Cross Country Checkup

Spiking gas prices will have a ripple effect across the Canadian economy, leading to higher prices for groceries, heating and holiday travel. So how are you adapting? What habits have you changed to stay afloat?

With graduation season looming, Grade 12 students are feeling the heat. University admission averages have climbed for 15 straight years—a trend experts call "grade inflation." As the race for top marks intensifies, what's it doing to student stress levels, and their future opportunities?

Canada's healthcare system is buckling. Doctors in Quebec are leaving the public system. Alberta is opening the door to more private care. Meanwhile millions of patients are waiting for surgery, or a family doctor. Are private clinics and physicians the solution to Canada’s healthcare crisis?

After the US-Israel strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Mark Carney initially backed efforts to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Days later, he added that all sides...including the US and Israel....must follow international law and work toward de-escalation. His comments come as questions grow about whether Canada's military could be pulled into the widening conflict, especially with attacks reaching countries beyond Iran, including a NATO ally. So how do you grade Mark Carney's stance on the crisis? And what should Canada's response be as the conflict expands?

AI is no longer theoretical; it's in the boardroom, it's on the battlefield, and it's reshaping everyday life across Canada. Reports suggest Anthropic's AI platform, Claude, may have been used in recent US strikes on Iran. Closer to home, companies are increasingly citing AI as the reason for layoffs as they realize new efficiencies. As this technology accelerates, Canadians are asking a simple but urgent question: Is AI helping us ...or quietly taking over? With Canada set to unveil a new national AI strategy in the coming weeks the answers to those questions are more pressing now than ever.

Canadians are among the most radon-exposed people on the planet. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It is invisible, odorless, and radioactive. Aaron Goodarzi, a professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and scientific chair of the Canada-wide Evict Radon study, joined us to explain more about this cancer causing gas and how to get rid of it.

For weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump had been talking about potentially using military force in Iran. Early on Feb. 28, it happened: the United States and Israel launched missiles into Iran, and the regime retaliated. What questions do you have about the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran? What’s at stake for you?

The Milano Cortina Games are drawing to a close. Even if you only dipped in and out, you probably caught the curling double-touch controversy and some big wins for Team Canada in speed skating. On the other end, there was the heartbreak of Canada’s overtime losses to the U.S. in both men’s and women’s hockey. This Olympics has had a little bit of everything. What did the 2026 Olympic Games mean to you?

With spring break nearing and summer travel ahead, especially with the FIFA World Cup coming to North America, Canadians are making plans. But for many, they’ve got their Elbows Up when it comes to U.S. travel. For some, avoiding the U.S. isn’t just about patriotism, but personal safety with new mandates at the border. What’s affecting your decision to travel to the US? Do you judge people who do?

The New York Times published an article detailing the Tumbler Ridge shooter's online activity which included regular exposure to extremely violent content online. The shooter's digital footprint reflects a broader pattern where youth are being drawn into what some researchers call "nihilistic violence." To unpack what this means, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Canada Bureau Chief for The New York Times, and Steven Rai, Senior Research Manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, joined us for a special Ask Me Anything.

The small town of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. is trying to cope after eight people, including six children were killed in Tuesday's mass shooting. Friends and neighbours, and neighbouring towns have been stepping in to help as the tight-knit community grieves. The devastating loss isn't just the stuff of headlines, many Canadians have had to figure out a path forward in the aftermath of unexpected, personal losses too. How did you get to the other side of a tragedy?

Alberta separatists are now gathering signatures for a referendum they hope will force a province-wide vote on leaving Canada. Just last week, the Alberta Prosperity Project revealed they met with Trump officials, an act BC Premier David Eby called “treason”. What does it actually mean for a province to “separate from the country”? Are you worried about the Alberta separatist threat? What's one thing Ottawa should do to make Canada more unified?

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has been critical of efforts by separatists in his own province, calling the push for a referendum on leaving Canada "deeply divisive." Last week, after separatist leaders claimed they had backing from members of the UCP. Kenney warned that MLA's from his former party should not be signing a petition that promotes separation. As the separatism debate heats up,Jason Kenney joined us for a special Ask Me Anything.

From connecting with customer service online, or asking for health advice, chances are you've already been interacting with an AI chat bot. AI is everywhere, helping us save time, learn new things, and juggle daily tasks, while also raising serious concerns about jobs, education, and trust. As companies like Amazon invest billions in generative AI, and cutting thousands of jobs. How are you using AI? Is AI making our lives better or worse?

Canada has lost a comedy legend. Tributes continue to pour in for Canadian comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, whose career spanned five decades. From her early sketch comedy days on SCTV to unforgettable roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, The Studio, and Schitt’s Creek, she was beloved by Canadian fans and admired around the world. Her extraordinary body of work left a comedic influence that stretched far beyond our borders. What was your favourite Catherine O’Hara moment? What does she mean to you?

Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back without ever saying President Donald Trump’s name, and it didn’t go unnoticed. After Carney’s remarks in Davos declared the rules-based international order a "fiction" ruptured by superpowers, Trump fired back with taunts and tariff threats. Carney responded to Trump’s tariff threat by confirming that Canada never had any intention of securing a free-trade deal with China. Is it better to stand up or cozy up? What are your thoughts on Mark Carney and his handling of Donald Trump?

A lot of theories, and a lot of speculation, until January 23,2026, when Ryan Wedding was taken into U.S. custody after a decade on the run. How does a Canadian Olympian end up in handcuffs, with U.S. authorities comparing him to “El Chapo” and Pablo Escobar? And what’s the real story behind the seized art, luxury cars, and motorcycles?

We've got a special episode today courtesy of our friends at As It Happens. The show airs weeknights at 6:30 pm ET and covers everything from complex stories, to the weird and wacky. It's a unique and intimate take on the news. We've got three shows chosen from this past week's episodes of As It Happens. You'll hear the Globe and Mail's Robert Fife on how the Canadian Armed forces have modelled a response to the unthinkable -- a hypothetical U.S. military invasion of Canada. A man names Ted Smith tells the show about his journey to exonerate his father, Tommy Lee Walker, 70 years after Walker was found guilty of raping and murdering a white woman name Venice Lorraine Parker. And Canadian hip-hop artist Michie Mee is going to celebrated with a stamp for Black History Month.

Just nine months ago, Mark Carney said China is Canada’s top security threat. On January 16th, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his first major trade deal—one that could reshape what’s in your driveway. The agreement opens Canada’s doors to a wave of Chinese electric vehicles, while Beijing slashes tariffs on key Canadian exports through 2026. So what changed—and what does it mean for Canadian jobs, consumers, and the road ahead?

For many people, retirement isn’t the finish line; it’s a turning point. Whether it’s learning something new, giving back, or redefining daily life, finding purpose after work can be deeply personal, and sometimes unexpectedly hard. Where did you find purpose after retirement or are you still searching?