Guelph Politicast

Open Sources Guelph - September 3, 2015

Before you kick off for the Labour Day weekend, tune in your radio for the latest edition of Open Sources Guelph.
Don't adjust your set, because the show will sounds a little different
this week, but rest assured, the same old political commentary will
emerge for your radio this afternoon as the team address the latest hot
topics making news across Canada. This Thursday, September 3, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and special guest host Noel Mano from CFRU News will discuss:1) Campaign Week #5.
As we entered the second month of the campaign it all became about the
'R'  word, "Recession." As Stephen Harper tried to spin the news that
this was only a technical recession, Justin Trudeau and Thomas
Mulcair went on the attack as the polls told a story that on Election
Night the question of who might form the next government may come down
to which way the wind blows in British Columbia. We'll have the latest
campaign news.2) 3 Years in Prison.
After several fits and starts and theatrics from the Egyptian court,
Mohamed Fahmy and two of his colleagues from Al Jazeera were sentence to
three years in prison for spreading false news among other charges. PM
Harper was immediately criticized for not doing enough on Fahmy's
behalf, but it's another example of just how dangerous the work of
journalists can be. Is there hope for Fahmy?3) Bad Bus Driver?
A Calgary bus driver refused to drive the city's new rainbow themed bus
because, you guessed it, as a Christian he conscientiously objects to
the "homosexual lifestyle." Meanwhile, a county clerk in Kentucky still
refuses to issue marriage licenses despite the Supreme Court's
insistence that she begin doing so. What are we to make of this
continued struggle for universal gay rights both here and in the United
States?Note: Open Sources' Candidate profile series will begin next week.Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - August 27, 2015

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." The faint praise of a
middling bureaucrat in the wake of a tremendous humanitarian disaster
still haunts us 10 years later on this week's Open Sources Guelph.
In a bizarre bit of timing, we consider another burgeoning humanitarian
crisis, this time in Europe with thousands of refugees trying to escape
the chaos of Middle East conflicts. All that, plus the Ashley Madison
hacks, and (naturally) all the latest campaign news form the meat of
this week's show.This Thursday, August 27, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Campaign Week #4.
As phase 2 of the Duffy Trial wraps, the Conservatives are hoping to
make up lost ground now that there are no new allegations coming out
daily. They badly need to go on the attack because the polls are showing
that the NDP are consolidating their Quebec base, looking to
breakthrough in British Columbia, and over half the electorate now
trusts the Tories less than they did four years ago. We'll cover all the
latest election news as he wrap up the first month (sigh) of the
campaign.2) On Cheating and Hacking.
A group of hacktivists dumped a whole lot of information about users of
the cheaters dating site Ashley Madison, and it kicked up a maelstrom.
From the status of high-profile alleged members like Josh Duggar and Eve
Adams, to issues of privacy and morality, the info dump forces us to
ask some deep questions about the nature of the internet and the
vulnerability of personal information. Will the Ashley Madison hack be a
wake-up call, or another hiccup as we shift to a privacy-less world?3) The Worst Refugee Crisis in Europe Since WWII.
That's what they're calling it as thousands of migrants from Syria and
Iraq are overwhelming the governments of Macedonia and Greece as they
try to escape the ongoing and endless war in the their own countries.
Resources in countries along the Mediterranean coast are being taxed as
refugees scramble desperately in their hope to reach Western Europe and
salvation. What, if anything, can be done to ease the crisis?4) 10 Years After the Storm.
At 6 am on August 29,2005, Hurricane Katrina came ashore in the Gulf
Coast and laid waste to the City of New Orleans. Initial reports that
the storm missed the city gave way to one of the worst humanitarian
disasters in American history. The bungling of the response, primarily
the inaction of FEMA director Michael Brown, did irreparable harm to the
administration of George W. Bush, and in no small way the effects of
Katrina are still being felt today. What, if anything, did we learn from
this chapter 10 years on?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - August 20, 2015

What's the matter with you? You guys listen to Open Sources Guelph to
learn more about these fantasy scandals and it amounts to zero! Have
you guys never cheated on your tax return?! This week's show isn't a
deal, it's a nothing. We don't read tax forms, it's done by the people
in the tax department. Don't like it? Well you're a lying piece of $#!%!
You too! You're making an issue out of nothing! He's nothing! Open Sources is producing good radio! It's nothing! It's nothing! It's zero! (Quietly lead away by private security.)This Thursday, August 20, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Campaign Week #3.
No one pays attention to politics in August? Hardly. It got pretty
intense on the hustings as both Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau had to
deal with internal issues. Trudeau had to let go a candidate that said
some untoward things on Twitter, and Harper had a candidate who touted
his status as the son of a Holocaust survivor. And he had the ongoing
dilemma of the Duffy Trial. And then he had the irate old man that
cussed out the media's interest in the case, which prompted a rare
apology. All this, and the mysterious case of the local attack ads
against Andrew Seagram as we head into week four of the federal
election.2) The Neverending Cross-Examination.
As old men blew up at reporters on the campaign trail, the subject of
that anger continued on unabated in an Ottawa courtroom. Nigel Wright's
cross-examination continued on the stand at the Mike Duffy trial this
week, abd included in the revelations was the allegation that key
members of the Harper team, including his current chief of staff Ray
Novak, were in on the meetings discussing the $90,000 cheque. With the
wear of the trial showing among Conservative supporters, will Duffy by
Harper's Waterloo (the Battle not the Ontario city)?3) Remembering Tina.
It was one year ago that teenager Tina Fontaine was found in the Red
River. In those 365 days, life on Canada's streets has not gotten any
safer for the country's Indiginous women. Forget the fact that Tina's
case remains unsolved, but many others have joined her on the long, sad
list of women who have been missing or murdered and there seems to be no
drive in those in power to address the problem or come up with
solutions. Can the combination of this powerful anniversary and the
present campaign make any difference?4) The Price is Reich.
In the mood to purchase some genuine Nazi Germany artifacts? Well, you
won't find them at a St. Jacobs antique market, which had several items
for sale including Swastika flags, S.S. rings and an actual letter
signed by Adolf Hitler himself, until community pressure had them
removed. Is this an example of censorship? Were community members right
to force the store to remove the items, or are we too sensitive and
anxious to bury any reminder of this brutal period in history?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - August 13, 2015

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2015 Campaign. If you're not tired of the election yet, get ready because Open Sources Guelph
is going to recap the week and the major issues before diving headlong
again into the murky and messy topic of U.S. race relations as we mark a
sad anniversary and events that seem constantly to be repeating
themselves.This Thursday, August 13, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Campaign: Week #2.
Justin Trudeau showed up to the debate with his pants on. Thomas
Mulcair got protested by anti-pipeline activists at his book launch.
Stephen Harper announced his intention to stop Kathleen Wynne's Ontario
Pension Plan. On the surprisingly busy August campaign trail, there was
no shortage of announcements, attacks and controversies to address,
including our belated analysis of that Maclean's debate and how the rest of the campaign schedule might play out. And there's still two months left in the campaign...2) The War on the War on ISIS.
Stephen Harper hammered the opposition hard this week by embracing one
of his key issues: national security and the War on ISIS. At an event in
the GTA, Harper reaffirmed his commitment to the war and his intention
to bring more Iraqi refugees to Canada, all the while chastising Thomas
Mulcair and Justin Trudeau for promising to pull Canadian Forces out of
the region. The opposition meanwhile called Harper's stance more
campaigning on fear, and happily pointed out that the Conservatives are
more than happy to use ISIS propaganda in their own campaign ads. Will
ISIS be the wedge issue Harper is hoping for?3) The Wright Stuff.
The long awaited testimony of Nigel Wright began Wednesday at the trial
of Mike Duffy. The former Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Stephen
Harper is the star witness in the trial of the disgraced Senator, and
politicos are excited about the rare chance to glimpse inside the
typically secretive and controlling PMO. But will the Wright testimony
be as huge as people think? Will it poke a hole in Harper's re-elections
ambition? Is there anything left to learn about the ordeal?4) Ferguson: One Year Later.
A year after Michael Brown was gunned down by a police officer in
Ferguson, Missouri, protesters gathered again to remind everyone that
Black Lives Matter. What was meant to be a peaceful demonstration again
fell apart as a state of emergency was declared, and fanning the flames
of the situation is the recent arrival in Ferguson of the militia group
the Oath Keepers. Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter protesters are targeting
the presidential race to get their message out, as more examples of
police being quick on the draw continue to come in. Has anything changed
in the last 365 days?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - August 6, 2015

Finally! The campaign begins. It feels like we've talking about since
- I don't know - the first episode, but the official campaign period
for the 42nd General Election is officially underway, and Open Sources Guelph
has you covered. We'll cover #elxn42 so far in the first half of the
show, the second half we'll tackle that other debate Thursday night, and
salute a fake news legend who became a paragon for actual news in his
own time. This Thursday, August 6, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) They're Off!
As predicted (or leaked), Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the
Governor-General Sunday and asked him to dissolve Parliament, and, as
consequence, officially kicked off a nearly three-month long campaign.
Despite the dog days of August, there's been a lot of action on the
campaign trail. Harper proposed a new tax credit (if the government can
afford it mid-mandate); Tom Mulcair was going to take the week off to
prepare for a debate (until the news cycle proceeded without him); and
Justin Trudeau, like the proverbial hare, stuck to his own race (but
finally swung back hard against his critics). With five days down, what
do we think of the race so far?2) Debate Prep Part 1.
On Thursday night, Stephen Harper, Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and
Elizabeth May will face-off in the first debate of the election season.
Hosted by Rogers/Macleans, and moderated by Macleans columnist
Paul Wells, this debate will not only be the first real test for party
leaders in #elxn42, but it will also test the "Aussie rules" debate
season prompted by Harper's (and then Mulcair's) refusal to participate
in the traditional debates held by the consortium of broadcasters
including CBC, CTV and Global. Will this first debate change the game in
more ways than one?3) Debate Prep Part 2.
Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted
Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich are the
winners, and by winners we mean the 10 Republicans who will get to
participate in the prime time Fox News debate Thursday night. Rick
Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki,
and Jim Gilmore will be debating in a separate debate Thursday
afternoon, a division that has been met with sharp controversy from both
the candidates and average GOP members. Despite that, the real question
is if this first debate will shake up the race, and whether Trump, when
challenged directly by his competitors, will be able to stand up to
scrutiny.4) Jon Voyage! After 17 years, over 2,000 episodes, and a lot of burns at the expense of cable news, Jon Stewart signs off from his tenure on The Daily Show Thursday
night, leaving a gaping hole in the media landscape that may or may not
be filled. During his years on Comedy Central (and The Comedy Network
here in Canada), Stewart transcended from being the leading name in fake
news to being America's most trusted anchor. An ombudsmen for the
people, as they were being inundated with double-speak from TV talking
heads to politicians of the highest authority. Can anyone possible
replace Stewart in the hearts and minds of politicos?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - July 30, 2015

Things are about to be serious. All the political world (in Canada at
least) is toying with the possibility that the 2015 Federal Election
may starts as soon as this coming Sunday. That's fine. Eleven weeks of
campaigning can be brutal, but we here at Open Sources Guelph
we can handle it, and this week we'll continue the prep work by talking
about the serious, and not-so-serious, issues that have popped up on
our political radar this week. Senate reform, and big candidate news
occupy the first half, while some new ugliness south of the border and
the future of getting hither and yon make up the back half. So what
specifically will we be talking about his week? Let's find out. This Thursday, July 30, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Can't Someone Else Do It?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided that nine years after his first
mandate he was going to pick up the baton of senate abolition again. The
difference this time? He's putting it on the Premiers and territorial
leaders to lead the reform while he, himself, absolves himself of
further senate appointments. Well, that was easy. Except how is a man
who can't even show up to the regular Premiers' meetings be expected to
co-ordinate with them in reorganizing the government while prompting a
constitutional crisis?2) Adams Out; Chow In.
After a lengthy and bitter fight, former Conservative cabinet minister
Eve Adams lost to Marco Mendicino for the chance to represent the
Liberals in the Eglinton-Lawrence riding of Toronto. Adams gambit in
crossing the aisle seems to have come to not, and many are questioning
whether it was a good idea for leader Justin Trudeau to embrace her so
warmly. Meanwhile, Olivia Chow is hopping back into Federal politics,
and is running against Liberal incumbent Adam Vaughan in an attempt to
reclaim her old - though now reconfigured - seat. Can Chow make a
political comeback?3) The Bad and the Worse.
The unfortunate death of Sandra Bland from an apparent suicide while in
police custody has brought more protests from Black Lives Matter, as
the ugly specter of institutional racism in the country's police forces
is raised again. But is the case involving Bland so cut and dry?
Meanwhile in Lafayette, a gunman killed two people in a movie theater, a
case that raises more questions about how a man with a history of
mental health issues got his hands on a gun. Why do these things seem to
keep happening?4) The Uber Revolution.
The ride sharing service Uber arrived in Guelph, K-W and London last
week, expanding an empire that's been greeted with joy and anger in
cities around the world. How those cities will react to Uber is still a
question, but for cabbies in Toronto, who've been fighting the
encroachment of Uber for the better part of a year, they're now taking
the struggle to court. But can the march of progress be slowed and
stopped by litigation?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - July 23, 2015

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we like people who
are respectful to their opponents, whether they were captured or not.
We also like it when the government makes it rain. In these hot, sunny,
summer days, the government's giving out cheques, but we wouldn't go
shopping with those extra dollars just yet. Robocalls are back in the
news, not that it matters if you're reading this abroad because you're
not going to be voting anyway if you've made your home outside of Canada
for five years. It's the dog days of summer, but we're not dog-eared at
all. It's time to break down this week's Open Sources.This Thursday, July 23, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Dump Trump?
Already making waves in the very busy Republican race for President,
Donald Trump took his vitriol to the next level last weekend when he
said that despite Arizona Sen. John McCain having spent nearly six years
as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, he is not, in fact, a war hero.
Unwilling to apologize, and, in fact doubling down on his comments, many
across the political spectrum are asking whether or not Trump is
qualified to be Commander-in-Chief.2) The Cheques in the Mail.
Coincidentally just a few months before an election, the Conservative
government increase to the Universal Child Care Benefit went out this
week, and members of Team Harper were on the stump in force to promote
it. But now some are saying that the payout may not be what it seems,
and critics of the government are wondering if they're just blatantly
buying votes at this point by giving money away.3) Robocalls Make Robocops.
This ain't over. Although Michael Sona was sentenced to jail, and
Elections Canada called 'case closed,' a group of 30 voters are not
letting the robocall case slide by making a legal appeal to Elections
Canada to reopen the investigation. Will the gambit work? Unsure, but
the move does suggest that there's a lot of discomfort amongst the
electorate, going into an election, about the security of the voters'
list.4) Ex-Pats Now Ex-Voters.
The Ontario Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling that
Canadians that have lived outside of Canada for five years of more
should not be allowed to vote in federal elections. The move reopened
the debate about whether or not ex-pats should be allowed to have a say
in creating the Government of Canada, or whether their ability to
influence their home and native land ends at the Canadian border. We'll
debate the merits of both sides.Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph - July 16, 2015

Riddle me this, riddle me that, who's afraid of this week's Open Sources Guelph?
The answer is everyone, we're too powerful now. But seriously folks, we
have serious questions and we're going to take a break from breaking
news on this week's show to consider some of those big questions about
this Fall's Federal Election. Issues, tactics, controversies, and
perhaps even a frightening glimpse of the future (depending on your
point of view) are all on the table as we anticipate a very contentious
campaign in the coming weeks. This Thursday, July 16, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz  and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:1) Will there be any "funny business" this election?
People are still remarkably concerned about another robocalls affair.
Opposition parties are pledging not to get negative, but it seems like
they're of the opinion that they're going to have to get at least a
little dirty in order to win. Meanwhile, Stephen Harper's playing a
shell game with debates, and the recent affair with Wei Young is
unlikely going to promote more press availability amongst certain
candidates. Will 2015 be a fair fight for all parties?2) Is a "Unite the Left" movement inevitable?
Despite the first place showing of the NDP, even the most optimistic of
polls put them in minority government territory. Almost two-thirds of
Canadians want to change course, but while there's only one road to the
right, there are several potential roads to the centre and to the left.
Without an electoral reform option, the only way that left of centre
policies will be given room to grow will likely be if the left unites
under one banner, but is such a thing even possible in a highly partisan
environment?3) Can the Tory's "fear change" strategy work?
The Harper Conservatives wanted to run on a robust economy, but that
seems less and less likely with every week. Instead, they tried to shift
the subject to security earlier this spring, but even members of the
base are against Bill C-51. The Tories will try to spin that in these
perilous times for the economy and national security, change is
dangerous, but the polls aren't bearing that out. Can a fear campaign
work for the governing party in 2015?4) Is this the year we get an NDP Federal government?
What was once implausible is now very possible, and more and more it's
looking like come November, there might be a Prime Minister Thomas
Mulcair making his home in the 24 Sussex Dr. It's far from a done deal
though, Mulcair is still being largely ignored by Conservative attacks,
there's a resurgent Bloc Quebecois threatening the NDP beachhead in La
belle province, and they've still got to translate that grassroots
enthusiasm into actual votes. Can the NDP beat the odds and form a
government for the first time on Parliament Hill?Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

Open Sources Guelph Interview with Mayor Cam Guthrie

It's been six months since Cam Guthrie was elected Mayor of Guelph,
so what's the job been like so far? Back on April 23, Mayor Guthrie
joined us on Open Sources Guelph for the entire hour to talk about these
first few months in office, what he's learned on the job so far, what
he's accomplished with council, and what remains to be done over the
next three-and-a-half years. With my Open Sources
partner Scotty Hertz, we covered a wide range of issues with Mayor
Guthrie including the recent budget deliberations, the plans to
re-organize Guelph Transit, and stepping in when a community skating
rink came under threat. We also discussed the nature of the job for all
its benefits and limitations, and what advice Mayor Guthrie might give
candidate Guthrie in hindsight. In addition, we also had questions from
listeners that we put to the Mayor, and that takes up much of the second
half of the show. If you hang in there until the end, there may also be
some Star Wars talk. You can listen to Cam
Guthrie's interview on Open Sources Guelph by downloading it here, or
you can listen to it by clicking play on the player below.Open Sources Guelph airs every Thursday at 5 pm on CFRU, 93.3 fm or cfru.ca.

Guelph Politicast #4.9 - Tracy Marchesich, Guelph Food Bank

During this festive time of year it's important to remember that not
everyone is gifted with a wonderful bounty of food and gifts. In fact,
people struggle just as hard, if not harder, during the holidays as they
do the rest of the year. The Guelph Food Bank is one of numerous
organizations in the Royal City that aims to help those that need a
hand, offering a monthly hamper of groceries, as well as other services,
to those who struggle to make ends meet when a weekly salary, or lack
of salary, just can't cover all the necessities. In this edition of the
Guelph Politicast, we pay tribute to the hard workers of the Guelph Food
Bank, who do their part year around to address the enormous wealth
disparity in our society.At the Guelph Food Bank
recently, I talked to Tracy Marchesich, the Community Liaison
Facilitator. In our conversation, Tracy and I discussed the history of
the Food Bank, the still growing need for its services, the stories of
hope and reasons why there's still that tremendous need, and how and where you can help out and get involved with the Food Bank this holiday season. Here's the latest episode of the Guelph Politicast.To
learn more about the work of the Guelph Food Bank, or to volunteer or
donate, you can get in touch with them by visiting their at website, or by e-mailing them at gfb@spiritwind.ca, or by giving them a call at 519-767-1380.The theme music for Guelph Politicast is provided by Crazy Pills and their song "Break It Down" courtesy of Free Music Archive.The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes here.You
can also now find the Guelph Politicast on iTunes. Just search the
iTunes store to find all the previous episodes of the show and download
them to listen anywhere on your favourite mobile device.  Stay tuned for future editions of the Guelph Politicast.