Cost of Living

Germany has Volkswagen. Japan has Toyota. So why doesn't Canada have a car? We explore what it would take to build an all-Canadian automobile.

Trump tariffs are supposed to "Make Manufacturing Great Again." Only, robots are a thing now. So why is he scrambling up the global economy when the factory jobs he talks about are stuck in the 1970s? 

Prefab housing is getting a lot of attention as a way to solve the housing crisis. But so far, it hasn't caught on in a big way. So what would it take to transform housing construction into something closer to the auto industry?

Leaders in Canada are talking about building a lot of stuff right now: pipelines, ports, railways and highways. As one expert puts it, "We can build anything. But we can't build everything." So what should go ahead? And how much will it cost?

Sure, the internet belongs to everyone. But a handful of big companies exert a tremendous amount of control over it. Now two of them, Meta and Google, face antitrust charges in the United States. So what does this mean for the future of our online experience?

With Canada under pressure to meet its NATO commitments, the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP are making promises to increase military spending. So, could we leverage that money to spur innovation and boost the Canadian economy? 

It's not a trivial question. In fact, how people are feeling about their finances can be a key economic indicator. And right now, that indicator is flashing red. So we thought we'd fan out across the country and ask people — how's it going?

Economist Justin Wolfers says Trump’s tariffs are "madness" and — on behalf of America — wants to apologize. He tells us why the U.S. president’s zero sum view of economics fails to understand the benefits of global trade.

Toronto and Vancouver can't build housing fast enough to keep up with demand. So what if Canada invested billions to turn a smaller city into their superstar rival? Could it create balance in the housing universe?

When people are nervous about the future of the economy, they often hold back. Maybe they don’t buy that new fridge or take that new job in a different province. It all adds up to a potential stall in our economy. And that just makes people even more uncertain. But is there a way to break the cycle?

Back when North American free trade was still just an idea, Liberal leader John Turner opposed it. He warned that handing over the "economic levers" could lead to a loss of Canada's political independence. Brian Mulroney won the election and free trade brought Canada all kinds of prosperity. But now? Well, we explore why Turner's ideas are having an "I told you so" moment. 

Some believe there's a silver lining to our neighbour to the south suddenly turning hostile. Paul Haavardsrud talks to a couple of experts who say it's time to put the pedal to the metal — and get the economy back on track.

The U.S. wants to eat our economic lunch — to lure jobs, companies and head offices to America. The thing is, Canadian capital has been moving south for years. Can we stem the tide?

If U.S President Donald Trump goes ahead with his plan to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian exports, Canada will retaliate with its own tariffs. Trouble is, the U.S. isn't nearly as dependent on exports as we are. 

The former governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz has helped guide Canada through some uncertain times. But right now, he says his worry meter is "pretty far up there."

We’ve known for a long time that being too dependent on the U.S. makes us vulnerable. They are our largest trading partner, but they aren't the only country in the world. Is it finally time for Canada to make more friends?

Both countries have just been given a 30-day reprieve from Trump's tariffs. So, can we work together to fend off the looming trade war with the U.S.? Paul Haavardsrud speaks with the former vice minister of trade for Mexico, Juan Carlos Baker, about what happens now. 

In a historic act of economic aggression, President Trump has made good on his promise and imposed across-the-board tariffs. And Canada has hit back.