The Big Five Podcast

Caroline Codsi, founder and chief equity officer of Women in Governance, shares her insights on the heated atmosphere of the current election campaign. She discusses the rise in asylum seekers at the St. Bernard de Lacolle border and its implications for Canada. The conversation also delves into how negative politics are shaping voter sentiment, particularly surrounding figures like Mark Carney. On a lighter note, they explore the entertaining prospects of a Canadian version of 'Jersey Shore,' complete with unique twists and locations.

Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 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 Among the topics discussed Canada’s Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force says the Chinese government is behind a campaign in the last month that saw posts about Mark Carney  A false rumor about a 90-day pause in tariffs sent US stock markets surging yesterday Liberal leader Mark Carney is proposing a significant funding boost for CBC/Radio-Canada China has vowed to “fight to the end” and retaliate after Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff hike on Chinese imports The trial of Pierre Ny St-Amand, the bus driver accused of killing two children and injuring six others when he drove into a Laval daycare in 2023, was back in Superior Court yesterday.

Elias Makos starts the week off with Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor. The stock market is poised for yet another day in the red but Treasury secretary Scott Bessent says that most Americans aren’t concerned about the markets. We saw a plethora of candidates get the boot last week - but as of 2pm today, the consequences will be far more severe. That’s the deadline for naming candidates or making changes. With that in mind, we’re seeing some last minute surprises.  Liberal leader Mark Carney is proposing a significant funding boost for CBC/Radio-Canada The Port of Montreal has ended its use of a private suite at the Bell Centre after internal records revealed it was often used for personal gatherings rather than business development The trial of Pierre Ny St-Amand, the bus driver accused of killing two children and injuring six others when he drove into a Laval daycare in 2023, is back in Superior Court today

Elias Makos caps off the week with Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Political analyst Karim Boulos. While you were sleeping, China has responded to the U.S.’ tariffs, imposing their own 34% reciprocal tariff on U.S. goods Last night Radio-Canada aired Cinq chefs, une élection, where each of the main party leaders were interviewed. Mark Carney showed off a level of French that received a better than passing grade from most, but whiffed on a couple of softballs on Quebec and groceries Indian police have arrested a 24-year-old American tourist who illegally landed on the highly restricted North Sentinel Island in an attempt to meet the isolated Sentinelese tribe

Joining the conversation are Paul Gott, lead singer of Montreal's punk band The Ripcordz and journalism professor, and Caroline Codsi, Founder and Chief Equity Officer at Women in Governance. They discuss the implications of U.S. tariffs on Canada, emphasizing its effects on trade and local businesses. The dialogue shifts to a controversial political clip raising family planning issues, exploring societal expectations around biological clocks and how political rhetoric often fails to address the real needs of young families. Together, they advocate for better support and empathetic leadership.

Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, 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. We begin with President Donald Trump - who has declared today, April 2 - “Liberation Day” for the US, as new reciprocal tariffs target all trade partners with whom the US runs a deficit, including Canada A new Leger poll shows Mark Carney out on top as he continues to dominate voting intentions The National Post reports that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to Quebec Premier François Legault to form a ‘form a common front for greater provincial autonomy within Canada.’ The Conservative Party dropped three candidates in a single day yesterday, including Stefan Marquis, who was running in  Montreal’s Laurier Sainte-Marie riding Several entities of global investment giant Brookfield Asset Management’s core business are registered to an address in Bermuda that also houses a local bike shop, CTV News has learned

Elias Makos is joined by Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Justine McIntyre, strategic consultant and former city councillor, Paul Chiang has stepped down. The Liberal candidate encouraged people to bring a Conservative candidate to the Chinese consulate in Toronto to collect a $184,000 bounty placed on his head by Hong Kong police. Another Quebec gaffe for Mark Carney. He announced his plan for the government to build homes yesterday, but the french translation – Bâtir Maisons Canada – immediately became the butt of jokes, It’s April 1st, so Canada's carbon tax is done. Gas prices dropped by 20 cents a litre in Ottawa overnight!

Christina Chough, Chair of the modern languages department at Dawson College, and Jimmy Zoubris, a special advisor to the Mayor of Montreal, dive into political tumult. They dissect a shocking incident where a liberal candidate suggested kidnapping rivals, raising serious ethical questions. The duo also talks about the internal strife within Pierre Poilievre's campaign, highlighting challenges in leadership and public communication. They stress the importance of community trust and the impact of Quebec's contentious Bill 96 on diverse language rights.

Karim Boulos, a savvy political analyst, and Raphaël Melançon, founder of Trafalgar Strategies, delve into Canada's shifting relationship with the U.S., sparked by Mark Carney's stark warnings about waning economic ties. They dissect the ramifications of new visa policies for students amid the rising tensions and how it impacts academic freedom. The discussion takes a lighter turn with Quebec’s new bill welcoming dogs on restaurant terraces, exploring the intricacies of inclusivity and safety in public spaces.

Dan Delmar, co-founder of TNKR Media and co-host of Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, joins Andrew Caddell, a town councillor and president of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy. They dive into Donald Trump's latest auto tariffs and their potential effects on Canada's federal election campaign. The duo discusses how these tariffs might inadvertently rally liberal support while examining the broader implications of U.S. political dynamics on Canadian policy. Additionally, they analyze campaign strategies, highlighting the evolving tactics of Canadian political parties.