COMMONS

This episode was originally published on December 21, 2021. 

Attawapiskat has become famous across Canada and around the world. Not for the natural beauty that surrounds it, or for the Cree culture of the people who live there. Instead, it’s become a byword for the toxic legacy of Canadian colonialism.

But while Attawapiskat faced crisis after crisis, the community was sitting on a literal diamond mine run by the world’s most famous mining company.

So why is it that a community rich in diamonds is so poor? And why did the government and De Beers do so little to help them through?

Featured in this episode: Mike Koostachin, Vicki Lean, Anna Baggio

To learn more:

After the Last River by Victoria Lean

The People of the Kattawapiskak River by Alanis Obamsawin

“De Beers decision to dump sewage into Attawapiskat played role in current housing crisis” by Ossie Michelin in APTN News

“Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?” By Edward Jay Epstein in The Atlantic

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Rotman, Athletic Greens 

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Kieran Oudshoorn (Managing Editor), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you look at your pet, you probably see an adorable furball that you’d do anything for. A private equity firm sees dollar signs.

Ever so quietly, faceless, big money firms have been consolidating Canada’s veterinary clinics. And vets are just the beginning.

Featured in this episode: Michael Mossop, Denise Hearn

To learn more

“Inside the corporate dash to buy up dentists’ offices, veterinary clinics and pharmacies” in The Globe and Mail by Chris Hannay

“Private equity groups spot profit in UK's nurseries” in Financial Times by Bethan Staton

The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition by Jonathan Tepper and Denise Hearn

“An Inconvenient Fact: Private Equity Returns & The Billionaire Factory” by Ludovic Phalippou

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Reporter and Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Sponsors: Douglas,

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on November 1st, 2021. 

Who are the Rogers family? How did they get so powerful? Why have they turned against one another? And what does it matter?  We've spent a week immersed in Rogers history to bring you this unofficial narrative of Canada's telecom overlords.

Further reading:

Kelly Pullen’s 2014 story in Toronto Life on the “ruthless” power struggle at Rogers: https://torontolife.com/from-the-archives/edward-rogers-the-man-who-would-be-king/

Ted Rogers’ last interview, with Alan Gregg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-hlNXKYZ0

Ted Rogers’ Anniversary novelty song: https://vimeo.com/95189390

The Globe and Mail’s best (and perhaps only) headline about a significant butt-dial: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-rogers-ceo-joe-natale-learned-of-edward-rogerss-plan-to-oust-him/

Ted Rogers’ Autobiography, “Relentless” – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E7S2P9A

High Wire Act: Ted Rogers and the Empire that Debt Built, by Caroline Van Hasselt : https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003E8AJRE

Credits: Jesse Brown (Host & Publisher), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), Cherise Seucharan (Reporter, CANADLAND), Damiola Onime (Producer), 

Additional Music by Audio Network

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at www.commonspodcast.com

Matthew Boswell is the Competition Commissioner. And he's the last man trying to stand in the way of the mega-merger between Rogers and Shaw. 

But even he acknowledges that Canada's antitrust laws aren't just inadequate — they're weighted in favour of the monopolists.

A frank discussion with Canada's top competition cop.

Featured in this episode: Matthew Boswell

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Sponsors: Douglas,

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rogers and Shaw are getting ready to tie the knot. But before they can consummate their less-than-holy union, they have to get the approval of Canada’s competition tribunal and the federal government. And even though most Canadians would find this union highly objectionable, it’s likely to be approved.

Because for 150 years, Canadian politicians have been talking out of both sides of their mouths. They claim they want to promote competition. And then they pass laws that do the opposite.

Featured in this episode: Vass Bednar, Keldon Bester

To learn more

“Antitrust watchdog should just say no to Rogers and Shaw merger” in The Globe and Mail by Keldon Bester and Ben Klass

“Is the Competition Bureau's efficiency defence still defensible?” in The Financial Post by Vass Bednar 

“The Development of Competition Policy, 1890-1940: A Re-Evaluation of a Canadian and American Tradition” in Osgoode Law Journal by Brian Cheffins

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

“Canon in D Major” by Kevin Macleod, adapted.

Sponsors: Douglas, Oxio 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WIND Mobile, now known as Freedom, was a small company that tried to break through Canada’s telecom oligopoly. It did not have an easy ride. 

WIND faced numerous hurdles from regulators, it was subjected to dirty tricks from the telecom oligopoly, and was eventually sold to Shaw. But it also helped lower cell phone rates and brought in unlimited data and U.S. roaming, changing the wireless market permanently.

This is the inside story of WIND Mobile, from the people who were there.

Featured in this episode: Simon Lockie, Brice Scheschuk, Tony Clement

To learn more

“Why can’t TTC riders use their cellphones on the subway? Ask Bell, Rogers or Telus” in The Toronto Star by Lex Harvey

“Wind Mobile backer regrets Canadian launch” in CBC News 

“Globalive offers $3.75-billion to buy Freedom Mobile” in The Globe and Mail by Alexandra Posadzki

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Rotman, Oxio 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re the most hated companies in the country. And yet, they’re unavoidable. 

The telecom oligopoly seems to rule Canada’s economy with an iron fist. Canadians are paying more and more for our cell phones, cable and internet. 

So how was it that we ended up in this situation? And was it inevitable that things would get so bad?

Featured in this episode: Ben Klass, Dwayne Winseck, Keldon Bester, Dale Eisler

To learn more

“A Social History of Canadian Telecommunications” in Canadian Journal of Communication by Dwayne Winseck

“Bell takeover of MTS gets federal approval” in CBC News

From Left To Right: Saskatchewan's Political And Economic Transformation by Dale Eisler

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Oxio 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, it’s a department store where you might go to buy perfume or cookware. But the Hudson’s Bay Company was Canada’s first, and its most powerful, monopoly. 

It grew from a largely insignificant enterprise into one of the most dominant forces in North America.

The story of the HBC reveals just how deeply embedded monopoly is in Canada’s very fabric. 

Featured in this episode: Stephen R. Bown, Jean Teillet

To learn more

The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire by Stephen R. Bown

The North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, The Metis Nation by Jean Teillet

The Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson's Bay Company by Martin Defalco & Willie Dunn

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Oxio 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some say that they’re a shadowy group that are the true power behind our elected officials, wielding enormous influence that they use to either benefit their friends or crush their enemies.

Others claim that they’re a bulwark against oligopolies, ensuring that rural Canada doesn’t turn into an empty, corporatized hellscape.

But what’s not up for debate is that Big Milk is a big deal.

Featured in this episode: Marlene Haley, Justin Ling, Bruce Muirhead

To learn more

“Cheddargate” by Justin Ling in Maisonneuve

“Milk mystery: As prices soar, dairy farmers plead poverty” by Ashleigh Stewart in Global News

“Critics of supply management are milking the argument” by Bruce Muirhead in Maclean’s

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer and Reporter), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Rotman, Canadian History Ehx 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.