Conversations That Matter

Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag Guest: Ken Peacock

Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag

Guest:  Ken Peacock

By Stuart McNish

 

The government of British Columbia is aiming to lower CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. It’s a bold ambition – one that will reduce the BC economy by $28.1 billion, according to a model created by the CleanBC Roadmap. Ken Peacock, the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC)’s Chief Economist, examined the model and discovered the stunning numbers.

 

Peacock says, “A $28.1-billion setback is significant.” After adding in emissions caps and a scheduled doubling of the carbon tax over the next seven years, Peacock points out, it “will dampen investment and cap exports.” 

 

Peacock says, “We’re concerned about serious job losses and serious impact to income over the next six years.” Canada is already the poorest performing country in the OECD in per-capita GDP growth. According to BCBC’s analysis, provincial average annual economic growth will slow to 0.4 per cent in the second half of this decade.

I invited Ken Peacock to join me for a Conversation That Matters about setting realistic goals and timelines.

You can see the interview on https://vancouversun.com/tag/conversations-that-matter/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty Guest: Jock Finlayson

Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty

Guest:  Jock Finlayson

By Stuart McNish

 

Energy poverty, according to the Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners, refers to “the experience of households or communities that struggle to heat their homes and power their lights and appliances” – a reality that is playing itself out in the Maritime provinces of Canada, and it has forced the hand of the Prime Minister to offer financial relief.

 

In his blog, “The Honest Broker,” Roger Pielke Jr. wrote of the “Iron Law of Climate Policy,” a law that demonstrates that when push comes to shove, governments will wilt under pressure from voter’s wallets. “It is,” Pielke says, “a boundary condition.”

 

The theory of “using higher-priced energy as a tool to accelerate decarbonization makes perfect sense – in bloodless computer models.” Noted economist Jock Finlayson agrees and adds, “In the real world, it is a theory that does not survive contact with the harsh financial realities it imposes on most people.” 

 

We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the cost of implementing policies that fail to meet their objectives and the hardship they incur.

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra Guest: Drew Collier

Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra

Guest:  Drew Collier

By Stuart McNish

 

Social purpose is emerging as an important and necessary part of business. “What is social purpose?” you ask. Drew Collier, the President and CEO of LGM Financial Services says, “Social purpose is the reason to be in business. It is not just a nice-to-have policy. It is the company’s reason for being – its social ambition – and it is the path to profitability.” It is, in the words of Simon Sinek, “the ‘why we do what we do,’ versus the ‘what we do.’”

 

In 2022, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock (the largest investment firm in the world), in his letter to CEOs, said, “Your company’s purpose is its north star. Putting your company’s purpose at the foundation of your relationships with stakeholders is critical to long-term success. Employees need to understand and connect with your purpose and when they do, they can be your staunchest advocates.”

 

The focus on purpose is a move beyond corporate social responsibility, which is a focus on doing good things because they were good. “Social purpose,” Collier says, “is a guidepost that informs products, services, a company’s goals and strategies.”

 

We invited Drew Collier to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a new way of doing business and doing it with an objective of contributing to a better world.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 478- What is Keto Diet? Guest: Dr. David Harper

Ep 478- What is Keto Diet?

Guest:  Dr. David Harper

By Stuart McNish

 

“For 30 years, I taught the wrong stuff to generations of students. I taught them that a low-fat high-carb diet was the way to eat to prevent chronic disease and I got it wrong,” says Dr. David Harper, the co-author of the “BioDiet: The Scientifically Proven, Ketogenic Way to Lose Weight and Improve Health.” Harper goes on to say, “We now have 20 years of scientific evidence that a well-formulated ketogenic diet reduces chronic disease.”

 

Harper is focused on cancer and he stresses that “a ketogenic diet is not a cure for cancer; rather, it is an effective adjunct therapy along with a standard of care.” Until recently, Harper was a visiting scientist at the BC Cancer Research Centre’s Terry Fox Laboratory. His research indicates that a ketogenic diet has multiple health benefits in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight reduction.

 

“The Axis of Illness,” according to Harper are “insulin resistance, obesity and inflammation – all of which are fueled by carbohydrates leading to chronic disease.” A keto diet, coupled with exercise, is an effective way to diminish weight, inflammation and reduce insulin resistance.

 

We invited Dr David Harper to join us for a Conversation That Matters about food as medicine.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 477 - Canada: The World is a Hard Place Guest: John Rapley

Ep 477 - Canada: The World is a Hard Place

Guest:  John Rapley

By Stuart McNish

 

In the diplomatic spat between India and Canada, a rising India shows Canada that money is power, says John Rapley, a political economist at the University of Cambridge. He goes on to say that Canada is finding the world a hard place, and points out that it comes as a shock to Canada, namely because of its sense of itself.

 

Canada has historically been dominant – one of the world's biggest economies, a founding member of the world's most powerful military alliance, and a rich country whose aid programs gave it considerable leverage over developing countries. But as Ottawa squares off with New Delhi over the recent alleged assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, Rapley says, “It is being left largely to fight its own battle.”

 

In other words, Canada has stranded itself diplomatically at a time when the U.S. and U.K. have been building the so-called “quad” with Australia, India and Japan, as a safeguard to rising tensions with China. It gets worse, Rapley says. “Not only does Canada now occupy a less significant geopolitical space, but the country is a notorious shirk, or as an ally, with a recently leaked Pentagon paper revealing that Canada's NATO partners no longer consider us as a serious member of the alliance.”

 

We invited John Rapley to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Canada's shrinking reputation internationally.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 476 - Eat More - That’s the Message Guest: Dr Marion Nestle

Ep 476 - Eat More - That’s the Message

Guest:  Dr Marion Nestle

By Stuart McNish

 

“We live in a food environment that encourages people to eat as much as possible,” says Dr. Marion Nestle. “Fighting those overwhelming messages and mustering up resistance is next to impossible!” The history of the “consume more” movement, says Nestle, “came about as a remedy to diseases of deficiency.” The message was so successful that Healthline now estimates that “42 percent of Americans are obese and two-thirds are overweight.”

 

In her book, “Food Politics,” Dr. Nestle demonstrates the impact of the 900-billion-dollar-plus food industry and its ability to influence our health. Dr. Nestle says, “Our over-efficient food industry must do everything possible to persuade people to eat more – more food, more often, and in larger portions – no matter what it does to waistlines or wellbeing.”

 

We invited Dr. Marion Nestle, whom Forbes magazine listed as the number-two most powerful foodie in the world, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about food.

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 475 - Rent Control: A Blunt Tool Guest: David Hutniak

Ep 475 -  Rent Control: A Blunt Tool

Guest: David Hutniak

By Stuart McNish

 

Housing affordability is a North American-wide issue. In the U.S., only seven states and Washington, D.C. have imposed rent controls as a measure to address housing affordability. Only seven states – largely because it is believed they don't work. In a poll conducted by the American Economic Association, 93% of its members agreed that a ceiling on rent controls reduces the quality and quantity of housing.

 

David Hutniak, the CEO of Landlord B.C., in a recent letter to Premier Eby, said, “Rent control is a flagship political tool and a promise that is far more complex than it first appears. It is not the comprehensive form of tenant protection it is billed to be. It is commonly accepted that rent controls benefit current tenants. It does so at the expense of future ones.”

 

Hutniak further pointed out that rent control is a blunt tool that continually delivers negative blows to the British Columbian rental housing market. Tenants and landlords both want a balanced rental market. Hutniak adds, “When the provincial government continues to penalize landlords for a problem created by all three levels of government, landlords and developers are less inclined to grow their businesses [and] less likely to build new rental housing.” The result is a reduction in the supply of housing.

 

We invited David Hutniak of Landlord B.C. to join us for a Conversation That Matters about effective ways to create affordable rental housing.  You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 474 - How Markets Shape Cities Guest: Alain Bertaud

Ep 474 -  How Markets Shape Cities

Guest: Alain Bertaud

By Stuart McNish

 

What is a city and why does it exist? That may seem like a simple question but according to Alain Bertaud, the author of “Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities,” the answer is “not merely to house people but rather accommodate labour markets.” He goes on to acknowledge, “People are the most important part. They are the main attraction.”

 

The challenge for city planners, argues Bertaud, is that “they run into the interdependence between state and markets and the tension that results when allocating resources.” When facilitating the needs of markets, Bertaud contends that “planners are focused on building codes and architecture and not the needs of markets.” He says that planners need to work with urban economists.

 

We invited Alain Bertaud, the author of “Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how markets shape our cities. 

 

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation Guest: Laura Alfaro

Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation

Guest: Laura Alfaro

By Stuart McNish

 

“Nearshoring, friendshoring and onshoring” are terms that are becoming common in reference to moves within the United States to address a number of issues associated with global value chains. According to co-author Laura Alfaro of a paper that was prepared for the Jackson Hole Symposium in 2023, there is a, “Looming Great Relocation” on the horizon.

 

Alfaro says, “The evidence is clear – the US reliance on China peaked in 2017. The introduction of tariffs by President Trump, the continued application of those tariffs by President Biden, and the ongoing power play between the two countries has brought about changes to distribution channels.” 

 

According to Alfaro, “Vietnam and Mexico have and [will] continue to rise in prominence as preferred trading partners. And while Canada has slipped over the past 30 years, it still remains a strong trading partner.”

 

We invited Laura Alfaro of the Harvard Business School to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the shifting trade patterns and relationships that are underway.

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility Guest: Joel Dembe

Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility

Guest: Joel Dembe

By Stuart McNish

 

“Accessibility” is a word that you hear more of, and for good reason. Canadian Paralympian Joel Dembe says, “Being accessible is essential when creating a strong and inclusive workplace and society. And it's good business. It’s good business in so many ways – namely it’s good for the bottom line.”  

 

According to Jason Keck, the CEO and Co-Founder of Broker Buddha, “Diverse and inclusive companies are 35% more likely to surpass their competitors.” Joel Dembe adds, “Companies with diverse workplaces are six times more likely to be innovative and anticipate choppy headwaters and then adapt to meet new opportunities.”

 

According to the Web Accessibility Platform, AudioEye, “more than 1.3 billion people, that’s one in six people who live with some type of a disability.” Joel Dembe points out, “ I often tell business leaders we have to see disability as an economic opportunity.”

 

We invited tennis and accessibility champion and RBC Senior Manager of Communications Joel Dembe to join us for a Conversation That Matters about removing barriers.