COMMONS

Mike Danton was playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the St. Louis Blues. And at the same time, he was trying to hire a hitman to kill his agent, David Frost.Danton’s arrest and conviction would become one of the biggest hockey scandals of all time. But this is not just some salacious true crime story. It’s an extreme example of everything that’s wrong with hockey culture; hazing and abuse, sexual misconduct and the adult men who control the lives of teenage boys for their own monetary gain.Featured in this episode: Steve Simmons (The Toronto Sun)To learn more:The Lost Dream: The Story of Mike Danton, David Frost, and a Broken Canadian Family by Steve Simmons“A teenage girl's vulnerability laid bare at David Frost trial” by Christie Blatchford in The Globe and Mail“The sometimes sad and remarkable journey of Sheldon Keefe” by Steve Simmons in The Toronto Sun“How police cracked 'the cult'” by Greg McArthur in The Globe and Mail“I’m glad I went to prison” by L. Jon Wertheim in Sports Illustrated“Frost case a study in tragedy and farce” by Gare Joyce in ESPNCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Airbnb, Canva for Teams, Better Help, If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Davis was never a superstar. He was a journeyman player, one of tens of thousands, chasing the dream. And at almost every step, when hockey gave him something, it would also take something away.Hockey exacts a heavy toll on many boys and young men — on their minds and their bodies. And then they’re told not to talk about any of it outside the locker room.It’s enough to make you ask the question. Is this a sport? Or a cult?Featured in this episode: Justin DavisTo learn more:Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL by Justin Davis“Hockey Is Not for Everyone” by Akim Aliu in The Players’ Tribune“Flying” by Stan RogersCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)“I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted. Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Better Help, Ecojustice If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHL likes to call Willie O’Ree the Jackie Robinson of hockey. And no one can deny how significant it was when he became the first Black player on the ice in an NHL game in 1958. But what the league doesn’t like to talk about is what happened next. Because after O’Ree, the NHL didn’t admit another black player for sixteen years. So did the NHL resegregate? And why don’t we talk about the experiences of the players who broke hockey’s second colour line?Featured in this episode:  Bob Dawson, Bill RileyTo learn more:“Mike Marson on challenges he faced as NHL’s second black player” by Wayne Scanlan in SportsNet“Life of Riley; Career of N.S. hockey trailblazer Bill Riley remembered during Black History Month” by Paul Hollingsworth and Allan April in CTV NewsWillie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player by Willie O’Ree with Michael McKinley“How Conn Smythe's racism kept Herb Carnegie from achieving his NHL dream” by Ian Kennedy in Yahoo Sports“The dark history of the NFL’s original sins” by Chelsea Stark-Jones and Lex Pryor in The RingerCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Oxio, Better Help, EcojusticeIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of the estimated 7000 people who have played in the NHL only around 100 of them have been Black. That’s an absurdly low number compared to any other major North American sports league.But what makes that statistic especially shocking is the fact that the modern game has its roots with Black players on Black teams.The Coloured Hockey League wasn’t just a sideshow to the main event of white hockey. And the way that league was targeted by the white establishment is reflective of the racism that Black players faced over the next century.Featured in this episode: Bob Dawson, Darril Fosty, George FostyTo learn more:Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925 Darril Fosty & George Fosty (Author)“1960s college hockey player recalls racism on the ice” by Bruce Deachman in The Ottawa Citizen“The all-Black league that invented hockey as we know it” by Jasper Hutson in DefectorCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Canva, Douglas, Better Help, Slow BurnCanadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS you'll receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hockey is a hell of a lot of fun. But right now, the sport is going through a reckoning. Allegations of racism, corruption, sexual misconduct and so much more are rocking the game to its core.But the truth is that in Canada, hockey is more than just a sport. It’s a civic religion, with a billion dollar business attached to it.Over the next seven episodes, COMMONS will be digging into the cult of hockey, scrutinizing its doctrines and exposing its secrets.Canadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS the first 100 signups will receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.Editor's Note: a different version of this episode was published on the subscriber-only feed of Commons. No inaccuracies were found in the original version, changes were made by the Editor in Chief for storytelling purposes. Featured in this episode: Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News)To learn more:“How a Toronto hockey league turns kids’ joy into an $8.8m cash cow” by Ian Kennedy and Nathan Kalman-Lamb in The Guardian“Aliu says GTHL rejected organization that would have assured spots for BIPOC players” by Rick Westhead in TSN“Prospective buyer says he was coached to skirt GTHL’s rules on organization sales” by Rick Westhead in TSN“Rinks of dreams: The Little One had style” by Bruce Lowitt in The Tampa Bay TimesCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love it or hate it, hockey is inescapable in Canada. But the sport has a dark side.From violence and racism on the ice, to corruption, cover-ups and abuse off of it. In the latest season of COMMONS, host Arshy Mann and producers Jordan Cornish and Noor Azrieh will be bringing you stories from inside the cult of hockey.Our new season launches on May 24th.If you’re a Canadaland supporter, you can get access to episodes a week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last season we sat down with Cory Doctorow, co-author of Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back, to find out how the music industry has become dominated by monopoly power. In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you Arshy’s full interview with Cory, complete with all the nitty gritty details around how and why musicians continue to get screwed by Spotify, music labels, ticketmaster and more.To learn more: Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by ​​Rebecca Giblin and Cory DoctorowSponsors: Canva, Douglas, Truth TellingIf you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with host Arshy Mann to talk about the grocery CEOs testifying at Parliament, their thoughts about the Monopoly season coming to an end, and what listeners can do to make change.Sponsors: USW, Free Lunch, Gardisil If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Loblaws, or any other, modern-day supermarket, is many things. It’s a temple of abundance. A place where a consumer has more choice than the greatest kings, emperors and pharaohs had in their lifetimes. It’s a tech platform, tracking our every taste, transaction and even ailment.And it’s an ideological arena. Where everyday Canadians and grocery CEOs are battling over what’s to blame for our declining standard of living. Featured in this episode: Benjamin Lorr, Vass BednarTo learn more:The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket by Benjamin Lorr“From bakery to ‘tech behemoth’: How Loblaw became a titan of the private health-care industry” in The Toronto Star by Jacob Lorinc“Canada hasn’t had a ‘tech lash’ yet, but consumers should still be wary” in The Globe and Mail by Vass BednarAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, RotmanIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big Tech companies have ushered in a new era of global monopoly. And the most influential, the most powerful of all of them, is Amazon.In this episode, we focus in on two of the fundamental pillars of Amazon’s dominance: its online marketplace and its cloud computing arm.And a former Amazon VP speaks out.Featured in this episode: Matt Stoller, Brad Stone (Bloomberg), Dana Mattioli (Wall Street Journal), Tim BrayTo learn more:Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone“Amazon Prime Is an Economy-Distorting Lie” in BIG by Matt Stoller“Amazon Scooped Up Data From Its Own Sellers to Launch Competing Products” in The Wall Street Journal by Dana MattioliAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Athletic Greens, Free Lunch  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I love the smell of monopoly in the morning”“Forget it, Jake, it’s Cineplex”“The competition commissioner once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti”“Life is like a box of anti-competitive cinema chains that allegedly use their 75% market share to bully their competition, limit consumer choice and charge obscene junk fees. You never know what you’re going to get.”Featured in this episode: Barry Hertz (Globe and Mail), Corinne Lea, Andy Willick, Sonya WilliamTo learn more:“Cineplex’s distribution deal with Lionsgate sends ripples through Canadian film industry” by Barry Hertz in The Globe and Mail“Independent cinemas accuse Cineplex of shutting them out of market for top films” by Maryse Zeidler in CBC News“Indie theatres say they're last in line for movies because of Cineplex” by Joseph Pugh in CBC News“Cineplex's monopolization” by Vass Bednar in Regs to RichesAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, Free LunchIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google, one of the world’s great tech monopolies, wanted to make a “smart city,” full of sensors and robots and self-driving cars.Toronto, one of the world’s most insecure cities, wanted a big tech firm to put it on the innovation map.What resulted was not exactly a match made in heaven.Featured in this episode: Josh O’Kane (Globe and Mail), Kurtis McBrideTo learn more:Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy by Josh O’Kane“Sidewalk Labs document reveals company’s early vision for data collection, tax powers, criminal justice” by Tom Cardoso & Josh O’Kane in The Globe and MailAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Athletic Greens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

During the Afghan War, it was clear who the enemy was. The Taliban were a group of religious zealots who harboured terrorists, killed with fervour and enslaved women.But then why did so many Afghans join with the Taliban during the years that Canada was fighting in Kandahar? And if the Taliban were our enemies, who exactly were our friends and allies? In many cases, they were torturers, rapists and murderers themselves. Featured in this episode: Rangina Hamidi, Matthieu Aikins, Ahmad Malgarai, Bruce Moncur, David Pugliese (Ottawa Citizen) To learn more:“Our Man in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins in The Atlantic“House of Pain: Canada's connection with Kandahar's ruthless palace guard” by Graeme Smith in The Globe and MailThe Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan by Graeme Smith “Today We Shall All Die” Afghanistan's Strongmen and the Legacy of Impunity by Human Rights Watch Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Oxio, Ground News, 22 Murders, HelloFresh If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Operation Medusa has become the most celebrated battle in recent Canadian history. It was hailed as a stroke of military genius that may have vanquished the Taliban once and for all. But the soldiers and commanders on the ground have a different story to tell. A rushed battle. Flawed intelligence. And generals putting political considerations ahead of Canadian lives. And even though Canada had defeated the Taliban on the battlefield, that didn't mean they were winning the war. Featured in this episode: Sean Teal, Bruce Moncur, Omer Lavoie, Adnan R. Khan, Eugene Lang To learn more: “Operation Medusa: The Battle For Panjwai” by Adam Day in Legion Magazine“Afghanistan veteran recounts brutal battle” by Stephen J. Thorne in Legion Magazine“It's time for a hard look at Operation Medusa” by Adnan R. Khan in Maclean'sThe Unexpected War: Canada In Kandahar by Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Oxio, Ground News, 22 Murders, HelloFresh, Skipper Otto If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench. https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Wilson and Chris Kopp were two of the first Canadian soldiers deployed to Afghanistan.One night in April 2002, they were at a training exercise at Tarnak Farms, Osama Bin Laden's old hideout outside of Kandahar.All of a sudden, they see a blast, and chaos surrounds them. What happens next would change their lives — and the Canadian military — forever. Featured in this episode: Chris Kopp, Bill Wilson, Michael Friscolanti, Eugene Lang To learn more:Friendly Fire by Michael Friscolanti“Lest we forget: Each year, three Canadian medics who served in Afghanistan take stock of their war” by Ted Barris in Zoomer Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Rotman's Risk Management Program, Oxio, Ground News, 22 Murders If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the days after 9/11, Canada joined in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Right away, it became painfully obvious that we didn't understand the country, its people, or its history.That would have profound consequences. Within months, Canadian special forces were participating in secret operations at the behest of some of the most sinister men in the country.Our actions in the early days of the war would go on to endanger the lives of Afghans and Canadian soldiers alike in the years to come. Featured in this episode: Murwarid Ziayee, Mohsin Amin, Arthur Kent, David Pugliese (Ottawa Citizen) To learn more:No Good Men Among the Living by Anand GopalReturn To Afghanistan by Arthur Kent“Eyes Wide Shut: The Government's Guilty Secrets in Afghanistan” by Jon Stephenson in Metro Magazine Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Rotman's Risk Management Program, Oxio, Ground News, 22 Murders If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.https:/apple.co/3wjxaRWSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The War in Afghanistan was Canada's longest war. More than 40,000 Canadian troops served. And countless Canadian civilians went to work in the country. But after twenty years, billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives lost, Afghanistan is worse off than before.When the Taliban marched into Kabul last August, the world watched as Afghans clung to planes in an attempt to escape. We bring you the true story of the end of one of the forever wars through the eyes of the people who were there. Featured in this episode: Wasai Rahimi, Ghousuddin Frotan, Brian Castner, Mohammed Sharif Sharaf, Matthieu Aikins To learn more: “Inside the Fall of Kabul” by Matthieu Aikins in New York Times Magazine“Escape from Afghanistan” by Mark MacKinnon in The Globe and Mail“Horror at Kabul's gate to freedom” by Nick Paton Walsh, Sandi Sidhu, Julia Hollingsworth, Masoud Popalzai, Sitara Zamani, Abdul Basir Bina, Katie Polglase & Gianluca Mezzofiore in CNN Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Rotman's Risk Management Program, Oxio, Escaping Denver, and Ground News  If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.https:/apple.co/3wjxaRW Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narcolords in league with the government. Hundreds of millions of dollars that vanish into thin air. Arrogant decision-making that leads to the deaths of Canadians and Afghans alike. This season of COMMONS will bring you the war stories that Canada wants you to forget.First episode drops March 30, 2022.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2007, the small Guatemalan village of Lote Ocho, Spanish for Lot 8, was burned to the ground by military, police and security for a Canadian-owned mine. Eleven women claim they were raped during the evictions.A few years later, a prominent community activist is murdered in broad daylight by the head of security for the mining company. These are just some of the many crimes that Canadian mining companies have been accused of committing in this region over the last 60 years.Many Canadian mining companies are pariahs around the world. So why does Canada allow this to happen? And is this industry violent by its very nature? Featured in this episode: Angélica Choc, Grahame Russel, Catherin Nolin, Heather Gies, Richard Poplak To learn more:“How a Canadian mining company infiltrated the Guatemalan state” by Max Binks-Collier in The Intercept“Guatemala mine's ex-security chief convicted of Indigenous leader's murder” by Sandra Cuffe in The GuardianParadise Lost by CTV's W5 Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Rotman's Behaviourally Informed Strategy Program & Dispatch Coffee Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Papua New Guinea is a part of the world that few Canadians ever think about. But for the people of Porgera, their lives have been shaped by the decisions of Canadian companies.It's hard to wrap your head around the atrocities that people in Porgera have suffered over the last thirty year. Environmental devastation. Murder as a matter of course. Hundreds of women and girls who have been raped. So why is Barrick Gold, the company that has operated the mine for the last decade and a half, still celebrated across the country? And why is Barrick's founder, Peter Munk, still viewed as a philanthropic and corporate icon? Featured in this episode: Everlyn Gaupe, McDiyan Robert Yapari, Stanley Peter, Cressida Kuala, Catherine Coumans, Richard Poplak To learn more: “Canadian Mining's Dark Heart” by Richard Poplak in The Walrus“The Shooting Fields of Porgera” by the Akali Tange Association“Raped by Canadian Gold Mine Guards, These Women Are Looking for Justice” by Hilary Beaumont in VICE News Additional music from Audio Network This episode is brought to you by Rotman's Executive Leadership Online &  Dispatch Coffee Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at www.commonspodcast.com Attawapiskat has become famous across Canada and around the world. Not for the natural beauty that surrounds it, or for the Cree culture of the people who live there. Instead, it's become a byword for the toxic legacy of Canadian colonialism.But while Attawapiskat faced crisis after crisis, the community was sitting on a literal diamond mine run by the world's most famous mining company.So why is it that a community rich in diamonds is so poor? And why did the government and De Beers do so little to help them through? Featured in this episode: Mike Koostachin, Vicki Lean, Anna Baggio To learn more: After the Last River by Victoria LeanThe People of the Kattawapiskak River by Alanis Obamsawin“De Beers decision to dump sewage into Attawapiskat played role in current housing crisis” by Ossie Michelin in APTN News“Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?” By Edward Jay Epstein in The Atlantic Additional music from Audio NetworkThis episode is brought to you by PolicyMe.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at www.commonspodcast.com  A monster has been haunting the North.Giant Mine may be a big reason why Yellowknife exists. But for seven decades, it's been a unique source of suffering for the people in the region.Three stories from this uniquely haunted place: the damage it did when it opened, the bloodiest labour dispute in Canadian history, and the toxic legacy that may remain for thousands of years. Featured in this episode: Morgan Tsetta, Arn Keeling, John Sandlos, Lee Selleck To learn more:Giant Monster Mine from the Yellowknives Dene First NationDying for Gold: The True Story of the Giant Mine Murders by Lee Selleck and Francis ThompsonToxic Legacies Project Additional music from Audio NetworkThis episode is brought to you by PolicyMe, and Manscaped.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at www.commonspodcast.comTwenty-six men were working underground when an explosion tore through the Westray Mine in Nova Scotia. Their friends and colleagues went into the wreckage to try to save them.The story of Westray is one of managerial malice and the heroism of everyday people. But why is it that governments let this happen over and over again, at the expense of so many lives?Featured in this episode: Vernon Theriault, Tom SandbornTo learn more:Westray: My Journey From Darkness to Light by Vernon Theriault and Marjorie Coady“Hell's History” by Tom Sandborn in The TyeeThe Last Shift by CBC's The Fifth EstateAdditional music from Audio NetworkThis episode is brought to you by Rotman's Executive Leadership Online, PolicyMe, and Manscaped. Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us at commonspodcast.comA tiny Canadian mining company discovers the largest gold deposit in human history. But when the company's chief geologist falls out of a helicopter over the Indonesian jungle, it was all revealed to be a mirage.Bre-X was a national obsession that made many overnight millionaires. It also happened to be the biggest fraud in the history of mining. But questions still remain. Why did no one go to jail? And did that geologist actually die falling from a helicopter? Or is he off somewhere enjoying his ill-gotten gains?Featured in this episode: Warren Irwin, Andrew Willis (The Globe and Mail), Stephen Ewart (Calgary Herald) To learn more:Fever: The Dark Mystery of the Bre-X Gold Rush by Jennifer Wells  The Bre-X Fraud by Andrew Willis and Douglas Goold“Bre-X – Of Course I Know Where Michael de Guzman Is” in CEO.com by Warren Irwin Additional music from Audio NetworkSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support us here: http://commonspodcast.com/For a century, Canada was one of the world's leading exporters of asbestos, most of it mined from the small town of Asbestos, Quebec. But during that time, governments and corporations in Canada did everything they could to hide the fact that asbestos is deadly.They went to extraordinary lengths — secret organ smuggling, corporate-supervised police torture — to keep the ugly truth from the world.Today, there's no longer a town called Asbestos, QC. But more people than ever are dying from what was mined out of the ground there.  Featured in this episode: Heidi von Palleske, Jessica van Horssen, Tavia Grant (The Globe and Mail) To learn more:A Town Called Asbestos: Environmental Contamination, Health, and Resilience in a Resource Community by Jessica van Horssen“No Safe Use: The Canadian Asbestos Epidemic” by Tavia Grant in The Globe and Mail“Asbestos: Canada's Dirty Secret” by CBC's Fifth Estate Additional music from Audio NetworkSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When gold was discovered in the Yukon, 100,000 people desperately tried to make it to a small patch of land in one of the most remote environments on the continent. Few made it all the way. The Klondike Gold Rush was many things: a media conspiracy, a ponzi scheme, a land grab. But above all, it was a humanitarian disaster that stretched over much of the Pacific Northwest. Featured in this episode: Brian Castner, Deb Vanasse To learn more:Stampede: Gold Fever and Disaster in the Klondike by Brian CastnerWealth Woman: Kate Carmack and the Klondike Race for Gold by Deb VanassseKlondike: The Last Great Gold Rush by Pierre Berton Additional music from Audio Network This episode is sponsored by Rotman's Executive Leadership Online, Douglas and Dispatch Coffee. Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories about the dirty business of Canadian mining.First episode drops October 13, 2021.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The destruction of Borneo's rainforests has been called the greatest environmental crime of our time. But journalists and NGOs have long alleged that one man, Abdul Taib Mahmud, has benefitted from that destruction to the tune of billions of dollars. If that's true, it's one of the worst acts of corruption in the modern era.And for over a decade, those same campaigners have argued that Taib's empire isn't limited to Malaysia. They claim that its tendrils extend deep into Canada.  Featured in this episode: Mutang Urud, Clare Rewcastle Brown (The Sarawak Report) To learn more:Money Logging: On the Trail of the Malaysian Timber Mafia by Lukas Straumann A Time to Swim by Ashley Duong“Political interference may have helped scuttle investigation of Canadian corporation” by Timothy Wilson in Ricochet“How Canada's Wealthy Couple Splash Sarawak's Cash” by The Sarawak ReportThe Facts Matter Additional music from Audio Network This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, Sandy and NoraSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddy Haymour has been called a lot of things in his life. Immigrant success story. Kidnapper. Terrorist. Folk Hero.But the long saga of Eddy Haymour is at its heart a story of obsession. About a man who became consumed by his dreams for a piece of land. And about a government equally determined to stop him at any cost.Featured in this episode: Omar Mouallem, Greg Crompton To learn more:Eddy's Kingdom by Greg Crompton“The Kingdom of Haymour” by Omar Mouallem in EDify Magazine“Eddy Haymour and Rattlesnake Island” by CBC's Fifth Estate Additional music from Audio NetworkThis episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, Sandy and NoraSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Toronto Community Housing Corporation is the biggest landlord in Canada, and the second biggest in all of North America. But government after government has allowed social housing in Toronto to fall apart. It's not just the buildings that they've let rot. It's also our moral obligation to the most vulnerable in our society. Featured in this episode: Joe Fiorito, John Sewell, Susan Gapka To learn more:“Al Gosling is now homeless at 82” by Joe Fiorito in The Toronto Star“Ousting Sewell” by Jamie Bradburn in The Torontoist“Tragic tale of local artist has happy coda” by Joe Fiorito in The Toronto Star Additional music from Audio Network This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, Blue Jays Happy HourSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.