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.

Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. Each episode focuses on one topic that’s making headlines, examining it from different angles and through diverse points of view — providing the context you need to understand what’s happening in the province and around the world.

<p data-renderer-start-pos="1">Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. Each episode focuses on one topic that&rsquo;s making headlines, examining it from different angles and through diverse points of view &mdash; providing the context you need to understand what&rsquo;s happening in the province and around the world.</p>

Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. 

The Rundown

Could Ontario's Municipal Governments Become Obsolete?

Ontario's legislature is back in session, with Ontario's legislature is back in session after a 21-week break, and there's no shortage of issues waiting at Queen's Park. From allegations of OSAP fraud and hospital staffing cuts to ongoing tariff tensions with the United States and looming education labour disputes, the Ford government faces a packed legislative agenda. At the same time, Ontario's opposition parties are preparing to press their own priorities and challenge the government's direction. Jeyan is joined by TVO's John Michael McGrath, Jessica Smith Cross, editor-in-chief of The Trillium; Ahmad Elbayoumi, Toronto-based political journalist and author of Policorner; and Richard Southern, Queen's Park reporter for 680 NewsRadio, to break down the key debates, political battles, and surprises that could shape the legislature's 23-day fall session.

What Issues Will Dominate Queen's Park This Fall?

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.

What Happens When Deaths in Custody Go Unexamined?

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.

Could Ontario's Municipal Governments Become Obsolete?

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