PolitiCoast

Two more housing bills from the province look to overhaul development fees and put towers by transit. But it might still not be enough housing. The province is also defining a "reasonably available alternative shelter" and the BC Greens' deputy leader is out for liking bad tweets. Federally, the premiers want money, the opposition parties fail to expand the carbon tax and we keep giving money to c...

The housing bill is finally here and we're getting four units by right, we're getting legal secondary suites, we're getting pre-zoned community plans and we're ending the public hearing. The toxic drug crisis continues, however, with the core recommendations of a Death Panel review being rejected before they'd even finished presenting them. Federally the carbon tax continues to fall apart and it's...

We've reached episode 350! In BC, the LG granted royal assent to the government's bills to push through the Surrey Police, its reforms to short term rental laws and our new official fossil is the elasmosaur. We also have new bills to tackle foreign credential barriers, speed up ZEV targets and support Indigenous K-12 education. The government also announced a critical minterals committee that won'...

Links Legislation introduced to rein in short-term rentals, deliver more homes for people | BC Gov News Progress of Bills Freeland considering action on short-term rentals after B.C. announces crackdown Legislation improves process for changes to police of jurisdiction | BC Gov News B.C. to roll out new legislation amid Surrey police saga B.C. to require flush toilets on construction sites with mo...

In a week where a tragedy that is begetting more tragedies dominated headlines, we find some of the BC and Canadian news that may have slipped through the cracks before drawing lines on the complex realm of responses Canadians have had to the attacks by Hamas and Israeli response. Content note for the latter half of the show (though we largely avoid getting into the more gruesome details). Links B...

Links BC B.C. bringing in ban on drug use in public spaces | CTV News Proposed B.C. law makes drug use illegal in almost all public spaces | Vancouver Sun Rob Shaw: Conservative leader Rustad's presence stands to alter B.C.'s political dynamics - The Orca BC United to tackle housing affordability by blocking skyrocketing building fees B.C. minister outlines housing plans, including support for 'mi...

Links Targets released for 10 municipalities to deliver more homes for people | BC Gov News BC government orders City of Vancouver to add 29,000 homes over five years Boom goes the dynamite…and conversions - Statistics Canada Bill 43 – 2022: Housing Supply Act BC NDP First, Tight Race for Second Place in British Columbia – Research Co. B.C. premier says Ottawa has promised changes are coming to Ca...

Protests across Canada over SOGI education policies, Adam Walker is out of the BCNDP caucus and BC United is going to fight fires better. Federally, Trudeau accuses India of involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey and a new progressive conservative political party. Finally, Ontario backs down on the greenbelt redevelopment and Alberta eyes half the value of the Canadian Pension...

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 Provincial, August...

Links 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 riding that can't be won - Economy, Law & Politics | Business in Vancouver Quebec appeal court judge Marie-Josée Hogue to lead foreign-interference inquiry...

David Eby dukes it out with the Bank of Canada while Canadian Conservatives stir up a culture war. Links Zussman tweet: Eby sends letter to Bank of Canada B.C. Premier Eby writes to Bank of Canada governor, urging him to halt rate hikes - Burnaby Now Public Accounts confirms investing in people builds stronger B.C. Rob Shaw: With NDP Premier David Eby's blessing, ministerial staff now make more th...

Temperatures are rising, metaphorically and literally, both in BC and federally Segment 1 Eby trial by fire Minister’s statement on West Kelowna travel, accommodation restrictions | BC Gov News   B.C. premier encourages community co-operation after wildfire tension in Shuswap | CBC News Critical flow of supplies must be maintained in North Shuswap - BC United Caucus B.C. fire crews pulled out as p...

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 permit some natural gas power generation | CBC New...

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 Crushing Prices - Bloomberg Canada's tech tax threat risks sinking Biden's global tax plan - POLITICO Draft Digital Services Tax Act It’s Complicated: Unpacking the Risks Behi...

Another round of political party financing data, Alberta pauses renewables, Trudeau argues about housing but is getting trees planted Links 2023 Second Quarter Interim Financial Reports Available | Elections BC   Financial Returns of Registered Political Parties for the Second Quarter of 2023 Now Online The Weekly Writ for Aug. 2: So are the Liberals doomed all of a sudden?   Estimated Election Ex...

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 National Security Council, but what will it do? Conservatives lead by 10 before federal cabinet shuffle - Abacus Data   First Report - The Right Honourable David...

The days of the RCMP as contract local police may be numbered as BC pushes ahead with the Surrey Police Service over the objections of Mayor Brenda Locke and The Star reports that the federal government is warming to the idea of transforming the force into the "FBI of the North." Plus bad housing policy and the era of political beefcakes. Links Decision on Surrey Police Service ensures public safe...

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 Ottawa's he...

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; ambassador says...

Almost entirely unsurprising byelection results, media deathwatch and a growing population. Links 2023 Langford-Juan de Fuca and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant By-elections Here's what B.C.'s opposition parties could take away from this weekend's byelections | CBC News Google to remove news links in Canada in response to online news law | CBC News Meta spokesperson says it's not negotiating with federal...

Byelections come, byelections go. Parliament rises with ample rumours. The Royal BC Museum is hiring, again, and Taylor Swift will be hearing from one MP. Links 'What the heck is going on?': Poilievre's strategy gets hard look after uninspiring byelections House of Commons passed some key bills before breaking for the summer | CBC News Justin Trudeau is preparing a summer cabinet shuffle — and all...

BC Hydro is now saying we need more power, and fast, as they open up the first call for new projects in 15 years. Federally, four byelections are happening on Monday, Russell Brown quits the bench, David Johnston quits as rapporteur and the Conservatives think Mendicino should quit as public safety minister.  Finally the feds introduce the Sustainable Jobs Act. Links Clean power to electrify B.C.’...

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 in Calgary housin...

Ravi Kahlon announces the ten municipalities that will have to meet new housing targets, to be announced at a later date. Two by-elections have been called and David Johnston faces the fire. Links Housing targets expected to deliver more homes faster, first communities selected | BC Gov News   Writs Issued for 2023 Langford-Juan de Fuca and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant By-elections The [Alberta] NDP t...

David Johnston's first report on foreign interference in Canadian democracy is out and it's landed with a thud. But first what's up in BC politics. Links Revised legislation aims to protect B.C.’s natural environment | BC Gov News Rebates make new e-bike purchases more affordable | BC Gov News Harry Lali endorses BC United First Report - The Right Honourable David Johnston, Independent Special Rap...