Note: Apologies for the delay on this week’s episode. We completely blanked on uploading it over the weekend.

David Eby distributes ICBC earnings in advance of the election. Only Victoria is set to meet its housing targets. Our province’s IT is under cyber attack. And we have the interim report of the foreign interference inquiry.

Links

• ICBC announces $110 rebate to drivers, basic rates remain unchanged | BC Gov News
• B.C. municipalities fall short of province’s housing targets | Vancouver Sun
• B.C. government hit by ’sophisticated cybersecurity incidents’ | Vancouver Sun
• Initial report of the foreign interference public inquiry
• Five takeaways from the foreign-interference commission’s report – The Globe and Mail
• Former journalist drops out of Conservative nomination race, claims the process has been ‘corrupted’ | CBC News
• Sabrina Maddeaux allegations
• Conservative Party Response
• Government pitches foreign influence registry, new powers for CSIS in attempt to curb foreign interference | CBC News
• Foreign Agents Registration Act – Wikipedia
• Police make arrests in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar | CBC News
• What is the Bishnoi gang and how could it be linked to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing? | CBC News
• India says Canada yet to provide evidence of its involvement in the killing of a Surrey Sikh leader Nijjar

Ottawa struggles with whether or not to have people give guns to the post office and here in BC Eby asks the Feds to roll back decriminalization in public places.

Links

• 2024 First Quarter Interim Financial Reports Available | Elections BC 
• Bill banning transgender athletes from publicly-funded sports quashed in B.C. | Globalnews.ca
• B.C. moves to ban drug use in public spaces, taking more steps to keep people safe
• Federal addictions minister says B.C public decriminalization reversal under review | CBC News
• Addictions Minister says drug criminalization decision ‘urgent’, B.C. says feds have all they need – The Globe and Mail
• BC’s Auditor General Will Investigate Wildfire Recovery in Lytton | The Tyee
•  Lytton: 840 days, tens of millions spent on archeology, no homes built – Northern Beat 
• Province provides updates for FIFA World Cup 26 | BC Gov News
• B.C.’s FIFA costs double
• The Trans Mountain pipeline was worth every penny of its $34 billion price tag – The Hub
• FBI tells parliamentarians they were targets of Chinese hackers in 2021 – The Globe and Mail
• Capital gains tax changes not included in Freeland’s proposed budget legislation
• Singh says NDP will support budget, won’t say what guarantees he received from Liberals | CBC News
• Ottawa plans to launch controversial firearms buyback program during election year | CBC News
• Poilievre hints to police he would use notwithstanding clause to change laws | CBC News
• Notwithstanding Clause: Majority see increased use problematic, would pursue abolition

The sue all the companies bill gets paused. BC’s poverty reduction minister bemoans the lacklustre Disability Benefit without critically analyzing her government’s own ability to end poverty for disabled people. The province adds more cities to the housing naughty list.

Federally, the NDP are stomping their feet. And Saskatchewan, Bombardier and Honda get special treatment from Trudeau.

Links

• Joint statement on Bill 12: B.C. to convene online safety action table | BC Gov News
• B.C. online harms bill on hold after deal with social media firms | CBC News
• BC Pans New Federal Disability Benefit | The Tyee
• More priority communities selected to deliver more homes | BC Gov News
• Singh says NDP still hasn’t decided whether to support Liberals’ new budget | CBC News
• Singh noncommittal on keeping scheduled increases to Liberals’ carbon price in place
• Trudeau says Saskatchewan to get carbon rebates despite province not paying levies
• Bombardier gets federal exemption from sanctions on Russian titanium | CBC News
• Honda to invest $15B to build 4 new EV plants in Ontario | CBC News

The Federal Budget is out. We break down what is in it and what it means for BC and Canada.

Re-upload. Apologies, an incorrect version with an old episode’s audio went out.

Links

• Former B.C. minister Mike de Jong seeks federal Tory nomination | CBC News
• Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation 
• Matt Gurney: What happens when Trudeau can’t blame the premiers, NIMBYs or disinfo?
• Why raising capital gains taxes makes sense—yes, really – The Hub
• Justin Trudeau’s Last Stand | The Walrus

A kickback scandal, more bills, fundraising data, defence policy and the foreign interference inquiry.

Links

Vaughn Palmer: B.C. NDP forced to admit its opponents got it right on kickback allegations

Investigation launched into CleanBC grant program kickback allegations | Vancouver Sun

What you need to know about the B.C. clean energy grant controversy | CBC News

Proposed changes to Vancouver Charter will help build more homes faster

New legislation ensures B.C. benefits from clean, affordable electricity | BC Gov News

B.C. acts to protect kids, school staff from disruptive protests | BC Gov News

New legislation aims to remove systemic barriers for Indigenous, racialized people | BC Gov News 

New legislation recognizes work of First Nations post-secondary institutes | BC Gov News

B.C. strengthens Indigenous jurisdiction in child, family services | BC Gov News

More options coming for people needing legal help | BC Gov News

B.C. builders can now use mass timber in taller buildings | BC Gov News

2023 Annual Financial Reports Available | Elections BC

 The Green’s excuse

Canada pledges billions in new defence spending, but doesn’t reach NATO’s 2% commitment | CBC News

Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence summary

Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence full text

Don’t Count on Us: Canada’s Military Unreadiness – War on the Rocks

Trudeau casts doubt on CSIS intelligence about Chinese interference in 2019, 2021 elections – The Globe and Mail

PMO, top ministers and senior officials received 34 briefings on foreign interference since 2018, CSIS says – The Globe and Mail

Liberal Party member warned MP Dong of CSIS surveillance, national security source says – The Globe and Mail

Federal officials asked Facebook to take down false allegations about Trudeau in 2019 campaign, inquiry hears – The Globe and Mail  

Han Dong says international students voted en masse in his 2019 Liberal nomination

Political parties kept in dark about Chinese foreign interference in 2019 and 2021 elections – The Globe and Mail

Jagmeet Singh was warned about potential threat against his life, inquiry hears

Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster | CBC News

CSIS report on Liberal nomination race recalled after meeting with PM’s top security adviser | CBC News

NDP backs Conservative demand for ’emergency meeting’ between PM and premiers on carbon pricing | CBC News

Spring break is over and the BC Legislature returns with a raft of major bills: Housing, renter protections, a flipping tax, First Nations land ownership and Police Act reforms. Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau is doing a major pre-budget tour, possibly violating parliamentary privilege, to promote housing programs to mirror BC’s recent changes. And NDP MPs jump ship.

Links

Christine Boyle wins Vancouver-Little Mountain BCNDP nomination

Gwen O’Mahony Nominated in Nanaimo-Lantzville – Conservative Party of BC

More protections for renters, parents, landlords, families | BC Gov News 

New zoning, amenities, tenant protections support people, create livable communities | BC Gov News 

Flipping tax means more homes for families, not speculators | BC Gov News 

New legislation will eliminate discriminatory barriers for First Nations | BC Gov News 

New legislation paves the way for police reform | BC Gov News 

Mandatory devices limit speed for commercial trucks in B.C. | BC Gov News

Growing communities and building more homes, faster | Prime Minister of Canada

• Ford doubles down on refusal to allow fourplexes provincewide | CBC News
• ‘A significant overreach’: Canada housing plan draws provincial pushback

Unlocking housing construction and launching Canada Builds  

Protecting and expanding affordable housing

Breaking NIMBYism: Many Canadians Open to Gentle Density – Abacus Data

More $10-a-day child care spaces

A National School Food Program to set kids up for success | Prime Minister of Canada 

3 NDP MPs announce they will leave politics | CBC News

(From January): As 10 Grit MPs decide not to run again, more expected to bow out ahead of likely ‘most difficult election for Liberals since 2015’ – The Hill Times  

Trudeau wants rent to count toward credits scores, meanwhile Health Minster Dix is frustrated at his own ministry for the inability to keep ERs open full time. 

Links

• ‘I’m frustrated, too,’ health minister Adrian Dix says of Prince Rupert ER closures
• BC denies Prince George’s request to opt out of short term rental bans
• Some strata hotels, motels to be exempt from B.C.’s short-term legislation | CBC News
• Parksville property owners get exemption from short-term rental rules | Vancouver Sun
• Risk of ‘tremendous mischief’ by BC government on legal system, lawyers claim
• B.C. Crown sought detention at bail hearings for accused ‘violent’ offenders 28% of the time, data shows
• Province strengthens flood defences, protecting people, communities | BC Gov News
• Historic water bomber destined for wildfire aviation exhibit | BC Gov News
• Trudeau proposes new reforms for renters amid housing crunch – National | Globalnews.ca
• Federal government promising a ‘renters’ bill of rights’ in upcoming budget | CBC News
• Canada Revenue Agency says 232 employees fired to date for collecting CERB during pandemic – The Globe and Mail
• Billions in ineligible COVID-19 benefits at risk of going uncollected: Auditor-General report warns – The Globe and Mail

David Eby is winning the latest polls but we take a look down memory lane to another NDP leader who looked destined to win. Maybe he can maintain his lead by going after the federal Conservative leader who’s spending his days screaming Axe the Tax like he’s an even earlier BCNDP leader. Meanwhile, the federal Liberals & NDP mark two years since signing their supply and confidence agreement by checking off the list of election reforms they’d promised.

Links

B.C. Spotlight: In the face of heavy criticism on key issues, BC NDP still top choice ahead of October election – Angus Reid Institute

Premiers’ Performance: In election year, half approve of Moe and Eby, Higgs has steep hill to climb – Angus Reid Institute

Mainstreet poll (Twitter) Mainstreet British Columbia, March 2024 

Mainstreet Poll – British Columbia, March 2024

IF THIS MAN KICKED A DOG, HE’D STILL WIN THE ELECTION – PressReader

B.C. Premier David Eby, Pierre Poilievre continue war of words on carbon tax

Poilievre motion fails on carbon price increase; confidence threat remains – National | Globalnews.ca

Poilievre-led attempt to bring down Trudeau minority over carbon tax fails – CTV News

Liberals introduce legislation amending Elections Act as part of agreement with NDP | CBC News

Government Bill (House of Commons) C-65 (44-1) – First Reading – Electoral Participation Act – Parliament of Canada

Delivering for Canadians Now | Prime Minister of Canada (SACA agreement)

The BC Legislature is on break for two weeks, so we look back at the bills the government has passed and introduced so far. Then in Ottawa, things aren’t going great as we’re losing count of how many civil servants are moonlighting as government contractors.

Links

• Progress of Bills this session
• B.C. takes action to hold companies accountable for hurting people | BC Gov News
• Rob Shaw: BC ready to get tough on tech titans with sweeping legislation
• Commercial truck drivers to face higher penalties for hitting overpasses | BC Gov News
• Introduction of Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act | BC Gov News
• Transit-oriented area manual updated for local governments, development sector | BC Gov News
• GC Strategies partner pleads ignorance while being questioned by MPs looking into ArriveCan | CBC News
• Auditor general’s office discovers three of its own employees earning side money off undisclosed government contracts
• DND and military personnel OK to have side contracts with federal government
• Gen. Wayne Eyre’s speech advocating for openness on defence issues is now secret
• Senior business leaders support proposal asking pension funds to invest more in Canada – The Globe and Mail
• Finance ministers signal desire for Canada’s pension funds to invest more at home as CEOs lobby for change – The Globe and Mail
• Pension funds are Canada’s ‘crown jewels.’ Should they invest more at home? – National | Globalnews.ca
• 2023 Canadian Pension Climate Report Card — Shift – Protect Your Pension and the Planet

Selina Robinson leaves the NDP, a nomination battle in Little Mountain and should local governments have more say in immigration?

Links

Ex-minister Selina Robinson quits B.C. NDP, citing antisemitism in caucus – Victoria Times Colonist

Full text of Selina Robinson’s resignation letter to B.C. NDP caucus | National Post

Eby defends NDP against Robinson’s antisemitism allegations

BC United public service allegations about

B.C. NDP nomination battle brewing between former and current Vancouver city councillors

Changes aim to help people out of poverty | BC Gov News

Court upholds injunction against B.C. law restricting public drug use

More small towns in Canada will be able to choose which immigrants can settle, minister says – The Globe and Mail

Public servant’s company received more than $200M in government contracts since 2015 | CBC News

Ottawa suspends ArriveCan firm’s security status for some federal contracts – National | Globalnews.ca

Conservatives riding high after a lopsided victory in Durham federal byelection | CBC News