Hi all.

Jeffrey here.

“Funny Business” is this week’s puzzle title and corporate mergers are resulting in a combined company with a common name phrase.

17a [Result of Schweppes merging with Tinder?] – MIXES AND MATCHES. Schweppes sells mixers like Tonic Water. I’m told Tinder is an on-line dating site.

27a [Result of TD Bank merging with Hydro One?] – MONEY AND POWER. When I was young, I had some issue with the TD Bank so I moved my accounts to Canada Trust. Then TD bought Canada Trust. You can’t escape. Hydro One provides electricity to Ontario.

40a [Result of Napa merging with FedEx?]– PART AND PARCEL. Napa sells auto parts, which can be shipped by FedEx.

52a [Result of Sleep Country merging with IHOP?] – BED AND BREAKFAST. Sleep Country sells mattresses like the one I just slept on. IHOP is the International House of Pancakes. IHOP has 27 locations in Canada, 18 in BC and Alberta, 1 each in Manitoba and New Brunswick and 7(!) in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  Funny Business indeed.

More Canadian content:

6a [Fort _____ (Alberta oil city, casually)] – MAC. Fort McMurray.

30a [Ambrose or Jaffe] – RONA. Rona Ambrose was a federal politician.

3d [Smallish steak size at The Keg] –SIX OUNCE. The Keg has 207 locations in Canada and the U.S., including one in Fort McMurray and (only) one in Niagara Falls.

18d [“Pennies from Heaven” duettist with Bublé] – Paul ANKA and Michael Bublé.

35d [“Only ____ you say? Pity!”] – IN CANADA. I am old enough to remember these Red Rose tea commercials.

51d [Stops on the GO Train: Abbr.] – STNS. GO = Government of Ontario and is the commuter train system around Toronto. It is only a four-block walk from the Niagara Falls Go Station to the nearest IHOP. The Keg is about 3 kms.

Tip of the Week:

If you want to see Niagara Falls, prepare to eat more pancakes than steaks.

Bonus Tip of the Week:

The 43rd American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is being held virtually on April 23-25 so here’s you chance to compete and maybe beat me for a so-called Foreign Division prize! Details at acptonline.com

See you next week!