PolitiCoast

10 Episodes
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By: Scott de Lange Boom, Ian Bushfield

PolitiCoast is the BC politics podcast. We cover British Columbia, Canadian and sometimes international politics from a West Coast lens. PolitiCoast was launched in October 2016 by Ian Bushfield & Scott de Lange Boom.

If this man kicked a dog, he'd still win the election
#366
Last Saturday at 8:23 PM

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 heavy criticism on key issues, BC NDP still top choice...


Not the Beaverton
#365
03/16/2024

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 sessionB.C. takes action to hold companies accountable for hurting people | BC Gov NewsRob Shaw: BC ready to get tough on tech titans with sweeping legislationCommercial truck drivers to face higher penalties for hitting overpasses | BC Gov NewsIntroduction of Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act | BC Gov NewsTransit-oriented...


Brokenhearted
#364
03/09/2024

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 Vancouver city councillors

Changes aim to help people out of poverty | BC...


Mostly Online Harmless
#363
03/02/2024

The Online Harms Bill, the PharmaCare Bill and more news from federal politics.

Links

Brian Mulroney, former prime minister who reshaped Canada, has diedGovernment Bill (House of Commons) C-63 (44-1) - First Reading - Online Harms Act - Parliament of CanadaLong-awaited online harms bill proposes higher sentences for spreading hate online | CBC NewsOnline harms against minors and other victims must be criminalized, not regulated: PoilievreMy First Take on the Online Harms Act: Worst of 2021 Plan Now Gone But Digital Safety Commission Regulatory Power a Huge Concern - Michael GeistWhy the Criminal Code and Human Rights Act...


Stay the course
#362
02/25/2024

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; Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills | BC Gov News2024 Speech from the ThroneThrone speech lays out vision of a stronger B.C. that works better for peopleBC Bu...


BC BuildsHousingHub
#361
02/17/2024

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 fasterHousingHub Program Overview | BC HousingHomes for BC - Map of Building Projects Across BCNew affordable rental homes coming to Gibsons | BC Gov News  - 2022Respite centre, 89 new affordable homes coming t...


Did the mob win? (ft Mo Amir)
#360
02/10/2024

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 @vancolourSelina Robinson quits cabinet post following 'crappy piece of land' commentsSelina Robinson’s resignation not a ‘joint decision’ with Eby: source | Vancouver SunPremier David Eby must not overlook British Columbia context of Minister Selina...


If you're rebranding, you're losing
#359
02/03/2024

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 access to cabinet mandate letters.

Links

BC United starts media blitz as poll shows...


Foreign funding of a public college was a public great (ft Alex Usher)
#358
01/26/2024

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 cap on international student permits, the impact on the housing market, funding shortfalls in post-secondary education, and the provincial response and future actions.

Takeaways<...


The crime of existing in public (ft Dustin Godfrey)
#357
01/20/2024

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 communities. The conversation also discusses the Harm Reduction Nurses Association's constitutional challenge to Bill 34 and the recent injunction ruling. The path forward includes the need for safe consumption sites and...