BC Today

We're joined by B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon to discuss the province's new short-term housing laws that came into effect today. And, CBC News reporter Chad Pawson discusses how the laws are meant to work, and what the challenges to enforcement might be.

We begin this 4-part series with an interview with harm reduction and recovery advocate Guy Felicella. He tells host Michelle Eliot about his personal story of recovery. Then our panel discusses how barriers to care can be removed with Nicole Mucci, Union Gospel Mission's communications manager; Chapman Shaw, board member with Trinity House; and Bob Hughes, ASK Wellness' executive director.

Almost 40,000 people left B.C. for Alberta last year, according to Statistics Canada figures. BC Today and Alberta at Noon host a cross-border call-in to hear from our audience about what that means for people in both provinces. Our guests included Andy Yan, Director, City Program, Simon Fraser University; Paula Spurr, artist who is moving from Surrey to Calgary; Alicia Planincic, economist, manager of policy and economics with the Business Council of Alberta; Forrest Demman, President, Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce. Then, we have an update on the London Drugs cyberhacking closure with our guest Jamie Hari, Director of Cybersecurity and DNS, Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA).

The Ehattesaht First Nation says a killer whale calf that had been trapped in a remote Vancouver Island lagoon for more than a month is now free after it swam out on its own early Friday morning. CBC reporter Joel Ballard gives us an update. The mayor of Vancouver says he would like to organize watch parties for the Canucks' playoff run, but the city needs to proceed with caution given two previous post-season runs ended in riots. We ask viewers if they think the city can safely host these kinds of events. And, Frankie Smith, owner of Mountain Mutts & Cutts, a pet-grooming expert answers your questions on how to keep your animals looking healthy and stylish.

The Acting Mayor of Chetwynd, Julia Nelson gives us a live update as an evacuation order is downgraded to an alert in Chetwynd, B.C., due to a nearby wildfire. CBC reporter Yvette Brend takes us into the impact of forest fire smoke. And, new data suggests that people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by evictions. Karla Verschoor, Inclusion B.C.'s executive director is our guest, and our audience shares their experiences.

Pressure is mounting on the B.C. government to abandon its three-year drug decriminalization pilot. The CBC's Meera Bains explains the growing pushback and our audience share perspectives from their communities. Mariah Grumet, founder, Old Soul Etiquette, gives us modern etiquette advice, and our audience shares their own dos and don'ts.

-As the federal government's planned tax hike on capital gains attracts criticism, CBC financial columnist Mark Ting helps viewers navigate what the changes mean for them And, we took you live to a news conference by B.C.'s Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, where he announced November 29th as the official date Surrey transitions to its municipal police force. Surrey city councillor Linda Annis joined us to give us her take on the news.

After seven wildfires broke out in the Cariboo region in one day over the weekend, we get the latest details from Adam Nicholas, Prince George Fire Centre information officer; CBC science and climate specialist Darius Mahdavi; and Justin Perry, instructor of forest and natural areas management at British Columbia Institute of Technology. Our listeners asked the hard questions around B.C.'s wildfire response.

As the Vancouver Canucks prepare to play the Nashville Predators in the opening round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, we talk with CBC intern and Canucks Army writer Lachlan Irvine, and CBC journalist Jason Peters about the exciting times for B.C. hockey. Brian Minter answers your gardening questions and shares tips for adding colour to your planters as the weather gets warmer.

The long-promised sale of the troubled TMX pipeline project could prove difficult for Ottawa. We get a report from CBC business reporter Kyle Bakx, and hear from our audience on the project and its $34 billion price tag. Then we hear about a new 3-year study looking at the impact of homelessness in Castlegar, Trail and Nelson from project manager and researcher Jayme Jones, Selkirk Innovates, Selkirk College.

We hear reaction to the federal housing plan, and the government's budget pledge to "unlock" 3.9 million homes by 2031. We speak with Alexandra Flynn, associate professor, UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law. And, Tuesday's federal budget laid the groundwork for a national disability benefit, but the funding falls well short of what advocates were seeking. We hear from Michelle Hewitt, chair of Disability Without Poverty.

As the federal government prepares for this afternoon's budget, we discuss 'generational fairness' with Sanjay Jeram, senior lecturer in political science at Simon Fraser University. And, ahead of a UBC event on the topic, we speak to pediatrician Dr. Dzung Vo about how teens can develop resiliency and cope with the stressors of the modern world.

It's been 8 years since the province declared a public health emergency on the toxic drug supply, and more than 14,000 people have died in the province since it was declared in 2016. We hear from you about how the crisis has impacted you, your loved ones and community. Then, we hear from CBC reporter Chad Pawson from the site of the 10th annniversary TED Talks, and UBC psychology professor Elizabeth Dunn on her massively-viewed TED Talk "Helping others makes us happier--but it matters how we do it."

The Ehattesaht First Nation says the rescue of a trapped killer whale calf is underway near Zeballos. We get the latest updates on the operation from CBC reporter , and we hear from Donna Sandstrom, executive director, The Whale Trail; and "Orca Rescue!" author, and Eric Pelkey, heriditary chief of the Tsawout of the WSANEC Nation; and Community Engagement Coordinator with their Leadership Council. We hear how pet adoptions — including so-called foster fails — are a part of life for many families in B.C., with Pamela Saddler, founder of Broken Promises Rescue and Adrienne McBride, Senior Director, Community Animal Centres, BC SPCA.

B.C. United is alleging open drug use and dealing at a Vancouver hospital. But a physician at St. Paul's says that's a "false narrative." Adriane Gear, B.C. Nurses Union president shares her perspective. As the number of single people grows in Canada, Our guests Yuthike Girme, SFU, Associate Professor of Psychology and CBC News TikTok Producer, Ashley Fraser discuss what it's like being single in B.C. with our callers weighing in on the pros and cons.

As Surrey rejects $250 million from the province to aid the city's police transition, we ask viewers for their advice for Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and get analysis from Hamish Telford, Associate Professor, Political Science, University of the Fraser Valley. The celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, draws Vancouver's Muslim community to B.C. Place Stadium. And our guests Bryce Taylor, recovering gambling addict, and Adrienne Cossom, Registered Clinical Social Worker with Gambling Support BC, and host of the Fold Em podcast talk about the growth of online gambling — and discuss when a hobby turns into an addiction--and what to do about it.

Stricter rules on homeless encampments were passed by the Vancouver Park Board on Monday, despite concerns from advocates. We hear from Vancouver park board commissioner Angela Haer, and hear from callers on how encampments are being handled in their parts of the province. Then 51 prominent Canadians have written an open letter asking political leaders to "address urgently the rise of incivility." Our guests Aftab Erfan, executive director, Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, and Jennie Barron, executive director at the Mir Centre for Peace discuss ways to improve civil discourse.

We watch the total solar eclipse unfold live as it tracks across parts of Canada on this special edition of BC Today. Our guests are Aaron and Julian Falkin, father-son duo watching the eclipse in Cleveland, OH, and Joanna Woo, Lecturer, SFU Dept of Physics.

68,000 people left B.C. for other provinces last year, with most of them moving to Alberta. Our viewers share why they think that's happening. And, our gardening columnist Brian Minter answers your gardening questions

Calls are growing louder for the mayor of Quesnel to step down after his wife handed out copies of this controversial book. CBC reporter Betsy Trumpener brings us the latest, and our guest Sean Carleton, Assistant Professor, History and Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, gives us insight into the diffreence between critical dialogue and denialism. Then, we talk about a contest to decide B.C.'s best bird with wildlife conservationist and filmmaker Connel Bradwell and hear our callers' favourites.