BC Today

Environment Canada says a new fall storm will bring winds gusting up to 110 km/h to southwestern British Columbia on Friday, potentially causing more outages and travel disruption. We get the latest forecast and ask viewers how they prepare for severe weather events. Then, Gardening columnist Brian Minter is back to take more of your questions.

New affordability measures announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau include a two-month GST holiday on some goods and services, and a $250 rebate to workers who earned $150,000 or less in 2023. We discuss the measures and ask viewers what they think of them. Then, social media platform Bluesky has attracted millions of new users in the weeks since Donald Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election. We discuss Bluesky's growth, what comes next for Elon Musk's X platform, and ask viewers how their social media habits are changing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging world leaders to "push harder" against Russia, as the world marks the 1,000th day of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We discuss the next steps in the conflict and invite viewers to share what the grim milestone means to them. Forecasters are warning of hurricane-level wind gusts as a "bomb cyclone" forms off the coast of Vancouver Island. We get the latest details on the storm from CBC News climate and science specialist Darius Mahdavi. For 25 years, Dress for Success has been helping women and gender-diverse people reach their full potential. We speak to the group's executive director and ask viewers to share their experiences of career advancement.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly on Vancouver Island, are still without power after hurricane-force wind gusts from a 'bomb cyclone' system blasted southwest B.C. overnight and into Wednesday. We hear the latest updates. Then on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we ask our audience to let us know who they are thinking of, and what support trans people need in this province. Finally, the carbon tax has become a hot-button issue in both federal and provincial politics. With the United Nations Climate Change conference continuing in Baku this week, we discuss the pros, cons and alternatives to a carbon tax.

Premier David Eby reveals his new cabinet this afternoon, having pledged that their focus will be on the issues British Columbians are "thinking about around the kitchen table." CBC's Provincial Affairs Reporter Katie DeRosa joins us from Government House in Victoria, and Hamish Telford, University of the Fraser Valley political science associate professor joins us to discuss. Dr. Melissa Lem from UBC's faculty of medicine joins us to answer your questions about the H5N1 strain of avian flu, after public health officials reported earlier this month that a B.C. teenager is ill with the first domestically acquired human H5N1 case.

CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) representative Stephen Gale explains why Canada Post workers have hit the picket lines, and we take calls on how the strike will affect you. Later in the show, with the Grey Cup Game in Vancouver on Sunday, we speak with Research Co's Mario Canseco, and Chris Tymofichuk, a CFL superfan & Guinness World Record holder.

Taylor Swift is about to kick off the Canadian leg of her tour, starting with six shows at Toronto's Rogers Centre. We find out about the excitement in that city, look ahead to her Vancouver dates in December, and ask our audience to share their thoughts on what the concerts mean to the cities she performs in. Then, as the First Nations Climate Initiative joins Canada's delegation at the COP29 summit, we discuss their goals at the event and learn more about First Nations' leadership in addressing climate change with Andrew Robinson, Nisga'a Lisims Government CEO.

The federal labour minister has ordered binding arbitration to resolve contract disputes at ports in B.C. and Quebec. Meanwhile, Canada Post has issued a 72-hour strike notice. We discuss what role the federal government should have in such disputes with John Henry-Harter, Simon Fraser University's labour studies professor. Then, with Movember underway, we'll discuss men's mental health with Todd Minerson, Movember Canada Director and Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, HeadsUp Guys founder.

Former B.C. premier John Horgan, who was most recently Canada's ambassador to Germany, has died at the age of 65. We hear from those who knew and worked with him about his life and legacy, and invite viewers to share their reactions.

On today's program, we remember those who served and talk about supports for veterans with Oliver Thorne, CEO with the Veterans Transition Network, and put Canada's military history, present and future into context with David Borys, UBC military historian, podcast host and author "Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867."

President-elect Donald Trump has promised a 10 per cent tariff on goods imported into the United States. What does this mean for an already struggling B.C. lumber industry? Gardening columnist Brian Minter is back with tips on growing seasonal greens for holiday decorations, and to answer your gardening questions.

We begin with an update on the judicial recounts taking place for two ridings following the B.C. election. Next, we look at the NDP's promise to give households a significant tax break starting next year, and a new report that questions the plan. During the second half of the show, Great Canadian Baking Show contestant Markus Tam shares his experience of being on television, and we take baking tips and questions from our audience.

Donald Trump is U.S. president again and the Republicans have taken back control of the Senate. We break down the results of the Nov. 5 election with Max Cameron, UBC political science professor in our first half hour and after the 12:30 news, we'll talk to Rosemary Westwood, a former Victoria journalist now living and working in New Orleans about what this means for reproductive rights in the country. Westwood's NPR podcast "Banned" chronicles the first legal case in Mississippi that sparked the dowfall of Roe v. Wade. Our audience their thoughts on the election and what they think a second Trump presidency could look like.

It's election day in the United States and Canadians are watching closely as Americans decide on their next president. We hear from Erol Morkoc, Vice-Chair of External Relations, Republicans Overseas, and Jennifer Phillips, Chair, Democrats Abroad British Columbia Mainland, and Jovian Radheshwar, Douglas College professor of international relations and American politics, about their thoughts on the race. United Way's Provincial Summit on Aging takes place this week. With the rising cost of living and the housing crisis, finding an affordable home is an increasing challenge for seniors in B.C. Alison Silgardo, Chief Executive Officer, Seniors Services Society of B.C. joins us to discuss.

Murray Sinclair, the former senator who led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has died at the age of 73. Adam Olsen, member of Tsartlip First Nation and former MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, and our audience reflect on his legacy and the work that remains for Truth and Reconciliation. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. We hear from Laura Syron, Diabetes Canada president about the impact the disease has on people's social lives.

More than $485 million in illicit drugs and drug ingredients have been seized in a rural B.C. community. We hear from Vancouver Sun crime reporter Kim Bolan and former B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed for more on the impact this could have on the toxic drug crisis in B.C. Then, how did your dogs and pets handle the fireworks on Halloween night? Our pet columnist, Sara Shapiro-Ward, is back for more on how to help your companions through the stress.

Halloween fireworks have been a long-standing tradition for many B.C. communities, but more municipalities have been banning their use. Surrey Fire Chief Larry Thomas and Madison Reynolds, Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce president join us to discuss. We check in with our CBC colleagues on their Halloween costumes. And, Canadian rapper Maestro Fresh Wes is in Vancouver for a fundraiser by the Together We Can Society recovery non-profit. He and his friend Robbie Currie, aka Robbie Burns, and Together We Can community outreach worker, join us to talk about how Wes' friendship played a big part in Robbie's recovery journey.

The final report on unmarked graves at former residential schools calls for making residential school denialism illegal. We speak with Chief Robert Joseph, Reconciliation Canada Ambassador and residential school survivor about how survivors can be supported, and how denialism should be dealt with. Then, are you struggling to think of a last-second Halloween costume? We have tips and trends for you with Steven Schelling, fashion stylist and writer.

We get reaction to the B.C. election results from Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwater, and hear from our audience on what they would like the new NDP government to do differently compared to its previous term. Then, Rick and Brian Antonson, two of the three co-authors of "Slumach's Gold: The Search for a Legend--and a Curse", join us to talk about the legendary Pitt Lake gold mine, and our audience shares their own spooky stories.

The provincial election could finally be decided today with the counting of absentee ballots. We bring you the latest with Chad Pawson, CBC News reporter, and Mario Conseco, President of Research Co. We also speak with B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee about the racist remarks made by B.C. Conservative candidate Marina Sapozhnikov, running in the Juan de Fuca-Malahat region.