The Big Story

The Big Story

An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.

Episodes

October 16, 2025 20 mins

Canada's automotive sector continues to trot along the bumpy road, after auto giant Stellantis announced its plans to relocate Jeep production from the Brampton Assembly Plant to a location in Illinois.

The Brampton plant has closed its doors in 2024 in preparation for the production of the new EV model, but that's also been paused after US President Trump's tariff announcement on the automotive sector earlier this year.

The residual...

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It’s been a year of change for the world's largest and most popular coffee house, including the shuttering of hundreds of its North American retail stores. But is that a sign of trouble?

Or is it an attempt by the new CEO, appointed last year, to turn inwards to its existing locations to revamp the stores they have already?

Host Kris McCusker speaks to Mike Halen, the senior restaurant and foodservice analyst for Bloomberg Intelligen...

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How much of your moral autonomy are you willing to sacrifice for convenience?

Turning to an AI chatbot for help has become the new 'just search it up on the internet', but the robot's code is far more sophisticated and addicting than the results of a Google search. Answers become detailed, personalized and emotionally impactful, so much so that the load of our own mental rationale becomes lessened once we start the AI conversation.

...

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Hollywood is abuzz over the latest talent to hit the scene: Tilly Norwood. However, the talk isn’t centred around Tilly’s looks or acting skills, but rather who Tilly is and how it could affect the future of television and film.

Tilly Norwood is a fully AI-generated actress, created by Eline Van der Velden, who is a comedian, actor, writer and CEO of AI production company Particle6. Eline says “I see AI not as a replacement for peop...

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As Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and David Ortiz proclaimed “DAAAA YANKEES LOSE!”, Toronto Blue Jays fans celebrated as Canada’s team was crowned American League Division champs, beating out their New York rivals on Wednesday in Game 4.

The massive series win now paves the way for the American League Championship Series, Seattle Mariners, in a best-of-seven series. This episode was recorded on Friday, before the Seattle Mariners vs Detroit ...

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Enjoy this special feed drop of The Making of Musk: Understood, from our friends at CBC Podcasts.

Where did Elon Musk’s epic ambitions begin? In search of clues we return to his sheltered youth in apartheid South Africa, a world engineered for white supremacy. Along the way, we connect the dots between a bizarre White House ambush of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to teenage Elon’s ego-powered quests in video games. Finall...

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Israel and Hamas edged closer this week to ending their devastating two-year war after agreeing on the initial terms of President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan.

An exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners is expected this weekend, paving the way to an imminent ceasefire.

But the initial agreement leaves crucial sticking points to be resolved in a future phase of negotiations – including whether Hamas will agree to ...

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It was another cheeky Oval Office media exchange between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump, and yet another trip to Washington with no tariff deal in the books.

Although the two world leaders praised the success of their second meeting, skepticism among Carney's voters - and the country at large - grows as months go by with no substantive movement on bi-lateral negotiations.

Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks to form...

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It’s been more than four months since Elon Musk stepped back from the Trump White House and his duties helming the Department of Government Efficiency.

But Musk’s chainsaw to federal spending is being acutely felt, amid a U.S. government shutdown that’s giving the Trump administration sway to once again slash critical jobs.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Jacob Silverman, author and host of the CBC podcast ‘The Making of Musk: Understood...

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Instead of walking into their classrooms on Monday, some 51,000 Alberta teachers walked off the job, triggering the province's first teacher's strike in its history.

It comes after more than a year of failed contract talks between the Alberta Teacher's Association (ATA) and the provincial government - including two rejected offers - with higher wages and increased staffing among the main sticking points.

But class (sort of) remains ...

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Prime Minister Mark Carney, once known as the Governor of the Bank of Canada, is set to table his first federal budget next month.
With a few weeks left until the November 4th reveal, Ottawa is now putting the final touches on who gets what for the upcoming fiscal year.

But with a projected deficit of $68B, Carney and his business-focused background will be looking for ways to spend smart, leaving some sectors inevitably vulnerable t...

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Democrats and Republicans are clashing south of the border, and it’s led to a government shutdown.

The two parties are locked in a dispute over health care funding, but the standoff has also led to federal services being suspended, workers not getting paid, funding for “blue” states being cut, and a flurry of memes and AI videos that have been described as racist.

Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with NBC News Senior Washington Editor ...

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From balancing busy schedules to shifting interests, managing friendships as an adult can sometimes feel like a task. Throw in the pandemic’s impact on social interactions and managing conversations around divisive politics…and you have a recipe for strained relationships (perhaps even before they start).

Host Melanie Ng speaks with clinical psychologist Dr. Loren Soeiro about how to take inventory of your friendships in order to ma...

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The European Union recently banned the sale and use of Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide - also known as TPO - for its alleged reproductive toxicant qualities. Most gel nail polishes contain TPO, as it's the key ingredient to ensure a shiny finish after hardening following exposure to UV light.

However, Canada has yet to take any similar action, considering its risk-based model for product regulation. But if the writing is on...

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Today, Canadians from coast to coast will confront the dark legacy of residential schools and honour the children who never came home. But on this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, there are demands for more than just reflection.

Indigenous communities are at a critical point in relations with Prime Minister Mark Carney over new legislation that fast-tracks big energy and infrastructure projects, calling into focus Indigeno...

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It's a feeling you only want to feel once - the panic of suspecting an abrupt light flash as you're driving, only to receive a ticket in the mail a few weeks later with a picture of your car next to an owed-amount for speeding.

Well, it's a feeling Ontarians soon won't be feeling ever again.

Premier Ford plans to put pen to paper on his dislike for speed enforcement cameras, announcing last week his government's incoming legislation...

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A recent report from the University of Ottawa shows 22 out of the 34 municipalities in Ontario were given failing grades in regards to taxes and red tape restrictions surrounding development acceleration.

And unfortunately, Toronto seems to be wearing that 'F' right on its sleeve, reporting under 120 new condo sales in the month of August - a number that hasn't been that low in decades.

And with the federal government making legislat...

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September 26, 2025 22 mins

This week, from a White House lectern and televised to the world, President Donald Trump gave an explicit warning to America’s pregnant women: Tylenol use during pregnancy could lead to autism.

The claim is contradicted by decades of scientific research that has not conclusively demonstrated a causal link.

It’s alarmed health experts who say Trump’s comments also amplify an entrenched prejudice around women’s pain, with real-life con...

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Prime Minister Mark Carney joined several key allies this week at the United Nations General Assembly in adding their names to the list of countries recognizing Palestinian statehood. The move is an attempt to increase pressure toward a two state solution amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

Will recognition help lead to a two state solution, will it embolden Hamas, and can Canada do more to hasten a ceasefire?

Host Cormac Mac Swe...

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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has returned to television screens, but concerns linger over whether free speech in America is under threat.

Kimmel’s short-lived suspension, which followed a thinly-veiled threat from a top Trump official, was viewed by many as the latest example of government censorship.

Even before Kimmel went dark, a government crackdown aimed at silencing the president’s critics was already underway, igniting a fire...

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