The Big Story

**WARNING: This episode discusses addition and thoughts of suicide.  Please take care.**  

Going out for a beer, glass of wine, or cocktail?  Experts are increasingly raising the alarm about the health impacts of alcohol, and calling for more government action to alert the public.  

One Senator in Canada is leading the charge for change, introducing two pieces of legislation that aim to treat alcoholic beverages the same as tobacco products, with warning labels and advertising bans.  

Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Senator Patrick Brazeau about his personal struggles with alcohol, his attempt to change federal rules, and whether the Trudeau government has shown any interest in cracking down.

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After a wild few days, the U.S. tariffs are on pause.  Canada has avoided the measures, for now, but the threat still hangs over the country. 

The uncertainty has residents in Canada’s border cities on edge.  In communities where thousands of people cross the Canada-US border to go to work each day, a trade war could mean economic devastation.  

In response to the crisis, mayors of border communities from coast to coast have come together to form the Border Mayors Alliance.

Host David Smith speaks with Windsor, Ontario Mayor Drew Dilkens, Chair of the Border Mayors Alliance, about how the situation is already impacting people who live along the 49th parallel.

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In an extraordinary turn of events, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced late Monday that the U.S would be delaying tariffs against Canada for 30 days.  

The move from President Donald Trump comes after the Government of Canada committed an additional $200 million to fighting drug trafficking at the Canada-US border.

Why did Trump change his mind at the last minute?

Host David Smith speaks with political strategist Kate Harrison, Vice-Chair of Summa Strategies, about the politics surrounding Trump’s tariff threats and what may come next.  

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**UPDATE**  

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said proposed tariffs on Canadian goods will be paused for 30 days after he spoke with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon.

In a social media post, Trudeau said he outline Canada’s $1.3 billion border plan and also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl.

The Big Story will be covering the latest developments in the weeks to come.  

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President Donald Trump has followed through on his threats.  

Tariffs against Canadian goods imported to the US will begin at 12:01pm on February 4th.

Host David Smith breaks down what we know – and still don’t know – about this trade war with America.

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Heading the polls for the very first time after becoming the age of majority used to be a badge of honour that Canadian youth would wear proudly – but has democracy gone out of style?

 Youth voter turnout has dropped about 7% since the snap election that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called in 2021 from the 2019 federal election, after another drop since the 2015 election.

Are youth no longer interested in civic engagement or is this current digital era causing a lack of trust in Canada's democratic processes, and therefore keeping young folks from the polls?

Host Maria Kestane talks to Executive Director of "Apathy is Boring", Samantha Reush, about why Gen Z feels disconnected from the ballot box, and how their approach to democracy will shape the future of Canadian politics to come. 

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After months of speculation, Doug Ford has sent Ontarians to the polls early.

The election campaign officially kicked off this week, with party leaders making their pitches to voters.

Why now? What’s it got to do with Donald Trump? And U.S. Tariffs?

Host David Smith speaks with two Ontario political insiders: Andrew Brander from Crestview Strategy, who was an advisor to the Ford Government, and Lindsay Maskell, a Liberal strategist and former advisor to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

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From door knocks to landline calls, online clicks to AI, someone always wants to know what you think.  

With election season on the minds of Ontarians and Canadians, are your opinions accurately being reflected in the public opinion polls you see splashed all over the headlines?  

Host Melanie Ng speaks with veteran pollster, political strategist and consultant, John Wright to talk methodology and why these polls aren’t going anywhere.  

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DeepSeek took the stock market by storm this week, with the Chinese start-up causing a huge market meltdown on Monday.  

It has huge implications for the world of A.I, but what does it mean for Canada?  

Host Kris McCusker does a deep dive on the Chinese-based app with Graham Dobbs, Senior Economist, The Dais, at Toronto Metropolitan University.

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The Liberal leadership race lost a candidate over the weekend.  

Ottawa MP Chandra Arya has been kicked out of the race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader and as Prime Minister, however the party is keeping mum on the reasons for denying Arya a chance to be a candidate in this campaign.  

Host Cormac Mac Sweeney examines the move with Greg MacEachern of KAN Strategies, as well as membership challenges for the party, the endorsement battle, the Trump effect, and the possibility the new leader launches an election shortly after they take the helm.

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It can be found in some of your favourite candies, baked goods and beverages: red dye no. 3.  

The FDA has recently banned the synthetic dye from food (by 2027) and oral medication (by 2028) in the United States, but Health Canada says they won’t be following suit. So what’s the real danger behind this colour additive compared to others we ingest?

Host Melanie Ng takes a deep dive into the research with Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, Professor and Canada Research Chair with the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph. 

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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