Democracy Watch

Arman and Akhil speak with Gracy Buckholtz of CUPE 2278 on the OrganizeUBC campaign which is looking to organize research workers and academic assistants at UBC.

In December 2019 we spoke to Globe and Mail Journalist Kerry Gold, on recent policy developments on real estate in Vancouver + the tragic story of a mishandled whistleblower complaint in the BC Ministry of Health: https://thewalrus.ca/the-whistle-blower-who-got-it-wrong/

In this live episode Kai and Nash of Sulong UBC share their personal experiences and the historical context of the apparent return of fascism to the Philippines. We discuss what "red-tagging" means and Nash's first-hand experience being "red-tagged". We also unpack why the murder of the journalist Percy Lapid has become a flashpoint in the struggle for press freedom and human rights in the Philippines. You can learn more about Sulong here: IG: https://www.instagram.com/sulong.ubcFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sulong.ubcWebsite: https://sulong.ca/join/

To wrap our coverage of the 2022 City Elections, Arman and Alex spoke with political consultant and TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidate, Bill Tieleman, on the history of TEAM of the 70s, rezoning, climate policy, and policing.

The Vancouver City Elections are this week! Continuing on our 2022 City Elections coverage, we spoke to climate scientist and Green Party candidate Dr. Devyani Singh on climate policy, housing, and the immigrant experience in Vancouver.

The Vancouver City Elections are around the corner! We spoke to musician health economist and One City candidate Ian Cromwell about policing, climate policy and the cultural changes he hopes to bring on council.

Ahead of the 2021 federal election we spoke with 2019 Vancouver Granville NDP Candidate and climate activist Yvonne Hanson on her experiences running and the climate agenda of each party.

We talk to Eris Nyx of Drug User Liberation Front about what real Safe Supply looks like for people who use drugs + discussion about COVID19 and random street checks, and Chinatown YVR seniors saved from the brink of eviction.

We talk to Quin Lawrence about the Disability Filibuster and how they’re trying to Kill Bill C7. We also discuss #COVID19BC and the #NDP21 resolution to #CancelStudentDebt. Tune in at 101.9 FM or http://citr.ca

Interview w Mel Woods about the layoffs @HuffPostCanada & the importance of valuing your work as a journalist in Canada. We also talk about COVID19 and the escalating situation in the third wave of the pandemic. Tune in!

We talk to Matthew Ramsey from UBC Media Relations and Tanysha Klassen from the BC Federation of Students about campuses reopening this fall, the challenges involved in opening universities for the next academic year, and the excitement they are hearing from students to return to campus. We also talk the folks over at the Sliced Mango Collective about their concerns around displacement of Filipino businesses due to development in Joyce-Collingwood. To close, this week's episode features a discussion on the rise of anti-Asian sentiment.

We talk to members of the newly formed CACBNBC (Coalition of African, Caribbean and Black Nurses in British Columbia) about anti-Black discrimination in BC healthcare. + a discussion about donations to the VPD foundation, and will the NDP stop renovictions? Tune in!

We talk to Pearl Low about Black History Month and YVR council’s record of celebrating black life through architecture. We also talk to Kendra Milne, Executive Director of Health Justice, about the B.C. Mental Health Act. Plus: is BC the Florida of Canada? Discuss

Featuring a discussion about Lunar New Year traditions in the Vietnamese, Korean, and Cantonese diasporas, as well as a discussion about housing in Vancouver. Tune in!

We speak to Mark Haden of MAPS Canada on psychedelics as a potential treatment for PTSD and Namjeet, a volunteer at the Indian Farmers Protests that occurred at the end of last month on the issues sparking the protests. Tune in!

Episode includes: DTES organizer Fiona York on the vaccine strategy for homeless folks in #YVR, Meenakshi Mannoe of Pivot Legal on increased policing during #COVID19, and Dr. Linc Kesler of UBC CIS discusses how we teach Indigenous content. Tune in!

We have an interview with Jens von Bergmann about his analysis of the December 23rd COVID modelling presentation slides, and the lack of data made available to the public, as well as an interview with Jessica Magonet from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association regarding the use of solitary confinement in Canadian prisons.

We hear from Matt Westphal President of the Surrey Teachers Association about COVID19 in schools, Ali Omelaniec of the Downtown Eastside Women's centre about how shelters are prepping for winter and the Canadian Memorial United Church about how Christmas will be celebrated this year.

We hear from Harsha Walia about how #YVR Council’s move to freeze the 2021 policing budget may not help the case to #DefundVPD. The collective also discusses COVID19 & how Dr. Bonnie Henry’s image has changed.

We have Teri Mooring from BCTF talking about bced’s reactions to the new COVID19 restrictions. We also talk to Stephen D’Souza from the Homelessness Services Association of BC about what a ‘household’ means for people experiencing homelessness.

We have Teri Mooring from BCTF talking about bced’s reactions to the new COVID19 restrictions. We also talk to Stephen D’Souza from the Homelessness Services Association of BC about what a ‘household’ means for homeless people.

This week's episode featured Sara Sagaii talking about why BC needs an Eviction Ban and why a Rent Freeze might not be enough. We also talk about Vancouver's move to decriminalize possession of drugs + #COVID19 in schools within #YVR.

We talk about Vancouver’s Climate Emergency plan with Alex Boston and discuss how far it goes. There’s also chat about votes being counted from the #BCElxn and about a potential YVR Olympics bid + COVID19. Tune in!

We’ve got an interview with Fiona York, an administrator and coordinator with the Carnegie Community Action Project in the Downtown Eastside, and an interview with Greg Mansfield, the author of Ghosts of Vancouver. To close, the collective discusses the fireworks ban, as well as the results of the provincial election.

We talk to Melanee Thomas about sexism and racism in #cdnpoli and Sherly Lightfoot about how Indigenous people have been talked about during #BCElxn2020. Plus: anti-maskers, the Yaletown OPS, & final hot election takes. Tune in!

Includes an interview with drug policy advisor Karen Ward about the proposed overdose prevention site in Yaletown, plus audio from this week’s council meeting about it. After that we discuss everything going on w/ the BC Liberals, including the leaked sexist comments and other fun scandals.

Interviews with Scott Berstein on drug policy and Brenda Locke on policing, a discussion about the upcoming election to close.

Interview with Vancouver-Langara NDP candidate Tesicca Truong and a discussion between the collective members on housing, the upcoming provincial election & health policy.

UCFW 1518 & the importance of childcare for grocery workers +discussion

On this episode of CiTR News Live, Arman and Isa You interview UFCW 1518 treasurer Patrick Johnson on the importance of sufficient childcare provisions for grocery workers and other concerns held by the union in the time of the pandemic.

News collective member Isaac interviews Gabby Doebeli and Ishmam Bhuiyan from the UBC Social Justice Centre on the local community's response to the pandemic.

We discuss the WHO declaration of coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic as well as the United States' ban on travel to over two dozen European countries. In addition to that, we talk about how coronavirus is already affecting major events here at UBC and in Vancouver. Lastly, we learn about how fellow vancouverites are feeling about their beloved city. If you have any questions about the coronavirus, info can be found on the CDC page (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html).

On our special episode of CiTR News Live, Isa You and Arman Raina speak to Mariam Abdelaziz and Gabby Doebeli of Social Justice Center at UBC about the motion by Jean Swanson declaring a homelessness emergency, as well as the Canadian volunteers for Bernie Sanders,

On today's show, we listen to info on the AMS elections as well as the voices and sounds of the Wet'suwet'en walkout and blockade of the intersection of Wesbrook Mall and University Blvd organized by UBCC350. We also discuss numerous topics including: the merits of that walkout and blockade as well as oil pipelines, and whether or not a BC tax on sugary drinks will help or hurt the Vancouver community.

We look back to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Memorial March two weeks ago, a piece about food justice, a quick headline about how 2019 saw a decrease in overdose-related deaths in Vancouver and a discussion about fraternities.

Today's show features a piece about the protests at the Indian Consulate and a ghost hunter story. In addition to this, we have headlines about the newly implemented riding hailing apps, Uber and Lyft; as well as protests involving UBCC350 and a PSA about the Coronavirus.

The upcoming protests at the Indian Consulate, the Muslim Students' Association here at UBC, the funeral industry, and some local Chinese Canadian history

It's 2020 and the News Collective has a new weekly show: On the Point! On the Point is the new iteration of Democracy Watch, led by Isa You and Zachary Tharpe. In this episode, the News Collective reviews and discussed locals headlines, including: the Georgia Straight acquisition by MediaCentral, Translink's new rapid buses and UBC's Extinction Rebellion hunger strike.

We first speak to Rory Mills, one of the coordinators of the regenerative culture branch at Extinction Rebellion Vancouver about plans to hunger strike if UBC does not commit to divesting. We then have a conversation with Nandita Ratan, an Instagram artist whose political art, 'India is Burning', went viral recently. She discusses her transition towards more political art and recent protests in India with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Checkout here art on https://www.instagram.com/nanditaratan/. We also discuss the city budget, and the fallout from the departure of car2go.

We kick-off the show with an interview with Charlie Smith, editor and civic affairs reporter for the Georgia Straight. Sitting Councillor Rebecca Bligh recently resigned from the Non-Partisan Association (NPA). This came after several social conservatives were elected to the NPA's board of directors. In this interview, Charlie Smith unpacks what this rightward shift means for Vancouver and the NPA caucus. He also makes the case for electoral reform in Vancouver.We then speak with Alex Hemingway from the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. He discusses the recent 8.3% property city tax hike proposed by staff that has city councillors scrambling for savings. He argues in favour of progressive property taxes to invest in public housing.

CiTR News talks about local art controversies including the Spinning Chandelier.

We start by continuing our conversation on developments on Hong Kong protests in Vancouver with News Collective comrade Serena Zhang. We then dig into the UBC's decision to partially divest with UBCC350 member Kate Hodgson. After that we hear from Translink spokesperson Ben Murphy on the implications on the new deal between Unifor and the Coast Mountain Bus Company. We also hear from students on their reaction to the cancellation of the transit system shut down due to this deal. Finally, News Collective Comrade Akshay Kulkarni wraps up the show with a teaser on his piece in the Thunderbird 'Body Disposal Not a Burning Issue for BC'.

Democracy Watch starts with local headlines, then moves into a live interview with Hong Kong exchange student, Davin Wong. Wong is the current spokesman for Enlightenment of Hong Kong (EHK) at UBC and the former president of Hong Kong University Students' Union. After that, the collective digs into the intensifying transit strike. We hear from campus commuters, as well as Gavin McGarrigle—the Western Regional Director of Unifor. Yesterday McGarrigle declared a full system shut down will take place next week. The show ends with another spotlight on Langley's Critter Care Wildlife Society.

On today's show, we hear local headlines followed by an interview with Bill Teileman, a spokesman for tor the VSB cafeteria workers union. Teileman explains why he believes proposes cuts to public school hot lunch and culinary programs will have negative impacts on both students and workers. After that we take a tour of Critter Care; a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Langley. The show ends with a podcast episode titled "The Intimacy of Voicemail," made by News Collective member Violet Myles.

On today's Halloween show we learn about a mysterious ghost that has haunted the Old Spaghetti Factory. After that we hear another spooky tale involving monks, the old Mathers' house and a crow named Brad. The show also digs into the impacts of a recent motion to ban fireworks, as well as new developments at Mountain View Cemetery.

Today's show features an interview with Dr. Marina Adshade — the professor who reignited a debate over whether fraternities should continue to exist on campus. After that we speak with Vancouver MP hopefuls about how they plan to tackle Vancouver's housing crisis. The show ends with an exploration into why candidate election signs are sometimes written in multiple languages.

Today's show begins with local headlines and profiles of two Vancouver federal ridings. After that, the News Collective looks into recent allegations that UBC students were drugged at a UBC fraternity social event. The show ends with a re-airing of "Charlie & Lina" — an experimental audio story about Vancouver's Bloedel Conservatory — and a discussion on Monday's English-language leaders debate.

On today's show we go over local headlines and talk about early voting at UBC. After that, the News Collective revisits last Friday's Climate Strike to hear from the individuals who made up the 100,000 person crowd demanding climate action. Then we turn to Strathcona, with a report from Monday's demonstration to quiet Prior Street. We hear reaction to council's newly passed plans to build an underpass at Prior and Venables from local business owner Ryan Parfitt and Strathcona Residents Association spokesperson, Penny Crawford.

On today's show we cover the Unite Here 40 hotel workers strikes happening in downtown Vancouver. After that we turn to the week-long 2019 Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention. CiTR News talks with trade show vendors and Vancouver city councillors at the UBCM, as well as demonstrators outside the convention who are there to support B.C.'s ailing forestry sector.

In today's show, the News Collective unpacks the TRPP or Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy and asks if its recently updated protections are working. The show also features an interview with local high school climate change activist Malka Martz Oberlander, as well as a group discussion on Trudeau's recent blackface debacle.

Vancouver's Granville riding brings up interesting questions about how identity politics, party politics and strategic voting factor into the way people vote, especially people on the left. CiTR's News Collective speaks with two local activists about whether former Liberal Jody Wilson-Raybould or the NDP's Yvonne Hanson, are a better fit for left-leaning voters. After that, we have an interview with Councillor Christine Boyle about a narrowly passed rezoning at 8636-8656 Oak Street and how the TRPP is good but not good enough.