Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and Wild First.

Mike and Geoff welcome UBC economist Kevin Milligan to Hotel Pacifico to discuss the recent B.C. Budget. Milligan discussed BC’s debt trajectory, credit ratings and how B.C. stacks up against other provinces, among other insights.

There is also a special appearance from Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld who provides an important update on Tumbler Ridge.

In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff debate the politics of the Budget and the state of the Conservative leadership race. 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and Elk Valley Resources.

Mike and Geoff record hours after the release of the BC Budget and look what’s inside.  The BC government released its budget that forecasts record-breaking deficits and an increase in public debt to over $230 billion in the next few years. With the benefit of attending the lock-up, Mike spares no statistic in describing his fear of drowning… in red ink.  Geoff, a seafaring type, is much calmer in the turbulent seas and doesn’t feel the need for a life preserver.  Listen in, as they are both ‘indebted’ to their listeners. 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

With Geoff away, it’s two Michaels hosting, what could go wrong? - Our regular Mike, and Michael Gardiner, a veteran of backroom NDP politics. They welcome Greater Vancouver Board of Trade CEO Bridgitte Anderson back to Hotel Pacifico. Anderson discusses the Board’s call for 3% GDP growth and how BC’s economy is not yet measuring up.  Major projects will help, but it will take a lot more to prime the economic pump, such as a new Defence Bank that the Premier and the Board of Trade are backing.  They discuss the upcoming budget and how investors are getting the shivers due to recent Court decisions and the opportunity and impact of Vancouver hosting FIFA. 

In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Michael look ahead to upcoming Legislative session, the Greens going from yellow to red on their confidence agreement with the NDP, duelling Geoffs on DRIPA (but not our Geoff), and the latest on the BC Conservative leadership race.  The horses won’t all fit on one racetrack. 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

The 12th Premier of the Yukon, Honourable Currie Dixon, joins Mike & Geoff for a special edition of ‘Hotel Arctico'.  Dixon’s Yukon Party won a decisive majority in the 2025 territorial election.  He discusses his attendance at the recent First Ministers’ meeting, major mining proposals in the Yukon, a grid connection to British Columbia, and arctic sovereignty. 

In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff discuss treason (!), austerity (!), ICE (!), and Conservative purity tests (!).  Mike even discusses John A. (!) All that and more.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

This week, it’s Hotel Davos. In the wake of Prime Minister Carney’s address, Mike and Geoff invite former premier Glen Clark and former federal Industry minister James Moore to discuss its meaning and where to from here, including analysis of Pierre Poilievre’s response.

In the Strategy Suite, Aileen Machell, former deputy chief of staff to Premier Eby, joins Mike and Geoff to discuss natural resource development, a new op ed on Indigenous issues from a former A-G, and Darrell deals himself into BC Conservative leadership race. 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

Mike and Geoff welcome longtime BC public servant Doug Caul.  He walks into Hotel Pacifico with three decades of experience in the BC Public Service including leadership roles in Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation, Environmental Assessment, various economic ministries, along with serving as Deputy Minister in the Premier’s office until his recent retirement.  With a lot of debate taking place in BC on Indigenous rights, Doug helps break down Section 35 constitutional rights, First Nations treaties, DRIPA, and the tools in the toolbox for agreements between First Nations, industry, and government. 

In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike comment on a change in staffing at the top of the Premier’s Office, Decrim in the Dustbin, the state of the Conservative race - who’s in, who’s out, and, before the lights turn out, Resource Impresario Sarah Weber is a late check-in, bringing news of the upcoming BC Natural Resource Forum and ensuring Mike has his bags packed for frigid but friendly Prince George. 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

Mike and Geoff welcome independent MLA Elenore Sturko to Hotel Pacifico. They discuss Sturko’s experience inside and out of the BC Conservative caucus, her media presence and stance on justice, DRIPA, and LGBTQ+ issues.

In Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff continue to chew over the field of Conservative leadership contenders, the PM’s visit to rainy Prince Rupert, and next week’s annual natural resources conference in frigid Prince George.  

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

This week, Mike and Geoff welcome Interim Leader of the BC Conservatives, Trevor Halford. Together, they dig into the upcoming leadership race, if the party is ready for a snap election, and how the Conservatives envision reconciliation if they succeed in repealing DRIPA.   

In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike review their holiday reading lists, speculate about what’s on the Provincial Government’s agenda for 2026, and review the field of potential BC Conservatives leadership contenders.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

Mike, Geoff… and Kate(!) preside over the Hotel Pacifico Holiday Extravaganza.  Political observers Justin McElroy and Richard Zussman look back on the main political stories of the year and politicians to watch.  Former BC Premier Mike Harcourt drops in to talk about the year that was and looks ahead to 2026.  Hot on his heels is former BC Premier Christy Clark who discusses the state of ‘free enterprise’ in BC and the upcoming BC Conservative leadership race.  Then Vancouver-Kingsway MP and national interim leader of the NDP, Don Davies, visits Hotel Pacifico as part of his national comedy tour (okay, now we are joking) following his highly praised address to the annual Ottawa Press Gallery Dinner (and we have clips).  Davies talks about the state of the NDP and how it’s time to refocus on the needs and concerns of working people.  

The co-hosts retire to the mini-bar for final thoughts on an exciting year in politics in BC and Canada.  All the best to our listeners for the holidays and the new year. Ho Ho Ho.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

Mike & Geoff are joined by press gallery legend Vaughn Palmer to review the BC politics landscape.  Topics include the Cowichan ruling, transparency and secrecy, the issues to watch in 2026, and a tour of BC’s political parties and their prospects.  

In Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike unveil the “12 Substacks of Christmas”.  Given that they don’t do math good, Geoff and Mike actually provide more than 12.  Substack pics include: The Real Story with Terry Glavin, Vanity & Learning by Allan Gregg, Northern Beat edited by Fran Yanor, Blindingly Obvious by Don Wright, Charlie Don’t Tweet by Charlie Demers, Law for Breakfast by Prof. Dwight Newman, Without Diminishment co-founded by Caroline Elliott, Writings from Lulu Island by Jane Gallo, Khelsilem’s substack, AdamOlsen.ca, Claire Rattee’s substack, Just and Reasonable by Richard Mason, The Breaker with Bob Mackin, The Bureau with Sam Cooper, Relay with Kyla Ronellenfitsch, and the Pollara substack feat. Matt Smith, Dan Arnold, and Andre Turcotte.  And don’t forget, Lotusland by Geoff Meggs! 

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.