A local look at politics from the Provincial capital.  The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer, and Global News reporter Richard Zussman join the show with their take on the day's headlines.

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Chapter 1: Second Michael’s trial

First it was Michael Spavor and this morning in China, it is time for Michael Kovrig’s trial. Canadian diplomats, along with those of at least a dozen other countries, are present outside the court trying to gain access but once again they have been unable to do so. The two Michaels have been detained for more than two years on espionage charges but we are still no closer to finding out their fate at this point. 

GUEST: Abigail Bimman, Global National Ottawa Correspondent

Chapter 2: We need to protect old growth-forests

The provincial government has taken a lot of flak from environmental groups for their track record on protecting old-growth forests. 

The issue is likely to end up in court this week with forest company Teal Jones seeking an injunction against protestors blocking the Fairy Creek rainforest near Port Renfrew. 

GUEST: Ken Wu, Executive Director of the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance

Chapter 3: Farmer’s markets expand offerings

Great news if you’re someone that likes supporting your local farmer’s market, the provincial government is dropping restrictions that barred artisans and vendors selling non-food products. 

The rules were implemented last year at the beginning of the pandemic, it was hard on the vendors impacted by the rule but it also took a bit of the fun out of going there for groceries on the weekend. 

GUEST: Heather O'Hara. Executive Director of the BC Association of Farmers' Market

Chapter 4: Provincial pandemic responses

How does our COVID-19 response in B-C compare with the rest of the provinces?

A Canadian think tank partnered with Oxford University to release a paper that unpacks the varied responses to the pandemic across Canada. 

GUEST: Charles Breton, Executive Director for the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation at the Institute for Research on Public Policy

Chapter 5: Concerns about Alberta re-opening

We’re all a little bit anxious about what the daily COVID-19 briefing today will hold after the highest number of new cases since January 7 was announced on Friday. 

Cases of COVID-19 variants continue to make up a larger portion of those new cases and we’ve been hearing from researchers who are sounding the alarm over this for weeks. 

GUEST: Caroline Colijn, SFU Professor and Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematics for Infection, Evolution and Public Health

Chapter 6: Cruises coming for vaccinated passengers

Would you feel comfortable jumping on a cruise ship after you get your COVID-19 vaccine? 

That’s what one cruise line is hoping, Royal Caribbean is offering cruises in the Bahamas for vaccinated passengers beginning in June. 

GUEST: Claire Newell, president of Travel Best Bets

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On today's show:

Chapter 1: Michael Spavor's trial in China ends without a verdict

Chapter 2: Caffeine Awareness Month

Chapter 3: US to send 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada

Chapter 4: Penticton city council mulling options in feud over downtown emergency shelter

Chapter 5: Surrey’s new police chief to make a base salary of $285,000

Chapter 6: Transit workers don’t make the cut for priority vaccination

Chapter 7: Meng Wanzhou’s lawyer accuses Canadian border officer of fabricating testimony about phone passcodes

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Chapter 1: After two years of being detained in China, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have both been given court dates over the next couple of days. 

Guest: Nathan VanderKlippe, Globe and Mail Beijing correspondent

Chapter 2: If you’re planning any projects around the house this year, get the lumber now.  Prices are continuing to climb as the impact of reduced output from the last year comes up against the increased demand from builders. 

Guest: Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO of the BC Lumber Trade Council and the BC Council of Forest Industries.

Chapter 3: Highways eat up a lot of real estate.  That’s a trade off we’ve always accepted out of necessity, but North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan has written an interesting thought piece about taking back some of that space. 

Guest:  Linda Buchanan, North Vancouver Mayor.

Chapter 4: We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the newly approved AstraZeneca vaccine, but a Canadian made option from Quebec is now entering their Phase 3 trials. 

Guest: Ivan Semeniuk, Globe and Mail Science Reporter.

Chapter 5: Could we be on track for more lockdowns?  Last summer we saw the number of new daily cases of COVID-19 in B-C hit single digits - but despite stronger health measures -  we’re still racking up over 500 new cases a day. 

Guest: Daniel Coombs, UBC professor in mathematics, extensive work in modelling disease.

Chapter 6: Listen up if you’re a local business owner!  The Launch Online grant from the province for website upgrades has been tweaked to make more businesses eligible, and they’re kicking in more money as well.

Guest: Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation.

Chapter 7: It can be tough to deal with pests in the garden and the yard without using harmful chemicals.  That’s where one resident of Courtenay saw an opportunity. 

Guest: Cameron Ezzy, founder of ‘Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch’

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View From Victoria: 

A local look at politics from the Provincial capital.  The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer, and Global News reporter Richard Zussman join the show with their take on the day's headlines.

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