Cost of Living

A lot of people are calling critical minerals a major opportunity for Canada - but we explain why their real benefit may be more strategic than economic. We ask why the price of toilet paper is so d@#m hard to figure out, and talk to author David Thomas about his new biography of Prem Watsa, the richest, savviest Canadian you've never heard of, behind one of Canada's most successful companies.

David Chilton, author of the bestseller The Wealthy Barber, discusses his updated book and shares timeless advice like 'pay yourself first' and the magic of compound interest. Leah Hendry reports on the rising trend of buying Canadian and the nuances of local procurement amid price debates. Danielle Nerman dives into Gen Z's 'vibe investing,' exploring how social media influences their choices, mixing ETFs with speculative stocks. Together, they unravel the complexities of modern investing and consumer habits.

If it feels like the price of everything from flights to juice boxes never stay put — you're not wrong. And artificial intelligence could make those prices even more slippery. Also, we look at the rewards and risk of credit card churning and why so many people are suddenly talking about digital sovereignty.We'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

AI has all the ingredients needed for a bubble. So if it pops, could it put us all at risk? We also revisit a Halloween favourite about buying and selling haunted houses and we speak to author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic about why being yourself at work is overratedWe'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

Creative destruction is a way of explaining how new ideas destroy the old in an economy. In an ideal world, these changes make us all healthier and wealthier, right? Right?! With AI promising to upend the economy, we speak with Avi Goldfarb from the U of T's Creative Destruction Lab about how to prepare for it. We also look at why more First Nations are getting into the housing business and why cheap eats are so hard to find at the airport.We'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

This week, we answer some of your burning questions about the economy. Like, why does Canada import stuff that we produce here? Should you pay in CAD when travelling abroad? And, how expensive is the #rvlife?Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 

The post-WWII rules-based order has been good to Canada. International trade agreements and cooperation have brought peace and prosperity. But with Trump now tearing up the playbook, will we have to follow suit? Or can we find new partners who still want to play the old game the old way? Also, why more North Americans are willing to splurge on business class flights and why long waitlists are pushing Canadians to shop for new hips abroad.We value your input. Fill out our listener questionnaire here!

Mikkel Skuderud, an economist from the University of Waterloo, dives into the implications of H-1B visa changes and how they could benefit Canada. He explains how a transparent immigration system is crucial for attracting skilled talent. The discussion highlights the potential economic boost from high-skill workers and warns against politicizing temporary worker programs. Additionally, the conversation touches on YouTube's dominance in media and its impact on attention, emphasizing the importance of Canada’s welcoming stance in a competitive global talent market.

Today we’ve got a little bonus for you: the latest episode of a new CBC podcast called “See You In Court,” in which host Falen Johnson revisits the legal cases that changed Canada. The second case is one we thought Cost of Living listeners might like, because it’s all about a man who fights all the way to the Supreme Court to get his money!In 1999, a Montreal businessman named Jean Marc Richard got a letter with this claim from Time Magazine: MR. JEAN MARC RICHARD HAS WON A CASH PRIZE OF $833,337! Others might clock it as junk mail and toss it, but the self-described “fighter” Mr. Richard is determined to get his promised payout, launching a court battle with one of North America’s biggest publishers.Come hear how Richard v Time launched a battle over misleading advertising, and set a standard for consumer rights that is still used today.And find more cases from See You in Court here: https://link.mgln.ai/syic-drop

More than two decades ago, Ireland radically cut corporate taxes and produced an "economic miracle." Now some say Canada should look to the Emerald Isle and perform a miracle of its own. We find out why some people are learning to love Canadian Gamays and Pinot Noirs. And could a proposed takeover of Teck, one of our last mining giants, be a test of the country's newfound economic nationalism?