WIND Mobile, now known as Freedom, was a small company that tried to break through Canada’s telecom oligopoly. It did not have an easy ride. WIND faced numerous hurdles from regulators, it was subjected to dirty tricks from the telecom oligopoly, and was eventually sold to Shaw. But it also helped lower cell phone rates and brought in unlimited data and U.S. roaming, changing the wireless market permanently.This is the inside story of WIND Mobile, from the people who were there.Featured in this episode: Simon Lockie, Brice Scheschuk, Tony ClementTo learn more“Why can’t TTC riders use their cellphones on the subway? Ask Bell, Rogers or Telus” in The Toronto Star by Lex Harvey“Wind Mobile backer regrets Canadian launch” in CBC News “Globalive offers $3.75-billion to buy Freedom Mobile” in The Globe and Mail by Alexandra PosadzkiCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Rotman, Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re the most hated companies in the country. And yet, they’re unavoidable. The telecom oligopoly seems to rule Canada’s economy with an iron fist. Canadians are paying more and more for our cell phones, cable and internet. So how was it that we ended up in this situation? And was it inevitable that things would get so bad?Featured in this episode: Ben Klass, Dwayne Winseck, Keldon Bester, Dale EislerTo learn more“A Social History of Canadian Telecommunications” in Canadian Journal of Communication by Dwayne Winseck“Bell takeover of MTS gets federal approval” in CBC NewsFrom Left To Right: Saskatchewan's Political And Economic Transformation by Dale EislerCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, it’s a department store where you might go to buy perfume or cookware. But the Hudson’s Bay Company was Canada’s first, and its most powerful, monopoly. It grew from a largely insignificant enterprise into one of the most dominant forces in North America.The story of the HBC reveals just how deeply embedded monopoly is in Canada’s very fabric. Featured in this episode: Stephen R. Bown, Jean TeilletTo learn moreThe Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire by Stephen R. BownThe North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, The Metis Nation by Jean TeilletThe Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson's Bay Company by Martin Defalco & Willie DunnCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some say that they’re a shadowy group that are the true power behind our elected officials, wielding enormous influence that they use to either benefit their friends or crush their enemies.Others claim that they’re a bulwark against oligopolies, ensuring that rural Canada doesn’t turn into an empty, corporatized hellscape.But what’s not up for debate is that Big Milk is a big deal.Featured in this episode: Marlene Haley, Justin Ling, Bruce MuirheadTo learn more“Cheddargate” by Justin Ling in Maisonneuve“Milk mystery: As prices soar, dairy farmers plead poverty” by Ashleigh Stewart in Global News“Critics of supply management are milking the argument” by Bruce Muirhead in Maclean’sCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer and Reporter), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, Rotman, Canadian History Ehx If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadians are being squeezed at every end. When it comes to cell phone bills, grocery bills, housing, entertainment, we’re all paying more than ever before.But a small number of companies that dominate their industries are reaping in enormous profits.This season of COMMONS we’ll be digging into all of the monopolies, oligopolies and cartels that dominate our lives. And for our first stop, we head to the supermarket.Featured in this episode: Vass Bednar, Marco Chown Oved (Toronto Star)To learn more“Supermarkets are hiking prices faster than necessary — and profiting from inflation, Star investigation suggests” by Marco Chown Oved in the Toronto StarRegs to Riches by Vass Bednar “Canada’s competition watchdog to investigate grocery industry in wake of soaring food prices” by Ghada Alsharif in the Toronto StarCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)Additional music from Audio NetworkIf you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, 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 Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to https://canadaland.com/joinYou can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From broadband to banking to blueberries (yes, even blueberries), life in Canada is ruled by monopolies. In the latest season of COMMONS, host Arshy Mann and producers Jordan Cornish and Noor Azrieh will bring you the stories of how these monopolists bullied their way to the top, strangled their rivals, and cornered their markets with help from the government.Our new season launches on November 9th. If you’re a Canadaland supporter, you can listen to the first episode now! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet David Wallace, political fixer. After decades in the game he says he’s getting out, telling all, and dumping his files in public. The result is the viral "Klondike Papers" theory of conspiracies, conservatives, and cults. But are the allegations true? And why is he really implicating himself, and so many others? A wild, true story.Series launches October 31st.Subscribe now (link). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Afghanistan has endured more than four decades of almost ceaseless war. But since the Taliban takeover, Afghans have been abandoned by the global community and are now facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.What was all of this for? And is Afghanistan destined for yet another cycle of violence? Featured in this episode: Rangina Hamidi, Mohsin Amin, Stephen M. Saideman To learn more:“Americans nurtured Afghanistan’s economy. Now they’re gutting it” by Mohsin Amin in The Washington PostAdapting in the Dust: Lessons Learned from Canada's War in Afghanistan by Stephen M. Saideman‘No Father Wants to Sell His Son’s Kidney.’ Afghans Pushed to Desperate Measures to Survive” by Sune Engel Rasmussen in The Wall Street Journal“Hope and despair: Kathy Gannon on 35 years in Afghanistan” by Kathy Gannon in The Associated Press“Taliban Splits Emerge Over Religion, Power and Girls’ Schools” by Sune Engel Rasmussen & Margherita Stancati in The Wall Street Journal Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Douglas, Oxio, Calm If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench. https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Langridge was a model soldier. But when he returned from a tour in Afghanistan, his family noticed that something was off. He was suffering from PTSD. But instead of providing him the treatment he needed, Stuart was punished and humiliated by the Canadian Forces. Like too many Afghan veterans, Stuart ended up taking his own life. And when his parents began to ask questions about what had happened to their son, the Canadian military went to war against them. Featured in this episode: Sheila Fynes, Shaun Fynes, David Pugliese (The Ottawa Citizen), Steven Staples, Bruce Moncur, Sean Teal To learn more:“The Canadian military’s war against a soldier’s family” by David Pugliese in The Ottawa Citizen“Former soldier who lost part of his brain for Canada says sacrifice being demeaned” by Ryan Maloney in HuffPost Canada“Veterans with PTSD should have MedicAlert IDs, says Afghanistan vet” by Stephen J. Thorne in Legion Magazine“The Unremembered” by Renata D’Aliesio, Les Perreaux and Allan Maki in The Globe and Mail Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Douglas, Oxio, Calm If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Afghan Detainee scandal became the defining story of Canada's war in Kandahar. It exposed Canada's complicity and direct involvement in war crimes. And it helped fuel the insurgency that eventually brought down the Afghan government.Despite repeated denials by senior government and military officials, there's evidence that many Canadians knew they were sending Afghans to be tortured.So why did so few people do anything to stop it? And what role did Harjit Sajjan, Trudeau's first Minister of Defence, play in ensuring that the full story will never come out? Featured in this episode: Ahmad Malgarai, Amir Attaran, Sharif Sharaf, Craig Scott, Harjit Sajjan To learn more:“From Canadian custody into cruel hands” by Graeme Smith in The Globe and Mail“Canada defended Afghan 'human-rights abuser,' memos allege” by Murray Brewster in The Canadian Press“Ethics commissioner acknowledges Sajjan downplayed his role and knowledge of Afghan detainee issue” by David Pugliese in The Ottawa CItizenThe Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan by Graeme Smith  Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Oxio, Images Festival, HelloFresh, Calm If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.