Open Sources Guelph #447 - October 26, 2023

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we realize that it's always darkest just before Halloween. At least that's what it seems like when we open social media or a news app on our phone. We've got a full slate of political news for you from the latest in the Middle East and the frontlines in Israel to the battle lines in Queen's Park. And then, we go to Saskatchewan where there was some constitutional experimentation, and speaking of experimenting, might Guelph be flirting with the blue team?!

This Thursday, October 25, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:

War. Week 3. It's been now nearly four weeks since a brutal Hamas attack in Israel, and as the Gaza Strip is being bombarded almost constantly, there's still great concern about the fate of Palestinian civilians when and if an all-out ground invasion begins. Meanwhile, international pressure seems to have forced Hamas' hand, they've released a couple of hostages but it's being seen as little more than a delay tactic. Is there still no end in site for this crisis, and is there any chance for peace?

Pump Out the Jama. She's barely been in office for six month, but on Monday Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama was censured by the Ontario legislature and then ejected from the NDP caucus, and it was all because of a statement about the Israel-Hamas War, which the legislature has no influence over. But while that drama was happening, there were more Official Plan changes, a lawsuit against the feds, and did Doug Ford call Mike Schreiner "Mr. Green"? We'll talk about a crazy week at Queen's Park.

The More You Moe. Last Friday, the Saskatchewan legislature passed Bill 137 using the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution. What law could possibly make Premier Scott Moe call a special session to use the proverbial "nuclear option"? Pronouns. The so-called "parental rights" bill has been called transphobic and homophobic, and the passage of Bill 137 came just one day before another series of nation-wide 1 Million March 4 Children protests. So now what?

Royal Blue? An article in Guelph Today quoted a poll from 338Canada that said there's a 52 per cent chance that the Conservatives could win the federal riding of Guelph if the next election were held today. Say what? Guelph hasn't sent a Conservative to Parliament Hill for over 30 years, the legendary Bill Winegard left office in 1993 and since then it's been a series of Liberal MPs, but with the waning popularity of Justin Trudeau's Liberals is it possible we're looking at a Blue Shift?

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.