Mornings with Simi

View From Victoria: ER Closures and Government silence

Guest: Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun Columnist

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Seg 1: Canada has designated seven transnational criminal organizations, including multiple drug cartels, as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. Will this have any impact?

Seg 2: How are the odds of an asteroid hitting Earth actually being determined?

Seg 3: A massive new community garden, the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre, is set to open in Saanich by March 1.

Seg 4: Checking in on US politics with Washington correspondent Reggie Checchini!

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Canada has designated seven transnational criminal organizations, including multiple drug cartels, as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code.

This move, part of an agreement with the US to delay tariffs, gives law enforcement expanded powers to track and disrupt cartel finances.

Guest: Dr. Michael Kenney - Posvar Chair in International Security Studies and Professor of Public & International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh

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A massive new community garden, the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre, is set to open in Saanich by March 1.

Spanning nearly 14 acres, it will offer up to 1,000 small garden plots and larger farming spaces.

Leasing a plot will cost just $10 per month—“less than a streaming fee,” according to co-founder John Espley.

Guest: John Espley - Founding Partner of the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre

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Did last night's hockey game register much in the States?

What's the latest on the Trump/Ukraine situation?

The ongoing downsizing of the US government is causing a lot of problems.

Trump called himself a king... why aren't Democrats doing more?! (Spoiler alert: there's not much they can do)

Guest: Reggie Cecchini - Washington Correspondent for Global News

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In what turned out to be one hell of a hockey game, Connor McDavid scored last night's OT winner, securing the 4 Nations Championship for Team Canada!

It was a dramatic day at the Victoria legislature yesterday! Conservative MLA Clare Rattee (Skeena) told house that a dozen years ago, she was a homeless drug addict, living on the DTES.

What's going on in Fraser Health? The region's CEO unexpectedly resigned from her role.

Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist

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Asteroid 2024 YR4 has been identified as the most concerning near-Earth object currently being tracked. NASA initially estimated a 3.1% chance of 2024 YR4 impacting Earth in December 2032, while the ESA put it at 2.8%, surpassing Apophis’ 2.7% risk in 2004. However, further observations have lowered NASA’s estimate to 1.5%, highlighting the refinement of risk assessments over time. But how are these risks assessed? Why do the odds keep fluctuating? Let’s find out!

Guest: Richard Binzel - Professor of Planetary Sciences at MIT and Inventor of the Torino Scale

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Seg 1: Why did BC change its safer supply model?

Seg 2: What happens when you put a human language gene into mice?

Seg 3: Could new asteroid samples contain the building blocks of life?

Seg 4: Canada has a unique opportunity to counteract Donald Trump and his enablers by leveraging its domestic powers and global influence to target corruption.

Seg 5: How will $10 million in funding help BC tree fruit growers?

Seg 6: How to ACTUALLY win Roll Up The Rim!!

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Tim Hortons is bringing back its Roll Up the Rim to Win contest on February 24, 2025, and for the first time in several years, customers will once again have the chance to win by physically rolling up the rim of their coffee cups!

Guest: Michael Wallace - Associate Professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Waterloo University

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BC’s government has reversed its policy on safer supply opioids, requiring people to take prescription opioids like hydromorphone under pharmacist supervision to prevent drug diversion.

Health Minister Josie Osborne cited concerns that these drugs were ending up in the wrong hands, a problem long criticized by B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko.

Guest: Josie Osborne - BC’s Minister of Health

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