Just Asking

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government ordered public servants to work from the office four days a week starting this fall, then full-time in January. Now, he's calling on municipalities to send their workers back to the office five days a week. Large private corporations, like Amazon and major banks, are ending remote work for employees as well. Working from home was a success during the pandemic and after. So, why are employers ready to shut it down? What can workers do about it? And what do we lose when we don't have that choice? Why does it matter if employees are in the office? Scott Schieman is a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto who researches life at work and Adam Savaglio is an employment lawyer.

The return to school is just around the corner and some older students will be taking classes in post-secondary institutions for the very first time. It can be as scary, anxiety-filled and exciting as the first day of kindergarten. And that's just for the parents and guardians. So, how do you turn that stress into success? How do you make friends? Eat healthy? And stay focused on learning? Dr. Shimi Kang is an author and psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds, a counselling service for teens and families. Amanda Round is a McGill University student studying Marine Science and a social media content creator helping Canadian students figure out life on campus.

Krista DuChene, an Olympic marathon runner and registered dietitian, Kevin Masters, a clinical psychologist focused on exercise psychology, and Allison Hill, founder of a run club for Black women, dive into the exciting world of running. They discuss the post-pandemic surge in popularity, effective strategies to avoid injuries, and ways to begin a running journey. The trio also emphasizes the mental and physical benefits of running, shares personal transformations, and highlights the empowering role of community in the sport.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is running in a record-breaking by-election in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot, facing more than 200 other candidates. While he’s expected to win, the race raises bigger questions about his leadership and the direction of the party. To take your questions on the future of the Conservatives, Just Asking was joined by Erika Barootes, a Conservative strategist and Department Head of Applied Politics and Public Affairs at MaKami College in Edmonton, and Sabrina Grover, a Liberal strategist and senior advisor at NorthStar Public Affairs in Calgary.

From ghosting to swipe fatigue, many people are rethinking online dating and looking for ways to meet partners in real life. We take your questions on how to navigate dating without apps, and explore how dating technology has reshaped the way we connect and build relationships. Myisha Battle is a dating coach, writer and host of the KC-RW Podcast, “How’s Your Sex Life?”Diana Parry is a professor in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.Rachael Brewin-Caddy is the host of Thursday Dating, an in- person event series for singles.

A new report from IBM estimates that data breaches in Canada now cost companies nearly $7 million to recover from, and the risks to our personal information are growing. We look at what happens when your data is exposed, why it’s so valuable to cybercriminals, and what steps you can take to protect it, with advice from security experts.Yvette Elliott is an expert in AI and digital marketing and Brent Arnold is a Partner and Litigator with the law firm Gowling WLG. He works on cases dealing with data breaches and cybersecurity.

From splitting chores to navigating labour disputes, negotiation is everywhere, and it can be intimidating. Whether you're bargaining over rent, salary, or high-stakes union demands, we take your questions on how to become a more confident and effective negotiator. Helping us out are Nil Ataogul, Advisor for Mobilization and Labour Relations at the Quebec Federation of University Professors, and Fabiola Tassy, a lawyer and sessional lecturer at McGill University where she teaches negotiation. We also hear from Bob Bordone, senior fellow at Harvard Law School and founder of The Cambridge Negotiation Institute and author of 'Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreements Without Giving Up or Giving In.'

More Canadians are exploring polyamory and consensual non-monogamy, but navigating those relationships can be emotionally complex. How do you know if it’s right for you? What does healthy communication look like across multiple partners? And how do you talk to your loved ones about it? Just Asking takes your questions with help from Kaleigh Trace, a registered psychotherapist and couples therapist, and Mel Cassidy, a somatic relationship coach who is solo-polyamorous.

As famine-like conditions grip Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid has become a global flashpoint. Over 120 people have reportedly died of starvation since October 2023, most of them children, and international pressure is mounting on Israel to ease restrictions. To answer your questions about the humanitarian crisis, Just Asking spoke with Aya Batrawy, a journalist and Middle East Correspondent for NPR based in Atlanta, and Dr. James Smith, an emergency physician and professor at University College London who has spent over two months in Gaza since the war began.

The not-guilty verdict in the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has sparked a national conversation about how we define and understand consent. As the legal system wrestles with questions around fear, coercion, and credibility, Just Asking looks at what consent really means in practice and how we can talk about it more openly. Joining us are Farrah Kahn, a consent educator and the CEO of Possibility Seeds, and Gillian Hnatiw, a Toronto-based lawyer who specializes in gender-based violence.