The Big Story

Plus: today on The Big Story - host Caryn Ceolin speaks with political science professor Robert Speel about the U.S. election's impact on Canadians, new reports from the Salvation Army and Daily Bread Food Bank show grim numbers around food insecurity, Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with Commonwealth leaders in Antigua, Montreal's police force has cut seven officers for racist and discriminatory conduct, and charges placed have an assault at a mall restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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It's a day the U.S. Democrats have been waiting for, and one that's been keeping Republicans up at night.

Americans will head to the polls to vote in the 2026 midterm election to determine who will makeup the U.S. Congress. Preliminary polls show the Democrats are positioned to successfully flip the House of Representatives, while the race for the Senate remains more contested.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Robert Speel, a political science and public administration professor at Penn State Behrend College and Toronto Metropolitan University. The two discuss key races to watch out for, what Canadians should be taking note of as results roll in and how the Canada-US trade war may be playing a bigger role than U.S. President Trump wants to believe.

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Federal Government to restore its promise to make life affordable for Canadians. One Canadian was killed in the high-speed train crash in Spain last week. In Michigan, supporters of Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed pushed for their party in a tight race for a U.S. senate seat in tomorrow's midterm elections. US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra believes Canadians are interfering in the U.S. midterm election.

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Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called for the Indian Act to be abolished, which was met with echoes from Prime Minister Mark Carney who agreed that it should be scrapped.

The act was passed in 1876 with aims of assimilating Indigenous populations into Eurocentric ways of living through legislation that governs where they live, where their kids go to school, and who they are.

Host Maria Kestane speaks to John Borrows, the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto's faculty of law. They discuss the different approaches that could help repeal and replace the act, and why other Indigenous leaders believe Ottawa should keep it right where it is.

John Borrows is a leading voice in Indigenous governance across Canada. Read his latest book here: The Seven Cycles of Life by John Borrows | Penguin Random House Canada

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Few things are spookier than an interest rate hike. Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!"

The Bank of Canada opted to hike interest rates for the first time in three years in an effort to help runaway inflation because of high energy prices.

There are concerns this could push potential homebuyers to the sidelines and further hurt those looking to renew mortgages, as Canadians grapple with a rising cost-of-living. Throw in geopolitical tensions thanks to the Trump Administration, and we could see a pattern of interest rates in the near future.

Host Kris McCusker speaks to Clay Jarvis is a mortgage expert at Ratehub.ca to discuss what changes to make to your monthly budgets, and how homeowners and potential homeowner should approach the next few months.

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Plus: Canada is still reviewing its F-35 purchase even after receiving its first two fighter jets. Federal ministers won't say much about environment and climate change Canada abandoning its work to end thermal coal exports. Businesses are embracing the move to scrap the twice-yearly clock change ritual in some parts of the country. William Shatner, Hugh Jackman, and many more stars are paying tribute to Patrick Stewart with memories of the actor following the news of his death. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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Now that Question 10 has been put to rest, what about the other 9?

Albertans were asked a range of questions regarding the future of the economy, immigration system, and Canada's constitution. Official results released on Thursday found that voters want changes to what programs and services non-citizens can access, while striking down any changes to the constitution including abolishing the Senate.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Jared Wesley, political science professor at the University of Alberta to discuss where this leaves Danielle Smith's leverage against Ottawa, how the urban-rural divide showed up in the results, and how the provincial NDP could pull up a seat at the table.

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Plus: Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is not yet in a position to reach a trade deal with the U.S., even with the congressional midterms just days away. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says Ottawa is consulting its lawyers about remarks by the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, who suggested he bought Stelco to protect his company's U.S. operations from Canadian competition. The federal spending watch-dog plans to issue nine report cards today. The company that owns MV Odyssey says they've run out of money because of high fuel costs. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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Israelis showed up in historic numbers to have their voice heard in Tuesday's National election.

It's been more than a day since polls closed, and although official results remain unclear, neither Benjamin Netanyahu or his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, aren't projected to form a majority government.

Host Caryn Ceolin welcomes back Aurel Braun, an international relations professor at the University of Toronto to discuss what kind of coalition calculus could be on the horizon, the impact of the Arab vote, and the obstacles in the way of a possible unity government.

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Plus: Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says First Nations have offered mixed reactions to Ottawa's plan to review the Indian Act, a Ukraine-based animal rescue group says a Canadian volunteer has been killed in a drone attack, in Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe's government, in its throne speech, is promising to continue to cut personal income taxes, and five finalists vying to represent Canada at the 2027 Eurovision song contest are making their pitches. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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Since US President Trump took office, he vowed the Russian invasion into Ukraine would end within 'minutes'. Almost two years later, and ceasefire talks remain murky.

Within recent weeks, true colours have seemed to seep through diplomacy, including a diesel deal between the US and Russia - something Trump frames a way to lower cost of oil for Americans. Not only do Ukrainians have to deal with Russia's growing purse, but also with internet connectivity issues thanks to Starshield's service slowdown.

Host Maria Kestane speaks to Arne Kislenko, a history professor at Toronto Metropolitan University to discuss how vulnerable Ukraine is to Trump's personal agenda, and how deadly year six of the war could look like if the US continues to cozy up to Russia.

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Plus: Abu Dhabi's crown prince is in Ottawa for meetings as Canada and the United Arab Emirates work to cement their trade ties, the federal government is set to introduce changes today to Canada's medical assistance in dying law, new municipal governments are ready to get to work in Ontario after municipal elections last night, and a Montreal man and his fugitive racoon are back in the spotlight for a trip to get it vaccinated against rabies. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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Elon Musk is spending big this US Midterm election cycle, just like he did during the 2024 presidential election. Although this time, he's more lowkey about it.

He isn't one to join President Trump in the Oval Office with his son in tow, or wear a DOGE hat as he prances around the White House. This time, it's quiet donations to the tune of hundreds of millions into Super PACs like Texas PAC or the Senate Leadership Fund.

Host Maria Kestane is speaking to Paris Marx, host of the Tech Won't Save Us podcast and author of Hyperscale: The Ambition and Excess of Big Tech’s Data Empires. They discuss Musk's stake in the Texas Senate race and whether he's aware of his political unpopularity.

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Plus: former President Barack Obama took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, one of the four soldiers killed in the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright is being remembered as a dedicated brother and friend, British Columbia's Premier-Designate Lorne Doerkson has a long to-do list as he laid out his priorities just one day after his party was elected with about two-thirds of the province's 93 seats in the legislature, and the Ontario-born voice artist behind Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig, has died - Eric Bauza was 46. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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British Columbians have chosen Lorne Doerkson as their next Premier.

His victory follows a snap-election call by former Premier David Eby late last month, after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned from her role as leader of the BC Conservative Party after some three months on the job. Doerkson was since tapped to become interim leader of the party.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Andrew MacLeod, the BC legislative bureau chief with The Tyee, to discuss how Doerkson and his majority government will meet British Columbians where they're at, what this means for the province's relationship with Indigenous communities, and whether or not Eby is regretting his snap-election call.

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

Family-owned farms have been at the heart of Canada's economy for decades, and as they grapple with rising costs and a changing economic landscape, the idea of foreign capital may be enticing if executed properly.

Host Mike Eppel speaks to Kent Willmore, Founder and CEO of Crescero Natural Capital, a farmland asset management company. They discuss what future institutional investors have in Canadian farming and agriculture, and how to balance family-run operations with the need for capital.

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Canada's chief trade negotiator to the United States says Donald Trump will still be U.S. President after the midterm elections and will still drive trade policy. Canada's deepening ties with Europe could help fill some of the massive gaps left by the U.S. pulling back from foreign aid. Proposals that would limit access to provincial services based on immigration status are on track to narrowly pass in Alberta's referendum. The mother of a Canadian soldier killed at a military base in Alberta is remembering her son as passionate and loving.

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When was the last time you host a dinner party? Not for special occasion, just for the sake of it. How about the last time you went to one? Odds are, it's been awhile. With generations living in smaller homes, drinking less, and with less expendable income, they're becoming a rarer occurrence. But with the demise of the dinner party, what else are we losing?

Host Catherine Jette is speaking with Cathrin Bradbury, a columnist for the Toronto Star, about what the dinner party was and what we're losing as a society as we push its existence to the fringes.

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Plus: Carney is warning Stelco that it could face legal action if it fails to meet its employment commitments, the federal government will add $1-billion to help build a road to the Ring of Fire region in Northern Ontario, New Brunswick's biggest ocean port is getting a major upgrade, and today marks 12 years since a terrorist attack at the national war memorial and Parliament Hill that shook the country. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
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Protests have erupted across Europe, as activists seek for radical political and societal change.

In France, young people are looking to improve school conditions and access to education. Similar to those in Albania, Italy, and Serbia, where protesters are revolting against government corruption and the cost-of-living crisis.

Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Paul Waldie, European correspondent for the Globe and Mail to discuss the impact of Gen Z grass-roots movements, how governments could respond to their protesting populations, and when we could see the violence come to an end.

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