The Big Five Podcast

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Daniel Tran, political analyst and former municipal economic development advisor, and Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster.

• With three days left, party leaders are playing intense defence in traditionally safe ridings like Orford and Maurice-Richard.
• Projection site route127.ca shows the CAQ in danger of a near-total wipeout on Monday, potentially saving only Bernard Drainville's riding.
• Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime abandoned plans for a language policy, arguing voters have moved past French vs. English squabbles.
• A scathing Toronto Star column details allegations that Mark Carney's inner circle is completely sidelining traditional cabinet power.
• The Parliamentary Budget Officer released a staggering new report pegging the Alto high-speed rail costs at one hundred and thirteen billion dollars.
• McDonald's denied allegations that it relies on hidden artificial intelligence algorithms to implement localized surge pricing for Big Macs.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer at Women in Governance, and Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

• Columnist Paul Journet warned that PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon may weaponize future federal clashes, like the upcoming Bill 21 Supreme Court ruling, to manufacture the political crisis needed to boost stagnant sovereignty support.
• Independent Chambly candidate Caroline Boisvert sparked fierce campaign trail debate after distributing promotional flyers featuring herself topless.
• A constitutional challenge was officially filed against Montreal's newly passed bylaw that carries heavy fines for insulting police and city staff.
• An Ontario truck driver was sentenced to six years in prison for causing a deadly 2022 South Shore pileup while playing a game on his cellphone.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Rudy Husny, political analyst and former advisor in the Harper government.

• Premier Christine Fréchette admitted a member of her own campaign leaked the controversial American interference story to reporters before she was personally briefed on it.
• A scathing column in the Journal de Montréal compared Christine Fréchette's struggling campaign to Kim Campbell's historic 1993 conservative collapse.
• PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon faced intense pressure to clarify his position on religious symbols as he pushes for a majority government in the final week.
• Donald Trump's one billion dollar ban on Canadian alcohol, dairy, and motorcycles took effect today while Washington signals it is in no rush to negotiate.
• The NHL season launches tonight under a new broadcast era that completely eliminates free, over-the-air television coverage for hockey games.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Dan Delmar, independent political analyst, media strategist, and co-founder of TNKR Media, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy.

• On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, listeners and panelists clashed over the lack of Indigenous history taught in French public schools while fewer than twenty of ninety-four historic Calls to Action have been completed.
• Correctional Service Canada announced federal prisons will now distribute safe inhalation and snorting supplies, including paper straws and foil, to reduce overdose risks.
• Guelph's mayor and university officials are demanding answers after an unsanctioned homecoming street party deteriorated into a violent riot.
• Trump advisor Peter Navarro ordered Canadian lobbyists to "get the hell out" of the US as Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Canada may escalate the trade war.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and political analyst Karim Boulos.

• Three new provincial election polls confirm Premier Christine Fréchette's CAQ is plunging in support, with one survey showing a massive seven-point drop into fourth place.
• Premier Christine Fréchette faced heavy criticism after reports revealed the CAQ tried shopping a "top secret" American election interference story to media outlets before contacting Canada's spy agency.
• Lawyers issued a formal warning to Élections Québec demanding a retraction of directives that reportedly instructed polling station workers to restrict their use of English.
• The UCI Road World Championships wrapped up in Montreal, leaving a mixed legacy of beautiful scenery alongside business frustrations over inaccurate maps and parking tickets.
• Meta's new AI agent Muse sparked immediate safety concerns following reports of the bot leaking a user's home address and reading private chat histories without permission.

Joining Elias on today's Big 5 were Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800 & Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist.

Among the topics discussed 

• Marwah Rizqy is going public with the tragic loss she and her husband Greg Kelly suffered recently. In a piece published in the Journal de Montréal titled La lettre à l’enfant que je n’aurai pas – or Letter to the child I will not have – the outgoing MNA opens up on losing her third child during pregnancy.
• In an attempt to gain popularity with the youth…Quebec Conservative leader Éric Duhaime decided to send a letter to over 46 thousand Quebecers between the ages of 18 and 22.
• Something we rarely cover on the Big Five – literary scandals. But this one hits close to home. Thélyson Orélien, a Haitian-born Quebec writer, was having quite the year. His debut novel, C’était ça ou mourir, went from a Quebec success to a literary sensation in France, earning international attention and major prize nominations.
• “AI-written speeches are taking over politics” – that’s the headline in the latest edition of The Economist catching a lot of attention.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Victor Henriquez, public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Dan Delmar, independent political analyst, media strategist, and co-founder of TNKR Media.

• Quebec's final election debate on Radio-Canada focused heavily on a potential sovereignty referendum, with Premier Christine Fréchette and Éric Duhaime drawing hard lines against the PQ.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed to The New York Times that Ottawa is preparing for extreme risks, including a potential U.S. military invasion, while warning against Canadian reliance on Elon Musk's Starlink.
• A new Leger poll indicates seventy percent of Canadians support seeking an associate membership with the European Union, though voters strongly oppose altering domestic laws to match European regulations.
• Outrage is growing over the murder of a forty-five-year-old Montreal woman during a work video call after reports surfaced that the prime suspect was recently released following an assault on police officers.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Daniel Tran, political analyst and former municipal economic development advisor, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy.

• Quebec's party leaders head to Radio-Canada tonight for the final debate of the campaign with the PQ stuck just under thirty percent in the polls.
• Liberal Leader Charles Milliard continues a frantic campaign push across the province despite struggling to gain traction with voters.
• Éric Duhaime's Conservative Party unveiled nationalist policies including a Quebec constitution and a provincial sovereignty shield law.
• A fierce debate has erupted on the campaign trail over birth rates, baby bonuses, and the long-term impact of provincial population declines.
• BC Premier David Eby triggered a snap election citing Donald Trump as an existential threat, mirroring tactics used by Quebec and federal leaders.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Bonnie Feigenbaum, former Conservative Party of Quebec candidate, lecturer at Concordia and McGill, and media consultant.

• Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime declared the English language debate "passé" and expressed readiness to collaborate with any party in a minority government.
• A fresh Léger poll shows the PQ leading at twenty-nine percent, fueled by strong francophone support that keeps a majority within reach.
• CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette pledged to abolish the twice-yearly time change, following western provinces in moving to a permanent system.
• Montreal City Council passed a controversial bylaw carrying heavy fines for insulting police officers and municipal employees.
• Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada blocked Tennis Canada's four hundred million dollar stadium expansion plans at Jarry Park.

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

On today's Big 5: Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Paul Gott, lead singer of the Ripcordz and journalism professor at Concordia.

• Italian cycling star Filippo Ganna slammed Montreal's bumpy road conditions after finishing second in the UCI road cycling world championship time trial.
• A new Segma Recherche poll puts the PQ in first place at twenty-nine percent, while the Quebec Liberals and Conservatives run neck-and-neck for third.
• CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette launched a fierce attack on her rivals, warning voters that a secret alliance between the PQ and the Conservatives will bring massive economic austerity.
• A driver who ploughed into a crowd at the Saint-Tite Western Festival, injuring six people, was quickly released by provincial police with a promise to appear in court.