Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday May 14, 2015

We’re chock full of surprises this week on Open Sources Guelph. We go from one surprise in the U.K., where the election went well for the incumbent but somewhat less well for everyone else, to surprise in Ontario where the guy least likely to succeed, succeeded, to surprise moves in Ottawa which may have a big impact on this October’s election. Somewhat less surprising is trouble with Ontario’s teachers, but what is suprising is that on a show co-hosted by the long-running host of CFRU’s The Working Week it took us this long to talk about it. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday May 14, 2015” →

Him? Yes, Somehow, Patrick Brown is the Leader of Ontario’s PCs

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the chances of Barrie MP Patrick Brown becoming leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and largely dismissed them. Surely, the PCs of our fair province wouldn’t go for the remix version of Tim Hudak over someone with the experience, tact, and legacy of Christine Elliott? I guess I don’t know Ontario PCs as well as I thought I did.

Winning handily by a margin of 61.8 per cent to 38.2 per cent, Brown now has the unenviable task of in just three short years rebuilding the PC Party in Ontario and making them election ready to unseat the ruling Liberals, who will likely still be lead by the Premier, Kathleen Wynne, in 2018. But the question is, can a federal backbencher with a decade-long career having seemingly done nothing to distinguish himself hope to combat two veteran provincial politicians on their own ground? Especially when he doesn’t have a seat in Queen’s Park yet? Continue reading “Him? Yes, Somehow, Patrick Brown is the Leader of Ontario’s PCs” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday May 7, 2015

This week on Open Sources Guelph, Hell freezes over! Not really, but it did feel like a week where the impossible happened as the election results came back in Alberta. Meanwhile, it looks like Omar Khadr might finally get out of prisoner, but not if anyone in the federal government has anything to say about it. Same goes for parents rallying against changes to the sex ed in Ontario as that debates heats up all over again. And that brings us to a unique event in Garland Texas that seemed tailor-made to antagonizer and ended up doing just that. What a week! Let’s talk about it. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday May 7, 2015” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 30, 2015

After taking a couple of weeks to do some special episodes about Earth Day and an interview with the Mayor, Open Sources Guelph gets back to talking about the issues, and there is so much to talk about. With elections abroad, elections at home, and elections still to come, there’s also the matter of social justice issues to consider, as our First Nations people and homeless populations face old problems that remain, as ever, unsolved. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 30, 2015” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 23, 2015

In October 2014, Cam Guthrie was given a promotion by the voters of Guelph from Ward 4 city councillor to mayor. His campaign message of limited tax increases and fiscal transparency resonated with people, and as a result he was handed a decisive victory over incumbent mayor Karen Farbridge. But winning an election in one thing, being the city’s chief representative, advocate and ambassador is another bailiwick entirely. Now, just over six months since his election win, Mayor Cam Guthrie will join Open Sources Guelph for an hour of frank (and hopefully fun) discussion about his last 100 some-odd days on the job, and the challenges facing him and Guelph’s city council for the next few years. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 23, 2015” →

6 Months to Election Day

Exactly six months from now, Canadians will go to the polls to elect a new federal government. Already, each of the major parties is telling us that this will be the most important election in Canadian history, and although the more meta-aware candidates recognize that this line is said almost every election year, could they be actually right this time? There are 30 new seats up for grabs thanks to the re-configuration of district lines, making a majority sweep just a little bit harder to achieve. On the issues, there’s the Stephen Harper legacy, whether or not a balanced budget is enough to make people forget the myriad of scandals his government’s incurred over the last decade. And the Opposition, is Thomas Mulcair’s prosecutorial method of holding the government in line going to keep the Orange Crush crushing, or is the face of youth and vitality in Justin Trudeau going to be more appealing? Continue reading “6 Months to Election Day” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 16, 2015

Since 1970, the 22nd of April has been known as a time to stop and think about our effect on the planet and all the damage we have wrought on it. It’s Earth Day, and Open Sources Guelph is choosing to celebrate (so to speak) by dedicating a whole show to issues of the environment. In the news this week we’re running out of water to drink, and air to breathe, but there are politicians actually working to try and undo some of the damage. The question is though, are we too late? Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday April 16, 2015” →