Podcast Summary: Unlearn16 – "The One Where I Try To Break Into The Legislature With Marit Stiles"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Unlearn16: Class is in Session
• Host: Unlearn16
• Guest: Marit Stiles
• Episode Title: The One Where I Try To Break Into The Legislature With Marit Stiles
• Release Date: December 31, 2024
• Description: A teacher with a sarcastic wit whose passion for debate and discussion spans the political, social, and pop culture spectrums. PS - a solid metaphor can solve all life’s problems.

Introduction: Stepping Into Queen’s Park [00:03 – 00:40]

The episode opens with the host welcoming listeners to "Unlearn16," introducing Marit Stiles with a lighthearted banter about the pronunciation of her name:

• Host (A) [00:03]: “Class is in session. Hey, guys. Welcome to Unlearn16. Class is in session today. Today, I came all the way down to Queen's Park with Marit Stiles...”

This playful exchange sets a relaxed tone as they prepare to explore the legislative halls of Queen’s Park.

Separation of Church and State: Debating Catholic School Funding [01:15 – 04:30]

The conversation shifts to the pressing issue of the separation of church and state, particularly focusing on the funding of Catholic schools in Ontario. Marit Stiles (B) provides historical context and criticizes the current funding model:

• A [01:15]: “If the one thing I've learned. I kind of need to talk about the separation of church and state.”
• B [02:24]: “We say the Lord's Prayer the first Monday. I think the first Monday of every month, but we might actually do it more often.”

Stiles highlights Ontario as one of the last provinces still funding Catholic schools, contrasting it with the broader Canadian landscape:

• B [03:18]: “The speaker here, he also does a really good job of trying to bring in other faiths and things like that. But, yeah, I mean, there's definitely, like, I would say, like, there's respect for faith here.”

They discuss the implications of uneven religious funding and the necessity for equitable distribution across all faiths to maintain genuine separation between church and state.

Affordable Housing: Historical Insights and Future Solutions [05:23 – 08:22]

The dialogue deepens into the affordable housing crisis in Ontario, tracing its roots to policy shifts in the 1980s and 1990s:

• B [06:23]: “A lot of the co-ops that you see and rent, geared to income units and things like that were built in that era...”
• A [06:10]: “Brian Mulroney, federally in like the 80s... privatized government subsidies or building federally subsidized homes.”

Marit Stiles critiques the deregulation and privatization of housing subsidies, explaining how the dismantling of government-supported affordable housing programs has left Ontario heavily reliant on the private sector:

• B [06:57]: “The only way you're going to get it built anywhere is and guarantee it is to have a provincial, like, agency that works with nonprofits and municipalities...”

They explore potential solutions, emphasizing the need for government intervention to facilitate the construction and funding of affordable homes:

• A [08:22]: “How much? ... If we took that money and we said, you know what, we're gonna start to build homes that people could afford...”

Taxation and Government Spending: Balancing the Budget [08:24 – 15:11]

The conversation transitions to taxation as a mechanism to fund affordable housing and other social programs. Stiles advocates for progressive taxation, proposing higher taxes on the wealthiest to redistribute funds effectively:

• B [08:46]: “Are you taxing the wealthiest people at a higher rate? If you do that, you can actually pay for a lot more.”

They critique the current government's spending priorities, highlighting expenditures that could be redirected towards more impactful areas like housing and healthcare:

• A [09:40]: “What's the cost on that by the way? ... It's $400 per household in Ontario.”

Stiles argues for reallocating funds from non-essential projects to essential services, demonstrating how such reallocations could lead to long-term savings and societal benefits:

• B [10:15]: “We pay so much more for people who are being homeless...”

Healthcare Integration with Housing Solutions [10:17 – 12:12]

Linking affordable housing to healthcare, the discussion underscores how stable housing can alleviate the strain on healthcare systems by reducing homelessness and associated costs:

• B [11:16]: “We are paying right now for all kinds of crap that nobody asked for. A vanity spa project with the Premiers in downtown Toronto...”
• A [10:17]: “Because nobody wants to talk about the King by guns.”

Marit emphasizes that investing in housing not only addresses social issues but also leads to substantial savings in healthcare expenditures:

• B [10:24]: “You’re ending up in hospitals and it’s expensive, it’s so expensive.”

Current Political Climate: Minority Government and Election Dynamics [16:18 – 19:04]

The hosts analyze the instability of minority governments, discussing the likelihood of forthcoming elections and the public’s growing dissatisfaction with political leaders:

• A [16:18]: “What do you think? You think this is time? You think, you think the non confidence vote should go through and we should force an election?”
• B [17:16]: “People are so fed up... holding on to power for power's sake is not good enough.”

They debate the effectiveness of minority governments in fostering democratic accountability versus the propensity of political parties to cling to power without meaningful reforms.

Question Period and Legislative Decorum: Seeking Transparency [21:11 – 27:38]

Addressing the procedural aspects of the legislature, the conversation critiques the theatrics of Question Period and the ensuing lack of substantive discourse:

• A [25:03]: “The banging on the desks, I just, I honest to God, I teach grade 9...”
• B [25:50]: “They have to respond. They have to respond.”

Stiles advocates for a restructuring of Question Period to prioritize genuine accountability over performative theatrics, suggesting that calmer, more structured interactions would lead to better governmental transparency and effectiveness.

Electoral Reform: Proportional Representation and Ranked Ballots [19:53 – 22:44]

The discussion shifts to electoral systems, with the hosts advocating for proportional representation and ranked ballots to ensure a fairer and more representative political landscape:

• A [21:53]: “What do you think about an elected Senate?”
• B [21:56]: “I would definitely prefer an elected Senate to an unelected appointed Senate.”

Marit Stiles explains the benefits of diverse representation and how such reforms could diminish the dominance of major parties, allowing for a broader spectrum of voices in governance:

• B [22:04]: “We benefit from having a diversity of voices... people feeling like their vote matters, which is so important.”

They acknowledge potential challenges, such as increased fragmentation, but emphasize the overall advantages of a more inclusive and representative electoral system.

Conclusion: Vision for Effective Governance [28:36 – 32:53]

As the episode winds down, the hosts reflect on the need for substantive policy discussions and effective governance. They iterate their commitment to key issues such as affordable housing and accessible healthcare, outlining a vision for a government that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens over political theatrics:

• A [32:07]: “Adequate house. I mean, we're gonna build.”
• B [32:21]: “We're going to connect people to family health teams and community health centers...”

Marit Stiles emphasizes actionable strategies to alleviate housing shortages and enhance healthcare infrastructure, underscoring their potential to create systemic change and cost savings.

• B [32:45]: “It’s gonna save us a lot of money and it’s gonna put...”

The episode concludes with a humorous yet earnest attempt by the host to engage more directly with the legislative environment, symbolizing their endeavor to bridge the gap between political institutions and the public.

Key Takeaways:

• Separation of Church and State: Urgent need for equitable funding across all faith-based institutions to maintain genuine separation.
• Affordable Housing Crisis: Historical policy shifts towards privatization have exacerbated housing shortages; government intervention is essential for sustainable solutions.
• Progressive Taxation: Implementing higher taxes on the wealthy can fund critical social programs without overburdening lower-income populations.
• Healthcare Integration: Affordable housing directly impacts healthcare costs by reducing homelessness and associated medical expenses.
• Political Accountability: Minority governments necessitate greater democratic accountability, but current practices often undermine this potential.
• Electoral Reforms: Proportional representation and ranked ballots can lead to more diverse and representative governance.
• Legislative Transparency: Reforming Question Period to focus on substantive issues over theatrics can enhance governmental transparency and effectiveness.

Notable Quotes:

• A [08:46]: “Are you taxing the wealthiest people at a higher rate? If you do that, you can actually pay for a lot more.”
• B [10:15]: “We pay so much more for people who are being homeless...”
• A [21:53]: “What do you think about an elected Senate?”
• B [22:04]: “We benefit from having a diversity of voices...”

This episode of "Unlearn16" with Marit Stiles offers a comprehensive exploration of critical political and social issues in Ontario, advocating for progressive reforms and government accountability to foster a more equitable and efficient society.