The Mike Smyth Show The Mike Smyth Show

Is the proposed “Villages” plan a good one?

Jul 28, 2026 · 27m

Summary

Host Rob Fay interviews experts on three key issues: wildfire strategy, supply management costs, and Vancouver housing. John Graddick argues Canada lacks a coherent wildfire plan, relying on reactive suppression rather than prevention. Ryan Cardwell explains how supply management acts as a regressive tax on consumers, particularly low-income households. Finally, Peter Waldkirch defends the Villages Plan as a necessary step to increase affordable, low-rise housing density across Vancouver.

Topics discussed

Sponsor message: Claude by Anthropic Introduction: Canada's wildfire strategy shift Weaknesses in current wildfire suppression plans Role of aviation in wildfire response Prevention vs. managed burning in boreal forests Bottlenecks in aircraft deployment and coordination Outdated strategies and failure to deploy assets Sponsor message: Claude by Anthropic Introduction: Cost of supply management Consumer costs and farmer income stability Political support and public perception of supply management Hidden costs and regressive impact on households Sponsor message: Claude by Anthropic Introduction to Vancouver's Villages Plan Neighborhood character and the need for new housing Distributing growth with low-rise apartments Show outro and contact information Sponsor message: USAA insurance
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