Food inflation in Canada has a hidden driver nobody is talking about. Ontario just charged food manufacturers a billion dollars through it. You are paying that bill.

The Extended Producer Responsibility fee was designed to push the food industry toward greener packaging. Instead, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says it created a patchwork of uncoordinated provincial systems with no oversight and no results. Ontario is the worst. Newfoundland is the only province that has not implemented it.

The EPR adds 0.8% to meat prices, 0.7% to produce, and nearly 1% at the centre of the store. Oregon built a centralized system with proper oversight that actually works. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says it is a fixable problem. Canada just has not fixed it.

Topics: food inflation, EPR fee, grocery prices, Ontario food manufacturers, Extended Producer Responsibility

GUEST: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois | @foodprofessor

Originally aired on 2026-05-21

Food inflation in Canada has a hidden driver nobody is talking about. Ontario just charged food manufacturers a billion dollars through it. You are paying that bill.
The Extended Producer Responsibility fee was designed to push the food industry toward greener packaging. Instead, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says it created a patchwork of uncoordinated provincial systems with no oversight and no results. Ontario is the worst. Newfoundland is the only province that has not implemented it.
The EPR adds 0.8% to meat prices, 0.7% to produce, and nearly 1% at the centre of the store. Oregon built a centralized system with proper oversight that actually works. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says it is a fixable problem. Canada just has not fixed it.
Topics: food inflation, EPR fee, grocery prices, Ontario food manufacturers, Extended Producer Responsibility
GUEST: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois | @foodprofessor
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-21

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

SHIFTHEADS: Ontario Charged Food Manufacturers a Billion Dollars. You Are Paying for It

Swatch watch was born in 1983. In 2026, people are lining up at 5am at malls across Canada to buy one they could just wait for.

The Swatch collaboration with Audemars Piguet produced a $560 Canadian pocket watch. It is not limited. More are coming. On eBay, someone listed one for 3,000 British pounds. At Chinook Mall in Calgary, people showed up at 5am. The Swatch store was one of only 22 worldwide to receive the release.

The diagnosis on air: FOMO. People are conditioned to assume scarcity even when none exists. The Swatch x Audemars Piguet is genuinely cool, described as what happens when you take a Rolex and add the flair of a 1980s bowling alley. You can own one. You just have to take a breath and wait.

Topics: Swatch watch, Audemars Piguet collaboration, FOMO, scarcity marketing, Royal Pop pocket watch

Originally aired on 2026-05-21

Swatch watch was born in 1983. In 2026, people are lining up at 5am at malls across Canada to buy one they could just wait for.
The Swatch collaboration with Audemars Piguet produced a $560 Canadian pocket watch. It is not limited. More are coming. On eBay, someone listed one for 3,000 British pounds. At Chinook Mall in Calgary, people showed up at 5am. The Swatch store was one of only 22 worldwide to receive the release.
The diagnosis on air: FOMO. People are conditioned to assume scarcity even when none exists. The Swatch x Audemars Piguet is genuinely cool, described as what happens when you take a Rolex and add the flair of a 1980s bowling alley. You can own one. You just have to take a breath and wait.
Topics: Swatch watch, Audemars Piguet collaboration, FOMO, scarcity marketing, Royal Pop pocket watch
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-21

People Lined Up at 5am for a $560 Swatch That Is Not Limited

Alberta separation is no longer just a whisper. A court-blocked petition, a rushed committee meeting, and a premier's televised address are all arriving at once.

Rob Breakenridge says the court stepped in last week and killed the separatist petition, leaving the premier with a decision: walk away or escalate. The Forever Canadian anti-separatist petition had been languishing in committee for months. It was rushed through in an emergency session. A press release went out announcing the result before a decision had actually been made.

Rob Breakenridge says Alberta arguably thrived the most in confederation, yet pays more into the federation than it gets back. Ontario received $546 million in Alberta equalization in 2025-26. Quebec is projected to receive $13.9 billion in 2026-27. Rob Breakenridge says the real question is whether Canada works for everyone.

Topics: Alberta separation, referendum, equalization payments, Alberta Canada, Forever Canadian petition

GUEST: Rob Breakenridge | robbreakenridge.ca | @robbreakenridge

Originally aired on 2026-05-21

Alberta separation is no longer just a whisper. A court-blocked petition, a rushed committee meeting, and a premier's televised address are all arriving at once.
Rob Breakenridge says the court stepped in last week and killed the separatist petition, leaving the premier with a decision: walk away or escalate. The Forever Canadian anti-separatist petition had been languishing in committee for months. It was rushed through in an emergency session. A press release went out announcing the result before a decision had actually been made.
Rob Breakenridge says Alberta arguably thrived the most in confederation, yet pays more into the federation than it gets back. Ontario received $546 million in Alberta equalization in 2025-26. Quebec is projected to receive $13.9 billion in 2026-27. Rob Breakenridge says the real question is whether Canada works for everyone.
Topics: Alberta separation, referendum, equalization payments, Alberta Canada, Forever Canadian petition
GUEST: Rob Breakenridge | robbreakenridge.ca | @robbreakenridge
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-21

The Alberta Separation Question Is No Longer Hypothetical

Polymarket lets you bet on wars, missile strikes, and how many soldiers will die. A finance professor says it is gambling, not a market, and the difference matters.

Vincent Grégoire, Canada Research Chair in Finance and Technology at HEC Montréal, says Polymarket is structured like a market but functions like gambling. You buy yes or no tokens on events. Suspicious bets on the US strike against Iran appeared the night before it happened, and a US soldier is being prosecuted not for the trades but for using confidential information connected to them. In Canada, trading on Polymarket is not legal.

Vincent Grégoire's deeper concern is how it is marketed. The average user is expected to lose and no value is created. Wealthsimple has been approved to launch prediction markets in Canada, and that distinction is about to land right next to your investments.

Topics: Polymarket, crypto gambling, prediction markets, insider trading, Wealthsimple Canada

GUEST: Vincent Grégoire

Originally aired on 2026-05-21

Polymarket lets you bet on wars, missile strikes, and how many soldiers will die. A finance professor says it is gambling, not a market, and the difference matters.
Vincent Gr&eacute;goire, Canada Research Chair in Finance and Technology at HEC Montr&eacute;al, says Polymarket is structured like a market but functions like gambling. You buy yes or no tokens on events. Suspicious bets on the US strike against Iran appeared the night before it happened, and a US soldier is being prosecuted not for the trades but for using confidential information connected to them. In Canada, trading on Polymarket is not legal.
Vincent Gr&eacute;goire's deeper concern is how it is marketed. The average user is expected to lose and no value is created. Wealthsimple has been approved to launch prediction markets in Canada, and that distinction is about to land right next to your investments.
Topics: Polymarket, crypto gambling, prediction markets, insider trading, Wealthsimple Canada
GUEST: Vincent Gr&eacute;goire
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-21

SHIFTHEADS: Ontario Charged Food Manufacturers a Billion Dollars. You Are Paying for It

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