The Big Story

A new study suggests 74% of Canadian professionals are looking to change jobs.

In this economy, is now a good time? Is the grass always greener?

Host Mike Eppel speaks with Martin Fox, Managing Director at Robert Walters Canada. 

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past few years, homeless encampments have become a fixture in every major city across Canada. Governments of all stripes have been grappling with the best approach to dealing with them.

Is it best to clear out encampments, and push the people living there into the shelter system? Or is it better to take a hands off approach, and accommodate encampments as best as possible?

In the province of Ontario, the Ford Government has taken the drastic step of tabling legislation to give municipalities more power to evict people living on public land, and shield authorities from lawsuits afterwards.

Is that a step in the wrong direction?

Host David Smith speaks with Tim Richter, CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, about why governments are struggling to effectively deal with chronic homelessness.

Over the past few years, homeless encampments have become a fixture in every major city across Canada. Governments of all stripes have been grappling with the best approach to dealing with them.

Is it best to clear out encampments, and push the people living there into the shelter system? Or is it better to take a hands off approach, and accommodate encampments as best as possible?

In the province of Ontario, the Ford Government has taken the drastic step of tabling legislation to give municipalities more power to evict people living on public land, and shield authorities from lawsuits afterwards.

Is that a step in the wrong direction?

Host David Smith speaks with Tim Richter, CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, about why governments are struggling to effectively deal with chronic homelessness.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The jumbo cut expected by the Bank of Canada actually happened - but what does it mean for you?  

Host Kris McCusker speaks with Senior Economist Jules Boudreau at Mackenzie Investments about his concerns for the Canadian economy – and why he thinks interest rates will need to move lower.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 50 years of the oppressive Assad regime, the people of Syria will get a new government.

In just two weeks, rebel forces swept through the country and took control of the capital of Damascus.

Now, the hard work of nation building begins.

Can a new regime heal a traumatized country and usher in an era of peace and prosperity for the long-suffering Syrian people?

Host David Smith speaks with Professor Elliot Tepper, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, about what’s next for the country.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While inflation may have cooled in Canada this year, the price of groceries is still increasing faster than before the pandemic.

 According to the 2025 Canadian Food Price Report, families can expect to pay $800 more for food next year than they did this year.

But it's not all bad news - there are some savings to be had!  

Host David Smith speaks with report author Sylvain Charlebois, head of the Agrifood Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, about the outlook for Canadians struggling to fill the fridge on a budget.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Taking a flight can be expensive, and you could be facing new fees in the new year.  

Air Canada has announced new charges for passengers picking their lowest fare option, so if you want to bring a carry on bag, or pick your seat, then you’ll have additional charges.  

The federal government says it's disappointed by this news, but hasn’t said what action it will take.  

Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with John Gradek, an aviation management lecturer at McGill University about why airlines are charging you more, what options the government has, and whether increased competition in the airline industry can bring you some airfare relief. 

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Times are tough for many Canadians - and maybe spending money you don't have doesn't fit into your plans this year. 

Or maybe you want the money you do spend on gifts to be put to good use. 

Lisa Hannam is the Editor in Chief at MoneySense.ca. 

She speaks to host Kris McCusker about how to have an awkward conversation if you don't want to buy gifts this year - and would rather focus on what's really important.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not just something you put on your weekend pancakes - it's a huge industry in Canada that's been under threat in recent years.  

What's the deal with Canada's maple syrup industry?    

Host David Smith speaks with Randal Goodfellow, President of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On December 6, 1989 a lone gunman walked into Montreal’s  École Polytechnique and began shooting female students. The young man was motivated by his misogynistic hatred for women. He targeted his victims because they were women.

By the time his rampage was over, 14 young women lay dead.

It was a tragedy that shook the nation to its core. Never before had our country seen such horrific violence targeted at young women.

The Polytechnique shooting galvanized the women's movement in Canada and put a national focus specifically on violence against women.

Parliament went on to create a national action plan on combating violence against women.

Every year on December 6 we mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Still, violence against women remains an epidemic in this country.

Host David Smith speaks with Ecole Polytechnique survivor Nathalie Provost about her memory of that terrible day and her work advocating for stricter gun control laws in Canada.

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are more electric vehicles on the market than ever before. But, Canadian car shoppers are showing less interest in buying an E-V, citing a number of concerns that have always dogged the technology.  

In today's edition of the Big Story, host Mike Eppel is separating myths from reality and look at whether the automotive industry needs to look at its messaging to consumers.  

Today's guests: Jason Clifton, Partner, Electric Mobility Practice at E-Y Canada AND Erik Novak, Professor of Business and Sustainability at Seneca College and the editor of the Novak Report.  

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

Through email at [email protected]

Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.