Taking Stock with Amanda Lang

The Briefs: Bank of Canada hikes rates again; US inflation cools; Watchdog names two Canadian companies for exploiting labour; Aritzia's profit suffers the effects of inflation; Hollywood actors go on strike A look at some of the programs aimed at improving housing supply. How red tape adds to the price of homes. Funding affordable housing with community bonds. A fight between big tech and governm...

A special edition of Taking Stock, focussed on the young people in Canada Housing affordability is at record lows - so where does that leave young people hoping to get into the housing market? A growing number of young Canadians are filing for insolvency. The labour market is tight, but many jobs may disappear in future and be replaced by new ones - how can young people prepare Students are one of...

The Briefs: OSFI raises buffers for banks; Equifax reports higher credit card use by business; Tourism industry on the ropes; Retail sales defies expectations, again; Competition Bureau fines Canada Bread in long-running price fixing investigation Inflation may be cooling in Canada - a look at the prices producers are paying for raw materials, By The Numbers Should grocers pay a windfall tax on pr...

The Briefs - US Central bank holds steady as inflation cools; Housing regulator warns of longer mortgage terms; fewer housing units are being built in May; Ottawa Senators have a bidder; Port of Vancouver ranks 2nd last globally. What needs to be done to make rents affordable? Why are longer amortizations on mortgages a problem? Immigrants are coming to Canada in high numbers - but many plan to le...

The Briefs: Bank of Canada raises rates; Jobs in Canada; World Bank raises 2023 growth outlook; Office vacancies rise again; Wildfires blanket Canada and northern US in smoke. Electric vehicles in Canada. Are subsidies to big companies the right way to go for electric manufacturing? Blocking passage of the federal budget isn't good politics, and it most certainly isn't good for the economy. Let's...

The Briefs: GDP in Canada; Rental investments lose money; Shopify hit with class action; AI in focus; Chipmaker Nvidia tops $1 trillion in value; State Farm won't add any customers in California; Nova Scotia wildfires. The economy is booming, how is business doing? How big is smoking in Canada. Canada becomes the first in the world to label individual cigarettes as unhealthy - how much further sho...

Record household debt; Banks set aside money for bad loans; US debt ceiling debate continues; Air Canada's May long weekend travel almost back to normal: Ford inks 11 year lithium deal with Quebec miner. How big is big food in Canada? By the Numbers Will Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations be more expensive than they are worth?  America and China are battling over control of computer chips - and in th...

Inflation creeps up in Canada; Bank of Canada highlights debt loads as key risk, House prices rebound; Rents soar; Stellantis stops building its EV plant; GM recalls SUVs over airbag safety issue. Saskatchewan says Ottawa’s net zero goals are unrealistic. New research from the Public Policy Forum appears to back that up.  Stellantis has the Canadian government over a barrel with its demand for mor...

US Inflation moderates again; Canada and China tensions; Alberta wildfires disrupt business; Westjet pilots stage pre-emptive picket lines; EU regulates AI; Bank of Canada wants input on a digital currency. why some prices are stickier than others. Urban density should help people find homes. A new product for small businesses that leverage AI technology. Calls to extend the deadline for repayment...

Jobs in Canada; WHO declares Covid-19 emergency over; US rates rise again; First Republic Bank swallowed by JP Morgan; Housing markets firm up across Canada; Federal civil servants strike tentative deal with government. What makes a sports team valuable? It turns out it's not winning.  Tickemaster agreed to shut out Canadian fans in South Florida - another sign it abuses its dominant position?  Th...

the new federal Canadian Innovation Corporation – By the Numbers From idea to start up – funding cancer research. David O’Neill, president of FACIT Other countries do a fine job of carving out their brand and defending it….if a country like Switzerland, which doesn’t produce cocoa, can be known for chocolate, why can’t we do a better job of owning our innovation?

The Indigenous Economy – By the numbers - Tabatha Bull, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Funding First Nations projects - Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor, Cedar LNG Fulfilling the potential of Canada’s Indigenous people is a great story, but it’s a complex one, and over-simplifying the path to equality and prosperity will doom it to failure. 

Bank of Canada decision; IMF warns of global recession; Sleep Country acquires Casper’s Canadian business; 155,000 government employees now have the right to strike; Consumers are worried about debt and future rate hikes. Business outlook, By the Numbers A new report sounds the alarm on a lack of farmers in Canada. Mohamad Yaghi, Agriculture and Climate Policy Lead, RBC While we try to green our e...

The briefs - Jobs in Canada; Bank of Canada Survey; Office vacancy rates at records; Rogers/Shaw merger closes; Tesla sees record sales; Oil prices jump - will gas prices follow? The state of real estate pricing in Canada - By The Numbers Sounding the warning on AI - some of the original creators of artificial intelligence call for a halt in development for 6 months. Guest: Valerie Pisano, preside...

The Briefs; The federal budget; GST rebate extended; bank taxes; Canadian GDP; Rogers-Shaw Deal approved; CIB makes biofuels bet; Lululemon and Dollarama show retailers are alive and well. Are we measuring poverty correctly? Guest: Geranda Notten, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa, and author of the Deprivation Measure Index. Will the new tax credits be the right way to help transition Can...

Inflation and wages in Canada; Federal minimum wage to rise; US Central bank ups rates again; President Biden visits Canada; Ontario delivers record budget. UN sounds the warning on climate change; Looking ahead to next week's federal budget.

Bank failures, rattle markets; US inflation remains high; Cedar LNG gets the nod; Volkswagen to build EV battery plant in Ontario. When will air travel ever be normal again?  The pandemic left a 6% whole in Canada‘s economy. What will it take to recover?  There’s no need to worry about bank failures in Canada, but we pay a high price for the safety we enjoy.

Bank of Canada holds steady on rates; Jobs reports in Canada and the US; Coming budget a balancing act; Home price drops steepest in smaller cities; Plastics ban challenged in court; Grocers on the hot seat – again – for food inflation When might borrowers see relief? Pedro Antunes, chief economist, Conference Board of Canada. More Canadians than ever are renters – and life has never been more exp...

Is there such a thing as the ‘right size’ for government? What is it in Canada? By The Numbers. The public sector is a vital part of the delivery of government service, so how is ours? Why is the government so bad at big projects?  The difference between those with a government pension and those without is a looming divide in Canada and a problem we may want to start addressing now.

The feds will outsource more than $21 billion this year – but how do we know if we are getting value for the money?  Forget being annoyed by tip inflation, why do we allow this  barbaric practice to continue at all? And letting tips make up a big chunk of some worker’s pay? Lets do away with tipping, once and for all. Inflation in January fell but is still hot; Loblaw reports better than expected...

Millenials are up to their necks in debt - what can they do?  As rates stay high, what's the best strategy on mortgage renewals?  We can be our own worst enemy when it comes to our finances and making better choices. We have looked the other way on high-interest loans for long enough. Maybe it's time for traditional lenders to step in and solve this problem.     

Jobs in Canada; More money from feds for health care; Bank of Canada sheds light on its thinking; Record oil and gas profit; Bed Bath & Beyond is on the brink; Retirement may cost $1.7 million   Is fixing health care also about fixing social problems? Dr. Andrew Boozary, Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at University Health Network There may be a lot of job openings,...

Canada's economy is slowing; US Central bank hikes borrowing costs again. New standards for long term care homes; Billions of promises made last year went unspent by federal government and US charges Canada is anti-trade on dairy. Is Google anti-competitive, and what would it mean if the US government manages to break it up?   

Another rate hike from the Bank of Canada; Grocery prices will rise again; Renters face worst market since 2001 A warning that the federal government has rose-coloured glasses on when it comes to recession. 120,000 public sector workers could be set to strike; Rogers’ takeover of Shaw steps closer to reality; US officials charge Google with anti-competitive behaviour   Accessing your pay early cou...

We are told to invest our money and then forget about it – but sometimes that is the very worst advice. When fundamental things like the long term rate environment shift, we should rethink what we are doing and why.