Conversations That Matter

Health Care on Trial

Ep 409 - Health Care on Trial

Guest: Dr Brian Day

 

A recent Research Co. survey on health care shows that confidence in our healthcare system is dropping. “Three years ago, 77% of Canadians were proud of the healthcare system,” says Mario Canseco. “In 2022, the proportion has dropped by 19 points to 58%.” And an Angus Reid poll showed 70% of British Columbians feel the province is doing a poor job in health care and the opioid crisis.

 

Premier Horgan pointed the finger at Ottawa, saying, “The federal government must come to the table to address a lack of federal funding in health care across the country to protect and improve the services the people rely on.” Dr Brian Day says, “We’re doing an awful job of meeting the health care needs of Canadians. It’s the core reason we started the Cambie Clinic, to give people greater access to health care.”

 

That’s the backdrop against which the Court of Appeal in British Columbia upheld a ban on paying directly for health care and private insurance. A three-justice panel ruled in favour of the BC Medicare Protection Act. The court rejected an argument that the public system fails to deliver timely quality care.

 

We invited Dr Brian Day, the man who is the face of private clinics, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about what now.

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Is Ethanol a Good Fuel Choice?

Ep 408 - Is Ethanol a Good Fuel Choice?

Guest: Marc Rauch

 

As we all know, the price of gas is skyrocketing. It’s a big issue for the President of the United States, namely because he’s under fire to address inflation. His response to soaring fuel prices was to lift a ban on the sale of E15 fuel. E-15 stands for 15% ethanol in the fuel and adding it to gas saves money and reduces carbon output. “A welcome announcement you’d think?” asks Marc Rauch, the Executive VP of the Auto Channel. “It should be!” he answers his own question, “but it wasn’t!”

 

“Ethanol,” says Rauch, “is the forgotten alternative fuel – the only one that blends with current gasoline while improving air quality and saving money.” If ethanol is the magic bullet in the fuel sector, why is it so maligned? Rauch says, “It’s historical and the reasons are hysterical.” Namely, he claims it comes down to the power and influence of the Rockerfeller family.

 

To take us on a fascinating examination of the history of ethanol, we invited Marc Rauch, the author of the “Ethanol Papers”, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the remarkable advantages to a fuel supplement that you can only buy at four gas stations in Canada and sparsely throughout the United States.

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All of Life is a Gamble - Kamal Gupta

“All of life is a gamble, all of it!” says Kamal Gupta, a man who has taken big risks throughout his life – risks he details in his book “Play It Right,” the story of a young graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology who took a chance in the late 1980s and left India for the United States.

 

Gupta’s story is more than the story of an immigrant in search of the “American Dream.” His is a story of a man who took big risks. After securing a well paying job in tech, he became bored. To alleviate his boredom, he became fascinated with blackjack. He was determined to master the game and win. And win, he did. He quit his job and became a professional gambler.

 

Two years later, he bet again and did two things he said he would never do – “work on Wall Street and Live in New York; those were the promises I made to myself,” says Gupta. His journey to the top of the financial markets is fascinating and insightful.  

 

Stuart McNish invited Kamal Gupta, the author of “Play It Right,” to join him for a Conversation That Matters about the value and risks of taking changes and how not taking them is also a gamble. 

 

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Putin’s Long Game Guest: Vice-Admiral US Navy, (Ret) John Stufflebeem

Ep 398 - Putin’s Long Game

Guest: Vice-Admiral US Navy, (Ret) John Stufflebeem

By Stuart McNish

 

The war in the Ukraine has revealed that Russia is ruthless in its tactics, that it is willing to kill noncombatants.  And it has also demonstrated that despite a coalescing of NATO nations, Ukraine is on its own. As retired U.S. Navy Vice-Admiral John Stufflebeem points out. Putin calculated the world's political and economic powers have fractured. He noted they did nothing after he annexed Crimea and devastated Aleppo.

 

So he feels, who's going to stop me? Who would dare? And that is at the core of his thuggish mindset. 

 

Putin has been unabashed in his openness about taking Ukraine under the direct influence of Moscow. He's worked to align Iran, China, North Korea and he's also deepening his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Modi. Stufflebeem says, “Putin has a much larger strategy than the Ukraine and the countries of the former Soviet bloc.”

 

Stufflebeem believes,  “Putin wants to break up the global power grip of the U.S. and believes a multi-front assault in Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East will overwhelm U.S. and allied resources.” 

 

According to Stufflebeem, “Putin has shown he is willing to twitch his finger on nuclear weapons, and he's preparing to or has already launched cyber attacks that will grow in magnitude.” He asks, “Will those cyber attacks be a Pearl Harbor moment that launches a larger global conflict?” 

 

Stuart McNish invited retired Vice-Admiral of the U.S. Navy, John Stufflebeem, to join him for a conversation that matters about the implications of allowing Russia to go unopposed in Ukraine. 

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It’s Lonely at the Top Guest: Ron Bremner

Ep 397 - It’s Lonely at the Top

Guest: Ron Bremner

By Stuart McNish

 

"It's lonely at the top" is the famous line in Shakespeare's Henry IV. The King had a very challenging reign; he felt alone in his misery. “It’s lonely at the top” speaks to the theory that leaders are not only lonely, they’re also isolated – which raises the questions: are they? And if so, where do they find companionship and trust?

 

Executive coach Ron Bremner says, “One of the challenges is as a CEO or executive leader, you can’t ponder or wonder or muse about anything with the people who report to you. What you do, say, think, and decide impacts them and they all want to know you are in control and in charge.” 

 

Bremner goes on to say, “If you appear to be uncertain or inconsistent, your team will lose confidence in you and that’s why you need to find a trusted advisor to work your way through the many challenges you face.”

 

Stuart McNish invited Ron Bremner to join him for a Conversation that Matters about why and how executive coaches play an important role in the lives of leaders.

 

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Is Vancouver a Headquarter Ghost Town? Guest: Jock Finlayson

Ep 396 - Is Vancouver a Headquarter Ghost Town?

Guest: Jock Finlayson

By Stuart McNish

 

Is Vancouver a head office ghost town? “The numbers say no, but they also say we’re not doing well and the prospects of a change of fortunes are slim and dim,” says Jock Finlayson, the past chief economist of the Business Council of BC.

 

Head offices are highly sought after by any city because they generate employment, taxes and attract professional and financial services that support corporate headquarters. Calgary has established itself as more than just an energy hub – it is also the most concentrated headquarter city in Canada.

 

The presence – or lack of presence – of head offices speaks volumes about a city. Is it business focused? Does the city government understand or appreciate the needs of a corporate head office and do they care? Why should you care?

 

Finlayson says, “Vancouver is in a tough spot given our woeful combination of sky-high housing costs and modest incomes. The city has long struggled to expand and retain a base of corporate head offices, trailing Toronto and Calgary.” As well, based on a percentage of HQ’s per 100,000 people, we do even worse. In fact, Regina has a higher concentration than Vancouver.

 

Stuart McNish invited Jock Finlayson to join him for a Conversation That Matters about why Vancouver’s only hope is to work with and help grow existing firms.

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Financial Cold War - James Fok

April 15 , 2022

Ep 395 - Financial Cold War

Guest: James Fok

By Stuart McNish

 

Are China and the US sliding into Thucydides’s Trap? Are they bound to follow history or can they work together to avoid war? In “Financial Cold War,” author James Fok examines “the relationship between the two superpowers through the lens of financial markets.” The book reveals how the global financial system is contributing to geopolitical tensions and offers a pragmatic approach to de-escalation.

 

Fok explains, “Little attention has been paid to the diverse range of policies, regulations, infrastructures, and conventions that support the global financial system. Without an appreciation of these and the history of how the system has come about, it is difficult to understand the full scope of the systemic financial challenges facing the world’s two largest economies, much less devise effective strategies for navigating the treacherous waters we’re in.”

 

Stuart McNish invited James Fok to join him for a Conversation That Matters about potential outcomes of the tensions between the US and China and what you need to pay attention to as Premier Xi strives to make China great again.

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The Great Wealth Transfer

April 8 , 2022

Ep 394 - The Great Wealth Transfer

Guest: Nicole Garton

By Stuart McNish

 

According to Forbes magazine, “Over the next two decades, an unprecedented shift of demographics and finances will take place and will likely be felt by every American” and, by extension, every Canadian.  That’s because baby boomers are expected to transfer in excess of $30 trillion to the next generation – an exchange of wealth that has been dubbed the “great wealth transfer.”

 

Much (while not all) of that wealth is in the form of family-owned businesses – businesses that, even when endowed with huge amounts of money and support from the best lawyers available, still blow up. Look at the Rogers family as an example: a nasty family feud that arrived on the headlines on the heels of the Stronach civil war.

 

“If the rich can’t handle it,” wonders Nicole Garton, “how can the average - to medium - to small-sized family business hope to navigate the choppy waters of succession?” In her book “Harnessing Conflict: How Family Businesses Can Thrive and Survive,” Garton addresses the myriad issues that need to be attended to when passing ownership of the family business onto the next generation.

 

Stuart McNish invited Nicole Garton to join him for a Conversation that Matters that every family business must have when planning a transfer of ownership.

 

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Social Media - Good or Bad? - Dr Cody Buntain

Ep 393 - Social Media - Good or Bad?

Guest: Dr Cody Buntain

By Stuart McNish

 

Don’t you wish there was an app that lets you know which one of the people you know is an opinionated, bigoted, racist, mysoginistic, conspiracy theory idiot? Oh wait, there is! In fact, there are many and collectively, they are known as social media. “That is a big problem,” says Dr. Cody Buntain, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland’s College of Information.

 

Dr. Buntain points out that “TikTok is trying to address this issue by launching its ‘Ineligible For Your Feed,’ whereby the app will automatically control your feed.” The feature is part of TikTok’s policy change aimed at promoting safety, security, and well-being for users.

 

“All of those issues are part of the dark side of Social Media,” says Buntain. He also points to the American Economic Review study “The Welfare Effects of Social Media,” which states that “the rise of social media has provoked both optimism about societal benefits and concerns about harms such as addiction, depression and political polarization.” Or as John Vervaike, the author of, “Zombies in Western Culture,” posits: “Are we losing touch with reality?”

 

Stuart McNish invited Dr. Cody Buntain to join him for a Conversation that Matters about the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media and what you can do to protect yourself.

 

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Beef Industry’s Commitment to Carbon Reduction: Ruaraidh Petre

Ep 375 - Beef Industry’s Commitment to Carbon Reduction 

Guest: Ruaraidh Petre 

 

The beef industry is feeling the heat. That heat is the ongoing campaign directed at cattle as a negative force upon the environment and in particular climate. While the industry in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America is already striving to reduce the environmental impact of cows, the rest of the world is also getting on-side.

 

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is a worldwide organization that has set an ambitious 30% greenhouse gas reduction target through responsible and innovative agricultural practices, coupled with the use of new technology.  Ruaraidh Petre, the Executive Director of GRSB says, “Paramount in our mission is animal health and welfare. Cattle require an environment in which they can thrive.”

 

Essential elements in ensuring the industry meets its targets are grassland management and herd size. Professor Myles Allen, an IPCC climate scientist and professor at Oxford University says, “A stable herd size is one that is not adding new methane and therefore has a minimal impact and, more interestingly, if the herd size declines, the impact on climate will actually be a reduction in global temperatures.”

 

For the Global Roundtable, it says that is just one element of its comprehensive plan to address climate and environment. Petre says, “Many producers and farmers are already net positive contributors to nature and for those that need assistance in making positive changes, the GRSB offers financing, and developmental support.”

 

We invited Ruariaidh Petre to join us from Nelson, New Zealand for a Conversation That Matters about the global effort underway to ensure cattle are a sustainable nutritional and environmental part of the world food supply.

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