Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

Mike and Geoff welcome longtime BC public servant Doug Caul. He walks into Hotel Pacifico with three decades of experience in the BC Public Service including leadership roles in Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation, Environmental Assessment, various economic ministries, along with serving as Deputy Minister in the Premier’s office until his recent retirement. With a lot of debate taking place in BC on Indigenous rights, Doug helps break down Section 35 constitutional rights, First Nations treaties, DRIPA, and the tools in the toolbox for agreements between First Nations, industry, and government.

In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike comment on a change in staffing at the top of the Premier’s Office, Decrim in the Dustbin, the state of the Conservative race - who’s in, who’s out, and, before the lights turn out, Resource Impresario Sarah Weber is a late check-in, bringing news of the upcoming BC Natural Resource Forum and ensuring Mike has his bags packed for frigid but friendly Prince George.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

Mike and Geoff welcome independent MLA Elenore Sturko to Hotel Pacifico. They discuss Sturko’s experience inside and out of the BC Conservative caucus, her media presence and stance on justice, DRIPA, and LGBTQ+ issues.

In Strategy Suite, Mike and Geoff continue to chew over the field of Conservative leadership contenders, the PM’s visit to rainy Prince Rupert, and next week’s annual natural resources conference in frigid Prince George.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

This week, Mike and Geoff welcome Interim Leader of the BC Conservatives, Trevor Halford. Together, they dig into the upcoming leadership race, if the party is ready for a snap election, and how the Conservatives envision reconciliation if they succeed in repealing DRIPA.

In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike review their holiday reading lists, speculate about what’s on the Provincial Government’s agenda for 2026, and review the field of potential BC Conservatives leadership contenders.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

Mike, Geoff… and Kate(!) preside over the Hotel Pacifico Holiday Extravaganza. Political observers Justin McElroy and Richard Zussman look back on the main political stories of the year and politicians to watch. Former BC Premier Mike Harcourt drops in to talk about the year that was and looks ahead to 2026. Hot on his heels is former BC Premier Christy Clark who discusses the state of ‘free enterprise’ in BC and the upcoming BC Conservative leadership race. Then Vancouver-Kingsway MP and national interim leader of the NDP, Don Davies, visits Hotel Pacifico as part of his national comedy tour (okay, now we are joking) following his highly praised address to the annual Ottawa Press Gallery Dinner (and we have clips). Davies talks about the state of the NDP and how it’s time to refocus on the needs and concerns of working people.

The co-hosts retire to the mini-bar for final thoughts on an exciting year in politics in BC and Canada. All the best to our listeners for the holidays and the new year. Ho Ho Ho.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

Mike & Geoff are joined by press gallery legend Vaughn Palmer to review the BC politics landscape. Topics include the Cowichan ruling, transparency and secrecy, the issues to watch in 2026, and a tour of BC’s political parties and their prospects.

In Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike unveil the “12 Substacks of Christmas”. Given that they don’t do math good, Geoff and Mike actually provide more than 12. Substack pics include: The Real Story with Terry Glavin, Vanity & Learning by Allan Gregg, Northern Beat edited by Fran Yanor, Blindingly Obvious by Don Wright, Charlie Don’t Tweet by Charlie Demers, Law for Breakfast by Prof. Dwight Newman, Without Diminishment co-founded by Caroline Elliott, Writings from Lulu Island by Jane Gallo, Khelsilem’s substack, AdamOlsen.ca, Claire Rattee’s substack, Just and Reasonable by Richard Mason, The Breaker with Bob Mackin, The Bureau with Sam Cooper, Relay with Kyla Ronellenfitsch, and the Pollara substack feat. Matt Smith, Dan Arnold, and Andre Turcotte. And don’t forget, Lotusland by Geoff Meggs!

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and Port of Vancouver.

Mike & Geoff conduct an "exit interview" with former BC Conservative leader John Rustad. Fresh from his decision to step down last week, Rustad reflects on the meteoric rise of his party, almost taking power in 2024, and the rocky road he has traveled since then. He makes it clear he has more to say and do as MLA and discusses his stand on DRIPA and private property rights.

In the Strategy Suite, the hosts are joined by veteran campaigner Gurpreet Vinning. They chew over the Canada/Alberta MOU, the recent Court decision concerning DRIPA and how a legislative debate on the topic will unfold, and BC Conservative leadership dynamics with the chatter at full speed but no candidates in the starting blocks… yet.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC.

This week, Mike and Geoff welcome Alberta’s 19th Premier, the Honourable Danielle Smith, to Hotel Pacifico. Premier Smith makes her case for a bitumen pipeline to the West Coast. She outlines the MOU she signed with Prime Minister Carney, Alberta-BC relations, how Alberta plans to work with BC First Nations, and her vision for how a sovereign Alberta can exist within a united Canada.

In the Strategy Suite, Geoff and Mike welcome back polling expert and Conservative strategist Dimitri Pantazopoulos to unpack the frenetic events leading up to John Rustad’s resignation as leader of the BC Conservatives. The trio speculates on who will throw their hats into the ring for leadership and aspects of the leadership process.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as FortisBC, and Port of Vancouver.

Mike & Geoff interview BC business leader Ryan Beedie (CEO, Beedie) to discuss the state of BC’s economy, views on the real estate market, mining, BC politics, and his Beedie Luminaries initiative that provides scholarships to BC students.

In the Strategy Suite, Mike & Geoff dish it out on the BC-Alberta-Canada oil pipeline debate, discuss the outlook for BC Conservatives, and the NDP’s Look West economic strategy.

🏨🌄 Check into Hotel Pacifico for insights and interviews covering the latest in B.C. politics.

Thank you for joining us on #HotelPacifico. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

Watch conversations from Hotel Pacifico via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.

The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.