Polly wanna talk?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The inventiveness of The Flintstones knew no bounds. C’mon, imagine if your friend stopped by while you were out at Bedrock Bowl, and they could leave a “voicemail” with your trusty Parrotsaurus 🤣

Everybody’s favourite Stone Age family was ahead of its time on a few things, and science now suggests they were onto something with that Parrotsaurus. A new study has shown that the mechanisms parrots use for speech are actually quite similar to ours.

Stevie wants to lend her ear ;)

(Love nostalgia? Play today’s trivia below for a chance to win a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card!)

IN THE NEWS

Carney to dissolve Parliament Sunday

Prime Minister Mark Carney will head to Rideau Hall on Sunday to ask Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve the government, just one day before Parliament was originally scheduled to resume, triggering an election either on April 28 or May 5.

"What's clear is that in this time of crisis is that the government needs a strong and clear mandate. We're offering a positive vision for the country, a vision of action," Carney told reporters in Edmonton yesterday, joined by mayor Amarjeet Sohi to announce the elimination of GST on homes purchased for up to $1 million by first time buyers.

Carney has been PM for a week and seemingly has the backing of a plurality of Canadians. Several recent public opinion polls suggest he has anywhere between 37% and 43% of Canadians’ support, and would be within reach of a majority government if an election were held today.

Tory leader Pierre Poilievre was in Jonquière, Que. yesterday announcing plans to fast track and pre-approve critical infrastructure and energy projects across the country.

"We will unleash hundreds of billions of dollars in power plants, nuclear energy, mines, pipelines, data centres and much more," he said.

"The economy will boom, raising funds for hospitals and schools. Most of all, we will be less reliant on the Americans. We will be self-reliant, sovereign and stand on our own two feet while we stand up to the Americans and stand up for ourselves."

HOUSING

Is it possible to build an all-Canadian house?

With tariffs ramping up between Canada and the United States, every industry is set to feel the squeeze. However, both countries will be tremendously impacted by the steel, aluminum, and lumber tariffs, especially when it comes to homebuilding.

According to the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), the pace of construction is set to slow as supply chains wither and investment weakens. The slower houses get built, the more prices will go up.

“We rely on materials imported from the US, like plywood, glass, metal fittings, light fixtures, ceramics, electrical parts, and plumbing and mechanical components,” says RESCON president Richard Lyall. Canada’s response to the reciprocal tariffs President Donald Trump plans to impose on Apr. 2 will cause prices to rise significantly on all these materials.

As it stands, Canada is not in a position to construct homes without importing building materials.

“Canada has strengths in certain areas, like lumber, concrete, insulation, drywall, steel and aluminum, but with such an integrated trade system with the US, in many cases products move north/south rather than across the country,” says Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

He says there’s a case to be made for establishing a more east/west supply chain while trade barriers are erected north/south. However, the logistics of such an undertaking would take several years, leaving builders on both sides of the border with few options.

WEATHER

Spring ready to be sprung

Depending on where you live in Canada, the last days of winter and early days of spring can take very different shapes.

In Alberta, there can still be snow on the ground while seasonal allergies are already ruining mornings across the province.

In Ontario, the last days of winter typically take place after the first days of spring. This switcheroo happens at least once in a provincial ritual that’s come to be known as false spring. In fact, the first false spring of 2025 is just about over in Southern Ontario!

In general across the country though, spring is just one incredibly volatile season, and predicting it this year is even more difficult as conditions over the Pacific Ocean transition away from a weak La Niña and begin to show signs of an El Niño.

Nonetheless, meteorologists have a few predictions they’re comfortable making, including the expectation of above-average precipitation levels in B.C. and Alberta this spring. Mercifully, this will likely delay the onset and blunt the intensity of wildfire season.

Ontario and Quebec have been mild this week, but both will likely see temperatures drop and hover just above zero for the remainder of March and early April. May and June, however, are expected to be warmer than usual, potentially leading to an earlier and more intense start to the region’s severe weather season.

FEASTING FRIDAYS

Chips and snacks breaking the bank

Shoppers are giving up when it comes to indulgences like Doritos, Goldfish, and Hostess cakes, prices for which continue to rise. While inflation has settled down near central bank targets of 2%, living costs remain sky-high, forcing consumers to focus on the necessities and pass on snacks.

“Consumers are cutting back on non-essentials and stretching the value they get out of every dollar. That’s hitting snacking,” said Chris Costalgi, a vice president at market research firm NIQ, which recently conducted a poll and found 42% of consumers are consciously scaling back on snacking.

Snack companies are noticing, too. PepsiCo, Campbell, and JM Smucker all saw sales soften in Q1, with Pepsi—owner of Frito Lay—specifically enduring a 3% drop in snack sales. Campbell (Goldfish) and JM Smucker (Hostess) saw similar declines of 2% and 5%, respectively.

Snack food prices have risen between 20% and 30% since inflation began to take hold in 2021. On top of that, companies have tried to keep prices as steady as they can, often opting for smaller packaging rather than raising prices in the consumer-hated practice known as shrinkflation.

GOLF

Bottlenecked? Stay focused

While pace-of-play may not be enforced at your local course, it’s a huge part of golf etiquette at any level. When a course gets bottlenecked, it can ruin a round for those who golf with a tempo and a routine.

At the end of the day, though, it’s probably unrealistic to expect casual golfers to strictly adhere to a standard pace, so it’s good to keep a few things in mind for staying mentally, physically, and emotionally sharp in these situations.

For starters, just try to stay busy. Standing at the tee and glaring at the group in front of you trying to find all four of the balls they snap hooked into a different time zone will only get you more frustrated. Talk to your group, scroll through pictures of your loved ones, or watch some videos of Tiger.

If you’ve been sitting in a cart or standing around for a while, make sure to loosen up a minute or so before you tee off. The longer you’re waiting, the more likely you are to lose your feel and tempo. Do some standing leg circles to stretch your hips and get a few pre-practice practice swings in to recalibrate.

Finally, don’t tee up until it’s actually time to hit. Your routine is among the most important parts of your mental and physical game, and that means not changing a thing, including the act of walking into the box, pegging the tee, placing the ball, and making your decision.

CURIOSITIES

Texas company renews search for MH370

Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity was given approval from the Malaysia government to renew its search for the Boeing 777 that vanished on March 8, 2014.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Malaysia capital Kuala Lumpur. Initially destined for Beijing, satellite images later revealed the plane deviated from its flight path, heading to the far-south Indian Ocean, where authorities believe it crashed.

A multinational search effort yielded no wreckage and no clues as to where exactly the plane crashed. It remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the 21st century.

At the same time, it’s not so much that authorities don’t know what happened; they just can’t find the plane. The Ocean Infinity search operation will canvas 15,000 square kilometres of the Indian Ocean floor, and that’s supposedly a narrowed down area.

Plans for the search were agreed to in principle after the company demonstrated it had improved its technology since conducting an unsuccessful private search in 2018. Malaysia offered a “no-find, no-fee” contract, meaning if Ocean Infinity doesn’t find the plane, the company doesn’t get paid. If they do, they receive $70 million.

ODDITIES

“Fish doorbell” a hit with millions

In the Dutch city of Utrecht, ecological officials have installed an underwater camera in a river lock and livestreams the area for anyone in the world to see.

Why? Because as the water warms every year, fish in the area make their migration to shallow spawning water, and someone needs to let them in.

The stream includes a button that viewers can press to inform the Utrecht officials monitoring the site that a little guy is trying to make his way upstream. When enough fish are in the area, the site manager will inform workers at the lock, who then open it up for the fish to pass through.

When too many fish loiter in a single area, they’re begging to be a bigger fish’s dinner, but because there’s so little boat traffic at this time of year, there would otherwise be little reason to open the lock.

With the livestream and “doorbell,” though, the pike, bream, and bass usually don’t have to wait long; millions of people have stopped in for a visit since the stream went live five years ago.

“I guess the combination of a good cause, a beautiful story and just a simple idea generates all this attention,” said ecologist and concept developer Mark van Heukelum.

STAKE TRIVIA

Hit me with your one hit

It’s wild how some of the most memorable songs are often the one and only hit that certain artists achieve. You’re probably thinking of a few right now 😏 

Well, you better get to thinking of some others, because we’re about to quiz you on some of the best one-hit wonders of the ’70s and ’80s with today’s trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified Monday—keep an eye on your inbox!*

Have a great weekend Staker!

Today’s issue written by Michael Cowan, Joey Cowan, and Maureen Norman.


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.