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The House

The House Road Trip: Day 1

On Day 1 of The House pre-budget road trip, we hear from commuters at a Tim Hortons in Mallorytown looking for skills training, students at Queen's University frustrated at their career prospects, and the Belleville Chamber of Commerce about what they need from Ottawa to help their town.
CBC Radio ·
This week, we're doing something different on the show. We're leaving the so-called Ottawa bubble and touring parts of southern Ontario to hear what Canadians want to see in the upcoming federal budget. We're also getting our colleagues across the country to do the same. Every day we'll publish a travel log about some of the things we're hearing.

Day 1, 7:45 a.m.
Producer Paul MacInnis and Chris Hall talk to Trevor Pritchard at the En Route near Mallorytown, Ont. (CBC)

We pulled in at the On Route in Mallorytown, Ont. just before 8 a.m., the same location Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped at when he kicked off his cross-country tour at the start of the new year.

The place was deserted when we landed, but within minutes bodies snaked through the winding lineup. 

Trevor Pritchard, clothed in red plaid and a Detroit Red Wings tuque, sat alone at  a table with his massive coffee, the unmistakable red and yellow cup declaring it's Roll Up The Rim time in Canada.

"Most people that leave college want to go out and get good jobs that they've been taught... the theory is all there," he said.

We ran into one 25-year-old woman grabbing a coffee on her way from Montreal back home to Barrie. She works two jobs, but one day hopes to own her own bakery. 

For now, the goals are simpler.

"I just want to move out of my parents' house," she said. 

Day 1, 10 a.m.

The House host Chris Hall talks to students from the policy studies program at Queen's University. (CBC)

Jobs were top of mind for a class of masters students we met at Queen's University. Their lives and job prospects are often used as a talking point by politicians.

They've already come to terms with the idea that they're likely have many jobs over their life spans.

"Everyone in this room and this program accepts that the lifestyle our parents had," said Shannon Hantsberger. 

"It just won't happen."

Day 1, 2 p.m.

Taking a tour through downtown Belleville, Ont. (CBC)
About an hour down Highway 401, is Belleville.  A town of about 50,000, where cars stop for jaywalkers and people.

We walked down the main road of the downtown with outgoing Belleville Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Saunders and his predecessor Jill Raycroft.

"A lot of of us are still waiting to understand what direction the Trudeau government is going to move in.  You may know he was here for a  town hall a bout a month go, it was very well received. People were lining up. I think a lot of us are still waiting to see what direction the government is going to take," he said.