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October 1, 2025  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (September 27, 2025)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Sherena Hussain and Marianne Dimain, talking significant changes at Canada Post, more US tariffs, Canadian GDP growth, and Tim Hortons gear; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

Meaningful change at Canada Post is long overdue, given the decline in letter volume to less than one-half of 2006 levels, years of significant losses, and the current year’s loss projected at over $1 billion.  If Canada Post was a “regular company”, it would not be in business, as this scenario is not viable.  Infrastructure levels that are consistent with consumer demand of years ago, including staff, services, and facilities, are simply not sustainable, in the current reality, but also in terms of future needs.  It is unhelpful for anyone involved in this matter to perpetuate unrealistic demands, and doing so may result in others stepping up to make the necessary structural changes.

This brings to mind an age-old consultant question, in times of change: do you want to have a role in defining the changes that will impact you, or have others make the decisions on your behalf?  This reality is one that should be considered carefully, and a better indication of next steps at Canada Post should be announced in 45 days or less.

Thanks for watching!

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August 18, 2025  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (August, 2025)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Cristian Bravo, Moshe Lander, and Mark Carcasole, talking the Air Canada strike; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

In a competitive business environment, companies must ensure that their primary focus is on their customer, as attracting and retaining them is key to a company’s survival.  Experienced business leaders understand how difficult it is to attract and keep customers, especially since consumers generally have numerous alternatives.  This simple reality is a given in the business world, and demonstrates just how far off the map Canada’s airline industry is, in terms of customer focus.

A key responsibility of those in senior roles is to maintain relationships; this includes between a company and its staff/labour group; another important responsibility is solving problems.  The current situation demonstrates that neither party has done so, leaving their customer to incur the impact of this failure, including vacations ruined, business trips cancelled, being stranded abroad, and facing extensive unexpected costs.  This situation, quite frankly, is unacceptable.

Thank you for watching!

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February 9, 2025  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (February, 2025)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Elmer Kim and Marianne Dimain, talking Trump tariff threats and the future of Canada Post; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

Emotions are understandably running high, as it goes without saying: Canada is nobody’s state.  Regardless of what actions are taken by the US, Canadians must take immediate steps to strengthen the position of our country.  This includes diversifying Canada’s global trade relationships and making it easier for Canadian companies to do business both globally and across the country.  While ideas are a helpful starting point, it is critical that the implementation aspect be well designed, recognizing that Canadian businesses require capital and practical advice to successfully develop and execute growth strategies.

One of the best realities about Trump’s threats is that everyone in Canada can play a role in the response, including all levels of government, businesses, and consumers.  Canada is and will always be stronger together, so let’s step up and proudly support our great country!

Thanks for watching and see you again soon.

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September 15, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (September, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Sherena Hussain and Marianne Dimain, talking Air Canada’s labour dispute, the ongoing housing market slump, and new cashier kiosks at McDonald’s.  You can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

In a competitive marketplace, businesses must be able to attract and retain customers on an ongoing basis, otherwise, the company’s future is at risk; this simple fact is obvious to anyone with business experience.  Contrast this reality for most businesses, with Canada’s air travel industry, that is dominated by a small number of large companies (Air Canada and Westjet, in particular).  Service disruptions and shutdowns that arise from labour disputes impact the customer more than anyone, as they are not directly involved in the dispute, but are inconvenienced by it the most, as carefully made travel plans going out the window, with what seems to be little concern from either the company or the labour group.  Anyone who has been in this situation is familiar with the uncertainty, challenges, frustration, and costs that tend to arise, with little meaningful assistance available (and if any recognition of the significant negative impact on customers is given, it tends to come across as insincere, at best).

The irony is that it is the customer who effectively pays the salaries or both staff and management, by way of the flights that they purchase; too bad that there seems to be so little given in return to get to a solution in times like these.

Thanks for watching; enjoy these last few days of Summer weather!

Footnote:  The impending labour dispute at Air Canada was reported as a tentative agreement having been reached by the end of the day when our segment aired.

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August 26, 2024  by

Celebrating 7 Years on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (August, 2024)

Extremely grateful to celebrate seven years on the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel; there is nothing like live TV!  It started with two and a half years of appearances on set in CBC’s flagship studio, followed by a longer period of remote work, covering a wide range of business stories.  Below is a sample of topics where I have provided commentary over the past seven years (over 130 lines and counting!), all of it live:

Stories of particular interest to me are those that can bring in a range of factors, such as demographics, changing consumer preferences, global business trends, and even the political landscape.  Thanks for watching; it is a privilege to bring the news to you!

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August 19, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (August, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Elmer Kim and Marianne Dimain talking Canada Jetlines stops flying, growth in Canadian housing starts, and the membership crackdown at Costco.  You can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

I’ve seen many situations where entrepreneurs and potential business leaders are keen to get their new venture up and running.  Although this type of excitement is understandable, they tend to underestimate the problems that are likely to occur after launch, with some of these being issues that were identified in the planning stage, but not resolved, while others are challenges that might not have been anticipated.  Either way, problems that occur during operations cost “real money”, while those identified in the planning stage occur “on paper”.  This is why it is so critical to delay launch until these issues have been resolved.

Starting a company with insufficient capital is likely to result in strained operations, including cashflow problems and the inability to operate; this does little to raise confidence in the marketplace, something that is of critical importance to new ventures.  It is difficult enough to operate a company during periods of insufficient capital, much less a growing business, as growth requires money for various reasons.  The tip?  Keep the company parked in the planning stage until such time that critical issues are resolved.

Thanks for watching, and see you again soon!

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July 11, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (June, 2024)

Throwback to a breaking news edition of the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Sherena Hussain and Marianne Dimain talking the Westjet strike; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

Customers should not be impacted by a company’s internal matters, such as managing its staff group; the fact that this strike occurred on a long weekend at the end of the school year makes it obvious that vacationers and families were likely the most hurt by the hundreds of cancelled flights and chaos that resulted from this work stoppage.

Leaders are responsible for managing numerous stakeholder relationships, which need to be addressed on a proactive and ongoing basis; this applies to both Westjet and the union, and collective bargaining should also be done in good faith.  In a competitive business marketplace, customers that are treated poorly and not valued have the opportunity to take their business elsewhere, however, given that lack of competition in the Canadian air travel sector, they are too often relegated to a ”bit player” role in a company/union saga; this is unacceptable.

Customer loyalty should never be taken for granted, and their money has a direct impact to funding a company’s payroll.  Staff members are obviously an important component of any business, but in the absence of a loyal customer base, companies don’t need staff, as they typically are not sustainable entities.  In this scenario of limited competition, air travelers are left to keep their options open and transact with the business that serves them best, on a case by case basis, which is, effectively, the opposite of loyalty.

Thanks for watching!

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July 8, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (July, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel, alongside Jeanhy Shim and Marianne Dimain talking Hudson Bay Co’s deal to purchase luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, home sales plummeting, and the abundance of vacant downtown office space.   You can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

One of the typical statements that is made when a merger or acquisition occurs is the expectation that “synergies” will be realized; these are often touted as being “significant”.  Types of synergies may include decreasing staffing levels, office or warehouse space, and combining technology systems.  It is important to remember that synergies are theoretical until they are achieved, and doing so is typically a difficult and lengthy process.

Those with significant implementation experience know the many pitfalls of achieving synergies, including:

  • System and information requirements that do not combine well, service providers who cannot get the job done, user backlash, and excuses (so many excuses);
  • The challenges of downsizing staff groups, often fraught with meddling from senior managers and executives, in terms of who should depart and who should stay (i.e., “not my people; those people over there should go”, etc.); and
  • Redundant space that is leased or owned, which takes time to divest.

This scenario can go on for years, while costs continue to be incurred, and it is not uncommon for synergies to not be realized at all.  When this happens, “duplication” results, an expensive, if not fatal, outcome.  Time will tell if the intended synergies can be realized in this particular situation.

Thanks for watching!

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May 6, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (May, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel alongside Mark Warner and Linda Ward, talking the Loblaws grocery boycott, London Drugs cyberattack, and ride-hailing startup, Hovr; you can watch our segment here.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight:

A key aspect of holding a senior executive role is solving problems, not only within the company, but also more broadly; this could include working with external parties, such as government, regulators, and competitors.  Consumers have faced high grocery prices for years and this story has been reported from a number of aspects.  This is coupled with reporting on significant grocery retailer profits and CEO compensation increase requests, as well as the impact of supply chain challenges and rising labour costs.

There is an opportunity to find solutions around high grocery costs and to communicate with consumers about strategies that are being undertaken, in a transparent and proactive manner.  Instead of reactive pushback and criticism of initiatives, such as a Grocery Code of Conduct, executives should be working collaboratively to develop what is possible; this requires leadership.

Thank you for watching!

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March 4, 2024  by

MEDIA: CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel (March, 2024)

Pleased to join the CBC News Network Weekend Business Panel alongside Mark Warner and Linda Ward, talking The Body Shop’s store closures, the Wendy’s surge pricing controversy, and questions around the fairness of Cineplex online booking fees.  You can watch our segment here and the Weekend Business Panel on Saturday mornings at around 10:15 AM ET on CBC News Network.

This week’s Business Advisor Highlight (it’s a simple one):

CEO’s and senior executives need to remember to be very careful about what they say, especially in a public venue, as they are viewed to be speaking on behalf of the company.  In the case of Wendy’s CEO, comments and content on a presentation slide resulted in lots of media attention, in terms of the potential use of dynamic pricing to increase prices when restaurant traffic peaks.  Although this issue was clarified in a media release after the fact, being careful with wording and considering how it could be construed would have avoided this controversy.

I recall reading a study years ago that debunked the myth that CEO’s and business leaders can “do whatever they want”, by stating that research indicated the opposite; that business leaders typically exhibit lower levels of risky behaviour in relation to the decisions that they make, because there is more at stake.  This is analogous to the idea that behaviour becomes less risky, as the job held increases in seniority.  I have never forgotten this concept, and it is a good reminder, despite the fact that we see what can only be described as billionaire business leader bad behaviour on a fairly regular basis.

Thanks for watching!

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