Sick of President Trump already? Let’s talk about who everyone’s calling Canada’s Trump instead: Kevin O’Leary! Yes, he’s finally entered the Conservative Party leadership race, but will he get eaten in the shark tank? Next, a real newspaper – The New York Times even – noticed BC politics. Will their expose on BC’s “Kafkaesque” fundraising rules swing the election? And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on a storytime tour to connect with real Canadians but seems to only be running from gaffe to gaffe. Will this harm his next term?

And in our quick takes, we look at a lawsuit launched by First Nations groups against the Kinder Morgan pipeline, a Mainstreet poll showing Gregor Robertson is the least popular mayor out of 10, a curious shakeup in the military and whatever the hell is going on in Alberta’s Progressive Conservative Party leadership race.

All this and more on this week’s PolitiCoast.

Links

The O’Leary Factor

Someone noticed us!

Trudeau storytime

Quick takes

Trudeau shuffles his cabinet to to get burned by the Washington dumpster fire. The Prime Minister’s ethics are questioned after revelations of a secret vacation with a family friend, the Aga Khan who also runs a nonprofit receiving government funding. The Prime Minister’s flight to the island on Khan-Air likely broke the Conflict of Interest Act. The BC government gives approval to Kinder Morgan with additional conditions. Department of Finance projects deficits until 2055. Focus groups conducted by the Federal Government hint at possible, Netflix taxes, “moonshots” and air and sea port privatization on the agenda for 2017. Richmond decides to ban Airbnb but doesn’t know how. Finally BC election nominations as “bear rescuer” Bryce Casavant becomes the NDP challenger to Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver and independent Vicki Huntington, decides not running again.

All this and more on the latest PolitiCoast. Please make sure to subscribe and rate us.

Links:

Ian and Scott share their thoughts on events of 2016 and what they will be watching for in 2017.

Topics discussed include:

For the final segment of the year, podcast recommendations:

Canada:

CBC The House

Macleans On The Hill

Pollcast

Brief Remarks

CANADALAND

The Docket

British Columbia:

 Coast Reporter

Left at the Valley

America and General Interest:

Whistlestop

538 Elections

Opening Arguments

Freakonomics

Planet Money

From all of us at PolitiCoast Happy New Year!

Fundraising scandals continue to plague the Trudeau Liberals, particularly as new controversy surrounds the Trudeau Foundation. Next, Micah calls in to add a legal take on BC NDP leader John Horgan’s claim that the federal government would have to invoke the notwithstanding clause to force the Kinder Morgan Pipeline through. Then we take another look at the state of the Conservative leadership race, Christy Clark’s new home loans program, the City of Vancouver’s decision to use a new property tax levy to tackle the overdose crisis and the federal government’s study into expanding access to assisted dying.

Lots to cover in our second-to-last episode for 2016. Join us next week for our year-in-review fall finale!

Links:

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley comes to BC to win support for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion. The Trudeau Liberals launch MyDemocracy.ca, yet another tool to consult Canadians on electoral reform, this time to wide ridicule on social media. Then Ian & Scott discuss cash for access controversies and the dark side of Alberta politics.

Links:

The honeymoon might be over for Justin Trudeau as his government announces its approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline and the wheels come off the electoral reform bus. He’s also attracted controversy for a glowing eulogy for Cuban President Fidel Castro. Meanwhile, BC posts a bigger than expected budget surplus while Ontario’s Auditor General delivers a scathing indictment on the Kathleen Wynne Liberals.

All this and more on the latest PolitiCoast. Please make sure to subscribe and rate us.

Links

Justin Trudeau kills the coal industry. The Globe and Mail exposes how many farms in Agricultural Land Reserve are being used for mansions and hotels. Trudeau bought some new fighter jets, Charlie Angus mulls an NDP leadership bid, Vancouver mayors announce the start of the first phase of transit expansion and the BC government puts money into affordable housing.

Links:

Vancouver has introduced its empty home tax, but is it a solution in search of a problem? Former Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge thinks it’s a supply problem and BC NDP leader thinks dumping cash into co-op housing is the solution. Meanwhile, the Trudeau Government seems to be continuing to find ways to walk back from its electoral reform promises, with vague statements by Minister Maryam Monsef and leaked consultation questions. But the federal NDP are signalling they may compromise with the Conservatives. Scott and Ian also take a closer look at what the US Presidential Election might mean for Canada and whether Alberta is headed down a dark path. Finally, the Liberals are repealing the anal sex provision of the Criminal Code and Mulcair is voted Parliamentarian of the Year.

As always, Ian and Scott break down what’s happening in BC and across the country. Subscribe, leave a review and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Intro music from Abett on Freesound.org

A bonus long weekend episode with a focus just on BC & Canada! Ian and Scott discuss the Conservative Party Leadership Debate, the BCTF vs BC Government Supreme Court of Canada verdict, PEI’s electoral reform vote and the new spill response plan for the west coast.

Additional links:

Follow @bc_iconoclast

Intro music by abett

Scott and Ian share their thoughts on the recent US Election and the implications for BC and Canada. Warning there is a lot of swearing.