The Big Story

Explore Alberta's renewable energy success story and the government's surprising pause on new approvals. Delve into the reasons for this decision, including concerns about land use and the impact on natural gas producers. Discover the potential outcomes and uncertainty faced by the industry, as well as the implications for Alberta's relationship with the federal government.

A recent report found that 6.6 million cars are being driven in Canada that have been recalled by a manufacturer for one reason or another. Some issues are minor, some could be deadly, and in many cases, the owners simply don't know the issue exists.How does this happen? Well, the world of automotive recalls is changing fast, technology is taking leaps that make some vehicles less reliable and the recall system itself is ... a little convoluted. Today, a look inside the world of getting your car fixed, for free. Or not.GUEST: Lorraine Sommerfeld, columnist at driving.ca  We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

(UPDATE: Late Wednesday night, the government of the Northwest Territories announced a phased evacuation order for Yellowknife as the fires closed in.)There are hundreds of fires burning in the Northwest Territories right now. Some are threatening Yellowknife, leaving parts of the city under evacuation watch. Others have already forced evacuations by plane in remote communities without road access. The challenge is immense. The area is vast, much of it is on fire, and communication can be unstable.How bad is this season compared to seasons past? How much has already been destroyed and how tense is the situation? Is any relief in sight? And why can't the local radio station that's been a lifeline during this emergency post to Facebook, where much of its audience is desperate for up-to-date information?GUEST: Emily Blake, reporter and assistant editor, Cabin Radio (Find Cabin Radio’s up to date reporting here: https://cabinradio.ca/category/news/) We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Explore Canada's struggles in building transit infrastructure as the podcast delves into setbacks faced by major projects like the Ottawa LRT, Edmonton's valley line, and Toronto's subway extensions. The podcast questions the decision-making process, lack of expertise, and issues with construction firms, highlighting the need for better planning, collaboration, and adoption of successful models from other cities. It suggests the establishment of a national organization and improved consultation to overcome challenges in eastern Canada's transit projects.

Right now, thousands of grocery store workers are striking because, they say, they can't afford to buy food at the chain they work for. Food bank use has skyrocketed. Shopifting has increased so rapidly that stores are using it as a reason to try to check customers' bags and receipts. Food inflation still hovers near double digits, even as general inflation has cooled. And the heads of Canada's huge grocery chains have testified that billions in profits don't come from hikes to food prices.Amid all this, the federal government has given some Canadians a one-time grocery rebate and ... so far, that's it, across all levels of government. But food inflation is here to stay and if politicians wanted to help, there are plenty of other options they could consider. So why wouldn't they? What's the hold up? GUEST: Corey Mintz, food reporter, author of The Next Supper: The End of Restaurants as We Knew Them, and What Comes After We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Discover the devastating effects of short-term rentals in Montreal, including dropping vacancy rates and rising rents. Learn about the dangerous violations of fire safety regulations in a ghost hotel and the legal gray areas of short-term rentals. Explore the conflicting interests of the government in regulating the rental market and the impact of short-term rentals on Montreal's housing market, including unlivable conditions and loss of long-term rental units. Support investigative journalism and express gratitude to podcast contributors.

The podcast explores Ontario's greenbelt scandal as the government breaks its promise to protect the land, allowing developers to profit. The selection of specific parcels and ownership by developers tied to the progressive conservatives is investigated. The auditor general examines the financial and environmental impact, exposing covert actions favoring developers. The government accepts recommendations in response to the report, aiming to better enforce guidelines and investigate the chief of staff's actions.

The polls are not looking good for Justin Trudeau and company. The Liberals' recent cabinet shuffle failed to halt their downward slide. And even their territorial advantage in Ontario seems to be waning. But there's still likely another year-plus to go before the next election, so plenty of time...right? Well, maybe.Canadian history tells us that governments winning a fourth straight election is rare, and that voters definitely tire of prime ministers after multiple campaigns—so what might the Liberals do to change the narrative? And will it matter if Canadians are just angry? At Trudeau, inflation, the climate and whatever else happens to be blamed on the government.GUEST: David Moscrop, writer, author, podcaster, and political commentator, find him at: davidmoscrop.substack.com We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A new report looks at the circumstances that led to the convoy's arrival in Ottawa (and other places across Canada) in early 2022, and finds that it stems from a series of events that began in 2015. It took years before efforts at forming a convoy and rolling to Ottawa actually came together—and there were several failed tries along the way.So what changed during the pandemic? How were far right Canadians able to band together long enough to organize the event, and why were so many more relatively moderate citizens drawn to their cause? Was this an example of lightning in a bottle, or the new face of extremism in Canada?GUEST: Stephanie Carvin, national security expert, author of Polarization and Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism in Canada since 2015 We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Revised guidelines for COVID vaccination in Canada, potential risks of a fall surge in COVID-19 cases, updated guidelines on COVID-19 booster vaccines, updating mRNA vaccines and the potential for yearly COVID shots, conspiracy theories, vaccine hesitancy, and the role of social media.