Carole Taylor's Journal

On this edition of Journal, we look at how inflation and higher costs for just about everything, especially housing, are affecting British Columbians.

Right at the pointy end of the stick are our food banks. They are among the first to sense when something is going very wrong. Usually when you say something has had a record-breaking year, it is a good thing. Not so with food banks.

In the last 5 years, visits to food banks in our province rose 81%. One month topped 100,000 visits, the most ever seen since food banks first started some 40 years ago in this province.

Even more concerning is the change in who is coming through the front door. More and more often, it is someone with a job, but a job that can no longer cover the costs of food and housing in BC. Towards the end of the month, many turn to our food banks for help in feeding their families.

As well, according to Dan Levitt, BC’s Seniors Advocate, many older British Columbians are feeling the squeeze, trying to pay their rising bills on a fixed income. Sadly, it is often the cost of food that is one bill too far – thus they turn to our food banks as well.

Food Banks BC is the provincial association of food banks; over a hundred hunger relief agencies belong. As executive director, Dan Huang-Taylor supports the mission to not only meet the emergency short term needs of British Columbians, but also work with others towards a hunger free community – a monumental task to take on.

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I, along with many of you, have been surprised in this election year to see Mr. Rustad in a head-to-head with Premier Eby for the province’s top job... while the BC Liberals/United have basically disappeared.

What is going on? And how did we get here?

Well, we know some of the backstory from newspapers: the messy split between Kevin Falcon and John, leading to John sitting briefly as an independent and then his surfacing as the leader of a previously pretty quiet Conservative Party of BC.

Lo and behold, something about this reinvention has appealed to many British Columbians.

So, I ask again, who is John Rustad? What would his priorities be if he were to be elected Premier? Or, alternatively, how would he handle the job of Leader of the Opposition?

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj010 #bcpoli #cdnpoli #britishcolumbia

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In this edition of Journal, we are going to jump into the fray and take a close look at the blizzard of housing announcements – 62 at last count, coming from all levels of government in this past year. Many of them promise affordable housing.

Finally, our politicians have noticed the angst in our community about the cost of housing, rising mortgage rates, the lack of housing options – but at the same time, the fear of density.

The important question is, besides all of the photo-ops, will these initiatives make a difference? Will Vancouver ever be affordable, or is that just a pipedream?

Join Carole Taylor and Bob Rennie in a discussion about Vancouver’s housing conundrum.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj009 #vancouver #vancouverhousing #housing

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Canadians have lost trust in politicians. What can be done to rebuild trust and confidence and make the political system work better?

The success of our country, our community, depends on the leaders we elect. It depends on their values, their talent and experience. So how do we convince more, good, people to participate?

Join Carole Taylor and Tamara Vrooman, the CEO of Vancouver International Airport, as they explore the root causes of a loss of interest in holding public office.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj008 #cdnpoli #bcpoli #politics

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Oh Canada – what has happened to our reputation? On election night of 2015, Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau proclaimed, “Canada is back!” Nine years later, Canada is not back; since then its reputation has deteriorated.

No question: we used to punch above our weight when our beloved country was listened to with respect at the United Nations and around the world. Not so much anymore.

So who are we now? What is Canada’s place in the world? Do we have influence?

Join Carole Taylor and the Hon. James Moore as they examine the root causes of Canada’s sinking reputation.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj007 #cdnpoli #canada #politics

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