
The Big Story
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today
News
Episodes (1918)
Ep 1998 – Big Headlines: Canada details retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. and Trump considers renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America"
Plus: A man accused of stabbing two worshippers at a Sikh temple with a screwdriver was released from prison just a day earlier, a multibillion-dollar fleet of Coast Guard icebreakers will be built in Quebec, a Montreal airport worker is struck and killed by a plane, WestJet flight attendants approve their labour agreement, and could Ukraine hold elections with a years-long war still raging?
Today • 8m 20s
Ep 1995 – Could Ukraine hold a wartime election?
Ukraine's recently ousted Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedoro, called on President Zelenskyy to call for a wartime election. Following more than 4 years at war with Russia, the logistical details of a Ukrainian election remain murky.
Would the vote be safe and secure? What are Zelensky's chances at being reelected? What role does the US and European allies play in guaranteeing security?
Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Jars Balan, an expert in Ukrainian studies and the former director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta. They break down what lead to Fedoro's calls for an election mid-war, the potential domestic polarization an election could lead to, and whether or not security could be ensured.
Today • 24m 41s
Ep 1997 – Big Headlines: Canada-U.S. trade war barreling towards even newer tariffs after failed negotiations
Plus: Lightning storms disrupt flights and spark fires in B.C., a gathering in Saskatchewan marks the 150th anniversary of Treaty 6, WestJet flight attendants finish voting on a new labour agreement, and an anti-fraud organization sounds the alarm on scams targeting previous fraud victims.
1 days ago • 6m 30s
Ep 1996 – Inside Mark Carney's act of defiance
Entering an economic war isn't your typical Friday night activity.
But according to PM Mark Carney, it was necessary after the last 18 months of US President Trump.
Not only did Carney suspend all negotiations with the US, he also announced dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on US goods in response to the latest round of tariffs Trump placed on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.
Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Lori Turnbull, political science professor from Dalhousie University to break down the latest update in the Canada-US trade war, what kind of response from Trump Canadians should expect, and how Canadians are interpreting Carney's act of defiance.
1 days ago • 23m 50s
Ep 1993 – Weekend Listen: America's $40 Trillion Debt Problem
Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!"
The U.S. government has reached a staggering milestone: $40 trillion in debt. As deficits continue to grow and borrowing costs rise, bond investors are demanding higher yields, pushing long-term Treasury rates to their highest levels in decades.
Host Mike Eppel speaks to Tiago Figueiredo, Macro Strategist at Desjardins Financial to discuss what's driving the bond market turmoil, how Washington is responding, and whether America's debt burden could become a bigger threat to markets and the broader economy.
3 days ago • 15m 24s
Ep 1994 – Big Headlines: Canada's top trade negotiators continue to finalize deal to avoid new Trump deadline and the U.S. Vice President's "hot mic" moment
Plus: The Alberta government faces jeers and expletives at town halls over a planned Meta data centre, the Boston Marathon says it will count qualifying times on the Edmonton course which was accidentally made two-thirds of a kilometre longer than normal but won’t adjust them to the standard marathon length, a caver is rescued using new radio technology, and the case for more “third spaces”.
4 days ago • 9m 13s
Ep 1992 – The case for more third places
What's your go-to place to unwind?
It could be a local tavern, a neighbourhood coffee shop, even a park where the kids can runaround.
In the digitally-saturated era we're currently living in, those third places aren't being occupied as much, as binging a show on the couch or doom scrolling in the car afterwork seem like the more convenient, economical option. But physical, third places are more important for social connection than we think.
Host Catherine Jette speaks to Toronto Star columnist, Justin Ling to discuss the case for more third spaces and where Ottawa could look to for inspiration on incentives.
4 days ago • 23m 15s
Ep 1991 – Big Headlines: Carney asks premiers to put American alcohol back on shelves and B.C. businesses struggle to recover from wildfires
Plus: A Calgary police officer will be tried for murder after two suspects in a slow-speed chase were shot and killed, a survey finds almost a fifth of Quebec teachers consider quitting, WestJet is ordered to do away with a 300-pound weight limit on wheelchairs on most of its planes, and what makes Quebec and Newfoundland’s pending energy deal historic?
5 days ago • 7m 25s
Ep 1990 – What makes the new Churchill Falls deal so historic?
Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec announced a historic energy deal with help from Ottawa to replace a detested 1969 deal and a confusing 2024 MOU. The new agreement would see Quebec pay 1.8 cents per kilowatt-hour to Newfoundland and Labrador, with that price rising to 7.4 cents over the next 50 years.
The deal, however, remains un-signed, amid a looming Quebec election, as well as an absent stamp of approval from Indigenous communities in each province.
Host Maria Kestane speaks to François Bouffard, electrical engineering professor at McGill University to discuss what makes this new deal so important, and the history that precedes it.
5 days ago • 22m 19s
Ep 1989 – Big Headlines: Trump hits pause on new tariffs for Canada for three days and calls grow to remove the U.S. ambassador to Canada
Plus: A petition calls for the U.S. ambassador to Canada to be removed, Canadians seeking treatment for rare diseases face challenges, the summer wildfire season hits a historic milestone, a union in Vancouver takes action to delay a major infrastructure project, and OpenAI launches a chatbot designed specifically for teenagers.
6 days ago • 8m 50s
About the show
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
Playlists