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BC Today

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

BC Today is where British Columbians connect on issues facing their lives and their community. Every week day at noon PT and 1pm MT, BC Today host Michelle Eliot delves into the top story for the province.

Location:

Vancouver, BC

Description:

BC Today is where British Columbians connect on issues facing their lives and their community. Every week day at noon PT and 1pm MT, BC Today host Michelle Eliot delves into the top story for the province.

Twitter:

@bcalmanac

Language:

English

Contact:

B.C. Almanac, Box 4600 Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 4A2 (604) 669-3733


Episodes
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Toxic-drug traffickers and the justice system | Super Bowl halftime performances

2/7/2025
Families of victims lost to toxic drugs say traffickers should face murder charges, while Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising mandatory life sentences for fentanyl 'kingpins.' Former B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Kash Heed and University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Wade Deisman join the show to discuss whether or not this could be effective in curbing Canada's toxic drug crisis. Super Bowl LIX will take place on Sunday, Feb. 9 with rapper Kendrick Lamar set to perform at its halftime show. CBC's Vibin' host Rohit Joseph joins the show to discuss the best and worst halftime performances at the sports event.

Duration:00:51:05

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Revitalizing B.C. nightlife | Staffing issues in B.C.'s child welfare system

2/6/2025
The City of Vancouver has new plans to revitalize the Granville Entertainment District between Robson and Drake streets, addressing safety, public transportation and support for businesses. Jeff Guignard, the executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees in B.C., discusses the proposals as we ask viewers what they think is needed for a thriving nightlife district in their region. A new report released by the Representative for Children and Youth raises more red flags about an overworked and understaffed workforce in B.C.'s child welfare system. Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth, discusses the findings. Jodie Wickens, B.C.'s Minister of Children and Family Development, also joins the show to respond to the report.

Duration:00:49:59

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Canada to appoint a 'fentanyl czar' | Fast-tracked B.C. resource project concerns

2/5/2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will appoint a fentanyl czar in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's concerns around the flow of illegal drugs. Ottawa is still determining what the job would look like, but Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says the czar would be involved in coordination efforts. Vancouver Sun crime reporter Kim Bolan joins the show to provide an overview of the production and flow of illegal drugs in B.C. and we take audience members' calls to weigh in on what tasks the new 'czar' should prioritize. B.C. will fast-track 18 resource projects to reduce trade reliance on the U.S., which includes hydro, wind, LNG and mining. Some climate activists are concerned the environment is taking a back seat. Environment reporter Emily Atkin joins the show to discuss. We take audience phone calls to weigh in.

Duration:00:52:09

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Feb. 4: Winter road conditions | Buying Canadian products

2/4/2025
Dan Burritt is our host today. On Tuesday's show: Environment Canada says Metro Vancouver will be hit with two to four centimetres of snow, and has issued cold weather warnings for parts of B.C. The snow and cold led to multiple school cancellations and rough commutes Tuesday morning. CBC's Jessica Cheung reports on how Metro Vancouverites are navigating the weather. Multiple crashes on Highway 1 near the Port Mann Bridge prompted B.C. Highway Patrol to ask drivers to avoid the highway, or stay home altogether. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin provides an update on road conditions. Canada has secured a 30-day pause on tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite the reprieve, leaders in Canada are looking to decrease reliance on the American economy, with many consumers continuing their pledge to buy local. Heather O'Hara, executive director of the B.C. Association of Farmers Markets, joins the show to discuss local products.

Duration:00:51:13

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Trudeau and Trump to continue tariff talks | How tariffs affect supply chains

2/3/2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump talk for a second time to address U.S. tariffs and Canada's countermeasures. We ask viewers how this affects their personal and business relationships with neighbours south of the border. B.C. Lumber Trade council president Kurt Niquidet joins the show to talk about the tariff impacts on the local lumber industry. The auto sector, food production, energy and forestry are just a few industries that will get slammed when tariffs come into effect. Global supply chain expert Adel Guitouni answers questions about how the U.S. tariffs will affect operations.

Duration:00:50:56

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U.S. tariffs to go forward | Tracking Canada's produce | Brian Minter

1/31/2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shot down reports of delaying Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods until March 1 and confirmed it will go forward February 1. B.C. Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore joins the show as we ask viewers how they're bracing for incoming tariffs. For those planning to buy more Canadian products as tariffs loom, we hear about a new tool developed by researchers at UBC that traces the source of produce. Gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to answer your gardening questions.

Duration:00:51:05

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Could congestion pricing work for Metro Vancouver? | Victoria School Board fired by the Education Minister

1/30/2025
B.C. Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare appoints an official trustee to School District 61 (Great Victoria) and fires the current school board following a dispute with a safety plan that barred police from schools. CBC's Kathryn Marlow breaks down the developments. As Translink faces a $600 million operating deficit, many experts are looking to New York's congestion pricing model, which experts say shows promising results. Former Vancouver city councillor and Translink board member Gordon Price discusses the pros and cons of the model and how it could work in Metro Vancouver. The Surrey Board of Trade's latest road survey calls for more investment in sustainable transit and transportation investments. Spokesperson Jasroop Gosal weighs in on congestion pricing as a possible solution.

Duration:00:50:54

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Supporting B.C. businesses against potential U.S. tariffs | Lunar New Year food

1/29/2025
B.C. Premier David Eby is backing a COVID-19 pandemic-style relief against U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. He cautions the impact of U.S. tariffs could hit harder than the 2008 recession and says the planning will be made through the lens of a "potentially protracted trade war." Tom Davidoff, UBC business professor, joins the show as we ask viewers what supports are needed for B.C. businesses. Celebrations have kicked off to usher in the Year of the Snake. Food is a crucial part of the festivities. Potluck Hawker Eatery co-owner Justin Cheung shows off some of his favourite Lunar New Year dishes.

Duration:00:52:08

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Disinformation and foreign interference | DeepSeek AI | Road to the Junos

1/28/2025
The commissioner of the public inquiry into foreign interference issued her final report looking into how foreign actors have tried to interfere in the electoral process of the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. She remarked that disinformation and misinformation pose a major risk to Canadian democracy. Ronaldo Au-Yeung, a political scientist from Notre Dame University, discusses the impact of disinformation in democratic institutions as we ask viewers how they stay informed as they head to the ballot box this year. We take audience calls for their reaction. Many users are flocking to join Chinese tech startup DeepSeek's new artificial intelligence chatbot. Tech analyst Carmi Levy unpacks what it is and what it means for the competition between U.S. and Chinese tech companies. The 2025 Juno Awards will take place in Vancouver on March 30. In the leadup, CBC is presenting Road to the Junos, a concert series that celebrates local talent. Juno Award-winning musician Tom Landa previews the event. We ask audience members to phone in to let us know their favourite B.C. musicians for a chance to win a pair of tickets to "Road to the Junos"!

Duration:00:52:00

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Suggested ban on U.S. alcohol | Bennett Bridge incident | Renting versus owning

1/27/2025
B.C. Premier David Eby suggests a ban on importing alcohol from the U.S. would send a message, but the proposal has spurred mixed reaction from leaders in B.C.'s food and alcohol sector. Tony Holler, the owner of Poplar Grove Winery, joins the show to discuss what this means for the local liquor sector. We ask viewers whether or not they are going to avoid buying U.S. liquor products. The William R. Bennett Bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna was closed due to a police incident. RCMP say they responded to a person in crisis. CBC's Brady Strachan breaks down what is known so far. With the maintenance costs that come with home ownership, would renting be a better financial option for British Columbians? Jessica Moorhouse, host of the More Money podcast, joins the show to discuss the pros and cons of renting a home versus buying.

Duration:00:51:05

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Can Ken Sim's new plan revitalize the Downtown Eastside? | Challenges of making friends in Vancouver

1/24/2025
Hastings Crossing BIA executive director Landon Hoyt joins the show to provide a local-business perspective on Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's plan to suspend new supportive housing projects in the Downtown Eastside. Sim said the plan, part of his vision to revitalize the neighbourhood, would "encourage a mix of housing, businesses and services." Is making friends really that hard in Vancouver and other parts of B.C.? We Should Be Friends founder Katrina Martin joins the show to discuss how to build long-lasting friendships in the city.

Duration:00:51:06

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1st deadline for Liberal leadership race looms | Oscar nominations

1/23/2025
A handful of candidates for the Liberal leadership say they've submitted their nomination packages, which they have until 2 p.m. PST to complete. Candidates Karina Gould, Chrystia Freeland, Mark Carney, Jaime Battiste, Chandra Arya and Frank Baylis all said they've sent in their nomination packages. Surrey Centre Liberal MP Randeep Sarai joins the show to tell us why he is pledging his support for Mark Carney. So far, none of the frontrunners are from B.C. Daniel Reeve, a political scientist at Camosun College, discusses how the candidates could appeal to the province's interests. Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and The Brutalist received the most number of nominations for the 2025 Academy Awards. Rio Theatre senior programmer Rachel Fox joins the show to talk about her standouts this year, as we ask the audience what films they are rooting for.

Duration:00:51:07

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Impact of a U.S. travel boycott | Grand Chief Stewart Phillip floats reviving a dead pipeline project

1/22/2025
In response to ongoing tariff threats by the Trump administration, B.C. Premier David Eby says residents may want to reconsider U.S. travel. We hear from CEO Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce Guy Occhiogrosso on what impact this may have in Northwest Washington. B.C.'s pipeline projects are back in the spotlight again, including the long-dead Northern Gateway project, after interest in reviving the project from Alberta premier Danielle Smith and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. We examine the economic and environmental repercussions with Sierra Club Campaign Director Shelley Luce and former MP Nathan Cullen.

Duration:00:51:05

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Will a short-term rental registry be effective? | Eby responds to Trump tariff threat

1/21/2025
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon has announced a new provincial registry for short-term rentals. We hear from Realtor Hasan Juma on how effective this tactic will be. Premier David Eby addresses the U.S. tariff threats in a live news conference, and Sprott School of Business professor Ian Lee analyzes the provincial and federal approach.

Duration:00:51:37

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BC Today: What will be the impact of a second Trump presidency?

1/20/2025
Donald Trump officially becomes the 47th president of the United States today. We explore the impact his presidency could have on B.C. with guests Cory Redekop, Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce; CBC reporter Jon Hernandez in Washington state; and UBC political science professor Max Cameron.

Duration:00:51:15

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Carney, Freeland enter the Liberal leader race | U.S. TikTok ban | Brian Minter

1/17/2025
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney launches his bid to become the next leader of the Liberal Party, while former finance minister Chrystia Freeland announced on social media that she is "running to fight for Canada." Liberal party member and Kwantlen Polytechnic University political science student Suhana Gill joins the show as we ask viewers what they think of Carney or Freeland as Liberal leader. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against TikTok on Friday in its challenge to a federal law requiring the popular short-video app be sold by its Chinese parent company or be banned in the United States on Sunday. Tech and digital lifestyles expert Andy Baryer breaks down the issue. BC Today gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to answer your gardening questions.

Duration:00:51:04

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The role of B.C. mining in Canada-U.S. tariffs | Misinformation on social media

1/16/2025
The B.C. government says Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariffs would cost the province's $69 billion over the next three years and 124,000 future jobs. The president and CEO of the B.C. Mining Association joins the show to discuss the industry's role in the proposed export bans. Acclaimed director David Lynch has died at 78, according to a Facebook post by his family. Omari Newton, the head of acting at the Vancouver Film School joins the show to discuss his legacy. Facebook is ending its fact-checking program in the U.S. and replacing it with a system similar to X's Community Notes, Meta said on Tuesday. We ask viewers about how their experiences on social media have changed and how they handle misinformation.

Duration:00:52:04

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BC Today, Jan 15: Israel, Hamas reach ceasefire deal | Premiers meet on Trump's tariff threats

1/15/2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and premiers meet to discuss looming tariffs that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has said he will impose on Canadian goods on his first day in office. UBC Sauder School of Business professor James Brander and CBC reporter Meera Bains join the show to discuss the steps ahead. And after more than 15 months into a deadly campaign that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages. We recap the events that led to the ceasefire deal.

Duration:00:51:19

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Provincial approaches to Trump's tariff threats | Newcomer experiences in Canada

1/14/2025
The looming threat of tariffs has Canada's premiers rolling up their sleeves. British Columbia Premier David Eby is calling for export bans on B.C. minerals as retaliation, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith went alone to meet with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Kwantlen Polytechnic University instructor Jeff Meyers joins the show as we ask viewers about the best approaches to Trump's tariff threats. Next, CBC's new series Welcome to Canada surveyed more than 1,500 newcomers about their experience living in the country. It found that 82 per cent of respondents believe that Canada accepted too many immigrants with no planning for adequate housing and infrastructure. Neelam Sahota, CEO of DIVERSEcity, discusses the resources available as we ask new immigrants to tell us about their experiences.

Duration:00:52:41

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Liberal leadership race narrows | Climate disaster policy and preparedness

1/13/2025
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark, who is considering a run for federal Liberal leader, has walked back her claim that she'd never been a member of the Conservative party. The field of contenders for the Liberal leadership has narrowed with ministers Mélanie Joly, Anita Anand, and Dominic LeBlanc announcing they will not run. Research Co. pollster Mario Canseco joins the show as we ask viewers what they think the election is about, and we take audience calls to weigh in on the top contenders for the Liberal race. Next, raging wildfires in the Los Angeles area have local governments examining their climate disaster policies. George Monbiot, a climate activist and columnist with 'The Guardian', joins the show to discuss how governments should plan and respond to climate change. We take callers' questions for Mr. Monbiot, as well as comments on what needs to happen to mitigate climate-fueled disasters.

Duration:00:52:30