BC Today

It's Budget Day in B.C. where the province lays out its financial priorities for the next year. The province is expecting an $11.2 B budget deficit for 2026. Central 1 Credit Union chief economist Bryan Yu joins the show to talk about what impact the deficit will have on the economy and on the government's spending plan. And child care advocates are hoping there are steps towards the long-promised $10-a-day daycare program. Former NDP cabinet minister Katrina Chen joins the show to talk about the importance of the affordable daycare program. We also take calls from audience members to weigh in.

Do you like chocolates as a gift? Vancouver chocolatiers Emma Smith of Zimt Chocolates, and Stefan Klopp of Kasama Chocolate join the show to talk all about chocolate -- how it's made and how to choose which chocolate options you'd like to give or recive this Valentine's Day.

Parents in Tumbler Ridge are asking for more provincial funding for mental health support after a shooter killed eight people and injured dozens more on Tuesday. Michelle Eliot speaks with the Canadian Mental Health Association's Jonny Morris. And we ask our audience: what mental health supports are needed in B.C. to fill the gap?

We hear from CBC National reporter Bryan Labby, who is in Tumbler Ridge, as B.C. marks an official day of mourning for the shooting victims. Also, the co-chief executive officers of Lake View Credit Union in Tumbler Ridge, Marlana Blouin and Justin Lajeunesse, join the program, and speak about how they are supporting the community in this time of need.

We discuss love and money, and ask listeners how much of a role finances play in dating. Joining the program is Vancouver-based dating coach and author of 'UNSINGLE' Amy Chan, plus certified financial planner Steve Bridge.

Nine people were killed and 27 more were injured in a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on Tuesday. We begin the program with an RCMP news conference in Surrey with the latest details. We continue our coverage with the CBC's Nicole Oud, who is on the ground in Tumbler Ridge, to hear how the community is doing the day after the tragedy. Guiding us through the program is death educator Christa Ovenell, and B.C. Teachers' Federation president Carole Gordon joins us to talk about the supports available for teachers and students after a tragedy like this. We also take audience calls who share their messages for those struggling in the aftermath of tragedy.

We explore generational differences in AI use, trust and skill level. According to Leger market research, nearly half of Canadians have used AI in some capacity, and polling from Angus Reid shows that Canadians aged 18-34 lead the way in AI use. Technology journalist and AI proponent Alexandra Samuel joins the show to take questions on the generational divide of AI use and how it fits into day to day life.

Abbotsford police say businesses and homes in the community are being targeted with extortion and are calling for more action from the provincial and federal governments to make reforms to the justice system. The CBC's Kier Junos joins the show from a police news conference in Abbotsford. And University of Fraser Valley criminologist Wade Deisman joins the show to take questions and comments on how concerned people in Abbotsford are about the extortion situation and what they'd like to see politicians and police do about it.

It was a mixed bag for the Canadian employment landscape in January, with Statistics Canada reporting the economy lost 25,000 jobs, but that the unemployment rate cooled to 6.5 per cent. We hear how recent university graduates are faring in finding a job in their field.

BC Today's gardening columnist Brian Minter is back to take gardening questions.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics have launched today with the opening ceremony of athletes representing countries from all over the world. BC Today's Zameer Karim joins the show as we take your calls on favourite winter olympic memories and which athletes to look out for this year.

The federal government is scrapping electric vehicle mandates, but it's renewing consumer rebates for electric vehicles. EV buyers can qualify for an up to $5,000 rebate on battery electric and up to $2,500 on plug-in hybrid cars. Bob Porter from the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association and Joanna Kyriazis from Clean Energy Canada join the show to take questions on whether these new incentives will get more people buying EVs and if this will have an impact on climate change.

Camping is often thought of as a summer-time activity. But what about camping all year round? There are more than 150 campgrounds and RV parks open 365 days a year in British Columbia. Outdoor blogger and author Taryn Eyton joins the show to take questions and comments on year-round camping and how people can prepare to camp in all weather conditions.

Olympic competition starts today in Italy. We'll talk about youth sports and the barriers that may prevent kids and families from participating. Sports journalist Scott Rintoul and UBC Okanagan education professor Stephen Berg join the show to take questions on possible barriers to physical activity.

The province has appointed a new extortion liaison to help build trust with community members in cities hit by the crime. We talk to Surrey resident and anti-extortion rally organizer Rasinder Kaur about what that the community wants to see.

February is Black History Month, honouring the contributions of the Black community in Canada and the United States. The BC Black History Awareness Society is celebrating with a series of events. Silvia Mangue-Alene joins the show to share what black history means to her.

Three junior players on the Southern Alberta Mustangs team died after a crash in Alberta yesterday. 2 of the players were from Kamloops. The CBC's Shelley Joyce joins the show to share the heartbreak of the Kamloops hockey community.

Premier David Eby met with business leaders in Surrey today to address the ongoing extortion crisis.The Surrey Police Service says so far in 2026, there have been 46 cases of extortion, — of them, 11 shootings, one arson and 29 victims. Eby compared the extortion crisis to a "slow motion terror attack". B.C. Conservative critic for the Attorney General Steve Kooner joins the show to take questions about what impact the extortion crisis on the community.

A new independent report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council has been released saying that B.C's current forest management system is failing to meet the needs of communities, First Nations, businesses, and the environment. UBC Forestry professor Peter Wood reacts to the report and we ask how B.C's forestry industry should be rethought.

We look at how you're thinking about your finances in 2026 as we near the RRSP deadline and ongoing uncertainty with the U.S trade war. CBC Money columnist and certified financial planner Rubina Ahmed-Haq takes your questions and comments about how the uncertainty is affecting your financial planning.