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Peter Nowak

@peternowak.bsky.social
174 followers 127 following 205 posts

Founder and publisher of Do Not Pass Go, the first and only journalism venture in Canada dedicated to competition and monopoly issues. I also eat burgers. donotpassgo.ca

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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Non-compete contracts are rampant despite being unenforceable and often illegal, especially in Canada. This is a major economic problem, according to the OECD's Dan Andrews. Has anyone been handcuffed by one of these clauses? Full podcast is here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/illegal-un...
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Five corporations control 90% of the US media. Airlines have merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today. A handful of companies control the pharmaceutical industry. Four giants control 80% of meat processing. The evidence of corporate concentration is everywhere.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Loblaw has been lobbying hard to set Canada's AI rules. Government documents show it tried to join the AI task force last year and has lobbied officials at least 17 times since on privacy and information access matters. 👀 Read at Do Not Pass Go: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/loblaw-wan...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
At the investment summit right now, Prime Minister Mark Carney announces plan to privatize Canada's four largest airports
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Canada and the EU and getting very cozy, but there's one area where they're diverging big time: consumer protection. The EU is beefing up its rules while Canada is outsourcing and shutting down government protection bodies: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/canada-eu-...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Gander Social founder Ben Waldman returns to Do Not Pass Go to talk about the Canadian app's official public launch, its successes in building a fully sovereign startup, and the challenges that still remain. Full podcast is here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/can-gander...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Do Not Pass Go is on the Substack hot "Rising" list again but I don't want to crow about it too much because, as the late great Gorilla Monsoon used to say, a pat on the back is only a few inches from a kick in the pants.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Canada is a land of "premium mediocre" where lack of competition means run-of-the-mill goods and services at inflated prices. Eemaan Khan, a Canadian living in Chicago, says Canadians are accepting mediocrity posing as luxury as a result. 🎧 Watch or listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/canada-a-l...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
What would Anthony Bourdain think of Cineplex? The late chef & author was a big supporter of small businesses, which highlights the irony of his new biopic being pulled from a Toronto theatre. The indies are blaming Canada's "hegemonic" theatre juggernaut. www.donotpassgo.ca/p/what-would...
donotpassgo.ca
What Would Anthony Bourdain Think of Cineplex?
Distributor A24 pulls Tony biopic from indy Toronto cinema, plus Competition Bureau says Nortera planning to raise canned and frozen vegetable prices after merger
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Yukon's government has written to the CRTC and feds to complain about Bell's degrading wireless service. Economic Development Minister Jen Gehmair joins Do Not Pass Go to discuss why intervention in the territory's crisis is desperately needed. 👀 Watch or listen: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/the-yukons...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Canada Competition Bureau's move to block Quebec-based Nortera's acquisition of Green Giant brand conflicts with the federal government's recent moves to help the company with tariffs and a security inquiry on imports www.donotpassgo.ca/p/watchdog-m...
donotpassgo.ca
Watchdog Moves to Block Veggie Merger as Feds Drive Up Price of Competing Imports
Competition Bureau challenge of Nortera’s Green Giant deal another sign of conflicting priorities, plus Paramount merger gets Canadian okay and phones can be locked again
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The inimitable @doctorow.pluralistic.net returns to the Do Not Pass Go podcast to discuss his new book, "The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI." It's a full-throated excoriation of the AI bubble being peddled by Silicon Valley tech bros. Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/deflating-...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Think you're safe from monopolies when you sleep? Think again. Somnigroup dominates the mattress biz, with Sleep Country close behind. Indie retailer Nate Cangemi joins the Do Not Pass Go podcast to discuss how this duopoly is leading to worse sleep for consumers: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/losing-sle...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Journalist and author Tara Henley is on the Do Not Pass Go podcast this week to talk about her new book, which is all about how the news media lost the public's trust (and how they can get it back). Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/the-news-m...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
StubHub is beset by investigations and class-actions from its questionable business practices, the worst of which are its dealings with mass scalpers. @daveseglins.bsky.social takes us behind the scenes of his revelatory reporting on the Do Not Pass Go podcast: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/inside-stu...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The cost of pet care is through the roof thanks to private equity and corporatization. Novel co-founder Emma Harris discusses how consolidation is driving up costs for owners and how indie clinics like hers are working to restore affordability. 🎧 Full podcast: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/what-every...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Earlier this year, Ubisoft closed its Halifax studio rather than let it unionize. Lead programmer and organizer @straighthogglin.bsky.social takes us behind the scenes of the industry-wide labour movement on this week's Do Not Pass Go podcast. 🎧 Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/inside-the...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I really enjoyed my chat with Jon as well, legitimately one of my favourite podcast interviews yet. Super smart guy who taught me a lot about how the games business is changing.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
For your weekend listening pleasure, Ontario NDP leader @maritstilesndp.bsky.social joins the Do Not Pass Go podcast to talk competition. Affordability has firmly trumped sovereignty - pun intended? - in the minds of Canadians, she says. 🎧 Full podcast here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/food-rent-...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The NDP is trying to reinvent itself by attaching to voters' top issue: #affordability. Ontario leader @maritstilesndp.bsky.social joins Do Not Pass Go to discuss grocery prices, right to repair and the dire need for more competition in Canada. 🎧 Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/food-rent-...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
🎧 Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/how-lobbyi...
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André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Ottawa planning social media ban for children under 16, source says. Platforms that meet new safety standards could be exempt from the ban, by Marie Woolf www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... via @theglobeandmail.com
theglobeandmail.com
Ottawa planning social media ban for children under 16, source says
Platforms that meet new safety standards could be exempt from the ban
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The latest from @doctorow.pluralistic.net: "When it comes to championing working Canadians while royally screwing them, Carney is the only Canadian politician capable of out-Trudeauing Trudeau." pluralistic.net/2026/05/30/r...
pluralistic.net
Pluralistic: Carneyism without Carney (30 May 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
SCOOP: Read all about it here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/carney-gov...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Payouts from the Great Bread Price-Fixing Scandal have started to go out, but as @keldonb.bsky.social from the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project explains, the secretive case is ongoing and far from over:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Why is your elevator broken for so long? It's because Canada and the U.S. have the most expensive elevators on earth thanks to a four-company oligopoly that is about to shrink to three. Stephen Smith of the Center for Building North America explains, link to the full podcast is below:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Canada has some of the most expensive elevators in the world thanks to an oligopoly that's getting even smaller with Kone's $34 billion takeover of TK. Stephen Smith of the Centre for Building explains why Canada needs to move away from the U.S. and look to how Europe does elevators. Link below:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
How do shopping malls in Canada end up being the same three stores in a trenchcoat? Blame the big grocery chains and their restrictive real-estate deals, says Jacob Filipp, who unearths and tracks those contracts:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
How are grocery chains using restrictive real-estate contracts to kill competition? Jacob Filipp, who unearths and tracks these covenants, explains how it works in rural and urban environments. Link to the full podcast in the first comment below:
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 09/05/2026
A lawsuit against Lucky Strike Entertainment by regular customers from across the U.S. says the company has built a bowling monopoly and is responsible for “the veritable destruction of the decades-old pastime of bowling in America.”
nyti.ms
Lawsuit Accuses Lucky Strike of Building a Bowling Monopoly
The suit, filed by bowlers from several states, accuses Lucky Strike Entertainment of driving up prices and diminishing customers’ experiences across the country.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Woohoo! Getting hot on Substack:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Canada's Competition Act turns 40 next month. Lawson Hunter, the man who wrote it, takes us back to what motivated him. It wasn't so much about worrying about the Americans as it was about defining Canada. Check out the full Do Not Pass Go podcast episode, link in the first comment below.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Canada's Competition Act turns 40 next month. Its chief architect Lawson Hunter joins the Do Not Pass Go podcast to talk about how "antitrust hipsters" have infected it with social fairness issues and government intervention. 🎧 Listen here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/the-compet...
donotpassgo.ca
The Competition Act Turns 40: What Canada Has Right – and Wrong
Enforcement has been inconsistent and "antitrust hipsters" have too much influence now, says the law's chief architect Lawson Hunter
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Is Mark Carney actually getting serious about competition? This week's economic update promises a plan to infuse it as a priority into every aspect of government, echoing Joe Biden's 2021 Executive Order on Competition. It's in this week's competition news roundup - link in the first comment below.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Big Tech is trying to domesticate music with algorithms and AI, but it's not working, says award-winning rapper @cadenceweapon.bsky.social. He talks about the growing movement back toward real music and how his just-released album Forager is part of it on this week's Do Not Pass Go podcast.
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The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 29/04/2026
Rogers buys naming rights to Bell Canada
thebeaverton.com
Rogers buys naming rights to Bell Canada
TORONTO – In the latest in a string of branding acquisitions, telecom giant Rogers has secured all naming rights over Bell Canada.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Customer complaints at Rogers are skyrocketing and the company is cutting jobs and network spending. It all seems to run counter to the "legally binding commitments" imposed by the federal government when it allowed the company to buy Shaw in 2023. Full story here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/rogers-bec...
donotpassgo.ca
Rogers Becomes a Tire Fire Through Customer Complaints and Job Cuts
Explosion in ombudsman issues plus employee and capital reductions puts spotlight on federal government's "legally binding" merger commitments
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Musicians are afraid to speak out against Live Nation, says Rollie Pemberton aka @cadenceweapon.bsky.social. The award-winning rapper and former poet laureate discusses music biz problems and his new album Forager on this week's Do Not Pass Go podcast: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/theyre-try...
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Rogers Communications offering buyouts to half its work force www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
theglobeandmail.com
Rogers Communications offering buyouts to half its work force
It’s the telecom sector’s largest round of buyouts in recent years amid slowing growth
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Cadence Weapon @cadenceweapon.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
I’m putting on a vintage market today at Standard Time in Toronto to celebrate the release of my new album Forager! There will be vintage clothing, Buck 65 will be selling records, Lo Fi Bagels will be there, it’s gonna be a blast. It’s all starting at 11 am!
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/04/2026
SiriusXM is said to be in early-stage discussions to acquire iHeartMedia, a deal that would create a sprawling audio giant.
nyti.ms
SiriusXM Said to Be in Early Talks to Acquire iHeartMedia
A deal, which was described by two people familiar with the discussions, would unite two major providers of traditional and satellite radio.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
The CRTC puts "an end" to meaningful internet competition in Canada. Plus, indie movie theatres urge a thorough review of the Paramount-WB merger over how it could put the screws to them. Your weekly competition news roundup: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/roundup-cr...
donotpassgo.ca
Roundup: CRTC Puts An 'End' To Internet Competition
Plus: Indie theatres urge Competition Bureau action on Paramount-Warner Bros. and scalping for profit is now illegal in Ontario
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Alexander Martin, the Toronto indie game developer known as @droqen.bsky.social, on his historic and "ridiculous" attempt to take on Google's search monopoly in Canada's competition court:
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
This is interesting: Substack is now offering legal assistance to writers who use the platform to protect their free speech: pages.substack.com/defender/?ut...
pages.substack.com
Defender | Substack
The Substack Defender program offers access to legal support as part of our efforts to uphold a free press and free speech, which we believe are fundamental to a trustworthy media system.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Is Google preventing a Canadian search engine from emerging? Alexander Martin aka @droqen.bsky.social, the indie game developer who tried to break the company's search monopoly through Canada's competition court, takes us behind the scenes of his landmark attempt.
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Toronto-based indie game dev Alexander Martin aka @droqen.bsky.social tried to kill Google's multibillion-dollar search deal with Apple at Canada's Competition Tribunal, but the judge denied his case. Was the judge not on board with the new law that encourages regular citizens to fight monopolies?
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Jeff Hoffman bwahahahaha
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Luke Ranker🚶‍♂️ @lukeranker.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
A federal jury found that Live Nation, the concert giant that owns Ticketmaster, has operated as a monopoly in violation of federal and state antitrust laws, ending a closely watched trial in New York that could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/a...
nytimes.com
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
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Peter Nowak @peternowak.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
🚨 Scoop: Current Rogers exec & former Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains is mulling a bid for leadership of the Ontario Liberals. Bains is perhaps best known for supporting big telco opposition to a CRTC internet price decision. 👉 Read here: www.donotpassgo.ca/p/rogers-exe...
donotpassgo.ca
Rogers Exec Navdeep Bains Mulling Ontario Liberal Leadership Bid
Sources say former Innovation Minister's decision will depend on the results of an upcoming Scarborough-Southwest candidacy contest
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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
BREAKING: Maryland is about to become the first state in the nation to ban the use of surveillance data and dynamic pricing at grocery stores. The Maryland House has just passed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act. Governor Wes Moore plans to sign the bill.
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