Cross Country Checkup

Canada plans to restrict kids under 16 from social‑media accounts, with exceptions for safer platforms. Supporters say it protects kids; critics point to Australia, where most teens stayed online despite a ban. Parents, experts and young people weigh in on what really works.

This ICYMI episode takes you back to Father's Day in 1990. Canada was in the midst of a culture shift as women joined the workforce in growing numbers, and men taking on more child-rearing responsibilities than past generations. With expectations around fatherhood changing in real time, Checkup asked: “Can Dad really take care of the kids?” Here's what some callers told Dale Goldhawk in 1990.

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in on the trend of Canadian crowds booing the U.S anthem and flag at sporting events. We hear perspectives from Canadian fans, sports journalists on both sides of the border, along with a Canadian mayor on why booing worries him at a time of tense U.S.-Canada relations.

While bars, hotels and tourism operators are hoping to reap the benefits of soccer fans taking over Canada, the Parliamentary Budget Officer says hosting the World Cup will cost taxpayers more than a billion dollars. This episode dives into how Canadians are feeling about hosting the FIFA World Cup - and the massive price tag. You'll get all the angles, from fans, an economist, and a soccer journalist.

Just before Canada’s first World Cup match, flag bearers from host nations walked out. The US flag appeared, and then boos started from the crowd. The episode follows a trend that started last year at sporting events after Trump's repeated threats to annex Canada and U.S. tariffs came into effect. We speak to sports journalists on both sides of the border about the the politics of protest at sporting events. We also hear from a Canadian politician discouraging fans from booing as U.S.-Canada relations remain strained.

This ICYMI episode takes you back to November of 2022 -- the last time Canada's men's team qualified for the World Cup. That tournament was in Qatar. And that Canadian team made history -- by scoring a goal. Alphonso Davies put Canada on the board against Croatia -- the lone goal in a 4-1 loss. Here's Checkup callers hours after the game with host Ian Hanomansing.

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in about the challenges young people are facing finding jobs and housing. We hear perspectives from Canada about how young people's financial future, and how they're families are figuring out how to support them. Career advisor Devon Turcotte and Family Counselor Alyson Schafer share their insights on how young people and their parents can navigate the road ahead.

For decades, adulthood followed a familiar script: finish school, land a job, move out, build a life. But today's economy is rewriting that story. With youth unemployment at 13% and more young adults living at home longer, the old milestones of "adulting" are shifting...for young Canadians and the parents supporting them. Career advisor Devon Turcotte and family counselor Alyson Schafer have answers for families looking to navigate this new reality without friction, guilt or outdated expectations.

With insolvency filings up 8% over last year and essentials like gas and groceries squeezing household budgets, Canadians share how they're rethinking how they spend, save, and stay afloat. Financial educator Mark Kalinowski joins us with clear, practical advice on how to get help when budgets are tight.

This ICYMI episode takes you back to October of 1990 - a moment when Canadians were staring down soaring interest rates, spiking oil prices, and waves of layoffs at CN Rail, Imperial Oil and Air Canada. The Conference Board of Canada had just declared a recession, while Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Finance Minister Michael Wilson hesitated to say the word. Checkup callers share how they were surviving tough economic times with host Dale Goldhawk.