Sponsored by Athena Gold

Liberals finally start to address the housing problem

In a bid to accelerate housing development and reduce construction timelines, the Canadian federal government is set to reintroduce a revamped Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) program. The initiative, nearly 80 years old, aims to provide standardized housing blueprints to builders, with the goal of expediting the municipal zoning and permitting process.

Housing Minister Sean Fraser is expected to unveil the details of the program on Tuesday, outlining consultations on its functioning. According to a senior government source, a diverse range of pre-approved housing plans for various building types and sizes will be made accessible by the end of 2024.

The proposal comes after Mike Moffatt, senior director of policy and innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute, pitched the idea directly to the federal cabinet during meetings in Charlottetown this summer. Moffatt believes that the streamlined approach could potentially shave off up to 12 months from construction times, facilitating quicker project approvals.

You can read more on the matter here.

What’s going on?

• Javier Milei Reportedly Sacks Half Of Argentina’s Government (theDeepDive)

• US Consumer Price Index Comes In At 3.1% In November (theDeepDive)

• NRA torches Biden admin for plan to change rules for gun buyers, sellers (FOX)

• Canada to Offer Emission Credits for Cow Burps (theDeepDive)

• Moody’s Downgrades China Amid Mounting Debt and Economic Slowdown (theDeepDive)

• Zelenskiy makes 11th hour plea for Ukraine war funds in Washington (Reuters)

• FabFitFun Says Disastrous Anti-Woke Campaign Was ‘Dumb’ and ‘Off-Brand’ (theDeepDive)

• Tucker Carlson Launches The Tucker Carlson Network (theDeepDive)

• SpaceX delays launch of mysterious X-37B space plane for US military (CNN)

• US Venture-Backed Tech Startups Face ‘Mass Extinction’ (theDeepDive)

• U.S. president not making much fuss over Canada's 3% tax on web giants, Trudeau says (BNN)

What’s the latest?

• Trudeau Green Slush Fund: A former employee of Sustainable Development Technologies Canada (SDTC) testified before a parliamentary committee, revealing allegations of mismanagement and a toxic work environment within the federal green fund. The whistleblower, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed that public funds, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, were mismanaged and that complaints about conflict of interest, favoritism, and mismanagement were consistently ignored within SDTC.

• US CPI: The U.S. consumer price index experienced a modest rise of just 0.1% from October to November, indicating a gradual easing of inflation pressures. Year-over-year, prices increased by 3.1% in November, slightly down from the 3.2% annual increase in October. Core prices, which exclude the more volatile food and energy sectors, saw a 0.3% increase from October to November, maintaining a 4% rise from the previous year.

• KuCoin Settlement: KuCoin, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has reached a settlement with New York State, agreeing to pay $22 million to resolve a lawsuit. The lawsuit, initiated by Attorney General Letitia James, accused KuCoin of operating without proper registration in New York, allowing investors to trade cryptocurrencies illegally. As part of the settlement, KuCoin will block New York users from its platform and cease trading securities and commodities in the state.

• Ontario Renewables: Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator is set to procure 2,000 megawatts of non-emitting electricity generation, such as wind, solar, hydro, and bioenergy. This initiative, the first of a regular series, aims to add 5,000 megawatts over the next 4-6 years, addressing Ontario's growing energy needs and working towards a zero-emission electricity grid.

• More US Sanctions: The US Treasury and State Departments have sanctioned over 250 companies and individuals in China, Turkey, and the UAE for supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This action targets a network that provides Russia with technology and weapons, defying American sanctions. The sanctions aim to disrupt Russia's procurement capabilities and uphold the enforcement of US sanctions.

Investing trends with Frank Holmes

The stock market and stuff

• Rogers selling all its Cogeco shares to Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (BNN)

• xAI’s Grok Was Caught Responding Like It Thinks It’s ChatGPT (theDeepDive)

• Warren Buffett’s Firm Almost Halves Stake in PC Maker HP (BNN)

• Logan Paul Reportedly Hasn’t Paid CryptoZoo Victims, Told To “Sell His Charizard Card” (theDeepDive)

• Citadel to Return $7 Billion in Profits to Hedge Fund Clients (BNN)

In the juniors

• Power Nickel Submits Complaint To Regulators Over Continuous Market Imbalances (theDeepDive)

• Benton Resources: Unveiling Newfoundland’s Copper Potential (theDeepDive)

• Athena Gold To Conduct IP Survey At Nevada Crow Springs Project In Search Of Copper Porphyry (theDeepDive)

FULL DISCLOSURE: Athena Gold Corp is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. Canacom Group is currently long the equity of Athena Gold. The author has been compensated to cover Athena Gold Corp on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. We may buy or sell securities in the company at any time. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.