The Big Story

Plus: today on The Big Story - host Caryn Ceolin speaks with political science professor Robert Speel about the U.S. election's impact on Canadians, new reports from the Salvation Army and Daily Bread Food Bank show grim numbers around food insecurity, Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with Commonwealth leaders in Antigua, Montreal's police force has cut seven officers for racist and discriminatory conduct, and charges placed have an assault at a mall restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario.

It's a day the U.S. Democrats have been waiting for, and one that's been keeping Republicans up at night. Americans will head to the polls to vote in the 2026 midterm election to determine who will makeup the U.S. Congress. Preliminary polls show the Democrats are positioned to successfully flip the House of Representatives, while the race for the Senate remains more contested. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Robert Speel, a political science and public administration professor at Penn State Behrend College and Toronto Metropolitan University. The two discuss key races to watch out for, what Canadians should be taking note of as results roll in and how the Canada-US trade war may be playing a bigger role than U.S. President Trump wants to believe.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Federal Government to restore its promise to make life affordable for Canadians. One Canadian was killed in the high-speed train crash in Spain last week. In Michigan, supporters of Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed pushed for their party in a tight race for a U.S. senate seat in tomorrow's midterm elections. US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra believes Canadians are interfering in the U.S. midterm election.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for the Indian Act to be abolished, which was met with echoes from Prime Minister Mark Carney who agreed that it should be scrapped. The act was passed in 1876 with aims of assimilating Indigenous populations into Eurocentric ways of living through legislation that governs where they live, where their kids go to school, and who they are. Host Maria Kestane speaks to John Borrows, the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto's faculty of law. They discuss the different approaches that could help repeal and replace the act, and why other Indigenous leaders believe Ottawa should keep it right where it is. John Borrows is a leading voice in Indigenous governance across Canada. Read his latest book here: The Seven Cycles of Life by John Borrows | Penguin Random House Canada

Few things are spookier than an interest rate hike. Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" The Bank of Canada opted to hike interest rates for the first time in three years in an effort to help runaway inflation because of high energy prices. There are concerns this could push potential homebuyers to the sidelines and further hurt those looking to renew mortgages, as Canadians grapple with a rising cost-of-living. Throw in geopolitical tensions thanks to the Trump Administration, and we could see a pattern of interest rates in the near future. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Clay Jarvis is a mortgage expert at Ratehub.ca to discuss what changes to make to your monthly budgets, and how homeowners and potential homeowner should approach the next few months.

Plus: Canada is still reviewing its F-35 purchase even after receiving its first two fighter jets. Federal ministers won't say much about environment and climate change Canada abandoning its work to end thermal coal exports. Businesses are embracing the move to scrap the twice-yearly clock change ritual in some parts of the country. William Shatner, Hugh Jackman, and many more stars are paying tribute to Patrick Stewart with memories of the actor following the news of his death.

Now that Question 10 has been put to rest, what about the other 9?  Albertans were asked a range of questions regarding the future of the economy, immigration system, and Canada's constitution. Official results released on Thursday found that voters want changes to what programs and services non-citizens can access, while striking down any changes to the constitution including abolishing the Senate. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Jared Wesley, political science professor at the University of Alberta to discuss where this leaves Danielle Smith's leverage against Ottawa, how the urban-rural divide showed up in the results, and how the provincial NDP could pull up a seat at the table.

Plus: Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is not yet in a position to reach a trade deal with the U.S., even with the congressional midterms just days away. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says Ottawa is consulting its lawyers about remarks by the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, who suggested he bought Stelco to protect his company's U.S. operations from Canadian competition. The federal spending watch-dog plans to issue nine report cards today. The company that owns MV Odyssey says they've run out of money because of high fuel costs.

Israelis showed up in historic numbers to have their voice heard in Tuesday's National election. It's been more than a day since polls closed, and although official results remain unclear, neither Benjamin Netanyahu or his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, aren't projected to form a majority government. Host Caryn Ceolin welcomes back Aurel Braun, an international relations professor at the University of Toronto to discuss what kind of coalition calculus could be on the horizon, the impact of the Arab vote, and the obstacles in the way of a possible unity government.

Plus: Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says First Nations have offered mixed reactions to Ottawa's plan to review the Indian Act, a Ukraine-based animal rescue group says a Canadian volunteer has been killed in a drone attack, in Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe's government, in its throne speech, is promising to continue to cut personal income taxes, and five finalists vying to represent Canada at the 2027 Eurovision song contest are making their pitches.