The Big Five Podcast

  Elias Makos is joined by 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 Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance. Quebec will ban brownies – not the ones you bake, but the ones you give to buy leadership votes. Tired of a large number of students entering their stores, hurling insults, creating havoc, and stealing things, groceries and corner stores are fighting back.  Quebec’s Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette says the government plans to insert the right to abortion in the CAQ’s proposed Quebec constitution — Bill 1.  The Canadian government is being pulled into a heated debate over whether Ontario-made armoured vehicles should be shipped to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Join Paul Gott, a punk rock icon and journalism professor, alongside Justine McIntyre, a savvy political consultant, as they dissect Marwah Rizqy’s abrupt expulsion from the Liberals. They delve into the chaos of Quebec's language debate sparked by Marc Miller's candid remarks. The duo questions whether political frustration is wise amid growing nationalist sentiments. They also explore new legislation on ticket resales, unpacking the implications for consumers and artists alike, while touching on local controversies like anti-Santa signage during festive parades.

Jonathan Kalles, Vice-President at McMillan Vantage and former advisor to Prime Minister Trudeau, joins Dan Delmar, co-founder of TNKR Media and media commentator. They discuss Mark Miller's controversial cabinet return and the implications for Quebec's political landscape. The grounding of the RCMP's Chinese drones raises critical concerns about national security and manufacturing dependencies. They also tackle the latest bad headlines for the Quebec Liberals and explore New York's pioneering law on personalized pricing, highlighting transparency and consumer rights.

Joining Elias on The Big 5 were Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante & political analyst Karim Boulos. Among the topics discussed were  'No referendum. No corruption' – that’s the promise of a new print and social media ad campaign that the Quebec Conservative Party will start running this week With the help of Artificial Intelligence, the SPVM is watching you in real time The Liberals have struck a deal with the Bloc Québécois that would strip out a long-standing religious exemption According to documents gathered by La Presse, Ottawa wants to end remote work once and for all for its government workers, by the year 2027

Elias makos ends the week off with Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Daniel Tran, Director of Communication and governmental relations at Casacom. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday. The agreement between Carney and Smith did come at a cost for the Prime Minister as Steven Guilbault resigned from his ministerial duties over the deal. Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette is defending the government’s Quebec Constitution bill.  Candidates for the NDP leadership “debated” in “French” last night.

Joining Elias on The Big 5 this morning were Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance & Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist. Among the topics discussed A Quebec judge has sparked controversy by allowing a man accused of criminal harassment in a domestic-violence case to remove his anti-proximity bracelet so he can spend the winter in Florida — despite allegations he’d already breached his release conditions Transit related violent crime across the country is on the rise in the past decade Prime Minister Mark Carney proclaimed over the weekend that Canada no longer has a foreign feminist policy Just in time for the holidays, Loto-Quebec has begun its first-ever collaboration with the wholesale giant, selling “$1,000 en folie” tickets

In this lively discussion, political analyst Raphaël Melançon and media commentator Meeker Guerrier dive into Quebec’s controversial decision to cut subsidies for religious schools and ban religious symbols for educators. They probe the political motivations behind these measures and assess their impact on minority communities. The duo also reacts to a shocking court ruling allowing a criminal to vacation in Florida, emphasizing the dangers of judicial leniency. Finally, they tackle McGill's cut of 25 varsity sports, highlighting the financial strains in academia.

Join reporter Akil Alleyne, known for his insights on legal and social issues, and strategic consultant Justine McIntyre, a former city councillor, as they tackle Quebec's new secularism bill. Akil critiques the bill as political pandering aimed at specific communities, while Justine defends its intent for neutral public services. They also dive into Mark Carney's recent comments on Trump and weigh Elon Musk's claim about the future of work, debating the implications of automation and the concept of universal basic income.

In this discussion, political operative Jimmy Zubris and punk rock musician Paul Gott dive deep into the chaotic landscape of Quebec politics. They explore Mark Carney's nonchalant stance towards trade talks with Trump, with Zubris warning it might tarnish Carney's image. Gott critiques a recent tweet from JD Vance targeting Canada's immigration policies, labeling it as politically motivated. They also analyze the fracturing within political parties in Quebec, reflecting on the potential fallout from internal conflicts and past scandals.

Political analyst Karim Boulos, known for his insights into city relations and bike lanes, joins Lionel Perez, former Montreal city councillor, to discuss pressing local issues. They ponder what Mayor Soraya Martinez-Ferrada should discuss with Premier François Legault. They also debate the controversy over allegedly paid-off voters in the Liberal leadership race, questioning its legality. Plus, they celebrate Sherbrooke Street West being ranked fifth on Time Out's coolest streets list, comparing it to other vibrant Montreal neighborhoods. Tune in for lively local politics!