The Peak Daily

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.