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#onpoli, a TVO podcast

#onpoli, a TVO podcast, is all about Ontario politics. Join hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath for candid interviews and a deeper understanding of how politics touches our day-to-day lives. When it comes to #onpoli, we're here to give you the bigger picture.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 51 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

Are Ontario's private career colleges misusing OSAP?

The province is pausing OSAP payments to all career college students in the wake of reporting from the Canadian Press that some schools may be misusing funds. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath take a deep dive into how private career colleges are driving up spending - and how that affects the broader post-secondary education system. Municipal Election Watch continues, with Steve and John Michael discussing how things got heated during a debate in Mississauga, why Doug Ford is running for mayor in Kawartha Lakes, and how two mayoral candidates in Milton are vowing a clean race. In 2023,…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

2 Oct 2026 · 57 min
Donald Trump's tariffs take a bite out of Steeltown
Stelco is laying off workers in Hamilton and every level of government is livid. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath examine the impact tariffs have had on steel production in Canada, and what an American CEO has to do with this move. Municipal Election Watch returns with Steve and John Michael taking a look at the races in Windsor and Halton Hills. Former Ontario MPP Gary Malkowski and filmmaker Alvin Witcher join the podcast to discuss a new documentary, "Gary Malkowski: A Deaf Legacy in Ontario." Steve and the guests discuss Malkowski's journey from Deaf community advocate to elected…
25 Sep 2026 · 59 min
Stellantis is looking to exit Brampton. Will the government step in?
Contract talks between Stellantis and UNIFOR have taken a turn for the worse, and the automaker has said it plans to sell its idled plant to a defence contractor. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath dig into what's caused this road block, why the union is saying the current plan is unacceptable, and what pressure tactics the Canadian government could apply to the company. In just over a month, municipal elections will be held across the province. In a new podcast segment, Steve and John Michael look at some of the hottest races -and discuss what happens if no one throws their hats in the…
18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Mark Carney's EU Pivot, Doug Ford & the Lake Ontario Fight | #onpoli
Trade tensions between Canada and the United States reached a whole new level this summer. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what's changed and where we go from here. The #onpoli podcast might have been on hiatus, but the news wasn't. Steve and John Michael look at some highlights - and lowlights - from the past few months. September saw three provincial byelections. Steve and JMM look at what the results say about the Ontario Liberals. Steve's column: https://www.tvo.org/article/meet-the-group-that-wants-you-to-read-your-way-across-canada JMM's column:…
12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr
Queen's Park's extended summer recess
MPPs are heading into an extended summer break. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what has, and has not, been accomplished this year. Plus, how is the opposition reacting to the long break? Ontario Premier Doug Ford is in the United States making his pitch for "Fortress North America," and making the rounds on American media. Steve and John Michael discuss how the premier is working with politicians on the ground. But will the Trump administration listen? Matthew Shoemaker, the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, joins Steve and JMM to talk about a new book on Sir William Hearst,…
5 Jun 2026 · 49 min
PC caucus chair ousted after standing up to Doug Ford
Has this been a shorter-than-usual legislative session at Queen's Park? Does it even matter? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath find out, discuss whether they're convinced by the reasons of the earlier recess and what impact this shorter session could have. Then, Steve and JMM look at how MPP Will Bouma has been ousted as the Progressive Conservatives' caucus chair; Bouma was relieved after challenging Premier Doug Ford over MPP pensions and the fallout from Ford's private jet scandal. Steve and JMM take the opportunity to look at whether this is good caucus management. Also, this…
29 May 2026 · 52 min
Why is Doug Ford mad at (another) judge?
A tribunal found that nothing corrupted the Ontario Liberals' controversial nomination meeting in Scarborough Southwest. Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's allegations were rejected, and what comes next. They also look at emerging advocacy to change the party's voting rules, as well as new names that have entered the Ontario Liberal leadership race. Plus, Ontario finally passes a new law regulating the inappropriate behavior of municipal politicians. Advocates say it's a first step, but the threshold for disciplinary action raises eyebrows. Will…
22 May 2026 · 54 min
Should governments subsidize Ontario's auto sector?
Newly released TTC documents suggest that Metrolinx is not immune to long delays and cost overruns in building new Toronto transit. The province had taken over planning, saying the city was taking too long to build essential infrastructure. So, why the delays? And what happens now? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the findings and explain how confidential documents will still find the light of day, despite recent changes to freedom of information legislation. Then JMM breaks down how the city of Stratford has launched a Charter challenge to the provincial government's…
15 May 2026 · 55 min
Unexpected fallout from the latest Liberal nomination race
Choosing the new Ontario Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest has gone sideways. Ahsanul Hafiz won by 19 votes, but runner-up Nate Erskine-Smith says he has reason to appeal. Is he right? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath parse what Steve saw at the Liberal nomination meeting, including some things he found quite unusual. Then, Steve and JMM discuss the Ontario government's takeover of Conestoga College. And finally, the Auditor General issued four special reports, outlining concerns around trucker training, artificial intelligence use in government, special education…
8 May 2026 · 47 min
Will Doug Ford go to jail?
Doug Ford accuses the NDP leader of Trump-style rhetoric. With the opposition heating up its criticism against the Ford government, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath wonder whether Doug Ford is getting a taste of his own medicine. Then, Steve and JMM look at how the Progressive Conservatives voted down a bill that looked to establish guardrails around publishing misinformation and using artificial intelligence in election communications. And finally, the Canadian Civil Liberties Union says the government's latest move to give special constables the power to arrest drug users on…
1 May 2026 · 51 min
Ford's Conservatives lose double-digit lead
Is Doug Ford's drop in popularity just a blip, or is there reason for Ontario's Progressive Conservatives to be concerned? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break down the latest poll numbers and how they would translate to seats. Then, the hosts look at how Minister of Education Paul Calandra made a rare appearance at the committee discussing Bill 101, and why his comments to union leaders prompted criticism. Finally, how might Mark Carney's new Canada Strong Fund support Ontario's future goals? Just look at the Ford government's economic priorities: nuclear power and critical…
24 Apr 2026 · 51 min
Doug Ford's flight plan now cancelled
Premier Doug Ford walks back his jet-plane purchase, and says the media is picking on him for trying to run the province more efficiently. Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath get into whether that political communication works for Ontarians. Meanwhile, Ontario's NDP leader Marit Stiles is trying to make surveillance pricing a political issue here in Ontario – will her party's new communications strategy bring the official opposition back to the forefront? And a bill is exploring putting a stop to foreign ownership of some Ontario farmland. Why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…
17 Apr 2026 · 52 min
Is Ontario's renewable energy turnaround too little, too late?
Is the Ford government's latest renewable energy procurement enough? Green Party leader Mike Schreiner weighs in on that, the province's takeover of Billy Bishop airport, and where he thinks the budget missed the mark (see: housing). Then, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath unpack new changes to Ontario's school system, which includes a new job description for school trustees. Is this a move to consolidate power by the Ford government? Finally, two of Ontario's colleges decided to merge, perhaps a sign of the times during a period of declining enrollment and financial support. See…
10 Apr 2026 · 42 min
What are the limits to council authority in a strong-mayor era?
Do new appointees in Niagara and Simcoe threaten local democracy? Have stronger mayors even helped to build more housing, as promised? Who will foot the bill for proposed changes to the Greater Toronto Area commuter trains? And what does the scheduled transformation of Queen's Park North say about how we imagine urban parks and public spaces in downtown Toronto? Hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath parse out these questions in this week's #onpoli. In "Your Column, My Column," the hosts break down what a Toronto planning dispute says about the housing crisis in Ontario, and discuss how…
3 Apr 2026 · 50 min
How do Ontario's new housing policies work?
NDP and Liberal finance critics break down why Ontario's 2026 budget might not 'protect' Ontarians after all. Then, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath unpack the latest suite of housing announcements that went beyond the HST exemption: an $8.8 billion fund to get municipalities to cut development charges and a new bill that would allow for smaller lots and impact local planning matters and housing development. And of course, Steve and JMM nod to the life and career of Ontario political icon Stephen Lewis and his legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Mar 2026 · 45 min
Does the 2026 budget really 'protect' Ontario?
Ontario's 2026 budget is out. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy joins #onpoli to discuss the Ford government's spending choices, why it has not produced a balanced budget, and when it would ever raise taxes. Then, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath zoom out and take a broader look at the government's plans: the HST exemption for home purchases, the province's overall fiscal health, electricity subsidies, and how transportation changes might make it harder for northern Ontarians to access Toronto - and why the government is fine with that trade-off. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
20 Mar 2026 · 48 min
How free is information under Ford's government?
The public’s access to government records might get restricted -- How free will information be if the Ford government’s proposals go through? Global News journalist Isaac Callan joins the podcast to break it down. Then, hosts Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath unpack new announcements made to the Ford government’s law and order file, and breakdown Ontario municipal elections to watch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Mar 2026 · 44 min
Will Doug Ford's airport plans take off?
Premier Doug Ford says his government intends to take over Toronto's downtown airport - and it will even pay the city for its trouble. Can he do that? And what does the future hold for the Toronto Islands? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath break it down. Then, the province named a military defence representative. What will they do? And how might it connect to the Ford government's larger ambitions? Finally, it's March 13 and MPPs are still not back at Queen's Park. How unusual is that? Steve and JMM answer a listener's question with a deep dive into the legislative calendar. See…
6 Mar 2026 · 53 min
Ontario's energy strategy, Niagara amalgamation, and how to run for city council
The province will accelerate access to the Ring of Fire, a potential hub for mining critical minerals like nickel and chromite. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the plans, and how the provinces are laying the groundwork for a national energy grid. Does Niagara Region have too many politicians? Doug Ford certainly seems to think so. Steve and John Michael discuss the pros and cons of amalgamation - and how Peel serves as a case study. You've been asking us about municipal politics, so Steve and JMM speak to Toronto City councillor Amber Morley about what it takes to run and the…
27 Feb 2026 · 43 min
Doug Ford wants a refund
The United States Supreme Court struck down some of Donald Trump's tariffs, and now Ontario premier Doug Ford wants a refund. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why that probably won't happen and the larger implications this move will have on relations with Canada's largest trading partner. The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario has a new report on Ontario's economy - delivering both good news and bad news. Steve and John Michael look into how the economy's modest growth belies the bigger issues of unemployment and housing starts. Ontario's public servants are being asked…
20 Feb 2026 · 46 min
Booze, boards, and rumours
Ontario and Diageo have cut a deal to keep Crown Royal on LCBO shelves, but how much of the money is actually going to those affected by the liquor maker's decision to close its plant? Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why everyone else seems to be benefiting at Amherstburg's expense. Big changes are coming to how Ontario funds post-secondary education, including major changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Steve and John Michael discuss why students are in an uproar, and how a comment from the premier about baskets isn't helping. The fate of Ontario's school trustees…
13 Feb 2026 · 48 min
A long-awaited tour of Line 5
Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath leave the studio and hop on the Eglinton Crosstown, where they discuss what's new on the line, what could be improved, and where public transit in Toronto goes from here. U.S. president Donald Trump has set his eyes on the Gordie Howe Bridge — making several inflammatory claims about the project and threatening the opening. Steve and John Michael discuss why this latest salvo could be a bridge too far for our largest trading partner. Queen's Park is stepping in after accusations of corruption in numerous Ontario police services. Steve and JMM…
6 Feb 2026 · 39 min
A federal resignation, a provincial race
Bill Blair's resignation as MP for Scarborough Southwest has spurred a flurry of political moves in Ontario. Doly Begum, formerly the Ontario New Democratic Party's deputy leader, announced she will run for the federal Liberals in the riding; Liberal MP Nate Erskine Smith announced he'll run in Doly's former provincial riding. John Michael McGrath, Émilie Gougeon-Pelletier, and Sabrina Nanji discuss why this is such a big deal. The Eglinton Crosstown finally has an opening date, but will the opening be full steam ahead or go off the rails? John Michael, Émilie, and Sabrina…
30 Jan 2026 · 45 min
Navigating the Ring of Fire
Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath speak with Canadian Press reporter Liam Casey about the Indigenous communities affected by the proposed development of the Ring of Fire. Some are embracing the opportunity, others are afraid of what access might bring. Steve and John Michael preview Ontario's municipal election season. They dig into some of the big races, and why many, in smaller municipalities, are acclaimed. Spoiler alert, it's a hard job and made more difficult by a lack of a provincial code of conduct. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 Jan 2026 · 41 min
Mark Carney cuts a deal with China, Doug Ford calls for a boycott
Prime Minister Mark Carney has opened the door for China to enter Canada's electric vehicle market. That has left Doug Ford steaming and calling on Canadians to boycott the vehicles. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss what the premier could do to stymie the process. But are the economic realities of the PM's decision are already hitting home? The Province of Ontario is looking to pause an inclusionary zoning requirement that forced developers to build affordable housing near transit hubs. Steve and John Michael discuss the government's rationale for the change. The Rural Ontario…
16 Jan 2026 · 46 min
Ontario Place goes to the Supreme Court of Canada
Canada's highest court will hear arguments from critics of the Province of Ontario's plan to build a spa at Ontario Place. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the stakes of the case and why they're surprised the court is taking it on. The Province of Ontario has a plan to connect 2 million Ontarians with a primary care provider by 2029. It's a lofty goal, but the actual number might be significantly lower. Steve and John Michael discuss why the metric might change. Ontario's public servants are back in the office five days a week, but Members of Provincial Parliament are on break…
12 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Another lump of coal for Doug Ford
The OPP is launching a criminal investigation into a company that received money from both the ministry of colleges and universities and the Ontario Skills Development Fund. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss this latest development in the saga - and the headache it's becoming for the premier. Ontario's big city mayors have called on the province to declare a state of emergency around homelessness and drug use. Steve and John Michael discuss what might change. The Finch West LRT opened last week and already people are complaining about it. Steve and JMM talk about what Metrolinx,…
5 Dec 2025 · 54 min
Ontario's auditor general takes aim at health-care spending
Shelley Spence, Ontario's auditor general, published a narrowly tailored report on health-care spending in the province. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss why OHIP overbilling, COVID personal protective equipment, and primary care connections are highlighted. Ontario has introduced a number of proposed legislative changes aimed at justice and crime. Steve and John Michael discuss how change to the bail system might be unconstitutional, and how dogs and cats fit into story. Education minister Paul Calandra has finally released the province's EQAO scores, and he's not happy with…
28 Nov 2025 · 31 min
Ontario's Skill Trades Fund investigation
Ontario New Democratic Party leader Marit Stiles has called on the Integrity Commissioner to investigate Labour Minister David Piccini as the skills development fund controversy deepens. But will it amount to anything? John Michael McGrath and Jessica Smith Cross discuss the importance of the information that will come out as a result. Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act passed its third reading at the legislature, and some are sounding the alarm around water safety in the province. John Michael and Jessica discuss what effect the legislation will have on water infrastructure…
21 Nov 2025 · 56 min
Pressure mounts on Doug Ford's labour minister
Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini is at the centre of a growing hubbub over the Ontario's Skills Development Fund. Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath discuss the latest developments, and why Ontario New Democratic party leader Marit Stiles got herself thrown out of Queen's Park over the controversy. Doug Ford and Peter Bethlenfalvy are usually in agreement on financial matters, at least until a proposed cut to the harmonized sales tax for first-time home buyers. Ford believes the criteria is too narrow, Bethlenfalvy says he and the…

About #onpoli, a TVO podcast

#onpoli, a TVO podcast is a English news podcast from TVO. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: TVO
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 51 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1318430645
Rights: 2026 TVO

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