PolitiCoast: The BC Politics Podcast

The independent Conservative MLAs start a new party, but only some of them. Plus the NDP has ferry troubles again. Meanwhile in Ottawa, Carney takes a page from BC’s Bill 15 as questions pile up about what is his foreign policy. Links B.C. Independent MLAs start new party to ‘combat the globalist assault’ Kelowna MLA part of new BC political party OneBC – Party Website Keal...

Kelowna General Hospital’s pediatric ward is closed, which is very bad. Meanwhile our premier is in Asia while the other premiers met with Mark Carney. In Ottawa, the Throne Speech passes quietly in the night despite the NDP’s pledge to vote against. And the Liberals introduce their first bills, including a major border and security state overhaul bill. Links Pediatric unit at Kelowna...

The BC Legislature wraps up its spring sitting with a couple rare private members bills passing, as well as the NDP’s two controversial infrastructure bills. Federally, King Charles himself delivered Mark Carney’s first Throne Speech but did so without the crown. Links Spring legislative session focuses on standing strong for B.C., growing economy B.C. MLAs banned from holding municipa...

BC hires then fires a DTES czar, Carney releases the mandate letter to rule them all and Danielle Smith plays with fire. Links B.C. scraps controversial appointment of Downtown Eastside ‘czar’ | CBC News Liberals will table a budget this fall, Prime Minister Mark Carney says | CBC News Mandate Letter | Prime Minister of Canada Canada wants to join Golden Dome missile-defence program, T...

Remember that leaked safe supply presentation? The Director of Policing Services does as the RCMP questions BC Conservative MLA Elanore Sturko over the leak, while Solicitor General Garry Begg flubbs questions about the appropriateness of such investigations. BC is also considering ways to fund Translink but congestion pricing is already off the table. And are the BC Greens having a leadership rac...

Mr. Carney goes to Washington but first a look at David Eby’s infrastructure fast tracking stumbles and new interim leaders (kind of). Links FNLC Questions Regressive, Conflated Infrastructure Projects Act; Alarmed by Province’s Backsliding on Reconciliation Efforts – UBCIC Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet Rob Shaw: NDP’s infr...

The results are in. We break down the election results and why the LPC and CPC each have reasons for happiness and disappointment. Plus the NDP’s disastrous night. You can donate to support the victims and survivors of the Lapu-Lapu attack at:   Filipino BC – United Way Fundraiser   Public invited to sign condolence books for victims of Lapu-Lapu Festival attack Links Electio...

It’s the final days of the election and a breakdown of the party platforms. Platforms Liberals – Canada Strong | Liberal Party of Canada Conservatives – Canada First. For a Change NDP – Made for People. Built for Canada. Green – Plans – Green Party Of Canada Bloc – Plateforme politique -2025- | Bloc Québécois Links Green Party going to court after being dropped...

There was a debate but more importantly we had plenty of debates about the debate given the kerfuffle that was this entire affair. The Conservatives bring up invoking the notwithstanding clause again and the BCNDP consider making it easier to drive. Links Debates commission defends inviting Greens despite party’s candidate shortage | CBC News Green Party dropped from leaders’ debates f...

It’s like Christmas for political nerds as we have annual reports from Elections BC and tons of policy coming fast from the parties. Plus allegations China and India are meddling in our politics (again). Linka 2024 Annual Financial Reports Available | Elections BC   Demoractic reform committee Premier directs government to cancel American contracts wherever viable Province, mayors pledge sta...

The carbon tax is gone. The dictator clauses of Bill 7 are gone. BC gets a credit downgrade. And we have a new political party on the scene! In the federal election, the Liberals drop candidates (some after some delay) and the Conservatives drop more. The Cons wheels come off and policies abound. Links Gas prices tumble across B.C. after carbon tax lifted in late-night legislative session | CBC Ne...

If you watched the first week of the federal election campaign, you might now realize we’re in an unprecedented trade war with the largest economy in the world. Links Federal election campaign begins, with leaders pitching themselves as best option amid trade tensions – The Globe and Mail Canada election: Cancelled debate steals the campaign show from taxes and housing | CBC Elections...

The BC Government continues to face backlash over its tariff response bill. Who knew unlimited power for the executive would be controversial? Plus the province ends subsidies for Tesla products, the carbon tax and its secondary-suite loan program. Federally, now-Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to call an election hours before the House of Commons is scheduled to resume. The Liberals have largel...

Canada has a new Prime Minister! Plus Andrew Reeve, former Press Secretary and Deputy Director of Communications for BC’s Official Opposition joins the pod to discuss the shrinking BC Conservative Caucus and whether the “Free Enterprise Coalition” has a future in BC. Links 3 former B.C. Conservative MLAs, who will sit as Independents, say party has been captured by ‘woke liberals&#8217...

Listen, we were mad at John Horgan for years for continually making big announcements on Fridays after we’d recorded. So now it’s our turn to be mad at John Rustad and the BC Conservatives for their caucus implosion that happened after we recorded this latest episode. But we still had lots to talk about with David Eby’s first budget since the election, the BC Conservative AGM and...

A rough week for the Conservatives as Rustad struggles to keep his cantankerous caucus under control. Meanwhile, the NDP face criticism over a land deal signed before the election but only announced recently. Federally, the Liberals kick Ruby Dhalla out of the race as the remaining four candidates square off in French and English while releasing their full platforms. Links BC Conservative backs la...

The BC Legislature returns with a Speech from the Throne that’s big on war rhetoric but thin on substance. The first two bills are introduced as a poll shows the NDP with a healthy lead. At the same time, the NDP introduced changes to address pharmacy kickbacks and opioid diversion allegations. Federally, we (Ontario & Quebec) are getting high speed rail (maybe, eventually) and the CBC...

The premiers go to Washington to speak to the assistant to the President. BC cancels the NDP’s signature $1000 rebate as unions come to the table. Federally, we have a fentanyl czar, new Conservative branding, policy from the NDP and from the Liberal leadership contenders. Links White House official says he ‘never agreed’ Canada won’t be 51st state in meeting with premiers...

Canada and BC respond to the tariff threat, which gets delayed another month. Pharmacies under investigation. BC United refuses to die. Liberal leadership candidates pitch policies, Conservatives consider communication changes and fundraising numbers. Links Premier announces immediate response, vows to defend B.C. against Trump tariffs B.C. fast-tracking 18 resource projects to reduce reliance on...

The BC Greens kick off a long leadership race, the federal Liberals race narrows and the foreign interference commission reports. Plus: Election spending reports, tariff threats, advisors for Oak Bay, West Van and the Victoria School Board. Links Sonia Furstenau stepping down as B.C. Green Party leader | CBC News 2024 Provincial General Election Financing Reports Available Coquitlam MLA is fined $...

The nomination deadline for Liberal Leader has past. We break down who is in, and what they want to do. Plus a look at the upcoming fight over US tariffs. Links 7 Liberal leadership candidates say they’ve submitted nomination papers as deadline passes | CBC News Karina Gould pitches policies as she officially enters race for Liberal leadership ‘Canadians have lost trust in our party,&#...

Links 7 Liberal leadership candidates say they’ve submitted nomination papers as deadline passes | CBC News Karina Gould pitches policies as she officially enters race for Liberal leadership ‘Canadians have lost trust in our party,’ Liberal leadership hopeful says while taking a swipe at Trudeau | CBC News The Next Generation of the Liberal Party of Canada – Karina Gould Liberal...

Candidates drop left, right and centre (mostly the latter two) from the leadership race. Now only Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland remain as everyone seems to take their sweet time. Well, there are a few others expressing interest but TBD if they make the cutoff. And this all comes as the provincial and federal governments find strategize to manage the incoming Trump administration’s tariff...

The race is on to potentially be the shortest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history after Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign following an abbreviated Liberal leadership race and a prorogation of Parliament. Meanwhile, the BC Conservatives are literally relitigating the last BC election. Links Read Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation speech in full | CBC News   Trud...

We’re back to score our 2024 predictions, make some for 2025 and catch up on the latest federal political drama. Links Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry Former Liberal cabinet minister Marco Mendicino not seeking re-election | CBC News Quebec Liberal caucus wants Trudeau to resign: sources | CBC News Atlantic Liberal caucus calls for Trudeau to step down as leader | CBC News O...