Guelph Politicast

Open Sources Guelph #365 - February 17, 2022

This week, Open Sources Guelph is going back to the convoy. Brace yourselves. A lot has changed since we last talked about the politics of these anti-mandate protests, and all levels of government have given us a lot to chew on these last few days. So there's that, plus we will talk about the hate and scorn cast against the Canadian media. For the second half of the show, Mike Schreiner's back just as you knew he would be.
This Thursday, February 17, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
Truck the Police. For the third week in a row, so-called truckers are occupying Ottawa around Parliament Hill, but the end may be in sight. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the invoking of the Emergencies Act, the Ambassador Bridge was cleared, and Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly is out. But what about those cops we've seen in viral videos showing support for the convoy? Can we trust they're working to a solution?
The Hate They Give. The Canadian Association of Journalists last week released a report called "Poisoned Well", a roundup of the online hate and abuse being heaped upon Canadian journalists, and the news is especially bad if you're a woman or racialized. Criticism is fine, but there's a real threat against the health and safety of journalists who are just trying to do their jobs, so what needs to change?
The Green Plight. As noted above, the landscape has changed quickly when it comes to the Freedom Convoys in Ottawa and Windsor, and at the same time, Premier Doug Ford has announced a rollback of public health restrictions starting today. Guelph MPP and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner will join us today to talk about fighting misinformation, whether Ford's being reactive, and what comes next in the pandemic recovery.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #235 - February 16, 2022 (The Lost Daughter)

This week on End Credits, we've got gold on the mind. Oscar gold. This year's nominations were announced last week, and in a timely bit of synchronicity we're reviewing one of the nominees. We're checking out Netflix's excellent new drama The Lost Daughter, and before that we're talking about the movies that did, and did not, get nominations.
This Wednesday, February 16, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Tim Phillips will discuss:
Of Dogs and Dune. The nominations for the 94th Academy Awards were announced last week, and the winner so far, at least in terms of the most nominations, is The Power of the Dog. Jane Campion's post-modern cowboy story is the front-runner with 12 nods, while Denis Villenauvre's sci-fi epic Dune is a close second with 11. We'll talk about what the nominations mean, and we will also talk a little about this year's Golden Razzie nominations too.
REVIEW: The Lost Daughter (2021). Speaking of Oscar nominees, Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut scored three nominations, but did it deserve more? Based on Elena Ferrante's novel of the same name, The Lost Daughter tells the story of Leda, a professor on holiday in Greece who encounters a young mother that reminds Leda of her younger self. This leads to a fascinating story of self-reflection and recrimination featuring award-nominated performances from Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley, but is it fascinating for the audience?
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #311 - Now More Than Ever, Freedom to Read Week

Freedom to Read Week is a chance to talk about issues of censorship and free expression, especially in the context of what we can read and access at our local and school libraries. There's been a lot of back and forth in the news lately about what young people should be allowed to read, or not, in their school library, so for this podcast, we got the biggest librarian we could find.
To mark Freedom to Read Week 2022, we're joined by Shelagh Paterson, the executive director of the Ontario Library Association. In the last month, there have been two big stories in the news about the content of school libraries. The first was about a graphic novel removed by a Tennessee school board for reasons not related to the narrative. The other was closer to home, with allegations of transphobia for a school board delegation about appropriate books for kids.
These are the ideal conditions for this year’s commemoration of Freedom to Read Week. A project from the Book and Periodical Council, Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That’s the logline, but what about the practical reality when it comes to what books go into libraries, and who gets to make the decision? 
Paterson will join us to talk answer that, and other questions. She will talk about the meaning of intellectual freedom and freedom of expression, as well as censorship,  and how we can deal with the misinformation and disinformation landscape without censorship. Paterson will also talk about how not all libraries are created equally, the digital divide in terms of access to information, and the other kinds of barriers that should remind us that not everyone’s access to information is equal.
So let's talk about Freedom Read Week issues in this edition of the Guelph Politicast!
Freedom to Read Week runs all next week from February 20 to 26, and you can find all sorts of materials here. You can also click here to learn more about the Ontario Library Association. If you want to cut out the proverbial middle man, you can visit your local branch of Guelph Public Library, and they can probably point you in the right direction of some challenging materials.
The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes of the Politicast here, or download them on your favourite podcast app at Apple, Stitcher, Google, TuneIn and Spotify .
Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

Open Sources Guelph #364 - February 10, 2022

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we're relieved to longer hear the honking of the horns. Not that we really heard them, but the thought of it kept us up all night. You know what else is keeping us up? How about the thought of a bilateral meeting with Pierre Poilievre and Boris Johnson? We will talk about those two in the first half of the show, and in the second half we'll talk Guelph business with the man from the (Ward) 6ix.
This Thursday, February 10, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
The Pierre Up There. It didn't take long for Pierre Poilievre to do what many Canadian politicos expected him to do and become the first person to enter the new Conservative leadership race. We'll talk about that, plus Candice Bergen's not-great first week as the interim leader of the party, and the politics of ending the pandemic with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.
Chuck Boris? Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, their Conservative leader (and Prime Minister) Boris Johnson is under pressure from all sides, including his own, to offer answers, or, at worst, his neck, for a number of parties at 10 Downing Street that broke COVID lockdown protocols, including a social gathering that took place at the same time Queen Elizabeth sat alone at her husband's funeral. Is this the end of Boris?
Mark Tank. It was a busy week at Guelph City Hall, as Committee of the Whole talked about licensing short-term rentals like AirBnBs, initiating a Municipal Accommodation Tax to support the promotion of tourism, and a new program to get people interest-free loans so they can make green improvements on their homes. That's a lot to unpack, and this week Ward 6 Councillor Mark MacKinnon will give us a hand moving it.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #234 - February 9, 2022 (Jackass Forever)

This week on End Credits, are you ready for some good, old fashioned fun? Jackass, and the comedy there in, may not be to your taste (emphasis on "taste|), but it is a verifiable phenomenon, and now its back in a theatre near you with Jackass Forever. Before that, one of our co-hosts will choose what he thinks are the quintessential Jackass gags (emphasis on "gags").
This Wednesday, February 9, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Peter Salmon will discuss:
The Best (?) of Jackass. At the turn of the century, a new reality show emerged on American MTV. It featured a bunch of guys doing dangerous stunts that tested their strength, endurance, resiliency, and their gag reflex. Though it only lasted three seasons and 25 episodes, Jackass had long coattails and has become a certifiable brand, and it's latest chapter is now in theatres. Before we talk about that though, we're going to look at Peter's favourite bits.
REVIEW: Jackass Forever (2022). More than two decades after they first got together to test the limits of flesh and good taste, much of the Jackass gang, and some very brave newcomers, have gotten together to relive glory days and push themselves through all manner of stunts, both punishing and disgusting. It's no secret that the current movie business is obsessed with franchises, but Jackass?! Last weekend's box office winner fits the trend, but what does the success of Jackass tells us about life in 2022? Is Jackass the answer we're been looking for?
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #310 - It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Canadaland once said of Kurt Phillips that he was hunting Nazis online before it was cool. Experts in online hate like Phillips have been very busy lately following the developments of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, which has now launched several branch convoy protests, including the most recent one on the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor. How did it get this far?
For the people covering Canada's far-right the last couple of years, recent events are not that surprising. People angry about COVID-19 restrictions often become the willing pawns of neo-Nazis, Proud Boys, antisemites, and other far-right groups who see disaffection with the government as a gateway to their hateful ideology. If you see what’s happening in Ottawa and think it's a bunch of ill-informed yahoos making noise, you’re only partially right. 
No one knows that better than Phillips, who has been scouring the dark corners of the internet uncovering the Nazis and other far-right hate mongers since 2007. He was the founder and former lead writer for Anti-Racism Canada and he’s currently a board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, but when he’s not working humbly as a history and social sciences teacher in Alberta, he’s still a keyboard warrior exposing Canada’s far-right.
Phillips joins us this week to offer his analysis of what we are seeing in Ottawa and beyond. He will talk about how we got here, and why we should not be surprised about current events. He will also talk about some of the marquee players in the movement, and how you can tell the grifters from the true believers. And finally, he will discuss what happens next, and whether the mainstream media is up to the task of understanding what the convoy is really about and who’s driving it (pun intended).
So let's compare notes about Canada's far-right politics on this week's Guelph Politicast!
You can follow Kurt Phillips @ARCCollective on Twitter to get up-to-date coverage and insight about the Freedom Convoy from his unique perspective. You can also see insight and analysis about Canada’s far-right movement at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Another good resource is Friend of the Politicast Dan Collen, who’s actually on the ground in Ottawa, and you can find his reporting @SpinelessL on Twitter.
The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes of the Politicast here, or download them on your favourite podcast app at Apple, Stitcher, Google, TuneIn and Spotify .
Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

Open Sources Guelph #363 - February 3, 2022

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we're occupying the airwaves starting at 5 pm, but we promise to give them up at 6 pm. Unlike some people, we know how to not wear out our welcome, but we also known Nazis are bad. We're going to talk about you-know-what in Ottawa, and the surprisingly fast and destructive effect on the Conservative Party, plus we'll have an interview with a provincial party leader.
This Thursday, February 3, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
You Nazi-n Seen the Last of Us. A weekend of protest turned into a week of protests not just in Ottawa, but on the border in Coutts, AB where people claiming to be fighting for truckers are doing them harm with delays. There were Nazi symbols, the desecration of national monuments, stealing food from homeless people, and lots of threats of death and rape for those following the rules. How did it come to this?
O'Toole of Denial. While the protestors came to Ottawa for the resignation of Justin Trudeau, it looks like they will have to settle for Erin O'Toole instead. The Conservative leader's support seemed to completely collapse in caucus after he (reluctantly?) met with members of the Freedom Convoy, displeasing the hard right and disappointing the centre. Is the real political winner this past weekend PM Trudeau?
Something to Drew On. There was another protest this past weekend in downtown Toronto that got significantly less attention, a protest against a war between the West and Russia over the Ukraine. Communist Party of Ontario leader Drew Garvie was there, and this week the reformed Guelphite will talk about the stakes of this spring's provincial election, pandemic changes to society, and why peace is not just a Federal issue.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.

End Credits #233 - February 2, 2022 (Encanto)

This week on End Credits, we don't talk about Bruno. It's like Fight Club, but in this case it's a guy in a new movie. If you get it, you already know, because there's a famous song about Bruno, and it's from the new movie Encanto. We're reviewing it this week. and before that, we will talk about some other animated movies worth checking out on the internet.
This Wednesday, February 2, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Candice Lepage will discuss:
Drawn Together. In 1937, the first feature length animated movie was released. Now, 85 years later, there have been many different animated movies, and some of them end up being more popular than others. So before this week's feature review, we will talk about some of those. From a search for treasure to a superhero send-up, and from a trip to New Orleans to a trip to the distant future, we will talk about some underappreciated animated movies.
REVIEW: Encanto (2021). In their 60th feature length animated film, Disney goes somewhere they've never done before: South America. In Encanto, we meet the Madrigal family, a close knit, multi-generational clan living in an idyllic village. Each member of the Madrigal family has a special power except for Mirabel, who's trying to come to terms with her life as the non-special Madrigal, but is she about to get a chance to prove herself? If you've ever seen a Disney movie before, then you already know that the answer is yes!
End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

GUELPH POLITICAST #309 - Healthcare for Trans People Doesn’t Just Happen

This month, there are Winter Pride events in Guelph, and Pride events are all about promoting visibility and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. But while the Pride movement’s come a long way, there’s still a long way to go for complete equality. Consider healthcare. We like to think our healthcare system in Canada is barrier-free here, but the barriers for trans people can be immense.
According to a report from TransPulse Canada last summer,  1-in-3 non-binary people said that their primary healthcare provider had no knowledge about trans or non-binary health needs. On top of that, 1-in-4 reported that they do not have access to in-person spaces specifically for non-binary people, only 47 per cent said they were comfortable discussing non-binary health concerns with their doctor, and 59 per cent said they were misgendered daily. And that's just the beginning of the struggle. 
It’s one of the reasons why New Democrat MPP Suze Morrison brought forward a private members bill called the Gender Affirming Healthcare Advisory Committee Act to Queen's Park. It directs the Minister of Health to create an advisory committee to review gender-affirming healthcare in Ontario, and come up with a list of recommendations to improve access and coverage for trans people. It's in committee now after passing unanimously at second reading, but time's running out because of the pending election. 
This week, we're joined by Fae Johnstone, executive director of Wisdom2Action, to talk about the gaps in health coverage for trans people in Ontario, and why they need Bill 17 to become law now. Johnstone will talk about the specific barriers to healthcare that trans people are facing, and the places in Canada doing trans healthcare better than Ontario. They will also discuss the economic barriers to healthcare that many trans people face, and whether there’s such a thing as systemic transphobia in healthcare. 
So let's dig into how we can do trans healthcare better in this edition of the Guelph Politicast!
Bill 17, the Gender Affirming Health Care Advisory Committee Act, is presently in committee at the Ontario Legislature. You can learn more about Johnstone’s organization Wisdom2Action by clicking here. You can also see the bi-annual updates the health and well-being amoung non-binary people by visiting the TransPulse Canada here. 
The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes of the Politicast here, or download them on your favourite podcast app at Apple, Stitcher, Google, TuneIn and Spotify .
Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

Open Sources Guelph #362 - January 27, 2022

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we're talking about international matters, and then we will bring things back to the local. First, we will look abroad at a pair of growing crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan and the fallout of a future war and a past one respectively. In the back half of the show, we will have an interview with one of Guelph's Ward 2 city councillors about the month that's passed and the year that's ahead.
This Thursday, January 27, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
Vlad the Invader. Since we last talked about the military build up on the Ukrainian border, things seem to have only gotten worse. American forces are now on high alert, European powers are sabre-rattling, diplomat's families are now being withdrawn from Kyiv, and Vladimir Putin shows no sign that he's going to de-escalate the situation. So is a war for Ukraine inevitable at this point?
Another Predictable Humanitarian Crisis. Meanwhile, a little to the east, things are also getting worse in Afghanistan. There's a humanitarian crisis due to unrelenting poverty under the Taliban, and the wide-spread possibility of starvation putting pressure on the people of Afghanistan, and all while the Taliban are up to old tricks limiting women's rights, stopping their education, and telling them what to wear. What can be done?
Do Not Pass Rodrigo! Our first guest from Guelph city council for 2022 is Ward 2's Rodrigo Goller. It's been a surprisingly busy month at city council so far, and we will ask Councillor Goller about the passing of the Transportation Master Plan, whether he will back Mayor Cam Guthrie's motion to oppose Quebec's Bill 21, what he's looking forward to this year, and yes, whether or not he intends to stand for re-election.
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.