The proposed Roger-Shaw Merger is feared to be a stepping stone for increased costs to consumers. Multi Billions of dollars have to be exchanged, and the controlling agent will have to make this cost up somehow. Further fear of a shrinking Communications Monopoly within Canada has spurred politicians to seek a reason for this merger. Monopoly economics has been rooted in Canadian Business Models for many years. A smallish population, distributed over a very large land mass, presents businesses with huge challenges and costs to be assumed.
Many of our industrial and agricultural sectors are controlled by monopolies that allowed them to grow to astronomical power levels by those who these monopolies support financially, and control politically.
Control by monopoly
Agriculture: 85 % of all seed manufacturers are controlled by 5 corporations worldwide, leaving only 12-15% to the free market distribution and sales. Every fertilizer and seed provided to our farmers has been controlled through patents by 5-6 corporations.
Grocery: Canada has only 5-6 major corporations that control and manage a huge network of grocery stores, supplier lists, and distribution networks. A monopoly exists within this sector, with price fixing and lackluster supply chain control nationwide.
Manufacturing: American cars cannot be bought in the US and brought up here. Try it. An agreement in kind exists limiting Canadian consumers to Canadian-supplied vehicles. Furthermore, the Car Giants are limiting the introduction of domestic and foreign manufacturers to enter our economy and market. Believers are in a free market when they actually control said market. New technology is not allowed to develop on its own, establishing its own production facilities. The auto giants will manipulate these manufacturers and acquire any said technology through hook or crook methods. Protectionist activities go with monopolistic methods, limiting competition and driving their financial goals forward.
Communications-Technological Sector: Acquiring, amalgamating, and coopting their sector’s competition is the monopolies methodology. The cost of doing business in this field has driven prices to the roof making Canada’s Communication Sector the most costly in the world. Profits upon profits, where corporations making billions of dollars receive taxpayer’s funds as a corporate welfare scheme. The Federal Government is investigating these monopolies in turn, and while they have the opportunity to open the marketplace to American Businesses, driving Rogers-Bells prices down, they will not. These same said firms donate millions to our political institutions. Greasing the wheels of industry, it is said.
Canada’s economy is equivalent in size to some American states, yet is controlled by said monopolies and the Federal Government. Often working hand in hand, these organizations work for the benefit of shareholders, private equity funds, and owners, not the consumer. Big Government requires Big Bucks to function. It is always easier to work with an oligarchy than a large group of let’s say, legislators, citizens, and consumers. Big business is not democratic in the least but prefers to set certain boundaries that monopolies and authoritarian regimes offer. Look at your marketplace where ever you may be, whether in North or Central America, The Caribbean, Asia, or the EU. You will find the tentacles of monopoly everywhere, with its often hidden influences upon your local governments.
The Canadian and American Marketplace is not a free market, but controlled, manipulated, and regulated by the not-so-new gangsters on the block…Monopolies and their storm troops (The Federal Government). Our North American Economy will continue to be controlled by a smaller and smaller group of financial giants.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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