The sue all the companies bill gets paused. BC’s poverty reduction minister bemoans the lacklustre Disability Benefit without critically analyzing her government’s own ability to end poverty for disabled people. The province adds more cities to the housing naughty list. Federally, the NDP are stomping their feet. And Saskatchewan, Bombardier and Honda get special treatment from Trudeau. Links * Joint statement on Bill 12: B.C. to convene online safety action table | BC Gov News * B.C....

The Federal Budget is out. We break down what is in it and what it means for BC and Canada. Re-upload. Apologies, an incorrect version with an old episode’s audio went out. Links * Former B.C. minister Mike de Jong seeks federal Tory nomination | CBC News * Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation  * Matt Gurney: What happens when Trudeau can’t blame the premiers, NIMBYs or disinfo? * Why raising capital gains taxes makes sense—yes, really – The...

The Federal Budget is out. We break down what is in it and what it means for BC and Canada. Links * Former B.C. minister Mike de Jong seeks federal Tory nomination | CBC News * Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation  * Matt Gurney: What happens when Trudeau can’t blame the premiers, NIMBYs or disinfo? * Why raising capital gains taxes makes sense—yes, really – The Hub * Justin Trudeau’s Last Stand | The Walrus  

A kickback scandal, more bills, fundraising data, defence policy and the foreign interference inquiry. Links Vaughn Palmer: B.C. NDP forced to admit its opponents got it right on kickback allegations Investigation launched into CleanBC grant program kickback allegations | Vancouver Sun What you need to know about the B.C. clean energy grant controversy | CBC News Proposed changes to Vancouver Charter will help build more homes faster New legislation ensures B.C. benefits from clean,...

Spring break is over and the BC Legislature returns with a raft of major bills: Housing, renter protections, a flipping tax, First Nations land ownership and Police Act reforms. Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau is doing a major pre-budget tour, possibly violating parliamentary privilege, to promote housing programs to mirror BC’s recent changes. And NDP MPs jump ship. Links Christine Boyle wins Vancouver-Little Mountain BCNDP nomination Gwen O’Mahony Nominated in Nanaimo-Lantzville – Conservative...

Trudeau wants rent to count toward credits scores, meanwhile Health Minster Dix is frustrated at his own ministry for the inability to keep ERs open full time.  Links * ‘I’m frustrated, too,’ health minister Adrian Dix says of Prince Rupert ER closures * BC denies Prince George’s request to opt out of short term rental bans * Some strata hotels, motels to be exempt from B.C.’s short-term legislation | CBC News * Parksville property owners get exemption...

David Eby is winning the latest polls but we take a look down memory lane to another NDP leader who looked destined to win. Maybe he can maintain his lead by going after the federal Conservative leader who’s spending his days screaming Axe the Tax like he’s an even earlier BCNDP leader. Meanwhile, the federal Liberals & NDP mark two years since signing their supply and confidence agreement by checking off the list of election reforms they’d promised. Links B.C. Spotlight: In the face of...

The BC Legislature is on break for two weeks, so we look back at the bills the government has passed and introduced so far. Then in Ottawa, things aren’t going great as we’re losing count of how many civil servants are moonlighting as government contractors. Links * Progress of Bills this session * B.C. takes action to hold companies accountable for hurting people | BC Gov News * Rob Shaw: BC ready to get tough on tech titans with sweeping legislation * Commercial truck drivers to face...

Selina Robinson leaves the NDP, a nomination battle in Little Mountain and should local governments have more say in immigration? Links Ex-minister Selina Robinson quits B.C. NDP, citing antisemitism in caucus – Victoria Times Colonist Full text of Selina Robinson’s resignation letter to B.C. NDP caucus | National Post Eby defends NDP against Robinson’s antisemitism allegations BC United public service allegations about B.C. NDP nomination battle brewing between former and current...

The Online Harms Bill, the PharmaCare Bill and more news from federal politics. Links * Brian Mulroney, former prime minister who reshaped Canada, has died * Government Bill (House of Commons) C-63 (44-1) – First Reading – Online Harms Act – Parliament of Canada * Long-awaited online harms bill proposes higher sentences for spreading hate online | CBC News * Online harms against minors and other victims must be criminalized, not regulated: Poilievre * My First Take on the Online Harms...

A mini-cabinet shakeup preceded another near substance-less Speech from the Throne. We also got Eby’s pre-election budget but you wouldn’t know that an election was coming up given how otherwise unremarkable it also was. But most controversially, the government shelved its planned amendments to the Land Act that were starting to attract significant criticism given the mishandling of the consultations and rising misinformation. Links * New ministers appointed for Citizens’ Services;...

BC Builds is officially announced and we’re underwhelmed. But not as underwhelmed as we are at BC United’s attempt at delivering its own housing plan. Plus Mike de Jong retires, ArriveCan is a mess and telling people you don’t want to fund roads might be the right policy but it’s definitely going to get people upset. Links * BC Builds will deliver more lower-cost, middle-income rental homes faster * HousingHub Program Overview | BC Housing * Homes for BC – Map of Building Projects...

Selina Robinson is out as Minister of Post-Secondary Education. David Eby has strong words for Bell’s layoffs (but maybe little action). And a Throne Speech and Budget are coming up. Federally, Pierre Poilievre seems eager to shore up his right flank. This is Vancolour’s Mo Amir fills in for Scott this week. Links * Find Mo: This is Vancolour | Twitter @vancolour | TikTok @vancolour * Selina Robinson quits cabinet post following ‘crappy piece of land’ comments * Selina Robinson’s...

Stewart Prest joins Ian this week to discuss the challenges faced by BC United and the emergence of the BC Conservatives as the voice of the right in British Columbia. They analyze the fundraising numbers and polling data, highlighting the struggles of BC United and the BC Greens. The conversation also covers the cabinet shakeup and the challenges faced by ministers in the BC NDP government. The hosts discuss the importance of transparency and the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on...

Ian speaks with Alex Usher about the current state of post-secondary education in Canada, with a focus on international students and the recent announcement of a cap on international student permits. They cover the number of international students in Canada, the financial challenges faced by post-secondary institutions, the power of the Minister of Immigration, private institutions and diploma mills, the student program as a workforce, changes in the post-graduate work program, the two-year...

Ian speaks with independent journalist Dustin Godfrey about drug policy in BC, including the recent injunction against Bill 34. They explore the decriminalization pilot project and the subsequent introduction of Bill 34, which restricts public consumption of illegal substances. They also touch on the negative impacts of criminalization, the provincial government’s approach to decriminalization, the restrictions on drug use in public spaces, and the impact on vulnerable and marginalized...

We recap our 2023 predictions, make some for 2024 and catch lightning to power through what we missed Links * 2023 predictions episode * In Ukraine, a war of incremental gains as counteroffensive stalls * Delivery of Canada’s F-35 fighter jets could be delayed — extra costs possible * Catching lightning BC * Regulations, policy manuals issued to help deliver more homes for people faster | BC Gov News * Advocates Win Injunction Blocking BC’s Drug Decriminalization Rollbacks | The...

Following a productive session on housing, the BC Legislature has risen with the NDP rushing the final bills through with time allocation. We also have an update on the provinces finances and greenhouse gas emissions. Federally, Google agrees to pay the news but it’s not enough to save the Liberals polling numbers. See you in January! Links * 2023 Third Quarter Interim Financial Reports Available | Elections BC  * B.C.’s strong fiscal foundation supports people through global...

One bill introduced and one delayed in the legislature. Outside, BC United and BC Conservatives battle over who would tear up the province’s climate policies faster. Federally, Chrystia Freeland tries to save the Liberals skin with a fiscal update likely to appease no one. Links * Katrina Chen announces her retirement * Reaha Arora throws hat in the ring * Legislative changes will bring fairness to app-based gig workers | BC Gov News * Sheltering provisions to be delayed * BCCLA Bill...

New rules for gig workers and new standardized multiplex designs are coming, eventually. In the meantime, we dig into the response to the BCNDP’s housing bills from BC United, BC Greens and the BC Conservatives. Plus some national news. Links * Bowinn Ma announces her baby * Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness to begin parental leave | BC Gov News * Fairness coming for gig workers | BC Gov News * New standardized designs will help build more homes quicker | BC Gov...

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 consultants, sometimes for doing nothing at all. Links * Legislation introduced to streamline...

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 starting to have ramifications in BC politics. And Mr Horgan goes to Berlin. Links * More...

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’t look for uranium and they continue to dodge questions as to what’s taking so long to rebuild...

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 more than 25 workers |...