PolitiCoast Podcast
Each week Ian & Scott break down local, provincial, federal and international politics from a British Columbia lens.
Quote-unquote blackmail
The BC Conservatives didnât mean to politicize âblackmailâ accusations against their political rivals. The BCNDP and federal government face further criticism over the BC Ferries order. And (most) NATO allies commit to spending unseen amounts on military build-ups.
(Sorry for the re-upload)
Links
Rustad wonders if he should have made âblackmailâ claim after Opposition caucus meets | CBC News Rustad says staff wonât give RCMP âblackmailâ statement as leadership vote begins â Richmond News Federal infrastructure bank provided $1-billion in loans for BC Ferries to buy Chinese-made ships â The Globe and Mail Tories call for hearing on $1-bi...âBlackmailâ
The BC Conservatives didnât mean to politicize âblackmailâ accusations against their political rivals. The BCNDP and federal government face further criticism over the BC Ferries order. And (most) NATO allies commit to spending unseen amounts on military build-ups.
Links
Rustad wonders if he should have made âblackmailâ claim after Opposition caucus meets | CBC News Rustad says staff wonât give RCMP âblackmailâ statement as leadership vote begins â Richmond News Federal infrastructure bank provided $1-billion in loans for BC Ferries to buy Chinese-made ships â The Globe and Mail Tories call for hearing on $1-billion federal loan for BC Ferriesâ purc...Henry VIII Clauses
David Eby doesnât have to like China building our new ferries, so long as they get built. John Rustad accuses former colleagues of trying to blackmail his staff. And the BC Greens still exist even if no one is officially running for their leadership.
Federally, Carneyâs big infrastructure bill passes with Conservative support despite some pushback from the rest of the opposition and some Liberals. They also introduced a new old cybersecurity bill. At the G7, they announced money for Ukraine and talked up trade with the USA. The Coast Guard may, or may not, be a...
One More BC Party
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 BCâs Bill 15 as questions pile up about what is his foreign policy.
Links
B.C. Independent MLAs start new party to âcombat the globalist assaultâ Kelowna MLA part of new BC political party OneBC â Party Website Kealy confirms no involvement with new party created by fellow ex-Conservatives Jordan Kealy tweet BC Privacy Office Forced to Obtain Court Order for FOI Request | The Tyee BC Ferries selects shipyard to const...Itâs not 2015 anymore
Kelowna General Hospitalâs 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 NDPâs 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 hospital to close for at least 6 weeks amid doctor shortage | CBC News Kelowna General Hospital doctors warn of âcollapseâ of primary maternity care coverage | CBC News B.C. health official...The Canadian Kingâs Speech
The BC Legislature wraps up its spring sitting with a couple rare private members bills passing, as well as the NDPâs two controversial infrastructure bills. Federally, King Charles himself delivered Mark Carneyâs 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 municipal office after bill passes | CBC News MLAs who are now less employed B.C. Conservative MLAâs private memberâs bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care passes | CBC.ca B.C. NDP governmen...Sovereignty by any other name
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 âczarâ | 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, Trump says | CBC News Prime Minister Carney pressed on housing prices Housing Policy Is Mark Carneyâs Mission: Impossible Alberta separatist group releases proposed referendum question, plans to push for vote this year What if Alb...Pick your cabinet better
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 race if no one joins it?
Federally, Mark Carney unveils his cabinet, or âministryâ, with a mix of ministers and secretaries of state. And a few ministers are already off to a not great start. They wonâ...
Canada Is Not For Sale
Mr. Carney goes to Washington but first a look at David Ebyâs infrastructure fast tracking stumbles and new interim leaders (kind of).
Links
FNLC Questions Regressive, Conflated Infrastructure Projects Act; Alarmed by Provinceâs Backsliding on Reconciliation Efforts â UBCIC Far from cutting red tape, B.C. NDP fast-tracking law hands big overriding powers to cabinet Rob Shaw: NDPâs infrastructure fix risks derailing Indigenous reconciliation B.C. government appoints former chief justice to review festival safety measures | CBC News B.C. premier steps over a line in condemnation of Lapu Lapu Day driver | Vancouver Sun  BC: Conser...The Two Party Election
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 NDPâs disastrous night.
You can donate to support the victims and survivors of the Lapu-Lapu attack at: Â Filipino BC â United Way FundraiserÂ
Public invited to sign condolence books for victims of Lapu-Lapu Festival attack
Links
Elections Canada: Election Night Results â National Canada federal election 2025 live results | CBC News An emotional Singh steps down with NDP set to lose party status | CBC News âThat number is arbitraryâ: NDP to fight...The Most Canadian Election
Itâs the final days of the election and a breakdown of the party platforms.
Platforms
Liberals â Canada Strong | Liberal Party of Canada
Conservatives â Canada First. For a Change
NDP â Made for People. Built for Canada.
Green â Plans â Green Party Of Canada
Bloc â Plateforme politique -2025- | Bloc QuĂ©bĂ©cois
Links
Green Party going to court after being dropped from election debates
Estimate of Turnout at Advance Polls Now Available â Elections Canada
Cost Estimates â 45th General Election
Conservatives, Lib...
The debate commission lost the debate
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 partyâs candidate shortage | CBC News Green Party dropped from leadersâ debates for not running enough candidates | CBC News Post-debate press scrum scrapped at last minute over lack of âproper environmentâ â The Globe and Mail Right-wing media including Rebel News dominate post-debate news conferences | Radio-Canada.ca Federal debates chief says...Read the law before proposing to change it
Itâs 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 BCÂ
Demoractic reform committee
Premier directs government to cancel American contracts wherever viable
Province, mayors pledge stable, expanded transit services in Metro Vancouver Â
Election interference watchdog detects Beijing effort to influence Chinese Canadians on Carney â The Globe and Mail
Carney says he had never heard o...
The candidate shuffle
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 News
David Eby walks back key portion of proposed B.C. tariff response legislation following backlash | CBC News
Rob Shaw: Fixes...
Still campaigning like itâs 2024
If you watched the first week of the federal election campaign, you might now realize weâre 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 â The Globe and Mail Canada election: Cancelled debate steals the campaign show from taxes and housing | CBC Elections Canada Redrawn ridings could give Conservatives an advantage, say pollsters Nepeanâs Mark Carney surprise further disrupts the local race | CBC News Former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong set to run in federa...The guv goes to the polls
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 largely turned their fortunes around and are attracting all kinds of star candidates. The Conservatives, meanwhile, are on the defensive and the NDP are talking defense.
Links
The BC NDP should reconsider Bill 7 â Stewart Pr...Free Enterprise Fractures
Canada has a new Prime Minister! Plus Andrew Reeve, former Press Secretary and Deputy Director of Communications for BCâs Official Opposition joins the pod to discuss the shrinking BC Conservative Caucus and whether the âFree Enterprise Coalitionâ has a future in BC.
Links
3 former B.C. Conservative MLAs, who will sit as Independents, say party has been captured by âwoke liberalsâ | CBC News Three B.C. Conservative rebels will sit as Independents as they âexploreâ new party â The Globe and Mail New tools allow B.C. to rapidly respond to U.S. tariffs B.C. government intro...A budget about nothing
Listen, we were mad at John Horgan for years for continually making big announcements on Fridays after weâd recorded. So now itâs 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 Ebyâs first budget since the election, the BC Conservative AGM and the state of the ongoing tariff trade war with the USA.
Links
BC Budget History on Olympic Village school announcements Premier announces new measures to defend B.C. f...Cantankerous caucus
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 lawyer in Law Society residential school row | Vancouver Sun Conservative Surrey MLA defends Pink Shirt Day social media post â The Chilliwack Progress B.C. Conservatives deny rift after 5 MLAs vote against anti-Trump motion â Mapl...BC goes to war
The BC Legislature returns with a Speech from the Throne thatâs 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 will be reformed and funded (maybe, eventually). We also have some fundraising numbers for the federal Liberal leadership race and policy from Mark Carney and the also-rans. And it looks like Ruby Dhalla is...
Mr Eby goes to Washington
The premiers go to Washington to speak to the assistant to the President. BC cancels the NDPâs 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 ânever agreedâ Canada wonât be 51st state in meeting with premiers | CBC News B.C. cancels $1,000 grocery rebate, pauses hiring over tariff threats | Vancouver Sun Unions and BC Government Gear Up for Tough Negotiations | The Tyee Canadaâs fentanyl czar lays out his goal: Stop the d...Carbon tax election grief
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 United States | CBC News Looming U.S. tariffs layer a threat on top of B.C.âs economic malaise | Vancouver Sun (maybe?) New legislation will accelerate B.C. renewable energy projects Ministerâs statement on Richmond supportive housing Special investigation finds some...Itâs hard being a small party
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 $500 for not filing election paperwork Elections BC suspends probe into Conservative claims of vote violations New cabinet committee will protect B.C.âs economy from tariff threat B.C. appoints advisers for West Vancouver and Oak Ba...Seven Liberals Enter, One Will Leave as Prime Minister
Links
7 Liberal leadership candidates say theyâve submitted nomination papers as deadline passes | CBC News Karina Gould pitches policies as she officially enters race for Liberal leadership âCanadians have lost trust in our party,â Liberal leadership hopeful says while taking a swipe at Trudeau | CBC NewsThe Next Generation of the Liberal Party of Canada â Karina Gould Liberal leadership launches: Freeland pledges tariff fight, Gould pitches carbon tax freeze â National | Globalnews.ca Freeland would scrap capital gains tax changes if elected Liberal leader: source | CBC News Party Renewal Plan | Leadership Campaign Trump reiterates Feb. 1 tariff deadline, muddying timeline for trade acti...Liberalâs last gasp
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 administrationâs tariff threats.
Links
Mark Carney Freeland to announce Liberal leadership bid within the next week Liberal leadership race: Field of candidates narrows in the race to replace Justin Trudeau  Cape Breton MP Jaim...Trudover
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 Trudeauâs resignation speech in full | CBC News Trudeau says abandoning electoral reform is his biggest regret. Hereâs how it happened | CBC News NDP source says voters can expect an âunfilteredâ Singh in election campaign | CBC News CRA to continue with capital tax changes despite prorogati...This governmentâs time is up (and new yearâs predictions)
Weâre 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
Ontario Liberal MPs want Justin Trudeau to step down: sources | CBC News
Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal calls for Trudeau to step down, and fo...
Trudeauâs final chapter
A bombshell resignation by  Chrystia Freeland has turbocharged the likelihood weâre witnessing the final days of Justin Trudeauâs Prime Ministership. Plus the BC NDP and Greens sign a new confidence and supply agreement. We also get a peak  at the province and countryâs finances. And another byelection goes badly for the Liberals.
Links
Sean Fraser to leave federal cabinet as PMO pushes to add Mark Carney | CBC News Trudeau says he wonât quit but will reflect on events in wake of Freelandâs resignation â The Globe and Mail Chrystia Freelandâs letter Dominic LeBlanc...Conservative Caucus Cracks
Tensions in the BC Conservative caucus spills out into public view. Plus a round up of BC politics stories and the latest from Ottawa on the GST holiday and the long delayed fiscal update.
Links
Rift in B.C. Conservative caucus deepens as MLA defies party leader | CBC News BC Conservative MLA accused of being a Manchurian candidate, Rustad defends free speech amongst caucus Canadian premiers urge strong response to Trump tariff threat, minister says | Reuters Eby says ânothingâs off the tableâ in responding to Trumpâs tariff threats Premier David Eby vows accountability after Small Bu...He posts and we deal with it
Health issues for NDP MLAs and MPs. Polling suggests the GST holiday lands with a thud. Foreign interference in the Conservative Party. Trudeau meets with Trump and looks at further immigration and gun control reforms.
Links
Children and Family Development Minister Grace Lore steps down to undergo cancer treatment | CBC News NDP MP Randall Garrison to step down due to health reasons â The Globe and Mail  Canadian Politics: December 2024 â Leger Agents of Indian government interfered in Patrick Brownâs Conservative leadership campaign: sources | CBC News Patrick Brown says Indian diplomat made an âangryâ call to his Conservative...Ep 400 â Eby must wait rebate
David Ebyâs new cabinet is sworn in. John Rustad bestows opposition roles. But the legislature wonât meet till February. Federally, we have a GST holiday and $250 gift from Trudeau, if Singh will agree to the terms. And Trump threatens Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs on everything.
Links
New Chief of staff New cabinet ready to deliver on the priorities of British Columbians All NDP MLAs receive a new title, and all but one get a raise BC Conservative shadow cabinet revealed | Radio NL â Kamloops News New Abbotsford West MLA remains on school board Van Popta...The election is finally over
We remember John Horgan, look back at the final judicial recount results and preview an upcoming federal byelection. Plus labour strife for Trudeau, Singh promises to cut the GST on essentials, Liberal & Conservative bickering over housing grants and a cap on oil & gas emissions.
Links
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies following battle with cancer | Globalnews.ca Surrey-Guildford Judicial Recount Complete | Elections BC Kelowna Centre Judicial Recount Complete | Elections BC Prince George-Mackenzie Judicial Recount Complete | Elections BC Prime Minister announces by-election in CloverdaleâLangley City B.C. ports lockout: Union says it will challenge Ottawaâs in...Every vote matters
Elections BC is under scrutiny after announcing a missed ballot box and a number of ballots. Not enough to make a difference (as confirmed by the judicial recounts that concluded post-recording). A shakeup in the Premierâs Office. Fundraising shows the Conservatives overtook the NDP in Q3 fundraising.
Federally, Trudeau pivots to address a second Trump presidency and bans TikTok from employing Canadians.
Links
Statement from the Chief Electoral Officer: Judicial Recount of One Ballot Box in Prince George-Mackenzie, Corrections to Results Reported at Final Count | Elections BC Premier pitches all-party election committee after âhuma...Technically a majority
Pending two judicial recounts, the NDP clinched Surrey-Guildford in the closest BC election in recent history. Now all eyes turn to who will be speaker and how functional a one seat majority really is. New Brunswick proves the strength of anti-incumbency vibes, while Saskatchewan proves the polls can still fail. Trudeau fights off an internal coup and dissatisfaction from the Bloc.
Links
Feds spent nearly $2M to produce podcasts: documents | Toronto Sun David Eby and BC NDP set to form majority government in B.C. Who will be speaker of the legislature amid razor-thin BC NDP...Deja Vu
Well, weâre waiting on the results again. Ian and Scott break down what we know so far, what went right and more what went wrong with each campaign.
Links
Preliminary Results | Elections BC Update on Recounts, Final Count | Elections BC Meet the Extreme, Far-Right BC Conservative Candidates Who Are Now Legislators Following BCâs Wild Election BCâs Legislature Hits Gender Parity | The TyeeÂand the stuff we didnât really have time for
Susan Holt leads Liberals to majority, Blaine Higgs loses seat | CBC News Early voting starts in provincial election â SwiftCurrentOnline.com Saskatc...The final stretch Election 2024
Record-setting advance voting but who knows what that means for final turnout. The NDP last-ditch lawsuit flops. BC United rises from the dead, the Conservatives have a platform â and so do the Greens. Go vote on Saturday if you havenât yet.
Links
Advance vote numbers Judge denies NDP hearing to force Conservative Party to use âB.C.â | Vancouver Sun BC United hosts a party BC Conservative platform BC Conservative costing document Draft education policy mix up Chip Wilson: B.C. NDP is killing âincentiveâ by giving voters handouts | Vancouver Sun David Eby responds to Chip Wilsonâs cri...Cadaverous
The big televised debate has come and we break down how it went, who did well (Furstenau) and who did bad (Rustad). Following that, weâve had another dump of opposition research, almost entirely targeted South Surrey Conservative candidate Brent Chapman. It hasnât moved the polls yet, but maybe things are shifting (if we squint)? And a roundup of announcements that do not include a costed Conservative platform (just a few more days, they promise).
Links
Go to Elections BC and find out where to vote! Jen St Denis gets shut down by BC Conservatives Cons...A very mid election strategy
The leaders faced off on a CKNW radio debate, which reminds everyone how much we all hate debates. The NDP release their platform. The Conservatives released a platform worth of policies. And the Greens also released a platform (but we ran out of time). Something probably happened in Ottawa too but this is an election-focused episode.
Links
B.C. election radio debate: Party leaders spar over housing, crime, climate change and more | Globalnews.ca
An Action Plan for You | BC NDP Platform
final_final_final
BC Cons announcements
...John Rustadâs a Facebook uncle
All three parties are kicking off the election campaign with a bevvy of policies. We look at their housing policies and more. Plus the NDP have started dropping their research suggesting how weird John Rustad is, while the Conservatives try to implicate Ravi Kahlonâs sister in influence peddling.
Federally, Trudeau easily survives his first confidence motion but there are more on the horizon, particularly as the Bloc draws its red lines.
Links
B.C. party leaders to clash in sole televised debate on Oct. 8 | Globalnews.ca
Policies
NDP
...The New Liberal Party of BC (not associated with BC United (formerly known as BC Liberal Party))
Continuing to play defence, David Eby announces plans for involuntary treatment for people with addictions, more money for cops and a call on the Victoria School District to be nicer to the local police. Meanwhile, former federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal is attempting to launch a New BC Liberal Party, with only elections BC and the old BC Liberal Party standing in the way. That party (BC United) being so broke they had to ask the legislature for money to pay their staffâs severance.
Federally, two byelections test the strength of the partyâs election readiness and...
