Poilievre asks premiers to axe their sales taxes on new homes worth under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
Controversy bubbled for a Canadian drink company after its founders drew the ire of a Marvel superhero on an episode of a “Shark Tank”-style reality series.
On a recent episode of CBC’s “Dragons’ Den,” actor Simu Liu appeared as a guest star and prospective investor. The owners of a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called Bobba were featured, seeking funding to grow their brand.
Bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink with tapioca balls that has risen in popularity in recent years.
The friction between Liu and Bobba owners Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette was visible early in their pitch. Setting up their product, Frenette described bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink” and suggested that consumers are “never quite sure about its contents.”
Liu interrupted the pitch to say, “hang on, hang on. I am quite sure about its content, but continue.”
Fiset pitched Bobba as a new spin on traditional bubble tea, saying he and Frenette had “transformed this beloved beverage into a convenient and healthier ready-to-drink experience.”
He added that they are “disturbing” the bubble tea market by using “three simple ingredients,” including high quality tea, fruit juice and their Popping Bobba, which are edible pearls filled with fruit juice, according to the company’s website.
Liu, who is Chinese-Canadian, took issue with how they qualified “disturbing” the market with their product, calling it “cultural appropriation.”
“There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’ which I have an issue with,” Liu said.
When Liu later asked if there is any Asian representation within their staff, Frenette and Fiset said the company’s “best partner” is based in Taiwan and creates their recipes. According to the company’s website, the flavors are “crafted” in Canada, while their pearls are “from our exclusive producer in Taiwan.”
Liu ultimately opted not to invest in the product, saying, “I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses but not like this.”
“I started this venture company for a lot of reasons but really primarily to uplift minority entrepreneurs,” Liu said. “Not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but that I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage.”
The exchange has since spurred some backlash, resulting Liu, the Bobba founders and “Dragons’ Den” investor Manjit Minhas, who initially invested in the product on the show, to release statements addressing the discourse and calling for an end to the threats and harassment Frenette and Fiset have since received online.
Liu on Saturday posted a video to his TikTok page to say he believes Fiset and Frenette came on “Dragons’ Den” to pitch their business “in good faith.”
“There were a lot of things with the pitch that I took issue with and I disagreed with and as a result, I pulled out as a potential investor but that doesn’t mean that I believe that they deserve harassment and threats. I think a lot of grace should be afforded to them,” he said.
“Dragons’ Den” echoed Liu in a statement on Saturday.
The company Bobba apologized “for the harm we have caused by our words and actions on the show,” acknowledging in statement on Sunday that Liu “raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation and we welcome this learning opportunity.”
Fiset and Frenette’s “choice of words was misguided” when they discussed the cultural significance and origins of bubble tea on the show, the company stated.
“We will re-evaluate our branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure that they reflect a respectful and accurate representation of our Taiwanese partnership and bubble tea’s cultural roots,” the statement read.
The Bobba owners ultimately made a deal with Minhas, who offered them $1 million for an 18% stake in their company after saying she thinks there can be “new takes” on products like this that don’t always have to be traditional.
Minhas on Sunday announced that “after more reflection, due diligence and listening to many of your opinions,” she’s no longer investing in Bobba.
“Dragons’ Den” has aired for 19 season and is based off a Japanese show with the same concept, which premiered in 2001.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson's historic 'Thriller' album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Israeli police have arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media.
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
A poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in northern India on Monday, killing at least 36 people and injuring several others, officials said.
Prince William will meet with young environmentalists and local fishermen during a visit to South Africa that starts on Monday and will focus on climate change and conservation. He will also see his annual Earthshot Prize award US$1.2 million in grants to five organizations for innovative environmental ideas.
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Police in New Brunswick say an inmate who escaped from a jail in Saint John by squeezing through a fence is back in custody.
A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.
A Windsor teen’s social media post showing off a distinctive Windsor pizza topping has gone viral, drawing millions of views worldwide and sparking new curiosity about Windsor-style pizza.
Auston Matthews has come face to face with his look-alike. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs star met seven-year-old Grayson Joseph, who went viral for dressing up as an Auston Matthews hockey card.
A Halifax junk remover shares some of his company’s strangest discoveries.
When Leah arrived at work directing traffic around a construction site, she never expected to see a van painted in all sorts of bright colours, and covered in eclectic decorations, including a stuffed moose attached to its roof.
After 14 years of repairing and selling bicycles out of the garage of her home, a Guelph, Ont. woman’s efforts have ended – for now, at least.
Epcor says it has removed more than 20,000 goldfish from an Edmonton stormwater pond.
Witches and warlocks have been flocking to New Brunswick waterways this month, as a new Halloween tradition ripples across the province.
New Brunswicker Jillea Godin’s elaborate cosplay pieces attract thousands to her online accounts, as well as requests from celebrities for their own pieces.