If you give lip service to treating people well and then treat your team poorly, don’t expect your clients to receive anything different
Like most people (at least 62 per cent, according to a 2019 study by Hello Products), I don’t like going to the dentist. However, this was my week for getting a cavity checked and I headed to the dentist’s office. You know the routine: you get questioned and prodded by the dental assistant as she…
Hedge and private-equity funds, mortgage lenders, and money-market funds provide accessible sources of credit
By Paz Gómez Research associate Frontier Centre for Public Policy Shadow banking is growing by leaps and bounds in Canada. It’s a C$1.5-trillion industry that expanded by 30 per cent between 2015 and 2017, according to a recent Bank of Canada report. The banking establishment fears a challenge to its power, but consumers benefit from greater…
We need tax reforms and other initiatives that will help spur entrepreneurial spirit and encourage investment
Canada is gradually losing its competitiveness – but it can be regained. According to the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), a graduate business school and research centre, we’re down three spots from 2018 to 13th. Canada is now ranked below the United States and Switzerland, as well as other energy-dominated nations such as Norway,…
The shambles of the Iowa caucuses reconfirms that electronic voting is still a long way off
The recent Iowa caucuses debacle reminded me of two things. First, my about-face as a member of the New Brunswick Commission on Electoral Reform with respect to electronic voting. Second, further confirmation that the electronic infrastructure continues to be an impediment in advancing digital democracy. The 21st century has empowered humanity with electronic connectivity and…
As the Canadian leaves his post as governor of the Bank of England, his legacy is one of bias and wildly incorrect predictions
Canadian economist Mark Carney is stepping down as the governor of the Bank of England, to be replaced by Andrew Bailey in March. So it’s fitting to look at how his anti-Brexit bias and activism have damaged his legacy. Anybody actively involved in the Brexit debate is certain to hold strong opinions about Carney, as…
Shannon Pestun of ATB Financial talks about creating an innovative, gender-intelligent banking model
Shannon Pestun is the director of women’s entrepreneurship and part of the Indigenous Relations Advisory Circle at ATB Financial. Tell me about women's entrepreneurship at ATB, what it does and its goal and mission? Pestun: At ATB, we have always known that entrepreneurs are crucial to the success of Alberta’s economy. And we know the…
If I were king of Alberta, I’d instruct ATB to use its credit reserves to start buying up Alberta debt on the bond markets
“It keeps getting worse, buddy,” proclaimed Chuck from across the garden fence. “Four years of socialist rule and we’re heading for debtor’s prison. Thank God the PCs are back in.” “They’re not Progressive Conservatives anymore,” I retorted, “they’re UCPs – United Conservatives – and exaggerating the debt is what conservative Conservatives do, it’s called austerity…
It is time for conventional banking institutions to enter the 21st century
I once chatted with a group of technology specialists and one of them asked an important question: “I know what intellectual property is, but what’s an intellectual asset?” It seemed to me that this is the most important concept in the modern world of tech, for (presently invisible) assets are the missing link in creating…
But Scotiabank report says total borrowing by individuals rose by 3.7% month over month
Canadian household credit growth decelerated in June as the slowing pace of mortgage expansion more than offset an acceleration in consumer credit, according to a new report by Scotiabank Economics. Home equity line of credit loans (HELOCs) remained flat in June, remaining on a weaker trajectory following strong increases through 2017 and 2018, it said.…
ATB Financial saw its operating revenue increase while net income decreased in its fiscal first quarter as the institution also contributed over $5 billion in new loans. “We know that times have been tough for many Albertans and through it all we have been here, providing expert advice and much needed capital," said Curtis Stange,…