What does it take to lead the Ontario Liberal Party back to power, and can a nearly year-long endurance test actually build the muscle the party needs to defeat Doug Ford?Following the official launch of the 2026 OLP Leadership race, our Ontario Wrap-Up panel is back to break down the newly released rules, the shift to online voting, and the long road to November 21.Featuring Darrell Dean (former Digital Director for PM Trudeau), Theresa Lubowitz (former advisor to the Premier of Ontario and former OLP Communications Coordinator), Alex Mather (former advisor to the Premier of Ontario), and Jordan Ray (former OLP Organization Lead), the panel explores whether a year-long campaign is a necessary party building exercise or a risky recipe for organizational drift.The team dives into the logistics of the contest, the implications of a $1M spending cap, and how a new era of online voting might expand the party's tent. They also debate the authenticity required to offer a hopeful alternative to the current government.Topics include:OLP Leadership 2026 • Ontario Politics • Digital Campaigning • Online Voting • Political Strategy • Doug Ford • Progressive Messaging • Campaign Fundraising • Candidate Recruitment • Political Branding • Strategic Communications • Ontario Liberal PartyWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

What does rebuilding the Liberal brand require today, and how should Liberals defend their values in an era of cynicism and polarization?As provincial Liberal parties struggle for relevance across Canada, former Ontario Premier David Peterson joins the Progress Canada Podcast to reflect on how he once led the Ontario Liberal Party out of the political wilderness—and what today’s Liberals can learn from that moment.Peterson explains how rejecting nostalgia, campaigning against cronyism, and drawing sharp contrasts with a long-entrenched Conservative government helped renew trust with voters. From restoring a sense of possibility to building a broad coalition of voters, he breaks down what it takes to create a credible Liberal alternative.With provincial Liberalism now at one of its weakest points nationally, Peterson defends liberalism itself—arguing that freedom, social justice, and economic prosperity are not competing ideas but mutually reinforcing ones. Topics include:Ontario politics • Provincial Liberalism • David Peterson • Ontario Liberal Party • Canadian Liberalism • Political branding • Coalition-building • Social justice • Economic prosperity • Campaign strategy • Progressive politics • Canadian democracyWhere to Find Us:Substack: https://progresscanada.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressCanadaPodcast/

As Donald Trump asserts a more aggressive vision for U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere, our panel digs into where Canada fits in those plans—and where it doesn’t.

We explore how Trump’s approach to trade, security, and hemispheric dominance challenges long-standing assumptions about Canada–U.S. relations, and what this moment means for Canadian sovereignty.

How should Canadian leaders talk about independence, economic security, and democratic resilience when our closest ally is increasingly unpredictable? And what does defending sovereignty look like in what Prime Minister Mark Carney has dubbed the "new world order?"

The #OnMessage Panel brings together experienced political communicators to break down Canada’s political headlines and examine how each party is framing the debate, what’s resonating with voters, and where our country’s political narrative will head next. Panelists include Michelle Johnston, Theresa Lubowitz, and Alex Mather.

Where to Find Us:Social Accounts:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/progress_canada_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresscanadapodcastBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/progresscanada.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/progress-canada/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progress_canada_podcast Podcast Platforms:RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/1027adaac/podcast/rss Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Etut7tXvL8yN4PjQ96pHH?si=7d80390f146a4f07Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8dfa624c-13a8-4268-a977-b3bc509b6cd7/progress-canadaApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/progress-canada/id1802911774 YouTube Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@ProgressCanada/podcasts