Conversations That Matter

Doing Business in British Columbia? Yes, but… Guest: Brad Liski By Stuart McNish   British Columbia is a wonderful jurisdiction to start a business. “Small businesses benefit from a number of programs that get the wheels turning,” says Brad Liski of Tru Earth. The company is addressing the environmental impact of 30 billion loads of laundry annually around the world. “We founded the company out of a desire to change the world and Tru Earth is doing that, one laundry load at a time,” says Liski.   The co-founder says, “I've started 26 companies and Tru Earth is the first one that wakes me up in the morning excited to make a difference.” The company focused first on reducing the amount of plastic used in packaging laundry detergent. It then focused on reducing an entire jug of soap into a strip about the size of a business card. They tested the idea and it was an instant success.   The company quickly grew and, in doing so, it ran into a series of government rules and regulations that thwarted its ability to scale up in British Columbia. “We've had to move much of our manufacturing to other provinces as a result,” says Liski. It was something that he says he didn't want to do, but the economics of growing in BC worked against the company.   We invited Brad Liski of Tru Earth to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a path forward that will support mid-market companies to grow and prosper in British Columbia.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

France and Canada Lean In on Trade Guest: Nicolas Baudouin By Stuart McNish   The US tariffs are officially in place and Canada was hit hard. The rhetoric leading up to the imposition of the tariffs focused on a need to develop new trading relationships and expand existing ones. Canada and France have a trading history that goes back hundreds of years. Then in 2016, Canada signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union.   The signing of the agreement opened up greater tariff-free access to France and EU countries. According to the Jean Monnet Network at Carleton University, “trade between Canada and the EU has seen an exponential growth since CETA was implemented.” According to the report, France was the number four trading partner, valued at over $4.4 billion dollars trade in 2021.   “Now is the time to seize on strengthening and building on our trading relationship between British Columbia, Canada, and France,” says Nicolas Baudouin, the French Consul General in British Columbia. “The opportunities are vast and go beyond agri-tech, high value food, and aeronautices,” says Baudouin.   We invited Consul General Nicolas Baudouin of France to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the opportunities and the challenges of increasing trade with one of our oldest international partners.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

The 3% GDP Challenge Guest: Bridgitte Anderson By Stuart McNish   “Whether it's the rising cost of housing, unaffordable grocery bills, or an increasingly heavy tax burden, too many British Columbians feel the economy is not working for them,” says Bridgette Anderson, the CEO and President of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. Earlier this year as the threat of American tariffs loomed, the Board called on the provincial government to focus on growing the British Columbia economy by 3 percent.   “To build a future worthy of our aspirations and one we can be proud to pass on to the next generation, British Columbia must pursue policies that will boost our economic growth and raise our collective standard of living,” says Anderson. The Board projects that by growing the provincial GDP by 3 percent, the economy will grow, government revenues will increase, and the standard of living for all British Columbia residents will improve.   Anderson says, “We project that a boost of 3 percent will raise personal GDP by $9,000 and will add an additional $4.0 billion dollars to government revenues by 2030.” The challenge comes at a time when the provincial debt and deficit are at all-time highs. The province optimistically projects GDP growth of 1.8 percent, a figure that TD Economics challenges. TD projects a 1.5 percent growth for this year and falling to 1.3 percent next year.   We invited Bridgitte Anderson of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the “Challenge” – the challenges and the opportunities to grow BC's economy.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

British Columbia Forestry on its Knees Guest: Kim Haakstad By Stuart McNish   Independent of Trump's tariffs, the US Department of Commerce increased its duty on Canadian softwood lumber from 14 to 35 percent. Kim Haakstad, the President of the BC Council of Forest Industries, says, “It's a blow to an industry in trouble.” The war in the woods in the early 1990s led to the Forest Practices Code, which led to ongoing changes in legislation that hampered the industry and has seen more than 40,000 jobs disappear.   The reasons the forestry sector is on its knees have more to do with regulations and approval processes that undermine the economics of forestry. Haakstad says, “Wood availability is at historic lows, permitting systems are gridlocked, and investment is retreating in the face of prolonged uncertainty. The risk is not a gradual decline – it's accelerating closures, job losses, and the permanent erosion of the forest industry.”   Despite promises from the Premier and the Minister of Forests to restore the sector by increasing annual cuts to 45 million cubic metres, Haakstad says that “we need pragmatic actions” that will streamline the issues that are choking the industry.   We invited Kim Haakstad, the President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about saving the once mighty forestry sector.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

The Sensible Environmentalist Guest: Mark Jaccard By Stuart McNish   “We are all capable of believing things we know to be untrue…the only check on it is that sooner or later, a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield,” wrote George Orwell. It's a quote that opens Mark Jaccard's book, “The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths that Hinder Progress.”   “The conversation about energy production in Canada is in transition and we need to  focus on the truth rather than the myths,” says Mark Jaccard, the Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission. His concerns about truth and myth come as a reversal of political policies led to the freezing or elimination of the carbon tax federally and provincially.    “Societal interest in climate change is cyclical,” says Jaccard. He continues, “So, too, is political interest.” The realities of carbon concentration increases and the impacts of it run headlong into competing political and economic interests – myths propagated by climate activists and industry public relations campaigns cloud the debate with exaggerations that inhibit meaningful measures to meet climate and economic challenges.   We invited Mark Jaccard, the author of “The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths that Hinder Progress” and the Chair and CEO of the BC Utilities Commission, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about finding a path to open dialogue and realistic strategies to address our climate challenges.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Skills and Trades in an A.I. World Guest: Ajay Patel, President of Vancouver Community College By Stuart McNish   As the world learns to adjust to and adapt to artificial intelligence, one of the key questions parents and those entering the workforce are asking themselves is, “What professions will survive? In other words, what should I study to ensure I can be assured work now and into the future?” Ajay Patel, the President of Vancouver Community College answers: “Skills and trades. A.I. can't mimic the uniquely human skills needed for, in these fields.”   As the world adjusts to the role of A.I. in the workplace, Vancouver Community College has pivoted to integrating its course load to ensure students are equipped to utilize A.I. in careers that need human skills, dexterity, and judgement. “We're not afraid of A.I.,” says Patel. “We're embracing it and ensuring our students are the best equipped to meet the needs of the market.”   We invited Ajay Patel to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the vital role community colleges are filling in equipping the workforce of the future.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Fentanyl: No One is Immune Guest: Kevin deBruyckere, former head of federal policing in British Columbia By Stuart McNish   “In 2013, in my role as Head of Federal Policing in British Columbia, I started to see an increase in drug-related deaths attributed to a powder form of fentanyl being delivered by mail,” says Kevin deBruyckere. “On May 23rd 2014, it hit home for my family – my 22-year-old son lost his life and our family became a victim of the fentanyl epidemic.”   Over the next decade, more than 16,000 people have lost their lives due to overdoses in British Columbia. Vancouver is at the epicentre of this epidemic. “Unless there is a significant reframing of response to the drug crisis, we can't beat it. It's not a law enforcement challenge or issue only – it's much larger than that,” says deBruyckere.   “This is a public health issue; it's a housing issue; it's an educational issue; it's a prevention issue,” says deBruychkere. The costs to take on the drug epidemic are significant. The costs of not having a coordinated long-term strategy are much larger. “People are dying, families are being destroyed, and all of society is paying a price,” says deBruyckere.   We invited Kevin deBruyckere to join us for a Conversation That Matters about fentanyl and the devastating impact it is having.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

 C-5: Build, Baby, Build! Guest: Radha Curpen, McMillan LLP By Stuart McNish   In an odd way, it's as though Prime Minister Mark Carney has borrowed a card from President Donald Trump when he pushed through Bill C-5. The Prime Minister announced the concept of the bill on June 6 and twenty days later, it passed in the House and Senate. That's lightyears faster than the U.S. President's passing of his “Big Beautiful Bill.”   Bill C-5 has been framed as a national plan to “remove federal barriers to interprovincial trade and improve labour mobility.” Radha Curpen of McMillan LLP says, “Bill C-5 also sends a signal that Canada is open for business. It is a bill designed to improve efficiencies in approval processes. The biggest question is, will it also respect indigenous rights?”   We invited Radha Curpen of McMillan LLP to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the upsides and the concerns about Bill C-5.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Repurposing the Site C Work Camp Guest: Mukhtar Latif, CEO of Pomegranate Housing Consultancy By Stuart McNish   “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create Canada's premier centre for excellence in mental health and addictions in [British Columbia]'s northeast,” says Mukhtar Latif of Pomegranate Housing Consultancy. The North Wind Wellness Centre Society and Treaty 8 First Nations have put forward a plan to repurpose the Site C workers' camp into a permanent asset that will deliver transformational healthcare services.   The worker accommodation facility was built to house 1,600 workers and it came with a wide range of services and utilities.  Now that the work of building the dam is complete, the site is about to be decommissioned. “This facility will address a more than 6 month waitlist for people needing treatment in Northern BC,” says Latif.   If successful in their bid to have BC Hydro endorse the plan to repurpose the site, the benefits are multidimensional. “The centre will generate new treatments and best practices, train more than 200 people in critical healthcare roles, [and] save the healthcare system more than $30 million,” says Latif.   We invited Mukhtar Latif to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the innovative plan to reuse the Site C workcamp as a place of healing.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

 Tech Entrepreneurship in British Columbia Guest: Shawn Johnston By Stuart McNish   In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the journey of building a tech company from scratch in British Columbia can be both exhilarating and daunting. Shawn Johnston, a serial tech company founder, knows the ups and downs better than anyone. “I've had my face pressed against the glass more than once. That's when you stare into the financial abyss and can't see a way out, but then you do.”   Survival in the hostile world of start-ups and, in particular, tech start-ups demand an ability to focus, refocus, and refocus again and again and again. “Since 2010, I've had to reinvent myself so many times I can't recall all the ways I've had to do it,” says Johnston. “I redefined and refocused so many times because it's the only way to find the path forward. You simply have to stay on task and never give up.”   The founder of Forge and Smith, a web design and web design agency, saw a new opportunity and launched another new company, Refoundry, a low-code themeless site builder for Wordpress. Johnston says, “I saw a need and decided I could fill it for companies that needed a faster [and] lower-cost path for their customer's presence, and it's a hit!”   We invited Shawn Johnston of Refoundry to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how you find the inner strength and discipline to keep going in the world of tech entrepreneurialism.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

The Odds of You Being You Guest: Ali Binazir By Stuart McNish   About four and a half billion years ago, Earth's Hadean eon was undergoing significant geological and chemical changes. Evidence suggests that the Earth's first crust was forming and the beginnings of life were lining up. Fast-forward 3.8 billion years and biological life started to emerge shortly after the formation of the oceans.   It was a turbulent time in Earth's history and the evidence suggests that human intelligence emerged a few million years ago. “If you consider everything that had to happen to allow for human life to emerge from the biological soup, the odds worked against it ever happening,” says Dr. Ali Binazir, the author of “Are you a Miracle? On the Probability of You Being Born” and “Five Hidden Love Questions.”   Now add in the odds of you being born you – not your brother, not your sister, not your cousin. You.  Binazir says, “When you factor in the 155,000 generations of your family that preceded you, the odds are one in 400 quadrillion against you being born [as] you.” In other words, you are a miracle.   We invited Dr. Ali Binazir to join us for a Conversation That Matters about embracing the magic and miracle of being born you.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Mark Carney so far Guest: Don Stickney By Stuart McNish   On April 28, 2025, Mark Carney won enough seats to claim victory and form government. He's three seats short of a majority government in a parliament that won't defeat him. There is no coalition that will rise up and pass a motion of non-confidence. He immediately went to work as a Prime Minister with confidence that he could rule with authority – and he has done so.   Much to the surprise of many, he quickly cherry-picked the Conservative Party's platform, incorporated it with his vision, and went to work. Don Stickney, the founder of Playbook, was in Ottawa recently and wrote, “I went in assuming the usual political conversations and measured optimism. Instead, I found myself connecting with Canadians from across the country who were genuinely energized about what is happening right now – premiers collaborating across party lines, federal leadership stepping up on a focused economic strategy, and nearly universal support for increased defense spending.”   Stickney says, “Six months ago, I would never have predicted any of these outcomes. The political landscape felt fragmented, the economic challenges overwhelming, and consensus on major issues seemed impossible.”    We invited Don Stickney to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the unexpected mindset and action changes he witnessed on Parliament Hill. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 563 - Why Happiness Matters Guest: John Helliwell By Stuart McNish   “Don't Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin hit the charts in 1988 and it soared to number one on the Billboard charts. It was the first a-cappella song to hit number one. Why? “Because it struck a chord with people; it lifted their spirits and got them bopping along,” says John F. Helliwell, the author of the World Happiness Report.   Helliwell says, “Happiness is an enduring state of mind that consists of the capacity to experience pleasure on a daily life basis, coupled with the ability to enrich one's life and the lives of others.” Generosity is one of the six elements of a happy life, Helliwell says. “The others include a sense of purpose, a positive mind set, physical and financial well-being, along with positive relationships.”   The good news is, should you take the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and not be happy with the outcome, it is within your power to make changes that can improve your happiness quotatant. Helliwell says, “It starts with wanting to make a change and that starts the process of re-wiring your brain. A daily commitment to looking for the upside has huge upsides in mind set and health.”   We invited John F. Helliwell to join us for a Conversation That Matters about why happiness matters in the moment and over the course of your life.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Indigenous Tourism's Many Benefits Guest: Chyanne Trenholm, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours By Stuart McNish   “It is challenging to know how the tourism industry in British Columbia is going to be affected by ‘elbows up' nationalism,” says Chyanne Trenholm of Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours, a First Nations tourism operator. “I can tell you we are seeing an increase in interest and in bookings. Just how much business will be up this summer, it's too early to tell. But business is up.”   A move to unique tourism experiences, such as indigenous wilderness adventures, is in line with changes in sustainable and culturally authentic vacations. Trenholm says, “The Homalco First Nations take visitors on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. They see grizz salmon fishing and orcas breaching right in front of their eyes as an eagle flies overhead. It's breathtaking.”   The benefits of indigenous tourism include cultural preservation, reconciliation, and jobs. Trenholm says, “More than 7,400 people are working in direct full-time indigenous tourism jobs. The sector generates more than $700 million in direct economic output.”   We invited Chyanne Trenholm of Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours to join us for a Conversation That Matters about indigenous tourism and its benefits to British Columbia.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/ Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 561 - Indigenous Rights in One Minute Guest: Bruce McIvor By Stuart McNish   “Over the 27 years since the Delgamuukw decision, the relationship between First Nations and the Government of Canada has changed – in some ways significantly. In others, not so much,” says Bruce McIvor, the author of "Indigenous Rights in One Minute.” The legal relationship took another step forward following the Haida decision in 2004. That decision led to changes in the way resource and infrastructure projects are approved and built.   The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was another milestone: first as a healing journey and second in establishing a record of indigenous history in Canada. The TRC recorded the mistreatment and trampling of rights of First Nations people and shared those stories with the entire country. The Commission heard testimony from 6,500 witnesses, which culminated in a call to 94 actions to further facilitate reconciliation.   Understanding and appreciating the unique legal and societal circumstances indigenous people lived under and endured for more than 150 years is challenging. Bruce McIvor says, “A big part of reconciliation is calling out misinformation and lies, getting to the truth so that we can have honest conversations. That was my motivation to write the book.”   We invited Bruce McIvor to join us for a Conversation That Matters about what we all need to know in order to talk about reconciliation.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 560 - Brian's Fight for Canadian Healthcare Guest: Dr Brian Day By Stuart McNish   “Outdated policy decisions, made more than a third of a century ago, helped create our expensive, ineffective and inequitable Medicare scheme,” says Dr. Brian Day. For thirty years, Dr. Day has been challenging Canada's healthcare system, prodding it to be better and meet the needs of patients.   In 1996, Day took a bold leap – one born out of frustration with the shortcomings of our healthcare system. He opened the Cambie Surgery Centre, a private surgical clinic that has grown to perform up to 5,000 procedures a year. “For that,” says Day, “despite reducing health care costs and waiting lists, we became a target of the Government of British Columbia. The BC Government set out to shut us down.”   The Government's action resulted in a 13-year legal battle – a battle Dr. Day lost. And a battle he outlines in his new book, “My Fight for Canadian Healthcare” – a journey he says takes the reader “through a failing system that has deviated from its intended purpose, ensnaring patients in long cycles of waiting and suffering.”   We invited Dr. Brian Day to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our healthcare system and where to go from here.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 559 - Food Insecurity in Canada Guest: Sylvain Charlebois By Stuart McNish   “Canadians are spending less on food today than they did last year,” says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, one of the authors of the Canadian Food Sentiment Index. “Close to 50% of respondents to our survey report they are paying significantly more for food, leading to widespread concern about food inflation and security.”   The increases have led to changes in the way people are buying food; they're paying more attention to how it's grown and where it comes from. Charlebois says, “It adds up to consumers becoming more frugal because they've reached their limit. Household budgets are strained and food is something they can look to cut back on or find less expensive options.”   Prime minister Mark Carney has made a commitment to investing in food production, processing, and innovation. According to Charlebois, “The most important thing he can do in the immediate future is to remove the carbon tax on agricultural products and production. If he doesn't, food prices are going to continue to rise.”   We invited Dr. Sylvain Charlebois to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the complex world of food production, security, and affordability. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 558 - Canada's Real Estate Crisis Continues Guest: Michael Geller By Stuart McNish   “The real estate crisis continues,” says Michael Geller. “The prime minister has made it one of his key priorities; he's said he wants to double annual housing production by getting into the business of building.” One of his first moves was to appoint former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson to cabinet as Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada.   “He's an interesting choice for that role,” says Geller. “His record on housing when he was the mayor is spotty. He's often blamed unfairly for dramatic increases in housing prices.” After being appointed Minister, Mr. Robertson was asked if housing prices should be lower. He flatly stated no. The prime minister quickly jumped in to say it is not a “yes or no” question.   “I agree with the Prime Minister; it is not a yes or no question,” Geller says. “It's remarkably complicated. Much of what the PM is proposing has merit. But the question is, what exactly is needed to tackle the housing issues?”   We invited Michael Geller to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Canada's woes and how we're going to tackle them.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 557 - State of Downtown Vancouver Guest: Jane Talbot, CEO of Downtown Van By Stuart McNish   “Downtown Vancouver is a unique place!” says Jane Talbot, CEO of Downtown Van. “It's literally surrounded by water, home to just over 140,000 people, 8,000 businesses and 1,000 storefront businesses, 130,000 people working, the centre of tourist activity, a world of culinary delights and on and on.,” It's a vibrant and dense place.   In Downtown Van's recently-published “State of Downtown 2025,” it is clear there are shifts underway. Office vacancies have fluctuated and sit at about 12% unoccupied; local visits into the city are down; retail visits on Granville and Robson Streets are up, but down on Alberni and West Hastings.   “It's important to recognize that Downtown Vancouver is a remarkable jurisdiction,” says Talbot, “and at Downtown Van, we continually advocate and innovate to ensure it remains vibrant and resilient.”   We invited Jane Talbot, the CEO of Downtown Van, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of downtown Vancouver now and into the future.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 555 - Decluttering Regulations in Canada Guest: Krystal Wittevrongel By Stuart McNish   Vowing to get Canada moving again is one of prime minister Mark Carney's promises – a promise he reiterated while introducing his new cabinet. As the economy has taken a jolt from the shifting relationship with the United States, politicians across the country have turned their attention to improving the regulatory environment. Krystal Wittevrongel of the Montreal Economic Institute points out that “reducing regulation was stated as a priority in 2018. Unfortunately, that government failed to make it a priority and businesses have suffered as a result.” Recognition of the negative impact is only the first step, says Wittevrongel. “It's much less clear how and when the government will actually address the complex issues that are clogging trade in Canada.” We invited Krystal Wittevrongel to join us for a Conversation That Matters about unclogging the gears of regulation that have bogged down trade in Canada.  You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 554 - Real Estate Reality Guest: Ryan Berlin, rennie & associates By Stuart McNish   Metro Vancouver's housing market is dramatically different that it was 12 months ago, when the provincial government stepped in to ensure affordable and ample housing. In a “Conversations Live” panel in March of 2025, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley indicated that it didn't work. In fact, the housing market is now upside down.   What happened? Why is the market behaving this way? And what can we expect to come next? Perhaps central to understanding what is happening to the real estate market in Metro Vancouver is a sense of uncertainty – the ongoing trade uncertainty with the United States, the uncertainty associated with a new federal government, and uncertainty over the way in which provincial regulations are affecting the market.   Ryan Berlin of rennie & associates has been examining the broader forces at work in the market and why it is moving in such unexpected and uncertain ways. “The factors at work include the economy, interest rates, rising household credit, demographics, government immigration policy and a reformation of the construction sector,” says Berlin.   We invited Ryan Berlin to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the uncertainties and what rennie & associates has identified about the Metro Vancouver housing market.    You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 553 - Canada's Anti-Success Mindset Guest: Diraj Goel By Stuart McNish   “Trump's economic warfare is hopefully bringing to light how woefully unprepared Canada is as a nation to build wealth independence,” says Diraj Goel, the founder and managing partner of GetFresh Ventures. That may be the silver lining in the unpredictable hostility the President of the United States has directed towards Canada.   Goel goes on to say that Canada needs to stop inflicting economic injuries that are crippling our ability to innovate and grow. “Our future is handicapped because we've engineered a system that punishes ambition instead of rewarding it. I've witnessed it firsthand; it's a reality every Canadian founder lives with daily.”   “The challenge entrepreneurs and innovators face,” says Goel, “has nothing to do with access to capital and everything to do with government policies that are designed to hamper rather than empower.”   We invited Diraj Goel to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the hostile business and wealth generation environment in Canada and what can be done to change it.    You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 552 - Conserve 30 percent of BC by 2030 Guest: Andy Day By Stuart McNish   On April 22nd of 1970, Earth Day kicked off what would become an international movement to protect the environment. 55 years later, the winds of change are blowing in the opposite direction. In Canada, political leaders have stepped back from the environment in an effort to win votes.   Andy Day, the CEO of the BC Parks Foundation, says, “The Earth is where we live, work and play. This year, more than any in the past 55, it is vitally important for us to renew our commitment to protecting our precious planet.”   Day says, “The demand for parks and protected areas is growing. The pressure on wildlife, habitat, traditional uses, infrastructure, and ecosystems is increasing through rising use and threats like pollution and climate change. The most treasured places in our great province need support or we risk losing what makes British Columbia the beautiful place we all love.”   We invited Andy Day to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our need to protect our most glorious heritage, the environment.    You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 552 - Untapping Canada's Potential Guest: David Williams By Stuart McNish   The untapped potential of Canada's natural resource sector is staggering, says David Williams. Williams is the Chief Economist of the Business Council of British Columbia, who has worked in conjunction with business councils in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Collectively, they issued a report called “Untapped Potential: Driving Canadian Prosperity Through Natural Resources.”   The report focuses on the vital role that indigenous involvement plays in unlocking resource development. The challenge, according to the report, is “rather than making firm, accountable decisions on how to exercise its duties within project reviews, the federal government has left these matters in limbo, deferring tough choices to the courts to avoid political risk.”   The report is pointed and harsh, stating that “the Crown's unclear process has increased an already uncertain business environment, making it more challenging for companies to navigate their Indigenous engagement efforts.”   We invited David Williams to join us for a Conversation That Matters about a path to unlocking Canada's potential to the benefit of all of us.     You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 551 - Tilting at Windmills Guest: Dan Woynillowicz By Stuart McNish “Tilting at windmills” is an idiom which means “attacking imaginary enemies.” Windmills are, however, real and they have real detractors and attackers – detractors who portray wind turbines as being an environmental blight that produces little power.  There was a modicum of truth to the knock on windmills in the 1980s when thousands of them appeared in the San Gorgonio Pass in California. By 1987, there were more than 4,200 wind turbines in the Pass leading into Palm Springs that generated between 50 to 100 kilowatts of power. Today, the total number of wind turbines in the San Gorgonio Pass is 666, generating 628 MW or enough to power close to 800,000 homes. Advances in design, construction, power generation and operation have seen the overall growth of wind generated power improve. The nine new wind farms in British Columbia will be home to 292 next-generation windmills that will produce enough energy to power approximately 500,000 homes, a substantial increase in power generation over California's wind turbines. We invited Dan Woynillowicz of Polaris Strategy to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the truth behind wind turbines and the increasing role they are playing in renewable energy in British Columbia and elsewhere.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 550 - “We're all F**ked” Guest: Pamela McDonald By Stuart McNish   “British Columbians and Canadians are losing billions to online investment fraud,” says Pamela McDonald of the British Columbia Securities Commission. The perpetrator of the fraud is artificial intelligence and it's happening online. McDonald says, “These fraudsters hide behind layers of technology and we can't get to them. It's offshore organized crime.”   To make matters worse, McDonald says, “the traditional enforcement tools of investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning don't work in this environment – for us or for other law enforcement agencies.” That means as an online investor  you're on your own. The BC Securities Commission says that “self awareness, diligence and education are powerful defensive tools.”    The Securities Commission has taken an edgy, bold, and “out there” public awareness campaign to draw attention to a problem that AI investment scams are creating. The Securities Commission has created a music video to raise awareness about the online scams it says are “creating  massive social harm.” You can see the video online, titled”‘We are all F**ked.”   We invited Pamela McDonald to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the AI threats online investors are being bombarded with and what they can do to defend themselves.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 549 - Elections Matter Guest: Kareem Allam   By Stuart McNish   “Pierre Poilievre won 2024,” says Stewart Prest, a political lecturer at UBC's Political Science Department, “but there wasn't an election in 2024.” What seemed like a certainty in early December now appears to be a scramble to hold onto a fighting chance. Political strategist Kareem Allam says, “I feel bad for him – the winds of change are blowing in the opposite direction. These things are out of his hands and they're not breaking for him.” Poilievre made Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his carbon tax policy the issues he wanted Canadians to focus on.  On Nov 26, 2024, United States President-elect Donald Trump posted, "On January 20th, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States." From that moment forward, Canada went from a so-called “post national country” to one where nationalism has soared. “That rise in populism, combined with a new Liberal leader, has swung the polls from an outright victory for the Conservatives to a questionable outcome for the Tories,” says Allam.  We invited Kareem Allam to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the direction the country is going and who he believes will form the next government. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 548 - The Minerals We Need: They're Critical Guest:    By Stuart McNish “We're sitting on a gold mine, in reality and figuratively,” says Michael Goehring of the Mining Association of British Columbia. “We're sitting on it at the most critical time in our relationship with the United States… We're not mining critical minerals because the permitting process is too long.” It's a problem on a number of fronts. One of them is the foreign investment needed to support critical mineral mining in Canada: foreign investments that are needed to establish new trading channels – investment funds that are running out of patience.   In October, BHP Chief Executive Mike Henry told the Globe and Mail, “When it comes to these big capital projects, time is both money and risk… So permitting time frames have to be shorter.” A failure to speed up the permitting process means capital slated for investment here is starting to look elsewhere. Henry said, “Canada is a resource-rich nation, steeped in mining history, and has a really good talent base. But many other countries also have resources, they've spotted the opportunity, and they're chasing after it pretty aggressively.”   Michael Goehring agrees: “Of course, we need to attend to environmental regulations; however, there are many areas where Canada and British Columbia can streamline the permitting process. It's essential that we do to meet North American demands for the minerals and elements that power the green economy.”   We invited Michael Goehring, the President of the Mining Association of British Columbia, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about permitting prosperity. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 546 - Demolition Crisis Guest: Glyn Lewis    By Stuart McNish   With the British Columbia provincial government's mandate to increase density by allowing the building of fourplexes on single family lots, we're going to experience a demolition crisis, says Glyn Lewis of Renewal Development. “From an environmental and economic perspective, demolition is not a wise choice.”    Currently, 2,700 homes are demolished each year across Metro Vancouver to make room for higher density development. Most go to landfill sites. Lewis says, “Every day, we come across a home slated for demolition that is in perfectly good condition – homes that can be saved and repurposed.”   The average 1,500-square-foot home sent to a landfill contains 100 tons of raw materials that have substantial market value. “Wood, drywall, plastics, carpets, insulation, roofing materials all with aftermarket value,” says Lewis.   We invited Glyn Lewis of Renewal Development to join us for a Conversation That Matters about relocation alternatives to demolition that protect the environment and provide new housing for growing urban areas.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 545 - Targeting Colorectal Cancer Guest: Thomas O'Shaughnessy   By Stuart McNish   Colorectal cancer –  it's difficult to treat, it can and often spreads, it kills more than 5,000 Canadians a year (most of them men), and the incidence of it is increasing. The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in younger men and “this used to be considered an older person's affliction," says Thomas O'Shaughnessy, the CEO of Onco Innovations, a Calgary-based cancer research company.   “Not anymore,” O'Shaughnessy continues. “Men under 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in increasing numbers and unfortunately more younger people are dying from the disease.” One of the reasons why colorectal cancer is deadly is the challenge it poses for treatment. “Radiation and chemotherapy are supposed to destroy cancer cells. In colorectal cancer they aren't as effective.”   Onco Innovations has developed a treatment that targets solid cancer cells only. The goal is to destroy only the cancer cells' ability to replicate. “Our treatment is targeted and it aids and enhances the ability of other treatments to destroy and prevent the spread of the cancer,” says O'Shaughnessy.   We invited Thomas O'Shaugnessy of Onco Innovations to join us for a Conversation That Matters about targeting and destroying colorectal cancer.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 542 - Can British Columbia be an agricultural superpower? Guest: Lenore Newman   By Stuart McNish   According to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, “It is estimated that B.C. farmers produce 40% of all foods consumed in the province.” It's a frightening statistic – one that demonstrates how much food is imported into the province to ensure you can enjoy a healthy number of calories.   According to Professor Lenore Newman of the University of the Fraser Valley, “We have the ability to provide food security in BC coupled with the opportunity to create innovative ways of growing it.” A key step forward is the just-launched Sustainable Food Systems for Canada platform that will create a national agrifood innovations and entrepreneurship program.   Newman is one of two national directors of the program who says that “the world is facing significant challenges with food security. We need to support agri-food entrepreneurs and encourage the development of technologies that will increase Canada's food production and resiliency.”   We invited Lenore Newman to join us for a Conversation That Matters about bolstering our food security and developing food production systems and equipment that meet domestic and international needs. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 541 - Indo-Pacific region: Our economic saviour? Guest: Vina Nadjibulla   By Stuart McNish   “In the face of threatened tariffs, shifting security dynamics, and changing domestic priorities, Canadian policymakers and businesses alike need to assess how best to safeguard their interests and manage relations with key Indo-Pacific economies,” says Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation.   Nadjibulla continues, “The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought heightened uncertainty to the Indo-Pacific region, posing new challenges for Canada's evolving Indo-Pacific Strategy and its key relationships in Asia.”   Asia-Pacific Senior Fellow Patrick Leblond says, “While Trump's foreign policies  may unleash turbulence, Canada's long-term Indo-Pacific objectives remain valid. While China relations are likely to stay rocky, Canada needs to double down on Southeast Asia to maintain Canada's relevance as a partner in the region.”   We invited Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation to join us for a Conversation That Matters about fortifying existing trading relationships and building new ones in the Indo-Pacific region.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca  

Ep 540 - Rental Development: Risky Business Beau Jarvis & Kerri Jackson By Stuart McNish   The rental vacancy rate in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is tight – less than one per cent, year over year. “That, on its own, puts pressure on the market driving up rental rates,” says Kerri Jackson of Concert Properties. Building new supply is a long and challenging process in a remarkably complex municipal landscape made up of 21 different jurisdictions.    Add in factors such as a decades-long shift away from purpose built rental in favour of condo developments that once sold to investors became rental properties. Beau Jarvis of Wesgroup says, “Recently, purpose-built rental housing has resurfaced as a way of easing the tight supply – a good idea, but one that developers are hard-pressed to jump onside with minimal uptake from developers.”   As of October 2024, there are minimal purpose-built rental properties throughout the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley region. Those properties are a step in the right direction; however, they do not come close to the volume of new projects that are required to meet demand.   We invited Kerri Jackson of Concert Properties and Beau Jarvis of Wesgroup to join us for Conversation That Matters about the value of purpose-built rentals and why it's a risky business.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 538 - Selling Vancouver Jacquie Griffiths By Stuart McNish   “France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Singapore, and the United States have successful Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) agencies. Canada can learn from these nations,” states a 2016 Government of Canada report called “Bringing Foreign Investment to Canada.”   The report points out Canada is trailing far behind in efforts to invite foreign companies to set up shop here, despite the benefits FDI brings. The report points out, “FDI strengthens Canadian productive capacity through knowledge transfer, the development of human capital, and new technology, management techniques, and production processes.”   According to the report, central to attracting foreign business “is a commitment at the highest political level as well as the provision of financial support and resources needed, active involvement from senior government officials, a single agency that coordinates information and services across various government offices, top-level talent, a clear investment strategy, use of a ‘concierge' service for investors, from initial contact and cultivation to assistance after the investment takes place. In the United States, the president, governors, and ambassadors are all involved in marketing and recruiting efforts.”   We invited Jacquie Griffiths, the CEO of Invest Vancouver, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Greater Vancouver's efforts to attract foreign direct investment.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 528 - Mindful Cancer Care Guest: Dr. Linda Carlson   “Your thoughts and feelings could impact hormones and the immune and nervous systems” was  Dr. Linda Carlson's thesis. Her goal was to confirm that mindfulness could impact and improve cancer care. “Some doctors thought that was all hocus-pocus or new-agey,” says Carlson. A well respected and rigorous researcher, Carlson says, “My approach was to conduct a disciplined scientific study that would produce evidence based therapies.”   In 2018, Carlson realized her goal and launched the Tom Baker Cancer Centre at the University of Calgary, known as the ACTION Centre or the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology Centre, the first of its kind in Canada.   Using patient-centred, evidence-based therapies, Carlson says, “We use mind and body practices along with natural products coupled with lifestyle modifications alongside conventional cancer treatments.”   We invited Dr. Linda Carlson, a 2023 Dr. Rogers Prize co-winner, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about “Mindful Cancer Care.”   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 517 - A crisis of indecision in Canada Guest: Gavin Dew   By Stuart McNish   On June 26th, Gavin Dew posted disappointing news on his LinkedIn profile. After four years of planning, fundraising, and negotiation with the City of Abbotsford, the Tech District project was pulling the plug. Dew says, “We couldn't keep spending time and money without a clear signal from city council that this $5-billion private sector investment would be approved.”   Dew said, “I know a lot of people are disappointed. I'm proud of the work we did to develop the project vision, invite people in, and build community support. And I'm obviously disappointed at this lost opportunity to deliver affordable housing, high quality education, and a hub for food innovation in Canada's most productive agricultural jurisdiction.”   Dew went on to say the lack of a clear signal from city council “is indicative of a crisis of indecision in Canada. We have become the land of the slow maybe, where process has become an end in itself, decisions are elusive, and leaders refuse to lead.”   We invited Gavin Dew to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our inability to get to “yes” and what it is doing to our reputation as a place to innovate and grow.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep - 516 - Weaving Two Worlds Guests: Christy Smith - Michael McPhie   By Stuart McNish   “The key to the Canadian economy is in the hands of First Nations,” says Christy Smith and Michael McPhie in their book, “Weaving Two Worlds,” a guide to economic reconciliation. According to Smith, “The intent of the book is to help First Nations, governments, and companies work together in the development of natural resources.”   McPhie says, “We believe the resource sector and the people within it have a meaningful role to play in advancing reconciliation. Done right, the outcome will be greater social, environmental and economic well-being for all.”   One court decision after another has been shaping the way Canada can and does develop its resources. According to Smith and McPhie, “Now is the time to create opportunities that provide First Nations access to the economic opportunities that will create ownership, employment, funds for education and will combat poverty.   We invited Christy Smith and Michael McPhie to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the path forward, together.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 515 - Electronic Recycling Done Right Mohammad Doostmohammadi    By Stuart McNish   “There are six elements that play a key role in optimizing fuel and chemical production,” says Mohammad Doostmohammdi of pH7. “Without them, green hydrogen, low-carbon steel, biofuels and other climate technologies are not possible.” Those six elements are platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium – and they are among the rarest on earth.   While challenging to identify ore bodies with mineable resources, there is an emerging opportunity in recovery. “There are 17.4 million troy ounces of these elements that have already been mined and are available to be recovered from catalytic converters, mobile phones, computer disks and aircraft turbines.”   Until now, the process of recovering these elements was uneconomical. Doostmohammdi says, “These challenges notwithstanding, several factors have combined to spotlight their growing importance.”   We invited Mohammad Doostmohammdi to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process his team has developed that reduces costs and increases productivity in the realm of critical mineral recovery.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 514 - Real Estate Lessons from Singapore Guest: Ernst Lang   By Stuart McNish   “We can learn a few things from Singapore,” says Ernst Lang, the founder and CEO of Promerita Group. “Singapore has been getting housing right for many decades. In fact, it has found a way to make most of its housing affordable whilst also protecting the value of privately owned homes.”   According to a report by the Urban Land Institute, “private homes in Singapore are the most expensive in Asia” with an average value of $1.7 million US. However, the ULI report states that public housing in Singapore is the “most attainable” when it comes to home ownership – 90 percent of the people in the country own their home.   Lang says, “Even more remarkable is the cost in relation to median annual income. In Singapore, the median home price to income ratio is 5. In Vancouver, according to Rates.ca, the average home price is 249% more than an average household can afford.”   How and what are they doing in Singapore that we can learn from?   We invited Ernst Lang of Promerita to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Singapore's housing market and what lessons we could apply here.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 513 - British Columbia's Lacklustre Prosperity Guest: David Williams   By Stuart McNish   According to the 2024 British Columbia Prosperity Index, “BC places 11th out of 21 peer jurisdictions for overall prosperity.” The study was developed with the Centre for the Study of Living Standards, which compares BC's performance on a range of economic, business, social and environmental indicators.   David Williams says, “There is no medal for 11th place and for good reason. This matters for young families and people aspiring to build a future in this province. Prosperity is crucial.”  The report is filled with disheartening numbers about BC's place on the Prosperity Index.   The Index reports that British Columbia is “11th of 21 jurisdictions in Business Well-Being, 15th in Economic Well-Being, 7th in Societal Well-Being, 12th in Labour Productivity, 13th in Innovation Ranking, 13th in Income Inequality and 18th for Housing Affordability.”   We invited David Williams, the Vice President of Policy at the Business Council of British Columbia, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the factors that are driving down prosperity in BC and what we can do to reverse this trend.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

July 12, 2024 Ep 512 - To the Edge of Death and Back Guest: Paul Dragan   By Stuart McNish Ten years ago on June 10, 2014, Paul Dragan sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee across the street from his business, Reckless Bikes. He took a sip and as he looked up, a heavyset man wearing a bicycle helmet came around the corner, pulled out a gun and shot Paul in the chest. He landed on the ground, blood pouring out of his chest.   “Were it not for a series of remarkable events, I'd be dead,” says Dragan. “A doctor was standing feet away at the time I was shot. An ambulance miracle – Vancouver Hospital was minutes away and 14 minutes later, I was in the emergency room with my life in the hands of a surgeon who was not going to let me die.”   Six days later Dragan woke up in a hospital bed, his wife and son next to him. For six days, they've been racked with the fear that Paul would die. “Classically,” says Dragan, “my first words were, ‘Where am I and what happened?' I had no idea. I don't even recall being shot or anything else from that morning.”   We invited Paul Dragan to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his incredible journey to the darkness of death and back.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 511 - Drug Free Kids Guest: Chantal Vallerand   By Stuart McNish   On Dec 8th, 2022, Jennifer Whiteside was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Addictions. At the time she said, “The Premier has asked me to prioritize accelerating BC's response to the illicit drug toxicity crisis. The Premier has also asked me to expand new complex care, treatment, recovery, detox and after-care facilities across the province.”   Months later, the BC Centre for Disease Control released its report showing that in 2022, overdoses from opioids and illicit drugs were now the leading cause of death for youth 10 to 18 years old.  The Minister issued a statement saying, “The toxic drug crisis continues to have a devastating impact on families and communities in B.C., and the impact on children, youth is heartbreaking,”   These are hollow words to Garth Mullins, an organizer with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, who said, “It seems to me that the Minister's job is to be the official mourner – someone who is there to cry publicly about the mass deaths but isn't empowered.”   So where does a family turn when they need help? Chantal Vallerand, the Executive Director at Drug Free Kids Canada, says, “We know how difficult it is for families. Most don't know the boundaries of what they can and cannot say or do. We created Drug Free Kids to help parents facing the life and death reality of drugs where there is no margin for error.”   We invited Chantal Vallerand of Drug Free Kids to join us for a Conversation That Matters about resources and strategies that can and do help families address the growing drug crisis in Canada.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 510 - Post-Pandemic Leadership Guest: Ron Bremner   By Stuart McNish   COVID-19 disrupted supply lines and our lives. Now that the lockdowns are over, the lingering impact of the dramatic shifts in the workplace remain. During the pandemic, work from home became the rule. Many employees seized the opportunity and not only thrived, but they moved away – far away, so far that coming into the office became a remote possibility.   “The work from home practice was needed during the pandemic; now it poses a new challenge,” says executive coach Ron Bremner. “Going forward, remote work will fracture company culture. For leaders… the new norm will be to manage in a state of chaos where they will need to be remarkably innovative as they strive to create safe, productive and effective workplaces.”   “[The] key to navigating the changing dynamics of a disassociated workplace,” says Bremner, “will be to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset” – a mindset of constant adaptation and continual improvement.   We invited Ron Bremner to join us for a Conversation That Matters about post-pandemic leadership.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 509 - Meet the BC Conservative Leader Guest: John Rustad   By Stuart McNish   It's been two years since John Rustad parted ways with the BC United Party over differences about climate change science. Regarding the reason for his removal from the party, Kevin Falcon is quoted as saying, “Climate change is one of the most critical threats facing our future.” And he added that Rustad “does not speak on behalf of [the] caucus on this issue.”   Six months later, John Rustad took over the leadership of the BC Conservative Party. At the time, the party was without a sitting member of the legislature. Today, there are four. Rustad and the BC Conservative party's rankings are soaring in the polls.   Who is John Rustad and what is his vision for British Columbia, should he do the seemingly impossible and win the next election? We invited John Rustad to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his agenda for British Columbia.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 508 - Generously Giving Guest: Megan Owen-Evans   By Stuart McNish   In the book “Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post writes that “giving to others” has been shown to increase health benefits. A separate study by Michael Norton from Harvard Business School revealed that “people are happier when they spend money on others versus themselves.” Megan Owen-Evans went far beyond the giving of money – she donated a kidney and part of her liver to two different anonymous recipients.     “Donating a kidney or a part of your liver is an enormous undertaking,” says Owen-Evans. “Not only do you need to take time for the surgery and recovery, [but] you also undergo a plethora of tests that consume vast amounts of time” – time that takes the donor away from work and family. “The cost in lost salary is significant.”   Fully aware of the impact on donors, Owen-Evans set out to change the financial impact on these generous souls who give of themselves. As President of Neptune Terminals, Owen-Evans established a new policy: “paid time off for donors.” It's a concept that is gaining support from other major employers in British Columbia, such as Beedie Development and the David Foster Foundation.    We invited Megan Owen-Evans to join us for a Conversation That Matters about corporate giving that supports employees and offers the gift of life to people in desperate need.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 507 - A Bleak Market for EVs Guest: Adam Pankratz   By Stuart McNish   “Little did we know how fast the free market would slap the electric vehicle mandate back to reality, while Canadian taxpayers continue to subsidize green fantasies,” says Adam Pankratz, a lecturer at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. The “slap” is in reference to plummeting sales of electric vehicles in North America.   Pankratz says, “The signs emerged in September 2023 when Volkswagen announced it was ‘cutting EV output' due to low demand and in November, Ford announced it would ‘be scaling back' EV battery production due to lackluster demand.”    As the new year emerged, EV news stayed on the same trendline. Pankratz said, “General Motors, Mercedes Benz and even Tesla warned EV sales were projected to be significantly lower than predicted.” Add in Hertz's decision to sell off most of its EVs and the message is clear – the market is cool on electric cars. We invited Adam Pankratz to join us for a Conversation That Matters on the trajectory of electric vehicle sales and what that says about government directives versus market forces. You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca   Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Security

Ep 506 - Will AI produce a state of Deep Utopia? Guest: Nick Bostrom   By Stuart McNish   In his new book “Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World,” philosopher Nick Bostrom ponders what life could be like in a “solved world” – a world where everything works and works better than if human hands got in the way. “What then?” asks Bostrom, is the reason to work? “Is it to earn extra income or because working is an intrinsically valued activity?”    Bostrom is the head of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford and a philosopher with a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence. He has been called the “Superintelligent Swede” because of the deep philosophical work he undertakes as he examines the trajectory of human life at the intersection of destruction and possibility.   Bostrum says, “If artificial intelligence can be achieved, it would be an event of unparalleled consequence – perhaps even a rupture to the fabric of history” – a rupture, Bostrom says, “will change the course of human history but is it the end of human history?”   We invited Nick Bostrom to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our flirtatious and tempestuous relationship with the evolution of intelligence.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca   Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Sustainability

Ep 505 - Has the Floatel Sunk? Guest: Christine Kennedy   By Stuart McNish   The District of Squamish denied Woodfibre LNG's application for a temporary use permit for its Bridgemans “floatel,” citing concerns over safety, environmental, and community impacts. Council also cited a lack of information from the company as its reasons for saying no to the refurbished cruise ship that is intended to act as a floating workforce accommodation.   “[It's] hard to comprehend,” said Christine Kennedy, the President of Woodfibre LNG. “The District has asked repeatedly since 2019 – to the company and to regulators – that the project workforce be housed outside of Squamish, which is exactly what the floatel delivers.”   Kennedy goes on to say, “A councillor suggested that there are better solutions than a floatel. Housing options were considered and discussed with the District over a five-year engagement process, during which the District repeatedly asked the company and regulators to house non-local workers outside the community due to low vacancy rates in Squamish. Woodfibre LNG responded with the floatel. If Council had better ideas, they had five years to bring those forward.”   On Tuesday May 21, Squamish Council decided to reconsider its decision and has postponed a final vote until June 4th.   We invited Christine Kennedy to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the process the company followed in the development of the floatel and what this potential rejection means to the project and to BC's investment reputation.    You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca   Join us June 18 for Conversations Live - Food Security

Ep 504 - Vancouver: Beautiful, yes – but! Guest: Bridgitte Anderson   By Stuart McNish   No doubt about it: Vancouver is beautiful. It's beautiful to visit, it's a beautiful place to study, and it's a beautiful city to retire in. “But,” says Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, “it's not so beautiful of a place to build a robust economy.” In fact, according to a new report commissioned by GVBOT, “the region's economic size and mix under-performs when it comes to creating high-paid jobs or high-performing companies.”    Compared to 20 other “high quality mid-sized city-regions, spanning 9 pillars across economy, liveability and infrastructure and sustainability, Vancouver is well below par.” Anderson says. “Vancouver ranked 14 among the 20 cities for prosperity factors.”   Looking ahead, Anderson says, “The region has to address its underlying weaknesses soon if we hope to stay competitive.” Central to our ability to compete is Vancouver's beautiful geography, an area that is confined by sea and mountains. Anderson says, “The upshot is that we have to innovate more deeply to stimulate housing, job and economic development.”   We invited Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, to join us as a guest on Conversations That Matter about where our attention needs to turn to close our productivity and prosperity gap.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 503 - Canada's Sagging Productivity Guest: Jock Finlayson   By Stuart McNish   On March 26th, 2024, the Bank of Canada issued a report titled “Time to Break the Glass: Fixing Canada's Productivity Problem.” Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers said at a speech in Halifax, “Productivity is a way to inoculate the economy against inflation.”   The question ahead is, why has Canadian productivity sagged and how can it be turned around? Jock Finlayson, the Chief Economist at the Independent Contractors of BC, says, “Canada needs to reorient policy to focus squarely on improving productivity and real incomes per capita – both of which are stagnant and falling.”   We invited Jock Finlayson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about Canada's productivity crisis and why it matters.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 502 - Is Peace Possible in Gaza? Gidi Grinstein   By Stuart McNish   At the time of the recording of this interview, the war in Gaza raged on. Since Oct 7, when more than 1139 Israelis had been killed and another 240 taken hostage, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas. The atrocities of that day also severely challenged Israeli's sense of compassion for Palestinians.   In Palestine, the death toll is horrifying – more than 30,000 Palestinians are believed to have died and another 72,000 have been injured.   The war and humanitarian crisis that has resulted has brought calls from around the world for a ceasefire. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu shows little interest in heeding those calls. The level of hate and anger that existed before Oct 7 continues to rise, which leads to the longer term question: can peace ever be achieved?   Gidi Grinstein, the founder of Reut Institute in Tel Aviv, says, “Maybe but the conditions have to be ripe.” He continues, “It won't be easy; millions of Israelis and Palestinians do not want to live in the same country, much less a shared society.”    We invited Gidi Grinstein, the co-author of (IN) SIGHTS, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about possible paths forward for Israel and Palestine.   You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/   Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca