The Big Story

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.

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Plus: A man is killed by an ICE agent in Maine, a B.C. nurses put their picket lines on pause, a former MP is arrested for illegal firearms possession, and what factored into Canada’s decision to cut visas for students and temporary workers?

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has made drastic cuts to the amount of student and temporary foreign worker visas issued to newcomers. Impacted by the cuts are not just school programs, but local restaurants, hotels, long-term care homes, construction sites, etc.

Host Maria Kestane speaks is joined by Shilpashree Jagannathan, a freelance journalist who wrote an article on the effects of immigration cuts on local communities. After the break, she speaks to Sharry Aiken, an immigration law professor at Queen's University to break down why the IRCC is making all these changes to its policies.

You can read Shilpashree's article here: https://thewalrus.ca/immigration-cuts-are-hollowing-out-small-communities-across-canada/

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Plus: Toronto Police is investigating a deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival, Disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been found guilty sexual assault and forcible confinement charges at a Montreal courthouse, U-S and Iran are both claiming they control the Strait of Hormuz, the union representing more than five-thousand Canadian auto-workers has reached a tentative deal with Ford motor company to keep them on the job, and does Canada need a relationship with Saudi Arabia?

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky