Shows / The Big Story
The Big Story
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
Episodes
The Big StoryCanada's new highway of tears
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have been a problem in Canada for decades, and one that went ignored for far too long. Going back to the late…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Death toll mounts in Colombia following 7.4-magnitude earthquake and Canadian military on standby for B.C. wildfires
Plus: A Montreal father is found guilty of murdering his daughter in upstate New York, Alberta reviews its Amber Alert criteria following the death of a boy…
The Big StoryWhere are youth turning in the lonely hours?
This episode contains conversations about mental health, suicide, and sexual assault. Please take care. Kids Help Phone, a service offering free, mental health…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Tens of thousands forced to evacuate as B.C. declares state of emergency over wildfires
Plus: Montreal’s police chief plans to provide an update on a patrol unit that disbanded in June over serious allegations, the Conservative leader writes a…
The Big StoryThe reopening of the Patrick Santos cold case
It's taken Toronto Police more than 20 years to charge a suspect in the murder of Patrick Santos, a 21 year old Scarborough man that was found zip-tied and…
- The Big Story
Weekend Listen: Should we rely on a rogue robot?
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show "In This Economy?!" OpenAI recently went rogue, hacking into an AI start-up in a matter of hours. It stunned…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Unexpected job gains for Canada this summer and back-up arrives in B.C. to help fight surging wildfires
Plus: Meta is ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars after it was found liable for contributing to the mental health crisis in children, new salary cap…
The Big StoryAre you losing yourself to the time-off tax?
When was the last time you took a day off? Went on vacation? Gave yourself an extra-long weekend? If it's been a while, well, you're not alone. A recent survey…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Calgary residents mourn death of 11-year-old with autism and what WestJet flight attendants' new deal includes
Plus: Canada establishes a registry to track foreign influence, WestJet flight attendants’ union shares details of its new deal with the airline, Prime…
The Big StoryScan or scam: Are elective full-body MRI's worth it?
Perhaps you've heard one on the radio, or got one before a video online, or maybe even seen one on transit, but ads for full-body MRIs are everywhere these…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Canadian broadcasting icon Lloyd Robertson passes away and top Canada-U.S. trade officials return to Washington
Plus: An Ontario city deals with the impact of historic floods, wildfire damage in B.C. is assessed with hot days in the forecast, Canadians look at cutting…
The Big StoryThe Plan to End the Israel-Hamas war. And Why It Might Fail.
US President Trump touted about a 'great breakthrough' in a deal to bring peace to Gaza, although the two main characters in the fight seem to remain in a…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: WestJet and its flight attendants reach deal to end strike and wildfires force thousands from their homes in B.C.
Plus: A Canadian astronaut gets ready to head to the International Space Station, a closed Ontario theme park ships more whales to the U.S., two flight school…
The Big StoryWill Infantino's attempted FIFA sell-off lead to his demise?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors, including the brother of U.S. President Trump's…
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Weekend Listen: Canada's betting large on sports gambling
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show 'In This Economy?!'. Back in June of 2021, the federal government legalized single-event sports betting in…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Trump announces plan to disarm Hamas and European countries could boycott future FIFA tournaments
Plus: A positive update on the health of the Canadian economy, a Canadian national detained on spying charges in Belgium wants out of pretrial detention, Prime…
The Big StoryThe epic meltdown over The Odyssey
It's been a box office and critical success, and theatres are packed to the brim for weeks to come as audiences pack cinemas to go see Christopher Nolan's "The…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: A tragic end to the search for an 11-year-old Calgary boy and WestJet's flight attendants are preparing to strike
Plus: WestJet and its flight attendants’ union issue dueling strike and lockout notices, Prime Minister Mark Carney isn’t planning to use Canadian oil exports…
The Big StoryThe real life implications of looksmaxxing
Looksmaxxing. It's a term that's started to pop up everywhere, made popular by social media personalities like Braden Eric Peters, also known as "Clavicular."…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Canada-U.S. trade talks continue in Washington and Japan gets rocked by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake
Plus: The latest on revenue-sharing from the Gordie Howe bridge, actor Jared Leto is accused of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls, Prime Minister Mark…
The Big StoryAlberta's "two-tier" challenge to public healthcare
Starting in the fall, Albertans will be able to pay out of pocket for surgery. The government of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the move will allow people…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Search for missing boy in Calgary shifts in scope and the U.S. consulate in Toronto is shot at again
Plus: A study finds emergency room doctors across Canada are quitting, a wildfire in France stops growing just before a major heat wave rolls in, a Canadian…
The Big StoryThe debate on MAiD for mental illness
This episode contains discussion of mental illness, suicide, and death. Please take care. MAiD has caused contentious debate across Canada for years. This year…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Wildfires ravage France and Spain, and Canadians want to retaliate against American tariffs
Plus: crime rates in Canada are down for the second straight year, a poll finds many Canadians want Ottawa to retaliate against tariff threats from the U.S…
The Big StoryBurning time: How bureaucracy hinders Canada’s wildfire response
US President Trump echoed his promise to retaliate against Canada for our wildfire smoke drifting south. It comes as more than 900 fires actively burn across…
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Weekend Listen: The World Cup is over. Was it worth it for our host cities?
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show 'In This Economy?!'. The biggest World Cup ever is over – with 13 matches played on Canadian soil. The…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: New tariffs from the U.S. go into effect, with a new justification behind them
Plus: B.C. businesses can access to a billion-dollar regional emergency fund if Canada-focused tariffs go into effect next month, Canadian officials celebrate…
The Big StoryBig Cats, New Rules: BC's crackdown on exotic pets
It won't surprise you know that owning an exotic cat like a lion or tiger is illegal in B.C.-- it is in most places, and for good reason. Exotic large cat…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers say they aren’t backing down in the trade dispute with the U.S.
Plus: The premiers agree to remove interprovincial trade barriers on alcohol sales, Canadians are feeling the pressure to keep up with artificial intelligence…
The Big StoryWhy is a Quebec town giving rights to trees?
Update since publication: The Big Story would like to formally recognize Ricardo Rey as the author and initiator of the 'Universal Declaration of Tree Rights'…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Tariff tension dominates Canada's meeting of premiers in P.E.I. and the U.S. greenlights a Saudi nuclear program
Plus: the Big Story podcast looks at why President Donald Trump is pushing for more tariffs on Canada right now, U.S. officials could be sending billions more…
The Big StoryTrumps threatens tariffs on Canada - again
Another round of 50% tariffs are coming for a number of Canadian goods, ranging from dairy, hockey sticks to hair wigs. Prime Minister Carney has since agreed…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: New U.S. tariffs on Canada and more details on a deadly crash involving a CFL player
Plus: An entire city in B.C. is evacuated because of a wildfire, a man has been charged after a vehicle carrying Nova Scotia’s premier had its windshield…
The Big StoryInside the Maplehurst inmate abuse scandal
Almost three years ago, some 200 inmates at Maplehurst Correctional Facility in Milton, Ont. were subjected to strip searches, zip ties and pepper spray during…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Inflation cools across Canada and wildfires continue to burn northern Ontario
Plus: Wildfires continue to burn in northwestern Ontario, the U.S. and Iran exchange strikes for a ninth consecutive night, Britain has a new prime minister…
The Big StoryThe blurry Gordie Howe bridge 2.0 details
The Gordie Howe International Bridge will open on Monday, July 27....for now. It comes as its previous opening date of June 12 was cancelled due to US…
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Weekend Listen: The Prime Minister's honeymoon continues
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show 'In This Economy?!' Prime Minister Mark Carney continues to get high marks from Canadians on his handling of…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: U.S. politicians blast Canada over wildfire smoke
Plus: Trump primetime speech, Britain will have a new PM, recommendations for a public Alzheimer's drug plan, and the World Cup wraps up this weekend. We love…
The Big StoryWhen will wildfire management become Canada's priority?
No, it's not a filter. The yellow-orange haze cast upon much of Southern Ontario thanks to smoke drifting in from Northwestern wildfires. Toronto was ranked as…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Wildfires spark hazardous air quality levels
Plus: The U.S. and Iran exchange strikes, Trump is set to make a primetime speech, Canadians appear to have a more positive view on China, immigration changes…
The Big StoryWill the 'explosive' parasite reach Canadian produce sections?
Cyclospora: it's a microscopic organism found in water, but can spread to food-- especially produce. Found most commonly in wet and warm climates, it can…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Conflict erupts over the Strait of Hormuz, and what will the war’s long-term impacts be?
Plus: the Bank of Canada holds the key interest rate at 2.25%, Toronto’s air quality is the worst of any major city in the world today, a “suspicious” fire…
The Big StoryHas Trump launched a forever war?
It's yet another campaign promise US President Trump has seemed to loosen his commitment towards: not starting forever wars. A mission he projected to last…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Alberta welcomes private online gaming companies, and Toronto police identify the victims of a deadly street festival shooting
Plus: A man is killed by an ICE agent in Maine, a B.C. nurses put their picket lines on pause, a former MP is arrested for illegal firearms possession, and…
The Big StoryWho gets left behind during immigration cuts?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has made drastic cuts to the amount of student and temporary foreign worker visas issued to newcomers. Impacted by…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: US Politician Lindsay Graham passed away, and Peter Nygard has been found guilty of more charges
Plus: Toronto Police is investigating a deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival, Disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been found guilty sexual…
The Big StoryDoes Canada need a relationship with Saudi Arabia?
It's been more than a quarter of a century since a Canadian Prime Minister touched down on Saudi Arabian soil to meet with the country's leader. That was until…
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Weekend Listen: Artificial Intelligence is costing us, is it worth it?
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show 'In This Economy?!'. Artificial intelligence is working its way into our daily lives – and it’s probably…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Iran reportedly devised a plan to assassinate Donald Trump
Plus: Stats Canada has released a better than expected jobs report, an investigation is underway after an Air Canada aircraft overshot the runway in Montreal…
The Big StoryCanada cozies to Europe with German sub pick
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $100-billion dollar contract to replace Canada's submarine fleet will be awarded to Germany and Norway, marking the…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: U.S.-Iran ceasefire crumbles as Trump hints at return to full-out war
Plus: Mark Carney is in Saudi Arabia, federal officials provide a wildfire update, the death toll is rising in Venezuela, and Bonnie Tyler has died. We love…
The Big StoryWhy is Mark Carney putting a Conservative in the senate?
Prime Minister Carney has made his first Senate appointments - including a sitting Conservative MP and the PM's former Principal Secretary. When Justin Trudeau…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Trump says ceasefire with Iran is 'over' and threatens new strikes, plus Carney announces another major defence deal
Plus: the Liberal government’s plan to buy thousands of condos in B.C. faces scrutiny, Air Canada chooses its next CEO, Count Binface takes on a British party…
The Big StoryThe law that would surrender Canadian data to America
Bill C-22 has sparked wide controversy surrounding its potential threat to privacy, as well as the way it's been rushed through parliamentary processes. Not…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Canada's ready to build new radar jets for NATO and Montreal honours a fallen officer
Plus: Alberta and Ontario plan a new oil pipeline, Jeremy Hansen leaves the Canadian Space Agency, Kyle Lowry retires as a Raptor, and what are the risks of…
The Big StoryCanada is making a bet on prediction markets
It seems like you can place a bet on anything these days-- and in some places, you pretty much. With sites like Polymarket and Kalshi, you can put money on…
The Big StoryBig Headlines: Carney departs for NATO summit with Halifax pit stop and Canada's World Cup run ends
Plus: Rogers reaches a deal to fully own many of Toronto’s biggest sports teams, new funding for energy projects in Alberta and Saskatchewan, a CN Rail train…
The Big StoryThe blurry future of North American free trade
On its July 1st deadline, U.S. President Trump declined to renew the current conditions of CUSMA. It doesn't mean Canada-US-Mexico trade as we know it…
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Weekend Listen: Was Canada's 'technical recession' a data mistake?
Enjoy this special feed drop from our sister show 'In This Economy?!'. The economy started off 2026 in what economists called a 'technical recession', but a…
The Big StoryJoin the bandwagon: Your guide to Canada’s World Cup run
Almost 14 years ago, Canada was reeling from the loss of its men's national team losing 8-1 to Honduras and crushing its dreams of qualifying from the 2014…