Statistics Canada just wrapped a 30 year study where they examined how Canadians spent their time and with whom. It found that in 2022, only 19% of working-age people saw their friends on a regular basis, marking a drop from almost 48% in 1986. And considering the pandemic is long-gone, what's sustaining this change in the way Canadians interact with loved ones, and how they use their time? Host Pooja Handa speaks to Pete Bombaci, Founder of the GenWell Project, to make sense of both the numbers...
Jun 30, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1488
It's the mid-point of the year and it's the economic question everyone is asking - what's going to happen with interest rates? On this episode of In This Economy - you'll hear from an expert about whether our economy is weakening and what that means for you. Host Mike Eppel speaks with Royce Mendes, Managing Director of Macro Strategy at Desjardins. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @the...
Jun 29, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1485
Stop us if you're heard this one before - a Trump threat on social media about tariffs rattles Canada. Because of a digital tax that's supposed to come into effect on Monday, Trump says that any trade talks with our country are done. The statement was made on his Truth Social account Friday afternoon. This ends any optimism that was there after the G7 summit when we were hearing that a new trade deal could be forthcoming in 30 days. So what happens next? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Carle...
Jun 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1487
Tens of thousands of migrants choose between life or death in a quest to leave home in hopes of a better life, even if it means spending months working for cash just to pay a smuggler who will hopefully get a small boat filled past the brim to the other side of the journey. Aliou Candé made that very decision in 2019 - in hopes of a better future for his parents, two children and pregnant wife. A bullet to the neck at a secret, Libyan prison in 2021 killed that dream. He never saw the better lif...
Jun 27, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1486
A few months ago, COVID variant NB.1.8.1 wasn’t making headlines. However, after first being detected in China in January, reported cases have risen drastically. As of mid-May, the variant had reached 10.7% of global reported COVID-19 cases, according to the World Health Organization. The strain, given the nickname ‘razor blade throat’, after some who fell ill described a painfully sore throat as one of the symptoms – but how serious is this variant and are the current vaccines effective against...
Jun 26, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1484
From the EU to NATO, the Prime Minister is focused on two defence fronts this week. A new partnership with the European Union could overhaul our approach to military purchases at a time the Carney government is looking to end our reliance on the US. At the same time Canada and other NATO countries are facing pressure from the US to massively increase our defence spending by more than doubling our goal from 2% of GDP to 5%. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Canada’s former Chief of Defence Staf...
Jun 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1483
Canada is on track to see the worst wildfire season since 2023. Millions of hectares of land scorched, thousands displaced and the smoke creating air quality warnings. So how bad can it get? Should we be paying closer attention to the bigger picture? Host Melanie Ng speaks with Dr. Lisa Patel, a paediatrician at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health hospital in San Francisco and Executive Director for the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well ...
Jun 24, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1482
In a newly released study, Canada's Competition Bureau says there is a way to lower the cost of plane tickets and give Canadians more flight options. The Bureau suggests changing the rules around foreign ownership, which is currently capped in this country, leading to what it says is weak competition and therefore, an impediment to lower prices. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney talks about the new report with Brad Callaghan, Associate Deputy Commissioner at the Competition Bureau of Canada. We love feedb...
Jun 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1481
Housing affordability is a buzz word lately but how likely is it that it will actually become reality? Actual action on the issue has been really slow and housing starts aren't running at a pace that's it would need to be from a supply standpoint to make a meaningful difference. So what are the issues? What are the barriers to fixing this serious problem? Host Mike Eppel talks to Jordan Thomson, Director , Infrastructure Advisory at K-P-M-G Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as s...
Jun 22, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1480
It was one of Carney's shiny campaign promises with a deadline of Canada Day, but the way Parliament has hit the ground running on it has various groups across the country sounding the alarm. Bill C-5, 'An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act', is the Liberal government's latest effort to breakdown any barriers to interprovincial trade in light of Trump's tariffs. However, several Indigenous, environmentalist, and other underrepresented Canadi...
Jun 20, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1479
There is a new war in the Middle East. Israel and Iran have been trading missile strikes as Israel seeks to bring an end to Iran’s nuclear program. There are huge implications for regional and global security, as the world waits to see whether the U.S. will intervene. Host David Smith speaks with Professor Elliot Tepper, distinguished senior fellow at the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions f...
Jun 19, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1478
The opening date for a long suffering transit project in Toronto is a running joke across the GTA. The Eglinton L-R-T, a 25 stop above ground transit line, was set to open back in 2020. Since then, it's been continually pushed back because of a number of legal and construction issues. The cost ballooned from $5 billion dollars to $13 billion dollars, and dozens of businesses have shut down, blaming the impact from the years of construction. Although it's expected the L-R-T will start running Sep...
Jun 18, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1477
It was already an eventful day at the G7 before we learned last night that U.S. president Donald Trump was leaving early. The White House says he was returning home because of what's happening in the Middle East, as the conflict between Israel and Iran enters day 5. In terms of what was accomplished today, there's word of potential trade deal between Canada and the U.S. to be worked out in the next 30 days. How did Carney do at his first G7 as PM? And what else happened behind the scenes? Host M...
Jun 17, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1476
The Carney government has announced a plan to massively increase Canada’s defense budget. The plan will see Canada meet NATO’s 2% of GDP spending target by the end of the year. Why now? After decades of underspending, Canada’s allies are demanding we step up as the world looks to reduce reliance on the US for security. Host David Smith speaks with Canadian defense expert Richard Shimooka about what’s in the Carney defense plan, and how Canada fits into the wider global security picture. We love ...
Jun 16, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1474
On this weekend listen, we're re-visiting a story from March about a topic that just won't go away - how much social media is too much? Research out of the University of British Columbia shows there’s a way to manage your mental health while staying up to date on your favourite apps. Host Melanie Ng speaks with lead study author and psychology professor at UBC, Amori Mikami, about their findings. More info: pearl.psych.ubc.ca We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future e...
Jun 15, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1475
On Sunday, world leaders of some of the top democratic economies in the world will gather in Alberta for the G7 summit, to discuss everything from the war in Ukraine, to trade to wildfires. But what will be achieved at the meeting? Will U.S. president Donald Trump create drama like the last time he was on Canadian soil, and what should we make of the controversial decision to invite the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with John Kirton, a University of Toronto Pr...
Jun 14, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1471
It is one of the worst airline disasters in decades in India. On Thursday, an Air India passenger plane bound for London, England, crashed minutes after takeoff. 242 people were onboard, including one Canadian, a woman from the Toronto area. Officials confirming only one surviving passenger at this point. On the ground, dozens more casualties after the plane crashed into a residential area and burst into flames near the airport in Ahmedabad. Host Melanie Ng speaks with aviation expert John Grade...
Jun 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1473
Today's Big Story is about the economy and the potential impact to Canada from Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill". The bill could potentially have implications for Canadian investors and pension plans. Host Mike Eppel breaks down what it all means with guest Stephen Johnston, Director of Asset Management for Omnigence. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter...
Jun 12, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1472
The biggest break-up of 2025 is already in the books. After less than a year – the very public bromance between the U.S. president and the world’s richest man blew up in front of our eyes. And it all played out in real time on social media. Just this morning, Elon Musk admitted that some of his posts may have gone too far. Donald Trump and Elon Musk have both softened their tones since the implosion but many are wondering what happens next. Host Kris McCusker spoke to Dr. Antoine Panaïoti, Assoc...
Jun 11, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1470
There's an uproar in Ontario about a just passed law that the government claims will speed up critical infrastructure and resource projects. However, critics including Indigenous groups are calling it a "land grab". Bill 5 gives the government the ability to exempt companies from laws in order to build faster. Host Richard Southern talks to Sol Mamakwa, the only Indigenous member of the Ontario legislature, about the bill and what happens next. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as sugge...
Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1469
It's an age old question - how do you ensure your kids grow up to be successful? A new book by an award-winning New York Times journalist tries to answer it. Susan Dominus details six compelling stories in "The Family Dynamic" which uncovers how both parents and siblings help shape individual success. Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks to author Susan Dominus about her research and how her own family dynamic helped shape her. ============================================ You can read more about Susan ...
Jun 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1466
We are revisiting this episode of The Big Story from March, as we learned this week, an infant died this week in Southwestern Ontario, who was born premature and infected with measles. In a statement, Dr. Kieran Moore said the infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. However it's important added that while measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced “...
Jun 07, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1468
Interest rates weren't cut this week. Why? Well, it's complicated. The Bank of Canada didn't give borrowers a break when it set policy on Wednesday, as Tiff Macklem cited the need to wait for more data points. The word "uncertainty" is being thrown around, although ironically, the economy was actually stronger in the first quarter than forecast. Host Mike Eppel speaks to experts about the lack of a cut and what that means for the market, home buyers and home owners. Guests: Claire Fan, Senior Ec...
Jun 06, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1467
It's a mystery in Nova Scotia that's gained attention across the country. This week marked one month since the disappearance of 6 year old Lilly Sullivan and her 4 year other brother Jack. The kids were reported missing by their stepdad and mother on the morning of May 2nd. RCMP in Nova Scotia immediately launched a missing persons' investigation and in the days that followed, numerous searches of the area were carried out, but the children still haven't been found. The case is being watched by ...
Jun 05, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1465
Prime Minister Mark Carney held his first meeting with Premiers since the election and by most accounts it was a big success, with Ontario’s Doug Ford claiming it was the best in 10 years. The 14 leaders discussed the federal plan to fast track nation building projects and despite some rhetoric in advance of the gathering, even Alberta was encouraged about the path ahead. But will a new pipeline become a reality, can premiers expect federal funds to match their projects, was it a mistake to not ...
Jun 04, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1464
Ukraine has shocked the world by carrying out a daring attack on Russian bomber planes thousands of kilometres inside enemy territory. It’s a feat that would have been unimaginable before the war. Now, Ukraine has shown it has the capabilities to take its fight directly to its much more powerful foe. What will Vladimir Putin do now? And what does it mean for hopes of peace negotiations? Host David Smith speaks with security expert Marcus Kolga about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine ...
Jun 03, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1463
We’ve all seen it: the coach constantly yelling at their team, the parent trying to coach on the sidelines…and the kid in the middle of it all. Youth sports can bring out the best in people, but it can also be a breeding ground for toxic behaviour. Host Melanie Ng speaks with Playball Ambassador with the MLB and author of Coach Ballgame, James Lowe, about how focusing on the RIGHT approach to sports can make a world of difference. You can learn more about James' work on his Instagram: @coachball...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1461
A whirlwind trip for King Charles, in his first visit to Canada as a sitting monarch, is being viewed by some as a success. It was a show of support amid annexation talk by the U.S. president but it also served as a benefit to the King. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Carolyn Harris - Historian, Author and Royal Commentator - about how it compares with other royal visits - and why the timing is so relevant. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find ...
May 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1462
For years, we’ve been programmed to view hustle culture as the norm, and one’s ability to navigate it as the definition of success. Throw parenthood into the equation and you’ve got the recipe for a juggling act that is always being judged. So what happens when people, specifically mothers, take a purposeful pause from their traditional career path to focus on other priorities like family or personal growth? In this episode of The Big Story, host Melanie Ng speaks with the founder and CEO of Mot...
May 29, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1458
For just the third time in our country’s history, a sitting monarch delivered the speech from the throne. On a brief royal visit, King Charles addressed Canadians to lay out the priorities of the new Carney government. The theme was clear, asserting Canada’s independence and charting a path to end our reliance on the U.S. But did it hit the mark? Will the Prime Minister hit roadblocks with his ambitious plan? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal...
May 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1459
