SpaceX launched its fifth Starship test flight on Sunday. The company's goal is to build a resuable rocket that could reach the moon one day, and maybe even Mars. Colonel Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space, completing multiple space missions, spacewalks, and even serving as commander of the International Space Station back in 20…

Late last month a video surfaced of a 13 year old girl being attacked with about 30 young people there as bystanders. Police charged five youth who were identified as the “aggressors”. it's not an isolated incident. Statistics Canada says youth crime was up 5 percent IN 2022. is this a recent phenomenon? Or do we just have more videos on social med…

According to CBC’s Poll tracker, the Conservatives have almost a 20-point lead over the governing Liberals, and their lead has been holding steady for months. We know that there will be an election before October 2025, though it could come sooner. We wanted to take stock of who Pierre Poilievre is and what a possible Poilievre government might look…

For many of us, the most important role we'll ever have is "parent". It's also one of the most challenging. So it's no surprise the US Surgeon General recently issued a warning about the potential toll of parenting on mental health. Which parenting issue is causing the most stress in your family? How did the way you were parented affect the way you…

In less than a year, NASA is sending four astronauts to fly around the moon as part of the Artemis II mission. The 10-day flight will test NASA's space exploration capabilities with astronauts aboard for the very first time. And Ontario’s Jeremy Hansen will be part of that crew, making him the first Canadian astronaut – and first non-American – to …

Addiction can be agonizing and, far too often, deadly. It can tear apart families and communities. So it's not surprising that politicians are under pressure to do something about it. And increasingly, some provinces are calling for involuntary care: forcing some people into treatment and keeping them there until the program is finished. There are …

Our AMA guest today will be a familiar voice to our listeners. Carol Off spent sixteen years co-hosting CBC’s As It Happens, after a career as a correspondent reporting from all over the world. The thousands of interviews she’s conducted have laid the groundwork for her new book entitled “At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage.” Each …

A lot of Canadians are feeling the pain of polarization. In politics for sure. But many felt pushed apart by the pandemic, from masks to vaccines to where you got information you trusted. Debate is sometimes replaced by slogans. People and their positions reduced to a single word: Marxist, fascist, elitist, extremist. So how is polarization affecti…

Parents often say they'd do anything to make sure their children are well cared for. But what happens when that relationship shifts as those children become adults caring for an aging parent? Finding the answer can strain family finances and families themselves. How have you dealt with caring for an aging family member?…

A new report from the World Health Organization suggests that teens, including Canadians, are using condoms less. At the same time STI’s like syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV have been on the rise in Canada. Cory Silverberg is a sex educator and author of "You Know, Sex" a book geared towards young people and all the questions they have. They answered …

There is so much at stake in a US Presidential race. One gaffe or the perfect quip in the debate just might be enough to determine the winner in one of those too close to call swing states. And if truth matters, everyone will have their hands full on Tuesday night fact checking a barrage of problematic or misleading claims. So why does the Trump-Ha…

Suddenly, we could be one House of Commons vote away from a federal election. If that vote was a confidence motion on the budget for example, it would trigger a federal election. For the Conservatives, riding high in the polls, that may be an exciting prospect. For supporters of other parties, maybe less so. What do you think? Should there be a fal…

The Bank of Canada looked at data from 2018 gathered by Statistics Canada. It determined that workers in their 40’s with a university degree earned about 10 dollars more per hour than those who graduated from college or another post-secondary school. But that gap was larger back in 1997 and the economy has certainly changed since 2018. Joel Westhei…

It is one of those life-changing moments that doesn't get a lot of attention. Even the greeting card industry hasn't created an "Empty Nest" category. However you feel about it, when a child moves out, it's a dramatic change and for some it can be a rough time. What happened the day you became an empty nester? How did your relationship with your ki…

Magic Mushroom retailers are popping up like....well...mushrooms. Dr. Rob Tanguay is an Addiction and Pain Psychiatrist, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta. He answers listener questions on psilocybin, including potential medical uses and its pitfalls.…

Ontario's Health Minister announced plans to close half of the supervised consumption sites in the province, while increasing spending on homelessness and addiction treatment centres by nearly $400 million. How do you feel about supervised consumption sites in your community? Should there be restrictions on where they’re located? Plus, Magic Mushro…

There's been a lot of hype around EVs made in China lately the BYD Seagull, a Chinese-made 4-door EV with a range comparable to the most affordable electric vehicles you can buy in Canada right now has a price tag of just $13,000 The cheapest 2025 EV available in Canada will cost you roughly $27 000 more than the BYD Seagull. This could be a major …

Ukraine's surprise attack into the Kursk region of Russia has sent shock waves around many parts of the world as fears of escalation mount. Alexander Lanoszka is an associate professor of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo. He answered audience questions on Sunday about Ukraine's military strategy and what this could mean for the f…

There were some big wins for Canada at the Paris Summer Olympics, breaking, fencing, track. Summer McIntosh became the first Canadian athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. But there were also controversies like the women’s soccer drone scandal. Morgan Campbell is a sports reporter and a Senior Contributor with the CBC. He took…

It's never been easier to get a DNA test, but that doesn't mean what happens next is easy. From the elation of finding your long lost birth parent, to the shock of discovering a family secret, to the tangle of emotions between family members old and new, for better or worse, you may be opening a door that will never close. What was your experience …

Kamala Harris is expected be confirmed as the Democratic presidential candidate, making her the first woman of colour to run for the US presidency for a major party. Already, the polling gap between Republicans and Democrats has narrowed substantially, with Harris even polling ahead of Trump in some battleground states. So where will the campaign g…

There's a lot to like about electric powered scooters, relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly, but if you're a pedestrian who's been hit by a scooter rider zipping along the sidewalk you may feel differently. Earlier this summer, Montreal's Children's Hospital called for stricter rules on the road after a series of devastating ER visits r…

The summer Olympics are in full swing in Paris and it’s hard not to get swept up in the Olympic glory when so many amazing human feats are on display. The rush of Olympic glory can be intoxicating for young athletes, their parents and coaches. But are we pushing our kids too hard to be the best? Brenley Shapiro is a sports psychologist and performa…

One third of the buildings in Jasper have been destroyed and no one knows when people can return and start to rebuild. Across the country, many of you are also feeling a sense of loss and uncertainty. When will we be able to visit Jasper again and what will it look like?

Joe Biden is officially out of the 2024 presidential race. He posted a statement on X Sunday afternoon saying "I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on my duties as President" Moments later he offered his full support and endorsement for Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Paul H…

According to Statistics Canada there's been a drop in the number of people living together as couples over the last 30 years Why people are choosing to be on their own? What does that mean for their state of mind and financial bottom line? Are single people more or less happy on their own?

Last night Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI says it was an assassination attempt. The former President is fine according to his campaign and will still attend the upcoming Republican National Convention this week, but many believe that political discourse in the U.S. is not fine. What’s your reaction to what’s happen…

The question of whether or not to sign a prenup can be a touchy one for couples to navigate, but apparently the practice is becoming less taboo. An Angus Reid survey earlier this year found two-thirds of Canadians believe prenups are a good idea. Farzana Jiwani is a lawyer at Modern Family Law. She answered your questions about prenups and cohabita…

Questions about whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden should step aside have been popular topics of conversation for months now, but you don't have to be a national leader to have faced the difficult challenge of having people suggest you give up something that you've worked hard to achieve. Maybe you felt you needed to step…

At least one current member of parliament and several former Liberal politicians are questioning the Prime Minister's leadership after a surprising by-election defeat in Toronto. The Prime Minister says he'll keep fighting for Canadians, and members of his cabinet have come out in his support. But what do you think should happen next?…

Cross Country Checkup is celebrating Canada Day weekend with two topics. First, in this post-Stanley Cup, pre-Olympic moment, we were thinking about the role sports plays in our national culture. Those events that bring us and bind us together, that don't just entertain... but inspire. Join Ian Hanomansing and long-time CBC Sports host Scott Russel…

This Thursday is the first debate of this U.S. presidential election campaign. U.S. President Joe Biden will square off against former U.S. President Donald Trump. Ali Velshi is an award-winning journalist, chief correspondent with MSNBC, and host of the weekend program, "Velshi.” He answered your questions about his career, his new book, as well a…

At the moment, many Candians are going through crisis. We started the show with an evacuee from Churchill Falls, a town in Labrador. Hundreds of people were evacuated from that town because of a wildfire this week. As well, the residents of Calgary are being asked to conserve water after that water main break earlier this month. But in many catastr…

For many Canadians housing affordability is the issue right now. The federal Liberals have promised to build 3.9 million homes by 2031. But recent warnings from CMHC say housing production in Canada is still lagging behind. Sean Fraser is the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities He answered your questions about the housing cr…

About 20 per cent of Canadians work most of their hours from home according to Statistics Canada. Some cities are now asking whether downtown cores need workers to return to the office. Is it fair for employers and politicians to push for workers to come back? Is working from home better for you? What's best for your community?…

If you or your child is wrapping up high school or university, you’ve probably got more questions than answers about what comes next. From diving straight into work, taking a gap year, or pursuing further education, there are plenty of options. Sabrina McTaggart is a career coach who helps young adults find their career paths. Rachelle Doucet is a …

Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador are considering banning future generations from ever being allowed to buy tobacco. Do you think this approach will work? And how did you manage to quit smoking?

For years, medical experts have been calling for the national guideline for routine breast cancer screenings to be lowered from 50-years-old. But last week, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care released a draft recommendation that said it’s not going to lower the recommended screening age to 40 for women with average risk – and that de…

Canada's Competition Bureau is going to study the country's domestic airline industry. Many of us rely on airlines to stay in touch with family to conduct business and to explore this vast country but it can be expensive. How can we make it better? Does Canada’s airline industry need an overhaul? Are there enough travel options in your part of the …

Journalist Paul Wells has been covering federal politics for decades. He’s written about former Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Paul Martin. His new book explores Justin Trudeau’s time in office since his government came to power in 2015. He answered your questions about federal politics.

In British Columbia there were 25-hundred and eleven illicit drug deaths last year -- the majority of them involving the opioid fentanyl. Meanwhile, the provincial government announced it's banning illicit drug use in public spaces, a key feature of last year's pilot program which aimed to decriminalize drug use in many instances. Amidst the decrim…

This week marked what could be the beginning of another dangerous wildfire season. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes because of fires throughout parts of western Canada. This is after last year's record breaking season which saw tens of thousands of people flee their homes, 15 million hectares of land burnt, and nearly the entire…

Spring can be a vulnerable time for migraine sufferers. Our AMA guest this week was Dr. Christine Lay, a neurologist and the Founding Director of the Headache Program at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lay answered questions about migraine headaches, along with suggestions for migraine prevention and management.…

Lab-grown meat has been making political news this week. Our AMA guest this week was Isha Datar. She is the executive director of New Harvest, a nonprofit research institute that funds cultured meat research. She answered your questions about lab-grown meat.

A recent boycott against Loblaws aims to try to force the grocery giant to reduce prices. The company's recent quarterly report shows an increase in profits, while food prices have gone up roughly 20 per cent in Canada over the last 3 years. Do you think the boycott have an effect? How are you dealing with the high cost of groceries, and who or wha…

The recent encampments on campuses across North Amercia have stimulated a lot of debate about what limits there should be on protest and activism. Have these demonstrations changed any of your views about the conflict? And beyond the universities, in your personal life, how are you dealing with conversations about the Israel-Hamas conflict?…

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre recently suggested that, if elected, he might use the notwithstanding clause to push through criminal law reform. The clause has never been used before at the federal level --though it has been used provincially. Eric Adams is a law professor at the University of Alberta who specializes in constitutional law. He…

According to the Coffee Association of Canada, the average coffee drinker in Canada consumes over two cups of coffee a day. Andy De Santis was our AMA guest this week. He is a Registered Dietician with a private practice in Toronto. He answered your questions about coffee, energy drinks, and caffeine.…

We produce 400 million tonnes of plastic waste worldwide every year. This past week, an international conference in Ottawa debated how best to reduce that amount. Is the amount of plastic you use important to you? Is a world with less plastic even possible?

Earlier this week, the NBA banned Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter from the league following an investigation into gambling allegations. CBC news reporter Jamie Strashin has been leading our coverage on sports betting and closely following Jontay Porter’s ban. Chelsea Rodrigues is a problem gambling counsellor at the Centre for Problem Gambling…