“Canadians are nice” is a national stereotype. There’s some truth to it but it doesn’t mean Canadians are always good-natured, acquiescent citizens. They are more compliant than the French, for instance, but there’s more to it than just turning a blind eye.

Canadians get frustrated and angry too. They’re just not very organized or public about it.

Unlike, well, most of the world, Canadians rarely team up to take the issues to the streets. I suspect it’s a cultural trait and not just a weather issue because Canadians always seem to be shocked when civil disobedience, protests, strikes and resistance do happen, and such events make history—see the 1990 Kanesatake Resistance (and more generally indigenous activism), various albeit infrequent labour issues (most recently the 12-day federal workers strike), and the convoy protest, among a relatively short list of events for such a big country.

So, what do Canadians do when they are unhappy? They write letters to their MP, they tell themselves they don’t have it as bad as the Americans, and they feed the social media doomscrolling machine.

Chaos shall not happen. Chaos is frowned upon, even if a feeling of anger and frustration is legitimate these days as Canada is facing a housing, affordability, healthcare, homelessness and drug crisis.

Frankly, I think people aren’t angry enough. I’d offer tips on how to start a proper revolution but I’m stuck in Ottawa where it’s more likely to snow in July so excuse me, I can’t do the whole thing alone.

The best I can do is to offer insights into the Canadian mindset.

For instance, here are four big companies most Canadians have a… ahem, very “complicated” relationship with.

The key words? Greed and monopoly.

Tim Hortons

“What, Tim Hortons? But I thought Canadians love Tim Hortons! This is the quaint coffee shop that epitomizes Canada!”

The cup of coffee I’m making is more Canadian than Tim Hortons. It was founded by Canadian NHL player Tim Horton, but Tim Hortons is now American-Canadian, with the Brazilian investment company 3G Capital as the majority shareholder.

Nonetheless, Tim Hortons keeps on playing the patriotic angle and somehow branded itself as a “cultural icon,” associating eating Timbits and drinking “double-double” with Canadian identity.

Canadians didn’t mind Tim Hortons because it’s ubiquitous and used to be cheap. You can still find Tim Hortons everywhere—like most fast-food chains, the majority of the assets are in real estate, not coffee and donuts. However, it’s no longer cheap, the quality is inconsistent, the service is chaotic, and the working conditions are pretty shitty. Apparently, they switched to a coffee supplier a few years ago and it’s not as good.

Tim Hortons is struggling and Tim Hortons lost its way. It has gone downhill fast lately. It’s still a pit stop for a bathroom break and sugar rush if you’re on a road trip—chances are there won’t be another option—but “Timmies” isn’t a “Canadian” icon to be proud of anymore.

Loblaw Companies Limited

Why do people hate Loblaw Companies Limited?

Because of soaring food prices, that’s why.

Loblaw, Canada’s largest food distributor and retailer controlled by the Weston family, operates under 22 banners—Loblaws, Extra Foods, Fortinos, Freshmart, No Frills, President’s Choice, President’s Choice Financial, No Name, Provigo, Your Independent Grocer, Dominion Stores, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Liquorstore, Atlantic, Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, SuperValu, T & T Supermarket, Valu-mart, Zehrs Markets, and Loblaw Digital.

Basically, if you need food, you’re probably giving money to Loblaw or to the other three players, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart or Costco. Canadians hate them too, by the way.

These companies combine for more than three-quarters of all the food sales in Canada. Even the Competition Bureau acknowledged that “the industry isn’t as competitive as it should be“. Even Ottawa summoned grocery CEOs to lower food prices because, at this stage, it’s hard to believe it’s not greedflation.

Loblaws was implicated in the 2011-2015 bread price-fixing scandal. Most recently, Galen Weston Jr. just keeps on adding to the fuel. For instance, Loblaw announced a “price freeze” on the No Name brand… except that it was launched after raising the prices of said items.

So yeah, Canadians hate Loblaw.

Rogers, Bell and Telus

Different industry, same issue—a big market and a “you’ll pay whatever we decide” monopoly.

Canada is among the most expensive countries for wireless rates. We also pay $102 per month for their Internet on average. Considering smartphones and Internet access aren’t exactly optional in 2023, this is a lot.

But what are we going to do about it? As Canadians, nothing. There’s no competition.

In 2022, a software update on Rogers core IP network went wrong. It took down all of the company’s wireless and wired Internet services with it, including payment systems, government services and 911 access. And then what? Nothing changed. Customers didn’t leave, there are no real alternatives.

Air Canada

Air Canada doesn’t have a great reputation but again, we have no other alternative.

The company is known for constant delays, lost luggage and high prices. Most recently, fares shot up by 18% to $593 for Mexico and Central America, 30% to $1,166 for Europe and 99% to $2,065 for Asia.

Operations regularly “fail to meet expected levels,” yet Air Canada is posting earnings that soared to pre-pandemic levels—as I said, we don’t have a plan B to travel.

So, which companies does your country hate?