PolitiCoast
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.
What are you doing?
Mass resignations rock Kamloops hospital as a new medical school opens. Strikes continue, with BCâs ramping up as CUPW slows down. Federal parties position themselves ahead of the budget, trade is rocky and Canadians want to put nuclear reactors on the moon.
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Seven OB/GYNs at Kamloops hospital resign, citing unsafe workloads, lack of support â The Globe and Mail Applications open, permanent location secured for new SFU medical school B.C. governmentâs professional workers to expand strike after talks break down â Victoria Times Colonist BCGEU strike: Restaurant wishes they could purchase alcohol from private...Should Be Digging Up
A bevy of bills get introduced in the BC Legislature, Rustadâs caucus troubles continue and Carney changes his signature legislation.
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In John Rustadâs hunt for a leak, B.C. Conservative MLAs have their phones searched | CBC News The NDP sets a trap. The B.C. Conservatives walk right into it | Vancouver Sun B.C. bill that would have stopped puberty blockers defeated White House talks âsuccessful, positive, substantive,â but no relief on steel just yet, says LeBlanc | CBC Canada has been working for years to prepare for Golden Dome, Air Force general says â The Globe and...Pipeline purity tests
The BC Legislature returns on Monday and the NDP arenât giving us much to be excited about. However, the BC Conservative meltdowns continue with a high profile firing. Alberta is pushing through a pipeline that no one is really asking for, Carney faces budget vote challenges. What constitutes terrorism in the governmentâs eyes? Apparently Irish rappers and Indian gangs. And the NDP race has some candidates now.
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NDP house leader says B.C. govât plans to pass 18 bills during fall session | CBC News Rustad Fires Lindsay Shepherd for Residential School Comments | The Tyee R...Our first zoomer leader
When it comes to leadership numbers, 70% is bad if youâre John Rustad but 60% is great if youâre Emily Lowan. Mark Carney is under fire for the gun buypack, recognition of Palestine and changes to Canada Post.
Links
John Rustad survives B.C. Conservative leadership review with 71% support | CBC News
âNo chainsâ: Elenore Sturko speaks out after ousting from B.C. Conservative caucus | CBC News
Inside the BC Conservative Crisis | The Tyee
Emily Lowan Elected Leader of the BC Green Party
BC Greens elect Emily Lowan as new p...
This party contains dead people
Does foreign interference include the afterlife? Because dead people are signing up for the BC Conservatives, which really isnât helping their reputation. Also Eby goes to Ottawa as our deficit climbs higher and higher. And in Ottawa, Carney shakes up our foreign affairs approach, launches a public sector builder and promises a new budget. But nothing ever changes with the Green Party of Canada.
Links
Rob Shaw: Phantom BC Conservatives cast shadow over Rustadâs leadership review â Business in Vancouver
Allegations of fake sign-ups, ballot stuffing cloud B.C. Conservative leadership review | CBC Ne...
Only Moe can go to China
Whoâs afraid of foreign interference? Apparently the BC Green Party. Plus Mark Carney launches a tariff response and picks his first major projects.
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Verification woes cloud B.C. Green partyâs leadership race â Business in Vancouver All eligible party members will be able to vote in leadership race: B.C. Greens â Mission City Record Kelowna conservative strategist behind AI news site targeting John Rustad | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanaganâs News Source Prime Minister Carney launches new measures to protect, build, and transform Canadian strategic industries Carney unveils billions in funding, Buy Canadian policy to combat Trumpâs tariffs...Fast-track the office to build the things
Ianâs back from vacation â and thereâs politics to talk about. BCGEU goes on strike, Poilievre and Eby take aim at the temporary foreign worker program, Poilievre wants stand your ground laws, Carney opens his Major Project Offices and the NDP launch their leadership race.
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BCGEU says its members will begin walking picket lines Tuesday As BCGEU strike drags on, teachersâ union negotiations simmer in background | Globalnews.ca B.C. schools at funding âcrunch pointâ as districts cut millions from budgets | CBC News Poilievre calls on Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program Ottawa must...Ben Woodfinden
Ben Woodfinden, former Communications Director for Pierre Poilievre comes on the pod to discuss the 2025 election and the state of Canadian conservativism.
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Ben Woodfindenâs Website Ben Woodfindenâs Twitter/X Ben Woodfindenâs SubstackGreen Party Leadership Interviews
We interview the candidates to lead the BC Green Party Emily Lowan, Adam Bremner-Akins and Jonathan Kerr. Find out why they are running and what is their vision for the BC Green Party and the Province.
Links
Official Campaign Websites:
Emily Lowan
Adam Bremner-Akins
Jonathan Kerr
Referenced polls:
British Columbians Back Mandatory Voting and Spring Ballots â Research Co
The Greensâ Choice
Ryan Clayton joins the pod to discuss the BC Green Party leadership race and couple consequential court decisions.
 Links
Ryanâs Substack B.C. to appeal landmark Aboriginal title ruling over Fraser River land in Metro Vancouver | CBC News Major land claims ruling says B.C. Indigenous group has claim to a portion of city and port lands â The Globe and Mail Canadaâs voting system is constitutional, Ontario Court of Appeal rules | CBC NewsBlue Grit Honeymoon
David Moscrop joins the pod to discuss 100 days of Carney. What does the three and a third months since the election tell us about what kind of PM Mark Carney is and what does it mean for the future of Canada. Links
Letâs nuke Oak Bay
A mining rescue operation, ultimatums for Oak Bay & West Van, an even bigger ballot and First Ministers meet.
Feet in the file
A cabine shuffle, a drug decision flip-flop and Poilievre's struggle for relevancy
The first rule of the BC Green Leadership race is donât talk about the BC Green Leadership race
BC Greens & fed NDP get their leadership races going, events will need risk assessments and tariffs are back on the menu
Quote-unquote blackmail
Non-political blackmail, political ferries and unprecedented NATO spending
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.
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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
BC Conservatives make blackmail accusations, the Liberals infrastructure bill moves ahead and the G7 concludes
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
Itâs not 2015 anymore
Procedural shenanigans and strong armed bills in the House of Commons
The Canadian Kingâs Speech
The BC Legislature rises for the summer, just as the House of Commons gets back underway
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
Pick your cabinet better
BC's opposition is under investigation and Mark Carney unveils his 'ministry.'
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
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:  Filipino BC â United Way Fundraiser Public invited to sign condolence books for [âŠ]
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 [âŠ]
The debate commission lost the debate
The English leader's debate and a debate about the notwithstanding clause
Read the law before proposing to change it
Elections BC annual reports are out! And the federal election sees foreign interference allegations and ample policy.
The candidate shuffle
BC repeals the carbon tax and parts of bill 7. Candidates get replaced and policy starts dropping.
Still campaigning like itâs 2024
The campaign is off to an uninspiring start but I guess we're guaranteed some tax cuts.
The guv goes to the polls
Bill 7 proves controversial and Mark Carney sets to trigger the election.
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
A budget about nothing
The BC Budget has already been forgotten amid the escalating trade war.
Cantankerous caucus
Rustad struggles to keep his cantankerous caucus under control and the four remaining contestants for our Prime Minister square off.
BC goes to war
Eby's Throne Speech, another safe supply flip flop, high speed rail, CBC renewal and the Liberal race
Mr Eby goes to Washington
The trade war claims the grocery rebate and candidates and parties pitch policy proposals.
Carbon tax election grief
Trade war delayed, BC Unitedâs corpse and liberal leadership policies
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.
Seven Liberals Enter, One Will Leave as Prime Minister
The nomination deadline for Liberal Leader has past. We break down who is in, and what they want to do. Plus a look at the upcoming fight over US tariffs. Links Official Websites of the Candidates (other than Ruby Dhalla, who does not appear to have one)
Seven Liberals Enter, One Will Leave as Prime Minister
The nomination deadline for Liberal Leader has past. We break down who is in, what they want to do. Plus a look at the upcoming fight over US tariffs.
Liberalâs last gasp
Then there were two (or maybe three and a couple others). The Liberal leadership takes shape.
