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The Big Story

An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.

  1. What is the January 6 Committee revealing? And will it matter?

    Wednesday, June 15th 2022

    The more the public learns about the events in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021, the more disturbing it gets. And the public hearings currently running on (most) American networks are offering a deeper look than ever before.

    So what are we learning that we didn't know before the hearings began? Are they really non-partisan? Could they lead to criminal charges against Donald Trump or members of his administration? And the most crucial question of all: Will they matter to voters, who will vote, both in November and in 2024, at least in part on the issue of free and fair elections?

    GUEST: Aaron Rupar, American political journalist, author of Public Notice

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

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

  2. A new, easier way for officers to search your devices at customs

    Tuesday, June 14th 2022

    The new threshold, included in an amendment to the Customs Act, is a "reasonable general concern". What's the legal definition of that? Here's the thing: There isn't one.

    In an attempt to create a higher barrier to opening Canadians' devices on entry, the Alberta Court of Appeals struck down the previous threshold, but left it to the government to create a new one. That's where "reasonable general concern" comes into play—and privacy advocates as well as a Canadian Senator are very concerned about the implications.

    GUEST: Senator Paula Simons

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

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

  3. What we're learning about the RCMP's response to the Portapique massacre

    Monday, June 13th 2022

    In short? That it was a huge mess. But that's not enough. An inquiry is trying to get to the bottom of the police response to the worst mass shooting in Canadian history, and around every corner seems to lurk a new detail about delays, misinformation, too many commanding officers and, above all, inaction.

    As Canadians learned in horror how police in Uvalde, Texas stood by while a shooter was murdering children in a school, they didn't have to look hard for a Canadian example of how utterly a response to a gunman can be botched. So what are the details? What do we still have to learn? And will there be any change, consequences or closure?

    GUEST: Greg Mercer, Atlantic Canada reporter, The Globe and Mail

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

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

  4. The CPC Leadership Race: Who is Jean Charest?

    Friday, June 10th 2022

    For those who have been paying attention to Canadian politics for the past 3-4 decades, Jean Charest will be a familiar figure. 
    Charest was first elected to the House of Commons in 1984, he lead the Progressive Conservative Party from 1993-1998, he also served as the 29th premier of Quebec... as a Liberal. 

    After a 10-year political hiatus, Charest is running for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. His past affiliations, and some of his policies, have been touted by his rivals as proof that he's a Liberal in disguise. His chances at winning may hinge on his ability to convince party members otherwise.  

    So what is Jean Charest's pitch? How do his politics stack up to the likely frontrunner, Pierre Poilievre? And does he actually stand a chance?  

    GUEST: Catherine Cullen, Senior Reporter on Parliament Hill for CBC News.

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

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

  5. Inside the Jacob Hoggard trial

    Thursday, June 9th 2022

    Almost five years have passed since the start of the #MeToo movement, and just a few days ago, a verdict was reached in the trial of a famous Canadian musician accused of sexual assault. The Hoggard trial serves as a sort of litmus test for how far Canada has (and hasn't) come in terms of its approach to cases involving allegations of sexual violence. The results were decidedly mixed, and quite revealing.

    Today, we'll take an in-depth look at the trial, and explore some of the evidence the jury never heard.

    GUEST: Alyshah Hasham, crime and courts reporter, The Toronto Star

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

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

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