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The Peak Daily

English, Financial News, 1 season, 600 episodes, 3 days, 17 hours, 44 minutes
About
Fast Canadian business news. Get up-to-speed quick with a fun and smart breakdown of the three biggest Canadian and global business stories in less than 10 minutes. Sponsored in part by Canada Post. Get help growing your small business at Canadapost.ca/growingsmall 
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Investors love Meta again 📱 — Spotify shakes things up. Meta is back.

Everyone you know under the age of 40 may have logged off Facebook years ago, but that’s not doing anything to slow down parent company Meta’s surging stock. Done with the days of throwing millions at anyone with a microphone and a few Instagram followers, Spotify is taking a new approach to its podcast business. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/5/20248 minutes, 6 seconds
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Rent record 🏠 — Challenging rental market. Canada is drying up.

A new housing report has confirmed a tough truth: Canada’s rental market has become more crowded than a gym’s weight room in early January. Just like the sober-curious crowd, western provinces are partaking in Dry February… though not by their own choice. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/2/20247 minutes, 50 seconds
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Makin’ babies 👶— TikTok vs. Universal Music, Musk loses $55.8B pay package.

The latest supply shortage to hit Canada: newborns. The country’s fertility rate fell to its lowest level on record in 2022, with a paltry 1.33 children born per woman that year. Finding the perfect banger to soundtrack your next TikTok vid just got a lot harder. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/1/20248 minutes, 1 second
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Pharmacy pact 💊 — Walmart managers cash in, A new painkiller innovation.

In a not-so-romantic Canadian pairing, an insurance giant and grocery conglomerate have officially announced they are exclusive. While it seems like layoffs are happening left, right, and centre these days — because, well, they are — some companies are going to great lengths to retain workers. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/31/20247 minutes, 17 seconds
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Ho-Ho Housing 🏠— Leon’s is building homes. Evergrande liquidation.

Like a boxer hanging on by a thread, one of China’s biggest real estate developers is being forced to throw in the towel. After 115 years in business, Leon’s Furniture is getting into the house-building game. No word yet on whether homes come fully furnished with brand-new pieces from the showroom. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/30/20247 minutes, 37 seconds
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📈 Formula E — A different kind of EV race, The U.S. rolls back on LNG.

Electric car racing might not be popular enough for its own Netflix show (yet), but Formula E cars are blossoming into stars for the legacy automakers that own them. In a surprise move, Canada’s southern neighbour is pumping the brakes on its booming natural gas business. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/29/20247 minutes, 56 seconds
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Pipeline nears opening 🛢️ — The Trans Mountain pipeline hits the home stretch. Canada adds India to election interference probe.

After hitting more speed bumps than a driver in a school zone and going so over budget that it would make the Olympics blush, the completion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline (TMP) is near. Canada’s relationship with India is getting icier than a car windshield post-snowstorm. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/26/20247 minutes, 22 seconds
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Rate cuts 📉 — BoC turns attention to rate cuts. Québec’s EV battery plant hits a speed bump.

The Bank of Canada’s path to its 2% inflation target seems to be getting a little clearer. Here’s a brain teaser for you. Why are multiple environmental and Indigenous groups rallying against a project that aims to be a key part of Canada’s net-zero transition? Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/25/20248 minutes, 3 seconds
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Student cap 👩‍🎓 — Feds call cap on international students. What’s going on at Gildan?

After months of pressure to crack down on colleges that have been accused of exploiting international students, Canada is capping study permits at 360,000 students this year. The company that supplies the T-shirts for your work functions is at the centre of a power struggle filled with almost as much corporate drama as a Succession episode. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/23/20248 minutes, 59 seconds
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Sports shakeup 🏈 — Stock surge could cushion broader downturn. Networks gear up for the live sports streaming era.

If we’re still in a “vibecession,” someone forgot to tell the stock market — over there, things are better than ever. As if supporting Canadian sports teams wasn’t hard enough on its own (please don’t talk to us about the Leafs), broadcasters could soon make it even tougher (and expensive) to tune in to games. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/22/20247 minutes, 22 seconds
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Future pharmacy 💊 — What is the future of Rexall? For our second story, Vision Pro ushers in a new era for Apple

Need a topic for small talk with your pharmacist when they’re refilling your prescription? This story has you covered. Looking to revive the buzz of the early iPhone days, Apple’s hoping its new US$3,499 mixed reality headset will do the trick. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/19/20248 minutes, 26 seconds
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Sandwich showdown 🍞— Sub wars come north. CEBA deadline looms.

If your usually chipper barista seems a little on edge, it might be because today is a very stressful day for many small businesses across the country. In a move that sounds like the plot of a Martin Scorsese mafia movie, U.S. sandwich chains Jersey Mike’s and Jimmy John’s are gearing up for a turf war north of the border. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/18/20247 minutes, 48 seconds
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Bigger King 👑 — Burger King gobbles up franchises. Canada’s sugar industry gets a sweetener.

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) — the very fake-sounding Canadian company that is the very real owner of Tim Hortons and Burger King — just ordered 1,000 juicy franchises. An up-and-coming company is giving ‘Big Sugar’ a run for its money with its newest Canadian expansion. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/17/20248 minutes, 28 seconds
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Broke university 👨‍🏫 — Can broke universities afford humanities? Alberta dips its toes into nuclear

Add ‘school potentially going bankrupt’ to the list of reasons we’re happy we’re not in college anymore, alongside gruelling mid-terms and questionable dining hall food. New year, new power source: Alberta is now dabbling in nuclear power. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/16/20247 minutes, 57 seconds
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Hard cap 👩‍🎓 — Feds ponder international student cap, Olympics get 0% beer sponsor.

The federal government will look at capping the number of international students admitted to Canada in the coming months, Immigration Minister Marc Miller told reporters, saying the system “has gotten out of control.” The world’s biggest brewer is hoping that their newest sponsorship deal will capture sports fans who may be considering extending their Dry January’s. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/15/20248 minutes, 28 seconds
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Five stars ⭐️ — Amazon’s illegal best-sellers. Chinese mines in Canada.

Amazon has rightfully earned the title of “the everything store.” Unfortunately, everything happens to include illegal weapons. A year after Canada — Playing the role of the protective dad— told Chinethe Canadian government is deciding who are acceptable suitors for the country’s top mining companies. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/12/20248 minutes, 58 seconds
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Red sea tensions 🚢 — Red Sea tensions escalate, Canada’s first at-home HPV test.

Rebel attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have been mucking up global trade for weeks, and Western powers have officially had enough. You can work from home, take classes at home, and even exercise at home. And now, in B.C., you can even do your routine medical tests from home. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/11/20248 minutes, 7 seconds
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Trouble in the air 🛬 — Boeing 737 woes. Deloitte workers face the bots.

Boeing shares plummeted ~8% yesterday, which was to be expected after one of its planes blew a freakin’ hole in mid-air. Sorry, we still can’t believe that actually happened. Deloitte is taking the expression “time is **money” to heart with its new AI innovation. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/10/20249 minutes, 16 seconds
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Trouble in the air 🛬 — Boeing 737 woes. Deloitte workers face the bots.

Boeing shares plummeted ~8% yesterday, which was to be expected after one of its planes blew a freakin’ hole in mid-air. Sorry, we still can’t believe that actually happened. Deloitte is taking the expression “time is **money” to heart with its new AI innovation. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/9/20249 minutes, 20 seconds
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Slippery slopes — Skiing hits a new tax bracket, Apple faces bumpy road ahead.

As if the $15 poutine at the chalet wasn’t bad enough, poor snow conditions and high demand have marred this year’s ski season at popular Canadian slopes. Don’t feel too bad for the world’s most valuable company, but the new year is increasingly shaping up to be a challenging one for Apple. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/8/20248 minutes, 13 seconds
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What’s the Santa Claus Rally? 🎅 — Why investors are worried about markets.

Angola’s oil output might be just a drop in the barrel for OPEC — a group of leading oil-producing countries — but its departure could ripple into much bigger changes. Investors are starting to question the existence of Santa Claus… as far as the guy with the big, white, fluffy beard relates to markets, that is. Tiny towns popping up in the northern Ontario wilderness have come under government scrutiny, but their pioneer-like inhabitants insist they just want cheaper housing. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/22/20238 minutes, 20 seconds
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$2.5B drone investment ✈️ — A town powered by thermal energy, Ottawa delays innovation funding.

Better late than never: Canada is starting to pour more cash into its defence strategy. A northern Alberta town with a population of 577 people could be the site of a renewable energy breakthrough. Canada is a land of innovation. Look no further than the pizza dip roller or [ketchup chips](https://www.foodbloggersofcanada.com/canadas-love-for-ketchup-chips/#:~:text=The Canadian Story%3A Hostess Ketchup,chips on his mother's stove.)! Unfortunately, innovation funding continues to be a serious challenge. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/21/20238 minutes, 9 seconds
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Another population boom 📈 — The problem with performance reviews, New laws for Canadian passenger trains.

Better start baking those welcome cookies now, because you’ve got a million new neighbours to welcome. A new bill is trying to move “fast trains” from a European ideal into a Canadian reality. Is your looming annual performance review getting you down? You aren’t the only one. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/20/20238 minutes, 25 seconds
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Cancelled holiday parties🎉 — Shipping attacks disrupt trade, Zoom gets booted off the Nasdaq.

In recent days, the Red Sea has become like the mall during the holidays: A place better kept at a safe distance. Like each and every one of us who got used to working in our pyjamas, Zoom has had a rude post-Covid awakening. Forget champagne fountains or a private DJ set from David Guetta. Your office holiday party this year is more likely to be a not-so-boozy potluck, a pickleball match, or some virtual trivia. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/19/20238 minutes, 38 seconds
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Motor mandate 🚗 — Canada sets 2035 EV target, Why H&M is moving up-market. There’s panic in the Red Sea.

The end of the road for gas-powered vehicles in Canada is fast approaching. Like us trying to figure out what to wear to the company holiday party, H&M is having a bit of a fashion identity crisis. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is spreading to other parts of the Middle East. In Yemen, that could start to muck up global trade routes. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/18/20237 minutes, 32 seconds
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Canada’s biggest art fraud 🎨 — Hockey Canada sponsors are back, Rogers to roll out satellite access.

The ringleader of the largest art fraud operation in Canadian history — and, per one investigating officer, in *world* history — was sentenced to 5 years in prison yesterday. Team Canada announced its roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship. But the biggest names joining the team this year aren’t the new players, but returning advertisers. Over a year after a nationwide blackout left 12 million Canadians without reception, Rogers is making amends by bringing cell service to the deepest corners of Canada’s wilderness. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/15/20237 minutes, 44 seconds
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Double down 🇰🇷 — Tim Hortons goes to Seoul, Woldcoin links with Reddit, Trouble in maple syrup

Forget a Justin Bieber collab — as Tim Hortons expands into its newest locale, it should be looking for a stamp of approval from Blackpink or BTS. As if renewing your real passport wasn’t a big enough pain, you may soon need an internet passport to get into your favourite Reddit thread. What goes up must go down. After a record maple syrup harvest last year, Canada’s crop of the brown stuff has come crashing down like a stack of flapjacks that was piled too high. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/14/20238 minutes, 2 seconds
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Building homes 🏠 — A wartime housing effort, AI enters newsrooms, Controversy at COP28.

When all else fails, try finding answers to today’s problems in the ol’ history textbooks. They say you can’t teach an old newspaper new tricks, but The Grey Lady wants to get with the times and dabble in AI. The UN COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai went into overtime as environment ministers made like us in university and pulled an all-nighter desperately trying to finish a project. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/13/20237 minutes, 10 seconds
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Jammed 🐄 — BlackBerry’s new strategy, Cow burp credit plans, TikTok hits spending milestone.

It’s starting to look like investors might be happier watching BlackBerry the movie than BlackBerry the company. Canada proposed a new strategy to slash methane emissions by offering cattle farmers incentives if they feed their cows food that will make them burp less. Like a bartender with a generous pour, TikTok creators have been reeling in the tips. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/12/20239 minutes
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Sho close ⚾️ — EU passes landmark AI regs, Shohei nabs record-setting contract. Tesla fights a scandi-insurgency.

The EU is once again leading the charge on regulating tech, this time with a new set of rules for AI businesses. Look away, Blue Jays fans: Shohei Ohtani just signed the biggest contract in pro sports history, and despite some dedicated flight tracking and internet sleuthing, it’s not with Toronto. Tesla is learning the hard way that the only thing Scandinavians love more than skiing and cured seafood is the right to collective bargaining agreements. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/11/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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McMakeover 🍟 — Governments play iSpy, International student rules, McDonald’s has a new cafe.

Not to alarm you, but for some reason, the federal agency managing our seafood has the power to snoop at your phone. Allow us to explain. The newest admissions requirement for foreign students looking to get into a Canadian university has nothing to do with grades or extracurriculars. The world’s biggest fast-food chain is going big in a quest for cold drink supremacy. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/8/20238 minutes, 33 seconds
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Do better 🏥 — Beer biz is going flat, Canadian healthcare lags, A year of cyberattacks.

Who doesn’t love throwin’ up their feet and crackin’ open an ice-cold beer? We love Canada but must admit that other countries are superior in certain areas—things like better sun, tastier cuisine, and, crucially, better access to family doctors. People are used to getting surprises when they sign up for 23andMe, but “some hackers got their hands on your DNA” usually isn’t among them. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/7/202315 minutes, 8 seconds
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Rom-commerce 🛍️ — Math scores are falling, Walmart’s shoppable show, A plan for 2024 wildfires.

If you’re like us, when you studied math in school, you were constantly thinking ‘wow, this is hard.’ Unfortunately, for kids today, it seems that learning math has gotten even harder. The world's largest retailer is banking on a holiday season staple to boost sales: the cheesy holiday rom-com. After persevering through the most destructive year ever for wildfires in Canada, firefighters are in Ottawa trying to get more assistance before the next wildfire season. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/6/202315 minutes, 14 seconds
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Hit the gas ⛽️ — New methane rules, A new era of food, Crypto bounces back.

Yesterday, Canada joined the U.S. in creating strict methane rules to meet climate goals. Like a gym bro about to tackle leg day, food companies are all in on protein. As actual winter sets in, “crypto winter” seems like it could be coming to an end. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/5/20237 minutes, 13 seconds
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Carbon capture 🏭 — Carbon removal now critical to hitting climate goals, scientists tell COP28. KISS avatars herald weird new digital age for music industry. Foreign actors drive the digital divide.

Most of the world’s countries agreed on a significant new renewable energy push at the UN’s COP28 climate summit over the weekend, but scientists warned that overshooting the 1.5°C threshold — beyond which climate disasters will become more frequent and intense — is now almost “inevitable.” If your favourite artist is getting too old to tour, here’s some good news — soon, they could start sending a digital proxy to perform for them. Foreign bad actors have been studying our culture and have come to the very correct conclusion that nothing divides people more than a spicy Instagram post. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/4/20238 minutes, 7 seconds
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McDonalds makeover 🍔 — Dropping your living standards. McDonald’s moneymaker gets a makeover. Dissecting the digital dollar debate.

The Canadian economy has avoided a technical recession after economists updated the numbers that triggered alarm bells earlier this year. That’s #EconomistMath. With consumers starting to lean into burger options that are less… let’s say, mushy, McDonald’s is revamping its classic road trip staple. As 2024 nears, flying cars and teleporters are no closer to becoming a reality, but countries are hard at work devising digital currencies. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
12/1/20237 minutes, 38 seconds
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Media saved 📰 — A new news deal. A year of Chat GPT. Digital tax spat.

Canadians will get to keep (some of) their access to news, now that the government has reached a deal with Google over the controversial Online News Act. Today marks the one-year anniversary of an event that changed the world forever: The UN bestowing the baguette with protected heritage status… just kidding. Move over, dairy tariff quotas… there’s a new Canada-U.S. trade disagreement in town. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/30/20237 minutes, 19 seconds
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Flying cooking oil ✈️ — Scotiabank earnings don’t bode well. Virgin flight lifts off powered by cooking oil. The Windsor’s battery plant drama

Bank earnings season started not with a bang, but a whimper—one that could be sustained into 2024. For those of you who are already freaked out by airplanes, we have some fun news: Soon, your plane could be kept in the sky entirely by stuff you’d find in a deep fryer. Windsor’s new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant promised a plethora of jobs for Canadian workers, but that may have been a tad overhyped. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/29/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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Mining crisis ⛏️ — Panama’s mining crisis, explained. Consumers go big on Black Friday. Alberta flexes its sovereignty.

Panama’s top court is currently weighing whether or not to block a Canadian mining giant from tapping into the region's copper. Shoppers don’t need to wait for their credit card statements to know how much they splurged this year, with new Shopify data spilling all the details… In this week’s episode of Alberta vs. Feds, Danielle Smith makes what could be her most controversial announcement yet… Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/28/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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Dairy victory 🐮 — Canada wins diary dispute with US. Scientists develop electronic nose to prevent food poisoning. The limit does not exist for Germany’s spending.

While we, of course, have nothing but fondness for our southern neighbours, we also love beating them on the hockey rink, the soccer pitch, and in trade dispute court. The days of wondering if those leftovers you’ve had in your fridge for a week are still good or not (before eating them anyway and just hoping for the best) may be coming to an end. Like us on Black Friday weekend, Germany is turning a blind eye to its credit limit and hoping everything turns out okay in the end. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/27/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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Spy trial 🕵️‍♀️ — OpenAI and the case of the mystery letter. Canada’s momentous spy trial comes to a close. A truce between Israel-Hamas starts today.

The fallout at OpenAI escalated from “spicy corporate drama” to “arbiter of humanity’s fate” real quick. Canada’s historic spy trial wasn’t quite as exciting as a James Bond movie — it featured zero cool cars or giant lasers — but it was an important test for the judicial system. A hostage deal is expected to bring the first break in the fight between Israel and Hamas. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/24/20237 minutes, 4 seconds
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Ski subscribers 🎿 — Sam Altman is the once and future CEO of OpenAI. Wild pigs are taking over. Ski resorts turn to subscriptions.

After a whirlwind five days that included teary breakdowns, a pizza party, and even the launch of a new product, Sam Altman is once again CEO of OpenAI. If you’re worried about Canada’s housing market, just wait until we tell you about the country’s wild pig problem. Hanging out with a fancy group of friends and don’t know what to talk about? As if they prefer Epic or Ikon, and watch the ensuing debate light up the room. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/23/20238 minutes, 50 seconds
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Battery breakthrough 🔋— C ya, CZ. Québec just bowled a turkey, ‘cause it’s got three straight strikes. Northvolt makes EV battery breakthrough.

Like us, you may have thought your school days were behind you when you collected your expensive piece of paper at graduation, but with this AI thing apparently not going anywhere, we might all be hitting the books again soon. Are you self-conscious about your spending? Luckily, you don’t have to broadcast it to the entire nation like the federal government will do later today in its fall economic update. The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix happened last week on the Las Vegas Strip. It was F1’s glitziest, costliest event of the year — it also looks destined to be its biggest disappointment. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/22/20238 minutes, 2 seconds
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Fall update 💸 — The Las Vegas grand disappointment. Amazon wants you to go back to (AI) school. An update on the fall economic update.

Like us, you may have thought your school days were behind you when you collected your expensive piece of paper at graduation, but with this AI thing apparently not going anywhere, we might all be hitting the books again soon. Are you self-conscious about your spending? Luckily, you don’t have to broadcast it to the entire nation like the federal government will do later today in its fall economic update. The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix happened last week on the Las Vegas Strip. It was F1’s glitziest, costliest event of the year — it also looks destined to be its biggest disappointment. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/21/20238 minutes, 57 seconds
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AI battle 👾 — OpenAI had a hectic weekend. SpaceX reaches space with Starship for first time. Xi makes a splash in America

We’ve been glued to our phones following the drama unfolding at the world’s (arguably) most important AI company so that you don’t have to. SpaceX made progress in the second test flight of its Starship rocket, but the program’s success is still far from certain. To the surprise and delight (emphasis on the surprise) of the world, Xi Jinping’s second face-to-face meeting with Joe Biden actually went pretty well. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/20/20237 minutes, 50 seconds
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Weather AI 🌧️ — Meet your new weather forecaster: AI. GM buys itself a win over Tesla. Family docs drop plan to require extra training.

AI could force us to find a new go-to topic for small talk by bringing about a future where we already know everything about the weather. Fed up with trying to crack the code of Tesla’s low manufacturing costs, GM decided it would just buy the EV maker’s secret weapon. The body in charge of certifying family doctors in Canada is throwing the Uno reverse card at planned new training regulations. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/16/20237 minutes, 37 seconds
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Netflix for Sports ⛳️ — US and China to announce fentanyl deal. Netflix tees off its live sports offerings. Nicotine pouches pose danger to kids, experts warn.

As Canada’s opioid crisis continues, new enforcement measures in China could help restrict the flow of deadly substances to our shores. Like us signing up for beer league hockey, Netflix is dipping its toes into sports just to see how things play out. Vaping is so 2021. These days, nicotine pouches are the vice of choice for many teens, and health experts are warning that it’s a serious problem. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/15/20239 minutes, 12 seconds
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Dry IPO market 📉 — What’s wrong with the IPO market? Realtors’ fees in North America are under attack. Canadian tennis is on the come-up.

As Canadians struggle with the rising cost of living, pressure is mounting on the federal government to carve up its flagship climate policy like a Thanksgiving turkey. After almost a decade of delays, the world’s largest fusion reactor has finally achieved a key milestone. We’ve all had to give up some luxuries amidst rising inflation — it’s been sooo long since we’ve bought a fancy jar of fig jam — and the feds are no exception. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/14/20238 minutes, 26 seconds
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Carbon tax carveouts 🪓 — Pressure mounts to overhaul carbon tax. Japan hits nuclear fusion milestone. The government gets to cutting.

As Canadians struggle with the rising cost of living, pressure is mounting on the federal government to carve up its flagship climate policy like a Thanksgiving turkey. After almost a decade of delays, the world’s largest fusion reactor has finally achieved a key milestone. We’ve all had to give up some luxuries amidst rising inflation — it’s been sooo long since we’ve bought a fancy jar of fig jam — and the feds are no exception. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/13/20237 minutes, 21 seconds
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Ozempic competitors 💉 — Will an Ozempic competitor emerge? Ontario’s new foreign worker rules. Huawei is still patenting Canadian research.

Kind of like how every streamer released an epic fantasy show after Game of Thrones was a massive hit, drugmakers are all angling to produce the next blockbuster weight loss drug. We’ve all come across job postings with ludicrous experience requirements (10 years for an entry-level position???), and no one knows that pain more than foreign-trained workers. Like a dinner party guest who doesn’t know when to leave, Huawei is still kicking around Canadian universities' research departments. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/10/20237 minutes, 23 seconds
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Airships rising 🛫 — Alberta plans to upend its healthcare system. Can airships make a comeback?

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced yesterday that the province is planning to radically restructure its healthcare system. Rarely can one event kill off an entire industry, but that’s exactly what happened to airship travel when the LZ 129 Hindenburg burst into flames above New Jersey in 1937. Whether you’re at a family get-together or surfing online, politics can be a dicey topic to explore. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/9/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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WeBankrupt 🏢 — WeWork declares bankruptcy. The CRTC takes on Canada’s telecom giant. Global wine output is drying .

Not all heroes wear capes: Canada’s telecom regulator is trying to make your phone bill a little less daunting. Raise your on-tap kombuchas for a toast to WeWork, which burned far too bright and way too fast. To any wine moms or vino snobs who may be reading, make sure you’re sitting down with a chilled pinto grigio before looking at this next story. You might find it too upsetting. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/8/20238 minutes, 54 seconds
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Dating CEO 👩‍💼 — Bumble hopes its new CEO is the perfect match. The down-low Google vs. Epic Games. Social media is ready for its own kind of retail therapy.

Just like you with your ex, the general public has fallen out of love with dating apps. The maker of Fortnite is hoping to score a victory royale against one of the titans of tech. Social media platforms are bracing for a potentially rough quarter, but they do have one hope: those “tap here to buy now” ads. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/7/20237 minutes, 55 seconds
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AI influencers 📸 — AI influencers are taking over. Pre-tip your driver or risk slow delivery, DoorDash users warned. The impacts of Africa’s youth boom.

Out of all the jobs under threat from AI, we certainly didn’t have Instagram influencers at the top of our list. Want your late-night Big Mac order to arrive at least a little bit warm? Better tip your delivery driver ahead of time. Want to feel old? The median age in Africa is just shy of 19. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/6/202313 minutes, 50 seconds
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Celebrity books 📚 — It’s the year of celebrity memoirs. What’s going on with the loonie? Low survey response rates are tainting economic data

Celebrity memoirs aren’t just a source of gossip-worthy headlines… they’ve also been giving the publishing industry a needed shot in the arm. Pros of Canadian currency compared to US currency: Comes in several fun colours, and features the majestic loon. Cons of Canadian currency compared to US currency: It’s less valuable, and dropping lower. Canadians are turning away from economic surveys, a development that’s hurting far more than just the feelings of the Stats Canada surveyors knocking on their doors. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/3/20237 minutes, 53 seconds
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Technical recession 🚨 — A technical recession is upon us. Clarifying the carbon tax drama. Canada joins global ransomware pledge Q

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.” The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers. New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/2/20238 minutes, 33 seconds
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Technical recession 🚨 — A technical recession is upon us. Clarifying the carbon tax drama. Canada joins global ransomware pledge Q

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.” The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers. New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
11/1/20237 minutes, 50 seconds
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You’re out ⚾️ — More strikes than a baseball game. Biden’s executive order closes the AI floodgates. Canada tightens international student rules.

Stellantis executives looked around, saw the numerous drawn-out strikes that have happened this year, and told striking workers, “Let’s get this over with.” The US government is rolling out some new house rules for AI developers. New numbers suggest that Canada’s bail system is more backed up than our stomachs after a bunch of fast food. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/31/20238 minutes, 43 seconds
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Poison pill AI 💊 — Halloween treats probably won’t give you lead poisoning, but watch that hot chocolate. Poison pill threatens AI image models. Canada tightens international student rules.

New research is putting the harmful metal content of chocolate under the microscope again, but don’t go tossing the kids’ trick-or-treat haul just yet. If your favourite AI image generator starts spitting out some weird stuff, we may have an explanation. For months now, officials have been saying that the 800,000 foreign students at Canadian universities and colleges are putting too much pressure on housing and the labour market. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/30/20238 minutes, 24 seconds
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Cruise fight 🛳️ — Carnival condemned for Covid cruise. Stores show off their new brands. Alberta turns to AI to help fight wildfires.

Carnival Cruise Lines soon might have to spend a little bit less on cruise ship roller coasters and a little bit more on Covid lawsuit settlements. One in every three Canadians are buying more store brands to offset food inflation. On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, the country is turning to AI for solutions. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/27/20239 minutes, 6 seconds
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Cruise fight 🛳️ — Carnival condemned for Covid cruise. Stores show off their new brands. Alberta turns to AI to help fight wildfires.

Carnival Cruise Lines soon might have to spend a little bit less on cruise ship roller coasters and a little bit more on Covid lawsuit settlements. One in every three Canadians are buying more store brands to offset food inflation. On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, the country is turning to AI for solutions. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/26/20237 minutes, 56 seconds
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AI godfather debate 🤖— California deals a blow to autonomous cars. Doomsday kits are going mainstream. The Godfathers of AI can’t agree on how dangerous it is.

Like an angsty teen who took the car out without permission, Cruise has lost its driving privileges for the time being. If you’re looking for some early Christmas gift ideas, nothing spreads holiday cheer quite like a doomsday survival kit. The comments section of a Facebook post typically isn’t a place for intelligent debate between great minds… but sometimes, it is. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/25/20237 minutes, 17 seconds
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Port strike 🪧 — Rich countries feel the migration surge. St. Lawrence Seaway workers join the strike wave. Could we see a billionaire tax?

Make some room! International migration to advanced economies reached an all-time high last year, with estimates suggesting a further influx this year, per new OECD stats. Shipping traffic at a key Canadian transportation artery has ground to a halt. No, there isn’t a 400-metre-long container ship blocking the Seaway, just 361 workers walking off the job. Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and billionaires not paying said taxes. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/24/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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New streaming deal 🏀—  Momentum grows for competition push. NBA looks for slam dunk with streamers. Who is Argentina’s next President?

If you've ever returned from a trip to the States and wished we had Trader Joe's here too, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is with you—and not just to get easier access to the World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs, either. While basketball fans will be focused on the NBA season tip-off this week, business fans will be more focused on the massive shake-up happening in media that’s set to reshape pro sports. As Argentines head to the polls, there’s a good chance their next president could be a man who has been compared to both Donald Trump and Wolverine. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/23/20237 minutes, 40 seconds
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Runway Robots 🤖 —  Diplomats leave India, Pearson’s runway robot, Pumping the EV brakes.

41 Canadian diplomats leave india. Toronto’s Pearson airpot rolls out autonomous safety robot Tesla’s profits fell 44% last quarter thanks, in part, to vehicle price cuts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/20/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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Bank blues 🏦 —  Bad time to be a bank, What’s happening with SBF, Netflix leans into sponsors.

Scotiabank is the latest Canadian bank to roll out cost-cutting measures It looks increasingly unlikely that SBF will beat seven federal criminal charges Netflix is adding sponsorship and ads that target binge-watchers to draw more advertisers to its platform. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/19/202310 minutes, 4 seconds
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Free Money 🏦 —  The Senate considers UBI, New salad-making robots, Another EV investment

The Senate’s national finance committee studied a bill that would create a framework for universal basic income (UBI) in Canada. Salad start-up Sweetgreen welcomes robot overlords (sort of) Governments pledge nearly $1 billion in subsidies for an EV battery plant. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Check out the the Mcdonalds drive through here.
10/18/20239 minutes, 42 seconds
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Puff puff pass 💨 —  Five years of legal weed, Smart glasses hit shelves, Where are the entrepreneurs?

Weed has been legal in Canada for 5 years, what’s gone right and wrong? Meta has become the latest billion-dollar company to officially enter the smart glasses market with the second iteration of its design with Ray-Bans. There are 100,000 fewer business owners in Canada than 20 years ago. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/17/20239 minutes, 50 seconds
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Edge of Diplomacy 🌎 —  Scramble in the middle east, labour tug of war.

Provinces are piloting new strategies to lure skilled workers in high-demand sectors like healthcare, green energy, and construction. Statistics Canada will release the consumer price index tomorrow Top US diplomats spent the weekend shuttling between Middle Eastern capitals in a bid to stop the war between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a broader regional conflict. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/16/20238 minutes, 12 seconds
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English Tax 💲 —  Quebéc to bump tuition, IKEA is cutting prices, A $60B oil opportunity.

Quebéc is demanding that out-of-town university students parle Français, lest they pay the price. Ikea is slashing prices on a range of its furniture worldwide, as easing supply chain costs have made things cheaper to produce Exxon Mobil’s move to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources is welcome news for the Canadian oil industry. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/13/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Toy Story 🧩— Canadian toy giant expands, Amazon wants you to buy again, X marks the disinfo.

Canadian toy giant Spinmaster buys US pre-school toy makers Melissa & Doug Amazon is testing out a new buy again feature to boost revenue. Misinfo is running wild on X. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/12/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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Birken-Stocks 🩴— Iconic sandal maker goes public, we’re addicted to cheap eats and 23&Me’s data leak.

We are addicted to cheap, addictive and unhealthy foods. 23&Me’s data breach serves as another reminder to change your passwords. Sandal maker Birkenstocks dips a toe into the public markets. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/11/20239 minutes, 49 seconds
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Climate Proof ☕— Starbucks develops climate resistant beans. Canada squeezes Airbnb. Food makers are tightening their belts.

Poor weather conditions are threatening to make your morning coffee even more expensive. The federal government is considering measures to encourage cities to limit the supply of short term rentals. Companies are worried that new weight loss drugs will be bad for their bottom line. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/10/20239 minutes, 16 seconds
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Blackberry 2 ☎️ — Blackberry cuts itself into two. Grocers agree to freeze prices. Rent is going up.

BlackBerry just booted up the ol’ Bold 9700 and sent a heartfelt break-up text… to itself. As some Canadians prepping for Thanksgiving come face-to-face with $120 turkeys, the government is asking big grocers to do something, anything, to lower food prices. Two years ago, $2,000 could go a long way in Canada’s major cities: We’re talking floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor swimming pools, and desirable downtown locations… Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/6/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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AI wearables ⌚️ — AI-generated ads are coming. Meta’s news block is hurting small outlets. AI wearables are so hot right now.

If there’s ever a modern-day Mad Men reboot, it’ll likely feature less cigarette smoking and whiskey drinking, and more inputting prompts into chatbots. Two months into Meta’s Canadian news block, small-time publishers are feeling the pinch. The tech industry hopes you’ll consider making AI gadgets a regular wardrobe fixture. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/5/20237 minutes, 25 seconds
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Spy trial 🕵️‍♀️ — Our ongoing battle with India. Canada’s unprecedented spy trial. Silicon Valley loves longevity.

It’s increasingly clear that Canada and India’s spat isn’t the kind that’s easily resolved over a few texts and a round of beers. In a story ripped from the works of John le Carré (or perhaps John le Carr-eh), a landmark Canadian espionage case just hit the courts. Yachts and mansions are nice, but these days, Silicon Valley executives are chasing something money can’t buy: Time. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/4/20238 minutes, 45 seconds
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EV trucks 🚛 — The battle for EV truck supremacy. Businesses are betting big on hard drugs. Laurentian CEO heads for the exits.

What do four-year-old boys and the electric vehicle (EV) market have in common? Both are obsessed with trucks. Bad business idea: Opening a meth and crack store that immediately gets shut down. Maybe a good business idea? Early investing in the potential decriminalization of hard drugs. Over the summer, analysts were pretty confident that major banks would be interested in buying Laurentian. But now, even the CEO doesn’t want to work there. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/3/20239 minutes, 2 seconds
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Sport VCs 📈 — Remote work dries up. Feds look to space to fight wildfires. Athletes are turning to venture capital.

Still working from home in your sweats? Better hang on to that gig if you want to keep the lifestyle because few new jobs will afford you the same luxury. This year’s historically bad wildfire season has the federal government searching for new ways to battle future blazes. If it seems like everyone you know (and know of) is becoming a venture capitalist these days… yes, yes they are. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
10/2/20236 minutes, 46 seconds
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EV factory collection 🔋 — Why is Costco selling gold bars? Canada is all in on EV battery production. The hottest tech launch of the fall.

A 10-kg bucket of peanut butter. A box of 204 frozen croissants. A 24-karat gold bar. What do all of these items have in common? You can buy them all at Costco. Some folks collect baseball cards or stamps. Canada is collecting EV battery plants. Apple’s iPhone 15 is officially the hottest release of the fall. And no, we’re not talking about its lightweight frame, USB 3.2 port, and exciting new button… Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/29/20237 minutes, 59 seconds
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Just check out 🛍️ — Canadian tech agrees to AI code of conduct. Hollywood writers go back to work. Buy a beer from Amazon in seconds.

Canada’s new AI regs just dropped… Do you hear that? It’s the sound of keyboards clacking, pens scribbling, and overpriced latte orders echoing across the Sunset Strip… …which can only mean Hollywood writers are back. Amazon’s new check-out concept means Canadian sports fans will still pay $13 for a beer, but at least they won’t have to wait in line for it. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/28/20238 minutes, 57 seconds
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David and Goliath 🛒 — The FTC challenges Amazon. The supershoe footrace heats up. Canada courts digital nomads.

The FTC surely must be inspired by the story of David and Goliath, because the US regulatory body won’t stop picking fights with tech giants. The saddest six-word story ever written: For sale, $500 shoes, worn once. Picture the life of a digital nomad: You’re probably thinking of oceanfront workplaces, rainforest yoga, and drinking out of coconuts. But what about just heading to Toronto? Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/27/20239 minutes, 29 seconds
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Voice ai 🎤 — ChatGPT finds its voice. No recycled Lego bricks. Are more strikes on the horizon?

OpenAI's latest ChatGPT update bestows the AI chatbot with the gifts of speech and sight. The world’s largest toymaker is having a hard time making its little bricks eco-friendly. As the calendar turns and labour unrest in Canada continues, the Summer of Strikes is evolving into the Autumn of Arbitration (which is way less catchy, but just as important). Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/26/20237 minutes, 13 seconds
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New Ford contract 🚗 — Ford workers win big pay bump. New space rocks just dropped. NFTs are dead, long live NFTs.

Big congrats to anyone who works for Ford on your big raise. Next round is on you! Unlike many of us coming home from holiday, NASA remembered to bring back souvenirs from its latest trip. Look away, arachnophobes: A new species of tarantula with a unique, electric blue colour has been discovered in Thailand. Don’t worry about finding one of these guys in your home, though—they’re quite rare and prefer the warm, humid conditions of a tropical forest. If you were kicking yourself last year for not getting in on the NFT craze, we’ve got good news… Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/25/20236 minutes, 47 seconds
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Face boarding pass ✈️ — India escalates beef with Canada. Toronto ponders EV mandate for Ubers, taxis. Who needs a passport when you’ve got your face?

Remember the good ol’ days of Canadian and Indian leaders forging economic ties and posing for extremely cringey photos? We sure do — but that time is behind us now. Ride-sharing in Toronto could soon become an eco-friendly way to travel, which might make you feel a little better about all those Uber charges. Physical passports and boarding passes could go the way of smoking sections on airplanes thanks to biometric technology. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/22/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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Face boarding pass ✈️ — India escalates beef with Canada. Toronto ponders EV mandate for Ubers, taxis. Who needs a passport when you’ve got your face?

Remember the good ol’ days of Canadian and Indian leaders forging economic ties and posing for extremely cringey photos? We sure do — but that time is behind us now. Ride-sharing in Toronto could soon become an eco-friendly way to travel, which might make you feel a little better about all those Uber charges. Physical passports and boarding passes could go the way of smoking sections on airplanes thanks to biometric technology. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/21/20239 minutes, 3 seconds
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AI side hustle 🛠️ — The Bank of Canada has a lot more work to do. The UN takes a temperature check. AI is a side hustle sidekick.

If the Bank of Canada (BoC) is looking for a new mantra during these trying times, might we suggest, “What goes up must come down… to the 2% inflation target.” As the 2023 UN General Assembly enters its final day, member nations are trying to find a way to get a passing grade on the world’s hardest group project. Looking to put some extra muscle into your side hustle? Look no further than our robot pals. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/20/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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Grocery plan 🧾 — Feds demand plan from grocery execs. Canadian rental listings are really something else. How did a Vietnamese EV company get so big while selling so few cars?

If you can’t figure out why you’re grocery bill keeps climbing, you’re not alone, the federal government was wondering the same thing. From shared bedrooms to staircase apartments, it’s a tough world out there for new renters. You’d think that to be one of the world’s most valuable car companies, you’d need to move a lot of hot rods. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/19/20239 minutes, 21 seconds
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Auto risk 🚗 — Autoworkers see risk in electric vehicle future. Celebs lock up their likeness. Luxury hotels are booming.

Electric vehicles might be great for bringing emissions down, but there’s growing concern among autoworkers that they might not be great for people who make cars for a living. Did anyone have Tom Hanks filing a copyright for his AI avatar on their 2023 bingo card? London (England, not Ontario) is set to welcome at least 13 new high-end hotels, some of which claim to offer seven-star accommodation—a number of stars we didn’t even know was possible. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/18/202323 minutes, 41 seconds
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Unhelpful cold medication 🤧 — Common cold drugs not only taste bad, they don't work. White House asks Big Tech for AI answers. Don’t pick up the phone.

Ever feel like your cold medication isn’t really doing the job? That may be because it’s literally not doing the job—or any job, for that matter. Washington rolled out the red carpet for big tech’s A-listers yesterday, but instead of asking them who they’re wearing, the Silicon Valley equivalent of the Avengers were quizzed about AI. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Your phone rings, you pick it up, and within 0.01 seconds, you realize it’s a scammer. You hang up and swear off answering calls for good. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/15/20238 minutes, 48 seconds
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Unhelpful cold medication 🤧 — Common cold drugs not only taste bad, they don't work. White House asks Big Tech for AI answers. Don’t pick up the phone.

Ever feel like your cold medication isn’t really doing the job? That may be because it’s literally not doing the job—or any job, for that matter. Washington rolled out the red carpet for big tech’s A-listers yesterday, but instead of asking them who they’re wearing, the Silicon Valley equivalent of the Avengers were quizzed about AI. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Your phone rings, you pick it up, and within 0.01 seconds, you realize it’s a scammer. You hang up and swear off answering calls for good. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/14/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Carbon credits 🏭 — New iPhone, new problems. Ottawa ponders international student puzzle. Amazon goes green(ish).

Apple held its latest product event yesterday, dubbed “Wonderlust,” to pitch shiny new toys they hope will help them navigate unusually choppy waters. The federal government is rolling up the welcome mat for international students (and maybe sticking it in storage for a while). In an effort to offset the environmental impact of its business (and its founder’s 417-foot, US$500 million superyacht), Amazon is getting into the carbon capture game. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/13/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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Addictive junk food 🍟 — Just plane embarrassing. Google faces its biggest antitrust threat yet. Cigarettes and junk food have something in common.

Canada’s delegation to the G20 Summit is finally on its way back home after proving that in this country, no one is safe from flight delays. Like any of us in hour four of a Monopoly game, the US government wants to put an end to it all. You all already know that tobacco companies were responsible for one major global health crisis, but what if we told you they were actually responsible for two of them? Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/12/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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More lithium 🪨 — US, India score G20 wins at China’s expense. Lithium deposit found in US may be world’s largest. Jobs report sends mixed signals.

China and Russia’s leaders may have decided to skip this year’s G20 gathering in New Delhi, but everyone else managed to get along just fine without them. Heading west for a gold rush? So 19th century. It’s 2023: Miners these days want to hear about lithium “in dem thar hills.” The latest job numbers are in, and they’re sending more mixed signals than a crush who likes all of your Instagram stories but won’t answer any of your texts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/11/20237 minutes, 6 seconds
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Car privacy 🚗 — India opens its arms at this year’s G20. China takes a bite out of Apple. Cars are less private than a nude beach.

A who’s who of global leaders are landing in New Delhi as the annual G20 Summit starts tomorrow… or later today if you factor in the time difference. Imagine this: You’re a company, and your second-biggest market, which generates almost a fifth of your revenue, suddenly enacts a partial ban on your products. Cars are packed to the gills with technology these days, leading to various problems like production shortages, rampant theft, and now, major privacy concerns. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/8/20237 minutes, 44 seconds
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Rates hold 💵 — Tiff holds rates but leaves the door open for hikes. Return to office… now. Streaming may get more lucrative for musicians.

The Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate steady at 5% yesterday, but don’t call it a pivot—they’re ready to hike again if that’s what it takes to whip inflation, and they want to make sure everyone knows it. As Labour Day fades from sight in the rearview mirror, more Canadian employers are telling, not asking, employees to return to the office for at least a few days of the week. For artists who don’t change the economic outlook of a city with a couple of concerts, some extra money from a new royalty deal could go a long way. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/7/20238 minutes, 39 seconds
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China chips 💻 — Rise of the athlete influencer. Canada makes friends in the Indo-Pacific. China’s got chips too.

Athletes: They’re just like you and me. They eat, sleep, and are painfully aware of how many views their latest Instagram story is getting. At an international summit of Asian countries, the Prime Minister of Indonesia got a custom Team Canada basketball jersey, and Canada got a shiny new foreign partnership. As the US-China chip continues to run hot, a new smartphone has entered the chat. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/6/20238 minutes, 49 seconds
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ChatGPT in the classroom 📚 — ChatGPT enters its freshman year. Feds urged to create disaster response force. As rents heat up, Germany wants a freeze.

It’s back to school for students across Canada, and teachers are preparing to contend with a new presence in the classroom that’s shaping up to be more disruptive than the class clown: Artificial intelligence. While Canadian troops have been used to fight unprecedented wildfires this summer, some say there’s a better solution. As renters start to echo the concerns of Jimmy McMillan (read: the rent is too damn high), some countries are taking measures to cool off hot rental prices. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/5/20238 minutes, 12 seconds
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Arm the rebels 🛍️  — Canadian mortgages get bigger. Bots aren’t allowed. Shopify and Amazon team up.

Canadian mortgage balances are making like a gym bro and getting swole.The newest location of Canada’s largest bookstore is set to offer a lot more than books. Robots have never been welcome on the internet—think of all the crosswalk photos waiting to stump us in a CAPTCHA—but that’s never been more true in an era of web scraping bots. Like two mismatched cops assigned to work the same case in a cheesy action movie, Shopify and Amazon have set aside their differences and become frenemies. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
9/1/20239 minutes, 4 seconds
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Pasta shock 🍝 — One million residents short of estimates. Indigo asks, “Would you like some books with your wine?” Prepare for pasta sticker shock.

If your top skills include “counting, like, really high” then boy, does the government have a job for you. The newest location of Canada’s largest bookstore is set to offer a lot more than books. It might be time to cut back on the spaghetti carbonara… not because you need to watch the carbs, but to save on your grocery bill. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/31/20237 minutes, 37 seconds
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AI at work 🛠️ — The AI battle for your office. Beat the high rent with an apartment swap. What’s the deal with Alert Ready?

Google and Microsoft are duking it out to become the provider of AI tools for your office. Montréal is famous for its bagels, poutine, and… apartment-swaps? The emergency alerts you get on your phone are facing fierce criticism, and not just because they frequently scare the living daylights out of you with that blaring siren sound. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/30/20238 minutes, 3 seconds
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Workers staying put 👷‍♀️ — The West grows wary of Chinese research. Canadian workers are staying put. Cybercrimes are trending up.

As the West and China’s geopolitical relations grow tenser than our vocal cords during a big podcast recording, academic relations are also under strain. As the labour market slows down, the “job-hopping generation” is deciding to stay put. Here are our early predictions for what will be hot in 2024: Lavender mocktails, tube tops, middle-distance running, aaand rampant cybercrime. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/29/20239 minutes, 13 seconds
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New cities 🌆 — Entrepreneurs see opportunity in city-building. Researchers crack the Y chromosome code. How is Ozempic affecting Denmark’s economy?

Ever played SimCity and thought it might be fun to try your hand at creating a city from scratch in real life? You aren’t alone: A growing cohort of entrepreneurs backed by deep-pocketed financiers are giving it a whirl. A scientific breakthrough could shed light on some of the biggest threats facing men's health. How are scores of Americans trying to lose weight affecting Danish monetary policy? The answer isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/28/20237 minutes, 47 seconds
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Nuclear water ☢️ — US intelligence weighs in on Russian warlord plane crash. Nvidia keeps cashing cheques. Japan’s nuclear controversy.

The exact causes of the plane crash believed to have killed Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin have not been found, but there are plenty of theories beyond bad turbulence. Like Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon this year, Nvidia’s recent performance has launched it into household name status. Today, in unsurprising news, dumping nuclear wastewater into the ocean is controversial. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/25/20237 minutes, 35 seconds
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Cold drinks 🥤 — Building with BRICS. Colder weather, colder drinks. Québec shoots down international student cap.

An exclusive economic club between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa is officially open for new members. Cold drinks are hot right now, and it’s all because Gen Z thinks they’re totally mother… are we using that right? Québec didn’t waste any time shooting down the fed's latest proposal for tackling the housing crisis. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/24/20237 minutes, 15 seconds
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Moon landings 🌕 — The new race to the Moon. Meta launches an AI translator. Subway finds a potential buyer.

Like vinyl records, lunar exploration is a 1960s fave that’s back in a big way. For anyone who tries to get by with only **speaking English on vacation, Meta has introduced new technology that could help you keep the ball rolling. For sale: One lightly used sandwich chain. Price tag: About ten billion dollars. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/23/20238 minutes, 23 seconds
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New travel hotspot 🏖️ — A Montréal housing bylaw falls short. The high art market goes low. Move over Italy, it's all about Albania.

In today’s episode of ‘Canadian housing gone wrong’: A 2021 Montréal bylaw meant to lead to the construction of over 1,200 new social housing units has produced zero. In the first five months of the year, overall global fine art sales have dropped by 14% compared to the same time last year, while sales at the Big Three Auction houses (Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips) dropped a whopping 20%, per Artnet. Folks bitten by the travel bug are running into a major problem this year: Travelling is freakin’ expensive! That’s why tourists are shifting to under-the-radar destinations. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/22/20238 minutes, 37 seconds
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New EU rules 🇪🇺 — Firefighters make progress battling BC blaze. Sweeping EU tech rules set to take effect. One year of subsidy wars.

British Columbia introduced travel restrictions and expanded evacuation orders over the weekend as wildfires continue to rage in the province, but officials expressed optimism yesterday that fire crews were turning the corner in the battle to contain the blazes. Big Tech may not have any interest in complying with Canada’s recent attempts to regulate them, but the European Union is having more luck. Yesterday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final, topping off a tournament that has continued to break records. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/21/20238 minutes, 10 seconds
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Gamifying sobriety 🍻 — Cities are feeling the pinch. Gamifying sobriety shows. One year of subsidy wars.

Someone call Ramit Sethi from Netflix’s How To Get Rich, because Canadian cities need financial rescuing. Looking to cut back on drinking? There’s an app for that. It’s been about a year since a pair of US laws triggered a flood of incentives for investments in clean energy production and semiconductor manufacturing. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/18/202324 minutes, 15 seconds
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German cannabis 💨 — Canadian cannabis eyes Germany. Google is turning Bard into a life coach. Tinder wants you to pay up for better matches.

More Germans could soon be putting down the stein of pilsner in favour of der marihuana-zigarette as the country approaches recreational weed legalization. You’re probably already letting AI autocomplete your sentences or choose what you watch next on Netflix… but would you lean on a chatbot to give you life advice? Are you a lonely heart? Do you have some serious cash burning a hole in your pocket but aren’t famous enough to get on Raya? Well, now you’re in luck. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/17/20237 minutes, 26 seconds
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Budget cutting ✂️ — Six weeks to cut $15 billion. Dental bills sharpen their teeth. You’ve heard of Mambo No. 5, but what about Indictment No. 4?

With a new mandate to cut billions in federal spending, cabinet members might have to skip the icebreakers and head straight to the whiteboard at their team retreat next week. You can now add ‘higher prices’ to the list of reasons to put off your next visit to the dentist, alongside ‘awkward small talk’ and ‘pointy tools.’ We regret to inform you that it’s finally time to talk about Donald Trump’s legal troubles. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/16/20237 minutes, 19 seconds
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Student housing 🏠 — New AI rules on the way in Canada. Stepping up for the student housing crisis. Why are Nova Scotian waters glowing pink?

Nearly nine months after the release of ChatGPT, Canada is progressing toward increasing safety and transparency around generative AI. With rents hitting record highs and the school year incoming, start-ups are helping students find rooms where they can live, study, and hang posters of Quentin Tarantino movies. Waters in Nova Scotia were glowing pink last Thursday, and no, it wasn’t a viral marketing stunt for Pepto-Bismol or an alien menace that crash-landed into the sea. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/15/20238 minutes, 46 seconds
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AI love ❤️ — AI is trying to win your heart. The question vexing economists: Why did inflation fall? The record-breaking business of Guinness World Records

Nothing quite says romance in the year 2023 like sending sweet nothings to an AI chatbot. In the past month, Canadians have broken Guinness World Records for the deepest underwater model photoshoot (6.4 metres), most pancakes served in eight hours (17,182 flapjacks) and, most impressively, the largest dinosaur costume dance party (1,187 costumed dinos). The US is stepping up its effort to cripple China’s advanced high-tech sectors. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/14/20239 minutes, 21 seconds
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Hunt for T-Swift tickets 🎤 — My kingdom for a T-Swift ticket. Hacking contest aims to fix holes in AI models. US escalates tech war with China.

Good luck, indeed. As we enter the final day of ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Toronto, we wish luck to anyone trying to snag a ticket… but also caution you not to get your hopes up. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… unless it's at this weekend’s AI hacking competition in the City of Sin. The US is stepping up its effort to cripple China’s advanced high-tech sectors. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/11/20238 minutes, 42 seconds
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AI music 🎶 — A pipeline’s debt debacle. Record labels seek deal on AI-generated music. China’s topsy-turvy pricing problem.

Whom amongst us hasn’t spent a little too much on something we really wanted? The federal government certainly has on its newest pipeline. If you’ve ever wanted to hear Iron Maiden sing Taylor Swift’s “Shake it off,” you may soon be in luck. While here in Canada we contend with eye-popping price increases, on the other side of the world, people in China are facing a different pricing problem: Deflation. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/10/20237 minutes, 33 seconds
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New energy source 🔌 — Are big sporting events worth it? Workcations are booming. A major energy breakthrough.

With one year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the event’s budget has already ballooned to €8.3 billion, up from an estimated €6.8 billion in initial costs. Thinking of extending the long weekend without taking time off work? You’re not alone. There’s nothing like waking up after a long weekend to learn that while you were busy throwing small bean bags onto a wooden board for points, scientists were making history. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/9/20239 minutes, 5 seconds
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New energy source 🔌 — Are big sporting events worth it? Workcations are booming. A major energy breakthrough.

With one year to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the event’s budget has already ballooned to €8.3 billion, up from an estimated €6.8 billion in initial costs. Thinking of extending the long weekend without taking time off work? You’re not alone. There’s nothing like waking up after a long weekend to learn that while you were busy throwing small bean bags onto a wooden board for points, scientists were making history. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/8/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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E-commerce battle 🛍️ — Alberta pauses on renewables. An e-commerce turf war is brewing. Ozempic vs. berberine.

Wind and solar are the [fastest-growing sources](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/12/wind-and-solar-generated-a-record-amount-of-global-power-in-2022.html#:~:text=Solar was the fastest-growing,electricity demand of South Africa.) of electricity in the world. Too fast, if you ask Alberta. Many contests over the years have been dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” but Walmart vs. Amazon might live up to that hyperbole, at least on the e-commerce front. TikTokers (who else?) have found a “natural” alternative to Ozempic in berberine, a chemical found in plants like barberry and goldenseal. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/4/20237 minutes, 38 seconds
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New space station 🛰 — US credit is no longer #1. Hope you like chatbots. The race to replace the ISS.

Fitch Ratings has downgraded America's credit rating from the highest-possible “AAA” to a meagre “AA+”... just like its northern neighbour. “Four-score and seven years ago, I snagged a great deal on Marketplace!” In space, no one can hear you scream… about how great your business venture is going! Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/3/20237 minutes, 50 seconds
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Economics of aliens 👽 — Saudi Arabia eyes the mining game. Canada wants tech-savvy immigrants. The (hypothetical) economics of alien contact

Saudi Arabia may have been snubbed by soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé, but it can keep its head up knowing that its foray into mining is taking off. Is your ‘type’ an accomplished tech professional with a six-figure salary? Then you might have to battle it out with Canada’s immigration office. Aliens: Terrifying threat from beyond the stars… or untapped economic opportunity? Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/2/20238 minutes, 6 seconds
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Economics of aliens 👽 — Saudi Arabia eyes the mining game. Canada wants tech-savvy immigrants. The (hypothetical) economics of alien contact.

Saudi Arabia may have been snubbed by soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé, but it can keep its head up knowing that its foray into mining is taking off. Is your ‘type’ an accomplished tech professional with a six-figure salary? Then you might have to battle it out with Canada’s immigration office. Aliens: Terrifying threat from beyond the stars… or untapped economic opportunity? Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
8/1/20239 minutes, 20 seconds
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New trains 🚊 — Your pension fund’s next investment: Transit. OpenAI’s deal with AP comes with a catch. El Salvador’s gang crackdown.

A new train system launching today in Montreal is set to reshape how people get around the city—and could become a proof of concept for a new way of building infrastructure elsewhere in the country. The Associated Press might’ve been the first news outlet to cut an AI licensing deal, but they made sure they weren’t giving OpenAI an early-bird discount. In Central America, El Salvador’s president has become more popular than the Pope—and no, it’s not because he decided to make Bitcoin legal tender. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/31/20239 minutes, 9 seconds
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Random range 🚗 — All hail resale. Is the West done raising rates? Tesla hasn’t got the range.

Canada’s top high-end winterwear brand (that’s named after an aggressive northern waterfowl) is tapping into the growing consumer desire to get thrifty. Inflation is cooling across the Western world, but don’t grab your party hats just yet. Like a friend who tells you their birthday bash is going to be the wildest party ever, Tesla is facing accusations of over-exaggeration. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/28/20237 minutes, 26 seconds
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Cabinet shuffle 🏛️ — Canada’s Cabinet kerfuffle. The cost of the immigration boom. The dynamic price is right.

Almost 80% of Canada’s ministers are new or in a new role… all with the hopes of making a dent in the country’s most pressing issues ahead of the next election. According to a new TD Economics report, Canada's historic population growth risks exacerbating the country’s biggest problem areas. As the demand for experiences like travel, movie passes, and concert tickets soars, companies are taking advantage by leaning into ‘dynamic pricing.’ Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/27/20237 minutes, 15 seconds
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Twitter is now X 🐦 — The race to build a super-app is on. Why Vancouver’s proposed zoning law matters. What in the Worldcoin?

In one of the most significant rebrand in the history of rebrands, Twitter is now X. Like baggy clothes and country music, zoning laws are having a moment this year. Since time immemorial, our eyes have had one use: To see things. Now, they finally have a higher purpose… generating crypto tokens! Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/26/20238 minutes, 45 seconds
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Soccer domination ⚽️ — The cruise business is back. Private nursing is booming. Saudi Arabia’s plan for world soccer domination.

Riding the comeback wave this year are cargo pants, vinyl records and… cruises? To keep emergency rooms open, hospitals are dropping stacks on private nurses. Forget crypto, the new get-rich-quick strategy is playing pro soccer in Saudi Arabia. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/25/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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Declining wine 🍷 — El Niño could mean higher food prices. Fine wine’s value takes a hit. The race is on to make flying cleaner.

Get ready to cross some more squares off your extreme weather bingo card, because El Niño is here. If you followed in Jay Z’s footsteps and locked up some expensive bottles of wine as a retirement investment, you might be looking for a refund right about now. In addition to adding oat milk and Aperol Spritzes to their in-flight menu, Air Canada is making moves to add more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We don’t really do clickbait here, but… click to watch 488 good dogs. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/24/20237 minutes, 55 seconds
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Barbenheimer 👚 — It’s a Barbenheimer world. Google showcases its new robo-reporter. FBI of the North

Two of the year’s biggest films, Oppenheimer (about the father of the atomic bomb) and Barbie (about, well, Barbie), are out in theatres and making for an unlikely double feature. Google is taking a break from its fight with Canadian publishers to showcase its brand-new toy for journalists: An AI helper. The Mounties appear on the verge of a major shakeup—and no, it doesn’t involve ditching the iconic Red Serge jackets and campaign hats. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/21/20239 minutes, 42 seconds
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New tax now  🤑 — Canada wants its new tax now. Bosses want to boss from home. Alberta’s open for business.

At the age of 156, Canada is going through a rebellious phase. Who’s leading the return-to-office resistance? It’s not ‘entitled’ millennials, but their bosses. The world’s biggest rodeo isn’t all barrel racing and politicians flipping pancakes but an opportunity for Calgary to lure residents and investors to the city. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/20/20238 minutes, 27 seconds
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Open door 🇨🇦 — Meta opens up its AI. Inflation rate falls to 2.8%. Canada wants US tech workers. Meta just took a big swing to prevent itself from becoming an AI also-ran.

Temperatures are still hot, but at least inflation is cooling. After years of losing talent to the US (also known as ‘brain drain’), Canada is now looking to lure back some of those workers. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/19/20238 minutes, 48 seconds
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More fires 🔥 — Millions across North America under air quality advisory. Little relief for big global debt. Nike cuts ties with Hockey Canada.

As Canadian wildfires place millions of Americans under air quality advisories again this week, get ready for our southern neighbours to get mad at us all over again. If you ask US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the debt problems facing low-income countries are a problem for the global economy. Nike is calling it quits on a 20-year relationship with Hockey Canada. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/18/20238 minutes, 12 seconds
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Private jets 🛩️ — The new 9-to-5 may be here to stay. Private is the only way to go (if you’re a CEO). Canada and Australia are two peas in a pod.

Somewhere Dolly Parton must be celebrating because the 9-to-5 could be history, new data suggests. Companies may be cutting back on employee perks, but top executives have been a notable exception. Don your Kangol hat, crack open a Foster’s, and prepare to say “g’day mate,” because Australian leaders are coming to Canada. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/17/20238 minutes, 9 seconds
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Strike over 🪧 — Port strike coming to an end. Blame the Hollywood strike on AI. Canadian car costs are soaring.

After nearly two weeks of striking, the union representing BC port workers reached a tentative four-year deal with employers to re-open Canada’s westernmost ports. For the first time in 63 years, Hollywood actors and writers are striking at the same time. It’s an almost unheard-of event driven by the unprecedented advances of AI and streaming. Looking to buy a car? With prices like these, we’d recommend walking. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/14/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Bank for sale 🏦 — What’s next after the latest rate hike. Laurentian throws up the “For Sale” sign. Canadian watchdog launches probe into Nike.

Tiff Macklem and the Bank of Canada (BoC) did what everyone expected and raised Canada’s overnight interest rate by 0.25% up to 5%—the highest since 2001. On this season of The Canadian Bank Bachelorette, 177-year-old Laurentian is looking for that perfect deep-pocketed suitor to give it the final rose. Canada has reportedly launched one of the first-ever probes into Nike’s alleged use of forced labour abroad. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/13/20238 minutes, 44 seconds
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Hiking season 🥾 — To hike or not to hike? The atmosphere is getting too crowded. New epoch just dropped.

Another rate decision brings T-Mack back into the hot seat. What do Earth’s lower atmosphere and Canada’s major highways have in common? Humanity could soon enter a new geological epoch, and it all starts in Canada. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/12/20239 minutes, 9 seconds
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Fire money 🔥 — Postmedia and Nordstar call things off. The US shatters Ukraine’s NATO dreams. The economic cost of wildfires piles up

Like an uncertain bride and groom, Canada’s two biggest newspaper publishers got cold feet and have off called their wedding. The economic costs of Canada’s wildfires are starting to pile up. Today marks the start of a two-day NATO summit where leaders will discuss the day’s most pressing issue: ~~Barbie vs. Oppenheimer … I mean~~ … Ukraine’s odds of joining the alliance. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/11/20238 minutes, 21 seconds
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Cannonball 🏊‍♀️ — Mercedes joins Tesla charging network. Vision Pro arriving next year—if you don’t mind Apple scanning your face. Canada’s lifeguard industry needs saving.

Tesla’s grip on EV charging is tightening, with Mercedes-Benz reaching a deal to access Tesla’s Supercharger network and adapt its vehicles to its charging standard. Apple’s mixed-reality Vision Pro headset is coming next year, but getting your hands on one will be a bit more complicated than picking up a new iPhone. Somebody should reboot Baywatch, because we need something, anything to motivate people to become lifeguards. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/10/20237 minutes, 53 seconds
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Emoji law 👍 — Stellantis stalemate comes to a close. Threads takes off. Emoji law.

Getting ahead in the green transition doesn’t come cheap… just ask the government. Meta’s new Twitter competitor, Threads, debuted yesterday and… it’s a hit A Saskatchewan court ruled that a [thumbs-up emoji](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/thumbs-up-emoji-can-represent-contract-acceptance-sask-court-finds-1.1941866#:~:text=court finds,-Ben Cousins%2C BNN&text=A “thumbs up” emoji can,of King's Bench for Saskatchewan.) (👍) can be a valid confirmation of a contractual agreement after finding a farmer liable for breach of contract. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/7/20239 minutes, 30 seconds
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Twister 🌪️ — Meta launches a Twitter rival. Tornadoes put Canada in the spin cycle. CEOs are putting in the work.

Mark Zuckerburg is ready to rumble… and no, we’re not talking about the cage flight that may or may not happen against Elon Musk. After only the US, Canada sees more tornadoes than [anywhere else on Earth](https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/mrgnc-mngmnt/ntrl-hzrds/trnd-en.aspx#:~:text=Canada probably gets more tornadoes,at any time of year.)… and they might be getting stronger. More and more CEOs are taking notes from the show Undercover Boss as they shed their suits and experience, first-hand, what it’s like working for the companies they manage Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/6/20238 minutes, 55 seconds
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Twister 🌪️ — Meta launches a Twitter rival. Tornadoes put Canada in the spin cycle. CEOs are putting in the work.

Mark Zuckerburg is ready to rumble… and no, we’re not talking about the cage flight that may or may not happen against Elon Musk. After only the US, Canada sees more tornadoes than [anywhere else on Earth](https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/mrgnc-mngmnt/ntrl-hzrds/trnd-en.aspx#:~:text=Canada probably gets more tornadoes,at any time of year.)… and they might be getting stronger. More and more CEOs are taking notes from the show Undercover Boss as they shed their suits and experience, first-hand, what it’s like working for the companies they manage Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/5/20238 minutes, 1 second
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Port strike ⛴️ — BC port strike enters fourth day. Wanted: Construction workers. The low-down on Canada’s new clean fuel rules.

A union representing BC port workers has extended their long weekend until further notice. Hey, want to build houses? Asking for our friends in the construction industry. While you were busy firing up the grill on Saturday, new clean fuel rules quietly came into effect. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
7/4/20237 minutes, 39 seconds
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No more news 📰 — Google bans the news. Cyberattacks come with a high price. It’s all about AI at Collision.

Canada is learning the hard way that when a tech giant makes a threat, you best believe ‘em. A cyberattack on Suncor has left the company and its customers looking for answers. The biggest artificial intelligen…sorry, technology event in Canada has drawn to a close. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/30/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Crypto comeback 🪙 — FTX is plotting a comeback. Job ads show a wage growth slowdown. Meta rolls out new social media safeguards

In what would be the most shocking comeback since Michael Jordan returned to the NBA (pick either time that it happened), bankrupt crypto exchange FTX wants a fresh start. Wage growth in Canada has been flying high this year, to the point where it has actually outpaced inflation. But new data from Indeed suggests it could be coming down to Earth. Can you name anything scarier to Meta than the EU right now? We’ll wait. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/29/20238 minutes, 18 seconds
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Collision conference 👩‍💻 — Inflation slows, but still has a way to go. Collision conference arrives in Canada. Canada’s grocery sector needs more competition.

A new round of inflation data shows that rate hikes are slowing down the economy, but it’s too soon to start celebrating just yet. Canada’s marquee tech conference is descending on downtown Toronto this week, and we were there live to cover it. The most-anticipated release of the summer just dropped: The Competition Bureau’s report on Canadian grocers. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/28/20237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Expensive roofs 🏠 — Construction costs are sky-high. You’re telling me a robot made these drugs? Adidas wins patent fight with Nike… this time.

The cost of raising a roof is going through the roof. Have you heard about INS018_055? No, it’s not the name of Grimes and Elon Musk’s newest child. It’s a potentially groundbreaking AI-designed drug. While “supreme court decision” might sound like a pretty big deal for most people, it’s just another day in the life of the world’s biggest footwear brands. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/27/20236 minutes, 43 seconds
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Putin’s chaotic weekend 📅 — Vladimir Putin had a chaotic weekend. India's secret weapon for dealing with red tape: AI chatbots. Canada’s accounting shake-up.

When your colleagues ask what you got up to this weekend, you can say “Much more chill than Vladimir Putin’s, that’s for sure.” You thought Loblaws selling 37$ chicken breasts was bad? Canada Bread is kindly asking you to hold its beer. Most of us use AI chatbots for mundane, daily tasks like drafting memos or meal planning. But in India, they’re giving the nation’s poorest populations a leg up. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/26/20237 minutes, 56 seconds
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Musk vs. Zuck 🥊 — The fight of the century: Musk vs. Zuck. Bread price fixing. And fake meat isn’t meeting expectations.

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to a cage fight. No, this is not a story from an abandoned April Fool’s edition. You thought Loblaws selling 37$ chicken breasts was bad? Canada Bread is kindly asking you to hold its beer. Even though it’s making headlines, lab-grown chicken is the least of the plant-based meat industry’s concerns right now. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/23/20238 minutes, 31 seconds
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Sub search 🌊 — Sub search turns up empty. The IMF has some advice for Canada. A sweet tooth, in this economy?

With its air supply gone, the worst-case scenario has likely been realized for the five people aboard the missing Titan submersible. The UN’s top financial body just finished up a trip to Canada and has some friendly advice on how to handle green investments. Today in not-so-sweet news, the price of your favourite grocery impulse buy is on its way up. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/22/20238 minutes, 49 seconds
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Movie woes 🎞️ — Publishers want Big Tech to pay up. Ozempic ads are here, there, and everywhere. Are moviegoers tired of Pixar and superheroes?

Big Tech is learning (the hard way) that the internet isn’t one big free for all. You’ve probably heard of Ozempic—the diabetes drug that has become a fave of celebs and border-hopping Americans for its weight loss capabilities—because it’s literally everywhere. Twin box office flops this past weekend involving pillars of modern moviegoing—Pixar and superheroes—paint a concerning picture for studio execs trying to get butts in theatre seats. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/21/202310 minutes, 9 seconds
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Plane sale ✈️ — Canada has a housing market twin. Paris Air Show takes off. What will central banks do next?

New Zealand’s housing prices have crashed harder than a toddler after a sugar rush. Paris’ other headline-grabbing show—the Paris Air Show—begins this week. Only in this event, guests are leaving with 500 Airbus jets instead of Louis Vuitton’s summer collection. About a year into their bare-knuckle brawl against inflation, the world’s central banks have found themselves playing the least fun game of ‘would you rather’ ever. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/20/20238 minutes, 20 seconds
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Uninsurable 🔥 — Cancer rates surge among young people. Canada spurns global arms build-up. Will Canada become uninsurable?

Cancer rates among people aged 25 to 29 have increased faster than any other age group over the past three decades, a new analysis by the Financial Times showed. The world may be ramping up defence spending, but Canada is in no rush to dole out more cash for the military. Besides displacing thousands of people, polluting the air, and making New Yorkers mad at us, Canadian wildfires could also start driving up our insurance premiums. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/19/20237 minutes, 40 seconds
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Maple syrup bust 🍁 — A $150 million maple syrup meth bust. As rates rise, Canadians’ debt gets riskier. Canadian grocers face potential windfall tax

According to the UN’s 2022 World Drug Report, seizures of methamphetamines are on the rise. The latest of these huge meth busts comes with a rather ridiculous Canadian twist. If someone owes you a fat stack of cash, now might be a good time to check if they’re still good for it… especially if you happen to be a Canadian financial institution. If you were disappointed by the new grocer “[code of conduct](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/grocery-code-of-conduct-1.6832120#:~:text=The code is intended to,of the proposed code reads.)” for being light on details around how the new rules would actually be enforced, this might be some welcome news. We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
6/16/20238 minutes, 5 seconds
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Bey-flation 🎤 — Beyonce inflation. Regulation is knocking on AI’s door. Toyota EVs aim to go farther

Sweden’s annual core inflation rate fell just 0.2% last month, a notably smaller drop than analysts expected. Experts now have one irreplaceable theory for why this happened. Right now, AI research and development is kind of like the Wild West, but a hotshot sheriff named the EU just rode into town to lay down the law. Just six months after Toyota’s CEO expressed he was, let’s say, less gung-ho for electric vehicles than other carmakers, the company has entered the scene in a big way. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/15/20238 minutes, 31 seconds
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Streaming sports 🎾 — Western ports hit choppy waters. IKEA’s AI future. Netflix gets creative with sports streaming

One of the world’s least efficient cargo ports is now facing the unimaginable: Becoming even less efficient. Everyone and their mother has an AI chatbot these days, and everyone's favourite provider of reasonably-priced middle-tier furniture is no different. Love is Blind fans may never forgive Netflix for the outage that spoiled the live reunion, but the company is ready to venture back into live programming… only this time, with sports. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/14/20238 minutes, 55 seconds
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Swoop no more 🛬 —  Reddit fades to black. Canada joins the US corn crusade. Swoop…and it’s gone.

Reddit is facing a revolt from some of its most popular subreddits. In the biggest cornfield contest since Field of Dreams, Canada is joining the US in a trade complaint against Mexico over the country’s restrictions on genetically modified corn imports. A pilot [pay bump](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/westjet-pilots-tentative-deal-24-hourly-raise-over-4-years-document-shows-2023-05-26/#:~:text=World at Work-,WestJet%2C pilots in tentative deal for 24%25 hourly raise,over 4 years%2C document shows&text=MONTREAL%2C May 26 (Reuters),seen by Reuters on Friday.) that was supposed to solve WestJet’s labour retention issues and stabilize operations has resulted in the company shutting down its budget airline, Swoop. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/13/20238 minutes, 3 seconds
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Zuck’s plan 🥽 —  US regulators push crypto to the brink. Zuck’s plan. Do energy drinks have too much energy?

The cryptocurrency sector is facing an existential crisis courtesy of Uncle Sam. Apple may have its Vision Pro, but Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a vision of his own. (That is the one and only time we will use that joke—promise!) Today in news that you will not find shocking, a drink called Hype Sauce may not be a totally healthy beverage choice.. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/12/20238 minutes, 55 seconds
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We sold The Peak 📈 — The Peak sells to Moses Znaimer’s ZoomerMedia. Uber wants you to share. Meet the Chinese e-commerce app dominating the App Store charts.

The Peak has agreed to sell to ZoomerMedia for an aggregate purchase price of $5 million, the companies announced yesterday.  Few experiences are more nightmarish than booking a rental car. Long lines, endless paperwork, and ending up in a 2004 PT Cruiser despite asking for a 2018 Honda Civic.  A Chinese e-commerce app that promises to let you “shop like a billionaire” has rocketed up to #3 on Canada’s App Store charts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/9/20237 minutes, 11 seconds
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Car theft crisis 🚗 —  Car thefts in Canada are a “national crisis”. How much AI is too much AI? Meta’s biggest attack yet on Canada’s online news act.

Missy Elliott once asked, “Beep beep, who got the keys to the Jeep?” These days, the answer to that question is too often, “sophisticated international crime syndicates.” While it’s pretty amazing we’ve got to the point where artificial intelligence can think critically and come up with solutions out of thin air, it can also be a pain in the behind. There are few guarantees in life: Death, taxes, and your relatives angrily sharing news articles on Facebook. And even that last one might soon disappear. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/8/20238 minutes, 52 seconds
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Golf merger ⛳️ —  The SEC comes for crypto’s biggest names. The PGA and LIV Golf link up. Office vacancies are trending up.

Like the Blue Jays in 92/93, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has gone back-to-back. Back-to-back with crypto lawsuits, that is. The Canadian Open kicks off tomorrow at the scenic Oakdale Country Club in Toronto. However, the competition is taking a backseat to some much bigger golf news. Looking for office space? Well, you’re in luck. There’s a lot of it on the market right now. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/7/20238 minutes, 12 seconds
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Vision Pro 🥽 —  Apple meets the AR moment. The UN’s plastic problem. I’m an AI, and I endorse this message.

Apple unveiled its long-awaited augmented reality (AR) headset at its Worldwide Developer’s Conference yesterday—the Vision Pro—a sleek pair of goggles with a battery pack that looks like something a cyberpunk hacker would wear while hitting the slopes. Last year, the UN agreed on an ambitious goal to devise a treaty by 2024 aimed at ending plastic pollution. But like any group project, there are some major differences of opinion. Separating fact from fiction in an election campaign is difficult enough already. Now throw artificial intelligence into the mix, and it’s about to get a lot tougher. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/6/20238 minutes, 29 seconds
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Wildfire tech 🔥 — Big city landlords have a cash flow problem. Tech takes on wildfires. Charging station shortage poses EV roadblock.

Rents in Canada’s big cities are through the roof, and somehow many landlords are still losing money on their rental properties. It’s just another day in our wild, wild housing market. Wildfires have turned into a fact of life for millions of Canadians, and a growing cohort of entrepreneurs and investors are developing technology to limit the damage they cause. Around the world, the push is on to get people to drive electric vehicles, but one big hurdle persists even in the most EV-friendly places: There just aren’t enough charging stations. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/5/20238 minutes, 32 seconds
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Greek sun ☀️— Greeks and Albertans team up on solar power. Canadian travellers enjoy their last hurrah. Nova Scotia faces record fires.

New to the list of things Greece is famous for—after (of course) philosophy, souvlaki, and beaches—is solar power. In a new energy deal, Alberta hopes to learn a thing or two. Canadians are booking their summer getaways in record numbers, but the good times may be coming to an end. An out-of-control wildfire in southwest Nova Scotia is now the largest in the province’s history, and still burning out of control. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/2/20238 minutes, 43 seconds
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Class action suit 👨‍⚖️ — Stellantis subsidies could surpass VW’s. Retailers want to replace tags with QR codes. Shopify faces class action suit over severance pay.

Stellantis looked at the subsidies Volkswagen was offered for its Ontario electric vehicle (EV) battery plant—the total could end up hitting $13 billion—and said, “Hold my beer.” Someone has figured out a use for QR codes that isn’t totally frustrating (looking at you, restaurants with digital-only menus). Shopify employees were once known for their loyalty and reverence for the company, but that was before people started getting fired. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
6/1/20238 minutes, 34 seconds
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Car thief 🚗 — Your Kia is (kind of) safe in Canada. Canada’s ketamine supplies are running low. A small province tackles big problems.

A year after the “Kia challenge”—the “challenge” is to steal a Kia—emerged on TikTok, software fixes haven’t stopped thieves from continuing to make off with stolen cars. You may know ketamine by its use as an animal sedative or status as a Schedule 1 drug, but the demand for it as a treatment for anxiety and depression is also booming. Canada’s smallest province is getting bigger. Prince Edward Island (PEI) will be home to 200,000 people by 2030, according to projections released by its provincial government.. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
5/31/20238 minutes, 44 seconds
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Busy parks 🏞️ — Canada’s national parks are selling out fast. A tale of two job markets complicates labour shortage story. And Quebéc gets stricter on immigration.

Ahhh, spring. If you ask us, there’s no better time to take advantage of the great Canadian outdoors… that is, if you can snag a reservation. We’ve all heard plenty about Canada’s labour shortage by now, but a new StatsCan report shows that understanding the state of the job market is way more complicated than counting the number of “help wanted” signs. *If you don’t know your j’ai fini from your [je suis finis](https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/yoursay/lost_for_words/french/deadly_food.shtml#:~:text=Je suis finis.,simply%3A J'ai fini.),* you might have a hard time migrating to Québec in the coming years. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
5/30/20238 minutes, 18 seconds
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Hard to sell 🌿 — Don’t believe everything you see. Weed is too hard to sell. And Albertans go to the polls.

It’s time to update the old warning, “Don’t believe everything you read,” to “Don’t believe everything you see.” Here’s an only-in-Canada story for you: Government officials are worried that it’s too difficult to sell people weed right now. Voters in Alberta will decide on their next premier today in a close election that’s being watched around the country. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - Loblaw purchase announcement: https://www.loblaw.ca/en/In-a-canadian-first-loblaw-to-purchase-electricity-in-alberta-that-is-generated-by-wind-sun-and-water-helping-to-cut-its-nationwide-operating-carbon-emissions-by-17-per-cent/ Loblaw ESG report: https://www.loblaw.ca/en/responsibility/ - We're looking to learn more about YOU! Please click the link below to take part in a short survey and get entered into a draw to win a $50 Visa Gift Card: https://tinyurl.com/TPDTS
5/29/202314 minutes
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Critical minerals 🪨 — Canadian banks hurt by weak earnings. Falling behind on critical minerals mining. The era of easy returns is over.

Our high-level bank earnings summary: “Not great, but things could be worse.” How do you mine critical minerals in Canada? Very slowly, according to one of the largest miners in Ontario’s Ring of Fire. The days of no-questioned-asked returns are numbered, as retailers crack down on one of their biggest profit suckers in a worsening economic climate. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/26/20238 minutes, 28 seconds
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AI podcasts 🎤 — We’re number one (in debt). AI comes for the podcasters. Why cities can’t have nice things anymore.

Sometimes being number one isn’t anything to brag about—take Canada’s household debt situation, for example. There are a lot of podcasts. About 4 million, to be exact. From old roommates to distant relatives to yours truly, starting a podcast has become a right of passage into adulthood. We regret to inform you that city budgets across the country have gotten so tight (relatable) that they’re starting to take away the fun stuff. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/25/20238 minutes, 17 seconds
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Post-plastic 🥤 — Ontario clears path for foreign trained engineers. Welcome to your (sort-of) post-plastic future. And no public inquiry needed.

Becoming an engineer in Ontario just got easier (you know, aside from all the math). By the end of this year, plastic straws are set to officially become a relic of the past. After taking a look into allegations of China’s interference in Canadian politics, former governor general (and current “special rapporteur”) David Johnston has decided the whole thing represents an “increasing threat to our democratic system” but has not called for a public inquiry into the matter. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/24/20238 minutes, 42 seconds
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Trucker tax 🚛 – The CRA is looking into a trucking scam. Who’s paying for the EV transition. And no such thing as a free TV.

A group representing Canadian truckers is sounding the alarm about a scam it thinks has reached a “crisis level.” And unlike a novelty mudflap, it’s no laughing matter. Everyone wants to be a big EV player… as long as someone else pays for it. A startup called Telly has dominated the news headlines after offering a smart TV with a market value of $1,000 for free. The catch? To subsidize your free TV, the screen comes with a small display attached to the bottom that will run advertisements as you watch. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/18/20239 minutes, 13 seconds
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Regulating AI 🤖— Altman testifies to Congress. Inflation is going the wrong way. And WestJet pilots are threatening to walk.

If anything can bring two sides of the aisle together, it’s regulating artificial intelligence. Some surprises are good, like a b-day party or finding a $20 bill in your coat. Others are less good, like a cancelled reservation or a blister. Recent inflation data is one of those surprises. If you thought long weekend travel couldn’t possibly get any more chaotic, think again. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/17/20238 minutes, 51 seconds
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Troubling wildfires 🔥— Vice is selling. Western Canada is suffering from wildfires. And Hollywood disapproves of Canadian content laws.

Vice, which started out as a tiny punk zine in Montréal before becoming the bad boy idol of new media brands, filed for bankruptcy protection. A group of its creditors put in a US$225 million bid to buy the company, an amount that would be covered by existing loans. Western Canada has seen more than 600 wildfires so far this year, but officials say the season is just getting started. The Motion Picture Association (MPA)—a trade group made up of major Hollywood studios, including Disney and Netflix—published a report claiming that Canada’s system for defining homegrown content is unusually narrow and out of step with the rest of the world. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/16/20238 minutes, 52 seconds
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TikTok trouble 🎥 — Former TikTok engineer could discredit the company’s position. Used cars tell us lots about inflation. And middle market struggles

A new lawsuit against TikTok owner ByteDance could discredit the company’s primary defence against efforts by some Western lawmakers to ban the app. The Bank of Canada is determined to crush inflation, but that doesn’t mean prices are going back to pre-pandemic levels. For proof, look no further than the used car market. The last year has been tough if you’re a middle-of-the-pack consumer or retailer. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/15/20237 minutes, 14 seconds
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Private stations 🛰️ — Softbank loses big. Private companies are getting in the space station game. And Canada looks for health care workers.

Only Softbank Group would lose US$7.2 billion and give itself a little pat on the back. Space startup Vast partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch a school bus-sized space station into orbit by 2025, as more private companies race to capture low-orbit real estate. Canada’s search for health care workers continues! Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/12/20238 minutes, 49 seconds
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New passports 🛂 — Google is deepening their AI search integration. Canada has newly designed passports. And Canada wants in AUKUS.

After Google’s developer’s conference yesterday, online search might never be the same. Yesterday, Canada unveiled a new passport design that’s sure to draw some double-takes during your next international trip. A new report co-authored by former national security advisor Vincent Rigby found that not only did Canada’s allies leave it out of the AUKUS security pact, they never sent an invite. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/11/20238 minutes, 10 seconds
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Shellfish 🦞 — BRICS coming up with new currency. Problems with Canadian shellfishing. And an update on the debt ceiling.

Developing countries are teaming up to take on the global monetary order as we know it. A pricing dispute in Canada’s crustacean heartland has crabby fishers calling out seafood processors for their shellfishness. It’s once again time to check in on the US debt ceiling debacle. Spoiler alert: Joe Biden and GOP lawmakers are no closer to reaching a resolution on raising the debt ceiling after the president met with Congressional leaders yesterday. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/10/20239 minutes, 2 seconds
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Digital coins 🪙 — The BoC wants to issue a digital currency. Europe is regulating AI. And Lululemon is combatting fakes.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) wants to know how you’d feel about swapping those cold hard coins for a less tangible alternative. When it comes to tech regulation, Europe is like the friend who sucks it up and calls the Uber when everyone pretends to stare off into space. Cracking down on AI is no exception. Want to get a free pair of Lululemon leggings? You just have to buy a fake pair first. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/9/20238 minutes, 19 seconds
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Coronation 👑 — We have a new King. The future of AI and jobs. And the Alberta wildfires.

In case you weren’t up at 4 a.m. on Saturday waiting with bated breath and a full English breakfast, King Charles III’s coronation was this morning, generating fawning and furor. From the role of AI in the writers' strike to IBM’s hiring freeze, it’s time to talk about how we plan to defend jobs against the robots. Wildfire season has arrived early in Alberta this year, forcing the province to declare a state of emergency over the weekend and expand evacuation efforts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/8/20238 minutes, 34 seconds
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Shopify layoffs 🛍️ — Shopify makes cuts. TD loses a deal. And a new grocery code of conduct. For our first story, Like our goal of reading 100 books, Shopify started the year with an unattainable dream.

After weeks of speculation about the fate of a takeover deal that would make TD Bank the sixth-largest lender in America, the offer is officially off the table. The grocery code of conduct that would govern the actions of Canada’s grocers and their suppliers is in its final draft, but it’s still leaving top grocery critics hungry for more. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO - Loblaw purchase announcement: https://www.loblaw.ca/en/In-a-canadian-first-loblaw-to-purchase-electricity-in-alberta-that-is-generated-by-wind-sun-and-water-helping-to-cut-its-nationwide-operating-carbon-emissions-by-17-per-cent/ Loblaw ESG report: https://www.loblaw.ca/en/responsibility/
5/5/202312 minutes, 54 seconds
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New Airbnbs 🏨 — Bed, Bath and Beyond locations are being bought up. Changes coming to Airbnb. And tension in the banking system.

If you’re been looking to gift that special someone a lightly used retail outlet, act fast: nearly half of the now-emptying 65 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Canada have been snapped up. These days, it’s easy to find yourself in the midst of planning your dream vacation only to checks bank account realize, you know what, a weekend camping trip is actually just fine. While bankers no doubt rejoiced after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would move to pause rate hikes, the sector is still full of more tension than the final season of Succession. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/4/20238 minutes, 13 seconds
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Writers strike ✍️ — Screenwriters are going on strike. A Canadian NHL team is for sale. And Blackberry is back in the news.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA)—the union representing 11,500 scribes behind American film and TV—is on strike after failing to reach a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, AKA, the suits that sign their cheques. It’s not every day an NHL team goes up for sale, so interest in buying the Sens is booming. Just in time for the movie about its dramatic rise and fall, BlackBerry is back in the news. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/3/20238 minutes, 49 seconds
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Strike over 🪧 — The public sector strike is over. Adidas is re-evaluating. And more AI concerns.

After 12 days of picketing, most striking federal government worker strikes are back on the job. After realizing it couldn’t make a fashion line in partnership with freakin’ Beyonce marketable, Adidas is stepping back to reassess its entire business. British-Canadian computer scientist and University of Toronto professor Geoffrey Hinton—known as one of the three “Godfathers of AI”—stepped down from his role at Google’s AI division so he could freely talk about the dangers AI currently poses. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/2/202310 minutes, 1 second
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Housing shortage 🏠 — CMHC says housing shortages are going down. There’s a new Twitter alternative. And new rules for airlines.

If you thought there already weren’t enough homes to go around, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) wants you to know you ain’t seen nothing yet. Faced with a litany of annoying bugs and bewildering product changes, many Twitter users are looking for an alternative—the question has always been, what would that alternative be? The federal government is making it easier for you to win arguments with airlines’ customer service departments. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
5/1/20238 minutes, 22 seconds
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Overload 🔌 — Regional banks are in trouble. Hydro-Quebec is overloaded. And commercial real estate is in hot water.

Since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), it’s been tough sledding for US regional banks… and investors worry that First Republic could be the next to fall. Like a university student with a full course load, Hydro-Québec has taken on too much and is running low on energy… literally. Is commercial real estate the next domino to fall in our creaking global economy? A growing number of signs point to very possibly. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/28/20238 minutes, 58 seconds
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Gaming risk 🎮 — The Microsoft acquisition of Activision is at risk. Amazon and UOttawa partnership off the table. And Ikea is working to keep their furniture affordable.

Microsoft’s proposed US$69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is in jeopardy after the UK’s competition regulator delivered, to put it in gamer parlance, a 360 no-scope kill shot. What do Amazon and your ex have in common? Both face accusations of being way too controlling. The company synonymous with “affordable furniture” is working hard to keep it that way. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/27/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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Online streaming bill 📺 — Canadian railcars are going south. AI dominates earnings. And the latest on the online streaming bill.

On Alphabet and Microsoft’s earning day, let’s unpack the results… Pizza Pizza isn’t the only Canadian entity heading to Mexico. Soon, Canadian railcars will be making like us on Spring Break and taking trips down south. The contentious Bill C-11, or The Online Streaming Act, is set to pass in the Senate any day now. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/26/20238 minutes, 13 seconds
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Mexican-Canadian pizza 🇲🇽 — Pizza Pizza goes to Mexico. The federal strike is causing headaches. And the Port of Vancouver expands.  

Pizza Pizza opened its first international location in Guadalajara, Mexico, as Canada’s largest pizza chain looks to expand its horizons beyond its provincial borders. If you’re looking to renew your passport, apply for Canadian citizenship, or send a 40-foot shipping container’s worth of stuff anywhere, this might not be your week. The Port of Vancouver is planning a serious update to its operations, but updating a port isn’t as easy as updating your phone’s operating system or your LinkedIn headshot. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/25/20238 minutes, 53 seconds
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Bed Bath and Gone 🛀 — Bed Bath and Beyond is officially dead. Don’t pick up if Apple calls. And fashion houses are under scrutiny.

Bed Bath & Beyond, the home goods retailer known for sky-high merch displays and really bright lighting, has finally thrown in the towel and filed for bankruptcy. Apple is expanding its push into the realm of mental health products with a new pre-downloaded app (codenamed Jurassic) that will utilize iPhone usage data to make suggestions for what to jot down If we learned anything from House of Gucci, it’s that the fashion biz isn’t always pretty. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/24/20238 minutes, 48 seconds
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/NATO bill 💵 — Canada isn’t following through on NATO commitments. Federal worker strike could have a big impact. And Buzzfeed pulls the plug on news.

Every friend group has that one buddy that’s happy to have all the fun but let someone else foot the bill. In NATO, Canada might be that guy. As Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) workers hit the picket line, their fight for higher wages could disrupt more than just your spring travel plans. After over ten years in operation, BuzzFeed has pulled the plug on its news division. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/21/20237 minutes, 27 seconds
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Private Moon 🌝—New Snap features. Private companies going to Moon. Big strike among public sector employees.

This year for Snap: Flying selfie drones are out, and everything augmented is still very in. Top travel destinations for 2023: Venice, Maui, Seoul, and… the Moon? In what’ll be the single-most newsworthy strike since Shohei Ohtani’s final pitch at the World Baseball Classic, Canada’s federal workers are hitting the picket line. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/20/20239 minutes, 25 seconds
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CEO Switch 👨‍💼— Loblaws has a new CEO. AI musicians are putting out tracks. And Canadian companies IPO-ing elsewhere.

President’s Choice spokesman and Loblaw President Galen Weston will step back from the day-to-day operations of Canada’s biggest grocer after two years at the helm. In the last few days, a new song featuring Drake and the Weeknd racked up over 600,000 Spotify streams and 15 million views on TikTok. The only problem? The artists didn’t make it. There are many reasons to be proud to be Canadian, but some Canuck companies are feeling a lot less patriotic when it comes to going public these days. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/19/20239 minutes, 1 second
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New Samsung Search 📱— Samsung is thinking about swapping Bing for Google. Hockey Canada gets its funding back. And remote workers get a tough report.

It’s not often that Google's parent company Alphabet takes an L, but yesterday, shares dropped after news of a potential disaster on the AI chatbot front broke. After ten months of withholding funding, the feds are hoping the black sheep of Canadian sports has turned a new leaf. Fair warning to all the hard-working remote workers (we include ourselves in that mix), this new set of remote work data might hurt a bit. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/18/20239 minutes, 29 seconds
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Carplay Collision 🚗 — GM is moving on from Carplay. Vertical farming taking off in BC. And gifts for customer service reps.

Your car dashboard is shaping up to be the next front in the fight to own the screens we look at all day. When you think of a warehouse, you probably think of rusted shipping containers or movie fights scenes, not a bountiful harvest. Vertical farming may change that perception. Companies are using the “Santa Claus” method to win over customer service reps, i.e. showering them with practical gifts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/17/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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Billion dollar weather business 🌡️— Teck and Glencore tussle. Foxconn could come to Canada. And a new weather business hits the market.

Like a pitcher waving off his catcher’s pitch…Canada’s largest diversified miner is repeatedly fending off the advances of an unwanted suitor. The federal government wants a shiny new battery supply chain for electric vehicles (EVs). Capitalizing on Foxconn’s move away from China might be one way to nab it. “How’s the weather out there today?” might be a simple question to ask, but coming up with an answer is a multi-billion dollar industry. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/14/20238 minutes, 14 seconds
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Day trading tax 📈 — Interest rates stay flat. Canadian tax courts cracking down on TFSA. And canola oil is getting big into fuels.

Tiff Macklem is nothing if not a man of his word. Despite mounting pressures, the Bank of Canada (BoC) kept its promise and continued to hold steady on interest rates. Canadian tax courts are cracking down on TFSA day trading, taking aim at investors that are doing so well that their trades could be classified as a business activity… well, kind of.  Big Canola is betting that canola oil will be used to deep fry potatoes and power vehicles. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/13/20239 minutes, 9 seconds
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Review hijack 🛍️ — Interest rates are looking down. Big fine for review hijacking. And return to office incentives.

High interest rates are hurting wallets, but there may be an end in sight. Supplement-maker The Bountiful Company will pay a US$600,000 fine to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a first-of-its-kind ruling against “review hijacking” on Amazon. Companies across the country are trotting out all sorts of new incentives to entice workers to trade in their sweatpants and mid-day naps for office life, per The Globe and Mail. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/12/20238 minutes, 31 seconds
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Sleep deals 💤 — Sleep Country makes another deal. And the courts are looking to scrap Mr. Big.

If you thought tax season couldn’t get any more stressful, the people responsible for getting your returns back are out of office for the foreseeable future. While you were counting sheep, Sleep Country has been busy counting dollars. Something called “The Mr. Big” tactic has a 95% success rate in jailing criminals, but critics want it banned. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/11/20236 minutes, 36 seconds
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Infested mansion 🏠— Apple moves some manufacturing to India. 24 Sussex is in trouble. And Google can’t fire Germans.

Apple’s first-ever retail store in India is set to open any day now, but that’s hardly the only move the biggest tech giant is making into the world’s fastest-growing major economy. When 24 Sussex Drive, the Prime Minister’s official residence since 1951, was shut down over health concerns last year, we thought, “How bad could things possibly be?” The answer: mountains of dead rodents bad. Europe’s strict labour laws are slowing down the international leg of the tech layoff tour. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/10/20238 minutes, 26 seconds
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The Big Short 💸— Investors are betting against TD. Friendshoring has challenges. And new doctor rules.

Don’t freak out, but global investors are staking a lot of money on one of Canada’s biggest banks hitting some seriously choppy waters. To paraphrase The Beatles, we can always get by with a little help from our friends… but maybe we shouldn’t rely on them too much. It will soon be easier than ever for Ontarians to find a doctor with a charming accent. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/6/20238 minutes, 33 seconds
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Quiet cities 🏢 — Finland is in NATO. Twitter is pushing pay-to-play. And Canadian downtown cores are quiet.

The happiest people on earth have joined the West’s most important military alliance. Today in news we wish was an April Fool’s joke, Twitter is **all in on pay-to-play. Canada’s downtown cores aren’t quite ghost towns, but their office buildings are eerily quiet. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/5/20238 minutes, 46 seconds
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Fighting acquisition 🥊 — WWE is bought. A Canadian astronaut is going to space. And Aritzia has a new law suit.

Hot off of WrestleMania, the world’s largest pro wrestling promotion is linking up with the world’s biggest mixed martial arts brand to bodyslam their way to bigger broadcast deals. For Ontario’s Jeremy Hansen, the sky is not the limit. NASA is sending him to [deep space](https://exploredeepspace.com/deep-space-mission-3/what-is-deep-space/#:~:text=Deep space%3A Beyond the Moon,Earth is 3%2C100%2C000 miles away.). Canadian clothier Aritzia is having a moment in the sun, but some clouds are coming in the form of a copyright infringement lawsuit against its viral storefront sculptures. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/4/20238 minutes, 45 seconds
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Mobile deal finalized 📱 — Rogers-Shaw is over. Sea-Doos and Ski-Doos are still popular. And there’s a subsidy war brewing.

The federal government approved Rogers’ ~$26 billion takeover of Telus, and slapped down 21 conditions to ensure the deal benefits Canadians. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) reported over $3 billion in revenue last quarter, breaking its record set in the previous quarter of $2.7 billion. Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson warned of a brewing “subsidy war” between the US and its allies in the clean energy space. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
4/3/20237 minutes, 49 seconds
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Loan sharks 🦈 — AI is taking jobs. China bails out countries. And loan sharks get new rules.

We’ve got good news and bad news. Good news: Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) promise to boost productivity and global GDP! Bad news: it could cost you your job. Think bailing out banks seems tricky? China’s been bailing out entire countries, according to a new study. With interest rates and the cost of living way up, at least one important number is going down—the maximum interest rate on loans. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/31/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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AI worries 👾 — Technologists are concerned about the pace of AI. Google is rolling out new heat wave alerts. And the feds are introducing new taxes.

Kind of like us at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, AI is doing too much way too fast. With warmer weather ahead, Google wants to make sure you don’t get too hot this year. From a green energy push to expanded dental care, the feds put forward ambitious but pricy goals in this year’s budget. They also made it clear who would help pay for it all. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/30/20238 minutes, 6 seconds
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Twitter for you blues 🐦 — We do a federal budget recap. Elon wants you to pay for Twitter Blue. And Disney rejects the metaverse.

Strap on a fancy new pair of shoes and step into The Peak’s 2023 federal budget analysis. Like a used car salesman covered in flop sweat in an ill-fitting suit, Twitter is desperately trying to get you to buy what it’s selling. The metaverse might be the next digital media frontier, but Disney has decided to stay put in its Magic Kingdom for now. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/29/20238 minutes, 28 seconds
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New budget 💸— Uber Eats cracks down on virtual kitchens. Central bankers are warning of a credit crunch. And there’s a new federal budget.

Do you ever scroll Uber Eats, looking for a well-deserved treat, and stumble upon fake-sounding restaurants you’ve never heard of? Well, they are fake… kind of. Officials at the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank are warning about a potential lending squeeze resulting from turmoil in the banking sector. If you’ve been anxious about your household budget lately, take heart: The federal budget very likely involved some truly stomach-churning decisions. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/28/20238 minutes, 14 seconds
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Hockey sweater 🏒— New hockey apparel provider. Air Miles is bought. And questions over Chinese interference.

Hockey history is full of iconic rivalries, and the newest one is currently underway: fans vs. the official provider of NHL merchandise. In case bank executives didn’t have enough to worry about these days (read: near-collapse of Credit Suisse), the Bank of Montréal is also trying to stave off a run against Air Miles. The latest Chinese interference drama has offered us a very valuable lesson: always confirm any hot goss you get before spreading it around. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/27/20237 minutes, 29 seconds
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TikTok Trial 📱 — Canada’s GDP per capita goes down. Self-storage is taking off in Canada. And TikTok is on trial in front of Congress.

Folks, it’s time to talk about Canada’s gross domestic profit as it relates to you. It turns out, the next “big space” is literally just more space. Yesterday, Congress had its first opportunity to grill TikTok CEO Shou Chew about the company’s relationship with its Chinese owner, ByteDance, its handling of US user data, and the risks it may pose to teens. And, well, we knew we were in for some spicy questions. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/24/20237 minutes, 28 seconds
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Biden in Canada 🇺🇸 — Biden is in Ottawa. AI DJs are taking over radio. And private investments are going public.

Today, Joe Biden makes his first official visit to Canada since taking office. He’s set to partake in 24 hours of pure, uncut diplomacy, including an address to Parliament. Next time you tune in to The Bear, The Cougar, The Falcon, the Squirrel, The Yeti, or whatever your local radio station is called, don’t be alarmed if the DJ sounds a little bit off. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain and into the exclusive world of private investments. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/23/20238 minutes, 18 seconds
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White Claw Vodka 🍸 — White Claw is going into vodka. Hollywood North is back. And more bailouts on the way.

With everyone from Mountain Dew to Sunny D now slinging hard seltzers, the leader of this overcrowded market is looking to diversify and capitalize on new trends. Ryan Reynolds isn’t the only producer setting up shop in Canada—camera crews are flocking here in droves. After its “don’t call it a bailout” bailout for Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank depositors, the US government is doubling down on its no depositor left behind mindset. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/22/20237 minutes, 56 seconds
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Book Napster 📕 — Banking system is at risk. Closing the Napster of libraries. And the new Starbucks CEO.

A coalition of central banks, including Canada, the US, the EU, England, Japan, and Switzerland, came together to keep US dollars circulating through an achy-breaky banking system. Book publishers are trying to shut down the Napster of libraries. Starbucks is welcoming a new CEO two weeks ahead of schedule. Laxman Narasimhan will unseat the coffee chain’s founder and three-time CEO Howard Schultz, who returned to the company last year—earning a $1 salary—to help right the ship and mentor his successor. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/21/20239 minutes, 4 seconds
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LNG L ⛽️ — Tax authorities using AI. Slow LNG exports from Canada. And Couche-Tard takes Europe.

Welcome to the future, where staying out of trouble depends on how well you can impress the government’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools. It’s been a minute since we’ve discussed Canada’s ambitions to become a leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. How are things going? Honestly, not great. Though we're still upset about Couche-Tard killing off Mac's Milk, we admit its recent big money moves are impressive. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/20/20237 minutes, 53 seconds
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Big beer 🍺 — Fighting a new beer tax hike. Microsoft launches new AI tools. And “Alberta is Calling” moves east.

It’s not a Happy St. Patty’s for everyone. On the year’s premier drinking day, Big Beer is ramping up a fight with the federal government over a looming tax hike on the sudsy stuff. After Google unveiled some sweet AI Workspace features, Microsoft reasserted its pole position in the AI arms race with a product it claims will “transform work as we know it.” Wide open spaces. Majestic mountains. Cheap housing. Alberta is marketing itself as the new land of opportunity to east coasters. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/17/20239 minutes, 26 seconds
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Swiss banking 🇨🇭 — Credit Suisse is in trouble. Airline fines are piling up. And fake moon photos.

Despite bank stocks enjoying a slight but promising rebound on Tuesday, news of a potential funding crunch faced by Credit Suisse quickly put the good news times to an end. Canada’s air travel regulator has been handing out fines left and right, at 10,000 feet and on the ground, amid a surge in customer complaints. In the biggest moon-related conspiracy since “NASA faked the moon landing,” one Reddit user claims that Samsung is faking its moon photos. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/16/20239 minutes, 2 seconds
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Tap water chemicals 💦 — No more toxins in tap water. Canada is watching SVB closely. And long COVID is a huge problem.

Good news for all you tapwater fans, the US and Canada are moving towards making drinking water free of toxic chemicals. Canada’s banking regulator wants to be kept in the loop as Silicon Valley’s financial crisis ripples out. Canada’s chief science advisor released a report on long COVID, claiming the illness could be a “mass-disabling event” with the potential to ravage healthcare and the labour market. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/15/20238 minutes, 57 seconds
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Lab grown milk 🥛 — SVB part 2. Lab grown dairy. And an update on the Senate.

Imagine this: Before you settle in for today’s Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) coverage, you should listen to yesterday’s episode to get caught up. Like any bingeable show these days, you gotta start at the first episode. Does the idea of lab-grown meat weird you out a little? Well, scientists hope the rise in lab-grown dairy could at least help you warm up to the idea. We’re taking it back to Grade 9 civics class and giving you an update on the Senate. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/14/20239 minutes, 49 seconds
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Silicon Valley Bank Explained 🏦 —SVB fails. A confusing labour market. And people are still using floppy disks.

We explain the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Headlines announcing layoffs continue to crowd our feeds, and yet there are very few signs of cracks in the Canadian and US labour markets… so, what gives? Remember floppy discs? You might not! Used to store data way before the cloud and USBs, they haven't been commonly used since the 90s. But they're still kicking. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/13/20238 minutes, 28 seconds
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Supercharger 🔋 —New type of battery. Scammers are getting smarter. And money can buy happiness.

Imagine this: A future where your phone battery is so good that you never have to get through the day on a 10% charge again. Online purchase scams were the leading type of scams in Canada last year, per the Better Business Bureau, but a more dangerous contender is now coming for the crown. An acclaimed researcher has adjusted his happiness hypothesis with inflation, and then some. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/10/20239 minutes, 9 seconds
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You’re fired 🧑‍💻 — New gun legislation in Alberta. Evidence on who blew up Nordstream. And more Twitter drama.

Alberta has introduced new legislation to give itself more power over gun control. Who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines? US officials say they have new clues. We regret to inform you that Twitter drama has reached unfathomably silly new levels. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/9/20238 minutes, 34 seconds
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Big plastic 🥤— Global birth rates are down. Big plastic striking back. And new paywall on TikTok.

Global birth rates are on the decline, but one Japanese town has cracked the baby-making code. Lawyers for the plastics industry are fighting to make sure your kitchen cupboard stuffed with plastic bags stays well-stocked. Even as it deals with that pesky little issue of a potential ban in North America and the EU, TikTok is keeping on and looking for new ways to bolster its domination of Gen Z's eyeballs. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/8/20238 minutes, 20 seconds
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Personality test 👩‍💼 — Employers are using personality tests. Tesla prices are down. And Binance on the brink.

Waiting on a promotion? Well, there are two big names you’ll likely have to impress first: Myers and Briggs. Everything must go: Prices on some Teslas are down ~20% since January. From trading hiccups to stablecoin woes, the world’s largest crypto platform has had a rough 2023. And now, after a new report, regulators are circling like sharks before a feeding frenzy. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/7/20238 minutes, 17 seconds
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Junk food crisis 📏 — Canadian semiconductors get a bit less Canadian. The obesity crisis is worsening. And new TikTok AI trend.

As the global semiconductors arms race gets hotter than a ten-year-old laptop trying to run a browser with multiple tabs open, one Canadian chip leader just got a lot less Canadian. Now might be a good time to buy Planet Fitness stock, because over half the world’s population will be either overweight or obese by 2035 if trends hold, according to a new report by the World Obesity Federation. The newest trend sweeping TikTok is yet another example of why you can't trust everything you see online. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/6/20237 minutes, 58 seconds
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Ransom 💰— Public inquiry on electoral interference. Searching for UFOs. And Indigo refuses to pay ransom.

A parliamentary committee voted to call on the Prime Minister to open an independent public inquiry into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections. The Chief Science Advisor of Canada wants to get to the bottom of this UFO business. If you’ve been waiting to order a copy of Prince Harry’s memoir or various home goods of questionable usefulness from Indigo, you’re gonna have to keep waiting. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/3/20238 minutes, 37 seconds
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Break up 🇨🇳— US companies are breaking up with China. Netflix is going to Broadway. And Shopify introduces a new comp structure.

GoerTek, a major Apple supplier, invested millions into a new production plant in Vietnam and is weighing an Indian expansion as it looks to [leave China](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/apple-suppliers-are-racing-to-exit-china-airpods-maker-says-1.1889086#:~:text=(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.,US company's most important partners.). Netflix’s first stage play will premiere later this year in London’s famous West End. Shopify is revamping its compensation structure to reward individual contributors with the same financial incentives that benefit those in management positions. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/2/20237 minutes, 59 seconds
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Less rewarding ☕️— Rewards programs are cutting back. Stem cells powering computers. And provincial budget season.

We have some terrible, no-good news: rewards programs are getting less rewarding. A new paper in Frontiers in Science details one research group’s case for organoid intelligence—the practice of using tiny clumps of human stem cells to power computers. Provincial budget season is in full swing after Alberta and BC unveiled their #spendinggoals. In case you weren’t watching with popcorn in hand like we were, here’s the lowdown. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
3/1/20237 minutes, 47 seconds
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War startups 🔫— VCs are funding defence startups. Twitter makes more layoffs. And charities call on Canada to step-up.

Venture capitalist (VC) money might be drying up—dropping by a third globally last year—but startups are still fetching billion-dollar valuations by tapping into something that never goes out of style: Matters of national security. Twitter laid off another 200 employees—or about 10% of its remaining workforce—bringing the company’s headcount to less than 2,000 from about 7,500 when Elon Musk officially took over the company in October of last year. Big charities like Oxfam, Unicef, and World Vision are calling on Canada to step up their foreign aid game. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/28/20238 minutes, 24 seconds
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Plane ID ✈️ — Air Canada wants you to use your face to board. Inflation is looking sticky. And songwriters are cashing out.

Air Canada is piloting (and not the in-the-air kind) facial recognition tech for passengers boarding certain flights from Vancouver to Winnipeg. Canada’s inflation rate is cooling, but might prove to be sticky. You may have never heard of Tobias Jesso Jr., but he’s a shining, homegrown example of just how lucrative being a songwriter can be in the age of music royalty sales. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/27/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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No news 📰 — Norway wants a new Northern Air Force. Google is blocking some news. And JP Morgan bans ChatGPT.

The head of the Royal Norwegian Air Force has a vision for Arctic security that involves Canada, the US, Finland, Sweden, and (of course) 250 ultra-modern fighter jets. Google is testing ways to block Canadian users from seeing news content on Search, as part of a spat with the feds over the idea that tech giants should pay up for linking articles. JPMorgan has told ChatGPT to clear its desk and head on home. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/24/20237 minutes, 38 seconds
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More Canadians 🇨🇦 — Canadian newcomers are underserved. China’s Foreign Minsiter visits Russia. And a government agency decides against TikTok.

Canada plans to bring 1.5 million newcomers aboard over the next three years, over 50% of whom will be economic immigrants. But they will face an uphill battle to reach their full potential. A federal agency has very quietly decided that the government shouldn’t be using TikTok. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/23/20238 minutes, 54 seconds
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4-Day Work Week 📅 — Home Depot employees are getting a raise. Canadian naval ships are off the coast of Haiti. And the Four Day Work Week could become a reality.

Despite a lacklustre earnings report marred by slowing sales, Home Depot will commit US$1 billion towards wage increases for its hourly workers in Canada and the US, with handy hardware helpers set to receive pay bumps later this month. Canada will deploy two naval vessels to the coasts of Haiti that will be tasked with monitoring the waters around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Data from the largest-ever 4-day work week pilot shows that the 61 UK organizations participating in the six-month study, 92% said they would stick with the shorter week. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/22/20238 minutes, 28 seconds
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Golden visa 🏅 — Portugal gets rid of their golden visa program. Chinese interference in our election. And big red boots are the new fashion trend.

Portugal will stop offering so-called golden visas—which grant non-EU nationals residency permits in exchange for investments into the country starting at ~$500,000—in an attempt to tackle a lack of affordable housing. You can now add electoral influence to your list of “things the West and China are fighting about” along with spy balloons, research funding, and real estate investing. If you’ve been on social media, you’ve probably come across a pair of red boots that look stolen off the feet of a claymation clown and wondered to yourself: “What are these things?” Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/21/20238 minutes, 17 seconds
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Equality ⚽️ — New World Bank Chief coming. CPG prices are way up. And Canadian Women’s Soccer Team are fighting for equality.

World Bank chief David Malpass will step down over a year before his tenure ends, giving the Biden administration a coveted opening to fill by June of next year. Nestlé, the world’s biggest food maker, saw its real internal growth (a measure of sales and consumer product choices) fall by 2.6% last quarter as the company raised prices by 10.1%, its steepest price hikes in decades per Financial Times. The Canadian women’s national soccer team is playing the US tonight in their first game of the SheBelieves Cup. However, their biggest match-up is happening off the pitch. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/17/20238 minutes, 20 seconds
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Search engine convos 🔎 — Bing is talking to searchers. Developers want the Bank of Canada to quit it. And the US migration crisis comes north.

Tired of having needless arguments that don’t go anywhere with your friends, family, and co-workers? Now you can have them with your search engine instead! If there was a list of groups hoping the Bank of Canada keeps its promise to stop hiking interest rates this year, housing developers would be at the very top. Last year, over 40,000 migrants crossed into Canada through an unofficial border crossing into Québec. In the last six months, the feds have relocated over 5,300 to other provinces. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/16/20238 minutes, 52 seconds
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Electric union 🚘 — The EU is going electric. Lab grown diamonds are taking off. And Canada wants to be a leader in AI.

The EU has effectively banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035, after approving a law that will force carmakers to achieve a 100% cut in emissions by that time. Lab-grown diamonds are pretty darn close to the real deal. Complete global dominance of the maple syrup market isn’t enough. Canada wants to be a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) too. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/15/20238 minutes, 37 seconds
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AI valentine ❤️ — Bed Bath and Beyond is over in Canada. Real estate developers are skeptical of the foreign buyers ban. And AI is the new catfishing choice du jour.

After 15 years of Bed Bath & Beyond (BB&B), Canadians will have to start looking elsewhere for avocado slicers, onion choppers, and any other bizarre kitchen gadgets under the sun. Real estate developers say new rules aimed at boosting the housing supply may actually have the reverse effect. Technology has come a long way since the phrase catfish entered the cultural lexicon over a decade ago, and now cybersecurity and fraud experts are warning that new and advanced AI tech might have the potential to revolutionize romance scams. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/14/20238 minutes, 36 seconds
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Marketing bowl 🏈 — The biggest event in marketing. A great jobs report comes out. And daycare is becoming a big business.

Fox is expected to rake in ~US$600 million after selling out of its Super Bowl ad slots. The average cost of a 30-second spot was pegged at US$6.5 million, and some ended up going for over $7 million. Canada added 150,000 jobs in January, obliterating analyst expectations which projected a measly gain of only 15,000 jobs. Delivery apps and financial tech are out. For some investors, daycare is in. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/13/20238 minutes, 10 seconds
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Disney cuts 🎥 — Disney lays off. Right to fix laws are changing. And Bombardier is doubling down on jets.

Layoffs. They’re not just plaguing Big Tech anymore. Disney plans to lay off 7,000 workers and restructure its organization as it looks to boost profits and cut costs by US$5.5 billion. Tech companies are making their phones and computers a lil’ bit easier to fix, but consumer advocates want lawmakers to push them further. Thousands of travellers probably wished they owned a private jet after a disastrous holiday travel season. If they could afford one, Bombardier would be happy to help them out. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/10/20239 minutes, 29 seconds
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Search wars 🔎 — Microsoft is taking the search fight to Google. Hydrogen could be the future of energy. And great Uber earnings.

Leafs vs. Habs. Pepsi vs. Coke. Dudes who wear shorts year-round vs. Canadian winters. Then, there’s Google vs. Microsoft. And a new front has opened up in their ongoing war. Canada’s ready to add some more green to its energy mix. While most of the tech industry saw quarterly earnings reports that ranged from “disappointing” to “AHHH!!!”, Uber is looking at its latest numbers with a big, toothy grin. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/9/20238 minutes, 36 seconds
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Geothermal energy 🥵 — The PM and Premiers meet to discuss healthcare. The Bank of Canada is opening up to Canadians. And geothermal power could be a huge energy breakthrough.

Justin Trudeau met yesterday with the nation’s premiers, offering them $196.1 billion in healthcare funding to put towards healthcare over the next decade, including $46.2 billion in completely new funding. In exchange, provinces and territories must improve how they collect and share health data and report on how they spend the money they receive. The Bank of Canada (BoC) is trying to open up. But unlike your typical therapy session, it’s the Canadian public with the trust issues. Tired of hearing about wind, solar, and hydrogen energy? You’re in luck. There’s a hot new renewable energy source on the scene that is literally so hot. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/8/20239 minutes, 10 seconds
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Cashless country 🇨🇭 — Switzerland is voting on going cashless. Employers are tracking you. And a Quebecer tricks Tripadvisor.

Switzerland is going to have a referendum about whether the country should be allowed to go completely cashless. As workers hang on to work-from-home for dear life, employers are turning to tracking software (aka bossware or tattleware) to ensure workers aren’t busy napping or doing laundry. Tripadvisor took down the listing for Le Nouveau Duluth, the platform’s top-ranked Montréal restaurant, after a CBC investigation found that the eatery didn’t exist. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/7/20239 minutes, 4 seconds
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Magic 🍄 — Tech companies are missing expectations. Online arguments about food prices. And the future for Magic Mushrooms in Canada.

The triple A of Big Tech—Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet—all dropped earnings reports for the final quarter of 2022, each with its own specific points of concern. Arguing on social media: It’s not just for cranky relatives you only see once a year. Major Canadian grocery chains can get in on the fun, too. Magic mushroom shops are springing up across the country, not unlike the spree of black market pot shops that populated urban areas in the runup to legalization in 2018. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/6/20238 minutes, 25 seconds
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At-home farming 🌾 — Gautam Adani is no longer the third richest person. Canadians are farming at home. And Tim Hortons reached a settlement.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani was the world’s third-richest person just a week ago. He’s now (as of writing) down at 17th place… Grocery bills are set to get even higher as grocers begin to process a backlog of requests from suppliers to increase prices. Tim Hortons has reached a half-baked settlement under some pretty stale privacy laws. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/3/20238 minutes, 45 seconds
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Inflation is down 📉 — Social media earnings day. Rate hike in the US . And inflation is coming down

Recent earnings reports give us a glimpse into how old-world social media platforms are adapting to a scary new world where ad revenue continues to fall. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: A central bank chair walks into a conference hall and delivers an interest rate hike… Inflation is coming down, and the reason may lie in what’s happening in housing. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/2/20238 minutes, 25 seconds
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New airline just dropped 🛫 — Porter expands service. Drugs get decriminalized in BC. And TD is targeting new Canadians.

As Canada’s aviation industry continues to do damage control after a disastrous holiday season, one airline is looking to assert itself as a major player amidst the turmoil. A rule change decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine in British Columbia this week, and the government will be watching carefully to see how it all plays out. Toronto-Dominion Bank has sealed an exclusive advertising deal with the most popular immigration website you’ve never heard of. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
2/1/20238 minutes, 3 seconds
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Back to work 👩‍⚖️ — A new EV alliance. Parliament is back. And there’s a surge in AI investment. The corporate world of legacy carmakers is embracing the future of electric vehicles (EV).

Think your Sunday Scaries are bad? Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa after a six-week winter break with enough on their plates to keep yours truly hiding in bed. Now that artificial intelligence (AI) can pass MBA exams and create workout plans, investors just can’t pull out their chequebooks fast enough. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/31/20239 minutes, 10 seconds
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Flight tracking 🛩️ — Buzzfeed is turning to AI. Flight tracking could be coming to an end. And your employee health insurance may change.

It feels like we’ve suddenly been transported back to 2013, because everyone is talking about BuzzFeed. But the reason they’re talking about it is very 2023. Remember last year, when we were all gleefully shaming Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner for their exorbitant flying habits? That was fun, right? You may soon be able to get a lot more than a massage and 75% off your next physio appointment with your workplace health insurance. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/30/20237 minutes, 1 second
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Dealmaking down 📉 — Big Supreme Court Ruling. Canadian deal making is down this year. And climartarians are surging.

The country’s top court is deciding whether pretend people can help defend real crimes. Canadian dealmaking fell ~40% in 2022 and is currently down ~50% from the same last year. Despite this, workers at the country’s top investment banks can sleep easy knowing their jobs are not in imminent danger. The food industry wants to appeal to a growing number of “climatarians” and “regenivores”. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/27/20238 minutes, 14 seconds
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Expensive food 🥓 — Food prices are set to rise. Layoffs in Canadian media. And employers are calling workers back to work.

$37 chicken, $14 yogurts, and $8 cabbage? Apparently, we haven’t seen the worst of it, as groceries are set to become even more expensive in the coming months. Not to be outdone by Big Tech, the media sector is also battling a series of shocking layoffs. Work From Home is definitely here to stay, but unfortunately, not for everyone. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/26/20238 minutes, 33 seconds
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Employee owned 👩‍🔧 — A new group is pushing employee ownership. Facial recognition is blowing up in China. And Ukraine is reorienting.

A new lobby group wants Canada to embrace the idea of employee-owned businesses. China’s manufacturing sector may be slowing, but its facial recognition industry is booming. As Ukraine gears up for what’s been called a pivotal moment in its war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is suddenly dealing with newfound problems at home. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/25/20238 minutes, 37 seconds
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India bound 🇮🇳 — Manufacturers are moving production to India. Citadel is the best performing hedge fund ever. And laptop companies are trying something new.

Offshoring your manufacturing to China is so yesterday. Right now, it’s all about India. Ken griffin’s Citadel has replaced Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater as the most successful hedge fund of all time—the MOAT, if you will—after generating US$16 billion for investors last year. With laptop sales on the decline, the companies that make them are trying to come up with new bells and whistles to keep consumers coming back. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/24/20237 minutes, 55 seconds
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Google layoffs 👩‍💻 — Google lays-off 12,000. Canadian healthcare is being reformed. And we need more pilots.

When it rains, it pours. At least when it comes to tech layoffs, with Google-parent Alphabet becoming the most recent name to announce a headcount reduction. Amid a flurry of recent announcements, it’s clear that efforts to help a healthcare industry in crisis are kicking into high gear. Somebody needs to make Top Gun, but for airline pilots, because the profession is facing a shortage and could really use a shiny new recruitment tool. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/23/20237 minutes, 39 seconds
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Polite hackers 💻 — The US debt ceiling is approaching. Hackers are getting more professional. And TikTok is opening up to the gov.

The US reached the max amount of debt that it’s allowed to take on (aka the debt ceiling) yesterday, causing the US Treasury to begin taking special measures to ensure the government can continue paying its debt. Hacking group Lockbit has earned the title of “most prolific ransomware gang in the world”, carrying out ~25% of all known ransomware attacks last year and taking responsibility for breaches of over 40 organizations across the globe this month alone. TikTok is prepared to open its algorithms to regulators, in a move that could permanently change the relationship between governments and social media giants. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/20/20239 minutes, 24 seconds
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Turbulent takeoff 🛫 — Air Canada and WestJet are in hot water. Premium dating apps are getting expensive. And Canada is caught in the crossfire on tanks.

Air Canada and WestJet have been cutting domestic flight routes in recent months, a move that one business group thinks is fishier than an in-flight meal. If it wasn’t bad enough that the cost of dating (read: rising restaurant prices) has skyrocketed, now the cost of landing a date is also on its way up. Russia is thought to be preparing for a major offensive in the war with Ukraine. Ukraine’s top general, Valery Zaluzhny, wants 300 Western tanks and 600 vehicles to help fend it off. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/19/20237 minutes, 12 seconds
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Alcohol labels 🍷 — Should Canada apply warning labels to alcohol? China’s growth is slowing. And Elon Musk is heading to court (again)

If you’re doing dry January, maybe just keep at it for a while—at least that’s what new national guidelines on alcohol intake would recommend. China’s GDP grew [only 3% last year](https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/16/business/china-gdp-2022-hnk-intl/index.html#:~:text=China's economy expanded by just,downturn in the property market.), well below government targets and the country’s slowest growth rate since 1976 (aside from 2020, because of you know what). And somehow, that’s not even the worst news China got yesterday. It feels like we write this every few months, but here we go again: Elon Musk is heading to court. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/18/20238 minutes, 54 seconds
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New start 🧑‍💻 — Michele Romanow is out at Clearco. Employees are getting ahead of layoffs. And AI is making it harder for teachers.

As layoffs spread across the tech and finance landscapes like a bad rash, workers are trying to get ahead by securing new jobs before the corporate axe comes a-chopping. Life is a fickle thing. Just ask Michele Romanow. One day you’re the face of a Heineken advertising campaign. The next you’re stepping down as the CEO of your company. The days of take-home and open-book essays are over, as a new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI) puts a full stop on traditional classroom learning as we know it. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/17/20238 minutes, 15 seconds
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Cheap eggs 🥚 — Eggs are getting cheaper. BMO has a new tech fund for consumers. Some gyms are using electrodes to help people get fit.

Whether you like them scrambled, poached, or raw like Rocky Balboa, one yolky grocery staple is about to get cheaper. Though not as cheap as they could be. BMO is linking up with financier Georgian to bring down the wall between investors and privately held technology companies. Almost 30% of Canadians say their New Year’s resolution is to get in better shape. Some gyms are advocating for one trick that could help: Electrocution. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/16/20237 minutes, 8 seconds
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Climate tech 🔌 — New climate tech. A trade dispute goes our way. And an update on Chinese real estate.

The world’s climate goals are banking on the success of carbon capture technology. One start-up has potentially kick-started the industry after a major breakthrough. Like all good friends, Canada, the US, and Mexico sometimes get into squabbles. Luckily, they have a panel of unbiased trade experts on-hand to help resolve them. The Chinese government has been trying to take some of the air out of an inflated real estate market, but it’s not going to be a soft landing. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/13/20238 minutes, 6 seconds
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Empty offices 🏢 — White collar workers are hardest hit this recession. Office spaces are going empty. And business are for sale.

Data from past recessions shows us that blue-collar workers usually bear the brunt of the impact. This time around, the trend is on track to flip into reverse. In the market for a sublet? How about a seven-floor, 348,100-square-foot office space that was supposed to be inhabited by a Canadian tech giant? Many people have a dream of owning a small business. However, it might make more sense just to take over an existing business, as there will soon be plenty of them hitting the market. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/12/20237 minutes, 41 seconds
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Mexican investment 🇲🇽 — Canada is investing in Mexico. Last minute produce is getting popular. And rethinking Bell Let’s Talk.

In recent years, Canadian companies have been pouring money into Mexico. If you’re looking to save some money on groceries (and who isn’t), some startups are hoping you’ll drop coupon clipping in favour of scouring apps to score bags of half-off produce. The days of tweeting #BellLetsTalk (and giving yourself a little pat on the back for it) have come to an end as the telecom giant revamps its famous mental health campaign. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/11/20237 minutes, 42 seconds
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Fine dining 🍴 — One of the world’s best restaurants is shutting down. Stats Canada is tracking the data around gig work. Canada bought new fighter jets.

If paying upwards of $670 to eat reindeer brain custard at the world’s best restaurant is on your bucket list, you have until 2024 to secure a reservation (so start calling in favours). In what’s basically a rite of passage for any sector of the economy looking to be taken seriously, Stats Canada is now officially tracking the hard data around gig work. After watching the new Top Gun, we’ve realized that fighter jets are super cool. We also suspect the timing of the government’s first jet order in three decades is no coincidence. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/10/20238 minutes, 1 second
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Job gains 💪 — Americans are flocking north for a diabetes drug. New jobs report in Canada. And there’s a new crop of AI startups.

Canadians have long headed to the US to shop, but the trend is reversing as Americans flock north to get their hands on a diabetes drug that’s gone viral for its weight loss effects. Like a beefy bro at the gym, Canada’s seeing some serious gains. Job gains from last month, that is. As attention shifts away from the absolutely ancient fad of crypto, AI startups are now taking centre stage. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/9/20237 minutes, 6 seconds
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Housing prices 📉 — Canadian housing prices are in decline. Energy companies are decarbonizing. And CES is here.

Home sales in Toronto and Vancouver, the country’s largest housing markets, fell by ~50% last month compared to the year before, while average selling prices fell by 9% to ~$1,050,000 and 3% to $1,114,000, respectively, in the same time frame. As Canada ramps up efforts to meet its lofty decarbonization goals, the country’s oil sands are scrambling to keep up. CES, the world’s biggest tech trade show, kicked off yesterday in sunny and sinful Las Vegas with tech companies big and small ready to show off new gizmos, gadgets, and gimmicks. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/6/20238 minutes, 32 seconds
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Untrained 🔨 — Canadian workers need new training. European inflation is breaking. And Ukraine’s using new tech.

What comes after a surge in employee turnover? A surge of untrained employees. Things have been stormy in the eurozone the past few months, but the clouds are starting to break as peak inflation is now behind Europe thanks to sliding natural gas prices. On New Year’s Day, Ukraine carried out a hugely successful strike on a Russian military site. Russia claims Ukraine pulled it off by locating soldiers who were using cell phones—a sign of Ukraine’s ongoing technological prowess in the warzone. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO
1/5/20238 minutes
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Not guilty 👩‍⚖️ — Some countries want to play Robin Hood. Canada's manufacturing sector is slowing down. And SBF pleads not guilty.

Some Western countries are looking to play Robin Hood by taking Russia’s money and giving it to Ukraine, but it’s not as simple as swooping in with a crossbow and green tights.Changes by Apple to limit how companies track iPhone users has created an opportunity for Shopify to turn its advertising business into a growth engine this year, president Harley Finkelstein told the Financial Times. Activity in Canada’s manufacturing sector is seeing its longest slowdown in seven years thanks to a drop in output, new orders, and purchasing activity, per Reuters. Former FTX CEO and ex-“Next Warren Buffet” Sam Bankman-Friend (aka SBF) went to court yesterday to maintain his innocence in the face of charges that could land him up to 115 years in the big house. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/4/20237 minutes, 49 seconds
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Welcome back 🎉 — What you missed over the holidays. Shopify’s getting in the ads business. And some predictions from us.

If you’ve been avoiding the news for the past ten days, don’t stress—that’s what the holidays are for. We’re here to get you caught up on the big stories you might have missed while spending your time on more festive matters. Changes by Apple to limit how companies track iPhone users has created an opportunity for Shopify to turn its advertising business into a growth engine this year, president Harley Finkelstein told the Financial Times. We thought we would end off our special first episode of the year with some predictions from The Peak team. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/3/20238 minutes, 30 seconds
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Password protected 🔐 — Netflix is banning password sharing. Winter storms hitting the country. And a ban on foreign buyers.

The company that once tweeted “love is sharing a password” is now rolling out plans to target over 100 million people who watch the service using borrowed passwords. With most of the country affected by an extreme cold or winter storm alert—or both—the biggest travel weekend of the year is sure to be an eventful one. The federal government unveiled the details of a two-year ban on foreign home buyers set to kick in on January 1st (and as last-minute Christmas shoppers, we really get leaving the announcement to the very last minute). Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/23/20227 minutes, 49 seconds
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Inflation at Work 🚧 — Inflation is still high. Canadian investors are still trading. And more Quadriga funds go missing.

Many of us may be powering down for some holiday R&R, but inflation is still hard at work, making our lives even more expensive. If you thought seeing stock markets freefall for the last year would have scared off investors, let us introduce you to the incoming wave of do-it-yourself Canadian traders. $2.4 million worth of bitcoins were mysteriously transferred from virtual wallets linked to QuadrigaCX, the bankrupt Canadian crypto exchange that was revealed to be a Ponzi scheme. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/22/20228 minutes, 7 seconds
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Forever chemicals 🧪 — 3M is ending forever chemicals. Dance recitals are getting more expensive And it’s the end of single use plastics in Canada.

3M will stop making and using “forever chemicals” by the end of 2025, amid growing concern from governments and the public that the substances can cause serious health problems. This month, parents across the country have been attending various year-end recitals, but the privilege of seeing their little ones scamper in the spotlight is pricier than ever. A nationwide ban on the production and import of some single-use plastic items, including grocery bags, cutlery, straws (remember those?), and takeout containers is now in effect. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/21/20227 minutes, 37 seconds
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Gaming settlement 👾 — Elon might leave Twitter. Epic pays a huge settlement. And Toyota is hedging on electric.

Elon Musk asked Twitter users via poll—his preferred decision-making method as of late—if he should step down as the head of Twitter. Of over 17.5 million responses, 57.5% said yes. Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite, has agreed to pay US$520 million to resolve two US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints. It seems like most carmakers are aboard the electric vehicle (EV) bandwagon these days… But not according to Toyota President, Akio Toyoda. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/20/20228 minutes, 3 seconds
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Net-zero flights 🛫 — Shopify is having a rough year. Flights are going carbon neutral. And Elon causing more havoc.

Shopify has had a stunningly bad year, but then again, so have most tech giants. Wouldn’t you love to fly across the world knowing you weren’t also contributing to the perils of climate change? Well, soon that dream could become a reality. As Elon Musk’s Twitter faces increasing backlash, the billionaire has shown he’s not afraid to rule the platform with an iron fist. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/19/20227 minutes, 26 seconds
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Beer deal 🍻 — Carlsberg is buying Waterloo Brewing. TikTok is damaging our youth. And stock scammers are under fire.

Danish beer titan Carlsberg is buying Canadian brewery Waterloo Brewing for a cool, crisp, and hoppy $144 million in the largest deal ever for a Canadian brewery. The US Justice Department and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) charged eight finance influencers with defrauding investors of US$114 million through “pump and dump” schemes, in which they encouraged followers to sink money into penny stocks to artificially inflate their prices and then sold their shares of to earn a tidy (and illicit) profit. The Center for Countering Digital Hate set up new TikTok accounts with an age setting of 13 and monitored the first 30 minutes of content delivered on the platform’s algorithmically personalized “For You” page. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/16/20229 minutes, 2 seconds
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Changed COVID 🦠 — Central Banks are taking a new approach. Google isn’t worried about ChatGPT. And COVID Zero is no more.

Like many of us, the world’s central banks are ready for a re-brand in 2023: Out with the inflation-fighting fun-sucking and in with a cooler and more laid-back approach to rate hikes. Google heard all the clamour about ChatGPT (OpenAI’s AI chatbot that’s been heralded as a huge leap forward in the field) and how it could one day take on Google Search. In response, the company is telling everyone to take a serious chill pill. China is rolling back their COVID Zero policy. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/15/20229 minutes
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Dreary data 📉 — Update on Rogers-Shaw. The Trust and Safety Council at Twitter has been disbanded. And new exclusively polling data.

Today is the final day of the hearing that will decide the fate of the Rogers-Shaw merger, a deal that has wide-ranging implications for competition in Canada’s telecoms industry. Please, stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but Elon Musk’s Twitter just made a big change involving safety and moderation leaving a whole bunch of people on bad terms. Feeling gloomy about the state of Canada’s economy these days? You aren’t alone. New polling by Crestview Strategy shared exclusively with The Peak shows that a large majority of Canadians think our economy is getting worse. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/14/20229 minutes, 27 seconds
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Pickleball 🏸 — Pickleball is trying to make it big. More bad news in crypto. Canadian household debt isn’t looking good.

Could the sport that finally breaks the ranks of the Big Four North American Leagues really be one that’s named after a briny, preserved vegetable? If you thought things couldn’t get worse for the crypto world, this week may force you to think again. Seven interest rate hikes later, personal finances have seen better days. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/13/20229 minutes, 16 seconds
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Slow slopes ⛷️ — Bitcoin miners are leaving Canada. The slopes are going to be busy this year. And retailers want you to spend.

Québec became a destination for crypto mining, a practice often criticized for its high energy use, by boasting some of North America’s cheapest energy prices. But now, Hydro-Québec has asked the province for permission to reallocate energy to other projects, per *The Wall Street Journal.* According to Deloitte Canada, the average household will spend $1,520 this year on the holidays, 17% less than in 2021, as Canadians brace for economic headwinds. Important news for skiiers and snowboarders: If you’re planning to shred some pow’ over the holidays, chances are you’ll have a lot of company. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/12/20228 minutes, 43 seconds
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Giving less 🎁 — Canadians are giving less. Developing countries face a debt crisis. And the government is changing foreign investment rules.

The holiday season has always been a time for opening our hearts and wallets to charity, but this year, more Canadians are cutting giving out of the budget as they try to conserve cash. A dozen developing countries might spin into a debt crisis within the next year, spelling financial trouble for some of the world’s most vulnerable people, per The New York Times. The government is looking to implement new rules under the Investment Canada Act that would require foreign actors to give advanced notice of investments in sectors deemed as “sensitive” and subject those investments to conditions from Canada’s industry minister. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/9/20227 minutes, 52 seconds
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Vertical farm 🌾 — BoC hikes rates again. GoodLeaf aims big in vertical farming. And Canada is hoping for more critical minerals.

We’ve come a long way since the 8.1% inflation rate seen in June (a near four-decade high), but if you ask the Bank of Canada (BoC), the economy still has some way to go. GoodLeaf, a Guelph-based indoor farm, raised $150 million from McCain and the investing arm of Quebec insurer Power Corp to expand its greens into a national brand. Canada has invested billions into the critical minerals mining sector this year with grand ambitions to become a major player in the global supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/8/20228 minutes, 44 seconds
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New league ⚽️ — Big departures at Salesforce. There’s a new women’s soccer league coming to Canada. And COP15 kicks off.

A corporate one-two punch has left the executive bench at Salesforce looking a bit empty. After the Canadian men flamed out of the World Cup, a new group is trying to keep soccer fever alive and well with a focus on Canada’s (historically way better) women players. The UN’s COP15 biodiversity conference commences today in Montreal with over 10,000 participants set to discuss how to protect and increase the world’s plant and animal life. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/7/20229 minutes, 3 seconds
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Yield curve ↪️ — Circle isn’t IPO-ing. Canada has an inverted yield curve. And rental car customers were getting arrested.

Stablecoin group Circle has abandoned its plans to go public, one of the first signs that the fall of crypto exchange FTX is starting to hit even digital assets regarded as the least risky. Folks, Canada’s got a serious case of the ol’ [“inverted yield curve.”](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/yield-curve-inversion-hits-widest-in-canada-since-early-1990s-1.1854997#:~:text=The yield on Canada's benchmark,Toronto time.) Former meme stock darling Hertz doled out US$168 million to settle 364 claims that it falsely reported rental cars as stolen when they just weren’t returned on time. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/6/20229 minutes, 16 seconds
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Writing bot ✍️ — There’s a new AI writing tool. Xi Jinping acknowledges protests. Volkswagen looks for EV battery manufacturing site.

OpenAI (the lab behind the AI-powered DALL-E image generator) launched its new AI chatbot ChatGPT to the public as part of its beta test. China’s President Xi Jinping has publicly acknowledged the protests that have erupted across the country in response to the government’s strict anti-Covid measures. Volkswagen is setting its sights on Canada for a new electric vehicle (EV) battery factory after a recently signed agreement effectively added the country to a shortlist of potential locations for its North American expansion. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/5/20228 minutes, 17 seconds
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Brain chips 💻 — Chips for your brain. The banks are doing well. And LinkedIn has new features.

Elon Musk took a quick break from social media stardom to shift back to mad scientist mode, claiming that chips will start being implanted into human brains in as little as six months. You won’t be surprised to hear that Canada’s big banks are raking in cash during a positive earnings season, but some are doing unusually well and have higher interest rates to thank. These days you can’t answer your phone or open your email without being bombarded by scams, but LinkedIn is determined to make sure you can still confidently accept that invitation to join your colleague’s professional network without the same concerns. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/2/20228 minutes, 8 seconds
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Spotify wrapped 🎶 — Streamers are looking to theatres for help. Mexicans are moving to Canada. And workers are going back into the office.

Happy Spotify Wrapped Day to all who celebrate! And apologies to all who don’t (hey there, Apple Music users) because your Insta stories are about to give you some major FOMO. Tough economic times mean that consumers have to take a good, hard look at what they buy, limiting purchases to only the essentials like groceries, rent, and… snowmobiles? Financial responsibility is becoming more attractive as cheap dates are the latest dating trend. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/1/202210 minutes, 11 seconds
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Bank buyer 🏦 — RBC buys HSBC. Nestlé is rethinking its drug plans. And the police are using 23andMe to solve crimes.

RBC is already the country’s largest bank by assets ($1.71T), but just because you’re the biggest doesn’t mean you can’t get even bigger by buying HSBC. Nestlé isn’t the first company that comes to mind when you think of Big Pharma. And considering how their rollout of a new allergy drug is going, it’ll probably stay that way. While you’re using DNA testing services to explore your neanderthal ancestry, the police are using the same data to solve crimes. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/30/20229 minutes, 7 seconds
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To the movies 🎥 — Streamers are looking to theatres for help. Mexicans are moving to Canada. And workers are going back into the office.

It’s been an up-and-down year for streamers as they struggle to diversify revenue streams. Now a radical, unprecedented idea has come to the fore: Playing movies in movie theatres. In the face of rising crime rates in Mexico, more Mexicans are looking to pack their bags and head north of the border… aaaand north of that border. Workers may want to stay remote, but employers want them in the office—and more job postings insist on just that, making fully remote (and sought after) gigs harder to come by. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/29/20228 minutes, 48 seconds
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Public inquiry 👩‍⚖️ — The Inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act ends. Flipping homes will get taxed differently. And insurers are having headaches over art vandals.

The public inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act to break up convoy protests earlier this year has officially come to a close. Starting in January, profits from sales of homes occupied for less than a year will be 100% taxable as income—barring exceptions like death or work relocation. When insurance giants listed “climate change” as their biggest concern in a recent survey, they probably didn’t expect the headache that protests against climate change would bring. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/28/20228 minutes
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Black Friday 🛍 — This Black Friday might not be the same. Dentalcorp is up for sale. Canada’s healthcare system is critically ill.

Canadians are projected to spend 13% less on gift-giving this year as they save money for essentials, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Black Friday will be a total bust for retailers. Dentalcorp, Canada’s largest consolidator of dental clinics, has launched a review of its business to determine how to best “unlock shareholder value,” to which one answer could be “just sell the thing.” Canada is projected to be short 44,000 physicians by 2028, with family doctors accounting for 72% of the deficit, per a recent report by RBC Economics. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/25/20227 minutes, 4 seconds
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Controversy ⚽️ — More controversy surrounds the World Cup. Interest rates are becoming a big problem for mortgage holders. And Mercedes has a new subscription product.

Just a few days into the 2022 World Cup, feats of athleticism from the world’s best soccer players have been largely overshadowed by controversies and bold acts of defiance. The pain of rising interest rates is starting to spread across the housing market, and more people may soon find themselves facing larger monthly mortgage payments. Mercedes is now charging a US$1,200 annual subscription fee for drivers of its EQ models to gain access to faster acceleration and better performance capabilities, a feature that the vehicle already comes fully equipped with. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/24/20229 minutes, 14 seconds
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Sick days 🤒 — Meta’s Oversight Board made their first big ruling. We don’t know what’s going on with the National Housing Strategy. And Canada’s private sector unions are looking for a raise.

Meta’s Oversight Board, an independent body that judges the company’s most high-stakes content moderation cases, just made a decision that could change how the company moderates content. In 2017, the government launched its National Housing Strategy to create more affordable housing, which includes a sub-plan aimed at cutting chronic homelessness in half by 2028. Canada’s biggest private unions are looking for some of the largest pay gains seen in a generation to make up for the damage inflation has inflicted on consumer purchasing power. Five years in, are the feds any closer to this goal? The short answer: No one knows. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/23/20228 minutes, 55 seconds
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Lost a leap ⏱ — We’re losing a leap second.There’s a new sick day law. And a controversial weight loss drug is about to hit the market.

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)-the group that quite literally decides what time it is-voted to [abolish the leap second](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/19/science/time-leap-second-bipm.html#:~:text=It was devised as a,allow Earth to catch up.). On December 1, a new law comes into effect guaranteeing ten paid sick days a year for employees in federally-regulated industries like banking, telecoms, and air transport. Several major biotech players are moving fast to develop obesity drugs to snag their share of a market that analysts say could be worth US$50B annually by 2030. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/22/202210 minutes, 9 seconds
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Taylor v. Ticketmaster 🎟 — Twitter is the Titanic? Qatar is spending a lot on the WC. And Taylor is battling Ticketmaster.

If you log onto Twitter these days, the vibe is akin to what we imagine being on the deck of the Titanic was like, you know, riiiight after it hit the iceberg. Qatar spent ~US$300 billion (roughly 6.8 Twitters) on World Cup 2022, making it the most expensive FIFA contest ever. A disastrous presale of tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour has landed Ticketmaster (and its parent company Live Nation) in hot water with an army of Swifties—and (only a slightly more powerful force) the US Justice Department. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/21/20227 minutes, 52 seconds
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Worse than Enron 🔌 — Insolvency expert says FTX is the worst he’s seen in his career. Canada may join the OPEC for nickel. Rain is causing wheat headaches.

According to a guy that’s seen the darkest side of the corporate world, the fallen crypto exchange FTX is the worst of it all. Last month Indonesia floated the idea of a so-called “OPEC for nickel”. Now, it’s shopping around for partners to make this cockamamie dream a reality. At the top of its list? Canada. You probably know that it rains a lot in Vancouver. What you might not know is that Canada’s grain supply chain essentially comes to a screeching halt every time the skies open up there. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/18/20228 minutes, 4 seconds
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Robot writing ✍️ — Is it the end of the housing downturn? Notion is adding AI writing. And Canada needs to bolster our presence in the arctic.

Is it the beginning of the end of Canada’s real estate downturn? RBC thinks so. Cult-favourite note-taking platform Notion launched a private alpha test for its newest product, Notion AI, which can generate written content with a single prompt. Canada is ill-equipped to detect ships in its Arctic waters, and the country’s Auditor-General is pointing fingers at the federal government for not doing enough to address the problem. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/17/20227 minutes, 8 seconds
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Retail revival 🛍 — The Bank of Canada is losing money. US retailers are posting better numbers than expected. And Hydro Quebec has a spy scandal.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is on track to give “monetary tightening” a whole new meaning by losing between $5 billion and $6 billion over the next few years. As Black Friday rears its head, the world’s largest retailer is showing signs that the doom and gloom facing the retail sector this year may have been (at least a little) overhyped. A former researcher who worked in its electric batteries unit at Hydro-Quebec has been accused of collecting trade secrets and passing them on to China. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/16/20228 minutes, 2 seconds
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Electric delay 🚗 — Electric vehicles are delayed. The Sens are for sale. And Amazon is cutting jobs.

More Canadians than ever want to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle (EV), but most won’t be able to plant their butt in a driver’s seat anytime soon. Still have some spare CERB money kicking around? Why not bring together your closest billionaire friends and buy a professional hockey team? Not long after warning of a slowdown around what is usually a busy holiday season, Amazon has become the latest company to cut jobs to brace for a potential economic downturn. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/15/20229 minutes, 20 seconds
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Bankruptcy 🪙 — Amazon is taking loses. Twitter is chaotic and FTX is bankrupt.

After becoming the first company to lose US$1 trillion in market value (yes, ever), Amazon is taking a long, hard look at its business, because something ain’t right. Elon Musk held his first meeting as the company's CEO, fielding questions from staffers and dropping several off-side comments, like saying “there’s a good chance” Twitter will not survive the economic downturn. After scrambling to drum up money to fix a cash shortfall of US$8 billion, FTX filed for what will be the biggest US bankruptcy this year. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/14/20228 minutes, 6 seconds
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Office cuts 🏢 — WeWork is pulling back. Canva is introducing AI. And NASA is launching a new climate satellite.

Cost-cutting is the name of the corporate game these days, and WeWork is no exception. Just a few months ago, text-to-image AI seemed like super-futuristic tech reserved solely for hardcore researchers. Now, it’s available for free on one of the most popular design apps. In the wee hours of Thursday morning, NASA launched JPSS-2—its newest satellite, which joins a global observation system analyzing the Earth’s weather patterns. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/11/20227 minutes, 39 seconds
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Non-alcoholic 🍺 — There’s a new gen of non-alcoholic drinks. What if you could date using a Love is Blind app? And Meta has a big layoff.

Keurig Dr. Pepper invested US$50 million for a minority stake in Athletic Brewing, a leader in the booming non-alcoholic craft beer market. Picture this: The reality TV show “Love is Blind,” but for your personal dating life. The Big Tech carnage continued as Meta laid off 13% of its workforce (~11,000 workers), in the largest staff reduction in the tech industry this year. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/10/20228 minutes, 31 seconds
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Live pod 🎙 — Retirees are going back to work. The feds want to fund health care. And FTX is over.

Live from The Peak’s Bet on Canada Summit in Toronto! Retirees used to spend their time sunning in Florida. These days, they’re going back to work. The federal government will dish out money to fix provincial healthcare—hooray! And just like that, one of the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency exchanges has fallen. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/9/20228 minutes, 47 seconds
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Cleaning fees 🧹 — Airbnb is building cleaning fees into the prices. Canada’s proposed online streaming bill is making creators sweat. And Americans head to the polls today!

Executives at Airbnb want you to know they have, in fact, read all your angry tweets about out-of-control cleaning fees, and that they’re listening and learning. Canada’s proposed Online Streaming Bill Canadian is starting to make creators sweat. Americans head to the polls today, which means that by tomorrow there will be a crop of kooky new congresspeople that may or may not keep you awake at night. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/8/20228 minutes, 54 seconds
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Four day workweek 4️⃣ — You’re not getting enough sleep. Unilever is experimenting with the four-day workweek. And Xi is trying to cool down nuclear tensions.

In exchange for not seeing the sun after work until spring, you’re now getting an extra hour of sleep—and the odds are, that’s something you desperately need. Unilever, the multinational giant that owns brands like Ben and Jerry’s and Dove, is the biggest corporation yet to give a big thumbs up to the four-day workweek. China’s president Xi Jinping has gone from having “concerns” over the war in Ukraine to telling Russia to knock it off with the nuclear threats. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/7/20228 minutes, 33 seconds
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Strike 🪧 — CUPE education workers are going on strike. The Fall Economic Statement is out. And you may start controlling your phone with your brain.

Over 55,000 Ontario education workers, including early childhood educators, educational assistants and custodians, are set to walk off the job today. The government served up its annual Fall Economic Statement, including a declining deficit as the main, and risks around Canada entering into a recession as a side. As the world becomes increasingly like a sci-fi novel, new devices are letting the human body do things that once seemed impossible. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/4/202210 minutes, 15 seconds
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Musk makes his mark 🐦 — The Fed hikes interest rates again. Musk makes his mark at Twitter. And Google is using AI to predict natural disasters.

The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 percentage points, bringing its benchmark rate range to 3.75%-4% and effectively making any type of debt (mortgages, credit cards, auto) a little bit pricier. Less than a week into his tenure as “Chief Twit” turned “Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator,” Elon Musk is moving quickly to make his mark on Twitter by revamping its business model. The latest version of the Google wildfire warning system will introduce machine learning models trained on satellite data to improve fire tracking and detection in real-time and better predict how they spread. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/3/20228 minutes, 18 seconds
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Death of Yeezys 👟 — The sneaker market is in a spiral. TouchBistro raises a big round. And Canada has a new immigration plan.

The Adidas-Kanye West split meant the death of Yeezy: The immensely popular and influential line of shoes the controversy-mongering rapper designed for the company. That’s potentially bad news for the sneaker resale market (projected to be a US$30 billion industry by 2030) and for those touting sweet kicks as a burgeoning asset class. Toronto-based TouchBistro, a software provider for restaurants, is breezing though a market downtown that has left venture capitalists holding their dollars close to their chest. The feds just flicked on a big, bright, buzzing “OPEN” sign with a new three-year immigration plan aimed at getting skilled workers into the country to address the ongoing labour crunch. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/2/20229 minutes, 48 seconds
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Zero COVID 😷 — China is still struggling with COVID. Canadians are starting to feel the crunch of inflation. And Campari is buying a bourbon maker.

From squashing presidential term limits to picking fights with Taiwan, a lot is going on in China these days... so much so that we almost forgot about the zero-COVID crackdowns. Canadians are starting to feel the economic crunch as the Bank of Canada continues to try and combat inflation that’s more stubborn than a toddler before naptime. Italian alcohol giant Campari paid US$600 million for a 75% stake in bourbon-whiskey maker Wilderness Trail to expand its reach in the booming whisky market. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/1/20228 minutes, 57 seconds
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Free the bird 🐦 — The Great Resignation isn’t happening. Elon takes over Twitter. The US Dollar is crushing other currencies.

First came “The Great Resignation”. Then there was “quiet quitting” (and the reaction, “quiet firing”). Countless stories about workers checking out from their job over the past year—either literally, or just mentally—painted a bleak picture of the modern workplace, but one that new data suggests bears little relationship to reality. After what felt like thousands of years (but was really just a few months) Elon Musk, finally, officially, and with no-take-backs, owns Twitter... now here comes the fun part. A supercharged US dollar (USD) is beating up weaker global currencies like a schoolyard bully and leaving central banks scrambling to find a solution. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/31/20228 minutes, 59 seconds
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Household wealth 🏡 — Canada’s nurses are heading south. YouTube is certifying health accounts. And household wealth took a major hit.

In the midst of a healthcare workers shortage, Canada's nurses are heading south of the border. From exercising organs to “hacking” menstrual cycles, there’s a ton of terrible medical advice on the internet… which is why YouTube is moving to certify channels of licensed professionals like doctors, nurses, or therapists who produce health-related content. Household wealth in Canada dropped by ~$900 billion in Q2 of this year according to RBC economists-the largest quarterly drop on record-driven mainly by a tumbling housing market. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/28/202210 minutes, 15 seconds
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50 basis points 📈 — Another rate hike from the BoC. Deepfakes are getting into ads. NASA is going deep on aliens.

The Bank of Canada surprised markets with a smaller-than-expected interest rate hike of 0.5 percentage points yesterday (bringing its policy rate to 3.75%), below the 0.75 percentage point hike most economists had forecast. Deepfakes are growing in popularity with small brands to generate buzzy content featuring celebs without having to shell out endorsement money, per The WSJ. On Monday, NASA’s new team dedicated to researching unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs, formerly known as UFOs) will begin its sci-fi-sounding work. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/27/202210 minutes, 55 seconds
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Swimming in gas 🛢 — The European gas situation is improving. Canopy is buying US cannabis companies. And Microsoft and Alphabet are showing how soft tech markets are.

Remember when Europe faced those “unprecedented risks” to its natural gas supply earlier this month? That was then. Now, the continent is basically swimming in it. Canadian pot grower Canopy (+23.5%) has purchased three pot companies south of the border (Acreage, Wanna, and Jetty’s) to form a brand new American business arm. Tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet are kicking off a week packed with earnings, during which investors are sitting tight for indicators about the state of the broader economy. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/26/20229 minutes, 33 seconds
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Davos in the desert 🌴 — The Future Investment Initiative kicks off. You might start getting paid for your blood. Ontario’s EQAO scores are bad.

Saudi Arabia’s [Future Investment Initiative](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/wall-street-is-heading-to-saudi-arabia-as-us-oil-spat-simmers-1.1836247#:~:text=An escalating dispute over an,the US and Saudi Arabia.) (FII) kicks off today, with the who’s who of international finance meeting in Riyadh to talk shop, despite the icy chill hanging over Western relations. As Canada Blood Services (CBS) deals with decade-low donation levels, the nation’s blood supply administrator hopes paying people to get jabbed will get more veins through the door. About half of Ontario students are not meeting the provincial math standards of a B grade, according to the province’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/25/202210 minutes, 24 seconds
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Android auto 🤖 — Snap stock is spooky. The G7 price cap on Russian oil might not work. And Apple and Android are fighting over your car.

If Snap’s earnings are any indication of how social media companies are faring right now, the answer is: Not well, not well at all. The G7 price cap on Russian oil imports set to start December 5 has been touted as the biggest step yet in defunding the Russian war machine. But experts aren’t so sure. The battle between blue and green bubbles is about to get a whole lot uglier as cars evolve into drivable devices. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/24/20228 minutes, 41 seconds
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Liz out 👩‍💼 — Liz Truss is out as PM. Via is adding buffer cars. And the Women’s World Cup TV rights are back up for sale.

After six weeks in office (the shortest tenure for a British prime minister), Truss was forced to resign in the wake of economic turmoil caused by her disastrous “mini-budget”. In today’s normal, nothing-to-see-here news: VIA Rail is adding ‘buffer cars’ to its oldest passenger trains to absorb impact in the event of a crash. Tomorrow’s draw for the 2023 Women’s World Cup will decide the tourney’s first-round matches, but what remains undecided is who’s going to broadcast them. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/21/202210 minutes, 23 seconds
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Inflation only goes up 📈 — Netflix is back. Inflation is up. And global cities lure top talent.

After a rocky year of subscriber losses and investor doubt, Netflix is back with ambitions bigger than a season premiere of Stranger Things. The annual inflation rate slowed to 6.9%, down from 7% last month, mostly thanks to falling gas prices, but is still above what most experts expected. The core inflation rate (which excludes energy and food prices) actually rose to 5.4% from 5.3%. In the global race for top talent, governments are bending over backwards to attract the world’s most-desirable ex-pats with fancy new super visas and generous tax incentives. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/21/202211 minutes
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Friendship ⛴ — Trade partners are friendshoring. Old school banks are reinventing themselves. And Meta is selling Giphy.

Friendshoring is on the rise as Western countries start shifting trade to friendly partners to cut dependence on totalitarian regimes, most notably China and Russia. Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s most important financial institutions, is restructuring its business to streamline work and improve its digital offerings. Meta is selling Giphy after UK regulators ruled that its ownership of the popular GIF platform restricts consumer choice and hurts competition both in the ad and social media markets. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/19/20228 minutes, 28 seconds
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Price freeze 🥶 — Loblaw freezes No Name prices. Hockey fans are annoyed with the new rink boards. And there’s a new hit social app.

Canada’s biggest grocer announced it is freezing prices on all of its No Name products (over 1,500 items) until the end of January 2023, per The Globe and Mail. When the NHL kicked off its season last week, fans were quick to notice the addition of digitally enhanced dasherboards (DEDs) on rink boards, with some taking to social media to air their grievances around the “hard-to-watch” animations. There’s a new app you need to know about so you don’t feel hopelessly out of touch next time you’re around teens: It’s called Gas, and it’s rocketing up the download charts despite only being available in a few US states right now, per The Wall Street Journal. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/18/202210 minutes, 16 seconds
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Budget u-turn 🏦 — PM Liz Truss fires her finance minister. Weather reporting is being privatized. You might be better off quitting.

Embattled British PM Liz Truss made (another) U-turn yesterday, firing her top finance official, Kwasi Kwarteng, and reversing plans to slash corporate taxes. Weather forecasts have always been unreliable (the atmosphere is changing constantly), but as the weather becomes even more unpredictable, sports leagues, airlines, and even militaries are turning to private forecasters. If you’re looking to move up the ranks at your company, you might just want to find a new one, according to a new study that found what you do isn’t as important as who you do it for. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/17/20228 minutes, 6 seconds
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Expensive everything 📱 — Core inflation is at a 10 year high in the US. Canadians are paying more for everything. And TikTok is taking a big swing.

US core inflation hit a four-decade high last month, which, to be clear, is the opposite of what Jerome Powell & Friends need to prove their plan to cool the economy and achieve a “soft landing” is working. Canada is famous for many things: Poutine, hockey, ketchup chips—and high, high prices. According to The National Post, Canadians are paying a serious premium for products, including mobile plans, grocery hauls, and some basic services. It’s already put a dent in Meta’s advertising business, and now TikTok is preparing to take on a bunch of other Western tech giants with a push into music streaming and e-commerce. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/14/20228 minutes, 29 seconds
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Nuclear comeback 🔌 — Nuclear power is in vogue again. Meta releases a new headset. And there’s a backlog of PR applications.

Canada-based Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management’s renewables division have buddied up to buy nuclear company Westinghouse Electric for US$7.9 billion amid a global frenzy to find climate-friendly alternatives to Russian energy, per The Wall Street Journal. Meta is betting that companies will pay $1,500 for the company’s new Quest Pro virtual reality headset, in its push to bring the metaverse to the corporateverse. Experts believe there are now tens of thousands of skilled immigrants waiting in limbo to get approved for permanent residence visas who may be forced to leave the country when their temporary work permits expire. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/13/20228 minutes, 38 seconds
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Protest 🪧 — Real estate investors are protesting interest rates. Saudi Arabia is on a hunt for talent. Lego is getting smart.

Seven months into the Bank of Canada’s rate hike spree, some Canadians are already taking to their local parks to protest higher interest rates on their mortgages. Dream job alert: Get paid millions of tax-free dollars to help design a gleaming city of the future from the ground up. There’s only one catch: Your employer is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that city is Neom, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The world’s largest toy company is starting to play in the $1 trillion education business. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/12/20229 minutes, 37 seconds
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Tax evaders 🏦 — Hockey Canada loses another sponsor. Facebook employees don’t even like the metaverse. And still no action on the Panama Papers.

Hockey Canada has officially lost every last one of its top-tier corporate sponsors after Nike suspended its 23-year partnership with the organization Have you been spending time in the metaverse? No? That makes you, everyone else you know, and even Meta's own employees. Six years after the release of the Panama Papers, it’s not clear if the government has collected any tax-evasion-money hidden in Central American offshore accounts. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/11/20227 minutes, 51 seconds
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Robot dogs 🐶 — A new pact not to weaponize robots. Alberta wants you to move there. And an investigation into Canada’s grocers.

Six companies, including the famous Boston Dynamics (BD), pledged not to weaponize or support the weaponization of their robots, and urged others to follow suit. A nurse, an accountant, and an engineer walk into a province. They all get jobs. That’s one of several cheeky ads, paid for by the government of Alberta, taking over Canada’s busiest transit stations lately. It’s all part of a $2.6M “Alberta is Calling” campaign, which aims to lure skilled workers to the province with affordable housing and high wages. The feds are going to take a long, hard look at Canada’s biggest grocers to see if they’ve been stocking lies and deception alongside meats and produce in their stores. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/7/20229 minutes, 6 seconds
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Credit surcharge 💳 — A new credit card fee could be coming soon. OPEC+ is cutting oil production. And an MBA isn’t what it used to be.

Starting today, you might see a new surcharge on your receipt when you tap your plastic. Businesses in Canada are now allowed to pass credit card processing fees onto customers. OPEC+, the Middle Eastern energy cartel that accounts for 40% of the world’s oil supply, agreed to cut its collective output by 2 million barrels a day or roughly 2% of global output. Wannabe McKinsey consultants and Bay Street executives are starting to realize that in today’s red-hot labour market, an MBA might be nothing more than a nice-to-have. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/6/20228 minutes, 43 seconds
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For sale 🏷 — HSBC is considering exiting Canada. Phil Collins and Gensis sold their music rights. And Elon is buying Twitter after all.

Phil Collins and Genesis no longer have publishing rights to their recordings. But they aren’t throwing it all away. They’re the most recent musicians to receive a hefty sum for them. HSBC has launched a review into its Canadian business that could end in a US$9B sale, as the bank faces pressure to ditch less profitable markets to focus on Asia and Europe. After all the bot disputes. The whistleblowing. The texts to Joe Rogan. The poop emoji. After all that drama… Elon Musk might actually end up buying Twitter. For realsies this time. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/5/202211 minutes, 3 seconds
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Continuons 🗳 — Legault wins big. Credit Suisse is in trouble. And brands have too much merchandise.

Francois Legault will stay in power as Quebec’s premier as his centre-right nationalist CAQ party secured a majority government in a cakewalk. Credit Suisse saw a gauge of its credit risk rise to a record high while its stock hit record lows, raising doubts about its financial stability. From Nike, to Walmart, to Canadian Tire, retailers and brands have more merch than they know what to do with as inventories bulge while consumers cut down on their spending. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/4/202210 minutes, 21 seconds
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Postal loans 📬 — Canada Post is introducing a new loan service. Elon’s Twitter texts get released. And Meta reduces headcount.

Canada Post has expanded its MyMoney loan program in partnership with TD Bank to locations across Canada, offering loans between $1000 and $30,000, with approval in as little as 10 minutes. Text messages made public as part of Elon Musk’s court fight with Twitter (along with being highly entertaining) shed insight into his early motivations for buying the business and show how Silicon Valley heavyweights rallied to his cause. Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—plans to reduce its headcount and cut budgets across most teams. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/3/20228 minutes, 56 seconds
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New Google 🔎 — Google is revamping search. Pickleball is taking off. And Russia reports on the Ukrainian “referendum”.

Google announced at its Search On conference that it’s testing updates to Search and Maps that will push its flagship tools in a “visual-forward” direction. An ownership group including NBA superstar LeBron James bought a professional pickleball team that will join Major League Pickleball (MLP) for its upcoming season. Russia will annex four regions in Ukraine today after tightly controlled “referendums” that Kremlin officials claim resulted in 99% of locals voting to join Russia Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/30/20229 minutes, 53 seconds
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New Alzheimer’s drug 💊 — Workers are getting raises. There could be a new CAPTCHA. And a new Alzheimer’s is going through a third clinical trial.

Employers have come up with a novel idea to retain and sustain their workforce during these trying times. You may have heard of it. It’s called ‘paying people more.’ IT giant Cloudflare introduced a new breed of CAPTCHA test called Turnstile that promises to reduce the average test time from 32 seconds to one second. A new drug slowed the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients in large-scale clinical trials, according to its developers Biogen and Eisai. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/29/20229 minutes, 8 seconds
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Mobile lithium 🔋 — A Canadian company has a new way to mine for lithium. China’s trying to revive its belt and road initiative. And the Nord Stream pipelines are leaking.

Vancouver-based International Battery Metals claims to have developed a first-of-its-kind mobile lithium mining plant that can extract and process lithium with minimal environmental impact. There’s buyer’s remorse over that late-night Amazon purchase, and then there’s real buyer’s remorse (to the tune of $1 trillion)—the latter is what China is experiencing right now as it tries to salvage its troubled Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Sweden reported two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline close to the Danish island of Bornholm, mere hours after Denmark reported a separate leak in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the same area. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/28/202210 minutes, 6 seconds
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Internet vote 🗳 — A UN agency is hosting a big vote on the future of the internet. The British economy is in trouble. And Beyond Meat isn’t doing so well.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN body responsible for setting global communications standards, will elect its new leader this week—a decision that could shape the future of the internet. The British economy is experiencing some serious turbulence—or an omnishambles, they might say across the pond—as investors give a big thumbs down to the UK government’s new fiscal plan. Sales of plant-based meats have declined over the past year while negative perceptions of the product have increased, per a new Deloite report. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/27/20229 minutes, 43 seconds
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Diplomacy 🇰🇷 — Russia mobilizes troops. Buy now pay later is coming to a retailer near you. And Canada pushes for more influence in Asia.

Russia’s decision to mobilize military reserves for the first time since WWII has triggered a crisis, as protests erupt and men flee to neighbouring countries. Block is rolling out out BNPL options on its point-of-sale platform, Square. Canada has joined a new US-led alliance aimed at strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific nations—which include Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of Asian countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, although notably not China or Taiwan. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/26/20227 minutes, 59 seconds
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New airline 🛫 — Canada has a new airline. OtterBox is pulling out of Quebec. And South Korea wants to do business with us.

Canada Jetlines flew its inaugural flight yesterday carrying passengers from Toronto Pearson to Calgary International Airport. The unexpected casualty of Quebec’s new language laws: OtterBoxes. For our last story, Forget maple syrup and Tim’s franchises, the two Canadian exports everyone is clamouring for are critical minerals and natural gas. South Korea is the latest country to express interest. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/23/20229 minutes, 41 seconds
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Greenbacks 💵 — The US Dollar is surging. Robots are taking fast food jobs. And TikTok is scrapping political ads.

Congratulations to anyone with a US bank account, because the currency is on a tear. Meet Flippy, Sippy, and Chippy. No, they aren’t knockoff versions of Snap, Crackle, and Pop. They’re a trio of service robots, and they could soon be preparing your fast food order. TikTok is banning accounts for politicians, parties, and governments from asking for donations and from using monetary features like tipping, gifting, and e-commerce. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/22/20229 minutes, 42 seconds
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Audiobooks 🎧 — Consumer prices are down. Audiobooks are coming to Spotify. And Russia is meddling in Eastern Ukraine.

Canadian consumer prices fell 0.3% last month, the biggest monthly drop in two years. Spotify launched its long-awaited audiobooks feature in the US and will eventually roll it out in all of its markets as it strives to become the one-stop-shop for everything audio. Russian-installed leaders in the occupied Eastern Ukrainian provinces of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia have announced planned referendums on joining Russia. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/21/20229 minutes, 50 seconds
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Ready to Rumble 🥊 — Rumble is going public. Ukraine’s economy isn’t looking good. And Volkswagen is spinning Porsche off.

Toronto-based video site Rumble, which bills itself as a free speech alternative to sites like YouTube, went public after a successful SPAC merger valuing the company at US$2 billion. While Ukraine’s war efforts have garnered positive results in recent weeks, its economic prospects are looking increasingly bleak as it continues to seek outside help. Porsche, owned by Volkswagen Group, will debut on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange later this month, selling ~25% of its shares with hopes of fetching a valuation of US$75 billion. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/20/20229 minutes, 11 seconds
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2 stars ⭐️ — Is the Michelin Star all it’s cracked up to be? Offices are having trouble filling them with people. And an 18 year-old hacked Uber.

If you’ve been on the internet this week, there’s a good chance you already know that the Michelin guide awarded its first Canadian stars to 13 restaurants. Offices are back up and running, but employers are having trouble actually filling them with employees… who remain perfectly fine at home thank you very much. Uber confirmed its internal systems suffered a breach perpetrated by someone alleging to be an 18-year-old. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/19/20228 minutes, 51 seconds
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Climate corp 🌎 — Patagonia founder gives the company away. Adobe buys Figma. Walmart has a new styling feature.

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, along with his family, gave away control of the ~US$3 billion company to a trust and a nonprofit organization tackling environmental issues. Adobe agreed to buy design software company Figma for US$20 billion in what will be the largest acquisition ever of a private software company if it gets approved. Walmart has launched its Be Your Own Model tool, which uses a user’s full-body photo to simulate the dressing room experience with Walmart fashion finds. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/16/20229 minutes, 55 seconds
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The Merge 🔌 — Ethereum is going to proof of stake. Shopify is restaffing their leadership. And EU energy execs are doing too well.

Ethereum, a blockchain platform supporting over 50% of the total value of the decentralized finance industry, is shifting to a less energy-intensive way of validating transactions. Shopify restaffed most of its leadership team during the pandemic, and now the top brass of what was once Canada’s most valuable company isn’t looking very Canadian. European energy executives are doing a little too well these days. Celebrating something? Let us know here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/MNdYA3TO Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/15/20228 minutes, 14 seconds
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Collection time ⏰ — The Twitter and Musk feud is nearing its climax. US inflation numbers are bad. And the Feds haven’t been able to get their loans back.

Join us for a live recording of The Peak Daily at the Bet on Canada Summit on November 8th. Buy tickets here: https://readthepeak.com/events/bet-on-canada-2022 As we await the start of Twitter v. Elon Musk (October 17 if you want to mark your calendar) the final pieces are falling into place for the tech trial of the century. The federal government gave small businesses $49 billion in pandemic loans but forgot one crucial part of doling out tonnes of cash: A plan to get it back. Higher-than-expected US inflation numbers have cleared the runway for the Federal Reserve to deliver another big rate hike—a realization that has sent markets into shock. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/14/20228 minutes, 19 seconds
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Climate coalition 🌨 — Modern-day slavery is a huge problem. The bond market is suffering. And there’s concern over Canada’s new climate laws.

In 2021, 50 million people across the globe were in some form of modern slavery, including 28 million working under forced labour conditions, per a new UN report. If you’re kicking yourself over a bad stock pick recently, we’re here to tell you that even the safest investments are losing money this year. That’s right, a key index tracking global bonds has dropped 16.8% since January. Climate Proof, a coalition led by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, published an open letter calling the federal government’s new climate goals ‘‘vague and distant”. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/13/20228 minutes, 50 seconds
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Stress test 🏠 — Canada’s unemployment rate is up. Google is in hot water. And Canadians want to revise the stress test.

Canada’s unemployment rate is up for the first time in seven months, which means that high interest rates have (done what they do best and) thrown cold water on the red hot labour market. The US Justice Department (DOJ) is accusing Google of paying companies billions each year to remain the default search engine on browsers, illegally. Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), which oversees federal mortgage rules, confirmed it will not loosen its borrowing requirements, per Bloomberg. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/12/20228 minutes, 27 seconds
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Her Majesty 👑 — Canada has a new inflation support plan. The super yacht industry is booming. Corporations are pulling back.

The federal government announced a new three-pronged plan to introduce temporary relief measures aimed at helping low-income Canadians beat back inflation pains. Speaking of the wealthy doing more than their fair share of spending, the superyacht rental business is booming as the well-to-do want to hit the high seas in luxury and comfort. Corporate swag bags may soon become an ancient relic of the past, disappearing with memories of money flowing freely through corporate America’s expense accounts. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/9/20229 minutes, 53 seconds
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Basis points ⬆️ — The Bank of Canada announced a 0.75% rate hike. New iPhones. And markets are going haywire.

As expected, the BoC delivered another oversized rate hike, bumping the overnight interest rates up to 3.25% from 2.50% (or 75 basis points, if you’re fancy like that). Apple held its latest product launch event, dubbed Far Out, yesterday, announcing a range of new goodies including the iPhone 14 and the Apple Watch Ultra. Freaked-out investors are pouring money into the US while pulling out of international stocks at a rate not seen since a 22-week run of outflows in 2019, per the WSJ. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/8/20228 minutes, 31 seconds
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Nordstream none 👩‍🔧 — The European Commission is considering fixing energy prices. Canada is falling behind on EVs. And we’re not hitting our climate targets.

Record-high natural gas prices are climbing higher, sending inflation soaring across the region. According to the European Commission (EC), fixing prices could be an answer. Despite a year full of big electric vehicle (EV) announcements, Canada has fallen further behind its global peers in the race to electrify the roadways. Canada is the worst-performing G7 nation for reducing corporate sector carbon emissions, per a new study from CDP and Oliver Wyman. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/7/20229 minutes, 37 seconds
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Pumpkin spice 🍂 — G7 put a cap on Russian oil prices. Starbucks has a new CEO. And Chengdu is in lockdown.

G7 nations have agreed to impose a cap on the price of Russian oil imports, despite Russian threats to cut off cold turkey any country that tries to mess with its energy business. The pumpkin spice latte isn’t the only hot arrival at Starbucks this fall. The company is bringing in a new CEO to oversee grand ambitions to modernize its espresso-slinging business. If you’re planning to buy an iPad any time soon, you may want to act fast. The Chinese manufacturing hub of Chengdu (where most of Apple’s tablets are made) is locking down to contain a COVID outbreak, threatening to disrupt supply chains around the world. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/6/20229 minutes, 58 seconds
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Toxic 🧪 — The US is blocking Nvidia from selling chips to China. Disney is launching a version of Prime. And some dollar store products were found to be toxic.

The US is blocking chipmaker Nvidia from selling some of its advanced products to China, according to the company’s latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disney is exploring the creation of an Amazon Prime-like membership, per The Wall Street Journal. A new study from environmental advocacy group Environmental Defence that tested items from Canadian dollar stores found that 25% of them included toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium, and antimony. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/2/20229 minutes, 36 seconds
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Slow gaming 🎰 — Canada’s economy is slowing. iGaming is off to a slow start. And Truth Social is in hot water.

After a solid two-year run, the Canadian economy might be finally slowing down, growing at an annualzed rate of 3.3% in the second quarter (missing the Bank of Canada’s 4% forecast). In its first three months of operation, iGaming Ontario (IGO) reported over $4 billion in cash wagers placed resulting in net revenue of $162 million split between operators, gaming sites, and the province. Donald Trump’s free-speech-centric Twitter alternative Truth Social has run into financial, legal, and technical issues, which honestly, is about what we expected. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/1/20229 minutes, 13 seconds
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IP Sale 🏷 — Blackberry is selling IP. Canadian housing prices are taking a big hit. And there’s new Twitter drama.

BlackBerry’s deal to sell 37,175 of its patents fell apart after the buyer landed US$90M short of the $600M agreed-upon payment, per The Globe and Mail. Canadian housing prices will fall between 20-25% from recent all-time highs by the end of 2023’s first quarter, according to a new report from TD Bank. The world’s richest man is citing a recent whistleblower report filed by Twitter’s former head of security Peiter Zatko as another reason why he should be let out of his US$44 billion deal to buy the bird app. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/31/202210 minutes, 48 seconds
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Berry mania 🫐 — The US wants our berries. It’s a tough job to get a handle on Europe’s electricity crisis. Canadian post-secondary students have a housing crisis.

As California experiences its worst drought in 1200 years (no, somehow that’s not a typo), two of North America's largest fruit sellers are looking to Canada to grow their berries. The European Commission confirmed that it’s working on an ‘emergency intervention’ to the continent’s electricity market as prices surge Forget heavy courseloads and unrequited crushes, Canadian post-secondary students have a bigger problem as they head back to school this year: Finding somewhere to live. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/30/202210 minutes, 30 seconds
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Expensive show 📺 — Amazon’s about to drop the most expensive show ever. Modern is suing Pfizer. And Binance is under scrutiny.

As streamers continue to navigate a difficult year, Amazon has come up with one simple trick to turn things around: Produce and release the most expensive show of all time. Moderna is suing Pfizer and BioNTech in the US and Germany (where BioNTech is based), claiming that the companies’ COVID shot infringes on patents for key elements of its messenger RNA technology that made its ‘Spikevax’ shot possible. As Canadian regulators start to crack down on crypto companies, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is also facing a $1 billion class-action lawsuit in Toronto. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/29/20228 minutes, 47 seconds
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Dollar store 🪙 — Canadians are shopping at budget stores. Expect more Canadians. And a new golf league.

As the consumer price index rises to 7.6% (compared with a year ago) shoppers are flocking to discount retailers… and investors are following closely behind. Get ready for a future where your commute is more crowded and the morning Tim’s line is even longer because Canada is going to have a lot more people. Golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have formed TMRW Sports, a new venture partnering with the PGA Tour to drag an old-fashioned game kicking and screaming into the future. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/26/20229 minutes, 7 seconds
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Quiet quitting 🤫 — Central bankers are meeting in Jackson Hole. Gen Zs are quiet quitting. And coffee might get more expensive.

It’s been a rough week for markets as we wait for a vibe check on the economy coming out of the Federal Reserve’s annual policy symposium, kicking off in Jackson Hole today. There’s a new trend gaining traction online amongst hoards of disaffected workers: Quiet quitting. And no, it doesn’t mean silently walking out of the office one day, never to return Poor harvests in Brazil may start hitting your wallet where it hurts most: Your daily cup of joe. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/25/20229 minutes, 33 seconds
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Copycat 🐱 — Europe is facing economic uncertainty. Instagram is copying BeReal. And hydrogen is all the rage.

European economists and business leaders are growing increasingly worried that economic slowdowns in the region’s leading economies could send the eurozone into a difficult recession. After garnering flack earlier this year for trying too hard to be TikTok, Instagram has now set its sights on wanting to be exactly like BeReal, another popular app amongst the Gen Zs. Yesterday, Canada inked a deal to supply green hydrogen fuel to Germany. Sounds great for everyone, right? But what exactly is hydrogen fuel? We break it down. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/24/202210 minutes, 42 seconds
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Willkommen 🇩🇪 — The German chancellor comes to Canada. There’s a huge book merger on the horizon. And who’s responsible when a self driving car crashes?

Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz has touched down in Canada and is ready to make an energy deal that absolutely does not include Russia. Because arts graduates didn’t have it hard enough already, a proposed merger between publishers may spell trouble for up-and-coming Canadian authors. The UK will deem vehicle manufacturers responsible for the vehicle’s actions while driving, meaning the human co-driver will be free from liability in a crash. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/23/20229 minutes, 12 seconds
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Bed, bath and crash 🛁 — Another meme stock come and goes. Insurers aren’t covering cyberattacks anymore. And there are new crypto regs.

Just five months after activist investor Ryan Cohen took on a ~10% position in Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), his sudden exit has sent shares spiralling by ~40%. Canada’s top financial regulator has introduced its first-ever framework to **limit the exposure of federally regulated financial institutions, like banks and insurers, to crypto assets (nice!). Starting next year, Lloyd’s of London insurers (which includes Lloyd’s Canada) will no longer offer coverage for state-backed cyberattacks in their policies. The demand for natural gas has soared this year, but producers in Alberta have been unable to capitalize on higher prices (and are seeing billions lost in revenue). The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/22/20229 minutes, 33 seconds
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Gaz guzzlers ⛽️ — Alberta can’t capture the natural gas upside. Homeowners in China are boycotting rent payments. And Canadian VC dollars are coming back to earth.

The demand for natural gas has soared this year, but producers in Alberta have been unable to capitalize on higher prices (and are seeing billions lost in revenue). Hundreds of thousands of homeowners across 100 cities are banding together and refusing to repay loans on unfinished apartments After a high ride throughout the pandemic, venture capital (VC) funding for Canadian companies has finally come down to Earth. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/19/20229 minutes, 39 seconds
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1 year 🎉 — The Peak Daily is one year old. Zellers is coming back. Airbnb is rolling out anti-party technology.

Almost a decade after Zellers left suburban malls across the country sitting empty, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is looking to launch its Canadian discount chain back into relevance. Airbnb is introducing a new weapon in its war against fun and will soon roll out “anti-party technology” on its platform in Canada and the US. Canada’s largest unions are now clapping back at the Bank of Canada, advocating for workers’ bargaining power at a time (they say) they need to make gains. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/18/20229 minutes, 42 seconds
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Lab diamonds 💍 — Inflation is down. Pandora is rolling out lab grown diamonds. And US mining dollars might be coming to Canada.

Inflation may have peaked, but still remains “far too high” according to a new op-ed penned by the Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Tiff Macklem. Pandora announced the launch of its first collection featuring lab-grown diamonds later this month throughout Canada and the US. Canadian officials are pointing to a document recently posted on the White House website that explicitly calls for Canada to be a domestic source for critical minerals as a sign that Canada could see some of the money from President Biden’s landmark climate bill coming it's way. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/17/202210 minutes, 45 seconds
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WeLive 🏠 – An update on China. Adam Neumann is back. And Bytedance gives up their algo.

Five US lawmakers decided to visit Taiwan just 12 days after the same trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prompted China to launch days of military drills around the self-governing island, which Beijing considers its territory WeWork’s Adam Neumann is back with a new company and he just raised $350 million in fundraising from venture capital fund Andressen Horowitz. Some of China’s biggest tech companies including ByteDance and Alibaba disclosed to the government the inner workings of their algorithms—an unprecedented move in the tech world. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/16/202211 minutes, 21 seconds
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More workers 👩‍🏭 — Employers are taking advantage of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Weddings are getting more expensive. And Nunavut is facing a food crisis.

As Canadian employers face the lowest unemployment rate in decades, they’re moving to fill roles with temporary foreign workers (or TFW, for short) As the post-pandemic wedding boom picks up in Canada, so are bachelor and bachelorette festivities. The only problem? They’ve become more expensive than ever (thanks, inflation). The global food crisis wreaking havoc on the world’s poorest nations is also taking its toll on Canada’s most remote northern communities. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/15/20228 minutes, 58 seconds
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Correction ✏️ — The CPPIB didn’t do that bad. Russian oil is doing okay. And Canada’s housing market may be stabilizing.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) saw its funds drop by 4.2% last quarter or roughly $16 billion—which sounds a lot worse than it actually is. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Western sanctions have had a limited impact on Russia’s oil exports, which is also its biggest money maker. The average price of a Canadian home is projected to fall by ~25% by the end of 2023 from all-time highs this past February, per a new report from Desjardins. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/12/20229 minutes, 31 seconds
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Corporate cards 💳 —Microsoft is pulling back on corporate card spending. Europe is struggling with the heat. And Dominos is leaving Italy.

As a wave of economic uncertainty hits Big Tech, Microsoft is reining in the fun money. Extreme heat and low rainfall are drying up Europe’s rivers which could lead to potentially catastrophic impacts on the US$80 billion river trade contributes to the EU’s economy. And for our last story, La vita isn’t very dolce right now for Domino’s after the pizza chain failed to take off in the saucy dish’s birthplace. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/11/202210 minutes, 26 seconds
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Airline audit ✈️ — Netflix’s games aren’t taking off. The government is investigating Canadian airlines. And Google wants Apple to get rid of the green bubbles.

Netflix is struggling to build its gaming business as less than 1% of their users interact with them on a daily basis Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Canada’s airlines and airports, the government has launched an investigation into the flight cancellations making headlines. Android users know that there is no greater indignity than being the only green bubble in a friend group of iPhone users. Google is now stepping up to fight this injustice. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/10/202211 minutes, 29 seconds
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Embarrassing earnings 📉 — SoftBank has a bad quarter. Self driving cars are coming to China. And Ontario hospitals are in crisis.

Japanese technology investor SoftBank reported a record loss of US$23 billion last quarter, after a spending spree that CEO Masayoshi Son described as delirious. Baidu (China’s Google) is the country’s first company licensed to commercially offer fully driverless robotaxis without a human supervisor present through Apollo Go, its driverless ride-hailing platform. Canadian hospital shutdowns that began in small jurisdictions have now spread to the biggest cities as the healthcare system deals with a devastating labour shortage. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/9/20229 minutes, 19 seconds
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Roomba and Ring 📦 — Canada’s implementing a handgun ban. Amazon buys iRobot. And Canada and India may do a free trade deal.

Canada will ban the import of restricted handguns this month, part of a broader effort to curb gun violence after the country’s deadliest mass shooting in 2019, per The Washington Post. A comprehensive free trade agreement with India would be a mega-win for the Canadian economy, according to a new study commissioned by business groups backing a deal. Amazon is buying iRobot, the maker of the Roomba vacuum and other home robots, for US$1.7 billion. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/8/20229 minutes, 14 seconds
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Italian innovation 🇮🇹 — Nunavut workers may be out of jobs. Italy is getting a semiconductor manufacturing facility. And GM’s rolling out new self-driving features.

Over 1000 miners in Nunavut could be out of a job come September after receiving termination notices warning that their mine might be forced to shut down as it nears its yearly extraction limit. Italy is close to clinching a ~$5 billion deal with US-based Intel to build an advanced semiconductor (chip) packaging and assembly plant in the country Good news for people whose hands get super sweaty when they grip a steering wheel for too long: GM’s advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) will soon be available on more Canadian highways. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/5/20228 minutes, 21 seconds
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Metaverse dating ❤️ — Tinder is giving up on the metaverse. Nancy Pelosi is in Taiwan. And Warner Brother’s is shelving Batgirl.

After an earnings report more disappointing than a bad date who didn’t even offer to split the bill, Tinder is making some changes and curtailing its metaverse ambitions. If there’s anything we can learn from Nancy Pelosi’s jaunt to Taiwan–specifically, the criticism surrounding it–it’s that the world is pretty freaked out about China right now. If you’re wondering how bad a movie has to be for a studio to not even bother releasing it ask a member of the test audience for “Batgirl” because you’re not going to get a chance to see it for yourself after Warner Brothers shelves it before it was even released. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/4/202210 minutes, 12 seconds
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Cash flow 💸 — Uber is cash flow positive. Amazon produces a bunch of emissions. And grain shipment is surging.

For the first time in the company’s history, Uber reported positive cash flow in a quarter on the back of a record US$8.1 billion in revenue. As last year’s lockdowns drove online spending to new heights, Amazon’s carbon emissions grew 18% from the year before, according to the company’s latest sustainability report. Canadian National Railway is predicting a big rebound for Canadian grain shipments after an off-year and expects to move up to 27 million tonnes of grain for the current crop year—a ~48% year-over-year increase. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/3/202210 minutes, 3 seconds
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Definition 📖 — The oil business is booming. US regulators are blocking Meta’s acquisitions. And we’re arguing over the definition of a recession.

Tech companies may be struggling, but it’s a great time to be in a more old-school business: oil and gas companies are raking in record profits and earning windfalls for shareholders. US antitrust regulators are suing to block Meta’s purchase of virtual reality startup Within, a move that could seriously hamper the company’s metaverse ambitions and have ripple effects across Big Tech. The debate over we’re in a recession is heating up! The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/2/20229 minutes, 35 seconds
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Finish fertilizer 🌾 — DeepMind releases a new database. Global natural gas prices are on the rise. And the feds want farmers to use less fertilizer.

DeepMind is releasing an extended database with information for nearly every protein known to science, only eighteen months after introducing the AI behind it. Global natural gas prices are on the rise this week after Russia cut gas flows to Europe in half. The federal government wants to cut fertilizer emissions by 30% by 2030 per its latest climate plan, but farming critics believe that isn’t feasible without producing a lot less food. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/1/202210 minutes, 53 seconds
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Cloud war ☁️ — Microsoft is assembling a coalition to fight Amazon for public sector contracts. It’s earnings season. And FTX is buying Bithum.

Microsoft is leading a crusade against Amazon’s dominance in the government cloud-computing space and is asking competitors to raise their voices, too. It’s earnings season and we’re breaking down the numbers from some of the biggest companies. FTX, the world’s second largest crypto exchange, is eying a purchase of South Korean crypto exchange Bithum as founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried looks to continue his shopping spree. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/28/202211 minutes, 38 seconds
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Expensive soap 🧼 — Shopify lays off 10% of staff. Unliver hikes the price on a bunch of brands. The Kardashians don’t like the new Instagram.

Shopify’s no-good, horrible, very-bad year only got worse after the company announced it was laying off 10% of its workforce, sending shares cratering by ~15%. Unilever increased prices across its 400 brands, from Dove soap to Hellmann’s mayonnaise, by 11%, as executives try to battle an “unprecedented cost landscape” without losing customers to cheaper alternatives. The Kardashians aren’t happy about Meta’s moves to make Facebook and Instagram more like TikTok, but not even their clout is powerful enough to stop the pivot to video. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/27/202211 minutes, 18 seconds
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Code of conduct 📜 — Rogers explains what happened with the outage. Grocery chains may have to adopt a code of conduct. And the US Senate moves the Chips Act forward.

Yesterday, Rogers execs went to the House of Commons, received a stern talking to, explained what went wrong, and laid out some measures to prevent another major outage. Grocery chains and suppliers have said the government may need to intervene to help create a national code of conduct for the industry, per the Financial Post. The US Senate has voted to advance a US$280 billion package of subsidies and research funding to raise US technological competitiveness with China. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/26/202210 minutes, 41 seconds
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AI painter 🎨 — DALL-E 2 is now available to the public. Snap got hit hard. And Ukraine and Russia have a grain deal.

DALL-E 2, the image generator that took the internet by storm, has become more widely available. Snap shares fell 35% yesterday after the company reported lacklustre growth and revenue results, despite an increase in daily active users of 18% to 347 million. Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement to reopen three key Ukrainian ports for the shipment of grain, in an attempt to avoid plunging the globe into a catastrophic food crisis. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/25/20228 minutes, 50 seconds
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Strong mayors 💪 — Toronto and Ottawa are getting a strong mayor system. Facebook is copying TikTok (again). And Canada has a new trade adversary!

Ontario wants Toronto and Ottawa’s mayors to become the country’s first ‘strong mayors’—and no, that doesn’t mean they need to hit the gym. Facebook-parent company Meta has revamped the Facebook app to make it feel a lot more like you’re browsing TikTok Within hours of each other, Canada and the US launched trade complaints against Mexican energy policies unfairly excluding foreign firms under the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA). The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/22/20229 minutes, 55 seconds
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Pipeline power 🛢 — Inflation hits 8.1%. Nord Stream 1 comes back online, at least partially. Canada’s improving their marine supply chain sustainability.

Canada’s consumer price index (CPI) surged to 8.1% in June, the biggest annual increase in almost 40 years, mostly driven by high gas prices (up 54.6% since last year). Russia said that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Europe’s main gas delivery system, would resume operations today after a scheduled maintenance shutdown, likely at reduced capacity. The federal government has announced a $2 billion expansion to Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan with one stated initiative to “improve the efficiency and sustainability of Canada’s marine supply chains and mitigate their impacts on the environment.” The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/21/202210 minutes, 42 seconds
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Heat wave ☀️ — There’s a bad heat wave in Europe. Netflix didn’t do as bad as investors thought they were going to do. And Canada filled in a big blank in their climate plan.

Temperatures in Britain hit 40 degrees for the first time in recorded history and wildfires continued to sweep through Southern Europe, showing the huge economic toll climate change can take. On the heels of its first drop in global subscribers in more than a decade, Netflix is expected to lose over a million captive eyeballs—the largest quarterly loss in its history. Canada took the next step in filling in a major blank in its climate plan: How the oil and gas industry is supposed to reduce emissions by 42% by 2030. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/20/202211 minutes, 1 second
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Fair share 💰 — Small businesses want Amazon to pay their fair share. Europe’s getting ready to cut back on gas usage. The USD is super strong.

Small business groups are calling on the federal government to change the tax system in order to crack down on multinational companies that are not paying their fair Canadian tax share, in response to some of Amazon’s tactics for tax avoidance coming to light. As Russia continues to squeeze Europe’s energy supplies (as revenge for siding with Ukraine in the ongoing war), the European Commission is making a plan to cut consumption. After posting its highest growth numbers for a half since 2010, USD shows no signs of slowing with experts telling The Wall Street Journal it will continue to go up and away for the foreseeable future as global insecurity drives investors to what they see as the safest and stablest currency. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/19/202210 minutes, 44 seconds
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Charter rights 👨‍⚖️ — Travel insurers are just as unhappy with your travel woes. The Bank of Canada really got interest rates wrong. BC’s Court of Appeal closed the door on private healthcare.

Travel insurers are seeing jumbo-jet-sized losses thanks to an onslaught of claims from Canadian travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations. The Bank of Canada (BoC) kind of underestimated just how bad inflation was getting—and is now playing catch-up as it serves up a series of jumbo rate hikes. Long hospital wait times may be the bain of Canada’s health care system, but they’re not unconstitutional according to yesterday’s BC Court of Appeal ruling. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/18/202210 minutes, 48 seconds
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EV Week 🚗 — New funding announcements for EV week. Amazon wants to make a deal with the EU. And concerts are really expensive.

It’s EVWeek in Canada and to celebrate the government announced funding announcements for ~950 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Amazon wants to make a deal with EU regulators: The company will limit its use of marketplace seller data and make changes to ‘Buy Box’ rankings, in exchange for a truce (and avoiding a fine worth up to 10% of its global revenue). Anyone else finally feeling ready for live events again… only to realize your bank account is not*?* We have the surging price of concert tickets to thank. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/15/202211 minutes, 40 seconds
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Expensive ice cream 🍦 — Dairy prices are going up. New census data just dropped. And there’s a new TikTok feature.

If cheese and milk regularly appear on your grocery list, get ready for higher even bigger bills at the checkout this fall.  as two Canadian food suppliers notified grocery stores their dairy products are going to cost more. Statistics Canada just dropped the latest census data so we thought we’d dig a bit deeper into some of the income data and why it matters to you—and trust me, we’ll make it fun! TikTok, the app you were probably scrolling through before you started listening to this, announced the roll-out of two new systems that aim to combat a persistent problem on the platform: Inappropriate content. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/14/202211 minutes, 31 seconds
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Backup plan 📕 — The Feds want to avoid another Rogers outage. Canadian dental clinics are being eaten up by private equity. And it’s a big day for Canadian economic news.

As we navigate the Post Rogers Blackout Era (PRBE), the federal government has stepped up to make sure future service shutdowns aren’t so apocalyptic. Big private equity firms are drilling for value and finding Canadian dental clinics. At 10:00 AM (ET) the Bank of Canada will kick things off with its decision on the overnight interest rate target. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/13/202210 minutes, 24 seconds
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Energy Tok 🤳— Shell is getting into TikTok. Cruises are polluting the BC coast. And BNPL firms are struggling.

There’s a new content creator on the TikTok block: Energy companies. Ever wonder where all the nasty stuff that accumulates on cruise ships ends up? Turns out a lot of goes right into the beautiful waters just off the BC coast, according to a new report examining the cruise industry’s environmental impact. The latest victim of crashing tech valuations: Buy now, pay later, or BNPL firms. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/12/202210 minutes, 45 seconds
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Can you hear me now? ☎️ — Rogers was down for 15+ hours. Elon’s not buying Twitter. Via Rail employees could be striking.

~12 million Canadians were affected by Friday’s Rogers network outage and they piled into their neighbourhood Starbucks to wrap up work for the week. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is moving forward with a decade-old data transfers complaint against Meta this week, by forwarding a decision to other agencies for review that would crack down on the company’s ability to transfer its data from the EU to the US. Musk’s bid to buy Twitter is now in “serious jeopardy,” according to a report by *The Washington Post—*at least if the billionaire has his way. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
7/11/202210 minutes, 24 seconds
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Long haul ⚠️ — Construction companies are struggling to hire. Russia is gearing up for a long fight. Amazon wants to livestream commerce.

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.
7/8/202211 minutes, 11 seconds
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Kiwi milk 🥛 — Global housing markets are in decline. We’re fighting with New Zealand over dairy. And Twitter is suing India.

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.
7/7/202210 minutes, 35 seconds
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Taps off 🛢 — Russia could switch the taps off to Europe’s gas supply. The rental market is heating up. And FIFA is bringing in robo-refs.

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.
7/6/202211 minutes, 30 seconds
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Crypto winter ❄️ — The Bank of Canada releases a new survey on business outlooks. The chip shortage may be ending. And there’s a new victim of the crypto winter.

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.
7/5/202211 minutes, 33 seconds
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Expensive hot dogs 🌭 — TikTok is (once again) facing a ban. Your BBQ costs are inflated. Zuck is looking to make big cuts.

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.
7/4/202211 minutes
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Välkommen 🇸🇪 — Canadian brands are pulling their dollars from Hockey Canada. Dealers could be dust. And Finland and Sweden are joining NATO.

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.
6/30/20228 minutes, 40 seconds
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Real estate reckoning 🏠 — The feds are doubling down on Superclusters. Blackstone won’t be buying your house, but other investors might… The CRA is struggling to get some companies to pay their taxes.

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.
6/29/202211 minutes, 29 seconds
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Long haul 🚛 — The G7 is setting new prices on Russian oil. Canadian berries are at risk. Amazon can now mimic real voices, even dead ones.

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.
6/28/202210 minutes, 48 seconds
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Ad supported streaming 📺 — Netflix is adding an advertising-supported account tier. Some CEOs are moving away from remote work. And there’s a new Gamestop-style meme stock.

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.
6/27/202210 minutes, 5 seconds
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Robot revolution 🤖 — Amazon’s moving to Robots. Canadian travellers might get refunds. And the CMHC thinks we need to build way more houses.

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.
6/24/20229 minutes, 39 seconds
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Party like it’s 1983 👾 — Loblaws wants to get your groceries delivered faster. Shopify is rolling outa bunch of new products. And inflation is at another all time high.

Loblaws has partnered with DoorDash to launch a new rapid grocery delivery service that promises to get customers their fave foodstuffs in 30 minutes or less, available in 12 Canadian cities by the end of August. Shopify is rolling out over 100 new products and features as the company looks to get a leg-up on its biggest threat, a scrappy young upstart called Amazon. Inflation jumped to 7.7% last month, up from 6.8% in April and significantly overshooting analyst predictions. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/23/202210 minutes, 46 seconds
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Oracle 🔮 — TikTok is monitoring data from China. Canada’s healthcare system is on the brink. And Cinplex is adding a booking fee.

TikTok announced that Oracle’s cloud servers will be the new home of US users’ data, but a new report from Buzzfeed detailing how state-side user data was repeatedly accessed from China. Canada’s healthcare system is teetering on the brink of crisis and governments must act swiftly to avoid a full-blown meltdown, according to a growing chorus of top doctors and medical leaders. Canadian moviegoers checking out the latest blockbuster at Cineplex locations might have another expenditure to contend with besides overpriced concessions as the country’s largest theatre chain introduced a $1.50 booking fee for tickets purchased online. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/22/202210 minutes, 53 seconds
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Banned straws 🧃 — Single use plastics will be banned. Camp councillors are in short supply. Europe is burning more coal.

Get your metal straws and tote bags ready, because the age of single-use plastic items is coming to an end in Canada as the federal government rolls out its long-anticipated plan to ban disposable plastic items like bags, cutlery, and containers. Canadian summer camps are struggling to find enough camp counsellors to meet the end-of-school-year rush. Running low on natural gas imported from Russia, European countries are turning to coal in a bid to lower energy prices and avoid shortages. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/21/202210 minutes, 20 seconds
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Goal ⚽️ — New federal legislation is cracking down on companies who track you. Canada’s rental prices are surging. And Toronto and Vancouver are hosting the 2026 World Cup.

JOIN US AT OUR PEAK DEBATE ON JUNE 27th IN TORONTO: https://readthepeak.com/debates/billionaires-media-democracy While we’re still reeling from Tim Hortons’ app scandal, unsure if we can ever trust a mobile fast food ordering platform again, the federal government has introduced new laws to crack down on the sort of privacy invasions and data mishandling that landed Tims in hot water. Canada’s rental housing market is at it again, and by “it” we mean getting much more expensive, and fast— since last year average rents nationwide have spiked by more than 10% to $1,888 per month FIFA announced that Toronto and Vancouver have been chosen as host cities for the 2026 World Cup in North America, a privilege that could give local economies a big boost. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/20/20229 minutes, 18 seconds
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Snow washing ❄️ — Criminals are cleaning lots of dirty money in BC. New Canadian streaming legislation is going to be held up in the Senate. And Twitter employees heard from Elon.

A new government report on money laundering in BC revealed that billions of dollars of criminal funds have flowed through casinos, real estate and luxury goods every year As the government attempts to very quickly pass laws that force digital streamers to follow Canadian content rules, the Senate has made it clear they’re going to take their sweet time reviewing them. Twitter employees got their first taste of what life might be like once Elon Musk is in charge, as the platform’s prospective new owner joined a staff all-hands meeting yesterday. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/17/202210 minutes, 41 seconds
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Streaming soccer ⚽️ — It’s looking like a 75 basis point rate hike in Canada. MLS is coming to Apple TV+. And unions are negotiating higher wages.

Following a 0.75 percentage point interest rate rise from the US Federal Reserve yesterday (its largest since 1994), Bay street is now putting the probability of an identical hike coming out of the Bank of Canada’s July decision at 80% Streaming platform Apple TV+ reaches a ten-year, US$2.5 billion deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) to become the exclusive home of all matches. Unions are leveraging Canada’s record-low unemployment numbers and unprecedented job vacancies to negotiate higher wages (while they can). The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/16/20229 minutes, 20 seconds
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Get cybersecure 🔒 — What’s up with gas prices. There’s new cybersecurity legislation. And the COVID app is gone!

We break down why gas prices across the country have hit record highs. With over four in five businesses impacted by cyberattacks staying quiet last year, the federal government has introduced a new security bill complete with a new set of reporting requirements for the telecoms, finance, energy, and transport sectors. Canada is shutting down the national COVID contact tracing app we love to hate after changes to PCR testing regulations rendered it largely useless. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/15/202211 minutes, 21 seconds
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Bad day 📉 — A really rough day on the markets. Hiring freezes could creep up in Canada. And big companies are leaving Alberta’s oil sands.

The TSX re-enters correction territory and S&P falls into bear market as recession fears intensify with rising inflation. Layoffs and hiring freezes in the US tech sector are creeping into Canada, with some prominent industry figures worried that tech could lose more jobs than during the 2008 financial crisis. Big oil companies are fleeing Alberta’s oil sands as the industry becomes a villain of the environmental, social and governance investing movement, per Bloomberg. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/14/202211 minutes, 23 seconds
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End of testing 🧪 — The Bank of Canada may get more aggressive on internet rates. The US is ending COVID testing for travellers. And Spotify is moving into audiobooks.

BoC Governor Tiff Macklem now says rates may need to move above 3% to tame inflation, putting a rarely seen 0.75% hike on the table for the Bank’s next meeting in July. The United States may have finally dropped its COVID testing requirements for international travellers, but a combo of flight cancellations, airport backlogs, and labour disputes around the world are likely to make summer travel more painful than usual. In its never-ending quest to be the home of all things people use their ears to consume, Spotify is now making a push into the audiobooks space. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/13/20228 minutes, 57 seconds
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Chip shortage 💻 — Huawei is still working with Canadian universities. The Bank of Canada is worried about household debt. The world is running low on semiconductors.

Researchers at some of Canada’s top universities will continue to partner with Huawei even after the federal government banned the telecoms giant from the country’s 5G networks. In its annual Financial System Review, the Bank of Canada warned that high levels of household debt and record-high home prices are the top vulnerabilities that could lead to big problems for the country’s financial system*.* The world is running low on semiconductor chips and the most advanced chip manufacturers say they could see shortages running into 2024. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/10/202210 minutes, 8 seconds
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Seized assets 🥷 — Canada is looking to seize Russian assets. Sobeys is switching to Scene. And the LIV Tour is attracting some big names in golf.

Politicians in Canada and all over the world are jumping on the idea of seizing Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine, despite a number of practical and legal hurdles. Soon you’ll be able to use your Scene card to save on more than just cinema popcorn, as Sobeys’ parent company Empire drops Air Miles to unlock better insights into customer data. Some of the most recognizable names from the PGA Tour will be missing from this weekend’s Canadian Open, as the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series makes its debut in London. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/9/202211 minutes, 19 seconds
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Timber 🪵— Lumber is getting cheaper. Britain is doing a four day workweek experiment. And Shopify has a new share structure.

The price of lumber has bucked the inflation trend by plummeting more than 50% from recent peaks, as people adjust their spending priorities for a post-pandemic lifestyle. From fish-and-chip shops to big corporations, more than 3,300 workers across 70 companies in the UK will work 80% of their hours for 100% of their pay as part of the world’s largest four-day workweek pilot Shopify shareholders have voted in favour of giving CEO Tobi Lutke a special “founder share” that entrenches his control of the company
6/8/202210 minutes, 42 seconds
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Regulated 🏠 — Governments are cracking down on Airbnb. Elon is trying to get out of buying Twitter. New Apple products.

Municipal governments across the country, including Winnipeg, Ottawa and Charlottetown are enforcing new regulations to get a grip on the booming short-term rental market, ahead of the busiest summer travel season in years. Elon Musk threatened to walk away from buying Twitter in a letter that accuses the company of not complying with his request for data on the number of spam and fake accounts on the social media platform Day One of Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference kicked off yesterday with an updated iOS, a buy-now-pay-later service, and two new Macbooks capturing the most attention. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/7/202210 minutes, 10 seconds
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Super bad 👎 — Dairy farmers are worried. Elon Musk feels super bad about the economy. And Canada’s productivity is suffering.

Amidst rampant inflation and supply-chain disruptions, Canadian dairy farmers feel squeezed to get their products onto grocery store shelves. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk is feeling "super bad" about the economy and will move to pause hiring and cut ~10% of his Tesla workforce, he said in an email to executives on Thursday. Canada’s got a bigger productivity problem on its hands that threatens to drag down both business profits and wages. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/6/202210 minutes, 30 seconds
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Cancer killer 🧪 — Montreal-based Repare Therapeutics has a new deal for their cancer drug. Canadian investors aren’t happy with disclosure from their green investments. And Canadians are losing their buying power.

Montreal-based Repare Therapeutics has entered a deal (potentially worth US$1.2 billion) with pharma giant F Hoffman La Roche to create a new drug to treat cancerous tumours. Almost half of Canada’s asset managers, researchers and lenders are “not very satisfied” or “totally dissatisfied” with available company data for so-called “green” investments, One estimate suggests that inflation has offset two-thirds of the buying power of Canadians after the pandemic The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/3/202210 minutes, 9 seconds
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Rising rates 📈 — Interest rates go up another 0.5%. Some employers have to disclosure pay equity information. Big companies are agreeing to limit advertising to kids.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is continuing to aggressively hike interest rates to combat high inflation, announcing another 0.5 percentage point raise yesterday to 1.5%. Canada’s largest employers are now required to report wage-gap data, part of an effort to shine a light on pay discrepancies across the country. Some of North America’s largest food and drink companies are pledging to limit advertising to children under 13, as increased regulation on the practice looms The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/2/202210 minutes, 14 seconds
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Tims Tracker ☕️ — Pools might be hard to find. The Tims app may have been tracking you. Workers are finding jobs on Slack.

Canadians could soon find it difficult to cool down this summer as lifeguard labour shortages start to impact beaches and pools across the country. Over four million Canadians who use the Tim Hortons mobile app may have had their day-to-day movements recorded without their knowledge Job hunters tired of sending out cover letters that may never be read, along with employers tired of reading them, are increasingly turning to work messaging app Slack to connect The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
6/1/202210 minutes, 18 seconds
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Speed Test ⏱️ - Vancouver’s inefficient port, The EU sort of bans Russian oil, and a new supercomputer champ.

The World Bank ranks the Port of Vancouver the 368th most efficient port in the world, meaning it’s one of the least efficient. The Port Authority boss warns that issues will remain unless a proposed extension is approved. EU leaders are set to endorse a proposed ban on Russian oil, which makes up 29% of the bloc’s oil imports. The proposal will ban oil transported by tankers, but continue to permit delivery via pipeline. Frontier, a 592,000 pound machine has been named the world’s fastest supercomputer. But experts say two supercomputers in China, who doesn’t participate in the rankings, might be even faster. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/31/20229 minutes, 18 seconds
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Euro Link 🔗 - Canada moves to supply Europe with natural gas, the feds wants to make the internet more affordable, and the financial sector preps for climate change.

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Canada could start supplying Europe with liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2025 ahead signalling a new openness to accelerating LNG projects on the East Coast. The federal government issued a policy that aims to make internet access more accessible and affordable by forcing large telecoms to provide smaller competitors with increased access to their high-speed networks. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), Canada’s top financial regulator, has issued a new guideline to ensure financial institutions (like major banks and insurers) can survive potential future climate disasters. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/30/20229 minutes, 40 seconds
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Art Start 🎨 - The SEC takes a closer look at ESG, The World Bank Prez predicts a recession, and fine art reaches new heights.

The SEC is proposing new regulations of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance funds amid accusations of greenwashing. World Bank President David Malpass said it's hard to see how a global recession will be avoided, as the impacts of the war in Ukraine continue to take their toll on the world economy. With close to US$3 billion of art sold globally in May alone, the art market is sparkling right now as buyers drop serious coin on pieces by legends and up-and-comers, alike. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/27/20229 minutes, 48 seconds
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Flying High ✈️ - Pfizer cuts a deal in Africa, Bombardier launches new private jet, hedge funds beat the markets.

Pfizer announced plans to sell brand-name drugs at not-for-profit prices in low-income countries, starting in Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda. Big pharma sees Africa as the last remaining high growth market. Quebec’s Bombardier has launched a new private jet capitalizing on soaring demands for chartered air travel amongst the world’s wealthiest travellers. The US$78 million jet also comes with all the luxurious trappings you’d expect, including four separate living areas, a meeting room, and a cinema. Sophisticated hedge fund investors are taking advantage of market chaos, by using advanced computing to predict opportunities. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/26/202210 minutes, 13 seconds
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Snap out of it🫰🏼 - Snap’s stock stumbles, Airbnb checks out of China and Canadian regulators sets sights on DeFi.

Snap’s shares took a 30% tumble after the social media company’s CEO announced it would miss its revenue and profit targets. The revenue slowdown is attributed to economic pressures and ad tech changes. Airbnb is leaving China, a signal that big western tech has can’t survive in the world’s second-largest economy. The home-sharing company will remove its 150,000 listings, as local competitors take its place. Canada’s anti-money laundering watchdog is warning law enforcement and the government about the associated risks of decentralized finance, which it claims could pose “money-laundering and terrorist-activity financing risks." The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/25/202210 minutes, 36 seconds
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Blackout 🔌 - Eastern Canada loses power after severe storm. Biden forms a new coalition to isolate China, while Apple follows suit looking for new manufacturing partners.

Almost a million people in Ontario and Quebec were left without power this weekend as a severe thunderstorm rocked the area. A report from ****The North American Electric Reliability Corporation predicts widespread blackouts this summer. Joe Biden is launching a new trade agreement with 12 Indo-Pacific countries (and no Canada), in a bid to economically isolate China. The countries participating in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) make up 40% of the world’s GDP. Apple is pushing its contract manufacturers to start making its product outside of China. The country’s covid-zero policies have cost Apple, who make 90% of their products in China, $8 billion in Q1. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Alex Blumenstein and Jay Rosenthal.
5/24/20229 minutes, 22 seconds
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Pension problems 📉 — CPPIB is struggling. China is buying Russia’s oil. Globalive has a new deal with Telus.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) posted a 6.8% return on investments this past fiscal year, but lost 2.9% last quarter alone amidst global pressure on public equities and stock market selloffs, particularly in China. As the EU works toward banning Russian energy imports (increasingly unclear what this means anymore in response to the war in Ukraine, China is getting ready to hit the oil equivalent of a warehouse sale. Globalive announced it has struck a 20-year agreement to access the Telus’ wireless network, which aims to assure that Freedom Mobile, if they acquire it, will be able to offer a quality, cross-country network that could compete with Rogers, Telus and Bell. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/20/202210 minutes, 19 seconds
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Equal pay 💸 — US Soccer has a new equal pay arrangement. Cryptocurrency is suffering. And businesses are going bankrupt.

US Soccer scored a big goal for wage equity, reaching a historic equal pay agreement with its men’s and women’s national teams With ~US$1.6 trillion of cryptocurrency’s market cap wiped out since its November highs, investors, celebrity endorsers, and regulators alike are reckoning with the industry’s increasingly uncertain future Business bankruptcies in Canada are moving closer to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2022, jumping ~33% compared with last year The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/19/202210 minutes, 48 seconds
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Fearful flying ✈️ — Canada’s airports are a mess. New legislation could break search. And Canada’s housing market could be cooling down.

Horror stories about long wait times at Canadian airports have flooded the news in recent weeks, and now the government is asking airlines to shrink their schedules and cancel planned flights to reduce the stress on airports. Google claims Canada’s Online News Act would break the internet, but NOT in a good way. Economists are now predicting that Canadian home prices will drop by double-digit percentages this year as higher borrowing costs (sparked by interest rate hikes) take their toll on the country’s out of control real estate market The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/18/202210 minutes, 59 seconds
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Milk mania 🥛 — New Zealand is mad at us. The Alberta government is pushing carbon capture. And Marriott is rolling out advertising.

Across the Pacific, New Zealand dairy producers launched a formal complaint alleging dairy tariffs violated the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Alberta government is looking at over 40 new applications for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects to use underground caverns across the province to store captured carbon. From bedrooms to fitness centres, hotels are about to get a whole new level of personal. The world’s largest hotel chain is launching a media network to help advertisers target consumers using data drawn from ~182 million annual guests The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/17/202211 minutes, 15 seconds
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Wheat sheaf 🌾 — India bans wheat exports. It’s inflation week. Boeing’s having safety issues.

India announced a ban on wheat exports over the weekend, a move that threatens to drive up already-high food prices and worsen shortages of key crops caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s inflation week. We’ll get April inflation numbers on Wednesday, and analysts are forecasting a similar pace of price rises (6.7%) as the previous month. That slowdown in the growth of inflation is welcome news, but the days of stable prices are still likely a ways off. US airline regulators have rejected Boeing’s application to resume deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner planes to airlines, citing incomplete documentation—a decision that will add to billions in cost overruns for the aircraft manufacturer. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/16/20227 minutes, 5 seconds
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Unstable coins 🪙 — Stablecoins take a hit. Seniors are reverse mortgaging. And SoftBank had a terrible year.

In the midst of a week packed with inflation concerns, stock market pressures, and the breakdown of popular stablecoins, the volatility of cryptocurrency is on full display. Canadian seniors are turning to reverse mortgages as they consider new ways to fund their retirement—one private lender, Equitable Bank, saw a 262% year-over-year surge in its reverse mortgage products last quarter. This time last year it was all cherry blossoms and champagne showers for the globally-recognized Japanese investor SoftBank as the conglomerate saw its biggest net profit, ever. But what a difference a year can make! Yesterday SoftBank posted its worst quarterly loss ever of US$13.2 billion dollars—affirming that the tech stock slump is no joke. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/13/202211 minutes, 43 seconds
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Best restaurants 👩‍🍳 — Airbnb adds features. Alberta’s highest court rules against feds. Michelin stars are coming to Canada

As more people take advantage of the opportunity to work remotely, extend vacations, or just take a vacation at all, Airbnb has unveiled changes to its platform that cater to longer stays. Alberta’s highest court has ruled that a 2019 federal environmental impact law overreaches into provincial jurisdiction and is therefore unconstitutional. For almost 100 years, Michelin Guides (by tire company Michelin) have been the pre-eminent tastemaker in global fine dining. And Starting for the first time this fall, a selection of the Toronto’s restaurants who make an inspectors' cut will receive the globally renowned award of a Michelin star...or two...or three. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/12/202211 minutes, 16 seconds
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Face database 👱‍♀️ — Clearview gets banned for private companies. Nintendo splits their stock. Cyberwar was overhyped.

Clearview, the surveillance company that rose to fame for scraping social media to build a huge facial recognition database, agreed to permanently ban most private companies from using its service under a court settlement in Illinois. The stock split club just added a new (and unexpected) member: Nintendo. The Japanese game giant announced a 10-for-1 split to make the stock more affordable for retail investors. One British spy chief is saying that maybe we were getting a bit carried away with concerns of Russian hacking after the country’s invasion in Ukraine. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/11/202212 minutes, 12 seconds
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Stocks don’t only go up 📉 — The markets are doing terribly. Quebec has new language laws. And IKEA is looking to build new stores.

If you’re wondering what’s up with stocks lately, you probably already know the answer is that nothing’s up. We break down the latest markets news. Quebec’s stringent new French-language laws are expected to pass before summer, which would leave tens of thousands of (previously exempt) businesses forced to adopt higher standards around French signage, contracts, and employee language proficiency. The Swedish meatball and furniture giant IKEA is investing over US$3 billion to bring stores to city centres around the world and retool big-box locations as distribution hubs for online orders. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/10/202211 minutes, 38 seconds
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Clogged ports ⛴ — Chelsea gets bought. Ports are clogged. And there’s a new syrup king in town.

Despite a Canadian horse being one of the favourites, Canadians couldn’t bet on last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby through single game sports betting apps because the government excluded it from new regulations. One in five container ships globally are currently stuck at major ports due to service and route disruptions stemming from lockdowns in Shanghai and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One of Canada’s biggest maple syrup companies has been taken over by Bain Capital-owned Valeo Foods Group, with the aim of tapping into the global market. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/9/202211 minutes, 3 seconds
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Neo banks 🏦 — Neo Financial raises a huge round. Shopify missed profit estimates but closed a huge acquisition. And the password may go the way of the dodo.

Calgary’s Neo Financial has raised C$185 million led by billionaire Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures—launching the challenger bank into Canadian unicorn status, or a valuation of over $1 billion. Shopify missed profit estimates and announced the largest acquisition in its history, a US$2.1 billion deal for startup Deliverr to expand its warehousing and delivery services for merchants that would rival Amazon. Apple, Google, and Microsoft want to kill off passwords for good—within the coming year, all three companies will build support for a cross-platform passwordless sign-in where your phone is the password. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/6/202210 minutes, 39 seconds
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Surge situation 🚗 — Uber and Lyft’s stocks tank. Crowdfunding platforms will have to report suspicious transactions like banks do. The NYTimes reports record subscriber numbers.

Markets are trying to connect the dots on the future of ride-sharing, as Uber doubles its revenue from last quarter but Lyft’s weak earnings outlook has dragged both companies’ stock prices down. Canada has become one of the first countries in the world to hold crowdfunding platforms to the same reporting standards as banks for large or suspicious transactions. Thanks to boosts from recent acquisitions, The New York Times added 387,000 net digital subscribers in Q1, bringing its total subscribers to 9.1 million The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/5/202210 minutes, 41 seconds
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Church homes ⛪️ — The United Church is turning churches into houses. Tim Hortons posts huge earnings. CPPIB bets big on India.

The United Church of Canada has plans to create new rental apartments for 34,000 people over the next 15 years by revitalizing its properties to find new uses for old churches across the country Restaurant Brands International (RBI) reported a net income of US$183 billion in Q1, much of it driven by Tim Hortons which boosted its year-over-year sales by nearly 13% and saw the largest earnings of any RBI restaurant. Canada’s Pension Plan (CPPIB) has built stakes in several late-stage Indian startups, including a news app with over 350 million daily users Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/4/202210 minutes, 58 seconds
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Prayer privacy 👀 — Mental health and prayer apps have terrible privacy controls. Thompson Reuters is cleaning up their act. And Stellantis is making more EV batteries in Ontario.

Turns out, the majority of mental health and prayer apps are pretty creepy—tracking, sharing, and capitalizing on users’ most intimate personal thoughts and feelings. Canadian conglomerate Thompson Reuters is launching an independent assessment to align itself with the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights Stellantis—the world’s sixth-largest automaker, with brands including Chrysler and Jeep—will announce a new $2.54 billion deal to revamp existing plants in Southern Ontario for the production of electric vehicles (EVs) Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/3/202210 minutes, 34 seconds
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Augmented reality 👓 — Snap introduces new features. Tesla recalls a bunch of cars. And BeReal is taking over the internet.

Social media and camera company Snap announced a mix of new platform features this week—some that bet on bringing augmented reality (AR) into daily life, and others that fly. Tesla has recalled 48,000 vehicles in the US over concerns about speedometer displays, marking Tesla’s tenth recall campaign of the year. French social media app BeReal is betting that social media users tired of filters and perfectly curated ‘lewks’ on apps like Instagram and TikTok feel the same way. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
5/2/202210 minutes, 47 seconds
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Freedom internet 🖥 — Meta’s stock surges. The West is defending its internet. And Square starts lending in Canada.

Meta’s stock surged yesterday after adding more users than expected but posted its slowest revenue growth since going public a decade ago Canada has joined 55 other countries in signing a pledge to promote connectivity, democracy, and “the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms” on an internet that is open, reliable, and secure. Block (formerly Square), the digital-payments company run by Dorsey, has expanded its small business loans program to Canada, available as of this week*.* Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/29/202211 minutes, 6 seconds
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Spotify snafu 🎧 — Spotify posts great results but stock still suffers. Canada’s struggling on climate. And you can retire on crypto.

Spotify gained two million new paying subscribers over Q1 and its total monthly average of paid and unpaid users rose to 422 million, representing a net gain of 16 million in the period—but the news wasn’t enough to stop the stock from hitting an all time low. Canada’s Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development released five new reports and taking the Canadian government to task on its climate initiatives. And the most damning finding was that carbon emissions fell just 1.1% between 2005 and 2019, and since 2015 emissions have actually risen. Boston-based Fidelity Investments is planning to let investors put a Bitcoin account in their 401(k)s, the first major retirement-plan provider to do so Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/28/202211 minutes, 59 seconds
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Banned in Europe 🇪🇺 — Elections Canada is getting a revamp. Twitter could be banned in the EU if Elon has his way. And Canada has to figure out how to balance its environmental goals with energy needs.

Elections Canada is undergoing a digital makeover that includes virtual offices and modernizing record-keeping. The EU has issued a warning to Elon Musk over Twitter’s (still feels weird saying that), making it clear that, free speech plans aside, Twitter must comply with the EU’s new digital regulations or risk being fined up to 6% of their total revenue or even banned outright in the Eurozone. Canada is caught between two calls: to boost oil and gas production to help with the global energy crisis while simultaneously meeting its ambitious climate targets and achieve net-zero by 2050. And RBC says Canada can do both but it won’t be easy or cheap. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/27/202210 minutes, 33 seconds
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New owner 🐦 — Elon buys Twitter. China’s locked down. And we need to save the bees.

As China continues to keep much of Shanghai in lockdown as it combats a mass Covid outbreak, Chinese stocks have fallen to their lowest levels in over two years with two main stock indexes falling 5% Monday. Beekeepers across Canada are buzzing with concerns over alarmingly high bee mortality rates owing to damages from the (menacingly named) Varroa destructor mite, with some keepers in Manitoba and Ontario seeing losses of up to 90%, much higher than typical mortality rates of 20-30%. Twitter has accepted Elon Musk’s bid to take over the company for $45.5 billion, closing out days of discussions between Musk and the company’s board after the billionaire presented a “best and final” offer days ago. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/26/202212 minutes, 4 seconds
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Still Queen 👑 — A majority of Canadians want to sever ties with the monarchy. Lululemon is launching a membership program. And a Twitter representative calls a Canadian law is ‘authoritarian’.

Lululemon is launching two membership plans later this year in a bid to drive customer brand loyalty and help reach its ambitious goal of doubling sales to US$12.5 billion by 2026. Angus Reid **released a new survey that found 51% of Canadians favour abolishing the monarchy in Canada A Twitter Canada executive has reportedly likened the federal government’s plan to regulate the internet to the approach of authoritarian countries like North Korea and Iran, per The Globe and Mail. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/25/202210 minutes, 45 seconds
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Got milk 🥛 — Elon has the money to buy Twitter. Shoppers aren’t slowing down. Amazon’s taking on Shopify.

Telsa CEO Elon Musk confirmed that, between his own considerable wealth and loans from banks led by Morgan Stanley, he has lined up the financing to buy Twitter, which is something you can do when you’re the richest person in the world As companies continue to raise prices to offset inflation, wage hikes and product shortages, sales numbers from Nestle and P&G (the world’s largest CPG companies by revenue) indicate that shoppers are still spending like it’s 2019 Last year Shopify said it was “arming the rebels” against Amazon, and now Amazon is striking back through a “Buy With Prime” service that will allow businesses to offer Prime shopping features—like free shipping and next-day delivery—for products sold through their own websites. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/22/20228 minutes, 47 seconds
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Free Disney World 🎢 — Rogers had a good quarter. Florida might revoke Disney’s special status. And inflation continues to rise.

Rogers announced a double dose of good corporate news yesterday, posting a 7% quarterly year-over-year revenue increase for wireless services and confirming the company is on track to close its $26 billion acquisition of Shaw by the end of June. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is urging lawmakers to terminate the self-governing privileges that Disney World holds in the state Inflation rose 6.7% from the prior year in March, a full percentage point higher than February’s 5.7% pace and the highest rate since the GST took effect in 1991 Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/21/20229 minutes, 22 seconds
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Blind Bids 👓 — Real estate associations are fighting Trudeau’s blind bids ban. Netflix is in some financial trouble. And Cochella is about more than just music.

The Canadian Real Estate Association and the Toronto and Vancouver real estate boards are gearing up to fight a proposed ban on ‘blind bidding’ for houses—which keeps potential homebuyers in the dark about the other bids on a property. Netflix has reported that its earnings dropped last quarter, but it’s hardly the only video streaming service struggling to attract new subscribers and some are even considering adding an advertising tier for the first time. Coachella the music festival (dubbed the SuperBowl of fashion) for the who’s who of influencing returned this past weekend, giving fashion brands a boost after two years of stay-at-home chic (sweatpants). Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/20/20229 minutes, 57 seconds
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Banned 🛢 — VC investment is booming in Canada. Tesla’s under scrutiny. Quebec banned oil and gas development.

A new report from PitchBook found that venture capital investment in Canadian startups surpassed $13.6 billion in 2021, crushing the previous record of $5.8 billion in 2019—and the good times are rolling on, with investment set to match that pace this year. Here’s an obstacle Tesla may not have seen coming: a crackdown by US regulators on its self-driving technology that could make consumers think twice about the promise of autonomous vehicles and threaten the company’s sky-high valuation. Quebec became the first jurisdiction in the world to ban oil and gas extraction and exploration last week, with all current drill sites shutting down within the next three years. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/19/20229 minutes, 53 seconds
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Fake test ✏️ — The feds had to write off $20 million for a fake test. DALL-E can edit images now. And Zoom is going into sales.

The federal government is writing off $20 million paid to Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience for COVID tests that didn’t work. OpenAI’s widely hyped DALL-E AI image generator can now edit pictures, too. Zoom, the omnipresent conference call platform is venturing into sales automation software (SAS), a space that could grow to a $7.3 billion industry by 2028. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/14/202210 minutes, 30 seconds
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Shrinkflation 📏 — Ontario has a new law regulating financial advisors. Shrinkflation is everywhere. And interest rates are probably going up.

Last month, Ontario became the first province to create a law that protects everyday investors from unqualified financial professionals, per The Globe and Mail. “All that and a bag of chips” isn't the compliment it once was, as bags of chips contain fewer salty morsels than ever thanks to “shrinkflation.” The Bank of Canada (BoC) is set to hike interest rates further today, with experts agreeing it will likely be the first “oversized” hike in over two decades—going up half a percentage point instead of the typical quarter percentage point. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/13/202210 minutes, 35 seconds
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Lucky lobster 🦞 — Etsy sellers are striking. GlobeNewswire employees got booked for insider trading. And the lobster market is booming.

As Etsy tries to graduate from niche online marketplace status to the e-commerce big leagues, a public battle over fee increases is heating up between the company and its sellers. Two Canadian employees for GlobeNewswire are under investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission for allegedly using their access to unpublished corporate press releases to carry out advantageous trades. Canada is the world’s largest lobster exporter, shipping out a whopping 86% of the world’s supply and making a record $3.26 billion from these exports last year. This number could be even bigger in 2022 with lobster prices currently nearing an all-time high as global demand soars. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/12/202211 minutes, 52 seconds
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Keep bussing 🚌 — Goodfood does a round of layoffs. Shopify hikes pay. And there’s a new bus company in town.

According to The Logic, Goodfood let go of 70 employees this week (the third round of cuts affecting a quarter of its workforce since last year) and has announced it’s closing its Ontario distribution centre. Following Robinhood, Snap, Roku and Uber, Shopify has moved to give employees more choice between cash and equity compensation in addition to their base salary. There’s a new kid on the motorcoach block—FlixBus, the world's largest-reaching bus provider, is rolling out three routes in Southern Ontario and more in Quebec and BC later this year. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/11/202211 minutes, 35 seconds
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Flair follies ✈️ — Zuckbucks are coming to a wallet near you. Flair Airlines is in violation of Canadian ownership laws. And housing is the feature of this year’s budget.

Meta draws up plans to introduce virtual coins (dubbed ‘Zuck bucks’) and other financial services to diversify its ad-based revenue system. The federal transportation regulator has determined that Edmonton-based Flair Airlines may be in violation of the law that requires it to be controlled by Canadians. Minister Freedland’s budget commits to doubling the number of new homes that are built in the next decade and includes a range of new measures designed to make housing more affordable, but analysts are concerned that they’re not enough to make owning a home more accessible. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/8/202210 minutes, 30 seconds
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Budget eve 📜 — Canadian workers prefer meaning to pay. Wealthsimple is letting you invest in VC funds. And tomorrow is Budget Day!

At 4:00 p.m. today, Minister (of so many things) Chrystia Freeland will unveil the 2022 federal budget, the first budget announcement since the 2021 election. A new survey of Canadian office workers found that ‘meaning’ and ‘flexibility’ are now the biggest job incentives, with 71% of respondents saying they’d never take a frustrating or unrewarding job—even if the pay was higher. Wealthsimple is giving Canadian retail investors access to a venture capital (VC) fund investing in tech and health care companies—for as low as $5,000, per The Globe and Mail. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/7/20228 minutes, 36 seconds
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Temporary workers 👩‍🔧 — Canada has a new temporary foreign worker program. Amazon is going head to head with SpaceX. And the end may be near for Phoenix.

Canada’s federal employment ministry has annouced changes to a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program that will increase the number of TFWs allowed into Canada. Amazon is going to head-to-head with SpaceX in the satellite-internet service arena, by securing 83 planned rocket launches that would bring satellites into low-Earth orbit and establish a new satellite-internet service called Kuiper. The Canadian government has spent over $650 million over the past 11 years on an IBM payroll system for federal employees that, much like a kid who’s been given too much money, hates working but loves acting up Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/6/202210 minutes, 33 seconds
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Power tweeter 🐦 — Elon buys a big share in Twitter. What are the high paying jobs of the future. And can we beat superbugs?

Just one week after Elon Musk tweeted about giving “serious thought” to building a new social media company, he has become one of the biggest shareholders in Twitter. Famed futurist Nikolas Badminton (who is paid to consult companies like Google and Microsoft) has published a list of the top-paying jobs of 2040. A US$1 billion biotech fund backed by over 20 major drugmakers has made two investments worth tens of millions in startups looking to fight against the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs.” Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/5/202211 minutes, 6 seconds
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Tax hike 🏦 — The feds raised the per tonne carbon tax. Online harm legislation is coming soon. And an Amazon warehouse unionizes.

The federal government raised its carbon tax yesterday by $10, meaning that large-scale emitters like corporations and the oil and gas sector will have to pay more for emitting greenhouse gasses (primarily CO2). After missing a self-imposed deadline for proposing online harm legislation back in February, the federal government has decided to form an expert panel that will meet regularly over the next two months to inform what should be in the new bill. In a massive win for organized labour in the US, workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island have voted in favour of unionizing. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/4/202210 minutes, 11 seconds
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Ruble rebound 📈 — Biden is releasing more US oil reserves to offset Russia. The Ruble is roaring back. And Google is introducing a new feature to counter misinformation.

President Biden announced a massive release of the US’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as the administration tries to combat soaring prices at the pump. One month after Western nations smacked Russia with unprecedented sanctions that put pressure on the country’s financial system and reduced the ruble’s value to an [all-time low](https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russian-rouble-slips-past-100-vs-dollar-banks-hunt-fx-2022-03-02/#:~:text=NEW YORK%2C March 2 (Reuters,over the invasion of Ukraine.), the currency has almost fully recovered. Just in time for International Fact-Checking Day on April 2 (the day you circle on your calendar every year...), Google is introducing a feature that tags news stories with a label that measures the reliability of sources. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
4/1/202210 minutes, 31 seconds
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Two Dollarama 🪙 — Meta opens a new office in TO. The Dollarama isn’t really a dollar store anymore. And the US could be moving towards cannabis legalization.

This week, Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, announced its building an engineering hub in downtown Toronto and will look to hire 2,500 skilled workers to build technology for the metaverse. Remember when things at the dollar store were actually $1? That hasn’t been the case at Canada’s largest dollar store chain since early 2009. We explore why. After slow but steady declines in recent months (and years) Canadian cannabis companies are seeing a surge as the US House of Representatives votes tomorrow on a bill that would declassify marijuana as a controlled substance on a federal level and potentially open the market for Canadian cannabis companies. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/31/202212 minutes, 7 seconds
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The third web 3️⃣ — Canada has a new emissions plan. A web3 lobby group is formed. And CSIS says we’re all under attack.

Canada has announced a new emissions plan outlining how it will absolutely, positively meet its net-zero commitments by 2050. Eleven of Canada’s most prominent crypto and Web3 companies including Wealthsimple and Dapper Labs formed an industry council to help grow the Canadian Web3 space and collaborate with the government on creating a unified national strategy for blockchain regulation. According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canadian organizations are the victims of thousands of cyberattacks every...single...day, this, according to the Financial Post. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/30/20229 minutes, 35 seconds
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Ruble rations 💶 — The G7 says they won’t pay Russia for oil in Rubles. Postmedia buys out New Brunswick’s newspapers. And Canadian oat-milk is growing up.

The Group of Seven - not the Canadian painters... but France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, the UK and Canada, have rejected Moscow’s demands to pay for Russia’s gas exports with rubles Postmedia, which owns more than 120 media outlets across Canada, closed a $16.1 million deal to acquire media publisher Brunswick News, a move to expand its reach to the Atlantic region…and help grow its parcel delivery service. Oat-milk maker Oat Canada struck a $4.1 million deal with French food processor Roquette to develop new ingredients, as part of a Canada government project that aims to grow the country’s plant-based protein industry to $25 billion by 2035. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/29/202210 minutes, 27 seconds
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Bad romance 💔 — The EU is getting tough on big tech. Canadians are falling for romance scams. And Canada’s starting up new trade talks with the UK.

The EU is passing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) a landmark deal that will curb the powers of tech giants, like Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), Romance scams are leaving Canadians heartbroken and broke, totaling $64.6 million in losses last year. Canada and the UK have begun negotiations on a new and improved free trade agreement that would encourage even more trade with Canada’s third-largest trading partner and lessen dependence on both countries’ larger neighbours. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/28/20229 minutes, 56 seconds
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Football frenzy ⚽️ — Canada wants to send more oil and gas to Europe. MLSE chairman puts in a bid for Chelsea. And interest rate hikes could tank the housing market.

Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced yesterday that Canada could increase its oil and gas exports by up to 300,000 barrels per day to help European allies replace Russian oil and gas. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) chairman Larry Tanenbaum has submitted an offer to buy the Premier League soccer (or football, if that’s your persuasion) club Chelsea joining several other bidders in the chase. Higher interest rates could trigger a “severe correction” and “topple” Canada’s housing market, according to a new report from economic researchers. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/25/202210 minutes, 17 seconds
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Fido 🐶 — Apple and Google are plotting the end of passwords. Amazon is facing more labour threats. And Netflix is going IRL.

The Fast Identity Online Alliance (FIDO), an association of tech companies including Apple and Alphabet, are one step closer to making a password-less world a reality, announcing a new development in their technology. Following a victory against organized labour last year, Amazon is facing more union votes this week at a number of their US warehouses. Netflix is hosting The Queen’s Ball, which the company bills as a 90-minute long “Bridgerton experience,” will welcome fans in Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington starting today. Gala Link: https://hopin.com/events/the-peak-s-emerging-leaders-gala Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/24/202212 minutes, 2 seconds
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Just do it 👟 — Okta gets hacked. Nike wins at D2C. Libs make a deal with the NDP.

The federal NDP Party struck a deal with the governing Liberal Party that would see the Liberals remain in power until 2025 in exchange for “progress” on a number of NDP priorities, including pharmacare and a dental care program. Nike’s quarterly results tied up its laces and sprinted past analysts’ expectations in Q3, which is a win not just for the company, but for the viability of the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model it has created. Okta, a user authentication company used by organizations including Sonos, Peloton, and the American FCC is investigating an alleged breach by a hacker collective known as Lapsus$, with cybersecurity experts telling Reuters that the threat is serious and Okta customers should be, “very vigilant right now." Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/23/202210 minutes, 52 seconds
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NFT and fries 🍟 — Battle over mRNA patents. They’re opening up an NFT restaurant. And Germany makes a deal with Qatar to get off Russian gas.

Germany has agreed to a long-term agreement with Qatar for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), hastening the process of Germany cutting ties from Russian energy. Los Angeles restaurateur Andy Nguyen is looking to demonstrate how the power of NFTs can translate into building a real-life brand by opening the first NFT-centred restaurant. Two Canadian biopharma companies (the confusingly named) Arbutus and Acuitas, are embroiled in a legal battle regarding the patent rights to a key delivery method in Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA COVID vaccines. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/22/202211 minutes, 12 seconds
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Roman Holiday 🛫 — Airlines are getting ready for a surge of travel. Prisoners get paid too. And the IEA wants you to work from home.

Travel companies are preparing for a busy season since the pandemic began, in response to Canada shedding pre-travel COVID tests for fully-vaccinated visitors. Don’t feel like returning to the office just yet? Try telling your manager you’re working from home to save the world from an energy crisis. That’s just one of ten recommendations made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to encourage people and governments to curb oil consumption as Russia’s war in Ukraine reduces the global energy supply. And did you know? Just like anyone with full-time work, every two weeks, its payday for inmates across Canada’s federal prisons. We dig into how prisoners get paid - and for what. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/21/202211 minutes, 34 seconds
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Food fight 🌯 — Food is getting more expensive. Russian tech entrepreneurs are knocking off Instagram. And CP rail might go on strike.

No, it’s not all in your head… Statistics Canada reported that food prices rose 7.4% from last February, with Canadians paying more for common items like beef, milk, chicken, and fruits. Russian tech entrepreneurs are launching an Instagram dupe–called Rossgram–to help fill the void left by this week’s block on the Meta-owned picture-sharing app*.* Canadian Pacific Railway has threatened to lockout over 3,000 employees from work this Sunday, at a time when Canada’s resources need a more efficient transportation system than ever. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/18/202212 minutes, 33 seconds
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Protect the sunshine ☀️ — Russia could default on its debt. A Vancouver-based miner won’t sell a mine to a Russian state-owned company. And we might be nearing the end of daylight savings time.

Russia failed to pay its dollar bonds yesterday, kicking off a process that will see the country default on its debt if it doesn't make the payments within 30 days. Vancouver-based miner Alpha Lithium is suspending a deal to sell a stake in its lithium mine to a company owned by Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, per The Logic. The U.S. Senate unanimously voted to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would make daylight time permanent. If approved by the House of Representatives, it could motivate Canada to do the same. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/17/202211 minutes, 47 seconds
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Free trade 🤝 — Canada and India working on a new trade agreement. The feds may have just given a handout to big tech. And Canada’s defence chief wants us to do more in the Arctic.

You think it would make sense for the largest producer of plant-based protein (Canada) and the country with the most vegetarians (India) to be two peas in a pod when it comes to trade. Yet, a comprehensive trade agreement between the two nations has never been signed. That could change as Canada and India have announced that they are resuming talks to reach a new trade agreement. A federal government program aimed at helping businesses go digital is under fire from critics who claim it amounts to a giveaway for US tech giants. This week, Canada’s defence chief said that protecting the country’s north is a key priority tied to economic and security interests, as Moscow moves to reoccupy Cold War military bases in nearby Arctic regions. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/16/202210 minutes, 10 seconds
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Russian McDonald's 🍔 — The Russian government warns US companies that their assets could be seized. COVID outbreaks are forcing shutdowns in China. And electric vehicles are more popular than ever.

Russian prosecutors threatened several major companies with arrests and asset seizures in response to Western sanctions. Signs of a COVID outbreak across number of cities in China have sent tens of millions of people into lockdown and caused a major Apple supplier to halt operations in the southmost city of Shenzhen, which analysts believe may worsen inflation. As gas prices reach unprecedented heights, so has the demand for electric cars in Canada, a recent survey found that 62% of dealerships’ EV wait times exceed 3 months. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/15/20229 minutes, 59 seconds
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Supersonic 🛩 — Canada adds a bunch of jobs. The NHL signs their first sports betting deal. And a supersonic aircraft company raises big money.

Canada’s economy added 337,000 new jobs in February—blowing past analyst expectations and driving the unemployment rate down to its pre-COVID 19 levels for the first time. Canada’s legalization of single-game sports betting back in August has opened the door for the NHL to sign its first-ever sports betting partner in Canada: sportsbook ProLine+. Hermeus raises $100 million in search of the future of aviation. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/14/202210 minutes, 26 seconds
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Split stock ✂️ — Amazon splits their stock. Nickel is going crazy. And oligarchs are under fire.

Amazon is following the recent lead of Tesla and Google by executing a 20-to-1 stock split. What’s happening to nickel prices right now is so outrageous that experts are comparing it to the “meme stocks” craze back in early 2021. The British Government has stepped up with UK banks shutting out Russian oligarchs, including seizing Chelsea from owner Roman Abramovich and limiting the team’s revenue streams. 
3/11/202212 minutes, 32 seconds
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Road to regulation 📜 — Biden releases an EO on cryptocurrencies. Banks are going green. And Tinder is letting you conduct background checks.

How do you regulate something that was designed to be unregulated? The US government intends to find out as President Biden signs an executive order for the government to devise new regulations for cryptocurrencies. Canadian banks are announcing a collection of new initiatives to help them get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We dig into what that means for you. Match Group-owned Tinder is rolling out background checks through its in-app safety centre—so you can put on your little detective hat and start swiping (while trying to avoid the next Tinder Swindler.) Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/10/202211 minutes, 53 seconds
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New devices 📱 — The U.S. bans Russian oil imports. Google buys Mandiant. And Apple’s Peak Performance event announces new devices.

Canadians can expect to see higher prices at the pump with the U.S announcing a ban on the importation of Russia oil, further rattling energy markets. Google is putting in an all-cash offer of US$5 billion to purchase cybersecurity company Mandiant—and make up lost ground in the cloud computing space against competitors. The hotly anticipated Apple Peek Performance Event showcased a list of new features for the latest models of iPads, iPhones and Macs, but a powerful new M1 Ultra chip and Mac Studio desktop were the stars of the show! Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/9/202212 minutes, 31 seconds
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International Women’s Day 👩‍🚀 — Ukrainian women are making an impact. Iceland comes in hot. And Canada’s childcare plan could be a big deal.

As the war in Ukraine escalates, women are playing a growing role in the country’s defence—on the front lines, in parliament, and beyond. The most recent data released in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report shows that it will take the US and Canada 61.5 years to close the gender gap. The federal government pitched its $27 billion childcare plan as a way to save families money and make it easier for parents to stay in the workforce while raising kids, something that would benefit mothers, in particular. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/8/202210 minutes, 16 seconds
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Keep pumping 🛢 — Canada can’t do much to bring down gas prices. Biden’s pursuing a ‘Buy American’ policy. And will you be WFH (Working From Hotel?).

There’s not much Canada can do to bring down soaring energy prices in the short term because our export capacity is maxed out at least that’s according to Canada’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. The Biden administration has finalized a new ‘Buy American’ rule—an initiative aimed at boosting American manufacturing that could hurt Canadian businesses. As remote work shifts to hybrid models, a new commuter has emerged… the type that works from hotels. Which is leaving key players in the travel industry to rethink their business model. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/7/202212 minutes, 23 seconds
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Salty standoff 🧂 — Canada places additional tariffs on Russia. Flair is under investigation. And the Canadian chip makers are winning big from the salty standoff.

New day, new economic penalties against Russia: Canada is imposing a 35% tariff on goods imported from Russia and its ally Belarus as the feds look for new ways to respond to the invasion of Ukraine. Canada’s transportation regulator has launched an investigation into Edmonton-based Flair Airlines, surrounding potential issues around foreign control. Frito-Lay's standoff with Loblaw has left an (unsuspected) third-party winner standing… Ontario chips and salsa maker Neal Brothers
3/4/202212 minutes, 12 seconds
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Rate hike 📈 — The Bank of Canada hikes interest rates. Canadian companies are getting out of Russia. And MLB is going into lockout.

The Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 basis points to 0.5% yesterday. And if that sentence isn’t dull enough to put you back to sleep, we want some of whatever coffee you’re brewing. A growing number of Canadian and international companies, including Apple and Canada Goose are suspending operations in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine*.* Major League Baseball (MLB) has cancelled the first games of its season, set to begin on March 31, over a labour dispute. More bad news for the downtown Toronto hospitality scene. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/3/202212 minutes, 1 second
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All in one 🛠 — The IEA is releasing more oil in response to energy market turmoil. Netflix is taking sides. And Uber wants you to book everything in their app.

Member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves in an attempt to calm energy markets thrown into turmoil by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Netflix is the latest tech company to take a side in the Ukrainian-Russian war, opening up a Pandora’s box of questions around the ethics of censorship during the conflict, as they defy Russian regulators. Uber is introducing a new feature for Canadians that will allow users to make reservations, buy tickets for events and organize your transportation to and from, all in one app. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/2/202211 minutes, 14 seconds
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Minimum wage 💸 — Ontario announces a minimum wage for gig workers. Tech companies are helping their employees in Ukraine. And Russia’s economy starts to implode under new sanctions.

Ontario will become the first place in North America to set a minimum wage for gig workers, the provincial government announced yesterday. Find out how technology firms with offices and employees in Ukraine are working to help staff leave the country amid the intensifying Russian invasion. With services like Apple Pay going out of service and the Ruble losing value by the minute, Western sanctions designed to cripple the Russian economy are starting to have a real impact on ordinary Russians. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
3/1/202210 minutes, 46 seconds
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Ukraine 🇺🇦 — The war is being streamed on TikTok. There’s a big nursing shortage in Canada. And the West imposes new sanctions.

Russian tanks rolling down highways, missiles raining down on cities, and soldiers readying for battle have dominated the “For You” feeds of TikTok users this week, as the war in Ukraine becomes the first major conflict documented on the social media app. A long-predicted nursing shortage has hospitals across the country scrambling to find staff and businesses are stepping up to fill the gap (and pull open some purse strings). The EU, UK, US, and Canada announced a new round of economic sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/28/202211 minutes, 25 seconds
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Sanctions 💸 — Russia invades Ukraine. Canadians are starting to spend again (cautiously). And a big new Reddit update.

President Biden announces sanctions against Russia as Russian forces invade Ukraine. Biden also warned that these sanctions may hike prices at the pump. After two years of uncertainty (which in light of recent events, might last some time longer) and periods of isolation, Canadians are cautiously beginning to dust off their wallets and spend again, according to a study by Paybright. If you already spend hours doomscrolling on Reddit, you might want to skip this. Reddit made the first update to its mobile app in over two years yesterday with a new ‘Discover’ tab to help users find new communities (and spend more time on Reddit...) Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/25/202211 minutes, 21 seconds
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The whole truth  — Trump launches Truth Social. Starbucks is facing a unionization push in the US. And Quibi-style content is coming to Netflix.

Trump Media & Technology Group, a private media company founded by Donald Trump, launched Twitter lookalike Truth Social this week to users in the US and Canada as political users consider alternative platforms to big tech. Starbucks is known for its formulaic drinks, chill ambiance, and friendly baristas who know your name (even if they misspell it) but behind the counter, unrest is brewing with a large scale unionization underway across the US. Netflix is launching a product that looks a lot like the failed Quibi. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/24/202212 minutes, 28 seconds
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Chips ahoy 🥨 — Canada’s facing a chip shortage. The US Women’s National Team celebrates a huge W. And Klarna is betting on Canada.

We don’t want to alarm you, but you may not be able to find Doritos at your local super-market for a while: snack giant Frito-Lay is cutting Loblaw off from its products amid a dispute over price hikes. A $30 million settlement between US Soccer and female players over equal pay with men has ended a six-year fight that pitted the World Cup-winning team against their sport’s governing body. Swedish buy-now-pay-later service Klarna announced yesterday that they’re opening a tech hub in Toronto with plans to hire over 500 engineers. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/23/202211 minutes, 36 seconds
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Late Lamborghini 🏎 — The Trans Mountain Pipeline is behind schedule. A transport ship carrying hundreds of luxury cars is burning in the ocean. And some OpenSea users got a rude surprise.

The ballooning cost of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion could fall on taxpayers, industry experts say, despite federal government assurances that no more public funds will be used to finance the project. A car transport ship carrying thousands of luxury cars is still stuck in the Atlantic Ocean after it caught fire last week, troubling an industry already grappling with pandemic-related supply chain issues. Talk about a big catch! Some users of NFT marketplace OpenSea were victims of a phishing attack that led to the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of NFTs. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/22/202211 minutes, 2 seconds
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Emergency Act 📜 — Banks don’t know how to interpret Trudeau’s order. Disney is doing real estate. Icahn is mad at McDonalds.

The Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked for the first time ever in response to ongoing protests in Ottawa, expanded the powers of banks and other financial institutions. Yet, Canadian bankers are still scratching their heads in figuring out how to implement the orders. Looks like Disney is now bringing the magic to a residential development near you, starting with a a sold-out luxury residential community called Golden Oak in Florida. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn gearing up to launch a proxy fight against McDonald’s over the inhumane treatment of pigs.
2/18/20229 minutes, 8 seconds
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Shopify Sours 📉— Shopify’s sales price tanks after a warning to investors. Crypto could threaten the stability of the global financial system. Google announced plans to modify how apps track users in Android.

Despite exceeding analysts expectations, Shopify’s stock dropped 20% yesterday after warning that revenue growth would slow in 2022 as the pandemic-era e-commerce boom ends. A new report released by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) says crypto assets, especially stablecoins, could present a significant risk for markets and calls for more regulatory oversight. Google has announced plans to overhaul app tracking on Android devices — the mobile operating system used by 70% of the world. And advertisers are worried this could hit their bottom line. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/17/202210 minutes, 59 seconds
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Double Double ☕️ — Tim Hortons had a great fourth quarter. Apple’s modifying their AirTags product to enhance safety. And flooding is threatening Canadian house prices.

Tim Hortons had a great fourth quarter as it almost double (doubles) its quarterly profit, as the coffee chain recovers from its pandemic woes. Apple announced that they’ll modify their AirTag technology to better protect against criminals using it to track unsuspecting victims. A new study has found that there is one thing that makes Canadian housing prices go down: flooding, which researchers found depressed final sale prices in impacted markets by 8.2% in the six months after a flood. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/16/20229 minutes, 2 seconds
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COVID Update 🦠 — A Canadian Petsmart is unionizing. Doug Ford is removing Ontario restrictions. And Russia and Ukraine are making for uncertain markets.

A Toronto PetSmart is the latest retail location to vote to unionize since the pandemic began, as the percentage of unionized workers increases after years of a steady decline. Businesses are breathing a sigh of relief as Doug Ford announces Ontario’s accelerated re-opening plan. Confused about what’s going on between Russia and Ukraine? You aren’t alone: the markets are also struggling to make sense of the crisis, with the VIX — an index representing the market’s expectations of volatility — rising nearly 25% in the past five days. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/15/202210 minutes, 46 seconds
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Bridge update 🌉 — The Ambassador Bridge appears to be cleared. ETFs are so hot right now. And France is going nuclear.

High-level officials including President Biden and Pete Buttigieg are adding pressure to re-open the Ambassador Bridge, amid ongoing protests that are beginning to take a toll on both country’s economies. France’s President announced that the country will build up to 14 nuclear reactors, as part of a plan to ramp up energy production and phase out fossil fuels. It may not the “sexiest” way to invest, but ETFs in Canada are having a moment after seeing a second record-breaking year of cash flows in 2021. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/14/20229 minutes, 31 seconds
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Good night 😴 — Canadian businesses are under (cyber) attack. Earnings reports reward some Canadian businesses. And you need to sleep more!

According to a 2021 survey by IT company Novipro and polling firm Leger, a quarter of Canadian businesses have been the victim of a cyber attack, half of which paid a ransom. Canadian businesses, like Telus and Bombardier, that narrowed their focus and sold off secondary business lines are now reaping the rewards, new earnings reports show. Canada is the third most sleep-deprived country - and we are tied with the US for this esteemed ranking - with nearly a third of the Canadians feeling like they don’t sleep enough, according to a new study. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/11/202211 minutes, 14 seconds
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Touchdown 🏈 — Blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. Canadians will be able to (legally) bet on the Super Bowl. And a breakthrough in fusion research.

How many protesters does it take to freeze a quarter of Canada-US trade? Shockingly few, as we learned by the recent blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, shutting down traffic on one of Canada’s busiest border crossings. Canadians be able to legally bet on the Super Bowl for the first time ever as legal single game sports betting comes online in Canada. European scientists set a new record for the highest amount of energy created through nuclear fusion — the reaction that powers the sun — in a major milestone in the quest for a cheap and clean source of energy. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/10/202211 minutes, 12 seconds
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Ghost town 👻 — Housing Affordability Task Force wants to build more houses. BMOs calling some employees back into the office. And the maple syrup industry is booming.

A Housing Affordability Task Force convened by the Ontario government says 1.5 million new homes must be built in the province over the next 10 years in order to make housing affordable again. Toronto’s Financial District is starting to look less like a ghost town as some Bay Street bankers start heading back to the office this week. There’s a thriving economy out there for maple syrup — and New Brunswick producers want a bigger piece of it. ** Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/9/202211 minutes, 5 seconds
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Straight to TV 📺 — Rumble makes an offer to Joe Rogan. Warner Bros is in trouble. Canada Post may be in for big changes.

Spotify is deleting over 70 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience as Toronto-based Rumble offers Rogan $100 million to join their platform. “The Matrix Resurrections” studio Warner Bros. could use some of Neo’s bullet-dodging skills about now as it faces a lawsuit over the decision to release the movie simultaneously on streaming platforms and in theatres. Big changes to Canada Post could be coming as Minister Filomena Tassi releases the results of a poll among Canadians on their opinions on certain changes to postal services, potentially gauging ways to cut down on costs. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/8/202210 minutes, 42 seconds
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Flying high ✈️ — Hopper raises $44.6 million. The Canadian job market isn’t doing so hot. And IBM is launching its first Canadian-quantum computer in Quebec.

Hopper, the Montreal-based travel app, is flying high after selling $44.6 million worth of equity to Brookfield Asset Management this week. Canada’s job market is struggling, new job numbers show that the economy shed 200,000 jobs in January, well above analyst forecasts of 110,000 losses. IBM plans to launch its first Canada-based quantum computer in Quebec, in partnership with the provincial government, per The Globe and Mail. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/7/20229 minutes, 27 seconds
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Cook vs. Zuck 🥊 — Housing prices may drop 20% according to one regulator. Meta’s earnings tank. And the SGL is still trying to overtake the PGA.

Housing prices could drop up to 20% in some of the most over-heated Canadians markets, according to one of the country’s top banking regulators. Facebook’s parent company Meta’s stock collapsed by as much as 26% yesterday morning —wiping out over US$200 billion from its market cap — after the tech giant forecasted weaker revenue growth this quarter. The Saudi Arabian-backed Super Golf League (SGL) is trying (again) to court the world’s top 100 golfers, according to US golfer Phil Mickelson — who is ranked 38th on the PGA Tour Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/4/202211 minutes, 58 seconds
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Groundhog day 🌷 — TerraZero is issuing metaverse mortgages. Cruise is offering full driverless rides in SF. And Alphabet is splitting their stock.

Vancouver-based TerraZero Technologies has processed one of the first-ever metaverse mortgages, facilitating the transaction for a new landowner in Decentraland, a virtual world. Self-driving car company Cruise is gearing up to launch a fully self-driving robotaxi service to the public in San Francisco. Alphabet is reducing the price of its shares to make investing in the company more accessible. The move is called a “stock split” and in this case, will increase the company’s shares by a multiple of 20. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/3/20229 minutes, 25 seconds
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Wordle 📕 — Canadian startups raise huge rounds. Wordle gets bought by the NYT. And the U.S. is reducing tariffs on softwood.

Show Notes: Talk about a strong start to the Year of the Tiger: three Canadian tech companies have announced a combined ~CA$511 million in funding yesterday, a sum that amounts to around a fifth of what Canadian companies raised in all of Q1 2021. The internet is divided–again–only this time, it’s surrounding The New York Times’ (NYT) decision to buy Wordle, the new and wildly popular online puzzle game that has captured the hearts and minds of users around the world. The US plans to reduce tariffs on most Canadian softwood lumber producers in a move that might offer some relief to the lumber dispute between Canada and the US that’s been dragging out for over three decades…talk about holding a grudge. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/2/202212 minutes, 24 seconds
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Patent pending 📜 — Blackberry sells their patents. Lynx Air takes the skies. And more brands are getting into the metaverse.

Blackberry is selling tens of thousands of patents for US$600M to a single company to turn its focus towards its core business: cybersecurity and software used by automakers—yeah, it’s been a while since they’ve made money from smartphones. A new Canadian Airline called Lynx Air has emerged, as new competition between low-cost airlines and its larger counterparts—Air Canada and WestJet—heats up. Consumer brands like Walmart and Procter & Gamble (P&G) are jumping on the metaverse bandwagon, even though the concept is still fuzzy for many people. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
2/1/202210 minutes, 35 seconds
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Expensive data 📱 — Phone bills are getting a little bit cheaper. Apple had a great quarter. And Facebook has a new way to make money off us.

Wireless plans in Canada are (finally) getting cheaper—or are they? A new federal government report shows progress on price cuts but the full picture is a bit more complicated. Apple reported its best quarter ever—partly because they have a supply chain advantage. Facebook has found a new way to make money from your face according to new patents filed by the company. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/31/20228 minutes, 38 seconds
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Luxury tax 🛩 — Uber strikes a deal with a Canadian union. The luxury tax is cancelling private jet and yacht orders. Apple’s rolling out a new point of sale solution.

Uber has struck a deal with Canada’s largest services sector union to represent the ride-hailing company’s Canadian 100,000 drivers and delivery workers. Canadian high-end car, plane and boat makers are bracing for cancelled orders under the Liberal government’s luxury tax, per The Globe and Mail. Apple will soon roll out a feature that turns iPhones into payment terminals, eliminating the need for extra hardware, per Bloomberg. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/28/20229 minutes, 49 seconds
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New boss 👩‍✈️ — CN Rail gets a new CEO. Banks are in the race to hire top tier tech talent. The FTC fines Fashion Nova.

Canadian National (CN) Railway named a new CEO after an activist investor waged a months-long campaign for the railroad to juice up its financial and stock performance. The latest company to enter the war between fintechs, startups, and tech giants for talent? Big banks. You know you're doing something right (or horribly wrong) when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) starts paying attention as the FTC fines fast Fashion behemoth Fashion Nova for suppressing specific reviews. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/27/20229 minutes, 44 seconds
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New ownership 👩‍💼  — A non-profit is working to make the TMX 100% indigenous owned. Companies have to pay more for Super Bowl ads. Google is moving to a new cookie system.

A new non-profit group wants to help 129 Indigenous groups pursue ownership of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX), making it 100% Indigenous owned. Companies have had to increase their budgets on Super Bowl LVI ads, the biggest advertising event of the year, as Omicron disrupted commercial shoots and drove up production costs. Google scrapped their controversial plans to replace traditional tracking cookies with Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), and instead announced a new proposal called Topics.
1/26/202210 minutes, 43 seconds
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Bills, bills, bills 📜 — Google doesn’t like Canada’s new internet laws. BenchSci raised $50 million. And activist investors are getting active.

Canadian lawmakers prepare to pursue internet-related legislation next week, a Canadian Google executive has cautioned that such proposals could dramatically worsen people’s online experiences, per The Globe and Mail. Toronto-based startup BenchSci raised US$50 million to expand its AI-enabled platform that makes drug research less of a hassle. activist investors that have built stakes in consumer goods giant Unilever, Kohls and Peloton are now pushing for corporate changes to improve performance. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/25/202210 minutes, 40 seconds
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Made in the USA 🖥 — Canada’s facing a cattle feed crisis. Crypto markets are chaotic. And Intel is opening up a new factory in Ohio.

Desperate for cattle feed, Canadian farmers are importing record amounts of corn from the US. Prices of bitcoin and ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, have dropped by 23% and around 35% since the start of the year. Intel announced it would spend US$20 billion to build a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio as part of a broader industry-wide effort to alleviate a chip shortage that has disrupted swathes of the economy (and made it such a pain to get a new car) Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/24/202210 minutes, 1 second
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Keep trucking 🚛—There’s a truck driver shortage. Meta is making its way into NFTs. And Amazon is opening up a physical store.

Canadian and US trucking industries are grappling with driver shortages, straining already-fragile supply chains. Facebook’s parent company Meta could be making its first foray into the non-fungible token (NFT) market. Amazon will open its first physical clothing store in Los Angeles later this year. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/21/20229 minutes, 40 seconds
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Lock and key 🔐 — 1Password raises a huge round. The White House might crack down on big tech. The EU is worried about the carbon footprint of Bitcoin mining.

Show Notes: Toronto-based password manager 1Password raised US$620 million round, marking the largest round raised by a Canadian company. In another effort to rein in the US’ biggest tech companies, the White House is weighing support for the bipartisan American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a bill designed to stop big tech companies from stifling competition. Energy consumption around bitcoin mining is gaining more attention, with a top EU financial regulator calling for an outright ban on the main form of bitcoin mining. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/20/202210 minutes, 28 seconds
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Game on 🎮 — Bic buys the Canadian Inkbox. Microsoft acquires Activision. And Canadians are worried about their debt.

Pen maker Bic has announced a deal to buy Toronto-based temporary tattoo startup Inkbox for US$65 million. Microsoft has agreed to acquire game publisher Activision Blizzard, bringing together the two video game forces to create the world’s third-biggest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and PlayStation maker Sony. Canadians’ confidence in their personal finances has dropped to a record-low, per the latest MNP Consumer Price Index. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/19/202210 minutes, 29 seconds
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Testing troubles 🧪 — Airlines want to get rid of mandatory arrival testing. Brands are working to cut plastic waste. And Ford wants you to buy your next car online.

Canada’ busiest airport and airlines are calling on the federal government to drop the requirement for an arrival test for vaccinated air travellers. Major brands, such as Coca-Cola and Walmart, signed a joint statement that calls for the formation of a global pact to cut down plastic waste. Stripe is helping Ford scale its e-commerce strategy, signing a five-year deal to strengthen the carmaker’s online payment process. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/18/202210 minutes, 10 seconds
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Monocle 🧐 — Canadian housing prices are only going up. The Zara billionaire is buying RBC plaza. And Bausch and Lomb is going public.

What goes up must come down, unless we’re talking about Canadian housing prices. At least that’s the conclusion we’re reached after reviewing new reports on our overheated housing market that predict rising prices well into 2022. Zara’s billionaire owner Amancio Ortega is buying Toronto skyscraper Royal Bank Plaza for over CA$1 billion. Bausch & Lomb, the Quebec-based maker of contact lenses and other eye health products filed to go public on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.
1/17/20228 minutes, 47 seconds
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Small business saviour ⛑ — Feds give small businesses another lifeline. Public flood insurance is needed to prepare for climate disasters. TikTok stars are making money.

The Canadian government extended the deadline for small businesses to pay back emergency loans—one of the most widely used pandemic programs for businesses. Insurers will pay over CA$2 billion to settle climate-related claims from last year. TikTok star, Charli D’Amelio makes more than top CEOs, according to Forbes’ ranking. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/14/202210 minutes, 28 seconds
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Gas is expensive ⛽️ — Oil prices are peaking at $81 a barrel. Vendasta is making moves. And Dave McKay thinks the Bank of Canada should act on inflation.

US oil prices peaked to $81 a barrel for the first time in two months, reflecting stronger consumption than many observers had expected. Saskatoon-based Vendasta Technologies announced its second acquisition since the software company dropped plans to go public in favour of financing, per The Globe and Mail. Canada’s annual pace of inflation has been hanging at around 5% in recent months, levels not seen 2003, with RBC’s CEO Dave McKay telling Bloomberg that the Bank of Canada needs to take quick action by hiking interest rates. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/13/20229 minutes, 27 seconds
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New CEO in town 👨‍💼 — Canada and Taiwan might be teaming up. Rogers has a new CEO. And Canadian cryptocurrency exchanges are complaining about a US rival.

Canada and Taiwan have begun trade talks in an attempt to reduce both countries’ economic dependence on China. It all started with a butt-dial... Rogers officially named Tony Staffieri CEO after a six-month interim stint in the role. Cryptocurrency exchanges that are playing by the rules are upset that Singapore-based Crypto.com is advertising in Canada, despite not being registered here. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/12/20229 minutes, 35 seconds
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Farewell Farmville 🌾 — BMO is hitting the pensions up for money. Zynga and TakeTwo are merging. Taco Bell is releasing a subscription service.

BMO is tapping into pension funds for its Bank of West takeover, the largest acquisition deal led by a Canadian bank. Gaming company Take Two Interactive is buying FarmVille maker Zynga for US$12.7 billion in one of the world’s biggest gaming mergers. Taco Bell said its piloting a subscription service to order one taco a day for $10 a month. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/11/20229 minutes, 37 seconds
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Happy birthday 🎂 — Trudeau is mandating truckers get vaxxed. Turning Red is going to Disney Plus first. And vinyl is back.

PM Justin Trudeau is proceeding with a vaccine mandate for truckers entering Canada, a requirement that some say will drive up prices of certain goods. Disney’s upcoming Pixar flick Turning Red will premiere on Disney Plus, instead of theatres, on March 11th. Vinyl sales overtook CD sales for the first time last year since 1991. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/10/20228 minutes, 2 seconds
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Crystal ball 🔮 — Home prices only go up. The NY Times is buying The Athletic. France hit Google and Facebook with big fines.

Our housing market is heating up: Toronto and Vancouver home sales shot up 7% and 28%, respectively. The New York Times (NYT) has agreed to buy subscription-based sports site The Athletic for $550 million, helping expand the NYT’s digital offerings. France hit Google and Facebook with over $216 million in fines for flouting privacy rules. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/7/20229 minutes, 20 seconds
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We’re Hiring 👷‍♀️ — OpenSea raises a huge round. Staffing shortages are causing big problems. And the oil industry is booming.

The world’s biggest NFT marketplace OpenSea raised $300 million to a $13.3 billion valuation. Staffing shortages from Omicron are straining supply chains across Canada. 2021 was a strong run for the oil and gas bulls. And looking ahead to 2022, some of the sector’s biggest backers are already happy with what they’re seeing. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/6/202210 minutes, 30 seconds
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The Biggest Unicorn 🦄 — Apple hits $3 trillion. The USMCA tribunal ruled against Canada. And car manufacturers are gearing up to take on Tesla.

Apple became the first $3 trillion company on Monday. Canada took an L in the first ever ruling by a USMCA panel. Volkswagen, GM, and Mercedes are drawing up plans to compete with Tesla. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/5/20229 minutes, 48 seconds
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Bye Bye BlackBerry 📱 — New Omicron restrictions in Ontario. The BlackBerry is going away for good. And Norwegian car sales were electric.

Ontario’s heading back into lockdown again to fight the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Say it ain’t so but today, many of BlackBerry’s phones will stop working as the company decommissions a number of devices. Over two thirds of Norwegian car sales in last year were electric. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/4/20229 minutes, 58 seconds
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We’re Back 🎙 — Omicron may help us fight Delta. It’s going to be easier for Amazon employees to organize. And the COVID Alert app is looking like a flop.

According to a lab study in South Africa, people who recover from the Omicron variant are better able to fight future infections from the Delta variant. Amazon made it easier for their workers to unionize through a deal with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Canada’s COVID Alert App is looking like a bit of a flop. It was only used 869 times in November, a period in which Ontario alone had 18,900 confirmed cases. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
1/3/20229 minutes, 12 seconds
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Happy Holiday 🎄 — The SEC is siding with activist investors. New COVID benefits are coming. And there’s a big security vulnerability.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rejected Apple’s pleas to block three activist shareholder resolutions. The feds expanded benefits for workers and businesses, after provinces re-introduced tougher restrictions to combat the omicron variant of COVID. Companies and governments are growing concerned over the Log4j security vulnerability. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/23/20219 minutes, 48 seconds
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Telescopic 🔭 — The James Webb Space Telescope is going up. We need more charging stations. And the NHL is on pause.

NASA will launch the James Webb Space Telescope from South America on Friday. One of the biggest challenges to the EV boom will be building enough charging stations. The NHL became the first major American sports league to temporarily shutdown because of COVID. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/22/20219 minutes, 59 seconds
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Viral Sushi 🍣 — TikTok’s piloting a food delivery service. Bombardier’s stock is dropping. And the Moderna booster works.

TikTok is pilot testing a delivery service in the U.S. for some its most popular recipes. Montreal-based Bombardier’s stock is dropping, as a Swedish corruption investigation into the plane maker continues. Moderna’s confirmed that its booster dose offers protection against the omicron variant. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/21/20218 minutes, 23 seconds
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Jumbo jets ✈️ — PM Trudeau is gearing up for a trade war. Airbus is ending production of the A380. And Dom Barton might head to Rio Tinto.

It may be the season of giving but it sure looks like PM Justin Trudeau is readying his government for a multi-front trade fight with the United States. Airbus ended production of the world’s largest commercial airliner, the A380, with a final delivery to Emirates. Canada’s current ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, is rumoured to be next in line to chair global mining giant Rio Tinto. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/20/20219 minutes, 46 seconds
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Netflix tax 📺 — The US may retaliate against our digital services tax. Streaming services are duking it out in India. And Reddit goes public.

The U.S. is prepared to take retaliatory action if Canada moves forward with the Digital Services Tax. Netflix cut its prices in India, its largest non-US market, by 60% in a bid to attract more users. Reddit filed to go public yesterday. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/17/202110 minutes, 17 seconds
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Ready to Rumble 🥊 — Rumble is teaming up with Trump. The feds are advising not to travel. And Valence Discovery raises $11 million.

Former President Donald Trump's social media platform is teaming up with Toronto-based Rumble. The feds are reintroducing an advisory against non-essential travel to stop the spread of Omicron. Montreal-based biotech company Valence Discovery raised ~$11 million. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/16/202111 minutes, 20 seconds
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Pills 💊 — New COVID pills could hit the market soon. Skip The Dishes is expanding their grocery delivery. And Toyota is investing in EV.

Pfizer released new results on their COVID-19 pills, and researchers are still concerned that Merck's pills could be too risky to administer. Winnipeg-based Skip The Dishes is expanding its grocery delivery business. Toyota is invested US-$35 billion in its electric vehicle (EV) plans. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/15/202110 minutes, 6 seconds
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Kiev 🇺🇦 — Will Russia invade Ukraine? A tornado ripped through an Amazon warehouse. And Vancouver's Dapper Labs is partnering on a new NFT marketplace.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated over the past week as Russian troops mobilize at the border. A tornado ripped through an Amazon warehouse over the weekend, killing six people. Vancouver-based Dapper Labs debuted a new NFT marketplace called The Warehouse with "avatar technology" company Genies. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/14/202111 minutes, 35 seconds
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Everything must go 💸 — Execs are selling their shares. Inflation continues to climb. And NASA's launching a new telescope.

Top executives and founders are selling shares in their companies at levels never before seen. U.S. data showed inflation reaching the highest level in almost 40 years. NASA launched an X-ray telescope into space last week to study black holes. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/13/202110 minutes, 41 seconds
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High priced veggies 🥦 — CPPIB gets into houses. Food is getting more expensive. Evergrande is in default.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) struck a US-$1 billion deal to invest in single-family homes in the U.S, the pension fund's first entry into the market. A recent report found that the average grocery bill for a family of four will jump by $966 in 2022. Credit rating firm Fitch Ratings declared Evergrande is in default after it missed deadlines for coupon payments, or the interest it owes on bonds. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/10/20219 minutes, 48 seconds
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Ring of Fire 🔥 — The Ontario Government wants to build a road. Amazon Web Services went down. And Cryptocurrency execs went to D.C.

The Ontario government is proposing changes to how it consults with Indigenous groups in the North to accelerate building a road to the Ring of Fire. Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered an outage earlier this week, taking down thousands of Amazon's own services and other websites. Cryptocurrency executives testified before Congress yesterday. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/9/20219 minutes, 34 seconds
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Plant based vaccine 💉 — Canada’s trade surplus jumped in October. Quebec’s Medicago has developed Canada’s first home grown COVID vaccine. Canada’s federal vaccine mandate is expanding.

Canada's trade surplus jumped to $2.09 billion in October, the biggest jump since 2011. Quebec-based Medicago's COVID-19 vaccine showed promising results in its tests. Canada is expanding its federal vaccine mandates to more businesses next year. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/8/202110 minutes, 59 seconds
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Bye bye Beijing 🇨🇳 — Ambassador Barton is stepping down. Canadians don't trust our central bank. And Tesla's in trouble again.

Canada's ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, is stepping down from his role at the end of December. Over 60% of Canadians don't think our central bank can tame inflation. And the SEC is investigating Tesla over claims that their solar panels are defective. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/7/202111 minutes, 6 seconds
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Jobs, jobs, jobs 👷‍♀️ — Stats Canada says the job market is booming. Chinese ridesharing app DiDi is de-listing. And the Weston Family is selling Selfridges.

Statistics Canada's employment data for November says the economy is heating up and jobs are plentiful. Shares in Chinese ride-hailing business Didi plunged by nearly 20% on the news that they would delist from the New York Stock Exchange and instead list on Hong Kong's exchange. Canada's Weston Family, the owners of Loblaws, is selling British department store Selfridges to a Thailand-based corporation. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/6/202110 minutes, 53 seconds
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Goose Union 🦆 — Textbook makers are suing Shopify. The MLB is officially locked out. And some Canada Goose workers are unionizing.

Textbook publishers sued Shopify yesterday over the sale of pirated education materials. Major League Baseball is in a lockout after failing to agree on a new labour agreement. And Canada Goose workers in Winnipeg voted to unionize. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/3/202110 minutes, 56 seconds
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Shaken/stirred 🍸 — The CRTC is trying to crackdown on phone scammers. General Fusion raised huge bucks. And Tiger attacks Klue.

Canada's telecom regulator said its introducing new tech to reduce spoofing. BC-based General Fusion, one of the world's leading nuclear fusion companies, raised US-$130 million. Vancouver-based Klue raised US-$62 million from investors, including Tiger Global. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/2/202110 minutes, 51 seconds
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Giphy or jify 🥜 — Canada's GDP is up. UK regulators shut down Meta's acquisition of Giphy. Vancouver's Spare raised $18 million.

Canada's GDP grew at an annual rate of 5.4% last quarter. UK regulators are demading Facebook parent company Meta to sell Giphy. Vancouver-based software startup Spare raised $18 million to build out their micro-mobility software. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
12/1/20219 minutes, 45 seconds
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Goodbye Jack 🐦 — Canada is teaming up with Mexico to fight unfair free trade rules. Jack Dorsey is stepping down as CEO of Twitter. And Nissan is getting serious about

Canada is teaming up with Mexico to challenge the U.S.' rules to determine where car parts are made. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is stepping down and appointing Parag Agarwal as his successor. And Nissan is launching a US-$18 billion electric vehicle initiative. 
11/30/20218 minutes, 24 seconds
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Omicron 🧬 — A new COVID variant of concern just dropped. Canada Goose is still under fire in China. Buy Now, Pay Later is taking off.

The word of the day is: Omicron. That's the name assigned by the World Health Organization to a new COVID "variant of concern." Canada Goose, the Toronto based premium winter jacket brand, was the number one trending topic on Chinese social media this week with posts about the brand garnering more than 240 million views. Customers are getting more comfortable with new buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions as vendors saw a huge spike in usage on Black Friday. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/29/20218 minutes, 46 seconds
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Yelling timber 🪵 — The US is hiking tariffs. CP and CN restart operations. There's a million job vacancies in Canada.

The US is doubling duty rates on Canadian softwood lumber producers. Canadian Pacific and Canadian National have restarted operations in BC, but delays to shipments could last for months. Canada's labour market has over 1 million job vacancies as businesses struggle to scale up after COVID. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/26/20217 minutes, 45 seconds
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On trial 👩‍⚖️ — Elizabeth Holmes testifies. The Bank of Canada has 'discovered' that investors are driving housing prices. And Mangrove Lithium is trying to make batteries cheaper to make.

Elizabeth Holmes testified yesterday during her trial. The Bank of Canada believes investors are adding to price gains in the housing market. Vancouver-based Mangrove Lithium raised $12.6 million from investors, including Bill Gates. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/25/20218 minutes, 36 seconds
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Pipeline problems 🛢 — TC Energy is suing the U.S. Government. NASA and SpaceX are moving an astroid. Rhino raised big.

TC Energy Corp, the developer of the Keystone Pipeline XL, not to be confused with Keystone Pipeline Medium wants $15 billion from the U.S. government. NASA and SpaceX will try to redirect an asteroid tomorrow. Vancouver-based Rhino Ventures announced a new $120 million fund to invest in Canadian companies. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/24/20218 minutes, 55 seconds
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Stoned 🪨 — Uber is getting into weed. Jerome Powell gets reappointed. And Rogers might sell the Blue Jays.

Uber Eats entered the cannabis market for the first time in its history in Ontario yesterday. The Biden administration nominated Fed chair Jerome Powell for a 2nd term. Rogers may sell part of its stake in the Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/23/20218 minutes, 43 seconds
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Flying away 🛫— The BC floods are continuing to cause major problems. Air Canada is jumping off government subsidies. And athletes are concerned about Peng Shuai.

The aftermath of the worst flooding in decades in B.C. is causing major troubles across the province. Air Canada is spreading its wings to fly out of the government's nest once again, announcing Friday it won’t continue to draw on the fed’s airline bailout program. The Women's Tennis Association is threatening to pull out of China if missing tennis star Peng Shuai is not located. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/22/20216 minutes, 55 seconds
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Three amigos 👯‍♂️ — PM Trudeau meets with President Biden and Andrés Lopez Obrador. HiMama raises $70 million in Series B funding. A group of people are organizing to bid on the constitution.

Live from the Bet On Canada Summit. Yesterday PM Justin Trudeau met in person with President Joe Biden and Andrés Lopez Obrador for the first time since the pandemic. Toronto-based HiMama raised $70 million in a Series B round. A group of people have created a decentralized autonomous organization to bid on a rare copy of the U.S. constitution. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/19/202110 minutes, 10 seconds
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Never Natale ❌ — Rogers' Board fires CEO Joe Natale. Quebecor is expanding out of Quebec. And Apple's letting you fix your own iPhone.

Rogers' board removed their CEO Joe Natale in the midst of a regulatory review of their takeover of Shaw. Quebecor is moving ahead with its plans to launch a national wireless service which should give customers more options. Apple will begin allowing customers in the U.S. to repair their own devices. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/18/20217 minutes, 21 seconds
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Flooded 🌧 — Floods in BC are threatening delays at the Port of Vancouver. Clutch raised $100 million. Russian space junk is threatening the ISS.

Floods in BC may cause delays at the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port, which could spell big trouble for our supply chain. Ontario-based Clutch raised $100 million in new funding to grow their used car business. A Russian weapons test created 1,500 pieces of space junk that's now threatening astronauts in the International Space Station. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/17/20217 minutes, 53 seconds
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Not so Royal 🇳🇱 — Shell leaves the Netherlands. IBM releases their latest quantum computing processor. And Casper goes private.

Oil giant Shell is moving its headquarters from the Netherlands to the U.K. in a move to shake up its business structure. IBM released its largest quantum computing processor ever as they gear up to launch their first quantum computer in 2023. A private equity firm is buying mattress company Casper to try and turn the brand around. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/16/20217 minutes, 6 seconds
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Français, SVP 🗣 — Air Canada CEO is in the hot seat. COP26 concludes. And Taylor Swift takes on private equity.

Pressure is ramping up on top execs of Quebec companies to get a better grasp on both official languages. World leaders signed a new climate agreement at the COP26 summit, which wrapped up over the weekend. Taylor Swift released her re-recoded album, Red, as she battles with private equity firms to regain control over her music. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/15/20217 minutes, 48 seconds
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To the stars 🛰 — Telesat is going public. Alberta beef workers may strike. And Rivian had quite the debut.

Ontario-based Telesat plans to go public in Canada to support their Low Earth Orbit expansion plans. A union for thousands of workers at Cargill, a beef plant in Alberta, said they plan to strike next month. EV maker Rivian's valuation jumped to US-$86 billion in its public debut yesterday. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/12/20216 minutes, 24 seconds
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Never ending 🏢 — Inflation is continuing to hit record highs. Apotex is looking to sell. And Evergrande still might go bankrupt.

U.S. inflation hit 6.2% in October compared to year before, the fastest increase in 30 years. Ontario-based generic drugmaker Apotex is considering a sale. And Evergrande's grace period to pay interest payments to overseas bond holders expired yesterday, meaning the second largest developer in China is now in default. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/11/20216 minutes, 24 seconds
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Go West 🤠 — Amazon Web Services plans to open a new hub in Alberta. COVID booster shots were approved by Health Canada. And Shell will begin construction of a solar farm in Alberta.

Amazon Web Services will open its second Canadian location in Calgary. Health Canada approved Pfizer's booster shot paving the way for province's to begin administering to the whole population. Shell will begin constructing a solar farm in Alberta next year to power its new refinery. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/10/20217 minutes, 6 seconds
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Bolt ⚡️ — Ikea makes a big bet on Toronto-based Bolt. Elon plans to sell a bunch of his Tesla stock. And Helion Energy is trying to make electricity free.

IKEA invested $115 million in Toronto-based Bolt. Elon Musk held a Twitter poll on whether he should sell $20 billion in Tesla stock. Helion Energy raised US-$2.2 billion to commercialize its fusion energy technology. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/9/20217 minutes, 22 seconds
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Empire strikes back 👑 — A BC Supreme Court judge rules in favour of Ed Rogers. Pfizer's COVID pill is found to be super-effective. And Tesla's opening a plant in Canada.

A BC Supreme Court judge ruled that Edward Rogers can replace five of the independent directors of Rogers, which gives Ed, the son of founder Ted Rogers, full control of the company. Pfizer announced that its pill to treat COVID-19 had been found in clinic trials to be highly effective.Tesla is opening a battery equipment plant in Ontario, its first Canadian site. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/8/20216 minutes, 31 seconds
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GFANZ 🌎 — A global alliance of financial institutions to fight climate change. Lightspeed is slowing down. And Mark McEwan's restructuring plan was denied.

Former central banker Mark Carney has built an alliance of 450 companies who pledge to focus their investments on achieving net zero carbon emissions. Montreal-based tech darling Lightspeed POS is struggling as its stock tanks 30% after the company released a poor revenue forecast. And a judge has denied Canadian celebrity-chef Mark McEwan’s restructuring plans for his restaurant, grocery and events business Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/5/20217 minutes, 45 seconds
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Floating 💸 — Float raises a huge round. Compass picks Ontario for its newest mine. And Maine denied Quebec their power lines.

Toronto-based Float raised $37 million from investors, including Tiger Global. Crypto mining company Compass is opening a new mining operation in Ontario. Voters in Maine have rejected a proposal for a new power corridor which would carry Quebec hydroelectricity to New England. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/4/20217 minutes, 5 seconds
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So long Ecobee 🌡 — Ecobee gets bought. Buyers bid over Canadian lithium. And Bell wants to kill the Rogers/Shaw merger.

Generac buys Toronto-based Ecobee for $770 million after the company struggled to compete with Google and Amazon. Two companies are vying for a potential acquisition of Vancouver-based Millennial Lithium Corp. And consumer groups and Bell are urging Canada's telecom regulator to hold off on an upcoming hearing of the Rogers-Shaw merger. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/3/20216 minutes, 51 seconds
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See you in court 👩‍⚖️ — The Rogers family is taking each other to court. Digital Currency Group raises $700m. And Rogers and Videotron are fighting.

The Rogers family feud is going to the BC Supreme Court as Ed Rogers fights for control. Digital Currency Group raises $700m to become the 'Standard Oil of Crypto'. And Rogers and Videotron are suing each other over breach of contract. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/2/20216 minutes, 38 seconds
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Dairy fairy 🥛 — The G20 held a meeting over pandemic and climate initiatives. The CDC (no, not that one) says the cost of dairy products will go up. And Microsoft has now beat Apple as the most valuable company in the world.

The G20 met in Rome to discuss pandemic relief and initiatives to fight climate change. The Canadian Dairy Commission recommends that regulators raise dairy rates to account for higher costs on raw materials. And a bad earnings quarter has lost Apple their title as the world's most valuable company. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
11/1/20216 minutes, 56 seconds
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Meta 🌎 — Shopify missed earnings expectations. Hootsuite's thinking of going public. And Facebook is now Meta.

Shopify missed earnings expectations after a record year. Vancouver's Hootsuite is considering raising $200 million to go public. And Facebook changes their name to Meta to reflect their pivot to a metaverse company. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/29/20216 minutes, 42 seconds
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Stimulus stymied 💸 — Bank of Canada ends their stimulus program. Fellow raises a huge round. And UofT divests from fossil fuels.

The Bank of Canada announced that they'll be ending their stimulus program and quantitative easing. Ottawa-based Fellow raises $24 million for their meetings SaaS tool. And the University of Toronto announces that their endowment is divesting from fossil fuel investments. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/28/20215 minutes, 54 seconds
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Bread basket 🧺 — Tim Hortons sales reveal a suburban/urban divide. GM is building 40,000 charging stations in the US and Canada. And George Weston sold their bread division for $1.2 billion.

Tim Hortons latest earnings report shows a drop off of sales in downtown cores while a surge in demand in suburban and rural areas as Canadians continue to work from home. GM is building up 40,000 charging stations in the US and Canada to better compete with Tesla. And George Weston is selling their bread business to FGF Brands for $1.2 billion, marking the end of a bread era. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/27/20216 minutes, 11 seconds
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REIT street 🏢 — Cenderel buys Cominar REIT. Faze Clan is going public. And Hertz is going electric.

Quebec-based Cenderel bought Cominar REIT in a sign that commercial real estate is once again on investors' radar. E-sports content creators Faze Clan are going public in a $1 billion deal. And Hertz is modernizing their fleet with a 100,000 Tesla purchase. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/26/20216 minutes, 6 seconds
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Advertising antics 📱 — The Rogers family drama continues. Snapchat's earnings were lower than expected. And Q4 is crawling towards their IPO.

Martha Rogers is going public with complaints over her brother Ed Rogers' conduct. Snapchat's underperforming earnings may signal challenges for Facebook and Twitter. And Toronto-based Q4 raised less than anticipated ahead of their IPO. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/25/20216 minutes, 12 seconds
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Family feud 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 — The Rogers family is fighting over the company. Shipping companies are going zero emission. And Roku is accusing Google of anticompetitive practices.

The Rogers family is creating a Canadian version of Succession as they fight over the future of the company. Retailers like Amazon and Ikea have committed to only using zero-emission shipping by 2040. And Roku argues that Google is using anti-competitive practices over its Youtube TV negotiations. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/22/20215 minutes, 3 seconds
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Inflation nation 💸 — Inflation is at a 10 year high. Surgeons successfully transplanted a pig kidney to a human. And Tether is under scrutiny.

Inflation in Canada hit 4.4% due to the rising costs of housing, transportation and food. Doctors successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a human after genetically modifying it. And investors are looking into whether the stablecoin Tether has enough US dollars in reserve. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/21/20215 minutes, 53 seconds
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Fast Lane 🏢 — VTS buys Lane for $200 mil. KKR and Dundee buy 60,000+ songs. And Spin Master's getting into the VC game.

VTS is buying Toronto-based real estate software firm Lane for $200 million as workers start returning to the office. KKR and Dundee Partners buy a catalogue of 62,000 songs including tracks by Lorde and The Weeknd. And Spin Master is launching a $100 million fund to invest in the next big toy. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/20/20214 minutes, 54 seconds
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Fancy flying ✈️ — Twitter is hiring in Canada. Fights are more expensive than pre-pandemic. And Apple announced some new devices.

Twitter is looking to grow their engineering team in Canada as they launch new products. Canadians are paying more for flights as airlines continue to adjust to post-pandemic travel. And Apple announced new Macbooks and Airpods today. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/19/20214 minutes, 59 seconds
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Hot housing 🏠 — Canadian home sales are up. A Bitcoin ETF is launching in the US. And Drake's investing in a cannabis company.

Canadian home sales increased for the first time in six months. A Bitcoin ETF is about to launch in the US for the first time. And Drake expands his investments into cannabis. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/18/20215 minutes, 28 seconds
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Edibles 🍭 — Inovia raises a new fund. Canopy Growth Corp gains option to buy Wana edibles. And LinkedIn leaves China.

Inovia raises a new $334 million fund. Canopy Growth Corp buys to option to buy Wana edibles. And LinkedIn is leaving China after a government crackdown on the platform. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/15/20216 minutes, 6 seconds
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Open borders 🚗 — The US is set to open the land border with Canada. They're also the biggest Bitcoin miner in the world. And Rose Rocket gets kissed by a financial rose.

After nearly two years of closure, the US is about to reopen the land border to traffic from Canada. China's crackdown against cryptocurrencies has made the US the newest destination for mining operations. And Toronto's Rose Rocket raised $25 million for their transportation management software. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/14/20216 minutes, 22 seconds
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Bike on 🚲 — Dorel sells their bike division. TSMC and Sony are building a new plant. And Magic Leap raises big money.

Montreal-based Dorel sounds a pack of iconic bike brands to a Dutch holding company. Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company are building a new chip facility in Japan. And Magic Leap raises $500 million to build their futuristic headsets. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/13/20216 minutes, 22 seconds
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Nobel prize 🥇 — A Canadian David Card co-wins the Nobel Prize in Economics. Netflix and Walmart are teaming up to sell merch. Notion raised a ton of money.

Canadian David Card co-wins the Nobel Prize in Economics for his natural experiments in the study of policy and economic theory. Netflix and Walmart are partnering to create merchandise from your favourite shows. And Notion, founded by UBC grad Ivan Zhao, raises $275 million for expansion into clients. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/12/20216 minutes, 37 seconds
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Mirror 🪞 — Lululemon is bringing Mirror to Canada. Freshbooks is buying FastBill. And Rent The Runway is going public.

Lululemon is bringing their Mirror product to Canadian stores. Freshbooks is buying German FastBill to drive international expansion. And Rent The Runway is going public on the NASDAQ. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/8/20215 minutes, 29 seconds
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Hacked 👾 — Twitch got hacked. Regulators are trying to tame stablecoins. And Canada's not meeting its climate goals.

Hackers released Twitch's source code, security info, and creator earnings, making for an uncomfortable day for the streaming platform. Regulators are trying to regulate stablecoins to ensure they hold enough of the underlying asset. And a report released says that Canada's not even close to meeting our climate goals. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/7/20216 minutes, 1 second
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Robot influencer 🤖 — Dapper buys Brud. Coconut Software raises $28 million. And Squid Games is a surprise success.

Dapper Labs buys Brud to acquire software to help them launch their first Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). Saskatoon-based Coconut Software raises $28 million to expand in North America. And Korean drama Squid Games is the most watched show on Netflix. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/6/20214 minutes, 57 seconds
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Down 📉 — Facebook has a rough day. Rich people are evading taxes. And Volvo is going public.

Facebook was down for a full day and we still don't know why. The Pandora Papers expose how the super rich evade domestic taxes. And Volvo is planning to go public to 'accelerate' their all electric transition. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/5/20216 minutes, 7 seconds
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Caller ID 📞 — Phone fraud is up in Canada. Ozy Media is no more. And Tesla continues to cruise.

A Globe report found that phone number fraud attacks have increased between 2019-2020. US media company Ozy Media has shut down after a number of scandals. And Tesla sold more cars last quarter than ever before! Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/4/20215 minutes, 55 seconds
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Battery powered 🔋 — A Chinese company wants to buy a lithium mine operator. Investors are going Fanatic over trading cards. And Lightspeed could slow down.

China-based Contemporary Amperex wants to buy a Canadian lithium reserve to capture the growing demand for batteries. Fanatics Trading raised $10 billion for their trading cards entity. And Spruce Point Capital Management casts doubt over Lightspeed's revenue and user numbers. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
10/1/20216 minutes, 23 seconds
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Still lonely 🙁 — CPPIB is going to sea. The US might run out of money. And Amazon's releasing a home robot.

The CPPIB is spending $4 billion on a US port operator to capture shipping mania. The US may run out of money unless Congress raises the debt ceiling. And Amazon releases their first home robot. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/30/20214 minutes, 29 seconds
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Overheating 🔥 — CMHC says Canada's housing market is overheated and overvalued. CDPQ is going green. And Stripe is coming to Canada.

CMHC says the Canadian housing market is currently both overheated and overvalued. CDPQ announced plans to divest their assets out of fossil fuels. And Stripe's opening up a big office in Toronto. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/29/20215 minutes, 9 seconds
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Instagram is not for kids 🤳 — Instagram is delaying the launch of their kids product. China has an electricity shortage. And Copperleaf goes public.

Facebook is pausing the launch of their Instagram for Kids product after pushback from lawmakers. China is having an energy shortage which is causing further supply chain disruptions. And Copperleaf is Canada's first big tech IPO of the fall. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/28/20215 minutes, 41 seconds
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Welcome home 🇨🇦 — The Michaels return to Canada. China bans Bitcoin. And the EU is consolidating ports.

The Michaels are back home in Canada after two years in Chinese jail. China releases comprehensive crypto regulation that effectively bans all cryptocurrencies in the country. And EU regulators are forcing all phone and tablet companies to adopt USB-C cords. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/27/20216 minutes, 1 second
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Busted 🚔 — SNC-Lavalin is again in hot water. D2L is going to D2-the-TSX. And StandUp Ventures is standing up taller.

SNC-Lavalin is in the spotlight (for all the wrong reasons). Waterloo-based edtech startup is looking to go public at a $1 billion valuation. And StandUp Ventures raises $30 million to fund female-led Canadian startups. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/24/20216 minutes, 6 seconds
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UKUSCMA 🇬🇧 — Federal employees are getting a new payroll system. The UK wants in on the USMCA. And Dapper raises another huge round.

The federal government announced a switch from their troubled Phoenix payroll system to Ceridian. The UK wants to get in on the USMCA trade agreement but it's unlikely to actually happen. And Vancouver's Dapper Labs raises $250 million! Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/23/20216 minutes, 11 seconds
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Quebec electricity 🔌 — Quebec's selling (a lot of) hydro to New York. The banks are terrified of the incoming Liberals. And Toronto's PhenoTips is building 23andMe for health.

New York wants to convert 70% of their power to Quebec produced hydro. The Big 6 banks are concerned about the incoming Liberals' taxation plans. And Canadian genetic medical company PhytoTips raises $2.5 million to personalize health care. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/22/20215 minutes, 36 seconds
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Chicken little 🐓 — Drake invests in Dave's Hot Chicken. We're (still) on Evergrande watch. And another company is complaining about Shaw and Rogers.

Drake invests in Dave's Hot Chicken to expand his ever-growing business empire. Investors are still terrified of Chinese developer Evergrande going bankrupt. And Corus is worried the Rogers-Shaw merger will damage local news coverage. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal. 
9/21/20216 minutes, 9 seconds
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Mu 🐄 — Meng Wanzhou is negotiating with the US Department of Justice. Amazon's facing its first unionization effort in Canada. And should you be concerned about the Mu variant?

Sources say Meng Wanzhou is entering into discussions with the US Department of Justice which could be good news for detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. The Teamsters are moving forward with an effort to organize an Amazon warehouse in Alberta. And we give you the latest on the Mu variant. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/20/20216 minutes, 6 seconds
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Drill baby drill 🪛 — Suncor announces partnership. SpaceX sends a bunch of amateurs to space. And Gogoro goes public.

Suncor announces partnership with indigenous communities to buy stake in Northern Courier Pipeline. SpaceX sends 4 amateurs to space in first non-professional out of orbit trip. And scooter-company Gogoro is going public.
9/17/20216 minutes, 23 seconds
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Inflation nation 📈 — Inflation is at record highs. Neo Financial raised a huge round. And is Evergrande the Chinese Lehman Brothers?

Noticed things are getting more expensive? You're not alone. The latest Consumer Price Index has inflation at 4.1%. Calgary's Neo Financial raised a big round to fuel their growth. And analysts are worried that Evergrande, the second largest property developer in the world, may default on their debts. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/16/20216 minutes, 34 seconds
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Erin O'Toole's favourite album 💿— Update your iPhones. Bell is fighting the Rogers and Shaw merger. And Gary Gensler talks crypto to Congress.

We interview Erin O'Toole, the leader of Canada's Conservatives. Update your iPhones because a team at UofT found a software exploit that lets hackers break into your iMessages. Bell is pleading with regulators to stop the mega-merger between Rogers and Shaw. And SEC Commissioner Gary Gensler spoke to lawmakers about crypto regulation. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/15/202121 minutes, 44 seconds
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See you in cinecourt 🎬 — Cineplex and Cineworld are going to Cinecourt. China's buying some Canadian mRNA tech. And Amazon is hiring a bunch up North.

Cineplex and Cineworld are suing each other over who is to blame for the global pandemic. China's Everest Medicine is buying Providence Therapeutics' mRNA tech for $500 mil. And Amazon is hiring 15,000 warehouse workers in Canada. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal. 
9/14/20216 minutes, 19 seconds
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Jobs jobs jobs 👷‍♀️ — Canada's economy is booming again. Apple has to let developers offer alternative payment options. And the cost of shipping is going up!

Canada's economy is really starting to regain form after adding 90,000 new jobs last month. A judge ruled that Apple can no longer block developers from offering payment options besides Apply Pay in third party apps. And the cost of shipping stuff via cargo ships is more expensive than ever. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/13/20216 minutes, 47 seconds
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Wayfarers of the future 🕶 — Facebook and Ray Ban announce their new glasses. Bitcoin miners are pumped about Canada. And a fusion breakthrough could change the world.

Facebook announced their new AR glasses product, Ray-Ban Stories, which lets wearers take photos, listen to music and share it all on... Facebook. Bitcoin mining co. Canada Computational Unlimited is going public on the TSX-V. And a breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology could transform how we produce electricity. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/10/20217 minutes, 44 seconds
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Goose chase 🦆 — Coinbase is under scrutiny for a new product. Canada Goose is getting fined in China. And Bill Gates is buying the Four Seasons chain.

Coinbase is launching a new product that will let users earn interest on their cryptocurrencies, but the SEC is sounding the alarm. Canada Goose is getting fined in China over misleading ads. And Bill Gates is buying Toronto-based luxury hotel chain, Four Seasons. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal. 
9/9/20216 minutes, 15 seconds
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Facedrive face plants 🚗— Facedrive is going bust. El Salvador makes Bitcoin legal tender. And Tesla is rolling out "full self-driving".

Canadian Uber competitor Facedrive is mulling bankruptcy. El Salvador has made Bitcoin a legal currency to make remittances cheaper. And Tesla is rolling out its full self-driving software despite concerns from regulators.
9/8/20215 minutes, 51 seconds
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Bienvenue 🇺🇸 — We want more Americans to visit. Olivia Rodrigo is paying up. And foreign buyers are driving housing prices in BC.

Americans are coming but not as quickly as our economy would like. Olivia Rodrigo is paying royalties to artists she drew inspiration from. And the CRA confirmed what a lot of us already knew which is that foreign buyers are driving up home prices in Canada. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/7/20215 minutes, 45 seconds
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Oil is flowing 🛢 — Enbridge is proceeding with Line 3. WhatsApp's getting hit with a huge fine. And Intuit might be buying Mailchimp.

Enbridge is proceeding with building their controversial Line 3 pipeline. European regulators are proposing a big fine for WhatsApp. And Intuit is considering buying Mailchimp for $10 billion. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/3/20215 minutes, 42 seconds
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Rejected ❌ — Telus and GM are teaming up. Canadian National is rejected. And are flying taxis coming in 2024?

Telus and GM are partnering to bring 5G to your car. CN Railway's bid to takeover Kansas City Southern Railway was derailed by US regulators. And NASA's starting to test flying taxis. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/2/20215 minutes, 43 seconds
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Robot trucks 🚛 — Uber's disrupting labour law. Gatik raised a big round. And Gap's bringing Athleta to Canada.

Uber is proposing a new labour classification for drivers. Toronto's Gatik raises $107 million to bring autonomous robots everywhere. And Gap's finally launched Lululemon competitor Athleta in Canada. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
9/1/20216 minutes, 35 seconds
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Meme lords 💎 — Meme stocks are back (or they never left). CDPQ is buying Medical Solutions. And China is telling kids no gaming on school nights.

Shares for Support.com and Vinco Ventures are soaring as meme stock investors pump their prices. Quebec pension fund CDPQ is buying travel nurse staffing agency Medical Solutions. And China is implementing policies to curb youth gaming. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/31/20217 minutes, 14 seconds
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Fintech is flying 💸 — Flinks gets bought by National Bank. A Chinese court bans 996. And electric car co. Rivian's looking to go public.

National Bank is buying Montreal-based fintech startup Flinks. A Chinese court bans to controversial 996 overtime policy. And Amazon-backed Tesla rival Rivian is looking to go public. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/30/20215 minutes, 24 seconds
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Getting #paid 💸 — #Paid gets #paid.TSMC is hiking chip prices. And Air Canada is mandating vaccines.

Toronto-based #paid raised $18.9 million. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co says the cost of chip prices will go up. And Air Canada is mandating vaccines for employees. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/27/20215 minutes, 50 seconds
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Hot housing 🏠 — OnlyFans makes a u-turn. Politicians are talking housing. And SemiosBio is making a big bet.

OnlyFans announces that it will continue to allow sexually explicit content on their platform. Federal political leaders are announcing their housing plans. And SemiosBio is building an agtech empire... The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/26/20215 minutes, 45 seconds
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Unicorn Alert🦄 — Blockstream gains unicorn status. Maersk goes green. And TikTok's cozying up to Shopify.

BC's Blockstream raises $200 million and reaches unicorn status. The world's largest shipping company is expanding its fleet with cleaner ships. And TikTok is getting big into social commerce with who else... Shopify, of course. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/25/20215 minutes, 34 seconds
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Fee Free Pfizer 💊—National Bank is going fee free. Pfizer's buying an Ontario biotech shop.And Virgin is going to Orbit (via SPAC).

National Bank announced that they'll be the second investing platform to offer a zero commission on trades service. Pfizer is buying Ontario's Trillium Biosciences in a blockbuster $2 billion deal. And Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit wants to go public via SPAC. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/24/20215 minutes, 32 seconds
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Get that shot 💉— Banks requiring employees to get vaccinated. Are you ready for a Toys ‘R Us comeback? And OnlyFans is cleaning up its act.

TD, CIBC, and RBC all announced that they’ll require employees to get vaccinated if they want to work in an office or branch. Putnam Partners is buying the Canadian rights to Toys ‘R Us in an attempt to turn around the struggling toy brand. And OnlyFans is removing all sexually explicit content to appease the credit card kings. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.
8/23/20215 minutes, 44 seconds
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The Best is Yet to Come 🚀 — The Peak Daily's first episode. Zuck's Metaverse. Wealthsimple's Twitter tipping. Amazon's big box stores.

Put this in the podcasting history books: it's The Peak Daily's first episode. Facebook unveiled their new virtual workspaces and, spoiler, it's heavy on cartoons. Wealthsimple's teaming up with Twitter to let you tip your favourite Tweeters. And Amazon's Target is on Target?
8/20/20215 minutes, 42 seconds
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Introducing Our New Show: The Peak Daily 📈

The Peak’s launching our daily business news podcast, creatively titled, The Peak Daily. Everyday, Jay Rosenthal and Peak co-founder Brett Chang will give you a run-down of the three biggest business stories you need in less than 10 minutes. Listen while you have your first coffee, take a morning jog, or on your (future?) morning commute. Drops everyday at 6am. Produced by 306 Media Productions.
8/17/20212 minutes, 23 seconds