Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and chief of staff in the Harper government.
The Canadian government is offering a two-month GST/HST holiday on a variety of items this holiday season to help ease cost-of-living pressures
The Royal Canadian Navy will replace its official march with a new composition after deciding the lyrics are outdated and offensive
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will “abide” by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and chief of staff in the Harper government.
<ul>
<li>The Canadian government is offering a two-month GST/HST holiday on a variety of items this holiday season to help ease cost-of-living pressures</li>
<li>The Royal Canadian Navy will replace its official march with a new composition after deciding the lyrics are outdated and offensive</li>
<li>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will “abide” by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</li>
</ul>

Santa Clause delivers a GST holiday for Canada. Plus: The Canadian Navy changes its tune.

Elias Makos welcomes back Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia & McGill University.
The Globe and Mail first to report that the Liberals will announce a GST holiday on certain items
Randy Boissonnault has stepped down from his position as Minister of Employment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet amid controversy over his claims of Indigenous heritage and other allegations
The Haroun Bouzzi affair continues to make news at the National Assembly. But yesterday, a new target from the PQ’s Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, saying that the problem with Québec solidaire isn’t Bouazzi, it’s wokeism

Elias Makos welcomes back Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia &amp; McGill University.
<ul>
<li>The Globe and Mail first to report that the Liberals will announce a GST holiday on certain items</li>
<li>Randy Boissonnault has stepped down from his position as Minister of Employment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet amid controversy over his claims of Indigenous heritage and other allegations</li>
<li>The Haroun Bouzzi affair continues to make news at the National Assembly. But yesterday, a new target from the PQ’s Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, saying that the problem with Québec solidaire isn’t Bouazzi, it’s wokeism</li>
</ul>

Justin Trudeau’s new plan is to axe the tax! Plus: PSPP goes after wokeism.

Elias Makos is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.
Quebec solidaire MNA Haroun Bouazzi has issued a partial apology for his comments about racism in the National Assembly
Under Valérie Plante's administration, Montreal saw a 33% increase in taxes between 2018 and 2024
The illegal tobacco industry is now bigger than the legal one in some parts of the country

Elias Makos is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.
<ul>
<li>Quebec solidaire MNA Haroun Bouazzi has issued a partial apology for his comments about racism in the National Assembly</li>
<li>Under Valérie Plante's administration, Montreal saw a 33% increase in taxes between 2018 and 2024</li>
<li>The illegal tobacco industry is now bigger than the legal one in some parts of the country</li>
</ul>

Valerie Plante releases her final budget. Plus: The illegal tobacco industry keeps getting bigger.

Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and host of the Inspiring Business Hour - Saturdays at noon on CJAD 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 new Léger poll reveals that a majority of Quebecers oppose public funding for religious schools and religious education in primary and secondary schools.
In Quebec, 3,034 public health workers are in "double employment" situations, with 1,307 of them required to choose between two positions by December 1st.


Should Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault resign?

Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and host of the Inspiring Business Hour - Saturdays at noon on CJAD 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>A new Léger poll reveals that a majority of Quebecers oppose public funding for religious schools and religious education in primary and secondary schools.</li>
<li>In Quebec, 3,034 public health workers are in "double employment" situations, with 1,307 of them required to choose between two positions by December 1st.</li>
<li>
Should Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault resign?
</li>
</ul>

Should religious schools get public funding? Plus: The curious case of Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.

Elias Makos is back and kicks off the week with Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor.
Elias offers up an explanation as to why Donald Trump won every single swing state and the Presidency
Justin Trudeau says that the federal government could have acted more quickly to reform Canada's immigration programs
Ruba Ghazal has officially been elected as Quebec solidaire’s co-spokesperson with 91% of the vote
Do you think that homelessness in the city should be declared as a state of emergency?
Montreal is considering banning cars from parts of Sainte-Catherine Street to create pedestrian-only zones, but opposition voices are growing

Elias Makos is back and kicks off the week with Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor.
<ul>
<li>Elias offers up an explanation as to why Donald Trump won every single swing state and the Presidency</li>
<li>Justin Trudeau says that the federal government could have acted more quickly to reform Canada's immigration programs</li>
<li>Ruba Ghazal has officially been elected as Quebec solidaire’s co-spokesperson with 91% of the vote</li>
<li>Do you think that homelessness in the city should be declared as a state of emergency?</li>
<li>Montreal is considering banning cars from parts of Sainte-Catherine Street to create pedestrian-only zones, but opposition voices are growing</li>
</ul>

Elias is back and he knows why Donald Trump won. Plus: Justin Trudeau heads to YouTube to explain his bad immigration policy.

Filling in for Elias Makos, Trudie Mason is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia & McGill University.


Despite polling showing only 37% support for Quebec sovereignty, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon remains confident that he can win a third referendum if elected.


The Quebec government is considering extending the state's secularism law to private schools, following an investigation into 17 public schools for potential breaches of religious neutrality.


Canada Post workers have gone on strike after failing to reach a new agreement with their employer, with approximately 55,000 workers involved.

Filling in for Elias Makos, Trudie Mason is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Bonnie Feigenbaum, Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in last provincial election and a lecturer at Concordia &amp; McGill University.
<ul>
<li>
Despite polling showing only 37% support for Quebec sovereignty, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon remains confident that he can win a third referendum if elected.
</li>
<li>
The Quebec government is considering extending the state's secularism law to private schools, following an investigation into 17 public schools for potential breaches of religious neutrality.
</li>
<li>
Canada Post workers have gone on strike after failing to reach a new agreement with their employer, with approximately 55,000 workers involved.
</li>
</ul>

Despite polling showing only 37% support for Quebec sovereignty, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon remains confident that he can win a third referendum if elected.

Trudie Mason is joined by Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and former chief of staff in the Harper government, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
The Quebec Ministry of Education is sending inspectors to 17 schools where violations of the state's secularism law have been reported
Conservative MPs are frustrated with their leader Pierre Poilievre's directive to stop supporting federal housing funds in their constituencies
Nathaly Rivard is appalled by the 15-day suspension given to Sûreté du Québec officer Sébastien Plouffe, who discarded a fragment of her 14-year-old son's skull in a ravine after a fatal crash in 2021

Trudie Mason is joined by Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and former chief of staff in the Harper government, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
<ul>
<li>The Quebec Ministry of Education is sending inspectors to 17 schools where violations of the state's secularism law have been reported</li>
<li>Conservative MPs are frustrated with their leader Pierre Poilievre's directive to stop supporting federal housing funds in their constituencies</li>
<li>Nathaly Rivard is appalled by the 15-day suspension given to Sûreté du Québec officer Sébastien Plouffe, who discarded a fragment of her 14-year-old son's skull in a ravine after a fatal crash in 2021</li>
</ul>

The Quebec Ministry of Education is sending inspectors to 17 schools where violations of the state's secularism law have been reported

Trudie Mason is joined by Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News, president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, and  Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, columnist for the Hill Times in Ottawa and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. 
A recent Léger poll reveals that the CAQ is experiencing its lowest support in eight years, with just 21% of voter intentions
The number of complaints to the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) has surged dramatically, with 9,125 complaints filed in the 2023-2024 period, a 33% increase from the previous year
Quebec student associations are demanding paid internships and a major overhaul of the province's financial aid system as students face growing financial pressures due to rising living costs

Trudie Mason is joined by Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News, president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, 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>A recent Léger poll reveals that the CAQ is experiencing its lowest support in eight years, with just 21% of voter intentions</li>
<li>The number of complaints to the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) has surged dramatically, with 9,125 complaints filed in the 2023-2024 period, a 33% increase from the previous year</li>
<li>Quebec student associations are demanding paid internships and a major overhaul of the province's financial aid system as students face growing financial pressures due to rising living costs</li>
</ul>

A recent Léger poll reveals that the CAQ is at its lowest approval rating in eight years

Trudie Mason is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor 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.
According to a survey, 36 state-funded daycare centres in Montreal select children based on ethnic or religious criteria.
A recent Léger poll reveals that nearly half of Quebecers (43%) have forgone healthcare in the past year due to limited access in the public system.
A Montreal man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his partner.

Trudie Mason is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor 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>According to a survey, 36 state-funded daycare centres in Montreal select children based on ethnic or religious criteria.</li>
<li>A recent Léger poll reveals that nearly half of Quebecers (43%) have forgone healthcare in the past year due to limited access in the public system.</li>
<li>A Montreal man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his partner.</li>
</ul>

Survey on how children get selected to daycare. Plus:  Léger on Quebecers forgoing healthcare

Trudie Mason kicks the week off with Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and host of the Inspiring Business Hour - Saturdays at noon on CJAD, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor.
Pablo Rodriguez, a candidate for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, has garnered significant support, including from 40 former ministers
A former university hockey star turned teacher and coach may be accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student, but she will be able to continue teaching, a judge has ruled
In Quebec, police are concerned about illegal gadgets that allow drivers to hide their licence plates
A petition calling for free access to all contraceptives in Quebec has gone viral following the U.S. election, gaining over 55,000 signatures since November 5

Trudie Mason kicks the week off with Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and host of the Inspiring Business Hour - Saturdays at noon on CJAD, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor.
<ul>
<li>Pablo Rodriguez, a candidate for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, has garnered significant support, including from 40 former ministers</li>
<li>A former university hockey star turned teacher and coach may be accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student, but she will be able to continue teaching, a judge has ruled</li>
<li>In Quebec, police are concerned about illegal gadgets that allow drivers to hide their licence plates</li>
<li>A petition calling for free access to all contraceptives in Quebec has gone viral following the U.S. election, gaining over 55,000 signatures since November 5</li>
</ul>

Pablo Rodriguez has garnered significant support, including from 40 former ministers. Plus: Illegal gadgets that allow drivers to hide their licence plates

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

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