US Senator Mitch McConnell hasn't been seen by the public in some 12 weeks. His last in-person sighting was in Washington, D.C. on June 11, before posting a proof-of-life picture from a rehabilitation centre in mid-July. He's since been discharged, but the details surrounding his whereabouts or return to the Senate remain unclear.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent, Carl Hulse, to discuss what the conversation surrounding the Kentucky politician's whereabouts has been stateside. Then, she's joined by Wendy Parmet, a professor of law at Northeastern University to discuss what exactly - if anything - the public is owed in terms of information on a public figure's health and personal condition. 
 

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Plus: Oil prices surge after the U.S. and Iran trade strikes, voters head to the polls in three federal by-elections, Nepalese cultural festivals are cancelled across Canada following recent floods in Nepal, and immigration experts say more tracking is needed to ensure people on expired work and study permits leave the country. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In US President Trump's latest attempt at dominating Canada, an executive order was signed last week renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'. 

Whether the new title will actually stick is up for debate, but several Canadian leaders, high-profile celebrities, and US officials have come out against the move. Those include PM Carney, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Rosemary Thompson, Senior VP of the Royal Canadian Geological Society to discuss what right (if any) an outside leader has on Canadian land titles and names, and if the Canada-US relationship has any chance at a comeback. 

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Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!"

Canadian small businesses are a big part of the economy. And like the rest of us, they're dealing with more tariffs as the trade war with the US heats up again, with Canadian counter tariffs set to take effect next month. It's the latest economic hit coming from south of the border, just as businesses were seeing a degree of recovery from the pandemic.  

Host Kris McCusker speaks to Brad Poulus, lecturer in the Entrepreneurship Department at The Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. They discuss how these latest levies could hit small businesses, if the government is doing enough to help them, and if there are any potential new trade opportunities for them abroad.

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Plus: B.C. lifts its province-wide state of emergency as local states of emergency remain, the first results are in for a program designed to bring professors from international universities to Canada, Alberta sees a budget surplus after months of spiking oil prices, Canadian actor Peter Cullen has died, and what will happen to a Russian cargo jet grounded in Toronto? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you've driven by Toronto Pearson Airport at all in the past four years, you may have noticed the massive cargo jet with a big Russian flag on it just.... sitting there. It's been grounded ever since Canada closed its airspace to Russia following their invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia has been trying to get the plane back from that moment-- but a judge recently ruled that it will stay right where it is. And besides, there are questions about whether or not the aircraft could still take to the skies

Host Caryn Ceolin is speaking with aviation expert John Gradek about what the government's plans for the plane are, and if holding it is worth doing at all.

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Plus: The U.S. claims Canada was the one who introduced last-minute demands before trade talks fell apart, campaign season gets underway ahead of elections in Quebec, the B.C. Conservatives lose two more members, a study finds around half of Canadians didn’t receive respiratory vaccines last year, and why is gun ownership in Canada climbing? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Canadians have largely touted that one of our most distinctive attributes from the US is our gun culture, and while that's mostly true, the number of Canadian firearm licenses has reached record levels. 

The number of possession and acquisition license (PAL) holders in Canada now sits at close to 2.5 million, a number that's seen steady growth since 2021. With the growth of licenses comes the growth in interest, which isn't necessarily in line with the Canadian psyche.

Host Maria Kestane speaks to Noah Schwartz, professor and author of Targeted: Citizenship, Advocacy, and Gun Control in Canada. They discuss how Canada's gun culture has evolved over recent years, why more people are interested in owning firearms, and how Ottawa can regulate a market that now includes 3-D printed paraphernalia. 

Check out Noah's book here: Targeted - University of Toronto Press

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Plus: Alberta’s premier voices concerns about the federal government’s tariff strategy, New Brunswick’s leader shuts down the idea of cutting off power to neighbouring Maine, the B.C. Conservatives lose their third MLA this month, and a Legionnaire’s outbreak that sickened several Toronto transit employees is traced back to the transit system’s cooling equipment. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When announcing Canada's withdrawal from US trade talks, Prime Minister Mark Carney admitted that both Canadians and Americans will feel the hurt in their pockets.

Both countries have announced tariffs on a wide variety of goods, including toilet paper, feathers, fish and more. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that Canada will also be providing up to $7.5B in relief for Canadian workers and businesses.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Trevor Tombe, professor and Director of Fiscal and Economic Policy at The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. They discuss which goods are getting hit with tariffs, and just how hard our tariffs will hurt American industries.  

 

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Plus: A man accused of stabbing two worshippers at a Sikh temple with a screwdriver was released from prison just a day earlier, a multibillion-dollar fleet of Coast Guard icebreakers will be built in Quebec, a Montreal airport worker is struck and killed by a plane, WestJet flight attendants approve their labour agreement, and could Ukraine hold elections with a years-long war still raging? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.