Hotel Pacifico

Hotel Pacifico

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Welcome to Hotel Pacifico. We’re your 5-star podcast destination for B.C. politicos. Hosted by Mike McDonald and Kate Hammer. With Geoff Meggs. #BCpoli #StrategySuite #MiniBarHotel Pacifico is recorded on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Air Quotes Media


    • Oct 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 6m AVG DURATION
    • 128 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Hotel Pacifico

    "Canadians not travelling to the US" Tamara Vrooman + Bob Kronbauer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 74:27


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, BCGEU, BC Dairy and Port of Vancouver.This week, Geoff and Mike welcome Tamara Vrooman, CEO of YVR, Chancellor of SFU, and former Deputy Minister of BC's Finance Ministry. Together, they discuss YVR's role in trade, the increasing role of air cargo, and what BC needs to do to attract investment and get on track.    In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff analyze the latest polling on BC politics, dig into letters of warning from the Mayor of Richmond to landowners about the Cowichan decision, review the mass resignation of ob-gyns in Kamloops, and discuss Vince Ready coming to the rescue in the BCGEU negotiations. There's also a visit from a surprise guest who is launching a new BC-based publication.

    "Both provinces have a champion" with Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes + George Abbott

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 86:28


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, BCGEU, BC Dairy and Port of Vancouver.This week, things are a little different at Hotel Pacifico. Mike and Geoff kick off with Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes of Alberta's “The Discourse” pod to unpack the escalating pipeline battle between Danielle Smith and David Eby, bringing perspectives from either side of the Rockies. Later, Geoff and Mike welcome George Abbott, longtime cabinet minister and current BC Treaty Commissioner, to discuss his new book “Unceded.” Together, they explore the unique historical context of Indigenous relations in BC and how it has shaped modern reconciliation efforts, including modern treaties and the recent Cowichan decision. To wrap it up, Geoff and Mike give an update on the BCGEU strike, which is now in week 7.

    "John Horgan: In His Own Words” with Rod Mickleburgh + Maria Dobrinskaya

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 80:17


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.This week, Geoff and Mike welcome veteran journalist and author Rod Mickleburgh, co-author of “John Horgan: In His Own Words”, which was formally launched this week. Together, they reflect on Premier Horgan's career and legacy, as well as the candid thoughts he shared while working on the memoir in his final year.   In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff are joined by Maria Dobrinskaya, former BC director of the Broadbent Institute, for a lively discussion on the week in BC politics: Premier Eby in the hot seat with developers, whether there are too many “czars”, and the brewing mutiny in the Conservative caucus. 

    "Mayors of BC, Unite" with Fran Yanor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 66:31


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.Geoff and Mike welcome back Fran Yanor of Northern Beat for an extended Strategy Suite. Together, they analyze the key moments from last week's UBCM: mayors taking the government to task on street disorder, the Green Party's newly elected leader, and … ostriches? Plus, they discuss Premier Danielle Smith's controversial plan to build a new pipeline to BC's West Coast. 

    "No Groundswell" with Dimitri Pantazopoulos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 72:17


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.This week, polling expert and political strategist Dimitri Pantazopoulos returns to the Hotel Pacifico for a debrief on the Conservative leadership review. Along with Mike and Geoff, they discuss John Rustad's future as leader of the Conservative Party and recap Elenore Sturko's sudden departure from caucus. In the Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff discuss the topics taking centre stage at UBCM, including the Heritage Conservation Act, challenges facing the forestry sector, and how smaller communities are dealing with street disorder. They also cover the latest candidates in Vancouver's mayoral race and provide updates on the races in New Westminster, Richmond, and Surrey. 

    Special Episode: BC Cities and Towns with Richard Zussman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2025 36:12


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from FortisBC.In a special episode, Mike welcomes back frequent guest Global News reporter Richard Zussman to discuss the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities Convention and why it matters. They discuss the hot topics for mayors and councillors such as the Cowichan decision, Heritage Conservation Act, street disorder, and the natural resource economy. Mike and Richard squeeze in a few minutes on the ongoing B.C. Conservative leadership review with results expected shortly. Plus, the final days of the Green leadership battle.

    "Infiltrating A Beauty Contest" with Judy Darcy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 89:02


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.This week, Geoff welcomes Judy Darcy, feminist, union leader and then cabinet minister, who got her start in politics infiltrating a beauty contest on behalf of the women's movement. She went on to lead CUPE, Canada's largest public sector union, negotiated with Premiers in most provinces, and headed BC's biggest health care union before moving into BC politics where she confronted the fentanyl crisis and COVID. It's all in her new autobiography, Leading from the Heart.In Strategy Suite, Geoff, Kate, and Mike take a look at BC's dismal finances and consider the turmoil inside all three parties in the Legislature.  The hosts review David Eby's supposed $450,000 contract with a comedian and Mike brings a Top 10 list of Eby jokes. Kate has an important announcement. 

    “Blindingly Obvious” with Don Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 75:22


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.Mike & Geoff welcome Don Wright back to Hotel Pacifico.  The former head of BC's public service has unleashed his views on his substack, Blindingly Obvious.  The hosts discuss Wright's hot takes on how Canada's immigration levels have come at a cost to the economy, jobs, and the housing market; how we can have our own values, but can't have our own arithmetic; and how energy illiteracy could kill us.  In the Strategy Suite, Mike & Geoff discuss the latest Angus Reid numbers on Premier Eby's approval rating, the Teck Anglo mining merger, Premier Eby's pending trip to Ottawa, BCGEU labour action, and reverberations from the Cowichan decision. 

    “Take me to the Greek” with Dimitri Pantazopoulos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 55:49


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and BCGEU.Pollster and veteran campaigner Dimitri Pantazopoulos joins Mike for a rare 1:1 interview. He shares his perspective based on over three decades in national and provincial politics, including playing key roles in major political victories for Christy Clark, Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney, Andrew Wilkinson, and Doug Ford. Mike and Dimitri discuss how polling has changed over the past few decades, what it will take for the Conservatives to win federally, and what the BC Conservatives must do now to take their near win to a majority government in the next provincial election. 

    "Conservative Stereotypes" with Claire Rattée + Nicole Brassard

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 81:36


    "Evolution of Indigenous Journalism" with Wawmeesh Hamilton + Richard Zussman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 69:07


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "Business and Government Parallels" with Glen Clark, BC's 31st Premier

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 53:43


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "Crack Down On Gender-Based Violence" with Angela Marie MacDougall

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 76:31


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    BC Politics Trivia Duel with Baldrey & McElroy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 55:48


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "Hotel Pacifico Rim" with Canada's Ambassador to Japan Ian McKay + Anita Zaenker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 76:21


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    BREAKING NEWS: Emergency Pod Cabinet Shuffle Reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 21:48


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.BREAKING NEWS: Join Mike and Geoff for a special "Emergency Cabinet Shuffle Reaction" episode.

    "Fires, Closures, and Loss" with Kim Haakstad + Jess Ketchum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 80:33


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "The Whole Story" with Aaron Gunn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 83:55


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "It all fits" with Dallas Smith + Duncan Wlodarczak

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 77:10


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, the Health Sciences Association of BC, and the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

    "The BC NDP has a younger, more dynamic bench" with Adrian Dix

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 82:26


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, the Health Sciences Association of BC, and the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

    "Tough Grandma" Mayor Brenda Locke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 79:00


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Health Sciences Association of BC.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 83:06


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Health Sciences Association of BC.

    Harman Bhangu: The difference between BC Conservatives & national Conservatives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 77:53


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    What to do with BC natural resources? ft. Stewart Muir

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 77:03


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Multicultural Communications & Media with Jatinder Rai

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 77:16


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Western Alienation with Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 67:43


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Super Strategy Suite with Bob Dewar, Caroline Elliott and Brittney Kerr

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 67:43


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    100th Episode Post-Election Special with David Herle

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 70:31


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Battle for BC: Predictions!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 41:59


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from BC Dairy, and the NFP.SPECIAL POD:

    "Poilievre was channeling Trump" with Don Davies + Caroline Elliott

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 77:04


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Battle for BC: Vancouver and North of Fraser Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 52:25


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from BC Dairy, and the NFP.SPECIAL POD:

    "Keep Connor McDavid on the Ice" /w former premier, Gordon Campbell + Marko Dekovic

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 79:29


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    Battle for BC: Fraser Valley & Beyond Hope Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2025 49:02


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from BC Dairy, and the NFP.SPECIAL POD:

    Election Polling with Greg Lyle + Guest Co-Host Aisha Estey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 86:57


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Battle for BC: Suburban Battleground Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 46:34


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from BC Dairy, and the NFP.SPECIAL POD:

    "When Sh*t Really Hit The Fan" with Matt Stickney

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 77:06


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    Battle for BC: Riding x Riding Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2025 39:24


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from BC Dairy. SPECIAL POD:

    "A Chaotic and Dysfunctional System" with Allan Gregg + Caroline Elliott

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 86:36


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "More to be Desired" with Áʼa꞉líya Warbus

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 82:14


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "The Tariff War and Budgets" with Trevor Tombe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 79:59


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    Emerging from BC Budget Lockup

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 51:36


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "Remove the partisan rhetoric" with former BC LG, Janet Austin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 81:25


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "Consolidate and Moderate" with Jas Johal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 79:23


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "A centrist alternative" with Karin Kirkpatrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 80:03


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "Working people up for grabs" with Sussanne Skidmore

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 75:08


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 

    "It's the economy stupid" with Laura Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 67:51


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC. 🏨🌄  This week Hotel Pacifico goes all in the Ragin' Cajun's maxim: "it's the economy stupid" as we explore ... the economy ... with Business Council of British Columbia president and CEO, Laura Jones!In the Strategy Suite, our hosts discuss how Premier Eby is positioning himself in the Trump trade war. Plus the ragin' debate on community safety.Join Mike McDonald, Kate Hammer, and Geoff Meggs for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

    "Sphere of Influence" with Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 86:44


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "What the h*ll is a critical mineral anyway" with Michael Goehring

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 65:05


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    "ChatGPT versus doctors" with Terry Lake

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 75:02


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

    Holiday Party with LG Austin, James Moore, Joy MacPhail, and Richard Zussman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 71:33


    Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and Airbnb.

    "Command performance" with Murray Rankin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 80:48


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