Troublemaker Radio (with Joel Harden)

On this episode, Joel talks to newly elected Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama and DJNO organizer Sahra Soudi about the recent Hamilton Centre Provincial by-election and what this win means to their community. We also feature clips from a house speech Joel gave on reports that cancer patients at the Ottawa Hospital are facing serious delays in getting the care they urgently need.

On this episode, maybe our best episode to date, Joel speaks to Laurie O'Brien, father of David, about her son and her family's experience with Ontario's Assistive Devices Program and Motion Assistive Devices. Laurie's story is powerful and moving and is a reminder that our provincial government, and our society broadly, must do better in supporting Ontarians with disabilities. We begin the episode with an examination of the Assistive Devices Program as well as the damning Auditor General's report on the program. You can read our letter to Motion here.

On this episode, we feature another excerpt from our wonderful Town Hall on the state of Long Term Care in Ontario. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the worst consequences of our province's mismanaged, privatized long term care system. We talk to Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos, a professor at Ontario Tech University and a LTC advocate, Georgette Morris, a researcher and coordinator with Jaku Konbit Ottawa and Lynn Steele, founder of the Canadian PSW Network. We're trying this new thing where Joel has fewer monologues and talks to me (producer Kieran) instead. Did you like the show? Do you have issues you'd like us to discuss on an upcoming episode? Tweet at us @JoelHardenONDP or find us on Facebook.

On this episode, we feature an excerpt from our wonderful Town Hall on the state of Long Term Care in Ontario. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the worst consequences of our province's mismanaged, privatized long term care system. We talk to Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos, a professor at Ontario Tech University and a LTC advocate, Georgette Morris, a researcher and coordinator with Jaku Konbit Ottawa and Lynn Steele, founder of the Canadian PSW Network. I (producer Kieran) included some Bessie Smith because, as my professor used to say, the blues are about feeling good about feeling bad, and I think we've all been feeling a little bad lately. Did you like the show? Do you have issues you'd like us to discuss on an upcoming episode? Tweet at us @JoelHardenONDP or find us on Facebook.

On this episode, the whole office team got together for an impromptu panel discussion about our COVID-19 perspectives, the recent Capitol conflagration, and right-wing extremism in Canada. I hope you brought your flame-resistant pants, because we dish out our hot takes on a world that seems to be catching. FACT CHECK: We recorded this episode earlier this week, prior to the release of new information regarding the events at the Capitol Building in D.C. and prior to the provincial Stay At Home Order. Initial reports indicated that police had opened the barricades at Capitol Hill, but that has been contested and remains unconfirmed. Police did however leave their posts at certain barricades, allowing the protesters to pass. See: https://www.newsweek.com/capitol-police-didnt-open-gates-rioters-viral-video-1559728 It was erroneously stated that Ashli Babbitt was shot by the US Secret Service. Capital Police have confirmed that it was a plainclothes Capitol Police officer who shot Ms. Babbitt. Did you like our different episode format? Let us know what you think by commenting on your preferred podcast app, or tweeting at us @JoelHardenONDP. **Producer's note: Some names have been removed for privacy and safety reasons, I didn't just really badly cut things together.**

This week, Joel talks childcare with excerpts from our office's digital townhall. More information about the home daycare strike can be found here. Read Child Care Now's Labour Day announcement here.

In this episode, we talk about race with friends, neighbours, and comrades around Ottawa. Featured Guests: Dahabo Ahmed Omer, co-founder of the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition Tasia Brown, local advocate and organizer Sage Picody, member of Ottawa River Singers An unnamed activist speaking at a protest outside the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) Sign Tasia's petition to end the weaponization of 911 here. Music: Battle Up - Ottawa River Singers Check out the Ottawa River Singers here: Facebook, Instagram, Spotify

Joel talks to parents and experts to check in on how planning for the re-opening of schools is going, and goes behind the scenes at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board with a conversation with trustees. Guests: Erika Shaker: National Office Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Lyra Evans: OCDSB Trustee, Zone 9 Justine Bell: OCDSB Trustee, Zone 10 Ariel Troster: Ottawa Centre Parent The audio for the discussion with Erika, Lyra, and Justine is from a larger panel discussion broadcast over Facebook Live. The full discussion can be viewed here. Rest in Power, John Lewis. Music: We Must Learn - Boogie Down Productions

In this inaugural episode, Joel talks to Algonquin Elder Claudette Commanda, reflects on the role of Troublemaker Radio, and remembers the life of Abel Mengistab.