One Foot Off Center - The Small C Perspective

Castanet is proud to present One Foot Off Center, a new podcast tackling the big issues facing the Okanagan.

Rick Maddison, Ron Mattiussi, Scott Lanigan and Jeff Cox will meet every month to discuss how those issues impact everyday Canadians.

Maddison is a well-known entrepreneur in Kelowna and owner of Tempest Media. Mattiussi is the former chief administrator of the City of Kelowna and has worked in local government across the province.

Lanigan is the lead pastor of Trinity Church, one of Kelowna’s largest churches, who has served with various community groups like Journey Home.

Cox is the founder and CEO of Kelowna-based Simply Benefits.

For the first episode, the panel discusses housing affordability and development.

One Foot Off Center will be published monthly by Castanet, on YouTube and in an audio-only version on Spotify.

On this episode, the panel discusses wildfire fuel mitigation around Kelowna. Are we at risk?

Despite several start-ups in recent weeks, the Okanagan has been spared from the worst of this year's wildfire season.

The panel discusses whether or not the province should be putting the money saved from this year's firefighting season into mitigation efforts.

Maddison shares his frustration with Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Park, where he says he has asked various levels of government for help in mitigating the fire risk of dead trees in the park.

The other topic discussed deals with how budgets are allocated year over year.

"If a city department doesn’t use its budget one year (snow removal for instance) do you lose the budget for next year or is there any kind of incentive for city employees to look for cost-savings? To the outlier, it appears like, 'you better spend it or you lose it,'" Maddison says.

Castanet is proud to present One Foot Off Center, a podcast tackling the big issues facing the Okanagan.

Rick Maddison, Ron Mattiussi, Scott Lanigan and Jeff Cox will meet every month to discuss how those issues impact everyday Canadians.

Maddison is a well-known entrepreneur in Kelowna and owner of Tempest Media. Mattiussi is the former chief administrator of the City of Kelowna and has worked in local government across the province.

Lanigan is the lead pastor of Trinity Church, one of Kelowna’s largest churches, who has served with various community groups like Journey Home.

Cox is the founder and CEO of Kelowna-based Simply Benefits.

One Foot Off Center will be published monthly by Castanet, on ⁠YouTube⁠ and in an audio-only version on Spotify.

On this episode, the panel discussed the Agriculture Land Reserve in the Okanagan and the best way to cope with future wildfires.

Ron Mattiussi, former Kelowna CAO, says the ALR policies should be revisited, noting most of the policies were created and implemented in the 1970s.

"I'm not arguing the principle of preserving agricultural land, but do we? Are we doing it? Are we doing it well? Is it the right land? Is it in the right place? I think it's about time somebody started asking real questions," says Mattiussi.

Jeff Cox says he agrees with the concept of ALR but also wonders if we are doing it the right way.

"There are rules that exist around the ALR today that make no sense to me," says Cox.

Scott Lanigan and Mattiussi discussed the impact of fire management, noting the success of FireSmart programs in mitigating wildfires around urban areas. They also touch on the need for a collaborative approach involving municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government to address these issues effectively.

"Years ago... they used to be much more creative in using and empowering forestry crews and those types of things," says Lanigan.

Mattiussi says he doesn't believe that Canada and B.C has done enough fire suppression work, pointing to past Indigenous practices that managed to keep wildfire damage to a manageable level.

"I'm not a climate denier at all. Climate change is real, but there's such an attachment between, the climate is changing and we're burning down. Well, 300 years ago, Indigenous groups in this valley actually did fire suppression, so this is not new. They cleaned the forests around the areas that they were inhabiting," says Mattiussi.

Castanet is proud to present One Foot Off Center, a podcast tackling the big issues facing the Okanagan.

Rick Maddison, Ron Mattiussi, Scott Lanigan and Jeff Cox will meet every month to discuss how those issues impact everyday Canadians.

Maddison is a well-known entrepreneur in Kelowna and owner of Tempest Media. Mattiussi is the former chief administrator of the City of Kelowna and has worked in local government across the province.

Lanigan is the lead pastor of Trinity Church, one of Kelowna’s largest churches, who has served with various community groups like Journey Home.

Cox is the founder and CEO of Kelowna-based Simply Benefits.

--

One Foot Off Center will be published monthly by Castanet, on YouTube and in an audio-only version on Spotify.

Host Rick Maddison talks with Ron Mattuissi, Jeff Cox and Scott Lanigan about healthcare in the Okanagan. With a declining number of physicians and an aging population are we heading for a crisis or are we currently in one? Did we know about it and could we avoid it? What are we doing to right the ship ?  What role do varying levels of government have in this perilous situation? Do we have a path forward? 

Host Rick Maddison talks with Ron Mattuissi, Jeff Cox and Scott Lanigan about the spring cleanup of a homeless encampment. The possible perils, and was the City of Kelowna in the right to dismantle these shelters? All sides of the issue are discussed as the panel has varying opinions about the cleanup and its effects longterm. A healthy discussion on a very complex subject with many ramifications. 

A podcast focusing on current events and political decisions in Canada and how those decisions might affect everyday Canadians. Hosted by Rick Maddison and Jeff Cox, featuring Scott Lanigan, lead pastor of Trinity Church and Ron Mattiussi, former Kelowna city manager.

In this episode Rick Maddison moderates the discussion on safe supply, and the effects on homelessness on BC. Panel includes: Ron Mattiussi (Former City Manager Kelowna), Scott Lanigan (Former chair of Journey Home), and Jeff Cox (Former board member of Pathways). Lively chat with both right and left opinions. An excellent overview of the pitfalls and ways forward on a very complex and volatile subject.   

Welcome to Episode 6 of our podcast, where we delve into some of the most pressing issues facing Canadian democracy today. In this episode, we discuss the controversial Kelowna response to Pierre Poilievre's homeless camp video, the ongoing debate around safe supply drug use, how it has crept into Canadian schools, and the impact of the carbon tax on everyday Canadians.We begin by examining Pierre Poilievre's recent video, which has sparked a heated debate about the state of homelessness in Kelowna. We takes a closer look at the response from local officials, and what it means for the future of homelessness policy in Canada.Next, we explore the ongoing debate around the safe supply of drug use and how drugs land in our schools. With drug-related deaths rising across the country, many are calling for a more proactive approach to harm reduction. We discuss the pros and cons of safe supply drug use and the mental health conversation around it, in schools, and what it could mean for Canadian youth.Finally, we take a closer look at the impact of the carbon tax on everyday Canadians. With the federal government introducing a new tax on top of the tax on carbon emissions, many are wondering how this will affect their daily lives. We examine the economic and environmental implications of the carbon tax, and what it means for the future of Canada's climate policy.Overall, this episode offers a thought-provoking and engaging look at some of the most important issues facing Canadian democracy today. Whether you're interested in politics, social justice, or environmentalism, this podcast is sure to leave you informed and inspired. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment with your thoughts on these pressing issues.

Welcome to Episode 5 of One Foot Off Center, where we discuss the latest developments in Canadian politics. In this episode, we delve into some of the most pressing issues facing the country today.First on the agenda is gun control in Canada. As the debate over firearm regulation continues to heat up, we explore the different perspectives on this contentious topic and analyze how the government is responding to the so-called calls for change.Next, we turn our attention to the rising threat of Chinese influence in Canada. From allegations of espionage and threats against sitting Members of Parliament, we examine the implications of this complex issue and its potential impact on national security.Finally, we take a deep dive into the Alberta election and what it means for the future of the province. With the United Conservative Party poised to take power, we examine what victory could mean for the rest of the country.Throughout the episode, we provide insightful commentary and analysis on the latest news and events shaping Canadian politics today. So sit back, relax, and join us as we explore these important issues in depth.Don't forget to like and subscribe for more thought-provoking content on Canadian politics.

In Episode 4, Rick and Jeff tackle a few topics that have come up for them personally inside their own friend group conversations. One of those topics is the Trudeau backtrack on Vaccine Mandates and how he didn't force anyone to take it. Another topic is how people are growing tired of the Conservative messaging: "Everything is broken, the country is a mess, and it's the liberals' fault" with some people expressing their concerns about wanting to hear a plan on how to fix it.In British Columbia, a stat came out that 75% of repeat violent offenders are granted bail. This is a major cause for concern with RCMP and the safety of the public. Virtual health care is starting to become a more widely used service by Canadian families due to the doctor shortage, especially in Western Canada. The NDP came out and said no more virtual health care for Canadians, without having an alternative plan. Rick and Jeff unpack Canada's universal healthcare dilemma and offer up some suggestions on how to make it better.