This is Vancouver

Longtime Vancouver journalist Frances Bula spent decades covering city hall. Now she wants to sit on council herself. Stephen Quinn speaks with Bula about why she’s making the jump into politics, and Justin McElroy breaks down what it could mean for the next municipal election.

Several major decisions are about to land at Vancouver City Hall. Council will debate a long-awaited city-wide development plan, revisit Ken Sim’s push into cryptocurrency, and face new questions about the future of the downtown Aquatic Centre. Stephen Quinn speaks with CBC reporters Justin McElroy and Karin Larsen about what’s coming up and why it matters.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is apologizing after accusing Councillor Sean Orr of handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day — a claim he now says he never verified. But the apology has raised new questions. Where did the accusation come from? Why did the Mayor repeat an unverified claim? What does this mean for trust and relations at city hall? Stephen Quinn and Justin McElroy break down how we got he...

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is apologizing after accusing councillor Sean Orr of distributing illegal drugs — a claim Orr denies. Sim repeated the same apology to reporters but would not say why he made the accusation or where it came from. We break down what happened, what the city’s code of conduct says, and what could come next.

A video is making the rounds that shows Mayor Ken Sim accusing Councillor Sean Orr of handing out illegal drugs. Orr strongly denies that allegation and critics say the claim may break city rules. In this bonus episode, we talk to Councillor Orr about what happened and what could come next.

A controversial video posted by Vancouver councillor Lenny Zhou sparked backlash this week. In it, he accused fellow councillors of drug use and dealing — claims he later apologized for and withdrew. Stephen Quinn speaks with Justin McElroy about what happened, what could come next, and what this says about trust and tone at city hall. In the second half of this epieosde, Stephen and Justin discus...

Extortion attacks have hit cities across Canada, including now Vancouver. Meanwhile, newly obtained records from immigration hearings are shedding light on the suspects, their alleged connections, and how these cases stretch across provinces. Stephen Quinn talks to CBC reporter Jason Proctor about what he uncovered.

It's a question some Black and mixed folks hear often: Where are all the Black people in Metro Vancouver? The CBC's Ashley Moliere looks into why that question comes up, what the numbers actually show, and how Black communities in the region are growing and connecting in 2026.

Why is a push to repurpose the Pattullo Bridge gaining buzz? And will Vancouver’s left-leaning parties join forces to challenge Mayor Ken Sim in the next election? Those are two questions about very different local topics. Stephen Quinn talks with Justin McElroy about the viral campaign to keep the Pattullo open, and the political push to unite parties on the left in Vancouver.

The province just released its new budget. Finance minister Brenda Bailey says it’s about "stepping back from many of the things we’d like to do and focussing on what we have to do.” To that end, the budget has sparked a lot of debate. But what does it mean for communities in the Lower Mainland? Stephen Quinn loks at what's set to change and why it matters.

The Pattullo Bridge is being town down after nearly 90 years. We look at why it closed, what it meant to locals, and what the new Stalewasem Bridge brings instead. 

A school promised for Olympic Village is close to approval after decades of delays, yet some residents still oppose it. Justin McElroy breaks down why it’s taken so long and what the fight is about. We also look at a big result in the OneCity mayoral race and what it means for local politics.

Vancouver will host seven matches at the FIFA World Cup, but politics are creeping into the picture. City councillors want clarity on whether U.S. immigration agents could be present, while some fans worry about travel rules and rising tensions south of the border. We break down the odds, the unknowns, and what it all means for the tournament here at home.

Forty years after Expo ’86, a large stretch of False Creek waterfront remains undeveloped. We look at Concord Pacific’s housing proposal, the rising cost of removing the viaducts, and why those delays matter for housing, Hogan’s Alley, and Chinatown.  Later in the pod, the audit of 16 land sales by the City of Vancouver has found the City could not demonstrate that it got the best price from...

After a catastrophic flood in 2021, the federal government promised to help protect Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie. But years later, Ottawa was accused of inaction and failing to prevent a similar disaster. And now, local politicians are travelling to Ottawa to find out what happened and call for more support. 

Three men have arrested in connection with an extortion-related shooting in Surrey have now been charged. Meanwhile, concerned residents are holding protests to raise awareness about the rise in extortion-related incidents. Some are calling on the federal government to do more to tackle the violence. Jodi Martinson hears from residents and local politicians about what should happen next.

Vancouver councillor Pete Fry has entered the mayoral race. In this bonus episode, host Stephen Quinn and Justin McElroy look at why he’s running, his priorities for the city, and the risks of a split vote. 

With the 2026 Vancouver election approaching, Mayor Ken Sim is beginning to frame his case to voters. This episode looks at his stated priorities, recent polling, and the themes likely to dominate the campaign.

A four-month closure on East Broadway is adding new pressure to businesses already strained by years of subway construction. Restaurant owners say they are losing revenue, but the provincial government say direct compensation is not on the table. So how did we get here? What are the potential solutions? What might happen next? We hear from restaurant owners, residents, the Mount Pleasant BIA and t...

Extortion threats and shootings continue to shake Surrey, with dozens of cases reported in January alone. Stephen Quinn hears from residents, a criminal defence lawyer, an MLA, and Mayor Brenda Locke about calls for tougher laws, why city council wants federal emergency powers, and what it will take to stop the violence. 

TransLink is planning its next big transit project. It wants to create dedicated bus-only lanes for corridors around the region. But can this plan succeed where other transit ideas have failed? Stephen Quinn looks into that question and more with Justin McElroy. 

Development fees just went up across Metro Vancouver, and builders say the timing could not be worse. We hear from developers who warn the higher costs may slow housing starts, then from Metro Vancouver on why the increases happened. 

As complaints about street cleanliness grow, Vancouver city council is debating a new plan to make public washrooms easier to find and keep open. We look at why access to toilets has become such a big issue and whether the city’s strategy will bring about change.

With Vancouver’s 2026 municipal election approaching, two candidates are competing to become OneCity Vancouver’s mayoral nominee. Stephen Quinn and Justin McElroy host a debate between Amanda Burrows and William Azaroff.

UBC students are rallying at City Hall, marking 18 years since Gordon Campbell's government first committed to building a SkyTrain to campus.