In the final episode of the year, Dave Trafford is joined by Keith Leslie, Kathleen Wynne, John Wright, and Tim Hudak for a wide-ranging, end-of-year roundtable on Ontario and national politics. The discussion opens with sharp criticism of the Ford government’s decision to extend the legislature’s recess, raising concerns about accountability, democratic health, and the loss of pre-budget scrutiny. The panel examines fallout from the Skills Development Fund controversy, including the human consequences of funding being cut to mental-health services under OPP investigation.
Attention then turns to the Ford government’s major tourism and infrastructure push in Niagara Falls, including casinos, an observation wheel, airport expansion, and broader questions about branding, economic impact, and whether “Las Vegas North” makes sense for Ontario.
The conversation broadens to Canada–U.S. relations after Premier Doug Ford publicly says he will not travel to Florida, prompting a pointed response from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The panel explores declining Canadian travel to the U.S., symbolism versus substance, and what it signals about shifting public sentiment.
The episode closes with reflections on federal politics, Pierre Poilievre’s media performance, ongoing trade negotiations under CUSMA, and what lies ahead politically in 2026.
Chapters & Timecodes
00:00 – Introduction & year-end setup
01:05 – Legislature extended recess & democratic accountability
10:02 – Skills Development Fund fallout and mental-health impacts
14:35 – Niagara Falls mega-tourism plan: promise and pitfalls
28:30 – Ford vs. DeSantis: Florida travel, symbolism, and Canada–U.S. tensions
50:20 – Federal politics, Poilievre, trade talks, and year-ahead outlook
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