This is Vancouver

What is the easiest way to get from city to city without a car? Well, if you lived in Europe or much of Asia, the answer would be obvious: a train. But in Metro Vancouver, it’s not that simple, even with our single passenger train service, which this week is turning 30 years old. On the Thursday edition of This is Vancouver, we dive into Metro Vancouver politics with Justin McElroy. Today, our main theme is regional transportation: why is it so limited here? What are the challenges to make it better? And could you one day take a train to Abbotsford, Chilliwack or Squamish?

From food banks to smaller grocery baskets, working families are finding ways to get by as food prices keep climbing. The CBC’s Alison Cole has been speaking to shoppers, experts, and food bank leaders to explore how food inflation is reshaping daily life across the Lower Mainland.

The Park Theatre was set to close — until a group of filmmakers stepped in to save it. Stephen Quinn speaks with Vancouver directors Zach Lipovsky and Chris Ferguson about the history of the theatre and why they're lending a hand.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s plan to create a new housing corporation was blocked at City Hall — even though his ABC team had more votes. Municipal Affairs Reporter Justin McElroy breaks down what happened, why both sides are blaming each other, and what it means for the city’s next big budget fight. Plus, a conversation about the election campaign beginning in B.C.'s 4th largest city. 

The Vancouver Park Board has voted to add new parking fees at several community centres. Some residents say the change will make recreation less accessible. Park Board Chair Laura Christensen joins Stephen Quinn to explain the decision.

A B.C. Supreme Court ruling has recognized Cowichan Tribes’ Aboriginal title to a stretch of land in Richmond — leaving some homeowners uncertain about their property rights. Richmond’s mayor explains what’s next and B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad shares his reaction. *Correction: At the 0:42 and 10:04 mark of this segment, there are incorrect statements that the B.C. Supreme Court decision covers 7.5 square kilometres of land in Richmond, B.C. In fact, the ruling applies to a portion of that area, meaning Quw’utsun Nation has Aboriginal title to between 300 and 324 hectares (or 750 and 800 acres) of land.

With one year to go before the 2026 municipal election, many Metro Vancouver mayors are already deciding their political futures. Justin McElroy spoke with all 21 of them to find out who’s planning to run again—and who’s ready to call it a day. Stephen Quinn breaks it down on This Is Vancouver.

We look at whether a the peace deal between Hamas and Israel can hold and how local communities most affected by the tragedy in the Middle East are feeling optimistic. World leaders gathered in Egypt to witness the signing of the first phase of a ceasefire deal.UBC political science professor Michael Byers is optimistic that this ceasefire will hold. Jewish Federation of Vancouver president Ezra Shanken told the CBC's Jason D'Sousa the ceasefire is bringing some hope to the Jewish community. And Nariman Ajjur describes what she lived through in Gaza and what her family has experienced since 2023.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to Vancouver, bringing seven games, major upgrades, and big expectations. CBC’s Laurence Watt and Zameer Karim join Stephen Quinn to launch The Pitch: Vancouver’s Road to the 2026 World Cup and explore what it will take to get the city ready — from BC Place renovations to the broader challenges of hosting a global event.

Overtime pay for Vancouver police has jumped more than 50% in three years, with some officers making six figures on top of their salary. Reporter Liam Britten joins host Stephen Quinn to break down the numbers, the political pressure on Mayor Ken Sim, and what it could mean for the city’s budget.

Vancouver’s mayor wants a zero per cent property tax increase in 2026, but that means cutting $100 million from the city’s budget. We hear from councillors and our municipal affairs reporter about the proposal.

The provincial government has announced that Surrey and Prince George will be getting 100 new involuntary care beds. Premier David Eby says there's a huge urgency to expand access to beds close to communities. We hear from Surrey city councillor and mayoral candidate Linda Annis, and Prince George councillor Trudy Klassen who have been calling for involuntary beds for their communities. D.J. Larkin and Kora Debeck question its effectiveness and B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne give us an idea of what the plan will be to expand this service.

Vancouver councillor Rebecca Bligh is officially running for mayor, while fellow councillor Pete Fry is weighing his own political future. Host Stephen Quinn talks with CBC’s Justin McElroy about what these early moves say about the race, the stakes, and the political chatter coming out of the UBCM conference. 

B.C. MLA Elenore Sturko was abruptly removed from the Conservative caucus just hours after party members voted to keep John Rustad as leader. We hear from Sturko herself and fellow MLA Linda Hepner about Rustad’s leadership — and what this all means for the party’s future.

A proposed 27-storey tower in the West End is stirring debate among neighbours worried about traffic and high-rises. City councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung joins us to talk about balancing the concerns of residents with the need for more hotel rooms.

Stanley Park’s future is back in the spotlight with a new mobility study. The plan looks at ways to improve access while reducing congestion. We hear from critics and supporters about what it all means for Vancouver’s most iconic park.

Vancouver Police say District 5 is coming to the Downtown Eastside. Stephen Quinn speaks with Superintendent Gary Hiar about what this change means as a major crime-reduction project comes to an end.

The Stanley Park miniature train is shut down this year and the Bright Nights fundraiser won’t be returning. Instead, the Park Board has approved a Harry Potter–themed trail walk. But not everyone is happy about it. We look at what the event means for the park, the fundraiser, and the community.

As more than 600,000 students return to class in B.C., teachers face fresh challenges. From managing cell phones to navigating new AI tools like ChatGPT, they share how they’re preparing for the year ahead.

Surrey schools are packed with more than 83,000 students enrolled this fall. The district is testing hybrid learning and staggered schedules to manage the crowding, but parents and teachers have questions about how it will affect students. 

Nearly 10 million sockeye are returning to the Fraser River this year — the biggest run since 2018. But while anglers celebrate expanded openings, commercial and Indigenous fishers say low quotas are hurting their livelihoods. Gloria Macarenko hears from voices on all sides of the debate.

Two Vancouver drop-in centres that supported sex workers have shut their doors, leaving people without 24-hour help. We hear from sex workers about what these closures mean, and from community advocates on why funding has fallen short despite earlier promises.

The federal government has promised 500,000 new homes a year, led by former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. But will more supply actually make housing affordable? Stephen Quinn and Gurpreet Kambo dig into the debate with renters, experts, and developers.

The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that the Quw'utsun Nation has Aboriginal title to a stretch of land in Richmond as well as the right to fish in the south arm of the Fraser River. The province of B.C. has said they will be appealing that decision. We speak with B.C.’s Attorney General, a Richmond City Councillor, the Cowichan Tribes, the Musqueum Indian Band and a former B.C. Green Party MLA who served as the lead negotiator for a First Nation in B.C.

Developers are pushing to loosen Canada’s foreign buyer restrictions - but the province says it’s not going to happen. Meanwhile, a new supportive housing project in Nanaimo could become a sober facility, sparking debate over how recovery housing should work. 

Delta’s ER shut down again this week - the third closure this year - and Mission’s followed soon after. Stephen Quinn talks with Delta’s mayor and Fraser Health about why these closures keep happening and what’s being done to prevent future shutdowns. 

The latest homeless count shows more than 5,200 people are unhoused across Metro Vancouver – a nine percent increase since 2023. What’s behind the rise, and what can be done about it? Host Stephen Quinn speaks with Vancouver city councillor Lucy Maloney, as well as advocates Amanda Burrows from First United and Upkar Singh Tatlay from Engaged Communities Canada.

Vancouver is buzzing amid news that German legend Thomas Muller is joining the Vancouver Whitecaps. But what might Muller bring to the team? What can fans expect? We hear from Peter Czimmermann of the Vancouver Southsiders and longtime Whitecaps commentator Peter Schaad.

A city motion meant to support Vancouver’s arts scene has been watered down, according to some local artists. We speak to a local comedy venue owner and an architect about the hurdles artists face and what real support would look like.

Vancouver’s deal to host seven World Cup matches comes with more than just global attention. From rules around branding to beautification, we look at what the city agreed to and what it might mean for locals. Stephen Quinn speaks to the CBC’s Laurence Watt and SFU urbanist, Meg Holden.

Your connection to the issues and stories facing people across Vancouver. Host Stephen Quinn is your guide. Episodes drop Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A string of deadly intimate partner violence cases in B.C. has sparked urgent calls for change. Stephen Quinn speaks with a city councillor and a UBC researcher about why the system is failing and what change could look like. 

One year after the “Don’t Look Away” report called for an overhaul of B.C.’s child welfare system, questions remain about whether enough has changed. We speak to B.C. Conservative critic Amelia Boultbee about what her party would do differently.

Despite the federal promise of $10-a-day childcare, Surrey families are struggling to find spaces. Longtime advocate Rhea Hubbard talks about what's making the system harder to access and what needs to change.

David Suzuki says the fight against climate change may already be lost. If that's true, what comes next for Canada and the world? Stephen Quinn explores those questions with Suzuki and climate policy expert Seth Klein.

The chief justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court has written a notice to let people know about upcoming disruption.Chief Justice Ron Skolrood says all criminal trials that were to take place in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and New Westminster during the FIFA World Cup next year will have to be rescheduled.Premier Eby says disruption can be expected with an event that will bring millions of people to B.C. But others feel the province should be better prepared.For more we are speaking with the B.C. Conservatives Attorney General Critic, Steve Kooner on this episode of This is Vancouver.

After more than four decades of learning and sharing the stories of the Stó:lō people in the Fraser Valley, Sonny McHalsie is retiring. But the places remain, and the field work continues by others who work at the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre.And although he's retiring, in this episode we learn that Sonny McHalsie still has a lot of stories left to learn and share.

Industrial land may not be a flashy issue, but it’s central to B.C.’s economy. It's so important that some companies are moving operations due to a shortage of that land in Metro Vancouver. The CBC's Caroline Chan explores the extent of the issue and what it means for local jobs.

Son of Air India Flight 182 victim and RCMP counter-terrorism specialist Susheel Gupta talks about the bombing of 40 years ago and how it influenced his mission at the RCMP.

It's been 35 years since the landmark Sparrow Decision — a legal case that reshaped how Canada recognizes Indigenous fishing rights. Lawyer Aaron Wilson, a relative of Bud Sparrow, joins Stephen Quinn to reflect on its lasting impact in the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Surrey businesses say extortion threats are on the rise. But what’s driving the crime and what will it take to effectively address the problem? Stephen Quinn hears from Police Chief Norm Lipinski, food-bank founder and entrepreneur Jay Minhas, and former public-safety minister Kash Heed.

From discounted train tickets to dumpling trails and Shakespeare in the park, we're exploring how tourism leaders are inviting locals to experience the Lower Mainland. We hear from Tourism Richmond, Tourism Squamish, and Bard on the Beach. 

It was a plan that was supposed to meet the needs of West Vancouver residents' growing interest in pickleball. But the redevelopment plans of a skate park in Gleneagles have pitted the needs of pickleball players and skateboarders against one another, leading to a failed motion at a West Vancouver council meeting this week. Our CBC News story producer Alan Regan joins us with more.

An emergency room doctor is suing Fraser Health, alleging unsafe conditions and efforts to silence staff at Eagle Ridge Hospital. CBC investigative reporter Michelle Ghoussoub explains why Dr. Kaitlin Stockton is speaking out. Plus, we hear reaction from the president of Doctors of B.C.

Vancouver City Council has rejected a motion to revive the city's renter office — a service once dedicated to helping tenants navigate their rights. Councillor Lucy Maloney explains why she pushed to bring it back and what’s at stake for renters now. 

The province announced a new initiative that will help fund more resources for police around B.C. to tackle street crime and disorder. Guest host Lyndsay Duncombe speaks to Landon Hoyt, the executive director of Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association which covers the Downtown Eastside. He says this is only part of the solution.

As Vancouver hosts the Web Summit, Indigenous leaders are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Stephen Quinn speaks with three changemakers bringing Indigenous wisdom into the world of AI, infrastructure, and startups.

Metro Vancouver’s regional government is facing growing scrutiny after a $3.86 billion wastewater project went off the rails. So what would it take to make the system work better? Stephen Quinn speaks with Metro Board Chair Mike Hurley and former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt about the calls for change.

Vancouver has a new top cop. Chief Constable Steve Rai steps into the role with decades of experience — and big challenges ahead. Sergeant Steve Addison of the VPD joins Stephen Quinn to talk about what’s next for the city’s police force.

It's the time of year that school districts are approving their budgets for next year. But many are seeing a shortfall. Story producer Caroline Chan spoke with stakeholders about why that is.