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

Trudie Mason hosted this morning's Elias Makos Show.

Joining Trudie were Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS.

Among the topics discussed were
The Israeli ambassador to Canada Ambassador Iddo Moed calls Canada a global centre of anit-semitism
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has chosen to endorse the controversial former hockey commentator Don Cherry for his Order of Canada nomination
The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) has spent $2.7M of  public funds on legal battles challenging Quebec’s controversial language and secularism laws, including Bill 21 (Quebec secularism law) and Bill 96 (Quebec language law)

Trudie Mason hosted this morning's Elias Makos Show.
Joining Trudie were Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS.
Among the topics discussed were
<ul>
<li>The Israeli a<a href="https://nationalpost.com/news/israel-ambassador-iddo-moed-thornhill-synagogue">mbassador to Canada Ambassador Iddo Moed calls Canada a global centre of anit-semitism</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/03/13/don-cherry-un-heros-que-font-les-conservateurs">Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has chosen to endorse the controversial former hockey commentator Don Cherry for his Order of Canada nomination</a></li>
<li><a href="https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/emsb-bill-21-96-legal-fees-court-cases">The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) has spent $2.7M of&nbsp; public funds on legal battles challenging Quebec&rsquo;s controversial language and secularism laws, including Bill 21 (Quebec secularism law) and Bill 96 (Quebec language law)</a></li>
</ul>

Is Canada the global center of anti-semitism? Plus: Don Cherry gets the Order of Canada, yes or no?

Elias was joined on The Big 5 by Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a 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.

Among the topics discussed by Neil and Paul were
More than 200 thousand homes lost power across the province this morning due to freezing rain. That’s about over 35 thousand in Montreal. The REM is also disrupted between Brossard and Gare Central.
IRIS, the progressive Quebec economic think tank, has a suggestion for how to tackle the province’s gaping deficit, and you’ll never guess what their solution is: higher taxes.
Global News reports that after Carney visits Norway and London, the Canadian delegation will return home without him.
For the First time ever, Canada has made it to the quarter finals of the World Baseball Classic

Elias was joined on The Big 5 by Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a 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.
Among the topics discussed by Neil and Paul were
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/03/11/tempete-de-verglas-plus-de-54-000-pannes-a-travers-le-quebec">More than 200 thousand homes lost power across the province this morning due to freezing rain.</a> That&rsquo;s about over 35 thousand in Montreal. <a href="https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2237781/rem-arret-service-entre-brossard-gare-centrale">The REM is also disrupted between Brossard and Gare Central.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/03/12/32g-de-recettes-supplementaires-liris-propose-de-taxer-les-plus-riches">IRIS, the progressive Quebec economic think tank, has a suggestion for how to tackle the province&rsquo;s gaping deficit, and you&rsquo;ll never guess what their solution is: higher taxes</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/11726480/mark-carney-vacation-uk-italy-sources/">Global News reports that after Carney visits Norway and London, the Canadian delegation will return home without him</a>.</li>
<li>For the First time ever, <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/wbc/article/canada-beats-cuba-to-clinch-first-ever-wbc-quarterfinal-berth/">Canada has made it to the quarter finals of the World Baseball Classic</a></li>
</ul>

Montreal’s Icemageddon fails to live up to the hype. Plus: The solution to all of Quebec’s problems is more taxes

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist.
Weather experts are saying we should gear up for an ice storm, reminiscent of the one we got back in 2023, that left millions of homes without power
We have another floor crosser. Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout will cross the floor to join the Liberals
Final arguments wrapped up on Tuesday during a hearing for an injunction to stop two Quebec men from donating sperm
A worker who developed tendinitis and suffered a ligament tear because she used her cell phone all day to perform her duties is eligible for benefits from the CNESST

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder &amp; Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and&nbsp;Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist.
<ul>
<li>Weather experts are saying we should gear up for an ice storm, reminiscent of the one we got back in 2023, that left millions of homes without power</li>
<li>We have another floor crosser. Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout will cross the floor to join the Liberals</li>
<li>Final arguments wrapped up on Tuesday during a hearing for an injunction to stop two Quebec men from donating sperm</li>
<li>A worker who developed tendinitis and suffered a ligament tear because she used her cell phone all day to perform her duties is eligible for benefits from the CNESST</li>
</ul>

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

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