BC Today

Surrey and other Fraser Valley communities are grappling with a wave of extortion threats that largely target the South Asian business community. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has requested an extra 150 extra police officers to deal with the situation. Surrey Police Service spokesperson Ian MacDonald joins the show to discuss the state of their extortion investigations.CBC's Jon Hernandez has been following the extortion cases closely. He joins the show to break down the timeline of the rise in crime and how it is impacting public safety.

The COP 30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, kicked off Monday with UN Secretary General António Guterres warning of a lack of climate leadership. UBC political scientist Kathryn Harrison joins the show as we ask viewers if climate policies are falling by the wayside and what it may take to make climate change a political priority.

West Fraser Timber Co. has announced the permanent shutdown of its mill in the District of 100 Mile House, impacting approximately 165 employees. B.C. Conservative MLA Lorne Doerkson joins the show to discuss the recent losses to B.C.'s forestry industry.

BC Today gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to talk about winter gardening and to answer your gardening questions.

The "triangular terror" intersection of Main, 7th and Kingsway was voted the most dangerous intersection in the Lower Mainland, according to a bracket run by traffic safety volunteer group Vision Zero. Haakon Koyote, a volunteer with the group, and Sandy James, an urban planner, join the show as we ask viewers about dangerous experiences at intersections.

Mariat Jibril, the organizer of the Better Not Bitter Summit, joins the show to talk about the event, which focuses on helping people sustain a work-life balance.

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal to prevent the cull of hundreds of ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C. Dr. Scott Weese, the chief of infection control at the Ontario Veterinary College teaching hospital, joins the show to discuss the scientific and political context of the high court's decision. CBC's Caroline Barghout goes live from the ostrich farm in Edgewood to break down the aftermath, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency saying they will now move forward with the cull.

Mark Carney's Liberals pledged "generational investments" in the budget they unveiled Tuesday as Canada navigates a tariff-hit economic crisis, with $141 billion in new spending offset by about $51 billion in cuts and other savings. It includes a commitment of $13 billion towards housing and new builds over five years. Alina McKay, research manager at UBC Housing Collaborative, and Jill Atkey, CEO of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, join the show to discuss what needs to be prioritized in the housing crisis. The budget also pledges $51 billion towards the Build Communities Strong Fund over the next decade. The Filipino community in B.C. has been working to build a community centre for years. B.C. NDP MLA Mable Elmore joins the show to discuss how government funding can play into the community's goals.

It's budget day in Canada, and the new Liberal government is pledging a "big, bold" budget that contains "generational investments" to pivot away from Canada's reliance on the U.S. If the budget fails to pass, it could trigger another general election. Prime Minister Mark Carney has hinted at making sacrifices to transform the Canadian economy. Alex Hemmingway, B.C. Society for Policy Solutions senior economist, joins the show as we ask viewers about what could be sacrificed and if it is justified. Bruce Sellery, CEO of Credit Canada and CBC money columnist, joins the show to discuss the budget's impact on personal finances. We take audience calls throughout the show.

Provincial and federal leaders gathered in Vancouver to discuss the ongoing economic crisis facing B.C.'s forestry sector. B.C. Premier David Eby, alongside Dominic LeBlanc, federal minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, announced a task force made up of deputy ministers and representatives to figure out supports for the industry. Derek Nighbor, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada, joins the show to react to the announcement as we ask viewers if they are satisfied with efforts provided for the forestry sector. James Furney, the mayor of Port McNeill, takes audience calls as he discusses how his community is impacted by the U.S.'s duties on softwood lumber.

We ask our audience whether or not fireworks should be banned in B.C. municipalities. Burnaby Fire Capt. Paul Rushton joins the show to discuss safety hazards associated with Halloween fireworks.

A rainfall warning in Metro Vancouver could make for soggy trick-or-treating tonight. CBC's Darius Mahdavi gives a provincewide weather forecast for Halloween.

We delve into hauntings around British Columbia with Kelly Berge, president of the Vancouver Paranormal Society. She discusses how she became a paranormal researcher as we ask our audience if they have ever had encounters with ghosts.

Sleep doctor Dr. Najib Ayas, the medical director of UBC's sleep program, joins the show to discuss sleep strategies, habits and the science behind a good night's rest.

A new poll by Angus Reid found that three in five British Columbians believe the B.C. Supreme Court decision affirming Aboriginal title rights on a section of Richmond land will harm the relationship between Indigenous groups and the rest of the province. Jon Roe, a researcher associate with the Angus Reid Institute, joins the show to discuss the findings.Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, joins the show to discuss how uncertainty over the court ruling could impact reconciliation efforts.

B.C. Premier David Eby says the province will push ahead with broadcasting its anti-tariff ads to American audiences, despite threats of further retaliation from U.S. President Donald Trump. Diamond Isinger, a political strategist and former advisor of Canada-U.S. relations to the prime minister's office, joins the show to discuss anti-tariff strategy.

The B.C. government is considering changes to the province's graduated driver's licensing program next year to eliminate the second road test to get a full Class 5 licence. That means new drivers would not need to take a second road test to get rid of their 'N' decal. B.C. Conservative and Richmond Centre MLA Hon Chan, the opposition critic for ICBC, says eliminating the second test would make roads less safe. He joins the show alongside Vision Zero volunteer Mihai Cirstea.

NBA head coach Chauncey Billups and player Terry Rozier were arrested last Thursday along with dozens of others in a massive mafia-linked gambling investigation.Authorities say one scheme focused on insider sports betting and another on rigged poker games tied to the Mafia,to steal millions from victims over a number of years. The CBC's Katie Nicholson breaks it down for us and former Canadian Olympian and co-chair on campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling.

BC Today gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to answer your gardening questions

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will terminate trade talks with Canada over an ad sponsored by the Ontario government that featured Ronald Reagan's 1987 radio address warning of the consequences of trade barriers. Now, B.C. Premier David Eby says B.C. will create its own ad targeting Trump's tariff policies. B.C. jobs minister Ravi Kahlon takes viewers' calls as he discusses the province's planned ads and its response to the latest setback in the trade war. Laura Jones, the CEO of the Business Council of B.C., joins the show to discuss whether or not Canada should fight back harder in response.