Ep 186: Clearing the COVID air
Translink is bleeding money, outbreaks at meat packing plants prompt calls for paid sick leave and an interview on air pollution and COVID-19.
PolitiCoast · Scott de Lange Boom, Ian Bushfield
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (cdn.simplecast.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
The Mayor's Council has dire warnings about the state of Translink if ridership remains low and its revenue sources have largely evaporated. Will the province and federal government step up?
And multiple poultry processing plants in BC and meat plants in Alberta are facing serious COVID-19 outbreaks. This has sparked renewed calls in BC, at least, for guaranteed paid sick leave for workers.
Finally, Scott spoke to Professor Michael Brauer from the UBC School of Public Health about the interactions between air pollution and COVID-19. This interview was released early for patrons.
As a test feature, we're also providing the transcript (this was done automatically with some touching up, so excuse some errors). If you find this useful, let us know and we might make it a Patreon goal to provide these for all episodes going forward. Read the transcript.
Check out our partner: BC Today is the daily newsletter dedicated exclusively to BC Politics. Sign up for a free two-week trial and listen to the episode for your code for an exclusive subscription deal if you decide to continue. Start your trial at politicstoday.news/free-trial
Patron Slack is open to all supporters – Fill out the form for access
Links
- TransLink's revenue problem will continue into 2021, with shortfalls of up to $885M | Urbanized
- Mayors Council Slides
- BC Premier asking federal government to provide transit relief funding | Urbanized
- Another COVID-19 outbreak identified at 'sister plant' of United Poultry
- Worker dies, hundreds sick as Cargill temporarily closes meat-processing plant at centre of COVID-19 outbreak
- Alberta Labour offers details on probe looking into COVID-19 death linked to Cargill meat plant
- Horgan quoted after cabinet meeting by Vancouver Sun
- Michael Brauer's faculty page
- Current Metro Vancouver Air Quality