Just Asking

On the eve of the Alberta referendum, political scientists Lori Williams and Julie Simmons field your questions about what led the province to this moment and how the independence question will shape the future of politics in Alberta and the rest of the country.

Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney joins Just Asking to take your questions about the Alberta referendum, the future of the United Conservative Party and his case for a united Canada. He’s joined on the show by Alberta separatist organizer Angela Tabak.

The World Health Organization has issued its first-ever guidance on addressing a sharp increase in childhood obesity globally. Experts say the problem is driven by multiple factors, including ubiquitous ultra-processed foods, rising screen time, and a lack of safe physical activity spaces. We’re taking your questions about childhood obesity and how to address it without compounding weight stigma and negative self-image. Dr. Mélanie Henderson is a pediatric endocrinologist and researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal. Amanda Raffoul is an assistant professor in the department of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto.

Thanksgiving weekend is the unofficial kickoff to a season of gatherings. You may be planning get-togethers for Diwali, Hanukkah, or the winter solstice in the coming weeks. And while there’s lots of merriment when you share space and food with friends and family, there’s also friction. Our guest experts offer tips on how to gather well despite our political, generational, and cultural differences. Kate Mulligan is principal at the department of neighbouring and associate professor at the University of Toronto. Lambers Fisher is a licensed marriage and family therapist. And Yasmeen Rafiq is a registered social worker and therapist.

A viral internet debate about the appropriateness of walking into a job interview carrying an iced coffee has sparked a discussion about what professionalism means today. At a time when four generations share the workplace, how do we reach a consensus on what constitutes professional behaviour?Our guests are: Jermaine Murray, career coach and founder of Jupiter HR; Aakanksha Tangri, founder of Reset, a wellbeing and professional development organization; and Anthony McLean, speaker and author of the book, Four Generations: How Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z Can Finally Work Together.

Environmentalists say Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to quickly build infrastructure comes at the cost of species and environmental protection. We explore what fast-tracking major projects, including a pipeline, would mean for the natural world — and whether climate protection has to be at odds with growing the economy.Amy Janzwood is an assistant professor in the department of political science and the Bieler School of the Environment at McGill University. Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood is a senior researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The United Nations is considered the global stage of diplomacy, with a mandate to be the guardian of security around the world. But as the 81st UN General Assembly gets underway, there are questions about the effectiveness of the UN and its role in a changing world.Richard Gowan is the director of global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group. Marie-Joëlle Zahar is a political science professor and the director of the Research Network on Peace Operations at the University of Montreal. Margaret Besheer is a former journalist with the Voice of America, where she worked as UN bureau chief for 17 years. 

The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that by 2030, nearly one million Canadians will live with some form of dementia. We answer your questions about the evolving landscape of research, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Samir Sinha is a geriatrician and clinician scientist at Sinai Health System and University Health Network, and director of health policy research at the National Institute on Ageing. Dr. Elise Levinoff is director of geriatric medicine at the Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre. And Paul Gallagher is a health reporter and co-author of the 2026 World Alzheimer's Report. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to forge what he calls “an alliance for the future” with the European Union. We answer your questions about what exactly that alliance could look like — and what a stronger Canada-EU partnership would achieve on the global stage. Stéphane Dion is a former Liberal leader who has served as Canadian ambassador to France and Germany. He was also a special envoy to the European Union from 2017 to 2025. He's now a diplomat in residence at the University of Montreal. He joins the show alongside Maria Popova, an associate professor of political science at McGill University.

As e-bikes and e-scooters grow in popularity, municipalities across the country are grappling with how to regulate and enforce rules around them while emergency room doctors warn of rising injuries. Our guest experts take your questions about where these mobility devices belong, who should ride them and how to regulate them.Our guests are: Jeff Casello, professor of transportation, engineering and Planning at the University of Waterloo; Jamie Stuckless, owner and principal consultant at Stuckless Consulting Inc.; and Dr. Laurie Plotnick, physician and head of trauma at the Montreal Children’s Hospital’s emergency department.