Elias Makos is joined by Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.
The Parti Quebecois added another seat for their party at the National Assembly yesterday by winning the Chicoutimi by-election
 The Conservatives are teeing up a politically charged debate in the House of Commons today. They’re introducing a motion to review and potentially restrict health benefits for asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program.
A 52 year old woman has been forced to go $40 thousand in debt in order to get treated in the private sector for her neck problems.
Canadian Olympic medallist Laurent Dubreuil painted a bleak picture this morning of Canadian Olympic athletes this morning in the Journal de Montreal.

Elias Makos is joined by Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, 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>The Parti Quebecois added another seat for their party at the National Assembly yesterday by winning the Chicoutimi by-election</li>
<li>&nbsp;The Conservatives are teeing up a politically charged debate in the House of Commons today. They&rsquo;re introducing a motion to review and potentially restrict health benefits for asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program.</li>
<li>A 52 year old woman has been forced to go $40 thousand in debt in order to get treated in the private sector for her neck problems.</li>
<li>Canadian Olympic medallist Laurent Dubreuil painted a bleak picture this morning of Canadian Olympic athletes this morning in the Journal de Montreal.</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

The PQ plays the Trump card. Plus: Should Canada cut health care for asylum seekers

Elias Makos begins the week with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies.
Canada finished with 21 medals including 5 gold medals. It's the lowest number of medals since the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. 
Reaction poured in over the weekend to a story published by The Globe and Mail on Friday morning. The striking headline  of the story is “How Canada became poorer than Alabama.”
Bombshell news in the Wall Street Journal as the weekend started. The paper reported that employees at OpenAI had previously raised alarms about the Tumbler Ridge shooter.
We can’t go to Florida, we’re boycotting the U.S. We can’t go to Cuba, the country’s a mess due to U.S. oil blockades. And now, the travel plans to Mexico are on hold, after violence erupted in Mexico over the weekend after the killing of drug cartel kingpin ‘El Mencho.’ 

Elias Makos begins the week with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and&nbsp;Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies.
<ul>
<li>Canada finished with 21 medals including 5 gold medals. It's the lowest number of medals since the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Reaction poured in over the weekend to a story published by The Globe and Mail on Friday morning. The striking headline &nbsp;of the story is &ldquo;How Canada became poorer than Alabama.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Bombshell news in the Wall Street Journal as the weekend started. The paper reported that employees at OpenAI had previously raised alarms about the Tumbler Ridge shooter.</li>
<li>We can&rsquo;t go to Florida, we&rsquo;re boycotting the U.S. We can&rsquo;t go to Cuba, the country&rsquo;s a mess due to U.S. oil blockades. And now, the travel plans to Mexico are on hold, after violence erupted in Mexico over the weekend after the killing of drug cartel kingpin &lsquo;El Mencho.&rsquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Olympic disappointment.  Plus: We’re running out of vacation spots

Elias is joined on this Friday edition of the BIG 5 by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist
The White House says it’s about to pull back the curtain on one of the most enduring mysteries in history. President Donald Trump is promising to declassify government files related to UFOs — or what the Pentagon now calls UAPs, unidentified anomalous phenomena.
It’s official, we will have a referendum… in Alberta.
The toonie turned 30 years old this week. Released on February 19, 1996, it was Canada’s first bimetallic coin. What is the best thing you can buy for two dollars in 2026?

Elias is joined on this Friday edition of the BIG 5 by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist
<ul>
<li>The White House says it&rsquo;s about to pull back the curtain on one of the most enduring mysteries in history. President Donald Trump is promising to declassify government files related to UFOs &mdash; or what the Pentagon now calls UAPs, unidentified anomalous phenomena.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s official, we will have a referendum&hellip; in Alberta.</li>
<li>The toonie turned 30 years old this week. Released on February 19, 1996, it was Canada&rsquo;s first bimetallic coin. What is the best thing you can buy for two dollars in 2026?</li>
</ul>

Aliens, referendums, and toonies. Plus: How Canada became poorer than Alabama

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, 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.
Massive reaction and pushback to the story we told you about yesterday - the Quebecker who was awarded $500 after a south shore hair salon didn’t offer a “non-binary” haircut option on its appointment booking website.
A man from Lebanon convicted of possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking was supposed to be deported back in December of 2019.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford had some choice words for students complaining about recent cuts to his province’s student assistance programs: Stop studying in useless fields and focus on an education that gives you a shot at the plethora of in-demand jobs.
Reuters reports that the U.S. Department of State is developing a new online portal — hosted at freedom.gov — that would allow users in Europe and elsewhere to access content banned by their own governments

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder &amp; Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and&nbsp;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>Massive reaction and pushback to the story we told you about yesterday - the Quebecker who was awarded $500 after a south shore hair salon didn&rsquo;t offer a &ldquo;non-binary&rdquo; haircut option on its appointment booking website.</li>
<li>A man from Lebanon convicted of possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking was supposed to be deported back in December of 2019.</li>
<li>Ontario Premier Doug Ford had some choice words for students complaining about recent cuts to his province&rsquo;s student assistance programs: Stop studying in useless fields and focus on an education that gives you a shot at the plethora of in-demand jobs.</li>
<li>Reuters reports that the U.S. Department of State is developing a new online portal &mdash; hosted at freedom.gov &mdash; that would allow users in Europe and elsewhere to access content banned by their own governments</li>
</ul>

The PQ plays the Trump card. Plus: Should Canada cut health care for asylum seekers

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