The Orca Podcasts

It’s everyone’s favourite pastime in British Columbia: talking about the housing market. But while the NDP Government are trying to tax the housing market to affordability, not everyone is convinced that will work.

Andrey Pavlov is one of those skeptics, and as a professor of finance at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, he has been analyzing some worrisome trends in the market. Andrew joined Rick Cluff from his office in Vancouver via Skype.

Welcome to UnSpun - The Orca's current events podcast and YouTube show.

Every week, Jody Vance and George Affleck unspin the latest news in local, provincial and federal politics, and much more.

In this week's episode, Jody and George go from 4/20 to the Prime Minister without much of a challenge at all. Also, George breaks out his best/worst impression of Gregor Robertson; Jody tackles the "wacky" world of renting; and they both ask: why did Gerald Butts' testimony worked for some and not for others?

Just before Maclean went to bask in the oratorical greatness that is Barack Obama, he and Jordan got together in studio to break down a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad week for Justin Trudeau; the spec tax, and more.

In this week’s episode, Jody and George find the thread that is weaving between every level of government these days. From the shocking testimony of former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to dad jokes in the BC Legislature, what a week it has been.

Welcome to UnSpun - The Orca's current events podcast and YouTube show. Every week, Jody Vance and George Affleck unspin the latest news in local, provincial and federal politics, and much more.

In this week's episode, Jody and George turn their attention to another Plecas report -- oh yes -- there's another Plecas report. But hey -- there was also a provincial budget, some craziness in Ottawa and little oil pipeline that go approved. All food for thought in a snowy Vancouver this week.

Maclean Kay and Jordan Bateman were in the BC Budget lockup and compared notes on what they thought the big stories were. Debt! Housing starts falling! Billion dollar turnarounds at the Crowns! And much more!

Welcome to UnSpun - The Orca's current events podcast and YouTube show. Every week, Jody Vance and George Affleck unspin the latest news in local, provincial and federal politics, and much more. In this week's episode, Jody and George get into the controversy brewing in Ottawa with the PMO and former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould; a chat about Plecas, transparency and deflection; 100 days of Mayor Kennedy Stewart's personal B-minus grade; and foreign investment, money laundering, and Boy Scouts. What more do you need?

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This week's YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/2JTOczTsZwM

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Jody Vance is a born and raised Vancouverite who’s spent 30 years in both local and national media. The first woman in the history of Canadian TV to host her own sports show in primetime, since 2011 she’s been working in both TV and radio covering news and current affairs.

George Affleck is a former Vancouver City Councillor, retiring in 2018 after seven years and two election wins. He has also owned his marketing agency, Curve Communications, since 2000 and works with a variety of clients in the private and non-profit sector. George is also a published author, a former CBC journalist and comedy writer, and an avid traveller, having lived in Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Taiwan, and Israel.

Yesterday, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association released its annual Wage and Benefit survey, tracking trends in the construction industry. 

It has both good and bad news. In good news, construction  workers can expect an average 5.1 per cent pay bump this year, and another 5.3 per cent next year.

But in bad news, a majority of construction companies think the BC Government is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to managing the economy. Only 8 per cent of companies believe the NDP is on the right track; 51 per cent say they’re on the wrong track.

Chris Gardner is the President of ICBA, and joined Rick in studio to break down the numbers.

A city is more than just roads and infrastructure – it is a cultural hub as well. Public art is part of that commitment to beauty and heritage.

But what happens when public art goes out of control? In the middle of busy Kingsway in east Vancouver, a new 120-foot ladder to nowhere has been built, costing $671,000, and it’s sparking questions about public art, public priorities, and the public purse.

Mike Klassen is a city columnist for the Vancouver Courier newspaper, and recently wrote about the Ladder to Nowhere. Mike joined Rick in studio.