Cross Country Checkup

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.

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.

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.

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'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?

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?