The 905er Podcast

Originally aired - July 15 Almost exactly a year ago, Jason Cassis of Equal Parts Hospitality was one of the first guests on the 905er Podcast, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry. He returns now to give us an update on all that has happened in the interim - and there is a lot. While everybody knows that restaurants, bars, and so many other businesses have been hurt by COVID, Jason's description of the full spectrum of challenges - which are not likely to disappear quickly even if COVID is finally under control - is a must-listen. For the chain of hotels launched during the pandemic, Jason mentions, see The Laundry Rooms. If you like what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originally aired - July 6, 2021 In today's episode, Roland and Joel look at three different aspects of modern Canada, and their ties to the past. The refusal to even acknowledge the dead being identified at Residential Schools across the nation by seemingly all PC and Conservative politicians on Canada Day. The environmental catastrophes seen in locations like Chedoke Creek, and the urgent need to change the nature of our relationship with the environment and our failure as 'stewards of the land' since we obtained it. The abandonment of all plans by the developer to build homes on 'Mckenzie Meadows', also known as 1492 Landback Lane. Bonus History Lesson: How Scottish History Repeated Itself In Canada Across Canada we live surrounded by references not so much to Great Britain as to specifically to Scots and Scotland. Macdonald, Dundas, Strathcona, Caledonia, Caledon, "Mckenzie Meadows", "Douglas Creek", Hamilton, Dundurn, Crieff. Many are names that most people would struggle to explain today, named for largely forgotten Scottish settlers or city worthies. Others are names we know only too well, the foci of the current awakening to the most brutal aspects of Canada's past. Two are manufactured names used for branding the housing developments on disputed lands between the township of Caledonia, where almost every street name commemorates Scotland, and the Six Nations Reserve. Some Scots came to Canada after being violently forced from their traditional homelands; the last sight of the country of their birth literally being a view of their homes being burned to the ground by the British military as part of the Highland Clearances. Other Scots (especially the ones who tended to have places named after them, or statues raised in their memory) were wealthy and well educated before they arrived in Canada, or, in the case of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, never put a foot in North America at all. These men came in the service of the British Empire, and lived lives that were dedicated to protecting and expanding British, loyalist, and Christian 'civilization' in North America by whatever means necessary. Ironically, these highly effective officials of the British Empire's most racist, unjust and vicious acts did to Canada's indigenous peoples what a century earlier had been done to their own ancestors in the Scottish highlands. Those highlanders crimes? That they were viewed by Scottish and English lowlanders as savages, hardly human, with a culture that needed to be extinguished so that aristocrats could profit from a 'civilized' landscape free of the nuisance of the longstanding inhabitants. One of the most brutal atrocities on British soil was at a place called Glen Coe in 1692. The military of the anti-Catholic and anti-Jacobite Scottish government massacred around 30 residents of the Glen in large part because of their surname. They were members of Clan MacDonald, the most troublesome and 'barbaric' of the highland clans. 150 years later, an expatriate Scot with the surname Macdonald would use similar tactics, with almost identical justifications, to force the indigenous people of Canada from their lands, and to plan their cultural and actual extinction. An alternative name for Glen Coe is Strathcona, the name adopted by Donald Smith, first Baron Strathcona, famously pictured driving the last spike in the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie in 1885. Smith was another Scot who made a fortune in Canada in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, the Empire, and the Canadian government. He used some of the money he earned in Canada to build a vast mansion in Glen Coe, about 600 metres from the site of the massacre. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent news, the misbehaviour of Ontario university students has been in the headlines. Recently at McMaster University, vandalism and violence were the hallmarks of an unsanctioned homecoming party. And at the beginning of the year, the University of Western Ontario was dealing with allegations of widespread sexual assault in one of its residences. This trend made us wonder what made this year so unique for bad behaviour at our post-secondary institutions? To investigate, we invited Nick Paul to chat. Nick is our fantastic sound editor, who helps us make the final episodes you listen to each week. He is also a fourth-year engineering student at Western and is from the 905. We talked with him to get his perspective as to how well students and administration are handling the return to classes after a year of lockdown due to COVID-19. And the realities of half a universities population not prepared for life away from home. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cover the stories from around the 905 this week, including Joel's suggestion for reaching the final 20% of unvaccinated Ontarians, the latest development in the Haldimand Tract land dispute, and the physical and reputational damage done at the unofficial and unauthorized homecoming at McMaster University in Hamilton last weekend. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following our Tuesday episode with Halton Catholic School Board Chair Patrick Murphy, we speak with Lauren Wallis of Halton Parents for Change (https://haltonparentsforchange.ca/, @HaltonPFC). Lauren gives her perspective on Chair Murphy's account of recent dysfunction at HCDSB and the Pride flag debate, and what needs to be done to make the board function effectively. Lauren is a mom of two, a data analyst for a healthcare company, and a graduate of HCDSB schools. She is a founding member of Halton Parents for Change, a grassroots group of parents fighting for change and equity at HCDSB as well as accountability for our trustees, and "looking to vote out the dinosaurs next October". It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our one-hundredth episode, we welcome back Halton Catholic School Board Chair Patrick Murphy for an in-depth interview. In June, the board took the unusual step of ordering an investigation into itself - to see whether the frequently argumentative behaviour of trustees at board meetings went as far as breaking their policies of civil behaviour, and whether there was behaviour contrary to the interests if the board and students. Included in under that remit were discussions of allegations made by a trustee about Chair Murphy's own impartiality as chair. The subsequent report vindicated Murphy, but found plenty of evidence for dysfunction and a deep divide between two factions of trustees. We discuss the background to this divide, whether it is impacting the Board's work, and what can be done to restore civility. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaccine Passports are finally being unveiled in Ontario. However, after being requested by public health for the summer, the rollout has been typical of the Ontario PC government. It's messy and uncoordinated. However, they are here now and what does that mean for avoiding a possible fourth lockdown in the 905? And is it about time for the vaccinated to stand their ground and say enough is enough with anti-vax and anti-mask protestors? As well, Roland and Joel look at some of the numbers from election night in Hamilton, and wonder what does it say about Hamilton's problems with racism? It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We livestreamed election night, focusing on the 905 of course. We had a great time, with some terrific questions answered live on the podcast. Thanks to everybody who joined us. Not an election that will go down in the history books as being particularly memorable, when all is said and done, but we talked a lot about the way this election was run, and just why the opposition parties, above all the CPC, couldn't seem to make any significant headway against Trudeau and the Liberals. As Trudeau reaches the point in his career where people start talking about legacy (albeit he remains young by any standard), will he be seen as one of the Canadian leaders who is synonymous with the era they live in---as his father was---or will there be a nagging sense of potential never realised? It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and keep paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our second interview with candidates from the 905 Region ahead of the Federal Election, we talk today to Adam van Koeverden, who is seeking re-election as the MP for Milton for the Liberals, a seat he won just two years ago when he defeated former Conservative minister Lisa Rait. Van Koeverden was a Canadian household name as an Olympic Gold, and multi-Silver and Bronze medal winner in Sprint Kayak before entering politics. In his first term as an MP he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. We discuss the climate change, electoral reform, First Nations reconciliation, the COVID recovery plan and much more in a wide-ranging conversation. Programming note: we have continued to approach numerous Conservative candidates with the opportunity to discuss their platform as NDP and Liberal candidates have done. This includes offering to add an extra episode in order that we can make sure a CPC voice is heard before election day. As of September 16th only one CPC campaign office has taken the time to return any of our messages. While we make no apology for the fact the 905er Podcast sees the news through a progressive lens, the reason we exist is to let listeners hear direct from people with influence in our region. We accord anybody who is willing to be a guest equal courtesy and respect, and we are delighted that MPs, mayors and councillors from across the political spectrum have been guests during the 905er's first year. It is disappointing that not one Conservative candidate has yet been willing to speak on the record to voters interested in hearing their party's platform. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, saw climate change creep back into the headlines, stealing attention away from COVID-19. And for good reason. This year saw a record-breaking heatwave sweep the west coast, resulting in a town burning to the ground. Climate change is killing people. And yet, it seems barely been a point of debate in this election. In keeping with our effort to focus on the issues that are important to the 905 we invited Keith Brooks from Environmental Defence to the podcast. Keith is Programs Director at Environmental Defence where he seeks to advocate for a cleaner environment and a greener economy. He has a Master’s in environmental studies and has written many times on the need for a more sustainable economy. You can also read Keith's blog at https://environmentaldefence.ca/blog/?author=Keith+Brooks You won't want to miss this deep dive into election politics and the environment. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever. See https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Nicholas Paul: sound editing. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every CPC candidate in Canada is gagged---forbidden from talking to podcasts---or so we were told by a party operative. As some of the worst aspects of modern political campaigns dominated headlines and anti-vax PPC supporters threw stones, we searched in vain for a CPC candidate willing to take a free 30 minutes to talk about their platform in depth. Although actually we did find candidate keen to chat. A highly touted one, well capable of representing their party. Listen to the podcast to find out what went wrong. While the CPC aren't alone in hiding from the media and public (try finding any candidate to speak to in Humber River-Black Creek), they have certainly gone furthest in turning invisibility into an art form. Roland and Joel ask what it says about the CPC when they're really not interested in speaking about their policies to anybody who isn't already 'on their side'. Finally we wonder what this election would look like if the Liberals hadn't broken their promise on electoral reform in 2016. Would we still be talking about a party with 32% of the vote 'winning'? It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please consider supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever .... Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of our 905 candidate interviews, we speak to Roberto Henriquez, who is running for the NDP in the Hamilton West--Ancaster--Dundas riding. Henriquez moved to Hamilton as a student, and now practices law where he represents 'everyday Hamiltonians'. We dive into the NDP's platform and look in particular at the housing affordability crisis that is a concern for millions of people across our region, as well as First Nations reconciliation and the NDP's environmental and climate change platform. The study Roland mentions during the interview, which analyzed each party's climate change policy and was critical of the NDP's plan, was carried out by Mark Jaccard at Simon Fraser University (not the Fraser Institute as Roland suggested) and published on September 3rd in Policy Options. Jaccard's analysis is only one assessment of each party's greenhouse gas reduction policies, and his conclusions have been suggested to be too narrowly construed by the Pembina Institute and disputed by Climate Action Network. It takes money and time to create two podcasts a week. We love doing what we do, but please considering supporting us if you can so we can keep improving, and paying the bills. Why not buy us a coffee? Or you can support us by becoming a patron for a month, for six months, or forever... Thanks to our existing patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our Thursday 905 roundup this week we give our impressions of the early days of the 2021 election and why all the parties seem so far to be struggling to break through the apathy barrier, or find exactly what this election is about. The media landscape is dominated by pointing at the flaws of other parties rather than the qualities of their own platforms. It's a well-worn path, certainly, but does it have to be this way? Why does it seem like all the mainstream parties are falling over themselves in their attempts to lose? Joel and Roland give their free advice on what they think the parties should be doing to inject some life into this election. Are they right, or are they talking a lot of nonsense? Decide for yourself by listening and then let us know! The best comments may get shared and discussed on air in future episodes. This episode was recorded before the release of the Liberal Party platform on September 1st. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weeeee'rrrrrreeee back from our August break a few days early so we can fit in some great election coverage that focuses on the issues the 905 is facing. We promise as close to zero coverage of partisan games and gotcha politics as we can get, and a maximum of investigating real, honest-to-goodness policies, both those that the parties should be promising, and exploration of the policies the parties are promising. We kick off our election coverage with the return of Mike Moffat, Senior Director, Smart Prosperity and Assistant Prof, Ivey Business School, as we look at one of the issues dominating the early days of federal campaigns - housing affordability. Today we'll be looking at what an expert like Mike thinks the parties should be doing. In future episodes we'll putting those points directly to party representatives as we explore their platform promises. Mike Moffatt is Senior Director, Smart Prosperity and Assistant Prof, Ivey Business School. You can find much more on this subject and others at https://mikepmoffatt.medium.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast on April 15th 2021] They didn't pave Paradise. Instead the City of Hamilton released 24 billion litres of untreated sewage into it. Thursday's episode covers three 905 stories: the latest changes of direction on our schools and an education minister with egg on his face; $5 million for Burlington City Hall's front yard; a new stinky mess in Cootes Paradise. But don't worry, the rotting mass of odiferous gunk is 'just algae', although that algae may be a product of damage caused by the sewage spill. Joel and Roland roll up their sleeves and dive in, so you don't have to. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast on November 20th 2020.] We are joined this week by Haassan Basit, CEO of Conservation Halton, and Janet Sumner, Executive Director of CPAWS Wildlands League, to talk about the province's proposed major changes to the powers of Conservation Authorities in Ontario as part of the budget 'omnibus' Bill 229, which, it is argued, weaken key protections that ensure safe development and prevent flooding. We explore the proposals, the justifications provided by the province and the implications for safe development in the 905 region with Hassaan and Janet, in the context of other changes made to planning laws and regulations since 2018. Listeners wishing to know more or express their view on the proposed changes to their MPP and the provincial government should visit the following links: https://loggingscars.ca/take-action/ https://ontarionature.good.do/conservationauthorities/send/ https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/71104/action/1 Thanks to: Our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining! Gayle Laws: research Wendy Nicholson: sound engineer, podcast consultancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast on May 20th 2021] Bob Bratina, MP for Hamilton East--Stoney Creek is a man of principle, of that there can be no doubt. His outrage at the federal government's plan to invest unprecedented sums into his home city has distressed him so much that he has announced he is going to quit in disgust at a moment convenient to his own career interests. Namely, at the next election, which could be as late as 2023. In the mean time he will keep his backbench salary and the Liberal Party whip, while working to undermine Liberal Party policy. Bratina will achieve the six years of service needed to qualify for a full MP's pension in November 2021. [Note ... the subsequent election call for September 2021 means many two term MPs will miss this qualification date by a matter of weeks if they lose their seats, and Bratina will not qualify.] When asked about his future plans, Bratina immediately mentioned the possibility of running for mayor of Hamilton again, before stating it was 'not top of mind right now'. In this week's 905 round-up, Joel and Roland discuss the backstory to Bratina's scheduled resignation, and how the anti-LRT lobby in Hamilton, despite their skill at losing elections where they put LRT front and centre, refuses to go away. But now anti-LRT Liberals like Bratina, Vito Sgro and Judi Partridge can't turn to Donna Skelly and the PCs to do their dirty work, do they have a leg left to stand on? Finally we look at the latest fallout from the Halton Catholic District School Board's failure to pass a motion to raise the Pride flag in Hamilton, while Toronto and Waterloo have decided the opposite. Help the 905er Grow! Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast on January 19th 2021] Alyssa Brierley, Executive Director of the Centre for Equality Rights in Accomodation, joins us to discuss the waves of evictions that have been happening in Ontario since the summer under the auspices of the Landlord and Tenant Board, despite assurances earlier in the year about protections for tenants in financial difficulties because of the pandemic. These evictions are carried out via an online video process that places many tenants at a strong disadvantage. Then we go on to discuss the wider issue of affordable housing, why housing affordability has become such a large problem in the 905 region, and what possible solutions to provide a supply of affordable housing might be. You can find out more about CERA's work at https://www.equalityrights.org/ Thanks to those who help us put this together: Our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast on March 23rd 2021] Where Ontarians are moving is moving. Mike Moffat joins us to explore how, as the seemingly never-ending upward spiral of housing costs in the GTHA continues, and the population increases rapidly, many Ontarians are looking further afield for housing, with the result that some unexpected areas have become among the fastest-growing cities in the province. For instance, London and Woodstock. These are places that haven't necessarily planned for rapid population growth, and don't necessarily have the jobs and economic growth that would traditionally be expected to attract new residents. So what's going on? What is driving this unexpected change? What are Ontarians looking for? What effect has Covid had on this trend? What does it say about affordability in the 905 region, and what do we risk if we don't get to grips as a society with the need for a ready supply of housing for all income groups? Mike Moffatt is Senior Director, Smart Prosperity and Assistant Prof, Ivey Business School. You can find much more on this subject and others at https://mikepmoffatt.medium.com/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don't forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to your automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast May 18th 2021] With the guarantee of over $3 billion in funding from the federal and provincial governments to fund LRT - and only LRT - in Hamilton, Laura Babcock joins us to ponder why Hamilton City Council is still hesitant to move ahead. Laura is owner of POWERGROUP Communications a PR firm in Hamilton and media contributor on current affairs nationally, host of the OShow in Hamilton Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast October 13th 2020] In this episode we explore why Hamilton City Council decided to launch an investigation by its Integrity Commissioner into the actions of a volunteer chair of one of its advisory committees - Cameron Kroetsch. We speak to Cameron to get his side of the story, and ask whether the claims against him have merit, why council would want to appear so heavy-handed with regard to the actions of a volunteer, and what message they are sending to the wider community. Special thanks to our 905er volunteers who are help us to make these episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast June 8th 2021] This episode was recorded before the hate-fuelled killing of a four members of Muslim family in London, Ontario. We added a short pre-amble in light of that horrific event. Our guest this week is Graham Crawford, one of the leads and spokespeople of iElectHamilton.ca, which was launched two weeks ago. In two short weeks, iElectHamilton.ca has provoked a wave of positive support from many Hamiltonians, and a storm of angry reaction from some of the city’s political grandees. It has already been described as a leftist takeover by university elites, and for being unfairly hostile to delicate incumbent councillors who just want everybody to be positive. You can listen to part 2 of this interview here Please don’t forget to share on social media and review the 905er podcast, wherever you get it. If you’d like to be part of the 905er journey, and help us grown into a valued voice for our region, please consider supporting us at Patreon.com/the905er. Special Thanks Sound editing: Nicholas Paul Intro/Outro music: The Stereophonics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[First broadcast April 20th 2021] Tonight will be a momentous night for the Halton Catholic District School Board. For weeks, the board has been wrestling with itself over whether or not the Pride flag ought to be raised over its schools. A motion brought by Trustee Brenda Agnew under the title "Supporting Our Diverse School Community" would direct the Pride flag to be flown over HCDSB schools and mandate a safe space poster in every class "to ensure that students in the 2SLGBT community are supported throughout the school year". This motion has attracted the support of numerous parents and students, who have written letters or registered to delegate in support for the motion. However, others have expressed opposition to the flag, claiming it is not in line with the tenets of Catholicism. The motion has divided the Catholic community in Halton, Ontario, and the debate has raised questions once again about the place of publicly funded Catholic education in the province. We invited a former Halton Catholic School Board graduate, Niamh Shallow, onto the podcast to give her perspective. Niamh is a third year Sociology major at Trent University, and has written in support of trustee Agnew's motion, and will be part of a delegation in favour of the motion at the HCDSB board meeting on Tuesday evening. Joining her is Deirdre Pike. 905er listeners will remember Deirdre from our episode on Hamilton Universal Basic Income pilot project. She is also a recent nominee for an Ontario Newspaper Award for her column in The Spectator. Today she joins us as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who is also a practising Catholic. https://www.thespec.com/authors.pike_deirdre.html The meeting agenda, including letters and delegation notes in support and opposition to the motions can be downloaded here: https://www.hcdsb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BOARD_2021_04_20_REPORT.pdf Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we recharge the batteries with a summer break, we hope you enjoy some highlights from the 905er's first year. In our second episode, first broadcast August 4th 2020, Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod were joined by Cindy Cosentino, who recently retired after 32 years as a teacher in Hamilton and Halton school boards teaching science and math. Cindy shares her concerns, and the concerns of many of her colleagues, at what is being asked of teachers as children head back to school, and we explore the many unanswered questions about how the province’s plan can be implemented safely. Is the provincial plan ultimately more about protecting the economy than the interests and safety of children, parents and teachers? Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our founding patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerry Kavanaugh is an entrepreneur and CEO of Formula Solutions in Burlington. He started his first business at the age of twenty after initially trying his hand at motorsports. Since then he has built two successful companies in the field of carbon fibre composites, collaborated in creating equipment that helped Canada's snowboarders win gold at the Vancouver Olympics, and is now focussed in the field of commercial aerospace with major contracts that will see him hiring seventy new staff over the next year. Gerry talks to us about his career and how working in the 905 has contributed to his success. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel and Roland look at three more stories from the 905 region, including the implications of COVID spikes in Burlington, a Go Transit announcement in Hamilton, and the behaviour of a Rebel Media journalist in a confrontation with a CPC candidate in Thornhill. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last few weeks, observers of Burlington city politics have noticed a growing rift in council. So much that when Joan Little of the Spectator commented on it in one of her columns, the Mayor decided a rebuttal was in order. What is going on in Burlington City Hall? Joel and Roland discuss what we know and what it means. Then we take a stroll down to Hamilton, where this week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in the city to announce funding for 95 social assisted housing units. This announcement of course sparked furious debate on when the federal election would be announced. Joel doesn't think that it's going to happen, and that maybe, just maybe the announcement was just a mix of wanting to get some good publicity as well as an excuse to get out of Ottawa after two years. We give you our take on it all this week! If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are joined by Flavio Volpe, President of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, who talks to us about Project Arrow, and how it has the potential to change the auto industry in Canada, internationally, and be part of the electric future of transportation. Flavio was a wonderfully engaging guest, and you won't want to miss hearing him speak about the innovation and discovery that is happening in one of Canada's most economically crucial sectors, as it faces the the challenge of moving from an oil-based to sustainable energy-based industry. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have another milestone to celebrate, and two stories that remind us why the news in the 905 Region needs more coverage, because they are issues that you are unlikely too see receiving much coverage in legacy media. In the dock this week ... Hamilton and Brampton duke it out for the 'most dubious council behaviour' award. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roland and Joel welcome Laura Steiner, editor of the Milton Reporter to discuss the awakening to history that is happening right now, and the challenges it poses for our national self-image as 'Canada the Good'. Along the way we dive into how one of Ontario's oldest highways came to be named for a Scottish aristocrat who never visited Canada - Henry Dundas - and the problematic and contradictory aspects of his life.* Then we turn our attention to one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, Milton. Milton is also named for a person who never visited Canada, the poet John Milton (although surely also because it was a town with important mills). As Milton has changed rapidly from a small rural settlement to a major urban centre in recent years, almost everything has changed except the name of the mayor. What challenges is Milton facing? Is political change coming to join the rapid urban transformation? If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. *Notes for history geeks: You can read more the novel mentioned by Roland, Joseph Knight, here. The novel adds fictional detail to the real life story of Knight, a slave transported from Africa to the West Indies, and then to Scotland, where he was declared to be a free man in a court case in which Henry Dundas played a role. However Dundas also played a key role in undermining an attempt to end the slave trade in 1792, prolonging the period when Britain considered slavery indefensible on its own shores, but legal, and highly profitable, everywhere else in the Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re turning our attention to Mississauga and asking whether Canada’s sixth largest city is maybe one of the most misunderstood and underestimated cities, not just in the 905, but across Canada. To discuss this with us, we invited on Jay Kana, the owner and editor in chief of modernmississauga.com. Modern Mississauga explores Mississauga through the lens of the 21st century, covering culture, living, technology, arts, entertainment, community, history, and much more. As is so often the case, our conversation with Jay went in a whole bunch of directions we didn’t expect, and subjects that certainly have relevance for the 905 region wherever you live. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over statues of John A. Macdonald and keeping the name of Egerton Ryerson on public schools has rekindled in the last month. The discovery of 215 children in unmarked graves in Kamloops and the continued discovery of more unmarked graves in various Residential Schools across the country have given cause to examine these men's legacy. Roland wrote a piece for the 905er website which made explicit the case that statues and names on building does not make a historical legacy. Joel and Roland talk about the idea and how these icons make for pretty lazy history classes. History is much more nuanced and complex. We talk about the true complicated legacy of these men and what a better way for Canadians to memorialize and learn about accomplishments in the past might be. https://905er.ca/2021/06/were-not-erasing-history-were-learning-it/ If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seemed until the first week of June that Halton Region's opposition to the proposed Highway 413 was set in stone. And then a routine vote suddenly saw Milton Council reverse its position out of the blue. This sparked a wider discussion about what needs to happen in the 905 region generally to manage climate change and build for a sustainable post COVID-19 economy. Lisa Kohler Executive Director of Halton Environmental Network (haltonenvironet.ca/) and Halton Climate Collective (climatecollective.ca) joined us to speak about the Highway 413 story and much more, including the discussions around the proposed CN Rail Hub, also in Milton, the Halton Region Official Plan Amendments ("ROPA") discussions taking place right now that will have an important effect on the future of the Halton's growing communities, where growth will be focused, and whether the region accepts continued levels of sprawl, or insists on keeping new housing within existing urban boundaries. You can find out more about ROPA and contribute to the discussions taking place right now on the Halton Region website. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our Thursday 905 Round-up this week we have three stories that have dominated news cycles in different parts of the 905, in some cases for almost a decade. Two will be viewed as positive steps, and one seems entirely negative. Judge for yourselves. Trustees at Halton Catholic and Hamilton Wentworth Public School Boards are in a hole and determined to keep digging. Hamilton councillors vote at committee to proceed with LRT. But can the anti-LRT/Stoney Creek alliance delay and disrupt the process so much that they can still refuse to accept a free transit system? Burlington has received provincial permission to adjust the location of its Urban Growth Centre, which Mayor Meed Ward portrays as taking control of development in the city after a controversial decade and more since the UGC was put in place. Roland and Joel take different views on whether this is a big deal, a 'positive, but time will tell' deal, or a whole lot of nothing very much. Listen to the end to see who you agree with! If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The combined tragedies of the discovery of 215 unmarked children's graves in Kamloops, followed by the horrific act of Islamophobia resulting in the murder of a family in London, has shaken this country. Canada can no longer hide behind the polite veneer of multiculturalism and ignore the realities of life in this country for millions. Hate exists in this country. It takes on the form of Islamophobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism and any other form of racism you can think of. When individual men act out on their racism, the country falls into a predictable cycle of shock and shame. Politicians at every level, and the mainstream media all cry anger and shock at how no one could have predicted these acts of barbarism. Except it shouldn't be a surprise any more. This isn't the first time this country has dealt with racist acts resulting in murder. So why isn't action taken? Where is the political leadership, and the public discussion for justice and prevention? Why don't our institutions work to make racism a thing of the past? These are the questions we posed to our guest today. Sarbjit Kaur is the founder of KPW Comms, as well as outspoken advocate for diversity and equality in Canadian society. She is a former Queen's Park staffer and has been vocal on social media with her criticism of the response to the murders in London. We invited her on to discuss the need for our political leaders and the media to do better on this topic. Show notes: Jeff Bennett (Former PC Candidate in London, ON) Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10157931923491606&id=532941605 If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second part of our interview with Graham Crawford of iElectHamilton.ca. If you heard part one of the interview on Tuesday, you’ll know that Graham and a group of Hamiltonians have created an organization to campaign for a better Hamilton council to be elected in 2022, and for candidates to come forward who can bring a new look to city hall, replacing councillors who have been in place for decades on end in some cases, who are associated with the sewergate and Red Hill scandals, and who continue to foster the division between old-Hamilton and the suburban and rural hinterlands of the amalgamated city. In part two we look at all Hamilton has to offer as one of the most naturally fortunate cities in Canada, and consider what a city might look like that escaped the rut of unambitious and parochial leadership. If you like the what the 905er does, please consider supporting us at Patreon. For a week, for a month, for a year --- it all helps cover our costs and helps us cover more of the stories you want to see. Thanks to: Nicholas Paul: sound editing Our fantastic Team 905er Patrons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was recorded before the hate-fuelled killing of a four members of Muslim family in London, Ontario. We added a short pre-amble in light of that horrific event. Our guest this week is Graham Crawford, one of the leads and spokespeople of iElectHamilton.ca, which was launched two weeks ago. In two short weeks, iElectHamilton.ca has provoked a wave of positive support from many Hamiltonians, and a storm of angry reaction from some of the city’s political grandees. It has already been described as a leftist takeover by university elites, and for being unfairly hostile to delicate incumbent councillors who just want everybody to be positive. We enjoyed speaking to Graham so much we ended up recording enough to fill two episodes. So, we're going to fill two episodes. Here's part 1. Please don’t forget to share on social media and review the 905er podcast, wherever you get it. If you’d like to be part of the 905er journey, and help us grown into a valued voice for our region, please consider supporting us at Patreon.com/the905er. Special Thanks Sound editing: Nicholas Paul Intro/Outro music: The Stereophonics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hamilton councillors couldn't talk about a $3.1 billion investment in their city without first losing quorum and then voting to deferring any decision at 5pm, thereby risking losing control of the entire LRT approval process until after the approaching summer recess. What is it about Hamilton council that means they can't even seem to stay in the (virtual) council chamber? A non-905 city you may have heard of thought it would plan for the thing their city very much lacks - a major landmark central park. Then LPAT did what LPAT does - make city planning decisions and local democracy a waste of time. Will any provincial party put LPAT reform on its platform for the 2022 election? If HCDSB thought their Pride Flag decision would be yesterday's news in a couple of days, they were mistaken. Now the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal are involved. And guess where Burlington residents think the best place to put a new rainbow crosswalk is? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our episode coinciding with the first day of Pride Month, we talk to two high school students, Hannah Strom and Annie Wang, and their teacher Caitlin Grieve, about their successful efforts with the other students in 'Ridge Pride', the Gay-Straight Alliance at Iroquois Ridge High School, to have three Rainbow Crosswalks installed in Oakville. We are also joined by Whitney Ross, one of the co-leads for Pflag Halton - the local Halton region chapter of Pflag Canada. Pflag is a national non-profit organization that offers peer-to-peer support for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and families. Pflag Halton is committed to building visibility, representation, and inclusivity for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the Halton region. We address with Whitney the implications of Halton Catholic School Board scuppering a student-led initiative to raise the Pride Flag over HCDSB schools during June, the importance of symbols, and the journey that still needs to be travelled in Halton and across the 905 to build a truly inclusive society. With thanks to all four guests, and a special mention to Hannah for spending time over the weekend helping us recover from some technical issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a spectre haunting Hamilton--the spectre of university graduates. All the powers of old Hamilton may enter into an alliance to exorcise that spectre.* So suggests former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni, who this week claimed Hamilton was facing a 'left wing takeover' by 'university and other elites'. This was in reaction to the launch of ielecthamilton.ca, a website calling for 'new leadership for a better Hamilton'. Roland and Joel unpack what it means when politicians start using the 'E' word. We also look at a strange article in the Toronto Star which highlighted the CPC candidate for Thornhill at the next federal election, Melissa Lantsman. Lantsman, it suggested, could be the 'new face of GTA Conservatives'. Joel and Roland try to work out why. Help the 905er Grow! Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. *With apologies to Marx, Engels and Gary Larson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Hamilton apartment buildings have seen major outbreaks of Covid-19 in recent weeks, all of the more transmissible UK-origin variant. The worst instance was in Rebecca Towers, where well over 100 cases have been identified. These outbreaks immediately seemed to highlight Covid-19’s gift for seeking out the more vulnerable members of our communities. But did it also highlight the failure of multiple levels of government to protect those who - after long term care residents and front-line health workers were vaccinated - were in most urgent need of vaccination, and least able to obtain it? To discuss this topic in detail we invited on Justin Chandler. Justin is TVO.org's Hamilton-Niagara Bureau reporter, covering current affairs in the region. He also co-hosts the comic book radio show, Radio Free Krypton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Bratina, MP for Hamilton East--Stoney Creek is a man of principle, of that there can be no doubt. His outrage at the federal government's plan to invest unprecedented sums into his home city has distressed him so much that he has announced he is going to quit in disgust at a moment convenient to his own career interests. Namely, at the next election, which could be as late as 2023. In the mean time he will keep his backbench salary and the Liberal Party whip, while working to undermine Liberal Party policy. Bratina will achieve the six years of service needed to qualify for a full MP's pension in November 2021. When asked about his future plans, Bratina immediately mentioned the possibility of running for mayor of Hamilton again, before stating it was 'not top of mind right now'. In this week's 905 round-up, Joel and Roland discuss the backstory to Bratina's scheduled resignation, and how the anti-LRT lobby in Hamilton, despite their skill at losing elections where they put LRT front and centre, refuses to go away. But now anti-LRT Liberals like Bratina, Vito Sgro and Judi Partridge can't turn to Donna Skelly and the PCs to do their dirty work, do they have a leg left to stand on? Finally we look at the latest fallout from the Halton Catholic District School Board's failure to pass a motion to raise the Pride flag in Hamilton, while Toronto and Waterloo have decided the opposite. Help the 905er Grow! Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the guarantee of over $3 billion in funding from the federal and provincial governments to fund LRT - and only LRT - in Hamilton, Laura Babcock joins us to ponder why Hamilton City Council is still hesitant to move ahead. Laura is owner of POWERGROUP Communications a PR firm in Hamilton and media contributor on current affairs nationally, host of the OShow in Hamilton Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel and Roland roll up their pant legs and wade into a political mire of floods, climate emergencies, enfeebled and unambitious politicians and government staff and the absurd decision to halt delivery of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine and risk prolonging pandemic by Canada's two most science and evidence-resistant provincial governments. Along the way we give a demonstration of some important Anglo-Saxon verbs and nouns, because the CRTC can't stop us. Yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year into Covid-19 and our already-stretched mental health services in the 905 region are seeing unprecedented levels of demand. Adults and children alike are finding the uncertainty and isolation of life during pandemic to be a challenge, and as months have become over a year, those challenges only become more difficult. In today's episode Joel and Roland talk to Melanie McGregor of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Halton Branch, about how Covid-19 has affected our mental health services, and the fact that access to mental health professionals can be far more difficult than it should be, because it is not fully funded under OHIP. If you are facing mental health challenges because of Covid-19 or for any other reason, there are multiple services available to you 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Please make sure you speak to a professional as soon as possible. If you are experiencing a crisis, call Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST): 1-877-825-9011. If you are not in crisis, but need counselling, support or advice, CMHA Halton provides free walk-in counselling. At present this is being provided by phone. Call 289-291-5396 to speak to a counsellor within 24 hours. Outside Halton, CMHA has branches across the GTHA and all of Ontario. Visit cmha.ca to find your local branch. You can make a donation to support CMHA's work at cmha.donordrive.com. Mental health services specifically for children are provided in Halton by ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids). Their crisis line is 905-878-9785, and they provide multiple other methods for children and parents to contact them for assistance and support, detailed on their website. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel and Roland welcome back 905er regular, first ever '3rd time guest' and awesome Patreon supporter Shannon Gillies to discuss some of the problems with how debates on urban planning and intensification are discussed, how inevitable public resistance to change is handled, and how it can prevent us approaching the more complex discussions that need to happen if we are to design the best possible cities for our future. And do we need stronger city governments and stronger democracy to overcome the dysfunctional patterns we see in many 905 city halls? Then we look at the recent revelations with regard to Brampton's CAO, whose problematic career in Niagara has followed him to Brampton in what many would suggest is an entirely predictable manner. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are welcoming back Karl Dockstader and Sean Vanderklis to speak again about the latest developments that touch on the dispute at 1492 Land Back Lane on the edge of Caledonia and the Six Nations Reserve about 20 km south of Hamilton. Sean and Karl co-host the fantastic 1 Dish 1 Mic radio show on Sunday Mornings at 10am on AM 610 CKTB. You can also listen to current and past episodes. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel gives a full account of the HCDSB meeting on Monday where the motion to fly the Pride Flag was 'compromised' out of existence among a campaign of obstructionism and delay and time-wasting by the anti-flag trustees. Later in the show, Joel shares what it's like to get the vaccine, and we talk some more about paid sick days. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year into the Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to take stock and remind ourselves why we locked down. Amidst the sound and fury of the political debates, the voices of those who have experienced Covid-19 have largely been drowned out. Ashley Comrie spent two months in hospital with Covid-19 a year ago. She is still recovering and dealing with serious ongoing physical and psychological health challenges caused by the nightmare of Covid. A few weeks ago she wrote a Twitter thread about the government’s handling of the third wave that went viral. It perfectly summed up the frustration many of us have had with the failure to do the things needed to stop spread, combined with the insight that only a person who has experienced the worst of Covid can have. Every day of this pandemic, we need to keep the experience of people like Ashley Comrie front and centre. She has experienced everything … not just the worst of Covid, but the worst behaviour that the pandemic has brought out in a vocal minority. The fact that, after all that, she is still cheerful and delightful guest is testament to an extraordinary person. Follow Ashley at @ashleycomrie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined today by Dr Alexandra Power, a GP who works extensively with young adults through her practice at York University. Dr Power was one of the people who delegated on Tuesday night to Halton Catholic District School Board in support of a motion to fly the Pride flag over schools in June to show support for LGBTQ+ students in a motion brought by trustee Brenda Agnew. But on Tuesday night there was no decision. The numerous delegates who attended the meeting spoke and were questioned at length by trustees; over 200 members of the public provided their opinions on the subject by letter or delegation, clearly signalling the importance with which the public views this topic. And yet, when it came to their moment to make a decision, a majority of trustees voted to adjourn the meeting because it had reached 10pm. They could have extended the meeting. They could have made a decision. No explanation was given. No apology was made to the many people who had given up their time to contribute. The meeting ended, and with it the entire subject was adjourned until the next board meeting - when the process starts again. From scratch. In this episode we discuss the subtext to why the meeting was adjourned, the messages that are sent - whether intentionally or not - when democratic processes seem designed to belittle those foolish enough to want to contribute to their community, and the inherent problem with a publicly funded education board even considering LGTBQ+ issues - and the experience of LGBTQ+ students - in the third decade of the 21st century. Thanks to those who help us put this together: Thanks to our patrons! You can join them at https://www.patreon.com/the905er. Supporting the 905er with a monthly donation enables us to do this podcast, to make it better and better, and to make sure it reflects your priorities. Please consider joining our growing team. The Quadrafonics: fantastic opening and closing tunes! Don’t forget to check out 905er.ca, even if you get the podcast delivered to you automatically. We post additional news and stories there when we can, and welcome submissions and ideas for additional content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices