u/Kuzu9

I was in elementary school at the time and somewhat remembered what it was like then, where we had lit candles everywhere we needed it in the house and it was one of the summers, where I spent most of my time outdoors.

Does anyone else remember what it was like back then?

I’ll be in each of these cities for work, but have at least a full weekend at each to shop.

One thing I’ve noticed is how many industries seem to be dominated by just one or two major companies. Whether it’s telecommunications, banking, airlines, grocery stores, railways, or even internet providers, there often appears to be limited competition compared to what you might find in larger countries. Because of the concentration in key sectors, there’s a lack of choice for consumers driving up the cost of living and commodities available in the market compared to other countries, like the cost of cell phone plans in Canada versus the rest of the world.

A common explanation is that Canada simply doesn’t have the population to support a large number of competitors. We have a vast geographic area but a relatively small population spread across it, which can make it difficult for new businesses to achieve the scale needed to compete nationally. In some industries, the costs of building infrastructure, like cellular networks, rail lines, or distribution systems are so high that only a handful of companies can realistically operate profitably.

At the same time, I wonder whether population size tells the whole story. There are countries with populations similar to or even smaller than Canada’s that seem to have more competition in certain sectors. I’ve read arguments that government regulations, foreign ownership restrictions, and barriers to entry may protect established firms and make it harder for new competitors to enter the market.

There is also the question of whether Canada’s economy has become increasingly concentrated through mergers and acquisitions. Over time, many industries have seen smaller companies absorbed by larger players, resulting in markets where a few firms control a significant share of sales and services.

This raises an interesting question: are monopolies, duopolies and oligopolies in Canada primarily the result of geography and economics, making them difficult to avoid, or are they largely a consequence of policy choices and regulatory frameworks that could be changed, like protectionism against foreign competition? If Canada wanted to encourage more competition, what reforms would be most effective, and what trade-offs would Canadians be willing to accept?

One thing I’ve always wondered is whether a second major theme park on the scale of Disney or Universal could ever succeed in the Greater Toronto Area. Obviously, our winters would be a significant challenge and would likely shorten the operating season compared to parks in warmer climates. However, Canada’s Wonderland has managed to become a major attraction despite those limitations and effectively holds a monopoly on the large-scale amusement park market in the region if you exclude Centre Island and the CNE in Toronto.

That makes me question whether climate alone is enough to explain why no global theme park operator has seriously pursued the GTA or anywhere else in Southern Ontario. Wonderland consistently draws large crowds, and the Toronto region has one of the largest populations in North America, along with millions of tourists and visitors each year.

It’s also worth noting that Disney successfully opened a park near Paris and Europa Park in Germany, both regions experience cold winters as well. While both parks generally receives less snow and has milder temperatures than Southern Ontario, the existence of Disneyland Paris and Europa Park suggests that a colder climate is not necessarily a dealbreaker for a destination theme park.

So what are the real barriers? Is it simply the weather and shorter operating season, or are factors such as land costs, taxes, labour expenses, tourism demand, and proximity to existing Disney and Universal parks in the United States within the same time zone in Florida bigger obstacles?