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Cross Country Checkup

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

Cross Country Checkup is Canada's only national phone-in show, broadcasting live from coast to coast to coast. Checkup is Canada's weekly town hall — a place for raw, honest perspectives on the most pressing issues of the week. For over 55 years, it's where Canadians gather to listen to each other every Sunday afternoon. Call us: 1-888-416-8333.

Location:

Canada, ON

Description:

Cross Country Checkup is Canada's only national phone-in show, broadcasting live from coast to coast to coast. Checkup is Canada's weekly town hall — a place for raw, honest perspectives on the most pressing issues of the week. For over 55 years, it's where Canadians gather to listen to each other every Sunday afternoon. Call us: 1-888-416-8333.

Language:

English

Contact:

CBC Audience Relations P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada M5W 1E6 888-416-8333


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Episodes
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Can any Liberal leadership candidate sway your vote?

1/19/2025
Chrystia Freeland has officially launched her Liberal Party leadership campaign joining a list of contenders including Karina Gould, Mark Carney and others. Whoever wins the race has an uphill battle ahead of them with the Conservatives leading the polls. Our question: Can any Liberal leadership candidate sway your vote? With CPC ahead by more than 20 points, is the election result a foregone conclusion?

Duration:00:54:11

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What does another Trump presidency mean to you?

1/19/2025
With Trump's second term upon us, Canadian politicians are holding their breath to see how serious Trump is about imposing tariffs on Canadians imports. He's threatened to put a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods on day one of his presidency. If that comes to pass, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it could cost half a million job in his province alone. Yesterday, Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand announced Canada is ready to counter with retaliatory measures she says will "be the single largest trade blow the U.S. economy has ever endured". Our question: What does another Trump presidency mean to you? How seriously are you taking his tariff threats?

Duration:00:58:22

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Do we need cancer warnings on beer, wine and liquor?

1/12/2025
Well, when you pick up a six-pack or bottle of wine at the store, how often are you thinking about the health risks? Just last week the U.S. Surgeon General recommended new warning labels on alcohol packaging, a cause also being taken up by Senator Patrick Brazeau here in Canada. Our question: Do we need cancer warnings on beer, wine and liquor? Are you rethinking how much you drink?

Duration:00:57:59

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How are you dealing with personal debt?

1/12/2025
According to a poll this month from CIBC, paying down debt is the top financial priority for Canadians in 2025. And nearly a third of those surveyed said they took on more debt in the last 12 months because of the cost of living. For many, 2025 will also see mortgage payments go up, with over 1 million Canadians facing a mortgage renewal this year. Our question: How are you dealing with personal debt? What questions do you have?

Duration:00:53:13

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Have you had a celebrity encounter? What happened when you met your hero?

1/5/2025
Idols and heroes can have a huge influence in your life as you follow their lives from afar. But what happens when you actually meet them? Have you had a celebrity encounter? What happened when you met your hero?

Duration:01:13:03

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What’s missing in the conversation about obesity, dieting and detox?

1/5/2025
Dealing with obesity and weight management can be a sensitive, deeply personal challenge. Often when someone goes looking for answers about weight loss they are confronted with a sea of misinformation online or unsolicited advice from not-so-helpful acquaintances. We spoke to an expert who answered a wide range of questions about weight management, whether you’re feeling guilty about how much you consumed over the holidays or trying to reach that new year’s resolution Our question: What’s missing in the conversation about obesity, dieting and detox? What questions do you have?

Duration:00:36:26

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What was the most important news story of 2024? Which one didn't get enough attention?

12/30/2024
2024 has been full of non-stop headlines that hit home for Canadians and their families around the world. From the fall of the Assad regime to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza to the situations in Haiti and Sudan. Here at home it's been a tumultuous year in Canadian politics with calls for Prime Minister Trudeau to resign as Canada prepares to negotiate with the incoming Trump administration. We're joined by a panel of CBC journalists to reflect on this year's news cycle and why these stories matter.

Duration:01:51:33

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Topic 2: What happened when a flight passenger crossed the line?

12/22/2024
For many, the unbridled joy of the holiday season awaits at the other side of a long flight. It's a time when millions of strangers gather inside airports and airplanes to jump cues at security, fall asleep in aisle seats, and possibly to remove their shoes mid flight. Whether you're travelling solo or with family, it's hard to know all the unwritten rules of flying from reclining chairs, to pre-boarding calls we spoke with two experts, one to answer your questions about holiday travel, and another to help counsel us all on flight etiquette.

Duration:00:30:19

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Topic 1: Do you have confidence in the Trudeau government?

12/22/2024
It’s been a tumultuous week for the Liberals. On Friday, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Parliament should reconvene just after the NDP vowed to vote down Liberal government. On the same day, Justin Trudeau announced a cabinet shuffle with eight new faces joining cabinet. This chain of events was set in motion after Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet in dramatic fashion last Monday. A total of 21 Liberal MPs have publicly urged the Prime Minister to resign. And on Saturday, over 50 Liberal MPs from the Ontario caucus met and collectively decided that Justin Trudeau needs to step down as party leader. Those calls have not been answered. Our question: Do you have confidence in the Trudeau government? Where do we go from here?

Duration:01:22:14

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Topic 1: Should Canada be America’s 51st state?

12/15/2024
Last month Prime Minister Trudeau traveled o Mar-A-Lago to talk about the threat of U.S. tarrifs with President-elect Donald Trump. At that meeting Trump apparently joked about Canada becoming the so-called "51st state." It wasn't the first time. Then last week Trump appeared to take another jab at Trudeau calling him the "Governor" of the "Great State of Canada." According to a recent Leger poll 13 per cent of Canadians said they would support Canada becoming the 51st State. The majority surveyed rejected the idea. What do you make of all the Trump jokes? Should Canada be America’s 51st state?

Duration:00:54:40

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Topic 2: Are kids getting ruder in the classroom and beyond?

12/15/2024
A recent study from Brock University in St. Catharines found that kids and teachers in Ontario saw a rise in rude behaviour in the classroom since the pandemic. Those findings echo the results of a poll in Quebec where the majority of teachers reported a rise in rudeness and incivility over the past two years among their students. Are kids getting ruder in the classroom and beyond? How do you deal with a child who misbehaves?

Duration:00:58:00

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Topic 2: Which services deserve a tip and which ones don’t?

12/8/2024
Tipping used to be pretty straightforward, 15 per cent at a restaurant, a couple extra dollars for a cab driver. But expectations have changed and a lot of us are struggling to figure out who to tip, how much, and who gets the money? Which services deserve a tip and which ones don’t? Is it a fair way to pay workers?

Duration:00:43:18

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Two-topic Sunday: Syria and the fall of the Assad regime | Tipping culture

12/8/2024
The rebel offensive in Syria has been incredibly quick and effective, recently taking the last of the country's major cities, the capital, Damascus. According to Russian state media, the overthrown Syrian leader Bash-ar al-Assad has been granted asylum in Moscow. The main rebel group leading the offensive, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says former Prime Minister Mahammed Gha-zee al-Ja-la-lee will oversee state institutions for now. The sweeping change comes after nearly 14 years of civil war. The conflict has seen more than 500-thousand Syrians killed, while millions have fled the country. What questions do you have about Syria and the fall of Bashar al-Assad? And in our second hour: Tipping. Expectations have changed about who to tip and how much. Which services deserve a tip and which ones don’t? Is it a fair way to pay workers?

Duration:01:51:56

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Two-topic Sunday: Has self check-out made your life better or worse? | Are you having a tough negotiation at home or at work? How do you get the deal done?

12/1/2024
Whether at groceries stores, gas stations or online banking, self-service is a nearly unavoidable aspect of daily life. For many, using apps to order food and book flights is efficient and cheap. But the there is no shortage to the frustrations that come along with automated phone calls or trying to find the right produce code at the grocery checkout. Has self check-out made your life better or worse? And in the second hour, whether it's Canada Post, Donald Trump or working out screen time with your kids, life is a negotiation. We spoke to an expert on negotiating to help you resolve conflicts and get the deal done.

Duration:01:51:19

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Topic 2: Are you having a tough negotiation at home or at work? How do you get the deal done?

12/1/2024
Whether it's Canada Post, Donald Trump or working out screen time with your kids, life is a negotiation. We spoke to an expert on negotiating to help you resolve conflicts and get the deal done.

Duration:00:40:13

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Two-topic Sunday: What’s your reaction to Justin Trudeau's tax break on groceries? | Why are you pumping the brakes on buying a new EV?

11/24/2024
On Thursday the Prime Minister proposed giving all Canadians a 60-day tax break on groceries. Since GST/HST is already excluded from some food staples the 60 day tax break would apply to items like prepared foods; snacks, beer, wine as well as toys, books, and Christmas trees. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has called the tax break a “trick", while the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh is taking credit for the idea, arguing the changes should be made permanent. What do you think about the tax break? Is it enough to help with your food costs? In our second hour, The Canadian government is trying to phase-out gas-powered cars and move to 100 percent electric by 2035. But while sales continue to rise, the curve is flattening a bit. Cost, range anxiety, seem to be slowing the pace. Car makers, in turn, are cutting quotas or shifting to more hybrid rather than pure electric vehicles. Why are you pumping the brakes on buying a new EV?

Duration:01:51:48

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Donald Trump's Cabinet Nominations | Ask Me Anything

11/17/2024
It's been almost two weeks since Donald Trump was re-elected. So far the US president-elect has announced a slate of cabinet nominations and some nominees are facing heavy scrutiny. Our AMA guest is journalist Zack Beauchamp. He's a senior correspondent for Vox who covers US democracy. He's also the author of a new book, “The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World”. He took your questions about Trump's cabinet picks and what to expect from his second term.

Duration:00:20:08

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How is the Canada Post strike affecting you?

11/17/2024
Whether you're running a small business or live in a rural area, Canada Post is an essential service for many Canadians. There are also people who have very little connection to the postal service as email, online billing and private delivery companies have made many Canadians less reliant on the mail. Then there are other issues: what's fair for workers, particularly after the high inflation of the last few years? What responsibility does management have to control costs? When, if ever, should the government step in? How is the Canada Post strike affecting you, and what do you think should be done about it?

Duration:01:52:19

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Trump's win and Canadian politics | Ask Me Anything

11/10/2024
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s decisive victory last week, political watchers are reflecting on why Trump won, why Harris lost, and what it could all mean for Canada. The top issues in the U.S. election – the economy, immigration, and political polarization – also resonate with voters here in Canada, as Canadian parties prepare for their own election campaigns. David Herle is a partner with the consultancy firm The Gandalf Group, a former Liberal campaign strategist, and the host of the Herle Burle podcast. Ken Boessenkool is a partner at Meredith-Boessenkool policy advisors and served as a campaign advisor to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They joined us to take your questions about the U.S. election result and what it means for Canadian politics.

Duration:00:20:01

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What conversations are you having about inheritance?

11/10/2024
A staggering $1 trillion is set to be handed down from older Canadians to their heirs over the next two years. According to CPA Canada, it's the largest transfer of generational wealth in Canadian history. Behind the numbers are lots of issues, from the impact on house prices to our basic sense of fairness. What conversations are you having about inheritance? How should we spread the wealth between generations?

Duration:01:52:19