Coastal Front

Hosted by Andrew Johns

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Episodes

309

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Coastal Front is a Vancouver-based media company providing in-depth reporting and opinion, with a strong focus on government accountability at all levels in Canada. As part of our work, the Coastal Front podcast, hosted by Andrew Johns, features conversations on business, politics, and community, exploring the stories shaping our city, province, and country.

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60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 36310 min

NEWS READ: One project, two official numbers: BC's Massey cost trackers still show the old estimate.

For 22 months the province's official status reports kept listing $4.15 billion — including one produced after the $8.5-billion update. Read the full article here: https://www.coastalfront.ca/p/one-project-two-official-numbers PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc 🔹 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: 🔹 https://x.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

October 17, 2026Episode 3621 hr 29 min

Has BC Hit the Point of No Return? An Economist Weighs In

BC is spending about $1 billion a month more than it brings in. Revenue went up $800 million, and the deficit still got worse. So where is YOUR money going? Economist David Williams, VP of Economics at the Business Council of BC, sits down with Andrew Johns on Coastal Front for a candid, numbers-first conversation about BC's spending problem, Canada's lost decade, and why blaming Trump misses the point. Track the BC NDP's debt in real time: https://bcndpdebtclock.ca Follow Coastal Front on X: https://x.com/CoastalFrontBC Subscribe for more straight talk on BC politics and the economy.

October 17, 2026Episode 3619 min

NEWS READ: Big promises, a record deficit: BC’s leaders battle over who can deliver.

BC’s leaders clash over taxes, healthcare and how to pay for their promises ahead of the October 24 election. Read the full article here: https://www.coastalfront.ca/p/big-promises-a-record-deficit-bcs PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc 🔹 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: 🔹 https://x.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

October 14, 2026Episode 3601 min

David Eby's $200 Million Gamble With YOUR Tax Dollars

David Eby wants to hand out $1 million in interest-free business loans, but his plan could cost B.C taxpayers nearly $200 million. Is the government gambling with your money? Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOH0gUZVFb0 PODCAST INFO: ◆ Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca ◆ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 ◆ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC ◆ Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc ◆ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: ◆ https://x.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front ◆ https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

October 9, 2026Episode 3596 min

David Eby Attacks Jim Pattison: Why BC’s Wealthiest Are Being Targeted

David Eby takes aim at BC billionaire Jim Pattison, but is he ignoring his own government's spending problems? Andrew Johns breaks down Eby's controversial remarks, Pattison's contributions to BC's economy, and the NDP government's nearly $14 billion deficit. Is the government punishing success while failing to address BC's affordability crisis? Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k3i1p3ZtaY PODCAST INFO: ◆ Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca ◆ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 ◆ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC ◆ Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc ◆ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: ◆ https://x.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front ◆ https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

October 6, 2026Episode 35812 min

NEWS READ: FOI records show BC projected millions from its 2018 luxury vehicle tax hike — but no clear accounting of whether the expected revenue materialized or how buyers responded.

FOI records show BC projected millions from its 2018 luxury vehicle tax hike — but no clear accounting of whether the expected revenue materialized or how buyers responded. Read the full article here: http https://www.coastalfront.ca/p/bc-raised-its-luxury-car-tax-expecting PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc 🔹 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: 🔹 https://x.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

October 5, 2026Episode 3572 min

NEWS READ: As Eby campaigns on Buy Canadian, BC Ferries’ longtime fuel supplier is now owned by a U.S. energy giant with deep ties to Trump’s political operation.

As Eby campaigns on Buy Canadian, BC Ferries’ longtime fuel supplier is now owned by a U.S. energy giant with deep ties to Trump’s political operation. Read the full article here: https://www.coastalfront.ca/p/ebys-buy-canadian-push-meets-an-awkward PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc 🔹 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: 🔹 https://x.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

September 29, 2026Episode 3568 min

BC's Rich Got Hundreds of Millions. The Poor Got Nothing.

BC's NDP has paid hundreds of millions through BC’s education savings grant. But the real story is who successfully claimed it — and who didn’t. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMZSdxtkweI PODCAST INFO: ◆ Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca ◆ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 ◆ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC ◆ Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc ◆ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: ◆ https://x.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc ◆ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front ◆ https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc

September 25, 2026Episode 3551 hr 50 min

Kennedy Stewart Unfiltered: Ken Sim, the SkyTrain & What’s Wrong in Vancouver

Former Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart sits down with Coastal Front for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation about Ken Sim, the UBC SkyTrain, policing, property taxes and the future of Vancouver ahead of the 2026 municipal election. Stewart looks back on his time as an NDP MP and his 2018–2022 term as mayor of Vancouver: leading a split city council, getting the city through COVID, helping bring the FIFA World Cup to BC, and securing funding for the Broadway Plan and the SkyTrain extension to UBC. He explains why he believes the UBC SkyTrain line was fully funded when he left office, what went wrong under Mayor Ken Sim, and why he says Sim "had four years to deliver." We also get into: 🔹 Why he says he was "never about defunding police," and how he thinks Sim's 100-officer pledge drove up property taxes 🔹 Housing affordability, rental housing, super towers and the Carney–Eby housing announcement 🔹 Whether Metro Vancouver's cities should amalgamate 🔹 Party discipline in Ottawa, his book with Michael Chong, and working with Harper, Trudeau, Singh and Carney 🔹 Whether he'll ever run for office again Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN2ldaukk8k

September 21, 2026Episode 35318 min

NEWS READ: A BC non-profit society received millions in public funds. Then came unpaid bills, vendor complaints, and an arrest warrant.

A BC non-profit society received millions in public funds. Then came unpaid bills, vendor complaints, and an arrest warrant. Read the full article here: https://www.coastalfront.ca/p/a-bc-non-profit-got-millions-in-public PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc 🔹 Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalFront/videos FOLLOW COASTAL FRONT: 🔹 https://x.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.facebook.com/coastalfrontbc 🔹 https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-front 🔹 https://www.instagram.com/coastalfrontbc