The Hatchet

Brookfield has been in the news constantly over the last few weeks. The Conservatives attacked the company for moving the headquarters of one of their subsidiaries to New York City. The NDP have accused it of avoiding taxes through offshore havens. And Prime Minister Mark Carney, the former chairman of Brookfield Asset Management, has found himself on the defensive because of his association with the company.But what these political attacks miss is a far more important story. It’s a story of a company that has been central to Canada’s history and economy for more than a century.So what exactly is Brookfield? That’s a question that we here at The Hatchet have set out to answer.What we found was a company that almost defies description.Brookfield has been a financial universe unto itself, operating by a different set of cosmic laws and fundamental forces than other corporations.It’s a company that’s shown an almost unparalleled talent for reinvention. Over its 125-year-history, it’s morphed from a neo-colonial experiment to Canada’s most ruthless corporate raider to a seemingly boring storehouse of our collective pension earnings.Now it is one of a tiny handful of financial entities that sit at the very centre of the global economy.And so that’s why we’ll be spending this series focusing exclusively on this incredibly important and yet rarely understood company.We’ll be digging into its epic history, its contentious present and what the continued domination of firms like Brookfield could mean for everyday people.In this first episode, we shine a light on it’s first incarnation — Brazilian Traction, Light and Power — and how it managed to dominate the people of South America’s biggest nation for most of the 20th century.Featured in this episode: Tyler ShipleyTo learn moreCanada In The World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination by Tyler ShipleyThe Brass Ring: Power, Influence and the Brascan Empire by Patricia Best & Ann ShortellLet Us Prey: The Practices and Profits of Canadian Corporations and Businessmen edited by Robert Chodos & Ray MurphyThe Light: Brazilian Traction, Light, and Power Company Limited, 1899-1945 by Duncan McDowallSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe Hatchet is a podcast and newsletter dedicated to exposing power and money in Canada. We deliver important, original and fascinating journalism about how this country actually works.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

Chaos reigns within the Conservative Party as internal conflicts overshadow the federal election campaign. High-ranking staffers are criticizing their own leaders, calling for a major strategy shift. The episode dives into how these tensions mirror a civil war within the party, revealing the implications for Canadian politics. There's also a critique of the trivial tactics used against opponents, emphasizing a need for more substantive political discourse. The backdrop of turbulent polling forecasts adds to the intrigue of this ongoing saga.

David Pugliese, a seasoned journalist covering Canadian Armed Forces, dives into the intricate relationship between Canada and the U.S. amid rising political tensions. He discusses the military's evolving perceptions on potential U.S. annexation and the implications of integrating foreign systems into Canada’s defense. Pugliese also explores the contrasting views of rank-and-file soldiers versus military leadership, the complexities of NATO in current times, and the Arctic's strategic importance in the defense dialogue.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit hatchetmedia.substack.comSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.comThe federal election is here! And I think we all know this is going to be a wild one. The last few months have already been some of the strangest in modern Canadian history. But worry not, The Hatchet is here to help understand everything you need to know about this race. In addition to our in-depth coverage, we’re also launching a weekly podcast that will air during the course of the campaign that breaks down everything that’s happening.But this will only be available to our paid supporters, so I really can’t think of a better time to sign up and help support independent Canadian journalism.On this first instalment, Jordan and I walk through what the leaders of the three major federal parties need to do win — or at least not embarrass themselves — during this campaign.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

Laurent Carboneau, Director of Policy and Research at the Canadian Council of Innovators, and author of 'At the Trough', dives into Canada's intricate web of corporate welfare. He discusses how government subsidies often fail to yield economic benefits, urging a reevaluation of Canada's industrial strategies. Carboneau also critiques the effectiveness of the super cluster policy and its impact on both large corporations and small businesses. The dialogue touches on historical perspectives, crony capitalism, and the pressing need for improved economic understanding to foster societal equity.

This was the week where Doug Ford finally became Prime Minister.Okay, so technically it’s Mark Carney who was actually sworn in as PM. But for a few weeks, Doug Ford appeared to be leading the nation. After all, it was Ford that was invited down to the Washington for a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The feds just sort of tagged….along.And there were two people in particular that I wanted to hear ruminating on this moment, two of the longest-standing Fordologists in the land, the former hosts of Wag the Doug, Jonathan Goldsbie and Allison Smith.And luckily for us, they wanted to talk too. Wag the Doug, which used to air on the Canadaland network, where Jordan and I both worked, has been off the air since September. And in their last episode, they ruminated on how in some ways, Doug Ford was the physical embodiment of Ontario, a man who understands the province better than anyone. But my question this week has been, does Doug Ford also understand Canada better than anyone else?And so we brought Allison and Jonathan into the Hatchet studios (my living room) to hear their thoughts on what might be the most interesting moment in Doug Ford’s incredibly strange political career. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

This is starting to get ridiculous. One day we’re being tariffed to all hell, and the next day, the Trump administration says that they’re putting the trade war on pause for another month.But what we have to understand is that, from the American perspective, this is an effective strategy. Tarrifs are a tax that consumers end up paying for. So by continually pushing off the date that they come into effect, the U.S. avoids the economic pain — but Canada’s economy remains in a state of perpetual turmoil.There’s only one way out of this for us — we need to hit the Americans as hard as we possibly can, using every weapon in our arsenal. And we need to do it now.Featured in this episode: Arshy Mann & Jordan CornishSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe

Niigaan Sinclair, a City columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and an advocate for Indigenous rights, dives into the complexities of Canadian nationalism and its impact on Indigenous peoples. He discusses how the trade war has overshadowed reconciliation efforts, with rising nationalism often sidelining Indigenous rights. The conversation highlights critical historical lessons and the ongoing struggles faced by First Nations, including recent political shifts that threaten their land rights. Sinclair also emphasizes community initiatives fighting systemic violence against Indigenous women.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit hatchetmedia.substack.comWe all knew that if Donald Trump got reelected, things would get chaotic pretty fast. But what I don’t think anyone anticipated was just how much Canada would be in the new administration’s cross-hairs.And there’s been one question no one really seems to be able to give a definitive answer to — why us?During the election campaign, Trump would rant and rave about Mexico and China and even Europe, but Canada barely ever came up. And now, all of a sudden, we’re being targeted for more aggressive tariffs than China. And Trump is threatening us with annexation on a weekly basis. Frankly, I haven’t heard many good explanations as to what the hell is actually going on. The best theory I’ve come across is from journalist Justin Ling. He says that the best way to understand the current administration’s obsession with Canada is to look at one man — Peter Navarro. Navarro serves as Trump’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing and has the direct ear of the president.And according to Ling, he has it in for Canada.Featured in this episode: Justin LingTo learn more“Beggar Thy Neighbor, Beggar Thyself” by Justin Ling in Bug-eyed and Shameless“Canada Tries to Break the Ice with Trump” by Justin Ling in Foreign Policy“Want Free Trade? May I Introduce You to the Tariff” by Robert Lighthizer in The New York Times“Trump’s plan for ‘hemispheric control’: Steve Bannon on why tariffs may only be the start” by Ashleigh Stewart in Global NewsSupport us at hatchetmedia.substack.com

It’s been a weird month.When we first launched The Hatchet, we spent a lot of time talking about the kinds of stories that we wanted to cover and the kind of work that we wanted to do here. Something we did not anticipate was having to seriously entertain the notion of American annexation. But here we are. And so on today’s episode of The Hatchet, we’re going to talk about the tarrifs, the history of Canada-U.S. integration, the future of continentalism and whether or not we can survive Trump’s attacks on our sovereignty. Support us at hatchetmedia.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hatchetmedia.substack.com/subscribe