Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1600 - From Growth to Gridlock: Rethinking Canada’s Future with Eric Lombardi

What’s really holding Ontario — and Canada — back? On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian explores whether the challenge is a lack of ideas or investment — or something deeper: systems that have become too complex to deliver real results. In Part 1, Brian speaks with Eric Lombardi, a self-described “dark horse” in the Ontario Liberal Party leadership election. Lombardi argues that Ontario doesn’t suffer from too little government — but from ineffective government. The conversation dives into the structural barriers slowing progress, including overregulation, permitting delays, development charges, and zoning restrictions. Lombardi also outlines his proposal for “down payment mobility insurance” and makes the case that political parties have become too focused on stakeholders rather than citizens. His core message is clear: Ontario has built systems that manage — but no longer build. In Part 2, Brian expands the discussion nationally in his commentary, Abundance, Not Excuses. He argues that this isn’t just an Ontario issue — it reflects a broader Canadian shift away from building toward managing complexity. From housing shortages to delayed infrastructure and stalled energy projects, the symptoms are everywhere. Canada, he suggests, has become highly effective at process — but not outcomes. So what’s the path forward? A return to abundance: building housing at scale, advancing energy and infrastructure projects, and creating a tax and regulatory environment that supports investment, productivity, and growth. Because ultimately, nations aren’t defined by what they regulate — but by what they build.