Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" Following a negative performance for economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, the Canadian economy fell into what's been described as a "technical recession". While the headline was pounced on for political debate, with such a small decline (just a 0.1% contraction) and some parts of the economy still doing quite well, economists are downplaying the significance of all this recession talk. Nevertheless, under the weight of ...
Jun 06, 2026•23 min•Ep. 1877
Plus: can Albertans actually be dual citizens if the province separates from Canada, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested a face-to-face with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Ontario government is going after illegal ticket resellers again, and could B.C. see its first Conservative premier in a century? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Blue...
Jun 05, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1879
The British Columbia Conservative Party hasn't won an election since, and hasn't won a seat in 50. As recently as the 2020 provincial election, the party earned just 36,000 votes. But in 2024, the party surged in popularity, nearly toppling the long-thought invincible BC NDP. Then came interparty turmoil, which led to the ousting of their leader, John Rustad, and a leadership election that went on for months. In the end, it was narrow, and the BC Conservatives elected Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Today ...
Jun 05, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1878
Plus: Carney's responding to the latest tariff threats from the U.S., Toronto Police have arrested four more in connection with suspected hate-motivated assaults, a Vancouver ski resort could be setting a Guinness World Record, and what's killing the oysters in P.E.I.? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Jun 04, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1876
A pair of parasitic diseases are wreaking havoc on Prince Edward Island's oyster industry, forcing farms across the province to throw out close to all of their supply. MSX and Dermo are to blame. They're fatal to the mollusk but not harmful to humans. Host Maria Kestane speaks to James Power, general manager of Raspberry Point Oysters in PEI to discuss what farmers are left to do with ambiguous government assistance programs, and what comes next for one of the province's most lucrative industrie...
Jun 04, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1873
Plus: a pill that could double survival time for patients with pancreatic cancer could soon be coming to Canada, Zellers is continuing to accelerate its comeback in Canada, the latest on CBS's firing of veteran news correspondent Scott Pelley, and how can provincial Liberals make a comeback? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Jun 03, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1874
While the Federal Liberals remain historically popular under Prime Minister Mark Carney, that isn't the case for their provincial counterparts. By the end of 2016, more than half of Canada's provinces and territories had Liberal governments. Today, that's down to one, as Liberal premiers fell one by one to largely conservative-- but some NDP-- replacements. Liberal parties faced especially historic collapses in BC, Ontario, and Quebec. But despite that, recent polls have shown the provincial lib...
Jun 03, 2026•21 min•Ep. 1870
Plus: the federal NDP want to do-away with floor crossings, police are warning of counterfeit merch ahead of the World Cup, Sabrina Carpenter has been granted a restraining order against an alleged stalker, and how data centres are having a moment in Canada right now. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Jun 02, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1872
If you've noticed that data centres are having a moment in Canada right now, you wouldn't be the only one. As Ottawa looks to maintain a sovereign digital footprint amid the current AI rush, building its own data centres has the potential to do so. But the question is who actually funds these centres, and what are they doing to the environments around them? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Shion Guha, assistant professor at the Faculty of Information and Department of Computer Science to discuss why...
Jun 02, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1871
Plus: Latest contract offer from Canada Post to postal workers, Canada's projected economic lift from FIFA World Cup 2026, health groups calling for Federal Government to cut nicotine use by 2045, and the results from The Canadian Screen Awards. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Jun 01, 2026•5 min•Ep. 1869
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, a war across the Middle East, job uncertainty thanks to AI - do you still have emotional bandwidth to worry about the environment? It seems like Ottawa doesn't. Since PM Carney took office, he's made strides towards strengthening our economy by bridging resource gaps with our very own products and assets, while simultaneously disregarding efforts made the previous Liberal Government to help meet our 2050 net zero emissions target. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Carolin...
Jun 01, 2026•23 min•Ep. 1868
Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" A recent survey shows many Canadians are scaling back their spending on vacations this summer as life continues to get more expensive. And while it’s not surprising, experts say it presents a really unique opportunity to re-examine your finances overall to prioritize things like trips. This week on "In This Economy?!" Co-Host Kris McCusker speaks to Sumaiya Bhula, Senior Manager, Saving, and Investing Journey at TD Bank for tips...
May 30, 2026•21 min•Ep. 1866
Plus: The health minister defends Ebola travel restrictions, a man accused of selling deadly substances online to people at risk of self-harm pleads guilty, a rocket explosion, and Danielle Smith's referendum gamble. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 29, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1867
As separatist sentiment swirls across Alberta, the country has been holding it's breath and wondering: "will we face another separation referendum?" It seemed inevitable, as Premier Danielle Smith changed the rules to make putting a referendum forward easier. But a court decision rejected their petition on the grounds that Indigenous peoples who would be affected were not properly consulted. Smith has since announced a compromise, of sorts: a referendum on whether or not to have a separation ref...
May 29, 2026•27 min•Ep. 1865
Plus: China's foreign minister arrives in Canada, a new report from the United Nations Weather Agency, Ebola latest, and the Pope calls for AI regulation. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 28, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1864
In his first ever Encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas"-- or Magnificent Humanity-- Pope Leo XIV says AI needs to be "disarmed". It's a sweeping document, introduced to the world by Pope Leo himself, a first for a papal encyclical, calling for the leaders to make sure the new technology is developed for the common good. To ensure that, he explicitly calls for more government regulation in the industry. Host Maria Kestane speaks with Dr. Gerard Ryan from the Regis St. Michael Faculty of Theolo...
May 28, 2026•24 min•Ep. 1863
Plus: the federal government is entering contract talks with 'Saab' for Royal Air Force aircraft, the Western premiers have wrapped their meeting in Alberta, temperature records are being broken across Europe as a heat wave continues, and where does Canada's relationship with Israel lie? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 27, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1862
Earlier this week, 12 Canadians returned home from Turkey after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted by Israeli guards. Video posted by Israel's National Defence Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, showed hundreds of activists handcuffed, kneeled with their heads touching the ground, as he taunted them after being arrested. The footage sparked wide-spread backlash and condemnation, including from Israel's Prime Minister, as well as Prime Minister Mark Carney. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Jon Allen, ...
May 27, 2026•23 min•Ep. 1861
Plus: Day two of the annual western premiers conference, efforts to combat Canadian wildfires, and a South Korean navy submarine is docked in B.C. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 26, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1860
We've heard about the attacks. We've felt the oil price increases. And every time a ceasefire gets mentioned, it makes headline news. Something less visible but just as dire are the lives of seafarers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, who are not only facing supply shortages but also the reality that an end date is nowhere in sight. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with Mohamed Arrachedi, Arab World & Iran Network Coordinator at the International Transport Workers' Federation, about the situation they'...
May 26, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1857
Plus: Western Canadian Premiers meet in Alberta, Ontario patient tests negative for Ebola, Gaza activists return to Canada, White House shooting. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 25, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1859
An Ebola outbreak spreading rapidly through the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa poses a "very high" risk to the country, according to World Health Organization officials-- with both cases and deaths in the hundreds. As officials try to contain the disease, their job has been made harder by deep cuts to international aid across the globe-- and especially from the United States. Host Maria Kestane is speaking with Sana Bég, Executive Director of Doctor's Without Borders Canada, ...
May 25, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1856
Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" You've likely heard a lot about crypto currencies. Now, there's something called "stablecoin". Think of it as the next wave of digital payment systems. But, how does it work? Who controls it? And is it something that consumers need to pay attention to for everyday banking? In today's episode of "In This Economy?!", co-host Mike Eppel is joined by Laure Fouin, an Associate General Counsel at Coinbase Canada for a tutorial on the ...
May 23, 2026•17 min•Ep. 1854
Plus: NATO ministers meet in Sweden, Ebola outbreak update, 12 Canadian activists have arrived in Turkey after being deported from Israel, Stephen Colbert's farewell, and is Eurovision a good fit for Canada. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 22, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1855
Eurovision's director, Martin Green, has opened the doors for Canada to enter the Olympics of pop music. Historically, contestants of the music contest must be full members of the European Broadcast Union - Canada currently sits as an associate member. But so does Australia, yet they've been in on the action for more than 10 years. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Karen Fricker, professor of dramatic arts at Brock University to discuss the geopolitical implications of Canada joining, what Canadian ar...
May 22, 2026•22 min•Ep. 1853
Plus: Prime Minister Mark Carney condemns Israel's treatment of activists over an intercepted aid flotilla, generic versions of Ozempic are set to hit pharmacy shelves this week, Canada's first-ever PWHL championship goes to Montreal, and what's next for Tumbler Ridge? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 21, 2026•7 min•Ep. 1852
It's been a little over three months since the small eastern British Columbian town of Tumbler Ridge was rocked after a shooter opened fire at the local secondary school. Eight people were killed and dozens were injured. In the weeks that followed, a number of lawsuits and investigations have ensued, as well as plans to demolish and rebuild the school where the shooting took place. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Trent Ernst, a publisher at Tumbler RidgeLines Newspaper, to discuss how the community'...
May 21, 2026•26 min•Ep. 1851
Plus: WHO officials speak on the Ebola outbreak, takeaways from U.S. primaries, Carney is in B.C., Quebec's Premier returns from France, and who controls your water? Ontario's privatization push. 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 @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
May 20, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1850
The Ontario government is eyeing a shift in its water management operations. It's a move Premier Ford insists is nothing like what the Harris government did back in 2000, when seven people died and thousands fell ill after E. Coli was found in Walkerton's water drinking supply. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Meera Karunananthan, assistant professor at Carleton University to discuss Ontario's Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, the implications of allowing water operations to be overseen b...
May 20, 2026•25 min•Ep. 1849
Plus: The World Health Organization is warning about an Ebola outbreak in two African countries, the U.S. has called off military action against Iran, Three Canadian police officers have been arrested in Barcelona, allergy season in Canada is expected to be worse than previous years, and is Canada ready for another wildfire season? 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 @thebigstory.bsky.soci...
May 19, 2026•6 min•Ep. 1848
