Why Canadians are reducing their alcohol consumption
Canadians reduced alcoholic consumption has financial implications, writes Peter Watson. Canadians are starting to say no to alcohol. Annual sales have declined the greatest amount during the last 20 years, according to Statistics Canada. A simple summertime cheers for many may now include water, soda pop on ice, or a warm cup of coffee or […]
Here’s the real score: How women’s expansion of professional sports is win-win for everyone
There are many financial and social advantages because women’s professional sports team are expanding in Canada, writes Peter Watson. Canadian women professional sports teams are expanding quickly, and that is good for Canadians and our economy. The Northern Super League operates in Canada, playing soccer in six cities including two from Ontario, Ottawa and Toronto. […]
CPP investment returns are trailing the market. Hint: The fix could lie in a lower-cost strategy
Canada Pension Plan investment results have been disappointing, and changes are needed, writes Peter Watson. Articles written about poor investment performance can be discouraging. Particularly so when the poor performance is reported by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). CPP manages close to $800 billion on behalf of Canadians, and those funds are used to pay […]
Canada’s World Cup hosting: A billion-dollar gamble or a golden opportunity?
The 2026 World Cup is both a soccer tournament and a major investment for Canada. But here is the big question: Is this money well spent? The starting point is economics. Supply and demand are the two forces that determine who pays and who profits. The supply of this word-class event is low. Only one […]
The $210B ‘free trade’ problem: Why Canada must eliminate internal trade barriers
My wish list for Canada is to evolve into a stronger country that can prosper and be economically successful despite the deterioration of a historically strong relationship with our neighbour south of the border. Our federal government has to excel. The Liberals are in power, and their role is to lead. On the other hand, […]
Why managing your team of financial advisers is an important task
There are similarities to how our Prime Minister is trying to manage our country and how individuals manage their finances. The idea for this column came from the news that Prime Minister Carney is considering whether Canada should join the European Union. This would be a strategic move to further develop our European relationships and […]
Here is why Canada might soon need Universal Basic Income
Expect changes to how the federal government reacts if Artificial Intelligence causes job loss, and why we will need to offer UBI, writes Peter Watson. If the adoption of AI results in millions of people losing their jobs, many predict the federal government will have to provide a Universal Basic Income (UBI). In theory, that […]
Ontario mortgage defaults 2026: Why middle-class homeowners are falling behind
Is your home at risk? Peter Watson explains what Ontario homeowners need to know about rising mortgage defaults. Middle-class borrowers defaulting on their mortgage sends a warning signal for the Canadian economy. There are economic danger signals coming from Canadians who have a mortgage. Historically, borrowers with low credit scores were the most likely to […]
How to manage stock market volatility: Why it’s actually a sign of a healthy system
Understanding that stocks can suddenly lose significant value is important before you invest, writes Peter Watson. Are you a nervous investor? There are many reasons that could be the case. U.S. tariffs have upset global trade, including with Canada. The U.S. has threatened our sovereignty and that of other countries. It also boasts about recent […]
Tariffs charged by the U.S. are a disconnect from reality and could be devastating to Canada
Communicating this as a huge windfall is inaccurate, writes Peter Watson. In a world that should be getting smarter, it is hard to understand the disconnect with our neighbour to the south. At the recent State of the Union address, President Donald Trump congratulated himself on implementing tariffs, saying “countries that were ripping us off […]