Almost everywhere in Canada, the car is king. Even in walkable downtowns of our largest cities, traffic is generally given priority over pedestrians, and any proposal to change that is met with complaints from drivers, businesses and delivery services.  But it doesn't have to be that way. There's one Canadian city that has, slowly but surely, taking back some of its most beloved streets and neighbourhoods from daily commuter traffic. This is how Montreal just ... went ahead and did it, and what we can learn from that. GUEST: Toula Drimonis, writing in The Walrus We love feedback at The Bi ..read more

Liberals, whether that's the capital-L liberal party in Canada, or the Biden administration or the Labour party in the UK, are almost always the party of immigration. They celebrate it, they value it and — at least in Canada —they have recently raised targets to record levels. And with this comes an assumption. That because the Liberals are the party of immigration, most immigrants are voting for the Liberals. But, simply put, what if that's just not true in Canada today? Like, not at all? GUEST: Rhea Santos, video journalist and anchor for OMNI News Filipino Edition We love feedback at The Bi ..read more

In the past 48 hours, Israel has invaded Lebanon and Iran has fired missiles directly at Israel. Nobody knows what comes next, but it will be difficult for anyone in the region to back down now. Has the larger conflict the world has feared for the past year finally begun? What happens if Israel retaliates? How did the past month lead to this? And what do you need to know to understand what comes next? GUEST: Dr. Randa Slim, Director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episode ..read more

The US Department of Justice is investigating a piece of software that it alleges helps landlords share private information and suggests rent increases accordingly. The DoJ says this amounts to digital price fixing, with rents routinely rising by more than expected where the software is used. And it's happening in Canada, too. A recent affidavit revealed one corporate landlord admitting to the practice, and the app's use is likely far more widespread, leading to increases that blow away previous highs. Is this legal? Should it be? How does algorithmic pricing work on your rent? And what else w ..read more

Today marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is a good chance to assess where we stand on the 94 Calls to Action. After significant early progress, the past two years have seen ... not much. So why has Canada fallen behind? Has the government changed its focus? Have we simply done all the "easy" work and not yet dug into the toughest, most systemic problems? Are we in danger of turning this national day of reflection into a symbol that sacrifices the urgency out of which it was created? GUEST: Dr. Eva Jewell, research director at Yellowhead Institute, assistant profe ..read more

This episode first aired on September 26, 2024 over at In This Economy?!, our sister show at the Frequency Podcast Network. The show helps Canadians understand the systems behind their money problems so they can make informed decisions about their personal finances. If you like what you hear, please consider giving us a follow!  The federal government has announced changes to mortgage amortizations and insurance rules, calling them “the most significant mortgage reforms in decades.”  But what do these changes really mean for new home buyers? And existing ones? Will they help with the ..read more

It's one of the most iconic photographic portraits in world history—and it hangs in one of the most famous buildings in the Canadian capital. At least it did, until it was stolen... The story of The Roaring Lion theft involves international intrigue, world history, careful detective work and one of this country's most renowned artists. But most of all, it's a riveting heist tale that spans from Canada to Europe, and who doesn't love one of those? GUEST: Brett Popplewell, author, reporter, associate professor; writing in The Walrus We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for f ..read more

The federal government—as well as the government-owned crown corporation Trans Mountain—has paid tens of millions of dollars in two separate contracts to McKinsey and Company, one of the world's premier consulting firms. One of the contracts was given to offer advice on clean technology, despite McKinsey also working with some of the world's largest fossil fuel companies. The other, worth far more, was to find efficiencies in the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project—a project already billions of dollars over budget and well behind schedule. What did the government get for its money? Did i ..read more

Today, the federal Conservatives will table a non-confidence motion, and if the Liberal government cannot defeat it, Canada will be headed to the polls. CPC leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to take every opportunity he can to force an election, and this is his first chance to do that. The Bloc Quebecois and the NDP have said they will not bring down Trudeau's Liberals...this time. But without the promise of the NDP's support, this is likely to be the first of several such votes. Are we headed for a fall full of confidence votes and partisan bickering? How long might this go on before an inevi ..read more

It began during the pandemic with good intentions--give more to service workers, support local businesses and 'we're all in this together'. But somehow, four-plus years later we're seeing 25% suggested tips on services you would have never expected you'd be tipping on—at a gas station, for instance, or maybe a yarn store. A new proposal from Quebec's provincial government won't stop that, but it is the first sign that perhaps governments are recognizing what polling is telling them: That tips are everywhere, the ways businesses use them are opaque and confusing and that people wish something c ..read more