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Toronto Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Let's drop the phoney Alberta versus Canada nonsense. The province has met the enemy — and it is them
(Trigger warning: The author was born, bred, and educated in Alberta. Reader discretion is advised.) Because the Liberal party won the most seats in a national election (the fourth time in a row), but most Alberta ridings went Conservative (for the umpteenth time in a row), Canada is now said to be facing a national unity crisis. Premier Danielle Smith facilitates separatism (while claiming she doesn't support it). ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Alberta business leaders play the national unity card in demanding fast approval of more pipelines: unless the oil industry (assumed to proxy Alberta's general interests) gets what it wants, national unity is in jeopardy. Federal Conservatives, while disavowing explicit separatism, reinforce the claim Alberta has been mistreated by the country. Interim leader Andrew Scheer, on X, complains Ottawa has 'attacked Canada's oil and gas industry for 10 years.' An aspiring Alberta MP-in-waiting, Pierre Poilievre, echoes that view. While saying he personally opposes separation, Poilievre complains ' Albertans have a lot of legitimate grievances,' the result he says of a decade of attacks on oil. This rhetoric will excite the voters of Battle River-Crowfoot. Whether it helps Mr. Poilievre contest a future federal election, however, is a different question. Business Opinion Jim Stanford: Here's why we will survive Donald Trump's tariffs — the answer is right in front of us Export industries are critical, writes Jim Stanford, but almost 80 per cent of what we produce Many Albertans are indeed frustrated and angry — and with reason. There is no province where real incomes and living standards have deteriorated more in the past decade than Alberta. According to StatsCan, Alberta has experienced the second-biggest increase in incidence of low income of any province since 2015. Workers have endured a 10 per cent decline in real wages (adjusted for inflation) over the last decade, worse than any other province. Minimum wages haven't budged in seven years. Despite falling real wages, living costs remain among the highest in Canada, and Alberta suffered the highest inflation of any province last year. Electricity prices, auto insurance, and tuition fees — all governed by provincial rules — have soared faster than anywhere else in Canada. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But can any of these problems be blamed on the rest of Canada, or the federal government? In particular, does Alberta's hardship stem from suppression of Alberta's oil industry, as Mr. Poilievre claims? This is an obvious attempt at diversion that Albertans should dismiss. During this decade of relentless federal 'attacks,' Alberta's oil production grew by 52 per cent. Production records are being broken again in 2025, tracking more than 4.4 million barrels a day so far. The expanded TMX pipeline — bought and completed at federal expense — has boosted both output and prices, modestly reducing the long-standing discount on Canadian oil sales in the U.S Midwest. Oil industry profits have also never been higher, thanks to record volumes, cost-cutting, and the 2022 oil price spike. Petroleum producers and refiners pocketed after-tax profit of $192 billion over the last four years alone — four times more than in the entire 2010s. Corporate profits gobble up a huge slice of Alberta's GDP: about 40 per cent of total output over the last five years, twice as much as the rest of Canada. Business Opinion Jim Stanford: In the face of Trump's tariff threats, Canada can emerge stronger than ever. Here's the plan The threat from the U.S. is existential, writes economist Jim Stanford, but if we stand up with In short, there's never been more oil wealth generated in Alberta, despite (or perhaps because of) the Liberals holed up in Ottawa. Yet average Albertans aren't getting their share of it. The boom in oil production and profits certainly isn't translating into jobs. Oil extraction and service firms shed more than 30,000 jobs in the province over the last ten years, even as production boomed. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In 2014 the industry hired 128 workers for every million barrels of oil produced. Last year, thanks to self-driving trucks, automated facilities, and downsizing, that number halved to just 61. So it's no surprise residents of my home province are cranky. Their economy produces more GDP per worker than any other. The economic pie they bake is bigger than ever. But the average Albertan's standard of living is lower than a decade ago. It wasn't Ottawa that laid them off, cut their pay, froze the minimum wage, drove up electricity and insurance costs, and put their health care at risk. It was the enemy within. Alberta's oligarchs aren't speaking for the province, they are speaking for themselves. And the sooner the rest of the population can get past the phoney Alberta versus Canada narrative, the sooner they'll start toward a genuine solution to their woes: namely, winning a fairer share of the abundant wealth they already produce.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EDITORIAL: Finally, the truth on carbon tax impact
The galling manner in which the late and unlamented government of Justin Trudeau misled Canadians over the carbon tax is only now being revealed. This week's report from Statistics Canada shows the annual rate of inflation for March slowed to 1.7%, down from 2.3% last March. This is no surprise. You don't have to have to be an economist to figure out that if you add a tax to the price of gasoline and natural gas, it will increase costs to individuals and cause hardships to those who need to drive anywhere or heat their homes — which is just about everyone in this vast, chilly country. Despite quarterly payments made to taxpayers to offset carbon tax costs, last year the parliamentary budget officer estimated that households would be worse off by 2030-31, when the cumulative economic impact on the gross domestic product and investment income was factored in. 'Given that the fuel charge lowers employment and investment income, which makes up a larger share of total income for higher-income households, their net cost is higher,' Yves Giroux said in his report. Meanwhile, those who suggested the carbon tax was hurting Canadians were dismissed as climate change heretics. Trudeau labelled Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's concerns about how the carbon tax was fuelling inflation as 'absolute nonsense.' Yet, StatsCan has now etched in black and white just how right Poilievre was. Gas prices fell 18.1% year-over-year in April, thanks mostly to Prime Minister Mark Carney scrapping the carbon tax. Excluding energy from the consumer price index, StatsCan said inflation would have come in at 2.9% for April, an increase from 2.5% for the same figure from March. The only province that didn't see a dip in inflation was Quebec, which has its own cap-and-trade system of carbon taxation, so it was not affected by the federal government ending the tax in other provinces. It's clear we were fed a whopper of a fib about the relationship between the carbon tax and inflation. And some gullible souls gobbled it up wholesale. Carney may be a new face at the helm. His cabinet is padded with the same faces who inflicted the carbon tax on us and then misrepresented and distorted the impact it would have on inflation. Shame on them.
Global News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Canadians ‘scared' to cross border now, Washington state business says
Staff at Ship 49, in Blaine Wash., have a front row seat to the activity at the Canada-U.S. Pacific Highway border crossing. Or lately, the lack of activity at the border. 'So right now, we're at a plateau at 60 per cent down revenue,' Josie Frodert, manager of the parcel service told Global News. 'We're getting less than 30 packages, 30 to 40 packages a day. That's down from 150 to 200. It is our slow season already, so it does slow down, but this is very, very slow.' Frodert said as a result, they have reduced the hours of operation. She is leaving the lights and the heat off as much as possible to save any money they can. 'We want to stay in business,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'We love our customers. The owner's Canadian.' 1:53 New StatsCan data shows just how much U.S. border travel has dropped Frodert said they used to have 45 to 60 customers a day come in but now it has dropped significantly. She said they are also hearing from their customers, saying they are scared to cross the border. 'They're scared to come over and then they don't want to pay the tariffs going back,' she said. 'That's huge.' Frodert said the rumour mill is going strong, with customers telling her stories about hearing the military was staged at the border turning Canadians around, that border guards will search everyone's phone and they will ask you if you like U.S. President Donald Trump and if you say, 'no,' then you are banned from the U.S. forever. Story continues below advertisement All of which she said are untrue. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Those are the kind of things that I'm hearing, that customers hear, not first hand, but from other people and so gossip exactly, and it scares them to not want to come down,' she added. 'I've had multiple customers email and call, just abandoning their packages because they're scared to come.' Frodert said she hasn't heard of any of her customers having a negative experience at the border. However, she was surprised to see the secondary inspections start happening at the border crossing for travellers returning to Canada. She told Global News she thought it was a drill because she had never seen border agents do that before. 'Now it's been ongoing for almost two weeks. Not all day, every day; they do it for about four hours at a time and take a lunch break,' she added. 'But, you know, I thought at first it was the Canadian side doing the outgoing inspections, but then I realized it was the U.S. side.' Frodert said she works four days a week and she has seen the additional border checkpoints 'almost every time' she has worked and she is worried they will be a further deterrent for customers. Story continues below advertisement 4:50 Washington State feeling the impact of BC boycott She said Blaine has been suffering from the reduced border crossings. She said businesses are laying off workers, no one is hiring and she's worried it will become a ghost town. 'Hopefully we can hang on because our customers love us. We love them. They're like family to me, and I miss a lot of them. You know, I know most of our customers by their first names.' Fewer British Columbians are driving into Whatcom County as data from the four Lower Mainland crossings show there were more than 200,000 B.C. vehicles crossing southbound in April 2024. However, that number plunged by more than half this April. Other nearby businesses are also trying to lure Canadians back. Mark Andrew, regional vice-president for Columbia Hospitality and general manager at the Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa, told Global News they are currently running a promotion where Canadians pay 30 per cent less, putting it on par with the U.S. dollar. Story continues below advertisement 'It's not up to us to mend hard feelings, but rather to go ahead and celebrate the relationship that exists between British Columbians and Washingtonians,' he said. 'We feel this whole resort was built because of our location. We're a stone's throw from White Rock. We're a stone's throw from Blaine, and it's the relationship that exists between U.S. and British Columbians. 'We were built to serve our neighbours to the north.' Andrew said B.C. visitors make up a 'major part' of the resort's clientele. He said they are starting to see some bookings for the summer but visits over spring break were down. He is, however, optimistic about the future. 'We find that when people are coming across the border, they're coming for a purpose and a reason,' he said. 'They're coming to celebrate a restaurant, they're coming to get away from whatever work they're doing. So we're finding that business increasing, and we're finding that people are getting away from all the crazy news that's in the world to enjoy some peace and calm at Semiahmoo.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian travel to the U.S. declined even further last month, report says. Here's why — and where Canadians should travel to instead
Canadians aren't changing their mind about boycotting travel to the United States. In a new report by Statistics Canada, Canadians returning from international travel by air or by vehicle in April 2025 was down 15.2 per cent compared to April 2024. It's the steepest decline in travel year to date, and marks three consecutive months of year over year declines. According to StatsCan, 4.5 million Canadian residents who returned from international travel by air or vehicle last month. Although April showed a decline in travel overall, there was a 35.2 per cent decline in Canadians who returned from the U.S. via automobile compared to April 2024. Faced with tariff and annexation threats from the U.S. President Donald Trump, and increased anxiety over treatment at the border, many Canadians are choosing to boycott travel to the States altogether. A recent Abacus survey found that 56 per cent of Canadians who initially planned to travel to the U.S. this year had since scaled back or cancelled those plans, the primary reason being political tensions. We recently asked readers to weigh in on travel plans to the U.S., and if they had changed. Of those polled, 77 per cent of readers said they do not plan on travelling to the U.S. within the next year, while 58 per cent of readers said they have already cancelled a trip to the U.S. they had planned for this year. One reader, Allen C. said he has many friends in the U.S. and typically travels there to visit them during the winter months — usually spending between $8,000 to $12,000 CAD while he's there. However, this year is different. 'I have cancelled trips to the [U.S.], rerouted to Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Shuswap and Penticton,' he said. Marie B. said she's travelled to the U.S. at least once a year for the past 20 years — except during COVID-19 restrictions. Typically, she joins a busload of Canadians for a holiday shopping trip to the States. 'Not this year, we all will shop at home,' she said. 'No more USA shopping or support for our neighbours to the south. Too bad, really. What a sad turn of events for our two countries.' 'My husband and I are finally out of debt,' said Ann P. 'Our dream for years was to … spend three months in the sunny south over the winter. It is absolutely no longer an option.' New February data from Flight Centre Canada found a 40 per cent decrease in leisure bookings to the U.S. compared to February of last year. 'That trend continued into March, with U.S. bookings once again down 40 per cent year-over-year,' said Amra Durakovic, head of communications at Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. And between November 2024 and January, Flight Centre Canada saw a 20 per cent cancellation rate on pre-existing U.S. trips. Many were rebooked to countries like Mexico and the Caribbean. Another recent Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov, found that 86 per cent of Canadian travellers are taking a more intentional approach to travel this year, adjusting their vacation in 2025 to prioritize affordability, especially when it comes to considering the exchange rate. We continue to see softened demand to traditional U.S. destinations like California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and New York. There's also growing interest in domestic travel to places like Alberta, Newfoundland and Nova Durakovic, Flight Centre Travel Group Canada 'Year-to-date, we continue to see softened demand to traditional U.S. destinations like California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada and New York,' Durakovic said. 'There's also growing interest in domestic travel to places like Alberta, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.' 'Internationally, Europe is trending for summer, with destinations like Amsterdam, Portugal, and the U.K. leading the way thanks to more flight options and competitive pricing,' Durakovic said. 'Canadians are also turning their 'someday' trips into reality, booking long-hauls to destinations like Japan, Thailand and Australia, supported by favourable exchange rates.' If you're a Canadian avoiding U.S. travel — whether you're a snowbird who spends winters in Arizona or Florida or just looking to take the cheapest, most fun weekend trip you can find — there are plenty of places that you can swap in. We turned to experts at Flight Centre Canada to ask what trending travel destinations, both in Canada and abroad, are worth checking out. Costa Rica for zip-lining, wildlife spotting and beach adventures. Mexico, including Riviera Maya, for going beyond the resorts and exploring cenotes, Mayan ruins and interactive eco-parks. Thailand, including Chiang Mai and Phuket, to visit elephant sanctuaries and kid-friendly resorts. Ecuador, including Quito and the Amazon, for family-friendly wildlife adventures without breaking the bank. Nova Scotia, including the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island and Peggy's Cove, for scenic drives and whale watching. Northwest Territories and the Yukon to spot the Aurora Borealis and do Arctic wilderness adventures. Haida Gwaii, B.C. to check out high-end eco-lodges and Indigenous cultural immersion. Torngat Mountains in Labrador for helicopter tours or Arctic expeditions. Portugal, including Lisbon and Algarve, for beaches, castles and great food at family-friendly prices. Vietnam, including Ha Giang Loop and Sapa Trekking for motorbike routes and rice terraces. Torres del Paine, Patagonia for multi-day trekking in mountain scenery. Ecuador, including Galápagos and the Andean Highlands, for snorkelling with marine life and mountain trekking.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record-breaking cattle prices a lifeline for farmers facing inflation, trade tensions
Cattle prices have soared to what producers are calling record highs in 2025, offering long-awaited financial relief to Manitoba ranchers after years of stagnant returns and rising operational costs. Barry Lowes, a producer from McAuley in southwestern Manitoba, watched the Livestock Markets Association of Canada auction in Virden Friday, marking down prices in amazement as bids soared to unprecedented levels. "They're all amazed at the prices," Lowes said. "It's just quite a spectacle." He already had a record-breaking bull sale that saw animals sell for just under $11,000 in February. That's up around $2,600 compared to last year. Since then, prices have continued to climb. His 393 black steers at the Virden auction also went for the highest prices he's ever seen. It's a relief after years of turbulence in the industry, he says. For producers like Lowes, the price swell, driven by tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand, is easing the financial pressure ranchers have endured for years. Canada has around 10.9 million head of cattle, a number that's dropped nearly five per cent in just three years, according to Statistics Canada. Cattle auctioneer Rob Bergevin says in the 25 years he's been in the business, prices have never been so good for producers. One bull at Friday's auction sold for $3.18 a pound, one of the highest values he's ever seen on the auction floor. "It is a ton of fun selling these cattle, I have to tell you. There's so much interest," Bergevin said. Live sales are up at least $1,000 per animal compared to last year, says Rick Wright, CEO of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada. Statistics Canada says cattle for slaughter were selling for as much as nearly $263 per hundredweight (meaning per 100 pounds of live weight) as of March 2025 — the highest price recorded in the StatsCan data, which goes back to 1985. The cattle market typically moves in 10-year cycles, Wright said. The 2015 market saw prices as high as $193 per hundredweight, but they dropped sharply in 2016, falling to as low as $91 by the end of that year. The current market surge is offering temporary relief from high feed and fuel costs, and global trade uncertainty, Wright says. But while some see opportunity, others are cashing out, raising questions about the long-term future of Canada's industry. Pipestone area farmer Trevor Atchison hopes the current prices will encourage younger people to stay in the industry and help build up North American cattle herds. His family has been in the business for around 100 years and has a herd of about 600 mother and calf pairs. But the soaring prices can be a double-edged sword, he says, making it difficult for new producers to join in while the market is hot. "It just takes so many more dollars to buy," he said. Wright expects to see a further market contraction because the industry is increasingly expensive to get into. At the same time, longtime ranchers are opting to cash out while the money is good. "There are a lot of guys that are my age that are looking at cashing in," said Wright. "The last good time was in '15, and they missed it." That means it will be hard to grow herd numbers, he says, to meet demands for Canadian beef. That generational shift is already showing up in national data. The number of cattle in Canada has dwindled to the lowest levels since 1989, according to a 2024 report from Statistics Canada. Dallas Johnston, who farms near Brookdale, northeast of Brandon, Man., has been raising cattle since the 1980s. Right now, he has about 30 cattle in his herd, after downsizing from 70 over the last couple years. Johnston, who is in his 60s and nearing retirement, knows this may be the best return on cattle he'll ever see. The prices are giving his family time to figure out their next steps. "It's pretty nice when you see guys walk out of the Auction Mart … holding their cheque in their hands and just a big smile on their faces," Johnston said. Meanwhile, any time he visits the grocery store, Johnston makes a point of checking out the meat aisle, and finds the current prices mind-boggling. He thinks it shows that the industry is entering uncharted pricing territory, from the farm to the grocery aisles, and he's not sure it's sustainable. Current prices are making beef a luxury food, like lobster, for special occasions, based on what consumers can afford, Wright says. When he couples that with the current global economic uncertainty, it's hard to gauge how long the high prices will last. Pipestone farmer Atchison says for now, he's counting on consumer demand for Canadian beef to keep the industry strong. "It's supply and demand, and there's lots of demand," Atchison said. "The supply is tight. It just keeps those prices either increasing, or at least holding, for the foreseeable future."
