The Best of The Simi Sara Show - Wilson-Raybould claimed $125K in spousal travel expenses during Trudeau mandate, B.C. collected a record-high haul of hospital pay parking cash this year, says advocate...

Chapter 1

🔥🔥 Hot question of the day 🔥🔥

✅ @SimiSara980’s 🔥 question of the day 

A listener writes in favour of hospital pay parking:

"My family got treatment, meds, room, food, care and my grandson's birth for FREE. What would that have cost in the US? I pay a pittance for parking."

Do you share this sentiment?

Yes, it’s a small cost.

No, it should be free.

 

Chapter 2

Wilson-Raybould claimed $125K in spousal travel expenses during Trudeau mandate

No comment yet from Vancouver-Granville MP, Jody Wilson-Raybould, about the travel expenses racked up by her husband.

An investigation by Global News has determined taxpayers paid more than $125,000 over the past four years, flying her husband across the country, as her "designated traveller" under federal expense rules.

That's the third highest amount in the country, behind two Conservative MP's from remote ridings, and it dwarfs similar spousal claims by her former Cabinet colleagues from BC.

Earlier, I spoke with Amanda Connolly, Global News Legislative Reporter. Here’s our conversation.

Guest: Amanda Connolly

Global News Legislative Reporter

 

Chapter 3

2,500 fishermen out of work after disastrous fishing season: union

The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union says 2500 fishermen are out of work after a disastrous fishing season. Union President Joy Thorkelson says an estimated 30,000 sockeye salmon were caught on all of BC's coastline this year - normally 200,000 would be caught in just one area.

They're asking for a disaster relief fund for workers, and for both the provincial and federal government to come up with a solid plan to save the salmon population moving forward.

Guest: Joy Thorkelson

President of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union, 

 

Chapter 4

Quarterly forecast projects a surplus of $179M for B.C.

BC’s Finance Minister says the first-quarter outlook for 2019-20 forecasts a surplus of $179 million, rising to forecasts of $291 million in 2020-21 and $573 million in 2021-22.

The province is also including a $500-million forecast allowance to address potential unforeseen circumstances.

Guest: Keith Baldrey

Global’s BC Legislative Bureau Chief

 

Chapter 5

Teal Jones calls a halt to coastal logging operations

Another blow to BC's forest industry: Surrey-based Teal Jones Group has announced an immediate halt to all of its coastal logging operations.         

The company says weak markets and high costs because of relatively high stumpage rates and new regulations has resulted in the move.

Teal Jones had already scaled back its logging operations on Vancouver Island in May.

The company now says it's halting all logging in its Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island operations.

A release by the company says this will result in a substantial loss of employment"

Guest: Janet Brown

Global News Senior Reporter

 

Chapter 6

B.C. collected a record-high haul of hospital pay parking cash this year, says advocate

A B.C. man spearheading a campaign against pay parking at the province’s hospitals says new numbers show British Columbians are shelling out more than ever.

John Buss with HospitalPayParking.ca said, for the 2019 fiscal year, parking revenues were up by more than the rate of inflation in every health authority in B.C.

In some regions, the growth in parking revenue is eye-popping, according to data Buss collected from the health authorities.

Guest: Jon Buss

Lead Volunteer for the HospitalPayParking.ca advocacy group

 

Chapter 7

Rob Vagramov returning to the job of Port Moody Mayor

Trouble is brewing in Port Moody in the wake of Rob Vagramov's announcement yesterday he's immediately returning to Mayor's job, even though he continues to face a charge of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2015.

Vagramov says the charge has been reduced to a summary matter and the two sides are discussing a resolution that would not involve a trial.

Not only will be back as mayor, but he also will be chairing a number of boards, all except the Police Board.

Councilor Meghan Lahti says she was taken aback when he called her yesterday while she's on vacation in Portugal, and reluctantly agreed to sit as Police Board Chair in his stead.

But she says she has since reconsidered and decided against it.

As well, she thinks he has no business being at City Hall while under this cloud, and says this is not about politics, rather it is about standing up in solidarity with women across this country.

Guest: Sarah MacDonald

Global News Reporter

Chapter 1

🔥🔥 Hot question of the day 🔥🔥

✅ @SimiSara980’s 🔥 question of the day 

A listener writes in favour of hospital pay parking:

"My family got treatment, meds, room, food, care and my grandson's birth for FREE. What would that have cost in the US? I pay a pittance for parking."

Do you share this sentiment?

Yes, it’s a small cost.
No, it should be free.

 

Chapter 2

Wilson-Raybould claimed $125K in spousal travel expenses during Trudeau mandate

No comment yet from Vancouver-Granville MP, Jody Wilson-Raybould, about the travel expenses racked up by her husband.

An investigation by Global News has determined taxpayers paid more than $125,000 over the past four years, flying her husband across the country, as her "designated traveller" under federal expense rules.

That's the third highest amount in the country, behind two Conservative MP's from remote ridings, and it dwarfs similar spousal claims by her former Cabinet colleagues from BC.

Earlier, I spoke with Amanda Connolly, Global News Legislative Reporter. Here’s our conversation.

Guest: Amanda Connolly

Global News Legislative Reporter

 

Chapter 3

2,500 fishermen out of work after disastrous fishing season: union

The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union says 2500 fishermen are out of work after a disastrous fishing season. Union President Joy Thorkelson says an estimated 30,000 sockeye salmon were caught on all of BC's coastline this year - normally 200,000 would be caught in just one area.

They're asking for a disaster relief fund for workers, and for both the provincial and federal government to come up with a solid plan to save the salmon population moving forward.

Guest: Joy Thorkelson

President of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union, 

 

Chapter 4

Quarterly forecast projects a surplus of $179M for B.C.

BC’s Finance Minister says the first-quarter outlook for 2019-20 forecasts a surplus of $179 million, rising to forecasts of $291 million in 2020-21 and $573 million in 2021-22.

The province is also including a $500-million forecast allowance to address potential unforeseen circumstances.

Guest: Keith Baldrey

Global’s BC Legislative Bureau Chief

 

Chapter 5

Teal Jones calls a halt to coastal logging operations

Another blow to BC's forest industry: Surrey-based Teal Jones Group has announced an immediate halt to all of its coastal logging operations.         

The company says weak markets and high costs because of relatively high stumpage rates and new regulations has resulted in the move.

Teal Jones had already scaled back its logging operations on Vancouver Island in May.

The company now says it's halting all logging in its Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island operations.

A release by the company says this will result in a substantial loss of employment"

Guest: Janet Brown

Global News Senior Reporter

 

Chapter 6

B.C. collected a record-high haul of hospital pay parking cash this year, says advocate

A B.C. man spearheading a campaign against pay parking at the province’s hospitals says new numbers show British Columbians are shelling out more than ever.

John Buss with HospitalPayParking.ca said, for the 2019 fiscal year, parking revenues were up by more than the rate of inflation in every health authority in B.C.

In some regions, the growth in parking revenue is eye-popping, according to data Buss collected from the health authorities.

Guest: Jon Buss

Lead Volunteer for the HospitalPayParking.ca advocacy group

 

Chapter 7

Rob Vagramov returning to the job of Port Moody Mayor

Trouble is brewing in Port Moody in the wake of Rob Vagramov's announcement yesterday he's immediately returning to Mayor's job, even though he continues to face a charge of sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2015.

Vagramov says the charge has been reduced to a summary matter and the two sides are discussing a resolution that would not involve a trial.

Not only will be back as mayor, but he also will be chairing a number of boards, all except the Police Board.

Councilor Meghan Lahti says she was taken aback when he called her yesterday while she's on vacation in Portugal, and reluctantly agreed to sit as Police Board Chair in his stead.

But she says she has since reconsidered and decided against it.

As well, she thinks he has no business being at City Hall while under this cloud, and says this is not about politics, rather it is about standing up in solidarity with women across this country.

Guest: Sarah MacDonald

Global News Reporter