For almost a century, the Irving family has run New Brunswick like a personal fiefdom. They own the newspapers, the industry, and, according to some, even the government. So how does a single family come to so thoroughly dominate an entire province? And what happens when that family starts to fracture and split apart at the seams?Featured in this episode: Bruce Livesey (Thieves of Bay Street).To learn more:“Are the Irvings Canada's biggest corporate welfare bums?” by Bruce Livesey in National ObserverIrving vs. Irving: Canada's Feuding Billionaires and the Stories They Won't Tell by Jacques Poitras“Irving family's fortunate son explains how he fell into a dark depression, and rose again” by Erin Anderssen” in The Globe and MailAdditional music:I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque“A List of Ways to Die” by Lee Rosevere, “Easy Life” by Lee Rosevere, and “Androids Always Escape” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted.Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not only do the Big Five banks get away with charging exorbitant fees for basic services. Not only do they block any competitors by controlling Canada’s payment infrastructure. Not only are they totally entwined with the federal government. But the Big Five banks are about to get even bigger.Featured in this episode: Colin Deacon, Keldon Bester, Alex VroncesTo learn more“How blocked mergers foiled banks' ambitions — and forced the Big Six to innovate” by James Bradshaw in The Globe and Mail“How the push to modernize Canada’s payment systems went off the rails” by Jon Victor in The Logic“How the Big Five banks control how money moves in Canada” by Alex Vronces in Policy Options“RBC-HSBC banking merger is a slide to monopoly – Canada should just say no” by Keldon Bester in The Globe and MailCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Sponsors: Rights Back At You, Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a hard few years for Canadian air passengers. And while no one blames the airline oligopoly for COVID or winter storms, air travellers have had to put up with a lot.But Canada has consumer protections to make sure that when something goes wrong, there’s a fair process in place to make sure everyday Canadians don’t get screwed over, right? Right??!Featured in this episode: Gábor Lukács, John GradekTo learn more“Canadian airline regulator’s stance on refunds aligned with execs’ requests from days earlier, emails show” by Christopher Reynolds in Canadian Press“This Nova Scotia man’s fight with an airline pulled back the curtain on a flawed passenger-protection act, an adjudicator says” by Steve McKinley in Toronto Star“Ottawa ‘not hiding’ from holiday travel chaos fallout, transport minister says” by Sean Boynton & Aaron D'Andrea in Global NewsCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Sponsors: Douglas,If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

♩♪ A long, long time ago, I can still rememberHow the music used to pay my billsI knew that if I got my breakThat I could be as big as DrakeAnd then I could stop shopping at No Frills ♩♪♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed usTicketmaster’s ground us to dustThe companies got too largeNow monopolies are in charge ♩♪♩♪ And the record labels I fear the mostHave all just merged and so now we’re toastDon’t you think it’s just so gross?The way, the music, died ♩♪Featured in this episode: Simon Outhit, Cory DoctorowTo learn moreChokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin & Cory Doctorow“'A public relations nightmare': Ticketmaster recruits pros for secret scalper program” in CBC News by Dave Seglins, Rachel Houlihan & Laura Clementson “We went undercover as ticket scalpers — and Ticketmaster offered to help us do business” in Toronto Star by Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved“Is Live Music Broken? It’s Not Just Ticketmaster, It’s Everything” in The Ringer by Nate RogersA Statement From Live Nation EntertainmentCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on December 21, 2021. Attawapiskat has become famous across Canada and around the world. Not for the natural beauty that surrounds it, or for the Cree culture of the people who live there. Instead, it’s become a byword for the toxic legacy of Canadian colonialism.But while Attawapiskat faced crisis after crisis, the community was sitting on a literal diamond mine run by the world’s most famous mining company.So why is it that a community rich in diamonds is so poor? And why did the government and De Beers do so little to help them through?Featured in this episode: Mike Koostachin, Vicki Lean, Anna BaggioTo learn more:After the Last River by Victoria LeanThe People of the Kattawapiskak River by Alanis Obamsawin“De Beers decision to dump sewage into Attawapiskat played role in current housing crisis” by Ossie Michelin in APTN News“Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?” By Edward Jay Epstein in The AtlanticAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Rotman, Athletic Greens Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Kieran Oudshoorn (Managing Editor), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you look at your pet, you probably see an adorable furball that you’d do anything for. A private equity firm sees dollar signs.Ever so quietly, faceless, big money firms have been consolidating Canada’s veterinary clinics. And vets are just the beginning.Featured in this episode: Michael Mossop, Denise HearnTo learn more“Inside the corporate dash to buy up dentists’ offices, veterinary clinics and pharmacies” in The Globe and Mail by Chris Hannay“Private equity groups spot profit in UK's nurseries” in Financial Times by Bethan StatonThe Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition by Jonathan Tepper and Denise Hearn“An Inconvenient Fact: Private Equity Returns & The Billionaire Factory” by Ludovic PhalippouCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Reporter and Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Sponsors: Douglas,If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COMMONS is a documentary podcast that proves Canada is anything but boring. Each season, host Arshy Mann guides you through the country’s dark underbelly, bringing you stories about crime, corruption and all manner of misdeeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on November 1st, 2021. Who are the Rogers family? How did they get so powerful? Why have they turned against one another? And what does it matter?  We've spent a week immersed in Rogers history to bring you this unofficial narrative of Canada's telecom overlords.Further reading:Kelly Pullen’s 2014 story in Toronto Life on the “ruthless” power struggle at Rogers: https://torontolife.com/from-the-archives/edward-rogers-the-man-who-would-be-king/Ted Rogers’ last interview, with Alan Gregg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B-hlNXKYZ0Ted Rogers’ Anniversary novelty song: https://vimeo.com/95189390The Globe and Mail’s best (and perhaps only) headline about a significant butt-dial: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-rogers-ceo-joe-natale-learned-of-edward-rogerss-plan-to-oust-him/Ted Rogers’ Autobiography, “Relentless” – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E7S2P9AHigh Wire Act: Ted Rogers and the Empire that Debt Built, by Caroline Van Hasselt : https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003E8AJRECredits: Jesse Brown (Host & Publisher), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), Cherise Seucharan (Reporter, CANADLAND), Damiola Onime (Producer), Additional Music by Audio NetworkIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at www.commonspodcast.comMatthew Boswell is the Competition Commissioner. And he's the last man trying to stand in the way of the mega-merger between Rogers and Shaw. But even he acknowledges that Canada's antitrust laws aren't just inadequate — they're weighted in favour of the monopolists.A frank discussion with Canada's top competition cop.Featured in this episode: Matthew BoswellCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Sponsors: Douglas,If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rogers and Shaw are getting ready to tie the knot. But before they can consummate their less-than-holy union, they have to get the approval of Canada’s competition tribunal and the federal government. And even though most Canadians would find this union highly objectionable, it’s likely to be approved.Because for 150 years, Canadian politicians have been talking out of both sides of their mouths. They claim they want to promote competition. And then they pass laws that do the opposite.Featured in this episode: Vass Bednar, Keldon BesterTo learn more“Antitrust watchdog should just say no to Rogers and Shaw merger” in The Globe and Mail by Keldon Bester and Ben Klass“Is the Competition Bureau's efficiency defence still defensible?” in The Financial Post by Vass Bednar “The Development of Competition Policy, 1890-1940: A Re-Evaluation of a Canadian and American Tradition” in Osgoode Law Journal by Brian CheffinsCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio Network“Canon in D Major” by Kevin Macleod, adapted.Sponsors: Douglas, Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.