On The Line: Getting law, order and public trust back in Canada

This week on On The Line, Matt Gurney is joined by Clayton Campbell, president of the Toronto Police Association, for a frank conversation about the state of law and order in Canada’s biggest city — and beyond.They start with morale inside the force, the kinds of work officers are being asked to do, and the kinds of work no one ever wants to do again. They also talk about ways to prevent people from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.This episode is brought to you by Universities Canada. Canada’s prosperity is built on people with ideas — researchers, scholars and students and the universities that support them in shaping our future. Budget 2025 is an opportunity to advance that momentum. Global uncertainty and shifting geopolitics have made this vision even more urgent. A vibrant Canadian research ecosystem is essential — one that generates made-in-Canada solutions, retains top talent and preserves our technological independence in critical fields.Federal grants and scholarships must be safeguarded. Because this isn’t just about campuses. It’s about made-in-Canada solutions for our economy, our health care system and our national security. Supporting researchers today secures the talent pipeline and innovation we need for a stronger Canada.Learn more at univcan.ca.From there, the discussion shifts to eroding public confidence in law and order — a trend that’s driving some Canadians to arm themselves or hire private security firms to patrol wealthy neighbourhoods. Bail reform inevitably comes up, as does sentencing, and the challenge of deterring young offenders from doing the dirty work of organized crime groups that see underage recruits as an asset.This episode is also brought to you by the Daily Bread Food Bank. Working-age Canadians with disabilities experience poverty and food insecurity at twice the rate of the general population. The Canada Disability Benefit was designed to address this, but at $6.67 a day, it fails to cover essentials like food, housing, and medication. Daily Bread Food Bank and coalition partners urge the federal government to fully fund the benefit to lift those it was meant to serve out of poverty. Join thousands of Canadians calling for change to help ensure people with disabilities can live a life of dignity. Take action at FundTheBenefit.ca.And, because it’s Matt, the episode wraps with a look at the federal government’s gun confiscation plans. Clayton doesn’t like them any more than Matt does, and he isn’t convinced Ottawa can actually make the program work if it ever goes forward.New episodes of On The Line drop every Tuesday. Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca, follow us on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review. Audio drops every Tuesday morning, with video rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and our social channels. Catch it wherever you listen or watch.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected]. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe