Elias Makos kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, former special advisor to the Mayor, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seemingly in no hurry to pick up trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S Vice-President JD Vance took to social media Friday to call out Canada’s political leadership and “immigration insanity,” blaming them for the stagnation of Canada’s economy.
Marwah Rizqy gave her first comments since the beginning of the conflict between her and the Quebec Liberal Party. 
Just when you thought Quebec politics couldn't get zanier, Quebec Solidaire decided it wanted to get in on the fun. 

Elias Makos kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, former special advisor to the Mayor, and&nbsp;Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
<ul>
<li>Prime Minister Mark Carney is seemingly in no hurry to pick up trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.</li>
<li>U.S Vice-President JD Vance took to social media Friday to call out Canada&rsquo;s political leadership and &ldquo;immigration insanity,&rdquo; blaming them for the stagnation of Canada&rsquo;s economy.</li>
<li>Marwah Rizqy gave her first comments since the beginning of the conflict between her and the Quebec Liberal Party.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Just when you thought Quebec politics couldn't get zanier, Quebec Solidaire decided it wanted to get in on the fun.&nbsp;</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

“Who cares?” - Mark Carney is in no rush to talk to Donald Trump. Plus: The implosion of Quebec’s political parties continues.

Elias Makos is joined by Meeker Guerrier, commentator at Noovo and RDS and Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante on The Big 5.
Despite last night’s loss to the New Jersey Devils, it is a great time to be a Montreal Canadiens fan right now.
Over the past five years, the number of people in Quebec who say that the main cause of their financial problems was gambling addiction has increased by 45%.
The Liberal government is pushing back on criticism of its $90-billion ALTO high-speed rail projec

Elias Makos is joined by Meeker Guerrier, commentator at Noovo and RDS and Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante on The Big 5.
<ul>
<li>Despite last night&rsquo;s loss to the New Jersey Devils, it is a great time to be a Montreal Canadiens fan right now.</li>
<li>Over the past five years, the number of people in Quebec who say that the main cause of their financial problems was gambling addiction has increased by 45%.</li>
<li>The Liberal government is pushing back on criticism of its $90-billion ALTO high-speed rail projec</li>
</ul>

Est-ce que ça sent la coupe? Plus: Sports gambling plunging more Quebecers into debt, the Liberals fight back against high-speed rail criticism

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>

“Who cares?” - Mark Carney is in no rush to talk to Donald Trump. Plus: The implosion of Quebec’s political parties continues.

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