Cross Country Checkup

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

Across the country, Canadians are watching what Donald Trump has been saying during his campaign, how he says it, what he promises to do if he gets elected, and what impact it will have on this side of the border.

What would a Donald Trump victory mean to you? What could it mean for Canada?

A.I. is already having an impact on Canadian creators, employers, and students. A 2023 survey by KPMG consulting found over a third of the companies they spoke to are regularly using ChatGPT in their work. So what are the concerns around artificial intelligence and how should Canadians prepare for the future?

David Gerhard is the head of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba. He took your questions about A.I.

Ontario premier Doug Ford has a tabled a bill that would require the province to approve any new bike lanes and give it the power to remove existing lanes built in the last five years. The premier says the goal is to reduce gridlock. But many experts say bike lanes actually reduce congestion on streets with provinces like BC and the city of Montreal spending millions of dollars on cycling infrastructure. When it comes to bike lanes do your streets have too many or too few?

Wherever you are in the country emergency department wait times are a concern for many people. How are they affecting you?

And in our second hour, Ontario premier Doug Ford has a tabled a bill that would require the province to approve any new bike lanes and give it the power to remove existing lanes built in the last five years. The premier says the goal is to reduce gridlock. But many experts say bike lanes actually reduce congestion on streets with provinces like BC and the city of Montreal spending millions of dollars on cycling infrastructure. When it comes to bike lanes do your streets have too many or too few?

There’s a lot at stake for Americans in this election and that’s also true for Canadians - America’s closest ally and largest trading partner.

On this podcast you’ll hear from callers on both sides of the border, across Canada and the United States. Our question: What’s at stake for you in the US Election? This is “America Votes: A Cross Border Conversation" - a co-production between CBC, The Middle, and WDET in Detroit.