When you hear this sound

Whichever incarnation of the show you watched, you probably spent tons of time yelling at the TV watching Password. The celebrity guests were always incredible, and if you had been on their team, you just know you would’ve won 🤣

Getting your partner’s password on a show is one thing—but what about in real life? A recent poll found most couples only share share some passwords.

Guess it’s just a no-go-go ;)

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

IN THE NEWS

Poilievre proposes tax cut on lowest bracket

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre announced via social media yesterday that his government would introduce a tax cut for the lowest tax-paying income bracket of Canadians, bringing the rate from 15% to 12.75%.

The cut is intended as a way for every Canadian who pays taxes to pay less. The cut on the lowest bracket would save individual earners about $900 per year, or $1,800 for dual-income households.

Early estimates provided by the Poilievre campaign suggest it would cost the government $7 billion per year for two years, and $14 billion annually thereafter. Poilievre says his government would pay for it by cutting waste and federal bureaucracy, and pledged to provide a more detailed cost breakdown when the party releases its costed platform.

Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed a similar cut the day before, pledging to shave 1% off the lowest federal tax bracket. Overall, the Poilievre plan would cut 15% of the taxes paid within the lowest bracket, whereas Carney’s would cut 6.6%, saving individual earners a little over $400 per year or dual-income households just over $800.

Carney pledged to pay for his cut by reducing the growth of annual government spending and “review programs for efficiencies.” He implied Poilievre would pay for his by cutting federal programs like pharmacare, dental care, or child care.

CONSUMER

Streaming continues to grow

Despite elevated living costs, the percentage of Canadians who rely on digital streaming for TV content continues to rise, according to a report published yesterday by Convergence Research.

The firm’s annual found 46% of Canadian households did not have a TV-viewing subscription with a cable, satellite, or traditional telecom service provider at the end of last year, up from 42% the year prior. The number is expected to hit 54% by 2027.

“The revolution’s already happened,” said Convergence Research president Brahm Eiley. “The streaming stuff ain’t going away. It’s not niche. TV is becoming niche.”

Eiley also noted the number of Canadians subscribed to at least one digital platform rose 8% in 2024 compared to the year before. An analysis of 50 different streaming platforms found revenue for these types of services rose 15% in Canada last year, reaching $4.2 billion.

“The truth of the matter is the majority of people who subscribe for TV are going to have a [streaming] subscription, but it’s not going to be true the other way,” said Eiley.

ECONOMY

Tariffs and U.S. aggression Canadians’ top concern

According to a Leger poll conducted in early March, inflation is no longer the top concern for Canadians worried about their finances.

While inflation was still considered the number one issue for 21% of respondents, 28% said U.S. president Donald Trump, tariffs, and general American aggression towards Canada are now their number one issue.

“All this economic uncertainty is piling onto what was already a major issue for Canadians who are concerned about affordability,” said Sébastien Dallaire, executive vice-president at Leger, noting affordability in general remains a top concern, but it’s now being seen through the lens of an American trade war on Canada and the rest of the world.

It’s no surprise, then, that Canada’s top politicians are issuing policy proposals aimed at bringing down the cost of living, but specifically in response to American proposals that could and likely would raise living costs for most.

While many are feeling proud of Canada’s refusal to roll over in response to Trump’s economic aggression, Dallaire says such sentiments may wither when the costs of Canada’s response become more apparent.

“I think the resurgence in patriotism in Canada has at least papered over, for right now, the real economic pain that the Canadians are going to be in for over the next couple of years if these tariffs stay in place,” he said.

TRAVEL TUESDAYS

Barcelona turns on tourists, yet still relies on them

Mass tourism will continue having its moment in the spotlight this summer, and that’s both a good thing and a bad thing, particularly when it comes to mega tourist destination Barcelona, Spain.

The city didn’t always have an over-crowding problem caused by tourism, but the origins of its current nightmare likely began at the 1992 Olympic Games, when the airport was expanded, and the ports opened up further to cruise ships.

14% of the city’s economy is driven by tourism today, meaning it’s in that uncomfortable position of “can’t live with it, can’t live without it.”

1.5 million people lived in Barcelona in 2004, and 4.5 million visited for overnight stays. By 2019, 16.1 million tourists were visiting annually and staying over for at least one night.

One area most affected by the crowds is unsurprisingly the 50,000-person neighbourhood surrounding the Sagrada Familia Basilica. 50,000 people tend to visit the iconic-yet-still-unfinished gothic masterpiece every day in the summer.

The last two years have seen major pushback from residents, who commonly say “there’s a limit” to the mass tourism their government is seemingly encouraging.

Still, Spanish and Catalan officials are continuing discussions for even further expansion of Barcelona’s massive airport, setting the stage for what will likely be an even rockier relationship this year between the Spanish people, Spanish governments, and Spain’s visitors.

HEALTH

Not ideal to inhale your meal

If taking longer than 20 to 30 minutes to eat a full meal seems like a long time, experts say that probably means you tend to eat too fast.

According to Leslie Heinberg at the Center for Behavioral Health at the Cleveland Clinic, it takes roughly that long for your brain to get the memo from your stomach that you’ve eaten, meaning you could eat a lot more after you’re actually full if you eat too fast.

“It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to communicate to the brain via a whole host of hormonal signals that it’s full,” she says. “So when people eat rapidly, they can miss these signals and it’s very easy to eat beyond the point of fullness.”

She notes that people who eat too fast have the highest risk of obesity, which makes sense if they don’t realize they’ve had enough and keep on feasting.

It can be a difficult habit to drop, though, given how involuntary it may be in the first place. Heinberg says turning off the TV, putting down the phone, and attempting to remain conscious of each bite is a good place to start when trying to slow down.

Eventually, a full meal will actually feel like a full meal, and you’ll save time, money, and of course, food.

CURIOSITIES

Hot doggin’ it from Chicago to NYC

Staying on the topic of food, but with health choices taking a back seat for a minute, we move on to hot dogs. Specifically, we’re looking at the iconic Chicago chain, Portillo’s.

Open since 1963 and now in 15 different locations across Illinois, the Windy City staple in heading out on a pop-up tour that will include an event called Hot Dog High Tea in New York’s Chelsea.

Portillo’s may be known for their dogs, but has expanded to offer a variety of street food over the decades. According to food blog Eater New York, the menu will include the “Chicago Pup, a smaller version of its Chicago dog (where the little frank is topped with tomatoes, a pickle spear, sport peppers, onions, mustard, relish, and celery salt).”

On top of that, there will be “an Italian beef sandwich with a truffle giardiniera and au jus made with whiskey. There’s also a barbecue chicken tea sandwich served on milk bread and the chain’s two-layer chocolate cake slices. And, instead of tea, there will be Jameson Irish whiskey drinks created by Los Angeles bar Thunderbolt.”

Organized by California pop-up host Chain, New Yorkers and those visiting for the event will have to get on the Chain’s text-messaging list to gain access.

MUSIC

KISS to play show for 50th anniversary of fan club

Anyone who knows KISS knows that when the band says they’re hangin’ up their 7-inch boots for good, there’s probably a catch. How many “farewell tours” did the band embark on over the decades, after all?

At the same time, Gene Simmons did make it clear just before they wrapped up their final shows at Madison Square Garden in late 2023 that the last show on the tour would be “the final KISS-in-makeup appearance,” he said to Rolling Stone.

Adding to that in a different interview, Paul Stanley said “Anything’s possible…KISS is so far from over, though KISS as we know it is done."

In that sense, the band has held true to their word; the show announced for this November will feature the band without make-up on. Well played, gents…

The gig will be KISS’ first in nearly two years, and is being played over the Nov. 14-16 weekend at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as part of a KISS Army Storms Vegas event in celebration of the iconic fan club’s 50th anniversary.

It was announced in an email to soldiers of the KISS Army, and the email indicated further details would be released over the coming months.

STAKE TRIVIA

One dynamic duo

Would you believe us if we told you that two of the greatest musicians of the last century shared the same birthday? Well, it just so happens that Aretha Franklin and Elton John were both born on March 25th!

With that in mind, we’ll be quizzing you on the two legends with today’s trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Tim Hortons eGift Card ;)

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

Have a great day ahead Staker!

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


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.