Democracy Watch

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch features an original audio documentary on Camp Cloud—the observation and resistance camp outside Kinder Morgan’s Tank Farm Facility on Burnaby Mountain. Reporters Alex de Boer and Zoe Power speak with Indigenous and settler activists at the camp and the nearby Coast Salish Watch House. The documentary observes the ongoing #ProtecttheInlet movement—an Indigenous lead coalition of environmental groups and activists intent on preventing Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.

Democracy Watch then turns to an interview done by CiTR's Accessibility Collective. Collective members Dezy Nair and Deepi Leihl speak with founder and former CEO of Accomable, an online marketplace for people with disabilities and senior citizens. Accomable assists those with mobility issues in finding accessible accommodations when traveling and recently entered into a partnership with Airbnb.

The show ends with an impromptu conversation with News Collective comrade Rehmatullah Sheikh about his ongoing reporting on a Heiltsuk language revitalization course.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch starts the show with a report on the Tibetan Uprising Day rally and vigil that took place in Vancouver this past Saturday. This annual event has been happening in Vancouver for decades. Democracy Watch interviews organizer Mati Bernabei of the Canada Tibet Committee and Tenzin Youdon of Students for a Free Tibet, as well as the Boston-based activist Lhadon Tethong, one of the most prominent voices in the global struggle for Tibet.

We then turn to an interview with Lama Mugabo, an organizer with the Carnegie Community Action Project, a group that champions the rights of Downtown Eastside low income residents. He discusses the group’s recently released 2017 Hotel Survey and Housing Report and what it means to defend the epicentre of Vancouver’s housing crisis.

The show ends with a report from outside the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Democracy Watch reporter Areeka Riaz interviews local activist David Mivasair, who has been using direct action tactics to cause delays in Kinder Morgan pipeline construction. Mivasair and 14 fellow activists are now being sued by the Texas oil giant for allegedly causing over $1 billion in losses.

This episode of Democracy Watch, broadcast on International Women's Day, begins with headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland! We then turn to a report on local feminist literary festival; Growing Room Festival, where the News Collective interviewed festival attendees and nationally acclaimed writers Selina Boan and Chelene Knight. Second up, is a short report on a Vancouver vigil that took place in response to the heightened humanitarian crisis in Eastern Ghouta, Syria. For the second half of the hour, Democracy Watch hones in on housing. First we have an exclusive interview with provincial Housing Minister Selina Robinson, who discusses the 2018 Budget and how it will affect renters caught in Vancouver's housing crisis. After that Vancouver Tenant's Union steering committee member Sydney Ball responds to the Minister's words from a renter advocacy perspective.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy watch played a soundscape featuring on-location music and speeches from the previous weekend's Justice for Tina Fontaine rally held in downtown Vancouver. After that, Democracy Watch airs an interview with local Discourse Media journalist, Wawmeesh Hamilton. Wawmeesh discusses his new series on urban and rural reconciliation across Canada. The show ends with a story on the development battle over Chinatown's 105 Keefer Street. Democracy Watch reports on a mock community hearing that took place outside of Ryan Beedie's downtown office on Monday morning, lead by Chinatown Action Group.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch unpacks the NDP's recently announced 2018 budget with senior economist from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Iglika Ivanova.

After that, we hear a story from last Friday's Wild Salmon Fundraiser & Educational evening at the Vancouver Unitarian Church. The evening featured world-renowned scientist, David Suzuki, as well as several Indigenous activists, including hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred from the 'Namgis, Tlowitsis and Mamalilikulla First Nations who spoke of the environmental hazard and infringement on First Nations' rights resulting from salmon farming off the coast of B.C.

We end the show with a piece on Tuesday’s national Day of Action on Drug Decriminalization held in Downtown Vancouver. This year’s action focused on the criminal justice system and its impact on drug users, including the practice of red-zoning. Democracy Watch spoke with event organizer Jordan Westfall; president of the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs, PIVOT lawyer Caitlin Shane, members of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) and rally-goers marching in honour of loved ones lost to this epidemic.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch hosts local city politics reporter and UBC Journalism School professor, Frances Bula, who deconstructs the recently passed North East False Creek Plan. Democracy Watch then hears from Coast Salish activist and educator Ronnie Dean Haris and Indigenous justice expert Dr. David Milward. Both discuss the future for reconciliation after last weekend's Canada-Wide rallies demanding justice for Colten Boushie. The show ends with original reporting from Wednesday's Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in downtown Vancouver.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch discusses the recent B.C. Supreme Court Ruling that solitary confinement is unconstitutional. The News Collective reports from a Tuesday evening panel hosted by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, where they spoke with several panelists including members of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Prisoners’ Legal Services. Democracy Watch then turns to a live in-studio interview with Senior Economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Iglika Ivanova. Iglika discusses the potential affects of B.C.'s pledge to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15.20 by June of 2021.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch explores the Mayor's Monday announcement on the City's Empty House Tax. Democracy Watch then turns to a story on local vigils held in honour of the mass murder of Muslim worshippers in Quebec, one year ago. After that, the program returns its focus to City Hall, with a report on the North East False Creek Plan, put before Council on Wednesday. This plan involves the development of the NE False Creek and Strathcona area and the reimagining of Hogan's Alley — the former residential and cultural hub of Vancouver’s Black community.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch turns to original reporting from a protest that took place outside the Tim Hortons on Commercial and 1st last Friday evening. B.C.’s Fight for 15 campaign organized two B.C. events as part of the Canada-Wide Day of Action in support of Tim Hortons workers. Democracy Watch interviewed activists and organizers outside Tim Hortons, as well as UBC Sauder business professor, Mark Thompson. After that, Democracy Watch breaks down the not-so “public hearings” taking place this week in front of the National Energy Board in Burnaby.

After headlines from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, Democracy Watch investigates confusion surrounding the two groups who both appear to be the official organizer of Vancouver's 2018 Women’s March. The show then turns to original reporting from a public hearing held at City Hall on Tuesday night. The City's plan to develop a community garden into mix-use housing, contrasts directly with Mayor Gregor Robertson's 2016 promise to build 100% social housing at the 58 West Hastings site. Democracy Watch covers the hearing and interviews anti-poverty activist Jean Swanson, members of the Chinatown Action Group, folks from the Carnegie Community Action Project and more.