Also: The number of workers in this program has doubled since 2020. But the government is actually scrutizing fewer and fewer worksites, despite internal warnings that they should scale up random inspections #canpoli #bcpoli

Some other grocers, asked to stabilize soaring food prices, asked the government for favours -- including increasing work hours for international students and easing labelling requirements on food.

This is a story from me and @maeveellis.bsky.social with some fascinating behind the scenes at negotiations between big retailers and the federal government.

At one point, when asked to highlight his company's work on affordability, Galen Weston of Loblaw sent a minister coupons

Some recently released privy council data also show threats (including death threats) against federal cabinet members became way, way more common between 2019 and 2024.

the other place has its moments

I always ask authorities facing some kind of emerging problem: what do you need?

And usually the answer I expect is: more resources, more staff, money

So I was caught off guard when a senior RCMP official told me bluntly that this is not a problem money can solve

For this story I interviewed a victim in Ontario who recently lost $60k in an online investment fraud scam

The best data we have suggests losses in Canada to this type of fraud was $310 million last year -- and that's likely only a tiny fraction of the real figure

To be super clear: there's little evidence this is happening right now, thankfully.

There was one significant seizure of Canadian fent in Aus in 2022. But since then, only minuscule amounts seized, and wastewater data suggest fentanyl use in Aus is near historic lows

Compared to US elections, $470,000 is not a lot of money.

But for context -- it's the most any third-party advertiser has reported spending in B.C. since at least 2013. And it's more than double what anyone else spent