Location:
United States
Description:
The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.
Language:
English
Website:
http://www.cjad800.com
Are the Feds spying on Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the PQ? Plus: Dunkin’ Donuts is coming back to Canada.
5/13/2026
On this supersized edition of the BIG 5, Elias is joined by Justine McIntyre, Co-Founder of Civica Strategies and former city councillor and Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS,
Duration:00:35:36
Turns out pothole city doesn’t have any pothole-filling machines. Plus: Why are Quebecers the happiest people in Canada.
5/12/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Duration:00:25:24
Québec Solidaire is coming after you. Plus: Everyone’s jumping on board the Charles Milliard bandwagon.
5/11/2026
Elias starts off the week with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante and Montreal journalist and broadcaster Sue Smith.
Duration:00:25:49
The McGill College Park is put on hold Plus: It took but one MNA to block a plan to redraw Quebec’s electoral map
5/8/2026
Elias Makos caps the week off with Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy.
Duration:00:25:52
Toronto plays dirty, pulls the referendum card on Montreal. Plus: Should your child’s school have a fight club?
5/7/2026
Elias Makos welcomes back political analyst Karim Boulos, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada.
Duration:00:24:17
More Quebecers are leaving ERs without seeing a doctor. Plus: Is it OK to use A.I. to change how customer service agents sound?
5/6/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program.
Duration:00:24:47
Premier Frechette’s first order of business? Making Charles Milliard look bad. Plus: Québec solidaire wants non-profit grocery stores.
5/5/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Co-Founder of Civica Strategies and former city councillor, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette.
Duration:00:31:39
Activists rob Montreal grocery stores and bakeries once again. Plus: Outrage over a mock execution during a Workers' Day protest.
5/4/2026
Elias Makos kicks the week off with Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
Duration:00:02:55
Should you clean up Montreal’s sidewalks? Plus: Canada is making refugees pay for healthcare.
5/1/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government, and Victor Henriquez, Public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil.
Duration:00:24:42
The price of dignity in Quebec hits $88K. Plus: Are Canada’s airports going to be privatized
4/30/2026
Joining us on The Big Five: Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster. The topics of the day include the 'price of dignity' in Quebec and how much money families need to live comfortably, plus the federal government is opening the door to a major shakeup in how airports are run.
Duration:00:23:23
Canada’s fastest-growing program is interest on debt. Plus: The one guy that took all of Quebec’s family doctor appointments
4/29/2026
Joining Elias on The Big 5 were Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette.
Among the topics discussed were
n yesterday’s spring economic update…A second Quebec furniture manufacturing is closing down and laying off dozens of workers in the span of 24 hours.One Quebecer has seen a family doctor 362 times in 2024.SecondStreet.orgAn independent bookstore in Quebec City is facing threats of boycott for hosting the launch of Éric Duhaime's latest book last week
Duration:00:24:09
Vigilante pothole repairs. Plus: Canada’s not-so-sovereign Sovereign Wealth Fund.
4/28/2026
Elias Makos is once again joined by Justine McIntyre, Co-Founder of Civica Strategies and former city councillor, and Denis Coderre, former mayor of Montreal.
Duration:00:25:33
Another attempt on President Donald Trump’s life. Plus: One year after a new law, tipping in Quebec is still a mess.
4/27/2026
Elias Makos kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada.
Duration:00:24:55
Eric Duhaime’s Bill 96 flip-flop. Plus: Things are getting really snippy between Canada and the U.S.
4/24/2026
Elias Makos welcomes in Beryl Wajsman, president of the Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal, and Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800.
Duration:00:25:28
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon accused of spreading "conspiracy theories.” Plus: Banning cigarettes forever.
4/23/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Justine McIntyre, Co-Founder of Civica Strategies and former city councillor, and Sue Smith is a Montreal journalist and broadcaster.
Duration:00:34:44
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon sticks to his convictions. Plus: Is the solution to overloaded ERs more Habs playoff games?
4/22/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Graham Singh, CEO of Releven, and Political analyst Karim Boulos.
Duration:00:22:08
The PQ would steamroll its way to a majority, on one condition. Plus: Dog bites and community mailboxes, as Denis Coderre returns!
4/21/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies, and Denis Coderre, former mayor of Montreal.
Duration:00:33:35
Charles Milliard’s clarification of his clarification of his position on Bill 96. Plus: Mark Carney calls Canada’s close ties to America a ‘weakness.’
4/20/2026
Elias Makos welcomes in Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
Duration:00:24:01
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard joins The Big 5 to elaborate on his Bill 96 comments. Plus: Reaction from the panel
4/17/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist.
Duration:00:34:14
Is the PQ already toast? Plus: Courageous Old Port residents fight against housing.
4/16/2026
Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance.
Duration:00:32:58