Democracy Watch

We kick-off the show with an interview with Charlie Smith, editor and civic affairs reporter for the Georgia Straight. Sitting Councillor Rebecca Bligh recently resigned from the Non-Partisan Association (NPA). This came after several social conservatives were elected to the NPA's board of directors. In this interview, Charlie Smith unpacks what this rightward shift means for Vancouver and the NPA caucus. He also makes the case for electoral reform in Vancouver.

We then speak with Alex Hemingway from the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. He discusses the recent 8.3% property city tax hike proposed by staff that has city councillors scrambling for savings. He argues in favour of progressive property taxes to invest in public housing.

CiTR News talks about local art controversies including the Spinning Chandelier.

We start by continuing our conversation on developments on Hong Kong protests in Vancouver with News Collective comrade Serena Zhang. We then dig into the UBC's decision to partially divest with UBCC350 member Kate Hodgson. After that we hear from Translink spokesperson Ben Murphy on the implications on the new deal between Unifor and the Coast Mountain Bus Company. We also hear from students on their reaction to the cancellation of the transit system shut down due to this deal. Finally, News Collective Comrade Akshay Kulkarni wraps up the show with a teaser on his piece in the Thunderbird 'Body Disposal Not a Burning Issue for BC'.

Democracy Watch starts with local headlines, then moves into a live interview with Hong Kong exchange student, Davin Wong. Wong is the current spokesman for Enlightenment of Hong Kong (EHK) at UBC and the former president of Hong Kong University Students' Union. After that, the collective digs into the intensifying transit strike. We hear from campus commuters, as well as Gavin McGarrigle—the Western Regional Director of Unifor. Yesterday McGarrigle declared a full system shut down will take place next week. The show ends with another spotlight on Langley's Critter Care Wildlife Society.

On today's show, we hear local headlines followed by an interview with Bill Teileman, a spokesman for tor the VSB cafeteria workers union. Teileman explains why he believes proposes cuts to public school hot lunch and culinary programs will have negative impacts on both students and workers. After that we take a tour of Critter Care; a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Langley. The show ends with a podcast episode titled "The Intimacy of Voicemail," made by News Collective member Violet Myles.

On today's Halloween show we learn about a mysterious ghost that has haunted the Old Spaghetti Factory. After that we hear another spooky tale involving monks, the old Mathers' house and a crow named Brad. The show also digs into the impacts of a recent motion to ban fireworks, as well as new developments at Mountain View Cemetery.

Today's show features an interview with Dr. Marina Adshade — the professor who reignited a debate over whether fraternities should continue to exist on campus. After that we speak with Vancouver MP hopefuls about how they plan to tackle Vancouver's housing crisis. The show ends with an exploration into why candidate election signs are sometimes written in multiple languages.

Today's show begins with local headlines and profiles of two Vancouver federal ridings. After that, the News Collective looks into recent allegations that UBC students were drugged at a UBC fraternity social event. The show ends with a re-airing of "Charlie & Lina" — an experimental audio story about Vancouver's Bloedel Conservatory — and a discussion on Monday's English-language leaders debate.

On today's show we go over local headlines and talk about early voting at UBC. After that, the News Collective revisits last Friday's Climate Strike to hear from the individuals who made up the 100,000 person crowd demanding climate action. Then we turn to Strathcona, with a report from Monday's demonstration to quiet Prior Street. We hear reaction to council's newly passed plans to build an underpass at Prior and Venables from local business owner Ryan Parfitt and Strathcona Residents Association spokesperson, Penny Crawford.

On today's show we cover the Unite Here 40 hotel workers strikes happening in downtown Vancouver. After that we turn to the week-long 2019 Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention. CiTR News talks with trade show vendors and Vancouver city councillors at the UBCM, as well as demonstrators outside the convention who are there to support B.C.'s ailing forestry sector.