Hard Numbers: Bear of a joke, BC’s snowpack slacks, US more corrupt than ever, US buyers wary of Canadian M&A, Americans ❤️Valentine’s Day

0: A leading Manitoba Tory candidate has zero regrets about joking that Canada’s homelessness problem could be solved by allowing polar bears to roam the streets. Wally Daudrich, who runs an ecotourism and polar bear observation business, said he would bring 10 of the animals to Winnipeg and let them roam the streets. The Tory leadership race will be decided in late April.

28: Average snowpack in British Columbia is currently 28% below normal levels for this time of year. Since the snow ultimately melts in spring and summer, the low levels now raise the risk of drought later this year.

65: The United States got its lowest score ever on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions index, dropping four points to 65 out of 100 on the annual measure of public sector corruption and graft. The index, which has run since 2012, went public earlier this week. Among all countries in the world, the US now ranks 28th. Denmark yet again took the top spot. The score reflects views through the end of 2024 and does not include perceptions of the US since then.

22: Merger and acquisition activity involving US buyers in Canada hit a 22-year low in January as President Donald Trump’s tariff threats left prospective buyers worried about their bottom lines. While US buyer acquisitions in Canada had grown 72.4% over the past five years, with 50 such deals in January 2024, this January saw only 19 deals.

27.5 billion: Americans are feeling the love: They plan to spend a record-breaking amount this year on Valentine’s Day gifts, including flowers, candy, and fancy nights out. According to the National Retail Federation, the nationwide total spend could hit a whopping $27.5 billion. In Canada, meanwhile, Cupid has shot slightly fewer people this year than in recent years. While more than a third of Canadian shoppers will make Valentine’s related purchases this year — at 37% — that is down 2 percentage points from last year and a heartbreaking 11 points from 2023.