The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio)

Online betting now brings in major revenue for the province, but experts warn that the financial upside may come with mounting public-health costs. A similar tension shows up in new data on alcohol use: fewer Ontarians are drinking, yet binge drinking rates remain stubbornly high. What explains the disconnect, and what responsibility does government have when it profits from addictive products? We speak with addiction researchers Andrew Kim and Dominique Morisano.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal Liberals are pitching big, costly bets such as nuclear power, critical minerals, and high-speed rail as central to Canada's economic future, raising questions about who pays and whether pension funds should help finance projects tied to economic sovereignty. Matthew Mendelsohn and Keith Ambachtsheer examine the risks and rewards of tapping pension capital. Then, economist Kaylie Tiessen looks critically at the surge in "Buy Canadian" policies and whether they actually deliver on their economic promises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario and the federal government are rolling out new housing measures, including HST rebates on new homes and billions in infrastructure funding to cut development charges. Will these moves actually bring down prices and speed up construction, or are deeper structural fixes still missing?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Rae reflects on the legacy of Stephen Lewis, one of Canada’s most influential public figures and international advocates. Drawing on decades of public life and personal experience, Rae discusses Lewis’s impact on politics, diplomacy, and social justice, and what his work continues to mean for Canada today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Under Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, the Ford government gave itself new powers to create "special economic zones," promising faster development and fewer regulatory hurdles. Those powers are now being tested at Billy Bishop Airport, where the province is considering expropriating Toronto's stake, overriding a decades-old governance agreement, and declaring the site a special economic zone to accelerate plans for jets. To probe what this shift means for economic growth, democratic oversight, and environmental risk, we're joined by Pedro Antunes of Signal49 Research, University of Toronto professor Jessica Green, and Ontario Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Tisch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario's 2026 budget and a proposed overhaul of freedom-of-information laws have dominated headlines, but critics warn some of the most significant changes are escaping scrutiny. As the Ford government moves to rewrite access-to-information rules and quietly advance key budget measures, transparency advocates and political observers ask what is being overlooked, and why it matters. We're joined by The Trillium's Jessica Smith Cross, Transparency International Canada's Salvator Cusimano, and TVO Today columnist and #onpoli co-host John Michael McGrath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the federal government’s gun buyback program faces growing criticism, questions remain about whether it will meaningfully improve public safety, or miss the forces driving gun violence in the first place. From the legal challenges surrounding firearms policy, examined by lawyer Edward Burlew, to decades of crime-prevention research outlined by University of Ottawa professor emeritus Irvin Waller, the debate extends well beyond legislation. It also intersects with lived realities on the ground, highlighted by a November 2024 shooting at a Toronto recording studio linked to rival gangs. Drawing on insights from youth advocate David Mitchell and music producer and business owner Shakkir Brown, this conversation looks at how policy, community, and culture collide, and what real change might actually require.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario says its Primary Care Action Plan is working and promises universal access by 2029. But with many still without a family doctor and a deadline to publicly fund medically necessary care from nurse practitioners about to be missed, is the primary care crisis really easing or just shifting? Family physician and researcher Dr. Tara Kiran, Ontario College of Family Physicians CEO Deepy Sur, and Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario CEO Michelle Acorn examine whether government optimism matches reality and what stalled nurse practitioner funding means for the future of care.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.