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.