Usually we talk about what divides us. It’s the focal point of politics but Christmas is a reminder of how companies and individuals come together to help people and families less fortunate.

Governments knew we needed more housing supply – so what did they do? They focused on demand, instead of supply, which in turn discouraged building and made the affordable housing crisis worse.

It’s a plot that’s about to become familiar. The French public sector pensions are unaffordable. The government wants to make changes. Protesting starts, at times violent – and then the protestors cut the electricity …to be continued.

SNC Lavalin has a criminal conviction in Canada – fined $280 million – on probation – and contrary to the what we were told, jobs haven’t been lost, the head office is still in Quebec and it can still bid on public projects.

It’s not just that the federal deficit is going to be $6.8 billion higher this year than forecast and over $8 billion next year. It’s why – and it’s a story we’re all going to become familiar with.