This is Vancouver

Vancouver councillor Pete Fry has entered the mayoral race. In this bonus episode, host Stephen Quinn and Justin McElroy look at why he’s running, his priorities for the city, and the risks of a split vote. 

With the 2026 Vancouver election approaching, Mayor Ken Sim is beginning to frame his case to voters. This episode looks at his stated priorities, recent polling, and the themes likely to dominate the campaign.

A four-month closure on East Broadway is adding new pressure to businesses already strained by years of subway construction. Restaurant owners say they are losing revenue, but the provincial government say direct compensation is not on the table. So how did we get here? What are the potential solutions? What might happen next? We hear from restaurant owners, residents, the Mount Pleasant BIA and the provincial government. 

Extortion threats and shootings continue to shake Surrey, with dozens of cases reported in January alone. Stephen Quinn hears from residents, a criminal defence lawyer, an MLA, and Mayor Brenda Locke about calls for tougher laws, why city council wants federal emergency powers, and what it will take to stop the violence. 

TransLink is planning its next big transit project. It wants to create dedicated bus-only lanes for corridors around the region. But can this plan succeed where other transit ideas have failed? Stephen Quinn looks into that question and more with Justin McElroy. 

Development fees just went up across Metro Vancouver, and builders say the timing could not be worse. We hear from developers who warn the higher costs may slow housing starts, then from Metro Vancouver on why the increases happened. 

As complaints about street cleanliness grow, Vancouver city council is debating a new plan to make public washrooms easier to find and keep open. We look at why access to toilets has become such a big issue and whether the city’s strategy will bring about change.

With Vancouver’s 2026 municipal election approaching, two candidates are competing to become OneCity Vancouver’s mayoral nominee. Stephen Quinn and Justin McElroy host a debate between Amanda Burrows and William Azaroff.

UBC students are rallying at City Hall, marking 18 years since Gordon Campbell's government first committed to building a SkyTrain to campus. 

Fake news isn’t new — but AI has made it much more difficult to spot. We talk to educators about what is being done in Metro Vancouver schools to teach kids about misinformation.