Just Asking

Former astronaut Chris Hadfield will be releasing his novel Final Orbit, set against the backdrop of the 1970s Space Race. As NASA prepares for its second year-long Mars simulation mission, Hadfield will explore what it will take for NASA to get humans to Mars by 2030, how astronauts are preparing, and what we can expect from the next phase of space exploration. Chris Hadfield joins Just Asking to answer all your space questions!

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called on the federal government to scrap the temporary foreign worker program, and create a separate immigration stream for farm workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Poilievre claims the TFW program has made it harder for young people to find work, but economists are pushing back on that assessment. So what are the facts about the TFW program and what kinds of reforms should be looked at? Just Asking was joined by Armine Yalnizyan, an economist and the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, and Amanda Aziz, a staff lawyer at the Migrant Workers Centre in B.C.

What are the economic and political risks at stake when it comes to Canada's trade with China, and how should our leaders approach it? Co-Director of the China Strategic Risks Institute Margaret McCuaig-Johnston and director of StrategyCorp's Geopolitical and International Business Advisory Jeff Mahon answer your questions.

How do you know when your family relationships are fixable or when it's time to set boundaries? Clinical psychologist Heather MacIntosh and writer Gabrielle Moss answer your questions.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.