Cross Country Checkup

CBC•www.cbc.ca

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.

Last refreshed: July 9th, 2025 at 7:43 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Tariff Retaliation | Ask Me Anything

The trade war with Donald Trump has left many Canadians angry and worried. In response to Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imported goods worth $29.8 billion. But Trump is not backing down, and is still continuing with his “51st state” taunts. So, how should Canada respond? What options do we have? Carlo Dade is the director of international policy in the school of public policy at the University of Calgary. He is also a senior fellow at the Canad...

Mar 16, 2025•20 min

What impact is all the Trump turbulence having on your mental health?

Donald Trump's unpredictable, unrelenting tariff announcements and his threats to our sovereignty have turned things upside down. Some Canadians have responded by taking action: boycotting US products or cancelling trips south of the border. But the uncertainty is weighing heavily on lots of Canadians. Our question: What impact is all the Trump turbulence having on your mental health? In the last half hour: tariff retaliation. Our expert answers questions about the Donald Trump's trade war and h...

Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 52 min

Who should be the next Liberal leader?

It was just over two months ago that Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Prime Minister, kicking off the search for the next leader of the Liberal party. All of this is happening against the backdrop of a seemingly continuous stream of Trump tariff-threats designed to upend the Canadian economy. So as the Liberal party prepares to enter a new chapter, Canadians across the political spectrum are left wondering which leader has what it takes to take on Trump 2.0? Our question: Who should b...

Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 22 min

How are you coping without a family doctor?

There are six and a half million Canadians without a family doctor. That means more people waiting too long to get treatment or diagnosis, more pressure on emergency departments. Our question: How are you coping without a family doctor? What impact has it had on your health?

Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 52 min

Cross-Border Conversation: What do you think of Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state?

The U.S. and Canada have been long-time allies and neighbours. But when US President Donald Trump began musing and then doubling and tripling down on Canada as the "51st state" tensions pushed us to the brink of a trade war. Then, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a group of business leaders on a "hot mic" that Donald Trump's 51st state comments are not a joke but in fact “a real thing”. And after meeting Canadian premiers, deputy White House chief of staff, James Blair cautioned them ...

Feb 23, 2025•1 hr 52 min

Canada's Trading Strategy | Ask Me Anything

Right now, more than 77 per cent of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. But with the threat of Trump’s tariffs just weeks away, Canada is also looking to stretngthen trading relationships with other countries. So how feasible is it for Canada to expand its footprint in other markets? Our AMA brought in a panel of experts to explore that question. Moshe Lander is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Concordia University. And Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition, an orga...

Feb 16, 2025•20 min

How has Donald Trump changed the way you feel about Canada and what it means to be Canadian?

With every tariff threat Donald Trump makes and every casual reference to our country being the 51st state, Canadians have been responding. From Canadian flags on cars to flags draped over porch railings, Canadians are finding a newfound sense of patriotism. What impact has Donald Trump's tariff threats had on you? Has it made you reflect on what it means to be Canadian? And for our AMA, we brought in a panel of guests to dig deeper into Canada's trading relationships. Moshe Lander is a Senior L...

Feb 16, 2025•1 hr 48 min

What grade are you giving the Trudeau government on Trump’s tariff threat?

With the US tariff threat now on hold until March 4th, Trudeau has pledged $1.3 billion in new spending and a so-called “Fentanyl Czar” to curb illicit drugs at the border. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre wants Parliament to resume while issuing a new pledge life sentences for those convicted of trafficking fentanyl. With a Liberal leadership race and a federal election on the horizon voters are now thinking about who’s the best leader to face Donald Trump at the negotiating table. Our ques...

Feb 09, 2025•54 min

What impact has sports betting had on your life?

When it comes to sports betting, one thing is beyond debate: Super Bowl Sunday, is a betting bonanza. A Leger survey of Ontario bettors suggest millions of people in that province alone will be placing wagers. For many people it adds a little excitement to the game, but for others, sports gambling opens a door that can lead to a life-changing addiction. Our question: What impact has sports betting had on your life? How far is too far?

Feb 09, 2025•56 min

What questions do you have about US tariffs and how they'll hit your pocketbook?

After days of uncertainty and disbelief, President Trump has gone ahead with his pledge of imposing 25% tariffs across the board for Canadian imports, except for energy which will be 10%. As expected, Prime Minister Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs. Will Trump escalate the tariffs because of Canada's response? Or will he go in another direction altogether? As this trade war escalates, what questions do you have about US tariffs and how they'll hit your pocketbook?

Feb 02, 2025•1 hr 48 min

How is the Trump presidency changing your plans?

A lot of Canadians are angry over Donald Trump's repeated references about Canada being the 51st state, there's also anxiety over what impact 25 per cent tariffs will have on exports from this country to the states, and worry over a seismic shift in US government values. Our question: From vacations to groceries to doing business, how is the Trump presidency changing your plans? What's your Plan B?

Jan 26, 2025•53 min

What happened when you were faced with a sky-high veterinary bill?

We often hear people refer to their pets as members of the family, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they're willing to do almost anything they can to keep their pet healthy. But as vets have more sophisticated diagnostic tools and expensive drugs the bills can create financial hardship. What's behind the costs and can something be done to make care more affordable? Our question: What happened when you were faced with a sky-high veterinary bill? How did you deal with it?...

Jan 26, 2025•58 min

Can any Liberal leadership candidate sway your vote?

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?

Jan 19, 2025•54 min

What does another Trump presidency mean to you?

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...

Jan 19, 2025•58 min

How are you dealing with personal debt?

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?

Jan 12, 2025•53 min

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

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?

Jan 12, 2025•58 min

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