How do you put a smiling, election-ready face on a government that’s done little but slash regulations and mismanage a pandemic? That calls for a brand refresh! Allison and Jonathan look at how Doug Ford’s PCs are positioning themselves as The Party of “Yes,” despite a track record that’s at best full of maybes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wag The Doug

Ep. 33 - Yes, He Won't

Doug Ford used to oppose vaccine passports. Now’s he super in favour. That he changed his mind wasn’t surprising; that he did so before Ontario hit a new crisis point was. With Allison in New York, where she’s coming to love her vaccine passport, she and Jonathan pore over clues as to why Ford reversed himself sooner rather than later. What does it take to change the premier’s mind? This episode is sponsored by Rotman's Executive Leadership Online. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 32 - Anatomy of a Flip-Flop

Opened in 1971, Ontario Place was an idealistic effort to celebrate and cement a provincial identity. Fifty years later, and having been left to rot, it’s about to be carved up and privatized by the Doug Ford government. Join Allison and Jonathan as they take a trip to Ontario Place, where past, present, and future collide in an awkward mishmash of ambitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 31 - Ghosts of Ontario Place: Past, Present, Future

Over 25 years, WE built a golden brand by inspiring children to rally around their charismatic leader. But behind the scenes, employees experienced a cult-like culture and a troubling blur of charitable and commercial activities. In the aftermath of a national scandal, thousands of donors and volunteers (and dozens of ‘celebrity ambassadors’) are left wondering where the money went, and whether the savior industry creates a constant need for victims. From CANADALAND, the news company that exposed it all, this is the exclusive story of a charity that did well when it was supposed to be doing good. Subscribe to The White Saviors now! Series launch: August 23 This trailer contains source materials used under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act.  Sources:  It Takes a Child Craig Kielburger's Story - A Journey into Child Labour Directed by Judy Jackson Produced by Judy Films Youtube The Story of Craig Kielburger produced, and narrated by Sherine Mansour CPAC Youtube In Search Of Character LiveWire Media Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc https://www.livewiremedia.com/product/in-search-of-character/ The Price WE Paid The Fifth Estate/CBC Interview with Craig Kielburger CSPAN Craig Kielburger NSB Speakers promotional video Youtube Marc Kielburger NSB Speakers promotional video Youtube WE Movement Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6agaIkn5aBJlLLds7P1HQ MeToWe Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6agaIkn5aBJlLLds7P1HQ CTV News - Kielburger brothers interview with Lisa Laflamme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_p5PRLy2os MTV Cribs: Craig Kielburger Episode Haddon Strategy https://vimeo.com/49975157 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing The White Saviors

Allison and Jonathan answer listener questions, such as: Will the government really give a boost to personal-support workers? And what’s the deal with Doug Ford’s brother’s hat? Join them as they venture into the Ford Family Extended Universe. Guaranteed more Fords per minute than any other podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 30 - Everything You Wanted To Know About Doug Ford (And Did In Fact Ask)

Doug Ford is getting ready for next year’s election by increasing donation limits, shuffling his cabinet, and overriding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to pass a law limiting the criticism he’ll face. This sudden bonfire of political capital has our hosts wondering: given the state of Ontario’s opposition parties, just what is Ford so afraid of? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 29 - What's Doug Ford So Afraid Of?

In Doug Ford’s Ontario, there’s no problem that can’t be solved by giving police new powers. This time, the issue is human trafficking— which, well that makes sense, right? The reality is far more complicated. Allison and Jonathan talk to Elene Lam of Butterfly, the Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network, who explains how the government’s new Bill 251 will actually cause harm to vulnerable populations that are already criminalized and over-policed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 28 - The Government's Hidden Attack On Sex Workers

With the pandemic reaching new levels of crisis each day, and public anger at the government rising in proportion, how has Doug Ford chosen to spend his evenings? Fundraising! The Ontario PCs have built an enormously effective big-money operation and just passed a new law to entrench it. Allison and Jonathan explore the ways the party collects cash — and how such contributions appear to inform the government’s life-or-death decisions. This episode is sponsored by Images Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 27 - Doug Ford's Gravy Train

The GTA has become the site of a massive tow truck turf war. Vehicles have been fire-bombed, a law office has been shot up, and cops face criminal charges for their involvement. And the person in charge of reining in the violence and corruption? Doug Ford. Allison and Jonathan talk with Peter Edwards, the Toronto Star’s organized crime reporter, who explains how this tow truck tumult puts everyone at risk. Correction (March 17 at 4:06 p.m. EDT): This episode erroneously describes Sol Mamakwa as “Ontario’s first and only Indigenous MPP.” He is, in fact, the second member of a First Nation to sit in the legislature, following Peter North in the 1990s, and serves alongside NDP colleagues Guy Bourgouin (who is Métis) and Suze Morrison (who is of mixed Indigenous and settler heritage). This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 26 - Tow Truck Mafia

Laurentian University has filed for creditor protection, while another, opening this fall, has attracted just 47 applicants. What is going on with Ontario’s postsecondary sector? And what can the premier’s own brief college experience tell us about his government’s peculiar approach? Allison and Jonathan also talk to Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, about how the whole business model for Ontario’s colleges and universities has changed dramatically in the past several years. This episode is supported by Dispatch Coffee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 25 - Canary In the Nickel Mine: Laurentian Goes Bust

It’s the second annual Douggie Awards, where Allison and Jonathan take stock of all the hilarity and abject horror that was the Year in Ford. Who carries home the trophies for “Best Sycophant,” “Most Surreal Moment,” and the always-popular “Most Blatant Conflict of Interest”? Take a stroll down the shoddily constructed blue carpet and join us as we celebrate the worst that Ontario has to offer. Additional music: A Very Busy Day by short hopper (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license.  Ft: Martijn de Boer, Bill Ray Drums, Suresh Chacko Panu's Bandstand by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Ft: Panu This episode is brought to you by Cullens Foods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 24 - The Second Annual Douggie Awards

Doug Ford vowed that those who couldn’t afford rent during the pandemic wouldn’t lose their homes. Instead, he made evictions easier than ever. And now, thanks to online hearings, the bleak indifference of that process is on display for all. Allison and Jonathan look at what it means when housing is chiefly seen as an investment, not a right, and how the province has doubled down on facilitating shareholder profits at the expense of tenants who took the premier at his word. They also talk to Bryan Doherty of Keep Your Rent Toronto and Sam Nithiananthan of People’s Defence Toronto, about resistance and solidarity in the face of a real-estate market that’s slowly pushing everyone toward the same cliff. This episode was brought to you by Cullen's Foods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 23 - Landlord and Tenant Board of Damocles

Except when they’re investigating members of his family, Doug Ford really loves the police. So much so that, earlier this year, when calls for defunding became inescapable, he responded by giving them more money. In this episode, Allison and Jonathan look at his government’s record on policing, and the extent to which it has and hasn’t reversed recent attempts at reform. They also talk to a fifth-grader (but about different things). This episode was brought to you by Cullen’s Foods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 22 - Law & Forder

It's crowdfunding month! Support us at canadaland.com/join. To be caught off guard by Covid’s first wave was misfortunate. To be caught off guard by its second looks like carelessness. Allison and Jonathan look at how Doug Ford’s bungling of the pandemic’s resurgence has squandered any earlier benefit of the doubt. And they talk to Dr. David Fisman, a U of T epidemiologist, whose pointed online criticisms of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer have softened of late — but not because he thinks he’s doing a better job. Additional music: Phase 4 by Xylo Ziko. This episode is sponsored by CullensFoods.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 21 - Epidemiology And The Infinite Sadness

Support us here: WagtheDoug.com   With large swaths of the continent on fire, we look at how Doug Ford’s government recently took a torch to environmental regulations under the guise of a “Covid-19 Economic Recovery Act.” Jonathan and Allison speak with Greenpeace lawyer Priyanka Vittal, who’s leading one of the lawsuits against the changes. And in examining what the government has accomplished on the environment front, we find it involves a lot of shooting of birds and trucking of wolves. This episode is sponsored by CullensFoods.com Clarification (September 24, 2020): In a discussion of COVID at universities, an earlier version of this episode included a statement that “the government started publishing a list of every school” with at least one case. In fact, the statement was in reference to public primary and secondary schools. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

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Wag The Doug

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