The Big Story Frequency Podcast Network
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- News
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An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
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RE-RELEASE: Inside the huge casino bust that went bad
We've gained some new subscribers recently, and over the next few Sundays we want to help welcome them to the show by re-releasing some of our favourite episodes from the last few years. If you're new here, welcome! And if you've been with us for a while, we hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.
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You probably heard about it when it happened. It was called Project Endgame and it was a massive police bust on what they alleged was an illegal casino operating out of a 53-room mansion in Markham, Ontario. But even as the charges were being laid and the evidence put on display, something was already going sideways. Now almost a year later, the case is in tatters and police face misconduct allegations. What happened here?
GUEST: Leah McLaren, reporting for Toronto Life -
Why do basic income pilots never become permanent?
In 2017, the Ontario Liberal government instituted a basic income pilot where participants across the province would receive $1,400 a month for three years. That project has since been cancelled, but basic income, as an idea, continues to be brought up as a potential solution to our money problems. So, could it be? And how would it work in practice?
Jordan invites health economist Evelyn Forget from the School of Medicine at the University of Manitoba on to find out. Forget has been studying the effects and feasibility of basic income for many years. She's also written books on the subject, including "Basic income for Canadians, from the COVID-19 Emergency to Financial Security for All."
Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at hello@itepod.ca. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod. Don't forget to leave a call-back number, so we can get in touch. -
The long, strange trip that ended with Tim Hortons pizza
Tim Hortons. Coffee, donuts and Canadian identity. What more could you possibly want? Well, maybe quenchers? Chilli? Beef lasagna casserole? Pulled pork sandwiches? Pizza?! Please, just tell them so they can sell it.
In all seriousness, Tim Hortons offering new menu items isn't a bad thing, but it does let us ask an important question about what the chain has become: Is it a Canadian staple, that both aspiring politicians and savvy marketers use as a stand-in for what makes Canada great? Or is it one arm of a huge, soulless global food brand with no motivation other than to suck up as much market share as it possible? Could it be the answer is ... somehow, both those things?
GUEST: Tom Jokinen, writing in The Walrus -
Will Canada ban TikTok, too?
India was the first country to ban TikTok—and they did it years ago. The United States just passed a law that would see the popular app banned if it isn't sold in the coming months. Canada is conducting a security review of the app and is believed to be considering similar actions. All of this because the app's owner, ByteDance is a Chinese company based in Beijing.
What exactly are the security concerns here? How much do they matter to ordinary Canadians? What measures might Canada take, and when? And how would Canadians feel about the government deciding what apps they get to download?
GUEST: Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press -
Will Canada Post end daily mail delivery?
The crown corporation is losing a ton of money, and the volume of mail it's delivering is dropping rapidly. It's annual report, released last week, hinted that major changes could be in store. That could include paring back mail delivery to every second or third day, which the corporation confirmed yesterday it was looking into.
What would ending daily mail delivery mean for Canadians? How many would notice, or care? But what about those among us—people and small businesses alike—who rely on timely, every day delivery of letters and packages? What does the future hold for Canada Post in an increasingly paperless world?
GUEST: Cormac Mac Sweeney, Parliament Hill reporter, CityNews -
How worried should you be about bird flu?
The latest strain of H5N1 avian flu has been doing some ... unusual things. It's infecting a wide swath of mammals. It's spreading rapidly among cattle in the United States, many of them along Canada's border. And it's now been found in the milk supply of those cows, though FDA officials say that pasteurization means the milk is still safe to consume.
It's clear this strain is different from previous versions of the virus. And scientists are watching it very closely. But to a world that has recently suffered through a pandemic, any new virus doing unusual things may seem terrifying. So: What happens next? How worried should you be?
GUEST: Dr. Scott Weese, infectious disease veterinarian at the Ontario Vet College at the University of Guelph
Customer Reviews
USA listens too
I gave this a 5 star.
The main stream media is overplaying us. However who isn’t?
What a wonderful podcast. Also, these protest are being paid for.
That has been determined. We see Canada too, no one wants to be Canadian anymore. Now ignore my review three times.
Maybe podcast should not be so bias too.
Your person is inventing a storyline that is not true.
Excellent journalism!
Im an Australian living in NYC who recently started working for the Canadian Government, so to be conscientious I looked for Canadian news podcasts to keep up to date with all things Canada. The Big Story is a great podcast that gives in depth looks at relevant and important Canadian issues. It has also introduced me to Rob Ford, a person I had never heard of prior to the Gravy Train series. For the last month I have been eagerly awaiting The Gravy Train each week - what a brilliantly reported, jaw-dropping saga!! Great stuff.
This Canadian Life
Absolutely adore this podcast. There’s something so powerful about hearing stories regarding the everyday lives of people. Of particular note, the episodes focusing on marginalized communities (recent few about different Indigenous groups for example) are especially potent and really stay with you for a long time. Can’t wait to see how this podcast grows and develops over time.