Monday, November 27th 2023

Picture it: Mosquitoes that don't spread disease. Aphids and potato beetles that stay away from our crops. Biting insects that don't bite humans. There's an awful lot of good in a world where we can make those changes. There's just one catch...

In order to do those things, we have to genetically modify those creatures, using cutting-edge technology that allows us to basically rewrite their code. The upside is tremendous, so the work is being done. But there are ethical questions as well as safety concerns: Are we messing with something we don't yet fully understand? What happens if it goes wrong? And ... ummm ... isn't this how the bad parts of sci-fi techno thrillers always begin?

GUEST: Ben Matthews, University of British Columbia, co-author of the Council of Canadian Academies report on regulating gene-edited organisms for pest control

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Saturday, November 25th 2023

The Big Story has been telling the stories that matter to Canadians for over five years, and through all of our coverage, one thing has become abundantly clear: A growing percent of the population can't afford to live basic, comfortable lives — and they want answers. In Frequency's newest show, In This Economy?! Jordan attempts to get to the bottom of how we got to this point, and share tips for how to achieve your goals despite living in a time of extreme economic uncertainty. Enjoy!

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Sam wants to leave her comfortable white collar job to pursue her passion project full time. But she's not sure if she's financially ready to make the jump. 

Jordan interviews personal finance expert, Jessica Moorhouse, who went down a similar path a few years ago. Together they break down how to manage this massive transition. 

Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod. Don't forget to leave a call-back number, so we can get in touch. 

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

Friday, November 24th 2023

Cameron Ortis was once seen as a fast-rising RCMP intelligence official. This week, he was found guilty of offering up Canadian intelligence to people for cash. How did he fall so far? What was he attempting to sell, and to whom?

In the bigger picture, Ortis' trial was a first for Canada, in a year of many unprecedented national security issues. What can we learn from this trial, and from Canada's approach to national security in 2023? Are we finally getting serious about threats and how we tackle them?

GUEST: Catharine Tunney, parliamentary reporter, CBC, covering national security and the RCMP

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

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Thursday, November 23rd 2023

It's one of the world's strangest alcohol sales arrangements. Since the end of prohibition, beer in Ontario has primarily—sometimes nearly exclusively—sold at a signle chain of stores, that sell only beer. Nothing else. And while The Beer Store began as a collection of Canadian brewers, it is now almost totally owned by two megacompanies who hold a huge competitive advantage.

A report last week indicated that the agreement that governs the situation will be allowed to expire, and the announcement will come before the end of the year. How did Ontario end up with The Beer Store in the first place? How has it held so much power for so long? And what will happen when it loses its hold on the industry?

GUEST: Josh Rubin, business reporter, The Toronto Star

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

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Wednesday, November 22nd 2023

If you haven't noticed yet, Canada's labour movement is undergoing a bit of a resurgence. Workers are unionizing more, and those that are already unionized are using their newfound leverage to win concessions from employers. Amid this climate comes Bill C58, which will prohibit some employers from using replacement workers (commonly known in unions as "scabs") during strikes or lockouts.

How long has this bill been in the works, and exactly what does it cover? What happens if critical workers leave the job? How will non-unionized Canadians feel it, if at all? And what can it tell us about the direction of both the labour movement and the federal government right now?

GUEST: David Reevely, Ottawa correspondent, The Logic

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

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