Canada is torn over the notwithstanding clause

Plus: Trump's primetime address, rising cost of gas, pay-hike for federal workers, Stephen Lewis has died, and Canada is torn over the notwithstanding clause. 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

Quebec's secularism law, Bill 21, prohibits certain public servants from wearing religious symbols while on the job. It was passed in 2019 with a pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding law - a section of the Charter that protects legislation from court intervention if the legislation goes against other freedoms. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments on how provinces should apply the notwithstanding clause, and whether or not its application should be subject to review after the fact. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to journalist Max Fawcett to discuss the historical context of the clause, what legal challenges come with Bill 21, and potential outcomes from the Supreme Court's decision. 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

Plus: Day 32 of the war in Iran, a royal visit to the U.S., mail delivery changes coming, the colorectal cancer screening age lowers for one province, and has Ontario lost its way with colleges? 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

Decades ago, Ontario's colleges operated with a goal of improving local economies and regional communities. Now, Premier Doug Ford claims if you're not in a highly-skilled field, the baskets you're looking to weave are no where to be found. With cuts to OSAP on the provincial level, and caps to student visas on the federal level, the mission of our colleges have seemed to have shifted towards keeping the lights on with as little investment as possible. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dr. Emilda Thavaratnam, an educator at Centennial College. She authored an article called 'Ontario’s colleges were founded to serve local and regional needs — have we forgotten that?'. The two discuss how the college system's ethos has shifted from locally-driven to profit-yielding, and how the province's most vulnerable are falling between the cracks. 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

Plus: Avi Lewis is the new federal NDP leader, the war in Iran enters its 5th week, TSA agents in the U.S. may get paid for the first time in weeks, and a NASA mission is ready to go. 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

After leading the party to it's worst ever result, Jagmeet Singh resigned as NDP leader. Now, nearly one year after the election that reduced the party to just six seats, New Democrats have elected the leader who will have the daunting task of rebuilding and rebranding. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with former Hamilton Centre NDP MP Matthew Green, who was one of many NDP politicians who lost their seats in 2025, about where the new leader wants to take the party, and what they need to do win back the hearts and minds of Canadians. 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

Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show 'In This Economy?!'. Just three months in, and 2026 is already being coined as the 'Year of the Layoff', with companies blaming AI for letting chunks of their workforce go. But is tech really replacing workers — or just being used as a convenient excuse? Host Mike Eppel speaks to Ben Shiller, Brandeis University economist and associate professor, and author of 'A.I. Economics: How Technology Transforms Jobs, Markets, Life, and Our Future'. The two discuss the fears of a shrinking white‑collar job market, the realities of AI’s impact, and why your future job security may depend on the sector you choose. 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

Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show 'In This Economy?!' It’s known as “the singles tax” – an extra amount that solo earners pay to go through life without a partner. In some cases it can be punitive, and it’s prompted many Canadians to get creative. Host Kris McCusker speaks to financial journalist and author Renée Sylvestre-Williams about her book “The Singles Tax: No Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners,” which can be found at your favourite book store. 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

Plus: The bodies of two pilots who died in this week's crash in New York have been repatriated to Canada, long lines at U.S. airports should soon dissipate, NDP convention begins in Winnipeg as members prepare to pick a new leader, Earth Hour this weekend, and can Canada get a grip on its tipping culture? 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

Tipping-- it's one of those things everyone has an opinion on, and that opinion is normally shaped by what side of it you're on. And the number of services you're expected to tip for-- and the suggested tips on machines-- seem to be going up. So it comes as little surprise that a new H&R Block survey found 67% of Canadians think tipping culture has gone too far. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dr. Wayne Smith, the Director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, to discuss Canada’s tipping history, and how our culture has gotten to this point. 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