Advertise on podcast: The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio)

Ontario has given strong mayors and regional chairs new powers in the name of efficiency. But what does that mean for local democracy, community representation, and the future of municipal government? We explore the impact of these changes with Bill Irwin, Councillor for Ward 2 in the Municipality of North Middlesex and Professor Emeritus at Huron University; Lloyd Rang, CEO of Curious Public and former Councillor for Ward 2 in Clarington; and Clifton van der Linden, Associate Professor of Political Science at McMaster University. Plus, as concerns about voter engagement continue, we look at a case where one Ontario township faced the prospect of having no candidates run for office at all, and what that reveals about participation in local politics.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario is considering changes to the Coroners Act that could end mandatory inquests into deaths in custody, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and what families could lose if public hearings become less common. We discuss the proposal and the state of Ontario's inquest system with advocate Yusuf Faqiri, founder of the Justice for Soli campaign, and lawyer Joel Dick of Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP. Then, we head to Sudbury to meet Dr. Kona Williams, medical director of the North Eastern Regional Forensic Pathology Unit at Health Sciences North, to learn how forensic pathologists help uncover the truth when deaths occur unexpectedly and why she has dedicated her career to the field.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trade war is creating profound economic uncertainty for communities across Canada. What role should municipalities play in a "Team Canada" response, and how can they navigate the economic fallout? Then, TVO Today's Nerds on Politics asks whether municipalities should rethink another local tradition: holding elections without political parties.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario says expanding the role of private clinics could help patients get care faster. But what does the evidence tell us about the impact of private health care? Andrew Longhurst of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives weighs in. Then, NOSM University president Dr. Michael Green explains why Northern Ontario's unique health-care challenges require training more doctors from the north, for the north.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Albertans have chosen Canada, while Premier Danielle Smith says voters have backed a stronger Alberta within a united country. So what does the referendum result say about the mood in Alberta, and where does the province go from here? Martha Hall Findlay, director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, and journalist Jen Gerson join us to discuss. Then, security expert and author Patrick Lennox looks beyond Alberta at claims of foreign interests fuelling the separatist movement and what that could mean for Canada's security and sovereignty.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario's municipal election rules were written long before social media and AI transformed political campaigning. Are they still up to the task? Andrea Coyne, deputy clerk for the Town of Oakville, and Riley Brockington, president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, discuss whether the Municipal Elections Act needs an update. Then, Rory White, technology and democracy reporter at Canada's National Observer, examines how AI tools could change the way candidates campaign and what that could mean for future elections.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local government has a major impact on everyday life, but how well do Ontarians understand what municipalities are responsible for? Charlie Buckley hits the streets of Toronto to put voters' knowledge to the test. Then, with voter disengagement and political burnout challenging local democracy, France Bélisle, Peter MacLeod, and Lindsay Jones discuss why Ontarians should vote, what it takes to run for office, and how to strengthen participation in municipal politics.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

General Wayne Eyre retired in 2024 after four decades of military service, most recently as Canada's chief of the defence staff. What did his time at the top teach him about the state of Canada's military and the politics shaping it? Then, Ann Fitz-Gerald of the Balsillie School of International Affairs examines Canada's new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. What role could it play in confronting today's security challenges, and what happens if some countries choose not to join?Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada's relationship with China appears to be entering a new chapter. Lynette Ong, Distinguished Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Toronto, and Jeff Nankivell, president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, examine what's driving closer economic ties and what they could mean for Canada. Then, as Canada cuts tariffs on some Chinese electric vehicles, Moe Kabbara, CEO of the Transition Accelerator, looks at whether greater co-operation with China could create new opportunities for Canadian manufacturing and supply chains.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudan is facing what the International Rescue Committee calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Political scientist Ian Spears examines the prospects for peace, while Unravelled looks at the International Criminal Court's investigation into possible war crimes. Then, Mamoun Hassan and Walaa Hassanien share what they witnessed after returning to Sudan on a humanitarian mission, and the story of the country beyond the conflict.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As governments promise to protect Canadian jobs and industries, are their policies delivering? United Steelworkers president Ron Wells and McMaster University professor emeritus Wayne Lewchuk discuss the fallout from Stelco layoffs and the future of Hamilton's steelworkers. Then, Toronto Star investigative reporter Frédérik Plante examines questions about Ottawa's "buy Canadian" policy and where federal procurement dollars are actually going.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many older adults, smartphones have become an important way to stay connected and engaged. We meet Marla Lewis and her daughter Rosie to see the role technology plays in Marla's life after retirement. Then, MediaSmarts' Kara Brisson-Boivin, cognitive neurologist Howard Chertkow, and McMaster University's Nicole Dalmer examine how much screen time is too much and what smartphone use could mean for older adults' health and well-being.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontario's health-care system is under growing strain, from emergency rooms to family medicine. ER doctors describe difficult working conditions, distress, and thoughts of leaving the field, while more than 2.5 million Ontarians lack access to a family physician. Dr. Rodrick Lim and Dr. Farzan Ansari examine what's driving the pressure in emergency medicine. Then, family physicians Dr. Jennifer Wilson and Dr. Carlye Jensen discuss the challenges facing GPs and what it could take to attract more medical students to family medicine.Follow on social media: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/therundowntvo Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheRundownTVO X- https://twitter.com/therundowntvo Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/therundowntvo.bsky.social LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/therundowntvo/ Subscribe to TVO Today to watch more content like this: https://www.youtube.com/@tvotoday Listen to the podcast: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/the-rundown-audio Check out the rest of the TVO ecosystem: TVO Docs - https://www.youtube.com/@tvo TVO Kids - https://www.youtube.com/@TVOkids TVO Learn - https://www.youtube.com/@tvolearn Download the TVO Today App Apple - https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112 Available on: Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, Amazon Fire TV  Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gambling addiction can be easy to hide, even for someone in the public eye. Television and radio personality Rick Campanelli opens up about his own struggle with gambling and the impact it had behind the scenes of his successful career. Then, as online betting becomes easier to access and gambling ads increasingly surround sports, we ask whether Canada is doing enough to prevent addiction. Robin Campbell, co-founder of Ban Ads on Gambling, and CAMH scientist Nigel E. Turner discuss the risks of online gambling, how to recognize when someone may be struggling, and whether new restrictions on sports betting advertising could make a difference.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when an Indigenous burial ground is uncovered in a city? Reporter Gabrielle McMann examines who decides what happens next and the questions municipalities face. Then, we travel to Garden River First Nation to uncover the story of the men behind the "This Is Indian Land" message painted on a train bridge more than 50 years ago. And residential-school Survivor and Orange Shirt Day co-founder Phyllis Webstad reflects on her story, the meaning of the orange shirt, and the movement it inspired across Canada.Donate Today : https://tvo.me/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.