The Big Story

A financial fact check for you. U.S. President elect Donald Trump will be sworn in next week – with the threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian products looming. And he’s been using numbers to back up his decision. Host Kris McCusker speaks to one economist to set the record straight and fact check the numbers being thrown around. Guest: Jim Stanford with the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver, 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

Less than a week to go before Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. For the past month, Canadian political leaders have taken different tactics in responding to Trump’s threats and pleading Canada’s case for exemptions to any import tariffs. How are they doing? Host David Smith speaks with Barry McLoughlin, an expert in crisis communications and leadership and President of TLC Transformational Leadership Consultants. 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

Game on! The federal Liberal party has unveiled the rules of engagement for its leadership race. What we know so far is that it costs A LOT to enter and there will be a new leader announced on March 9. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking with Greg MacEachern, Principal of KAN Strategies. 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

There are still more questions than answers after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation this week. That includes legislation involving your finances. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Jamie Golombek, Managing Director of Tax and Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth about how people should treat changes around capital gains and a proposed extension on charitable donations. 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

Has the first week of January felt like A LOT? You're not alone. There are so many things going on in this economy right now that could impact you. Host Mike Eppel is here to break down all the headlines that have made up this very busy news week including the Canadian dollar, the threat of tariffs and takeover and Meta abandoning fact-checkers. 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

Unreal scenes out of L.A. as fires continue to burn, most with zero per cent containment. Communities have been wiped out with thousands of structures burned including the homes of some high profile celebrities. Thousands have been driven from their homes - with no end in sight. On this episode of the Big Story, host Fil Martino speaks with Canadian and environmental journalist Aliya Jasmine who lives in Los Angeles, about the situation on the ground and what it's like living through an actual nightmare. 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

If a federal election were held today, nearly half of Canadians say they would vote for the Conservative Party of Canada. Since 2022, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has grown the party’s support to record highs. But he remains a polarizing figure. What’s behind the strategy that has the Conservatives riding high in the polls? Host David Smith speaks with Chris Day, the political communications expert and president of the public affairs firm Winston Wilmont. 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

It started with a social media post that some dismissed as a joke. Now, President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to use “economic force” to make Canada a U.S. state. Is he serious? What’s going on here? Host David Smith speaks with Professor Ian Lee from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University about what this all says for the Canada-U.S. relationship under a second Trump presidency. 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

It's the end of the Trudeau era - but the beginning of what's going to be a new chapter in Canadian politics. There's a lot of uncertainty and a lot at stake. So what's the next move for Canada's political parties and who will be the next Liberal leader? Host David Smith digs in to this with two of the best political minds in Ottawa who sit on both sides of the political spectrum. Guests: Susan Smith, principal of Blue Sky Strategy Group and Tim Powers, chair of Summa Strategies and managing director of Abacus Data. 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

Bonus episode Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign and has prorogued Parliament until March 24th. He will stay on as leader and Prime Minister until the Liberal Party has chosen a new leader. This sets the stage for a federal election in the spring of this year. What happens next? And what will Justin Trudeau’s legacy be? Host David Smith speaks with NewsRadio's Parliament Hill Bureau Chief Cormac MacSweeney on an historic day in Canadian politics. 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

For generations, Canada and the United States have enjoyed a special relationship. Our cultural, political and economic ties run deep, but they are not immune from destructive forces. Like all relationships, it faces tests and challenges. Any disruptive changes south of the border will have major impacts on Canada and Canadians. So what’s at stake with the incoming Trump administration? Host David Smith speaks with Matthew Lebo, professor of political science and expert on American politics at Western University, about what’s in store for 2025. 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

If a federal election were held today, nearly half of Canadians say they would vote for the Conservative Party of Canada. Since 2022, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has grown the party’s support to record highs. But he remains a polarizing figure. What’s behind the strategy that has the Conservatives riding high in the polls? Host David Smith speaks Chris Day. political communications expert and president of the public affairs firm Winston Wilmont. 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

It may have been a joke at the Mar-a-Lago dinner with PM Justin Trudeau and President-elect Donald Trump, but the question is out there: is there a risk of Canada becoming the 51st state? On top of that, what is the future of Canadian-U.S. relations with Trump coming back to office? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking with Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne. 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

We've heard these stories time and time again - a crime committed by someone who was out on bail. Multiple stories have led to a lot of finger pointing about who is responsible for fixing our bail system and renewed calls for bail reform. On this episode of The Big Story we talk to York Regional Police Superintendent Ryan Hogan and Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform Graham McGregor. 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

There could be major changes coming to Canada's labour market in 2025 after a bumpy couple of years. If you are a job seeker - where you live and which sector you work in will determine your success. And federal immigration policy is likely to play a big role. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Indeed's Senior Economist Brendon Bernard about his expectations going forward. 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

What were Canadians drinking this year? On this New Year's Eve, host Richard Southern is digging into what we were sipping this year and digs into Canadians' changing tastes with Alanna Bailey, Senior Spirits Director at LCBO. 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

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

The Big Story partners with NewsRadio to break down the biggest stories in politics in 2024. 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

The Big Story partners with NewsRadio for a look back at some of the biggest stories of 2024. 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

If it feels like your kids are bleeding you dry, there's evidence that it's actually true. A new story in the Walrus suggests the average amount to raise 2 kids until they're 17 is $293,000, even more if the kids attend post-secondary. Host Kris McCusker is speaking with the writer of the piece in the Walrus, Chantal Braganza. 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