Anger at Trump ally Elon Musk sparks protest at Saskatoon Tesla dealership
Jason Hanson owns an electric vehicle, but says he doesn't have much else in common with Tesla owner Elon Musk.
Hanson helped organize a Saturday afternoon protest outside a Tesla dealership in Saskatoon's Stonebridge neighbourhood. Similar events at dealerships were planned for Saturday in cities across Canada.
"I'm actually an EV owner, so I support electric vehicles, but when Elon Musk's wealth is used as a way to exert power over entire countries, I think we have an obligation to come out here and protest the existence of this company," Hanson told reporters during the protest, calling Musk — a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump who also heads up the newly created Department of Government Efficiency — a bully and a plutocrat.
"We can't protest Donald Trump right now because he doesn't have a Trump Tower in Saskatoon," said Hanson. "So this is the next closest thing."
Protests were also planned for Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax and B.C.'s Lower Mainland on a day dubbed the Tesla Takedown's Global Day of Action.
Controversy has followed Musk since becoming head of the newly created U.S. department, including criticism for his public support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party and laying off thousands of federal workers.
In recent months, Tesla stock lost billions of dollars in value for investors and sales have dropped across the world after reports of vandalism targeting Tesla-made electric cars and the Cybertruck.
In Canada, Musk has won few fans following his support for Trump's suggestions of annexing Canada, with an NDP member of Parliament launching a petition calling for Musk's dual-citizenship status and Canadian passport to be revoked.
Some provinces, including B.C. and Manitoba, have also said they'll remove Tesla products from EV rebates.
The federal NDP has also suggested a tariff on Tesla vehicles. Hanson said he supports doing that to send a message, but he doesn't want any public ire directed at local Tesla owners.
"This protest is peaceful, nonviolent [and] is 100 per cent directed at Elon Musk and his actions," Hanson said.
"We don't have any issues with existing Tesla owners, the employees that work there. It's not their fault that he went full Bond villain on people, and we don't want any animosity directed at them at all."
Brendan Newton was one of a few dozen protestors at the dealership. He recently moved to Saskatoon from Kentucky.
"Even visiting my family is becoming harder, because what's going to happen when we go back home — is my partner going to get detained by ICE?" he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"[This protest] hopefully will show opposition to these kinds of policies, and show that they're not being normalized and show that Canadians and people worldwide are not going to just sit down and be OK with the rising tide of far right, even fascistic, ideologies."
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The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
Exclusive: B.C. public sector jobs have more than doubled under the NDP
Since 2017, government, health and education workers rose from 50,000 to 93,000. Total salaries jumped from $4.7B to $11.5B. Paul Finch is the president of the B.C. General Employees' Union. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG The number of B.C. public-sector employees in health care, schools and government ministries who make at least $75,000 a year has more than doubled since the NDP was elected in 2017, data collected by Postmedia reveals. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In the time since the NDP took power, the total number of taxpayer-funded positions in health authorities, K-12 schools and the core of government have leapt to 104,600, from 49,400. And the amount of money spent annually on salaries for those government workers has jumped from just under $5 billion to more than $11.5 billion in that time, according to the 12th edition of The Vancouver Sun's searchable public sector salaries database. (You can search the database HERE.) British Columbians may scratch their heads when learning that the number of workers paid at least $75,000 from the public purse has doubled — especially if their local emergency department has recently closed due to a lack of nurses or doctors, or if their grandmother's retirement home doesn't have enough care aides, or if there isn't a teacher for their child's classroom. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Union leaders maintain their members in hospitals, schools and community services represent only part of this growth of government workers. They argue the biggest expansion has been in non-union staff and management roles, which they say increased disproportionately compared to workers on the ground. 'We've had this explosive growth in (non-union) management, and that hasn't resulted in a more efficient organization,' Paul Finch, president of the B.C. General Employees' Union, said of the public service. 'That should never have been allowed to happen.' The Finance Ministry, in a statement to Postmedia, said public sector salaries have risen an average of 23 per cent since 2017 through collective bargaining and that the government has launched efforts to hire more in-demand professionals such as nurses and teachers. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It said three-quarters of the public sector is unionized, but did not address the unions' concerns that the overall percentage of non-unionized employees increased at a faster pace than the percentage of front-line workers in recent years. Postmedia's database contains the names and wages of nearly 170,000 workers who made at least $75,000 in 2023-2024 at approximately 100 public sector agencies, including the provincial government, city halls, universities and colleges, school districts, health authorities, Crown corporations, municipal police departments, and other agencies that use taxpayers' money to fund their payrolls. The Sun has created this searchable database for the 12th time because detailed information on how your tax dollars are spent on salaries is not otherwise easily available for the public to search, as it is in other provinces such as Ontario. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The total amount the provincial government spends on salaries for its 600,000 public sector employees is $53 billion, representing 60 per cent of the provincial budget. Our database contains just the 170,000 workers who make more than $75,000. By comparing this database with an earlier version, Postmedia determined the number of people who worked directly for government ministries and were paid at least $75,000 ballooned by 135 per cent since 2017 — a faster pace than health and education workers. Job titles captured in that surge include directors, managers, policy analysts, team leaders and supervisors. The BCGEU's Finch used B.C. Public Service Agency data to determine the number of non-unionized and management workers grew by 45 per cent, increasing to 7,350 in 2024, from 5,202 in 2017. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In that time, the number of unionized members in the public service increased by 31 per cent, from nearly 25,000 to just over 32,000 seven years later. That trend means that in 2010, there was one manager for every four unionized workers, but by 2024 that ratio was one-to-three, Finch said. 'That's a completely unacceptable ratio,' he said. 'We need to see ceilings put in place on ratios of management to front-line workers.' How to determine those ratios should be based on 'what serves the best interest of British Columbians,' he added. Postmedia's data shows that in some union jobs, such as child protection workers, wildfire fighters, probation officers and correction services staff, the number of people making $75,000 went from zero in 2017 to several hundred by 2024. Finch said those are not all new hires, but include existing staff pushed above $75,000 under collective agreement pay raises. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The health sector also had significant growth in our database, with the number of provincial employees making at least $75,000 increasing by 122 per cent since 2017. B.C. Nurses' Union President Adriane Gear said she'd like the government to assess the number of managers versus front-line workers during the health sector expansion. During that period, BCNU membership grew by just 16 per cent, from 43,000 in 2017 to 50,000 in 2025. 'There have been nurses hired in this province, but has it kept up with the needs of British Columbians? No. Nurses continue to work extremely short-staffed, which means below safe levels of nurses to patients,' she said. Statistics Canada estimates B.C. has 5,600 vacancies for different types of nurses. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gear stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the premier in September, when the province announced improved nurse-to-patient ratios, in an effort to attract more nurses to B.C. But, she said, the details are still being worked out. 'I'm very frustrated. … We still don't have that deal inked yet,' Gear said. 'I'm puzzled how that doesn't seem to be one of the very top priorities.' B.C. Nurses' Union President Adriane Gear speaks at a recent rally in Vancouver. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG The Hospital Employees Union maintains there is also a desperate need to hire more of their members, especially care aides who are in high demand in care homes and hospitals as the population ages. 'More than 50 per cent of our members are working short (staffed) at least one day and sometimes twice a week. And so this is a really big part of the problem,' said Lynn Bueckert, the HEU's secretary-business manager. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Retention and recruitment are such big issues in the health-care system. Period.' HEU members, including lab assistants, cleaners, and staff who deliver meals, play vital roles for patients in hospitals. But they are unlikely to be represented in the database's 122 per cent growth in health workers making at least $75,000, because 'the vast majority' of those jobs don't pay that much, Bueckert said. The membership of the HEU expanded from 49,000 members in 2017 to nearly 68,000 in 2025, an increase of 39 per cent. Some of that growth was due to recruiting care home staff to join the union, said Bueckert. The third sector analyzed for this story, K-12 education, had a 70 per cent surge in staff making more than $75,000 since 2017. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. During that time, though, the B.C. Teachers Federation said its membership numbers rose from 46,200 to 52,600 — a 14 per cent bump. BCTF president Clint Johnston said he doesn't know the source of the growth in school district numbers. Government is making efforts to hire more teachers, but there is still a serious shortage. 'How many teachers we need versus how many teachers we actually have? That gap is growing every year,' he said. 'You can verifiably see it by the number of uncertified teachers who are being used in the province.' Postmedia's database shows twice as many teachers making at least $75,000 compared to our 2017 version, but Johnston said the number of instructors hasn't risen by that much. The increase could be due to wage enhancements pushing some teachers above the $75,000 threshold, as well as more veteran teachers at the top of the salary grid postponing retirement. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. BCTF members have raised anecdotal concerns about a hike in non-classroom staff, such as district learning coordinators or assistant superintendents, who would typically fall into the $75,000-plus salary bracket, Johnston said. 'That is absolutely an issue that they frequently talk about, the disproportionate growth in district staff who aren't in a classroom teaching, directly supporting kids,' he said. B.C. is short more than 900 teachers and nearly 600 education assistants and other support staff, positions that are advertised on the government's education-related jobs page. Johnston said the provincial education budget is large but does not keep pace with demand, which has forced school districts to cancel special programs like band and to find alternative revenue for inclusive education programs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Interviews with Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, Health Minister Josie Osborne and Education Minister Lisa Beare were requested for this story. They all declined. In written answers to our questions about the 135 per cent increase in government ministry workers, the B.C. Public Service Agency said ministry workers have an average salary today of $67,819. In 2017, the agency said, public service workers, on average, made less than health and school employees, which may explain why ministry workers earning more than $75,000 today have grown at a disproportionately faster rate. 'Those other data sets may already have had a higher percentage over $75,000, which would reflect in (health and education's) lower growth rates over the term,' the agency said in a statement. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Lynne Bueckert, secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees Union. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / 10108123A The Public Sector Employers' Council said ministries have fewer workers than in health care and K-12 education, which means the hiring of a few new staff can boost the percentage of sector employees more quickly. While the B.C. Public Service Agency and Public Sector Employers' Council minimized the apparent surge of workers in ministries and service agencies making more than $75,000, the government's own budget documents chronicle the growth of ministry employees across all salary ranges. Budget documents show full-time-equivalent staff in ministries and service agencies grew significantly over eight years, to 48,386 in 2025-26 from 32,865 in 2017-18. This includes all ministry workers, regardless of their salaries, and the total money spent on wages for this group grew by 63 per cent over those eight years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Public Sector Employers' Council acknowledged there are still shortages of key workers in other sectors, including health and education. The government has launched initiatives such as a K-12 recruitment and retention drive to find more teachers, the statement said. 'In health care, many efforts have been initiated to make recruitment easier from out-of-province and international health workers, including a new, fast-tracked credential recognition for U.S. trained and certified nurses last month,' the council said in a statement. The council noted there are three unionized workers for every non-unionized employee, but didn't answer questions about that ratio previously being four-to-one. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Clint Johnston is the president of the British Columbia Teacher's Federation. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Of the 600,000 people employed by the province, 44 per cent work in health but, on average, have higher wages that account for 52 per cent of money spent on salaries; 17 per cent work in K-12 education but their lower-than-average salaries mean they take up just 15 per cent of the salary budget; and the eight per cent working in ministries collect nine per cent of the money spent on salaries, according to government figures. The Health Ministry, in an email, said the database's 122 per cent growth in health staff is largely attributable to collective agreements pushing some workers' salaries above $75,000 as well as the hiring of more in-demand staff 'to keep pace with an increasing population and corresponding demand for services.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It said the Provincial Health Services Authority, for example, has hired more paramedics, cancer specialists, and Indigenous health leaders. When asked about union allegations that the percentage of non-unionized staff has grown at a faster pace than that of front-line workers, the ministry said these 'non-contract positions' represent more than managers. They also include people who support quality improvements in labs or medical imaging, nurse practitioners and associate physicians, and human resources staff to help with recruiting health workers. The ministry said it has committed to new nurse-to-patient ratios and is fast-tracking credentials for nurses from places such as the U.S. and Australia in an effort to expand their ranks. The number of nurses in B.C. has grown by 27 per cent since 2018, based on statistics from the nurses' regulatory body, the email said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It is not clear why that number is different than the BCNU's 16 per cent increase since 2017. In addition to trying to hire more nurses, the ministry said a program to recruit additional workers for care homes has filled 10,000 positions since 2020. The ministry defended its hiring practices. It said the Canadian Institute of Health Information found B.C.'s ratio of spending on finance and human resources, compared to on front-line health workers, was the second best in Canada. Districts decide on hiring: ministry The Education Ministry did not answer Postmedia's question about the database's finding of a 70 per cent growth in staff in K to 12, or explain what types of jobs had expanded the most. It referred all queries to the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, but later provided this statement. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When asked about BCTF allegations of a disproportionate increase of non-union and management staff compared to teachers and others in classrooms, the ministry responded that those decisions are up to school districts. 'Decisions about hiring are made at the local level for what makes sense in their community.' The statement acknowledged, though, that 'one of the biggest challenges the K-12 sector faces is hiring enough qualified teaching and support staff,' a problem that exists across Canada. B.C. is trying to hire more teachers by reducing barriers for internationally trained educators to work here, by offering hiring incentives of $500,000 for people to work in rural and remote communities, by increasing flexibility in teacher training programs to allow students to remain in their community to study, and by working with Indigenous groups to recruit more Indigenous teachers, the ministry said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Premier David Eby campaigned last year on every K-3 class having an education assistant. The ministry says 75 per cent of those classrooms have an EA, and it is exploring 'ways to support hiring more.' In our database, remuneration includes salary, overtime, bonuses and other one-time payouts or benefits, such as unused vacation time. It does not include expenses. The figures come from publicly available compensation disclosure reports and freedom of information requests. Some of the names and positions in the database may be out of date if someone has retired or moved jobs, but it provides a recent snapshot in time of public sector payrolls in B.C. lculbert@ ngriffiths@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Sports Local News Sports Vancouver Whitecaps
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Forget Robotaxis and Humanoid Robots: Morgan Stanley Thinks This Technology Is the Real Secret for Tesla Stock to Soar
While investors fixate on Tesla's (TSLA) robotaxi ambitions and humanoid robots, Morgan Stanley believes the company's next breakthrough could come from an unexpected direction: the emerging drone and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) market. The investment bank sees this 'low altitude economy' as representing a $9 trillion total addressable market by 2050. Tesla's potential entry into this space has gained attention following recent geopolitical events. Moreover, Morgan Stanley noted that drone warfare capabilities have become strategically critical. CEO Elon Musk himself warned on Tesla's earnings call that countries unable to manufacture their own drones risk becoming 'vassal states' to those that can, highlighting America's current manufacturing deficit compared to China. What makes Tesla uniquely positioned for this market isn't just ambition, but the company's existing technological infrastructure. Morgan Stanley highlights Tesla's proven expertise in battery storage, navigation systems, autonomous driving technology, robotics, and large-scale manufacturing as transferable skills that are ideally suited for the development of drones and eVTOLs. The financial implications could be transformative for Tesla shareholders. Morgan Stanley estimates that capturing even a small fraction of the eVTOL market could add between $100 to $1,000 per Tesla share. These estimates indicate potential upside that could easily dwarf the current robotaxi valuations. Morgan Stanley argues that a single eVTOL could generate revenue equivalent to 15 ride-hailing vehicles, which showcases the superior economics of aerial transportation. Unlike robotaxis, which face regulatory hurdles and require extensive real-world testing, the drone market presents a more immediate opportunity for growth. Tesla's vertical integration advantage positions the company to compete effectively against established aerospace players who lack its innovation speed and cost structure. Ark Invest Is Bullish on the Robotaxi A research report from ARK Invest positions Tesla as the clear frontrunner in the emerging robotaxi market. Ark Invest, run by famed growth investor Cathie Wood, cited several critical competitive advantages that could generate massive value for investors. According to the report, Tesla's competitive edge lies in its unparalleled data collection capabilities. For instance, the EV maker's existing fleet generates over 5 million miles daily through its Full Self-Driving software and has accumulated 87 million total US miles, compared to Waymo's 70,000 daily miles. This vast data advantage provides Tesla with diverse real-world driving scenarios that competitors cannot match. Fleet scalability represents another crucial differentiator. While Waymo operates roughly 700 vehicles across limited cities, Tesla can leverage 6.5 million existing vehicles globally equipped with compatible hardware. It can rapidly deploy Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from lease returns and inventory, while customer-owned vehicles can supplement the fleet through opt-in programs. Cost advantages further strengthen Tesla's position. ARK estimates Tesla's Model 3 production cost at $40,000, compared to Waymo's vehicles, which cost over $100,000, with sensor packages alone costing over $40,000. Additionally, Tesla's vertical integration reduces its reliance on external manufacturers, such as China-based Zeekr (ZK), which faces potential tariff headwinds. The financial opportunity appears enormous. ARK projects that robotaxi platforms could reach $4 trillion in net revenue by 2030, with Tesla potentially commanding take rates exceeding Uber's (UBER) 30% due to a superior cost structure. Higher utilization rates above 50% could significantly undercut traditional ride-hail pricing. Beyond financial returns, Tesla's autonomous driving technology could prevent over 40,000 U.S. deaths annually. FSD-equipped vehicles have already demonstrated five times better safety than non-FSD Tesla vehicles and 16 times better than average cars. Is TSLA Stock Undervalued? While Tesla is part of multiple expanding addressable markets, the company must demonstrate its ability to execute and gain traction in these key stock currently trades at 155x forward earnings, which is higher than its three-year average of 114x. Analysts expect Tesla's earnings to increase by 29% annually over the next five years. Out of the 41 analysts covering TSLA stock, 16 recommend 'Strong Buy,' two recommend 'Moderate Buy,' 13 recommend 'Hold,' and 10 recommend 'Strong Sell.' The average target price for TSLA stock is $292, roughly in line with its current price.
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Tesla Stock's Outlook Was Already Hazy. Musk's Feud With Trump Makes It Even Worse.
Tesla stock (TSLA) has whipsawed this year amid a mix of factors. The company's recent financial performance has been disappointing, to say the least. Its Q1 2025 deliveries fell well short of estimates, and so did its earnings for the quarter. Along with the dismal financial performance and tepid deliveries, Tesla has been in the news for CEO Elon Musk's political activities. While the billionaire was among President Donald Trump's biggest backers and headed his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until the end of May, he has since left the White House. While it seemed that Musk's politics would take a backseat now and he would start focusing on his companies, the Tesla CEO has now emerged among the fiercest critics of Trump over his tax-and-spending bill. Musk's Feud with Trump The relationship between Musk and Trump seems to have deteriorated significantly. Musk's bitter breakup with Trump could have multiple implications. Bulls would want to believe that by disassociating from Trump, Musk might be able to placate those on the left of the political divide. The flip side, however, could be that Musk alienates Trump supporters. Tesla is no longer a play on 'Trump trade,' and if anything, the stock might be in the 'penalty box' if Trump retaliates against the company. As for fundamentals, they are a lot less favorable now than they were before Trump's election. Tesla's Growth Has Stalled Tesla is currently battling one of the worst phases in its history, even as I agree with Musk that it's nowhere near the 'many near-death experiences' that the company went through in the past. That said, those were different times, and Tesla was at best a marginal player in the automotive industry. The company has since reached scale, selling 1.8 million cars last year profitably. To Tesla and Musk's credit, they proved naysayers wrong by ramping up efficiently. However, while no one really expects Tesla to go bankrupt, market expectations for the near-$1 trillion behemoth are much different now. Cut to 2025, and Tesla is struggling for growth, and deliveries fell year-over-year in 2024 for the first time in history. The company's deliveries declined 13% in Q1 2025, reaching the lowest level since Q2 2022. The data for Q2 2025 deliveries, set for release early next month, is likely to show yet another yearly decline, given the tepid sales in China and Europe. Tesla was still hopeful for delivery growth in 2025 when it released its Q1 earnings in April, but we should see management take a more circumspect stance when it revisits its guide during the Q2 update. Tesla's once industry-leading margins have since fizzled away, thanks to the steep price cuts, and if not for the juicy regulatory credits it earns, the Elon Musk-run company would have posted a net loss in Q1. Given the ongoing EV price war, it would be foolhardy to expect Tesla to reach those fat margins anytime soon. Moreover, the company's China business continues to face serious headwinds from domestic Chinese companies, and the sales from its China Gigafactory – which include both domestic sales and exports – have fallen year-over-year for eight consecutive months. Tesla Bets on Autonomous Driving and Robotics Musk has virtually withdrawn the 50% annual delivery growth compound annual growth rate guidance he once shared, and Tesla officially omitted its goal of reaching 20 million deliveries by 2030 in its last year's impact report. The demand for electric cars, especially in the U.S., did not turn out to be as strong as many expected, and automakers are learning it the hard way, as they are now bogged down with excess production capacity. With the core automotive business facing a severe slowdown and the energy business incapable of filling the void, Tesla (and analysts bullish on the company) have been instead fixated on other aspects of the business. These include autonomous driving and robotaxis in the short to medium term, and robotics over the long term. Long-time Tesla bull and Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas argues that Tesla might even enter the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and drone space, capitalizing on its strength in manufacturing and autonomy. Meanwhile, apart from the robotaxi launch that Musk has confirmed is on track for a launch this month, I don't see many other events that could help drive the stock in the near term. Overall, while Tesla's growth outlook hasn't been this hazy in years, Musk's bitter feud with Trump might end up making things even worse for the company.
