It’s emerged the man responsible for investigating money laundering in BC failed to interview one of the key players. Great Canadian Gaming executive Walter Soo, who was in charge of the highly profitable VIP gaming program, also sits on the Richmond Oval board with Peter German. He’s denied his probe into “dirty money” in BC has been compromised.

Guest: Global Investigative Reporter Sam Cooper

Do you remember all the fuss about the speculation tax last spring?  Well round 2 is coming up since it has been six months since the New Democrats announced the tax on budget day back in February and there are still basic questions about the rationale and implementation that need to be answered.  The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer is here with his take on the day's headlines.

Chapter 1:

-Yesterday, during a cabinet meeting open to the media, President Donald Trump linked the import of Canadian lumber to the destructive wildfires sweeping through California, which have killed at least six people, destroyed homes and forced tens-of-thousands from their properties. He agreed with a statement by Interior Minister Ryan Zinke who claimed fallen lumber left to rot on the ground contributes to the fuel load and therefore massive wildfires.

Chapter 2:

-ICBC is in the process of updating its rate structure as it attempts to deal with a projected $1.3 billion financial loss. So how does it fix the financial mess while still being fair to drivers? Transport policy analyst Todd Litman says distance based insurance premiums is an effective strategy which would increase affordability, fairness and safety. The logic? The more you drive the more you pay, and the less you drive the more you save. Would it work here?

Chapter 3:

-Nine out of ten Canadian Revenue Agency accountants surveyed by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada agree it’s easy for wealthy individuals and rich corporations to avoid paying tax. And, only 16% believe there are enough safeguards in place to ensure everyone, including the rich, are paying tax fairly. Does Canada have the right tools to make sure the rich pay?

We got the first test of the sweeping makeover of ICBC rates.  The changes involve dozens of shifts that will affect most drivers in the province and most auto insurance bills.  The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer is here with his take on the day's headlines.

Chapter 1 - ICBC has sought approval from the BC Utilities Commission to hike up insurance premiums for higher risk drivers in higher risk places, as announced last week. The framework, released by ICBC and posted on the BCUC website yesterday afternoon, says “no one is to see more than a 20% increase to his or her prior year premiums”. How many drivers does that apply to?

Chapter 2 - “The Queen of Soul” died today at her home in Detroit. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and leaves an indelible mark on the music industry.

Chapter 3 - Ontario teachers are rebelling against a move by Premier Doug Ford revert back to teaching the 1998 sex education curriculum. Educators fear the repeal of the current plan will leave out concepts such as LGBTQ rights, consent and online safety.  So as Ontario grapples with its curriculum, it got us thinking about what’s taught here in BC as we approach a new school year.

In a 400 page report, ICBC is outlining changes it will make on insurance in BC.  One of the big changes will be with insuring all drivers who use your vehicle and if you don’t, you’ll be faced with substantial penalties.  Sounds like no big deal...but it is. The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer is here with his take on the day's headlines.

Chapter 1:

-It’s smoky out there! Thick smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in BC is triggering air quality advisories for BC, and warnings for people with health conditions to close their windows and doors and stay inside. Vancouver currently has the worst air quality index in North America. So when will the conditions improve?

Chapter 2:

-Attorney General David Eby requested BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson waive cabinet privilege and release all confidential documents relating to money laundering. It got us thinking about whether cabinet confidentiality is democratic? Don’t we have a right to know what goes on within every realm of government?

Chapter 3:

-Biometrics has come a long way in recent years and is becoming so advanced that a bank thwarted a hacking by identifying that the real user of the account never used his scroll wheel on his mouse.  When the hacker used his mouse in a way that didn’t match up with the account holder it was identified as a security threat. But is there a cost for collecting so much data on a user?

Chapter 4:

-Have you ever been asked “Where are you really from?” or been called “whitewashed”? This week - as part of Global National’s Living In Colour series, we explore the day to day experiences of people of colour in terms of stereotypes and identity. Sidrah Ahmad is an anti Islamophobia researcher and writer based in Toronto. She wrote her thesis about the different types of violence Muslim women face in their everyday lives.

The number of real estate sales in Greater Vancouver has hit the lowest level it’s been in over 15 years. The total home sales fell 30% year-over-year in July after seeing an almost 38% the previous month.  This according to British Columbia Real Estate Association data released August 13th.

Guest:  Lori Pinkowski, Senior Vice President & Sr. Portfolio Mgr at Raymond James

Could new recommendations mean you pay more for insurance because you are connected to someone who is a bad driver? The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer is here with his take on the day's headlines.

Chapter 1:

-The provincial government released its long awaited report (Ticket Buying In British Columbia) on ticket scalpers, after a lengthy public consultation. It showed strong support for a crackdown on bots, with 97% of respondents supporting the idea. But our next guest says the report is flawed, because the government failed to consult the industry, instead opting to ask the uneducated public.

Chapter 2:

-They claim it’s part of the battle against money laundering. But a new study has found banks are monitoring us on an unprecedented scale, scouring our transactions by the millions.

Chapter 3:

-Following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, funds from around the world began to flood in on the crowd-funding website, GoFundMe. In total, $15.2-million dollars was raised making it the second most successful crowdfunding effort in history. But where is that money now?  You may be surprised to hear those funds are tied up in court.