Advertise on podcast: 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: Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage, a Government Relations and Strategic Communications Firm and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Christopher Skeete, former CAQ minister. The federal government unveiled a massive 2026 budget containing $142.1 billion in new incentives and spending, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders Pierre Poilievre and Avi Lewis. The new federal budget introduced substantial funding expansions for the creative and media sectors, including a new Canada Creation Tax Credit and a $501-million journalism tax credit extension to radio and television. Ottawa's newly announced immigration targets aim to admit up to 580,000 permanent residents, exposing a sharp policy contrast as a new Nanos survey reveals most Canadians want lower intake numbers. The PQ minority government's campaign pledge to extend Bill 101 restrictions to CEGEPs has stalled after all provincial opposition parties united against the measure. Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon faced intense criticism from opposition parties after delaying the opening of the National Assembly's parliamentary session until December 1. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon have settled their location dispute, agreeing to hold their first official face-to-face meeting next week at the Francophonie Summit in Cambodia. Loto-Québec launched ticket sales for major draws at 300 Dollarama locations, sparking immediate pushback from critics who warn it makes gambling far too accessible.

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: Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Daniel Tran, political analyst and former political advisor in economic development at Montreal City Hall. Montreal shattered weather records by hitting an unseasonably warm 23 degrees, with more record-breaking heat forecasted alongside rainy conditions. An outdoor hockey rink on Bernard Street will remain closed this winter following a surge in nearby encampments, area fights, and the breakdown of a local $300,000 public toilet. A men's club in Côte-Saint-Luc is relocating after refusing city mandates to open its membership to women and seniors in exchange for free office space. A Montreal public health report warns of a hidden crisis as online sports gambling has tripled over eight years, heavily impacting young men aged 18 to 34.

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: Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator, and Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800. Democrats secured a major clean sweep in the U.S. midterms, taking control of both the House and Senate, and winning a majority of governorships. The massive Democratic victory raises urgent questions about the future of the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war. The Montreal police union announced it will challenge the firing of seven officers, arguing the SPVM bypassed due process. The Montreal Canadiens suffered the latest four-goal comeback loss in NHL history, falling 5-4 in overtime to Winnipeg while debuting their controversial new jerseys.

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 Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette. Seven Montreal police officers were fired over racist misconduct, following SPVM Chief Fady Dagher's warnings of catastrophic evidence. The SPVM plans to double its surveillance by adding 66 cameras and 30 automated license plate readers, raising privacy concerns. Mark Carney and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon are deadlocked over a meeting location, with PSPP strictly demanding it be held in Quebec City. Americans vote today in high-stakes midterms as Donald Trump's approval hits a near-record low of 32%. The NHL is facing backlash over a $699 all-white Montreal Canadiens "Hometown remix" jersey, with fans calling it a blatant cash grab.

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: Rudy Husny, political analyst and former advisor in the Harper government, and Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante. The PQ hires a Trump supporter: The hiring of Jacinthe-Ève Arel as chief of staff to the minister responsible for government efficiency has sparked intense backlash. Critics from Québec solidaire and the Liberals have called for her cancellation due to her outspoken support for Donald Trump and anti-woke commentary, causing unease even within the PQ. Carney extends olive branch to PSPP: Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed his hopes to meet with Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon within ten days to establish a lasting working relationship. PSPP accepted the invitation via social media on the condition that the meeting takes place in Quebec City, where they will also evaluate the Churchill Falls and Gull Island hydroelectric agreement. Carney and Trump hold trade talks: Prime Minister Mark Carney reported a "good conversation" over the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump, indicating that a trade agreement could be reached in the coming weeks. However, Trump told reporters that part of the deal would involve Canada footing the bill for the entirety of the Keystone XL pipeline project. Quebec businesses expand south: A Journal de Montréal report details how three Quebec green tech and manufacturing firms are investing millions and expanding production in the U.S. instead of Canada. Driven by "Buy American" incentives, low taxes, and tariff pressures, the companies are hiring in states like North Carolina, Illinois, and Ohio while Canadian operations stagnate. Montreal Police Chief warns of "catastrophic" evidence: Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher warned reporters that impending revelations regarding systemic police misconduct will be "catastrophic." The warning comes after allegations surfaced that a male officer at a Montreal North station deleted video evidence from a domestic violence victim's phone because he recognized the suspect.

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: Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Dan Delmar, independent political analyst, media strategist, and co-founder of TNKR Media.• European Union officials are in Montreal for a summit, leaving observers divided over whether a proposed closer partnership represents a major geopolitical shift or just a symbolic branding exercise.• Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon boycotted yesterday's major Canada-EU dinner, drawing heavy criticism from Liberal leader Charles Milliard after nearly every other living former premier attended.• Language tension has surfaced at the summit after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her entire 20-minute opening speech in English, despite being fluent in French.• A potential Montreal Olympics bid is gaining traction after Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden backed Mayor Sorraya Martinez Ferrada's aspirational goals to bring the games back to Canada.• Mayor Sorraya Martinez Ferrada is facing skepticism after giving herself a 7/10 score for her first year in office while promising Montrealers they will not see tangible results on the homelessness crisis until 2027.• A Gatineau family doctor is blasting federal public servants, claiming that over 90 percent of requests for work-from-home medical notes following the new four-day in-person mandate are completely unjustified.

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 and Chief Equity Officer at Women in Governance, and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian, and columnist. Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is officially boycotting the E.U.-Canada summit opening today in Montreal, choosing to send diplomat Pascal Paradis instead after Prime Minister Mark Carney denied his request to deliver an official speech. Negotiations at the summit have shifted as the term "associate membership" is dropped from the table, replaced by a softer diplomatic promise of "ever closer association" between Canada and the European bloc. A family doctor in Gatineau is speaking out against public servants, revealing that over 90 percent of recent requests for work-from-home medical certificates are medically unjustified and take away vital appointment slots from sick children. A political scheme has unraveled in Alaska, where a New York Times report exposes that Democratic operatives intentionally recruited a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to run for U.S. Senate to trigger voter confusion at the ballot box. Montreal Mayor Sorraya Martinez Ferrada is marking her one-year anniversary by walking back inflation-linked tax limits to fund critical infrastructure repairs, while openly teasing a potential future bid to bring the Olympics back to the city.

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: Karim Boulos, Political Analyst, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. A premier-level crisis has erupted between Quebec and Ottawa ahead of the Canada-EU summit in Montreal, with Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of refusing him a speaking slot and treating the province like a bystander. Donald Trump injected himself into Canadian politics by congratulating Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Truth Social and highlighting a headline calling the PQ victory a "blow to Mark Carney." Details of a historic Canada-EU partnership are emerging that EU officials describe as closer to membership than any deal ever done with a non-European country, though Germany and others are pushing back on the "associate membership" branding. The five finalists to represent Canada at Eurovision have been announced, featuring William Cloutier, Rêve, Josiane, Talk, and Tyler Shaw, sparking a public vote and intense debate over the project's $150-million price tag. Quebec may soon scrap seasonal time changes for good as reports indicate the PQ government plans to table a bill for permanent time, following the footsteps of multiple western provinces and territories.

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: Paul Gott, lead singer of the Ripcordz and journalism professor at Concordia, and Akil Alleyne, reporter, commentator, and manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. The federal government barred Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon from speaking or hosting events at this week's high-profile Canada-EU summit in Montreal, prompting accusations of political muzzling. The Parti Québécois is looking for legislative loopholes to bypass the Lieutenant-Governor for the National Assembly's opening address, but the opposition Liberals are resisting the move. Montreal is launching a census of semi-permanent wooden cabins and shantytowns springing up in local parks as the fire department issues demolition notices over severe winter safety hazards. A media investigation revealed that potholes repaired by a local social media vigilante are outlasting official city repairs, exposing glaring inefficiencies in municipal road maintenance.

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 Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette. BC Premier David Eby suffered a historic political blunder after his snap election backfired, handing the BC Conservatives a massive wave of seats and cementing conservative rule across seven Canadian provinces. Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon flatly rejected Montreal City Council's demand for a universal rent registry and strict rent control, arguing that fixing the housing supply shortage is the only real solution. Correctional Service Canada suspended the parole of convicted murderer Jeffrey George Ewert and returned him to custody after his attendance in McGill University law classes sparked intense campus polarization. An undercover media investigation exposed a Chinese website using artificial intelligence to mail high-quality fake Quebec driver's licenses to buyers for just one hundred and twenty dollars.

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 Victor Henriquez, public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. A petition demanding the resignation of Québec solidaire's Ruba Ghazal surpassed eighty-four thousand signatures after she brandished a keffiyeh during her National Assembly swearing-in ceremony. Éric Duhaime's newly minted Conservative caucus officially took their oaths at the National Assembly as the party prepares to court displaced CAQ voters. Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon directed his Labour Minister to advance an election promise mandating a third week of paid vacation for all Quebec workers. Prime Minister Mark Carney established a new strategic partnership with Turkey to boost trade to ten billion dollars, sparking a debate on balancing economic diplomacy with global human rights values. Airbnb announced a major policy overhaul restricting hosts from forcing guests to complete extensive cleaning checklists and checkout chores.

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: Christopher Skeete, former CAQ minister, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. The Parti Québecois unveils its cabinet: The Parti Québécois unveiled its cabinet ministers yesterday, maintaining the position of minister responsible for English-Speaking Quebecers under Justice Minister Marie-Claude Sarrazin. Tens of thousands demand Ruba Ghazal’s resignation: A petition calling for the resignation of Québec solidaire parliamentary leader Ruba Ghazal collected over 47,000 signatures in a day following her celebratory use of a keffiyeh at the National Assembly swearing-in ceremony. Final Alberta referendum results emerge: Finalized vote counts from the Alberta referendum reveal a split decision, as voters supported Premier Danielle Smith's immigration control initiatives but rejected all four questions seeking amendments to the Canadian constitution. US alleges midterm election interference: The U.S. government has accused Canadian politicians of foreign interference in the U.S. midterms, listing ten incidents with five involving Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. Federal AI translation tool glitches: Internal documents obtained by Radio-Canada reveal severe errors within the federal government's AI translation tool, GCtraduction, despite officials identifying systemic bugs prior to its deployment.

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: Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800, and Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster. PQ cabinet unveiling and English-speaking minister question: The Parti Québécois will unveil its cabinet ministry this afternoon at 1:30 PM. While many leaked positions have been circulating since yesterday, the fate of the minister responsible for English-speaking Quebecers remains unknown. Speculation suggests Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon might take the reigns of the file himself, mirroring François Legault's move in 2018. Globe and Mail calls for constitutional defense against PQ: Under the headline “Memo to the PQ: The Constitution is not a menu,” the Globe and Mail editorial board argues that the Mark Carney Liberal government must stand up to Quebec’s constitutional provocations. The paper specifically targets the decision to refuse the mandatory oath to King Charles under Section 128, arguing Canada cannot permit the PQ to secede "in dribs and drabs." McGill Law facing crisis over convicted murderer on campus: McGill University is dealing with internal strife after news broke that convicted murderer Jeffrey George Ewert was studying law on campus and attending faculty events in August. While a student petition supports his presence as an example of rehabilitation, others cite safety concerns and parole board reprimands regarding his social media use to argue he should not be allowed back.

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: Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage, a Government Relations and Strategic Communications Firm and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies. Alberta separation door shuts: Alberta voters overwhelmingly rejected separation with a 76% "remain" vote. However, early counts show a "yes" to most of Premier Danielle Smith's nine other constitutional and immigration questions. Prime Minister Mark Carney's "no to the nine" campaign fell short as Alberta leaned toward "yes to the rest," potentially opening a messy new door to Canadian constitutional reform. PQ's referendum obsession: A new Leger poll reveals the Parti Québécois's referendum obsession cost them a majority. The data shows that dropping the sovereignty talk would have boosted Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to 35% of the vote. Quebec Liberals skip King's oath: The Quebec Liberal Party made waves at their National Assembly swearing-in by skipping the traditional oath to the King. Nearly half of Charles Milliard's caucus chose to take their oaths in both English and French. Faint-hope clause ruling: A BC judge has struck down part of the Criminal Code blocking multiple murderers from using the "faint-hope clause." This decision has delayed sentencing for three men convicted in a brutal home-invasion double murder.

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 Gabriel Retta, special advisor to the mayor. McGill University is reviewing its safety protocols after revelation that a paroled murderer has been attending law school classes, sparking a student petition to keep him on campus. A board of inquiry will investigate a tragic military training incident where a fast-moving grass fire killed four Canadian soldiers and injured thirty-nine others. Violent cost-of-living riots exploded across France and Italy, resulting in thousands of arrests, injured officers, and a gutted historic city hall in Limoges. Alberta voters head to the polls today for a massive ten-question referendum that includes a critical vote on starting the legal process to separate from Canada.