The Big Five Podcast

Trudie Mason is with Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, and Paul Gott, lead singer of the Ripcordz and journalism professor at Concordia. PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon pledged to delay any Quebec independence referendum until Donald Trump leaves the White House. Quebec and Newfoundland signed a seventy billion dollar deal reshaping Churchill Falls power rates and funding future hydro projects. The Auditor General warned that Quebec faces massive spending cuts to meet its goal of a balanced budget by 2030. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called for the revival of the REM de l’Est transit line to balance service with the West Island. A media investigation criticized the ongoing RCMP security costs for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his international travels.

Trudie Mason is with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Gabriel Retta, special advisor to the mayor. A new Abacus Data poll shows the Carney government's support in Quebec plummeted by eleven points. Canada and the US remain locked in tense negotiations less than forty-eight hours before a massive tariff deadline. CF Montréal issued indefinite stadium bans to two fans following an MLS investigation into antisemitic slurs. Montreal blue-collar workers are threatening a major strike during September's high-profile world cycling championships. The University of Toronto's law faculty plans to ban laptops from some classrooms this fall.

Trudie Mason welcomes in Karim Boulos, Political Analyst, and Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom. The City of Montreal is warning that the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, taking place September 20–27, will bring the most significant traffic disruptions in recent memory. Radio Canada is reporting new details this morning in the new finalized deal between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador regarding Churchill Falls. Montreal Police remove an AI camera after it was spotted by a Radio Canada reporter Saint-Anicet is asking residents to weigh in on the future of its popular beach and surrounding waterfront area, as the municipality works toward securing and improving the site.

Trudie Mason hosts Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer at Women in Governance, and Lionel Perez, former Montreal opposition leader and CEO of CorpCentre. [1] Quebec Liberal candidate Farnell Morissett faced heavy criticism for claiming Bill 101 lets the government secretly snoop through phones. Ottawa, Quebec, and Newfoundland are expected to unveil a major new agreement reviving the Churchill Falls hydro project next week. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation exposed a Senate speaker for spending nearly one million dollars on luxury international travel. A constitutional lawsuit is challenging Quebec's law that made the oath of allegiance to the King optional for politicians. A Quebec detention centre will force inmates to wear standardized uniforms to combat rampant gang activity and contraband.  

Trudie Mason is with Dan Delmar, co-founder of TNKR Media and co-host of the Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada podcast, and Akil Alleyne, reporter, commentator, and manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. Police Chief Fady Dagher faced community frustration after stating that fixing the culture at Station 39 could take up to ten years. A new Synopsis-Lapresse poll keeps the PQ ahead at thirty percent while the Quebec Conservatives surged up to fifteen percent. Premier Christine Fréchette convened crisis cells to prepare for the potential impact of looming fifty percent US trade tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney faced media backlash for vacationing in Tuscany while critical Canada-US trade negotiations continue.

Trudie Mason is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Catherine Hogan, high school teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Leslie Roberts sparred in opposing columns over the future of Quebec's English-speaking community. A new Leger poll puts the PQ in the lead at thirty percent, but half of voters say their choice could still change. Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher will address the public tonight regarding serious misconduct and racism allegations at station thirty-nine. Liberal MP Shaun Chen resigned due to health issues from a car crash, becoming the eighth MP to step down since the election. McDonald's launched new Red Bull energy drinks across Canada but excluded Quebec due to the province's strict under-sixteen ban.

Trudie Mason is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Meeker Guerrier, commentator at Noovo and RDS. The CAQ launched economy-focused campaign ads while the PQ hit back with billboards targeting unfulfilled promises. Canada is considering alcohol, dairy, and auto concessions to avoid a fifty percent US tariff deadline on August 19. Hundreds gathered at Jarry Park to protest Tennis Canada's proposed four hundred million dollar stadium expansion. Équiterre urged Quebec to end its political honeymoon with Prime Minister Mark Carney over environmental policies. A rising trend of parents asking party guests to help pay for children's birthdays is sparking fierce debate.

Trudie Mason is joined by Lionel Perez, Former city councilor and former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. Montreal's iconic rainbow-coloured balls will return to the Gay Village as part of a $200-million redevelopment of Sainte-Catherine Street East. The PLQ added two big names in former president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce Michel Leblanc and President of the Old Brewery Mission James Hughes. Prime Minister Mark Carney is not being fazed by the comments of U.S President Donald Trump. New York City has revived its so-called "sticker of shame" campaign, placing large warning stickers on vehicles that commit traffic violations.

Trudie Mason is with Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer at Women in Governance, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette.  A new Pallas Data-Qc125 poll reveals the PQ leading with thirty-one percent as the CAQ slips among francophone voters. The Montreal Economic Institute reported that thirty-five percent of Quebec's one hundred and forty-five thousand business regulations are unnecessary red tape. Twenty-eight medical specialists have opted out of RAMQ this year to practice privately, sparking concerns over public healthcare access.

Trudie Mason is joined by political analyst Karim Boulos, and Akil Alleyne, reporter, commentator, and manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. The Parliamentary Budget Officer will investigate potential cost overruns and revenue-sharing changes in the Gordie Howe Bridge agreement. Montreal unveiled a Chinatown revitalization strategy featuring dedicated cleaning brigades and infrastructure upgrades to boost local investment. Conservative MP Kyle Seeback defended opposition scrutiny, arguing that criticizing the Liberal government should not be labeled "Trumpian." A Canadian Taxpayers Federation report revealed Canadian provincial politicians earn significantly higher average salaries than US state legislators. Jetstar airline announced plans to charge fees for overhead cabin baggage space starting in February 2027.

Trudie Mason welcomes in Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante. A new Nanos Research poll shows thirty-three percent of Canadians believe no current Conservative politician can defeat Mark Carney. The Department of National Defence removed French-language requirements from roughly one hundred and eighty bilingual military units. The Canadian Press revealed citizens are urging the federal government to mandate British spellings in official communications. A US crowdfunding campaign has reignited privacy debates surrounding automated police license plate recognition technology. A small piece of flood-prone land in Laval listed for fifty thousand dollars has gone viral online.

Trudie Mason is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Tasha Kheiriddin, a writer and commentator for the National Post, GZero Media, and Substack. WestJet and the union representing its 4,400 flight attendants have reached a tentative collective agreement, bringing an end to strike action and the operational disruptions that forced hundreds of flight cancellations over the long weekend. With four federal byelections coming up, NDP leader Avi Lewis is sticking to his guns and will not run in any of them until a full general election is called. There have been multiple antisemitic incidents that have occurred in the past seven days and officials are getting worried. Quebecor has installed heat and motion sensors beneath workstations at some of its offices to monitor how often desks are being used, a move the company says is intended to better manage office space.

Trudie Mason is joined by Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and Governmental Relations at Casacom, and Victor Henriquez, Public Affairs and Crisis Management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. A new Leger survey shows that despite a majority of Canadians believing the U.S tariffs are a threat, whether we should respond with tariffs of our own is splitting the population right down the middle. The amount of time waiting for a doctor on the info santé phone line 811 has increased to an average of 89 minutes this month. A new column in the Journal de Montreal by Josée Legault argues that asking society to simply "coexist" with homelessness risks normalizing a growing humanitarian crisis. How much would you spend on a piece of art? For the city of Saskatoon, the answer is $300 thousand. Despite meeting barely half of their performance targets, government executives received over $200 million in bonuses last year.

Trudie Mason is with Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, and Catherine Hogan, high school teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke sparked fierce debate by suggesting retirees and non-taxpayers should lose voting rights. Liberal leader Charles Milliard pledged stronger interprovincial alliances, drawing heavy criticism from Premier Christine Fréchette. Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant faced backlash for comparing unreported youth protection deaths to neonatal tragedies. Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is reportedly being appointed CEO of tourism marketing organization Destination Canada.

Trudie Mason welcomes in Lea Streliski, best-selling author, comedian, and columnist, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette. NDP Leader Avi Lewis is taking intensive French immersion courses to win back declining Quebec support. Chrystia Freeland published a New York Times piece slamming Donald Trump as the bully-in-chief over trade. Retailer Tanguay is challenging Quebec's upcoming legal warranty law for appliances in court over rising costs. A Canadian NATO intern was arrested on espionage charges despite previously passing an Ottawa background check. A national parenting dilemma sparked debate over whether to bring home a struggling, excluded camp counsellor. 

Trudie Mason is with Meeker Guerrier, commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Dan Delmar, co-founder of TNKR Media and co-host of the Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada podcast. [1, 2] The Saint-Pierre Interchange will be completely rebuilt to include bus and bike lanes, though the final cost remains unknown. Aviation experts are criticizing a one hundred and forty-four day suspension for a helicopter pilot who disrupted a military drill. Former public health director Horacio Arruda defended his pandemic management as he assumed a new regional role. A new poll shows federal Liberals holding a nine-point lead ahead of three upcoming summer by-elections. A new column proposes that alcohol, gambling, and junk food should feature disturbing warning labels like cigarette packs.  

Trudie Mason is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Akil Alleyne, reporter, commentator, and manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program. Prime Minister Mark Carney set three summer by-elections, including a tight three-way race in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord. A bleak new study reveals ten percent of emergency doctors are leaving the field amid severe overcrowding. Quebec finally reached a contract agreement with paramedics after three years of stagnant negotiations. Montreal restaurant Garde Manger defied provincial limits by charging a fifty dollar fee for reservation no-shows. Columnist Richard Martineau sparked debate by listing everyday items he believes should be uninvented.

Joining Trudie Mason The Big Five this morning were Lionel Perez, former city councilor and former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall and political analyst Karim Boulos. Among the topics discussed on The Big Five If you thought Prime Minister Mark Carney was going to immediately strike back at the U.S after President Donald Trump announced new 50 percent tariffs, then you are not going to be happy It has officially been 100 days since Christine Fréchette officially became the Premier of Quebec The City of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville is offering residents a $100 rebate if they replace gas-powered lawn and garden equipment with electric alternatives

Trudie Mason welcomes in Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants Canada to leverage our most valuable resources to hit back at the U.S. after the White House announced plans for new tariffs this week.  The Globe and Mail is reporting this morning that Prime Minister Mark Carney made significant concessions to the United States to secure the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.  It has been a busy 24 hours for the Quebec Liberal Party. They have dropped a candidate for the upcoming election and a former candidate and organizer for party leader Charles Milliard. The STM says it spent more than $100,000 cleaning thousands of union stickers that were plastered throughout Montreal's metro stations and buses during labour disputes last year. 

Trudie Mason is joined by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. The premiers of nine provinces announced that they’re removing major barriers to interprovincial sales of alcohol. While Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette agreed with the deal, she was not one of the premiers who signed it.  A new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Association says that over 70 percent of Canadians want to end the expense accounts of former governors general.  After being pressured for the past few weeks, the federal government has released details of its revised agreement with the United States on the Gordie Howe International Bridge.  A new Leger report says 75 per cent of Canadians think AI use should be disclosed for schoolwork and 61 per cent for work.  Two columnists with La Presse last week wrote a dialogue piece exploring whether Montreal is becoming harder to love.

Trudie Mason is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage, a Government Relations and Strategic Communications Firm and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom. U.S President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods. Premier Christine Fréchette reacted on social media to the new tariffs, calling them unjustified. A 24-year-old Montreal man who appeared in viral videos verbally insulting and making misogynistic remarks toward a police officer has been charged with three counts of defamatory libel.  Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has apologized after facing criticism for posing in a photo with Israel's ambassador to Canada at the Calgary Stampede.  E-scooters and their popularity has grown exponentially over the last few years. However, according to a new Globe and Mail piece by André Picard, riders need clearer and stricter rules in order to keep them safe.

Trudie Mason starts the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Catherine Hogan, high school teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson. The Quebec government officially announced its plans for the interior renovation of Olympic stadium. It has been Christmas in July for many in Quebec for the past few weeks as Premier Christine Fréchette has been announcing multiple differents investments in the tune of millions of dollars. A new Journal de Montréal report says three major Quebec companies have recently appointed CEOs who do not speak French.  The REM suffered a major disruption once again on Friday. A power failure forced one train to stop between stations, prompting passengers to evacuate and walk along the tracks under the supervision of emergency crews. 

Trudie Mason is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, 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. The Quebec government has given the green light for the interior renovations of the  Olympic Stadium U.S President Donald Trump held a national address yesterday and immediately took aim at his loss in the 2020 presidential election The debate over the Gordie Howe International Bridge agreement is intensifying after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to release the full details of the deal with the United States The city of Montreal is using its special provincial planning powers to fast-track approval of a 700-unit housing project, bypassing some of the city's usual approval process Four years after being forced to leave China, CBC/Radio-Canada has announced the return of journalists on a permanent basis to Beijing

Trudie Mason is joined by Lionel Perez, Former city councilor and former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, A new report shows that Canadians trust China more than the U.S. The report from Pew Research says that 44 percent of Canadians have a favorable view of China.  All this week, the Journal de Montreal has been compiling testimonies from drivers about their experience regarding traffic in Montreal.  The federal government is making changes to reduce the amount of immigrants coming into Canada.  Montreal Public Health has issued an overdose alert after a sharp rise in suspected overdoses linked to a highly toxic drug supply.  Turns out even if a company is losing an extreme amount of money, there is still enough in the system to give high ranking executives performance pays.

Trudie Mason is joined by Sue Smith, a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. Premier Christine Fréchette has decided to join the other leaders and promise to hold a summit on homelessness in 2027 if she is re-elected. Speaking of Fréchette, it seems she and other candidates for the party have decided to leave François Legault’s name and history in the past.  Turns out Hydro-Quebec is selling electricity to the U.S at a cheaper price than what it sells here. The U.K government has announced that a nighttime curfew between midnight and 6 a.m. on social media for 16- and 17-year-olds will be enforced in order to help with its social media ban for kids under the age of 16.  The Société du parc Jean-Drapeau has decided that puzzle enthusiasts will not be able to excavate the treasure that may have been buried by American author Byron Preiss in Montreal in 1981. 

Trudie Mason is joined by Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Political analyst Karim Boulos. Notre-Dame Street East has been named the worst street in Montreal by CAA-Quebec. Montreal is giving automated pothole filling another try. The city has just launched a new call for tenders to replace its decommissioned machines.  For the second month in a row, Canadians have increased their travels to the U.S. Have you ever used Artificial Intelligence to self diagnose yourself when you felt like something was wrong?

Trudie Mason welcomes in Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. A new report by Ipsos in coordination with MNP reveals that over half of Quebecers have at least half of their income already committed to bills, debt payments and regular expenses before it arrives. The state of New York is proposing to give a 10 percent discount to shoppers who use the self-checkout at grocery stores. A new report shows that Montrealers spent 63 hours in traffic last year. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses is angry with the Quebec government because of the SAQ’s current business model. The Carolina Hurricanes have officially engraved their names onto the Stanley Cup and some names have caused a lot of reaction. 

Joining Elias on this morning's show were 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 Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues. Among the topics discussed were: Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending a major shift in Canada's foreign policy after becoming the first Canadian prime minister in 26 years to visit Saudi Arabia. Despite there being seven opportunities in the coming months to get a seat at the House of Commons, NDP Leader Avi Lewis says he will not be running in the byelections. The first Chinese EV from an actual Chinese company under the new Canada-China tariff deal has landed in the country. How much does it cost?

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Dan Delmar, political analyst and co-founder of TNKR Media, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil. Among the topics discussed were: Air Canada has a new CEO; Anko Van der Werff. He can speak French. But he’s not Canadian. Is this an improvement? With signs that read “Not one more inch,” people living around Jarry Park are banding together to fight Tennis Canada’s proposal to build a new retractable roof stadium on the site. What if every young Canadian spent a year serving their country, not just in the military? Quebec will start testing certain truck drivers from Ontario that want to start driving commercial vehicles here.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Karim Boulos, Political Analyst, and Jonathan Kalles, Senior Vice President at Vantage, a Government Relations and Strategic Communications Firm and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Among the topics discussed were: Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed four new people to the Senate yesterday, with two names getting special attention A new survey by KPMG shows that 42 percent of Canadian manufacturing companies are thinking of moving to the U.S because of the trade tensions between both countries The B.C. government is pursuing legal action against OpenAI over the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting tragedy Have you ever heard of Bryan Johnson? He's the tech entrepreneur who spends about $2 million a year trying to slow aging, measuring just about everything in his body in the hope of living much longer than the rest of us

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette. Among the topics discussed were: One of the latest recruits for the Quebec Liberal Party, former Big 5er Justine McIntyre, gave her first interview as an official candidate on Monday. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada is taking another look at the plan to turn much of Old Montreal into a “pedestrian kingdom.” Would removing public trash cans help Montreal's littering problem? If you had to wear one piece of clothing to tell the world ‘I’m a Montrealer,” what would it be?

Joining Elias on this morning's show were 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. Among the topics discussed were: Justine McIntyre will run for the Quebec Liberals this October after a month of speculation. The Liberals also announced a former CAQiste, ex-Minister Pierre Dufour, and a former Quebec Conservative, Ange Claude Bigilimana, are also joining their ranks. Canada's richest families are pulling even further ahead, according to a new report from Canadians for Tax Fairness. The soccer world is up in arms after FIFA decided to rescind a match suspension of a U.S player ahead of their match versus Belgium Communities across Ontario who are along the proposed corridor of the Alto highspeed track have planted “Stop Alto” signs in fear of losing their land.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. Among the topics discussed were: The United States of America turns 250 years old tomorrow. Great country, or greatest country? A new report from RBC says it is now more affordable to buy a condo in Toronto than it is to buy one in Montreal. Taylor Swift is getting married this weekend to Travis Kelce, and the world is abuzz over the ceremony taking place at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Another sign that physical media might not be long for this world… Sony announced yesterday that it will stop producing physical discs for Playstation games as of 2028. Canada’s men's soccer team is in action tomorrow at 1pm as they face Morocco in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Graham Singh, CEO of Releven. Among the topics discussed were: Former Quebec Premier Francois Legault took to X to share his version of a patriotic message for July 1st. If you are the owner of a heated pool, hot tub or heated driveway, Hydro-Quebec is coming after you. A Montrealer wants to take Google to court over something we’ve probably all encountered: Connected devices listening to us, and then delivering ads to us based on what was heard. A judge in Ontario has handed down a tougher sentence to a man who keeps robbing liquor stores because he doesn’t believe that the Canada Border Services Agency will deport him. New research says Canadians who have made the decision to move to the U.S are doing it not only because of job opportunities but for better access to health care.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were: Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Tasha Kheiriddin, a writer and commentator for the National Post, GZero Media, and Substack. Among the topics discussed were: A new Leger poll out this week says that 84 percent of Canadians are proud to be Canadian. Prime Minister Mark Carney says the Liberal climate plan he inherited was "too expensive" for Canadians and "too divisive" to be sustainable, arguing today's world demands a different approach. U.S. authorities say they have seen a significant increase in illegal crossings of the U.S. border from Quebec to Vermont in recent weeks. When you ask AI chatbots for answers, should they be politically biased? The 60 people came from 20 different countries, including Angola, Chile, China, Colombia, Greece, India, Ireland, Romania, Senegal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, 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. Among the topics discussed were: We had Dr. Karim Elayoubi on the program yesterday. The doctor is the Quebec Conservative Party’s healthcare critic. He used the opportunity to present his party’s vision for Quebec healthcare, saying his party is looking to Europe and Asia for solutions to healthcare, not the United States. More than 1,800 St-Henri residents have signed a petition calling on all levels of government to intervene in a situation they say has worsened since La Maison Benoit Labre opened the city’s first supervised consumption site two years ago. Québec solidaire says it has an answer in order to stop landlords who buy buildings, increase rents before selling them at a profit, while evicting tenants. A new report from the Greater Montreal Observatory is not giving any optimism as it ranked the greater Montreal area 42nd out of the 43 major metropolitan areas in North America in terms of housing availability.  

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy. Among the topics discussed were: Mark Carney is on the defensive over his government’s massive B.C. condo bailout plan. Even usual backers of the government, like the CBC, are openly questioning what’s going on here. Ontario is set to announce a change to their highways. The province will increase the speed limit from 100 km/h to 110km/h. An investigation by the Washington Post finds that most chatbots typically shared left-leaning positions. OpenAi’s ChatGPT only gives left-leaning arguments 80 percent of the time. A 24 year old man who is severely disabled is asking for medical assistance in dying because he is unable to find a supervised apartment outside the health system. Canada’s men soccer team are going to the round of 16 in the World Cup after defeating South Africa 1-0 yesterday in the round of 32.

Joining Elias on this morning's show were Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette & Lea Streliski, best-selling author, comedian and columnist. Among the topics discussed were We’ve been asking our panelists this question on the Big Five the last few days… Should there be an English debate? Politics and sport are colliding again at the World Cup. Iran's Football Federation is urging FIFA to ban any Pride-related ceremonies, promotions or symbols during today’s match against Egypt in Seattle Canada could soon be headed to Eurovision. CBC/Radio-Canada has become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union, clearing the way for Canada to eventually compete in the world's biggest song contest Prime Minister Mark Carney will announce the federal government’s plan to “restore” 24 Sussex Drive at 9:30am this morning

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.

Dan Delmar is joined by Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom, and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS. The pannel discussed the following topics: One day after the tragic shooting in Côte-des-Neiges that saw a police officer, a civilian and the suspected shooter die, the mayor of Montreal Soraya Martinez Ferrada is calling for tougher gun control. We now know that there won’t be an English debate for this upcoming provincial election. All five parties were offered to participate in a 90 minute English debate on September 24th. Two parties did not accept the invitation, the Parti Quebecois and the CAQ. Half of Montrealers are considering moving to a more affordable city across Quebec. That is according to a new survey by Royal Lepage. What is your favourite Quebecois Dish?

Robyn Flynn is joined by Sue Smith, a Montreal journalist and broadcaster, Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia, and Océane Corbin, PhD student in communications at UQAM who spent years immersed in an international incel forum analyzing violent and misogynistic online comments.  Three people are dead after a shooting in Cote des Neiges yesterday, including a 34-year old police officer and a civilian. The gunman, whose identity has not been released, has been killed as well, according to police. In the immediate aftermath, rumours were FLYING online, a lot of them unsubstantiated. The Québec Court has granted an appeal of the housing tribunal decision that declared no-pet clauses in leases violate renters’ charter rights. The Parti Quebecois released the entirety of its blue sovereignty book yesterday. Tennis Canada is planning to build a new stadium with a retractable roof in Montreal, as part of a major upgrade to its facilities at Jarry Park. 

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.

Elias Makos caps the week off with Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada. Prepare to see homeless encampments on camera when the city of Montreal hosts the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in September. A new poll from Leger shows that 90 percent of Quebecers are in favor of having police officers wear body cameras.  Laval police say they're seeing a troubling rise in Facebook Marketplace robberies tied to high-value collectibles and electronics, particularly Pokémon cards and Apple MacBooks.  The Quebec Liberal Party will not be moving forward with its threat to sue Parti Québecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon…for now. 

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist. The Quebec Liberal Party unveiled a big name yesterday in their list of candidates for the provincial election. Antoine Dionne Charest, the son of former Premier Jean Charest, will be running in the riding of Verdun for the party in the fall. The joint House of Commons and Senate committee studying medical assistance in dying is recommending the federal government to indefinitely exclude people with mental illness from becoming eligible to use MAID.  Despite the city’s best efforts to have us recycle or compost, we just are not listening. A recent survey by Flight Centre Canada says that 93% of Canadians who are familiar with overtourism are adjusting their plans for the summer of 2026.

Joining Elias on The Big 5 were Montreal journalist and broadcaster Sue Smith 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. Among the topics discussed were A new Leger poll this morning sees the Parti Quebecois slightly increase its lead over the Quebec A new Leger poll this morning sees the Parti Quebecois slightly increase its lead over the Quebec Liberal Party Thank god foreign media exists, otherwise how would we ever find out what Prime Minister Mark Carney thinks about major issues. The PM took to CNN to tell Kaitlan Collins the conflict is “worth it” if it means Iran does not have a nuclear weapon After 75 years of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC every Saturday night, the program will not return next season  

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 Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom. Still lots of reaction coming in from our interview with Premier Christine Frechette yesterday. A new poll from Pallas Data for QC125 and L’actualité shows the provincial election is trending towards a three horse race.  Protesters took to the streets in Montreal-North yesterday evening to say “enough is enough” amid allegations that a group of police officers were implicated in racist and discriminatory behaviour targeting Black and Arab residents.  Distrust of news in the francophone population is at an all-time high in the country. 

On this Monday edition of the BIG 5, Elias was joined by Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette. You just heard our interview with the premier. What is your main takeaway from it? A war of words between the Quebec Liberals and the Parti Québécois is raising the possibility of a court battle. In a dramatic — and disturbing— series of events, the Montreal Police held a surprise Friday press conference in the middle of the night, breaking the news of the SPVM’s most serious claim of racism in the force’s recent history.

In an exclusive English language interview, CJAD 800's Elias Makos is joined by Quebec Premier, Christine Fréchette. The Premier discusses a potential English language debate ahead of an election, the CAQ's relationship with Quebec's English community, migrating the province's health care system to a digital era, the word 'nosh' being in the crosshairs of the OQLF, recent reports of discriminatory and racist acts in the SPVM and more. You can also watch the full interview here.

Trudie Mason ends the week with Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Lionel Perez, Former city councilor and former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall. Opposition at the National Assembly are accusing Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette of going on a “witch hunt” in order to silence government sources.  Today is the final day of the parliamentary session at the National Assembly and the CAQ will be trying to pass as many bills as possible. Turns out it takes 1000 hours of training before someone should be allowed to use a chainsaw. That is according to new guidelines inside Bill 101 that were imposed this week.  Canada’s former chief of defence staff is warning the population that booing the U.S national anthem during hockey games could burn bridges between the two countries. Today is the second edition of "I buy a Quebec product" day.

Trudie Mason welcomes in Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance. U.S President Donald Trump says he does not want to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. The OQLF is asking a pair of restaurant owners to remove the words “nosh” and "nachos". The city of Montreal is replacing its general manager, but not without giving him a hefty amount of money on his way out.  Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says that based on the data he’s seen to date, Canada’s economy is weak, but “it is not clearly in recession.”