More truck protests are expected in British Columbia this weekend as demonstrations against vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions expand across the country. We talk to Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman about concerns for businesses and manufacturers who rely on the border crossing in her community, and how her members are coping. We'll also ask a former U.S. Ambassador what outcome the U.S. Government is looking for, and we'll talk with a UBC political scientist specializing in democracy and constitutionalism.

BC Today from CBC Radio British Columbia

Trucker protests continue in B.C. as politicians announce they're cracking down

Last year was the deadliest year in British Columbia's drug toxicity crisis. We'll talk to counsellors and outreach workers in racialized communities to see how they're tackling this emergency; and in our second half, it's World Pulses Day. Cookbook author and food writer Julie Van Rosendaal is here with her recipes, tips and tricks.

Tackling the overdose crisis within racialized communities; World Pulses Day

Census data out today shows significant population growth across British Columbia, including several cities with double-digit percentage growth. We break down the stats with urban planner Andy Yan; and in our second half, Flight Centre says bookings are on the up in Canada and trips departing from Canadian airports in March have spiked more than 700 per cent. We'll talk it over with Thomas Panos of Omega Travel.

Census data shows B.C. cities are booming; travel trends show people are willing to take flight

How can we ease COVID restrictions responsibly? We'll talk to the medical director at the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, Dr. Brian Conway; and in our second half, the Olympics have curling enthusiasts on cloud nine: we'll hear from super-fan Cathy Browne and Curl BC communications manager, Doug Sarti.

What does a more sustainable approach to COVID look like?; curling enthusiasts share their love for the game

The B.C. Liberals chose a new leader on the weekend. We'll talk with political scientist Stewart Prest about Kevin Falcon and where the party goes from here; and in our second half, B.C. drivers are seeing gas prices edge up. We'll talk about the trend with Werner Antweiler, professor of economics at UBC.

With new leader Kevin Falcon, where are the B.C. Liberals headed?; what's behind surging gas prices in British Columbia?

As the trucker protest in Ottawa enters its second weekend, we talk to Ryerson professor Jennifer Tunnicliffe about the history of protests against public health policy in Canada, and how we can dial down the temperature of political discourse; and in our second half, Brian Minter of Minter Country Garden takes your gardening questions.

How can we dial down the temperature of pandemic discourse?; gardening questions with Brian Minter

A new poll by Research Co. shows almost half of Canadians will make a conscious effort to refrain from watching the Beijing Olympics. We talk to Research Co. president Mario Canseco; and in our second half, the men's national soccer team is on a tear toward the World Cup in Qatar. Sports reporters and soccer enthusiasts Shireen Ahmed and Duncan Elias weigh in on the team, and its effect on soccer in Canada.

Polling shows almost half of Canadians will ignore the Beijing Olympics; Canada's men's soccer moment

Erin O'Toole is officially out as leader of the federal Conservative Party. We discuss what this means for the party with UBC political scientist, Gerald Baier, and Conservative Abbotsford MP Ed Fast; in our second half, we talk to personal finance expert Mark Ting about how we can get on top of our finances in 2022.

Erin O'Toole ousted as federal Conservative leader; getting on top of our personal finances

An agreement has been signed to explore the feasibility of a First Nations-led bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Squamish; and in our 2nd half, we hear how residents are remembering and celebrating Lunar New Year.

First Nations-led bid to explore hosting 2030 Winter Olympics in B.C.; Lunar New Year

Canada's Defence Minister is in Kyiv as Ukraine braces for a potential military conflict with Russia - but what should Canada's role be? We hear from Michael Bociurkiw, Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; and in our 2nd half, with a growing number of Canadians looking to retire, we discuss what the implications could be for the workforce with Lauren Florko, a Senior Research Associate with the Conference Board of Canada.

Canada's role as Ukraine braces for possible invasion; Preparing for retirement

On the two-year anniversary of British Columbia's first reported case of coronavirus, Dr. Bonnie Henry addresses the province with the latest COVID-19 udpate; and in our second half, we hear from listeners about what the last two pandemic years have been like.

Dr. Henry brings us a provincial health update; two years of COVID-19 in B.C.

Vancouver City Council has passed a motion that will pave the way for new homeownership options in the city - but what will it mean for middle class families looking to get on the housing ladder? We discuss that with Tom Davidoff, an economist at the University of British Columbia; and in our 2nd half, as Casablanca turns 80 this week, we explore the great movies that continue to stand the test of time.

Vancouver City Council to implement new housing policy; Casablanca turns 80

After Williams Lake First Nation released preliminary findings revealing 93 potential burial sites at St. Joseph's Mission residential school, we talk to CBC reporter Wawmeesh Hamilton about accountability and next steps; and in our second half, what's in a name? We talk to podcast producer Rehmatullah Sheikh and linguistic anthropology professor Karen Pennesi about names, their meanings and the stories behind them.

Seeking accountability for atrocities committed at residential schools; what's the story behind your name?

A convoy of truck drivers opposed to public health mandates are set to descend on Ottawa this weekend to protest on Parliament Hill. We hear from a member with Freedom Rally 2022, CBC senior writer Aaron Wherry, and Sylvain Charlebois, the director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University; and in our 2nd half; as the Red Cross phases out its swim training programs, what are your memories of learning how to swim?

Truck convoy heads to Ottawa to protest vaccination mandate; Red Cross to phase out swimming lessons

A geriatrician from the University of British Columbia explores what B.C.'s shift in pandemic policy means for seniors and those who are immuno-compromised; and in our 2nd half, we discuss the benefits of engaging with nature as a new study suggests more Canadians are getting outdoors to deal with pandemic fatigue.

What B.C.'s shift in pandemic policy means for seniors; new study shows Canadians are spending more time in nature

BC Today is where British Columbians connect on issues facing their lives and their community. Every week day at noon PT and 1pm MT, BC Today host Michelle Eliot delves into the top story for the prov ...