Monopolies Killed My Hometown

01/11/2023

Think building more houses will solve Canada's housing crisis?
Think again.

This episode delves into the surprising ways industry consolidation, like St Gobain's recent acquisition, is making housing even more unaffordable. The numbers don't lie, and what we reveal will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about housing in Canada. Don't miss it.

Listen here: https://loom.ly/kJqEJyY

30/10/2023

Celebrating steps taken in the fight against monopolies!
Canada is re-evaluating its competition policy to ensure a level playing field for all. The recent report from the consultation highlights voices heard and promising steps ahead. This is starting to move towards a win for small businesses and certainly a step towards a more balanced marketplace. Dive into a cheery (but realistic) episode here: https://loom.ly/SEOzm3M To read the report, click here: https://loom.ly/lHCUhSk

27/10/2023

Did you know big meat companies’ ventures into other industries can threaten small local businesses? Learn more on Episode 23 of MKHT. You never knew you'd care this much about meat packing - until now. https://loom.ly/viN5mi8

23/10/2023

🔧🚜 Ever heard of the "Right to Repair"? It's more than just tech talk—it's about farmers and their tractors too, especially here in Canada. Consumers should have the ability to repair and modify their own devices and machinery, shouldn't they? That means farmers having access to the tools, parts, and information they need to fix their tractors. Listen to my recent episode on the topic here: https://loom.ly/fSl-l1o and learn more about the right to repair here: https://loom.ly/fwSozAk

20/10/2023

Hey, I'd like to re-introduce myself to our new followers!

Ever wondered why some of our cherished small towns seem a bit... generic? Or why local businesses face such uphill battles? Welcome to "Monopolies Killed My Hometown" - where we dive into these mysteries together.

I'm Andrew Cameron, a fourth-gen Amherstonian. My family's story is woven with local business tales, from my great granddad's tailoring shop in 1911 to my leadership at Northumberland Properties today. But I've watched as big corporations cast long shadows over our local heroes.

This isn't just about looking back—it's about creating a better future. We're challenging monopolies, celebrating local businesses, and reigniting the unique spirit of every town. You can also find out more about monopolies from the think tank I'm a co-founder of, Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project

Let's support vibrant, unique, and proud small towns together! 🌟
Start listening here: https://loom.ly/MqaN-os or on Spotify and Apple Music.

19/10/2023

Competition Tribunal orders Competition Bureau to pay Rogers & Shaw $13M after failed merger block. Taxpayers now covering billionaires' legal bills...what do you think? 🤔 Learn more here: https://loom.ly/3N04usM

10/10/2023

Unfair access to capital and how it's restricting the creation of housing stock:
Tune in to dive deeper ▶️ https://loom.ly/_6EWqRE

08/10/2023

Looking for a new take on the housing affordability crisis and how we ended up here? Check out our recent MKHT episode that delves deep into the world of housing supply and competition. Get ready to explore the dynamic landscape of housing challenges and innovative solutions from my perspective.

🎙️ Tune in here ▶️ https://loom.ly/LcxI3_w

20/09/2023

Hey, history buffs- Have you heard of the fascinating world of the 1930s Canning Industry? Our latest episode takes you on a ride through the Price Spreads Commission's discoveries. Brace yourself for a journey as we uncover the obstacles that farmers faced and the secret agreements that shaped the industry. Listen now here: https://loom.ly/3N04usM or on Spotify and Apple Music by searching Monopolies Killed My Hometown.

17/09/2023

5.8 million new homes are needed by 2030 according to CMHC. A daunting shortage of 3.5 million homes looms large.

Who will shoulder this responsibility?
The customary answer is "the private sector". But this isn't a simple equation. Housing market intricacies are challenging.

Municipalities and Provinces hold a pivotal role here. It's time for them to bolster their real estate industries by fostering new entrants. Enhancing capacity and dismantling barriers is imperative. Have thoughts? Listen to the episode and comment below.

MKHT Podcast 25: Increase Competition to Increase Housing Supply 🎙️ ▶️ https://loom.ly/LcxI3_w

26/07/2023

🇨🇦🏠 There are many factors contributing to Canada's Housing Crisis.

Last week we posted about consolidation in the building supply industry highlighting Saint-Gobain's acquisition of Building Products of Canada (BPCan) this summer, and CertainTeed before them.

This is the question. How can we solve the crisis when we continue to allow consolidation and mergers in the retail and wholesale sectors of the building supply industry who continuously raise the cost of new construction?

🎧 Listen to our latest podcast: https://www.mkht.ca/e24-consol

19/07/2023

🏠🔨 Housing, Construction, and Consolidation. A Crisis Unveiled!

🇨🇦 Canadians are currently experiencing an affordable housing crisis. Recent building supply chain mergers have created a reduction in competition within the industry.

😔💸 Less competition = higher material prices for new construction, renovations, and repairs while homebuyers, homeowners, and renters bear the brunt.

🎧 Listen to the full story on our latest podcast: https://www.mkht.ca/e24-consol

12/07/2023

🥩🏢 The Meat Packaging Industry. What's changed?

In 1933, Canada Packers Limited and the Swift Canadian Company held a staggering 85% of sales in the meat industry. Fast forward to 2023, and we find ourselves in a strikingly similar scenario. JBS and Cargill, the top two meat packaging companies, now also command 85% of sales. 🤔

It's a thought-provoking realization that despite the passage of time, the more things seem to change, the more they remain the same. While the names and faces may differ, the concentration of power and dominance in the industry persists.

💡At MKHT, we shed light on monopolies in Canada to foster dialogue. Join us at https://www.mkht.ca/ to explore more on this topic.

🎧 Listen to podcast Episode 23 - The more things change... the more they stay the same. Meat edition. ▶️ https://www.mkht.ca/e23-the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same-meat-edition/

Who knew? Did you?

05/07/2023

Over the past four decades, as businesses continue to consolidate, far too many hard-working entrepreneurs have been left behind.

Our towns, once bursting with uniqueness and vibrancy, were fueled by locally owned businesses.

But somewhere along the way, in the pursuit of efficiency and consumer welfare, fair competition was sacrificed, and the consequences have been significant. 😔

One of the impacts of business consolidations and mergers on towns is loss of identity.

What about your town? How has it changed?

-monopoly

30/06/2023

Monopolies and oligopolies suffocate competition, and that's bad news for consumers!.

💸 These dominant players control prices, limit choices, and exploit their position, leaving us with higher costs and fewer options.

They set up hurdles that make it tough for new businesses to enter the market and challenge their reign. That means less innovation and fewer fresh ideas.

Collusion, price-fixing, and exclusive contracts are their tools to keep rivals at bay, preventing fair competition and leaving us with less value for our money.

With limited competition, we suffer from higher prices, lower quality, and reduced overall market efficiency. 💸💸

It's time for a more level playing field! ⚖️💪

23/06/2023

🔍 Now let's talk a bit about the Canadian Competition Act. 🇨🇦 It evolved from The Combines Investigation Act in 1986 with a re-defined purpose to ensure fair markets, promote healthy competition, and safeguard the interests of consumers across Canada. Hmm. It clearly isn't working.

🔍 In 2021 Senator Howard Weston commissioned a report “Examining the Canadian Competition Act in the Digital Era.” (link below)

🔍 In my opinion we need to leave the ‘digital economy’ framing behind and restore and improve upon the previous assumptions of the Combines Investigation Act that focused on promoting equal opportunities for businesses no matter what size or part of the country.

🔍 We need to re-introduce and enforce the rules that prevent large businesses, both Canadian and international, from exploiting others through the use of anti-competitive behaviours such as predatory pricing, exploitation of workers, or price-fixing. Think Amazon.

🔍 So I wrote a letter to Senator Weston to share my opinion that what we actually need is A Competition Act for All Canadians.

Give it a read and let me know what you think!
▶️https://www.mkht.ca/a-competition-act-for-all-canadians.

16/06/2023

📢 Let's take a small dive into Canadian history! 🇨🇦 Do you know about the Combines Investigation Act and what made it famous?

🔍 In effect from 1910 to 1986, the Act aimed to regulate anti-competitive practices and prevent the formation of monopolies.

It became famous because it granted non-police officers the power to enter private premises without a search warrant, and to seize suspected evidence of Act violations related to:
🚫 Monopolies
🚫 Misleading advertising
🚫 Bid-rigging
🚫 Price fixing

Interested in learning more about how changes to Canadian Competition laws in the 1980's led to the decline of small towns, and small businesses in this country?
Listen to the podcast ▶️ https://www.mkht.ca/

05/06/2023

Imperial To***co and Amazon Marketplace: A tale of two very different companies with a very similar bullying tactic.

Listening to the MKHT podcast here ▶️ https://mkht.transistor.fm/episodes/e22-the-price-spreads-report-tobacco

***co

29/05/2023

🎙️ Join me on a captivating journey back to our economic history! 🕰️
In the latest episode of Monopolies Killed My Hometown, I revisit the Royal Commission on Price Spreads Report from 1934, focusing on the chapter on Industry.

🔎 This chapter is crucial because it shows how the shift to a consumer-centric competition and anti-trust laws stripped away our identities, reducing us to mere consumers.

🔎 Amherst, with its vibrant manufacturing past, is the backdrop of this podcast. Once renowned as "busy" Amherst, was home to many factories producing train cars, pants, trunks, boots, steel i-beams, airplane parts, license plates, appliances, windows, doors, plastic bags, and the list goes on.

🎙️ Get ready to unravel this captivating story of industry in our introductory episode. Join us now!

🎧👉 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b40c9fd2

17/05/2023

🔎 It's time to examine the impact of Amazon's practices on economic fairness and ensure that policies are in place to promote fair competition and protect consumers.

As someone who grew up in a small town that was devastated by the effects of big corporations, this hits close to home for me. It's important to remember the impact our shopping habits can have on our communities, and to support local businesses whenever we can.

This article by Vox's Recode sheds light on the issue, exploring how Amazon's advertising and sponsored products are taking over our online shopping experiences. 💵 📦📦📦

Read the article here. You might be shocked! ▶️ https://loom.ly/WMnobVc

Let's work together to make sure that monopolies don't continue to kill our hometowns.

Inside the under-the-radar business that makes more money than Amazon Prime.

08/05/2023

🎤💭 Manufacturing and industry drove wealth creation in the Town of Amherst, NS. Let's think about the positive impact they have on our community and bring these opportunities back.

✅ High-paying jobs and local spending helped the community grow.

✅ Locally owned companies kept profits local and supported the community.

✅ Plant owners care about the community's success and often provided leadership.

Think about your community, what was it like before the manufacturers closed their doors for good?

27/04/2023

Are you concerned about the state of community banking in Canada?

In recent years, there has been growing worry that the Big Five banks are dominating the industry, leaving smaller community banks struggling to compete.

This trend can have significant impacts on local economies, as community banks are often more closely connected to the needs and priorities of their customers.

As consumers, we have the power to support our local banks and credit unions by choosing to do business with them whenever possible.

Let's work together to ensure that Canada's banking industry remains diverse and competitive, with plenty of options for Canadians to access the financial services they need.

Learn more on the new MKHT episode here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1e2c882d

21/04/2023

Feeling the expense of groceries? Good news could be on the horizon. Here's some quick facts:

📊 Recent survey: Half of Nova Scotians believe rising food prices are due to grocery chain price gouging.

💼 Proposed Grocer's Code of Conduct: Still lacks enforcement details. We need to be aware and involved so the code reflects the needs of Canadians.

🔍 Hidden fees: Big retail chains imposing unexpected costs, limiting competition and driving up prices.

💰 Implementing the Code: Could (and should) increase competition, bring prices down, and benefit consumers.

Let's work towards fair practices in our grocery supply chain! Stay tuned for updates on the Grocer's Code of Conduct.

17/04/2023

Wondering what garbage has to do with monopolies? Well, in my hometown quite a bit. Recently, our municipality and county combined their tender for garbage removal. This resulted in a tender that only the monopolies could feasibly handle while subsequently wiping out their competition from business - the perfect pathway to higher prices. Interested in learning more? Check out below and listen to MKHT episode 19 now live here: www.mkht.ca/e19/

13/04/2023

And we're back!

I took a small break and have several new episodes to share in the upcoming weeks.
The first one is available for listening to now... and I'm diving into the topic of garbage. Or more specifically, the tendering of garbage services.

You can check it out here:
www.mkht.ca/e19/

21/03/2023

Monopolies 101: The Rise of Technocratic Elites and its Impact on Society

Have you heard of technocratic elites? They are highly educated, specialized individuals who often hold positions of power in government, corporations, and other organizations.

But why are these elites so powerful? In recent years, technocrats have gained significant control over decision-making processes due to their technical expertise.

While expertise is essential, it can also limit public engagement and participation in the democratic process. This raises questions about the role of technocratic elites in shaping our future.

Want to learn more? Tune in to the most recent episode of MKHT.
https://loom.ly/7SRwlDo

17/03/2023

But They Bring Jobs!
Or Do They?

Before celebrating the arrival of the first, or yet another big-box store to your home town have you considered the long-term impact on your community?

Big-box retailers usually operate as monopolies, forcing smaller businesses to close, resulting in job losses and reduced consumer spending. And let's not forget the low wages and poor benefits offered by these retailers.

They prioritize profit over everything else and usually don't care about the impact on local economies. Monopolies have all the power. Is this what we really want in our communities?

11/03/2023

Did you know that anti-trust laws are in place to promote competition, protect consumers, and prevent dominant companies from using their market power to manipulate prices and restrict access to goods and services?

But are these laws really working?

According to CBC News, It's been 5 years since the bread price-fixing probe started. We still don't have any answers.

08/03/2023

ICYMI: Andrew Cameron was on TVO's The Agenda this week speaking on the current state of competition policy in Canada.

From TVO: "A thriving capitalist economy depends on competition, But to listen to Andrew Cameron's podcast, "Monopolies Killed My Hometown," that's not what's happening here. It goes deep on why competition isn't what it once was or could be. To explain more, we welcome Andrew Cameron, co-founder of CAMP, the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project."

Watch it here:
https://www.tvo.org/video/whats-up-with-the-rogers-shaw-merger

Learn more and listen to Monopolies Killed My Hometown here:
www.mkht.ca

Andrew Cameron, host of the podcast, "Monopolies Killed My Hometown," discusses why competition is not what it once was.

16/02/2023

Have you ever wondered why the prices of goods and services in Canada can vary so much?

In 1934, the Royal Commission on Price Spreads was established to investigate this very question. The report, also known as the Rowell-Sirois Report, examined the difference in prices between raw materials and finished goods and made recommendations for national economic policies.

Want to learn more? I have 6 episodes in the MKHT podcast breaking down the report and providing context to what this means for Canadians today.
Listen on your favourite podcasting app or by visiting www.mkht.ca