With an election seven months away, Doug Ford’s government has suddenly decided it’s pro-worker. But would any of their proposed reforms actually improve the lives of low-income and gig workers in Ontario?
Hosted by Allison Smith and Jonathan Goldsbie
Allison and Jonathan talk to Brice Sopher of Gig Workers United about whether Ford is actually “Working for Workers” or — like many gig workers themselves — is simply taking instructions from app companies.
The province has got a housing crisis, and the only prescription is… more mayoral powers?? Allison and Jonathan probe the comically flimsy pretense under which Doug Ford has fundamentally, if casually, reshaped how Ontario’s two largest cities are governed. Because what doesn’t quite kill Toronto and Ottawa, apparently just makes their mayors stronger.
Allison and Jonathan talk with Jacobin’s Luke Savage about why the NDP so often provokes indifference, while its American and British counterparts sometimes seem poised to spark revolution. Might a new leader succeed where Andrea Horwath did not?
Plus: The Premier’s new cabinet offers unprecedented representation by members of the Ford family. Because it’s 2022.
The PCs are up seven seats from last time, and the opposition parties are down two leaders. We were going to record this from Doug Ford’s election-night event, but Jonathan wasn’t allowed in. So he and Allison met up after to talk about life in the Second Age of Ford, and what it means when a vindictive government also believes it’s a vindicated one.
As Doug Ford campaigns against fumes, his opponents are increasingly running on them. Less than a week away, the election’s outcome is hardly a foregone conclusion, but the Liberals, at least, have reached chicken-suit levels of desperation. Are they telling us there’s no candour available in all of Del Duca’s vista? Also, Allison and Jonathan consider whether Doug Ford has actually “evolved” (he hasn’t) and why the Star’s Queen’s Park columnist is so convinced that he has.
Our election coverage continues into week three. This week, there was a weirdly upbeat leaders’ debate, two party leaders got COVID and several trade unions came out in support of Doug Ford and the PCs. Jonathan and Allison break down what it all means.
On week two of the election campaign, the dirt starts to surface about candidates, the leaders participate in their first debate and the Liberals release their fully-costed platform.
Wag the Doug is going weekly for the Ontario election! On the first weekly Wag, Jonathan and Allison talk about Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca’s Youtube series, Ford’s campaign launch, cringey Star Wars memes, transit ideas and plenty more.
A listener writes in, wondering why she's getting a rebate cheque in the mail right before an election campaign. Jonathan and Allison take stock of everything the Progressive Conservative Party is doing to secure an election victory, from conveniently-timed cheques to a spree of spending announcements. Plus, a special announcement about the show.
