Cross Country Checkup

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 your questions about how to start these conversations with your own teen.

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?

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-Harris debate matter to you? What will you be watching for? Todd Graham is a professor of debate at Southern Illinois University and an expert on the theatre of presidential debates. He joined us in addition to callers to see what he is going to be watching for as well.

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 fall election? And are you satisfied with your options for Prime Minister? And then in our second topic, we discuss why the Trump-Harris debate matters to you. 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-Harris debate matter to you? What will you be watching for? Todd Graham is a professor of debate at Southern Illinois University and an expert on the theatre of presidential debates. He joined us in addition to callers to see what he is going to be watching for as well.

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 Westheimer is a professor of democracy and education at the University of Ottawa and has written and talked about the value of a university degree. He’s also an education columnist with CBC Ottawa. He answered your questions about whether or not a University degree is still worth it.

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 kids change after they moved out? And then in our second topic, we discuss the value of a university degree. 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 Westheimer is a professor of democracy and education at the University of Ottawa and has written and talked about the value of a university degree. He’s also an education columnist with CBC Ottawa. He answered your questions about whether or not a University degree is still worth it.

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 Mushroom retailers are popping up like....well...mushrooms. Our AMA answers listener questions about psilocybin.

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 problem for North American automakers. Back in May American President Joe Biden announced a 100% tariff on EVs made in China.Now the Canadian Government is considering a tariff of their own while still trying to stay on track with their target of 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035. Would you buy a Chinese-made EV?

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 future of the war.

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 your questions about the highs and lows of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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 meeing a biological family member for the first time?

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 go from here? Christopher Devine is an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton. He's also the co-author of the book, "Do Running Mates Matter? The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections". He answered your questions about Kamala Harris.

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 related to e-scooters. What's your opinion on the rising number of e-scooters on our streets?

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 performance coach. She answered your questions about pushing kids too hard in sports.

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?

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?

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 Hunter is the Senior Washington Correspondent for CBC News. He answered your questions about the state of the U.S. presidential race.

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 happening in the United States right now? What needs to be done to take the temperature down from here?

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 cohabitation agreements.