The Desmarais family is by far the most influential Canadian dynasty of the last half-century. But if you don’t live in Quebec, chances are you haven’t even heard of them. Paul Desmarais had Prime Ministers and Premiers in his pocket and billions of dollars at his disposal. He wasn’t just a Laurentian elite; he was the Laurentian emperor.  Featured in this episode: Robin Philpot (Derrière l’État Desmarais: Power) To learn more: Derrière l’État Desmarais: Power by Robin Philpot Rising to Power: Paul Desmarais and Power Corporation by Dave Greber “Chrétien and Bouchard, sitting in a (very expensive) tree” by Martin Patriquin in Macleans’ This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Leesa and Wealthbar. Additional music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque reNovation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.  “Lee Rosevere” by A List of Ways to Die, adapted. 

This is the story of Canada’s first-ever video game union. And the lengths that the industry went to try to stop it in its tracks

The huge rise in international students in Canada — most of them from Punjab, India — has become one of the biggest stories in the country.

She expected to face opposition from tech companies and governments that are hostile to workers. But what she didn’t anticipate was that one of the biggest obstacles in her path would be a labour union. 

Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.

In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. 

♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust The companies got too large Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪

Not only do Canadian prisoners work for for-profit businesses, but they’re sometimes doing the most dangerous and nauseating work around