The Big Five Podcast

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The Big Five podcast is an excellent way to get caught up on the top stories impacting Montrealers on a daily basis. Host Elias Makos, veteran commentator Trudie Mason, and their guests, debate and inform.

The Big Five


    • Oct 31, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 1,221 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Big Five Podcast

    We call up Doug Ford. Plus: Who's gonna win the Montreal election?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 24:00


    Joining Elias in studio for The Big 5 were Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies and Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom Some Quebec doctors have taken up the offer to call the Premier of Ontario Doug Ford and apply to move to Ontario to continue practicing medicine. Quebec’s labour tribunal has authorized bus drivers and metro operators with Montreal’s transit agency to hold a one-day strike on Saturday, with no essential services other than paratransit With three days away before the election, a new poll from Pallas Data has Soraya Martinez Ferrada of Ensemble Montreal 15 points ahead of their next closest rival

    The bromance is over: Legault and Ford spar over doctors. Plus: The referendum, 30 years later.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025 25:09


    Elias Makos welcomes back Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Political analyst Karim Boulos. Quebec Premier François Legault is hopping mad with his Ontario counterpart, Doug Ford. With many doctors in Quebec up in arms over Bill 2 and how it will change the way they work and are paid, Ford took the opportunity to roll out the red carpet for Quebec’s doctors Today marks the 30th anniversary of the 1995 referendum. We came close to losing this country - but in the end, the No camp won the referendum with 50.58% of the vote compared to 49.42% for the Yes side. What do you remember most of that time? A sign that we’re headed towards an election? The parties are courting women voters. Despite all indications being there will be a massive cutback in spending in next week’s federal budget, the government announced new money to support women

    New Brunswick is coming for Quebec's doctors. Plus: Bill Gates says climate change isn't the killer you think it is.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 23:44


    Elias Makos is joined by Graham Singh, Pastor at St-Jax Church, and Trudie Mason, veteran Newscaster here at CJAD 800. There is a spike in the amount of doctors leaving the province for New Brunswick. Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Dube wrote an opinion letter in the Journal this morning defending the new legislation towards doctors. The province’s food banks say they handled nearly 3.1 million requests for help in March 2025 according to the 2025 Hunger Report released Monday. Ahead of next month’s global climate summit in Brazil, COP30, Bill Gates has dropped a new memo that rattles the consensus of the climate movement.

    The billionaires getting involved in Quebec politics. Plus: A province not named Quebec will use the notwithstanding clause

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025 25:32


    Joining Elias on today's Big 5 were Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program & Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. Among the topics discussed by Andrew and Akil, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Prime Minister Mark Carney saw the controversial TV ad that pushed Donald Trump to walk away from trade talks and threaten new tariffs against Canada A month after saying he might leave Quebec, businessman Andrew Lutfy has returned to the fray with his criticism of the François Legault government The Alberta government will use the notwithstanding clause to force striking teachers back to work

    Mark Carney throws Doug Ford under the bus. Plus: Montreal's mayoral frontrunners hurl insults at each other.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2025 23:24


    Elias Makos kicks off the week with Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa and Washington were "close to an agreement" before Donald Trump ended negotiations on Thursday. The Quebec government adopted special legislation in the early hours Saturday to force a new remuneration system on doctors. After telling voters they were a party that had “no slogans, only solutions,” Projet Montréal changed its tune over the weekend, with party leader Luc Rabouin telling reporters on Sunday that he would be the "mayor of 514, not 450."

    Trump dumps trade negotiations with Canada. Plus: Robots coming for your jobs!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025 25:23


    Joining Elias on The Big 5 were Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster andChristina Chough, Spanish teacher and Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College. U.S. President Donald Trump says he is terminating trade negotiations with Canada following new anti-tariff ads from the Ontario government that features the voice of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan Internal documents obtained by the New York Times this week reveal that Amazon plans to replace – or rather, avoid hiring – more than half a million U.S. workers by the end of the decade… by letting robots do the work instead In the first nine months of this year alone, food safety inspectors issued $150,000 in fines to Quebec grocery stores, bakeries and butcher shops

    Mark Carney delivers an election-style stump speech. Plus: Craig Sauvé stands by a controversial candidate.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025 25:14


    Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance. Was it a pre-budget speech, or a pre-election stump speech? Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed Canadians last night ahead of the upcoming budget. Transition Montreal leader Craig Sauvé is standing up for one of his candidates despite extreme, violent, rhetoric posted online. Michel Leblanc, the former head of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, says he is supporting Soraya Martinez Ferrada to win the Montreal municipal election. 36 percent of this year’s municipal election candidates in Quebec are women. While it's a slight increase compared to 2021, big cities like Laval, Montreal and Quebec cities saw a decrease this election period.

    Another bad poll for François Legault. Plus: The CRA is really bad at its job.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 22:44


    Elias Makos is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government.

    Who killed the Montreal Expos? Plus: Broad support for secularism measures in Quebec.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025 18:09


    Elias Makos is joined by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. So, do we all have Blue Jays fever? And your predictions for the big Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series? The Federal housing minister is once again proposing magical thinking to solve the housing crisis. The federal government is introducing a new tracking system in order to make sure that federal workers are meeting the three day in office mandate.

    We take a Time Machine back to 1995 and 2015. Plus: Are the knives out for Pierre Poilievre?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025 24:58


    Elias Makos kicks the week off with Trudie Mason, veteran Newscaster here at CJAD 800, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the 1995 referendum, a new poll from Leger says close to two thirds of the population do not want Quebec to be independent. Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of Justin Trudeau's big win. How’s the last decade gone for Canada? Are Trudeau’s Sunny Ways a distant memory? Former Stephen Harper aide and political commentator Dimitirs Soudas dropped a bomb on Pierre Poilievre saying Poilievre is actively dismantling the “principled and trustworthy” Conservative party that was built under Harper’s leadership.

    Trailing in the polls, will Projet Montréal press the “Valerie” button? Plus: Carney's crime crackdown.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2025 25:05


    Elias Makos is ends the week that was with Political analyst Karim Boulos, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. Yesterday was our big municipal debate on CJAD800 between Projet Montreal Leader Luc Rabouin and Ensemble Montreal leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada. What did you think of the debate? Who won? Who lost? It seems like Projet Montreal has one more card to play - and it’s Valerie Plante. Prime Minister Mark Carney says new bail reform aimed at cracking down on violent and repeat offenders will be tabled next week. The Canada Border Services Agency found four undocumented workers after searching the construction site for Calgary’s new event centre.

    The Montreal mayoral race gets heated. Plus: Quebec will let more patients use the private sector for healthcare.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 17:19


    Elias Makos welcomes in Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom. CJAD 800 and The Elias Makos Show is hosting a live Montreal mayoral debate today, the timing for this debate couldn't be more perfect, as the campaigns got nasty yesterday. Merchants in the Chabanel & Garment Districts say they weren’t properly consulted on the bike lanes added to the area Quebec will allow patients who have been waiting for surgery for more than a year to turn to the private sector.

    Countdown to the Montreal mayoral debate. Plus: Gambling and sex chats with chat bots.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 22:29


    Elias Makos is joined by Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Graham Singh, Pastor at St-Jax Church.

    Does Donald Trump deserve praise for his Middle East success? Plus: International students plunge - could it be a good thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025 23:58


    Elias Makos is joined by Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies. After helping broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, even some of Trump’s fiercest opponents are offering rare praise for the former president The province has seen an overall decrease in international students by 12%. That’s according to the most recent report by the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire City cleanliness has been a big issue this municipal election

    Hamas releases the hostages. Plus: Should Canada dump its tariffs on Chinese EVs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2025 19:51


    Elias Makos is kicks off the week with Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. Hamas has officially released the 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza while Israel began releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war. China's ambassador to Canada says his country will remove its tariffs on Canadian agriculture, including on canola products, if Canada scraps its levies on Chinese electric vehicles. The Blue Jays lost the first game of their American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners last night

    It's official: Quebec is getting a constitution Plus: Did Donald Trump get robbed of a Nobel Peace Prize?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025 24:43


    Elias Makos ends the week with Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. U.S. President Donald Trump’s hopes of winning a Nobel Peace Prize have been dashed once again. CJAD 800 and The Elias Makos Show will be hosting a live Montreal mayoral debate next Thursday, October 16, right after the conclusion of The Big Five. According to TIME Magazine, BIXI Montreal is one of the world’s 25 top inventions of the past quarter century.

    Where's Denis Coderre when you need him? Another woman mauled by dogs. Plus: Sky-high salaries for Mark Carney's men.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 24:07


    Elias Makos welcomes back Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor. A woman is in critical condition after being mauled by three dogs outside a garage in Saint-Léonard It looks like the Carney government might be falling back into reality. A new poll out from Leger shows the Liberals at 44 percent of the vote, which is three percent drop since the last polling numbers Santé Quebec says that the summer period in the health network has been a positive one this year. However, a new report from Montreal Gazette’s Aaron Derfel explains that things aren’t as rosy as portrayed

    Mark Carney sucks up to Donald Trump. Plus: The decline of Canadian happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 24:24


    Joining Elias on CJAD 800 this morning were Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia & McGill University, media & government relations consultant & Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance. Among the topics discussed were Mark Carney left Washington last night without a deal after meeting with U.S President Donald Trump for two and a half hours A recent piece from The Globe and Mail on Canadian happiness is getting a lot of attention Denmark wants to ban social media for kids under the age of 15

    Montreal's universities brace for protests & Mr. Carney goes to Washington, again.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025 23:47


    Elias was joined on the Big 5 were Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies &Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. Among the topics discussed were Concordia University has closed their downtown campus and cancelled all classes today, citing “potentially obstructive protests.” Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Washington where he will meet and speak with U.S President Donald this afternoon. A new poll out from Leger for CTV News Montreal for this year’s municipal election shows that the leaders in the election are… the undecided.

    More terrible tales from the Temporary Foreign Worker program. Plus: Carney heads to Washington, everyone else comes to Quebec.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 23:57


    Elias Makos kicks off the week with Political analyst Karim Boulos, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. The federal government has slapped a Toronto Canadian Tire franchise owner with more than $100,000 in fines for violating rules under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Québec Premier François Legault has been hosting Ontario Premier Doug Ford as well as the governors of New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in order to strengthen their relationships. As the municipal election campaign continues across the province, some mayors and town councillors have already been re-elected.

    The political implosion of François Legault continues. Plus: The SAAQclic platform was made in India.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 24:57


    Elias Makos is joined by Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. A new Léger poll shows François Legault’s popularity plunge is continuing, while Éric Duhaime is reaping the rewards of the CAQ’s rightward shift A crack pipe was found and handled by two young children on the grounds of the elementary school next to the supervised injection site Nobody knows who’s running for mayor. Journal de Montreal went out and asked random people on the street about the upcoming Montreal election

    After a deadly shooting in Laval, worries about ‘disorganized crime.' Plus: Have serious discussions become impossible to have?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 37:14


    Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. A brazen daytime shooting that left one dead at a Starbucks in Laval appears to be linked to organized crime, says the province’s public security minister Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is pushing back against his critics and taking aim at some of the language used against him and his party The day after François Legault denounced what he called an “onslaught of radical Islamism,” Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge urged people on Wednesday to wake up to the threat.

    François Legault plays his greatest hits and latest singles. Plus: Would you take Saudi Arabia's cash?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 24:15


    Elias Makos is joined by Political analyst Karim Boulos, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Premier Francois Legault laid out his vision for the new session at the National Assembly on Tuesday Controversy in the comedy world over a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia Photos of an SPVM officer sleeping in his car under highway 40 in Ahuntsic

    Is “Elbows Up!” just a slogan?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 24:54


    Elias was joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor & Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. Among the topics discussed on The Big 5 Elbows up or elbows down? Quebec’s language ministry has given Loto-Québec special dispensation to operate the slot machines at its casinos in English Are we too consumed with news from the United States, and in particular, the 24-hour news cycle of what Donald Trump is saying and doing?

    The Big 5: You're not imagining things - road rage is getting worse!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 24:13


    Elias was joined on The Big 5 by Paul Gott, lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia &Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Among the topics discussed were Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending his frequent international travel, You’re not imagining things - road rage is getting worse La Presse reports that the city of Montreal balked at spending a relatively small sum to host a national team's base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Language, secularism, budgetary doom and no more mail - this show has it all!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 32:57


    Elias Makos ends the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, and Christina Chough, Spanish teacher and Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College. The Parti Québécois has revealed the results of its internal referendum on secularism. A golf club in Laval is asking members to speak French among themselves on the course, and in the clubhouse, saying that too much English was being used. Ottawa’s fiscal watchdog is sounding the alarm over Canada’s finances.

    Groupe Dynamite drops a bomb on the Quebec government. Plus: The election isn't stopping Projet Montréal from travelling the globe.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 22:53


    Elias Makos is joined by Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. The CEO of Groupe Dynamite says he is considering moving his businesses to the United States amid concerns that Quebec’s rigid immigration policies pose a huge risk to his operations. Are Quebec politics moving to the right - at least economically? The word of the moment as the National Assembly gears up for its next session appears to be “efficiency” - with almost all the parties talking about it. The sun is setting on the second Valerie Plante/Projet Montreal term in office, but that hasn’t stopped the party from spending on what some are calling frivolous travel.

    Jimmy Kimmel returns to late night, Montreal politics get dirty. Plus: Do we need more police transparency?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 24:04


    Elias Makos welcomes back Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Jimmy Kimmel made his return to late night television on Tuesday night. Over the course of an 18-minute monologue, TV host did spend some time trying to make amends for his controversial comments on the killing of Charlie Kirk. Three days after a 15-year-old was killed by police in Longueil, there are many more questions than answers. Dirty politics at play in the Montreal municipal election? On Monday, Mayor Valerie Plante dropped that Craig Sauvé – who’s running for mayor under his Transition Montreal banner – tried to get back into the Projet Montreal caucus in July.

    Should STM employees be allowed to strike? Plus: Donald Trump takes on Tylenol.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 24:46


    Elias Makos is joined by Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies. Given how important public transit is, should STM employees be allowed to strike at all? U.S. President Donald Trump linked autism to the use of Tylenol during pregnancy, and again raised concerns about vaccines. Mark Carney is in New York as the UN General Assembly is set to take place. Ahead of that, he spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank.

    Canada officially recognizes the State of Palestine. Plus: Should schools bring back “O Canada?”

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 31:50


    Elias Makos begins the week with Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. Canada has officially recognized the State of Palestine. The Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has been banned from entering Canada. The federal government is bringing forward new legislation to add a hate crime offence to the Criminal Code. Journal de Montreal took a look at the new modular homes the city is putting up to house the homeless and found it costs the city about 2600$ per unit a month…

    Canada sleepwalks into a constitutional crisis. Plus: The mayor makes how much money?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 24:53


    Elias Makos ends the week off with Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. Journal de Montreal has a rundown this morning of how much every municipal elected official makes. The Quebec government is responding to the brief filed by the Canadian government in the Supreme Court of Canada's case on Bill 21, calling it hypocritical. The U.S ambassador to Canada says he is disappointed with how the country is dealing with its trade relation with the U.S. We’re getting more reporting into what exactly went down the day Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air by ABC. The Hollywood Reporter says pushback over Kimmel’s comments began to snowball in the afternoon

    ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air. Plus: “Bubble Zone” legislation is set to be tabled on Friday

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 31:34


    Dan Delmar is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air following comments he made during his opening monologue Monday evening. “Bubble Zone” legislation is set to be tabled on Friday. Three new offences including new hate crime legislation is being introduced by the Carney government. Projet Montreal, Ensemble Montreal and Transition Montreal all unveiled their slogans for this year’s municipal election.

    New poll shows robust support for secularism in Quebec. Plus: Radio-Canada suspends a reporter for antisemitic comments.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 29:14


    Elias Makos welcomes back Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A new poll from Leger shows robust support for secularism and laïcité in Quebec. New numbers this morning from Leger show that Premier Francois Legault’s cabinet shuffle was not up to par with Quebecers. Radio-Canada is apologizing after one of its correspondents used anti-semitic language on air. Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation as Transport and Interim Trade Minister yesterday.

    Former CJAD host Leslie Roberts takes a political plunge. Plus: A tragic record for Montreal.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 25:25


    Elias Makos is joined by Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom, and Political analyst Karim Boulos. Former CJAD host Leslie Roberts will be running for Ensemble Montreal in the riding of Peter-McGill in the Ville-Marie Borough. The amount of homeless people found dead reached record highs once again last year. The federal government unveiled yesterday a $320 million investment into the Hippodrome project. The growth of streaming services continues to accelerate in Canada - along with their pricing. Almost every streaming service has jacked up their rates in 2025.

    The Federal government is spending even more than we thought. Plus: Getting away with fraud in Quebec.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 24:25


    Elias Makos kicks off the week with Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled yesterday the first plans for his ‘Build Canada Homes’ program. After demanding his ministers to find a way to cut spending inside multiple areas of government, we are now learning that projections for the next federal budget will see a deficit of around $100 billion. The Journal de Montreal reports today that nearly 90 percent of fraud cases reported to police result in no charges being laid. As we approach the changing of the clocks on November 2nd, it seems doubtful that Quebec will move forward with eliminating the time change.

    Montreal residents will head to the courts to fight for safe streets. Plus: Could Mark Carney's big announcement have been an email?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 35:41


    Elias Makos ends the week with Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. Downtown Montreal residents are planning to sue over a homeless shelter in their neighbourhood The population of Montreal will drop by 200 thousand by 2030 The federal government unveiled its first five projects that it wants speedy approval from the federal government The suspect in the shooting of U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been apprehended. Since the shooting, there has been a surprising amount of people sharing their glee about the shooting, even here in Quebec

    Charlie Kirk, political violence, and the growing divide in society. Plus: What's in a (metro) name?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 21:28


    Elias Makos is joined by Catherine Hogan, high school teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of the student-focused political group Turning Point USA was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Francois Legault officially made his cabinet shuffle yesterday. Earlier this week the city of Montreal alongside the STM revealed the names of the new metro stations that will be created on the extension of the blue metro line.

    François Legault's shuffle and advertise strategy. Plus: How to fight back against insane language policies.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 22:55


    Elias Makos is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. It is cabinet shuffle day for the CAQ. A fascinating side of the language debate exposed this morning by the Montreal Gazette’s series on the city’s struggles to adapt to the new language policies of Bill 96. Edmonton police are challenging the Crown prosecutor's decision to offer a plea deal to a woman charged with murdering an eight year old indigenous girl A mayor in Eastern Ontario is tired of residents of Quebec not paying their parking tickets

    The decline of downtown Montreal. Plus: The half-a-billion-dollar Quebec high school.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 25:41


    Elias Makos is joined by Political analyst Karim Boulos, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. Three-quarters of downtown Montreal workers believe the city's core has deteriorated. A new poll from the Brotherhood of Montreal Police officers says one in four Montrealers does not feel safe in the city. Francois Bonnardel will get the boot come tomorrow’s CAQ cabinet shuffle. The cost of construction for a high school on the south shore has exploded to almost $500 million. With sales declining, the SAQ is desperately trying to get more 18-to-24-year-olds in its stores.

    Montreal's handbook on dealing with Anglos. Plus: Is anyone worth a trillion dollars?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 24:50


    Elias Makos kicks the week off with Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. We lost Habs legend Ken Dryden over the weekend. Should we name a street after him? The City of Montreal has given its frontline workers a rulebook on dealing with English-speaking citizens — complete with step-by-step guidance, sample phrases and careful instructions for handing out bilingual pamphlets. South Korea says it’s struck a deal with Washington to free its citizens caught up in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia. Elon Musk, currently worth $430 billion, could become the world’s first trillionaire. Is anyone worth a trillion dollars?

    Premier Legault presses the reset button. Plus: Quebec asks Amazon and Walmart to ditch some caps & t-shirts.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2025 25:30


    Joining Elias Makos on the Friday edition of The Big 5 is Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia & McGill University, media & government relations consultant and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.

    Should Canada end its Temporary Foreign Workers Program? Plus: Jean Charest says we'll all end up thanking Trump one day.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 23:34


    Elias Makos is joined by Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberal government to scrap Canada’s temporary foreign worker program Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest says Canada will thank US President Donald Trump in 20 years A prominent U.S. conservative is set to brief Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet behind closed doors today. Le Devoir reports that the cabinet shuffle will happen next week, and that the National Assembly will be prorogued for two weeks as the CAQ gets its ducks in a row

    A look back at Francois Legault's testimony at the Gallant Commission.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 31:44


    In a supersized edition of the Big 5...Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada and Neil Drabkin, Neil is a former Federal Prosecutor and served as a Chief of Staff in the Harper government. Premier Francois Legault sat in the hot seat yesterday and was interrogated by the Gallant Commission about his involvement in the SAAQClic fiasco. Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with his Cabinet today on a two day retreat in Toronto. The race to replace federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is officially on.

    Premier Francois Legault is set to speak at the Gallant Commission today

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 24:20


    Sue Smith is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Premier Francois Legault is set to speak at the Gallant Commission today The bill for eight construction projects at hospitals across the province are already more than $1.2 billion The CAQ has turned down federal funding aimed at addressing systemic racism in the courts

    Labour vote slitting among federal political parties. Plus: A protest outside Quebec's National Assembly

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 29:51


    Trudie Mason, in for Elias Makos, is joined by Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia and Political analyst Karim Boulos on The Big 5. The Labour vote has split across different political parties… The NDP isn’t the only one supporting worker rights anymore. People are headed to the street today to call for a general election in Quebec. Quebecers are encouraging people to take up two jobs to deal with increased cost of living.

    The CAQ sticks to their plan to ban public prayer. Plus: The death of an elderly woman that was easily preventable

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 24:57


    Trudie Mason closes the week with Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia & McGill University, media & government relations consultant, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. The CAQ is continuing with making Quebec society secular, with a plan to ban public prayer, and they’re not ruling out the use of the notwithstanding clause again One year of construction begins on the Côte Saint-Luc overpass above Decarie Death by mail…. An elderly woman in Quebec died of a preventable heart attack last December Many Canadians are left reeling after their Facebook and Instagram accounts had been accidentally deleted by Meta

    UPAC investigators have identified four suspects in the SAAQclic scandal. Plus: Parti Quebecois are asking if praying in public should be banned

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 23:04


    Trudie Mason welcomes in Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ottawa is open to negotiate with Quebec about judge nominations come September. Are we slowly but surely becoming independent from Canada in everything but name? Sources tell LaPresse that UPAC investigators have identified four suspects, including one bureaucrat, in the SAAQclic scandal Parti Quebecois is taking the topic of praying in public to the membership to see if they want to advocate for a ban

    Premier Legault has been called to testify before the public inquiry into the SAAQclic scandal. Plus: Secularism in daycares

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 24:59


    Trudie Mason is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. Premier Francois Legault has officially been called to testify before the public inquiry into the SAAQclic scandal A Quebec committee says the government should extend religious symbols ban to daycares The Israeli flag at Hampstead town hall has been torched twice since last Thursday.

    A new report from the auditor general finds that Montreal roadwork is poorly planned. Plus: School's back, but the phones aren't.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 23:12


    Trudie Mason is joined by Political analyst Karim Boulos, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. A new report from the auditor general finds that Montreal roadwork is poorly planned and coordinated. Students are banned from using their cell phones in class….should teachers lead by example? Mayoral candidate and Projet Montreal leader Luc Rabouin walks back on Camillien-Houde and the summer biweekly trash pick up SAAQclic: Quebec Premier François Legault may be called to appear before the Gallant Commission.

    Projet Montreal has backtracked on bi-weekly trash. Plus: A Quebec man released after killing someone while hunting

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 23:54


    Trudie Mason kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies. Projet Montreal has back tracked their plan to have biweekly trash pick-ups in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve during the summertime after residents complained of the smell and garbage pile-ups. A Quebec man killed someone while he was hunting back in 2021… He alleges that he thought the victim was a deer. Now, he’s out of jail after serving a third of his sentence of 18 months Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv yesterday to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day Lasalle College has canceled their first day of classes today…. That’s because they face a 30$ million dollar fine for having too many students in their English programs

    An update on the SAQ's proposed destruction of $300,000 worth of American alcohol Plus: Half of Canadians would be ‘ashamed' to call Pierre Poilievre their PM

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 26:29


    Sue Smith ends the week with Christina Chough, Spanish teacher and Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. We have an update for you on the SAQ’s proposed destruction of $300,000 worth of American alcohol. Half of Canadians would be ‘ashamed’ to call Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre their Prime Minister. Former Premier Lucien Bouchard urges Parti Québécois leader to reconsider his promise to hold a referendum. Mayor Valerie Plante said earlier this week that there should be a Minister for homelessness. Some elementary schools are cutting down on homework, or getting rid of it completely. Is this a bad idea? Or a revolutionary move?

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