Elias begins the week with Christina Chough, Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. 


U.S. President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on gun and tax charges, reversing prior commitments not to intervene in his son's legal cases. 


The Quebec government announced it will not align its provincial sales tax with Ottawa's temporary GST holiday during the holiday season


Ensemble Montréal has postponed its leadership race due to a lack of candidates ahead of the November 2025 municipal elections.

Elias begins the week with Christina Chough, Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
U.S. President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, on gun and tax charges, reversing prior commitments not to intervene in his son's legal cases. 
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The Quebec government announced it will not align its provincial sales tax with Ottawa's temporary GST holiday during the holiday season
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Ensemble Montréal has postponed its leadership race due to a lack of candidates ahead of the November 2025 municipal elections.
</li>
</ul>

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.

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.

The Big Five Podcast

The Big Five

Justin Trudeau dines with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Plus: Nobody wants to run for mayor of Montreal.

Robyn Flynn is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.
The Globe & Mail has a story today about Canada’s new finance minister Dominic Leblanc staying at the Irving home recently
Donald Trump continued his slew of trolling messages on Christmas Day continuing threats of seizing control of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal
The most recent projections by Canada338.com say that—were the elections happening today—the conservatives would win an overwhelming majority of seats with 232 and the Bloc would come in way behind in second place with 45 seats and the Liberals third with 39

Robyn Flynn is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, and&nbsp;Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.
<ul>
<li>The Globe &amp; Mail has a story today about Canada&rsquo;s new finance minister Dominic Leblanc staying at the Irving home recently</li>
<li>Donald Trump continued his slew of trolling messages on Christmas Day continuing threats of seizing control of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal</li>
<li>The most recent projections by Canada338.com say that&mdash;were the elections happening today&mdash;the conservatives would win an overwhelming majority of seats with 232 and the Bloc would come in way behind in second place with 45 seats and the Liberals third with 39</li>
</ul>

A Gatineau man almost lost his thumb because Quebec health care is in shambles. Plus: Donald Trump, conquistador?

Robyn Flynn, in for Elias Makos is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor 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,
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced that his party will introduce a motion of non-confidence against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government.
Valerie Plante says she feared for her safety when she was elected the first female mayor of Montreal in 2017.
Quebec Premier François Legault's trips to Paris between October and December 2024 costs over $268,000.

Robyn Flynn, in for Elias Makos is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor 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,
<ul>
<li>NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced that his party will introduce a motion of non-confidence against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government.</li>
<li>Valerie Plante says she feared for her safety when she was elected the first female mayor of Montreal in 2017.</li>
<li>Quebec Premier Fran&ccedil;ois Legault's trips to Paris between October and December 2024 costs over $268,000.</li>
</ul>

NDP to vote non-confidence against the Trudeau Liberals. Plus: Should misogynistic threats and speech online be considered a crime?

Robyn Flynn caps off the week with Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer and political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce a significant cabinet shuffle today, aiming to stabilize his Liberal government following Chrystia Freeland's surprise resignation as finance minister
Santé Québec has spent $1.7 million over six months on external consultants to support its transition as the sole employer of the health network
Should masking be mandatory in public during cold and flu season?
A French couple in Granby is closing their bakery, Tartes et Clafoutis, after discovering they had unknowingly worked illegally due to expired work permits
20 Montreal bars have been given permission to stay open until 6 AM on New Year’s Eve 

Robyn Flynn caps off the week with Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer and political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, and Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.
<ul>
<li>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce a significant cabinet shuffle today, aiming to stabilize his Liberal government following Chrystia Freeland's surprise resignation as finance minister</li>
<li>Sant&eacute; Qu&eacute;bec has spent $1.7 million over six months on external consultants to support its transition as the sole employer of the health network</li>
<li>Should masking be mandatory in public during cold and flu season?</li>
<li>A French couple in Granby is closing their bakery, Tartes et Clafoutis, after discovering they had unknowingly worked illegally due to expired work permits</li>
<li>20 Montreal bars have been given permission to stay open until 6 AM on New Year&rsquo;s Eve&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Justin Trudeau dines with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Plus: Nobody wants to run for mayor of Montreal.

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