11! Former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford dig in on the issues.
Mar 3, 2019 • 27min
On The Ledge - Week 20
Healthcare and Education are the two big ticket items in any provincial budget and they were front and centre this week at Queen's Park. Dart Insights CEO John Wright, Keith Leslie, former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford dig in on some of the files that made the headlines. But they also wonder two things - will Finance Minister Vic Fideli's spring budget actually be an omnibus bill that touches on all of the key issues we've seen addressed by the Ford government AND what kind of fallout could the SNC-Lavalin scandal have on infrastructure planning in Ontario?
Feb 26, 2019 • 30min
On The Ledge - Week 19
It has been a LONG WINTER'S NIGHT since the Ontario legislature took it's Christmas break. But we're back! Dart Insights CEO John Wright, Keith Leslie, former Queen's Park CP Bureau Chief Keith Leslie and iContact Productions Executive Producer Dave Trafford are back with On the Ledge.
Jan 4, 2019 • 15min
On The Ledge LIVE on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto - Week 18
Here's our 2018 year end offering! We've assembled the On The Ledge panel, Queen's Park Commentator and former Canadian Press Bureau Chief, Keith Leslie, John Wright, CEO Insight at Dart Insight and Communications, and Dave Trafford, Executive Producer of iContact Productions, to take a look back on what happened at the Park and a look ahead to what we can expect in the coming year.
Dec 18, 2018 • 17min
On The Ledge - EMERGENCY SESSION - Week 17
Well, I don't think this has ever happened before. I could be wrong, but it's the first time I can recall the provincial legislature being recalled for an EMERGENCY sitting and interrupting the Christmas break at the legislature. The main issue is the concern over a possible strike by members of Ontario's Power Workers' Union, which could pitch a good deal of the province into the cold and dark over the Christmas holidays. But there is plenty of other fodder for the Opposition to feed on so we've convened an EMERGENCY edition of On The Ledge.
Dec 9, 2018 • 30min
On the Ledge Week 16
This week it’s all about Canada's first ministers. They met in Montreal to wrap up the week and that marked the end of the fall sitting for MPPs at Queen’s Park. While Premier Doug Ford was taking aim at the Prime Minister’s agenda, the Opposition was taking aim at Ford’s involvement in the hiring of the new OPP Commissioner and the appointment of a new Hydro One CEO.
Dec 4, 2018 • 24min
On The Ledge Week 15
We're approaching the six month mark for the Doug Ford government in Ontario and it has been a veritable sprint in the early stages of this marathon. This week it’s all about General Motors leaving Oshawa, the Premier’s battle of word with UNIFOR President Jerry Diaz, the province’s new initiative to curb Green House Emissions, and the first Tory MPP to quit the governing caucus.
Nov 26, 2018 • 22min
On The Ledge Week 14
More Ontario government announcements made "for the people", including welfare reforms and musings about future public transit plans. But who are "the people" benefiting? Even in the wake of the provincial economic update, it's becoming increasingly difficult to determine exactly what the Ford government stands for. John Wright, Keith Leslie and Dave Trafford say it all comes down to a failure to communicate.
Nov 19, 2018 • 28min
On The Ledge Week 13
The Ontario legislature took a week off but there's been plenty of activity including a cabinet shuffle, the fall Economic Update, the publication of Patrick Brown's tell-all book and new polling that suggests the shine may be coming off the Tories and the NDP.
