BC Today

BC Today's annual 'Christmas Cards of the Air' special asks viewers to call in or send holiday greetings they'd like to dedicate to family and friends near and far. Amy Bell guest hosts.

Guest host Amy Bell takes us through stormy weather, holiday films and dealing with conflict at family gatherings. Storms with high winds are in the B.C. forecast this holiday season. Environment Canada gives an update on how it could affect celebrations and travel. Then, we discuss favourite holiday-themed movies with UBC media studies professor Christine Evans joins to discuss what makes a Christmas classic. Finally, we have to holiday gatherings with family and friends can be difficult for some. We'll hear some ways to navigate tricky situations, and survive the season without losing your cool.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will bring forward a motion of non-confidence to bring down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, in another blow to Trudeau's leadership as he shakes up his cabinet following finance minister Chrystia Freeland's resignation. We ask viewers what they think of Singh's move and what it means for the next election. With just days to go until Christmas, many are preparing to travel to see loved ones. We check on how travel is ramping up at Vancouver International Airport, and the impact of a janitors' strike at YVR. BC Today gardening columnist Brian Minter joins us to talk about last-minute Christmas gifts for gardeners, and we take audience calls to answer your gardening questions.

A campaign called Stay With B.C., launched by the Business Council of B.C., aims to make people think twice before moving out of province for economic or other reasons. Council president Laura Jones joins BC Today host Amy Bell as we ask viewers what it would take to convince people to stay. Holidays can be difficult for those without family and friends to spend them with. We ask viewers how they overcome loneliness during the holidays and how they find connection. We speak with Ingrid Andersen, Reverend at the Church of the Advent in Colwood, and Kiffer Card, professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University, and Scientific Director of the Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health.

The Canadian dollar has dipped below $0.70 US for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Werner Antweiler, associate professor at UBC's Sauder School of Business, joins us to explain the factors that have contributed to the currency's decline, and we ask viewers how this could affect plans to travel to the U.S. Next, as rising costs and inflation affect shopping plans, many are looking for ways to cut down holiday expenses. Wealth planner Xin Lou answers viewer questions on enjoying the holidays while staying on budget.

As Canada Post employees were ordered back to work, members of the BCGEU and ILWU set up a "community picket line" at the postal processing centre in Richmond. Rob Ashton, ILWU president, joins BC Today from the scene, along with CBC reporter Pinki Wong. Next, Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Centre for Future Work, joins the show to hear from viewers about whether the strength of Canada's labour movements are at risk, following several back-to-work orders issued by the federal government this year.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Monday she's resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet — just hours before she was set to deliver the government's fall economic statement. We ask viewers what they think about the future of the federal Liberal Party and whether or not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. We also get reaction to Freeland's departure from former Bulkley Valley-Stikine B.C. NDP MLA Nathan Cullen, South Surrey-White Rock Liberal MP Gordie Hogg and Former Conservative MP for South Surrey-White Rock Dianne Watts. And Tari Ajadi, McGill University Political Science Assistant Professor, joins in to give a political analysis.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to intervene with the ongoing contract dispute at Canada Post. According to MacKinnon, the federal mediator says negotiations are going in the wrong direction. We ask viewers about what changes they think Canada Post should make. Next, an ICBC survey found more than half of B.C. drivers say they feel more stressed navigating busy parking lots than they do driving on open roads. We ask viewers about parking stress and what they do to avoid confrontation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Canada's premiers to lay out a plan to address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threats of tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off energy supply to the U.S., while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a border security plan. We ask viewers about how B.C. should address the tariff threats. Next, holidays are a time when friends and family clink glasses to celebrate the season, but some prefer to do so without the buzz. We get tips for holiday drinks, minus the alcohol. And we invite callers to share their experiences with mocktails during the holiday season, and beyond.

The Bank of Canada has cut its key interest rate to 3.25 per cent, the fifth consecutive reduction since June. We ask viewers how they feel about the Canadian economy's current state. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is proposing a plan to make the city 'bitcoin friendly' despite concerns about the cryptocurrency's volatility. We ask viewers what they think about bitcoin becoming more mainstream.

The federal government's GST holiday, which is meant to help alleviate pressure on Canadians' wallets, is expected to kick in on Dec. 14. We ask viewers whether the measure will provide a welcome break or if it will add pressure to small businesses. Next, the holiday season can be difficult for people living with dementia and their families. We'll talk to two caregivers and ask viewers about the support patients and families need when navigating the holiday season.

As Syrians celebrate the end of the Bashar al-Assad regime, questions remain about the future of the country as there may not be an obvious successor. We speak to a Syrian refugee (and the founder of the White Helmets) and ask viewers what they think needs to happen next. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ended in Vancouver on Sunday. We hear from fans who got tickets to the final night at B.C. Place. As the long-awaited film "Wicked" rolls out in movie theatres, some moviegoers have noticed an increasing use of cellphones among audiences. Is this now just part of the experience, or evidence that etiquette is declining? We take your calls to find out your movie etiquette pet peeves.

The annual Food Price Report published by a group of Canadian Universities is predicting more pressure on grocery costs in the coming year. We'll talk about how this could affect healthy living and eating in this province. Then, we ask our audience to call in with their stories about when someone showed them kindness. And we'll hear about a Pemberton youth soccer team raising funds for their local food bank.

First up on the show, federal minister Harjit Sajjan is defending his decision to accept taxpayer-funded Taylor Swift tickets for one of the pop star's shows in Vancouver. We speak to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and ask a professor of philosophy and ethics whether politicians should accept gifts at all. And we take calls from our audience members asking their take on this question of ethics. After 12:30, 'tis the season for holiday events! We're joined by a local alpaca farm to hear about an upcoming Christmas market it's hosting in Aldergrove, and ask our audience to tell us about events in their communities this year.

South Korea's president says he will lift martial law in the country hours after it was announced. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday local time, vowing to eliminate "anti-state" forces but faced opposition to the move from parliament. We hear more about how the situation could affect trade with Canada and B.C. Then After 12:30, the advocacy group Disability Without Poverty has given Canada an "F" grade in its second annual Disability Report Card and is calling on the government to triple the Canada Disability Benefit in 2025. We're asking our listeners to weigh in and share their stories.

Canada Post has presented the union that represents 55,000 striking postal workers with a framework to reach negotiated agreements. With little more than three weeks until Christmas, we ask our audience how the strike is affecting them. Then, Taylor Swift will soon be in Vancouver for the last leg of her Eras Tour. We ask our audience to call in with their first — and favourite — concert memories.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that British Columbia can bring forward a class-action lawsuit against pharmaceutical providers for harms caused by opioids on behalf of other provinces, territories and the federal government. We ask our audience to share their thoughts and speak to former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart. Then we explore that annual staple: Hallmark Christmas movies with actors Omari Newton and Michelle Harrison.

B.C. Ferries is warning of a fare increase of at least 30 per cent to meet rising costs, while the corporation aims to replace advisory committees with a new model in the spring. We ask our audience to weigh in. Then, after 12:30, as people start to put up their Christmas trees, we want to hear about our audience's favourite or most sentimental ornaments.

A missing hiker has been found alive after more than five weeks in a remote B.C. park. We hear some of the details about how he was found. Then Mediation talks between Canada Post and the union have been suspended. We ask how the strike has affected our audience. And, Vancouver City Council is debating whether to approve natural gas heating in new homes.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico. We hear what this could mean for businesses in B.C. Then, after 12:30 we're joined by the Metro Vancouver YWCA to hear about their push for the province to declare gender-based violence an epidemic in B.C.