Political Capital with Rob Shaw

It's a Matter of Confidence reunion this week on Political Capital as Global BC's Richard Zussman joins Rob Shaw to discuss Premier Horgan's five year tenure and pending retirement. How has Horgan changed over the past decade, what has it been like covering his government and what could his legacy be as he leaves the job? Tune in.

The worst kept secret in BC politics is out: David Eby has launched his campaign to be premier. We break down how he did it, his overwhelming caucus support, what it means for both him and the government, as well as our predictions for the last half of the year. Political Capital is taking a summer break and will be back in late August. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy Merrifield, Jillian Oliver an...

Premier John Horgan clashes with the Prime Minister on health care funding, following a meeting of 13 provincial and territorial leaders in Victoria. The PM puts his elbows up and attacks Horgan on the issue - what are the ramifications of this and can a health funding deal still be done? Also, with the Bank of Canada hiking interest rates one percentage point this week, what pressure is the provi...

David Eby looks to have a stranglehold on the BC NDP leadership race, after Ravi Kahlon drops out. Does that mean the race is over? And what does that mean for the NDP party and government? Plus, premiers across the country gather in Victoria to argue for a boost to health care transfers. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Jillian Oliver and Jeff Ferrier.

In a special edition of the podcast this week, we discuss Premier John Horgan's announcement he is resigning as leader once a new person is selected this fall. Was this a surprise? What does it mean for both the BC NDP and the BC government? And how will the leadership race shape up in the months ahead? Katy Merrifield, Jillian Oliver and Jeff Ferrier break it all down.

The NDP executes a billion-dollar backtrack on the unpopular Royal BC Museum project, but is the damage already done? Premier Horgan hints at his potential retirement, but is it genuine and what does it mean for the next few months? Plus, housing affordability spirals into several reports, panels, rent caps and more. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy Merrifield, Jeff Ferrier and Jillian Oliver.

The long-awaited public inquiry report into BC's money laundering scandal is complete, so what does it mean for solving the actual problem and how will parties look to capitalize or play defence based on the findings? Plus, two new polls by Angus Reid show the premier's popularity sliding, how much of this is due to the deeply unpopular museum and what other factors are at play? Host Rob Shaw is j...

The BC government is under fire for saying it doesn't have the money to approve numerous new major school projects this year, at a time it's pushing forward with the $1-billion Royal BC Museum. Is this just political theatre, or a major problem for the government? Also, the coroner releases a report into last year's 619 deaths related to the heat dome, and we take a look at the response. Plus, BC...

BC receives historic permission from Ottawa to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs, but is it enough and why did the feds water down the province's original proposal? The spring session of the legislature ends, and we take a dive into what was accomplished and the political dynamics as MLAs head out to the summer BBQ circuit. Plus, is Premier John Horgan considering retiring...

The BC government, facing a huge backlash over the $1 billion Royal BC Museum project, unveils the business case to defend itself — did it help or hurt the issue? We take a deep dive into the museum project, and whether the issue will stick around or is a flash in the pan, and what might happen if critics successfully tie it to larger concerns about the government. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy...

BC's $1 billion museum replacement plan turns it an enormous political controversy - what happened here and what are government's options to fix this crisis? Plus, a look at BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon's first week in the house. And the panel touches on BC's oil and gas royalty review changes, former clerk Craig James's guilty verdict and a health care protest outside the legislature. Host Rob...

BC politicians spar over helping high gas prices, what can actually be done by the province and how does the government manage both the issues of climate change and affordability on a file like gas prices? Plus, provincial political parties address the fallout of the leaked US draft Supreme Court decision against abortion rights. And, MLA Rick Glumac proposes to his fiance on the floor of the legi...

This week the panel dissects Kevin Falcon's byelection win in Vancouver-Quilchena and looks forward to the Surrey South byelection, plus a discussion on the youth overdose stabilization bill that the premier once used for justification for an election but has now cancelled. Also discussed is an environmental lawsuit by the Sierra Club, new race-based data legislation and a new review of prolific c...

Premier John Horgan makes waves with his use of the f-word on the floor of the legislature, the government faces rising pressure on the family doctor crisis and urban mayors demand action to fix the catch and release justice system. Plus, a discussion about the pros and cons of making law and order a political issue. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy Merrifield, Jeff Ferrier, Maclean Kay and Jillian...

BC has dropped mandatory vaccination cards, as promised, but it has left some people anxious and others (like BC Green's leader) worried the move is a mistake - did the province strike the right balance? Also, new legislation will make it easier to organize a union, exposing an age-old ideological fight in BC that is set to play out again. Plus, a look at two byelections in the province, and a dee...

Should BC's Human Rights Commissioner be wading into the debate on public health orders by asking Dr. Henry to restore the mandatory mask provision? Will a new bill on cooling off periods on real estate make a difference in the market? And how do we reconcile new polling showing Premier John Horgan and his government's popularity is high but people are furious about affordability issues? Plus, a d...

BC has hired an expert panel to review how it did on COVID-19, but what does it accomplish when public health decisions and economic aid programs are excluded from the scope? Does BC even want to review those areas, and should it? Also, the province's minimum wage goes up and is now linked to inflation, the right move or another blow to businesses still recovering from the pandemic? Plus, the US s...

BC has dropped masks as part of its new COVID pandemic plan, is the right move, too much too soon and how is it resonating with the public? Plus, Alberta has offered tax relief on high gas prices, putting BC in a bind on the issue - what should government do and what are the political risks on its approach? A new report on the overdose crisis moved Premier John Horgan to strike an all-party commit...

What role if any does a province like BC have in responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and were the province's actions on liquor, land titles, divestments and immigration the right moves? Plus, BC moves to weekly COVID-19 data which raises the questions about whether health officials should scrap weekly public briefings and if they do what kind of information vacuum is created. Also, a ne...

The BC budget has landed, what's good, bad and meh in the new fiscal plan for the province? Cabinet ministers are getting a 10 per cent salary boost after government drops a holdback that would have docked their pay during deficit budgets, what's behind this change? And the panel talks about a new land stewardship ministry, oil and gas revenue declines, the overdose crisis and more. Host Rob Shaw...

BC gets ready to loosen some public health restrictions but how will it handle being out of line with other provinces on vaccine cards and masks? Ottawa invokes the Emergencies Act for the first time ever, but was it the right move politically? Plus, BC’s new economic plan, the politics of gas prices and the resignation/legacy of former BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson.

Did the BC government's new throne speech accomplish anything, or what even was the point? BC finds itself dealing with pressure to reopen from COVID restrictions as other provinces act, Kevin Falcon wins the BC Liberal leadership race and a grab bag of other topics. Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy Merrifield, Maclean Kay and Jillian Oliver.

What does the resignation of federal Conservative leader Erin O'Toole mean for the political landscape? What should the BC government do in the face of rising public frustration against vaccine mandates that appears to be an undercurrent in trucker protests? And what has the long scandal-plagued BC Liberal leadership race meant for the future of the party? Plus: Our predictions on who is going to...

BC extends the vaccine card, what's been the reaction and what does it mean for the future of health restrictions? Plus, a look at the last week of the BC Liberal leadership race and a grab bag of topics including Fairy Creek court ruling, the controversial trucker convoy and BC signaling it wants municipalities to speed up building permits to address housing affordability. Host Rob Shaw is joined...

A confusing week on COVID restrictions has the government on the defensive - what happened and what are the implications? Plus, candidates in the BC Liberal leadership race hold their final debate before the February 5 vote - who won, and what are the considerations in the final days of the race? Host Rob Shaw is joined by Katy Merrifield, Jillian Oliver and Maclean Kay.