The Loonie Hour

Ottawa says immigration is slowing down, but do the numbers tell a different story? Are they quietly opening the door to more immigration than Canadians have been led to believe? Today, we're joined by Ben Rabidoux to break down Carney's latest immigration plan, the numbers behind permanent residency targets, and the growing asylum backlog.
We also discuss the implications for Canada's housing market, wages, and economic growth, along with the federal budget, the Bank of Canada's next interest rate decision, and the growing risks in global financial markets.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
07:30 Ben Rabidoux Joins The Show
09:20 Canada's Immigration and Population Outlook
11:35 Carney's Immigration Math
12:20 The One-Time Immigration Measures
14:21 From Temporary to Permanent Residency
17:08 What This Means for Canada's Population
20:00 Immigration, Housing, and Wages
26:20 Removing the Foreign Buyer Ban?
33:34 The Outlook for New Construction
35:13 Canada's Temporary Resident Problem
38:57 The Growing Asylum Backlog
44:16 Canada's Federal Budget and Housing
50:30 Banking and Financial Risks
54:13 Will the Bank of Canada Hike Again?
58:55 Breaking Down Canada's Federal Budget
1:02:31 Business Investment and Tax Incentives
1:06:22 Canada's Economic Forecasts
1:09:54 The AI Bubble and Stock Market Risks
1:14:43 US Inflation and Interest Rates
1:17:59 The UK's Bond Market Problem
1:20:44 Could a Global Debt Crisis Trigger QE?

Disclaimer:
The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets.

#LoonieHour #macroeconomics #carney

Is Europe's sovereign debt bubble finally bursting, and could Canada be heading down the same economic path? Today, we're joined by economist and fund manager Daniel Lacalle to discuss the growing risks in global sovereign debt markets, Europe's economic stagnation, the consequences of central bank policies, and the striking similarities between Europe's economic challenges and Canada's. We also explore EU-Canada trade relations, energy policy, and the political shifts unfolding across Europe. Is the so-called "Everything Bubble" finally beginning to burst?

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Stay up to date with our information -
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🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform:
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
06:38 BC's $1 Million-a-Day Tunnel Controversy
08:56 US Elections & This Week's Topics
11:23 Daniel Lacalle Joins the Show
11:43 The Everything Bubble Is Bursting
14:36 Europe's Sovereign Debt Crisis
16:58 Is the ECB Making a Massive Mistake?
20:37 Spain's Housing Affordability Crisis
26:49 Can Europe Grow Out of Its Debt Problem?
30:16 Europe's Economic Policy Failures
30:48 Canada and the European Union
32:23 Bureaucracy & Barriers to Trade
35:11 Europe's Hidden Trade Barriers
40:50 Carbon Border Taxes & Energy Costs
43:00 Political Change Across Europe
46:49 Canada's Similarities to Europe
49:21 Poland, France & Political Unrest
53:32 Immigration, Wages & Government Dependency
56:39 Is There Hope for Europe's Future?
58:16 Europe's Russian Energy Contradiction
01:03:09 EU's Economic Outlook & Canada's Opportunities
01:05:03 US Election Results & Energy Policy
01:09:02 AI, Cybersecurity & Global Risks
01:12:14 Bank of Canada & GDP Data
01:15:51 Are Government Bonds Attractive Again?
01:18:56 Canada's Upcoming Budget

Disclaimer:
The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets.

#LoonieHour #macroeconomics #europe

Is the AI boom turning into the next financial bubble? Today, we're joined by financial analyst Chris Whalen to discuss the massive spending behind artificial intelligence, the risks facing financial markets, and the growing disconnect between the Federal Reserve and the bond market. We also explore private credit, government debt, Canada's changing political landscape, and the Bank of Canada's latest interest rate decision as affordability pressures continue to weigh on the economy.

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Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/

✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: steve@stevesaretsky.com

Stay up to date with our information -
📫 My Real Estate Substack:
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📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform:
https://linktr.ee/looniehour

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:29 Introducing Chris Whalen
04:44 Is AI Becoming a Financial Bubble?
08:22 The Risks of AI Vendor Financing
12:12 The Global AI Arms Race
15:42 Data Centers and the Infrastructure Problem
20:31 The Federal Reserve and Kevin Warsh
23:51 Bank Reserves and Market Liquidity
27:35 Is Monetary Policy Losing Its Effectiveness?
31:51 The Bond Market and Government Debt
34:10 Household Credit and Private Credit Risks
36:33 Trouble in Private Equity
40:11 Could the Fed Return to Quantitative Easing?
42:01 Final Thoughts from Chris Whalen
43:06 Canada's Political Shake-Up
46:08 What Political Change Could Mean for BC
49:03 Investment and Economic Policy
52:16 The Bank of Canada's Rate Decision
55:15 Inflation and the Cost of Living
59:41 The Bank of Canada's Economic Outlook
01:02:28 Inflation Forecasts for 2027
01:06:20 Canada's Federal Budget and Deficit
01:10:49 The Problem with Net Debt
01:13:39 Canada's Federal and Provincial Debt

Disclaimer:
The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets.

#LoonieHour #macroeconomics #federalreserve

Today, we'll unpack Canada's growing economic challenges. From Alberta's surprising fiscal surplus and Toronto's struggling condo market to renewed immigration debates and Canada's uncertain trade relationship with the United States, we'll examine the policies shaping the country's trajectory. We'll also discuss Europe's political and fiscal instability and what it could mean for global markets, including a plan for Canada to pursue an "associate-member" status with the European Union.

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Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/

✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: steve@stevesaretsky.com

Stay up to date with our information -
📫 My Real Estate Substack:
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📫 The Loonie Hour Substack:
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📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform:
https://linktr.ee/looniehour

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:40 Alberta's Referendum Results
07:01 Alberta's Policy and Immigration Demands
11:35 Alberta's Economic Challenges
13:08 Oil Royalties and Alberta's Fiscal Surplus
15:29 Toronto's Condo Market Crisis
19:02 Government Incentives for Condo Developers
24:02 Distressed Condos and Market Opportunities
27:06 Foreign Buyers and Immigration Policy
29:18 Canada's Immigration Policy Debate
33:40 Immigration's Impact on Wages and Housing
36:15 Immigration and Economic Consequences
40:14 Bank of Canada Warnings on Immigration
44:30 Canada–U.S. Trade Negotiations
47:44 Canada's Proposed EU Trade Alignment
49:13 Europe's Growing Political Instability
50:40 France's Fiscal Crisis
55:59 European Politics and Economic Unrest
01:00:24 Economic Inequality and Public Frustration
01:03:10 Canada's U.S. Treasury Holdings

Disclaimer:
The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets.

#LoonieHour #macroeconomics #canada

Today, we're joined by Fraser Matthews, CEO of Netcoins, to discuss the rise of stablecoins, their impact on the banking system, and the future of digital payments. Are stablecoins an existential threat to traditional banks or the railways and bridges connecting traditional finance and the on-chain economy? We also tackle Canada's struggling housing market, stubborn inflation, rising bond yields, and the growing risks facing financial markets.

Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings!
For Mortgage Brokers: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokers
For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour

Schedule an exploration call with IceCap Asset Management: https://icecapassetmanagement.com/contact/

✉️ Media & Real Estate Inquiries: steve@stevesaretsky.com

Stay up to date with our information -
📫 My Real Estate Substack:
https://stevesaretsky.substack.com
📫 The Loonie Hour Substack:
https://looniehour.substack.com/about

📊➡️ Loonie Hour Socials: https://linktr.ee/looniehour

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast on Your Preferred Platform:
https://linktr.ee/looniehour

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:02 Canada's Housing Market Outlook
11:49 Introducing the Future of Finance
12:48 Fraser Matthews Joins The Show
20:44 Stablecoin Regulation and Adoption
21:44 What Are Stablecoins?
23:13 Why Stablecoins Matter
24:53 Are Stablecoins a Threat to Banks?
29:57 Stablecoins and US Treasury Demand
32:58 Crypto and Money Laundering Concerns
44:13 The Battle for Bank Deposits
47:13 The Future of Stablecoins
52:41 Canadian Stablecoin Developments
55:30 Tokenized Stocks and Financial Markets
56:49 AI Agents and Programmable Money
01:04:10 The Growing Threat to Commercial Banks
01:06:50 Inflation Surprises to the Upside
01:09:21 Bond Market Risks
01:11:11 Could Bonds Stage a Rally?

Disclaimer:
The information within our content is not intended to be or construed as investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor before putting a "loonie" into any of these financial markets.

#LoonieHour #macroeconomics #crypto