On this Friday edition of the BIG 5, Elias is joined by political analyst Karim Boulos 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.
Dozens of Montreal school staff have been let go, suspended or resigned following the province’s expanded secularism bill and religious symbols ban comes into full effect.
It’s official: Quebecers have the Chronically Online Disease. The average screen time jumped an extra hour a day compared to last year.
Should the Quebec government be doing business with TicketMaster?

On this Friday edition of the BIG 5, Elias is joined by political analyst Karim Boulos 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.
<ul>
<li>Dozens of Montreal school staff have been let go, suspended or resigned following the province&rsquo;s expanded secularism bill and religious symbols ban comes into full effect.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s official: Quebecers have the Chronically Online Disease. The average screen time jumped an extra hour a day compared to last year.</li>
<li>Should the Quebec government be doing business with TicketMaster?</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 latest audio and podcasts from CJAD 800 Montreal.

The latest audio and podcasts from CJAD 800 Montreal.

CJAD 800 - The Latest Audio and Podcasts

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

Quebec’s secularism laws are forcing more people out of their education jobs. Plus: Screen time explodes among older Quebecers

Joining Elias on The Big 5 today were Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster & Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom.

Among the topics discussed on The Big 5 were
The Quebec government has unveiled a new tool to track fuel prices across the province.
And as gas prices reach those historic levels, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for federal gas taxes to be scrapped for the rest of the year, arguing the tax holiday would bring immediate relief to drivers facing rising fuel prices
Add Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet to the list of people against the high speed rail project
Add Maple syrup to the list of things you can’t trust. Radio-Canada’s Enquête program began investigating the sweet stuff when a journalist opened a can that “seemed off.”

Joining Elias on The Big 5 today were&nbsp;Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster &amp; Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom.
Among the topics discussed on The Big 5 were
<ul>
<li><a href="https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec-launches-real-time-gas-price-map-as-costs-near-2-a-litre/">The Quebec government has unveiled a new tool to track fuel prices across the province.</a></li>
<li>And as gas prices reach those historic levels, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/poilievre-urges-federal-government-to-cut-gas-taxes-as-fuel-prices-skyrocket/">Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for federal gas taxes to be scrapped for the rest of the year</a>, arguing the tax holiday would bring immediate relief to drivers facing rising fuel prices</li>
<li><a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/04/01/tgv-alto--blanchet-accuse-le-gouvernement-carney-dagir-de-maniere--autoritaire">Add Bloc Qu&eacute;b&eacute;cois leader Yves-Fran&ccedil;ois Blanchet to the list of people against the high speed rail project</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bogus-maple-syrup-quebec-9.7149822">Add Maple syrup to the list of things you can&rsquo;t trust.</a> Radio-Canada&rsquo;s Enqu&ecirc;te program began investigating the sweet stuff when a journalist opened a can that &ldquo;seemed off.&rdquo;</li>
<li></li>
</ul>

As gas prices reach record levels, are Quebecers fed up? Plus: Buying fake maple syrup with fake $100 bills in our low-trust society

Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.
Reporters used an unrelated announcement to press the Prime Minister on whether or not China’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority amounted to genocide
CAQ leadership candidate Christine Fréchette has sent a clear message to her opponent Bernard Draiville this morning through a Leger poll conducted on behalf of her team.
We are heading to the moon today!

Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and&nbsp;Rapha&euml;l Melan&ccedil;on, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.
<ul>
<li>Reporters used an unrelated announcement to press the Prime Minister on whether or not China&rsquo;s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority amounted to genocide</li>
<li>CAQ leadership candidate Christine Fr&eacute;chette has sent a clear message to her opponent Bernard Draiville this morning through a Leger poll conducted on behalf of her team.</li>
<li>We are heading to the moon today!</li>
</ul>

Mark Carney’s China problem. Plus: Is Canada’s High-Speed rail project a boondoggle in the making?

Elias Makos is joined by Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada.
Over the weekend, a video went viral showing an interaction between a man and a police officer. The man was pulled over by police for having window tints suspected of being too dark. The video shows him verbally berating a female police officer with the most vile language imaginable.
The Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti Quebecois are now tied in the polls.
CBC reports on an 85 year old Montrealer is angry with the justice system after her scammer was only sentenced to 18 months of house arrest.
If you are planning to go see the Habs at the Bell Centre before the end of the season, get ready to pay a fortune.

Elias Makos is joined by Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and&nbsp;Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada.
<ul>
<li>Over the weekend, a video went viral showing an interaction between a man and a police officer. The man was pulled over by police for having window tints suspected of being too dark. The video shows him verbally berating a female police officer with the most vile language imaginable.</li>
<li>The Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti Quebecois are now tied in the polls.</li>
<li>CBC reports on an 85 year old Montrealer is angry with the justice system after her scammer was only sentenced to 18 months of house arrest.</li>
<li>If you are planning to go see the Habs at the Bell Centre before the end of the season, get ready to pay a fortune.</li>
</ul>

Quebec’s secularism laws are forcing more people out of their education jobs. Plus: Screen time explodes among older Quebecers

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