With the signing of an agreement in principle between Carney and Danielle Smith over the Northern Gateway Pipeline, removal of the emissions cap, and the exploration of lifting the Tanker Ban along the Pacific Interior Passage. Carney’s hold on the left wing of the Liberal Party is meeting an abrupt end.

Steven Guilbeault was the first to resign from the cabinet and will sit as a regular MP. Guilbeault was a Greenpeace environmental activist before coming to Ottawa, but his presence there brought votes from the left and the Greens to the Liberals.

The fragile coalition of conservative, centrist, and left-wing liberals hasjust had the party’s foundations rocked. Mainly, this is because no one has ever done this so publicly in the party before.

A great many people have always asked me why I never supported the Liberals, and Mark Carney has just defined that to me. The Liberals are still, traditionally, a party without principle. If the people’s consensus is leaning right, so goes liberal policy; likewise, if it is leaning left. So overall, even though they have governed over our country far longer than the conservatives, when holding majorities, the policy becomes less defined and wishy-washy. In other words, whatever way the winds are blowing, that’s the direction they will take.

This move has scratched the underbelly of the main antagonists on this issue who have been battling for years and effectively ended the Premier’s coalition but also left Carney in a very shaky situation with a minority parliament hanging in the balance.

The following year will now be clouded by skepticism, and if Carney sees more of his anchors abandoning him, his ability to hold onto office will be extremely challenged.

The Bubble Has Burst Where to Next

 After years of crazy, dangerously speculative real estate, the bubble has burst, and what, over the past three decades, was a facade of greed and tax sheltering is ending abruptly. The banks are now holding the bag on a fiscal disaster they helped to create. Now the spiral begins in earnest, and if we are not careful, the Canadian taxpayer will be on the hook for billions of dollars in another bank bailout to save the banks, when the Government should be

bailing out the borrowers.

Of Course, just as in the 1980s downturn, condos are taking the first hit, but looking at real estate sales nationwide, it is also hitting the regular housing market. Nowhere is this pain more visible than in Toronto’s far overpriced market, and condos which were designed first and foremost as offshore investment tax vehicles are not only not selling, no big investors are coming on board, so developments like the one at Cloverdale Mall are falling like houses of cards without the shovels even digging the ground.

If there were any quality and realistic prices for these developments, one might be able to sell; however,I doubt it. I took a tour of a two-bedroom the last time I was there, and the square footage was only 500 square feet. the fixtures looked like they came off a 1.49-day rack. Our one-bedroom apartment at the Wellington Apartments at 437 Jarvis Street was larger than the 2-bedroom condo they had so proudly shown me around. 

Consumer debt, combined with high youth unemployment, has delivered the death blow to a sham that should never have taken place. These condos are not designed to be lived in; they are intended to be written off and sit empty.

If people can’t afford rent, then they are left knowing that the concept of purchasing is far removed from the realities they see in front of them, and continuous polling reflects that sentiment in each poll taken; most have given up on home ownership.

So what happens next, because the developers can’t sell, they don’t want to be left holding the bag, so it came as no surprise to me that right smack dab in the middle of the Santa Claus Parade in Toronto was a float for the rental towers the developers were building.

It’s almost subliminal to think that these developers, now in the luxury rentals business, could step into a world of ridiculousness and sheer idiotic sophistry. If people cannot afford a couple of thousand dollars in rent for a one-bedroom, what would make anyone think that they would move out of their comfort zone any further?

The new Government is promising housing and housing projects, but for some reason, not a shovel has hit the ground. What both Carney and Poilievre fail to see is that we live in an economy that, since the 1980s,has been built from the top down. Now the bottom has failed, and those who have totally benefitted from the perpetual squeezing of consumers down the line are beginning to tread water, looking for ways to have the Government keep them liquid while those who watch them struggle even harder to survive.

I know it sounds cruel, but no one learned from 1929, or it was long since forgotten in a blaze of materialism and corruption, but things need to change. That won’t happen with the mentality of today’s political institutions, so if everything goes upside down again, it might change things for the better and redistribute the world’s wealth far more equitably.

Monopolies at the retail and Supply Chain are artificially inflating grocery store pricing

 Don't look for many changes in the upward trend in food prices at the grocery store anytime soon , as the monopolization of both the retail market and the global supply chain runs deep and has not only a firm grip on basic commodity prices, but also on retail pricing at the grocery store level. 

In the retail level of the marketplace, especially in Canada, there are only four major retail giants: Weston's, the Empire Company,  Pattissons, and, recently, Walmart.  The illusion of more competition is just that Weston's, probably the biggest of all retail groceries, owns Superstore, Loblaws, No Frills, Independent, wholesale club pack, Shoppers Drug Mart and Bulk Barn. The Empire Company, which is Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland, IGA, Farm Boy, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton's Drug. Pattison's Grocery empire is Save-on Foods, with large stockholdings in Empire Company. 

Most think that there is consumer choice out there when clearly these facts reveal that the consumer has absolutely no option other than stores which have rebranded themselves to promote the illusion of.  

So, given the reality of the monopolization of your grocery dollar, it is easy to understand the concept of price fixing on behalf of the corporate ownership that controls the brand. 

The other issue is the supply chain and the small number of companies which supply the retail market, which has dwindled into a small group of players in the Canadian and American marketplace and is totally tied to modern factory agricultural practices , often owned by the very processors that they supply.  

Irving Food brands owned by the Irving Family hold Cavendish Farms and are the most prominent landholder on Prince Edward Island.  Not to mention owning one of the largest tissue-producing companies in North America. 

McCain Foods International is, independently, the largest food monopoly in Canada, with its processed foods division, control of Maple Leaf Foods, and extensive Canadian production acreage. As with Tyson Foods, vast amounts of livestock are contractually grown by producers across Canada. 

This is why our food prices continue to outpace inflation because there is no room for competition within the Canadian Marketplace as these Large Corporate conglomerates control both the wholesale supply chain as well as the retail, 

In fact, if we as Canadians looked very carefully at the supply chain, we would see that most food grown in this country is grown for export and a vast amount of the food we consume is imported from around the world. This also factors into the price and continual inflationary pressures. 

The last Pressure is public debt, and people's shopping and eating habits have been changing dramatically. Grocery stores across the country are losing revenue every day, mainly because consumers' purchasing power is so vastly diminished. So, their solution is to raise prices to protect shareholder equity. The product they sell that can't be sold generally finds its way into being written off and put into a compactor rather than donated to feed a hungry nation.  

Most hunger across North America can be attributed to the fact that these large monopolies waste far more every day at the retail level than what they can sell. This is a practice that must stop and proves that what we consume is priced far higher than what it is worth. 

Governments need to take action to break these giant monopolies, yet are reluctant to do so. The reason is that, in the eyes of many politicians, wealth is power, not people. So, legislation surrounding food, its production, and retail marketing tends to follow the money instead of everyday consumers and those who remain hungry at the end of each day. 

The purpose of the Government is to be a regulator, not one of rolling over the minute a lobby comes calling with a bankroll of money. 

It's time for Governments to show responsibility to those who are responsible for their existence. Not a handful of wealthy individuals. Until they do, it would be far from any expectation to see any change at the grocery store except for the less change you have in your pocket! 

 

 

Romancing Toronto's Old Red Rocket

 It’s not often that we see romance in a city like Toronto. Big cities tend to be impersonal isolating structures by their very existence. I’m sure this is something we all look for but fail to see the relevance of in a city that never sleeps and winds its way through 24 hours, never stopping, always looking straight forward, and never turning back.

People think of Romance, the first words will usually be Paris, Florence, Rome, something far removed from those of Toronto or New York. This doesn’t come as a big surprise because we rarely see the beauty that surrounds us when we stand staring at it,

When I first arrived in Toronto, I felt considerable apprehension about the experience. I had previously visited in the 1970s under challenging circumstances as a runaway. At that time, both the Eaton Centre and the tower were yet to be completed; businesses such as United Cigar and Japan Camera occupied the entrance area, with the Brown Derby Restaurant located nearby. As a fifteen-year-old, it was an overwhelming situation, and I was unable to pursue any meaningful opportunities to establish myself before being quickly found and sent home. Since I had secured employment, I have often reflected on whether I should have presented my reasons for wanting to remain with the authorities.

In 1986, which marked my first full year residing in the city, I observed with great attention the behaviours and interactions of those around me. At that time, many of my colleagues perceived me as unconventional and somewhat out of place. Being from a rural background, they anticipated that the scale and pace of urban life would ultimately prompt my return to a quieter environment.

My first impression and observation were that most people spent a great deal of their time underground, whether in line one or two, or using the PATH system between the now-ever-present skyscrapers that had begun to dot the Toronto skyline. It almost followed a ritualistic pattern of daily life, going only as far as one could to reach whatever it was that you never seemed to be able to find.

Above the underground city lay an entirely different world of small shops and street merchants along Yonge, King, Queen, Dundas, College streets and Spadina Ave for as far as the eye could see. It was better than the interactive video games people get addicted to today.

Connected to this system were streetcars known as Red Rockets, which could take you anywhere, offering an alternative to the impersonal subway rides through the deepening darkness underground. The clatter of the streetcar rails evoked a sense of romance and nostalgia for a time when things moved at a slower pace; you could often close your eyes and feel the rhythmic motion below as the driver announced each stop along your journey.

As you watched the blocks go by, countless local independent businesses and factories appeared before your eyes — a city in transition, striving to preserve a past that once brought prosperity and a sense of security to those who sought to build their future here.

Riding past towering churches that once drew thousands of worshippers and served as the heart of local communities, you now see these institutions struggling for relevance amid the looming concrete skyscrapers of the establishment and elite, their congregations notably diminished.

The city’s transformation was notably influenced by the introduction of the Red Rocket, which underscored Toronto’s unique character. This evolution represents an ongoing integration of historic and modern elements — a dynamic that continues to shape the city’s identity beyond the uniformity of its concrete high-rises.

I love Toronto; it took me in, and the Red Rocket, to which I fell in love, took me to the one stop that would change me forever, College and Jarvis Street. There it was, I discovered the woman I loved. From that day forward, I never rode the Rocket alone, and the majesty of her rails sang to us as we went forward together.

This Thing Called Retirement Is Bruising My Ego

 I’m not sure I like retirement to well. Yes, I can write or program my internet radio station and YouTube channel as I wait, hopefully for some return one day.

I will never see a five-ton delivery vehicle or stand at a butcher counter gleefully serving customers. Even those in the journalism profession walk a different path than the one I am taking. My life once again is shifting into a new dimension, and laughably, one I did not realize would come around so quickly. With all the debilitating injuries, including the last head injury, I mainly see people turn their heads and look the other way.

With my book about Father Joe and Our Place Community of Hope nearing completion for publication, I’m left to puzzle where to turn to next. Karen, my partner of nearly forty years, is unable to find the appropriate words to resolve this situation. She encourages me to continue with my projects — stories, videos, and radio stations — assuring me that eventually something meaningful will result. While these activities keep me engaged, they have not yielded any financial compensation so far

.I am considering launching a magazine focused on addressing issues relevant to seniors and providing practical guidance for daily living in retirement. These topics are not widely recognized, and I have found that navigating the complexities of retirement can be more challenging than any previous professional experience.

It is clear that this circumstance was unforeseen. While I can recognize certain positive aspects of retirement, I also experience a degree of apprehension and uncertainty about the various responsibilities I must now manage, particularly in light of my personal goals. My tendency remains towards comprehensive and strategic thinking rather than focusing on immediate tasks. As the routine pace of daily life slows and idle periods become more frequent, I find myself reflecting on the energy of my earlier years and the desire to maintain that vitality moving forward.

It’s obvious this road has been rougher than I expected; hopefully, after a few challenges and my ego getting knocked down a peg, I’ll have a better sense of direction. Then, Karen and I can move forward together, whatever the ultimate plan may be.