Cross Country Checkup

Cross Country Spotlight - highlights from Checkup on Sunday. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans will swing around the moon and head back home. It’s thrilling. It’s historic. And it’s expensive. We heard from callers —Why does space exploration matter to you? Is it worth the money? Here are some highlights from the show.

The federal NDP is pitching public, non-profit grocery stores. They say it's to bring prices down. City governments in New York and Toronto are studying the idea while Mexico has had a government-run chain since the 1950s. Supporters say it could lower bills. Critics say it won't. Our question: Are government-run grocery stores the fix for high prices? How's the cost of food affecting you?

We're approaching a big moment for the Artemis II mission, as the crew prepares for their flyby around the moon. It’s not a landing, but it’s the first time in more than 50 years that humans will swing around the moon and head back home. It’s thrilling. It’s historic. And it’s expensive. Artemis has blown past budgets and timelines. And here in Canada, taxpayers will contribute more than $800 million to the Canadian Space Agency this year. So, is it worth it? Our question: Why does space exploration matter to you? Is it worth the investment?

Stephen Lewis passed away early on March 31st, 2026. He appeared on Cross Country Checkup multiple times throughout his career as a politician, ambassador, and activist. Here's a selection from an interview he did back in October of 1977 when he was the leader of the Ontario NDP. The question for callers on that program was, "What do you think is the critical issue facing the next session of parliament?”

Cross Country Spotlight - highlights from Checkup on Sunday. A month into the US–Israel war in Iran, civilian deaths rise, tensions spread across the region, and allies like Canada face tough choices. Here's a digest of Checkup's Q&A with experts on what’s happening now...and what could come next.

It wasn’t that long ago that the federal NDP held 103 seats. Since then, it’s been a steady slide. Just seven MPs were elected last time, and one has since crossed the floor to the Liberals. NDP members are hoping that the rebuild begins, with their new leader Avi Lewis, and a new direction. What does the NDP need to do to be relevant? Does Canada need 3 major political parties?

It’s been just over a month since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. The fallout is global, oil prices have spiked, pushing up the cost of living, and what happens next is far from clear. What questions do you have about the war in the Middle East?

Avi Lewis was elected as the new leader of the federal NDP party, earlier on March 29, 2026. We are revisiting another memorable moment for many in that party, August 2011. Former NDP leader Jack Layton died of cancer, just months after leading the NDP to its best ever election result.

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?