PolitiCoast: The BC Politics Podcast

Summer is done and politics is happening again. From Bruce Banman joining the BC Conservatives to the BCNDP amending the province’s decriminalization pilot, to federal Liberal housing policies. There’s a lot to talk about this week. Links Obituary: Serge Plotnikoff – Castlegar News BC Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman leaving BC United to join Conservatives | Globalnews.ca BC Pro...

With the summer over BC United tries to land a blow on education, and the federal government finally calls an inquiry into foreign interference. L i n k s Rob Shaw: All these kids are a headache for an NDP government atop education shortages – The Orca BC United’s student-first policies challenge NDP’s failing grade on education Rob Shaw: A star Green Party candidate is parachuted into a rid...

A mid-August assortment of news items. Links Potential buyer found for Quest campus as new CRA audits raise more concerns about university’s financial history B.C. kicks in $48M for Capilano University to take over Quest’s Squamish campus B.C. Hydro wants to raise EV charging fees, but customers say the time-based fees are unfair | CBC News Federal net-zero electricity regulations will...

In the final weeks of summer the Conservatives launch a major rebranding campaign for Pierre Poilievre while Ottawa continues to grapple with tech regulation and taxes. Links Conservatives launch massive ad campaign amid surge in polls | CBC News Anaida Poilievre’s Video Carbon tax ineffective in curbing fuel emissions, majority of Canadians say Canada Wants to Make Homes Affordable Without...

The Boys In Short Pants join to discuss the big federal cabinet shuffle and dissect what the Johnston Report says about the inner workings of government. Links The Boys In Short Pants Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios | CBC News Anita Anand ousted as Defence Minister because proposed policy update too costly, say sources Trudeau is striking a new Nationa...

Last year, BC’s major coal export terminal shipped more thermal coal than metallurgical coal, due to rising American exports. Journalist Derrick O’Keefe joins Ian to talk about the implications of this growing trend and where the government could act to help global climate efforts. Links Province assisting communities; people, businesses urged to conserve water B.C. expected to request...

Strikes at the ports and on Fraser Valley transit, ongoing C-18 fallout and subsidies for EV batteries. Links More than 7,000 B.C. port workers now on strike | Globalnews.ca Union seeks $8,000 ‘inflation adjustment’ for B.C. port workers on strike – The Globe and Mail Fraser Valley transit mediator’s final report expected this week Heritage minister ‘surprised’ by Google news ban...

Note: Naturally between recording this episode and publishing it, David Johnston announced that he’s resigning as the Government’s Special Rapporteur. We’ll have our takes on that next week. Nevertheless we still had a bunch of things to talk about from a larger list on possible housing targets to social media blocking news content. We also look at the Conservatives interventions...

The former CEOs of BC Housing and Atira, a leading social housing provider, were married and, according to a recent forensic investigation that led to numerous abuses of power as public funds were frequently directed to the favoured non-profit. Jen St Denis has been covering the story in depth for The Tyee and she speaks with Ian to help us understand the story and why it matters. Follow @JenStDen...

Cooling off periods proposed for politicians, C-11 streams across the finish line and the PSAC strike continues. Links BC Greens want minimum 12-month wait for former politicians starting new jobs – Surrey Now-Leader Bill M 221 – 2023: Members’ Conflict of Interest Amendment Act, 2023 BC Prosecution Service Releases Preliminary Bail Statistics Data showing frequent bail for accused rep...

New bills mark the second half of the spring sitting of the BC Legislature. The BC Conservatives have a new leader. And the federal government tables its dental care budget. Links Changes to Family Law Act will make it easier for separating couples | BC Gov News Safe money services protect people from money laundering | BC Gov News Public registry would end hidden ownership in private businesses |...

Everyone’s still on spring break so the only real news to talk about is the evolving foreign influence scandal. This week: The Liberals lose a Toronto area MP. Links Petition seeking to recall ‘dictator’ B.C. Premier David Eby fails | Globalnews.ca PMO releases mandate for ‘special rapporteur’ tasked with probing foreign interference allegations Trudeau’s chief of staff Kat...

Cedar LNG project is given environmental approval by the BC Government, sections of the Island Rail Corridor are return to indigenous nations and the latest on the calls for an inquiry into election interference. Episode Notes Links I’m committed to the fixed election date,” says  @Dave_Eby Premiers’ Performance: Three premiers face re-election in 2023; others spring forward, a fe...

We talk Budget 2023 Links BC Budget 2023   CCPA-BC Analysis The Government of Canada and British Columbia Reach Agreement in Principle to Improve Health Services for Canadians Image credit: flickr/BCGovPhotos

Scott’s away this week, so BC Today’s Alec Lazenby steps in to discuss David Eby’s first Throne Speech. Meanwhile Eby was away in Ottawa as the federal government put the final touches on its offer to rebalance healthcare spending. Links B.C. cabinet minister says her cancer has returned, but she’s ‘confident’ she will be fine | CBC News Former B.C. premier John...

Another quiet week where we look at the privacy commissioner’s report on FOI fees, who donated to David Eby’s leadership campaign, the latest shenanigans in Alberta politics, rocket launches and tank charity. Links Investigation Report 23-01: Access application fee six-month review Eby fundraising data Former Victoria mayor appointed B.C.’s special adviser on housing | CBC News A...

The BC government is spending money to help non-profits buy affordable rental housing and to expand the Crown Prosecution Service. Meanwhile Kevin Falcon wants a new bridge to the North Shore. In Ottawa it’s buying season with a finalized deal for the F-35 fighter for us and a gift of surface to air missiles for Ukraine. Links B.C. plans $500M fund to keep older rental buildings with non-pro...

David Eby announced his new cabinet and it’s full of faces new and old. What does it, and their associated mandate letters, tell us about the Eby show? Links New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate | BC Gov News MLAs not in cabinet Katrina Chen exits B.C. cabinet, citing ‘long-standing trauma,’ gender-based violence – Surrey Now-Leader Mandate...

BC posts a large surplus in its fiscal update and rolls out some further efforts to solve the doctor crunch. Federally, the question of Chinese interference in our elections gets a bit murkier, as does the reasoning for taking all the guns. Links B.C. fiscal update’s $5.7B surplus dwarfs previous estimate | Globalnews.ca Rob Shaw: Why the BC NDP should consider an early election More international...

After 299 episodes plus a bunch of bonus and emergency podcasts, we’re taking a hiatus until at least Labour Day or possibly till the BC municipal elections are done. You can keep following Ian at the Cambie Report or @ibushfield and Scott @Scott_dLB – or chat with us in the Patron Slack.

Links Nathan Cullen , Melanie Mark and Bowinn Ma announce they aren’t running Patrick Brown endorses Jean Charest to lead Conservative Party – The Globe and Mail Green Party spokesperson criticizes potential candidate ahead of leadership race | The Star Premiers gather in Victoria to present united demand for more health-care cash | CBC News Premiers close 2-day summit, call on feds to stop...

Is anyone going to run for BC NDP leader, and by extension Premier or is David Eby on track for a coronation. And the premiers undertake the time honoured Canadian tradition of asking Ottawa for more money. Stewart Prest returns to fill in for Ian. Links Nathan Cullen ,  Melanie Mark  and  Bowinn Ma  announce they aren’t running Patrick Brown endorses Jean Charest to lead Conse...

Lots of people are not running in leadership races these days. Links Shannon Waters leaves BC Today Segment 1 Ravi Kahlon bows out of BC NDP leadership race before it starts, says Eby should take over Ravi’s tweet Bob D’Eith endorses Eby Katrina Chen also endorses Eby Adrian Dix out Bowinn Ma thread Segment 2 Statement by Ian Brodie, Chair, Leadership Election Organizing Committee &#82...

John Horgan is set to retire as premier . Photo credit: flickr/ bcgovphotos

OpenMedia’s Campaigns Director Matt Hatfield joins us to discuss Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act and we look at the NDP’s about face on the Royal BC Museum project. Links BC Premier John Horgan cancels $800-million museum project – The Globe and Mail Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future | BC Gov News What’s wrong with Bill C-11? An FA...