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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 27

"This proposed regime could obsess over market centralization and predatory business practices... take aim at monopolists like Ticketmaster, responsible for jacking up concert prices... aggressively block mergers in already-uncompetitive industries." www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Justin Ling: From flights to cell phone bills, Canadians get a raw deal. This is why — and how Mark Carney can fix it

Protectionism and a lack of competition are making life expensive for Canadians.

www.thestar.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 26

For @techpolicypress.bsky.social this week I wrote about how Canada's tech accountability efforts should be squarely focused on protecting Canadian sovereignty in an unstable geopolitical environment. www.techpolicy.press/a-tech-antim...

A Tech Anti-Monopoly and Accountability Agenda for Canada | TechPolicy.Press

Amid a shifting relationship with the US and new geopolitical realities, Keldon Bester urges Canada to rethink its tech policy to defend national sovereignty.

www.techpolicy.press

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 19

Canada's Competition Bureau recognizes that our airline market is not delivering for Canadians. CAMP was glad to see our recommendations echoed by the Bureau, but know that there is more work to be done to fix flying in Canada.

antimonopoly.ca/statement-ca...

Statement | Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project welcomes final report of Competition Bureau airline market study - Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project

In the final report of its market study, Canada's Competition Bureau recognizes that the airline market is not delivering for Canadians.

antimonopoly.ca

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 18

Monopoly isn't just a tax on everyday Canadians, it's a threat to the future of our independence. We need to tackle both problems if we want to create a strong and free Canada.
www.corporateknights.com/leadership/m...

The other sovereignty threat to Canada

Monopolies and oligopolies cost Canadians tens of billions every year. They also undermine our national independence.

www.corporateknights.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 17

In an unstable geopolitical environment, Canada's digital infrastructure is in the hands of just a few American companies. In a new CAMP discussion paper, we ask the question what a new path forward should look like.
antimonopoly.ca/discussion-p...

Discussion Paper | Confronting Canada's Gatekeeper Crisis - Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project

In a volatile geopolitical environment, Canada's dependence on a handful of American firms has become an acute risk to the future of our sovereignty.

antimonopoly.ca

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Jun 17

Had a great time talking with Harrison about Canada's monopoly challenge in a changing world and the work we're doing at CAMP

The Tyee @thetyee.ca · Jun 17

At a moment when power and wealth are concentrated in the boardrooms of a few behemoth corporations, what can be done to reverse the trend? We may dream of big breakups, but what are the chances, really?

A Tyee interview with antitrust advocate @keldonb.bsky.social.

How Canada Can Up Its Game Against Monopolies | The Tyee

Antitrust advocate Keldon Bester on new watchdog laws, recharging competition, dismantling Big Tech and more. A Tyee interview.

thetyee.ca

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Aaron Binder @aaronbinder.com · Jun 9

Who won't delivery apps screw in the pursuit of profit?

Drivers, restaurants & customers all deal with the fallout of exploitative wages, unclear fees, and drip pricing.

Competition fairness rockstar @keldonb.bsky.social explains in this piece.

@jennabench.bsky.social | www.cbc.ca/news/busines...

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Open Markets Institute @openmarkets.bsky.social · Jun 5

TODAY at 10:30 AM ET: Join Capitol Forum & Sandeep Vaheesan 👇

The Capitol Forum @capitolforum.bsky.social · Jun 4

📅 Tomorrow at 10:30am ET: Join our conference call w/ Sandeep Vaheesan on Abundance, U.S. infrastructure, and electrification policy.

🔗 RSVP + join the conversation: register.gotowebinar.com/register/583...

#TheCapitolForum #Infrastructure #Abundance #EnergyPolicy #Antitrust

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Tom Goldsmith @tomgoldsmith.bsky.social · Jun 2

I had a great time chatting to @laurentdcar.bsky.social about his new book "At the Trough: The Rise and Rise of Canada's Corporate Welfare Bums" for the Deep Dives newsletter. We covered a lot of interesting ground. Do check it out!

open.substack.com/pub/orbitpol...

"At the Trough": Laurent Carbonneau on Fixing Canada's Flawed Economic Policy

An interview on why our public services are deteriorating while businesses thrive and how we get better outcomes for Canada.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

VassB @vassb.bsky.social · May 31

We should absolutely limit these exclusivity deals CC @keldonb.bsky.social

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · May 30

Ontario considers rule to limit exclusivity deals between insurers and pharmacies

The proposal would ensure pharmacy choice even if insurer has exclusive arrangement

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Adam Mongrain @adammongrain.bsky.social · May 30

Québec, the Canadian province with the most exhaustive and expansive rent *and* vacancy controls, has built more rental units in the absolute and per 1000 than any other province in the past 40 years. Exemptions apply only for 5 years after construction.

ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · May 30

I agree. The Science shows that rent control is a reasonable policy that works fine if you design it properly (eg, new builds can charge market rates initially) jwmason.org/slackwire/co...

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 27

Why do we make the king talk about the GST

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

David Moscrop @davidmoscrop.com · May 27

Who owns Canadian nationalism? Companies are seizing on the rally-around-the-flag moment, hoping to sell you pizza, coffee, and whatever they can stick a flag on.

www.davidmoscrop.com/p/who-owns-c...

Who Owns Canadian Nationalism?

Have you seen advertisements cashing in on our patriotic surge? I'd like to know. Also, a big, related announcement.

www.davidmoscrop.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 27

Recently learned that there was a chocolate price fixing case in Canada in the 2000s. Involved major chocolate producers but afaik only Hershey pled guilty. competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-fo...

Price-fixing charges stayed in chocolate case

September 10, 2015 — OTTAWA, ON — The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) entered a stay of proceedings on September 8, 2015 against ITWAL Ltd., Mars Canada Inc., Sandra Martinez and David Gle...

competition-bureau.canada.ca

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Davey Alba @davey.bsky.social · May 20

New: As Google search head Liz Reid announces at #googleio that AI Mode is rolling out to all US users today, Alphabet shares drop...

Follow along with my & @julialove.bsky.social's live I/O coverage here

Alphabet’s Pichai Says Google Bringing Products to Market Faster

Alphabet Inc.’s Google will bring products to market faster to keep pace with new rivals in the artificial intelligence age.

www.bloomberg.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 14

“The only way forward for Alphabet is a complete breakup that would allow investors to own the business they actually want,”
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Alphabet Analyst Says ‘Complete Breakup’ Needed for Stock Gains

One of the largest tech companies would be more valuable if it was smaller, according to a Wall Street analyst.

www.bloomberg.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 12

"Decades ago, Canada lost its mining leaders when Inco, Falconbridge and Alcan were bought by foreign giants. Now, instead of owning the world’s foremost mining companies and generating wealth in Canada, Canadians are working for foreign entities."
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Mark Carney passed a tough test in Washington. He now faces an even tougher one at home

Canada cannot afford to cede further control of its infrastructure to foreign interests.

www.thestar.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 10

Still thinking about the review of Chime (2024) that complained about not hearing the chime

Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 8

Tough day when I need to agree with Bill Gates

The New York Times @nytimes.com · May 8

Bill Gates accused Elon Musk at least twice in the past week of “killing” children in the world’s poorest countries by cutting foreign aid under the Trump administration.

Bill Gates Accuses Elon Musk of ‘Killing Children’ by Cutting Foreign Aid

www.nytimes.com

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 1

Was advertising ever popular though? Possibly just harder to unbundle. If the goal is diverse funding sources to support without shaping news then it's worthwhile to work to rebalance one of those sources.

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · May 1

A monopolized digital ad market does not support journalism.

tisane al-gaEEK! @dallaninvictus.bsky.social · May 1

I am sure that many if not all of these outlets were mismanaged by their investors and/or corporate overlords

but I'm also at a loss how any of them would sustain themselves when web ads barely make money, the audience notoriously don't pay to subscribe to things, and publisher payola is frowned on

Lum @brokentoys.social · May 1

games journalism is dead, the corpses continue to twitch

Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Apr 22

What if they relabel the department to Science, Political

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Apr 22

Spoke to the Financial Post this week about the implications of the U.S. win against Google's online advertising monopoly on the parallel case ongoing in Canada
financialpost.com/technology/g...

Google guilty ruling in antitrust case could boost Canada's lawsuit against tech giant

The U.S. government's recent wins against Google stem from two of many cases ongoing against the tech giant. Here's what could happen next.

financialpost.com

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Reposted by Keldon Bester

Broadbent Institute @broadbent.bsky.social · Apr 18

NEW from @jennifer-clapp.bsky.social & @keldonb.bsky.social:

"It boils down to power. When just a few firms control nodes of food supply chains, they have the power to shape what our food system looks like."

Read in Perspectives Journal no. 3: perspectivesjournal.ca/canada-food-monopoly-problem/

ISSUE NO. 3 – SPRING 2025 EMPOWERING WORKERS The Monopoly Problem at the Heart of Canada’s Food System April 9, 2025 Jennifer Clapp, Keldon Bester. Image: wheat field and grain elevators in Alberta.

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Keldon Bester @keldonb.bsky.social · Apr 17

Have all the big youtubers stopped boxing one another? Deeply strange phenomenon.

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