We're going to have a new Prime Minister this week, with no shortage of issues for Mark Carney to face. After Carney won a decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership race on the weekend, it's expected he will be calling a federal election shortly. What will be the keys to success for the renewed Liberal Party as it faces off against Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives? Host David Smith speaks with liberal strategist Nick McRoberts from Hill & Knowlton about the path ahead in this new er...
Mar 12, 2025•25 min•Ep 1389•Transcript available on Metacast It was 5 years ago today the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic because of the novel coronavirus. It marked the start of a very different way of life, disrupting almost every part of our society, including our concept of time. What have we learned from that fateful day 5 years ago, and what has been the impact on society and on public health? Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks with Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch, @BogochIsaac, about his recollections and thoughts on ...
Mar 11, 2025•25 min•Ep 1388•Transcript available on Metacast After nine years in power, Justin Trudeau’s time as Prime Minister is over. Mark Carney was voted Liberal leader Sunday, in what was a landslide victory. As one of Canada’s longest serving Prime Ministers, Trudeau’s time in office was marked by major global events, policy changes, and a fair share of political scandals. How will Canadians remember Justin Trudeau? Host David Smith speaks with Jon Roe, Research Associate with the Angus Reid Institute, about the latest public opinion research on Tr...
Mar 10, 2025•18 min•Ep 1386•Transcript available on Metacast It's been another week of uncertainty for the financial markets. With back and forth announcements on tariffs happening this week, it's been next to impossible to gauge what will happen next. Host Mike Eppel is trying to make sense of it with Avery Shenfeld, Chief Economist at C-I-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 @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter...
Mar 09, 2025•15 min•Ep 1385•Transcript available on Metacast Check in with today’s amazing guest Dr Andrea Love: Instagram: @dr.andrealove X: @dr_andrealove Website: www.immunologic.org References: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996570855/disinformation-dozen-test-facebooks-twitters-ability-to-curb-vaccine-hoaxes https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/11/15/rfk-jr-views-conspiracies-false-claims/ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2275444 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa021134 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/03/health/rfk-jr-flu...
Mar 08, 2025•53 min•Ep 1383•Transcript available on Metacast After more than 9 years leading the country, Justin Trudeau’s time in office is down to days. On Sunday the party will count the votes and announce a new Liberal leader, who will become the next Prime Minister when they are sworn in. Which of the four candidates will win, could there be a surprise finish, how will the transition of power work, and will this spark a snap federal election? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Greg MacEachern, a principal at KAN Strategies to find out. We love feedb...
Mar 07, 2025•19 min•Ep 1384•Transcript available on Metacast The word of the week: tariffs. In what's been a confusing back and forth whether or not the tariffs against Canadian goods were on, we learned there was a last minute reprieve on tariffs in the auto sector. The issue has been in the news headlines for months, and now that it's here, what is the fallout? An expert says this situation is definitely unusual – and it’s not over yet. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Joy Nott is Partner, National Tax, Trade and Customs at KPMG Canada. We love feedback at ...
Mar 06, 2025•20 min•Ep 1382•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a preventable crisis – that’s the message from many public health officials when describing the recent measles outbreaks in parts of Canada and the United States. The highly contagious viral infection was considered eliminated in 1998 in Canada and in 2000 in the U.S., but a number of factors have contributed to its recent resurgence. Host Melanie Ng speaks with Sabina Vohra-Miller, @unambiguousscience, a Doctor of Public Health candidate and expert in clinical pharmacology and toxicology, ...
Mar 05, 2025•24 min•Ep 1381•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been months since the federal government announced a $1.3 billion border security package in response to the Trump tariff threat. But the President continues to attack Canada over what he claims is the flow of drugs and illegal immigration into the U.S., leading to the tariffs, which are now in effect. Is the government doing enough to address illegal activity at the border? How big is the actual problem? Host David Smith speaks with Christian Leuprecht, an expert on security and internatio...
Mar 04, 2025•30 min•Ep 1380•Transcript available on Metacast The Trudeau government has signed its first provincial deal to implement the first stage of its national pharmacare plan. The agreement with Manitoba comes just weeks before a possible federal election campaign, and amid threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to slap tariffs on pharmaceuticals. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with federal Health Minister Mark Holland about whether or not more pharma deals can be signed before Canadians head to the polls, will the program survive after an electi...
Mar 03, 2025•21 min•Ep 1379•Transcript available on Metacast Doctors in Canada can’t move between provinces to practice medicine without going through cumbersome licensing requirements and a sea of government red tape. It’s one of the many inter-provincial trade barriers in focus because of the threat of US tariffs. The Canadian Medical Association says it's time to do away with this antiquated way of licensing doctors and make it one national system that covers all provinces and territories. Host David Smith speaks with Dr. Joss Reimer, President of the ...
Feb 28, 2025•19 min•Ep 1378•Transcript available on Metacast The four candidates in the Liberal leadership race are on the last leg of the campaign after going head to head in French and English debates earlier this week. The March 9th leadership date is fast approaching. It comes as the country sees a dramatic shift in voter support, with the Liberals vaulting ahead of the Conservatives for the first time in years. So did the debate move the needle of support, what are the candidates doing in these final days of the campaign, and will this surge in Liber...
Feb 27, 2025•22 min•Ep 1377•Transcript available on Metacast It’s less than a week to go before U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to put a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. After that happens, the Government of Canada will respond with tariffs of our own, and everything on which those tariffs apply will get more expensive. The fears are very real. There are concerns Canada will enter a recession, that the Canadian dollar will take a hit, and that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be on the line. Host David Smith speaks with University of Calgary ...
Feb 26, 2025•20 min•Ep 1376•Transcript available on Metacast The Government of British Columbia is overhauling its safer supply drug policy so that drug users will have to take their prescription opioids under the supervision of a pharmacist or health provider. The change comes after public outcry over mounting evidence of “diversion”, the practice of selling or trading government-provided drugs on the black market. This is the latest move from the David Eby government to backtrack on its drug policies, which have come under heavy scrutiny and political a...
Feb 25, 2025•27 min•Ep 1375•Transcript available on Metacast Canada is the only G-7 nation without a high speed rail line, but that might be about to change. Our federal government has unveiled plans for an ambitious project, which would link Toronto and Quebec City. But will it happen? Host Kris McCusker speaks to Lavagnon Ika, Professor of Project Management at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, about the potential challenges and the likelihood the project gets done. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for...
Feb 24, 2025•15 min•Ep 1373•Transcript available on Metacast You want to save for your retirement - but where do you find the money? Head's up - the RRSP deadline is coming up on March 3, 2025. Host Mike Eppel is talking to an expert on why it's imperative to start saving for your retirement and how to make it less stressful. 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...
Feb 23, 2025•12 min•Ep 1374•Transcript available on Metacast U.S. President Donald Trump has a plan to end the war in Ukraine. It's basically, cut off support, and capitulate to Vladimir Putin. It has been three years since Russia’s illegal invasion. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have died defending their country. This week, the Trump administration cancelled future aid for Ukraine and set up peace talks with Russia that excluded Ukrainian officials. Host David Smith speaks with Russia expert Marcus Kolga about what will happen next at this critical...
Feb 21, 2025•28 min•Ep 1372•Transcript available on Metacast The videos and images of recent airplane crashes are hard to shake. For some, it has ignited a fear of flying – but is it warranted? The statistics say one thing, but our minds say another. So what can we do? Host Melanie Ng speaks with Dr. Ian Shulman, Psychologist and Clinical Director at Shift Cognitive Therapy - where even her subconscious kicks in, making an error right at the beginning of the episode, contrary to her notes! You can learn more about Dr. Shulman at https://shiftct.com/. We l...
Feb 20, 2025•19 min•Ep 1371•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been an unusually bad start to 2025 for air travel accidents. Monday’s crash at Pearson International Airport that saw a Delta airlines flight come to rest upside down has a lot of people wondering: is commercial air travel safe? Host David Smith gets answers from aviation expert John Gradek with McGill University. 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...
Feb 19, 2025•20 min•Ep 1370•Transcript available on Metacast There is a crisis facing Canada’s post-secondary education sector that no one is talking about. Now that the federal government has slashed the number of international student permits available in Canada, colleges and universities from coast to coast are facing huge budget shortfalls. Several of Canada’s best schools are cutting programs and laying off staff just to stay afloat. These institutions have no choice but to take drastic measures, or risk going bankrupt. Host David Smith speaks with E...
Feb 18, 2025•30 min•Ep 1369•Transcript available on Metacast On this special edition of the Big Story, we're shining a light on cold cases across Canada. The podcast, Tracking a Killer: the Cold Case files is hosted by Fil Martino and Madison Fitzpatrick. They recently released season 3 of the show so we're teaming up to try to help families find not only justice, but peace. 21-year-old Patrick Santos’ body was found in the backyard of his father’s Scarborough, Ontario home on September 17, 2006. His hands and feet were bound and tape was wrapped around h...
Feb 17, 2025•26 min•Ep 1366•Transcript available on Metacast The "buy Canada" movement remains strong in the wake of tariffs levied against Canada, with more being tariffs reportedly on the way. So how far would you go to buy Canadian? Host Mike Eppel speaks to retail analyst Bruce Winder about economic show of patriotism and whether or not it's sustainable in this economy. 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...
Feb 16, 2025•12 min•Ep 1368•Transcript available on Metacast It sounds duller than watching paint dry, but an issue called "supply management" is one of the key factors in Donald Trump's tariff decision. Trump has criticized Canada’s protected agriculture industries for years, and now he’s been pointing to supply management in the dairy sector as one of the reasons for his tariff threats. What is the decades-old policy that manages how much dairy product is produced in Canada? And why does Trump care about it? Host David Smith gets a lesson in agriculture...
Feb 14, 2025•25 min•Ep 1367•Transcript available on Metacast President Trump's threats of massive tariffs on Canadian goods has sparked a lot of fear about what a trade war would mean for our country. Economists predict that the 25% tariffs on our goods would plunge the country into recession by the summer, but some communities will be hit harder than others. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has now compiled a list of 41 cities across the country and rated just how vulnerable or cushioned they may be to tariffs from the U.S. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks...
Feb 13, 2025•18 min•Ep 1365•Transcript available on Metacast A month ago, the federal Liberals were in the basement of Canadian politics, trailing the Conservatives by close to 30% in public opinion polls. But a month is a long time in politics, and the fortunes for the Liberal party have seen a stunning reversal in a short amount of time. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Mount Royal University Political Scientist Duane Bratt, about how the Trump effect is having an impact on Canadian politics, how the Conservatives are pivoting to try and maintain the...
Feb 12, 2025•15 min•Ep 1364•Transcript available on Metacast In the face of a possible trade war, Canadians are increasingly supportive of plans to reduce our reliance on the U.S. as a trading partner. That includes politically sensitive industries, like oil and gas and politically sensitive projects like pipelines. New national polling shows Canadians are increasingly open to reviving pipeline projects that were abandoned in the late-2010s. Yes, even in Quebec. But what about the environment and other concerns? Host David Smith speaks with Jon Roe, resea...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min•Ep 1363•Transcript available on Metacast We're seeing a rise in Canadian pride generally only seen during the Olympics. The ‘Buy Canadian’ movement continues to gather steam – brought on by the threat of U.S. tariffs. Host Kris McCusker spoke to Dr. Joanne McNeish, Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, about how the trend happened and why you need to be diligent when read when reading product labels. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@...
Feb 10, 2025•20 min•Ep 1361•Transcript available on Metacast Jeanne Beker's name is synonymous with all things fabulous and fashionable. But the last few years have brought in a different focus. Today, the author and TV personality has a new role that's far away from her glamorous life in fashion and entertainment: breast cancer survivor and patient advocate. Host Fil Martino speaks to Jeanne Beker about her journey and her outlook on the other side of her breast cancer battle. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes....
Feb 09, 2025•20 min•Ep 1360•Transcript available on Metacast Is anything making sense anymore in this economy? Between the ping-ponging markets, the on and off tariffs and the latest economic data, the week's been far from boring. To make sense of it all, host Mike Eppel speaks with Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at the Conference Board of 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 @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter...
Feb 08, 2025•17 min•Ep 1362•Transcript available on Metacast Work, home. Work, home. For many, days go back and forth like a ping pong match. That’s why when we have the reprieve of something outside the cycle, like a regular coffee meet-up or a book club at a neighbour’s house, things just feel better. We transport to a place where we can relax and be ourselves. However, the importance of this physical space to our well-being is often underestimated. Host Melanie Ng speaks with Roxanne Francis, a psychotherapist, coach and consultant, about the importanc...
Feb 07, 2025•18 min•Ep 1359•Transcript available on Metacast 
