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.