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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.

news politics

All Episodes

25:00

Smoking, drinking, gambling… and being American....

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/07/04

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, former national spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK 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 on The Big 5. A majority of Canadians no longer feel welcome in the United States, according to a new Léger poll. The survey, conducted in late June, found

en-US

23:42

Get ready for the ‘Worst cuts in modern history.’...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/07/03

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, founder & chief equity officer, Women in Governance and Sue Smith, a Montreal journalist and broadcaster on The Big 5. A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warns that the Liberal government’s plan to save $13 billion annually by 2028–29 through “increased efficiency” would amount to a 24% cut in public service spending, mostly targeting non-defence departments. Residents in a Laval neighbourhood are

en-US

24:06

A criminal record won’t stop you from entering...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/07/02

Elias Makos is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy 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 on The Big 5. Over the past 11 years, more than 17,500 foreigners with criminal records have been cleared to enter Canada. Five years after protestors brought down the statue of John A. Macdonald in Dominion Square/Place du Canada, the

en-US

29:07

What does it mean to be Canadian? Plus: How Donald...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/07/01

Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and Caryma Sa’d, lawyer sole practice and Journalist independent / freelancer based in Toronto on a National Edition of the Big 5. Happy Canada Day! This year certainly seems like a special one. Many would say that Donald Trump’s talk of annexing Canada has sparked a defensive nationalism. Let’s talk trade, shall we? Of course by now we all know that Canada caved to the Trump

en-US

24:42

Is Canada capitulating to Donald Trump? Plus: Does...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/30

Elias Makos is joined by 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 on The Big 5. Is it a Carney Capitulation or a brilliant 3D-chess move the rest of us will figure out eventually? A Quebec judge has authorized a class-action lawsuit against Tim Hortons after the company mistakenly emailed about 500,000 customers in April 2024 claiming they had

en-US

24:29

A bad omen for the government’s plan to build more...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/27

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies and Political analyst Karim Boulos on The Big 5. Two months after the federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney is enjoying strong support in Quebec, with nearly 60% approval and the Liberals leading at 44% in the polls. A new report from the Montreal Economic Institute warns that Canada’s proposed federal homebuilding agency, Build

en-US

23:48

The rent is too darn high in Montreal. Plus: Is...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/26

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance 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 on The Big 5. The front page of Journal de Montréal says it all - Nothing is going right for François Legault. 50% of Quebecers want him to go away according to a new Leger poll. Once again this week, Prime

en-US

23:51

Canada commits to massive NATO defence spending....

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/25

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 Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Mark Carney is committing that Canada – along with other NATO allies – will invest five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035. Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm over Bill C-2, warning it

en-US

31:56

Happy Fête Nationale. Plus: Donald Trump swears when...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/24

Dan Delmar, in for Elias Makos, is joined by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS and Gabriel Retta, a Montrealer active in politics and government service at all three levels for the last 20 years on The Big 5. Montreal is celebrating Fête Nationale today with a full day of festivities. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire yesterday between Israel and Iran. The Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE) is calling for Quebec Education Minister

en-US

32:22

US unleashes an airstrike on Iran's nuclear plants....

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/23

Dan Delmar, in for Elias, is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor and Justine McIntyre, strategic consultant and former city councillor on The Big 5. Following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged all parties to return to negotiations and avoid further escalation in the Middle East. Despite an ongoing extreme heatwave, most schools in Montreal, Laval, and other regions will remain open for the last day of classes. A Montrealer has

en-US

23:31

European ministers are meeting today with Iran’s...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/20

Sue Smith ends the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK 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. As war between Israel and Iran intensifies, European ministers are meeting today with Iran’s foreign minister in Switzerland to propose renewed nuclear

en-US

23:55

A three year old missing toddler was found alive...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/19

Sue Smith is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, andJonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A three year old missing toddler was found alive after three days alone near Highway 417 in Ontario, following a massive search The Liberal government’s Building Canada Act (Bill C-5), spearheaded by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is drawing sharp criticism for

en-US

22:31

Carney receiving prais for his handling of a tricky...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/18

Sue Smith is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, sndNeil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. Many observers praising Mark Carney’s handling of a tricky situation at the G7 A Montreal commuter is seeking authorization for a class-action lawsuit against the STM over major service disruptions caused by a

en-US

23:34

Donald Trump leaves the G7 Summit early. Plus: Should...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/17

Sue Smith welcomes back Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, andJustine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor. At the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, U.S. President Donald Trump left early to address escalating tensions between Israel and Iran Should Russia be at the G7? Santé Québec has awarded over $310 million in no-bid contracts to Microsoft to manage its data

en-US

21:30

The Quebec Liberal Party has elected Pablo Rodriguez...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/16

Sue Smith kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, andPaul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. The Quebec Liberal Party has elected Pablo Rodriguez as its new leader Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for a one-on-one discussion early this morning at the start of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis The Canadian Grand Prix will remain in Montreal until at

en-US

22:49

Israel has launched a large-scale airstrike on Iran....

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/13

Sue Smith caps off the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, andNeil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. Israel has launched a large-scale airstrike on Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites The G7 summit kicks off this weekend in Kananaskis, Alberta, with world leaders facing massive global

en-US

31:05

Mark Carney has appointed Michael Sabia as Canada’s...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/12

Sue Smith is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, andGabriel Retta, is a Montrealer who has been active in politics and government service at all three levels for the last 20 years. He is currently serving as Chief of Staff to the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall. Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Michael Sabia, the current president of Hydro-Québec and a seasoned business and public sector leader, as Canada’s next Clerk of the

en-US

22:17

A scathing new report by the Auditor General of...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/11

Suse Smith welcomes back Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Political analyst Karim Boulos. A scathing new report by Auditor General Karen Hogan reveals widespread mismanagement in federal contracts awarded to GCStrategies Quebec’s proposed Bill 106, which ties 12% of family doctors’ pay to performance indicators As Montreal’s public transit strike enters its third day, negotiations between

en-US

28:33

Montreal police response times for the most urgent...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/10

Sue Smith is joined by Akil Alleyne, (Alean) Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, andJimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor. The SPVM’s latest annual report shows that Montreal police response times for the most urgent calls have increased by nearly a minute over the past decade Quebec, Montreal, and local partners are investing over $3.5 million to boost

en-US

31:14

National Guard troops arrive in Los Angeles Plus:...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/09

Sue Smith 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 Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. On Sunday, 2,000 National Guard troops began arriving in Los Angeles on orders from President Donald Trump Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled the “One Canadian Economy” bill Montreal's STM

en-US

446 results

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