

Cross Country Checkup
CBC
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 17, 2025 • 1h 3min
Should the government be forcing Air Canada flight attendants back to work?
The Carney government has forced the airline and its flight attendants into binding arbitration just hours into a work stoppage. But flight attendants say their rights have been taken away, arguing the feds caved to Air Canada. And they are staying on strike despite action from the government. It's one of the busiest times of the year for travel, and many passengers still don't know when or how they'll get home.Our question: Should the government be forcing Air Canada flight attendants back to work? How have you been affected by the strike?

Aug 17, 2025 • 50min
How’s the fight to cut screen time going this summer?
It's the dog days of summer, and for many families that means a tug-of-war between the iPad and the park. But who's really struggling more to unplug, is it the kids or the parents? How to set boundaries and reclaim real-world connection, the kind that replays as warm summertime memories with your family in the years to come.Our question: How’s the fight to cut screen time going this summer? Are we expecting too much from kids or not enough from parents?

Aug 10, 2025 • 53min
How is Trump’s trade fight with Canada affecting you?
The US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, says it's not personal but don't tell that to Ontario Premier Doug Ford. He told CNN that Trump is "probably the most disliked politician in the world." The same week Trump fired his Labour Statistics chief after weak job numbers, then posted on Truth Social that his tariffs are "boosting the stock market". Doug Ford says Canada will "outlast the Trump administration", but for many Canadians, the damage is already done.Our question: How is Trump’s trade fight with Canada affecting you? What matters to you about the Canada-US relationship?

Aug 10, 2025 • 58min
What’s the biggest misconception about your generation?
There’s a war of words playing out at dinner tables, in the office kitchenette, on Instagram, TikTok and yes, Facebook too. Each generation armed with punchlines are poking at one another. Boomers with accusations of 'entitlement'. Millennials rolling their eyes #OKBoomer. Gen X wallowing in "middle child" syndrome. And have you been on the receiving end of the Gen Z stare?But the banter can cut deeper than it first appears: accusations of laziness, a lack of commitment, or even narcissism. But what if those stereotypes are just noise drowning out deeper conversations about work, values, economic fairness and resilience?Our question: What’s the biggest misconception about your generation? How do generational stereotypes affect how you’re seen and heard?

Aug 3, 2025 • 44min
Why does the Pierre Poilievre byelection matter to you?
Two hundred and ten names, and one of them is Pierre Poilievre. The Battle River-Crowfoot byelection in Alberta isn't just about who wins one seat. It's about what kind of democracy Canadians want.The Conservative leader is trying to return to Parliament after losing his longtime seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton. But he's facing a record-breaking protest —hundreds of candidates, most are backed by an electoral reform group, trying to make a point about how our system works, or doesn't. Some call it a mockery. Others say it's a wake up call. Either way it's testing the rules, the voters, and the future of Canadian politics.Our question: Why does the Pierre Poilievre byelection matter to you? What does it say about Canadian politics?

Aug 3, 2025 • 1h 9min
What challenges are you facing while buying Canadian?
"Buy Canadian", it's a patriotic pledge, and for many of us, a personal one. But, in the middle of a trade war with Donald Trump that pledge is getting harder to keep. Prices are rising. Grocery labels are confusing. And depending on what you're looking for, it can be almost impossible to find a purely Canadian-made product.What challenges are you facing while buying Canadian? What questions do you have about Donald Trump’s tariffs?

Jul 27, 2025 • 54min
How do you explain the Hockey Canada trial to your kids?
There are lots of opinions and debate about the verdicts in the Hockey Canada trial in London Ontario. But we're not asking whether the judge got it right or wrong. Instead, we want to look at another important issue: how the intense attention on this trial is influencing a national conversation with our kids. Is this an opportunity for change? Our question: What conversations are you having about the Hockey Canada trial with the young people in your life?

Jul 27, 2025 • 58min
When it comes to bike lanes, do your streets have too many or too few?
You may be watching the bike lane debate unfold in your local council chambers, your provincial legislature or right outside your front door. Lately, provincial governments in Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia have been veering into what has always been a municipal issue. Bike lanes have become a lightning rod for urban planning, for safety for who gets space on our roads. Some see them as an important part of making cities livable. Others see them as an expensive nuisance that disrupts traffic and hurts local retailers. But whether you're behind the wheel, on two wheels or just crossing the street -- the pressure is on to pick a lane and fix it -- whichever one you're in. Our question: When it comes to bike lanes, do your streets have too many or too few?

10 snips
Jul 20, 2025 • 58min
Are e-scooters public transportation or a public menace?
Raghu Venugopal, an emergency physician from Toronto, shares alarming statistics about the surge in e-scooter injuries, highlighting head trauma and emergency visits. Larry Wartels, an urban planner, discusses the integration of e-scooters into city infrastructure. They explore the dual nature of e-scooters as eco-friendly transport while addressing safety concerns, the need for better regulations, and the challenges posed by speeding riders. Together, they ponder whether e-scooters are a revolutionary transport option or a growing public safety menace.

Jul 20, 2025 • 54min
What's your reaction to the viral Coldplay couple controversy?
There was an awkward "KissCam" moment at a Coldplay concert on Wednesday night. Two concertgoers, one with his arms around the other, and suddenly they were on the big screens in the stadium. Their shocked reaction was posted on social media and went viral. The online sleuthing escalated quickly, they were identified as a tech company CEO and the head of HR. There were allegations of an office affair, and ultimately a resignation. It's a soap opera that's gripped millions online, raising questions about what's public, what's private and the line between social media scrutiny and online bullying. Is this an example of accountability, transparency and holding people to high standards? Or, is it a worrying case of viral overreach, where personal privacy is being eroded by algorithms?Our question: What's your reaction to the viral Coldplay couple controversy?


