Shows / The Big Story
The Big Story
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
Episodes
- The Big Story
Staff Pick #3: Why don't all Canadian hospitals offer sex assault evidence kits?
We asked different Frequency staff members which TBS episodes resonated most with them in 2022. As we take a break from releasing new episodes over the…
- The Big Story
Staff Pick #2: The rise and fall of Canada's cannabis industry
We asked different Frequency staff members which TBS episodes resonated most with them in 2022. As we take a break from releasing new episodes over the…
- The Big Story
The decline of the Canadian Christmas tree farm
Christmas trees won't vanish in this country, but the people who farm them are facing some tough decisions in the coming years. As the climate changes, trees…
- The Big Story
Staff Pick #1: How to afford groceries during a global food crisis
We asked different Frequency staff members which TBS episodes resonated most with them in 2022. As we take a break from releasing new episodes over the…
- The Big Story
A mental health guide to the holidays
It's a cliche to say the holidays can be a tough time for some people, but the truth is that almost everyone will spend some time this month exhausted…
- The Big Story
The mystery of an Ontario island's extra-long hunting season
Most Ontario rifle hunters get less than two weeks a year to bag their deer. On Griffith Island they got 11 weeks—until the provincial government recently…
- The Big Story
Homelessness in Canada is still getting worse. What would actually make a difference?
At the time of year when we should be trying to help others, those struggling with homelessness might not be feeling the love. In some Canadian cities…
- The Big Story
How did a popular Calgary teacher get away with abuse over decades?
You've heard parts of this story in every report of a teacher preying on a vulnerable student. What makes this case different is the sheer scale of the abuse…
- The Big Story
How Canada makes vaccines ... that never get developed
Trials will begin in Uganda this week for three vaccines that could combat the Ebola outbreak—and one of those vaccines was created here in Canada. But it was…
- The Big Story
More than eleven billion crabs just ... vanished. What happened?
For the first time ever, snow crab season has been cancelled. A survey of the population revealed thousands of tons of crabs, more than eleven billion animals…
- The Big Story
Are the Liberals really coming to take people's guns? If they are, do they know it?
Bill C-21 would change Canada's approach to gun control. A little bit. But an amendment to Bill C-21 would radically alter it, and it seems that the party…
- The Big Story
How 'genetic genealogy' is cracking Canadian cold cases
Has anyone in your family ever gotten away with murder? Are you sure? Because a new investigative DNA technique allows police to search a database for DNA…
- The Big Story
What do we know after a year of legal sports betting in Canada?
Yes, sports betting has technically been around for a long time in this country. But it's only been a little more than a year since single-game sports betting…
- The Big Story
Is Iran's Revolutionary Guard considered a 'terrorist entity' in Canada?
Last week, a judge in Ontario ruled that Iran's Revolutionary Guard was in fact a "terrorist entity". This is a move that politicians on all sides have…
- The Big Story
Do you know how your credit card rewards work?
Canadians are using credit cards to pay for purchases more than ever before.Why wouldn't they? Cash has been on the decline and rewards programs are better…
- The Big Story
The missing $500,000 that broke apart a rural community
Anytime any government misplaces taxpayer money, it's a bad thing—whether that's wasteful spending, overpaying, mismanaging the budget or losing track in a…
- The Big Story
What will be the lasting legacy of the Emergencies Act Inquiry?
There has been no shortage of political mudslinging regarding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's testimony at the Emergencies Act Inquiry last week—but perhaps…
- The Big Story
Do we need a new understanding of death? Or an old one?
It's the "Death Dilemma". When someone we love is at the end of their life, unresponsive in the ICU, our natural instinct when doctors ask us is to tell them…
- The Big Story
What happens when a key government agency just ... doesn't?
Right now, Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board is barely functional. The backlog of eviction challenges, both legal and illegal, is miles long, and currently…
- The Big Story
What is Bill C-11 and what will it do?
Depending on who you ask it will either help Canadian creators level the online playing field, or wreck their business model. The bill is intended to apply…
- The Big Story
Inside the strange new world of police PR efforts
It goes without saying that police services often have their own version of events—which are often revealed in press releases or in conversation with…
- The Big Story
Why are all the kids sick right now? And can the system handle it?
Surgeries for children are being cancelled at paediatric hospitals as staff race to care for a huge surge in kids arriving in the ER, or needing ICU space…
- The Big Story
For Canada the World Cup should be beautiful. But this one is ugly.
It's only Team Canada's second time ever in FIFA's crown jewel tournament. They will be looking for their first goal. Making it to Qatar for the World Cup is…
- The Big Story
Is a recession coming, and how bad will it get?
There's still some debate over a possible recession in Canada, but less and less of it every day. If Canada's economy does slide, however, what will be the…
- The Big Story
Narwhal week, Episode 5: A first-hand view of rising tensions on Wet’suwet’en territory
This is the fifth episode in a weeklong collaboration between The Big Story and The Narwhal, an award-winning non-profit publication that provides in-depth…
- The Big Story
Narwhal Week, Episode 4: The key to saving the world’s biodiversity
This is the fourth episode in a weeklong collaboration between The Big Story and The Narwhal, an award-winning non-profit publication that provides in-depth…
- The Big Story
Narwhal Week, Episode 3: Can Canada learn to live underwater?
This is the third episode in a weeklong collaboration between The Big Story and The Narwhal, an award-winning non-profit publication that provides in-depth…
- The Big Story
Narwhal Week, Episode 2: How corporate lobbying is delaying climate action in Canada
This is the second episode in a weeklong collaboration between The Big Story and The Narwhal, an award-winning non-profit publication that provides in-depth…
- The Big Story
Narwhal Week, Episode 1: Why is Doug Ford slicing up Ontario's Greenbelt?
This is the first episode in a weeklong collaboration between The Big Story and The Narwhal, an award-winning non-profit publication that provides in-depth…
- The Big Story
As deepfakes go legit, the potential issues are endless
Recently Bruce Willis's digital likeness was licensed for use in a Russian telecom commercial. And as both technology and acceptance of 'deepfakes' like this…
- The Big Story
Is Canada finally standing up to China?
Yesterday, Canada's new Indo-Pacific strategy specifically targeted China's human rights abuses, its threats against Taiwan and Hong Kong and increasing…
- The Big Story
How a First Nation fought the "new Residential School system"
This is Mia's story, but she is far from the only one. When the BC government decided to take her from her band and her closest family, and ship her halfway…
- The Big Story
Inside Ontario's 'unprecedented' labour fight
Ontario kids will be back in school Tuesday, after the provincial government backed down on its use of the notwithstanding clause to force CUPE workers into a…
- The Big Story
Is converting office buildings into apartments a solution to the housing crisis?
Nearly three years of into the on-going pandemic and there's still plenty of unused office spaces in most downtowns right now. The City of Calgary is leading…
- The Big Story
BONUS EPISODE: The Big Story survey results
If you listen to the show with any regularity, you know that we recently concluded a TBS listener survey. We appreciate all of you who took the time to give us…
- The Big Story
The Osoyoos desert's wild horses, and the man who cares for all of them
There are roughly 300 wild horses left, and sometimes Aaron Stelkia has awful decisions to make as he tries to ensure their survival. But this is his job, and…
- The Big Story
Musk's Twitter, Mark's Metaverse and the future of the digital town square
Between Meta (formerly Facebook) losing $80 billion and Elon Musk's fumbling start to his Twitter acquisition, it's been a pretty good week for anyone who…
- The Big Story
Is "democracy on the ballot" in the US midterm elections?
It's the kind of hyperbolic claim usually made by partisan contenders: "This is the most important election of your life" or "This year, democracy is on the…
- The Big Story
Welcome to the next generation of fraud
When someone steals your credit card information and uses it to buy or order things, you almost always get your money back. It's one of the reasons people…
- The Big Story
How to track a Covid variant
Every day, Covid mutates. Many times. Most of the mutations are harmless or ineffective. Some—as everyone knows by now—are not, and can evade immunity and…
- The Big Story
Oh no! Young men are having less sex! Should we be worried?
So are women, by the way. So is everyone, regardless of gender. For years, studies have shown that young people aren't having as much sex as in generations…
- The Big Story
From inflation to interest rates to grocery prices to ... profiteering?
Interest rates have risen again. Inflation has not declined. Almost everything costs more right now, especially groceries. Meanwhile, in the wake of two major…
- The Big Story
Inside the BC NDP leadership 'trainwreck'
It seemed like there was a fight for the soul of the party that also governs the province. Until there wasn't. A week before the vote, the challenger with all…
- The Big Story
Exactly what the &*^% has been going on in UK politics?
Our friends across the pond are about to have their third Prime Minister in two months, without an election. Boris Johnson was finally ousted, only to be…
- The Big Story
Why does legal sex work carry a scarlet letter?
There's a reason OnlyFans almost banned the content that drives the vast majority of its revenue last year. It's the same reason sex workers who sell content…
- The Big Story
Why are so many bands cancelling tours?
Covid is only part of the problem. For any musical act that hasn't hit 'star' status, the current reality of putting together a tour, and keeping it on the…
- The Big Story
Everything you need to know about the Emergencies Act inquiry
A week into an inquiry looking into the so-called 'Freedom Convoy''s occupation of Ottawa, and the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act, and we've…
- The Big Story
The beginning of the end for the Iranian regime?
Mahsa Amini was not the first woman, not even close, to be arrested by Iran's morality police for how she wore her hijab But when she died in police custody, a…
- The Big Story
If Canada's biggest housing markets are bubbles, why aren't they popping?
Last week, a Swiss bank's annual ranking put Toronto No. 1 and Vancouver No. 6 on its list of the world's top housing bubbles. And although both cities have…
- The Big Story
The grain needs a train: Billions of dollars at stake on the prairies
The world needs Canadian grain more than ever. And they are buying it, providing a huge boost to prairie economies. This year, a bumper crop could be even…
- The Big Story
What do we lose when our malls disappear?
All across North America, malls are vanishing. Some are simply being demolished, others are turning into condo complexes or Amazon warehouses. The rise of…
- The Big Story
Three decades of trying to change hockey culture
When Laura Robinson began reporting about violence and sexual assault in Canadian junior hockey, resistance was fierce, including from the country's top…
- The Big Story
Inside Toronto's apathetic election
Toronto will vote in less than two weeks. Well, some of Toronto will vote. Less than a majority of citizens, that's for sure. And the outcome of the most…
- The Big Story
How do asylum seekers end up in provincial jails?
It's not a crime to claim asylum in Canada. It's a process. But that hasn't stopped the Canadian Border Services Agency from using an agreement with several…
- The Big Story
Heaven Bent: Death in Emmanuel
It's the morning of June 16th, 1987, in Nashville, Tennessee. Shortly after midnight, firefighters are called to a blaze at Emmanuel Church of Christ. What…
- The Big Story
Would you pay more for ethical bananas?
Bananas are the cheapest fruit around, and Canadians eat them by the millions. In fact during the pandemic and our current spike of inflation, bananas have…
- The Big Story
Are Canada's power grids ready for the future?
Canada has promised to reach Net Zero emissions from our grids by 2035. At the same time, as ordinary Canadians transition to things like electric vehicles and…
- The Big Story
The Aftermath: What Fiona changed forever
Almost two weeks after Fiona hit Atlantic Canada, many communities are still picking up the pieces. In others, there are very few pieces to pick up—because…
- The Big Story
Canada's hottest economy is not where you might think it is
Asked to picture the hottest economy in the country, your mind goes to one of two places—the skyscrapers of Toronto's financial district, or the oil fields and…
- The Big Story
Creative artificial intelligence has crossed a major threshold. What happens next?
Last week, the creative AI DALL-E opened to everyone wanting to use it. The program, which returns images based on text prompts provided by the user, has…