The Social Experiment with Paul Micucci

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The Social Experiment with Paul Micucci is where Canadian politics, culture, and everyday life collide. Each episode, Paul cuts through the spin with sharp analysis, candid conversations, and unfiltered takes on the issues shaping our country. From the economy and housing to immigration, healthcare, and national security, nothing is off-limits. Smart, engaging, and proudly Canadian, The Social Experiment challenges the narrative and gives listeners the straight talk they won’t hear anywhere else.

  1. Canada’s 2025 Budget Explained: The 5 Pillars, Productivity & What Happens Next | PART 2

    11/13/2025

    Canada’s 2025 Budget Explained: The 5 Pillars, Productivity & What Happens Next | PART 2

    Are these five budget “pillars” going to lift Canada’s GDP—or just move numbers around? Mike Wixson and Paul Micucci unpack the 2025 federal budget’s shiny new framework, the shift to accrual accounting, and whether the promised investments actually produce returns (not losses). We separate operating vs. capital, look at defense, housing, trade corridors, AI/SHRED incentives, immigration talent, and ask the only question that matters: does this plan improve productivity and profitability by 2027—or do we pivot fast? What you’ll learn: • The 5 “pillars” and why they read like marketing—vs. what’s really funded • Accrual accounting 101: how capitalizing projects changes the deficit picture • Where dollars actually land in 2026–2027 (and what’s deferred) • Housing push vs. existing homeowners: who benefits, who doesn’t • Defense spend on a 5-year clock: gear now, shipyards later • AI, SHRED, and tax measures—smart incentives or soft costs? • Trade strategy beyond the U.S.: ports, corridors, and realism checks • The guardrails Canada needs (reporting, ROI, pivot points)   Chapters: 00:00 Why the budget changed (cash → accrual) 03:05 The 5 pillars vs. real allocations 08:42 Capital vs. operating—how the deficit “shrinks” on paper 14:10 Housing & affordability: builds, incentives, and consequences 20:25 Productivity test: projects that actually sell things 27:10 Defense & sovereignty: near-term buys, long-term gaps 33:00 AI/SHRED & talent: incentives that work (and don’t) 38:45 Trade routes & corridors: cost vs. payoff 43:30 Bottom line: GDP/productivity by 2027—or pivot   Our take: Canada can’t afford projects that don’t generate returns. If these pillars don’t raise productivity and GDP by 2027, we need transparent scorecards and a hard pivot—fast.   Like, subscribe, and tell us where you’d invest first for real growth. More from TPL Media: Economy, Energy, Housing, Defense & more: Visit: www.tplmedia.ca  Chapters (00:00:00) - Federal Budget 2021(00:02:44) - The 2021 Budget(00:04:27) - The Budget: Operating and Capital Spending(00:06:31) - Canada's National Building Strategy in the Budget(00:08:24) - Ontario's Capital Expenditure Plan, 2017-2027(00:11:07) - Canada's tax incentives(00:15:34) - The Budget 2018: Operating Expenses and Capital Budget(00:18:56) - Canada's planned investments in building in Canada(00:21:00) - The Budget's Capital Budget(00:23:55) - Protecting Canada's Strategic Industries in the 2030 Budget(00:30:41) - Canada's Strategic Trade Strategy(00:34:55) - Canada's new supercharged home building plan(00:40:33) - Ontario MP on Empowering Canadians(00:45:01) - The CBC and Canadians(00:47:11) - Defense Spending in the 2019 Budget(00:51:19) - Canada's defence budget(00:55:29) - Trump on the Paris Climate Agreement(00:55:43) - Canada's 2019 budget: Spending more, and more efficient government(00:59:13) - Canada's Budget

    1h 2m
  2. The Federal Deficit Explained: Will It Lead to Higher Taxes? | PART 1

    11/13/2025

    The Federal Deficit Explained: Will It Lead to Higher Taxes? | PART 1

    Canada’s 2025 federal budget just changed the rules—and your bill. Mike Wixson and Paul Micucci unpack how a record $78.3B deficit, a higher $2.54T debt ceiling, and a shift to accrual accounting actually work, using a simple “two buckets” model you’d use at home or in a small business. Clear, plain-English breakdown—no spin. What you’ll learn: • The “Bucket 1 vs. Bucket 2” model: operating deficit vs. capital spending • Why the accounting switch (cash → accrual) changes how numbers appear • Where revenue growth comes from (personal, corporate, GST/excise, EI) • The biggest expense drivers (health transfers, seniors’ benefits, debt interest) • How much new financing is required and why project ROI now matters   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TPL_media We want you with us for more great programming: https://www.tplmedia.ca/  Chapters (00:00:00) - Federal Budget 2021(00:01:46) - Going Through the 2025 Budget(00:07:01) - The Gross Profit and Loss Statement(00:07:26) - Canadians Pay More Income Tax in 2019-2027(00:09:32) - Canada's Budget 2021: Non-resident Taxation(00:14:15) - GST and other revenue projections in the Budget(00:18:37) - Ontario budget: Spending on seniors, unemployment insurance(00:22:22) - Canada's spending on children is increasing(00:27:40) - Government Spending in the 2024 Budget(00:32:35) - Government Pension Spending vs. US(00:34:31) - Canada's Budget 2018(00:41:19) - Economy's budget deficit(00:42:05) - Canada's Budget: Spending and Accountability

    46 min
  3. Canada’s Immigration Crisis: Bill C-12 Explained

    10/23/2025

    Canada’s Immigration Crisis: Bill C-12 Explained

    Massive changes are coming to Canada’s immigration system—and the clock is ticking. Bill C-12 could redefine the fate of 200,000 asylum seekers. What does this mean for students, workers, and the future of immigration in Canada? In this episode of The Social Experiment, host Paul Micucci sits down with Nir Rozenberg, leading immigration expert and former Director of the Canadian Association of Immigration Consultants, to break down what’s really happening behind the headlines.   Key Takeaways: • The truth about Bill C-12 and how it will reshape immigration. • What’s happening to the 200,000+ people in asylum limbo. • Why international students and foreign workers are now at risk. • How smuggling routes through Mexico and Quebec are shaping asylum pathways. • Why the federal government is slashing immigration funding—and what that signals for Canada’s future.   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Links: Subscribe:    / @tpl_media

    58 min
  4. The Wheel of Deficits: with Paul Micucci and Franco Terrazzano

    10/17/2025

    The Wheel of Deficits: with Paul Micucci and Franco Terrazzano

    Canada is on a dangerous financial path — and few are sounding the alarm like Franco Terzano. With exploding debt, massive deficits, and rising taxes, what does the future hold for Canadian taxpayers? In this episode, host Paul Micucci sits down with Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, to dissect the Parliamentary Budget Officer's (PBO) warning, the looming $60+ billion deficit, and the deeper issues beneath Canada’s fiscal policy. Key topics covered: • Why the PBO’s “stupifying” warning matters • How interest payments are swallowing Canada's budget • The truth behind carbon taxes and stealth taxation • What we can learn from the 1990s deficit crisis • A realistic path to balancing the budget again   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Channel: @TPL_media Website: https://www.tplmedia.ca/ Find Franco at: https://www.taxpayer.com/

    35 min
  5. Federal Budget 2024: Where Did the $521 Billion Go? | Expenses Breakdown Explained

    10/17/2025

    Federal Budget 2024: Where Did the $521 Billion Go? | Expenses Breakdown Explained

    Where did $521 billion of Canadian taxpayer money go in 2024? In this eye-opening Part 2 of our Federal Fiscal Report breakdown, we unpack where every dollar was spent—from senior benefits and child care to provincial transfers and employment insurance. Paul Micucci, economic analyst and political commentator In this episode, we cover: • The largest spending categories in the 2024 federal budget • Why expenses are now outpacing revenues, and what that means • Which sectors and demographics are receiving more funding • The implications of rising deficits for future generations • How these trends may shape future policy and elections Watch Part 1 (Revenue Breakdown) → https://youtu.be/fnb3QOVYWkU   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TPL_media Website: https://www.tplmedia.ca/

    34 min
  6. Why Canada's Healthcare Costs Are Exploding

    10/09/2025

    Why Canada's Healthcare Costs Are Exploding

    Canada’s healthcare system is hitting a crisis point. With healthcare costs soaring and strain on both public and private systems, it's time to unpack the numbers no one’s talking about. This episode dives deep into the true cost of "free" healthcare and what’s driving the unsustainable spending. Hosted by: Paul Micucci Guest: Mike Wixson — media host and commentator, known for thought-provoking takes on public policy and economics. In this episode, we cover: • The real cost of Canadian healthcare: $372 billion and counting • The myth of “free healthcare” and who’s actually paying • How immigration and an aging population are impacting the system • Why per-person healthcare costs may exceed $10,000+ for working Canadians • What skyrocketing costs mean for Canada's future GDP and national debt   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TPL_media Website: https://www.tplmedia.ca/

    43 min
  7. From 2% to 5%? Canada’s Defense Pivot, NATO Pressure, and the Path to Real Readiness

    10/03/2025

    From 2% to 5%? Canada’s Defense Pivot, NATO Pressure, and the Path to Real Readiness

    Canada’s defense conversation just changed—fast. Why the jump toward 5% of GDP, what it really includes, and how it reshapes our role with NATO, NORAD, and the Arctic. Clear, no-spin breakdown with real-world implications for budgets, industry, and recruitment. Hosted by Paul and Mike with guest Charlotte Duval Lantoine, VP, Ottawa Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and author of The Ones We Let Down. What you’ll learn: • NATO’s 5%: What counts as 3.5% “core defense” vs. 1.5% “defense-related” (roads, ports, dual-use infra). • NORAD modernization: Why aging radar and Arctic coverage matter—and how binational command actually works. • Strategic autonomy vs. U.S. pressure: Tariffs, Trump, and the case for stronger Canadian/European capabilities. • Culture & recruitment: Why money isn’t a silver bullet without structural and leadership reforms. • Peacekeeping perception vs. reality: How Canada’s military posture has evolved since the 1990s.   Subscribe for more conversations like this. • Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TPL_media • Website: https://www.tplmedia.ca/

    54 min
  8. $10.5M Missing: Inside Ontario Real Estate’s Biggest Wake-Up Call

    10/03/2025

    $10.5M Missing: Inside Ontario Real Estate’s Biggest Wake-Up Call

    $10.5 million vanished—and Ontario’s real estate industry is in crisis. In this must-watch episode, real estate lawyer Mark Morris (LegalClosing.ca) joins host Paul Micucci to break down the iPro/RECO financial meltdown and why it may be the biggest test of self-regulation the industry has faced in years. From trust account failures and forensic audits to the looming fallout over unpaid pre-construction commissions, we go beyond the headlines to understand how this happened, who’s at risk, and what real accountability could look like. In this episode: • What happened to the $10.5M in missing iPro trust & commission funds • The legal implications of the RECO investigation and insurance caps • How deferred commissions on new builds may trigger future disputes • What agents, buyers, and sellers need to know right now • Why systemic reform may be the only way forward   Subscribe for more conversations like this. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TPL_media Website: https://www.tplmedia.ca/

    32 min
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About

The Social Experiment with Paul Micucci is where Canadian politics, culture, and everyday life collide. Each episode, Paul cuts through the spin with sharp analysis, candid conversations, and unfiltered takes on the issues shaping our country. From the economy and housing to immigration, healthcare, and national security, nothing is off-limits. Smart, engaging, and proudly Canadian, The Social Experiment challenges the narrative and gives listeners the straight talk they won’t hear anywhere else.

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