The Big Five Podcast

Elias Makos is joined by 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 Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster.

• Montreal’s public health authority is raising serious concerns about the pilot project allowing six convenience stores and grocery stores to sell SAQ products until 11PM, warning this increases health risk...

Elias Makos welcomes back Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, and Catherine Hogan, high school teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson.

•  Former Amazon workers in Quebec rallied to demand unpaid severance and denounce poor working conditions
• Members of the Canadian Armed For...

Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies.

• Ottawa is pushing cabinet ministers to find deep savings ahead of the 2025 federal budget
• Quebec Premier François Legault will officially trigger a by-election today in the...

Elias Makos kicks the week off with Christina Chough, Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.

• The C.D. Howe Institute says the combination of Liberal election promises and new commitments to defence spending means the deficit would hit $77 billion a year
• Big Five panelist Rapha&eum...

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, former national spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies 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 on The Big 5.

• A majority of Canadians no longer feel welcome in the United States, accordi...

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, founder & chief equity officer, Women in Governance and Sue Smith, a Montreal journalist and broadcaster on The Big 5.

• A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warns that the Liberal government’s plan to save $13 billion annually by 2028–29 through “increased efficiency” would amount to a 24% cut in public service spending, mostly targeti...

Elias Makos is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government on The Big 5.

• Over the past 11 years, more than 17,500 foreigners with criminal records have been cleared to enter Canada.
• Five years after protestors brought dow...

Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and Caryma Sa’d, lawyer sole practice and Journalist independent / freelancer based in Toronto on a National Edition of the Big 5.

• Happy Canada Day! This year certainly seems like a special one. Many would say that Donald Trump’s talk of annexing Canada has sparked a defensive nationalism.
• Let’s talk trade, shall we? Of cour...

Elias Makos is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies on The Big 5.

• Is it a Carney Capitulation or a brilliant 3D-chess move the rest of us will figure out eventually?
• A Quebec judge has authorized a class-action lawsuit against Tim Hortons after the company mis...

Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies and Political analyst Karim Boulos on The Big 5.

• Two months after the federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney is enjoying strong support in Quebec, with nearly 60% approval and the Liberals leading at 44% in the polls.
• A new report from the Montreal Economic Institute...

Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance 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 on The Big 5.

• The front page of Journal de Montréal says it all - Nothing is going right for François Legault. 50% of Quebecers want him...

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 Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney is committing that Canada – along with other NATO allies – will invest five per cent of GDP on defence by ...

Dan Delmar, in for Elias Makos, is joined by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS and Gabriel Retta, a Montrealer active in politics and government service at all three levels for the last 20 years on The Big 5.

• Montreal is celebrating Fête Nationale today with a full day of festivities.
• U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire yesterday between Israel and Iran.
• The Fédération autonome de ...

Dan Delmar, in for Elias, is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor and Justine McIntyre, strategic consultant and former city councillor on The Big 5.

• Following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged all parties to return to negotiations and avoid further escalation in the Middle East.
• Despite an ongoing extreme heatwave, most schools in Montreal, Laval, and oth...

Sue Smith ends the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, 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.

• As war between Israel and Iran intensifies, European ministers are meeting today wit...

Sue Smith is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

• A three year old missing toddler  was found alive after three days alone near Highway 417 in Ontario, following a massive search
• The Liberal government’s Building Canada Act (B...

Sue Smith is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, snd Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government.

• Many observers praising Mark Carney’s handling of a tricky situation at the G7
• A Montreal commuter is seeking authorization for a c...

Sue Smith kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, 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.

• The Quebec Liberal Party has elected Pablo Rodriguez as its new leader
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for a one-on-one discussion early this morning at the start of the G7 Sum...