Rob Shaw is a legislative journalist for Glacier Media and political correspondent for CHEK News, focusing on British Columbia’s governance, health-care systems, and fiscal policies. With over 15 years covering scandals, elections, and policy shifts, his work has shaped public understanding of the NDP’s tenure under Premiers John Horgan and David Eby.
“Shaw’s reporting doesn’t just inform—it holds power to account.” – The Tyee, 2024
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Born in Nanaimo and raised in the rural community of Cedar, Shaw’s early exposure to local news ignited a passion for storytelling. After cutting his teeth at the Ladysmith Chronicle and earning a journalism degree from Ryerson University, he returned to British Columbia in the late 2000s. His early coverage of Victoria’s sewage treatment debates—featuring the infamous activist “Mr. Floatie”—showcased his ability to humanize bureaucratic stalemates.
This April 2025 investigation exposed the NDP’s controversial decision to appoint Penny Ballem—a former Vancouver Coastal Health CEO—to lead cost-saving measures in healthcare. Shaw revealed that Ballem’s consulting firm billed the province $1.8 million over 18 months, despite her prior role in a 2014 electronic health records debacle. By cross-referencing contract databases and interviewing insiders, Shaw highlighted tensions between the government’s austerity promises and its reliance on high-priced external advisors. The piece sparked legislative debates about accountability in health-care spending.
In April 2025, Shaw analyzed the fallout from two credit rating downgrades that questioned the province’s fiscal management. Contrasting Finance Minister Katrine Conroy’s blame on global economic volatility with Moody’s critique of BC’s deficit projections, Shaw dissected the NDP’s reliance on real estate taxes and LNG subsidies. The article underscored how investor confidence shapes policy, citing the government’s abrupt carbon tax reversal as a case study in reactive governance.
Shaw’s weekly CHEK News podcast provides a platform for cross-partisan dialogue, featuring guests like former Premier Christy Clark and BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. A March 2025 episode dissecting Bill 7’s emergency tariff powers drew national attention for its balanced critique of executive overreach. The show’s blend of insider access and public call-ins has made it a benchmark for participatory political journalism.
Shaw prioritizes stories that reveal how budgetary decisions impact public services. His April 2025 piece on Ballem’s contracts exemplifies this lens. Pitches should highlight cost-benefit analyses of health initiatives or untangle funding disputes between provincial and federal agencies.
With Bill 7’s procurement reforms, Shaw has scrutinized opaque cabinet powers. Propose investigations into contract awards, FOIA-obtained documents, or whistleblower accounts related to infrastructure projects like the Massey Tunnel replacement.
While Shaw avoids federal politics, he contextualizes BC’s response to issues like carbon pricing or interprovincial trade. A successful pitch might explore how BC’s clean energy incentives contrast with Alberta’s oil subsidies.
Shaw’s early sewage treatment coverage shows his knack for spotlighting grassroots impacts. Stories about small businesses affected by tariff policies or patients navigating hospital funding cuts resonate with his approach.
While critical of policy missteps, Shaw maintains neutrality. Pitches should emphasize data-driven analysis over ideological arguments, particularly on polarized issues like housing or resource extraction.
A Matter of Confidence (2017), co-authored with Richard Zussman, remains a definitive account of BC’s 2017 election and NDP-Green alliance. The book’s success cemented Shaw’s reputation for blending narrative depth with legislative expertise.
Shaw’s 2022 series on pandemic-era health-care privatization debates earned this prestigious honor, recognizing his ability to distill complex policy into public-interest journalism.
Lauded by the Canadian Association of Journalists for fostering civic engagement, the podcast bridges gap between Victoria’s press gallery and rural communities through its “Ask an MLA” segment.
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