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 smashed, Canadians are still concerned about their vehicles getting stolen despite falling theft numbers, and what happened during a controversial lockdown at an Ontario correctional facility three years ago? 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

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 an violent incident that lasted more than a day. Since then, multiple sentences have either been shortened or thrown out, including a first-degree murder case from 2022.

The provincial ombudsman has since launched an investigation to find out what exactly happened during the incident, and why prison officials reportedly lied about it.

Host Maria Kestane speaks to Brendan Kennedy, an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star to discuss the conditions in Maplehurst that might've led to the incident, and why the Ford government has been so quiet on it.

You can find some of Brendan's work here: https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/torturing-us-as-payback-inside-the-disturbing-allegations-of-how-ontario-jail-guards-exacted-their/article_0286cc24-5671-11ef-b32d-9394cf9702a4.html

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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, Spain wins the World Cup, and details on the Gordie Howe Bridge. 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

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 President Trump demanding a new deal in exchange for the American side opening up.

More than six weeks later, a new deal has been reached between Trump and Prime Minister Carney, yet no one seems to know the exact details of the deals - including the two leaders themselves.

Host Maria Kestane speaks to 680 News Radio Business Editor and co-host of In This Economy, Kris McCusker, and Drew Fagan, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. They discuss what we know about the deal and the new reality of White House deals.

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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 economy, despite the actual economic performance numbers showing that real gross domestic product has shrunk by 0.05% since he was elected, presiding over the worst first year of growth for a Prime Minister since at least 1963.

However, a Nanos research group poll shows 60% of Canadians think Carney has done a very good or good job of handling economic issues. The data suggests Canadians are blaming global factors for the economic slump rather than Carney himself.

But how long can that be expected to last? With Canadian households dealing with pocketbook issues such as high prices for gasoline and food, along with uncertainty about the job market, will those numbers start to decline? Or will they be solid so long as U.S. President Donald Trump is in the White House?

In today's episode of In This Economy?! host Mike Eppel speaks with Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos research.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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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.

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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 having the worst air quality in the world for most of Wednesday according to IQAir. Although conditions are expected to ease as the city heads into the weekend, was there a way to prevent it from getting this bad in the first place? And if so - why wasn't Ontario ready?

Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dr. Lori Daniels, Professor in the faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship at University of British Columbia. They discuss how Ontario has ended up here and how we can be better prepared for wildfire seasons to come.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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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 are now in effect, and could an 'explosive' parasite reach Canadian produce

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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 travel into your grocery store through things like imported lettuce, raspberries, carrots, or more.

And once you catch it, it causes some 'explosive' problems.

Host Caryn Ceolin is speaking with Keith Warriner, a professor of food microbiology in the department of food science at the University of Guelph to find out what Cyclospora is, what it does to the human body, and what the risk of it coming to Canada really is.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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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 damages Surrey City Hall, Nova Scotia premier John Hamm has died at the age of 88, and Lindsey Graham’s sister is sworn in to replace him in the U.S. Senate.

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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 only a few weeks has dragged into its fifth month, with a collapsed ceasefire, renewed rounds of attacks, an ambiguous Strait of Hormuz, and thousands of lives lost.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Aaron Rupar, publisher of the Public Notice newsletter to bring us up to speed where the US Israel - Iran war stands, Trump's long-game, and how Iran could leverage the war for decades to come.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

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