The Decibel

After years of delays, Canada is launching its national instant payment system. The first phase was initiated on Monday as part of a suite of new financial services aimed at both growing the economy and decreasing reliance on the United States. Workers, companies, retailers and restaurants will be able to receive funds immediately under the new system.
The Globe’s banking reporter, Stefanie Marotta, is on the show to explain how this all works, how Canada compares to other countries, and how it’s ultimately all about sovereignty.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The federal government is making a big bet on AI by promising to invest up to $1.6 billion in the Canadian AI company Cohere. This is unprecedented for a private tech company in Canada – and it’s sparked a debate among experts about how the government should support the AI sector.
The Globe’s AI and technology reporter, Murad Hemmadi, explains why some experts are worried about this investment, why others say it’s essential, and why the government is putting so much money into one company.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The federal government has released the 2026 budget. And this year the focus is on new net spending. It looks to put money toward boosting the housing supply, investing in Canadian businesses and bulking up the cultural sector. How do those ambitions balance against fiscal constraints and a deficit?
Matt Lundy, The Globe’s economics editor, breaks down the big takeaways from the budget and explains what story the Carney government is telling to Canadians.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The U.S. midterm results have seemingly delivered a new era in American politics. On Tuesday, voters helped the Democratic Party take control of the U.S. House and Senate, flipping traditional Republican strongholds and sending a strong message to President Donald Trump. But what does this political shift mean for Canada? Does this impact the trade war? Will this reset U.S.-Canada relations in the next two years?
Doug Saunders, The Globe’s international affairs columnist, joins the show to talk about the ripple effects of the midterms, what it will mean for Carney-Trump relations, and reflects on the power of the U.S. Congress versus presidential powers.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the last several years, the village of Elora, Ont. has undergone a renaissance. Its picturesque downtown has welcomed more than 750,000 visitors annually which is up from 500,000 visitors just a few years prior. A number of Elora’s 19th century buildings have undergone restoration. Many of Elora’s recent real estate developments have been led by Kat Florence, a hotel company that has bought up historic properties and is now one of the village’s largest landlords.
But not everyone in Elora is happy. Some residents have criticized Kat Florence and say the company wields too much power in the village. Kat Florence has pushed back issuing defamation lawsuits and cease-and-desist letters against its loudest critics.
Greg Mercer, investigative journalist with the Globe, reported from Elora. He’s on the show to explain the tensions between residents and developers over a core question: who gets to decide how a community grows and changes?
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.