The Peak Daily

Electric feel ⚡ - New plan to double Canada’s electricity generation, A $20 hearing aid is for sale

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down Ottawa’s new plan to double Canada’s electricity generation by 2050, and why it could reshape costs, climate policy, and the grid as demand surges from data centres, EVs, and defence production. Then, we look at a Canadian startup taking pre-orders for a $20 custom hearing aid, and what ultra-low-cost devices could mean for accessibility. Plus, Honda’s brutal EV year and the pause on its Ontario plant, Canada’s push to restrict social media and potentially AI chatbots for minors, a scorching AI IPO debut, and more.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Dude, where’s my carbon price? 🏭 - Alberta carbon pricing deal clears for new pipeline, MBAs are on sale.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we’re breaking down Ottawa and Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing deal and what it means for a proposed new west coast pipeline. Then, we look at why top MBA programs are slashing tuition as enrolment drops and employers prioritize AI fluency over traditional credentials. Plus, in the Big Picture: Anthropic pulls ahead of OpenAI in corporate adoption, Trump and China’s leaders open high-stakes talks in Beijing, and Ottawa’s AI spending tab crosses $800M.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Tokenmaxxing 🪙 - Amazon employees fudge AI tool usage, Dunkin’ returns to Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s Peak Daily, the rise of “tokenmaxxing,” as Amazon workers allegedly pad AI tool usage to look more productive, and what it says about how companies are measuring performance in the AI era. Plus, Dunkin’ is officially coming back to Canada with plans for hundreds of locations, setting up a fresh fight in an already crowded coffee market. Finally, Ottawa names the first recipients of its AI Compute Access Fund, TikTok wants to become your travel booking app, and eBay swats away a massive GameStop bid.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Case (un)closed 🚓- Police corruption threatens to derail prosecutions, Fertilizer shortages are stoking food inflation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

A Toronto Police corruption scandal is forcing prosecutors to review dozens of federal cases, raising the risk that some charges could be thrown out. We also look at a new TD report warning food inflation could pick up as fertilizer supplies are disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: OpenAI’s new DeployCo consulting unit, federal support for Telus’s B.C. data-centre expansion, Disney’s box-office momentum, and more.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Out of stocks 📊 - Can AI pick stocks? And people are very upset about Kevin O’Leary’s giant data centre.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down the backlash to Kevin O’Leary’s massive “Stratos” data centre project in Utah, and what the politics of power, land, and water could mean for the AI boom. Then we look at why today’s AI models still struggle to pick winning stocks, and how overconfidence can push investors into making worse trades.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Boomerang generation 🪃 - Young adults aren’t leaving the nest, Ontario preps for big nuclear plant.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we unpack the rise of the “boomerang generation” as more Canadians in their late 20s and 30s move back in with their parents, driven by housing costs that have far outpaced income growth. Then, we look at Ontario’s plan to greenlight what could become the world’s largest nuclear power plant, and what it signals about Canada’s energy future as demand surges. Plus, a prediction-market giant raises a massive round, and one big number on how concentrated stock market gains have become.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Another Canadian EV plant bites the dust, Landlines make comeback for kids.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down Honda’s reported decision to shelve its planned $15B EV complex in Ontario, and what that signals for Canada’s already-wobbly auto sector. Then, we look at the surprisingly hot new retro tech trend: screen-free, Wi‑Fi-enabled “landlines” for kids. Plus, Samsung joins the trillion-dollar club and new research suggests AI could help improve ER diagnosis accuracy.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Regulators, mount up 🙅‍♂️ - The U.S. wants to regulate AI after all, Meta turns to facial scans for age checks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The U.S. signals a possible pivot toward AI oversight, with talk of government reviews for new models and Big Tech sharing early versions with federal officials. Then, Meta’s latest approach to age verification raises eyebrows, using AI to estimate age from photos and videos by analyzing clues like height and bone structure.

Also, Mark Carney naming Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general, new details on the Alto high-speed rail route, and a rare warning about possible human-to-human hantavirus transmission.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Stable condition 🪙 - A loonie-pegged stablecoin has arrived, Canadian cattle ranchers got beef

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We break down the first Canadian-dollar-backed stablecoin, CADD, and what a loonie-pegged token could mean for crypto adoption and Canadian financial sovereignty. Then, Canada’s cattle producers push back on a potential Mercosur trade deal they fear could flood the market with cheaper beef from Brazil and Argentina. Plus Ottawa’s new tariff-relief support for manufacturers, Alberta’s separatist petition for an independence referendum, and renewed conflict around shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Big Flex 🚘 - North American automakers left behind at world’s largest auto show, a tax change that could change business ownership in Canada

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we’re heading to Beijing’s massive auto show to see why China’s EV makers are pulling ahead, and what it could mean for North American giants like Ford, GM, and Stellantis. Then, we break down a quiet Canadian tax change that could make it easier for business owners to sell to employees through Employee Ownership Trusts — potentially reshaping who owns the country’s small businesses.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Goblin mode 👺- Canada takes on financial crime, ChatGPT won’t shut up about goblins.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Canada is getting serious about fighting white-collar crime with a new Financial Crime Agency, and OpenAI is trying to rein in a strange side effect of its latest model: ChatGPT’s sudden obsession with goblins. Plus, Alberta separatists’ access to private voter data, Bombardier’s best cash-flow quarter in decades, Polymarket’s new insider-trading detection tools, and more.

Elevator pitch 🛗- Proposed merger rattles the elevator industry, Canada banks on defence.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down a proposed mega-merger that could reshape the already concentrated elevator industry — and why Canada’s chronic elevator shortage and sky-high costs could get even worse. Then, we look at Canada’s selection as host of a new multinational defence bank designed to unlock cheaper, long-term funding for military projects, and what it could mean for Canadian defence manufacturing. Plus, in The Big Picture: the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Fed hold rates steady, families of Tumbler Ridge victims sue OpenAI, and Uber pushes deeper into travel.

Do the robot 🤖 - OpenAI misses revenue targets, Canada needs to get serious about robots

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we dig into the warning signs behind OpenAI’s massive spending spree as the company reportedly misses key revenue and user-growth targets — raising fresh questions about whether the AI boom is outpacing sustainable business models.

Then, we look at why Canada is pushing to get serious about robots, as a new committee aims to unlock more funding and accelerate automation adoption to help tackle productivity challenges and labour shortages.

Spread the wealth 🏦 - Canada gets a sovereign wealth fund, Spotify and Peloton team up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we break down Ottawa’s new Canada Strong Fund — the country’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund — and what it could mean for everyday Canadians and big infrastructure projects. Then, we look at Spotify’s latest push beyond music as it teams up with Peloton to offer workouts and exclusive fitness content to premium subscribers.

Plus, in the big picture: Rogers offers buyouts amid cooling telecom growth, OpenAI and Microsoft reshape their partnership, and Letterboxd’s owner explores a sale.

Slow your scroll 🖱️ - Manitoba rolls out youth social media ban, Ottawa is on the hunt for infrastructure projects

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Kids in Manitoba are about to find out what it was like growing up in a world without TikTok or ChatGPT.

Got a great idea for a large-scale infrastructure project in Canada’s national interest? It may be worth sending Energy Minister Tim Hodgson your pitch, because he’s shopping.

It’s all coming back to me now 🤑 - Foreign cash returns to Canada, Chinese phonemaker wants a piece of the action.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we break down why foreign investors are returning to Canada — including a planned $1B bet on infrastructure and energy — and what it could mean for growth. We also look at Chinese smartphone brand Honor’s early push toward a Canadian launch, plus the big picture headlines you need: the U.S. moves to reclassify marijuana, investors react to Lululemon’s new CEO, and Meta cuts jobs to fund its AI ambitions.

We’ll take it from here 🤖 - Meta workers are training their AI replacements, A new Canadian startup lobby.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:51:23 -0400

We break down Meta’s latest push toward AI agents — and what it could mean for human jobs — plus the growing fight over how Ottawa should deploy $750M to support Canadian startups. Then, in In The Lab, promising new data on a pancreatic cancer treatment, and one big number on the surge in Americans seeking Irish citizenship.

Running interference 🖥️ - YouTubers push U.S. annexation, Silicon Valley builds its own media sphere.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we unpack a viral (and likely AI-generated) YouTube network pushing the idea of Alberta becoming the 51st U.S. state — and why foreign influence campaigns can shape real political momentum. Then, we look at how Silicon Valley is building a new, tech-friendly media ecosystem, from VC-backed livestream news to founder-safe podcasts, and what it means for who controls the narrative. Plus: Canada’s new Canada–U.S. trade advisory committee, proposed rules for domestic rocket launches, and CATL’s lightning-fast EV battery recharge breakthrough.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

One man’s trash 🗑️- Canadian startup scoops Big Pharma rejects, Canada’s military gets recruit boost.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode of The Peak Daily, we look at how a Toronto biotech is using AI to rescue promising drug candidates that Big Pharma left behind — and what that could mean for the cost and speed of new treatments. Plus, Canada’s Armed Forces hit recruitment targets again as pay boosts and expanded eligibility bring more people (including permanent residents) into the ranks. Then in The Big Picture: Tim Cook’s CEO succession at Apple, gas-driven inflation, and Alberta moving to year-round daylight time.

Where’s the beef? 🥩- Beef prices are soaring, Sam Altman’s human ID startup gains traction

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, we break down why beef prices are still climbing — and why Canadians may need to swap burgers for hot dogs this summer. Then we look at Sam Altman’s World ID as it rolls out human-verification tools across apps like Zoom and DocuSign, raising fresh questions about biometric data and trust. Plus, a quick look at rising geopolitical risk and what higher energy prices could mean for inflation.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Feature presentation 📽️- Cineplex is for sale, Canadian health food spot expands across the border.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s biggest movie theatre chain, Cineplex, is exploring a potential sale or merger — a move that could put much of Canada’s box office in foreign hands. Plus, Toronto wellness darling Nutbar heads to New York as the green-juice boom keeps booming. In the big picture: Xanadu’s stock volatility, OpenAI’s new drug discovery model, and a major $9B Canadian real estate deal.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

New playbook 📖 - The boardroom playbook comes for pro sports, Anthropic laps OpenAI.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down how a “boardroom playbook” is reshaping pro sports decisions in Toronto, why Anthropic may have surged ahead in the AI race. Plus Live Nation’s monopoly ruling, Uber’s robotaxi push, and LIV Golf’s uncertain future.

And tune in after for a special interview with Cristin Gooderham, Area Vice President, Canada Enterprise - Sales at ServiceNow about how Canadian companies are deploying AI to improve the customer experience.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Custom cars 🚘 - Canada cracks down on crypto fraud, Rolls-Royce rolls out one-of-a-kind EVs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s financial watchdog ramps up a crackdown on crypto-fraud money services businesses, while luxury automakers like Rolls-Royce cash in on the booming market for bespoke, one-of-a-kind cars. Plus Ottawa temporarily suspends the federal gas tax, Amazon makes a blockbuster satellite buy to challenge Starlink, and Canadian officials meet with Anthropic over the cybersecurity risks of its new model.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Take the wheel 🛞- Waymo eyes Toronto expansion, Discount grocery stores are multiplying.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down Waymo’s push to bring robotaxis to Toronto, and why it could be a turning point for autonomous ride-hailing in Canada. Plus, we look at Canada’s grocery giants racing to open more discount stores as shoppers prioritize value amid stubbornly high food costs. Finally, we run through the big headlines: the Liberals’ new working majority, a PFAS probe into Lululemon, and Meta’s bid to overtake Google in ad revenue.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Not So Straight 🚢- US blockades Hormuz , annoyance economy is costing you

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down the U.S. move to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and what it could mean for global shipping, oil prices, and markets. Then, we dig into the booming “annoyance economy” — the hidden fees, endless hold times, and cancellation hurdles that cost consumers billions, and how AI is making it worse. Plus, Viktor Orbán’s surprise defeat in Hungary, floor-crossing talk in Ottawa, Quebec’s new premier, and more.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

We’re so back-berry 🫐- BlackBerry is profitable again, BDC puts the life back into life sciences.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re breaking down how BlackBerry is back in the black thanks to its QNX vehicle software business, and why the company’s pivot to “computers on wheels” could power its next chapter. We also cover the BDC’s new $150M life sciences fund, and what it could mean for Canadian startups trying to turn world-class research into real companies. Plus, in the big picture: Trump’s pressure campaign on NATO allies, a major Quebec port expansion getting underway, and why Canadian rents just hit their steepest year-over-year drop in nearly five years.'

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

The Robot, The Myth 🤖 - Anthropic holds back model release, Air Canada's new dispute

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we look at why Anthropic is keeping its powerful new AI model, Mythos, under wraps amid hacking fears, and what that could mean for the next wave of cyber threats. Then, dig into Air Canada’s pilot project to fast-track passenger complaints with a new third-party arbitration process as the CTA backlog balloons. Plus, a hopeful note from the lab: an Oxford-built AI tool that can spot heart-failure risk years early.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Flock together 🎼- Bill Ackman pursues Universal Music, Canada’s first virtual gated community.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily: why Bill Ackman wants to take a swing at Universal Music Group, and what a potential US$64B deal could mean for the future of streaming, music rights, and AI disruption. Toronto’s Rosedale to unpack a proposal for Canada’s first “virtual gated community,” powered by Flock’s AI license-plate surveillance, and the privacy and policing concerns that come with it. Plus, the big picture: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google reportedly coordinate to curb model-copying, Toronto home sales tick up for the first time in months, and more stories on the radar.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Time to unplug 🔌- Alberta’s separatist movement hits a snag, Bars and cafes get patrons off their phones

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today we break down why Alberta’s separatist referendum push could get derailed in court, as the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation argues the petition violates treaty rights and the Constitution. Then, they look at the rise of phone-free bars, restaurants, and cafes that are betting customers will pay for a few hours of real-world focus and conversation.

In The Big Picture: Iran rejects a proposed ceasefire as U.S. threats escalate, Canadian immigration officials warn that AI-generated fabrications are clogging asylum and immigration systems, and NASA’s Artemis II crew sets a new human distance record on a lunar flyby.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Long goodbye 👋 - The U.S. considers leaving NATO, Nicotine pouches are everywhere.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:57:41 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down the mounting tension between the U.S. and NATO as President Trump floats an exit that could shake global security and force allies like Canada to rethink their defence readiness. Then, we look at the rapid rise of nicotine pouches in tech workplaces, Ottawa’s crackdown, and why regulators worry a new generation is getting hooked. Plus: SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO filing, Stellantis’ talks to build Chinese EVs in Canada, and a high-powered Canadian delegation heads to Beijing.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Game over 🕹️ - Sophisticated new scam causes panic, Montreal video game company cuts staff.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we’re breaking down a new wave of “digital arrest” scams that use fake police-station sets and video calls to intimidate victims into sending money — and what Canada may do next to curb fraud. Then, we look at the rough patch hitting the video game industry as Eidos Montréal cuts staff and cancels a long-running project, and what the downturn means for Canada’s gaming economy. Plus, OpenAI’s massive new funding round, signs Trump may be ready to wind down the Iran conflict, and a major change that will let more Canadians see nurse practitioners without paying out of pocket.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

One small step for man 🌑 - NASA readies for lunar launch, The energy crisis is about to get worse.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today on The Peak Daily, we break down NASA’s Artemis II mission as it prepares to send four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen around the moon. Then, we look at why the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is pushing parts of Asia toward emergency energy cuts and could send prices soaring worldwide. Plus Air Canada’s CEO plans to step down, Canada moves to slash development fees to spur homebuilding, and Meta tests a new premium subscription for Instagram.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Left turn ⬅️ -The NDP elects a new leader, Chatbots are fuelling our delusions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s Peak Daily: Canada hits NATO’s 2% defence spending target for the first time, committing $84B over five years as Ottawa rethinks reliance on the U.S. Then, a blistering new report finds major gaps in the federal Indigenous procurement strategy, raising concerns about oversight and shell companies. Plus, quantum computing standout Xanadu goes public, the Liberals table election-law reforms to curb foreign interference and deepfakes, and Canada’s competition watchdog reviews a potential Paramount–Warner Bros. merger.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Hitting the mark 🎯 - Canada reaches its defence spending goal, Indigenous procurement is under fire.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Predict this 🎰 - Wealthsimple wants in on prediction markets, OpenAI’s Disney deal blows up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Canada is getting its first mainstream prediction markets, with Wealthsimple clearing a key regulatory hurdle and raising fresh questions about oversight and insider trading. Plus, OpenAI shuts down Sora and its splashy Disney partnership, underscoring the steep costs and shaky demand for AI-generated video. In the big picture: Ontario expands its new-home tax rebate, YouTube and Meta are found guilty in a social media addiction trial, and Iran rejects a U.S. ceasefire proposal.

Turning the page 📖- Canadian indie bookstores unite on new website, Cricket Canada is in shambles

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore how Canada's independent bookstores are banding together through Booksellers.ca, a new digital marketplace that pools inventory from 160 indie sellers to compete with Amazon and Indigo. Then, we dive into the turmoil at Cricket Canada, where constitutional violations, match-fixing investigations, and leadership controversies are threatening to derail one of the country's fastest-growing sports. Plus, Apple tests a chatbot-style Siri, Alberta's oil pipeline deal faces delays, BMO launches blockchain tokenization, and more Canadian business news.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

AI CEO 🤖- Mark Zuckerberg builds personal AI assistant, Staged car crashes are on the rise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore how AI agents are becoming workplace assistants, with Mark Zuckerberg building his own personal AI to help run Meta. We also dive into the alarming 400% surge in staged car crashes across Canada and what's driving this insurance fraud epidemic. Plus, we cover the tragic Air Canada crash at LaGuardia Airport, the Auditor General's findings on foreign student admissions, and Trump's delayed strikes on Iran after diplomatic talks.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

AI Hurdle 🤖 - Iran war could slow AI boom, Banff is getting crowded

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we examine how the war in Iran threatens to derail the AI boom through rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions. We also explore whether Banff National Park's record 4.5 million visitors signals an overtourism crisis. Plus, Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, OpenAI's aggressive hiring plans, Cuba's latest power grid collapse, and more in our Big Picture segment.

📈 Turn that frown upside down

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:36:00 -0400

Death, taxes, and Finland ranking as the happiest country in the world are all certainties in this world. But Canada’s place among the world’s cheeriest nations is no longer a sure thing.

Less than a week out from a new MLB season, the league is entering the gambling industry’s most controversial corner.

📈 No more side quests — Shopify wants to lend you money, OpenAI shuts down side quests

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Canada’s most valuable company has started cutting the cheques that big banks won’t.

The leading AI labs are narrowing in on the most likely viable business model: selling their tools to businesses.

Memory hole 🧠: RAM Crunch, PE Slump and Canada's Space Race

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore the global memory chip shortage that's driving up prices for consumer electronics, especially gaming PCs, as AI data centers consume the majority of RAM production. We also examine how Canadian pension funds are facing disappointing returns from their private equity investments amid a sector-wide downturn. Plus, we cover Canada's inflation cooling to 1.8%, Bell's Saskatchewan data centre project, and Ottawa's ~$200 million investment in Nova Scotia's first domestic satellite launch pad.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Under the microscope 🔬- Honda posts historic annual loss, Manitoba mulls ban on paying for plasma.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we examine Honda's historic annual loss as the automaker faces billions in costs from its EV retreat, and explore Manitoba's consideration of banning paid plasma collection following two donor deaths at Grifols facilities. We also cover the global oil supply crisis as Iran continues blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Ottawa's revised crime bill on telecom data access, and Uber's launch of its premium Elite service.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Let the oil flow 🛢️ - : Iran war sparks historic oil reserve release, Luxury hoodies come to Costco.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore the IEA's historic release of 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves as the Iran conflict disrupts global supply chains, plus Costco Canada's surprising drop of heavily discounted Off-White luxury hoodies that sold out instantly. We also cover Canada's meaningful housing supply gains in 2025, new banking fee limits saving Canadians millions, and MDA Space's upcoming NYSE IPO. Additional highlights include Tesla and xAI's "Macrohard" collaboration tool, McDonald's new budget meal deals, and OpenAI's plans to integrate Sora into ChatGPT.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Big old jet airliner 🛩️- OpenAI faces civil suit over Tumbler Ridge, Drama at Toronto’s island airport

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore how AI companies are facing mounting legal pressure following tragic incidents linked to their chatbots. The family of a Tumbler Ridge shooting victim has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company failed to report the shooter's violent ChatGPT conversations to authorities despite internal warnings. We also cover Ontario Premier Doug Ford's plan to take control of Toronto's Billy Bishop airport to push through a controversial expansion that would allow jet landings. Plus, the latest on the Iran conflict, TikTok's return to Canada after agreeing to new privacy concessions, and the shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto being investigated as a potential national security incident.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Cafe hog ☕- The Yukon is luring miners, Are remote workers ruining cafes?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore how remote workers are transforming Canada's cafe culture—and not always for the better. Coffee shops are grappling with laptop-toting customers who camp out all day on a single purchase, forcing owners to get creative with policies like purchase-per-hour requirements and designated work zones. Then, we head north to the Yukon, where the government is streamlining mining regulations to attract investment in critical minerals like tungsten—a move that could give Canada leverage in upcoming trade negotiations with the U.S. Plus Trump declares the Iran conflict nearly over, Canada commits nearly $1 billion to domestic defence innovation, and Live Nation settles its antitrust case with major concessions.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Sobering up 🍺- Canadians aren’t drinking, Oil prices set to hit $100 a barrel

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we explore how Canadians are cutting back on alcohol consumption amid rising costs and wellness trends—and what that means for restaurants that depend on booze sales. We also break down why gas prices are surging as oil nears $100 a barrel, driven by Middle East tensions and supply disruptions. Plus Prime Minister Carney calls crucial byelections that could secure a Liberal majority, Iran prepares to name a new Supreme Leader as the war escalates, and OpenAI's robotics chief resigns over the company's Pentagon deal.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Legal eagles 🦅- Canadian legaltech gets some spending cash, AI medical assistant makes a mess.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how Canadian AI legaltech company Spellbook secured a $54.7 million line of credit from RBC to fuel an acquisition spree, positioning itself as a leader in Canada's thriving legaltech sector. Then, we examine troubling failures in AI-powered healthcare systems, including a Utah prescription tool that was easily manipulated into dangerous recommendations. Plus,OpenAI's upcoming "extreme reasoning" mode, a historic Canada-Australia pension investment deal, Ottawa's AI-powered immigrant settlement tool, and more updates from the world of business and tech.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Putting down Roots 🍃- Roots explores a possible sale, Auctions for dinosaur bones are heating up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's Peak Daily, we explore Roots' strategic review as the iconic Canadian brand considers a potential sale amid challenging retail conditions. Then, we dive into the booming market for dinosaur fossils, where billionaires are paying millions for prehistoric treasures. Plus, Canada's new critical minerals funding, Middle East evacuation plans, Wealthsimple's SWIFT entrance, and more.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

When the chips are down 🎰- Ontario sees surge in gambling problems, AI is giving accountants headaches

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore Ontario's gambling problem as calls to mental health hotlines surge 300% among young men since online gambling was legalized in 2022. We also dive into how AI-generated tax errors are creating extra work for Canadian accountants during tax season. Plus: Prime Minister Carney signs a major deal with India, Trump doubles down on Iran strikes, BC ends daylight savings time permanently, and more.

The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Edge of escalation 🚀- Iran war escalates across the Middle East, AI gets blamed for more layoffs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we cover the escalating Iran conflict that's spreading across the Middle East and disrupting global oil markets, Block's massive AI-driven layoffs that cut nearly half its workforce, and the growing trend of "AI-washing" in corporate downsizing. Plus, we touch on the Pentagon's sudden switch from Anthropic to OpenAI, suspicious betting patterns on Polymarket around Iran strikes, and why your morning coffee might finally get cheaper thanks to Brazil's record harvest.

Whopper wiretap 🍔- American nurses flock to B.C., Burger King tests Big Brother AI assistant.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how American nurses are crossing the border to fill critical healthcare gaps in B.C., with over 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses joining the province since a streamlined licensing process was introduced. We also dive into Burger King's controversial new AI assistant "Patty," which will monitor employee interactions and friendliness at hundreds of locations. Plus, we cover Canada's new defence pact with South Korea, a major funding round for Montreal travel tech company Stay22, and why Nvidia's record profits still couldn't calm investor fears about AI valuations.

Wake me up inside ⏰- Canada’s IPO market comes back to life, A Canadian billionaire’s grand folly.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore Canada's IPO market revival as Apotex plans a $1 billion public offering—the largest in five years. We also dive into Lawrence Stroll's troubled stewardship of Aston Martin Racing Team, as both the luxury automaker and F1 team face mounting challenges. Plus, Ottawa threatens to regulate OpenAI over safety concerns, Kalshi cracks down on insider trading, and Trump's trade representative confirms tariffs will remain part of any new deal with Canada.

Bearish blogging 🐻- Viral Substack post is market mover, TikTok and the MLB join forces.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how a viral Substack post about AI-driven economic disruption sparked a massive market selloff, wiping billions off tech stocks. We also cover the MLB's new partnership with TikTok to bring baseball highlights and creator content to younger audiences. Plus, US Treasury faces refund lawsuits after tariffs were struck down, new UK entry requirements for travelers, and Canadian airlines resuming flights to Mexico after violent unrest.

Panic in Jalisco 🇲🇽 - Cartel violence hits Mexico after leader’s death, Aritzia revs up U.S. expansion.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore the aftermath of cartel leader El Mencho's death and the violent retaliation that erupted across Mexico, impacting travel safety for thousands of Canadians. We also dive into Aritzia's ambitious U.S. expansion as the Canadian retailer acquires iconic luxury brand Fred Segal and targets experiential retail on LA's Melrose Avenue. Plus, we cover OpenAI executives being summoned to Ottawa, Uber's robotaxi push, takeover interest in PayPal, and the latest on NEXUS suspensions affecting Canadian travelers.

Hot water 🥵 - OpenAI is under fire for Tumbler Ridge shooting, Batteries become very cheap

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we cover OpenAI's controversial decision not to alert Canadian authorities about concerning ChatGPT conversations with the alleged Tumbler Ridge shooter, plus how plummeting battery costs are bringing us closer to a renewable energy future. We also discuss Trump's escalating global tariffs, the killing of a notorious Mexican cartel leader, and Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition under DOJ scrutiny.

Tamago sando 🥪 - 7-Eleven plans Canadian reinvention, AI might finally be impacting productivity.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore 7-Eleven Canada's ambitious expansion plans, including the arrival of the cult-favorite tamago sando from Japan as part of their shift toward becoming a quick-service restaurant. We also examine new evidence that AI may finally be impacting productivity levels across European firms and the U.S. job market. Plus, we cover OpenAI's massive $100 billion fundraising round, U.S. military buildup near Iran, the arrest of former Prince Andrew, and other headlines you gotta know.

Criss-cross 🚷 - Another Conservative MP crosses the aisle, Hollywood bites back at ByteDance.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore the shifting political landscape as Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux becomes the third Tory to cross the floor and join the Liberal caucus, putting Prime Minister Carney on the verge of a majority government. We then dive into the entertainment industry's fight against ByteDance's revolutionary AI video generator Seedance 2.0, as Hollywood's biggest studios unite with cease-and-desist letters over copyright concerns. Plus, in our Big Picture segment, we examine the discovery of ancient antibiotic-resistant bacteria frozen in a Romanian ice cave and what it means for both public health and future medicine.

Persistence pays off 😵 - Warner Bros. will hear out Paramount’s offer, Canada pitches nuclear to Poland.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore the latest developments in a Hollywood bidding war as Warner Bros. Discovery reopens negotiations with Paramount, giving them one week to submit a final offer that could challenge Netflix's $83 billion deal. We also discuss Canada's push to export CANDU nuclear reactor technology to Poland for their second nuclear power plant, potentially creating significant economic opportunities with a largely domestic supply chain. Plus, we cover PM Carney's $470 billion defence spending commitment, January's inflation numbers, Apple's accelerated AI wearables development, and more business headlines.

Up in arms 💪 - Carney plans new trade block, Canada is getting armed.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, Canada is charting a bold new course on the global stage. Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing to unite the EU and Indo-Pacific trading bloc into one of the world's largest economic alliances — a strategic pivot away from U.S. dependence. Meanwhile, Ottawa unveils an ambitious defence strategy to triple domestic military manufacturing and boost spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, signaling Canada's biggest military buildup since the Cold War. Plus, we cover Warner Bros. reopening merger talks, Anthropic's Pentagon standoff, and the latest on CUSMA negotiations.

Market trend of the year 📉 - AI scare trades dominate the market, Toronto transit prepares for the World Cup

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how AI-driven fear is reshaping markets in 2026, with commercial real estate and wealth management stocks taking major hits following new AI tool releases. We also examine Toronto's plan to upgrade its notoriously unreliable transit ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Plus Loblaw integrates ChatGPT for grocery ordering, Ottawa scraps its $250 million digital prescription system, Anthropic reaches a $380 billion valuation, eBay Live launches in Canada, and Ontario lifts its seven-year tuition freeze.

Arctic education 🎓 - Canada's Arctic is getting its first Inuit university, Trump might want out of CUSMA.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore Canada's historic step toward educational equity with the announcement of Inuit Nunangat University, set to open in Arviat, Nunavut by 2030. Then, we examine the uncertain future of CUSMA as President Trump privately weighs withdrawing from the trade agreement he once championed. Plus, we cover the latest developments in the BC mass shooting investigation, Ukraine's upcoming wartime elections, leadership turmoil at xAI, and more business headlines from Warner Bros., Kraft Heinz, and the U.S. job market.

Brought to you by 📺 - Targeted advertising comes to sports bars, A $42 billion bitcoin blunder.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how Canadian startup Taiv is revolutionizing sports bar advertising with targeted commercials that replace live TV ads, raising $13 million USD at a nearly $100 million valuation. Then, we dive into a massive crypto mishap where South Korean exchange Bithumb accidentally gave away $42 billion worth of bitcoin in a promotion gone wrong. Plus, we cover PM Carney's discussions with President Trump about the Gordie Howe bridge dispute, Canada's continued F-35 purchases despite review, Paramount's sweetened Warner Bros. Discovery bid, and more Canadian business headlines.

The Depart-eh’d 🇨🇦 - Ontario police are under the microscope, GM bets on EV battery breakthrough.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we dive into Ontario's sweeping police corruption probe following the arrest of seven Toronto officers on charges ranging from drug trafficking to leaking intel to organized crime. We also explore GM's risky bet on unproven lithium manganese-rich battery technology as it attempts to revive its struggling EV business. Plus, in our Big Picture segment: Carney and Ford discuss election strategy, Air Canada suspends Cuba flights amid a fuel crisis, Instagram tests a Snapchat competitor, and much more…

Private property 🏠 - Indigenous group challenges private land ownership, Ottawa courts Chinese EV makers

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Peak Daily, Jay Rosenthal flies solo to bring you the top stories in Canadian and global business. First, we dive into the Dzawada'enuxw First Nation's groundbreaking legal claim for nearly 650 hectares of private land in B.C., exploring what this means for property rights across Canada. Then, we examine Ottawa's efforts to attract Chinese automakers to set up manufacturing in Canada as a way to revitalize the struggling auto sector.

In our Big Picture segment: a Canadian fintech company faces investigation over millions in missing restaurant tips, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi achieves a historic election victory, China overturns a Canadian's death sentence, Ottawa lends Canada Post $1 billion to stay afloat, and gambling stocks take a hit despite Super Bowl betting.

All this and more in under 10 minutes on your Peak Daily for Monday, February 9, 2026.

EVolution 🚗 - Ottawa re-jigs its EV strategy, Spotify gets bookish.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Ottawa shakes up its electric vehicle strategy by bringing back EV rebates while ditching the 2035 sales mandate in favor of stricter emissions standards. We explore what this means for Canadian car buyers and the environment. Then, Spotify makes a surprising move into physical book sales, partnering with Bookshop.org to offer hardcovers and paperbacks alongside its growing audiobook business. Plus, we cover a major Toronto police corruption scandal, Y Combinator's policy reversal on Canadian startups, and why two major pension funds are looking to cash out of Britain's biggest port operator.

Sell sell sell 💸- AI agents spark software sell-off, Ottawa and Washington talk critical minerals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

AI agents are making it a hard time to be a software provider.

The White House is suddenly preaching peachy collaboration with its allies.

Let the games begin ❄️- The Winter Olympics kick off in Italy, Netflix goes to Washington.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

The days may be short, the sidewalks in constant need of shovelling, but at least we finally have the Olympics to carry us through the rest of winter.

Execs from Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery were in the hot seat yesterday, defending the proposed merger of the two companies in front of a U.S. Senate antitrust committee.

C-suite scapegoat 🐐- AI isn’t taking as many jobs as it seems, Science looks for a road salt alternative.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

The promise of AI has become every C-suite’s favourite cost-cutting scapegoat.

Salt is famously the only rock we eat, but is it the only thing we can use to melt road ice?

📈 AI’s only

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

AI agents now have their own group chats to make fun of our ridiculous requests, and they’re not pulling any punches.

How many renminbi yuan is a Canadian dollar worth? Soon it may be useful to know that it is, at the moment, around five.

📈 Separate ways

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we explore how Alberta separatist groups have been secretly meeting with Trump administration officials, seeking massive financial support for a potential independence referendum. We also look at Canada's major banks expanding into the Middle East, with RBC applying for banking licences in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh as Canadian businesses deepen ties with Gulf nations. Plus, we cover General Motors' layoffs at its Oshawa plant, Pierre Poilievre's leadership vote, SpaceX and xAI merger talks, Manulife's use of AI in life insurance applications, and Wealthsimple's partnership with Canada Post for cash deposits.

📈 Beep beep

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Neil Young offering free archive access to Greenlanders amid U.S. political tensions. Keep on rocking in a free world. Plus, Toronto-based Waabi secured a $750 million funding round and is partnering with Uber to launch 25,000 robotaxis, marking a major milestone for Canadian tech and Uber's autonomous vehicle ambitions. Beyond Meat pivots from plant-based burgers to protein sodas, Ottawa's negotiations with Meta to restore news on Facebook, the Bank of Canada and Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady, South Korean automaker deals, Amazon's 16,000-worker layoff, and Starbucks' sales turnaround under CEO Brian Niccol.

📈 Can't get started

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Peak Daily, Jay discusses Canada's $210 billion opportunity from eliminating internal trade barriers, explore why Canadian tech startups are increasingly relocating to the U.S. despite Canada ranking sixth globally for startup ecosystems, and examine how the federal government's $10-a-day childcare program is falling short of its targets.

Plus, updates on PM Mark Carney's response to Trump, BDC's new defense investments, and the latest in tech including Meta's potential paid subscriptions and TikTok's settlement of a social media addiction lawsuit.

📈 Peak Food

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:08:00 -0500

In this episode, Jay covers Ottawa's new food inflation rebate providing up to $1,890 for families through an enhanced GST tax credit, along with concerns about food safety following the closure of seven federal research sites including a key facility in Guelph. The big picture roundup includes Ottawa subsidizing a tech firm supplying ICE with wiretapping tools, Chinese miner Zijin's $5.5 billion bid for Allied Gold, Cineplex challenging its drip pricing ruling at the Supreme Court, and Y Combinator no longer accepting Canadian startups unless they relocate. Plus, stay tuned for a conversation with personal finance experts from Meridian and Conscious Economics.

Deep freeze 🥶 - Canada-U.S. relations get icy, Youth sports are turning into big business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

It wasn’t just large swaths of the country getting snowed in this weekend — the relationship between Ottawa and the White House also went back into deep freeze.

It turns out, parents will pay a lot of money to watch their nine-year-old's soccer game on TV.

Keep scrolling 🤳- TikTok and the the U.S. are making a deal, A Chinese automaker eyes Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

For a company repeatedly branded a national security threat, TikTok has emerged from its U.S. standoff in remarkably good shape

Chinese EV companies are starting their engines to enter the Canadian market.

Pick me ✋- Submarine suitors woo Ottawa, Social media algorithms are going on trial.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Like the final two contestants on a Bachelorette season, Hanwha Ocean and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) are pulling out all the stops to win Ottawa’s affections.

The algorithms that keep us mindlessly scrolling for hours could soon be in legal peril.

RIP global order 🪦- Carney gives blunt speech at Davos, Heated Rivalry heats up NHL ticket sales.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We’re guessing it was a pretty awkward afternoon at Davos for the White House delegation.

Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov aren’t real-life hockey players, but the protagonists of the hit Canadian gay hockey romance might just be the NHL’s biggest draws.

Cold hard cash 🏦- Arctic defence startup nets big funding round, Speeding up drug approval times.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

With anxiety over Arctic sovereignty at an all-time high, a Canadian startup is pitching itself as Ottawa’s solution.

Like a student who’s behind on their readings, Health Canada is looking to copy some homework off of friends.

Rising tensions 🎢- Trump sets his sights on Canada, Surgeons start working remotely

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Like a nasty gossip, it’s basically never good news when the U.S. president starts bringing you up in conversations.

Remote work has evolved from answering Slack messages in your sweatpants to conducting brain surgeries on a patient 500 kilometres away.

Closing the book 📖 - B.C. ends its drug decriminalization experiment, Another sports betting scandal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

B.C. is closing the book on its experiment with drug decriminalization.

We hate to say it, but all of those “crazy” sports fans complaining about the games being rigged might not have been so crazy after all.

Alright, alright, alright 🤙 - François Legault resigns as premier, Matthew McConaughey trademarks himself.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Quebec’s premier is bidding adieu to the Hôtel du Parlement.

Matthew McConaughey has had enough, enough, enough with the AI deepfakes.

The McVibes are off 🍟 - McDonald’s cuts meal deal prices, Meta’s smart glasses are a certified hit.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

It looks like McDonald’s has seen all the posts about how fast food prices are too damn high.

After losing tens of billions of dollars making clunky VR headsets that nobody wanted, Meta has finally built a winning product.

Winging it ✈️ - Airlines avoid new fee for passenger complaints, Nvidia gets into gene editing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Getting compensated for your delayed flight from two years ago isn’t getting any easier.

Recent Grok-y headlines have been upsetting, so here’s some good AI news.

Down round 📈 - Canadian VC struggles, Kepler launches satellite network

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Consider taking a moment today to check in on any venture capitalists in your life, because (in Canada, at least) there’s a good chance they just went through a rough year.

It may sound like the log line for a low-budget sci-fi movie, but a Canadian company just launched a bunch of high-tech lasers into space.

📈 Avert your eyes kids

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Rogers is worried about kids’ screen time and cottage cheese is having a moment. Plus, a new underwater cable is on the way connecting an Ontario power plant to Toronto.

📈 It’s not easy being Greenland

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

As the US explores annexation of Greenland they continue their plans to extract and sell Venezuelan oil. Plus, the future of air travel is both bumpier thanks to a changing environment but also more convenient, thanks to eVTOLS.

📈 Let’s get AI physical

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Nvidia unveils self-driving car system at CES which might be a good thing, because you can apparently by illicit drug on Instagram and Facebook. Plus, just how big was Taylor Swift Eras Tour effect on Toronto’s economy?

📈 Chill pill - Novo Nordisk's weight-loss pill has arrived

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Novo Nordisk launches weight-loss pill while the Feds look into earthquake insurance. Plus, Maduro’s (first) day in court, Christia Freeland’s new job and one very, very expensive tuna.

From Caracas to Calgary - Why what’s happening in Venezuela matters to Canada

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:46:00 -0500

Plus, DeepSeek boasts a new AI breakthrough and another Chinese company, BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest EV seller.

Dream big 💤 - Marty Supreme meets the movie marketing moment, Bombardier is flying high.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We could finally be done with the stale Hollywood marketing cycle of Jimmy Kimmel appearances, sleepy podcast circuits, and forced red carpet smiles.

Bombardier is heading into 2026 flying higher than a tricked-out private jet

GunAmerican 🔫 - American guns are flooding into Canada, Ottawa tackles money laundering

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Lax U.S. gun laws are flooding Canada’s black market for firearms.

One of Canada’s 2026 resolutions is to crack down on money laundering, and this year they’re actually going to do it for real, okay?

Friend of the pod 🎙️ - YouTube and Netflix battle over podcasts, Aviation startup bets on odd plane.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The unexplainable desire to watch our favourite podcast hosts talk into a microphone has created a new frontier in the streaming wars.

Is this weird-looking jet the future of air travel?

Pop drop 📉 - Canada sees largest population dip on record, Oracle shares slide.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Ottawa has pulled off a tire-squealing U-turn on immigration.

It’s a rough time to be an Ellison-run company.

Put it in reverse ⚙️ - Ford gives up on electric F150s, Buy Canadian Policy comes into effect.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Even an electric version of the world's best-selling truck couldn’t get people to give up the gas pump.

The federal government's new Buy Canadian Policy officially came into effect yesterday, as Ottawa looks to turn grocery aisle sloganeering into a concrete national investment strategy

Let a hundred qubits bloom 🌼 - Ottawa tries to retain quantum companies, The PM’s dictionary dispute.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

If there’s one thing more painful than seeing Canada lose to the Americans in hockey, it’s seeing promising Canadian companies pull up stakes and move south of the border.

Canadian editors are in a dictionary dispute with the Carney government.

Touching grass 🌱- U.S. warms up to weed, Prediction markets grapple with corruption.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

About 45 years after Ronald Reagan called it the most dangerous drug in America, the U.S. government seems to be warming up to weed.

We are quickly discovering that “financializing everything” through prediction markets also creates endless opportunities for corruption.

Wish upon a star 💫- Disney and OpenAI join forces, Major Projects Office looks for workers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The U.S. is pursuing another measure that makes it seem like it no longer cares about international tourism as a GDP contributor.

Canadians might be feeling pinched, but a steady diet of live entertainment seems to be a non-negotiable.

Social snooping 👀- U.S. proposes invasive travel measures, Canadians spend big on entertainment.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The U.S. is pursuing another measure that makes it seem like it no longer cares about international tourism as a GDP contributor.

Canadians might be feeling pinched, but a steady diet of live entertainment seems to be a non-negotiable.

No scrolling 📵- New defence agency awards first contract, Australian social media ban begins.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Like all of us this time of year, Canada is looking for ways to buy new stuff for less.

There are going to be some extremely irritable Australian kids this morning. Spare a thought for their parents.

I’m melting 🍦- Biggest ice cream company makes market debut; Canada lures foreign doctors.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The classic chant “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” may no longer be a totally accurate observation.

Canada is asking “what’s up doc?” to foreign-trained physicians looking to plant roots.

Sun or strike 😎- Air Transit cancels flights as strike looms, CRA objections soar.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Just three months after the last Canadian airline strike brought travel plans to a halt, we’re on the verge of an untimely sequel.

A record number of Canadian taxpayers are having to correct the CRA’s work.

Slop bowl slump 🥗 - The lunch crowd is falling out of love with bowls, Hims & Hers enters Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Young people are starting to sour on the idea of a $17 lunch bowl that looks like a burrito was hit by a bus and thrown in a cardboard container.

There’s a new entrant in the race to offer Canadians generic Ozempic.

Keep it in cheque 💳 - Big banks cut chequing account fees, Switzerland votes down tax reform.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A silent but deadly budget killer is starting to be reined in.

For Switzerland, luring wealthy foreigners is as proud a part of its cultural heritage as Alpine skiing, masterfully made timepieces, and Toblerone.

Code red 🔴 - Google has OpenAI in a panic, Scholastic turns a new page with office sale.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

OpenAI started the AI race in a full sprint while its competitors were still lacing up their shoes.

Scholastic is making big changes to ensure that its book fairs aren’t just a relic of Zillenial memories.

Judge ye not 👨‍⚖️ - Courts are tossing out criminal cases, Canada and the EU get defensive.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A bottleneck of cases in Canadian courtrooms is leading to thousands of violent crimes going untried.

After a period of flirtation, Canada and Europe are making their defence relationship official.

Holiday splurge 🛍️ - Canadians nab Black Friday deals, Honda’s space ambitions are taking off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Black Friday splurges may leave many Canadians in the red come the new year.

One small step for man, one giant leap for automakers moonlighting as rocket scientists.

Pinky promise 🤝 - Ottawa and Alberta reach pipeline deal, Molson Coors sues alleged embezzler.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Facing an oil pipeline conundrum, Ottawa is trying to kill two birds with one stone.

One of Canada’s top purveyors of watery beers is accusing an ex-employee of skimming some foam off the top.

In the soup 🥫 - Gifts cards are this year’s hottest gift, Campbell’s says its chicken isn’t 3D-printed

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

It’s the classic gift you buy your nephew when he grows out of his dinosaur phase. It might also be the hottest holiday present of the year.

Campbell’s is on the defence after some soup-er incriminating leaked audio.

Citation needed 📄 - AI hallucinations invade government reports, Landlord software gets reined in.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Just because a study has a long, jargon-filled title, that doesn’t mean it’s real.

The company accused of driving up your rent is quietly settling a price-fixing lawsuit.

Dupe duels 👬 - Quince faces a dupe lawsuit, Cigarettes are staging a cultural comeback

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The king of the holiday gift guide is taking on the (alleged) king of the dupes.

Hollywood A-listers are convincing Gen Z that cigarettes — while they may kill you — are still cooler than puffing on a vape that looks like a portable phone charger.

Wheelin’ and dealin’ ♠️ - Carney plays Let's Make a Deal, Montreal rides pension cash to a transit win

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Canada’s foreign policy is now all about the Benjamins — or in this case, the Bordens.

Torontonians, look away: Montreal’s new train upgrade is going to make your morning streetcar delay feel even worse.

Loosen up 🤙- Canada’s lending regulator wants to loosen up loans, Questrade adds new tools.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) — the supervisor of our federally regulated lenders — wants to free up more credit for your next business venture.

One of Canada’s first online trading platforms is rolling out new tools to attract the booming hordes of Canadian daytraders (or at least people who lurk in r/WallStreetBets).

Coming down the pipe 👆- Halal investing is going mainstream, Ottawa and Alberta to reach pipeline deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A Canadian startup is throwing its hat in the ring of the $5.4 trillion halal financing market.

Things haven’t exactly been peachy between Ottawa and Alberta over the past few years, but the two are willing to put differences aside in pursuit of a common goal: moving more oil.

Burst into tiers 😢- Alberta pursues two-tiered healthcare, Canada has a research problem.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Alberta’s government has drafted legislation that would allow doctors to work at both private and public institutions simultaneously.

For a country so rich in brainpower, Canada is having an oddly hard time figuring out how to use it.

Hook, line, and sinker 🎣- Investment scammers target Gen Z, Apple speeds up CEO succession plan.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The most digitally savvy generation is now falling for online financial scams at a higher clip than their grandparents.

After over 14 years of leading Apple and crafting his own path in the long shadow of Steve Jobs, Tim Cook might soon have more time to hike around Yosemite.

AI Hackers 🤖- AI is automating cyberattacks, Labubu’s are going Hollywood

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Spare a thought today for the latest workers to be displaced by AI: hackers.

Sony might’ve just landed one half of the next Barbenheimer.

Wish list 💫- Ottawa unveils new nation-building projects, Digital billboards are watching.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Ottawa just rolled out part two of its infrastructure Christmas wish list. Whether it’ll get what it asked for is up in the air.

Targeted advertising has broken containment from your Instagram feed and made it to the real world.

Fast and cheap 🏎️- AI faces another DeepSeek moment, Airbnb wants to be an everything app.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Call it déjà vu: A Chinese AI firm has set the industry abuzz by doing more with less.

When you book your next Airbnb, you’ll have to decide whether you’d like it with or without a private chef, personal trainer, or fridge full of snacks.

Digital Sovereignty 🇨🇦- Buy Canadian comes to AI, The U.S. wants Canada to pay more for drugs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Buy Canadian is going way beyond the grocery cart.

Trump is trying to strong-arm Big Pharma into hiking drug prices around the world.

Break it off 💔- The end appears near for Sonder, Clio nets a $5 billion valuation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Today we ponder the fate of Sonder, a Canadian-founded company that appears to be near its end.

A homegrown tech company is proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that AI can do a lot more in the courtroom than make up legal cases.

Talent show 🎤- Ottawa looks to poach U.S. talent, OpenAI floats government backstop

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Ottawa may be closing some of its immigration doors, but it’s rolling out the red carpet for highly-skilled workers on U.S. visas

It’s a tale as old as capitalism, and it may be unfolding again in the AI space.

Making friends 👬- Canada and Saudi Arabia cozy up, Scam ads make big money for Meta.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

With the U.S. playing hard to get, Ottawa and Saudi Arabia are playing a little footsy under the trade table.

Scammers aren’t the only ones profiting from weird Facebook ads of Howie Mandel getting arrested.

Time to pay up 💸- Tesla shareholders vote on Musk pay package, Investors float AI bubble concerns.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Tesla shareholders will vote today on whether or not to approve a pay package for CEO Elon Musk that could end up being worth over US$1 trillion.

Fears about an AI bubble have reached the point where financial advisors are now sending out Nvidia-branded bubble guns.

Here comes the budget 🏧- Carney drops his first federal budget, Coke ushers in the age of AI ads.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We don’t know about you, but we could hardly sleep Monday night knowing there was a fresh budget waiting under the fiscal Christmas tree.

With the corpse of Halloween still fresh in the dirt, Coca-Cola has dropped its annual holiday commercials… with a twist.

Quantum IPO 💻- Xanadu plans blockbuster IPO, ChatGPT is done giving you advice.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Quantum computing might be difficult to comprehend (we’re still not sure what a qubit is), but one thing about it is easy to understand: it’s got a lot of money-making potential.

ChatGPT is officially resigning its role as our deeply unqualified (but extremely confident) doctor, lawyer, and financial planner.

Touch-ups 💄- Cosmetic treatments blow up, Trump's tariffs get their day in court

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Getting a little work done isn’t just for people trying to reclaim their lost youth anymore — young people themselves are increasingly getting cosmetic touch-ups, too.

The backbone of Trump’s trade policy will be in the hands of nine judges this week.

Travel bug 🪲- Canada records all-time summer tourism numbers, Carney meets with Xi.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Even with fierce competition from luxurious Euro trips and beachside all-inclusives, Canada came out of vacation season as the big winner.

Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later today, marking the first substantial talks between the leaders of the two countries in seven years

Zombie Zellers 🧟- Nvidia inaugurates the $5 trillion club, Zellers returns from the dead (again).

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

They say it’s lonely at the top, but it sure seems like Nvidia has a lot of supporters.

Like a cat with nine lives, Zellers simply refuses to die.

Simple as that 🤑- Wealthsimple is a $10 billion company, OpenAI finalizes its restructuring.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What started in 2014 as a simple robot trade advisor is now an all-time Canadian business success story.

OpenAI is trying to keep up its whole move-fast-and-break-things shtick without completely abandoning its safety-first roots.

Stablecoin FOMO 💰- Ottawa opens up to stablecoins, Powerful Alzheimer’s drug gets green light.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ottawa doesn’t want to miss the boat on a potential Blockbuster-to-Netflix moment in the way people spend their money.

A newly approved Alzheimer’s drug promises miraculous results, but it won’t come cheap.

Dupe defence 👬- International travel gets invasive, Lululemon trademarks its dupes

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Get ready to strike a pose and say “cheese” if you’re heading to the U.S., because any visits to our southern neighbour will soon come with a photo op.

Influencers, beware: Lululemon has opened a new front in its war on dupes.

Let’s go Blue Jays 🐦- Businesses cash in on Jays run, Alberta needs more juice for data centres

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Blue Jays fans aren’t just ponying up $2,500 for nosebleed seats — they've been on a citywide spending spree.

Alberta’s ambitions to become an AI data centre powerhouse could be hamstrung by a lack of, well, power.

On ice 🧊- NHL signs Polymarket licensing pact, Canada could get its first whale sanctuary.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Hockey is the home of league-sanctioned fist fights, toothless athletes, and now, grey-area gambling.

North America’s first-ever whale sanctuary is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Don’t dream it’s over 💤- Another Ontario EV plant ceases operations, The NYT TikTok-ifies the news.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Just a week after Stellantis announced it was halting Jeep production in Brampton, another southern Ontario EV auto plant is on the outs.

It appears that even one of the biggest newspapers in the world has given up on getting people to read.

Longest trial ever ⚖️- Canada’s longest trial rattles B.C. landowners, Ottawa cracks down on fraud.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The ripple effects of the longest trial in Canadian history are starting to rattle some B.C. landowners.

Ottawa is overhauling how it combats financial fraud.

Secondhand status 👐 - Tariffs take a bite out of U.S. auto sector, Luxury brands lose sales to themselves

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The U.S. wants to turn the North American auto industry into just the American auto industry — but it might cripple the whole sector in the process.

Like the plot of a confusing time travel movie, some of the most expensive brands in the world are struggling to deal with a fierce competitor: themselves, from the past.

Call and answer 🤙 - Toronto’s tech talent is luring companies, Canadian Tire brings back HBC blankets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s largest city is building its reputation as the Silicon Valley of the North. Who knows, maybe it’ll even get its own HBO sitcom.

A cozy piece of Canadiana is getting a second shot at retail life.

Next exit 🚘 - Stellantis moves Canadian Jeep production, Netflix dips its toes into podcasting.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s auto industry just got rear-ended by one of the world’s biggest carmakers.

Netflix signed a deal with Spotify to bring a slate of 16 podcasts, including The Bill Simmons Podcast, to the streaming platform.

Reach for the stars 💫 - Michelin wants to rank everything, Mejuri sees potential in abandoned gold mines

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The French tire company that accidentally became the authority on the world’s best food is setting its sights beyond the dining room.

A top Canadian jeweller is betting that abandoned gold mines are an untapped, well, gold mine.

Fly me to the moon 🌚 - Canada looks to power the moon, Strava is ready to go public

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada isn’t content just being an energy superpower on Earth. It wants to run the show in space, too.

Soon, sharing your latest jog on Strava won’t just be a good way to show off your physical health, it will also serve a far more noble purpose: creating shareholder value for the masses.

Come aboard 🚉 - Vancouver might have figured out public transit, Strava sues Garmin.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Vancouver seems to have solved part of the puzzle for one of the world’s great frustrations: rush hour traffic.

The running community is staring down the barrel of a problem that’s even worse than shin splints or nipple chafing.

Feeling drained 😴 - Google rolls out new shopping tool, big money moves

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Just as we’ve started thinking about all of the autumnal looks we’d like to show off, Google released a tool to ensure that any sweaters or corduroy pants we buy online will fit.

Getting serious 🤬 - Ottawa hands out temporary foreign worker fines, How to lobby the feds.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The feds have added some serious teeth to their temporary foreign labour rules.

Being a wingman for domestic companies looking to woo the Canadian government is an emerging field.

And as promised, the "6 7" song...

Economic espionage 🕵️ - Landmark Canadian spy trial begins, Regulator looks into FIFA ticket scheme

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Spies aren’t all suave operators wearing bespoke suits and driving invisible cars (excuse us, we just rewatched Die Another Day). Sometimes they’re just Canadian utility employees.

You might need to pony up a couple thousand bucks just to have a shot at buying tickets to the World Cup next year.

Caffeine crisis ☕ - AI boom drives up electricity bills, Coffee prices keep on climbing

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The impact of the energy-hungry facilities on electricity bills could soon turn them into a political lightning rod.

The five million Timmies coffees sold every day just got a little pricier.

Cracking up 🧨 - B.C. pipeline proposal sows disagreement, Bell to launch satellite cell service.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Remember a few months ago when virtually all of Canada’s political leaders voiced support for big infrastructure projects in the face of U.S. trade threats?

Space, the final frontier… of powering your scrolling.

Spilled milk 🥛 - Dairy on the negotiating table with U.S., Meta monetizes its AI.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s iconic milk bag could soon face more competition from the American carton.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Meta will soon use your conversations with its AI chatbots to serve you even more hyper-targeted ads.

What’s next? ➡️ - Alberta’s travelling town halls conclude, A Ponzi scheme in cottage country.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

After hitting 10 stops over three months, Alberta’s travelling roadshow of participative democracy is wrapping up.

Telus just turned a Québec fishing hub into one of Canada’s AI hotspots.

Movie tax 🍿 - Trump wants tariffs on foreign movies, Telus opens all-Canadian AI data centre.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s film industry could be the next sector to face tariff disruptions.

Telus just turned a Québec fishing hub into one of Canada’s AI hotspots.

Power play 🔌 - Rogers eyes standalone sports biz, Old school tech drives a market rally

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:29:00 -0400

As the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their division yesterday, their owner was plotting how they’re gonna create one of the largest sports empires in the world.

Bring up the stock market and Nvidia is sure to be mentioned, but the hottest companies of the year are actually a lot more old-school: 1970s-era hard-drive makers.

Best of Free Lunch: What The Heck Is Productivity, Anyway?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:03:00 -0400

Peak Pals! We're re-airing some of our favourite episode of the Free Lunch podcast. today we're talking about productivity with William Huggins, a lecturer on corporate finance, economics, and statistics at the DeGroote School of Business, about:

What productivity is and how we measure it.
Why productivity matters for the economy.
Why wages have become disconnected from productivity.
Why Canada's productivity is lagging behind other developed countries.
How some countries without many natural economic advantages have supercharged their productivity.
What Canada can do to boost our productivity, and what it would mean for our economy.

Best of Free Lunch: A Disturbing conversation about AI

The Peak / Curiouscast — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Hey Peak Pals , we've decided to start dropping old episodes of Free Lunch into the feed on weekend. We don't air that podcast anymore, but there are still some really relevant conversations that were had and we want to give you a chance to listen to them again or maybe for the first time.

Is Canada Post toast? 📬 - Ottawa tells Canada Post to end home delivery, Spotify goes after AI slop.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If you’ve got a dog that loves barking at the mailman, it’s time to sit them down and deliver some difficult news.

The U.S.’s creep towards state-owned companies is now encroaching on a Canadian firm.

Hasta-la-Visa 👋- U.S. adds $100,000 fee for visas, Canadians are bullish on entrepreneurship

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:26:00 -0400

The visa program that’s brought some of Silicon Valley’s best and brightest to the U.S. just got a ~1,900% price increase.

Worried about job security in a shaky economy? More Canadians are considering the one surefire way to make sure you don’t get laid off: hiring yourself.

Peak Pals, stick around to the end of this episode for a conversation with Alex Howell, AirBnB's policy lead for Canada where we talk about the company's impact on housing.

Tragic mushrooms 🍄- Canada’s mushroom industry gets probed, White House eyes Canadian miner.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:37:00 -0400

Canada’s (legal) mushroom industry is booming, and the U.S. is starting to get a little jealous.

The U.S.’s creep towards state-owned companies is now encroaching on a Canadian firm.

Such great heights 🆙- Canadian stocks are on a tear, Here comes the self-driving truck boom.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

No doubt some Canadian investors were happily eyeing their portfolios yesterday.

Truck stops should swap potato chips for microchips to appease their future customers: robot drivers.

Start me up 🏁- Startup studio bags new funding, U.S. offers Argentina an economic lifeboat.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A Toronto startup studio has some new ideas on how to build the next Shopify.

Say what you will about the Trump administration, they’re there when a desperate friend needs a bail out.

CanCon, can do 🇨🇦 - The CRTC plots new content rules, Canada won’t reach its carbon cutting target.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Big Tech companies will spend the next week arguing why they shouldn’t have to bankroll Canada’s music industry.

A new report confirms what we already kinda knew about the feds’ carbon cutting goals: they bit off more than they could chew.

Clock’s ticking ⏰ - CUSMA’s days are officially numbered, Qatar invests in Canadian miner.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s negotiating team is going to need to brush up on The Art of the Deal.

Canadian miners need more money to cash in on the critical mineral rush. With Chinese investments out of the question, the Middle East is stepping right up.

Escape hatch ⚜️ - Québec secularism law heads to the Supreme Court, Meta’s new smart glasses.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Québec’s favourite constitutional escape hatch could be sealed shut.

The metaverse might be dead, but Meta’s still betting that people want to strap computers to their faces.

Halved or quartered? ➗ - The push to end quarterly earnings reports, Private sector eyes Ottawa’s chip lab

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Call it financial climate change: we could one day see fewer earnings seasons.

The federal government might be quietly sitting on an AI gold mine, and the tech industry is politely asking it to stand up.

Home sweet home 🏠 - Ottawa launches homebuilding agency, Greenwashing probes reach Bay Street

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The feds are giving Canada’s housing sector a $13 billion shot in the arm.

Investing with purpose? You might need to watch what you say.

Playing dirty 🧼 - Telus files a complaint against Rogers, Lululemon is on a losing streak.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Telus has accused Rogers of playing dirty and wants Canada’s telecoms regulator to send it to the penalty box.

It’s gonna take more than a new line of yoga pants to fix Lulu’s balance sh

Buy now, worry later 🛍️ - BNPL takes over Wall Street, Canada could have a copper problem

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A Swedish fintech has managed to build a US$20 billion business by letting people procrastinate their buyer's remorse.

It’s not a rare mineral, but the humble wiring in your home is about to become a lot more important.

Air time 📱-Canadian companies take on scammers, Apple rolls out iPhone Air.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Some of Canada’s biggest companies are building the Avengers equivalent of a fraud-fighting team.

At this rate, the 2027 iPhone lineup will be able to fit in your wallet.

Liquid loonie 💲- National Bank bets on Canadian stablecoin, Alternative sports leagues rake in cash

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We could soon have a new loonie that can’t get lost in the couch cushions.

If you’ve been hoarding a brilliant idea for a new sports league, now’s the time to pitch it.

Hollywood gamers 🎮 - The big screen embraces games, Canada’s EV mandate on life support

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Hollywood wants to give video games a big screen update.

Hook up that IV and get out Tylenol because Canada’s EV mandate isn’t looking all that healthy.

Protein Craze 🍗 - Starbucks gets in on the protein trend, Trade talks inch forward.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

All those fitness influencers telling everyone to eat protein may have more influence than you think.

Sometimes even small things can feel like big victories…

The slump continues 📉 - Canadian labour productivity falls, Top illegal sports streamer shut down.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If you thought Canada’s economy couldn’t get any worse, then you haven’t seen the latest labour productivity numbers.

The NFL season kicks off today with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Dallas Cowboys.

Divorce in aisle five 💔 - Kraft Heinz is breaking up, Ottawa calls on the CRA to shape up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

After 10 years together, the marriage of two snack food giants has gone bad, like a bottle of expired mayo, or a moldy bowl of KD.

Having trouble reaching someone at the CRA? The good (and bad) news is you’re not alone.

Off the air 🔌 - Pulling the plug on Family Channel, The world just can’t quit coal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The channel you likely watched High School Musical on for the first time will soon be gone.

Like Halloween’s Michael Myers, no matter what you do, coal just won’t go away.

Tough talk 😠 - ChatGPT to bolster mental health safeguards, It’s a hot bank earnings season.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

ChatGPT is being trained to get better at handling delicate mental health situations.

Some say summer is the best season. Others, winter. For Canadian bankers? This year, it’s earnings season

Build me up, buttercup 🌼 - Ottawa announces two new nation-building projects, Wages slow for job hoppers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

With the U.S. playing hard to get, Canada is laying the foundation to have a lot more Europe in its life.

The key to securing better pay might no longer be cavorting with LinkedIn headhunters, but hanging on to your current role for dear life instead.

What’s in store? 🏬 - Simons expands its retail footprint, Meta chatbots have a safety problem

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

On the bloody retail battlefield, one of Canada's oldest family-owned businesses is fighting to be the last department store standing.

A new Reuters investigation has confirmed troubling details about how Meta has designed its AI chatbots to behave, particularly with minors.

Hit the slopes 🎿 - Vail cuts prices for its ski passes, New Yorkers are returning to the office.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Skiing costs an arm and a leg, but after a season of slumping sales, Vail is willing to let customers keep at least one limb.

In a troubling sign for the remote work revolution, briefcase-carrying Manhattanites have fully returned to their natural habitat.

Keep your shirt on 👕 - Canada looks northward for trade, AI legaltech is a booming business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In a bid to take over dresser drawers across North America, one of Canada’s largest clothing brands is ready to cut a big cheque.

If you know a canola farmer, give them a hug today. They could really use it.

Separate ways 💔 - Open Text fires its CEO, Senior housing demand is soaring.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Life comes at you fast. One day, you’re chatting with BNN Bloomberg about how swell your company is performing; the next, you’re in the unemployment line.

Senior housing has quietly become the hottest play in Canada’s real estate market, but for anyone who wants to actually live in one, the situation is looking a bit grim.

Breaking the ice 🧊 - Canada looks northward for trade, AI legaltech is a booming business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The polar bear capital of the world could very well be the answer to Canada’s trade woes.

An AI company is planting its flag in Canada with a mission to make lawyers’ workdays more efficient, giving them more time to save the world and chase ambulances — we kid, we kid

AI North 🤖 - Cohere rolls out a homegrown AI agent, The U.S. pulls vaccine research funding.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s got a new homegrown AI tool that minds its own business… and yours.

The U.S. continues to stray farther away from the global health consensus.

Dairy dumping 🐮 - Canada and U.S. dairy disputes escalate, Canada slips on generic drug approvals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The newest wedge driving Canada and the U.S. apart? Skimmed milk powder, apparently.

Like a straight-A high schooler whose grades drop at university, Health Canada is struggling with an increased workload.

15.6 billion hours ⏳ - People are using AI every day, Australia lifts longtime Canadian beef ban.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We now spend over 15 minutes a day using AI as our meal planner, personal assistant, and deeply unqualified therapist.

Canadian beef is back on the menu Down Under.

Fees and bees 🐝 - DoorDash defends drip pricing, New study about bees causes big buzz.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

DoorDash is fighting for its right to charge you $25 to have a $12 burger delivered to your door.

Newly published research has the beekeeping world abuzz — but not in a good way.

Unproductive 📉 - AI hasn’t made Canadians more productive, Staycations are saving tourism.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

With the worst productivity crisis in the G7, Canada is banking on AI to turn things around. So far, it hasn’t gone to plan.

More Canadian travellers are content to roam at home.

Fighting fires 🔥 - Feds launch wildfire research group, investigating the Sydney Sweeney Effect.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ottawa wants to bring together the best and brightest from around the world to tackle one of Canada’s most pressing challenges.

The favourite mall store of 14-year-olds in 2009 is popping off thanks to one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars — call it the “Sydney Sweeney Effect.”

Big in Japan 🇯🇵 - Japan and the U.S. agree to trade deal, Meme stock frenzy has returned.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The framework for potential U.S. trade deals is starting to shape up.

The retail investing craze that inspired a predictably mediocre Hollywood movie is vying for a sequel.

Shopping spree 🛒 - Canadian investors head south for stocks, Microsoft lets hackers walk in.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Many Canadians are happy to swap their California Cabernet for a Niagara Pinot Noir, but when it comes to their portfolios, they’re not bailing on the U.S.

Microsoft may have accidentally left a hacker-sized door open to hundreds of thousands of organizations.

Make or break 📬 - Canada Post workers vote on contract offer, Ikea bets big on smarthome tech.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It’s high noon for Canada’s national postal service.

Having already mastered the arts of furniture building and meatball making, Ikea has set its sights on a new chapter.

Prices get personal 💵 - Delta uses AI to price airfare, Alberta bets big on sovereign wealth fund.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Airlines are turning to AI to figure out just how much we’re willing to splurge on our summer vacations.

Look out Norway and Saudi Arabia — Alberta is back in the sovereign wealth fund game.

Cold shoulder 🥶 - Couche-Tard abandons 7-Eleven takeover, A new report on UFO research.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

After nearly a year of getting ghosted by 7-Eleven, Canada’s convenience store king has gotten the message that it’s time to start seeing other people.

Flying saucer research is no longer just the domain of the tin-foil hat crowd, as the federal government could soon be watching the skies.

ShopGPT 🛒 - OpenAI courts online shoppers, American REIT eyes a Canadian IPO.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s biggest tech company is helping ChatGPT fire the starting gun on a new era of online shopping.

It’s rare that a company files for an IPO in Canada these days, let alone an American company. And yet…

Endless breadsticks 🥖 - Canadian restaurant giant snaps up Olive Garden, AI comes for Wall Street.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This might upset our real red-blooded Italian readers, but Canada will soon get more Olive Gardens.

Banks have found a new junior analyst who’s always on time, doesn’t take vacation, and will never complain about a lack of work-life balance.

Creeping up 📈 - Nearly a third of Canadians are obese, Carney recuses corporate interests.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

New research has found yet another way the pandemic left our collective health worse off.

The prime minister is going to need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the CEOs he’s not allowed to talk to.

$200M pay package 🤑 - The world’s highest paying jobs, Shutting down a small town.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ruoming Pang recently accepted a pay package of more than US$200 million over several years. He’s not an athlete, or a movie star, but a new member of Meta’s “superintelligence” team.

Facing the prospect of a 300% property tax hike, a small town just outside of Timmins, Ontario, is throwing in the towel.

Cutting classes 🧑‍🎓 - Canadian colleges face financial troubles, Bank salespeople are pushing

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We knew that limiting international student visas would be bad for post-secondary schools, but we couldn’t have known it would cause one of the largest mass layoffs the sector has ever seen.

The performance of mutual funds might be falling, but that isn’t stopping salespeople at Canada’s largest banks from selling them to customers.

AI goes Hollywood 🎞️ - Canadian startup brings AI to the big screen, Anti-government militia charged.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A Canadian company seems to have found a way to use AI in Hollywood without getting anyone sued.

An ideologically motivated violent plot that had been in the making for at least four years was shut down by a series of arrests this week.

Meeting minutes 🤝 - Ottawa has a new AI tool, Canadian copper thefts are skyrocketing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

AI is being given the tall order of deciphering what exactly happens in those long meetings on Parliament Hill.

As the price of copper rises, so has the number of thieves snipping it from power lines.

Stampede deals 🤠 - Business leaders gather in Calgary, An update on “Liberation Day” tariffs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The Calgary Stampede is the only place in the world where you’ll catch business leaders flipping pancakes in the morning and chasing deals into the evening.

It has probably never been more important to make a deal with the U.S., and it has probably never been more difficult either

Union drivers 🚦 - Uber drivers unionize, Automakers push back on EV mandate.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Uber drivers in Victoria are forming Canada’s first rideshare union.

The feds want more electric cars. Automakers want more people to actually buy them. Right now, neither side is getting what it wants.

Another round 🔔 - Gen Z heads back to the bar, China catches up in the AI race.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It turns out Gen Z’s anti-alcohol reputation might have been overblown.

China is beginning to do to the AI industry what it has done in nearly every other major area of the global economy

Still waiting 🥵 - It’s hard to break down provincial trade barriers, Saunas are a booming industry.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Yesterday was Canada Day, which this year was also the federal government’s promised deadline for achieving internal free trade.

Saunas are steamy, Ice baths are freezy. Combine the two, and you’ve got a business that's dreamy.

Ship happens ⛴️- Federal money helps buy Chinese ferries, youth unemployment is a big deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ever loan a friend some cash just to see them splurge on some questionable purchases a week later? The federal government has found itself in a similarly awkward situation.

We knew that the growth in Canadian youth unemployment was bad, but we didn’t realize it was ‘worst among the world’s biggest economies’ bad.

Can’t beat the heat ☀️ - Schools struggle without air conditioning, Central bankers don’t like stablecoins.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Being inside with no air conditioning during a heat wave sucks.

The world’s top central bankers are warning everyone that stable coins are not-so-stable.

Check your socials 📱- A homegrown social media platform, Thames Water drowns Canadian investors.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Buy Canada has come for scrolling and posting.

You wouldn’t think the financial meltdown of a U.K. utility would inflict billions in losses for some of the largest Canadian investors, but that’s exactly what the demise of Thames Water is doing.

Boarding call 🛩️- Competition watchdog looks at airlines, Canadian dairy tariffs are here to stay.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s competition watchdog wants to fly in some international reinforcements to shake up the country’s airline duopoly.

Critics are worried that Canada’s newest law will lay an egg.

Celebrity mobile 📶- Celebs get into the wireless biz, Canadian population growth nears zero.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Podcasting is so last year. These days, anyone who’s anyone has their own phone company.

Like a restaurant with a fresh Michelin star, Canada is suddenly tough to get into.

In the driver’s seat 🚗 - Investors bet big on self-driving cars, Welcome to the infinite workday.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Investors are betting big that autonomous vehicles are here to stay.

Hate to break it to you, Dolly Parton, but these days you’re lucky to be working a 9 to 5.

Ooh la la 🇫🇷 - A French automaker is coming to Canada, BNPL loans are growing

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A new automaker is looking to bring a splash of French panache to Canada’s EV market.

You know the economy’s in a weird place when Beyonce tickets and late-night DoorDash orders are getting financed like mortgages.

Aviation disaster ✈️ - The deadliest plane crash in a decade, Meta goes to the Supreme Court.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A tragic plane crash in India has cast a dark shadow over the aviation world.

The Supreme Court of Canada is about to decide if clicking “I agree” actually means you read or understood a single word of the terms and conditions.

What’s the deal? 🏦 - China plays trump card against Trump, Starbucks is now high in protein.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The world's two biggest economies have managed to hash out their trade differences… for now.

Why have a macchiato when you can have a jacked-iato?

Pre-fab and fabulous 🏠-Big Canadian developer bets on prefab homes, The end of the Search era.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If one of Canada’s biggest developers gets his way, it might not be long until every new house on your block is assembled in three days like a giant Lego set.

For over a decade, news publishers have basically built their business models around generating traffic on Google Search. Turns out, this may have been shortsighted.

One Economy 🇨🇦 - Feds table economic reform bill, Untether AI bites the dust.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Mark Carney rode promises to unify and grow Canada’s economy all the way to the prime minister’s office. Now comes the difficult part: actually doing it.

One of the rising stars of Canada’s startup scene has slowly burned out.

Recipe for succession 🙅 - invests in Indigenous small business, Amazon has humanoid robots.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:13:00 -0400

With a $2 trillion succession tsunami on the horizon in Canada, Indigenous entrepreneurs are getting their chance to take the reins of mom-and-pop shops across the country.

Amazon’s newest parcel carriers won’t be interested in any small talk when they drop off your package. In fact, they won’t even be capable of it.

That’s your opinion 💭 - : Washington Post courts amateurs with AI, B.C. is looking to build

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

One of the world’s most storied newsrooms is opening its doors to anyone with an opinion and a laptop.

B.C. now stands for Building infrastruCture. (Okay, that was a stretch, but you get the gist.)

Down and out 💅 - OECD forecasts Canadian GDP downturn, High fashion gets hacked.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Buckle your proverbial seatbelts, because the global economy is heading for a rough patch, and Canada is set to get rocked.

The fashion world’s hottest trend? Getting hacked.

Advertising intelligence 🪧 Meta pursues fully automated advertising, Concerts are drying up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Meta is close to handing the reins of its ~US$160 billion ad business to the robots.

Once a rite of passage and revenue lifeline for musicians, touring is becoming more of a financial coin flip than a guaranteed payday.

Double trouble 👬 - U.S. tariffs target Canadian manufacturing, The Bay is officially closed.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

With his global tariff agenda in legal jeopardy, Donald Trump is doubling down on some of his original trade targets.

After a 355-year run, Hudson’s Bay Company is closed for business.

This isn’t over 🏁 - What’s next for Trump’s trade war?, Carney takes aim at infrastructure red tape.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 30 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A series of court rulings has thrown Donald Trump’s global trade war into legal limbo.

The guiding philosophy of the new Liberal government’s approach to infrastructure projects is the same one as Larry the Cable Guy’s: “Git-r-done.”

Sovereign AI 🤖 - Bell is building AI data centres, Corporations are buying up bitcoin.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

With landlines collecting dust and cable TV hanging by a thread, Bell is betting big on its next act: powering AI models.

Bitcoin is back on the menu for Big Business.

Out of control(lers) 🛩️ - Canada faces airline controller shortage, Consumers can’t keep up with bills.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Constant air traffic outages at Newark Liberty International Airport might be making all the headlines these days, but the situation at home is also raising tempers.

The hangover from Canada’s decades-long debt party is starting to hit — and it’s a rough one.

Ran so far away 🏃‍♂️ - Foreign investors flee Canadian markets, BYD bests Tesla in Europe.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Foreign investors have pulled back from Canada’s stock market like they put their hand on a hot stovetop.

Chinese automaker BYD is leaving Tesla in the dust in yet another major car market.

Temu tariff 💰 - G7 countries tackle cheap Chinese products, Ostriches stir controversy in B.C.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Chronic online shoppers, beware: your budget hauls could get a lot more expensive.

The fate of 300-odd ostriches in B.C. has become a cause célèbre for animal rights activists

No- job summer 🙅‍♂️ - Young Canadians can’t find summer jobs, D-Wave Quantum pops off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the unofficial Canadian summer job program. The first (and only) step: getting ghosted by every prospective employer.

A B.C.-founded company was one of the stock market’s biggest winners yesterday as it promises to do the near-impossible: deliver non-hypothetical uses for quantum computing.

You’ve got mail 📬 - Canada Post may end daily delivery, Armed Forces are losing recruits

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canada Post looks like it's entering its angsty teen phase: confused, broke, and in the middle of a serious identity crisis.

Not only is Canada’s Armed Forces struggling to get recruits in the door, but many of those who do give military life a whirl are deciding it’s not for them.

Tuning in 📻 - Cancon could get a new definition, B.C. First Nations scoop up pipeline stake

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What makes a TV show Canadian? Answering that is more confusing than you might think.

What do you get when you mix natural gas, Indigenous equity, and a $400 million loan guarantee? A surprisingly feel-good pipeline story.

Big spender 📈 NATO could boost defence spending target, Robinhood comes to Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 May 2025 07:47:00 -0400

Canada’s uphill battle to meet NATO’s defence spending target looks like it's about to get a lot steeper.

Robinhood is looking to assemble a merry band of Canadian crypto traders.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Meet the new cabinet 👋 - Mark Carney announces his cabinet, Canada’s EV ambitions sputter.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Mark Carney put his stamp on his new government with a cabinet made up mostly of new faces.

The wheels are starting to come off Canada’s $57 billion EV bet.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Proper chuffed 😊 - The U.S. and the U.K. strike a tariff deal, Why you shouldn’t pay hackers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the strongest showing of American-British solidarity since the Spice Girls posed with the stars and stripes, the U.S. and the U.K. have squashed their burgeoning trade war.

Canadian school boards have learned the first lesson of cyber warfare: Never trust the word of a hacker that’s extorting you.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

When Carney met Trump 🤝 The PM visits the White House for talks, EB Games returns from the dead.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Only time will tell if today's meeting between Canada's PM and America's prez was the start of a beautiful friendship.

With record players, film cameras, and vintage video games all back in style, a struggling staple of Canadian malls is hoping that a dose of nostalgia can turn things around.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Shot on location 🎥 - The U.S. could implement a movie tariff, A sneaky $9 billion sale.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Lights, camera… confusing tariff action!

On the precipice of an ugly boardroom battle, one of Canada’s largest retailers is trying to pull off an 11th-hour deal.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

New ownership 💲- Canada Tire could buy The Bay, Delivery gets autonomous.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 02 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Your dad’s favourite store is looking to scoop up the scraps of Canada’s oldest company.

Canada’s biggest city will be a testing ground for a new type of delivery driver.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Wexit strategy 👋- Alberta flirts with separatism, Canadian deep-sea miner seeks approval

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The separatist movement in Québec may be dying down, but in Alberta, the idea of a divorce from Canada is picking up steam.

A two-decade-old movie was the second-highest-grossing film in North America this past weekend.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

100 long days 💯 - Trump spats with Amazon at 100-day mark, Old movies do new business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Yesterday marked President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office for his second term.

A two-decade-old movie was the second-highest-grossing film in North America this past weekend.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Cheat at everything 🤞- Can AI really help you cheat at life?, Blackout in Europe

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

New AI tech promises to make acing interviews or closing sales calls easier. Unfortunately, that convenience may come at the cost of rotting your brain.

A massive power outage left much of Spain, as well as Portugal, cloaked in darkness.

Secret stash 🤫 — Canada plays safe haven for Chinese goods, Tesla has an Elon Musk dilemma

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Like squirrels storing nuts for the winter, Chinese e-commerce sellers are turning to Canada to hoard goods in response to frosty conditions.

Tesla investors are hoping Elon Musk is finally giving his bureaucracy chainsaw a breather.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Not-the-best seller 📚- Amazon flooded with AI-generated politics books, B.C. foresees tourism boom.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Election AI slop isn’t just flying around on Facebook pages — it’s coming for your Kindles.

Vancouver restaurants, Victoria breweries, and Tofino beaches might be a tad more crowded this summer.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Conclave incoming 👏 — Who will be the next pope?, Buy Canada is tough for Big Tech.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Catholics — and fans of the Oscar-winning hit Conclave — are awaiting a big decision.

When it comes to tech, breaking up with U.S. suppliers is hard to do.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Holy grail 🙌 — Eli Lilly closes in on weight-loss pill, Strava acquires upstart competitor.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We are one big step closer to a weight-loss pill that actually works.

Social media fitness app Strava isn’t able to give great workout advice - but that’s about to change.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Still for sale 🏘️ — Home sales slow, Canadian pension funds turn on the US

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Amid recession worries, a global trade war, and a softening job market, Canadians aren’t buying homes.

Just like shoppers at the grocery store, Canada’s pension funds are feeling a little uneasy about buying American at the moment.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Breaking up is hard to do 💔 — Farmers have a weed problem, Meta changes relationship status

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Farms around the world could lose their go-to weed-fighter any day now.

Antitrust regulators want Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to block and unfollow each other.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3T

Liberation Day 🇺🇸 — The world prepares for Trump’s tariffs. Rogers is all in on sports.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:07:00 -0400

“Liberation Day” is here — we wish you could see how hard we just rolled our eyes — with the U.S. ready to enact sweeping tariffs.

Rogers will spend $11 billion to hold onto one of the country’s most cherished pastimes: watching hockey.

Zombie brands 🧟‍♀️ — Napster sale is a blast from the past, AI flexes its medical talents.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:42:00 -0400

In our best Milhouse from The Simpsons voice Remember Napster? It’s back! In metaverse form.

It may not have a lab coat or indecipherable handwriting, but AI is starting to make waves in the healthcare space.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

100% bankrupt 💵 — Canada won’t be let off the tariff hook, 23andMe files for bankruptcy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

The game plan for what U.S. President Donald Trump has dubbed “Liberation Day” is being flipped on its head.

The maker of 2017’s hottest holiday gift is in dire straits.

The race is on 🗳️ — Carney calls an election, WestJet searches for pilots.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:55:00 -0400

The campaign to determine who will form the next government (and whether poor Charles Tupper will lose his spot as Canada’s shortest-tenured Prime Minister) is officially on.

You can add pilots to the list of national shortages Canada needs to solve.

Staying put 🇨🇦 — Canadians don’t want to fly to the U.S., Generic Ozempic is coming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Canadians who swore off U.S. travel in response to tariffs are evidently quite serious about their pledge, and airlines are starting to feel the impact.

Drug makers like Aspen Pharmacare, Sandoz Group, and Hikma Pharmaceuticals are racing to put out cheaper, generic versions of popular drugs used for weight loss.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Retaliation 🥊 — Canada responds to U.S. tariffs, Montréal looks to boost biotech biz.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500

The federal government took the phrase “an eye for an eye” to heart, wasting no time responding to the U.S.’s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and 10% on Canadian energy.

One of Canada’s biotech hot spots is hoping a shiny new research hub will help bring more of the [US$2.8 trillion](https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/canadas-biotech-reboot-how-to-keep-the-vital-life-sciences-sector-strong/#:~:text=Supported by a world-class,growing%2C high-value field.) global life science business to the city.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

NHL goes global 🏒 — The NHL returns to the global stage. Airlines bet on summer in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament begins tonight, with Canada taking on Sweden at Montréal’s Bell Centre.

Canadian airlines are probably hoping that the “Buy Canadian” movement includes travel.

Deregulation 🤖 — Tariffs come for Canadian steel. AI shifts from regulation to innovation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Just when we thought we were safe, a fresh round of U.S. tariffs is on the way.

The third annual AI Action Summit wraps up today in Paris as global leaders and AI industry big-wigs chat about innovation over croissants and cafe au laits.

Buy Canadian 🇨🇦 — Savvy shoppers look for alternatives, Canadian tech startups grow up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

From switching up groceries to relocating weddings, Canadians are looking to spend their cash outside of the U.S.

Like John Hughes in the ’80s, Canada’s tech industry is writing its own coming-of-age story.

Tariffs averted (for now) 🏭 — Tariffs delayed until March 1. Tims brings back classic Roll Up to Win cups.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We have good news, and good-ish news: full-bodied California reds are back on LCBO shelves, and President Donald Trump will delay slapping tariffs on Canadian goods until at least March 1.

Later this month, Tim Hortons will bring back its iconic Roll up to Win cups after a years-long hiatus.

Down 16.86% 📉 — AI stock rally takes a turn. The ski business is on thin ice.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:22:39 -0500

A possible breakthrough in China could put an end to the AI stock rally that one U.S. analyst called “one of the greatest spending binges in human history.”

Vail Resorts, the owner of ski resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, is veering off-piste.

Plus an interview with Cisco and the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

Postal dis-service 📬 — Canada has a drug problem. Canada Post needs a helping hand.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Entrepreneurship in Canada is on the rise if you only look at organized crime.

Canada Post projects it will lose $900 million this year, with losses expected to balloon to $1.7 billion by 2029. What’s a national postal service to do?

Dr. Internet 👩‍⚕️ — Public sector lay-offs are on their way. MEC is back on the market.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The hammer is finally coming down on federal worker numbers, which ballooned by over 43% from 2015 to hit 367,772 last year.

Retailers continue to struggle to offload extra inventory, but the outdoor industry has been especially hard hit.

Not today 💸 — Trump puts a pause on tariffs, Cricket goes mainstream in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

On his first day in office as U.S. president, Donald Trump signed ~200 actions, memos, and proclamations. The good news is a directive to ignite a trade war with Canada wasn’t one of them. The bad news is he says tariffs are coming, and soon.

For a brief period after Confederation, cricket was Canada’s national sport. It likely won’t ever regain that status, but it is still on the come-up.

Jumping ship 🚢 — TikTok users flock to a new home. Natural disasters spike insurance prices.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

With TikTok potentially leaving U.S. app stores next week, millions of scrollers and posters are looking for greener — or in this case, redder — pastures.

As Los Angeles grapples with one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, insurers in Canada are wrestling with their own severe weather dilemma.

Still friends 🇺🇸 — Ghost listings flood LinkedIn. Float is floating higher after its latest raise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

LinkedIn is working with hiring software company Greenhouse to crack down on a rise in so-called ghost jobs.

You know how they say that the cream always rises to the top? Well, in the case of Canadian startups, it floats.

Where’s the beef? 🛒 — Canadian grocers caught overcharging for meat. Canadians face new U.K. travel rules

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

If you can’t shake the feeling that your grocery bags feel a little lighter than usual, you might actually be onto something.

Canadians have a new step they must take before saying ’allo ’allo to Merrie Olde England.

Tit-for-tat 🇺🇸 — Trump gears up for tariff war. The B.C. startup fighting diabetes with 3D printers

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

With less than two weeks until he moves back into the White House, Donald Trump is laying the groundwork for a potential trade war with Canada.

While the primary use for 3D printers still appears to be arts and crafts, one B.C. company is using them to combat one of the world’s fastest-growing diseases.

Plus our interview with Randall Bartlett, Deputy Chief Economist at Desjardins!

Tru-done 👨‍💼 — Trudeau calls it quits, Scotiabank says adios to Latin America.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In the face of abysmal approval ratings and at least two dozen of his colleagues calling on him to step down, the prime minister appears to have finally taken the hint.

Scotiabank has a reputation of being the most international Canadian bank, and the only one of the Big Five lenders that’s made a serious footprint in South and Central America. However, it’s now looking to collect more passport stamps closer to home.

Lord of the ring 💍 — Canadian caught up in encryption crimes. Oura ends banner year with a bang.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:42:00 -0500

In February, Canadian Paul Krusky was detained in France on drug and money laundering charges related to the encryption software EncroChat. Krusky’s lawyer has told the Globe and Mail, “The story that was constructed by the police to get him in jail is cracking.”

Oura’s smart rings have become one of the most successful gadgets of 2024.

Money, crime, tariffs 💵 — What you missed in the economic update, Tow truck turf wars spark violent crime.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

With all eyes glued to the drama on Parliament Hill this week, you may have missed that the feds announced new plans for border security, money laundering, and Chinese tariffs.

In Toronto this year, nearly 15% of all shooting incidents were related to the tow truck industry.

Freeland resigns 👩‍⚖️ — What’s next for the Liberal party, Canada Post gets back to work.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We woke up yesterday expecting a simple fall economic statement. Instead, we got chaos.

The Canada Post strike, by the numbers: 29 days spent on the picket line, about 15 million parcel deliveries lost, and an estimated $1.6 billion hit to small businesses.

Brain chips 🧠 — Neuralink comes to Canada, Small businesses get a boost.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Elon Musk’s brain chip company is ready to crack open some Canadian skulls (in a good way).

If you’ve been kicking the tires on a new business idea, now might be the time to take a crack at it.

Cheese heist 🧀 — Thieves keep stealing cheese, Canada and Romania’s nuclear deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

North Vancouver RCMP revealed it had thwarted an attempted heist of $12,800 worth of cheese at a grocery store. It’s the latest in a string of high-profile dairy-based robberies.

Nuclear reactors could be the next big Canadian export alongside maple syrup and movie stars named Ryan.

Uranium money ☢️ — Spotify takes on video content, Canada’s mega-rich in uranium.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

The days of podcasts being an audio-only medium are long gone. And Spotify knows it.

Like graphic tees and bucket hats, nuclear power is back as countries look to meet rising energy demand, boost energy independence, and move to low-emission power sources.

Ports in a storm 🚢 — Ottawa puts an end to port strikes. Canada’s hydro exports are drying up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

For the second time in less than three months, Ottawa is stepping in to stop a pair of potentially catastrophic strikes.

Canadian hydro exports are running drier than our mouths after a high-stakes presentation.

Climate funds ☀️ — This climate summit is all about the money. Free public transit picks up traction.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:35:10 -0500

As the Wu-Tang Clan once elegantly deduced, “Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M.” That mantra is also the theme of the UN’s COP29 climate summit, which kicked off yesterday as global ministers and climate experts touched down in Baku, Azerbaijan.

As cities across Canada grapple with lower ridership, one town in Ontario seems to have found a solution.

Bell’s new buy 📞 — Bell buys its way into the U.S. Big Oil could get an emissions cap.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Bell is taking a pricey shot at expanding its Canadian dominance south of the border.

The feds have put another feather in their carbon-cutting cap.

Bottoms up 🍷 — Winemakers push back on teetotalling. Buffett is stacking his cash.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:38:11 -0500

With wine consumption plummeting to a 27-year low, the industry is trying to make people feel better about indulging in a bottle of vino.

The Oracle of Omaha has gazed into his future and seen a lot of cash.

Loonie lunacy 💵 — The loonie hits a four-year low, Cruise lines invest in private islands.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Like the Jack-o’-lantern starting to rot on your porch, the loonie isn’t looking too good this morning.

As cruise companies continue to rake in record profits, they’re setting their sights on what could be the industry’s next big play: private islands.

Up in the air 🛫 — U.S. economy stays strong ahead election. Canada welcomes back Chinese flights.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump gear up for election day, one factor could decide the race. To quote the legendary political strategist James Carville: “It's the economy, stupid.”

After a year of talks, China and Canada have made progress on increasing flights between the two countries as pandemic-era restrictions and political spats fade.

Big fish 🐠 — Shopify is trawling for bigger fish. Robots may help Canada's housing crisis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 07:46:04 -0400

The Canadian e-commerce company that got its start selling snowboards online is expanding beyond mom-and-pop shops.

Could the solution to Canada’s housing shortage lie in robots picking up the slack?

Sick day 🤒 — Doctors are sick of sick notes, Canada Post strike

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The only people who hate sick notes more than under-the-weather employees? The family docs who have to sign them.

Rain, hail, and sleet might not stop mail couriers from delivering letters, but a strike could.

Doors Closed 🚪 — Ottawa slows its roll on immigration, Everybody wants to know about the weather

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

For the first time in over a decade, Ottawa is planning to reduce the number of new immigrants entering Canada.

New numbers from The Weather Network confirm what we already knew to be true: everybody is obsessed with checking the weather.

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Québec vs. Goldman ⚜️ — A fight over Northvolt money, The return of the house hippo.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Swedish EV battery maker Northvolt is — to use a highly technical financial term — in deep doo-doo.

The federal government convened 200 leaders from the public and private sectors at Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal this month to share ideas on strengthening the country’s workforce.

The friendly house hippo that taught Canadians not to trust everything they see on TV has found itself a new gig.

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Deciding factor 🗳️ — Democrats campaign in Canada, Soccer fandom goes international.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

With the U.S. presidential election less than two weeks away gulp, canvassers are busy going door-to-door to get the word out in… Windsor, Ontario?

The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs kicked off last night, but the league was already popping champagne after notching the best regular season in its 27-year history.

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Edible Content 🍗 — Restaurants get into streaming and digital duties.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

There’s a (very slight) chance that the next series you binge will be a Chick-fil-A original.

Canada is trying to bring the system responsible for collecting $40 billion a year in tax revenue into the 21st century, but a new digital portal is causing confusion for shippers.

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Race day 🏃‍♀️ — Running boom and presidential predictions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Marathons are becoming so popular that race bibs are starting to get resold like they’re Oasis reunion tour tickets.

Opinion polls may show a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, but on upstart prediction markets, Trump has suddenly become a heavy favourite.

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Out at sea 🌊 — BRP is letting its boat biz drift out to sea , Inuktut finds a home on Google Translate

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The company behind Ski-Doo wants to burn more rubber, shred more pow, and ride fewer waves.

The language spoken by over 39,000 Inuit people across Canada has been added to the world’s go-to translator.

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Spilled Milk 🥛 — Canada is spilling billions of litres of milk, The feud over bike lanes heats up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Canada has been wasting more milk than a toddler refusing to use their sippy cup.

Ontario has a new idea to cut down on traffic in case plans to build the world's biggest highway tunnel don’t pan out.

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House of The Rising Sphere 😀 — Spheres Spheres everywhere, investing is extremely online.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Sphere, the 366-foot-tall domed venue in Las Vegas with an eye-catching LED exterior, is getting a sister location

A growing number of young folks are getting their investment advice from the same place they shop, date, and fawn over videos of baby hippos: the internet.

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Mountain Views ⛰️ — Alberta’s plan to save the view, SpaceX catches a rocket

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Alberta is hatching a plan to preserve their mountain views at the cost of renewable energy.

SpaceX flexes it’s muscles, catching a rocket.

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Looking Up 🌌 — The northern lights economy is booming. TD hit with record money laundering penalty.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

More people are trading in Disney World vacations and Caribbean cruises for a chance to see the dancing green and purple skies in some of Canada’s most remote communities.

TD Bank Group is facing the largest money laundering penalty handed to a bank in U.S. history.

Breaking up 💻 — Regulators want Google to split. Couche-Tard bumps up its 7-Eleven bid.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Good morning. We’re hosting a competition at the Bet on Canada Summit in Toronto on November 5 to narrow down the companies where people actually like working. With bonus season around the corner, we can’t think of a better way to get in your boss’s good books.

Submit your pitch here.

If U.S. regulators have their way, Google Chrome could become just Chrome.

One of Canada’s most valuable retailers is doubling down on its bid to become the king of convenience.

Roaming over 📱 — Regulator cracks down on $16-a-day roaming fees. Algorithms are the new boss.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Canada’s telecoms regulator wants to end the reality of alarming phone bills after a weekend trip to the States.

Kissing up to your boss in the months leading up to bonus season might become a thing of the past as algorithms increasingly take over compensation decisions.

Island paradise 🏝️ — An affordable island home isn’t a pipe dream. U.S. Indigenous group claims rights to B.C. land.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:45:00 -0400

An Indigenous group in Washington state is looking for a cut of the profits made on land in southern B.C.

The Toronto Islands neighbourhood is one of Canada’s most sought-after communities. Securing a home there isn’t easy, but you now have the slightest chance of doing so.

Gimme shelter 🏠 — Toronto hospital’s radical housing experiment, Starbucks protects its coffee future.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

One of Canada’s largest hospital networks is launching a radical experiment in housing the homeless.

The world’s biggest coffee chain is trying to innovate its way around erratic weather.

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Raising the roof ✈️ — Koho wants to become a real bank. VTOLs take off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Like Pinocchio wishing upon a star to become a real boy, Koho is wishing upon a cash infusion to become a real bank.

The once far-fetched future of flying cars has gotten a major vote of confidence from an industry giant.

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Presidential first 👩‍⚖️ — Mexico gets its first female president, Senators look for doctor shortage solution

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

North America just got its first-ever elected woman head of state (apologies to former Canadian prime minister Kim Campbell, who was neither elected nor head of state).

With 6.5 million Canadians living without a family doctor, a group of senators are hoping international med school grads can help fill the gap.

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Belly-up 🏢 — Canada’s biggest purpose-built concert venue, Businesses are dropping like flies.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Concert industry leviathan Live Nation is constructing Canada’s largest purpose-built concert venue.

Canadian businesses are shutting their doors at a rate the country hasn’t seen since the start of the pandemic.

Big tunnel 🛣️ — Ontario could be getting a giant traffic tunnel. Canada works to secure vaccine independence.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Ontario is kicking the tires on an infrastructure project that will make the province's $16.8 billion GO train expansion look like a cute side project.

Like a well-prepared bartender on a Saturday morning, Canada is taking steps to ensure that it won’t run out of shots.

Basement ban 🌊 — Montréal has a basement problem, Qualcomm flirts with Intel takeover.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Basements are great for pool tables, wine cellars and mini-stick rinks, but renting them out as apartments could soon be a thing of the past.

They say it’s always darkest before the dawn — or in beleaguered chipmaker Intel’s case, before the buy-out offer.

Wage gains 💵 — Border smuggles take to TikTok, Get ready for some wage gains.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:37:00 -0400

You can buy anything on TikTok these days: galaxy projectors, novelty egg cookers, and detailed instructions on how to illegally enter another country.

As wages grow, Canadians could find themselves with a bit more money in the new year.

Sporty and rich 🏒 — Rogers now owns men’s sports, VC investments lose their shine.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Friends, family, and loved ones, we’re gathered here today to pay our respects to the work-from-home era.

Today in predictable news: A province’s decision to let more than 4,000 convenience stores start selling alcohol continues to stir up controversy.

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“Reasonable” AI 🤖 — OpenAI releases a better model, Lululemon threatened to leave.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

OpenAI’s top-secret AI model (weirdly code-named Strawberry) is finally seeing the light of day.

Lululemon says it wants to keep its headquarters in Canada but is keen on continuing to recruit talent from elsewhere.

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“Reasonable” AI 🤖 — OpenAI releases a better model, Lululemon threatened to leave.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

OpenAI’s top-secret AI model (weirdly code-named Strawberry) is finally seeing the light of day.

Lululemon says it wants to keep its headquarters in Canada but is keen on continuing to recruit talent from elsewhere.

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Slow build 🏡 — Canada continues China crackdown, Amazon gets into budget groceries.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

According to Transport Canada, there’s something fishy about the air cargo shipments coming from Europe lately. And no, we’re not talking about crates of Italian sardines.

For many years, Rexall has been living in Shoppers Drug Mart's shadow, but the chain’s new ownership could help revitalize its position in the Canadian market.

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Degree return 🎓 — Returns on some degrees is shrinking, Torontonians lose to fake taxis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

According to Transport Canada, there’s something fishy about the air cargo shipments coming from Europe lately. And no, we’re not talking about crates of Italian sardines.

For many years, Rexall has been living in Shoppers Drug Mart's shadow, but the chain’s new ownership could help revitalize its position in the Canadian market.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Suspicious cargo ✈️ — New rules on European cargo, Rexall has a new owner.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

According to Transport Canada, there’s something fishy about the air cargo shipments coming from Europe lately. And no, we’re not talking about crates of Italian sardines.

For many years, Rexall has been living in Shoppers Drug Mart's shadow, but the chain’s new ownership could help revitalize its position in the Canadian market.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

Table for one 🍴 — Restaurants react to solo dining, China goes after Canadian canola

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Eating by yourself at a restaurant used to be a shameful experience that let all the other diners know you were a friendless social pariah. Nowadays, it’s a totally normal thing to do.

In the latest round of Chinese-Canadian trade warfare, China is hitting Canada where it really hurts: its 20 million acres of canola fields.

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Power hungry 💻 — Alberta wants to host Big Tech’s data centers .More than half of Fortune 500 companies say AI poses a risk to their business

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 05:45:00 -0400

With data centers expected to soon use as much power as all of Japan, Alberta is pitching itself as the perfect home for the energy-intensive setups.

Like a nervous teenager before a first date, big companies are more scared than excited about the impact of AI on their business.

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Baguette bags 🥖— Scotiabank moves into the U.S., A retail play by fast food brands.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Scotiabank should grab some sunscreen and an RV, as it’s the latest of Canada’s big banks to act like a snowbird.

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee has launched a new merch line complete with everything from mascot T-shirts to dog accessories.

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Off the rails 🚞 — Railway workers’ strike could be a runaway train. Bidding war for healthcare workers heats up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:45:00 -0400

When it comes to averting a strike, Canada’s two largest railway operators are running out of steam.

The worker shortage in Canada’s healthcare system has gotten so dire that rural towns are now shelling out NHL draft-level signing bonuses to try and bring in doctors.

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Missing bars 🍫 — Disappearing Melona bars, BYD eyes Canadian market

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Melona bars successfully went from cult fave to grocery freezer mainstay. But why have the cool and creamy Korean desserts been so hard to find in stores over the past month?

As the feds weigh slapping steep tariffs on EVs made in China, BYD has decided to set its sights on the Canadian market anyway.

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Treaty settlements 💵 — Ottawa could owe $126B, New movies make millions. “Deadpool & Wolverine” reverses the movie summer slump

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A landmark Supreme Court ruling could set a new bar for the costs of economic reconciliation in Canada.

Less than a year after releasing The Marvels, the worst-performing film in Marvel’s history, the superhero studio has landed the best opening box office weekend of 2024.

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Tech tumbles 📉 — Technology stocks take a tumble. Bank of Canada cuts rates again.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

In the 2003 hit movie Freaky Friday, a mother and daughter played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan wake up one morning and find their lives have been switched.

In March 2022, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said aggressive rate hikes were needed to quickly tamp down inflation, but that they’d only be temporary.

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A record setting raise 💸 — Investors dust off their chequebooks. Greenwashing needs a clearer definition.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Here’s something to celebrate: After a year of penny-pinching tied to high interest rates and economic uncertainty, money is flowing into Canadian technology companies again.

Not sure what “greenwashing” is? Canadian companies are right there with you.

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Big ZZZs 💤 — A deal to buy Sleep Country, Airlines aren’t making money.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Sleep Country is putting its run as a public company to bed.

The Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world’s largest aviation trade shows, kicked off yesterday amid some industry turbulence.

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Potayto, potahto 🗑️ — Ford chooses pick-ups over EVs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Like a legacy rock band trying to cater to their audience, Ford is sticking to the hits at the expense of the new stuff.

Alberta may be known mostly for its mountains, big steaks, and rodeos, but these days, it’s found itself a new claim to fame: potatoes.

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Waste-less 🗑️ — Home construction slows, Grocery giants tackle food waste.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Nearly every government in Canada — at all levels and all political stripes — say they want more houses built. New data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) shows the opposite is happening.

More grocery stores in your neighbourhood could soon be offering you oddly shaped tomatoes and soon-to-be-expired cartons of yogurt for cheap.

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Weekend getaway 🚢 — Speeding up digital payments, New cruise ship focuses on weekend energy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Canada is the only G20 country without an updated digital payments system. Interac’s new CEO wants to change that ASAP.

The world’s second-largest cruise ship will make its maiden voyage this week, but it won’t be a long one.

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Target practice 🎯 — Canada promises to hit NATO defence target, AI goals are fuelling layoffs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

After being the NATO punching bag this week in D.C., Canada has finally given its allies what they wanted… sort of.

AI really is taking away jobs, just not in the way you might think.

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Where’s my charge 🚗 — New chargers coming. Etsy pivots away from rivals in e-commerce race.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A plan for a continental electric vehicle charging network is bringing together big names like it’s a Team USA basketball roster.

The go-to site to buy quirky Christmas gifts for your friends and family is leaning back into its homemade, one-of-one vibe.

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On the nose 👃 — Walmart introduces sensory-friendly hours.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Will future generations know the unrivalled thrill of getting a crisp $50 bill from your grandma on your birthday? We’re not so sure.

Walmart has made itself more attractive to shoppers who hate bright fluorescents and buzzing PA systems.

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No wheels 🚗 — Uber wants you to give up your ride. Canadian space tech developer lands $1 billion funding.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

NASA’s next moon mission will be getting a (literal) hand from a Canadian company.

Kind of like when John Lennon asked us to imagine life without possessions, Uber is asking Canadians to imagine life without a car.

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Bus business 🚌 — Risky bus-iness. Canada must step up to realize its green hydrogen dreams.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

The wheels on the bus go round and round… as long as the bus operator can stay in business.

Canada wants to be a top-three global green hydrogen producer by mid-century, but like your buddy training to run a marathon this year, a lot of work still needs to be done.

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Temporary residents 🇨🇦 — Has Canada reached peak immigration?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian employers are planning to hand out fewer promotions this year than in 2023, leaving less opportunity for a new crop of entry-level employees to get their foot in the door.

Canada’s surge in temporary residents might be, well, temporary.

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Bus business 🚌 — Risky bus-iness. Canada must step up to realize its green hydrogen dreams.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

The wheels on the bus go round and round… as long as the bus operator can stay in business.

Canada wants to be a top-three global green hydrogen producer by mid-century, but like your buddy training to run a marathon this year, a lot of work still needs to be done.

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Money bags 💰 — Canadian households got richer last quarter.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

With foreign fast food brands like Shake Shack, Pret A Manger, and Jersey Mike’s entering the Canadian market in recent months, the battle for your lunch money is getting heated.

Western countries are taking the ‘if you can’t beat ’em, tax ’em’ approach to Chinese electric vehicle competition.

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Peak oil 🛢️ — How to stop Chinese EVs. Stopping the Chinese EV takeover.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A new report paints a future where oil will be less like ‘black gold’ and more like ‘black tin’ — still valuable, but not that valuable.

Western countries are taking the ‘if you can’t beat ’em, tax ’em’ approach to Chinese electric vehicle competition.

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Banana energy 🍌 — Canada Growth Fund makes its next pick. IPO now stands for ‘I’d-rather-go Private, Okay’.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A Calgary-based company that promises to turn banana peels into electricity, is the latest name to sign a deal with Ottawa’s clean energy investment arm.

Newcomers to the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) are filing out like bar patrons after last call.

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Hollywood treatment 🎥 — Amazon launches an NHL show. Regulators planning AI crackdown.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

In the days leading up to the Stanley Cup Final, ****Prime Video has announced it’s launching a new NHL docuseries.

With company values skyrocketing and their CEOs acting like rock stars, U.S. regulators are ready to rein in the AI giants.

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Taking off 🚀– Boeing sends a capsule to space, Gordie Howe Bridge nears completion.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

After years of hard work and numerous setbacks, Boeing has sent astronauts into space — and without any windshield cracks or doors blowing off.

After nearly six years of construction, the biggest bridge to ever connect Canada and the U.S. is now just 11 metres away from completion.

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Streamer tax 💵 – Interest rate decision day is here, Streamers ordered to fund Canadian content

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

With inflation stabilizing below 3% and the economy slowing, Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff “Big Mack” Macklem is expected to finally cut its policy rate today from 5% to 4.75%.

Paw Patrol has been doing a great job carrying the Canadian film industry on its back lately, but Ottawa is keen on bringing in some reinforcements.

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Second wind 💨– An Olympics competitor sprints to the front. A second wind for Canadian power.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:45:00 -0400

In track and field, nothing inspires elite athletes more than the chance at eternal glory… though $150,000 could prove even more inspiring.

Hydro-Québec should start calling itself Hydro-and-Wind-Québec — on account of all the dang windmills it’s planning to build.

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Hanging up 📞 – “Alberta is calling” may have backfired. Banks earnings season comes to a close.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 31 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

With the promise of cheap housing and good jobs filling subway and billboard ads across the country, herds of young people have moved to Alberta’s comparatively cheaper pastures.

Canadian lenders are still feeling the effects of high interest rates on earnings, but more deal-making helped offset losses — even as the mean ol’ Bank of Canada waits to cut rates.

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Movie hangover 🎥– Barbenheimer box office hangover, Windsor’s plan to save its downtown.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

This past weekend, Canadian and U.S. box office numbers were down 40% compared to last year, after disappointing new releases by both Furiosa and Garfield. In fact, it was one of the weakest Memorial Day weekends seen at the movies since the early 1980s.

As cities across Canada grapple with high office vacancy rates, Windsor has rolled out a $3.2 million plan to lure people back into its desolate business district.

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Movie hangover 🎥– Barbenheimer box office hangover, Windsor’s plan to save its downtown.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

As cities across Canada grapple with high office vacancy rates, Windsor has rolled out a $3.2 million plan to lure people back into its desolate business district.

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No baggage ✈️ – WestJet rolls out cheap seats, Shein and Temu imports are overwhelming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Air travel is starting to feel more and more like building a Chipotle bowl: If you want the good stuff, it’s going to cost you.

Online bargain bin giants like Shein and Temu have benefitted from long-standing tax breaks forgoing duties on foreign packages under a certain price threshold, but that might soon end.

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Low risk 📊— Troubling times for Lululemon, Pension plans are lowering risk.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Tariffs recently announced by the U.S. on a slew of Chinese imports have forced Canada to answer some tough questions about its climate plans.

Western Canada has seen an early start to the wildfire season, but some new high-tech cameras are proving to be a powerful weapon for fighting the flames.

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Trade tribulations 🚙— Canada has a tariff dilemma. AI cameras notch assist in wildfire fight.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Tariffs recently announced by the U.S. on a slew of Chinese imports have forced Canada to answer some tough questions about its climate plans.

Western Canada has seen an early start to the wildfire season, but some new high-tech cameras are proving to be a powerful weapon for fighting the flames.

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Up in flames 🔥 — Phoenix is burning cash, Via Rail ridership is up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Jumping on the train might seem like a nice alternative to a traffic jam… until you realize your train is also sitting in a traffic jam.

Unlike the mythological bird of the same name, the federal government’s Phoenix payroll system is not going to rise from the ashes.

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High fashion 🧥 — Canada Goose gets creative. Netflix gets into the NFL.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Canada Goose — the iconic Canadian brand that began by making jackets for park rangers before pivoting to making status symbols for Bay Street traders — is getting even bougier.

The value of global sports TV contracts is set to reach US$62.4 billion this year. The NFL alone accounts for ~20% of that total.

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Northern lights 🌌 — Solar storm exposes risks for farmers. Ontario will start banning car thieves from driving.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A powerful solar storm over the weekend created more than a brilliant light show for people across the country — it also caused technological headaches for farmers.

To curb rising auto theft in the province, the Ontario government is taking a page out of our parents’ playbook and threatening to take away driving privileges: A new law will introduce driver's licence suspensions of at least 10 years for some convicted car thieves.

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Encoure 📈 — Meme stocks vie for an encore. Cineplex leans into premium experiences.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

GameStop shares surged ~72% yesterday after Keith Gill, the man best known for driving the meme stock mania of 2021 under the name “Roaring Kitty,” came back onto social media after a three-year hiatus. As of writing, the X post has attracted more than 16 million views.

Movie theatres hope that adding a few bells and whistles will distract you from the fact that they’re not playing anything you actually want to see.

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Business students 👩‍💼 — The business of international students. El Niño is ending soon, but summer is still looking hot.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Despite glaring labour shortages in sectors like healthcare, education and skilled trades, Canada has long favoured business students when granting international student visas.

On the docket for this summer: worship the sun, rediscover that you have a personality, and… the weather pattern change you learned about in Grade 8?

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Lethal lemonades 🍋 — B.C. re-criminalizes public drug use. Canadian cities tease car-free summer.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Don’t do illicit drugs in public in B.C. It’s, once again, illegal. And also, ya know, dangerous.

Once crowned the world’s coolest street, a bustling stretch of Montreal’s Wellington Street will be off-limits to cars this summer.

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Fired up 🔥— Northvolt protests get extreme, Intact is fireproofing homes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

If you’re having a bad start to the work day, at least be grateful you don’t have to deal with Molotov cocktails at the workplace.

Intact, a property insurer, is launching a pilot program to reduce wildfire the damage to homes in Western Canada this year.

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Dirty laundry 🧺 — Wegovy comes to Canada, TD embroiled in U.S. investigation

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

After filling doctors' prescription pads in the U.S., Wegovy is taking its talents north of the border.

For well over a year, Bay Street wondered what TD had done to find itself at the heart of a U.S. money laundering probe. After a long, mysterious wait, we’ve got some answers.

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Don’t snooze on cruises 🚢 — Ontario tries to bolster the trades, Cruise IPO sets sail, Houthis expand attacks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Ontario is hoping the promise of less time sitting in the classroom will convince more students to swap their notebooks for hard hats.

As post-IPO performances from shoe brands and vanity social media platforms disappoint, investors are looking to the Seven Seas for new buys.

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Ready to roll — Trans Mountain expansion opens, Businesses are jet-setting, Saying bye to coal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 May 2024 05:45:00 -0400

For the last decade, the Trans Mountain pipeline has been like the kid that just keeps asking their parents for more money. Today, it finally has something to show for all that cash.

After a three-year hiatus, business travellers are wiping the dust off their old carry-ons and saying sayonara to their home offices.

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Fed-up grocers 🛒 — Fed-up shoppers plot Loblaw boycott. Feds impose new cap on foreign student work hours

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

For thousands of Canadians, their relationship with Loblaws has reached the breaking point.

Many of us feel like we work too many hours, though almost none of us are told this by the federal government.

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Prime time 🏀 — Amazon locks up NBA deal, the Yen keeps falling.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Amazon is spending billions of dollars to make sure fans have to get Prime to watch the Raptors lose.

Now might be a good time to book that trip to Japan you’ve been dreaming of because your loonie is going to go a lot further than it used to.

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Productivity problems 📉 — Honda’s $15 billion EV bet, The GDP per capita dips.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Like a rapper officially releasing a leaked diss track, Honda has dropped a long-awaited project that’s making waves throughout the industry.

Even with AI tools, highly caffeinated beverages, and a roster of podcasts eager to tell us all how to work “smarter,” Canadians are in a bit of a productivity slump.

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Healthy pop 🥤 — Indigenous investing rises, Healthy pop is popping off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Just like a space probe hurtling through deep space, Indigenous investing is only going up.

The way things are trending, a nice fizzy drink could soon replace your morning vitamins.

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Grocers wanted 🛒 — Feds lure global grocers, A new inflation theory.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Things coming to Canada this year: Shake Shack, the Eras Tour, and… a unionized Amazon warehouse?

A group of delegates will spend the week in the nation's capital comparing notes on why plastic is, in fact, not so fantastic.

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Grocers wanted 🛒 — Feds lure global grocers, A new inflation theory.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Things coming to Canada this year: Shake Shack, the Eras Tour, and… a unionized Amazon warehouse?

A group of delegates will spend the week in the nation's capital comparing notes on why plastic is, in fact, not so fantastic.

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Tesla slashes prices in major markets. The world’s top-selling EV maker is again cutting prices on popular models by nearly US$2,000 in the U.S., China and Germany as it tries to keep pace in the accelerating EV price war.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Québec workers reject Airbus contract offer. The roughly 1,300 unionized workers at the Mirabel, Québec Airbus plant have rejected a third contract offer from the plane manufacturer, with almost 70% of members voting against the agreement. The Québec plant manufactures Airbus’ popular A220 passenger plane. (CTV News)

China’s Canadian ambassador abruptly leaves post. Amid heightened tensions between the two countries, China’s ambassador to Canada left his diplomatic post after nearly five years on the job. Canada’s relationship with China has gotten rockier in recent years, particularly over accusations that Beijing meddled in the last two federal elections. (BNN Bloomberg)—LA

Mob ties 🚔 — The NHL is breaking records. Mob gets busted in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

You think La Casa Nostra don’t have a piece of da pie in da Great White North? Ayyy, fuhgeddaboudit

The only thing more impressive than the player's soon-to-be-grown playoff beards is the total at the bottom of the NHL balance sheet this year.

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Retro kicks 👟 — Raptors scandal highlights worries about sports betting. Retro sneakers are all the rage.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

It’s a tough day for people who bet on themselves.

Business at Adidas is booming this year. If you’re wondering why, just go for a walk around town and count how many pairs of Sambas you see walking the street.

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Wealth tax 📈 — Tim Horton’s gets into pizza. Feds announce new tax rate.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

With so many plans already announced, we were left wondering what the feds would actually unveil at this year’s budget meeting. The answer? A tax to pay for all those plans.

Canadians' favourite spot for a double-double and an Old Fashioned glazed donut is trying its hand at a new endeavour: pizza.

Driving

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Budget day 💸 — Happy Budget Day, one and all. Canada says 'bienvenue' to Francophone immigrants.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

It’s Budget Day 2024, and the theme for this year is "generational fairness.” While that’s not as exciting a theme as “year of efficiency” or “murder mystery,” it does sound like a nice idea.

Everybody knows that Canada needs more healthcare workers, more homebuilders, and… more French speakers?

Driving

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Self-driving sale 🚗 — Middle East conflict ratchets up with Iran attack. Tesla slashes prices for self-driving software.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Violence in the Middle East escalated over the weekend with an Iranian attack on Israel.

Tesla is hoping that a good old-fashioned sale will get more customers to buy into the whole self-driving car thing.

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Stadium revamp 🏟️ — The government has been using AI… a lot. Rogers Centre gets revamped.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Much like a lazy student tired of writing essays, the federal government loves using AI.

The Jays might have a losing record right now, but their stadium is turning into a real winner.

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Lies and statistics 📊 — Track and field to pay its Olympic gold medallists. Canada almost as unequal as U.S. when it comes to wealth

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

New hardest way to earn 50 grand just dropped: winning the Olympic 400-metre hurdles.

When it comes to inequality, Canada may not be so different from our southern neighbours after all.

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Firepower 🇨🇦 — Canada ups defence dollars. New RBC CFO.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

After catching flack for not spending enough on defence, the feds fished around their proverbial couch cushions and came up with a hefty chunk of change.

While RBC has been focused on formalizing its new relationship with HSBC, a secret relationship among the bank’s highest ranks has shaken up the executive team.

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Crabby 🦀 — Feds pledge billions for AI. It’s a good day to be a crab.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Crab fishers in Newfoundland and Labrador are sick and tired of being pinched — not by crabs, but by what they feel are unfair industry pricing practices.

The federal government sees your $20 per month ChatGPT subscription and raises it by a couple billion dollars.

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Throwing shade 🌑 — The solar eclipse economy is booming. Construction is getting entrepreneurial.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Total Solar Eclipse 2024: A once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the celestial event, and a great excuse to stick an Oreo on a doughnut and charge extra for it.

With Canada rushing to build housing, it should be no surprise that some entrepreneurial minds feel like it’s a business worth getting into.

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Walking back 🛒 — Disney wins its boardroom battle, Amazon cancels walk-out check-out.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Disney can return to making magic after showing its critics that Bob Iger is here to stay.

In the era of AI, remember this maxim, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

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EV slowdown 🚙 — Tesla’s nightmarish start to the year. Queens moving to a lottery system for med school.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Like a deadbeat dad missing his child’s softball game, Tesla’s sales numbers were a massive disappointment.

For many students, getting into med school feels like winning the lottery. And soon, for some of them, it will literally be like winning the lottery.

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Makeover 💄 — RBC takes over HSBC. Schools take social media companies to court.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:45:00 -0400

If you spotted an RBC on your commute this morning you could have sworn was an HSBC, don’t worry, you’re not going crazy…

The fight to get kids to stop scrolling on TikTok has gone from the classroom to the court.

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Sentencing day ⛓️ — It’s SBF sentencing day. Canada takes a work trip to Vietnam.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Place your bets, folks. Will the fallen crypto wunderkind spend his life behind bars or have a brief stop-over in the big house?

Canada is hoping to take its relationship with Vietnam to the next level.

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Watch and learn 📺 — Spotify is offering video learning. Cocoa prices are going cuckoo.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Warning: the Easter Bunny might be dropping off fewer chocolate eggs than usual this year.

There could be a new category for your Spotify Wrapped this year: number of new skills and concepts mastered.

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Record breaking port 🚢 — The Port of Vancouver had a record-breaking year. Air passenger rights head to Supreme Court.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

The Port of Vancouver: It’s huge, it’s salty, it’s not very efficient, and it can teach us a thing or two about the state of Canada’s economy.

Canada’s top court is hearing a case about an oh-so-common travel nightmare: flight cancellations.

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Light speed 🛫 — Trump’s trade tax. Supersonic travel could be back soon.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

A drastic Donald Trump campaign promise has got the feds in a frenzy (and no, it’s not about building a really big border wall).

We’re one step closer to being able to fly from Vancouver to Tokyo in 6 hours — barely enough time to get through two in-flight movies (or one recent Scorcese flick).

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Apply lawsuit 🍏 — Why most provinces are in debt, The U.S. is suing Apple again.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

This budget season, provinces are primed to rack up more debt than us during the holidays.

Apple just got thrown into a real-life game of Monopoly that it probably wants absolutely no part of.

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Election reform 🗳️ — Election reform bill en route in Ottawa. Why the Kate Middleton conspiracies are so troubling.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Canadians who say they don’t have the time to vote on election day could soon be left looking for a new excuse.

We tried to avoid this, we really did. But it’s gotten to the point that it can’t be ignored.

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No more ice cream 🍦 — Trouble at Ben & Jerry’s, Canada’s cancer drug business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Like a vanilla cone on a scorching July day, Unilever’s faith in its ice cream biz is melting.

One of Canada’s top biotech prospects has been called up to the big leagues.

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LinkedIn’s next play 🎮 — LinkedIn is getting into games. Selling energy to Germany.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Attention all you jobseekers and headhunters out there: invest in a headset, a gaming chair, and a whole bunch of Mountain Dew Code Red — because LinkedIn is for gamers now.

Canada is buddying up with its pilsner-drinking, schnitzel-eating allies to kick-start a new clean energy trade market.

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Measles is back 💉 — Canada’s got a measles problem, Boeing delays set to hurt travellers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

File this story under “diseases you thought you could stop worrying about”: Experts are worried that a recent surge in measles cases could soon get worse as kids return from the March break holidays.

The odds that Boeing’s quality control issues will impact you directly — say, by a panel blowing off your plane mid-flight — are still low. The odds that they’ll impact you indirectly through pricier airfare, however, are quite high.

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Athleisure 🏃 — Canadian diplomats evacuate Haiti. Do suits still suit Canada’s menswear sector?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

As the situation worsens in Haiti, some Canadian diplomats are getting out.

As ‘athleisure’ and ‘quiet luxury’ continue to dominate fashion trends, one Canadian menswear store that made its name with formalwear is trying to keep up with the times.

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Canadian pensions love India 🇮🇳 — Why pensions love India, Tax incentives for trades.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian-Indian relations might be, shall we say, testy right now. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the investments Canadian pension funds are making.

While Alberta formally ended its “Alberta is Calling” advertising campaign last year meant to attract workers to the province, the province is still singing a siren’s song.

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American meat 🐄 — As Telegram ponders IPO, experts worry about its dark side. American meat labelling rules puts Canada in crosshairs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Encrypted messaging app Telegram is mulling a U.S.-listed IPO, its owner Pavel Durov told the Financial Times, after surpassing 900 million monthly active users and projecting it will hit profitability within the next year thanks to newfound ad dollars.

Some new ground rules from our southern neighbour are putting Canadian cattle at risk of losing their honourary dual citizenship.

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How open banking works 🏦 — Canada warms up to open banking. Canada’s missing Chinese tourists.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

In next month’s federal budget, the feds are poised to put forward a framework legislation to bring open banking to the financial system. What is that, exactly? We’re glad you asked.

Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and even the world’s largest coffee pot aren’t enough to lure Chinese tourists back to Canada.

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Gold rush 🏅 — Gold hits new highs and may not be done yet. Surge pricing could be coming to restaurants despite Wendy’s backlash.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0400

Sure, it’s easy to poke fun at cheesy cash-for-gold infomercials, but maybe the Russell Olivers of the world knew something we didn’t about where gold prices were heading.

The plan to bring the excitement of day trading to the experience of buying a Baconator didn’t pan out for Wendy’s, but the concept could be coming to more restaurants soon.

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Where are all the IPOs? 💵 — Canada’s military is unprepared. IPO drought on Bay Street.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Like a student taking a final exam despite skipping every lecture, the Canadian Armed Forces are unprepared.

The last time the IPO market in Canada was this bad, the sitcom Friends debuted, Forrest Gump hit theatres, and a guy named Jeff Bezos launched a little book shop called Amazon.

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Can you force Canadian investment 📈 — Should there be more investment in Canadian business? How to invest in viral songs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0500

If there’s one thing we all can agree on, it’s that in Canadian business, publishing an open letter to your enemies in a newspaper is one of the most dramatic things you can do.

Here's one way to really make your TFSA returns sing: Invest in Beyoncé’s next hit song.

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A $70,000 pistachio heist 🥜 — Pistachio heist sparks larger cargo theft fears. Canada’s sports bodies are begging for more cash.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0500

A pistachio heist in Ontario hasn't just raised the eyebrows of people thinking, “Surely, no one could eat that many nuts,” but put businesses on high alert about food cargo thefts.

With the Paris Olympics less than five months away, Canada’s sports bodies have put out a plea for more cash.

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Expensive tickets 🎟️— It’s pricer than ever to have fun, just ask Raptors fans. Cities are looking for a place to park new homes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0500

It’s getting more and more expensive to see sweaty men jump really high these days.

In the midst of a housing shortage, city officials are looking to build homes on top of some of the country's ~97 million parking spaces.

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No more news 🗞️ — Canada looks for answers to mineral slump. Meta’s retiring from the newsroom.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Canadian miners could be getting a shiny new pricing system that may help even the playing field with their competitors overseas.

Like a jaded and world-weary beat reporter who’s seen too much, Meta wants out of the news game.

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Card games 🃏 — Alberta says “no” to rampant renewables. Sports cards reel in big bucks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

After lifting a seven-month ban on new renewable energy projects, Alberta has introduced rules restricting where future developments can set up shop in order to keep prime agricultural lands for farmers and preserve the province’s “pristine viewscapes.”

Sure, trading stocks is cool and all, but have you tried trading your old sports cards?

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Brain drain 🧠 — Banks brace for bad loans, Canadian miners are fleeing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Scores of Canadian lawyers have fled for the bright lights of New York in recent years, clearly inspired by the undying popularity of Suits.

Canadian Bank Earnings Week is underway, and while we admit it’s not as exhilarating as Shark Week, it can teach us some valuable lessons about the murky waters of the economy.

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Coming in hot 💻 — Proposed online safety laws come in hot. Germany legalizes recreational cannabis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Today in news that we’re sure politicians will take in super chill fashion, the federal justice minister unveiled the first draft of a long-awaited Online Harms Act.

This year’s Oktoberfest celebrations could have a much chiller vibe, and it’s all thanks to some weed-loving lawmakers in Germany.

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Grounded 🛬 — Another budget airline bites the dust. Why chocolate prices are high, and likely going higher.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

In what’s probably the most rational decision the company’s made since changing its name from Jet Naked, Lynx Air has decided it’s time to throw in the towel.

Got a sweet tooth? Now might be a good time to replenish your personal Strategic Chocolate Reserve, because already-high prices for cocoa-based treats are only going up.

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Smoke ‘em 🚬 — Running out of pipeline capacity. Banning menthol cigarettes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Like us trying to do spreadsheets while also taking a Zoom call, Canada’s pipelines are at full capacity.

Menthol cigarette bans are helping make the phrase “smoke ’em if you got ’em” obsolete.

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Vintage wine 🍷 — Cold snap lays B.C.’s wine crop to waste. Uber launches delivery robots in Japan

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

If you stumble across a bottle of 2024 vintage B.C. wine when perusing the liquor store this year, we recommend you pick it up. It could be a collector’s item one day.

A new army of robots is coming… but don’t worry, they’re not trying to take over the world, they’re just here to deliver your McDonalds.

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Cybercrime setback 💻 — The law locks out LockBit hackers. Alberta’s tourism industry gets new immigration stream.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

A shadowy international syndicate of cybercriminals just got a taste of its own medicine.

As people keep flocking to Alberta’s picturesque mountains, the province is struggling to find enough workers to staff the businesses needed to keep the tourism industry afloat.

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Hat trick 🏒 — Women’s hockey breaks records, Maple Syrup bounces back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Less than two months after hitting the ice, North America’s new pro women’s hockey league is already breaking records.

Unseasonably warm weather isn’t just giving us a headstart on patio season, it's giving our prized maple syrup businesses a head start on their harvest.

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Defence dollars 💸 — NATO nations are spending, Waymo pulls driverless cars.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

While most of us are trying to save up these days, NATO nations are spending on defence like a rich kid who got their hands on their father’s credit card.

You think you had a rough week? Waymo had one of its cars literally set on fire in the middle of San Fransisco — and that’s not even their biggest problem.

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Roblaw$ 🛒— T-Shirt dispute, Alberta’s booming honey industry.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

The Loblaw corporation has previously beefed with Frito-Lay and other smaller suppliers. Now, it’s in a spat with a guy making novelty T-shirts.

Like when Jerry Seinfeld’s beloved Bee Movie character Barry B. Benson finally settled down with a nice florist, Canadian honeybees have found themselves a loving home.

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Not guilty 👩‍⚖️— Canada’s short on judges, The cost of the World Cup.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Housing isn’t the only shortage facing the federal government these days: It turns out there are about as many judges in Canada as there are apartments for under $1,500.

Like us after putting down a non-refundable deposit to book the perfect venue for a birthday party, Vancouver and Toronto are hoping that playing host will be worth it.

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Catalogue for sale 🎶 — Biden joins TikTok, Investors flock to music catalogues.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

It wasn’t too long ago we were writing regularly about plans by U.S. lawmakers to ban TikTok. It now seems like those plans have taken a backseat to politics.

The competition might’ve been tough for the King of Pop’s music library, but Sony and its big chequebook told the other investors to beat it.

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AI Spy 🕵️‍♀️ — Bosses turn to AI to spy on workers, Investors flock to psychedelics.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Think twice before sending that disparaging Slack message about your manager. Someone—or rather, something—could be watching.

As they did with shirtless hippies in the ’60s, psychedelic drugs are having a moment—but this time around, it’s investors (with their shirts very much on) swooning over ‘shrooms.

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Bowl-o-rama 🎳 — Bowling is booming in Canada, Google’s got a new chatbot.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

At the height of the pandemic, nothing could be more frightening than repeatedly touching a germ-infested item hundreds of other strangers had handled. Now, we can’t get enough of it!

Now that Google and the federal government have squashed their beef over paying news publishers, the search giant is giving Canadians access to its shiny new chatbot.

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Skating by taxes ⛸️ — Leafs captain takes on fight against CRA. Canadian miners look for help.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Professional athletes, they’re just like you and me: They eat, they sleep, and they hate paying taxes.

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WeWork back 🏢 — WeWork has a familiar buyer. AI content on Meta.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

In what could be the most shocking reunion since Ben Affleck and J-Lo, WeWork co-founder and ex-CEO Adam Neumann has sent the proverbial “u up?” text to his old business.

With AI deepfakes becoming more common on Facebook than old high school classmates promoting their multi-level marketing schemes, Meta has decided it’s time to step in.

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Investors love Meta again 📱 — Spotify shakes things up. Meta is back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Everyone you know under the age of 40 may have logged off Facebook years ago, but that’s not doing anything to slow down parent company Meta’s surging stock.

Done with the days of throwing millions at anyone with a microphone and a few Instagram followers, Spotify is taking a new approach to its podcast business.

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Investors love Meta again 📱 — Spotify shakes things up. Meta is back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Everyone you know under the age of 40 may have logged off Facebook years ago, but that’s not doing anything to slow down parent company Meta’s surging stock.

Done with the days of throwing millions at anyone with a microphone and a few Instagram followers, Spotify is taking a new approach to its podcast business.

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Rent record 🏠 — Challenging rental market. Canada is drying up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

A new housing report has confirmed a tough truth: Canada’s rental market has become more crowded than a gym’s weight room in early January.

Just like the sober-curious crowd, western provinces are partaking in Dry February… though not by their own choice.

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Makin’ babies 👶— TikTok vs. Universal Music, Musk loses $55.8B pay package.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:45:00 -0500

The latest supply shortage to hit Canada: newborns. The country’s fertility rate fell to its lowest level on record in 2022, with a paltry 1.33 children born per woman that year.

Finding the perfect banger to soundtrack your next TikTok vid just got a lot harder.

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Pharmacy pact 💊 — Walmart managers cash in, A new painkiller innovation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

In a not-so-romantic Canadian pairing, an insurance giant and grocery conglomerate have officially announced they are exclusive.

While it seems like layoffs are happening left, right, and centre these days — because, well, they are — some companies are going to great lengths to retain workers.

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Ho-Ho Housing 🏠— Leon’s is building homes. Evergrande liquidation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Like a boxer hanging on by a thread, one of China’s biggest real estate developers is being forced to throw in the towel.

After 115 years in business, Leon’s Furniture is getting into the house-building game. No word yet on whether homes come fully furnished with brand-new pieces from the showroom.

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📈 Formula E — A different kind of EV race, The U.S. rolls back on LNG.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Electric car racing might not be popular enough for its own Netflix show (yet), but Formula E cars are blossoming into stars for the legacy automakers that own them.

In a surprise move, Canada’s southern neighbour is pumping the brakes on its booming natural gas business.

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Pipeline nears opening 🛢️ — The Trans Mountain pipeline hits the home stretch. Canada adds India to election interference probe.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

After hitting more speed bumps than a driver in a school zone and going so over budget that it would make the Olympics blush, the completion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline (TMP) is near.

Canada’s relationship with India is getting icier than a car windshield post-snowstorm.

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Rate cuts 📉 — BoC turns attention to rate cuts. Québec’s EV battery plant hits a speed bump.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

The Bank of Canada’s path to its 2% inflation target seems to be getting a little clearer.

Here’s a brain teaser for you. Why are multiple environmental and Indigenous groups rallying against a project that aims to be a key part of Canada’s net-zero transition?

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Student cap 👩‍🎓 — Feds call cap on international students. What’s going on at Gildan?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

After months of pressure to crack down on colleges that have been accused of exploiting international students, Canada is capping study permits at 360,000 students this year.

The company that supplies the T-shirts for your work functions is at the centre of a power struggle filled with almost as much corporate drama as a Succession episode.

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Sports shakeup 🏈 — Stock surge could cushion broader downturn. Networks gear up for the live sports streaming era.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

If we’re still in a “vibecession,” someone forgot to tell the stock market — over there, things are better than ever.

As if supporting Canadian sports teams wasn’t hard enough on its own (please don’t talk to us about the Leafs), broadcasters could soon make it even tougher (and expensive) to tune in to games.

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Future pharmacy 💊 — What is the future of Rexall? For our second story, Vision Pro ushers in a new era for Apple

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Need a topic for small talk with your pharmacist when they’re refilling your prescription? This story has you covered.

Looking to revive the buzz of the early iPhone days, Apple’s hoping its new US$3,499 mixed reality headset will do the trick.

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Sandwich showdown 🍞— Sub wars come north. CEBA deadline looms.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

If your usually chipper barista seems a little on edge, it might be because today is a very stressful day for many small businesses across the country.

In a move that sounds like the plot of a Martin Scorsese mafia movie, U.S. sandwich chains Jersey Mike’s and Jimmy John’s are gearing up for a turf war north of the border.

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Bigger King 👑 — Burger King gobbles up franchises. Canada’s sugar industry gets a sweetener.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) — the very fake-sounding Canadian company that is the very real owner of Tim Hortons and Burger King — just ordered 1,000 juicy franchises.

An up-and-coming company is giving ‘Big Sugar’ a run for its money with its newest Canadian expansion.

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Broke university 👨‍🏫 — Can broke universities afford humanities? Alberta dips its toes into nuclear

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Add ‘school potentially going bankrupt’ to the list of reasons we’re happy we’re not in college anymore, alongside gruelling mid-terms and questionable dining hall food.

New year, new power source: Alberta is now dabbling in nuclear power.

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Hard cap 👩‍🎓 — Feds ponder international student cap, Olympics get 0% beer sponsor.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

The federal government will look at capping the number of international students admitted to Canada in the coming months, Immigration Minister Marc Miller told reporters, saying the system “has gotten out of control.”

The world’s biggest brewer is hoping that their newest sponsorship deal will capture sports fans who may be considering extending their Dry January’s.

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Five stars ⭐️ — Amazon’s illegal best-sellers. Chinese mines in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Amazon has rightfully earned the title of “the everything store.” Unfortunately, everything happens to include illegal weapons.

A year after Canada — Playing the role of the protective dad— told Chinethe Canadian government is deciding who are acceptable suitors for the country’s top mining companies.

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Red sea tensions 🚢 — Red Sea tensions escalate, Canada’s first at-home HPV test.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Rebel attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have been mucking up global trade for weeks, and Western powers have officially had enough.

You can work from home, take classes at home, and even exercise at home. And now, in B.C., you can even do your routine medical tests from home.

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Trouble in the air 🛬 — Boeing 737 woes. Deloitte workers face the bots.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Boeing shares plummeted ~8% yesterday, which was to be expected after one of its planes blew a freakin’ hole in mid-air. Sorry, we still can’t believe that actually happened.

Deloitte is taking the expression “time is **money” to heart with its new AI innovation.

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Trouble in the air 🛬 — Boeing 737 woes. Deloitte workers face the bots.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

Boeing shares plummeted ~8% yesterday, which was to be expected after one of its planes blew a freakin’ hole in mid-air. Sorry, we still can’t believe that actually happened.

Deloitte is taking the expression “time is **money” to heart with its new AI innovation.

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Slippery slopes — Skiing hits a new tax bracket, Apple faces bumpy road ahead.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:45:00 -0500

As if the $15 poutine at the chalet wasn’t bad enough, poor snow conditions and high demand have marred this year’s ski season at popular Canadian slopes.

Don’t feel too bad for the world’s most valuable company, but the new year is increasingly shaping up to be a challenging one for Apple.

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What’s the Santa Claus Rally? 🎅 — Why investors are worried about markets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Angola’s oil output might be just a drop in the barrel for OPEC — a group of leading oil-producing countries — but its departure could ripple into much bigger changes.

Investors are starting to question the existence of Santa Claus… as far as the guy with the big, white, fluffy beard relates to markets, that is.

Tiny towns popping up in the northern Ontario wilderness have come under government scrutiny, but their pioneer-like inhabitants insist they just want cheaper housing.

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$2.5B drone investment ✈️ — A town powered by thermal energy, Ottawa delays innovation funding.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Better late than never: Canada is starting to pour more cash into its defence strategy.

A northern Alberta town with a population of 577 people could be the site of a renewable energy breakthrough.

Canada is a land of innovation. Look no further than the pizza dip roller or [ketchup chips](https://www.foodbloggersofcanada.com/canadas-love-for-ketchup-chips/#:~:text=The Canadian Story%3A Hostess Ketchup,chips on his mother's stove.)! Unfortunately, innovation funding continues to be a serious challenge.

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Another population boom 📈 — The problem with performance reviews, New laws for Canadian passenger trains.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Better start baking those welcome cookies now, because you’ve got a million new neighbours to welcome.

A new bill is trying to move “fast trains” from a European ideal into a Canadian reality.

Is your looming annual performance review getting you down? You aren’t the only one.

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Cancelled holiday parties🎉 — Shipping attacks disrupt trade, Zoom gets booted off the Nasdaq.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

In recent days, the Red Sea has become like the mall during the holidays: A place better kept at a safe distance.

Like each and every one of us who got used to working in our pyjamas, Zoom has had a rude post-Covid awakening.

Forget champagne fountains or a private DJ set from David Guetta. Your office holiday party this year is more likely to be a not-so-boozy potluck, a pickleball match, or some virtual trivia.

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Motor mandate 🚗 — Canada sets 2035 EV target, Why H&M is moving up-market. There’s panic in the Red Sea.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The end of the road for gas-powered vehicles in Canada is fast approaching.

Like us trying to figure out what to wear to the company holiday party, H&M is having a bit of a fashion identity crisis.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas is spreading to other parts of the Middle East. In Yemen, that could start to muck up global trade routes.

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Canada’s biggest art fraud 🎨 — Hockey Canada sponsors are back, Rogers to roll out satellite access.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The ringleader of the largest art fraud operation in Canadian history — and, per one investigating officer, in *world* history — was sentenced to 5 years in prison yesterday. Team Canada announced its roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship. But the biggest names joining the team this year aren’t the new players, but returning advertisers.

Over a year after a nationwide blackout left 12 million Canadians without reception, Rogers is making amends by bringing cell service to the deepest corners of Canada’s wilderness.

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Double down 🇰🇷 — Tim Hortons goes to Seoul, Woldcoin links with Reddit, Trouble in maple syrup

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Forget a Justin Bieber collab — as Tim Hortons expands into its newest locale, it should be looking for a stamp of approval from Blackpink or BTS.

As if renewing your real passport wasn’t a big enough pain, you may soon need an internet passport to get into your favourite Reddit thread.

What goes up must go down. After a record maple syrup harvest last year, Canada’s crop of the brown stuff has come crashing down like a stack of flapjacks that was piled too high.

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Building homes 🏠 — A wartime housing effort, AI enters newsrooms, Controversy at COP28.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

When all else fails, try finding answers to today’s problems in the ol’ history textbooks.

They say you can’t teach an old newspaper new tricks, but The Grey Lady wants to get with the times and dabble in AI.

The UN COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai went into overtime as environment ministers made like us in university and pulled an all-nighter desperately trying to finish a project.

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Jammed 🐄 — BlackBerry’s new strategy, Cow burp credit plans, TikTok hits spending milestone.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

It’s starting to look like investors might be happier watching BlackBerry the movie than BlackBerry the company.

Canada proposed a new strategy to slash methane emissions by offering cattle farmers incentives if they feed their cows food that will make them burp less.

Like a bartender with a generous pour, TikTok creators have been reeling in the tips.

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Sho close ⚾️ — EU passes landmark AI regs, Shohei nabs record-setting contract. Tesla fights a scandi-insurgency.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The EU is once again leading the charge on regulating tech, this time with a new set of rules for AI businesses.

Look away, Blue Jays fans: Shohei Ohtani just signed the biggest contract in pro sports history, and despite some dedicated flight tracking and internet sleuthing, it’s not with Toronto.

Tesla is learning the hard way that the only thing Scandinavians love more than skiing and cured seafood is the right to collective bargaining agreements.

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McMakeover 🍟 — Governments play iSpy, International student rules, McDonald’s has a new cafe.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Not to alarm you, but for some reason, the federal agency managing our seafood has the power to snoop at your phone. Allow us to explain.

The newest admissions requirement for foreign students looking to get into a Canadian university has nothing to do with grades or extracurriculars.

The world’s biggest fast-food chain is going big in a quest for cold drink supremacy.

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Do better 🏥 — Beer biz is going flat, Canadian healthcare lags, A year of cyberattacks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Who doesn’t love throwin’ up their feet and crackin’ open an ice-cold beer?

We love Canada but must admit that other countries are superior in certain areas—things like better sun, tastier cuisine, and, crucially, better access to family doctors.

People are used to getting surprises when they sign up for 23andMe, but “some hackers got their hands on your DNA” usually isn’t among them.

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Rom-commerce 🛍️ — Math scores are falling, Walmart’s shoppable show, A plan for 2024 wildfires.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

If you’re like us, when you studied math in school, you were constantly thinking ‘wow, this is hard.’ Unfortunately, for kids today, it seems that learning math has gotten even harder.

The world's largest retailer is banking on a holiday season staple to boost sales: the cheesy holiday rom-com.

After persevering through the most destructive year ever for wildfires in Canada, firefighters are in Ottawa trying to get more assistance before the next wildfire season.

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Hit the gas ⛽️ — New methane rules, A new era of food, Crypto bounces back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Yesterday, Canada joined the U.S. in creating strict methane rules to meet climate goals.

Like a gym bro about to tackle leg day, food companies are all in on protein.

As actual winter sets in, “crypto winter” seems like it could be coming to an end.

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Carbon capture 🏭 — Carbon removal now critical to hitting climate goals, scientists tell COP28. KISS avatars herald weird new digital age for music industry. Foreign actors drive the digital divide.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Most of the world’s countries agreed on a significant new renewable energy push at the UN’s COP28 climate summit over the weekend, but scientists warned that overshooting the 1.5°C threshold — beyond which climate disasters will become more frequent and intense — is now almost “inevitable.”

If your favourite artist is getting too old to tour, here’s some good news — soon, they could start sending a digital proxy to perform for them.

Foreign bad actors have been studying our culture and have come to the very correct conclusion that nothing divides people more than a spicy Instagram post.

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McDonalds makeover 🍔 — Dropping your living standards. McDonald’s moneymaker gets a makeover. Dissecting the digital dollar debate.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The Canadian economy has avoided a technical recession after economists updated the numbers that triggered alarm bells earlier this year. That’s #EconomistMath.

With consumers starting to lean into burger options that are less… let’s say, mushy, McDonald’s is revamping its classic road trip staple.

As 2024 nears, flying cars and teleporters are no closer to becoming a reality, but countries are hard at work devising digital currencies.

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Media saved 📰 — A new news deal. A year of Chat GPT. Digital tax spat.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Canadians will get to keep (some of) their access to news, now that the government has reached a deal with Google over the controversial Online News Act.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of an event that changed the world forever: The UN bestowing the baguette with protected heritage status… just kidding.

Move over, dairy tariff quotas… there’s a new Canada-U.S. trade disagreement in town.

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Flying cooking oil ✈️ — Scotiabank earnings don’t bode well. Virgin flight lifts off powered by cooking oil. The Windsor’s battery plant drama

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Bank earnings season started not with a bang, but a whimper—one that could be sustained into 2024.

For those of you who are already freaked out by airplanes, we have some fun news: Soon, your plane could be kept in the sky entirely by stuff you’d find in a deep fryer.

Windsor’s new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant promised a plethora of jobs for Canadian workers, but that may have been a tad overhyped.

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Mining crisis ⛏️ — Panama’s mining crisis, explained. Consumers go big on Black Friday. Alberta flexes its sovereignty.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Panama’s top court is currently weighing whether or not to block a Canadian mining giant from tapping into the region's copper.

Shoppers don’t need to wait for their credit card statements to know how much they splurged this year, with new Shopify data spilling all the details…

In this week’s episode of Alberta vs. Feds, Danielle Smith makes what could be her most controversial announcement yet…

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Dairy victory 🐮 — Canada wins diary dispute with US. Scientists develop electronic nose to prevent food poisoning. The limit does not exist for Germany’s spending.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

While we, of course, have nothing but fondness for our southern neighbours, we also love beating them on the hockey rink, the soccer pitch, and in trade dispute court.

The days of wondering if those leftovers you’ve had in your fridge for a week are still good or not (before eating them anyway and just hoping for the best) may be coming to an end.

Like us on Black Friday weekend, Germany is turning a blind eye to its credit limit and hoping everything turns out okay in the end.

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Spy trial 🕵️‍♀️ — OpenAI and the case of the mystery letter. Canada’s momentous spy trial comes to a close. A truce between Israel-Hamas starts today.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The fallout at OpenAI escalated from “spicy corporate drama” to “arbiter of humanity’s fate” real quick.

Canada’s historic spy trial wasn’t quite as exciting as a James Bond movie — it featured zero cool cars or giant lasers — but it was an important test for the judicial system.

A hostage deal is expected to bring the first break in the fight between Israel and Hamas.

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Ski subscribers 🎿 — Sam Altman is the once and future CEO of OpenAI. Wild pigs are taking over. Ski resorts turn to subscriptions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

After a whirlwind five days that included teary breakdowns, a pizza party, and even the launch of a new product, Sam Altman is once again CEO of OpenAI.

If you’re worried about Canada’s housing market, just wait until we tell you about the country’s wild pig problem.

Hanging out with a fancy group of friends and don’t know what to talk about? As if they prefer Epic or Ikon, and watch the ensuing debate light up the room.

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Battery breakthrough 🔋— C ya, CZ. Québec just bowled a turkey, ‘cause it’s got three straight strikes. Northvolt makes EV battery breakthrough.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Like us, you may have thought your school days were behind you when you collected your expensive piece of paper at graduation, but with this AI thing apparently not going anywhere, we might all be hitting the books again soon.

Are you self-conscious about your spending? Luckily, you don’t have to broadcast it to the entire nation like the federal government will do later today in its fall economic update.

The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix happened last week on the Las Vegas Strip. It was F1’s glitziest, costliest event of the year — it also looks destined to be its biggest disappointment.

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Fall update 💸 — The Las Vegas grand disappointment. Amazon wants you to go back to (AI) school. An update on the fall economic update.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Are you self-conscious about your spending? Luckily, you don’t have to broadcast it to the entire nation like the federal government will do later today in its fall economic update.

The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix happened last week on the Las Vegas Strip. It was F1’s glitziest, costliest event of the year — it also looks destined to be its biggest disappointment.

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AI battle 👾 — OpenAI had a hectic weekend. SpaceX reaches space with Starship for first time. Xi makes a splash in America

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

We’ve been glued to our phones following the drama unfolding at the world’s (arguably) most important AI company so that you don’t have to.

SpaceX made progress in the second test flight of its Starship rocket, but the program’s success is still far from certain.

To the surprise and delight (emphasis on the surprise) of the world, Xi Jinping’s second face-to-face meeting with Joe Biden actually went pretty well.

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Weather AI 🌧️ — Meet your new weather forecaster: AI. GM buys itself a win over Tesla. Family docs drop plan to require extra training.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

AI could force us to find a new go-to topic for small talk by bringing about a future where we already know everything about the weather.

Fed up with trying to crack the code of Tesla’s low manufacturing costs, GM decided it would just buy the EV maker’s secret weapon.

The body in charge of certifying family doctors in Canada is throwing the Uno reverse card at planned new training regulations.

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Netflix for Sports ⛳️ — US and China to announce fentanyl deal. Netflix tees off its live sports offerings. Nicotine pouches pose danger to kids, experts warn.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As Canada’s opioid crisis continues, new enforcement measures in China could help restrict the flow of deadly substances to our shores.

Like us signing up for beer league hockey, Netflix is dipping its toes into sports just to see how things play out.

Vaping is so 2021. These days, nicotine pouches are the vice of choice for many teens, and health experts are warning that it’s a serious problem.

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Dry IPO market 📉 — What’s wrong with the IPO market? Realtors’ fees in North America are under attack. Canadian tennis is on the come-up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As Canadians struggle with the rising cost of living, pressure is mounting on the federal government to carve up its flagship climate policy like a Thanksgiving turkey.

After almost a decade of delays, the world’s largest fusion reactor has finally achieved a key milestone.

We’ve all had to give up some luxuries amidst rising inflation — it’s been sooo long since we’ve bought a fancy jar of fig jam — and the feds are no exception.

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Carbon tax carveouts 🪓 — Pressure mounts to overhaul carbon tax. Japan hits nuclear fusion milestone. The government gets to cutting.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As Canadians struggle with the rising cost of living, pressure is mounting on the federal government to carve up its flagship climate policy like a Thanksgiving turkey.

After almost a decade of delays, the world’s largest fusion reactor has finally achieved a key milestone.

We’ve all had to give up some luxuries amidst rising inflation — it’s been sooo long since we’ve bought a fancy jar of fig jam — and the feds are no exception.

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Ozempic competitors 💉 — Will an Ozempic competitor emerge? Ontario’s new foreign worker rules. Huawei is still patenting Canadian research.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Kind of like how every streamer released an epic fantasy show after Game of Thrones was a massive hit, drugmakers are all angling to produce the next blockbuster weight loss drug.

We’ve all come across job postings with ludicrous experience requirements (10 years for an entry-level position???), and no one knows that pain more than foreign-trained workers.

Like a dinner party guest who doesn’t know when to leave, Huawei is still kicking around Canadian universities' research departments.

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Airships rising 🛫 — Alberta plans to upend its healthcare system. Can airships make a comeback?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced yesterday that the province is planning to radically restructure its healthcare system.

Rarely can one event kill off an entire industry, but that’s exactly what happened to airship travel when the LZ 129 Hindenburg burst into flames above New Jersey in 1937.

Whether you’re at a family get-together or surfing online, politics can be a dicey topic to explore.

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WeBankrupt 🏢 — WeWork declares bankruptcy. The CRTC takes on Canada’s telecom giant. Global wine output is drying .

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Not all heroes wear capes: Canada’s telecom regulator is trying to make your phone bill a little less daunting.

Raise your on-tap kombuchas for a toast to WeWork, which burned far too bright and way too fast.

To any wine moms or vino snobs who may be reading, make sure you’re sitting down with a chilled pinto grigio before looking at this next story. You might find it too upsetting.

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Dating CEO 👩‍💼 — Bumble hopes its new CEO is the perfect match. The down-low Google vs. Epic Games. Social media is ready for its own kind of retail therapy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Just like you with your ex, the general public has fallen out of love with dating apps.

The maker of Fortnite is hoping to score a victory royale against one of the titans of tech.

Social media platforms are bracing for a potentially rough quarter, but they do have one hope: those “tap here to buy now” ads.

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AI influencers 📸 — AI influencers are taking over. Pre-tip your driver or risk slow delivery, DoorDash users warned. The impacts of Africa’s youth boom.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Out of all the jobs under threat from AI, we certainly didn’t have Instagram influencers at the top of our list.

Want your late-night Big Mac order to arrive at least a little bit warm? Better tip your delivery driver ahead of time.

Want to feel old? The median age in Africa is just shy of 19.

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Celebrity books 📚 — It’s the year of celebrity memoirs. What’s going on with the loonie? Low survey response rates are tainting economic data

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Celebrity memoirs aren’t just a source of gossip-worthy headlines… they’ve also been giving the publishing industry a needed shot in the arm.

Pros of Canadian currency compared to US currency: Comes in several fun colours, and features the majestic loon.

Cons of Canadian currency compared to US currency: It’s less valuable, and dropping lower.

Canadians are turning away from economic surveys, a development that’s hurting far more than just the feelings of the Stats Canada surveyors knocking on their doors.

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Technical recession 🚨 — A technical recession is upon us. Clarifying the carbon tax drama. Canada joins global ransomware pledge Q

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.”

The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers.

New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food.

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Technical recession 🚨 — A technical recession is upon us. Clarifying the carbon tax drama. Canada joins global ransomware pledge Q

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.”

The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers.

New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food.

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You’re out ⚾️ — More strikes than a baseball game. Biden’s executive order closes the AI floodgates. Canada tightens international student rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.”

The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers.

New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food.

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Poison pill AI 💊 — Halloween treats probably won’t give you lead poisoning, but watch that hot chocolate. Poison pill threatens AI image models. Canada tightens international student rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

New research is putting the harmful metal content of chocolate under the microscope again, but don’t go tossing the kids’ trick-or-treat haul just yet.

If your favourite AI image generator starts spitting out some weird stuff, we may have an explanation.

For months now, officials have been saying that the 800,000 foreign students at Canadian universities and colleges are putting too much pressure on housing and the labour market.

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Cruise fight 🛳️ — Carnival condemned for Covid cruise. Stores show off their new brands. Alberta turns to AI to help fight wildfires.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Carnival Cruise Lines soon might have to spend a little bit less on cruise ship roller coasters and a little bit more on Covid lawsuit settlements.

One in every three Canadians are buying more store brands to offset food inflation.

On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, the country is turning to AI for solutions.

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Cruise fight 🛳️ — Carnival condemned for Covid cruise. Stores show off their new brands. Alberta turns to AI to help fight wildfires.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Carnival Cruise Lines soon might have to spend a little bit less on cruise ship roller coasters and a little bit more on Covid lawsuit settlements.

One in every three Canadians are buying more store brands to offset food inflation.

On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, the country is turning to AI for solutions.

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AI godfather debate 🤖— California deals a blow to autonomous cars. Doomsday kits are going mainstream. The Godfathers of AI can’t agree on how dangerous it is.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Like an angsty teen who took the car out without permission, Cruise has lost its driving privileges for the time being.

If you’re looking for some early Christmas gift ideas, nothing spreads holiday cheer quite like a doomsday survival kit.

The comments section of a Facebook post typically isn’t a place for intelligent debate between great minds… but sometimes, it is.

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Port strike 🪧 — Rich countries feel the migration surge. St. Lawrence Seaway workers join the strike wave. Could we see a billionaire tax?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Make some room! International migration to advanced economies reached an all-time high last year, with estimates suggesting a further influx this year, per new OECD stats.

Shipping traffic at a key Canadian transportation artery has ground to a halt. No, there isn’t a 400-metre-long container ship blocking the Seaway, just 361 workers walking off the job.

Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and billionaires not paying said taxes.

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New streaming deal 🏀— Momentum grows for competition push. NBA looks for slam dunk with streamers. Who is Argentina’s next President?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If you've ever returned from a trip to the States and wished we had Trader Joe's here too, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is with you—and not just to get easier access to the World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs, either.

While basketball fans will be focused on the NBA season tip-off this week, business fans will be more focused on the massive shake-up happening in media that’s set to reshape pro sports.

As Argentines head to the polls, there’s a good chance their next president could be a man who has been compared to both Donald Trump and Wolverine.

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Runway Robots 🤖 — Diplomats leave India, Pearson’s runway robot, Pumping the EV brakes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

41 Canadian diplomats leave india.

Toronto’s Pearson airpot rolls out autonomous safety robot

Tesla’s profits fell 44% last quarter thanks, in part, to vehicle price cuts.

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Bank blues 🏦 — Bad time to be a bank, What’s happening with SBF, Netflix leans into sponsors.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Scotiabank is the latest Canadian bank to roll out cost-cutting measures

It looks increasingly unlikely that SBF will beat seven federal criminal charges

Netflix is adding sponsorship and ads that target binge-watchers to draw more advertisers to its platform.

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Free Money 🏦 — The Senate considers UBI, New salad-making robots, Another EV investment

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The Senate’s national finance committee studied a bill that would create a framework for universal basic income (UBI) in Canada.

Salad start-up Sweetgreen welcomes robot overlords (sort of)

Governments pledge nearly $1 billion in subsidies for an EV battery plant.

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Check out the the Mcdonalds drive through here.

Puff puff pass 💨 — Five years of legal weed, Smart glasses hit shelves, Where are the entrepreneurs?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Weed has been legal in Canada for 5 years, what’s gone right and wrong?

Meta has become the latest billion-dollar company to officially enter the smart glasses market with the second iteration of its design with Ray-Bans.

There are 100,000 fewer business owners in Canada than 20 years ago.

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Edge of Diplomacy 🌎 — Scramble in the middle east, labour tug of war.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Provinces are piloting new strategies to lure skilled workers in high-demand sectors like healthcare, green energy, and construction.

Statistics Canada will release the consumer price index tomorrow

Top US diplomats spent the weekend shuttling between Middle Eastern capitals in a bid to stop the war between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a broader regional conflict.

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English Tax 💲 — Quebéc to bump tuition, IKEA is cutting prices, A $60B oil opportunity.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Quebéc is demanding that out-of-town university students parle Français, lest they pay the price.

Ikea is slashing prices on a range of its furniture worldwide, as easing supply chain costs have made things cheaper to produce

Exxon Mobil’s move to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources is welcome news for the Canadian oil industry.

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Toy Story 🧩— Canadian toy giant expands, Amazon wants you to buy again, X marks the disinfo.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian toy giant Spinmaster buys US pre-school toy makers Melissa & Doug

Amazon is testing out a new buy again feature to boost revenue.

Misinfo is running wild on X.

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Birken-Stocks 🩴— Iconic sandal maker goes public, we’re addicted to cheap eats and 23&Me’s data leak.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

We are addicted to cheap, addictive and unhealthy foods.

23&Me’s data breach serves as another reminder to change your passwords.

Sandal maker Birkenstocks dips a toe into the public markets.

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Climate Proof ☕— Starbucks develops climate resistant beans. Canada squeezes Airbnb. Food makers are tightening their belts.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Poor weather conditions are threatening to make your morning coffee even more expensive.

The federal government is considering measures to encourage cities to limit the supply of short term rentals.

Companies are worried that new weight loss drugs will be bad for their bottom line.

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Blackberry 2 ☎️ — Blackberry cuts itself into two. Grocers agree to freeze prices. Rent is going up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

BlackBerry just booted up the ol’ Bold 9700 and sent a heartfelt break-up text… to itself.

As some Canadians prepping for Thanksgiving come face-to-face with $120 turkeys, the government is asking big grocers to do something, anything, to lower food prices.

Two years ago, $2,000 could go a long way in Canada’s major cities: We’re talking floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor swimming pools, and desirable downtown locations…

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AI wearables ⌚️ — AI-generated ads are coming. Meta’s news block is hurting small outlets. AI wearables are so hot right now.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If there’s ever a modern-day Mad Men reboot, it’ll likely feature less cigarette smoking and whiskey drinking, and more inputting prompts into chatbots.

Two months into Meta’s Canadian news block, small-time publishers are feeling the pinch.

The tech industry hopes you’ll consider making AI gadgets a regular wardrobe fixture.

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Spy trial 🕵️‍♀️ — Our ongoing battle with India. Canada’s unprecedented spy trial. Silicon Valley loves longevity.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

It’s increasingly clear that Canada and India’s spat isn’t the kind that’s easily resolved over a few texts and a round of beers.

In a story ripped from the works of John le Carré (or perhaps John le Carr-eh), a landmark Canadian espionage case just hit the courts.

Yachts and mansions are nice, but these days, Silicon Valley executives are chasing something money can’t buy: Time.

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EV trucks 🚛 — The battle for EV truck supremacy. Businesses are betting big on hard drugs. Laurentian CEO heads for the exits.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

What do four-year-old boys and the electric vehicle (EV) market have in common? Both are obsessed with trucks.

Bad business idea: Opening a meth and crack store that immediately gets shut down.

Maybe a good business idea? Early investing in the potential decriminalization of hard drugs.

Over the summer, analysts were pretty confident that major banks would be interested in buying Laurentian. But now, even the CEO doesn’t want to work there.

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Sport VCs 📈 — Remote work dries up. Feds look to space to fight wildfires. Athletes are turning to venture capital.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Still working from home in your sweats? Better hang on to that gig if you want to keep the lifestyle because few new jobs will afford you the same luxury.

This year’s historically bad wildfire season has the federal government searching for new ways to battle future blazes.

If it seems like everyone you know (and know of) is becoming a venture capitalist these days… yes, yes they are.

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EV factory collection 🔋 — Why is Costco selling gold bars? Canada is all in on EV battery production. The hottest tech launch of the fall.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A 10-kg bucket of peanut butter. A box of 204 frozen croissants. A 24-karat gold bar. What do all of these items have in common?

You can buy them all at Costco.

Some folks collect baseball cards or stamps. Canada is collecting EV battery plants.

Apple’s iPhone 15 is officially the hottest release of the fall. And no, we’re not talking about its lightweight frame, USB 3.2 port, and exciting new button…

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Just check out 🛍️ — Canadian tech agrees to AI code of conduct. Hollywood writers go back to work. Buy a beer from Amazon in seconds.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s new AI regs just dropped…

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of keyboards clacking, pens scribbling, and overpriced latte orders echoing across the Sunset Strip…

…which can only mean Hollywood writers are back.

Amazon’s new check-out concept means Canadian sports fans will still pay $13 for a beer, but at least they won’t have to wait in line for it.

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David and Goliath 🛒 — The FTC challenges Amazon. The supershoe footrace heats up. Canada courts digital nomads.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The FTC surely must be inspired by the story of David and Goliath, because the US regulatory body won’t stop picking fights with tech giants.

The saddest six-word story ever written: For sale, $500 shoes, worn once.

Picture the life of a digital nomad: You’re probably thinking of oceanfront workplaces, rainforest yoga, and drinking out of coconuts. But what about just heading to Toronto?

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Voice ai 🎤 — ChatGPT finds its voice. No recycled Lego bricks. Are more strikes on the horizon?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

OpenAI's latest ChatGPT update bestows the AI chatbot with the gifts of speech and sight.

The world’s largest toymaker is having a hard time making its little bricks eco-friendly.

As the calendar turns and labour unrest in Canada continues, the Summer of Strikes is evolving into the Autumn of Arbitration (which is way less catchy, but just as important).

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New Ford contract 🚗 — Ford workers win big pay bump. New space rocks just dropped. NFTs are dead, long live NFTs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Big congrats to anyone who works for Ford on your big raise. Next round is on you!

Unlike many of us coming home from holiday, NASA remembered to bring back souvenirs from its latest trip.

Look away, arachnophobes: A new species of tarantula with a unique, electric blue colour has been discovered in Thailand. Don’t worry about finding one of these guys in your home, though—they’re quite rare and prefer the warm, humid conditions of a tropical forest.

If you were kicking yourself last year for not getting in on the NFT craze, we’ve got good news…

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Face boarding pass ✈️ — India escalates beef with Canada. Toronto ponders EV mandate for Ubers, taxis. Who needs a passport when you’ve got your face?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Remember the good ol’ days of Canadian and Indian leaders forging economic ties and posing for extremely cringey photos? We sure do — but that time is behind us now.

Ride-sharing in Toronto could soon become an eco-friendly way to travel, which might make you feel a little better about all those Uber charges.

Physical passports and boarding passes could go the way of smoking sections on airplanes thanks to biometric technology.

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Face boarding pass ✈️ — India escalates beef with Canada. Toronto ponders EV mandate for Ubers, taxis. Who needs a passport when you’ve got your face?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Remember the good ol’ days of Canadian and Indian leaders forging economic ties and posing for extremely cringey photos? We sure do — but that time is behind us now.

Ride-sharing in Toronto could soon become an eco-friendly way to travel, which might make you feel a little better about all those Uber charges.

Physical passports and boarding passes could go the way of smoking sections on airplanes thanks to biometric technology.

Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO

AI side hustle 🛠️ — The Bank of Canada has a lot more work to do. The UN takes a temperature check. AI is a side hustle sidekick.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If the Bank of Canada (BoC) is looking for a new mantra during these trying times, might we suggest, “What goes up must come down… to the 2% inflation target.”

As the 2023 UN General Assembly enters its final day, member nations are trying to find a way to get a passing grade on the world’s hardest group project.

Looking to put some extra muscle into your side hustle? Look no further than our robot pals.

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Grocery plan 🧾 — Feds demand plan from grocery execs. Canadian rental listings are really something else. How did a Vietnamese EV company get so big while selling so few cars?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If you can’t figure out why you’re grocery bill keeps climbing, you’re not alone, the federal government was wondering the same thing.

From shared bedrooms to staircase apartments, it’s a tough world out there for new renters.

You’d think that to be one of the world’s most valuable car companies, you’d need to move a lot of hot rods.

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Auto risk 🚗 — Autoworkers see risk in electric vehicle future. Celebs lock up their likeness. Luxury hotels are booming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Electric vehicles might be great for bringing emissions down, but there’s growing concern among autoworkers that they might not be great for people who make cars for a living.

Did anyone have Tom Hanks filing a copyright for his AI avatar on their 2023 bingo card?

London (England, not Ontario) is set to welcome at least 13 new high-end hotels, some of which claim to offer seven-star accommodation—a number of stars we didn’t even know was possible.

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Unhelpful cold medication 🤧 — Common cold drugs not only taste bad, they don't work. White House asks Big Tech for AI answers. Don’t pick up the phone.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Ever feel like your cold medication isn’t really doing the job? That may be because it’s literally not doing the job—or any job, for that matter.

Washington rolled out the red carpet for big tech’s A-listers yesterday, but instead of asking them who they’re wearing, the Silicon Valley equivalent of the Avengers were quizzed about AI.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Your phone rings, you pick it up, and within 0.01 seconds, you realize it’s a scammer. You hang up and swear off answering calls for good.

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Unhelpful cold medication 🤧 — Common cold drugs not only taste bad, they don't work. White House asks Big Tech for AI answers. Don’t pick up the phone.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Ever feel like your cold medication isn’t really doing the job? That may be because it’s literally not doing the job—or any job, for that matter.

Washington rolled out the red carpet for big tech’s A-listers yesterday, but instead of asking them who they’re wearing, the Silicon Valley equivalent of the Avengers were quizzed about AI.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Your phone rings, you pick it up, and within 0.01 seconds, you realize it’s a scammer. You hang up and swear off answering calls for good.

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Carbon credits 🏭 — New iPhone, new problems. Ottawa ponders international student puzzle. Amazon goes green(ish).

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Apple held its latest product event yesterday, dubbed “Wonderlust,” to pitch shiny new toys they hope will help them navigate unusually choppy waters.

The federal government is rolling up the welcome mat for international students (and maybe sticking it in storage for a while).

In an effort to offset the environmental impact of its business (and its founder’s 417-foot, US$500 million superyacht), Amazon is getting into the carbon capture game.

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Addictive junk food 🍟 — Just plane embarrassing. Google faces its biggest antitrust threat yet. Cigarettes and junk food have something in common.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s delegation to the G20 Summit is finally on its way back home after proving that in this country, no one is safe from flight delays.

Like any of us in hour four of a Monopoly game, the US government wants to put an end to it all.

You all already know that tobacco companies were responsible for one major global health crisis, but what if we told you they were actually responsible for two of them?

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More lithium 🪨 — US, India score G20 wins at China’s expense. Lithium deposit found in US may be world’s largest. Jobs report sends mixed signals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

China and Russia’s leaders may have decided to skip this year’s G20 gathering in New Delhi, but everyone else managed to get along just fine without them.

Heading west for a gold rush? So 19th century. It’s 2023: Miners these days want to hear about lithium “in dem thar hills.”

The latest job numbers are in, and they’re sending more mixed signals than a crush who likes all of your Instagram stories but won’t answer any of your texts.

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Car privacy 🚗 — India opens its arms at this year’s G20. China takes a bite out of Apple. Cars are less private than a nude beach.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A who’s who of global leaders are landing in New Delhi as the annual G20 Summit starts tomorrow… or later today if you factor in the time difference.

Imagine this: You’re a company, and your second-biggest market, which generates almost a fifth of your revenue, suddenly enacts a partial ban on your products.

Cars are packed to the gills with technology these days, leading to various problems like production shortages, rampant theft, and now, major privacy concerns.

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Rates hold 💵 — Tiff holds rates but leaves the door open for hikes. Return to office… now. Streaming may get more lucrative for musicians.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate steady at 5% yesterday, but don’t call it a pivot—they’re ready to hike again if that’s what it takes to whip inflation, and they want to make sure everyone knows it.

As Labour Day fades from sight in the rearview mirror, more Canadian employers are telling, not asking, employees to return to the office for at least a few days of the week.

For artists who don’t change the economic outlook of a city with a couple of concerts, some extra money from a new royalty deal could go a long way.

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China chips 💻 — Rise of the athlete influencer. Canada makes friends in the Indo-Pacific. China’s got chips too.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Athletes: They’re just like you and me. They eat, sleep, and are painfully aware of how many views their latest Instagram story is getting.

At an international summit of Asian countries, the Prime Minister of Indonesia got a custom Team Canada basketball jersey, and Canada got a shiny new foreign partnership.

As the US-China chip continues to run hot, a new smartphone has entered the chat.

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ChatGPT in the classroom 📚 — ChatGPT enters its freshman year. Feds urged to create disaster response force. As rents heat up, Germany wants a freeze.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

It’s back to school for students across Canada, and teachers are preparing to contend with a new presence in the classroom that’s shaping up to be more disruptive than the class clown: Artificial intelligence.

While Canadian troops have been used to fight unprecedented wildfires this summer, some say there’s a better solution.

As renters start to echo the concerns of Jimmy McMillan (read: the rent is too damn high), some countries are taking measures to cool off hot rental prices.

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Arm the rebels 🛍️ — Canadian mortgages get bigger. Bots aren’t allowed. Shopify and Amazon team up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian mortgage balances are making like a gym bro and getting swole.The newest location of Canada’s largest bookstore is set to offer a lot more than books.

Robots have never been welcome on the internet—think of all the crosswalk photos waiting to stump us in a CAPTCHA—but that’s never been more true in an era of web scraping bots.

Like two mismatched cops assigned to work the same case in a cheesy action movie, Shopify and Amazon have set aside their differences and become frenemies.

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Pasta shock 🍝 — One million residents short of estimates. Indigo asks, “Would you like some books with your wine?” Prepare for pasta sticker shock.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If your top skills include “counting, like, really high” then boy, does the government have a job for you.

The newest location of Canada’s largest bookstore is set to offer a lot more than books.

It might be time to cut back on the spaghetti carbonara… not because you need to watch the carbs, but to save on your grocery bill.

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AI at work 🛠️ — The AI battle for your office. Beat the high rent with an apartment swap. What’s the deal with Alert Ready?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Google and Microsoft are duking it out to become the provider of AI tools for your office.

Montréal is famous for its bagels, poutine, and… apartment-swaps?

The emergency alerts you get on your phone are facing fierce criticism, and not just because they frequently scare the living daylights out of you with that blaring siren sound.

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Workers staying put 👷‍♀️ — The West grows wary of Chinese research. Canadian workers are staying put. Cybercrimes are trending up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

As the West and China’s geopolitical relations grow tenser than our vocal cords during a big podcast recording, academic relations are also under strain.

As the labour market slows down, the “job-hopping generation” is deciding to stay put.

Here are our early predictions for what will be hot in 2024: Lavender mocktails, tube tops, middle-distance running, aaand rampant cybercrime.

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New cities 🌆 — Entrepreneurs see opportunity in city-building. Researchers crack the Y chromosome code. How is Ozempic affecting Denmark’s economy?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Ever played SimCity and thought it might be fun to try your hand at creating a city from scratch in real life? You aren’t alone: A growing cohort of entrepreneurs backed by deep-pocketed financiers are giving it a whirl.

A scientific breakthrough could shed light on some of the biggest threats facing men's health.

How are scores of Americans trying to lose weight affecting Danish monetary policy? The answer isn’t as complicated as it may seem.

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Nuclear water ☢️ — US intelligence weighs in on Russian warlord plane crash. Nvidia keeps cashing cheques. Japan’s nuclear controversy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The exact causes of the plane crash believed to have killed Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin have not been found, but there are plenty of theories beyond bad turbulence.

Like Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon this year, Nvidia’s recent performance has launched it into household name status.

Today, in unsurprising news, dumping nuclear wastewater into the ocean is controversial.

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Cold drinks 🥤 — Building with BRICS. Colder weather, colder drinks. Québec shoots down international student cap.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

An exclusive economic club between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa is officially open for new members.

Cold drinks are hot right now, and it’s all because Gen Z thinks they’re totally mother… are we using that right?

Québec didn’t waste any time shooting down the fed's latest proposal for tackling the housing crisis.

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Moon landings 🌕 — The new race to the Moon. Meta launches an AI translator. Subway finds a potential buyer.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Like vinyl records, lunar exploration is a 1960s fave that’s back in a big way.

For anyone who tries to get by with only **speaking English on vacation, Meta has introduced new technology that could help you keep the ball rolling.

For sale: One lightly used sandwich chain. Price tag: About ten billion dollars.

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New travel hotspot 🏖️ — A Montréal housing bylaw falls short. The high art market goes low. Move over Italy, it's all about Albania.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

In today’s episode of ‘Canadian housing gone wrong’: A 2021 Montréal bylaw meant to lead to the construction of over 1,200 new social housing units has produced zero.

In the first five months of the year, overall global fine art sales have dropped by 14% compared to the same time last year, while sales at the Big Three Auction houses (Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips) dropped a whopping 20%, per Artnet.

Folks bitten by the travel bug are running into a major problem this year: Travelling is freakin’ expensive! That’s why tourists are shifting to under-the-radar destinations.

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New EU rules 🇪🇺 — Firefighters make progress battling BC blaze. Sweeping EU tech rules set to take effect. One year of subsidy wars.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

British Columbia introduced travel restrictions and expanded evacuation orders over the weekend as wildfires continue to rage in the province, but officials expressed optimism yesterday that fire crews were turning the corner in the battle to contain the blazes.

Big Tech may not have any interest in complying with Canada’s recent attempts to regulate them, but the European Union is having more luck.

Yesterday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final, topping off a tournament that has continued to break records.

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Gamifying sobriety 🍻 — Cities are feeling the pinch. Gamifying sobriety shows. One year of subsidy wars.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Someone call Ramit Sethi from Netflix’s How To Get Rich, because Canadian cities need financial rescuing.

Looking to cut back on drinking? There’s an app for that.

It’s been about a year since a pair of US laws triggered a flood of incentives for investments in clean energy production and semiconductor manufacturing.

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German cannabis 💨 — Canadian cannabis eyes Germany. Google is turning Bard into a life coach. Tinder wants you to pay up for better matches.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

More Germans could soon be putting down the stein of pilsner in favour of der marihuana-zigarette as the country approaches recreational weed legalization.

You’re probably already letting AI autocomplete your sentences or choose what you watch next on Netflix… but would you lean on a chatbot to give you life advice?

Are you a lonely heart? Do you have some serious cash burning a hole in your pocket but aren’t famous enough to get on Raya? Well, now you’re in luck.

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Budget cutting ✂️ — Six weeks to cut $15 billion. Dental bills sharpen their teeth. You’ve heard of Mambo No. 5, but what about Indictment No. 4?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

With a new mandate to cut billions in federal spending, cabinet members might have to skip the icebreakers and head straight to the whiteboard at their team retreat next week.

You can now add ‘higher prices’ to the list of reasons to put off your next visit to the dentist, alongside ‘awkward small talk’ and ‘pointy tools.’

We regret to inform you that it’s finally time to talk about Donald Trump’s legal troubles.

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Student housing 🏠 — New AI rules on the way in Canada. Stepping up for the student housing crisis. Why are Nova Scotian waters glowing pink?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Nearly nine months after the release of ChatGPT, Canada is progressing toward increasing safety and transparency around generative AI.

With rents hitting record highs and the school year incoming, start-ups are helping students find rooms where they can live, study, and hang posters of Quentin Tarantino movies.

Waters in Nova Scotia were glowing pink last Thursday, and no, it wasn’t a viral marketing stunt for Pepto-Bismol or an alien menace that crash-landed into the sea.

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AI love ❤️ — AI is trying to win your heart. The question vexing economists: Why did inflation fall? The record-breaking business of Guinness World Records

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Nothing quite says romance in the year 2023 like sending sweet nothings to an AI chatbot.

In the past month, Canadians have broken Guinness World Records for the deepest underwater model photoshoot (6.4 metres), most pancakes served in eight hours (17,182 flapjacks) and, most impressively, the largest dinosaur costume dance party (1,187 costumed dinos).

The US is stepping up its effort to cripple China’s advanced high-tech sectors.

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Hunt for T-Swift tickets 🎤 — My kingdom for a T-Swift ticket. Hacking contest aims to fix holes in AI models. US escalates tech war with China.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Good luck, indeed. As we enter the final day of ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Toronto, we wish luck to anyone trying to snag a ticket… but also caution you not to get your hopes up.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… unless it's at this weekend’s AI hacking competition in the City of Sin.

The US is stepping up its effort to cripple China’s advanced high-tech sectors.

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AI music 🎶 — A pipeline’s debt debacle. Record labels seek deal on AI-generated music. China’s topsy-turvy pricing problem.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Whom amongst us hasn’t spent a little too much on something we really wanted? The federal government certainly has on its newest pipeline.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear Iron Maiden sing Taylor Swift’s “Shake it off,” you may soon be in luck.

While here in Canada we contend with eye-popping price increases, on the other side of the world, people in China are facing a different pricing problem: Deflation.

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New energy source 🔌 — Are big sporting events worth it? Workcations are booming. A major energy breakthrough.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

With one year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the event’s budget has already ballooned to €8.3 billion, up from an estimated €6.8 billion in initial costs.

Thinking of extending the long weekend without taking time off work? You’re not alone.

There’s nothing like waking up after a long weekend to learn that while you were busy throwing small bean bags onto a wooden board for points, scientists were making history.

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New energy source 🔌 — Are big sporting events worth it? Workcations are booming. A major energy breakthrough.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

With one year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the event’s budget has already ballooned to €8.3 billion, up from an estimated €6.8 billion in initial costs.

Thinking of extending the long weekend without taking time off work? You’re not alone.

There’s nothing like waking up after a long weekend to learn that while you were busy throwing small bean bags onto a wooden board for points, scientists were making history.

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E-commerce battle 🛍️ — Alberta pauses on renewables. An e-commerce turf war is brewing. Ozempic vs. berberine.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Wind and solar are the [fastest-growing sources](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/12/wind-and-solar-generated-a-record-amount-of-global-power-in-2022.html#:~:text=Solar was the fastest-growing,electricity demand of South Africa.) of electricity in the world.

Too fast, if you ask Alberta.

Many contests over the years have been dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” but Walmart vs. Amazon might live up to that hyperbole, at least on the e-commerce front.

TikTokers (who else?) have found a “natural” alternative to Ozempic in berberine, a chemical found in plants like barberry and goldenseal.

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New space station 🛰 — US credit is no longer #1. Hope you like chatbots. The race to replace the ISS.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Fitch Ratings has downgraded America's credit rating from the highest-possible “AAA” to a meagre “AA+”... just like its northern neighbour.

“Four-score and seven years ago, I snagged a great deal on Marketplace!”

In space, no one can hear you scream… about how great your business venture is going!

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Economics of aliens 👽 — Saudi Arabia eyes the mining game. Canada wants tech-savvy immigrants. The (hypothetical) economics of alien contact

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Saudi Arabia may have been snubbed by soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé, but it can keep its head up knowing that its foray into mining is taking off.

Is your ‘type’ an accomplished tech professional with a six-figure salary? Then you might have to battle it out with Canada’s immigration office.

Aliens: Terrifying threat from beyond the stars… or untapped economic opportunity?

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Economics of aliens 👽 — Saudi Arabia eyes the mining game. Canada wants tech-savvy immigrants. The (hypothetical) economics of alien contact.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Saudi Arabia may have been snubbed by soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé, but it can keep its head up knowing that its foray into mining is taking off.

Is your ‘type’ an accomplished tech professional with a six-figure salary? Then you might have to battle it out with Canada’s immigration office.

Aliens: Terrifying threat from beyond the stars… or untapped economic opportunity?

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New trains 🚊 — Your pension fund’s next investment: Transit. OpenAI’s deal with AP comes with a catch. El Salvador’s gang crackdown.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A new train system launching today in Montreal is set to reshape how people get around the city—and could become a proof of concept for a new way of building infrastructure elsewhere in the country.

The Associated Press might’ve been the first news outlet to cut an AI licensing deal, but they made sure they weren’t giving OpenAI an early-bird discount.

In Central America, El Salvador’s president has become more popular than the Pope—and no, it’s not because he decided to make Bitcoin legal tender.

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Random range 🚗 — All hail resale. Is the West done raising rates? Tesla hasn’t got the range.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s top high-end winterwear brand (that’s named after an aggressive northern waterfowl) is tapping into the growing consumer desire to get thrifty.

Inflation is cooling across the Western world, but don’t grab your party hats just yet.

Like a friend who tells you their birthday bash is going to be the wildest party ever, Tesla is facing accusations of over-exaggeration.

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Cabinet shuffle 🏛️ — Canada’s Cabinet kerfuffle. The cost of the immigration boom. The dynamic price is right.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Almost 80% of Canada’s ministers are new or in a new role… all with the hopes of making a dent in the country’s most pressing issues ahead of the next election.

According to a new TD Economics report, Canada's historic population growth risks exacerbating the country’s biggest problem areas.

As the demand for experiences like travel, movie passes, and concert tickets soars, companies are taking advantage by leaning into ‘dynamic pricing.’

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Twitter is now X 🐦 — The race to build a super-app is on. Why Vancouver’s proposed zoning law matters. What in the Worldcoin?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

In one of the most significant rebrand in the history of rebrands, Twitter is now X.

Like baggy clothes and country music, zoning laws are having a moment this year.

Since time immemorial, our eyes have had one use: To see things. Now, they finally have a higher purpose… generating crypto tokens!

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Soccer domination ⚽️ — The cruise business is back. Private nursing is booming. Saudi Arabia’s plan for world soccer domination.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Riding the comeback wave this year are cargo pants, vinyl records and… cruises?

To keep emergency rooms open, hospitals are dropping stacks on private nurses.

Forget crypto, the new get-rich-quick strategy is playing pro soccer in Saudi Arabia.

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Declining wine 🍷 — El Niño could mean higher food prices. Fine wine’s value takes a hit. The race is on to make flying cleaner.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Get ready to cross some more squares off your extreme weather bingo card, because El Niño is here.

If you followed in Jay Z’s footsteps and locked up some expensive bottles of wine as a retirement investment, you might be looking for a refund right about now.

In addition to adding oat milk and Aperol Spritzes to their in-flight menu, Air Canada is making moves to add more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

We don’t really do clickbait here, but… click to watch 488 good dogs.

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Barbenheimer 👚 — It’s a Barbenheimer world. Google showcases its new robo-reporter. FBI of the North

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Two of the year’s biggest films, Oppenheimer (about the father of the atomic bomb) and Barbie (about, well, Barbie), are out in theatres and making for an unlikely double feature.

Google is taking a break from its fight with Canadian publishers to showcase its brand-new toy for journalists: An AI helper.

The Mounties appear on the verge of a major shakeup—and no, it doesn’t involve ditching the iconic Red Serge jackets and campaign hats.

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New tax now 🤑 — Canada wants its new tax now. Bosses want to boss from home. Alberta’s open for business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

At the age of 156, Canada is going through a rebellious phase.

Who’s leading the return-to-office resistance? It’s not ‘entitled’ millennials, but their bosses.

The world’s biggest rodeo isn’t all barrel racing and politicians flipping pancakes but an opportunity for Calgary to lure residents and investors to the city.

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Open door 🇨🇦 — Meta opens up its AI. Inflation rate falls to 2.8%. Canada wants US tech workers. Meta just took a big swing to prevent itself from becoming an AI also-ran.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Temperatures are still hot, but at least inflation is cooling.

After years of losing talent to the US (also known as ‘brain drain’), Canada is now looking to lure back some of those workers.

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More fires 🔥 — Millions across North America under air quality advisory. Little relief for big global debt. Nike cuts ties with Hockey Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

As Canadian wildfires place millions of Americans under air quality advisories again this week, get ready for our southern neighbours to get mad at us all over again.

If you ask US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the debt problems facing low-income countries are a problem for the global economy.

Nike is calling it quits on a 20-year relationship with Hockey Canada.

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Private jets 🛩️ — The new 9-to-5 may be here to stay. Private is the only way to go (if you’re a CEO). Canada and Australia are two peas in a pod.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Somewhere Dolly Parton must be celebrating because the 9-to-5 could be history, new data suggests.

Companies may be cutting back on employee perks, but top executives have been a notable exception.

Don your Kangol hat, crack open a Foster’s, and prepare to say “g’day mate,” because Australian leaders are coming to Canada.

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Strike over 🪧 — Port strike coming to an end. Blame the Hollywood strike on AI. Canadian car costs are soaring.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

After nearly two weeks of striking, the union representing BC port workers reached a tentative four-year deal with employers to re-open Canada’s westernmost ports.

For the first time in 63 years, Hollywood actors and writers are striking at the same time. It’s an almost unheard-of event driven by the unprecedented advances of AI and streaming.

Looking to buy a car? With prices like these, we’d recommend walking.

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Bank for sale 🏦 — What’s next after the latest rate hike. Laurentian throws up the “For Sale” sign. Canadian watchdog launches probe into Nike.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Tiff Macklem and the Bank of Canada (BoC) did what everyone expected and raised Canada’s overnight interest rate by 0.25% up to 5%—the highest since 2001.

On this season of The Canadian Bank Bachelorette, 177-year-old Laurentian is looking for that perfect deep-pocketed suitor to give it the final rose.

Canada has reportedly launched one of the first-ever probes into Nike’s alleged use of forced labour abroad.

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Hiking season 🥾 — To hike or not to hike? The atmosphere is getting too crowded. New epoch just dropped.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Another rate decision brings T-Mack back into the hot seat.

What do Earth’s lower atmosphere and Canada’s major highways have in common?

Humanity could soon enter a new geological epoch, and it all starts in Canada.

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Fire money 🔥 — Postmedia and Nordstar call things off. The US shatters Ukraine’s NATO dreams. The economic cost of wildfires piles up

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Like an uncertain bride and groom, Canada’s two biggest newspaper publishers got cold feet and have off called their wedding.

The economic costs of Canada’s wildfires are starting to pile up.

Today marks the start of a two-day NATO summit where leaders will discuss the day’s most pressing issue: ~~Barbie vs. Oppenheimer … I mean~~ … Ukraine’s odds of joining the alliance.

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Cannonball 🏊‍♀️ — Mercedes joins Tesla charging network. Vision Pro arriving next year—if you don’t mind Apple scanning your face. Canada’s lifeguard industry needs saving.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Tesla’s grip on EV charging is tightening, with Mercedes-Benz reaching a deal to access Tesla’s Supercharger network and adapt its vehicles to its charging standard.

Apple’s mixed-reality Vision Pro headset is coming next year, but getting your hands on one will be a bit more complicated than picking up a new iPhone.

Somebody should reboot Baywatch, because we need something, anything to motivate people to become lifeguards.

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Emoji law 👍 — Stellantis stalemate comes to a close. Threads takes off. Emoji law.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Getting ahead in the green transition doesn’t come cheap… just ask the government.

Meta’s new Twitter competitor, Threads, debuted yesterday and… it’s a hit

A Saskatchewan court ruled that a [thumbs-up emoji](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/thumbs-up-emoji-can-represent-contract-acceptance-sask-court-finds-1.1941866#:~:text=court finds,-Ben Cousins%2C BNN&text=A “thumbs up” emoji can,of King's Bench for Saskatchewan.) (👍) can be a valid confirmation of a contractual agreement after finding a farmer liable for breach of contract.

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Twister 🌪️ — Meta launches a Twitter rival. Tornadoes put Canada in the spin cycle. CEOs are putting in the work.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Mark Zuckerburg is ready to rumble… and no, we’re not talking about the cage flight that may or may not happen against Elon Musk.

After only the US, Canada sees more tornadoes than [anywhere else on Earth](https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/mrgnc-mngmnt/ntrl-hzrds/trnd-en.aspx#:~:text=Canada probably gets more tornadoes,at any time of year.)… and they might be getting stronger.

More and more CEOs are taking notes from the show Undercover Boss as they shed their suits and experience, first-hand, what it’s like working for the companies they manage

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Twister 🌪️ — Meta launches a Twitter rival. Tornadoes put Canada in the spin cycle. CEOs are putting in the work.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Mark Zuckerburg is ready to rumble… and no, we’re not talking about the cage flight that may or may not happen against Elon Musk.

More and more CEOs are taking notes from the show Undercover Boss as they shed their suits and experience, first-hand, what it’s like working for the companies they manage

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Port strike ⛴️ — BC port strike enters fourth day. Wanted: Construction workers. The low-down on Canada’s new clean fuel rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A union representing BC port workers has extended their long weekend until further notice.

Hey, want to build houses? Asking for our friends in the construction industry.

While you were busy firing up the grill on Saturday, new clean fuel rules quietly came into effect.

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No more news 📰 — Google bans the news. Cyberattacks come with a high price. It’s all about AI at Collision.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Canada is learning the hard way that when a tech giant makes a threat, you best believe ‘em.

A cyberattack on Suncor has left the company and its customers looking for answers.

The biggest artificial intelligen…sorry, technology event in Canada has drawn to a close.

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Crypto comeback 🪙 — FTX is plotting a comeback. Job ads show a wage growth slowdown. Meta rolls out new social media safeguards

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

In what would be the most shocking comeback since Michael Jordan returned to the NBA (pick either time that it happened), bankrupt crypto exchange FTX wants a fresh start.

Wage growth in Canada has been flying high this year, to the point where it has actually outpaced inflation. But new data from Indeed suggests it could be coming down to Earth.

Can you name anything scarier to Meta than the EU right now? We’ll wait.

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Collision conference 👩‍💻 — Inflation slows, but still has a way to go. Collision conference arrives in Canada. Canada’s grocery sector needs more competition.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A new round of inflation data shows that rate hikes are slowing down the economy, but it’s too soon to start celebrating just yet.

Canada’s marquee tech conference is descending on downtown Toronto this week, and we were there live to cover it.

The most-anticipated release of the summer just dropped: The Competition Bureau’s report on Canadian grocers.

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Expensive roofs 🏠 — Construction costs are sky-high. You’re telling me a robot made these drugs? Adidas wins patent fight with Nike… this time.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The cost of raising a roof is going through the roof.

Have you heard about INS018_055? No, it’s not the name of Grimes and Elon Musk’s newest child. It’s a potentially groundbreaking AI-designed drug.

While “supreme court decision” might sound like a pretty big deal for most people, it’s just another day in the life of the world’s biggest footwear brands.

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Putin’s chaotic weekend 📅 — Vladimir Putin had a chaotic weekend. India's secret weapon for dealing with red tape: AI chatbots. Canada’s accounting shake-up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

When your colleagues ask what you got up to this weekend, you can say “Much more chill than Vladimir Putin’s, that’s for sure.”

You thought Loblaws selling 37$ chicken breasts was bad? Canada Bread is kindly asking you to hold its beer.

Most of us use AI chatbots for mundane, daily tasks like drafting memos or meal planning. But in India, they’re giving the nation’s poorest populations a leg up.

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Musk vs. Zuck 🥊 — The fight of the century: Musk vs. Zuck. Bread price fixing. And fake meat isn’t meeting expectations.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to a cage fight. No, this is not a story from an abandoned April Fool’s edition.

You thought Loblaws selling 37$ chicken breasts was bad? Canada Bread is kindly asking you to hold its beer.

Even though it’s making headlines, lab-grown chicken is the least of the plant-based meat industry’s concerns right now.

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Sub search 🌊 — Sub search turns up empty. The IMF has some advice for Canada. A sweet tooth, in this economy?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

With its air supply gone, the worst-case scenario has likely been realized for the five people aboard the missing Titan submersible.

The UN’s top financial body just finished up a trip to Canada and has some friendly advice on how to handle green investments.

Today in not-so-sweet news, the price of your favourite grocery impulse buy is on its way up.

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Movie woes 🎞️ — Publishers want Big Tech to pay up. Ozempic ads are here, there, and everywhere. Are moviegoers tired of Pixar and superheroes?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Big Tech is learning (the hard way) that the internet isn’t one big free for all.

You’ve probably heard of Ozempic—the diabetes drug that has become a fave of celebs and border-hopping Americans for its weight loss capabilities—because it’s literally everywhere.

Twin box office flops this past weekend involving pillars of modern moviegoing—Pixar and superheroes—paint a concerning picture for studio execs trying to get butts in theatre seats.

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Plane sale ✈️ — Canada has a housing market twin. Paris Air Show takes off. What will central banks do next?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

New Zealand’s housing prices have crashed harder than a toddler after a sugar rush.

Paris’ other headline-grabbing show—the Paris Air Show—begins this week. Only in this event, guests are leaving with 500 Airbus jets instead of Louis Vuitton’s summer collection.

About a year into their bare-knuckle brawl against inflation, the world’s central banks have found themselves playing the least fun game of ‘would you rather’ ever.

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Uninsurable 🔥 — Cancer rates surge among young people. Canada spurns global arms build-up. Will Canada become uninsurable?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Cancer rates among people aged 25 to 29 have increased faster than any other age group over the past three decades, a new analysis by the Financial Times showed.

The world may be ramping up defence spending, but Canada is in no rush to dole out more cash for the military.

Besides displacing thousands of people, polluting the air, and making New Yorkers mad at us, Canadian wildfires could also start driving up our insurance premiums.

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Maple syrup bust 🍁 — A $150 million maple syrup meth bust. As rates rise, Canadians’ debt gets riskier. Canadian grocers face potential windfall tax

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

According to the UN’s 2022 World Drug Report, seizures of methamphetamines are on the rise. The latest of these huge meth busts comes with a rather ridiculous Canadian twist.

If someone owes you a fat stack of cash, now might be a good time to check if they’re still good for it… especially if you happen to be a Canadian financial institution.

If you were disappointed by the new grocer “[code of conduct](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/grocery-code-of-conduct-1.6832120#:~:text=The code is intended to,of the proposed code reads.)” for being light on details around how the new rules would actually be enforced, this might be some welcome news.

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Bey-flation 🎤 — Beyonce inflation. Regulation is knocking on AI’s door. Toyota EVs aim to go farther

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Sweden’s annual core inflation rate fell just 0.2% last month, a notably smaller drop than analysts expected. Experts now have one irreplaceable theory for why this happened.

Right now, AI research and development is kind of like the Wild West, but a hotshot sheriff named the EU just rode into town to lay down the law.

Just six months after Toyota’s CEO expressed he was, let’s say, less gung-ho for electric vehicles than other carmakers, the company has entered the scene in a big way.

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Streaming sports 🎾 — Western ports hit choppy waters. IKEA’s AI future. Netflix gets creative with sports streaming

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

One of the world’s least efficient cargo ports is now facing the unimaginable: Becoming even less efficient.

Everyone and their mother has an AI chatbot these days, and everyone's favourite provider of reasonably-priced middle-tier furniture is no different.

Love is Blind fans may never forgive Netflix for the outage that spoiled the live reunion, but the company is ready to venture back into live programming… only this time, with sports.

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Swoop no more 🛬 — Reddit fades to black. Canada joins the US corn crusade. Swoop…and it’s gone.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Reddit is facing a revolt from some of its most popular subreddits.

In the biggest cornfield contest since Field of Dreams, Canada is joining the US in a trade complaint against Mexico over the country’s restrictions on genetically modified corn imports.

A pilot [pay bump](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/westjet-pilots-tentative-deal-24-hourly-raise-over-4-years-document-shows-2023-05-26/#:~:text=World at Work-,WestJet%2C pilots in tentative deal for 24%25 hourly raise,over 4 years%2C document shows&text=MONTREAL%2C May 26 (Reuters),seen by Reuters on Friday.) that was supposed to solve WestJet’s labour retention issues and stabilize operations has resulted in the company shutting down its budget airline, Swoop.

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Zuck’s plan 🥽 — US regulators push crypto to the brink. Zuck’s plan. Do energy drinks have too much energy?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The cryptocurrency sector is facing an existential crisis courtesy of Uncle Sam.

Apple may have its Vision Pro, but Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a vision of his own. (That is the one and only time we will use that joke—promise!)

Today in news that you will not find shocking, a drink called Hype Sauce may not be a totally healthy beverage choice..

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We sold The Peak 📈 — The Peak sells to Moses Znaimer’s ZoomerMedia. Uber wants you to share. Meet the Chinese e-commerce app dominating the App Store charts.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The Peak has agreed to sell to ZoomerMedia for an aggregate purchase price of $5 million, the companies announced yesterday.

Few experiences are more nightmarish than booking a rental car. Long lines, endless paperwork, and ending up in a 2004 PT Cruiser despite asking for a 2018 Honda Civic.

A Chinese e-commerce app that promises to let you “shop like a billionaire” has rocketed up to #3 on Canada’s App Store charts.

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Car theft crisis 🚗 — Car thefts in Canada are a “national crisis”. How much AI is too much AI? Meta’s biggest attack yet on Canada’s online news act.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Missy Elliott once asked, “Beep beep, who got the keys to the Jeep?” These days, the answer to that question is too often, “sophisticated international crime syndicates.”

While it’s pretty amazing we’ve got to the point where artificial intelligence can think critically and come up with solutions out of thin air, it can also be a pain in the behind.

There are few guarantees in life: Death, taxes, and your relatives angrily sharing news articles on Facebook. And even that last one might soon disappear.

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Golf merger ⛳️ — The SEC comes for crypto’s biggest names. The PGA and LIV Golf link up. Office vacancies are trending up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Like the Blue Jays in 92/93, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has gone back-to-back. Back-to-back with crypto lawsuits, that is.

The Canadian Open kicks off tomorrow at the scenic Oakdale Country Club in Toronto. However, the competition is taking a backseat to some much bigger golf news.

Looking for office space? Well, you’re in luck. There’s a lot of it on the market right now.

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Vision Pro 🥽 — Apple meets the AR moment. The UN’s plastic problem. I’m an AI, and I endorse this message.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Apple unveiled its long-awaited augmented reality (AR) headset at its Worldwide Developer’s Conference yesterday—the Vision Pro—a sleek pair of goggles with a battery pack that looks like something a cyberpunk hacker would wear while hitting the slopes.

Last year, the UN agreed on an ambitious goal to devise a treaty by 2024 aimed at ending plastic pollution. But like any group project, there are some major differences of opinion.

Separating fact from fiction in an election campaign is difficult enough already. Now throw artificial intelligence into the mix, and it’s about to get a lot tougher.

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Wildfire tech 🔥 — Big city landlords have a cash flow problem. Tech takes on wildfires. Charging station shortage poses EV roadblock.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Rents in Canada’s big cities are through the roof, and somehow many landlords are still losing money on their rental properties. It’s just another day in our wild, wild housing market.

Wildfires have turned into a fact of life for millions of Canadians, and a growing cohort of entrepreneurs and investors are developing technology to limit the damage they cause.

Around the world, the push is on to get people to drive electric vehicles, but one big hurdle persists even in the most EV-friendly places: There just aren’t enough charging stations.

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Greek sun ☀️— Greeks and Albertans team up on solar power. Canadian travellers enjoy their last hurrah. Nova Scotia faces record fires.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

New to the list of things Greece is famous for—after (of course) philosophy, souvlaki, and beaches—is solar power. In a new energy deal, Alberta hopes to learn a thing or two.

Canadians are booking their summer getaways in record numbers, but the good times may be coming to an end.

An out-of-control wildfire in southwest Nova Scotia is now the largest in the province’s history, and still burning out of control.

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Class action suit 👨‍⚖️ — Stellantis subsidies could surpass VW’s. Retailers want to replace tags with QR codes. Shopify faces class action suit over severance pay.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Stellantis looked at the subsidies Volkswagen was offered for its Ontario electric vehicle (EV) battery plant—the total could end up hitting $13 billion—and said, “Hold my beer.”

Someone has figured out a use for QR codes that isn’t totally frustrating (looking at you, restaurants with digital-only menus).

Shopify employees were once known for their loyalty and reverence for the company, but that was before people started getting fired.

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Car thief 🚗 — Your Kia is (kind of) safe in Canada. Canada’s ketamine supplies are running low. A small province tackles big problems.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 31 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A year after the “Kia challenge”—the “challenge” is to steal a Kia—emerged on TikTok, software fixes haven’t stopped thieves from continuing to make off with stolen cars.

You may know ketamine by its use as an animal sedative or status as a Schedule 1 drug, but the demand for it as a treatment for anxiety and depression is also booming.

Canada’s smallest province is getting bigger. Prince Edward Island (PEI) will be home to 200,000 people by 2030, according to projections released by its provincial government..

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Busy parks 🏞️ — Canada’s national parks are selling out fast. A tale of two job markets complicates labour shortage story. And Quebéc gets stricter on immigration.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Ahhh, spring. If you ask us, there’s no better time to take advantage of the great Canadian outdoors… that is, if you can snag a reservation.

We’ve all heard plenty about Canada’s labour shortage by now, but a new StatsCan report shows that understanding the state of the job market is way more complicated than counting the number of “help wanted” signs.

*If you don’t know your j’ai fini from your [je suis finis](https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/yoursay/lost_for_words/french/deadly_food.shtml#:~:text=Je suis finis.,simply%3A J'ai fini.),* you might have a hard time migrating to Québec in the coming years.

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We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card:

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Hard to sell 🌿 — Don’t believe everything you see. Weed is too hard to sell. And Albertans go to the polls.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

It’s time to update the old warning, “Don’t believe everything you read,” to “Don’t believe everything you see.”

Here’s an only-in-Canada story for you: Government officials are worried that it’s too difficult to sell people weed right now.

Voters in Alberta will decide on their next premier today in a close election that’s being watched around the country.

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Loblaw purchase announcement:

https://www.loblaw.ca/en/In-a-canadian-first-loblaw-to-purchase-electricity-in-alberta-that-is-generated-by-wind-sun-and-water-helping-to-cut-its-nationwide-operating-carbon-emissions-by-17-per-cent/

Loblaw ESG report:

https://www.loblaw.ca/en/responsibility/

We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card:

https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS

Critical minerals 🪨 — Canadian banks hurt by weak earnings. Falling behind on critical minerals mining. The era of easy returns is over.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Our high-level bank earnings summary: “Not great, but things could be worse.”

How do you mine critical minerals in Canada? Very slowly, according to one of the largest miners in Ontario’s Ring of Fire.

The days of no-questioned-asked returns are numbered, as retailers crack down on one of their biggest profit suckers in a worsening economic climate.

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AI podcasts 🎤 — We’re number one (in debt). AI comes for the podcasters. Why cities can’t have nice things anymore.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Sometimes being number one isn’t anything to brag about—take Canada’s household debt situation, for example.

There are a lot of podcasts. About 4 million, to be exact. From old roommates to distant relatives to yours truly, starting a podcast has become a right of passage into adulthood.

We regret to inform you that city budgets across the country have gotten so tight (relatable) that they’re starting to take away the fun stuff.

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Post-plastic 🥤 — Ontario clears path for foreign trained engineers. Welcome to your (sort-of) post-plastic future. And no public inquiry needed.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Becoming an engineer in Ontario just got easier (you know, aside from all the math).

By the end of this year, plastic straws are set to officially become a relic of the past.

After taking a look into allegations of China’s interference in Canadian politics, former governor general (and current “special rapporteur”) David Johnston has decided the whole thing represents an “increasing threat to our democratic system” but has not called for a public inquiry into the matter.

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Trucker tax 🚛 – The CRA is looking into a trucking scam. Who’s paying for the EV transition. And no such thing as a free TV.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A group representing Canadian truckers is sounding the alarm about a scam it thinks has reached a “crisis level.” And unlike a novelty mudflap, it’s no laughing matter.

Everyone wants to be a big EV player… as long as someone else pays for it.

A startup called Telly has dominated the news headlines after offering a smart TV with a market value of $1,000 for free. The catch? To subsidize your free TV, the screen comes with a small display attached to the bottom that will run advertisements as you watch.

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Regulating AI 🤖— Altman testifies to Congress. Inflation is going the wrong way. And WestJet pilots are threatening to walk.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If anything can bring two sides of the aisle together, it’s regulating artificial intelligence.

Some surprises are good, like a b-day party or finding a $20 bill in your coat. Others are less good, like a cancelled reservation or a blister. Recent inflation data is one of those surprises.

If you thought long weekend travel couldn’t possibly get any more chaotic, think again.

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Troubling wildfires 🔥— Vice is selling. Western Canada is suffering from wildfires. And Hollywood disapproves of Canadian content laws.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Vice, which started out as a tiny punk zine in Montréal before becoming the bad boy idol of new media brands, filed for bankruptcy protection. A group of its creditors put in a US$225 million bid to buy the company, an amount that would be covered by existing loans.

Western Canada has seen more than 600 wildfires so far this year, but officials say the season is just getting started.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA)—a trade group made up of major Hollywood studios, including Disney and Netflix—published a report claiming that Canada’s system for defining homegrown content is unusually narrow and out of step with the rest of the world.

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TikTok trouble 🎥 — Former TikTok engineer could discredit the company’s position. Used cars tell us lots about inflation. And middle market struggles

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A new lawsuit against TikTok owner ByteDance could discredit the company’s primary defence against efforts by some Western lawmakers to ban the app.

The Bank of Canada is determined to crush inflation, but that doesn’t mean prices are going back to pre-pandemic levels. For proof, look no further than the used car market.

The last year has been tough if you’re a middle-of-the-pack consumer or retailer.

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Private stations 🛰️ — Softbank loses big. Private companies are getting in the space station game. And Canada looks for health care workers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Only Softbank Group would lose US$7.2 billion and give itself a little pat on the back.

Space startup Vast partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch a school bus-sized space station into orbit by 2025, as more private companies race to capture low-orbit real estate.

Canada’s search for health care workers continues!

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New passports 🛂 — Google is deepening their AI search integration. Canada has newly designed passports. And Canada wants in AUKUS.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

After Google’s developer’s conference yesterday, online search might never be the same.

Yesterday, Canada unveiled a new passport design that’s sure to draw some double-takes during your next international trip.

A new report co-authored by former national security advisor Vincent Rigby found that not only did Canada’s allies leave it out of the AUKUS security pact, they never sent an invite.

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Shellfish 🦞 — BRICS coming up with new currency. Problems with Canadian shellfishing. And an update on the debt ceiling.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Developing countries are teaming up to take on the global monetary order as we know it.

A pricing dispute in Canada’s crustacean heartland has crabby fishers calling out seafood processors for their shellfishness.

It’s once again time to check in on the US debt ceiling debacle. Spoiler alert: Joe Biden and GOP lawmakers are no closer to reaching a resolution on raising the debt ceiling after the president met with Congressional leaders yesterday.

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Digital coins 🪙 — The BoC wants to issue a digital currency. Europe is regulating AI. And Lululemon is combatting fakes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada (BoC) wants to know how you’d feel about swapping those cold hard coins for a less tangible alternative.

When it comes to tech regulation, Europe is like the friend who sucks it up and calls the Uber when everyone pretends to stare off into space. Cracking down on AI is no exception.

Want to get a free pair of Lululemon leggings? You just have to buy a fake pair first.

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Coronation 👑 — We have a new King. The future of AI and jobs. And the Alberta wildfires.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

In case you weren’t up at 4 a.m. on Saturday waiting with bated breath and a full English breakfast, King Charles III’s coronation was this morning, generating fawning and furor.

From the role of AI in the writers' strike to IBM’s hiring freeze, it’s time to talk about how we plan to defend jobs against the robots.

Wildfire season has arrived early in Alberta this year, forcing the province to declare a state of emergency over the weekend and expand evacuation efforts.

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Shopify layoffs 🛍️ — Shopify makes cuts. TD loses a deal. And a new grocery code of conduct. For our first story, Like our goal of reading 100 books, Shopify started the year with an unattainable dream.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 May 2023 06:10:50 -0400

After weeks of speculation about the fate of a takeover deal that would make TD Bank the sixth-largest lender in America, the offer is officially off the table.

The grocery code of conduct that would govern the actions of Canada’s grocers and their suppliers is in its final draft, but it’s still leaving top grocery critics hungry for more.

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Loblaw purchase announcement:

https://www.loblaw.ca/en/In-a-canadian-first-loblaw-to-purchase-electricity-in-alberta-that-is-generated-by-wind-sun-and-water-helping-to-cut-its-nationwide-operating-carbon-emissions-by-17-per-cent/

Loblaw ESG report:

https://www.loblaw.ca/en/responsibility/

New Airbnbs 🏨 — Bed, Bath and Beyond locations are being bought up. Changes coming to Airbnb. And tension in the banking system.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If you’re been looking to gift that special someone a lightly used retail outlet, act fast: nearly half of the now-emptying 65 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Canada have been snapped up.

These days, it’s easy to find yourself in the midst of planning your dream vacation only to checks bank account realize, you know what, a weekend camping trip is actually just fine.

While bankers no doubt rejoiced after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would move to pause rate hikes, the sector is still full of more tension than the final season of Succession.

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Writers strike ✍️ — Screenwriters are going on strike. A Canadian NHL team is for sale. And Blackberry is back in the news.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The Writers Guild of America (WGA)—the union representing 11,500 scribes behind American film and TV—is on strike after failing to reach a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, AKA, the suits that sign their cheques.

It’s not every day an NHL team goes up for sale, so interest in buying the Sens is booming.

Just in time for the movie about its dramatic rise and fall, BlackBerry is back in the news.

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Strike over 🪧 — The public sector strike is over. Adidas is re-evaluating. And more AI concerns.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 02 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

After 12 days of picketing, most striking federal government worker strikes are back on the job.

After realizing it couldn’t make a fashion line in partnership with freakin’ Beyonce marketable, Adidas is stepping back to reassess its entire business.

British-Canadian computer scientist and University of Toronto professor Geoffrey Hinton—known as one of the three “Godfathers of AI”—stepped down from his role at Google’s AI division so he could freely talk about the dangers AI currently poses.

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Housing shortage 🏠 — CMHC says housing shortages are going down. There’s a new Twitter alternative. And new rules for airlines.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 01 May 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If you thought there already weren’t enough homes to go around, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) wants you to know you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Faced with a litany of annoying bugs and bewildering product changes, many Twitter users are looking for an alternative—the question has always been, what would that alternative be?

The federal government is making it easier for you to win arguments with airlines’ customer service departments.

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Overload 🔌 — Regional banks are in trouble. Hydro-Quebec is overloaded. And commercial real estate is in hot water.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), it’s been tough sledding for US regional banks… and investors worry that First Republic could be the next to fall.

Like a university student with a full course load, Hydro-Québec has taken on too much and is running low on energy… literally.

Is commercial real estate the next domino to fall in our creaking global economy? A growing number of signs point to very possibly.

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Gaming risk 🎮 — The Microsoft acquisition of Activision is at risk. Amazon and UOttawa partnership off the table. And Ikea is working to keep their furniture affordable.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Microsoft’s proposed US$69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is in jeopardy after the UK’s competition regulator delivered, to put it in gamer parlance, a 360 no-scope kill shot.

What do Amazon and your ex have in common? Both face accusations of being way too controlling.

The company synonymous with “affordable furniture” is working hard to keep it that way.

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Online streaming bill 📺 — Canadian railcars are going south. AI dominates earnings. And the latest on the online streaming bill.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

On Alphabet and Microsoft’s earning day, let’s unpack the results…

Pizza Pizza isn’t the only Canadian entity heading to Mexico. Soon, Canadian railcars will be making like us on Spring Break and taking trips down south.

The contentious Bill C-11, or The Online Streaming Act, is set to pass in the Senate any day now.

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Mexican-Canadian pizza 🇲🇽 — Pizza Pizza goes to Mexico. The federal strike is causing headaches. And the Port of Vancouver expands.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Pizza Pizza opened its first international location in Guadalajara, Mexico, as Canada’s largest pizza chain looks to expand its horizons beyond its provincial borders.

If you’re looking to renew your passport, apply for Canadian citizenship, or send a 40-foot shipping container’s worth of stuff anywhere, this might not be your week.

The Port of Vancouver is planning a serious update to its operations, but updating a port isn’t as easy as updating your phone’s operating system or your LinkedIn headshot.

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Bed Bath and Gone 🛀 — Bed Bath and Beyond is officially dead. Don’t pick up if Apple calls. And fashion houses are under scrutiny.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:03:48 -0400

Bed Bath & Beyond, the home goods retailer known for sky-high merch displays and really bright lighting, has finally thrown in the towel and filed for bankruptcy.

Apple is expanding its push into the realm of mental health products with a new pre-downloaded app (codenamed Jurassic) that will utilize iPhone usage data to make suggestions for what to jot down

If we learned anything from House of Gucci, it’s that the fashion biz isn’t always pretty.

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/NATO bill 💵 — Canada isn’t following through on NATO commitments. Federal worker strike could have a big impact. And Buzzfeed pulls the plug on news.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Every friend group has that one buddy that’s happy to have all the fun but let someone else foot the bill. In NATO, Canada might be that guy.

As Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) workers hit the picket line, their fight for higher wages could disrupt more than just your spring travel plans.

After over ten years in operation, BuzzFeed has pulled the plug on its news division.

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Private Moon 🌝—New Snap features. Private companies going to Moon. Big strike among public sector employees.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

This year for Snap: Flying selfie drones are out, and everything augmented is still very in.

Top travel destinations for 2023: Venice, Maui, Seoul, and… the Moon?

In what’ll be the single-most newsworthy strike since Shohei Ohtani’s final pitch at the World Baseball Classic, Canada’s federal workers are hitting the picket line.

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CEO Switch 👨‍💼— Loblaws has a new CEO. AI musicians are putting out tracks. And Canadian companies IPO-ing elsewhere.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

President’s Choice spokesman and Loblaw President Galen Weston will step back from the day-to-day operations of Canada’s biggest grocer after two years at the helm.

In the last few days, a new song featuring Drake and the Weeknd racked up over 600,000 Spotify streams and 15 million views on TikTok. The only problem? The artists didn’t make it.

There are many reasons to be proud to be Canadian, but some Canuck companies are feeling a lot less patriotic when it comes to going public these days.

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New Samsung Search 📱— Samsung is thinking about swapping Bing for Google. Hockey Canada gets its funding back. And remote workers get a tough report.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

It’s not often that Google's parent company Alphabet takes an L, but yesterday, shares dropped after news of a potential disaster on the AI chatbot front broke.

After ten months of withholding funding, the feds are hoping the black sheep of Canadian sports has turned a new leaf.

Fair warning to all the hard-working remote workers (we include ourselves in that mix), this new set of remote work data might hurt a bit.

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Carplay Collision 🚗 — GM is moving on from Carplay. Vertical farming taking off in BC. And gifts for customer service reps.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Your car dashboard is shaping up to be the next front in the fight to own the screens we look at all day.

When you think of a warehouse, you probably think of rusted shipping containers or movie fights scenes, not a bountiful harvest. Vertical farming may change that perception.

Companies are using the “Santa Claus” method to win over customer service reps, i.e. showering them with practical gifts.

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Billion dollar weather business 🌡️— Teck and Glencore tussle. Foxconn could come to Canada. And a new weather business hits the market.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:14:00 -0400

Like a pitcher waving off his catcher’s pitch…Canada’s largest diversified miner is repeatedly fending off the advances of an unwanted suitor.

The federal government wants a shiny new battery supply chain for electric vehicles (EVs). Capitalizing on Foxconn’s move away from China might be one way to nab it.

“How’s the weather out there today?” might be a simple question to ask, but coming up with an answer is a multi-billion dollar industry.

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Day trading tax 📈 — Interest rates stay flat. Canadian tax courts cracking down on TFSA. And canola oil is getting big into fuels.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Tiff Macklem is nothing if not a man of his word. Despite mounting pressures, the Bank of Canada (BoC) kept its promise and continued to hold steady on interest rates.

Canadian tax courts are cracking down on TFSA day trading, taking aim at investors that are doing so well that their trades could be classified as a business activity… well, kind of.

Big Canola is betting that canola oil will be used to deep fry potatoes and power vehicles.

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Review hijack 🛍️ — Interest rates are looking down. Big fine for review hijacking. And return to office incentives.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

High interest rates are hurting wallets, but there may be an end in sight.

Supplement-maker The Bountiful Company will pay a US$600,000 fine to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a first-of-its-kind ruling against “review hijacking” on Amazon.

Companies across the country are trotting out all sorts of new incentives to entice workers to trade in their sweatpants and mid-day naps for office life, per The Globe and Mail.

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Sleep deals 💤 — Sleep Country makes another deal. And the courts are looking to scrap Mr. Big.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

If you thought tax season couldn’t get any more stressful, the people responsible for getting your returns back are out of office for the foreseeable future.

While you were counting sheep, Sleep Country has been busy counting dollars.

Something called “The Mr. Big” tactic has a 95% success rate in jailing criminals, but critics want it banned.

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Infested mansion 🏠— Apple moves some manufacturing to India. 24 Sussex is in trouble. And Google can’t fire Germans.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Apple’s first-ever retail store in India is set to open any day now, but that’s hardly the only move the biggest tech giant is making into the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

When 24 Sussex Drive, the Prime Minister’s official residence since 1951, was shut down over health concerns last year, we thought, “How bad could things possibly be?”

The answer: mountains of dead rodents bad.

Europe’s strict labour laws are slowing down the international leg of the tech layoff tour.

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The Big Short 💸— Investors are betting against TD. Friendshoring has challenges. And new doctor rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Don’t freak out, but global investors are staking a lot of money on one of Canada’s biggest banks hitting some seriously choppy waters.

To paraphrase The Beatles, we can always get by with a little help from our friends… but maybe we shouldn’t rely on them too much.

It will soon be easier than ever for Ontarians to find a doctor with a charming accent.

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Quiet cities 🏢 — Finland is in NATO. Twitter is pushing pay-to-play. And Canadian downtown cores are quiet.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The happiest people on earth have joined the West’s most important military alliance.

Today in news we wish was an April Fool’s joke, Twitter is **all in on pay-to-play.

Canada’s downtown cores aren’t quite ghost towns, but their office buildings are eerily quiet.

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Fighting acquisition 🥊 — WWE is bought. A Canadian astronaut is going to space. And Aritzia has a new law suit.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Hot off of WrestleMania, the world’s largest pro wrestling promotion is linking up with the world’s biggest mixed martial arts brand to bodyslam their way to bigger broadcast deals.

For Ontario’s Jeremy Hansen, the sky is not the limit. NASA is sending him to [deep space](https://exploredeepspace.com/deep-space-mission-3/what-is-deep-space/#:~:text=Deep space%3A Beyond the Moon,Earth is 3%2C100%2C000 miles away.).

Canadian clothier Aritzia is having a moment in the sun, but some clouds are coming in the form of a copyright infringement lawsuit against its viral storefront sculptures.

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Mobile deal finalized 📱 — Rogers-Shaw is over. Sea-Doos and Ski-Doos are still popular. And there’s a subsidy war brewing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government approved Rogers’ ~$26 billion takeover of Telus, and slapped down 21 conditions to ensure the deal benefits Canadians.

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) reported over $3 billion in revenue last quarter, breaking its record set in the previous quarter of $2.7 billion.

Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson warned of a brewing “subsidy war” between the US and its allies in the clean energy space.

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Loan sharks 🦈 — AI is taking jobs. China bails out countries. And loan sharks get new rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

We’ve got good news and bad news. Good news: Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) promise to boost productivity and global GDP! Bad news: it could cost you your job.

Think bailing out banks seems tricky? China’s been bailing out entire countries, according to a new study.

With interest rates and the cost of living way up, at least one important number is going down—the maximum interest rate on loans.

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AI worries 👾 — Technologists are concerned about the pace of AI. Google is rolling out new heat wave alerts. And the feds are introducing new taxes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Kind of like us at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, AI is doing too much way too fast.

With warmer weather ahead, Google wants to make sure you don’t get too hot this year.

From a green energy push to expanded dental care, the feds put forward ambitious but pricy goals in this year’s budget. They also made it clear who would help pay for it all.

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Twitter for you blues 🐦 — We do a federal budget recap. Elon wants you to pay for Twitter Blue. And Disney rejects the metaverse.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Strap on a fancy new pair of shoes and step into The Peak’s 2023 federal budget analysis.

Like a used car salesman covered in flop sweat in an ill-fitting suit, Twitter is desperately trying to get you to buy what it’s selling.

The metaverse might be the next digital media frontier, but Disney has decided to stay put in its Magic Kingdom for now.

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New budget 💸— Uber Eats cracks down on virtual kitchens. Central bankers are warning of a credit crunch. And there’s a new federal budget.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Do you ever scroll Uber Eats, looking for a well-deserved treat, and stumble upon fake-sounding restaurants you’ve never heard of? Well, they are fake… kind of.

Officials at the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank are warning about a potential lending squeeze resulting from turmoil in the banking sector.

If you’ve been anxious about your household budget lately, take heart: The federal budget very likely involved some truly stomach-churning decisions.

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Hockey sweater 🏒— New hockey apparel provider. Air Miles is bought. And questions over Chinese interference.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Hockey history is full of iconic rivalries, and the newest one is currently underway: fans vs. the official provider of NHL merchandise.

In case bank executives didn’t have enough to worry about these days (read: near-collapse of Credit Suisse), the Bank of Montréal is also trying to stave off a run against Air Miles.

The latest Chinese interference drama has offered us a very valuable lesson: always confirm any hot goss you get before spreading it around.

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TikTok Trial 📱 — Canada’s GDP per capita goes down. Self-storage is taking off in Canada. And TikTok is on trial in front of Congress.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Folks, it’s time to talk about Canada’s gross domestic profit as it relates to you.

It turns out, the next “big space” is literally just more space.

Yesterday, Congress had its first opportunity to grill TikTok CEO Shou Chew about the company’s relationship with its Chinese owner, ByteDance, its handling of US user data, and the risks it may pose to teens. And, well, we knew we were in for some spicy questions.

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Biden in Canada 🇺🇸 — Biden is in Ottawa. AI DJs are taking over radio. And private investments are going public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Today, Joe Biden makes his first official visit to Canada since taking office. He’s set to partake in 24 hours of pure, uncut diplomacy, including an address to Parliament.

Next time you tune in to The Bear, The Cougar, The Falcon, the Squirrel, The Yeti, or whatever your local radio station is called, don’t be alarmed if the DJ sounds a little bit off.

Let’s take a peek behind the curtain and into the exclusive world of private investments.

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White Claw Vodka 🍸 — White Claw is going into vodka. Hollywood North is back. And more bailouts on the way.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

With everyone from Mountain Dew to Sunny D now slinging hard seltzers, the leader of this overcrowded market is looking to diversify and capitalize on new trends.

Ryan Reynolds isn’t the only producer setting up shop in Canada—camera crews are flocking here in droves.

After its “don’t call it a bailout” bailout for Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank depositors, the US government is doubling down on its no depositor left behind mindset.

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Book Napster 📕 — Banking system is at risk. Closing the Napster of libraries. And the new Starbucks CEO.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

A coalition of central banks, including Canada, the US, the EU, England, Japan, and Switzerland, came together to keep US dollars circulating through an achy-breaky banking system.

Book publishers are trying to shut down the Napster of libraries.

Starbucks is welcoming a new CEO two weeks ahead of schedule. Laxman Narasimhan will unseat the coffee chain’s founder and three-time CEO Howard Schultz, who returned to the company last year—earning a $1 salary—to help right the ship and mentor his successor.

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LNG L ⛽️ — Tax authorities using AI. Slow LNG exports from Canada. And Couche-Tard takes Europe.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Welcome to the future, where staying out of trouble depends on how well you can impress the government’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

It’s been a minute since we’ve discussed Canada’s ambitions to become a leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. How are things going? Honestly, not great.

Though we're still upset about Couche-Tard killing off Mac's Milk, we admit its recent big money moves are impressive.

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Big beer 🍺 — Fighting a new beer tax hike. Microsoft launches new AI tools. And “Alberta is Calling” moves east.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

It’s not a Happy St. Patty’s for everyone. On the year’s premier drinking day, Big Beer is ramping up a fight with the federal government over a looming tax hike on the sudsy stuff.

After Google unveiled some sweet AI Workspace features, Microsoft reasserted its pole position in the AI arms race with a product it claims will “transform work as we know it.”

Wide open spaces. Majestic mountains. Cheap housing. Alberta is marketing itself as the new land of opportunity to east coasters.

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Swiss banking 🇨🇭 — Credit Suisse is in trouble. Airline fines are piling up. And fake moon photos.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Despite bank stocks enjoying a slight but promising rebound on Tuesday, news of a potential funding crunch faced by Credit Suisse quickly put the good news times to an end.

Canada’s air travel regulator has been handing out fines left and right, at 10,000 feet and on the ground, amid a surge in customer complaints.

In the biggest moon-related conspiracy since “NASA faked the moon landing,” one Reddit user claims that Samsung is faking its moon photos.

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Tap water chemicals 💦 — No more toxins in tap water. Canada is watching SVB closely. And long COVID is a huge problem.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Good news for all you tapwater fans, the US and Canada are moving towards making drinking water free of toxic chemicals.

Canada’s banking regulator wants to be kept in the loop as Silicon Valley’s financial crisis ripples out.

Canada’s chief science advisor released a report on long COVID, claiming the illness could be a “mass-disabling event” with the potential to ravage healthcare and the labour market.

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Lab grown milk 🥛 — SVB part 2. Lab grown dairy. And an update on the Senate.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

Imagine this: Before you settle in for today’s Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) coverage, you should listen to yesterday’s episode to get caught up. Like any bingeable show these days, you gotta start at the first episode.

Does the idea of lab-grown meat weird you out a little? Well, scientists hope the rise in lab-grown dairy could at least help you warm up to the idea.

We’re taking it back to Grade 9 civics class and giving you an update on the Senate.

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Silicon Valley Bank Explained 🏦 —SVB fails. A confusing labour market. And people are still using floppy disks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0400

We explain the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Headlines announcing layoffs continue to crowd our feeds, and yet there are very few signs of cracks in the Canadian and US labour markets… so, what gives?

Remember floppy discs? You might not! Used to store data way before the cloud and USBs, they haven't been commonly used since the 90s. But they're still kicking.

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Supercharger 🔋 —New type of battery. Scammers are getting smarter. And money can buy happiness.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Imagine this: A future where your phone battery is so good that you never have to get through the day on a 10% charge again.

Online purchase scams were the leading type of scams in Canada last year, per the Better Business Bureau, but a more dangerous contender is now coming for the crown.

An acclaimed researcher has adjusted his happiness hypothesis with inflation, and then some.

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You’re fired 🧑‍💻 — New gun legislation in Alberta. Evidence on who blew up Nordstream. And more Twitter drama.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Alberta has introduced new legislation to give itself more power over gun control.

Who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines? US officials say they have new clues.

We regret to inform you that Twitter drama has reached unfathomably silly new levels.

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Big plastic 🥤— Global birth rates are down. Big plastic striking back. And new paywall on TikTok.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Global birth rates are on the decline, but one Japanese town has cracked the baby-making code.

Lawyers for the plastics industry are fighting to make sure your kitchen cupboard stuffed with plastic bags stays well-stocked.

Even as it deals with that pesky little issue of a potential ban in North America and the EU, TikTok is keeping on and looking for new ways to bolster its domination of Gen Z's eyeballs.

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Personality test 👩‍💼 — Employers are using personality tests. Tesla prices are down. And Binance on the brink.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Waiting on a promotion? Well, there are two big names you’ll likely have to impress first: Myers and Briggs.

Everything must go: Prices on some Teslas are down ~20% since January.

From trading hiccups to stablecoin woes, the world’s largest crypto platform has had a rough 2023. And now, after a new report, regulators are circling like sharks before a feeding frenzy.

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Junk food crisis 📏 — Canadian semiconductors get a bit less Canadian. The obesity crisis is worsening. And new TikTok AI trend.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As the global semiconductors arms race gets hotter than a ten-year-old laptop trying to run a browser with multiple tabs open, one Canadian chip leader just got a lot less Canadian.

Now might be a good time to buy Planet Fitness stock, because over half the world’s population will be either overweight or obese by 2035 if trends hold, according to a new report by the World Obesity Federation.

The newest trend sweeping TikTok is yet another example of why you can't trust everything you see online.

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Ransom 💰— Public inquiry on electoral interference. Searching for UFOs. And Indigo refuses to pay ransom.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

A parliamentary committee voted to call on the Prime Minister to open an independent public inquiry into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

The Chief Science Advisor of Canada wants to get to the bottom of this UFO business.

If you’ve been waiting to order a copy of Prince Harry’s memoir or various home goods of questionable usefulness from Indigo, you’re gonna have to keep waiting.

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Break up 🇨🇳— US companies are breaking up with China. Netflix is going to Broadway. And Shopify introduces a new comp structure.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

GoerTek, a major Apple supplier, invested millions into a new production plant in Vietnam and is weighing an Indian expansion as it looks to [leave China](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/apple-suppliers-are-racing-to-exit-china-airpods-maker-says-1.1889086#:~:text=(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.,US company's most important partners.).

Netflix’s first stage play will premiere later this year in London’s famous West End.

Shopify is revamping its compensation structure to reward individual contributors with the same financial incentives that benefit those in management positions.

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Less rewarding ☕️— Rewards programs are cutting back. Stem cells powering computers. And provincial budget season.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:45:00 -0500

We have some terrible, no-good news: rewards programs are getting less rewarding.

A new paper in Frontiers in Science details one research group’s case for organoid intelligence—the practice of using tiny clumps of human stem cells to power computers.

Provincial budget season is in full swing after Alberta and BC unveiled their #spendinggoals. In case you weren’t watching with popcorn in hand like we were, here’s the lowdown.

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War startups 🔫— VCs are funding defence startups. Twitter makes more layoffs. And charities call on Canada to step-up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Venture capitalist (VC) money might be drying up—dropping by a third globally last year—but startups are still fetching billion-dollar valuations by tapping into something that never goes out of style: Matters of national security.

Twitter laid off another 200 employees—or about 10% of its remaining workforce—bringing the company’s headcount to less than 2,000 from about 7,500 when Elon Musk officially took over the company in October of last year.

Big charities like Oxfam, Unicef, and World Vision are calling on Canada to step up their foreign aid game.

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Plane ID ✈️ — Air Canada wants you to use your face to board. Inflation is looking sticky. And songwriters are cashing out.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Air Canada is piloting (and not the in-the-air kind) facial recognition tech for passengers boarding certain flights from Vancouver to Winnipeg.

Canada’s inflation rate is cooling, but might prove to be sticky.

You may have never heard of Tobias Jesso Jr., but he’s a shining, homegrown example of just how lucrative being a songwriter can be in the age of music royalty sales.

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No news 📰 — Norway wants a new Northern Air Force. Google is blocking some news. And JP Morgan bans ChatGPT.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The head of the Royal Norwegian Air Force has a vision for Arctic security that involves Canada, the US, Finland, Sweden, and (of course) 250 ultra-modern fighter jets.

Google is testing ways to block Canadian users from seeing news content on Search, as part of a spat with the feds over the idea that tech giants should pay up for linking articles.

JPMorgan has told ChatGPT to clear its desk and head on home.

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More Canadians 🇨🇦 — Canadian newcomers are underserved. China’s Foreign Minsiter visits Russia. And a government agency decides against TikTok.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Canada plans to bring 1.5 million newcomers aboard over the next three years, over 50% of whom will be economic immigrants. But they will face an uphill battle to reach their full potential.

A federal agency has very quietly decided that the government shouldn’t be using TikTok.

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4-Day Work Week 📅 — Home Depot employees are getting a raise. Canadian naval ships are off the coast of Haiti. And the Four Day Work Week could become a reality.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Despite a lacklustre earnings report marred by slowing sales, Home Depot will commit US$1 billion towards wage increases for its hourly workers in Canada and the US, with handy hardware helpers set to receive pay bumps later this month.

Canada will deploy two naval vessels to the coasts of Haiti that will be tasked with monitoring the waters around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Data from the largest-ever 4-day work week pilot shows that the 61 UK organizations participating in the six-month study, 92% said they would stick with the shorter week.

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Golden visa 🏅 — Portugal gets rid of their golden visa program. Chinese interference in our election. And big red boots are the new fashion trend.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Portugal will stop offering so-called golden visas—which grant non-EU nationals residency permits in exchange for investments into the country starting at ~$500,000—in an attempt to tackle a lack of affordable housing.

You can now add electoral influence to your list of “things the West and China are fighting about” along with spy balloons, research funding, and real estate investing.

If you’ve been on social media, you’ve probably come across a pair of red boots that look stolen off the feet of a claymation clown and wondered to yourself: “What are these things?”

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Equality ⚽️ — New World Bank Chief coming. CPG prices are way up. And Canadian Women’s Soccer Team are fighting for equality.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

World Bank chief David Malpass will step down over a year before his tenure ends, giving the Biden administration a coveted opening to fill by June of next year.

Nestlé, the world’s biggest food maker, saw its real internal growth (a measure of sales and consumer product choices) fall by 2.6% last quarter as the company raised prices by 10.1%, its steepest price hikes in decades per Financial Times.

The Canadian women’s national soccer team is playing the US tonight in their first game of the SheBelieves Cup. However, their biggest match-up is happening off the pitch.

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Search engine convos 🔎 — Bing is talking to searchers. Developers want the Bank of Canada to quit it. And the US migration crisis comes north.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Tired of having needless arguments that don’t go anywhere with your friends, family, and co-workers? Now you can have them with your search engine instead!

If there was a list of groups hoping the Bank of Canada keeps its promise to stop hiking interest rates this year, housing developers would be at the very top.

Last year, over 40,000 migrants crossed into Canada through an unofficial border crossing into Québec. In the last six months, the feds have relocated over 5,300 to other provinces.

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Electric union 🚘 — The EU is going electric. Lab grown diamonds are taking off. And Canada wants to be a leader in AI.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The EU has effectively banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035, after approving a law that will force carmakers to achieve a 100% cut in emissions by that time.

Lab-grown diamonds are pretty darn close to the real deal.

Complete global dominance of the maple syrup market isn’t enough. Canada wants to be a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) too.

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AI valentine ❤️ — Bed Bath and Beyond is over in Canada. Real estate developers are skeptical of the foreign buyers ban. And AI is the new catfishing choice du jour.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

After 15 years of Bed Bath & Beyond (BB&B), Canadians will have to start looking elsewhere for avocado slicers, onion choppers, and any other bizarre kitchen gadgets under the sun.

Real estate developers say new rules aimed at boosting the housing supply may actually have the reverse effect.

Technology has come a long way since the phrase catfish entered the cultural lexicon over a decade ago, and now cybersecurity and fraud experts are warning that new and advanced AI tech might have the potential to revolutionize romance scams.

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Marketing bowl 🏈 — The biggest event in marketing. A great jobs report comes out. And daycare is becoming a big business.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Fox is expected to rake in ~US$600 million after selling out of its Super Bowl ad slots. The average cost of a 30-second spot was pegged at US$6.5 million, and some ended up going for over $7 million.

Canada added 150,000 jobs in January, obliterating analyst expectations which projected a measly gain of only 15,000 jobs.

Delivery apps and financial tech are out. For some investors, daycare is in.

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Disney cuts 🎥 — Disney lays off. Right to fix laws are changing. And Bombardier is doubling down on jets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Layoffs. They’re not just plaguing Big Tech anymore. Disney plans to lay off 7,000 workers and restructure its organization as it looks to boost profits and cut costs by US$5.5 billion.

Tech companies are making their phones and computers a lil’ bit easier to fix, but consumer advocates want lawmakers to push them further.

Thousands of travellers probably wished they owned a private jet after a disastrous holiday travel season. If they could afford one, Bombardier would be happy to help them out.

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Search wars 🔎 — Microsoft is taking the search fight to Google. Hydrogen could be the future of energy. And great Uber earnings.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Leafs vs. Habs. Pepsi vs. Coke. Dudes who wear shorts year-round vs. Canadian winters. Then, there’s Google vs. Microsoft. And a new front has opened up in their ongoing war.

Canada’s ready to add some more green to its energy mix.

While most of the tech industry saw quarterly earnings reports that ranged from “disappointing” to “AHHH!!!”, Uber is looking at its latest numbers with a big, toothy grin.

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Geothermal energy 🥵 — The PM and Premiers meet to discuss healthcare. The Bank of Canada is opening up to Canadians. And geothermal power could be a huge energy breakthrough.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Justin Trudeau met yesterday with the nation’s premiers, offering them $196.1 billion in healthcare funding to put towards healthcare over the next decade, including $46.2 billion in completely new funding. In exchange, provinces and territories must improve how they collect and share health data and report on how they spend the money they receive.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is trying to open up. But unlike your typical therapy session, it’s the Canadian public with the trust issues.

Tired of hearing about wind, solar, and hydrogen energy? You’re in luck. There’s a hot new renewable energy source on the scene that is literally so hot.

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Cashless country 🇨🇭 — Switzerland is voting on going cashless. Employers are tracking you. And a Quebecer tricks Tripadvisor.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Switzerland is going to have a referendum about whether the country should be allowed to go completely cashless.

As workers hang on to work-from-home for dear life, employers are turning to tracking software (aka bossware or tattleware) to ensure workers aren’t busy napping or doing laundry.

Tripadvisor took down the listing for Le Nouveau Duluth, the platform’s top-ranked Montréal restaurant, after a CBC investigation found that the eatery didn’t exist.

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Magic 🍄 — Tech companies are missing expectations. Online arguments about food prices. And the future for Magic Mushrooms in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The triple A of Big Tech—Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet—all dropped earnings reports for the final quarter of 2022, each with its own specific points of concern.

Arguing on social media: It’s not just for cranky relatives you only see once a year. Major Canadian grocery chains can get in on the fun, too.

Magic mushroom shops are springing up across the country, not unlike the spree of black market pot shops that populated urban areas in the runup to legalization in 2018.

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At-home farming 🌾 — Gautam Adani is no longer the third richest person. Canadians are farming at home. And Tim Hortons reached a settlement.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani was the world’s third-richest person just a week ago. He’s now (as of writing) down at 17th place…

Grocery bills are set to get even higher as grocers begin to process a backlog of requests from suppliers to increase prices.

Tim Hortons has reached a half-baked settlement under some pretty stale privacy laws.

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Inflation is down 📉 — Social media earnings day. Rate hike in the US . And inflation is coming down

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Recent earnings reports give us a glimpse into how old-world social media platforms are adapting to a scary new world where ad revenue continues to fall.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: A central bank chair walks into a conference hall and delivers an interest rate hike…

Inflation is coming down, and the reason may lie in what’s happening in housing.

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New airline just dropped 🛫 — Porter expands service. Drugs get decriminalized in BC. And TD is targeting new Canadians.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As Canada’s aviation industry continues to do damage control after a disastrous holiday season, one airline is looking to assert itself as a major player amidst the turmoil.

A rule change decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine in British Columbia this week, and the government will be watching carefully to see how it all plays out.

Toronto-Dominion Bank has sealed an exclusive advertising deal with the most popular immigration website you’ve never heard of.

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Back to work 👩‍⚖️ — A new EV alliance. Parliament is back. And there’s a surge in AI investment. The corporate world of legacy carmakers is embracing the future of electric vehicles (EV).

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Think your Sunday Scaries are bad? Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa after a six-week winter break with enough on their plates to keep yours truly hiding in bed.

Now that artificial intelligence (AI) can pass MBA exams and create workout plans, investors just can’t pull out their chequebooks fast enough.

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Flight tracking 🛩️ — Buzzfeed is turning to AI. Flight tracking could be coming to an end. And your employee health insurance may change.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

It feels like we’ve suddenly been transported back to 2013, because everyone is talking about BuzzFeed. But the reason they’re talking about it is very 2023.

Remember last year, when we were all gleefully shaming Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner for their exorbitant flying habits? That was fun, right?

You may soon be able to get a lot more than a massage and 75% off your next physio appointment with your workplace health insurance.

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Dealmaking down 📉 — Big Supreme Court Ruling. Canadian deal making is down this year. And climartarians are surging.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The country’s top court is deciding whether pretend people can help defend real crimes.

Canadian dealmaking fell ~40% in 2022 and is currently down ~50% from the same last year. Despite this, workers at the country’s top investment banks can sleep easy knowing their jobs are not in imminent danger.

The food industry wants to appeal to a growing number of “climatarians” and “regenivores”.

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Expensive food 🥓 — Food prices are set to rise. Layoffs in Canadian media. And employers are calling workers back to work.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

$37 chicken, $14 yogurts, and $8 cabbage? Apparently, we haven’t seen the worst of it, as groceries are set to become even more expensive in the coming months.

Not to be outdone by Big Tech, the media sector is also battling a series of shocking layoffs.

Work From Home is definitely here to stay, but unfortunately, not for everyone.

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Employee owned 👩‍🔧 — A new group is pushing employee ownership. Facial recognition is blowing up in China. And Ukraine is reorienting.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

A new lobby group wants Canada to embrace the idea of employee-owned businesses.

China’s manufacturing sector may be slowing, but its facial recognition industry is booming.

As Ukraine gears up for what’s been called a pivotal moment in its war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is suddenly dealing with newfound problems at home.

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India bound 🇮🇳 — Manufacturers are moving production to India. Citadel is the best performing hedge fund ever. And laptop companies are trying something new.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Offshoring your manufacturing to China is so yesterday. Right now, it’s all about India.

Ken griffin’s Citadel has replaced Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater as the most successful hedge fund of all time—the MOAT, if you will—after generating US$16 billion for investors last year.

With laptop sales on the decline, the companies that make them are trying to come up with new bells and whistles to keep consumers coming back.

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Google layoffs 👩‍💻 — Google lays-off 12,000. Canadian healthcare is being reformed. And we need more pilots.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

When it rains, it pours. At least when it comes to tech layoffs, with Google-parent Alphabet becoming the most recent name to announce a headcount reduction.

Amid a flurry of recent announcements, it’s clear that efforts to help a healthcare industry in crisis are kicking into high gear.

Somebody needs to make Top Gun, but for airline pilots, because the profession is facing a shortage and could really use a shiny new recruitment tool.

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Polite hackers 💻 — The US debt ceiling is approaching. Hackers are getting more professional. And TikTok is opening up to the gov.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The US reached the max amount of debt that it’s allowed to take on (aka the debt ceiling) yesterday, causing the US Treasury to begin taking special measures to ensure the government can continue paying its debt.

Hacking group Lockbit has earned the title of “most prolific ransomware gang in the world”, carrying out ~25% of all known ransomware attacks last year and taking responsibility for breaches of over 40 organizations across the globe this month alone.

TikTok is prepared to open its algorithms to regulators, in a move that could permanently change the relationship between governments and social media giants.

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Turbulent takeoff 🛫 — Air Canada and WestJet are in hot water. Premium dating apps are getting expensive. And Canada is caught in the crossfire on tanks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 07:30:26 -0500

Air Canada and WestJet have been cutting domestic flight routes in recent months, a move that one business group thinks is fishier than an in-flight meal.

If it wasn’t bad enough that the cost of dating (read: rising restaurant prices) has skyrocketed, now the cost of landing a date is also on its way up.

Russia is thought to be preparing for a major offensive in the war with Ukraine. Ukraine’s top general, Valery Zaluzhny, wants 300 Western tanks and 600 vehicles to help fend it off.

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Alcohol labels 🍷 — Should Canada apply warning labels to alcohol? China’s growth is slowing. And Elon Musk is heading to court (again)

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

If you’re doing dry January, maybe just keep at it for a while—at least that’s what new national guidelines on alcohol intake would recommend.

China’s GDP grew [only 3% last year](https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/16/business/china-gdp-2022-hnk-intl/index.html#:~:text=China's economy expanded by just,downturn in the property market.), well below government targets and the country’s slowest growth rate since 1976 (aside from 2020, because of you know what). And somehow, that’s not even the worst news China got yesterday.

It feels like we write this every few months, but here we go again: Elon Musk is heading to court.

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New start 🧑‍💻 — Michele Romanow is out at Clearco. Employees are getting ahead of layoffs. And AI is making it harder for teachers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

As layoffs spread across the tech and finance landscapes like a bad rash, workers are trying to get ahead by securing new jobs before the corporate axe comes a-chopping.

Life is a fickle thing. Just ask Michele Romanow. One day you’re the face of a Heineken advertising campaign. The next you’re stepping down as the CEO of your company.

The days of take-home and open-book essays are over, as a new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI) puts a full stop on traditional classroom learning as we know it.

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Cheap eggs 🥚 — Eggs are getting cheaper. BMO has a new tech fund for consumers. Some gyms are using electrodes to help people get fit.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Whether you like them scrambled, poached, or raw like Rocky Balboa, one yolky grocery staple is about to get cheaper. Though not as cheap as they could be.

BMO is linking up with financier Georgian to bring down the wall between investors and privately held technology companies.

Almost 30% of Canadians say their New Year’s resolution is to get in better shape. Some gyms are advocating for one trick that could help: Electrocution.

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Climate tech 🔌 — New climate tech. A trade dispute goes our way. And an update on Chinese real estate.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

The world’s climate goals are banking on the success of carbon capture technology. One start-up has potentially kick-started the industry after a major breakthrough.

Like all good friends, Canada, the US, and Mexico sometimes get into squabbles. Luckily, they have a panel of unbiased trade experts on-hand to help resolve them.

The Chinese government has been trying to take some of the air out of an inflated real estate market, but it’s not going to be a soft landing.

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Empty offices 🏢 — White collar workers are hardest hit this recession. Office spaces are going empty. And business are for sale.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Data from past recessions shows us that blue-collar workers usually bear the brunt of the impact. This time around, the trend is on track to flip into reverse.

In the market for a sublet? How about a seven-floor, 348,100-square-foot office space that was supposed to be inhabited by a Canadian tech giant?

Many people have a dream of owning a small business. However, it might make more sense just to take over an existing business, as there will soon be plenty of them hitting the market.

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Mexican investment 🇲🇽 — Canada is investing in Mexico. Last minute produce is getting popular. And rethinking Bell Let’s Talk.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

In recent years, Canadian companies have been pouring money into Mexico.

If you’re looking to save some money on groceries (and who isn’t), some startups are hoping you’ll drop coupon clipping in favour of scouring apps to score bags of half-off produce.

The days of tweeting #BellLetsTalk (and giving yourself a little pat on the back for it) have come to an end as the telecom giant revamps its famous mental health campaign.

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Fine dining 🍴 — One of the world’s best restaurants is shutting down. Stats Canada is tracking the data around gig work. Canada bought new fighter jets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

If paying upwards of $670 to eat reindeer brain custard at the world’s best restaurant is on your bucket list, you have until 2024 to secure a reservation (so start calling in favours).

In what’s basically a rite of passage for any sector of the economy looking to be taken seriously, Stats Canada is now officially tracking the hard data around gig work.

After watching the new Top Gun, we’ve realized that fighter jets are super cool. We also suspect the timing of the government’s first jet order in three decades is no coincidence.

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Job gains 💪 — Americans are flocking north for a diabetes drug. New jobs report in Canada. And there’s a new crop of AI startups.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Canadians have long headed to the US to shop, but the trend is reversing as Americans flock north to get their hands on a diabetes drug that’s gone viral for its weight loss effects.

Like a beefy bro at the gym, Canada’s seeing some serious gains. Job gains from last month, that is.

As attention shifts away from the absolutely ancient fad of crypto, AI startups are now taking centre stage.

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Housing prices 📉 — Canadian housing prices are in decline. Energy companies are decarbonizing. And CES is here.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Home sales in Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s largest housing markets, fell by ~50% last month compared to the year before, while average selling prices fell by 9% to ~$1,050,000 and 3% to $1,114,000, respectively, in the same time frame.

As Canada ramps up efforts to meet its lofty decarbonization goals, the country’s oil sands are scrambling to keep up.

CES, the world’s biggest tech trade show, kicked off yesterday in sunny and sinful Las Vegas with tech companies big and small ready to show off new gizmos, gadgets, and gimmicks.

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Untrained 🔨 — Canadian workers need new training. European inflation is breaking. And Ukraine’s using new tech.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

What comes after a surge in employee turnover? A surge of untrained employees.

Things have been stormy in the eurozone the past few months, but the clouds are starting to break as peak inflation is now behind Europe thanks to sliding natural gas prices.

On New Year’s Day, Ukraine carried out a hugely successful strike on a Russian military site. Russia claims Ukraine pulled it off by locating soldiers who were using cell phones—a sign of Ukraine’s ongoing technological prowess in the warzone.

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Not guilty 👩‍⚖️ — Some countries want to play Robin Hood. Canada's manufacturing sector is slowing down. And SBF pleads not guilty.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

Some Western countries are looking to play Robin Hood by taking Russia’s money and giving it to Ukraine, but it’s not as simple as swooping in with a crossbow and green tights.Changes by Apple to limit how companies track iPhone users has created an opportunity for Shopify to turn its advertising business into a growth engine this year, president Harley Finkelstein told the Financial Times.

Activity in Canada’s manufacturing sector is seeing its longest slowdown in seven years thanks to a drop in output, new orders, and purchasing activity, per Reuters.

Former FTX CEO and ex-“Next Warren Buffet” Sam Bankman-Friend (aka SBF) went to court yesterday to maintain his innocence in the face of charges that could land him up to 115 years in the big house.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Welcome back 🎉 — What you missed over the holidays. Shopify’s getting in the ads business. And some predictions from us.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:45:00 -0500

If you’ve been avoiding the news for the past ten days, don’t stress—that’s what the holidays are for. We’re here to get you caught up on the big stories you might have missed while spending your time on more festive matters.

Changes by Apple to limit how companies track iPhone users has created an opportunity for Shopify to turn its advertising business into a growth engine this year, president Harley Finkelstein told the Financial Times.

We thought we would end off our special first episode of the year with some predictions from The Peak team.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Password protected 🔐 — Netflix is banning password sharing. Winter storms hitting the country. And a ban on foreign buyers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The company that once tweeted “love is sharing a password” is now rolling out plans to target over 100 million people who watch the service using borrowed passwords.

With most of the country affected by an extreme cold or winter storm alert—or both—the biggest travel weekend of the year is sure to be an eventful one.

The federal government unveiled the details of a two-year ban on foreign home buyers set to kick in on January 1st (and as last-minute Christmas shoppers, we really get leaving the announcement to the very last minute).

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Inflation at Work 🚧 — Inflation is still high. Canadian investors are still trading. And more Quadriga funds go missing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Many of us may be powering down for some holiday R&R, but inflation is still hard at work, making our lives even more expensive.

If you thought seeing stock markets freefall for the last year would have scared off investors, let us introduce you to the incoming wave of do-it-yourself Canadian traders.

$2.4 million worth of bitcoins were mysteriously transferred from virtual wallets linked to QuadrigaCX, the bankrupt Canadian crypto exchange that was revealed to be a Ponzi scheme.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Forever chemicals 🧪 — 3M is ending forever chemicals. Dance recitals are getting more expensive And it’s the end of single use plastics in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

3M will stop making and using “forever chemicals” by the end of 2025, amid growing concern from governments and the public that the substances can cause serious health problems.

This month, parents across the country have been attending various year-end recitals, but the privilege of seeing their little ones scamper in the spotlight is pricier than ever.

A nationwide ban on the production and import of some single-use plastic items, including grocery bags, cutlery, straws (remember those?), and takeout containers is now in effect.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Gaming settlement 👾 — Elon might leave Twitter. Epic pays a huge settlement. And Toyota is hedging on electric.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Elon Musk asked Twitter users via poll—his preferred decision-making method as of late—if he should step down as the head of Twitter. Of over 17.5 million responses, 57.5% said yes.

Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite, has agreed to pay US$520 million to resolve two US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints.

It seems like most carmakers are aboard the electric vehicle (EV) bandwagon these days…

But not according to Toyota President, Akio Toyoda.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Net-zero flights 🛫 — Shopify is having a rough year. Flights are going carbon neutral. And Elon causing more havoc.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Shopify has had a stunningly bad year, but then again, so have most tech giants.

Wouldn’t you love to fly across the world knowing you weren’t also contributing to the perils of climate change? Well, soon that dream could become a reality.

As Elon Musk’s Twitter faces increasing backlash, the billionaire has shown he’s not afraid to rule the platform with an iron fist.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Beer deal 🍻 — Carlsberg is buying Waterloo Brewing. TikTok is damaging our youth. And stock scammers are under fire.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Danish beer titan Carlsberg is buying Canadian brewery Waterloo Brewing for a cool, crisp, and hoppy $144 million in the largest deal ever for a Canadian brewery.

The US Justice Department and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) charged eight finance influencers with defrauding investors of US$114 million through “pump and dump” schemes, in which they encouraged followers to sink money into penny stocks to artificially inflate their prices and then sold their shares of to earn a tidy (and illicit) profit.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate set up new TikTok accounts with an age setting of 13 and monitored the first 30 minutes of content delivered on the platform’s algorithmically personalized “For You” page.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Changed COVID 🦠 — Central Banks are taking a new approach. Google isn’t worried about ChatGPT. And COVID Zero is no more.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:32:10 -0500

Like many of us, the world’s central banks are ready for a re-brand in 2023: Out with the inflation-fighting fun-sucking and in with a cooler and more laid-back approach to rate hikes.

Google heard all the clamour about ChatGPT (OpenAI’s AI chatbot that’s been heralded as a huge leap forward in the field) and how it could one day take on Google Search.

In response, the company is telling everyone to take a serious chill pill.

China is rolling back their COVID Zero policy.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Dreary data 📉 — Update on Rogers-Shaw. The Trust and Safety Council at Twitter has been disbanded. And new exclusively polling data.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Today is the final day of the hearing that will decide the fate of the Rogers-Shaw merger, a deal that has wide-ranging implications for competition in Canada’s telecoms industry.

Please, stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but Elon Musk’s Twitter just made a big change involving safety and moderation leaving a whole bunch of people on bad terms.

Feeling gloomy about the state of Canada’s economy these days? You aren’t alone. New polling by Crestview Strategy shared exclusively with The Peak shows that a large majority of Canadians think our economy is getting worse.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Pickleball 🏸 — Pickleball is trying to make it big. More bad news in crypto. Canadian household debt isn’t looking good.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:08:56 -0500

Could the sport that finally breaks the ranks of the Big Four North American Leagues really be one that’s named after a briny, preserved vegetable?

If you thought things couldn’t get worse for the crypto world, this week may force you to think again.

Seven interest rate hikes later, personal finances have seen better days.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Slow slopes ⛷️ — Bitcoin miners are leaving Canada. The slopes are going to be busy this year. And retailers want you to spend.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Québec became a destination for crypto mining, a practice often criticized for its high energy use, by boasting some of North America’s cheapest energy prices. But now, Hydro-Québec has asked the province for permission to reallocate energy to other projects, per *The Wall Street Journal.*

According to Deloitte Canada, the average household will spend $1,520 this year on the holidays, 17% less than in 2021, as Canadians brace for economic headwinds.

Important news for skiiers and snowboarders: If you’re planning to shred some pow’ over the holidays, chances are you’ll have a lot of company.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Giving less 🎁 — Canadians are giving less. Developing countries face a debt crisis. And the government is changing foreign investment rules.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The holiday season has always been a time for opening our hearts and wallets to charity, but this year, more Canadians are cutting giving out of the budget as they try to conserve cash.

A dozen developing countries might spin into a debt crisis within the next year, spelling financial trouble for some of the world’s most vulnerable people, per The New York Times.

The government is looking to implement new rules under the Investment Canada Act that would require foreign actors to give advanced notice of investments in sectors deemed as “sensitive” and subject those investments to conditions from Canada’s industry minister.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Vertical farm 🌾 — BoC hikes rates again. GoodLeaf aims big in vertical farming. And Canada is hoping for more critical minerals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

We’ve come a long way since the 8.1% inflation rate seen in June (a near four-decade high), but if you ask the Bank of Canada (BoC), the economy still has some way to go.

GoodLeaf, a Guelph-based indoor farm, raised $150 million from McCain and the investing arm of Quebec insurer Power Corp to expand its greens into a national brand.

Canada has invested billions into the critical minerals mining sector this year with grand ambitions to become a major player in the global supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New league ⚽️ — Big departures at Salesforce. There’s a new women’s soccer league coming to Canada. And COP15 kicks off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 06:31:09 -0500

A corporate one-two punch has left the executive bench at Salesforce looking a bit empty.

After the Canadian men flamed out of the World Cup, a new group is trying to keep soccer fever alive and well with a focus on Canada’s (historically way better) women players.

The UN’s COP15 biodiversity conference commences today in Montreal with over 10,000 participants set to discuss how to protect and increase the world’s plant and animal life.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Yield curve ↪️ — Circle isn’t IPO-ing. Canada has an inverted yield curve. And rental car customers were getting arrested.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Stablecoin group Circle has abandoned its plans to go public, one of the first signs that the fall of crypto exchange FTX is starting to hit even digital assets regarded as the least risky.

Folks, Canada’s got a serious case of the ol’ [“inverted yield curve.”](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/yield-curve-inversion-hits-widest-in-canada-since-early-1990s-1.1854997#:~:text=The yield on Canada's benchmark,Toronto time.)

Former meme stock darling Hertz doled out US$168 million to settle 364 claims that it falsely reported rental cars as stolen when they just weren’t returned on time.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Writing bot ✍️ — There’s a new AI writing tool. Xi Jinping acknowledges protests. Volkswagen looks for EV battery manufacturing site.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 06:53:57 -0500

OpenAI (the lab behind the AI-powered DALL-E image generator) launched its new AI chatbot ChatGPT to the public as part of its beta test.

China’s President Xi Jinping has publicly acknowledged the protests that have erupted across the country in response to the government’s strict anti-Covid measures.

Volkswagen is setting its sights on Canada for a new electric vehicle (EV) battery factory after a recently signed agreement effectively added the country to a shortlist of potential locations for its North American expansion.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Brain chips 💻 — Chips for your brain. The banks are doing well. And LinkedIn has new features.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Elon Musk took a quick break from social media stardom to shift back to mad scientist mode, claiming that chips will start being implanted into human brains in as little as six months.

You won’t be surprised to hear that Canada’s big banks are raking in cash during a positive earnings season, but some are doing unusually well and have higher interest rates to thank.

These days you can’t answer your phone or open your email without being bombarded by scams, but LinkedIn is determined to make sure you can still confidently accept that invitation to join your colleague’s professional network without the same concerns.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Spotify wrapped 🎶 — Streamers are looking to theatres for help. Mexicans are moving to Canada. And workers are going back into the office.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Happy Spotify Wrapped Day to all who celebrate! And apologies to all who don’t (hey there, Apple Music users) because your Insta stories are about to give you some major FOMO.

Tough economic times mean that consumers have to take a good, hard look at what they buy, limiting purchases to only the essentials like groceries, rent, and… snowmobiles?

Financial responsibility is becoming more attractive as cheap dates are the latest dating trend.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bank buyer 🏦 — RBC buys HSBC. Nestlé is rethinking its drug plans. And the police are using 23andMe to solve crimes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

RBC is already the country’s largest bank by assets ($1.71T), but just because you’re the biggest doesn’t mean you can’t get even bigger by buying HSBC.

Nestlé isn’t the first company that comes to mind when you think of Big Pharma. And considering how their rollout of a new allergy drug is going, it’ll probably stay that way.

While you’re using DNA testing services to explore your neanderthal ancestry, the police are using the same data to solve crimes.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

To the movies 🎥 — Streamers are looking to theatres for help. Mexicans are moving to Canada. And workers are going back into the office.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:43:21 -0500

It’s been an up-and-down year for streamers as they struggle to diversify revenue streams. Now a radical, unprecedented idea has come to the fore: Playing movies in movie theatres.

In the face of rising crime rates in Mexico, more Mexicans are looking to pack their bags and head north of the border… aaaand north of that border.

Workers may want to stay remote, but employers want them in the office—and more job postings insist on just that, making fully remote (and sought after) gigs harder to come by.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Public inquiry 👩‍⚖️ — The Inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act ends. Flipping homes will get taxed differently. And insurers are having headaches over art vandals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The public inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act to break up convoy protests earlier this year has officially come to a close.

Starting in January, profits from sales of homes occupied for less than a year will be 100% taxable as income—barring exceptions like death or work relocation.

When insurance giants listed “climate change” as their biggest concern in a recent survey, they probably didn’t expect the headache that protests against climate change would bring.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Black Friday 🛍 — This Black Friday might not be the same. Dentalcorp is up for sale. Canada’s healthcare system is critically ill.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canadians are projected to spend 13% less on gift-giving this year as they save money for essentials, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Black Friday will be a total bust for retailers.

Dentalcorp, Canada’s largest consolidator of dental clinics, has launched a review of its business to determine how to best “unlock shareholder value,” to which one answer could be “just sell the thing.”

Canada is projected to be short 44,000 physicians by 2028, with family doctors accounting for 72% of the deficit, per a recent report by RBC Economics.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Controversy ⚽️ — More controversy surrounds the World Cup. Interest rates are becoming a big problem for mortgage holders. And Mercedes has a new subscription product.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Just a few days into the 2022 World Cup, feats of athleticism from the world’s best soccer players have been largely overshadowed by controversies and bold acts of defiance.

The pain of rising interest rates is starting to spread across the housing market, and more people may soon find themselves facing larger monthly mortgage payments.

Mercedes is now charging a US$1,200 annual subscription fee for drivers of its EQ models to gain access to faster acceleration and better performance capabilities, a feature that the vehicle already comes fully equipped with.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Sick days 🤒 — Meta’s Oversight Board made their first big ruling. We don’t know what’s going on with the National Housing Strategy. And Canada’s private sector unions are looking for a raise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Meta’s Oversight Board, an independent body that judges the company’s most high-stakes content moderation cases, just made a decision that could change how the company moderates content.

In 2017, the government launched its National Housing Strategy to create more affordable housing, which includes a sub-plan aimed at cutting chronic homelessness in half by 2028.

Canada’s biggest private unions are looking for some of the largest pay gains seen in a generation to make up for the damage inflation has inflicted on consumer purchasing power.

Five years in, are the feds any closer to this goal? The short answer: No one knows.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Lost a leap ⏱ — We’re losing a leap second.There’s a new sick day law. And a controversial weight loss drug is about to hit the market.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 06:27:43 -0500

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)-the group that quite literally decides what time it is-voted to [abolish the leap second](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/19/science/time-leap-second-bipm.html#:~:text=It was devised as a,allow Earth to catch up.).

On December 1, a new law comes into effect guaranteeing ten paid sick days a year for employees in federally-regulated industries like banking, telecoms, and air transport.

Several major biotech players are moving fast to develop obesity drugs to snag their share of a market that analysts say could be worth US$50B annually by 2030.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Taylor v. Ticketmaster 🎟 — Twitter is the Titanic? Qatar is spending a lot on the WC. And Taylor is battling Ticketmaster.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

If you log onto Twitter these days, the vibe is akin to what we imagine being on the deck of the Titanic was like, you know, riiiight after it hit the iceberg.

Qatar spent ~US$300 billion (roughly 6.8 Twitters) on World Cup 2022, making it the most expensive FIFA contest ever.

A disastrous presale of tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour has landed Ticketmaster (and its parent company Live Nation) in hot water with an army of Swifties—and (only a slightly more powerful force) the US Justice Department.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Worse than Enron 🔌 — Insolvency expert says FTX is the worst he’s seen in his career. Canada may join the OPEC for nickel. Rain is causing wheat headaches.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 06:47:34 -0500

According to a guy that’s seen the darkest side of the corporate world, the fallen crypto exchange FTX is the worst of it all.

Last month Indonesia floated the idea of a so-called “OPEC for nickel”. Now, it’s shopping around for partners to make this cockamamie dream a reality. At the top of its list? Canada.

You probably know that it rains a lot in Vancouver. What you might not know is that Canada’s grain supply chain essentially comes to a screeching halt every time the skies open up there.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Robot writing ✍️ — Is it the end of the housing downturn? Notion is adding AI writing. And Canada needs to bolster our presence in the arctic.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 06:51:06 -0500

Is it the beginning of the end of Canada’s real estate downturn? RBC thinks so.

Cult-favourite note-taking platform Notion launched a private alpha test for its newest product, Notion AI, which can generate written content with a single prompt.

Canada is ill-equipped to detect ships in its Arctic waters, and the country’s Auditor-General is pointing fingers at the federal government for not doing enough to address the problem.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Retail revival 🛍 — The Bank of Canada is losing money. US retailers are posting better numbers than expected. And Hydro Quebec has a spy scandal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is on track to give “monetary tightening” a whole new meaning by losing between $5 billion and $6 billion over the next few years.

As Black Friday rears its head, the world’s largest retailer is showing signs that the doom and gloom facing the retail sector this year may have been (at least a little) overhyped.

A former researcher who worked in its electric batteries unit at Hydro-Quebec has been accused of collecting trade secrets and passing them on to China.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Electric delay 🚗 — Electric vehicles are delayed. The Sens are for sale. And Amazon is cutting jobs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

More Canadians than ever want to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle (EV), but most won’t be able to plant their butt in a driver’s seat anytime soon.

Still have some spare CERB money kicking around? Why not bring together your closest billionaire friends and buy a professional hockey team?

Not long after warning of a slowdown around what is usually a busy holiday season, Amazon has become the latest company to cut jobs to brace for a potential economic downturn.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bankruptcy 🪙 — Amazon is taking loses. Twitter is chaotic and FTX is bankrupt.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 06:41:45 -0500

After becoming the first company to lose US$1 trillion in market value (yes, ever), Amazon is taking a long, hard look at its business, because something ain’t right.

Elon Musk held his first meeting as the company's CEO, fielding questions from staffers and dropping several off-side comments, like saying “there’s a good chance” Twitter will not survive the economic downturn.

After scrambling to drum up money to fix a cash shortfall of US$8 billion, FTX filed for what will be the biggest US bankruptcy this year.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Office cuts 🏢 — WeWork is pulling back. Canva is introducing AI. And NASA is launching a new climate satellite.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Cost-cutting is the name of the corporate game these days, and WeWork is no exception.

Just a few months ago, text-to-image AI seemed like super-futuristic tech reserved solely for hardcore researchers. Now, it’s available for free on one of the most popular design apps.

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, NASA launched JPSS-2—its newest satellite, which joins a global observation system analyzing the Earth’s weather patterns.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Non-alcoholic 🍺 — There’s a new gen of non-alcoholic drinks. What if you could date using a Love is Blind app? And Meta has a big layoff.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Keurig Dr. Pepper invested US$50 million for a minority stake in Athletic Brewing, a leader in the booming non-alcoholic craft beer market.

Picture this: The reality TV show “Love is Blind,” but for your personal dating life.

The Big Tech carnage continued as Meta laid off 13% of its workforce (~11,000 workers), in the largest staff reduction in the tech industry this year.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Live pod 🎙 — Retirees are going back to work. The feds want to fund health care. And FTX is over.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Live from The Peak’s Bet on Canada Summit in Toronto!

Retirees used to spend their time sunning in Florida. These days, they’re going back to work.

The federal government will dish out money to fix provincial healthcare—hooray!

And just like that, one of the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency exchanges has fallen.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Cleaning fees 🧹 — Airbnb is building cleaning fees into the prices. Canada’s proposed online streaming bill is making creators sweat. And Americans head to the polls today!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 06:14:11 -0500

Executives at Airbnb want you to know they have, in fact, read all your angry tweets about out-of-control cleaning fees, and that they’re listening and learning.

Canada’s proposed Online Streaming Bill Canadian is starting to make creators sweat.

Americans head to the polls today, which means that by tomorrow there will be a crop of kooky new congresspeople that may or may not keep you awake at night.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Four day workweek 4️⃣ — You’re not getting enough sleep. Unilever is experimenting with the four-day workweek. And Xi is trying to cool down nuclear tensions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0500

In exchange for not seeing the sun after work until spring, you’re now getting an extra hour of sleep—and the odds are, that’s something you desperately need.

Unilever, the multinational giant that owns brands like Ben and Jerry’s and Dove, is the biggest corporation yet to give a big thumbs up to the four-day workweek.

China’s president Xi Jinping has gone from having “concerns” over the war in Ukraine to telling Russia to knock it off with the nuclear threats.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Strike 🪧 — CUPE education workers are going on strike. The Fall Economic Statement is out. And you may start controlling your phone with your brain.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Over 55,000 Ontario education workers, including early childhood educators, educational assistants and custodians, are set to walk off the job today.

The government served up its annual Fall Economic Statement, including a declining deficit as the main, and risks around Canada entering into a recession as a side.

As the world becomes increasingly like a sci-fi novel, new devices are letting the human body do things that once seemed impossible.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Musk makes his mark 🐦 — The Fed hikes interest rates again. Musk makes his mark at Twitter. And Google is using AI to predict natural disasters.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 percentage points, bringing its benchmark rate range to 3.75%-4% and effectively making any type of debt (mortgages, credit cards, auto) a little bit pricier.

Less than a week into his tenure as “Chief Twit” turned “Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator,” Elon Musk is moving quickly to make his mark on Twitter by revamping its business model.

The latest version of the Google wildfire warning system will introduce machine learning models trained on satellite data to improve fire tracking and detection in real-time and better predict how they spread.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Death of Yeezys 👟 — The sneaker market is in a spiral. TouchBistro raises a big round. And Canada has a new immigration plan.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Adidas-Kanye West split meant the death of Yeezy: The immensely popular and influential line of shoes the controversy-mongering rapper designed for the company.

That’s potentially bad news for the sneaker resale market (projected to be a US$30 billion industry by 2030) and for those touting sweet kicks as a burgeoning asset class.

Toronto-based TouchBistro, a software provider for restaurants, is breezing though a market downtown that has left venture capitalists holding their dollars close to their chest.

The feds just flicked on a big, bright, buzzing “OPEN” sign with a new three-year immigration plan aimed at getting skilled workers into the country to address the ongoing labour crunch.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Zero COVID 😷 — China is still struggling with COVID. Canadians are starting to feel the crunch of inflation. And Campari is buying a bourbon maker.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:45:00 -0400

From squashing presidential term limits to picking fights with Taiwan, a lot is going on in China these days... so much so that we almost forgot about the zero-COVID crackdowns.

Canadians are starting to feel the economic crunch as the Bank of Canada continues to try and combat inflation that’s more stubborn than a toddler before naptime.

Italian alcohol giant Campari paid US$600 million for a 75% stake in bourbon-whiskey maker Wilderness Trail to expand its reach in the booming whisky market.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Free the bird 🐦 — The Great Resignation isn’t happening. Elon takes over Twitter. The US Dollar is crushing other currencies.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

First came “The Great Resignation”. Then there was “quiet quitting” (and the reaction, “quiet firing”). Countless stories about workers checking out from their job over the past year—either literally, or just mentally—painted a bleak picture of the modern workplace, but one that new data suggests bears little relationship to reality.

After what felt like thousands of years (but was really just a few months) Elon Musk, finally, officially, and with no-take-backs, owns Twitter... now here comes the fun part.

A supercharged US dollar (USD) is beating up weaker global currencies like a schoolyard bully and leaving central banks scrambling to find a solution.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Household wealth 🏡 — Canada’s nurses are heading south. YouTube is certifying health accounts. And household wealth took a major hit.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 06:05:00 -0400

In the midst of a healthcare workers shortage, Canada's nurses are heading south of the border.

From exercising organs to “hacking” menstrual cycles, there’s a ton of terrible medical advice on the internet… which is why YouTube is moving to certify channels of licensed professionals like doctors, nurses, or therapists who produce health-related content.

Household wealth in Canada dropped by ~$900 billion in Q2 of this year according to RBC economists-the largest quarterly drop on record-driven mainly by a tumbling housing market.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

50 basis points 📈 — Another rate hike from the BoC. Deepfakes are getting into ads. NASA is going deep on aliens.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada surprised markets with a smaller-than-expected interest rate hike of 0.5 percentage points yesterday (bringing its policy rate to 3.75%), below the 0.75 percentage point hike most economists had forecast.

Deepfakes are growing in popularity with small brands to generate buzzy content featuring celebs without having to shell out endorsement money, per The WSJ.

On Monday, NASA’s new team dedicated to researching unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs, formerly known as UFOs) will begin its sci-fi-sounding work.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Swimming in gas 🛢 — The European gas situation is improving. Canopy is buying US cannabis companies. And Microsoft and Alphabet are showing how soft tech markets are.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Remember when Europe faced those “unprecedented risks” to its natural gas supply earlier this month? That was then. Now, the continent is basically swimming in it.

Canadian pot grower Canopy (+23.5%) has purchased three pot companies south of the border (Acreage, Wanna, and Jetty’s) to form a brand new American business arm.

Tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet are kicking off a week packed with earnings, during which investors are sitting tight for indicators about the state of the broader economy.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Davos in the desert 🌴 — The Future Investment Initiative kicks off. You might start getting paid for your blood. Ontario’s EQAO scores are bad.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Saudi Arabia’s [Future Investment Initiative](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/wall-street-is-heading-to-saudi-arabia-as-us-oil-spat-simmers-1.1836247#:~:text=An escalating dispute over an,the US and Saudi Arabia.) (FII) kicks off today, with the who’s who of international finance meeting in Riyadh to talk shop, despite the icy chill hanging over Western relations.

As Canada Blood Services (CBS) deals with decade-low donation levels, the nation’s blood supply administrator hopes paying people to get jabbed will get more veins through the door.

About half of Ontario students are not meeting the provincial math standards of a B grade, according to the province’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Android auto 🤖 — Snap stock is spooky. The G7 price cap on Russian oil might not work. And Apple and Android are fighting over your car.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

If Snap’s earnings are any indication of how social media companies are faring right now, the answer is: Not well, not well at all.

The G7 price cap on Russian oil imports set to start December 5 has been touted as the biggest step yet in defunding the Russian war machine. But experts aren’t so sure.

The battle between blue and green bubbles is about to get a whole lot uglier as cars evolve into drivable devices.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Liz out 👩‍💼 — Liz Truss is out as PM. Via is adding buffer cars. And the Women’s World Cup TV rights are back up for sale.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

After six weeks in office (the shortest tenure for a British prime minister), Truss was forced to resign in the wake of economic turmoil caused by her disastrous “mini-budget”.

In today’s normal, nothing-to-see-here news: VIA Rail is adding ‘buffer cars’ to its oldest passenger trains to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

Tomorrow’s draw for the 2023 Women’s World Cup will decide the tourney’s first-round matches, but what remains undecided is who’s going to broadcast them.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Inflation only goes up 📈 — Netflix is back. Inflation is up. And global cities lure top talent.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 22:19:13 -0400

After a rocky year of subscriber losses and investor doubt, Netflix is back with ambitions bigger than a season premiere of Stranger Things.

The annual inflation rate slowed to 6.9%, down from 7% last month, mostly thanks to falling gas prices, but is still above what most experts expected. The core inflation rate (which excludes energy and food prices) actually rose to 5.4% from 5.3%.

In the global race for top talent, governments are bending over backwards to attract the world’s most-desirable ex-pats with fancy new super visas and generous tax incentives.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Friendship ⛴ — Trade partners are friendshoring. Old school banks are reinventing themselves. And Meta is selling Giphy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Friendshoring is on the rise as Western countries start shifting trade to friendly partners to cut dependence on totalitarian regimes, most notably China and Russia.

Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s most important financial institutions, is restructuring its business to streamline work and improve its digital offerings.

Meta is selling Giphy after UK regulators ruled that its ownership of the popular GIF platform restricts consumer choice and hurts competition both in the ad and social media markets.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Price freeze 🥶 — Loblaw freezes No Name prices. Hockey fans are annoyed with the new rink boards. And there’s a new hit social app.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s biggest grocer announced it is freezing prices on all of its No Name products (over 1,500 items) until the end of January 2023, per The Globe and Mail.

When the NHL kicked off its season last week, fans were quick to notice the addition of digitally enhanced dasherboards (DEDs) on rink boards, with some taking to social media to air their grievances around the “hard-to-watch” animations.

There’s a new app you need to know about so you don’t feel hopelessly out of touch next time you’re around teens: It’s called Gas, and it’s rocketing up the download charts despite only being available in a few US states right now, per The Wall Street Journal.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Budget u-turn 🏦 — PM Liz Truss fires her finance minister. Weather reporting is being privatized. You might be better off quitting.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Embattled British PM Liz Truss made (another) U-turn yesterday, firing her top finance official, Kwasi Kwarteng, and reversing plans to slash corporate taxes.

Weather forecasts have always been unreliable (the atmosphere is changing constantly), but as the weather becomes even more unpredictable, sports leagues, airlines, and even militaries are turning to private forecasters.

If you’re looking to move up the ranks at your company, you might just want to find a new one, according to a new study that found what you do isn’t as important as who you do it for.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive everything 📱 — Core inflation is at a 10 year high in the US. Canadians are paying more for everything. And TikTok is taking a big swing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

US core inflation hit a four-decade high last month, which, to be clear, is the opposite of what Jerome Powell & Friends need to prove their plan to cool the economy and achieve a “soft landing” is working.

Canada is famous for many things: Poutine, hockey, ketchup chips—and high, high prices. According to The National Post, Canadians are paying a serious premium for products, including mobile plans, grocery hauls, and some basic services.

It’s already put a dent in Meta’s advertising business, and now TikTok is preparing to take on a bunch of other Western tech giants with a push into music streaming and e-commerce.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Nuclear comeback 🔌 — Nuclear power is in vogue again. Meta releases a new headset. And there’s a backlog of PR applications.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada-based Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management’s renewables division have buddied up to buy nuclear company Westinghouse Electric for US$7.9 billion amid a global frenzy to find climate-friendly alternatives to Russian energy, per The Wall Street Journal.

Meta is betting that companies will pay $1,500 for the company’s new Quest Pro virtual reality headset, in its push to bring the metaverse to the corporateverse.

Experts believe there are now tens of thousands of skilled immigrants waiting in limbo to get approved for permanent residence visas who may be forced to leave the country when their temporary work permits expire.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Protest 🪧 — Real estate investors are protesting interest rates. Saudi Arabia is on a hunt for talent. Lego is getting smart.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Seven months into the Bank of Canada’s rate hike spree, some Canadians are already taking to their local parks to protest higher interest rates on their mortgages.

Dream job alert: Get paid millions of tax-free dollars to help design a gleaming city of the future from the ground up. There’s only one catch: Your employer is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that city is Neom, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The world’s largest toy company is starting to play in the $1 trillion education business.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Tax evaders 🏦 — Hockey Canada loses another sponsor. Facebook employees don’t even like the metaverse. And still no action on the Panama Papers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Hockey Canada has officially lost every last one of its top-tier corporate sponsors after Nike suspended its 23-year partnership with the organization

Have you been spending time in the metaverse? No? That makes you, everyone else you know, and even Meta's own employees.

Six years after the release of the Panama Papers, it’s not clear if the government has collected any tax-evasion-money hidden in Central American offshore accounts.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Robot dogs 🐶 — A new pact not to weaponize robots. Alberta wants you to move there. And an investigation into Canada’s grocers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Six companies, including the famous Boston Dynamics (BD), pledged not to weaponize or support the weaponization of their robots, and urged others to follow suit.

A nurse, an accountant, and an engineer walk into a province. They all get jobs.

That’s one of several cheeky ads, paid for by the government of Alberta, taking over Canada’s busiest transit stations lately. It’s all part of a $2.6M “Alberta is Calling” campaign, which aims to lure skilled workers to the province with affordable housing and high wages.

The feds are going to take a long, hard look at Canada’s biggest grocers to see if they’ve been stocking lies and deception alongside meats and produce in their stores.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Credit surcharge 💳 — A new credit card fee could be coming soon. OPEC+ is cutting oil production. And an MBA isn’t what it used to be.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Starting today, you might see a new surcharge on your receipt when you tap your plastic. Businesses in Canada are now allowed to pass credit card processing fees onto customers.

OPEC+, the Middle Eastern energy cartel that accounts for 40% of the world’s oil supply, agreed to cut its collective output by 2 million barrels a day or roughly 2% of global output.

Wannabe McKinsey consultants and Bay Street executives are starting to realize that in today’s red-hot labour market, an MBA might be nothing more than a nice-to-have.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

For sale 🏷 — HSBC is considering exiting Canada. Phil Collins and Gensis sold their music rights. And Elon is buying Twitter after all.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Phil Collins and Genesis no longer have publishing rights to their recordings. But they aren’t throwing it all away. They’re the most recent musicians to receive a hefty sum for them.

HSBC has launched a review into its Canadian business that could end in a US$9B sale, as the bank faces pressure to ditch less profitable markets to focus on Asia and Europe.

After all the bot disputes. The whistleblowing. The texts to Joe Rogan. The poop emoji. After all that drama… Elon Musk might actually end up buying Twitter. For realsies this time.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Continuons 🗳 — Legault wins big. Credit Suisse is in trouble. And brands have too much merchandise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Francois Legault will stay in power as Quebec’s premier as his centre-right nationalist CAQ party secured a majority government in a cakewalk.

Credit Suisse saw a gauge of its credit risk rise to a record high while its stock hit record lows, raising doubts about its financial stability.

From Nike, to Walmart, to Canadian Tire, retailers and brands have more merch than they know what to do with as inventories bulge while consumers cut down on their spending.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Postal loans 📬 — Canada Post is introducing a new loan service. Elon’s Twitter texts get released. And Meta reduces headcount.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 07:01:34 -0400

Canada Post has expanded its MyMoney loan program in partnership with TD Bank to locations across Canada, offering loans between $1000 and $30,000, with approval in as little as 10 minutes.

Text messages made public as part of Elon Musk’s court fight with Twitter (along with being highly entertaining) shed insight into his early motivations for buying the business and show how Silicon Valley heavyweights rallied to his cause.

Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—plans to reduce its headcount and cut budgets across most teams.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New Google 🔎 — Google is revamping search. Pickleball is taking off. And Russia reports on the Ukrainian “referendum”.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Google announced at its Search On conference that it’s testing updates to Search and Maps that will push its flagship tools in a “visual-forward” direction.

An ownership group including NBA superstar LeBron James bought a professional pickleball team that will join Major League Pickleball (MLP) for its upcoming season.

Russia will annex four regions in Ukraine today after tightly controlled “referendums” that Kremlin officials claim resulted in 99% of locals voting to join Russia

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New Alzheimer’s drug 💊 — Workers are getting raises. There could be a new CAPTCHA. And a new Alzheimer’s is going through a third clinical trial.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Employers have come up with a novel idea to retain and sustain their workforce during these trying times. You may have heard of it. It’s called ‘paying people more.’

IT giant Cloudflare introduced a new breed of CAPTCHA test called Turnstile that promises to reduce the average test time from 32 seconds to one second.

A new drug slowed the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients in large-scale clinical trials, according to its developers Biogen and Eisai.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Mobile lithium 🔋 — A Canadian company has a new way to mine for lithium. China’s trying to revive its belt and road initiative. And the Nord Stream pipelines are leaking.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Vancouver-based International Battery Metals claims to have developed a first-of-its-kind mobile lithium mining plant that can extract and process lithium with minimal environmental impact.

There’s buyer’s remorse over that late-night Amazon purchase, and then there’s real buyer’s remorse (to the tune of $1 trillion)—the latter is what China is experiencing right now as it tries to salvage its troubled Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Sweden reported two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline close to the Danish island of Bornholm, mere hours after Denmark reported a separate leak in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the same area.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Internet vote 🗳 — A UN agency is hosting a big vote on the future of the internet. The British economy is in trouble. And Beyond Meat isn’t doing so well.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN body responsible for setting global communications standards, will elect its new leader this week—a decision that could shape the future of the internet.

The British economy is experiencing some serious turbulence—or an omnishambles, they might say across the pond—as investors give a big thumbs down to the UK government’s new fiscal plan.

Sales of plant-based meats have declined over the past year while negative perceptions of the product have increased, per a new Deloite report.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Diplomacy 🇰🇷 — Russia mobilizes troops. Buy now pay later is coming to a retailer near you. And Canada pushes for more influence in Asia.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:22:28 -0400

Russia’s decision to mobilize military reserves for the first time since WWII has triggered a crisis, as protests erupt and men flee to neighbouring countries.

Block is rolling out out BNPL options on its point-of-sale platform, Square.

Canada has joined a new US-led alliance aimed at strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific nations—which include Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of Asian countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, although notably not China or Taiwan.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New airline 🛫 — Canada has a new airline. OtterBox is pulling out of Quebec. And South Korea wants to do business with us.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada Jetlines flew its inaugural flight yesterday carrying passengers from Toronto Pearson to Calgary International Airport.

The unexpected casualty of Quebec’s new language laws: OtterBoxes.

For our last story, Forget maple syrup and Tim’s franchises, the two Canadian exports everyone is clamouring for are critical minerals and natural gas. South Korea is the latest country to express interest.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Greenbacks 💵 — The US Dollar is surging. Robots are taking fast food jobs. And TikTok is scrapping political ads.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Congratulations to anyone with a US bank account, because the currency is on a tear.

Meet Flippy, Sippy, and Chippy. No, they aren’t knockoff versions of Snap, Crackle, and Pop. They’re a trio of service robots, and they could soon be preparing your fast food order.

TikTok is banning accounts for politicians, parties, and governments from asking for donations and from using monetary features like tipping, gifting, and e-commerce.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Audiobooks 🎧 — Consumer prices are down. Audiobooks are coming to Spotify. And Russia is meddling in Eastern Ukraine.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian consumer prices fell 0.3% last month, the biggest monthly drop in two years.

Spotify launched its long-awaited audiobooks feature in the US and will eventually roll it out in all of its markets as it strives to become the one-stop-shop for everything audio.

Russian-installed leaders in the occupied Eastern Ukrainian provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia have announced planned referendums on joining Russia.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ready to Rumble 🥊 — Rumble is going public. Ukraine’s economy isn’t looking good. And Volkswagen is spinning Porsche off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Toronto-based video site Rumble, which bills itself as a free speech alternative to sites like YouTube, went public after a successful SPAC merger valuing the company at US$2 billion.

While Ukraine’s war efforts have garnered positive results in recent weeks, its economic prospects are looking increasingly bleak as it continues to seek outside help.

Porsche, owned by Volkswagen Group, will debut on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange later this month, selling ~25% of its shares with hopes of fetching a valuation of US$75 billion.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

2 stars ⭐️ — Is the Michelin Star all it’s cracked up to be? Offices are having trouble filling them with people. And an 18 year-old hacked Uber.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 06:58:02 -0400

If you’ve been on the internet this week, there’s a good chance you already know that the Michelin guide awarded its first Canadian stars to 13 restaurants.

Offices are back up and running, but employers are having trouble actually filling them with employees… who remain perfectly fine at home thank you very much.

Uber confirmed its internal systems suffered a breach perpetrated by someone alleging to be an 18-year-old.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Climate corp 🌎 — Patagonia founder gives the company away. Adobe buys Figma. Walmart has a new styling feature.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, along with his family, gave away control of the ~US$3 billion company to a trust and a nonprofit organization tackling environmental issues.

Adobe agreed to buy design software company Figma for US$20 billion in what will be the largest acquisition ever of a private software company if it gets approved.

Walmart has launched its Be Your Own Model tool, which uses a user’s full-body photo to simulate the dressing room experience with Walmart fashion finds.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

The Merge 🔌 — Ethereum is going to proof of stake. Shopify is restaffing their leadership. And EU energy execs are doing too well.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Ethereum, a blockchain platform supporting over 50% of the total value of the decentralized finance industry, is shifting to a less energy-intensive way of validating transactions.

Shopify restaffed most of its leadership team during the pandemic, and now the top brass of what was once Canada’s most valuable company isn’t looking very Canadian.

European energy executives are doing a little too well these days.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Collection time ⏰ — The Twitter and Musk feud is nearing its climax. US inflation numbers are bad. And the Feds haven’t been able to get their loans back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022

As we await the start of Twitter v. Elon Musk (October 17 if you want to mark your calendar) the final pieces are falling into place for the tech trial of the century.

The federal government gave small businesses $49 billion in pandemic loans but forgot one crucial part of doling out tonnes of cash: A plan to get it back.

Higher-than-expected US inflation numbers have cleared the runway for the Federal Reserve to deliver another big rate hike—a realization that has sent markets into shock.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Climate coalition 🌨 — Modern-day slavery is a huge problem. The bond market is suffering. And there’s concern over Canada’s new climate laws.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

In 2021, 50 million people across the globe were in some form of modern slavery, including 28 million working under forced labour conditions, per a new UN report.

If you’re kicking yourself over a bad stock pick recently, we’re here to tell you that even the safest investments are losing money this year. That’s right, a key index tracking global bonds has dropped 16.8% since January.

Climate Proof, a coalition led by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, published an open letter calling the federal government’s new climate goals ‘‘vague and distant”.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Stress test 🏠 — Canada’s unemployment rate is up. Google is in hot water. And Canadians want to revise the stress test.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s unemployment rate is up for the first time in seven months, which means that high interest rates have (done what they do best and) thrown cold water on the red hot labour market.

The US Justice Department (DOJ) is accusing Google of paying companies billions each year to remain the default search engine on browsers, illegally.

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), which oversees federal mortgage rules, confirmed it will not loosen its borrowing requirements, per Bloomberg.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Her Majesty 👑 — Canada has a new inflation support plan. The super yacht industry is booming. Corporations are pulling back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government announced a new three-pronged plan to introduce temporary relief measures aimed at helping low-income Canadians beat back inflation pains.

Speaking of the wealthy doing more than their fair share of spending, the superyacht rental business is booming as the well-to-do want to hit the high seas in luxury and comfort.

Corporate swag bags may soon become an ancient relic of the past, disappearing with memories of money flowing freely through corporate America’s expense accounts.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Basis points ⬆️ — The Bank of Canada announced a 0.75% rate hike. New iPhones. And markets are going haywire.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As expected, the BoC delivered another oversized rate hike, bumping the overnight interest rates up to 3.25% from 2.50% (or 75 basis points, if you’re fancy like that).

Apple held its latest product launch event, dubbed Far Out, yesterday, announcing a range of new goodies including the iPhone 14 and the Apple Watch Ultra.

Freaked-out investors are pouring money into the US while pulling out of international stocks at a rate not seen since a 22-week run of outflows in 2019, per the WSJ.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Nordstream none 👩‍🔧 — The European Commission is considering fixing energy prices. Canada is falling behind on EVs. And we’re not hitting our climate targets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Record-high natural gas prices are climbing higher, sending inflation soaring across the region. According to the European Commission (EC), fixing prices could be an answer.

Despite a year full of big electric vehicle (EV) announcements, Canada has fallen further behind its global peers in the race to electrify the roadways.

Canada is the worst-performing G7 nation for reducing corporate sector carbon emissions, per a new study from CDP and Oliver Wyman.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Pumpkin spice 🍂 — G7 put a cap on Russian oil prices. Starbucks has a new CEO. And Chengdu is in lockdown.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

G7 nations have agreed to impose a cap on the price of Russian oil imports, despite Russian threats to cut off cold turkey any country that tries to mess with its energy business.

The pumpkin spice latte isn’t the only hot arrival at Starbucks this fall. The company is bringing in a new CEO to oversee grand ambitions to modernize its espresso-slinging business.

If you’re planning to buy an iPad any time soon, you may want to act fast. The Chinese manufacturing hub of Chengdu (where most of Apple’s tablets are made) is locking down to contain a COVID outbreak, threatening to disrupt supply chains around the world.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Toxic 🧪 — The US is blocking Nvidia from selling chips to China. Disney is launching a version of Prime. And some dollar store products were found to be toxic.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:22:51 -0400

The US is blocking chipmaker Nvidia from selling some of its advanced products to China, according to the company’s latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Disney is exploring the creation of an Amazon Prime-like membership, per The Wall Street Journal.

A new study from environmental advocacy group Environmental Defence that tested items from Canadian dollar stores found that 25% of them included toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium, and antimony.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Slow gaming 🎰 — Canada’s economy is slowing. iGaming is off to a slow start. And Truth Social is in hot water.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:45:00 -0400

After a solid two-year run, the Canadian economy might be finally slowing down, growing at an annualzed rate of 3.3% in the second quarter (missing the Bank of Canada’s 4% forecast).

In its first three months of operation, iGaming Ontario (IGO) reported over $4 billion in cash wagers placed resulting in net revenue of $162 million split between operators, gaming sites, and the province.

Donald Trump’s free-speech-centric Twitter alternative Truth Social has run into financial, legal, and technical issues, which honestly, is about what we expected.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

IP Sale 🏷 — Blackberry is selling IP. Canadian housing prices are taking a big hit. And there’s new Twitter drama.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 06:22:12 -0400

BlackBerry’s deal to sell 37,175 of its patents fell apart after the buyer landed US$90M short of the $600M agreed-upon payment, per The Globe and Mail.

Canadian housing prices will fall between 20-25% from recent all-time highs by the end of 2023’s first quarter, according to a new report from TD Bank.

The world’s richest man is citing a recent whistleblower report filed by Twitter’s former head of security Peiter Zatko as another reason why he should be let out of his US$44 billion deal to buy the bird app.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Berry mania 🫐 — The US wants our berries. It’s a tough job to get a handle on Europe’s electricity crisis. Canadian post-secondary students have a housing crisis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As California experiences its worst drought in 1200 years (no, somehow that’s not a typo), two of North America's largest fruit sellers are looking to Canada to grow their berries.

The European Commission confirmed that it’s working on an ‘emergency intervention’ to the continent’s electricity market as prices surge

Forget heavy courseloads and unrequited crushes, Canadian post-secondary students have a bigger problem as they head back to school this year: Finding somewhere to live.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive show 📺 — Amazon’s about to drop the most expensive show ever. Modern is suing Pfizer. And Binance is under scrutiny.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As streamers continue to navigate a difficult year, Amazon has come up with one simple trick to turn things around: Produce and release the most expensive show of all time.

Moderna is suing Pfizer and BioNTech in the US and Germany (where BioNTech is based), claiming that the companies’ COVID shot infringes on patents for key elements of its messenger RNA technology that made its ‘Spikevax’ shot possible.

As Canadian regulators start to crack down on crypto companies, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is also facing a $1 billion class-action lawsuit in Toronto.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Dollar store 🪙 — Canadians are shopping at budget stores. Expect more Canadians. And a new golf league.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As the consumer price index rises to 7.6% (compared with a year ago) shoppers are flocking to discount retailers… and investors are following closely behind.

Get ready for a future where your commute is more crowded and the morning Tim’s line is even longer because Canada is going to have a lot more people.

Golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have formed TMRW Sports, a new venture partnering with the PGA Tour to drag an old-fashioned game kicking and screaming into the future.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Quiet quitting 🤫 — Central bankers are meeting in Jackson Hole. Gen Zs are quiet quitting. And coffee might get more expensive.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

It’s been a rough week for markets as we wait for a vibe check on the economy coming out of the Federal Reserve’s annual policy symposium, kicking off in Jackson Hole today.

There’s a new trend gaining traction online amongst hoards of disaffected workers: Quiet quitting. And no, it doesn’t mean silently walking out of the office one day, never to return

Poor harvests in Brazil may start hitting your wallet where it hurts most: Your daily cup of joe.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Copycat 🐱 — Europe is facing economic uncertainty. Instagram is copying BeReal. And hydrogen is all the rage.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

European economists and business leaders are growing increasingly worried that economic slowdowns in the region’s leading economies could send the eurozone into a difficult recession.

After garnering flack earlier this year for trying too hard to be TikTok, Instagram has now set its sights on wanting to be exactly like BeReal, another popular app amongst the Gen Zs.

Yesterday, Canada inked a deal to supply green hydrogen fuel to Germany. Sounds great for everyone, right? But what exactly is hydrogen fuel? We break it down.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Willkommen 🇩🇪 — The German chancellor comes to Canada. There’s a huge book merger on the horizon. And who’s responsible when a self driving car crashes?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 06:20:00 -0400

Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz has touched down in Canada and is ready to make an energy deal that absolutely does not include Russia.

Because arts graduates didn’t have it hard enough already, a proposed merger between publishers may spell trouble for up-and-coming Canadian authors.

The UK will deem vehicle manufacturers responsible for the vehicle’s actions while driving, meaning the human co-driver will be free from liability in a crash.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bed, bath and crash 🛁 — Another meme stock come and goes. Insurers aren’t covering cyberattacks anymore. And there are new crypto regs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Just five months after activist investor Ryan Cohen took on a ~10% position in Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), his sudden exit has sent shares spiralling by ~40%.

Canada’s top financial regulator has introduced its first-ever framework to **limit the exposure of federally regulated financial institutions, like banks and insurers, to crypto assets (nice!).

Starting next year, Lloyd’s of London insurers (which includes Lloyd’s Canada) will no longer offer coverage for state-backed cyberattacks in their policies.

The demand for natural gas has soared this year, but producers in Alberta have been unable to capitalize on higher prices (and are seeing billions lost in revenue).

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Gaz guzzlers ⛽️ — Alberta can’t capture the natural gas upside. Homeowners in China are boycotting rent payments. And Canadian VC dollars are coming back to earth.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 07:32:00 -0400

The demand for natural gas has soared this year, but producers in Alberta have been unable to capitalize on higher prices (and are seeing billions lost in revenue).

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners across 100 cities are banding together and refusing to repay loans on unfinished apartments

After a high ride throughout the pandemic, venture capital (VC) funding for Canadian companies has finally come down to Earth.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

1 year 🎉 — The Peak Daily is one year old. Zellers is coming back. Airbnb is rolling out anti-party technology.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Almost a decade after Zellers left suburban malls across the country sitting empty, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is looking to launch its Canadian discount chain back into relevance.

Airbnb is introducing a new weapon in its war against fun and will soon roll out “anti-party technology” on its platform in Canada and the US.

Canada’s largest unions are now clapping back at the Bank of Canada, advocating for workers’ bargaining power at a time (they say) they need to make gains.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Lab diamonds 💍 — Inflation is down. Pandora is rolling out lab grown diamonds. And US mining dollars might be coming to Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Inflation may have peaked, but still remains “far too high” according to a new op-ed penned by the Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem.

Pandora announced the launch of its first collection featuring lab-grown diamonds later this month throughout Canada and the US.

Canadian officials are pointing to a document recently posted on the White House website that explicitly calls for Canada to be a domestic source for critical minerals as a sign that Canada could see some of the money from President Biden’s landmark climate bill coming it's way.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

WeLive 🏠 – An update on China. Adam Neumann is back. And Bytedance gives up their algo.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Five US lawmakers decided to visit Taiwan just 12 days after the same trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prompted China to launch days of military drills around the self-governing island, which Beijing considers its territory

WeWork’s Adam Neumann is back with a new company and he just raised $350 million in fundraising from venture capital fund Andressen Horowitz.

Some of China’s biggest tech companies including ByteDance and Alibaba disclosed to the government the inner workings of their algorithms—an unprecedented move in the tech world.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

More workers 👩‍🏭 — Employers are taking advantage of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Weddings are getting more expensive. And Nunavut is facing a food crisis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:23:59 -0400

As Canadian employers face the lowest unemployment rate in decades, they’re moving to fill roles with temporary foreign workers (or TFW, for short)

As the post-pandemic wedding boom picks up in Canada, so are bachelor and bachelorette festivities. The only problem? They’ve become more expensive than ever (thanks, inflation).

The global food crisis wreaking havoc on the world’s poorest nations is also taking its toll on Canada’s most remote northern communities.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Correction ✏️ — The CPPIB didn’t do that bad. Russian oil is doing okay. And Canada’s housing market may be stabilizing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 07:19:00 -0400

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) saw its funds drop by 4.2% last quarter or roughly $16 billion—which sounds a lot worse than it actually is.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Western sanctions have had a limited impact on Russia’s oil exports, which is also its biggest money maker.

The average price of a Canadian home is projected to fall by ~25% by the end of 2023 from all-time highs this past February, per a new report from Desjardins.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Corporate cards 💳 —Microsoft is pulling back on corporate card spending. Europe is struggling with the heat. And Dominos is leaving Italy.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As a wave of economic uncertainty hits Big Tech, Microsoft is reining in the fun money.

Extreme heat and low rainfall are drying up Europe’s rivers which could lead to potentially catastrophic impacts on the US$80 billion river trade contributes to the EU’s economy.

And for our last story, La vita isn’t very dolce right now for Domino’s after the pizza chain failed to take off in the saucy dish’s birthplace.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Airline audit ✈️ — Netflix’s games aren’t taking off. The government is investigating Canadian airlines. And Google wants Apple to get rid of the green bubbles.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Netflix is struggling to build its gaming business as less than 1% of their users interact with them on a daily basis

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Canada’s airlines and airports, the government has launched an investigation into the flight cancellations making headlines.

Android users know that there is no greater indignity than being the only green bubble in a friend group of iPhone users. Google is now stepping up to fight this injustice.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Embarrassing earnings 📉 — SoftBank has a bad quarter. Self driving cars are coming to China. And Ontario hospitals are in crisis.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Japanese technology investor SoftBank reported a record loss of US$23 billion last quarter, after a spending spree that CEO Masayoshi Son described as delirious.

Baidu (China’s Google) is the country’s first company licensed to commercially offer fully driverless robotaxis without a human supervisor present through Apollo Go, its driverless ride-hailing platform.

Canadian hospital shutdowns that began in small jurisdictions have now spread to the biggest cities as the healthcare system deals with a devastating labour shortage.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Roomba and Ring 📦 — Canada’s implementing a handgun ban. Amazon buys iRobot. And Canada and India may do a free trade deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada will ban the import of restricted handguns this month, part of a broader effort to curb gun violence after the country’s deadliest mass shooting in 2019, per The Washington Post.

A comprehensive free trade agreement with India would be a mega-win for the Canadian economy, according to a new study commissioned by business groups backing a deal.

Amazon is buying iRobot, the maker of the Roomba vacuum and other home robots, for US$1.7 billion.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Italian innovation 🇮🇹 — Nunavut workers may be out of jobs. Italy is getting a semiconductor manufacturing facility. And GM’s rolling out new self-driving features.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Over 1000 miners in Nunavut could be out of a job come September after receiving termination notices warning that their mine might be forced to shut down as it nears its yearly extraction limit.

Italy is close to clinching a ~$5 billion deal with US-based Intel to build an advanced semiconductor (chip) packaging and assembly plant in the country

Good news for people whose hands get super sweaty when they grip a steering wheel for too long: GM’s advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) will soon be available on more Canadian highways.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Metaverse dating ❤️ — Tinder is giving up on the metaverse. Nancy Pelosi is in Taiwan. And Warner Brother’s is shelving Batgirl.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

After an earnings report more disappointing than a bad date who didn’t even offer to split the bill, Tinder is making some changes and curtailing its metaverse ambitions.

If there’s anything we can learn from Nancy Pelosi’s jaunt to Taiwan–specifically, the criticism surrounding it–it’s that the world is pretty freaked out about China right now.

If you’re wondering how bad a movie has to be for a studio to not even bother releasing it ask a member of the test audience for “Batgirl” because you’re not going to get a chance to see it for yourself after Warner Brothers shelves it before it was even released.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Cash flow 💸 — Uber is cash flow positive. Amazon produces a bunch of emissions. And grain shipment is surging.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 06:22:19 -0400

For the first time in the company’s history, Uber reported positive cash flow in a quarter on the back of a record US$8.1 billion in revenue.

As last year’s lockdowns drove online spending to new heights, Amazon’s carbon emissions grew 18% from the year before, according to the company’s latest sustainability report.

Canadian National Railway is predicting a big rebound for Canadian grain shipments after an off-year and expects to move up to 27 million tonnes of grain for the current crop year—a ~48% year-over-year increase.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Definition 📖 — The oil business is booming. US regulators are blocking Meta’s acquisitions. And we’re arguing over the definition of a recession.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Tech companies may be struggling, but it’s a great time to be in a more old-school business: oil and gas companies are raking in record profits and earning windfalls for shareholders.

US antitrust regulators are suing to block Meta’s purchase of virtual reality startup Within, a move that could seriously hamper the company’s metaverse ambitions and have ripple effects across Big Tech.

The debate over we’re in a recession is heating up!

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Finish fertilizer 🌾 — DeepMind releases a new database. Global natural gas prices are on the rise. And the feds want farmers to use less fertilizer.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 13:15:15 -0400

DeepMind is releasing an extended database with information for nearly every protein known to science, only eighteen months after introducing the AI behind it.

Global natural gas prices are on the rise this week after Russia cut gas flows to Europe in half.

The federal government wants to cut fertilizer emissions by 30% by 2030 per its latest climate plan, but farming critics believe that isn’t feasible without producing a lot less food.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Cloud war ☁️ — Microsoft is assembling a coalition to fight Amazon for public sector contracts. It’s earnings season. And FTX is buying Bithum.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 06:17:00 -0400

Microsoft is leading a crusade against Amazon’s dominance in the government cloud-computing space and is asking competitors to raise their voices, too.

It’s earnings season and we’re breaking down the numbers from some of the biggest companies.

FTX, the world’s second largest crypto exchange, is eying a purchase of South Korean crypto exchange Bithum as founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried looks to continue his shopping spree.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive soap 🧼 — Shopify lays off 10% of staff. Unliver hikes the price on a bunch of brands. The Kardashians don’t like the new Instagram.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Shopify’s no-good, horrible, very-bad year only got worse after the company announced it was laying off 10% of its workforce, sending shares cratering by ~15%.

Unilever increased prices across its 400 brands, from Dove soap to Hellmann’s mayonnaise, by 11%, as executives try to battle an “unprecedented cost landscape” without losing customers to cheaper alternatives.

The Kardashians aren’t happy about Meta’s moves to make Facebook and Instagram more like TikTok, but not even their clout is powerful enough to stop the pivot to video.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Code of conduct 📜 — Rogers explains what happened with the outage. Grocery chains may have to adopt a code of conduct. And the US Senate moves the Chips Act forward.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Yesterday, Rogers execs went to the House of Commons, received a stern talking to, explained what went wrong, and laid out some measures to prevent another major outage.

Grocery chains and suppliers have said the government may need to intervene to help create a national code of conduct for the industry, per the Financial Post.

The US Senate has voted to advance a US$280 billion package of subsidies and research funding to raise US technological competitiveness with China.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

AI painter 🎨 — DALL-E 2 is now available to the public. Snap got hit hard. And Ukraine and Russia have a grain deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

DALL-E 2, the image generator that took the internet by storm, has become more widely available.

Snap shares fell 35% yesterday after the company reported lacklustre growth and revenue results, despite an increase in daily active users of 18% to 347 million.

Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement to reopen three key Ukrainian ports for the shipment of grain, in an attempt to avoid plunging the globe into a catastrophic food crisis.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Strong mayors 💪 — Toronto and Ottawa are getting a strong mayor system. Facebook is copying TikTok (again). And Canada has a new trade adversary!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Ontario wants Toronto and Ottawa’s mayors to become the country’s first ‘strong mayors’—and no, that doesn’t mean they need to hit the gym.

Facebook-parent company Meta has revamped the Facebook app to make it feel a lot more like you’re browsing TikTok

Within hours of each other, Canada and the US launched trade complaints against Mexican energy policies unfairly excluding foreign firms under the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA).

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Pipeline power 🛢 — Inflation hits 8.1%. Nord Stream 1 comes back online, at least partially. Canada’s improving their marine supply chain sustainability.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s consumer price index (CPI) surged to 8.1% in June, the biggest annual increase in almost 40 years, mostly driven by high gas prices (up 54.6% since last year).

Russia said that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Europe’s main gas delivery system, would resume operations today after a scheduled maintenance shutdown, likely at reduced capacity.

The federal government has announced a $2 billion expansion to Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan with one stated initiative to “improve the efficiency and sustainability of Canada’s marine supply chains and mitigate their impacts on the environment.”

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Heat wave ☀️ — There’s a bad heat wave in Europe. Netflix didn’t do as bad as investors thought they were going to do. And Canada filled in a big blank in their climate plan.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Temperatures in Britain hit 40 degrees for the first time in recorded history and wildfires continued to sweep through Southern Europe, showing the huge economic toll climate change can take.

On the heels of its first drop in global subscribers in more than a decade, Netflix is expected to lose over a million captive eyeballs—the largest quarterly loss in its history.

Canada took the next step in filling in a major blank in its climate plan: How the oil and gas industry is supposed to reduce emissions by 42% by 2030.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fair share 💰 — Small businesses want Amazon to pay their fair share. Europe’s getting ready to cut back on gas usage. The USD is super strong.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Small business groups are calling on the federal government to change the tax system in order to crack down on multinational companies that are not paying their fair Canadian tax share, in response to some of Amazon’s tactics for tax avoidance coming to light.

As Russia continues to squeeze Europe’s energy supplies (as revenge for siding with Ukraine in the ongoing war), the European Commission is making a plan to cut consumption.

After posting its highest growth numbers for a half since 2010, USD shows no signs of slowing with experts telling The Wall Street Journal it will continue to go up and away for the foreseeable future as global insecurity drives investors to what they see as the safest and stablest currency.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Charter rights 👨‍⚖️ — Travel insurers are just as unhappy with your travel woes. The Bank of Canada really got interest rates wrong. BC’s Court of Appeal closed the door on private healthcare.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Travel insurers are seeing jumbo-jet-sized losses thanks to an onslaught of claims from Canadian travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations. The Bank of Canada (BoC) kind of underestimated just how bad inflation was getting—and is now playing catch-up as it serves up a series of jumbo rate hikes. Long hospital wait times may be the bain of Canada’s health care system, but they’re not unconstitutional according to yesterday’s BC Court of Appeal ruling.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

EV Week 🚗 — New funding announcements for EV week. Amazon wants to make a deal with the EU. And concerts are really expensive.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

It’s EVWeek in Canada and to celebrate the government announced funding announcements for ~950 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Amazon wants to make a deal with EU regulators: The company will limit its use of marketplace seller data and make changes to ‘Buy Box’ rankings, in exchange for a truce (and avoiding a fine worth up to 10% of its global revenue).

Anyone else finally feeling ready for live events again… only to realize your bank account is not*?* We have the surging price of concert tickets to thank.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive ice cream 🍦 — Dairy prices are going up. New census data just dropped. And there’s a new TikTok feature.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

If cheese and milk regularly appear on your grocery list, get ready for higher even bigger bills at the checkout this fall. as two Canadian food suppliers notified grocery stores their dairy products are going to cost more.

Statistics Canada just dropped the latest census data so we thought we’d dig a bit deeper into some of the income data and why it matters to you—and trust me, we’ll make it fun!

TikTok, the app you were probably scrolling through before you started listening to this, announced the roll-out of two new systems that aim to combat a persistent problem on the platform: Inappropriate content.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Backup plan 📕 — The Feds want to avoid another Rogers outage. Canadian dental clinics are being eaten up by private equity. And it’s a big day for Canadian economic news.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As we navigate the Post Rogers Blackout Era (PRBE), the federal government has stepped up to make sure future service shutdowns aren’t so apocalyptic.

Big private equity firms are drilling for value and finding Canadian dental clinics.

At 10:00 AM (ET) the Bank of Canada will kick things off with its decision on the overnight interest rate target.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Energy Tok 🤳— Shell is getting into TikTok. Cruises are polluting the BC coast. And BNPL firms are struggling.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

There’s a new content creator on the TikTok block: Energy companies.

Ever wonder where all the nasty stuff that accumulates on cruise ships ends up? Turns out a lot of goes right into the beautiful waters just off the BC coast, according to a new report examining the cruise industry’s environmental impact.

The latest victim of crashing tech valuations: Buy now, pay later, or BNPL firms.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Can you hear me now? ☎️ — Rogers was down for 15+ hours. Elon’s not buying Twitter. Via Rail employees could be striking.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

~12 million Canadians were affected by Friday’s Rogers network outage and they piled into their neighbourhood Starbucks to wrap up work for the week.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is moving forward with a decade-old data transfers complaint against Meta this week, by forwarding a decision to other agencies for review that would crack down on the company’s ability to transfer its data from the EU to the US.

Musk’s bid to buy Twitter is now in “serious jeopardy,” according to a report by *The Washington Post—*at least if the billionaire has his way.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Long haul ⚠️ — Construction companies are struggling to hire. Russia is gearing up for a long fight. Amazon wants to livestream commerce.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s construction sector is facing a serious labour crunch that’s causing companies to turn down or cancel projects and threatening the long-term prospects of the entire industry.

In a sign that Russia is hunkering down for a long fight in Ukraine, the government is shifting the economy to a wartime footing.

Amazon is betting big on Amazon Live, a livestream shopping feature where influencers can sell products directly to the viewing audience and pocket commissions ranging from 2% to 20% depending on the product

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Kiwi milk 🥛 — Global housing markets are in decline. We’re fighting with New Zealand over dairy. And Twitter is suing India.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Home prices around the globe (including in Australia, New Zealand, the US and UK) are on the verge of decline, according to Capital Economics, a research group.

In the case of international trade, longtime pals Canada and New Zealand are bickering over new Canadian dairy policies that are hampering New Zealand’s export ambitions.

Twitter is taking on the world’s largest democracy and suing the Indian government after it was forced to remove content and block dozens of accounts from its platform under India’s internet laws.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Taps off 🛢 — Russia could switch the taps off to Europe’s gas supply. The rental market is heating up. And FIFA is bringing in robo-refs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Russia is set to switch off the taps to one of Europe’s largest natural gas pipelines—and Germany is worried!

As students get back to campuses and workers to offices, already overheated rental markets across the counry are starting to feel the heat, with Rentals.ca reporting average monthly rents reaching $1,888 in May (a 10.5% increase from last year).

At least two new things are coming to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in November: Team Canada (we’re counting them as new since they haven’t been there since 1986) and AI technology that will help referees make crucial offside calls.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Crypto winter ❄️ — The Bank of Canada releases a new survey on business outlooks. The chip shortage may be ending. And there’s a new victim of the crypto winter.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada (BoC) released its newest quarterly surveys on consumer expectations and business outlooks yesterday and one thing was clear: both groups are still hyper-focused on inflation, but not yet panicking about a potential recession.

Some good news in the long fight against supply chain disruptions: After two years of high demand, sales of some semiconductor chips are starting to wane—a development that could cut down on global wait times for the precious product

Zip up those parkas because the crypto winter is getting even chillier, as another major lender in the space has fallen victim to the modern incarnation of a good ol’ fashioned bank run.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive hot dogs 🌭 — TikTok is (once again) facing a ban. Your BBQ costs are inflated. Zuck is looking to make big cuts.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 05:45:00 -0400

TikTok is once again fighting for its survival in Western markets as it faces growing criticism over its relationship with China’s government and how it handles user data.

We hope the scourge of inflation this year didn’t spoil the long weekend for you, but you might have noticed paying more for pretty much everything you need for a successful ‘BBQ.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, plans to cut hiring and demand more from existing employees as it preps for an economic downturn, according to leaked audio from a company staff meeting.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Välkommen 🇸🇪 — Canadian brands are pulling their dollars from Hockey Canada. Dealers could be dust. And Finland and Sweden are joining NATO.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Scotiabank, Tim Hortons, Telus, and Canadian Tire have suspended funding for Hockey Canada following the organization’s mishandling of sexual assault allegations against its players.

If you’re a fan of haggling with salespeople at car dealerships, we have bad news: Ford plans to shake up the tried-and-tested dealer model of car sales, using the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) as a testing ground for big changes that could upend the dealer model.

Finland and Sweden finally got the big invite to join NATO they have been waiting for after Turkey dropped its opposition to their membership, setting the stage for the most significant enlargement of the alliance in years.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Real estate reckoning 🏠 — The feds are doubling down on Superclusters. Blackstone won’t be buying your house, but other investors might… The CRA is struggling to get some companies to pay their taxes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government is “doubling down” on its supercluster innovation program, slapping on a fresh coat of paint and publicly reasserting its importance in driving Canadian innovation.

Asset management behemoth Blackstone made it clear it has no interest in investing in single-family homes as part of its expansion into Canadian real estate, but the same can’t be said for other big investors.

If you’re upset your buddy that still owes you $100 for dinner, imagine how the Government of Canada feels about losing out on $23.4 billion in uncollected taxes—that’s how much the Canada Revenue Agency says people and businesses are underpaying to the feds every year.

Long haul 🚛 — The G7 is setting new prices on Russian oil. Canadian berries are at risk. Amazon can now mimic real voices, even dead ones.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 07:21:16 -0400

On Sunday, G7 nations said they were standing with Ukraine for “as long as it takes” in their fight against Russia. On Monday, they translated those words into action with a plan to cap the price of Russian oil, depriving Vladimir Putin of a key revenue source.

We’ve all heard calls to save the bees and now we might be hearing calls to save the berries too as declining bee populations mean Canadian fruit crops aren’t getting the pollination they need.

The Amazon smart speaker will eventually be able to mimic real people’s voices, including those who are dead

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ad supported streaming 📺 — Netflix is adding an advertising-supported account tier. Some CEOs are moving away from remote work. And there’s a new Gamestop-style meme stock.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The rumour about Netflix’s next big move is true and, no, it’s not the one you heard about them bringing back your fave cancelled show (#GLOWSeason4Now): Ads are officially coming to the platform.

Hybrid work may seem like a nice compromise between employers who want workers in seats and employees who’d rather not spend hours commuting every week but CEOs are starting to disagree.

Mover over GameStop, there’s a new meme stock on the block: Revlon, the once-iconic cosmetics brand, has seen its share price soar more than 600% from all-time lows last week. Oh, and did we mention the company is in bankruptcy?

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Robot revolution 🤖 — Amazon’s moving to Robots. Canadian travellers might get refunds. And the CMHC thinks we need to build way more houses.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Amazon has introduced its first fully-autonomous mobile robot designed to safely and easily lift and move large carts around its warehouses, part of a larger effort to automate its sprawling fulfillment centres.

Canadian airlines will soon need to offer customers a refund for cancelled or delayed flights, even if the reason for the disruption is beyond the airline's control thanks to changes to Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.

Grab a hammer and nails, we’ve got work to do: according to a new report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp (CMHC), Canada needs to build 5.8 million homes by 2030 to make housing affordable again.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Party like it’s 1983 👾 — Loblaws wants to get your groceries delivered faster. Shopify is rolling outa bunch of new products. And inflation is at another all time high.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Loblaws has partnered with DoorDash to launch a new rapid grocery delivery service that promises to get customers their fave foodstuffs in 30 minutes or less, available in 12 Canadian cities by the end of August.

Shopify is rolling out over 100 new products and features as the company looks to get a leg-up on its biggest threat, a scrappy young upstart called Amazon.

Inflation jumped to 7.7% last month, up from 6.8% in April and significantly overshooting analyst predictions.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Oracle 🔮 — TikTok is monitoring data from China. Canada’s healthcare system is on the brink. And Cinplex is adding a booking fee.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 06:05:14 -0400

TikTok announced that Oracle’s cloud servers will be the new home of US users’ data, but a new report from Buzzfeed detailing how state-side user data was repeatedly accessed from China.

Canada’s healthcare system is teetering on the brink of crisis and governments must act swiftly to avoid a full-blown meltdown, according to a growing chorus of top doctors and medical leaders.

Canadian moviegoers checking out the latest blockbuster at Cineplex locations might have another expenditure to contend with besides overpriced concessions as the country’s largest theatre chain introduced a $1.50 booking fee for tickets purchased online.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Banned straws 🧃 — Single use plastics will be banned. Camp councillors are in short supply. Europe is burning more coal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:46:15 -0400

Get your metal straws and tote bags ready, because the age of single-use plastic items is coming to an end in Canada as the federal government rolls out its long-anticipated plan to ban disposable plastic items like bags, cutlery, and containers.

Canadian summer camps are struggling to find enough camp counsellors to meet the end-of-school-year rush.

Running low on natural gas imported from Russia, European countries are turning to coal in a bid to lower energy prices and avoid shortages.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Goal ⚽️ — New federal legislation is cracking down on companies who track you. Canada’s rental prices are surging. And Toronto and Vancouver are hosting the 2026 World Cup.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

JOIN US AT OUR PEAK DEBATE ON JUNE 27th IN TORONTO: https://readthepeak.com/debates/billionaires-media-democracy

While we’re still reeling from Tim Hortons’ app scandal, unsure if we can ever trust a mobile fast food ordering platform again, the federal government has introduced new laws to crack down on the sort of privacy invasions and data mishandling that landed Tims in hot water.

Canada’s rental housing market is at it again, and by “it” we mean getting much more expensive, and fast— since last year average rents nationwide have spiked by more than 10% to $1,888 per month

FIFA announced that Toronto and Vancouver have been chosen as host cities for the 2026 World Cup in North America, a privilege that could give local economies a big boost.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Snow washing ❄️ — Criminals are cleaning lots of dirty money in BC. New Canadian streaming legislation is going to be held up in the Senate. And Twitter employees heard from Elon.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

A new government report on money laundering in BC revealed that billions of dollars of criminal funds have flowed through casinos, real estate and luxury goods every year

As the government attempts to very quickly pass laws that force digital streamers to follow Canadian content rules, the Senate has made it clear they’re going to take their sweet time reviewing them.

Twitter employees got their first taste of what life might be like once Elon Musk is in charge, as the platform’s prospective new owner joined a staff all-hands meeting yesterday.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Streaming soccer ⚽️ — It’s looking like a 75 basis point rate hike in Canada. MLS is coming to Apple TV+. And unions are negotiating higher wages.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Following a 0.75 percentage point interest rate rise from the US Federal Reserve yesterday (its largest since 1994), Bay street is now putting the probability of an identical hike coming out of the Bank of Canada’s July decision at 80%

Streaming platform Apple TV+ reaches a ten-year, US$2.5 billion deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) to become the exclusive home of all matches.

Unions are leveraging Canada’s record-low unemployment numbers and unprecedented job vacancies to negotiate higher wages (while they can).

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Get cybersecure 🔒 — What’s up with gas prices. There’s new cybersecurity legislation. And the COVID app is gone!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

We break down why gas prices across the country have hit record highs.

With over four in five businesses impacted by cyberattacks staying quiet last year, the federal government has introduced a new security bill complete with a new set of reporting requirements for the telecoms, finance, energy, and transport sectors.

Canada is shutting down the national COVID contact tracing app we love to hate after changes to PCR testing regulations rendered it largely useless.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bad day 📉 — A really rough day on the markets. Hiring freezes could creep up in Canada. And big companies are leaving Alberta’s oil sands.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The TSX re-enters correction territory and S&P falls into bear market as recession fears intensify with rising inflation.

Layoffs and hiring freezes in the US tech sector are creeping into Canada, with some prominent industry figures worried that tech could lose more jobs than during the 2008 financial crisis.

Big oil companies are fleeing Alberta’s oil sands as the industry becomes a villain of the environmental, social and governance investing movement, per Bloomberg.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

End of testing 🧪 — The Bank of Canada may get more aggressive on internet rates. The US is ending COVID testing for travellers. And Spotify is moving into audiobooks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

BoC Governor Tiff Macklem now says rates may need to move above 3% to tame inflation, putting a rarely seen 0.75% hike on the table for the Bank’s next meeting in July.

The United States may have finally dropped its COVID testing requirements for international travellers, but a combo of flight cancellations, airport backlogs, and labour disputes around the world are likely to make summer travel more painful than usual.

In its never-ending quest to be the home of all things people use their ears to consume, Spotify is now making a push into the audiobooks space.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Chip shortage 💻 — Huawei is still working with Canadian universities. The Bank of Canada is worried about household debt. The world is running low on semiconductors.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Researchers at some of Canada’s top universities will continue to partner with Huawei even after the federal government banned the telecoms giant from the country’s 5G networks.

In its annual Financial System Review, the Bank of Canada warned that high levels of household debt and record-high home prices are the top vulnerabilities that could lead to big problems for the country’s financial system*.*

The world is running low on semiconductor chips and the most advanced chip manufacturers say they could see shortages running into 2024.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Seized assets 🥷 — Canada is looking to seize Russian assets. Sobeys is switching to Scene. And the LIV Tour is attracting some big names in golf.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Politicians in Canada and all over the world are jumping on the idea of seizing Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine, despite a number of practical and legal hurdles.

Soon you’ll be able to use your Scene card to save on more than just cinema popcorn, as Sobeys’ parent company Empire drops Air Miles to unlock better insights into customer data.

Some of the most recognizable names from the PGA Tour will be missing from this weekend’s Canadian Open, as the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series makes its debut in London.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Timber 🪵— Lumber is getting cheaper. Britain is doing a four day workweek experiment. And Shopify has a new share structure.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The price of lumber has bucked the inflation trend by plummeting more than 50% from recent peaks, as people adjust their spending priorities for a post-pandemic lifestyle.
From fish-and-chip shops to big corporations, more than 3,300 workers across 70 companies in the UK will work 80% of their hours for 100% of their pay as part of the world’s largest four-day workweek pilot
Shopify shareholders have voted in favour of giving CEO Tobi Lutke a special “founder share” that entrenches his control of the company

Regulated 🏠 — Governments are cracking down on Airbnb. Elon is trying to get out of buying Twitter. New Apple products.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Municipal governments across the country, including Winnipeg, Ottawa and Charlottetown are enforcing new regulations to get a grip on the booming short-term rental market, ahead of the busiest summer travel season in years.

Elon Musk threatened to walk away from buying Twitter in a letter that accuses the company of not complying with his request for data on the number of spam and fake accounts on the social media platform

Day One of Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference kicked off yesterday with an updated iOS, a buy-now-pay-later service, and two new Macbooks capturing the most attention.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Super bad 👎 — Dairy farmers are worried. Elon Musk feels super bad about the economy. And Canada’s productivity is suffering.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Amidst rampant inflation and supply-chain disruptions, Canadian dairy farmers feel squeezed to get their products onto grocery store shelves.

Billionaire CEO Elon Musk is feeling "super bad" about the economy and will move to pause hiring and cut ~10% of his Tesla workforce, he said in an email to executives on Thursday.

Canada’s got a bigger productivity problem on its hands that threatens to drag down both business profits and wages.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Cancer killer 🧪 — Montreal-based Repare Therapeutics has a new deal for their cancer drug. Canadian investors aren’t happy with disclosure from their green investments. And Canadians are losing their buying power.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Montreal-based Repare Therapeutics has entered a deal (potentially worth US$1.2 billion) with pharma giant F Hoffman La Roche to create a new drug to treat cancerous tumours.

Almost half of Canada’s asset managers, researchers and lenders are “not very satisfied” or “totally dissatisfied” with available company data for so-called “green” investments,

One estimate suggests that inflation has offset two-thirds of the buying power of Canadians after the pandemic

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Rising rates 📈 — Interest rates go up another 0.5%. Some employers have to disclosure pay equity information. Big companies are agreeing to limit advertising to kids.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is continuing to aggressively hike interest rates to combat high inflation, announcing another 0.5 percentage point raise yesterday to 1.5%.

Canada’s largest employers are now required to report wage-gap data, part of an effort to shine a light on pay discrepancies across the country.

Some of North America’s largest food and drink companies are pledging to limit advertising to children under 13, as increased regulation on the practice looms

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Tims Tracker ☕️ — Pools might be hard to find. The Tims app may have been tracking you. Workers are finding jobs on Slack.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canadians could soon find it difficult to cool down this summer as lifeguard labour shortages start to impact beaches and pools across the country.

Over four million Canadians who use the Tim Hortons mobile app may have had their day-to-day movements recorded without their knowledge

Job hunters tired of sending out cover letters that may never be read, along with employers tired of reading them, are increasingly turning to work messaging app Slack to connect

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Speed Test ⏱️ - Vancouver’s inefficient port, The EU sort of bans Russian oil, and a new supercomputer champ.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 31 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The World Bank ranks the Port of Vancouver the 368th most efficient port in the world, meaning it’s one of the least efficient. The Port Authority boss warns that issues will remain unless a proposed extension is approved.

EU leaders are set to endorse a proposed ban on Russian oil, which makes up 29% of the bloc’s oil imports. The proposal will ban oil transported by tankers, but continue to permit delivery via pipeline.

Frontier, a 592,000 pound machine has been named the world’s fastest supercomputer. But experts say two supercomputers in China, who doesn’t participate in the rankings, might be even faster.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Euro Link 🔗 - Canada moves to supply Europe with natural gas, the feds wants to make the internet more affordable, and the financial sector preps for climate change.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 30 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Canada could start supplying Europe with liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2025 ahead signalling a new openness to accelerating LNG projects on the East Coast.

The federal government issued a policy that aims to make internet access more accessible and affordable by forcing large telecoms to provide smaller competitors with increased access to their high-speed networks.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), Canada’s top financial regulator, has issued a new guideline to ensure financial institutions (like major banks and insurers) can survive potential future climate disasters.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Art Start 🎨 - The SEC takes a closer look at ESG, The World Bank Prez predicts a recession, and fine art reaches new heights.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The SEC is proposing new regulations of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance funds amid accusations of greenwashing.

World Bank President David Malpass said it's hard to see how a global recession will be avoided, as the impacts of the war in Ukraine continue to take their toll on the world economy.

With close to US$3 billion of art sold globally in May alone, the art market is sparkling right now as buyers drop serious coin on pieces by legends and up-and-comers, alike.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Flying High ✈️ - Pfizer cuts a deal in Africa, Bombardier launches new private jet, hedge funds beat the markets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Pfizer announced plans to sell brand-name drugs at not-for-profit prices in low-income countries, starting in Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda. Big pharma sees Africa as the last remaining high growth market.

Quebec’s Bombardier has launched a new private jet capitalizing on soaring demands for chartered air travel amongst the world’s wealthiest travellers. The US$78 million jet also comes with all the luxurious trappings you’d expect, including four separate living areas, a meeting room, and a cinema.

Sophisticated hedge fund investors are taking advantage of market chaos, by using advanced computing to predict opportunities.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Snap out of it🫰🏼 - Snap’s stock stumbles, Airbnb checks out of China and Canadian regulators sets sights on DeFi.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Snap’s shares took a 30% tumble after the social media company’s CEO announced it would miss its revenue and profit targets. The revenue slowdown is attributed to economic pressures and ad tech changes.

Airbnb is leaving China, a signal that big western tech has can’t survive in the world’s second-largest economy. The home-sharing company will remove its 150,000 listings, as local competitors take its place.

Canada’s anti-money laundering watchdog is warning law enforcement and the government about the associated risks of decentralized finance, which it claims could pose “money-laundering and terrorist-activity financing risks."

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Blackout 🔌 - Eastern Canada loses power after severe storm. Biden forms a new coalition to isolate China, while Apple follows suit looking for new manufacturing partners.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Almost a million people in Ontario and Quebec were left without power this weekend as a severe thunderstorm rocked the area. A report from ****The North American Electric Reliability Corporation predicts widespread blackouts this summer.

Joe Biden is launching a new trade agreement with 12 Indo-Pacific countries (and no Canada), in a bid to economically isolate China. The countries participating in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) make up 40% of the world’s GDP.

Apple is pushing its contract manufacturers to start making its product outside of China. The country’s covid-zero policies have cost Apple, who make 90% of their products in China, $8 billion in Q1.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.

Pension problems 📉 — CPPIB is struggling. China is buying Russia’s oil. Globalive has a new deal with Telus.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) posted a 6.8% return on investments this past fiscal year, but lost 2.9% last quarter alone amidst global pressure on public equities and stock market selloffs, particularly in China.

As the EU works toward banning Russian energy imports (increasingly unclear what this means anymore in response to the war in Ukraine, China is getting ready to hit the oil equivalent of a warehouse sale.

Globalive announced it has struck a 20-year agreement to access the Telus’ wireless network, which aims to assure that Freedom Mobile, if they acquire it, will be able to offer a quality, cross-country network that could compete with Rogers, Telus and Bell.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Equal pay 💸 — US Soccer has a new equal pay arrangement. Cryptocurrency is suffering. And businesses are going bankrupt.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 19 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

US Soccer scored a big goal for wage equity, reaching a historic equal pay agreement with its men’s and women’s national teams

With ~US$1.6 trillion of cryptocurrency’s market cap wiped out since its November highs, investors, celebrity endorsers, and regulators alike are reckoning with the industry’s increasingly uncertain future

Business bankruptcies in Canada are moving closer to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2022, jumping ~33% compared with last year

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fearful flying ✈️ — Canada’s airports are a mess. New legislation could break search. And Canada’s housing market could be cooling down.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 18 May 2022 06:59:04 -0400

Horror stories about long wait times at Canadian airports have flooded the news in recent weeks, and now the government is asking airlines to shrink their schedules and cancel planned flights to reduce the stress on airports.

Google claims Canada’s Online News Act would break the internet, but NOT in a good way.

Economists are now predicting that Canadian home prices will drop by double-digit percentages this year as higher borrowing costs (sparked by interest rate hikes) take their toll on the country’s out of control real estate market

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Milk mania 🥛 — New Zealand is mad at us. The Alberta government is pushing carbon capture. And Marriott is rolling out advertising.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Across the Pacific, New Zealand dairy producers launched a formal complaint alleging dairy tariffs violated the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The Alberta government is looking at over 40 new applications for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects to use underground caverns across the province to store captured carbon.

From bedrooms to fitness centres, hotels are about to get a whole new level of personal. The world’s largest hotel chain is launching a media network to help advertisers target consumers using data drawn from ~182 million annual guests

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Wheat sheaf 🌾 — India bans wheat exports. It’s inflation week. Boeing’s having safety issues.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 16 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

India announced a ban on wheat exports over the weekend, a move that threatens to drive up already-high food prices and worsen shortages of key crops caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It’s inflation week. We’ll get April inflation numbers on Wednesday, and analysts are forecasting a similar pace of price rises (6.7%) as the previous month. That slowdown in the growth of inflation is welcome news, but the days of stable prices are still likely a ways off.

US airline regulators have rejected Boeing’s application to resume deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner planes to airlines, citing incomplete documentation—a decision that will add to billions in cost overruns for the aircraft manufacturer.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Unstable coins 🪙 — Stablecoins take a hit. Seniors are reverse mortgaging. And SoftBank had a terrible year.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 13 May 2022 07:54:49 -0400

In the midst of a week packed with inflation concerns, stock market pressures, and the breakdown of popular stablecoins, the volatility of cryptocurrency is on full display.

Canadian seniors are turning to reverse mortgages as they consider new ways to fund their retirement—one private lender, Equitable Bank, saw a 262% year-over-year surge in its reverse mortgage products last quarter.

This time last year it was all cherry blossoms and champagne showers for the globally-recognized Japanese investor SoftBank as the conglomerate saw its biggest net profit, ever. But what a difference a year can make! Yesterday SoftBank posted its worst quarterly loss ever of US$13.2 billion dollars—affirming that the tech stock slump is no joke.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Best restaurants 👩‍🍳 — Airbnb adds features. Alberta’s highest court rules against feds. Michelin stars are coming to Canada

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 12 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As more people take advantage of the opportunity to work remotely, extend vacations, or just take a vacation at all, Airbnb has unveiled changes to its platform that cater to longer stays.

Alberta’s highest court has ruled that a 2019 federal environmental impact law overreaches into provincial jurisdiction and is therefore unconstitutional.

For almost 100 years, Michelin Guides (by tire company Michelin) have been the pre-eminent tastemaker in global fine dining. And Starting for the first time this fall, a selection of the Toronto’s restaurants who make an inspectors' cut will receive the globally renowned award of a Michelin star...or two...or three.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Face database 👱‍♀️ — Clearview gets banned for private companies. Nintendo splits their stock. Cyberwar was overhyped.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 11 May 2022 06:02:03 -0400

Clearview, the surveillance company that rose to fame for scraping social media to build a huge facial recognition database, agreed to permanently ban most private companies from using its service under a court settlement in Illinois.

The stock split club just added a new (and unexpected) member: Nintendo. The Japanese game giant announced a 10-for-1 split to make the stock more affordable for retail investors.

One British spy chief is saying that maybe we were getting a bit carried away with concerns of Russian hacking after the country’s invasion in Ukraine.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Stocks don’t only go up 📉 — The markets are doing terribly. Quebec has new language laws. And IKEA is looking to build new stores.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 10 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

If you’re wondering what’s up with stocks lately, you probably already know the answer is that nothing’s up. We break down the latest markets news.

Quebec’s stringent new French-language laws are expected to pass before summer, which would leave tens of thousands of (previously exempt) businesses forced to adopt higher standards around French signage, contracts, and employee language proficiency.

The Swedish meatball and furniture giant IKEA is investing over US$3 billion to bring stores to city centres around the world and retool big-box locations as distribution hubs for online orders.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Clogged ports ⛴ — Chelsea gets bought. Ports are clogged. And there’s a new syrup king in town.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 09 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Despite a Canadian horse being one of the favourites, Canadians couldn’t bet on last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby through single game sports betting apps because the government excluded it from new regulations.

One in five container ships globally are currently stuck at major ports due to service and route disruptions stemming from lockdowns in Shanghai and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One of Canada’s biggest maple syrup companies has been taken over by Bain Capital-owned Valeo Foods Group, with the aim of tapping into the global market.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Neo banks 🏦 — Neo Financial raises a huge round. Shopify missed profit estimates but closed a huge acquisition. And the password may go the way of the dodo.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 06 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Calgary’s Neo Financial has raised C$185 million led by billionaire Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures—launching the challenger bank into Canadian unicorn status, or a valuation of over $1 billion.

Shopify missed profit estimates and announced the largest acquisition in its history, a US$2.1 billion deal for startup Deliverr to expand its warehousing and delivery services for merchants that would rival Amazon.

Apple, Google, and Microsoft want to kill off passwords for good—within the coming year, all three companies will build support for a cross-platform passwordless sign-in where your phone is the password.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Surge situation 🚗 — Uber and Lyft’s stocks tank. Crowdfunding platforms will have to report suspicious transactions like banks do. The NYTimes reports record subscriber numbers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 05 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Markets are trying to connect the dots on the future of ride-sharing, as Uber doubles its revenue from last quarter but Lyft’s weak earnings outlook has dragged both companies’ stock prices down.

Canada has become one of the first countries in the world to hold crowdfunding platforms to the same reporting standards as banks for large or suspicious transactions.

Thanks to boosts from recent acquisitions, The New York Times added 387,000 net digital subscribers in Q1, bringing its total subscribers to 9.1 million

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Church homes ⛪️ — The United Church is turning churches into houses. Tim Hortons posts huge earnings. CPPIB bets big on India.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 04 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The United Church of Canada has plans to create new rental apartments for 34,000 people over the next 15 years by revitalizing its properties to find new uses for old churches across the country

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) reported a net income of US$183 billion in Q1, much of it driven by Tim Hortons which boosted its year-over-year sales by nearly 13% and saw the largest earnings of any RBI restaurant.

Canada’s Pension Plan (CPPIB) has built stakes in several late-stage Indian startups, including a news app with over 350 million daily users

Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Prayer privacy 👀 — Mental health and prayer apps have terrible privacy controls. Thompson Reuters is cleaning up their act. And Stellantis is making more EV batteries in Ontario.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 03 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Turns out, the majority of mental health and prayer apps are pretty creepy—tracking, sharing, and capitalizing on users’ most intimate personal thoughts and feelings.

Canadian conglomerate Thompson Reuters is launching an independent assessment to align itself with the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Stellantis—the world’s sixth-largest automaker, with brands including Chrysler and Jeep—will announce a new $2.54 billion deal to revamp existing plants in Southern Ontario for the production of electric vehicles (EVs)

Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Augmented reality 👓 — Snap introduces new features. Tesla recalls a bunch of cars. And BeReal is taking over the internet.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 02 May 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Social media and camera company Snap announced a mix of new platform features this week—some that bet on bringing augmented reality (AR) into daily life, and others that fly.

Tesla has recalled 48,000 vehicles in the US over concerns about speedometer displays, marking Tesla’s tenth recall campaign of the year.

French social media app BeReal is betting that social media users tired of filters and perfectly curated ‘lewks’ on apps like Instagram and TikTok feel the same way.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Freedom internet 🖥 — Meta’s stock surges. The West is defending its internet. And Square starts lending in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Meta’s stock surged yesterday after adding more users than expected but posted its slowest revenue growth since going public a decade ago

Canada has joined 55 other countries in signing a pledge to promote connectivity, democracy, and “the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms” on an internet that is open, reliable, and secure.

Block (formerly Square), the digital-payments company run by Dorsey, has expanded its small business loans program to Canada, available as of this week*.*

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Spotify snafu 🎧 — Spotify posts great results but stock still suffers. Canada’s struggling on climate. And you can retire on crypto.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Spotify gained two million new paying subscribers over Q1 and its total monthly average of paid and unpaid users rose to 422 million, representing a net gain of 16 million in the period—but the news wasn’t enough to stop the stock from hitting an all time low.

Canada’s Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development released five new reports and taking the Canadian government to task on its climate initiatives. And the most damning finding was that carbon emissions fell just 1.1% between 2005 and 2019, and since 2015 emissions have actually risen.

Boston-based Fidelity Investments is planning to let investors put a Bitcoin account in their 401(k)s, the first major retirement-plan provider to do so

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Banned in Europe 🇪🇺 — Elections Canada is getting a revamp. Twitter could be banned in the EU if Elon has his way. And Canada has to figure out how to balance its environmental goals with energy needs.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Elections Canada is undergoing a digital makeover that includes virtual offices and modernizing record-keeping.

The EU has issued a warning to Elon Musk over Twitter’s (still feels weird saying that), making it clear that, free speech plans aside, Twitter must comply with the EU’s new digital regulations or risk being fined up to 6% of their total revenue or even banned outright in the Eurozone.

Canada is caught between two calls: to boost oil and gas production to help with the global energy crisis while simultaneously meeting its ambitious climate targets and achieve net-zero by 2050. And RBC says Canada can do both but it won’t be easy or cheap.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New owner 🐦 — Elon buys Twitter. China’s locked down. And we need to save the bees.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As China continues to keep much of Shanghai in lockdown as it combats a mass Covid outbreak, Chinese stocks have fallen to their lowest levels in over two years with two main stock indexes falling 5% Monday.

Beekeepers across Canada are buzzing with concerns over alarmingly high bee mortality rates owing to damages from the (menacingly named) Varroa destructor mite, with some keepers in Manitoba and Ontario seeing losses of up to 90%, much higher than typical mortality rates of 20-30%.

Twitter has accepted Elon Musk’s bid to take over the company for $45.5 billion, closing out days of discussions between Musk and the company’s board after the billionaire presented a “best and final” offer days ago.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Still Queen 👑 — A majority of Canadians want to sever ties with the monarchy. Lululemon is launching a membership program. And a Twitter representative calls a Canadian law is ‘authoritarian’.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Lululemon is launching two membership plans later this year in a bid to drive customer brand loyalty and help reach its ambitious goal of doubling sales to US$12.5 billion by 2026. Angus Reid **released a new survey that found 51% of Canadians favour abolishing the monarchy in Canada A Twitter Canada executive has reportedly likened the federal government’s plan to regulate the internet to the approach of authoritarian countries like North Korea and Iran, per The Globe and Mail.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Got milk 🥛 — Elon has the money to buy Twitter. Shoppers aren’t slowing down. Amazon’s taking on Shopify.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Telsa CEO Elon Musk confirmed that, between his own considerable wealth and loans from banks led by Morgan Stanley, he has lined up the financing to buy Twitter, which is something you can do when you’re the richest person in the world

As companies continue to raise prices to offset inflation, wage hikes and product shortages, sales numbers from Nestle and P&G (the world’s largest CPG companies by revenue) indicate that shoppers are still spending like it’s 2019

Last year Shopify said it was “arming the rebels” against Amazon, and now Amazon is striking back through a “Buy With Prime” service that will allow businesses to offer Prime shopping features—like free shipping and next-day delivery—for products sold through their own websites.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Free Disney World 🎢 — Rogers had a good quarter. Florida might revoke Disney’s special status. And inflation continues to rise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Rogers announced a double dose of good corporate news yesterday, posting a 7% quarterly year-over-year revenue increase for wireless services and confirming the company is on track to close its $26 billion acquisition of Shaw by the end of June.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is urging lawmakers to terminate the self-governing privileges that Disney World holds in the state

Inflation rose 6.7% from the prior year in March, a full percentage point higher than February’s 5.7% pace and the highest rate since the GST took effect in 1991

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Blind Bids 👓 — Real estate associations are fighting Trudeau’s blind bids ban. Netflix is in some financial trouble. And Cochella is about more than just music.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Canadian Real Estate Association and the Toronto and Vancouver real estate boards are gearing up to fight a proposed ban on ‘blind bidding’ for houses—which keeps potential homebuyers in the dark about the other bids on a property.

Netflix has reported that its earnings dropped last quarter, but it’s hardly the only video streaming service struggling to attract new subscribers and some are even considering adding an advertising tier for the first time.

Coachella the music festival (dubbed the SuperBowl of fashion) for the who’s who of influencing returned this past weekend, giving fashion brands a boost after two years of stay-at-home chic (sweatpants).

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Banned 🛢 — VC investment is booming in Canada. Tesla’s under scrutiny. Quebec banned oil and gas development.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

A new report from PitchBook found that venture capital investment in Canadian startups surpassed $13.6 billion in 2021, crushing the previous record of $5.8 billion in 2019—and the good times are rolling on, with investment set to match that pace this year. Here’s an obstacle Tesla may not have seen coming: a crackdown by US regulators on its self-driving technology that could make consumers think twice about the promise of autonomous vehicles and threaten the company’s sky-high valuation. Quebec became the first jurisdiction in the world to ban oil and gas extraction and exploration last week, with all current drill sites shutting down within the next three years.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fake test ✏️ — The feds had to write off $20 million for a fake test. DALL-E can edit images now. And Zoom is going into sales.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government is writing off $20 million paid to Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience for COVID tests that didn’t work. OpenAI’s widely hyped DALL-E AI image generator can now edit pictures, too. Zoom, the omnipresent conference call platform is venturing into sales automation software (SAS), a space that could grow to a $7.3 billion industry by 2028.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Shrinkflation 📏 — Ontario has a new law regulating financial advisors. Shrinkflation is everywhere. And interest rates are probably going up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Last month, Ontario became the first province to create a law that protects everyday investors from unqualified financial professionals, per The Globe and Mail. “All that and a bag of chips” isn't the compliment it once was, as bags of chips contain fewer salty morsels than ever thanks to “shrinkflation.” The Bank of Canada (BoC) is set to hike interest rates further today, with experts agreeing it will likely be the first “oversized” hike in over two decades—going up half a percentage point instead of the typical quarter percentage point.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Lucky lobster 🦞 — Etsy sellers are striking. GlobeNewswire employees got booked for insider trading. And the lobster market is booming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

As Etsy tries to graduate from niche online marketplace status to the e-commerce big leagues, a public battle over fee increases is heating up between the company and its sellers. Two Canadian employees for GlobeNewswire are under investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission for allegedly using their access to unpublished corporate press releases to carry out advantageous trades. Canada is the world’s largest lobster exporter, shipping out a whopping 86% of the world’s supply and making a record $3.26 billion from these exports last year. This number could be even bigger in 2022 with lobster prices currently nearing an all-time high as global demand soars.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Keep bussing 🚌 — Goodfood does a round of layoffs. Shopify hikes pay. And there’s a new bus company in town.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

According to The Logic, Goodfood let go of 70 employees this week (the third round of cuts affecting a quarter of its workforce since last year) and has announced it’s closing its Ontario distribution centre. Following Robinhood, Snap, Roku and Uber, Shopify has moved to give employees more choice between cash and equity compensation in addition to their base salary. There’s a new kid on the motorcoach block—FlixBus, the world's largest-reaching bus provider, is rolling out three routes in Southern Ontario and more in Quebec and BC later this year.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Flair follies ✈️ — Zuckbucks are coming to a wallet near you. Flair Airlines is in violation of Canadian ownership laws. And housing is the feature of this year’s budget.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Meta draws up plans to introduce virtual coins (dubbed ‘Zuck bucks’) and other financial services to diversify its ad-based revenue system. The federal transportation regulator has determined that Edmonton-based Flair Airlines may be in violation of the law that requires it to be controlled by Canadians. Minister Freedland’s budget commits to doubling the number of new homes that are built in the next decade and includes a range of new measures designed to make housing more affordable, but analysts are concerned that they’re not enough to make owning a home more accessible.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Budget eve 📜 — Canadian workers prefer meaning to pay. Wealthsimple is letting you invest in VC funds. And tomorrow is Budget Day!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

At 4:00 p.m. today, Minister (of so many things) Chrystia Freeland will unveil the 2022 federal budget, the first budget announcement since the 2021 election.

A new survey of Canadian office workers found that ‘meaning’ and ‘flexibility’ are now the biggest job incentives, with 71% of respondents saying they’d never take a frustrating or unrewarding job—even if the pay was higher.

Wealthsimple is giving Canadian retail investors access to a venture capital (VC) fund investing in tech and health care companies—for as low as $5,000, per The Globe and Mail.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Temporary workers 👩‍🔧 — Canada has a new temporary foreign worker program. Amazon is going head to head with SpaceX. And the end may be near for Phoenix.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s federal employment ministry has annouced changes to a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program that will increase the number of TFWs allowed into Canada. Amazon is going to head-to-head with SpaceX in the satellite-internet service arena, by securing 83 planned rocket launches that would bring satellites into low-Earth orbit and establish a new satellite-internet service called Kuiper. The Canadian government has spent over $650 million over the past 11 years on an IBM payroll system for federal employees that, much like a kid who’s been given too much money, hates working but loves acting up

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Power tweeter 🐦 — Elon buys a big share in Twitter. What are the high paying jobs of the future. And can we beat superbugs?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Just one week after Elon Musk tweeted about giving “serious thought” to building a new social media company, he has become one of the biggest shareholders in Twitter. Famed futurist Nikolas Badminton (who is paid to consult companies like Google and Microsoft) has published a list of the top-paying jobs of 2040. A US$1 billion biotech fund backed by over 20 major drugmakers has made two investments worth tens of millions in startups looking to fight against the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs.”

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Tax hike 🏦 — The feds raised the per tonne carbon tax. Online harm legislation is coming soon. And an Amazon warehouse unionizes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government raised its carbon tax yesterday by $10, meaning that large-scale emitters like corporations and the oil and gas sector will have to pay more for emitting greenhouse gasses (primarily CO2). After missing a self-imposed deadline for proposing online harm legislation back in February, the federal government has decided to form an expert panel that will meet regularly over the next two months to inform what should be in the new bill. In a massive win for organized labour in the US, workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island have voted in favour of unionizing.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ruble rebound 📈 — Biden is releasing more US oil reserves to offset Russia. The Ruble is roaring back. And Google is introducing a new feature to counter misinformation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:25:00 -0400

President Biden announced a massive release of the US’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as the administration tries to combat soaring prices at the pump. One month after Western nations smacked Russia with unprecedented sanctions that put pressure on the country’s financial system and reduced the ruble’s value to an [all-time low](https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russian-rouble-slips-past-100-vs-dollar-banks-hunt-fx-2022-03-02/#:~:text=NEW YORK%2C March 2 (Reuters,over the invasion of Ukraine.), the currency has almost fully recovered. Just in time for International Fact-Checking Day on April 2 (the day you circle on your calendar every year...), Google is introducing a feature that tags news stories with a label that measures the reliability of sources.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Two Dollarama 🪙 — Meta opens a new office in TO. The Dollarama isn’t really a dollar store anymore. And the US could be moving towards cannabis legalization.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

This week, Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, announced its building an engineering hub in downtown Toronto and will look to hire 2,500 skilled workers to build technology for the metaverse. Remember when things at the dollar store were actually $1? That hasn’t been the case at Canada’s largest dollar store chain since early 2009. We explore why. After slow but steady declines in recent months (and years) Canadian cannabis companies are seeing a surge as the US House of Representatives votes tomorrow on a bill that would declassify marijuana as a controlled substance on a federal level and potentially open the market for Canadian cannabis companies.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

The third web 3️⃣ — Canada has a new emissions plan. A web3 lobby group is formed. And CSIS says we’re all under attack.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada has announced a new emissions plan outlining how it will absolutely, positively meet its net-zero commitments by 2050. Eleven of Canada’s most prominent crypto and Web3 companies including Wealthsimple and Dapper Labs formed an industry council to help grow the Canadian Web3 space and collaborate with the government on creating a unified national strategy for blockchain regulation. According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canadian organizations are the victims of thousands of cyberattacks every...single...day, this, according to the Financial Post.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ruble rations 💶 — The G7 says they won’t pay Russia for oil in Rubles. Postmedia buys out New Brunswick’s newspapers. And Canadian oat-milk is growing up.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Group of Seven - not the Canadian painters... but France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, the UK and Canada, have rejected Moscow’s demands to pay for Russia’s gas exports with rubles Postmedia, which owns more than 120 media outlets across Canada, closed a $16.1 million deal to acquire media publisher Brunswick News, a move to expand its reach to the Atlantic region…and help grow its parcel delivery service. Oat-milk maker Oat Canada struck a $4.1 million deal with French food processor Roquette to develop new ingredients, as part of a Canada government project that aims to grow the country’s plant-based protein industry to $25 billion by 2035.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bad romance 💔 — The EU is getting tough on big tech. Canadians are falling for romance scams. And Canada’s starting up new trade talks with the UK.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The EU is passing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) a landmark deal that will curb the powers of tech giants, like Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), Romance scams are leaving Canadians heartbroken and broke, totaling $64.6 million in losses last year. Canada and the UK have begun negotiations on a new and improved free trade agreement that would encourage even more trade with Canada’s third-largest trading partner and lessen dependence on both countries’ larger neighbours.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Football frenzy ⚽️ — Canada wants to send more oil and gas to Europe. MLSE chairman puts in a bid for Chelsea. And interest rate hikes could tank the housing market.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 07:10:06 -0400

Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced yesterday that Canada could increase its oil and gas exports by up to 300,000 barrels per day to help European allies replace Russian oil and gas. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) chairman Larry Tanenbaum has submitted an offer to buy the Premier League soccer (or football, if that’s your persuasion) club Chelsea joining several other bidders in the chase. Higher interest rates could trigger a “severe correction” and “topple” Canada’s housing market, according to a new report from economic researchers.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fido 🐶 — Apple and Google are plotting the end of passwords. Amazon is facing more labour threats. And Netflix is going IRL.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The Fast Identity Online Alliance (FIDO), an association of tech companies including Apple and Alphabet, are one step closer to making a password-less world a reality, announcing a new development in their technology. Following a victory against organized labour last year, Amazon is facing more union votes this week at a number of their US warehouses. Netflix is hosting The Queen’s Ball, which the company bills as a 90-minute long “Bridgerton experience,” will welcome fans in Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington starting today.

Gala Link: https://hopin.com/events/the-peak-s-emerging-leaders-gala

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Just do it 👟 — Okta gets hacked. Nike wins at D2C. Libs make a deal with the NDP.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

The federal NDP Party struck a deal with the governing Liberal Party that would see the Liberals remain in power until 2025 in exchange for “progress” on a number of NDP priorities, including pharmacare and a dental care program. Nike’s quarterly results tied up its laces and sprinted past analysts’ expectations in Q3, which is a win not just for the company, but for the viability of the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model it has created. Okta, a user authentication company used by organizations including Sonos, Peloton, and the American FCC is investigating an alleged breach by a hacker collective known as Lapsus$, with cybersecurity experts telling Reuters that the threat is serious and Okta customers should be, “very vigilant right now."

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

NFT and fries 🍟 — Battle over mRNA patents. They’re opening up an NFT restaurant. And Germany makes a deal with Qatar to get off Russian gas.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Germany has agreed to a long-term agreement with Qatar for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), hastening the process of Germany cutting ties from Russian energy. Los Angeles restaurateur Andy Nguyen is looking to demonstrate how the power of NFTs can translate into building a real-life brand by opening the first NFT-centred restaurant. Two Canadian biopharma companies (the confusingly named) Arbutus and Acuitas, are embroiled in a legal battle regarding the patent rights to a key delivery method in Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA COVID vaccines.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Roman Holiday 🛫 — Airlines are getting ready for a surge of travel. Prisoners get paid too. And the IEA wants you to work from home.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Travel companies are preparing for a busy season since the pandemic began, in response to Canada shedding pre-travel COVID tests for fully-vaccinated visitors. Don’t feel like returning to the office just yet? Try telling your manager you’re working from home to save the world from an energy crisis. That’s just one of ten recommendations made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to encourage people and governments to curb oil consumption as Russia’s war in Ukraine reduces the global energy supply. And did you know? Just like anyone with full-time work, every two weeks, its payday for inmates across Canada’s federal prisons. We dig into how prisoners get paid - and for what.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Food fight 🌯 — Food is getting more expensive. Russian tech entrepreneurs are knocking off Instagram. And CP rail might go on strike.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:28:44 -0400

No, it’s not all in your head… Statistics Canada reported that food prices rose 7.4% from last February, with Canadians paying more for common items like beef, milk, chicken, and fruits. Russian tech entrepreneurs are launching an Instagram dupe–called Rossgram–to help fill the void left by this week’s block on the Meta-owned picture-sharing app*.* Canadian Pacific Railway has threatened to lockout over 3,000 employees from work this Sunday, at a time when Canada’s resources need a more efficient transportation system than ever.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Protect the sunshine ☀️ — Russia could default on its debt. A Vancouver-based miner won’t sell a mine to a Russian state-owned company. And we might be nearing the end of daylight savings time.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 08:57:00 -0400

Russia failed to pay its dollar bonds yesterday, kicking off a process that will see the country default on its debt if it doesn't make the payments within 30 days. Vancouver-based miner Alpha Lithium is suspending a deal to sell a stake in its lithium mine to a company owned by Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, per The Logic. The U.S. Senate unanimously voted to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would make daylight time permanent. If approved by the House of Representatives, it could motivate Canada to do the same.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Free trade 🤝 — Canada and India working on a new trade agreement. The feds may have just given a handout to big tech. And Canada’s defence chief wants us to do more in the Arctic.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

You think it would make sense for the largest producer of plant-based protein (Canada) and the country with the most vegetarians (India) to be two peas in a pod when it comes to trade. Yet, a comprehensive trade agreement between the two nations has never been signed. That could change as Canada and India have announced that they are resuming talks to reach a new trade agreement. A federal government program aimed at helping businesses go digital is under fire from critics who claim it amounts to a giveaway for US tech giants. This week, Canada’s defence chief said that protecting the country’s north is a key priority tied to economic and security interests, as Moscow moves to reoccupy Cold War military bases in nearby Arctic regions.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Russian McDonald's 🍔 — The Russian government warns US companies that their assets could be seized. COVID outbreaks are forcing shutdowns in China. And electric vehicles are more popular than ever.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Russian prosecutors threatened several major companies with arrests and asset seizures in response to Western sanctions. Signs of a COVID outbreak across number of cities in China have sent tens of millions of people into lockdown and caused a major Apple supplier to halt operations in the southmost city of Shenzhen, which analysts believe may worsen inflation. As gas prices reach unprecedented heights, so has the demand for electric cars in Canada, a recent survey found that 62% of dealerships’ EV wait times exceed 3 months.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Supersonic 🛩 — Canada adds a bunch of jobs. The NHL signs their first sports betting deal. And a supersonic aircraft company raises big money.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0400

Canada’s economy added 337,000 new jobs in February—blowing past analyst expectations and driving the unemployment rate down to its pre-COVID 19 levels for the first time. Canada’s legalization of single-game sports betting back in August has opened the door for the NHL to sign its first-ever sports betting partner in Canada: sportsbook ProLine+. Hermeus raises $100 million in search of the future of aviation.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Split stock ✂️ — Amazon splits their stock. Nickel is going crazy. And oligarchs are under fire.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Amazon is following the recent lead of Tesla and Google by executing a 20-to-1 stock split. What’s happening to nickel prices right now is so outrageous that experts are comparing it to the “meme stocks” craze back in early 2021. The British Government has stepped up with UK banks shutting out Russian oligarchs, including seizing Chelsea from owner Roman Abramovich and limiting the team’s revenue streams.

Road to regulation 📜 — Biden releases an EO on cryptocurrencies. Banks are going green. And Tinder is letting you conduct background checks.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

How do you regulate something that was designed to be unregulated? The US government intends to find out as President Biden signs an executive order for the government to devise new regulations for cryptocurrencies. Canadian banks are announcing a collection of new initiatives to help them get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We dig into what that means for you. Match Group-owned Tinder is rolling out background checks through its in-app safety centre—so you can put on your little detective hat and start swiping (while trying to avoid the next Tinder Swindler.)

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New devices 📱 — The U.S. bans Russian oil imports. Google buys Mandiant. And Apple’s Peak Performance event announces new devices.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canadians can expect to see higher prices at the pump with the U.S announcing a ban on the importation of Russia oil, further rattling energy markets. Google is putting in an all-cash offer of US$5 billion to purchase cybersecurity company Mandiant—and make up lost ground in the cloud computing space against competitors. The hotly anticipated Apple Peek Performance Event showcased a list of new features for the latest models of iPads, iPhones and Macs, but a powerful new M1 Ultra chip and Mac Studio desktop were the stars of the show!

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

International Women’s Day 👩‍🚀 — Ukrainian women are making an impact. Iceland comes in hot. And Canada’s childcare plan could be a big deal.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

As the war in Ukraine escalates, women are playing a growing role in the country’s defence—on the front lines, in parliament, and beyond. The most recent data released in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report shows that it will take the US and Canada 61.5 years to close the gender gap. The federal government pitched its $27 billion childcare plan as a way to save families money and make it easier for parents to stay in the workforce while raising kids, something that would benefit mothers, in particular.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Keep pumping 🛢 — Canada can’t do much to bring down gas prices. Biden’s pursuing a ‘Buy American’ policy. And will you be WFH (Working From Hotel?).

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

There’s not much Canada can do to bring down soaring energy prices in the short term because our export capacity is maxed out at least that’s according to Canada’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. The Biden administration has finalized a new ‘Buy American’ rule—an initiative aimed at boosting American manufacturing that could hurt Canadian businesses. As remote work shifts to hybrid models, a new commuter has emerged… the type that works from hotels. Which is leaving key players in the travel industry to rethink their business model.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Salty standoff 🧂 — Canada places additional tariffs on Russia. Flair is under investigation. And the Canadian chip makers are winning big from the salty standoff.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

New day, new economic penalties against Russia: Canada is imposing a 35% tariff on goods imported from Russia and its ally Belarus as the feds look for new ways to respond to the invasion of Ukraine. Canada’s transportation regulator has launched an investigation into Edmonton-based Flair Airlines, surrounding potential issues around foreign control. Frito-Lay's standoff with Loblaw has left an (unsuspected) third-party winner standing… Ontario chips and salsa maker Neal Brothers

Rate hike 📈 — The Bank of Canada hikes interest rates. Canadian companies are getting out of Russia. And MLB is going into lockout.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 06:18:08 -0500

The Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 basis points to 0.5% yesterday. And if that sentence isn’t dull enough to put you back to sleep, we want some of whatever coffee you’re brewing. A growing number of Canadian and international companies, including Apple and Canada Goose are suspending operations in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine*.* Major League Baseball (MLB) has cancelled the first games of its season, set to begin on March 31, over a labour dispute. More bad news for the downtown Toronto hospitality scene.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

All in one 🛠 — The IEA is releasing more oil in response to energy market turmoil. Netflix is taking sides. And Uber wants you to book everything in their app.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves in an attempt to calm energy markets thrown into turmoil by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Netflix is the latest tech company to take a side in the Ukrainian-Russian war, opening up a Pandora’s box of questions around the ethics of censorship during the conflict, as they defy Russian regulators. Uber is introducing a new feature for Canadians that will allow users to make reservations, buy tickets for events and organize your transportation to and from, all in one app.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Minimum wage 💸 — Ontario announces a minimum wage for gig workers. Tech companies are helping their employees in Ukraine. And Russia’s economy starts to implode under new sanctions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Ontario will become the first place in North America to set a minimum wage for gig workers, the provincial government announced yesterday. Find out how technology firms with offices and employees in Ukraine are working to help staff leave the country amid the intensifying Russian invasion. With services like Apple Pay going out of service and the Ruble losing value by the minute, Western sanctions designed to cripple the Russian economy are starting to have a real impact on ordinary Russians.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ukraine 🇺🇦 — The war is being streamed on TikTok. There’s a big nursing shortage in Canada. And the West imposes new sanctions.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:30:00 -0500

Russian tanks rolling down highways, missiles raining down on cities, and soldiers readying for battle have dominated the “For You” feeds of TikTok users this week, as the war in Ukraine becomes the first major conflict documented on the social media app. A long-predicted nursing shortage has hospitals across the country scrambling to find staff and businesses are stepping up to fill the gap (and pull open some purse strings). The EU, UK, US, and Canada announced a new round of economic sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Sanctions 💸 — Russia invades Ukraine. Canadians are starting to spend again (cautiously). And a big new Reddit update.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

President Biden announces sanctions against Russia as Russian forces invade Ukraine. Biden also warned that these sanctions may hike prices at the pump. After two years of uncertainty (which in light of recent events, might last some time longer) and periods of isolation, Canadians are cautiously beginning to dust off their wallets and spend again, according to a study by Paybright. If you already spend hours doomscrolling on Reddit, you might want to skip this. Reddit made the first update to its mobile app in over two years yesterday with a new ‘Discover’ tab to help users find new communities (and spend more time on Reddit...)

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

The whole truth — Trump launches Truth Social. Starbucks is facing a unionization push in the US. And Quibi-style content is coming to Netflix.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Trump Media & Technology Group, a private media company founded by Donald Trump, launched Twitter lookalike Truth Social this week to users in the US and Canada as political users consider alternative platforms to big tech. Starbucks is known for its formulaic drinks, chill ambiance, and friendly baristas who know your name (even if they misspell it) but behind the counter, unrest is brewing with a large scale unionization underway across the US. Netflix is launching a product that looks a lot like the failed Quibi.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Chips ahoy 🥨 — Canada’s facing a chip shortage. The US Women’s National Team celebrates a huge W. And Klarna is betting on Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

We don’t want to alarm you, but you may not be able to find Doritos at your local super-market for a while: snack giant Frito-Lay is cutting Loblaw off from its products amid a dispute over price hikes. A $30 million settlement between US Soccer and female players over equal pay with men has ended a six-year fight that pitted the World Cup-winning team against their sport’s governing body. Swedish buy-now-pay-later service Klarna announced yesterday that they’re opening a tech hub in Toronto with plans to hire over 500 engineers.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Late Lamborghini 🏎 — The Trans Mountain Pipeline is behind schedule. A transport ship carrying hundreds of luxury cars is burning in the ocean. And some OpenSea users got a rude surprise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The ballooning cost of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion could fall on taxpayers, industry experts say, despite federal government assurances that no more public funds will be used to finance the project. A car transport ship carrying thousands of luxury cars is still stuck in the Atlantic Ocean after it caught fire last week, troubling an industry already grappling with pandemic-related supply chain issues. Talk about a big catch! Some users of NFT marketplace OpenSea were victims of a phishing attack that led to the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of NFTs.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Emergency Act 📜 — Banks don’t know how to interpret Trudeau’s order. Disney is doing real estate. Icahn is mad at McDonalds.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked for the first time ever in response to ongoing protests in Ottawa, expanded the powers of banks and other financial institutions. Yet, Canadian bankers are still scratching their heads in figuring out how to implement the orders. Looks like Disney is now bringing the magic to a residential development near you, starting with a a sold-out luxury residential community called Golden Oak in Florida. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn gearing up to launch a proxy fight against McDonald’s over the inhumane treatment of pigs.

Shopify Sours 📉— Shopify’s sales price tanks after a warning to investors. Crypto could threaten the stability of the global financial system. Google announced plans to modify how apps track users in Android.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Despite exceeding analysts expectations, Shopify’s stock dropped 20% yesterday after warning that revenue growth would slow in 2022 as the pandemic-era e-commerce boom ends. A new report released by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) says crypto assets, especially stablecoins, could present a significant risk for markets and calls for more regulatory oversight. Google has announced plans to overhaul app tracking on Android devices — the mobile operating system used by 70% of the world. And advertisers are worried this could hit their bottom line.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Double Double ☕️ — Tim Hortons had a great fourth quarter. Apple’s modifying their AirTags product to enhance safety. And flooding is threatening Canadian house prices.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Tim Hortons had a great fourth quarter as it almost double (doubles) its quarterly profit, as the coffee chain recovers from its pandemic woes. Apple announced that they’ll modify their AirTag technology to better protect against criminals using it to track unsuspecting victims. A new study has found that there is one thing that makes Canadian housing prices go down: flooding, which researchers found depressed final sale prices in impacted markets by 8.2% in the six months after a flood.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

COVID Update 🦠 — A Canadian Petsmart is unionizing. Doug Ford is removing Ontario restrictions. And Russia and Ukraine are making for uncertain markets.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

A Toronto PetSmart is the latest retail location to vote to unionize since the pandemic began, as the percentage of unionized workers increases after years of a steady decline. Businesses are breathing a sigh of relief as Doug Ford announces Ontario’s accelerated re-opening plan. Confused about what’s going on between Russia and Ukraine? You aren’t alone: the markets are also struggling to make sense of the crisis, with the VIX — an index representing the market’s expectations of volatility — rising nearly 25% in the past five days.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bridge update 🌉 — The Ambassador Bridge appears to be cleared. ETFs are so hot right now. And France is going nuclear.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:10:00 -0500

High-level officials including President Biden and Pete Buttigieg are adding pressure to re-open the Ambassador Bridge, amid ongoing protests that are beginning to take a toll on both country’s economies. France’s President announced that the country will build up to 14 nuclear reactors, as part of a plan to ramp up energy production and phase out fossil fuels. It may not the “sexiest” way to invest, but ETFs in Canada are having a moment after seeing a second record-breaking year of cash flows in 2021.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Good night 😴 — Canadian businesses are under (cyber) attack. Earnings reports reward some Canadian businesses. And you need to sleep more!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

According to a 2021 survey by IT company Novipro and polling firm Leger, a quarter of Canadian businesses have been the victim of a cyber attack, half of which paid a ransom. Canadian businesses, like Telus and Bombardier, that narrowed their focus and sold off secondary business lines are now reaping the rewards, new earnings reports show. Canada is the third most sleep-deprived country - and we are tied with the US for this esteemed ranking - with nearly a third of the Canadians feeling like they don’t sleep enough, according to a new study.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Touchdown 🏈 — Blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. Canadians will be able to (legally) bet on the Super Bowl. And a breakthrough in fusion research.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

How many protesters does it take to freeze a quarter of Canada-US trade? Shockingly few, as we learned by the recent blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, shutting down traffic on one of Canada’s busiest border crossings. Canadians be able to legally bet on the Super Bowl for the first time ever as legal single game sports betting comes online in Canada. European scientists set a new record for the highest amount of energy created through nuclear fusion — the reaction that powers the sun — in a major milestone in the quest for a cheap and clean source of energy.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ghost town 👻 — Housing Affordability Task Force wants to build more houses. BMOs calling some employees back into the office. And the maple syrup industry is booming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

A Housing Affordability Task Force convened by the Ontario government says 1.5 million new homes must be built in the province over the next 10 years in order to make housing affordable again. Toronto’s Financial District is starting to look less like a ghost town as some Bay Street bankers start heading back to the office this week. There’s a thriving economy out there for maple syrup — and New Brunswick producers want a bigger piece of it. **

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Straight to TV 📺 — Rumble makes an offer to Joe Rogan. Warner Bros is in trouble. Canada Post may be in for big changes.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Spotify is deleting over 70 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience as Toronto-based Rumble offers Rogan $100 million to join their platform. “The Matrix Resurrections” studio Warner Bros. could use some of Neo’s bullet-dodging skills about now as it faces a lawsuit over the decision to release the movie simultaneously on streaming platforms and in theatres. Big changes to Canada Post could be coming as Minister Filomena Tassi releases the results of a poll among Canadians on their opinions on certain changes to postal services, potentially gauging ways to cut down on costs.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Flying high ✈️ — Hopper raises $44.6 million. The Canadian job market isn’t doing so hot. And IBM is launching its first Canadian-quantum computer in Quebec.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Hopper, the Montreal-based travel app, is flying high after selling $44.6 million worth of equity to Brookfield Asset Management this week. Canada’s job market is struggling, new job numbers show that the economy shed 200,000 jobs in January, well above analyst forecasts of 110,000 losses. IBM plans to launch its first Canada-based quantum computer in Quebec, in partnership with the provincial government, per The Globe and Mail.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Cook vs. Zuck 🥊 — Housing prices may drop 20% according to one regulator. Meta’s earnings tank. And the SGL is still trying to overtake the PGA.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Housing prices could drop up to 20% in some of the most over-heated Canadians markets, according to one of the country’s top banking regulators. Facebook’s parent company Meta’s stock collapsed by as much as 26% yesterday morning —wiping out over US$200 billion from its market cap — after the tech giant forecasted weaker revenue growth this quarter. The Saudi Arabian-backed Super Golf League (SGL) is trying (again) to court the world’s top 100 golfers, according to US golfer Phil Mickelson — who is ranked 38th on the PGA Tour

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Groundhog day 🌷 — TerraZero is issuing metaverse mortgages. Cruise is offering full driverless rides in SF. And Alphabet is splitting their stock.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Vancouver-based TerraZero Technologies has processed one of the first-ever metaverse mortgages, facilitating the transaction for a new landowner in Decentraland, a virtual world. Self-driving car company Cruise is gearing up to launch a fully self-driving robotaxi service to the public in San Francisco. Alphabet is reducing the price of its shares to make investing in the company more accessible. The move is called a “stock split” and in this case, will increase the company’s shares by a multiple of 20.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Wordle 📕 — Canadian startups raise huge rounds. Wordle gets bought by the NYT. And the U.S. is reducing tariffs on softwood.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Show Notes: Talk about a strong start to the Year of the Tiger: three Canadian tech companies have announced a combined ~CA$511 million in funding yesterday, a sum that amounts to around a fifth of what Canadian companies raised in all of Q1 2021. The internet is divided–again–only this time, it’s surrounding The New York Times’ (NYT) decision to buy Wordle, the new and wildly popular online puzzle game that has captured the hearts and minds of users around the world. The US plans to reduce tariffs on most Canadian softwood lumber producers in a move that might offer some relief to the lumber dispute between Canada and the US that’s been dragging out for over three decades…talk about holding a grudge.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Patent pending 📜 — Blackberry sells their patents. Lynx Air takes the skies. And more brands are getting into the metaverse.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Blackberry is selling tens of thousands of patents for US$600M to a single company to turn its focus towards its core business: cybersecurity and software used by automakers—yeah, it’s been a while since they’ve made money from smartphones. A new Canadian Airline called Lynx Air has emerged, as new competition between low-cost airlines and its larger counterparts—Air Canada and WestJet—heats up. Consumer brands like Walmart and Procter & Gamble (P&G) are jumping on the metaverse bandwagon, even though the concept is still fuzzy for many people.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Expensive data 📱 — Phone bills are getting a little bit cheaper. Apple had a great quarter. And Facebook has a new way to make money off us.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Wireless plans in Canada are (finally) getting cheaper—or are they? A new federal government report shows progress on price cuts but the full picture is a bit more complicated. Apple reported its best quarter ever—partly because they have a supply chain advantage. Facebook has found a new way to make money from your face according to new patents filed by the company.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Luxury tax 🛩 — Uber strikes a deal with a Canadian union. The luxury tax is cancelling private jet and yacht orders. Apple’s rolling out a new point of sale solution.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Uber has struck a deal with Canada’s largest services sector union to represent the ride-hailing company’s Canadian 100,000 drivers and delivery workers. Canadian high-end car, plane and boat makers are bracing for cancelled orders under the Liberal government’s luxury tax, per The Globe and Mail. Apple will soon roll out a feature that turns iPhones into payment terminals, eliminating the need for extra hardware, per Bloomberg.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New boss 👩‍✈️ — CN Rail gets a new CEO. Banks are in the race to hire top tier tech talent. The FTC fines Fashion Nova.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canadian National (CN) Railway named a new CEO after an activist investor waged a months-long campaign for the railroad to juice up its financial and stock performance. The latest company to enter the war between fintechs, startups, and tech giants for talent? Big banks. You know you're doing something right (or horribly wrong) when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) starts paying attention as the FTC fines fast Fashion behemoth Fashion Nova for suppressing specific reviews.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New ownership 👩‍💼 — A non-profit is working to make the TMX 100% indigenous owned. Companies have to pay more for Super Bowl ads. Google is moving to a new cookie system.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 06:11:00 -0500

A new non-profit group wants to help 129 Indigenous groups pursue ownership of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX), making it 100% Indigenous owned. Companies have had to increase their budgets on Super Bowl LVI ads, the biggest advertising event of the year, as Omicron disrupted commercial shoots and drove up production costs. Google scrapped their controversial plans to replace traditional tracking cookies with Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), and instead announced a new proposal called Topics.

Bills, bills, bills 📜 — Google doesn’t like Canada’s new internet laws. BenchSci raised $50 million. And activist investors are getting active.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canadian lawmakers prepare to pursue internet-related legislation next week, a Canadian Google executive has cautioned that such proposals could dramatically worsen people’s online experiences, per The Globe and Mail. Toronto-based startup BenchSci raised US$50 million to expand its AI-enabled platform that makes drug research less of a hassle. activist investors that have built stakes in consumer goods giant Unilever, Kohls and Peloton are now pushing for corporate changes to improve performance.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Made in the USA 🖥 — Canada’s facing a cattle feed crisis. Crypto markets are chaotic. And Intel is opening up a new factory in Ohio.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Desperate for cattle feed, Canadian farmers are importing record amounts of corn from the US. Prices of bitcoin and ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, have dropped by 23% and around 35% since the start of the year. Intel announced it would spend US$20 billion to build a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio as part of a broader industry-wide effort to alleviate a chip shortage that has disrupted swathes of the economy (and made it such a pain to get a new car)

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Keep trucking 🚛—There’s a truck driver shortage. Meta is making its way into NFTs. And Amazon is opening up a physical store.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canadian and US trucking industries are grappling with driver shortages, straining already-fragile supply chains. Facebook’s parent company Meta could be making its first foray into the non-fungible token (NFT) market. Amazon will open its first physical clothing store in Los Angeles later this year.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Lock and key 🔐 — 1Password raises a huge round. The White House might crack down on big tech. The EU is worried about the carbon footprint of Bitcoin mining.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Show Notes: Toronto-based password manager 1Password raised US$620 million round, marking the largest round raised by a Canadian company. In another effort to rein in the US’ biggest tech companies, the White House is weighing support for the bipartisan American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a bill designed to stop big tech companies from stifling competition. Energy consumption around bitcoin mining is gaining more attention, with a top EU financial regulator calling for an outright ban on the main form of bitcoin mining.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Game on 🎮 — Bic buys the Canadian Inkbox. Microsoft acquires Activision. And Canadians are worried about their debt.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Pen maker Bic has announced a deal to buy Toronto-based temporary tattoo startup Inkbox for US$65 million. Microsoft has agreed to acquire game publisher Activision Blizzard, bringing together the two video game forces to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and PlayStation maker Sony. Canadians’ confidence in their personal finances has dropped to a record-low, per the latest MNP Consumer Price Index.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Testing troubles 🧪 — Airlines want to get rid of mandatory arrival testing. Brands are working to cut plastic waste. And Ford wants you to buy your next car online.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canada’ busiest airport and airlines are calling on the federal government to drop the requirement for an arrival test for vaccinated air travellers. Major brands, such as Coca-Cola and Walmart, signed a joint statement that calls for the formation of a global pact to cut down plastic waste. Stripe is helping Ford scale its e-commerce strategy, signing a five-year deal to strengthen the carmaker’s online payment process.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Monocle 🧐 — Canadian housing prices are only going up. The Zara billionaire is buying RBC plaza. And Bausch and Lomb is going public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

What goes up must come down, unless we’re talking about Canadian housing prices. At least that’s the conclusion we’re reached after reviewing new reports on our overheated housing market that predict rising prices well into 2022. Zara’s billionaire owner Amancio Ortega is buying Toronto skyscraper Royal Bank Plaza for over CA$1 billion. Bausch & Lomb, the Quebec-based maker of contact lenses and other eye health products filed to go public on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.

Small business saviour ⛑ — Feds give small businesses another lifeline. Public flood insurance is needed to prepare for climate disasters. TikTok stars are making money.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The Canadian government extended the deadline for small businesses to pay back emergency loans—one of the most widely used pandemic programs for businesses. Insurers will pay over CA$2 billion to settle climate-related claims from last year. TikTok star, Charli D’Amelio makes more than top CEOs, according to Forbes’ ranking.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Gas is expensive ⛽️ — Oil prices are peaking at $81 a barrel. Vendasta is making moves. And Dave McKay thinks the Bank of Canada should act on inflation.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

US oil prices peaked to $81 a barrel for the first time in two months, reflecting stronger consumption than many observers had expected. Saskatoon-based Vendasta Technologies announced its second acquisition since the software company dropped plans to go public in favour of financing, per The Globe and Mail. Canada’s annual pace of inflation has been hanging at around 5% in recent months, levels not seen 2003, with RBC’s CEO Dave McKay telling Bloomberg that the Bank of Canada needs to take quick action by hiking interest rates.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

New CEO in town 👨‍💼 — Canada and Taiwan might be teaming up. Rogers has a new CEO. And Canadian cryptocurrency exchanges are complaining about a US rival.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Canada and Taiwan have begun trade talks in an attempt to reduce both countries’ economic dependence on China. It all started with a butt-dial... Rogers officially named Tony Staffieri CEO after a six-month interim stint in the role. Cryptocurrency exchanges that are playing by the rules are upset that Singapore-based Crypto.com is advertising in Canada, despite not being registered here.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Farewell Farmville 🌾 — BMO is hitting the pensions up for money. Zynga and TakeTwo are merging. Taco Bell is releasing a subscription service.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

BMO is tapping into pension funds for its Bank of West takeover, the largest acquisition deal led by a Canadian bank. Gaming company Take Two Interactive is buying FarmVille maker Zynga for US$12.7 billion in one of the world’s biggest gaming mergers. Taco Bell said its piloting a subscription service to order one taco a day for $10 a month.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Happy birthday 🎂 — Trudeau is mandating truckers get vaxxed. Turning Red is going to Disney Plus first. And vinyl is back.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

PM Justin Trudeau is proceeding with a vaccine mandate for truckers entering Canada, a requirement that some say will drive up prices of certain goods. Disney’s upcoming Pixar flick Turning Red will premiere on Disney Plus, instead of theatres, on March 11th. Vinyl sales overtook CD sales for the first time last year since 1991.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Crystal ball 🔮 — Home prices only go up. The NY Times is buying The Athletic. France hit Google and Facebook with big fines.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:10:14 -0500

Our housing market is heating up: Toronto and Vancouver home sales shot up 7% and 28%, respectively. The New York Times (NYT) has agreed to buy subscription-based sports site The Athletic for $550 million, helping expand the NYT’s digital offerings. France hit Google and Facebook with over $216 million in fines for flouting privacy rules.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

We’re Hiring 👷‍♀️ — OpenSea raises a huge round. Staffing shortages are causing big problems. And the oil industry is booming.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The world’s biggest NFT marketplace OpenSea raised $300 million to a $13.3 billion valuation. Staffing shortages from Omicron are straining supply chains across Canada. 2021 was a strong run for the oil and gas bulls. And looking ahead to 2022, some of the sector’s biggest backers are already happy with what they’re seeing.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

The Biggest Unicorn 🦄 — Apple hits $3 trillion. The USMCA tribunal ruled against Canada. And car manufacturers are gearing up to take on Tesla.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Apple became the first $3 trillion company on Monday. Canada took an L in the first ever ruling by a USMCA panel. Volkswagen, GM, and Mercedes are drawing up plans to compete with Tesla.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bye Bye BlackBerry 📱 — New Omicron restrictions in Ontario. The BlackBerry is going away for good. And Norwegian car sales were electric.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

Ontario’s heading back into lockdown again to fight the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Say it ain’t so but today, many of BlackBerry’s phones will stop working as the company decommissions a number of devices. Over two thirds of Norwegian car sales in last year were electric.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

We’re Back 🎙 — Omicron may help us fight Delta. It’s going to be easier for Amazon employees to organize. And the COVID Alert app is looking like a flop.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

According to a lab study in South Africa, people who recover from the Omicron variant are better able to fight future infections from the Delta variant. Amazon made it easier for their workers to unionize through a deal with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Canada’s COVID Alert App is looking like a bit of a flop. It was only used 869 times in November, a period in which Ontario alone had 18,900 confirmed cases.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Happy Holiday 🎄 — The SEC is siding with activist investors. New COVID benefits are coming. And there’s a big security vulnerability.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rejected Apple’s pleas to block three activist shareholder resolutions. The feds expanded benefits for workers and businesses, after provinces re-introduced tougher restrictions to combat the omicron variant of COVID. Companies and governments are growing concerned over the Log4j security vulnerability.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Telescopic 🔭 — The James Webb Space Telescope is going up. We need more charging stations. And the NHL is on pause.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

NASA will launch the James Webb Space Telescope from South America on Friday. One of the biggest challenges to the EV boom will be building enough charging stations. The NHL became the first major American sports league to temporarily shutdown because of COVID.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Viral Sushi 🍣 — TikTok’s piloting a food delivery service. Bombardier’s stock is dropping. And the Moderna booster works.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

TikTok is pilot testing a delivery service in the U.S. for some its most popular recipes. Montreal-based Bombardier’s stock is dropping, as a Swedish corruption investigation into the plane maker continues. Moderna’s confirmed that its booster dose offers protection against the omicron variant.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Jumbo jets ✈️ — PM Trudeau is gearing up for a trade war. Airbus is ending production of the A380. And Dom Barton might head to Rio Tinto.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

It may be the season of giving but it sure looks like PM Justin Trudeau is readying his government for a multi-front trade fight with the United States. Airbus ended production of the world’s largest commercial airliner, the A380, with a final delivery to Emirates. Canada’s current ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, is rumoured to be next in line to chair global mining giant Rio Tinto.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Netflix tax 📺 — The US may retaliate against our digital services tax. Streaming services are duking it out in India. And Reddit goes public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 08:27:00 -0500

The U.S. is prepared to take retaliatory action if Canada moves forward with the Digital Services Tax. Netflix cut its prices in India, its largest non-US market, by 60% in a bid to attract more users. Reddit filed to go public yesterday.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ready to Rumble 🥊 — Rumble is teaming up with Trump. The feds are advising not to travel. And Valence Discovery raises $11 million.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Former President Donald Trump's social media platform is teaming up with Toronto-based Rumble. The feds are reintroducing an advisory against non-essential travel to stop the spread of Omicron. Montreal-based biotech company Valence Discovery raised ~$11 million.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Pills 💊 — New COVID pills could hit the market soon. Skip The Dishes is expanding their grocery delivery. And Toyota is investing in EV.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Pfizer released new results on their COVID-19 pills, and researchers are still concerned that Merck's pills could be too risky to administer. Winnipeg-based Skip The Dishes is expanding its grocery delivery business. Toyota is invested US-$35 billion in its electric vehicle (EV) plans.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Kiev 🇺🇦 — Will Russia invade Ukraine? A tornado ripped through an Amazon warehouse. And Vancouver's Dapper Labs is partnering on a new NFT marketplace.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated over the past week as Russian troops mobilize at the border. A tornado ripped through an Amazon warehouse over the weekend, killing six people. Vancouver-based Dapper Labs debuted a new NFT marketplace called The Warehouse with "avatar technology" company Genies.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Everything must go 💸 — Execs are selling their shares. Inflation continues to climb. And NASA's launching a new telescope.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Top executives and founders are selling shares in their companies at levels never before seen. U.S. data showed inflation reaching the highest level in almost 40 years. NASA launched an X-ray telescope into space last week to study black holes.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

High priced veggies 🥦 — CPPIB gets into houses. Food is getting more expensive. Evergrande is in default.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) struck a US-$1 billion deal to invest in single-family homes in the U.S, the pension fund's first entry into the market. A recent report found that the average grocery bill for a family of four will jump by $966 in 2022. Credit rating firm Fitch Ratings declared Evergrande is in default after it missed deadlines for coupon payments, or the interest it owes on bonds.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Ring of Fire 🔥 — The Ontario Government wants to build a road. Amazon Web Services went down. And Cryptocurrency execs went to D.C.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

The Ontario government is proposing changes to how it consults with Indigenous groups in the North to accelerate building a road to the Ring of Fire. Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered an outage earlier this week, taking down thousands of Amazon's own services and other websites. Cryptocurrency executives testified before Congress yesterday.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Plant based vaccine 💉 — Canada’s trade surplus jumped in October. Quebec’s Medicago has developed Canada’s first home grown COVID vaccine. Canada’s federal vaccine mandate is expanding.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Canada's trade surplus jumped to $2.09 billion in October, the biggest jump since 2011. Quebec-based Medicago's COVID-19 vaccine showed promising results in its tests. Canada is expanding its federal vaccine mandates to more businesses next year.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bye bye Beijing 🇨🇳 — Ambassador Barton is stepping down. Canadians don't trust our central bank. And Tesla's in trouble again.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Canada's ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, is stepping down from his role at the end of December. Over 60% of Canadians don't think our central bank can tame inflation. And the SEC is investigating Tesla over claims that their solar panels are defective.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Jobs, jobs, jobs 👷‍♀️ — Stats Canada says the job market is booming. Chinese ridesharing app DiDi is de-listing. And the Weston Family is selling Selfridges.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Statistics Canada's employment data for November says the economy is heating up and jobs are plentiful. Shares in Chinese ride-hailing business Didi plunged by nearly 20% on the news that they would delist from the New York Stock Exchange and instead list on Hong Kong's exchange. Canada's Weston Family, the owners of Loblaws, is selling British department store Selfridges to a Thailand-based corporation.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Goose Union 🦆 — Textbook makers are suing Shopify. The MLB is officially locked out. And some Canada Goose workers are unionizing.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Textbook publishers sued Shopify yesterday over the sale of pirated education materials. Major League Baseball is in a lockout after failing to agree on a new labour agreement. And Canada Goose workers in Winnipeg voted to unionize.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Shaken/stirred 🍸 — The CRTC is trying to crackdown on phone scammers. General Fusion raised huge bucks. And Tiger attacks Klue.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Canada's telecom regulator said its introducing new tech to reduce spoofing. BC-based General Fusion, one of the world's leading nuclear fusion companies, raised US-$130 million. Vancouver-based Klue raised US-$62 million from investors, including Tiger Global.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Giphy or jify 🥜 — Canada's GDP is up. UK regulators shut down Meta's acquisition of Giphy. Vancouver's Spare raised $18 million.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Canada's GDP grew at an annual rate of 5.4% last quarter. UK regulators are demading Facebook parent company Meta to sell Giphy. Vancouver-based software startup Spare raised $18 million to build out their micro-mobility software.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Goodbye Jack 🐦 — Canada is teaming up with Mexico to fight unfair free trade rules. Jack Dorsey is stepping down as CEO of Twitter. And Nissan is getting serious about

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 06:30:00 -0500

Canada is teaming up with Mexico to challenge the U.S.' rules to determine where car parts are made. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is stepping down and appointing Parag Agarwal as his successor. And Nissan is launching a US-$18 billion electric vehicle initiative.

Omicron 🧬 — A new COVID variant of concern just dropped. Canada Goose is still under fire in China. Buy Now, Pay Later is taking off.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

The word of the day is: Omicron. That's the name assigned by the World Health Organization to a new COVID "variant of concern." Canada Goose, the Toronto based premium winter jacket brand, was the number one trending topic on Chinese social media this week with posts about the brand garnering more than 240 million views. Customers are getting more comfortable with new buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions as vendors saw a huge spike in usage on Black Friday.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Yelling timber 🪵 — The US is hiking tariffs. CP and CN restart operations. There's a million job vacancies in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

The US is doubling duty rates on Canadian softwood lumber producers. Canadian Pacific and Canadian National have restarted operations in BC, but delays to shipments could last for months. Canada's labour market has over 1 million job vacancies as businesses struggle to scale up after COVID.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

On trial 👩‍⚖️ — Elizabeth Holmes testifies. The Bank of Canada has 'discovered' that investors are driving housing prices. And Mangrove Lithium is trying to make batteries cheaper to make.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Elizabeth Holmes testified yesterday during her trial. The Bank of Canada believes investors are adding to price gains in the housing market. Vancouver-based Mangrove Lithium raised $12.6 million from investors, including Bill Gates.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Pipeline problems 🛢 — TC Energy is suing the U.S. Government. NASA and SpaceX are moving an astroid. Rhino raised big.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

TC Energy Corp, the developer of the Keystone Pipeline XL, not to be confused with Keystone Pipeline Medium wants $15 billion from the U.S. government. NASA and SpaceX will try to redirect an asteroid tomorrow. Vancouver-based Rhino Ventures announced a new $120 million fund to invest in Canadian companies.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Stoned 🪨 — Uber is getting into weed. Jerome Powell gets reappointed. And Rogers might sell the Blue Jays.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 06:44:00 -0500

Uber Eats entered the cannabis market for the first time in its history in Ontario yesterday. The Biden administration nominated Fed chair Jerome Powell for a 2nd term. Rogers may sell part of its stake in the Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Flying away 🛫— The BC floods are continuing to cause major problems. Air Canada is jumping off government subsidies. And athletes are concerned about Peng Shuai.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

The aftermath of the worst flooding in decades in B.C. is causing major troubles across the province. Air Canada is spreading its wings to fly out of the government's nest once again, announcing Friday it won’t continue to draw on the fed’s airline bailout program. The Women's Tennis Association is threatening to pull out of China if missing tennis star Peng Shuai is not located.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Three amigos 👯‍♂️ — PM Trudeau meets with President Biden and Andrés Lopez Obrador. HiMama raises $70 million in Series B funding. A group of people are organizing to bid on the constitution.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Live from the Bet On Canada Summit. Yesterday PM Justin Trudeau met in person with President Joe Biden and Andrés Lopez Obrador for the first time since the pandemic. Toronto-based HiMama raised $70 million in a Series B round. A group of people have created a decentralized autonomous organization to bid on a rare copy of the U.S. constitution.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Never Natale ❌ — Rogers' Board fires CEO Joe Natale. Quebecor is expanding out of Quebec. And Apple's letting you fix your own iPhone.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Rogers' board removed their CEO Joe Natale in the midst of a regulatory review of their takeover of Shaw. Quebecor is moving ahead with its plans to launch a national wireless service which should give customers more options. Apple will begin allowing customers in the U.S. to repair their own devices.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Flooded 🌧 — Floods in BC are threatening delays at the Port of Vancouver. Clutch raised $100 million. Russian space junk is threatening the ISS.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Floods in BC may cause delays at the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port, which could spell big trouble for our supply chain. Ontario-based Clutch raised $100 million in new funding to grow their used car business. A Russian weapons test created 1,500 pieces of space junk that's now threatening astronauts in the International Space Station.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Not so Royal 🇳🇱 — Shell leaves the Netherlands. IBM releases their latest quantum computing processor. And Casper goes private.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Oil giant Shell is moving its headquarters from the Netherlands to the U.K. in a move to shake up its business structure. IBM released its largest quantum computing processor ever as they gear up to launch their first quantum computer in 2023. A private equity firm is buying mattress company Casper to try and turn the brand around.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Français, SVP 🗣 — Air Canada CEO is in the hot seat. COP26 concludes. And Taylor Swift takes on private equity.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Pressure is ramping up on top execs of Quebec companies to get a better grasp on both official languages. World leaders signed a new climate agreement at the COP26 summit, which wrapped up over the weekend. Taylor Swift released her re-recoded album, Red, as she battles with private equity firms to regain control over her music.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

To the stars 🛰 — Telesat is going public. Alberta beef workers may strike. And Rivian had quite the debut.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

Ontario-based Telesat plans to go public in Canada to support their Low Earth Orbit expansion plans. A union for thousands of workers at Cargill, a beef plant in Alberta, said they plan to strike next month. EV maker Rivian's valuation jumped to US-$86 billion in its public debut yesterday.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Never ending 🏢 — Inflation is continuing to hit record highs. Apotex is looking to sell. And Evergrande still might go bankrupt.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

U.S. inflation hit 6.2% in October compared to year before, the fastest increase in 30 years. Ontario-based generic drugmaker Apotex is considering a sale. And Evergrande's grace period to pay interest payments to overseas bond holders expired yesterday, meaning the second largest developer in China is now in default.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Go West 🤠 — Amazon Web Services plans to open a new hub in Alberta. COVID booster shots were approved by Health Canada. And Shell will begin construction of a solar farm in Alberta.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:10:00 -0500

Amazon Web Services will open its second Canadian location in Calgary. Health Canada approved Pfizer's booster shot paving the way for province's to begin administering to the whole population. Shell will begin constructing a solar farm in Alberta next year to power its new refinery.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bolt ⚡️ — Ikea makes a big bet on Toronto-based Bolt. Elon plans to sell a bunch of his Tesla stock. And Helion Energy is trying to make electricity free.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

IKEA invested $115 million in Toronto-based Bolt. Elon Musk held a Twitter poll on whether he should sell $20 billion in Tesla stock. Helion Energy raised US-$2.2 billion to commercialize its fusion energy technology.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Empire strikes back 👑 — A BC Supreme Court judge rules in favour of Ed Rogers. Pfizer's COVID pill is found to be super-effective. And Tesla's opening a plant in Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0500

A BC Supreme Court judge ruled that Edward Rogers can replace five of the independent directors of Rogers, which gives Ed, the son of founder Ted Rogers, full control of the company. Pfizer announced that its pill to treat COVID-19 had been found in clinic trials to be highly effective.Tesla is opening a battery equipment plant in Ontario, its first Canadian site.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

GFANZ 🌎 — A global alliance of financial institutions to fight climate change. Lightspeed is slowing down. And Mark McEwan's restructuring plan was denied.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Former central banker Mark Carney has built an alliance of 450 companies who pledge to focus their investments on achieving net zero carbon emissions. Montreal-based tech darling Lightspeed POS is struggling as its stock tanks 30% after the company released a poor revenue forecast. And a judge has denied Canadian celebrity-chef Mark McEwan’s restructuring plans for his restaurant, grocery and events business

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Floating 💸 — Float raises a huge round. Compass picks Ontario for its newest mine. And Maine denied Quebec their power lines.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Toronto-based Float raised $37 million from investors, including Tiger Global. Crypto mining company Compass is opening a new mining operation in Ontario. Voters in Maine have rejected a proposal for a new power corridor which would carry Quebec hydroelectricity to New England.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

So long Ecobee 🌡 — Ecobee gets bought. Buyers bid over Canadian lithium. And Bell wants to kill the Rogers/Shaw merger.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Generac buys Toronto-based Ecobee for $770 million after the company struggled to compete with Google and Amazon. Two companies are vying for a potential acquisition of Vancouver-based Millennial Lithium Corp. And consumer groups and Bell are urging Canada's telecom regulator to hold off on an upcoming hearing of the Rogers-Shaw merger.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

See you in court 👩‍⚖️ — The Rogers family is taking each other to court. Digital Currency Group raises $700m. And Rogers and Videotron are fighting.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The Rogers family feud is going to the BC Supreme Court as Ed Rogers fights for control. Digital Currency Group raises $700m to become the 'Standard Oil of Crypto'. And Rogers and Videotron are suing each other over breach of contract.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Dairy fairy 🥛 — The G20 held a meeting over pandemic and climate initiatives. The CDC (no, not that one) says the cost of dairy products will go up. And Microsoft has now beat Apple as the most valuable company in the world.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The G20 met in Rome to discuss pandemic relief and initiatives to fight climate change. The Canadian Dairy Commission recommends that regulators raise dairy rates to account for higher costs on raw materials. And a bad earnings quarter has lost Apple their title as the world's most valuable company.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Meta 🌎 — Shopify missed earnings expectations. Hootsuite's thinking of going public. And Facebook is now Meta.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Shopify missed earnings expectations after a record year. Vancouver's Hootsuite is considering raising $200 million to go public. And Facebook changes their name to Meta to reflect their pivot to a metaverse company.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Stimulus stymied 💸 — Bank of Canada ends their stimulus program. Fellow raises a huge round. And UofT divests from fossil fuels.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The Bank of Canada announced that they'll be ending their stimulus program and quantitative easing. Ottawa-based Fellow raises $24 million for their meetings SaaS tool. And the University of Toronto announces that their endowment is divesting from fossil fuel investments.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bread basket 🧺 — Tim Hortons sales reveal a suburban/urban divide. GM is building 40,000 charging stations in the US and Canada. And George Weston sold their bread division for $1.2 billion.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Tim Hortons latest earnings report shows a drop off of sales in downtown cores while a surge in demand in suburban and rural areas as Canadians continue to work from home. GM is building up 40,000 charging stations in the US and Canada to better compete with Tesla. And George Weston is selling their bread business to FGF Brands for $1.2 billion, marking the end of a bread era.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

REIT street 🏢 — Cenderel buys Cominar REIT. Faze Clan is going public. And Hertz is going electric.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Quebec-based Cenderel bought Cominar REIT in a sign that commercial real estate is once again on investors' radar. E-sports content creators Faze Clan are going public in a $1 billion deal. And Hertz is modernizing their fleet with a 100,000 Tesla purchase.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Advertising antics 📱 — The Rogers family drama continues. Snapchat's earnings were lower than expected. And Q4 is crawling towards their IPO.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Martha Rogers is going public with complaints over her brother Ed Rogers' conduct. Snapchat's underperforming earnings may signal challenges for Facebook and Twitter. And Toronto-based Q4 raised less than anticipated ahead of their IPO.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Family feud 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 — The Rogers family is fighting over the company. Shipping companies are going zero emission. And Roku is accusing Google of anticompetitive practices.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The Rogers family is creating a Canadian version of Succession as they fight over the future of the company. Retailers like Amazon and Ikea have committed to only using zero-emission shipping by 2040. And Roku argues that Google is using anti-competitive practices over its Youtube TV negotiations.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Inflation nation 💸 — Inflation is at a 10 year high. Surgeons successfully transplanted a pig kidney to a human. And Tether is under scrutiny.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Inflation in Canada hit 4.4% due to the rising costs of housing, transportation and food. Doctors successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a human after genetically modifying it. And investors are looking into whether the stablecoin Tether has enough US dollars in reserve.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fast Lane 🏢 — VTS buys Lane for $200 mil. KKR and Dundee buy 60,000+ songs. And Spin Master's getting into the VC game.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

VTS is buying Toronto-based real estate software firm Lane for $200 million as workers start returning to the office. KKR and Dundee Partners buy a catalogue of 62,000 songs including tracks by Lorde and The Weeknd. And Spin Master is launching a $100 million fund to invest in the next big toy.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fancy flying ✈️ — Twitter is hiring in Canada. Fights are more expensive than pre-pandemic. And Apple announced some new devices.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Twitter is looking to grow their engineering team in Canada as they launch new products. Canadians are paying more for flights as airlines continue to adjust to post-pandemic travel. And Apple announced new Macbooks and Airpods today.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Hot housing 🏠 — Canadian home sales are up. A Bitcoin ETF is launching in the US. And Drake's investing in a cannabis company.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian home sales increased for the first time in six months. A Bitcoin ETF is about to launch in the US for the first time. And Drake expands his investments into cannabis.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Edibles 🍭 — Inovia raises a new fund. Canopy Growth Corp gains option to buy Wana edibles. And LinkedIn leaves China.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Inovia raises a new $334 million fund. Canopy Growth Corp buys to option to buy Wana edibles. And LinkedIn is leaving China after a government crackdown on the platform.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Open borders 🚗 — The US is set to open the land border with Canada. They're also the biggest Bitcoin miner in the world. And Rose Rocket gets kissed by a financial rose.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

After nearly two years of closure, the US is about to reopen the land border to traffic from Canada. China's crackdown against cryptocurrencies has made the US the newest destination for mining operations. And Toronto's Rose Rocket raised $25 million for their transportation management software.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Bike on 🚲 — Dorel sells their bike division. TSMC and Sony are building a new plant. And Magic Leap raises big money.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Montreal-based Dorel sounds a pack of iconic bike brands to a Dutch holding company. Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company are building a new chip facility in Japan. And Magic Leap raises $500 million to build their futuristic headsets.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Nobel prize 🥇 — A Canadian David Card co-wins the Nobel Prize in Economics. Netflix and Walmart are teaming up to sell merch. Notion raised a ton of money.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Canadian David Card co-wins the Nobel Prize in Economics for his natural experiments in the study of policy and economic theory. Netflix and Walmart are partnering to create merchandise from your favourite shows. And Notion, founded by UBC grad Ivan Zhao, raises $275 million for expansion into clients.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Mirror 🪞 — Lululemon is bringing Mirror to Canada. Freshbooks is buying FastBill. And Rent The Runway is going public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Lululemon is bringing their Mirror product to Canadian stores. Freshbooks is buying German FastBill to drive international expansion. And Rent The Runway is going public on the NASDAQ.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Hacked 👾 — Twitch got hacked. Regulators are trying to tame stablecoins. And Canada's not meeting its climate goals.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Hackers released Twitch's source code, security info, and creator earnings, making for an uncomfortable day for the streaming platform. Regulators are trying to regulate stablecoins to ensure they hold enough of the underlying asset. And a report released says that Canada's not even close to meeting our climate goals.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Robot influencer 🤖 — Dapper buys Brud. Coconut Software raises $28 million. And Squid Games is a surprise success.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Dapper Labs buys Brud to acquire software to help them launch their first Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). Saskatoon-based Coconut Software raises $28 million to expand in North America. And Korean drama Squid Games is the most watched show on Netflix.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Down 📉 — Facebook has a rough day. Rich people are evading taxes. And Volvo is going public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Facebook was down for a full day and we still don't know why. The Pandora Papers expose how the super rich evade domestic taxes. And Volvo is planning to go public to 'accelerate' their all electric transition.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Caller ID 📞 — Phone fraud is up in Canada. Ozy Media is no more. And Tesla continues to cruise.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

A Globe report found that phone number fraud attacks have increased between 2019-2020. US media company Ozy Media has shut down after a number of scandals. And Tesla sold more cars last quarter than ever before!

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Battery powered 🔋 — A Chinese company wants to buy a lithium mine operator. Investors are going Fanatic over trading cards. And Lightspeed could slow down.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 05:45:00 -0400

China-based Contemporary Amperex wants to buy a Canadian lithium reserve to capture the growing demand for batteries. Fanatics Trading raised $10 billion for their trading cards entity. And Spruce Point Capital Management casts doubt over Lightspeed's revenue and user numbers.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Still lonely 🙁 — CPPIB is going to sea. The US might run out of money. And Amazon's releasing a home robot.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The CPPIB is spending $4 billion on a US port operator to capture shipping mania. The US may run out of money unless Congress raises the debt ceiling. And Amazon releases their first home robot.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Overheating 🔥 — CMHC says Canada's housing market is overheated and overvalued. CDPQ is going green. And Stripe is coming to Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

CMHC says the Canadian housing market is currently both overheated and overvalued. CDPQ announced plans to divest their assets out of fossil fuels. And Stripe's opening up a big office in Toronto.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Instagram is not for kids 🤳 — Instagram is delaying the launch of their kids product. China has an electricity shortage. And Copperleaf goes public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Facebook is pausing the launch of their Instagram for Kids product after pushback from lawmakers. China is having an energy shortage which is causing further supply chain disruptions. And Copperleaf is Canada's first big tech IPO of the fall.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Welcome home 🇨🇦 — The Michaels return to Canada. China bans Bitcoin. And the EU is consolidating ports.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The Michaels are back home in Canada after two years in Chinese jail. China releases comprehensive crypto regulation that effectively bans all cryptocurrencies in the country. And EU regulators are forcing all phone and tablet companies to adopt USB-C cords.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Busted 🚔 — SNC-Lavalin is again in hot water. D2L is going to D2-the-TSX. And StandUp Ventures is standing up taller.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

SNC-Lavalin is in the spotlight (for all the wrong reasons). Waterloo-based edtech startup is looking to go public at a $1 billion valuation. And StandUp Ventures raises $30 million to fund female-led Canadian startups.

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

UKUSCMA 🇬🇧 — Federal employees are getting a new payroll system. The UK wants in on the USMCA. And Dapper raises another huge round.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

The federal government announced a switch from their troubled Phoenix payroll system to Ceridian. The UK wants to get in on the USMCA trade agreement but it's unlikely to actually happen. And Vancouver's Dapper Labs raises $250 million!

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The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Quebec electricity 🔌 — Quebec's selling (a lot of) hydro to New York. The banks are terrified of the incoming Liberals. And Toronto's PhenoTips is building 23andMe for health.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

New York wants to convert 70% of their power to Quebec produced hydro. The Big 6 banks are concerned about the incoming Liberals' taxation plans. And Canadian genetic medical company PhytoTips raises $2.5 million to personalize health care.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Chicken little 🐓 — Drake invests in Dave's Hot Chicken. We're (still) on Evergrande watch. And another company is complaining about Shaw and Rogers.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Drake invests in Dave's Hot Chicken to expand his ever-growing business empire. Investors are still terrified of Chinese developer Evergrande going bankrupt. And Corus is worried the Rogers-Shaw merger will damage local news coverage.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Mu 🐄 — Meng Wanzhou is negotiating with the US Department of Justice. Amazon's facing its first unionization effort in Canada. And should you be concerned about the Mu variant?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Sources say Meng Wanzhou is entering into discussions with the US Department of Justice which could be good news for detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. The Teamsters are moving forward with an effort to organize an Amazon warehouse in Alberta. And we give you the latest on the Mu variant.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Drill baby drill 🪛 — Suncor announces partnership. SpaceX sends a bunch of amateurs to space. And Gogoro goes public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Suncor announces partnership with indigenous communities to buy stake in Northern Courier Pipeline. SpaceX sends 4 amateurs to space in first non-professional out of orbit trip. And scooter-company Gogoro is going public.

Inflation nation 📈 — Inflation is at record highs. Neo Financial raised a huge round. And is Evergrande the Chinese Lehman Brothers?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Noticed things are getting more expensive? You're not alone. The latest Consumer Price Index has inflation at 4.1%. Calgary's Neo Financial raised a big round to fuel their growth. And analysts are worried that Evergrande, the second largest property developer in the world, may default on their debts.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Erin O'Toole's favourite album 💿— Update your iPhones. Bell is fighting the Rogers and Shaw merger. And Gary Gensler talks crypto to Congress.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 05:30:00 -0400

We interview Erin O'Toole, the leader of Canada's Conservatives. Update your iPhones because a team at UofT found a software exploit that lets hackers break into your iMessages. Bell is pleading with regulators to stop the mega-merger between Rogers and Shaw. And SEC Commissioner Gary Gensler spoke to lawmakers about crypto regulation.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

See you in cinecourt 🎬 — Cineplex and Cineworld are going to Cinecourt. China's buying some Canadian mRNA tech. And Amazon is hiring a bunch up North.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Cineplex and Cineworld are suing each other over who is to blame for the global pandemic. China's Everest Medicine is buying Providence Therapeutics' mRNA tech for $500 mil. And Amazon is hiring 15,000 warehouse workers in Canada.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Jobs jobs jobs 👷‍♀️ — Canada's economy is booming again. Apple has to let developers offer alternative payment options. And the cost of shipping is going up!

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Canada's economy is really starting to regain form after adding 90,000 new jobs last month. A judge ruled that Apple can no longer block developers from offering payment options besides Apply Pay in third party apps. And the cost of shipping stuff via cargo ships is more expensive than ever.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Wayfarers of the future 🕶 — Facebook and Ray Ban announce their new glasses. Bitcoin miners are pumped about Canada. And a fusion breakthrough could change the world.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Facebook announced their new AR glasses product, Ray-Ban Stories, which lets wearers take photos, listen to music and share it all on... Facebook. Bitcoin mining co. Canada Computational Unlimited is going public on the TSX-V. And a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology could transform how we produce electricity.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Goose chase 🦆 — Coinbase is under scrutiny for a new product. Canada Goose is getting fined in China. And Bill Gates is buying the Four Seasons chain.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Coinbase is launching a new product that will let users earn interest on their cryptocurrencies, but the SEC is sounding the alarm. Canada Goose is getting fined in China over misleading ads. And Bill Gates is buying Toronto-based luxury hotel chain, Four Seasons.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Facedrive face plants 🚗— Facedrive is going bust. El Salvador makes Bitcoin legal tender. And Tesla is rolling out "full self-driving".

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Canadian Uber competitor Facedrive is mulling bankruptcy. El Salvador has made Bitcoin a legal currency to make remittances cheaper. And Tesla is rolling out its full self-driving software despite concerns from regulators.

Bienvenue 🇺🇸 — We want more Americans to visit. Olivia Rodrigo is paying up. And foreign buyers are driving housing prices in BC.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Americans are coming but not as quickly as our economy would like. Olivia Rodrigo is paying royalties to artists she drew inspiration from. And the CRA confirmed what a lot of us already knew which is that foreign buyers are driving up home prices in Canada.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Oil is flowing 🛢 — Enbridge is proceeding with Line 3. WhatsApp's getting hit with a huge fine. And Intuit might be buying Mailchimp.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Enbridge is proceeding with building their controversial Line 3 pipeline. European regulators are proposing a big fine for WhatsApp. And Intuit is considering buying Mailchimp for $10 billion.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Rejected ❌ — Telus and GM are teaming up. Canadian National is rejected. And are flying taxis coming in 2024?

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Telus and GM are partnering to bring 5G to your car. CN Railway's bid to takeover Kansas City Southern Railway was derailed by US regulators. And NASA's starting to test flying taxis.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Robot trucks 🚛 — Uber's disrupting labour law. Gatik raised a big round. And Gap's bringing Athleta to Canada.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0400

Uber is proposing a new labour classification for drivers. Toronto's Gatik raises $107 million to bring autonomous robots everywhere. And Gap's finally launched Lululemon competitor Athleta in Canada.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Meme lords 💎 — Meme stocks are back (or they never left). CDPQ is buying Medical Solutions. And China is telling kids no gaming on school nights.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 06:41:26 -0400

Shares for Support.com and Vinco Ventures are soaring as meme stock investors pump their prices. Quebec pension fund CDPQ is buying travel nurse staffing agency Medical Solutions. And China is implementing policies to curb youth gaming.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fintech is flying 💸 — Flinks gets bought by National Bank. A Chinese court bans 996. And electric car co. Rivian's looking to go public.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

National Bank is buying Montreal-based fintech startup Flinks. A Chinese court bans to controversial 996 overtime policy. And Amazon-backed Tesla rival Rivian is looking to go public.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Getting #paid 💸 — #Paid gets #paid.TSMC is hiking chip prices. And Air Canada is mandating vaccines.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Toronto-based #paid raised $18.9 million. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co says the cost of chip prices will go up. And Air Canada is mandating vaccines for employees.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Hot housing 🏠 — OnlyFans makes a u-turn. Politicians are talking housing. And SemiosBio is making a big bet.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

OnlyFans announces that it will continue to allow sexually explicit content on their platform. Federal political leaders are announcing their housing plans. And SemiosBio is building an agtech empire...

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Unicorn Alert🦄 — Blockstream gains unicorn status. Maersk goes green. And TikTok's cozying up to Shopify.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

BC's Blockstream raises $200 million and reaches unicorn status. The world's largest shipping company is expanding its fleet with cleaner ships. And TikTok is getting big into social commerce with who else... Shopify, of course.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Fee Free Pfizer 💊—National Bank is going fee free. Pfizer's buying an Ontario biotech shop.And Virgin is going to Orbit (via SPAC).

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

National Bank announced that they'll be the second investing platform to offer a zero commission on trades service. Pfizer is buying Ontario's Trillium Biosciences in a blockbuster $2 billion deal. And Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit wants to go public via SPAC.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Get that shot 💉— Banks requiring employees to get vaccinated. Are you ready for a Toys ‘R Us comeback? And OnlyFans is cleaning up its act.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

TD, CIBC, and RBC all announced that they’ll require employees to get vaccinated if they want to work in an office or branch. Putnam Partners is buying the Canadian rights to Toys ‘R Us in an attempt to turn around the struggling toy brand. And OnlyFans is removing all sexually explicit content to appease the credit card kings.

The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

The Best is Yet to Come 🚀 — The Peak Daily's first episode. Zuck's Metaverse. Wealthsimple's Twitter tipping. Amazon's big box stores.

The Peak / Curiouscast — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Put this in the podcasting history books: it's The Peak Daily's first episode. Facebook unveiled their new virtual workspaces and, spoiler, it's heavy on cartoons. Wealthsimple's teaming up with Twitter to let you tip your favourite Tweeters. And Amazon's Target is on Target?

Introducing Our New Show: The Peak Daily 📈

The Peak / Curiouscast — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:41:09 -0400

The Peak’s launching our daily business news podcast, creatively titled, The Peak Daily.

Everyday, Jay Rosenthal and Peak co-founder Brett Chang will give you a run-down of the three biggest business stories you need in less than 10 minutes.

Listen while you have your first coffee, take a morning jog, or on your (future?) morning commute.

Drops everyday at 6am. Produced by 306 Media Productions.