BC Today

Today's program celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day, with a focus on inroads in tech and tourism. We'll be joined by entrepreneurs Josh Nilson, investor and adviser, Maskwa Investments and founder at Indigenous Tech Circle, and Paula Amos, Chief Marketing and Development Officer with Indigenous Tourism BC..and you can call in and let us know about an Indigenous person or people breaking down barriers in your community. Then in our second half, gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to answer your questions, and discusses the bugs and pests causing disease in B.C. as summer begins.

Seven Lower Mainland councillors are requesting a federal audit of a long-delayed and over-budget wastewater treatment plant being built in North Vancouver. We speak to two of the councillors, Kash Heed, Richmond city councillor and Ahmed Yousef, Maple Ridge city councillor. Then we celebrate the graduating class of 2024 with inspiring and proud calls and e-mails from our audience.

Former B.C. United candidate Chris Moore is set to run for the B.C. Conservatives in October's provincial election. Our provincial affairs reporter Katie DeRosa gives us the latest details and our audience shares their thoughts on the state of B.C.'s main political parties. Then, our Road to Recovery series continues with a discussion on brain injuries acquired from overdoses. We invite viewers to share their stories and we speak to Mauricio Garcia-Barrera, psychology professor, University of Victoria.

The family of a Vancouver woman who was forced to transfer hospitals before she could receive medical assistance in dying (MAID) is suing the province and Providence Health Care, saying the Catholic health authority's policy to ban MAID in its facilities violates patients' Charter rights. We discuss the case with Sally Thorne, Professor Emeritus, UBC School of Nursing, and ask viewers if they think hospitals should be allowed to refuse services on religious beliefs. Then, do you find it difficult to make friends in your community? Kasley Killam, social scientist and author, "The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health Is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier" joins us to share practical tips and habits you can pick up to connect with people where you are.

Elizabeth May, co-leader of the federal Green Party is calling on party leaders to discuss in private a contentious report on foreign interference. We discuss the topic with Alistair MacGregor, the federal NDP's public safety critic and Michel Juneau-Katsuya, former CSIS Asia-Pacific division chief and senior intelligence officer. Then, we get tips from vet Dr. Lauren Adelman on how to keep your pets safe from ticks and tick-borne illnesses. If you have a question, you can call the show after 12:30 p.m. PT to ask it on air.

Taylor Swift says her Eras Tour will end in December. As of June 14, Swift only has three shows scheduled that month, all in Vancouver. We discuss with Vancouver City Councillor Sarah Kirby-Jung what it means to the city to have the record-breaking tour end here, and hear from our audience. Then Vancity has laid off seven per cent of its workforce, after a year of losses and rising costs. Michelle interviews Vancity president and CEO Wellington Holbrook. Finally, just ahead of Father's Day, the co-owners of Butchers Block in Burnaby join us in-studio to share special barbecue recipes.

Gig workers in B.C. are to be paid a minimum of $20.88 an hour starting Sept. 3 under new provincial rules. We discuss the impact of the change with Ian Tostenson, CEO, B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, and ask viewers if they would pay more on delivery and ride-hail apps to support higher wages. Then, our Road to Recovery series continues with a tour of a unique women's recovery centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. And finally, many couples face fertility challenges. But while up to one-third of cases involve male infertility, it's not often discussed. We're joined by Dr. Alice Domar, health psychologist at Inception Fertility, and Dr. Caitlin Dunne, fertility specialist, Pacific Fertility, to talk about causes and treatments.

B.C. United has dropped Asad Gondal as its candidate for Surrey North in October's provincial election. The party's leader, Kevin Falcon, said Gondal's published views on the Israel-Hamas war and on the 2SLGBTQ+ community were "inconsistent" with the party's position. We discuss the fallout with Mo Amir, On the Coast's Soapbox Social panelist and This is VANCOLOUR podcast host and ask viewers for their thoughts on how Falcon has been handling B.C. United's recent struggles. Then Dan Levitt, B.C.'s Seniors' Advocate joins us to discuss affordability for seniors, with a new report saying rent is their most pressing financial concern.

Premier David Eby says he's frustrated that the federal government's $750 million to help support a surge in the number of temporary residents in Canada isn't being dispensed on a per capita basis in B.C. We discuss his criticism of the Trudeau government with our guests Sanjay Jeram, senior lecturer in political science at Simon Fraser University, Carol Day, Richmond City Councillor, and Loren Kinbrace, director of engagement with Kinbrace; and ask viewers if they feel B.C. is getting its fair share. And, Surrey Board of Trade President and CEO Anita Huberman discusses the latest developments in the city's policing transition.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating Saturday's collision between a pleasure boat and a floatplane in Vancouver's Coal Harbour. Our guests Mike Derbyshire, Operations Manager, Deep Cove Kayak, and Ian gilson, Canadian Safe Boating Council director discuss safety considerations for all users on the water.On Sunday, hiker Jason Chong completed his 5,000th Grouse Grind ascent. Our guest Jordan Guenette, UBC Faculty of Medicine Professor talk about the challenge and the appeal

Canadian border workers could begin job action at 1 p.m. PT today if a deal isn't reached. We bring you the latest on the mediation talks. WestJet has announced a new "UltraBasic" fare that excludes carry-ons, seat choices and points. Our guest John Gradek, McGill University aviation lecturer and our callers weigh in on what this means for airline travel in Canada. Then, gardening columnist Brian Minter is back to answer your questions, and shares advice on how to make the best of the warmer, drier weather forecast in the week ahead.

We remember the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and cover the commemorations taking place in B.C. and around the world. Our callers bring us their connections to D-Day, and we speak with Retired Corporal Guy Black, a Canadian Service Veteran from Coquitlam who marked the anniversary with an 80-kilometre memorial walk; and David Zimmerman, University of Victoria history professor, about D-Day's context in modern history.

Rescue crews are awaiting a break in the weather to resume their search for three climbers who have been missing for five days in Garibaldi Park near Squamish. CBC's Jon Hernandez brings us the latest.The Bank of Canada has cut its key interest rate to 4.75 per cent, marking the first rate cut in more than four years. Guests Murray Baker, Family Services of Greater Vancouver; Manager of Financial empowerment, and Steve Ng, mortgage specialist at TD join to discuss the impacts.

B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko has said the province's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) program in schools must be reconsidered. We discuss with Annie Ohana, the Indigenous Department Head at L.A. Matheson Secondary School in Surrey. And with the arrival of crow nesting season, some people are sharing stories about getting divebombed by the birds. We talk about their behaviour with Kathy Martin, an Ornithologist and Professor in the Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences at UBC, and John Marzluff a professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington.

Elenore Sturko is defecting to the B.C. Conservatives — the second B.C. United MLA to do so within a week. We discuss the political implications with Rob Shaw, CHEK leglislative reporter, about Sturko's decision, what this means for her, and for Kevin Falcon as his B.C. United party loses another MLA.As summer approaches, we discuss the rising rate of skin cancer in Canada. We hear from Brian “Red” Hamilton, Vancouver Canucks assistant equipment manager, about how a stranger's observation, helped him to get treatment. Our other guest Dr Philippe Lefrancois, Director of Research in the Division of Dermatology at McGill University, joins us to tell us more about the signs.