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Tony and Jodie Catch Up With Ministers Stephen Lecce and David Piccini
95 Plays2 years ago
This week, Tony and Jodie welcome both Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Ontario Environment Minister David Piccini. The roundtable breaks down some of the hottest topics from Queen's Park.
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
And another thing. And another thing. And another thing. And another thing.
Introduction to 'And Another Thing' Podcast
00:00:17
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of And Another Thing, the podcast that continues to set the bar in the world of podcasts. My name is Jody Jenkins. My name is Tony Clement.
00:00:30
Speaker
And my apology, I got distracted there because we've got two guests on the show tonight. One of them just sent me a text saying that he didn't receive the link. I should I should resend that to him, although little does he know, I just emailed him the information. But yes, we will interview or we'll introduce those people shortly. And may I say, Jodi, what a great editing job you did last week for Stan Cho.
00:00:56
Speaker
because we had a few technical problems and you cut right through it and it was a very clean episode, so congratulations. Well, I mean, now you've kind of ruined it by saying that we had to do editing. It would have been better if people just thought that that's how it flowed. Oh, it's magic. Yes, yes, yes. So, yeah, no, we got a lot of good feedback. And again,
Technical Challenges and Solutions
00:01:16
Speaker
Stan was a wonderful guest.
00:01:19
Speaker
We're excited to, I keep saying we're excited because I am. I just can't contain myself. I can tell. We have today, although I'm a little disappointed in one of our guests because I have to do this over again for him. Yes. I'm just sending it as I'm talking. Okay, okay. Anyway, so we got to thank our sponsors right off the top, John Mutton and the crew at Municipal Solutions. Of course, they've been with us since day one and we couldn't do the show without their support.
Acknowledgment of Sponsors
00:01:46
Speaker
And Tony, I know that you're able to share a lot more about what they do at Municipal Solutions. Indeed, I can, Jody. Of course, Municipal Solutions Ontario's leading MZO firm. They're there for you for development approvals, permit expediting, planning services with municipalities, engineering services, architectural services. Even if you have minor variances or land severances, they are there for you. Go to municipalsolutions.ca, John Mutton and the gang.
00:02:15
Speaker
will help you out. They'll get the job done for you. And then we also want to thank our sponsor Halton GR. They are at HaltonGR.com, your West GTA GR firm. They specialize in sourcing land for development, acquiring ideal land,
00:02:30
Speaker
obtaining zoning permissions and by-law modifications. They keep the project going through the process. They're also very good at putting together financing. Their motto is let's get this done.
Broadcast Expansion to Muskoka
00:02:45
Speaker
Contact Steve Sparling and the gang at Halton at gr.com.
00:02:49
Speaker
I would also like to indicate that you can also hear this podcast every Saturday, 8 30 a.m. at hunters Bay radio dot com hunters Bay radio in Muskoka. They are our supporters as well. And can I say, Jody, before we get to your thanking, I want to I want to congratulate
Celebrating Megan Oldham's Achievements
00:03:09
Speaker
one of our past guests, Megan Oldham. It was about a year ago right after the Olympics. Megan is one of our skiers, an Olympic skier, and she just completed a quadruple something or other that has never been done before ever as part of her competition. So congratulations to Perry Sounds own Megan Oldham.
00:03:35
Speaker
a former guest of an another thing podcast. Jodi, I'm trying to remember how we connected with her. What was the reason? Was I watching something and then heard she was from Perry sound or something? Yeah, I think that was it. Yeah, you're right. And then I got calling you right now. Pachini's calling me right now. Okay. Should I introduce our guests that we have with us or
Stephen Lecce's Return and Political History
00:03:59
Speaker
here? Hold on. Well, we've got David Pachini first and then we'll. Okay. So exciting. This is happening in real time.
00:04:08
Speaker
Anyway, but, uh, we got it. So I also got to give a shout out to loony politics.com. Uh, make sure you use the code podcast to get 50% off your annual subscription. That's at loony politics.com. Wonderful news aggregate where you can get exclusive content you will not get anywhere else. And then finally, the, you already said Hunter's Bay radio. I did. Yeah. Okay. So then I guess we're done. And now he's texted me. You know what I bet it is with David. Oh yeah. Of course. Classic. It's not working on my iPad. Oh, my word.
00:04:28
Speaker
Oh, he just hung up on me.
00:04:38
Speaker
For those that don't know, the program we use to do the show weekly is, uh, it can't be done on an iPad or a tablet. Yes. Anyway, he should be clear to our guests. Yes. Very. And one of our guests today did figure that out. So there you go. Can I introduce him right now? Yeah, go ahead. Yes. Well, uh, Stephen Lecce is with us again because, uh, I think it was like one of our earliest shows, uh, two and a half years ago or so.
00:05:05
Speaker
that Steven was on and he is back. He is the member of provincial parliament for King Von in Ontario. He is minister of education.
The Role and Journey of an Education Minister
00:05:15
Speaker
I got to know Steve. Well, a long time ago, Steven, maybe you want to talk about that, but we also worked together on parliament Hill when he was in the prime minister's office. Steven Lecce, welcome back to and another thing podcast.
00:05:29
Speaker
Thank you so much, Tony. Thank you, Jody. It's awesome to be back. And yeah, I've known you for like more than half my life, Tony, which means we are both officially very old. I think I will. I'm definitely very, you're, you're still a young guy compared to me. Okay. Mr. Like, let's, let's be clear here. I, I just turned 62. I'm not afraid to admit it, but it's,
00:05:50
Speaker
It's getting long in the tooth, I must say. But I mean, you served as the Minister of Health, you have so many roles, and I'm in education, and I feel like every year of education is equivalent to seven. So I feel spiritually, I'm like up there, I'm hitting my 70s right now, I'm convinced. You got the dog years going. Well, I definitely do.
00:06:13
Speaker
Oh, my word. So tell us like I'd love to know that how you you've had some experiences in politics, a lot of experience in politics, even before you got elected in 2018. Has that been helpful in your role or is it just completely irrelevant or how do you see it?
00:06:32
Speaker
No, I think it has been. I mean, look, I didn't come from a political family. And I think my parents, God bless my immigrant family, sort of your typical Italian post-war, my mother came to Pier 21, and my dad came through Ellis Island in New York.
00:06:49
Speaker
And i think they were just confused like why is my son insisting on going to a pc youth convention london ontario versus you know going outside to play with his friends and i i found my passion early and you know to be fair my parents while they were probably
00:07:05
Speaker
I'm a bit ill prepared to know how to navigate this they were supportive and I had great people around me and someone one of the youngest was some of the earliest and foremost memories I have is getting to know people like Al Paladini and yourself Tony and many others who really when a
00:07:21
Speaker
like out of their way to, you know, mentor these young people. We were literally kids who were 12, 13, 14 years old, getting to meet cabin ministers. And I think it's sort of special about our Canadian political culture that there's a lot of humility in the system. People just, you know, you, I never call, I mean, I called you minister, but I remember you used to always say, call me Tony, call me Tony. I said, that's so cool. Like, what do you mean? Call me Tony. You're the honorable, you're like the minister of health. You're, you're, you're, you know, and, and I, and that extended to a lot of your colleagues. So.
00:07:51
Speaker
I just feel like you guys paved the way for a lot of us to enter public service. You were young in 1995 and I think for guys like David Pacini and Stan Cho and Prabh Meet Sakarya, we were young in 2018. That's important.
00:08:09
Speaker
Yeah, no, and you're definitely you're definitely part of a new younger guard, which I think is just amazing. And and I got to tell you one of the things about having, you know, having forty seven years of experience in politics, as I have had.
00:08:24
Speaker
uh, you know, at this stage of, uh, of my life, it's, it's having a bit of pride that there are people that I got to know, uh, early on in their lives and they're doing so well. So that's, that's one of the things that, uh, you know, you feel a little bit of pride
Mentorship and Political Youth Engagement
00:08:39
Speaker
for Jody. How's, uh, how's our friend doing? Because he made it David, David is now with us and he's, uh, so David, you can hear us.
00:08:50
Speaker
I can hear you loud and clear. Say hello to your colleague, Mr. Lecce and Mr. Clement. Hello, Stephen Lecce. How are you? It is a wonderful honor to be with you on this, Pacines, and to be on with Tony and Jody. I think this is a pretty good duo we've got going on here. I apologize, I don't have the optionality of logging in on this device.
00:09:18
Speaker
Well, you know, optionality these days is tough to come by. Yeah, optionality sounds painful, actually. But I got to I got to say to be absolutely clear and and even handed, David Pacini is with us as well. He is a member of provincial parliament for Northumberland, Peterborough South. He is Ontario's minister of the environment. And so, Jody, this is unprecedented for us to have two guests like this. Wouldn't you say so?
00:09:44
Speaker
Oh, it's huge. And I, you know, it's times like these when I often remember what Joe Biden said. And of course that was, we choose truth over facts. And all around great guy and two great guys in the two of you.
00:10:04
Speaker
I want to take a different approach to Pacini. I mean, or the other way you can look at this guy is for Tony and Jordy and Jody is like you needed like two of us to substantiate one normal interviewee, you know, and I know beef with that, you know, it's I look at it at the I look at it as a glass half full. But yes, I see what you're saying. But I do want to ask both of you guys.
00:10:33
Speaker
Holy crap, I am freaking out Jody's in charge of all of these additional voices just to make it clear
00:10:47
Speaker
You know what? I'll use this one now because Stephen, I was toying around like I was going to, you know, wait for you to do a bunch of answers on some issues. And then I was going to fire up this one, but I won't do it now because I think it was too ignorant. But check this one out. If I had just said, hey, Stephen, you know, thanks for sharing that. Oh, yes. And what was that beginning, middle and end part again? It sounds like question period.
00:11:12
Speaker
Gentlemen, keeping this slightly on the rails, both of you have challenging portfolios. There's no question about that. I would love to get a sense, how do you keep it real? How do you make sure you get views from regular folks and varied views, stakeholders, but just regular people? David, do you want to start us off?
00:11:39
Speaker
Great question, Tony. I think from my perspective, we're really proud of the things we're doing on the environment portfolio. And it's not driving industry out, manufacturing out of this province, but it's partnering with them. We've achieved some remarkable initiatives with Algoma Steel, Queen of Steel in the world.
00:11:58
Speaker
We're actually building electric vehicles here, not just giving subsidies to the most affluent and giving men and women with skilled trades an opportunity to be part of this exciting future. So for me, you know, with its trips to DeFasco Steel with the premier, where we're talking to workers, when my grandfather came from Italy with no money in his pockets, he worked in the steel sector. And I think he and many others would be proud that we're building, you know, making the cleanest steel, I should say, in the world.
00:12:28
Speaker
And so it's bypassing traditional forms of media. We spent the day today debunking a piece that had just come out that is in fact factual. So it's sometimes tough to get a fair shake, but it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, I'm up here up north. We're about to sign yet another
00:12:52
Speaker
a partnership with indigenous communities to operate one of our exciting provincial parks and we're going to unveil a new crest commemorating this historic partnership and so you know it's doing things like that getting out in every corner of Ontario to get our message out and people are seeing it we wouldn't have been voted back in it if they weren't.
00:13:14
Speaker
Yeah, Steven, how do you how do you keep it real? Yeah, I think honestly leading into the challenge. I mean, I feel like there's two types of politicians, it's very binary, either you're the type of guy that you know, or gal that puts their hand up and leans into a difficult responsibility and sees the value in that challenge.
00:13:34
Speaker
or you know you're just a bit of a victim narrative where it's like tough to be sucks to be me and you know i can't speak for buchini but like for both of us we're young guys we just we got elected in our first try provincially and we were able to you know within a year within two or three years rise into cabinet and it speaks to what is possible if you have a can do attitude and i mean that like
00:13:58
Speaker
It has not been an easy time to be a minister of education, perhaps in any government for a hundred years plus, and certainly in ours, or environment for that matter. But I think what motivates us is that we're the type of people that see the difficulties and opportunity. And I mean, Winston Churchill used to speak about this, and we do. And I think he enjoyed that job. And I think the other components of it when it comes to getting, how do we
00:14:28
Speaker
keep it real is making sure we remember who are we here to serve. You could get so trapped in the bubble that is Twitter and the false narratives and the echo chambers that exist. We know we're here to serve working, tax paying, law abiding parents, families, individuals that just want government off their back and on their side.
00:14:51
Speaker
And I think for that reason, if you're focused and you're able to ignore the noise and really lean into the difficulty to try to advance, you know, make kids' lives better, make our environment better, whatever, make our economy stronger, whatever the mission du jour is, it makes it easy.
00:15:08
Speaker
Uh, because we're very focused on the jobs and I think that's, you know, I don't have many strengths, but one of them will be, I can stay mission focused on getting my job done and not giving a hoot about the noise and the hashtags and the attacks on Twitter. Cause it's just not real. No, it's not the reality out there and it's, uh, less than 10% of the population who ever.
00:15:31
Speaker
even sign on to a Twitter account. So there you go. But I got to say, go ahead David. He's been changed himself there. He has many strengths. I mean, I've seen the guy on the rink and on the soccer pitch. So, and, you know, and at a mic. So we were, we have a fantastic group of young people and I think he hit the nail on the head when he said leaning in.
00:15:51
Speaker
We really have a great, you know, a fantastic example in the Premier who's very accessible, really has his hand on the pulse of everyday working class men and women of this province and to do that you got to get out from behind the keyboard, you got to get out from
00:16:07
Speaker
from the Twitter echo chamber as Steven rightly mentioned and get in front of people and it's not always going to be, you know, it's not always going to be comfortable. But that's okay, because that's what we're here to do is to serve and to get out in the community. I'm in Northern Ontario today and we just had one of our fantastic
00:16:27
Speaker
Women's, uh, you know social and economic opportunities minister and I community earlier today and we had some great conversations So I think
Inspiring Diversity in Politics
00:16:34
Speaker
we're listening as a government and uh and have some good energy I you know and I I gotta give it kudos to both of you because one of the things you're known for is encouraging young people to get involved and I want to talk a little bit about that because I I
00:16:51
Speaker
You know, Steven for a long time in 2018 and so on was, had the hashtag next gen and you know, you consider yourself like a next generation politician, not the old guard. And I think David, you felt the same way. So do you still try to encourage people to get involved or is that still part of what you see as your role? Steven, I'll start with you.
00:17:16
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I just think it's so central to our existence. I mean, we're young people and I think we're very honored. I think our democracy is stronger for it. I mean, look at 2018 in the last election. We have the youngest parliament over the last two terms, the most women, the first Muslim elected in our party's history, first Armenian ever elected ever in provincial history, first Tamils ever elected in any provincial legislature.
00:17:42
Speaker
I mean, honestly, we have the first black woman minister, provincial cabinet minister in our party history. There's a lot of good happening. And our party, we're harnessing that we're, as I say, we're really embracing that change. And it gives me hope because really, I want the party
00:17:59
Speaker
As we work to better represent the people we serve, I think it's promising that a young kid in a school in Toronto to a rural community and everything in between can see themselves in their government. I think it's important that young voices are at the table. Maybe if they were, we wouldn't be in a housing crisis. Maybe if they were, young people are able to get a job connected to their skills or wouldn't be able to have to save for one easy payment of a million dollars to own a home in the 905.
00:18:29
Speaker
our voices as millennials and beyond i had a say and i and i think that's something we can all do better at and i'm i gotta agree with the with the picture on this i think the premier. He gave me took a lot of risks i mean i don't speak for between you as a confident investment in my case you took a guy,
00:18:48
Speaker
never served in government, never served in cabinet and put them into a ministry that was in the midst of labor negotiations immediately, like off the top. That takes some hot spot. And honestly, as tough as it may be, huge opportunity to lead and to make a difference. And I think for us, we relish it.
00:19:08
Speaker
Like it's just such an amazing story of what's possible in Canada for immigrant kids and for any kid. So yes, I want young people listening or your parents tell their kids that this business, this space, that our party and movement is very much fueled by young, innovative people who are ready to step up and stand out.
00:19:30
Speaker
So who are your role models? David, I want to have you get in on this as well. Obviously, you watch very closely what Doug Ford is doing. When you're in the cabinet, I remember too when Mike Harris was there, I watched very closely how he was a leader and what his management style was, but also how he dealt with
00:19:54
Speaker
you know, situations where they were tough situations. And I can give you examples of that. But I'd love to know, aside from Doug Ford, because that's an obvious answer, who else historically do you look at and say that's the kind of leadership that I, you know, if I could
00:20:09
Speaker
If I could be half the leader that person was, I'd be doing okay. David, do you have any thoughts on that? Well, I think for me as a student of history, one of mine without question would be Winston Churchill. Incredible courage and strength.
00:20:24
Speaker
strength exemplified by Churchill. I also look to leadership in Canada, leadership and principled leadership that we saw under Prime Ministers Mulrooney and Harper. And honestly, locally, for me and in my own community, I draw inspiration from my own dad. He has a remarkable integrity, honesty, and taught me really principled values
00:20:53
Speaker
and a good set of family values growing up. So for me, it's also my dad. Yeah, Steven. Yeah, you know, I draw a lot parallels to what Pacini was saying, you know, certainly my family, you know, I don't have a big family, contrary to maybe some of your perceptions of, you know, a big
00:21:14
Speaker
Just my brother and I and my parents. They played an important role because I think without knowing it, they led by example. My dad got up at four in the morning. He was driving a truck for the first 15 years of his life in a new country. He couldn't afford to go to school, to go to college.
00:21:36
Speaker
And he reminded us about that, not to diminish our spirit, but in fact to motivate us to say, look, I couldn't even go to school. Now you guys have to go to school. You got to take on all these opportunities. So just remembering where I came from, it's pretty crazy that a generation ago, my father was like part of an agricultural low income family outside of Rome. My grandfather, you know, it's a bit of an, you know, it's a,
00:22:03
Speaker
emotional to think about my grandfather my no no if you are my dad's father was illiterate and i say this not with any sense of mouse with a sense of pride in like this beautiful creating a man that came to this country wonderful guy great soul and he is he signed an ex at ellis island because he couldn't be was illiterate.
00:22:25
Speaker
I mean, it's just, honestly, think of what is possible in Canada through hard work and a sense of focus. And it's a great story of what's possible in our party too. Politically, I'd say, I had the benefit of working with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. I did serve in his office for five and a half years and concluding as a Chief Spokesperson.
00:22:47
Speaker
And I will tell you, I mean, he was a man of principle, yes, but he was a true patriot. And he did what was right, not what was politically expedient. No, he always leaned into doing what was right. And that's why I think... And I just think it's a good reminder for us, the next gen, if you will, and beyond,
00:23:13
Speaker
to really try to govern according to core principles, not according to populist sentiments of the moment. And I think that's the right approach for us. And so for me, the guidance is very much family, and the 22nd Prime Minister and a lot of other people, you know, I think of John Baird and folks who got involved young too, that
00:23:36
Speaker
you know, really created a great life of public service. So I'm a big believer in, in nurturing that talent today. Yeah, you know, guys, I would just say what what Stephen said, they're really powerful about his grandfather. And I think with so many of us that sort of those sorts of stories resonate, I remember with my grandfather not speaking, you know, speaking a bit of English, just because he wanted us to learn the language. And
00:24:04
Speaker
And that was it and I think for so many why I think the premier's message and why this critical housing affordability crisis that we're in is so is such a driving force for this government is that there's an entire generation who are either who have similar stories to what what Stephen just mentioned my own story and my family and so many others or who are looking to Ontario or have just arrived and
00:24:30
Speaker
they really resend to this narrative that my house is the last house ever built and you need to live in condos or high rises. I think without question it's a combination of two. You got to build subways, build public transit like we're doing, intensify. But you also got to build houses because if we're saying a new generation, new Canadians
00:24:52
Speaker
next gen aren't going to own a house and we're going to, we're going to, you know, you can only live in an apartment or your parents basement and just be clear. And I think some should be clear because that's really what they're getting at. But, but I think this premier, this government recognize that you need a mix of everything. We're going to get from the back of the line to the front of the line when it comes to actually building and getting shovels and ground and seeing to that person looking offshores, I have a family in Italy. I've spent, I've worked around the world in Nepal, Haiti, Sudan,
00:25:22
Speaker
And so many, when they hear Canada, they think of the same opportunity that Stephen's grandfather, my grandfather, you know, his father, so many saw it. And, uh, and, and we've got to realize that dream for so many people in Ontario. Yeah. I know my dad was, uh, it was the same vintage, uh, you know, and, uh, eventually he was a, he started out as a carpenter when he arrived, uh, into Canada.
00:25:47
Speaker
from overseas and then eventually owned his own restaurant. That was my first job as a bus boy in the restaurant, working from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. in the restaurant for my summer job. So yeah, it sounds like we've
00:26:01
Speaker
got very similar experiences like that. And, and, and it's, it still happens today. And that's that, you know, people come here and they want to work hard and they want to, uh, they want to do better than the previous generation. Right. So that's sort of motivating factors for sure. Do you think that, you know, from, from your perspective, like, uh, you know, housing is such a big issue now.
Discussing Housing Affordability in Ontario
00:26:23
Speaker
And, and is that a way like, uh,
00:26:26
Speaker
It's such a generational issue in the sense, as you guys were saying, for young people, my son, who's 31, who's got a decent job, his wife has a decent job, and they're despairing at the possibility of owning a house in Toronto any time soon. I see that with my own kids who want to aspire to do
00:26:54
Speaker
have something that their parents had, but it's almost out of reach. Can you convince us that you guys dug Ford, the cabinet, the government, you're going to push on ahead because there are forces at work. Pierre Polyev calls them the gatekeepers, but there are forces who, you know, you propose a policy solution
00:27:16
Speaker
uh, like, uh, switching some land around in the green belt, et cetera. And then everybody loses their minds and tears their hair out. So, uh, are you guys serious about this? I guess is my question. Yeah. Absolutely. I think we're, we're laser focused on
00:27:39
Speaker
and a number of international metrics have predicted, you know, Canada, a very bleak future for performing advanced economies and the Premier rejects that and says we're going to be the economic engine of Canada.
00:27:54
Speaker
We're bringing back manufacturing. We welcome people who seek a brighter future, who want to work hard, like the stories you heard from us and our family members, and so many. And to do that, you've got to build housing. And we didn't get elected to exacerbate the status quo, because the status quo wasn't working. Status quo means that in my community of poor hope, you're still paying what they're paying in downtown Toronto for rent, and that's unacceptable.
00:28:21
Speaker
You know, to do that, you've got to unlock supply. It shouldn't take 10 years to get shovels in ground on critical projects. You've got to actually start planning for growth. Stop looking in the rear view mirror as seemingly, you know, we've been doing for decades in Ontario and, you know, you know, in my portfolio, I see it with aging infrastructure for water and wastewater.
00:28:43
Speaker
We're now investing in building that for tomorrow and I think it's exciting getting the shovels and ground giving people the ability to achieve ownership because it's unacceptable that that in this country.
00:28:57
Speaker
and as fast as Canada, we can't get the job done for our next generation. And the Premier says, no, we're going to do better. I agree. Our entire cabinet team agree. And we're leaving no stone unturned to get shovels on ground and get houses built so that we can achieve what my grandfather sought when he came here and worked hard.
00:29:17
Speaker
You had many people living in an apartment or one room just to finally save, to buy a house. For too many, that dream has just slipped out of grasp, and that's not acceptable. You come from Woodbridge. Even in Woodbridge, the prices have gone bananas. They were always high up in Vaughan and King, and they've only been increased over the past decade.
00:29:45
Speaker
Just beyond the numbers for a second, I think if we think about the intergenerational aspiration of how a country builds, how a country is stronger, how a country ensures that each generation is better off than the one before, I think it is fair to say in some respects that this generation of young people may be the first in the nation's history
00:30:10
Speaker
to be in peril of that truth of being better off than their parents. Housing affordability or making housing more attainable is at the crux of the government's agenda for the year because if we don't get that fundamental right,
00:30:25
Speaker
of systematically increasing supply, reducing red tape, and ultimately permitting more housing protection for home buyers. If we don't do these things, then we're really going to have a world where either very wealthy foreign buyers or domestic families are going to be the ones able to hold homes, and a massive plurality of young people will lose that hope and that fire in their belly.
00:30:53
Speaker
And I worry because it's not a problem that's bad today. I mean, folks, imagine when 300,000 additional people come to Canada this year and then another 200,000 next year. We're talking about 3 million over a decade. That is not insignificant amount of people. And while I very much, and I think we're all credible pro-immigrant conservatives here that support responsible immigration levels targeted to our economic needs,
00:31:20
Speaker
at the end of the day you know they need a place to live a place to go to school a job you know the infrastructure so you know the clean water all these things that we're talking about so. We actually have to get this right it is existential in some respects to the ability of young people to.
00:31:38
Speaker
wake up in the morning with a desire to succeed in our economy. I think housing is becoming a proxy now for a lot of young people losing hope and giving up. That should be our entire society and our whole ecosystem around children is designed on motivating them to push, to do their best, to achieve their potential.
00:32:01
Speaker
So this for me is, yes, it's economic, absolutely, but it even goes beyond that. And I'm not sure how to capture the sentiment, but it seems like a moral imperative to give young people a reason to get up in the morning and work hard and fight for their potential. And I see a lot of people losing that hope. They certainly did over the last, you know, we saw this on a premier win, right? Yeah.
00:32:24
Speaker
Yes, we just saw this truth. I don't want to go too far back, but listen, one of the reasons why I ran in the first place is because I felt like, well, let me get it. Who speaks for me here at the state of this government? Who's here speaking for young people? Tuition increased the most under the former liberals. People don't often think about that. It was their government, housing, totally inaccessible.
00:32:48
Speaker
jobs. They were the highest rate of youth unemployment. So you think like, who did this? Who's speaking for young people and who's fighting for our interests? And I think that's why a lot of young people opted to run in 2018 under Premier Ford.
Breakfast Preferences and Farewell
00:33:01
Speaker
And to be very fair to him, he gave us a platform to make a difference. And so it could be very rewarding in that respect too. Jody Jenkins, bring it home. What do you say? Yeah, we better wrap this up because I know Steven has to get places and I'm sure David has
00:33:17
Speaker
Has to post some stuff on Twitter or something, but, um, the last time I'll keep it lighthearted here. I'll keep it lighthearted to wrap it up. Uh, the last time we had David on the show, we asked him what his go-to breakfast was. And not surprisingly, he said the blooming onion at Outback Steakhouse. Um, what Stephen, what is your go-to breakfast?
00:33:38
Speaker
Honestly, when I have it, it's probably a bagel and coffee. I'm more of a like McDonald's coffee. I don't know if that's controversial. But yeah, that's sort of my thing. I don't do a lot of breakfast too often. But when I do, it's probably a butter bagel.
00:33:59
Speaker
And David, are you still on the bloom and onion kick or? Well, that was actually my lunch. But I would say I, you know, I'm a Levatsa man in the morning. I got to say I do appreciate McDonald's. We got a great team in Fort Hope, but always before I hit the road, stop in and get their dark roast, you know, but anyone who comes to the office, you're welcome. And I'm still trying to get my friend Stephen
00:34:29
Speaker
We've got a team who would love to have him pop in and he'll get a nice Italian espresso cappuccino. So the offer's open for all three of you fine gentlemen because that's my breakfast of choice. A nice cappuccino. If there's cannolis, I'm coming Puccini.
00:34:52
Speaker
Definitely. You bring the canolis on your way down from, uh, from, from King. And there's a couple of good spots on the way. I'll get the coffee machine going and we can do this all in person next time. Wow. Look at this, Jody. We're really going in the upper class here.
00:35:09
Speaker
I know it's uh it's all good but you know what i'll wrap it up by saying this that's i think some of the key takeaways from this show tonight are that you know dreaming looking big or you know dreaming big sky's the limit it reminds me of a young boy from new york who once said this famous statement of course i will be
00:35:30
Speaker
the greatest jobs president that God ever created. Oh my God. We'll wrap it up. We'll wrap it up with that. Thanks, gentlemen, for your time. You're always welcome back on the show, and we wish you all the best. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Have a good night, guys. Thanks.
00:35:46
Speaker
Great discussion as always with both those gentlemen. Nice to have them on at the same time. Yeah. And we'll give Pacini a pass on not being too tech savvy. I know he is tech savvy, but he just missed the memo. He missed the memo. I made it very clear. We'll be back. But anyway. We'll be back. We'll get it all figured out. Exactly. We'll have some more fun.
00:36:08
Speaker
Um, well, we should wrap this up again, a big shout out to John mutton and the crew at municipal solutions, uh, for their continued support as our presenting sponsor.
Sponsor Shout-Out and Conclusion
00:36:17
Speaker
You can find them at municipal solutions.ca also, uh, loony politics.com. Use the code podcast to get 50% off your annual subscription. I definitely worth it. News aggregate where you can get exclusive content that you cannot get anywhere else. Hence why it's exclusive. And then Tony, you can wrap it up for us.
00:36:38
Speaker
Well, listen, I want to thank Steve Sparling at HaltonGR.com for being a sponsor as well. And Hunter's Bay radio for carrying this podcast every Saturday morning, eight 30 a.m. Hunter's Bay radio.com.
00:36:53
Speaker
And I was just thinking, too, I mean, if we had the guests, we probably could have we might be able to do another show on this, but like a couple of legends passing away recently, including, you know, from my neck of the woods, point and native Bobby Hall. And of course, Hazel McCallion. Yes, that happened. That happened the last few days as well. And a lot of a lot of eulogies for Hazel. She was certainly one of those figures that if you met her, even if you didn't meet her, you'd never forget her for sure. Yeah. So.
00:37:24
Speaker
Our thoughts are with their families, and it won't be an easy time, but lots to celebrate in both their lives, so tons of memories. Anyway, we'll do this again in seven days. Tony, enjoy the rest of your week. You too, man.