Adam Stirling: The Podcast

We open the phone lines to get your opinion on the capture of two men who walked away from William Head Institution and we get an update on the two missing ocras from the Southern Resident Killer Whale population. 

Yesterday evening the two men who escaped from Williams Head Institution were caught by an off duty police officer.

Mario Canseco, president, Research Co. - In the online survey of a representative sample of British Columbians, seven-in-ten residents approve of using speed-on-green cameras, or red light cameras that also capture vehicles that speed through intersections.

Reanne Booker, nurse practitioner, Tom Baker Cancer Centre - Booker works as a nurse practitioner, and says more needs to be done to bring comfort to patients leading up to their death. 

Dr. Anna Hall, marine mammal zoologist, Sea View Marine Sciences - Over the weekend, researchers with the centre saw J pod and K pod in the Haro Strait, including J31 with her new calf. The encounter came a week after all three southern resident orca pods were seen off the west coast of Vancouver Island by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

John Ranns, mayor, District of Metchosin - The community is concerned about the prison housing offenders who have a distant parole date or aren’t transitioning back into society. However, assistant warden Anthony Baldo said he wants to see offenders who are serving a life sentence spend more time at the facility.

This wildfire season has not been as bad as years past, why? Also look down south, Trump is fueding with a UK ambassador, and have we already forgotten about his trip to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. 

Yesterday the B.C. government announced ride-hailing regulations. Are they too strict? We discuss this then open up the phone lines.

The CRD board meets tomorrow and we will get an update on abandoned boats program, success and call for more assistance from Feds as there are still a lot of boats out there. Once again the discussion of wildlife has come up, geese, deer to start and questions about whether that is a CRD service, members would have to buy in, and pay, or do we push province and feds to do more based on jurisdictio...

Ken Christie, Head of the Human Security and Peacebuilding Program at Royal Roads University - Kim Jong Un has seemed as willing to meet with Trump as the U.S. president has been to talk and shake hands for the cameras with him. The North Korean leader jumped at the chance to meet Trump at the Demilitarized Zone between the Koreas last weekend.

David Andison, adjunct professor in UBC's Department of Forestry Resources Management - The BC Wildfire Service told News1130 in Vancouver that the rain and cooler temperatures are helping reduce the impact of the fires

Ian Tostenson, president and CEO, Ridesharing Now for BC - At least one transportation network service company said it has difficulties with the new rules, especially B.C.'s plan to ensure all drivers hold commercial class 4 driver's licences, the same as taxi and limo drivers.

Colin Plant, Board Chair, Capital Regional District - again the discussion of wildlife has come up, geese, deer to start and questions about whether that is a CRD service, members would have to buy in, and pay, or do we push province and feds to do more based on jurisdiction, good debate about this and role. Chair is actually an advocate for this, but not consensus yet. 

Invasive American bullfrogs have been found in Metchosin which are concerning residents. On Friday the federal government announced approximately $13-million to be split between 23 different projects designed to increase wild salmon stocks, including Connected Waters, a campaign by the Watershed Watch Salmon Society.

California had a 7.1 earthquake on Friday, and have had several aftershocks. What do people need to do in order to be prepared if this happens here? Should Greater Victoria politicians be forced to resign and run in a by-election if they lose the confidence of a large enough bloc of voters? 

You may have noted the Parkland Refinery report that came out yesterday, filed with the BC Utilities Commission as part of its probe into gas prices. Stewart Muir wrote a blog about it ( here ), drawing on the report and other information to look at the facts around gas prices in Metro Vancouver.

Stan Bartlett, chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria - It's not a new idea: In 1995 British Columbia brought in legislation that allows voters to launch campaigns to recall politicians from office 18 months after the provincial election. If a petition had enough signatures - more than 40 per cent of voters in a riding - a by-election would have to be called within 90 days. 

Tanya Patterson, emergency program coordinator, City of Victoria - Put your supplies in one or two containers, such as plastic bins or duffel bags. Store them in an area of your home that’s easy to get to, such as a hall closet, spare room or garage. 

Lina Azeez, Connected Waters campaign coordinator, Watershed Watch Salmon Society - The project aims to upgrade aging dikes across the province to accommodate fish moving through the waterways to the Fraser River.

Stan Orchard, president, BullfrogControl.com Inc - Orchard says every female produces 20,000 or more eggs a year and they eat organisms above and below the water

Stewart Muir, executive director, Resource Works - The fact that British Columbia residents pay more in road fuel tax than just about anywhere in North America is a deliberate policy to reduce consumption and GHG emissions. 

Ron Cheffins, UVIC Professor of Emeritus of Law and Political Science talks about the Quiet Revolution. Then Sara Neuert with the BC Freedoms of Information and Privacy Associations brings up FIPPA Reforms. 

Isobel Mackenzie, BC Seniors Advocate says seniors looking to move into a care facility will now have more options. Dave Earle, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association says consultation on improved training for commercial truck operators underway.

Sara Neuert, Executive Director, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association - The FIPPA was meant to help create a culture of openness and transparency within government, but today we frequently hear stories about people who are not able to access the information they are looking for or who have found their privacy rights breached by a public body with little or no recourse.

Dave Earle, president and CEO, BC Trucking Association - The Province will gather input from the trucking and driver training industries and other stakeholders to see how a Class 1 driver training program in B.C. could align with recently introduced entry-level Class 1 driver training standards in other Canadian jurisdictions.