In The House
Political columnists Michael Smyth and Rob Shaw report from the heart of British Columbia's politics.
News
Politics
1
Rob and Mike take a holiday break
Hosts Rob Shaw and Mike Smyth are taking a break over the holidays but will return in January 2020 with new episodes of In The House. Happy Holidays!
0 min
2
B.C.’s speculation tax goes through another ove...
B.C.’s speculation tax goes through another in a series of overhauls, a brewing economic crisis in the forestry sector is becoming a political issue for the NDP government and rumours abound about a spring election. Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw discuss...
33 min
3
Pharmacare, LNG, taxis and a new Green leader
B.C. weighs in with other provinces on a national Pharmacare program, Premiers Horgan and Kenney find common ground on LNG, the taxi sector takes one last stab at delaying ride-hailing and hosts Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw look at what Andrew Weaver’s...
34 min
4
B.C. government clinging to shrinking surplus
Why B.C.’s budget surplus shrinking, Chilliwack Liberal MLA John Martin faces a nomination challenge in his riding and Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson is hesitant to outline his tax changes. Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw break down the week in...
29 min
5
Pressure mounts on Horgan government to solve t...
The NDP government feels the pressure from a planned strike by bus drivers in Metro Vancouver, the premier sets a new “federal lead” MLA on cell-phone pricing, ICBC limps toward online renewals, and more this week in B.C. politics.
30 min
6
Why are gas prices still so high?
B.C.’s second review into gas prices is complete, but why do we still have no idea why the price at the pump is so high? And why is the NDP government fighting the children’s representative in court to forbid her access to child welfare files?...
32 min
7
Can Greens stay relevant at critical time in cl...
The B.C. and federal Green parties are looking for leaders. What do they have to do to stay relevant at this critical time in their future? Plus, hosts Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw take a look at the Metro Vancouver transit labour dispute and other labour...
31 min
8
Angry farmers, more ICBC problems and a beleagu...
Angry farmers show up at the legislature to raise heck about the NDP government’s changes to farm protection rules. Continued problems at ICBC look like they might provide ammunition for the BC Liberals, but end up blowing up in the face of the...
33 min
9
What do the federal election results mean for B.C?
What do the federal election results mean for B.C., and what lesson should the BC Green-NDP alliance take away from new minority federal parliament? Also, why are the BC NDP and Liberals flip-flopping on the issue of Freedom of Information? Mike...
33 min
10
Veteran MLA Linda Reid made rookie mistake runn...
B.C. voters are two years away from the next provincial election and the NDP is starting to be saddled with mid-term baggage, Mike Smyth digs into his interview with Speaker Darryl Plecas, and some Liberal MLAs have started to announce their...
30 min
11
Key figure in B.C. spending scandal was archite...
B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver announces his resignation plans, the latest in the legislature spending scandal with a new bombshell report, Jinny Sims resigns, and the NDP starts to feel the heat on ICBC rate changes. Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw...
41 min
12
Premier Horgan's UBCM performance may haunt him
Finance Minister Carole James cracks down on “discretionary” spending to protect the budget, Premier John Horgan cracks jokes (to mixed reviews) at his UBCM speech, the legislature spending scandal rolls on, and MLAs prepare to return to work in...
42 min
13
Parents left hanging as parties play politics w...
B.C. wins in court against Alberta on pipelines, mayors are furious at government’s clawback of a rural support fund, the public inquiry into money laundering starts to take shape, teen vaping becomes a B.C. health issue, and civic politicians play...
33 min
14
War over private auto insurance heats up
The war over private auto insurance heats up with a new advertising campaign, the government unveils its long-awaited aid plan for forestry workers, and Green leader Andrew Weaver suffers a health scare. Hosts Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw break it all down.
23 min
15
Federal political parties are off to the races
The show returns from summer break for the launch of the federal election campaign. How do things look for the four parties in battleground B.C.? Mike and Rob also catch everyone up on ride-hailing and the NDP government’s faux surprise at taxi...
45 min
16
Summer break
In The House hosts Rob Shaw and Mike Smyth are taking a break for the rest of July. The podcast is scheduled to return in early August. 
0 min
17
Gas companies refuse to report profits despite ...
Gas companies refuse to disclose their profit margins to a public inquiry. What are they so afraid of and what’s going on? Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is running into trouble holding on to his council and getting his police plan into reality. Mike...
29 min
18
Critics raise red flag over China-UBCM sponsors...
Call The Question podcast hosts Lesli Boldt and Maria Dobrinskaya join Mike and Rob to discuss Chinese sponsorship of UBCM, public trust in politicians, reductions to the electric vehicle rebate program, the government sale of surplus properties, and...
57 min
19
Trudeau wants it both ways on environment in pi...
What does Ottawa's TMX approval mean for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chances to win B.C. seats in the upcoming federal election? Plus, Rob and Mike look at how the B.C. government subtly shifted its tone on the project.
33 min
20
B.C.'s forestry sector facing major meltdown
Special guest Shane Woodford, CHNL Radio News Director, joins Mike and Rob to talk whether falling gas prices leads to less pressure on Premier John Horgan, the crisis in the forestry sector on the ground in the interior, and a report card of sorts on...
42 min
21
No filter for McCallum in pitch for Surrey PD
Will B.C. approve a new police force for Surrey? What happens next after a dramatic blow-up involving the Speaker and cloned hard drives at the legislature? And is the new inquiry into gas prices just a big waste of time? Rob Shaw and Mike...
39 min
22
Is B.C. NDP toolbox empty when it comes to bloc...
B.C. gets walloped by the Court of Appeal on its pipeline reference question, Jody Wilson-Raybould decides to run as an independent, the costs of investigating the legislature scandal continue to rise, and a look at the surprisingly moderate and...
34 min
23
Horgan keeps getting hammered over gas prices
Why aren’t taxes part of an inquiry into skyrocketing gas prices? What’s the latest in the latest standoff between teachers and the provincial government? Mike Smyth and Rob Shaw break down the latest B.C. political news.  
40 min
24
B.C. spending scandal report lands with a thud ...
A bombshell report by former chief justice Beverly McLachlin into the legislature spending scandal lands. What allegations panned out and what fizzled into nothing? We hear audio from Speaker Darryl Plecas and suspended sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz....
43 min
25
Crack down on money laundering like playing wha...
Host Rob Shaw with guests Vaughn Palmer and Richard Zussman examine the Green Party’s win in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith byelection, money laundering in B.C.’s luxury-car sector, Premier John Horgan's actions on gas prices, “photo radar 2.0” at...
39 min