Democracy Watch

Democracy Watch starts out with The Vancouver Sun's Lori Culbert, who breaks down her reporting on our provincial government's sale of "surplus" land since 2013. We then hear some reactions from folk on UBC's campus about the second re-approval of the TMX pipeline. Lastly, the News Collective learns about Germany's recent decision to freeze rent in Berlin and how Berlin's renter rights compare with Vancouver's.

In this episode of Democracy Watch we start out with a deep dive into a case of racial profiling and harassment that took place at UBC on June 2nd. After that, we hear from School Board Trustees Jennifer Reddy and Lois Chan-Pedley who have differing perspectives on a motion to remove Cecil Rhodes' name from a local school. The second half of the show explores the stakes of Saturday's byelection in Electoral Area A with outgoing Director, Mike Feeley. We end the show with a breakdown of Vancouver's newly passed renter protections, featuring Star Vancouver City Hall reporter, Jen St. Denis.

In this episode of Democracy watch, the News Collective delves into the controversies surrounding the MMIWG Report, as well as an incident of racial profiling of a black student presenter at the Humanities and Social Sciences conference held at UBC on June 2nd. Also, reporter Arman Raina brings us an exclusive scoop from UBC Farm’s Iftaar community event, while Hannah Toms talks to Vancouverites about colonial street names.

On today’s show, you can catch Alex de Boer unravel the tragically beautifully love story of a parrot named Charlie and his caretaker Lina, before reporters Ande Laidman, Sam Jones and Joshua Azizi break down the impact of marijuana legalization on the decriminalization of opioids. Finally, we end today's episode of Democracy Watch with reporter Annie Reuter’s interview with long-time CRAB Park advocate, Don Larson. He discusses the Vancouver Park Board’s decision to expand and improve CRAB Park at Main St. and Waterfront.

In this episode of Democracy Watch, urban planners George Benson and Larry Beasley discuss Vancouver's economy, environment and planning culture. George speaks with reporters Max Neumann and Arman Raina about the potential economic benefits of Vancouver's new Climate Emergency Response, while Larry speaks with reporter Christina Song about his much anticipated new book, "Vancouverism."

CiTR's News Collective talks local news headlines and covers a youth-led climate strike held Friday, May 3rd. The collective also brings listeners an original report from Vancouver's Sun Yat-Sen Garden, where three adult koi returned home after surviving a koi-massacre, perpetrated by an elusive river otter back in November 2018.

Today’s show is a close analysis of City Hall on Monday, April 29th. We talk about a delay on the City's single use item ban, council's vote to approve a climate emergency response plan, as well as close vote in favour of shifting 2% of the total share of paid property taxes, from business to residential property owners over a three year span.

This episode focuses on climate change in Vancouver. We look at two reports presented to City Council this week. The first is the “resilience report” which makes recommendations on how to adapt to climate change and extreme weather. The other report focuses on how to mitigate Vancouver's carbon emissions in the coming decades. The News Collective also speaks with reporter Braela Kwan, who recently reported on a climate change protest in Vancouver for The Thunderbird. The show ends on the topic of housing and features an interview with B.C.'s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson.

April 14th was the three year anniversary of B.C.’s public health emergency. Since that date, more than 3,600 people have lost their lives to overdose in B.C., with more that 1,000 deaths happening here in Vancouver.

CiTR's News Collective reports from a march and demonstration in the DTES on the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis. The collective also interviews drug advocate and Crackdown podcast producer/host, Garth Mullins.

Democracy Watch reports from a town hall in Kitsilano were residents voice their opinions for and against a MIRHPP rental project located at 1805 Larch Street. After that, reporter Ben Mussett discusses how much welfare rate housing has been built in Vancouver since 2010. The show ends in an interview with Harsha Walia; activist and co-author of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre report, Red Women Rising.