In This Economy?!

One of the original travel rewards programs in the Canadian market is getting a major rebrand. Air Miles, which has been around since 1992, will soon be called Blue Rewards, as owner BMO refreshes the brand to highlight that it’s about more than just travel. At the same time, a longtime Air Miles partner, Shell, is making a move of its own—joining the Scene+ program operated by Scotiabank. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Patrick Sojka, founder of RewardsCanada.ca which is a Canadian loyalty rewards database, to break down what these changes mean for consumers, and take a broader look at the more than 180 loyalty brands competing for Canadians’ attention.

If you're in the market for a new truck or car, you might face sticker shock! The average price for a new vehicle in the Canadian market is now more than $60,000, and used vehicle prices are on the rise, too. So what options are you left with if you're looking for a new ride but can't afford the inflated price tag? How do tariffs play into the list price? And how will Prime Minister Mark Carney's trade deal with China affect the EV market? Host Mike Eppel speaks to Barish Arkurek, VP Insights and intelligence for Autotader.ca, to discuss what consumers can expect.

The headlines just two weeks into 2026 haven't fallen short of anything abysmal, especially centered around the happenings of US President Donald Trump. And although geopolitical uncertainty usually doesn't help the markets, Canadian stocks have continued to see record highs. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Andrew Pyle, senior investment advisor and senior portfolio manager at CIBC Wood Gundy to discuss the dos and don'ts of investing during volatile times.

2025 was no walk in the park for investors, homeowners, or the ordinary Canadian alike on the economic front, and a little over a week into 2026, and it seems like this year isn't looking any better. Host Mike Eppel speaks to James McCann, Senior Economist at Edward Jones to discuss what Canadians can expect from ongoing trade talks between Canada and the US, how the arrest of Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, will affect Canada's oil sector, and potential interest decisions from the Bank of Canada.

It's been a tumultuous year for the economy to say the least, especially in the interest of real estate and housing. The Bank of Canada cut interest rates nine times, yet buyers are still erring on the side of caution, waiting for some sort of stability before diving head-first into the market. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Shawn Zigelstein, broker and team leader for Royal Lepage to see what Canadians could expect heading into 2026.

It's the kind of relief Canadians have been waiting to see for a while, but year after year, the idea of grocery prices lowering seems to be farther and farther away. Dalhousie University's annual publication, 'Canada's Food Price Report', found that families will be spending an extra 4% on groceries next year, coming out at more than $17,000. Host Mike Eppel speaks to the lead author of the report, Sylvain Charlebois, to discuss the latest in Canada's food market, and whether or not Canadians should hold their breath for lower prices.

Although the 'Buy Canadian' economic movement picked up most of its steam shortly after US President Trump announced tariffs on Canadian goods, the momentum is still going, even amid affordability struggles. A new report from Square Canada says more than 60% of Canadians are willing to support local, Canadian businesses this holiday season even if it means digging deeper into their pockets. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Karisa Marra, head of sales for Square Canada to discuss how Canadians are feeling heading into the holiday season, and how shopping with intention can sometimes feel better than trying to find the best deals.

A recent report by Indeed Canada found that seasonal job postings are up 12% this year compared to 2024, which could offer some respite for those looking for work. Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate remains elevated for the month of October, sitting at 6.9%, while youth unemployment is basically double that at 14.1%. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Brendon Bernard, senior economist at Indeed Canada to break down the report and discuss how the interest in holiday jobs says more about the bigger picture of the state of the economy.

Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced his first budget earlier this week, announcing a $78.3 billion deficit, as well as other major investments in defence, AI initiatives and housing. Included in the 406-page report are changes to improving productivity by implementing corporate tax reforms to incentivize foreign investors, as well as accelerate domestic economic growth. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Mikaela McQuade, policy and economics partner at PWC Canada, to break down whether or not Carney's investment into solving the 'productivity problem' will actually yield the results Canada deserves.

No one likes checking their credit score and seeing a hit to the rating - even the Canadian government. Credit rating agencies are bracing for the upcoming November 4th federal budget, and with a lack of fiscal updates since the last federal budget under the Trudeau government, economists aren't quite sure what they should expect when it comes to the deficit. So just how deep could the red ink run? And will the minority federal government receive the backing from any of the opposition parties to get it passed through the House? Host Mike Eppel speaks to Randall Bartlett, Deputy Chief Economist at Desjardins to discuss what former-banker-turned-Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has up his sleeve for the upcoming budget, and what he plans to do about a potentially ominously large deficit.