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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

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

24:31

Trump dumps Elon, but has he found a new best friend...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/06

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, andAndrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. The once-close alliance/bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk dramatically collapsed this week in a public social media feud Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump have been in touch since their Oval Office

en-US

23:33

The federal government has already spent over $1...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/05

Trudie Mason is joined by Christina Chough, Spanish teacher and Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College, andNeil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government. The federal government has already spent over $1 million in legal fees to prepare its challenge of Quebec’s secularism law (Bill 21) at the Supreme Court of Canada Quebec Premier François Legault is considering boosting

en-US

34:36

Justice Minister says the federal duty to consult...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/04

Trudie Mason is joined by Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, andGabriel Retta, is a Montrealer 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. Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the federal duty to consult Indigenous communities

en-US

26:09

Mark Carney, Canada’s Santa Claus. Plus: Asylum...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/03

Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, andDan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Premiers met yesterday to discuss the fast-tracking of major energy and infrastructure projects April was the busiest month for asylum seekers entering Quebec at the Lacolle border crossing since Roxham Road was closed in 2023 The number of

en-US

25:28

Should the big banks be held responsible for client...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/06/02

Elias Makos starts the week withJimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, andSue Smith is a Montreal journalist. The Royal Bank of Canada is refusing to reimburse dozens of customers who were scammed out of $10,000 A 24-year-old Laval woman who robbed 11 seniors of nearly $90,000 will not have a criminal record Canada’s premiers are meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon to propose which major infrastructure projects should be prioritized for fast-tracking under

en-US

23:27

Banning teens from social media. Plus: Go Habs Go...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/30

Elias Makos ends the week with Neil Drabkin, a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, and Dan Delmar, co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. A Quebec cross-party committee is recommending that children under 14 be banned from using social media without parental consent Do we need more communal child discipline? In a surprising political move, former

en-US

26:09

Sending multiculturalism to the dustbin of history....

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/29

Elias Makos is joined by political analyst Karim Boulos and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Immigration Minister Jean-Francois Roberge has passed a new law The CAQ is opposing a court ruling that would recognize more than two parents for a child. Groupe Jaspe has lost a constitutional challenge In a few weeks, wines, spirits, and even champagne normally sold in branches of the SAQ will find their way to the shelves of six depanneurs and grocery stores in the Montreal area.

en-US

25:27

The King’s Speech. Plus: Quebec’s battle with family...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/28

Elias Makos is joined by Antonine Yaccarini, Political Analysts, PR Expert and former PQ and CAQ staffer, andAnthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies. In King Charles III’s speech from the throne, he delivered a series of subtle but pointed messages that many say were aimed at Donald Trump Hours after that speech seeped with declarations of sovereignty, Donald Trump took to social media yesterday to

en-US

25:08

Get ready for the most badass throne speech of your...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/27

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, andPaul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. King Charles and Queen Camilla conclude their brief Canadian visit today with a ceremonial parade through downtown Ottawa and a historic throne speech in Parliament Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend his first question period on Wednesday but will not continue Justin

en-US

25:38

The King comes to Canada. Plus: The Laval pharmacist...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/26

Elias Makos kicks off the week with Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, andAkil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. King Charles and Queen Camilla are arriving in Ottawa today for their first Canadian visit since the King’s coronation The RCMP has warned of a sharp rise in terrorism activity in Canada, reporting a 488% increase in

en-US

22:59

The insane billing practices behind the SAAQclic...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/23

Elias caps off the week with Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, andMeeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. A public inquiry into Quebec’s SAAQclic digital platform has revealed that external IT contractors saw their hourly rates soar from $82 to $350 without proper justification The National Post this morning writes about just how different things are under Carney, saying

en-US

23:16

Anti-woke job postings and the latest Quebec...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/22

Elias Makos welcomes back Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, andRaphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies. A Quebec City bar sparked outrage after posting a job ad on Facebook seeking a barmaid who was not “woke,” pro-Liberal, pro-CAQ, or supportive of COVID-19 health measures A new

en-US

24:05

Golden Domes, Superblocks, and the Quebecifying the...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/21

Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, andPolitical analyst Karim Boulos. Canada is in discussions to join the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defence program, according to the Prime Minister’s Office The Plante administration will be testing an urban innovation in the neighbourhood east of the Jacques-Cartier bridge that turns residential areas into giant cul-de-sacs Quebec’s culture minister Mathieu Lacombe is set to table a

en-US

24:19

Is it time to ditch daily mail delivery? Plus: Should...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/21

Elias Makos kicks off the week with Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, andAndrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. Canada Post has received a strike notice from the union representing 55,000 postal workers, who plan to walk off the job starting Friday, amid ongoing collective agreement talks New polling from Leger reveals that a majority of Quebecers want

en-US

35:25

Confirmation of a federal budget this fall. Plus:...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/19

Dan Delmar, in for Elias Makos is joined by Akil Alleyne, reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor on The Big 5. Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that his government will present a full federal budget this fall. Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre criticized the Quebec Liberal Party's leadership race Will apps like TikTok

en-US

24:16

Should there be a revote in Terrebonne? Plus: Should...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/16

Elias Makos caps the week off with Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, andAndrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. Elections Canada confirmed that five ballots arrived late in Quebec’s Terrebonne riding due to an envelope with an incorrect postal code Quebec Premier François Legault says he’s open to new pipeline projects in light of Donald Trump’s tariff threats Despite saying

en-US

23:52

The Mark Carney train gets derailed - by his own...

The Big Five Podcast ·

2025/05/15

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, andJonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Does the Prime Minister need to reign in his troops? Most Quebecers believe the province should reduce its record $14 billion deficit by taxing the wealthy, not by cutting public services Anthony's piece

en-US

449 results

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