Cross Country Checkup

It was just over two months ago that Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Prime Minister, kicking off the search for the next leader of the Liberal party. All of this is happening against the backdrop of a seemingly continuous stream of Trump tariff-threats designed to upend the Canadian economy. So as the Liberal party prepares to enter a new chapter, Canadians across the political spectrum are left wondering which leader has what it takes to take on Trump 2.0? Our question: Who should be the next Liberal leader? Who do you think is strong enough to take on Donald Trump?

There are six and a half million Canadians without a family doctor. That means more people waiting too long to get treatment or diagnosis, more pressure on emergency departments. Our question: How are you coping without a family doctor? What impact has it had on your health?

The U.S. and Canada have been long-time allies and neighbours. But when US President Donald Trump began musing and then doubling and tripling down on Canada as the "51st state" tensions pushed us to the brink of a trade war. Then, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a group of business leaders on a "hot mic" that Donald Trump's 51st state comments are not a joke but in fact “a real thing”. And after meeting Canadian premiers, deputy White House chief of staff, James Blair cautioned them to take Donald Trump’s comments about the 51st state "at face value”. But while some see this as an attack on Canadian sovereignty, others believe the President is trolling and seeking negotiation leverage for the next round of trade talks. Our question: What do you think of Trump's comments about Canada becoming the 51st state?

With every tariff threat Donald Trump makes and every casual reference to our country being the 51st state, Canadians have been responding. From Canadian flags on cars to flags draped over porch railings, Canadians are finding a newfound sense of patriotism. What impact has Donald Trump's tariff threats had on you? Has it made you reflect on what it means to be Canadian? And for our AMA, we brought in a panel of guests to dig deeper into Canada's trading relationships. Moshe Lander is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Concordia University. And Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition, an organization dedicated to better trade relations between the U.S. and Canada.

Right now, more than 77 per cent of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. But with the threat of Trump’s tariffs just weeks away, Canada is also looking to stretngthen trading relationships with other countries. So how feasible is it for Canada to expand its footprint in other markets? Our AMA brought in a panel of experts to explore that question. Moshe Lander is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Concordia University. And Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Future Borders Coalition, an organization dedicated to better trade relations between the U.S. and Canada.

When it comes to sports betting, one thing is beyond debate: Super Bowl Sunday, is a betting bonanza. A Leger survey of Ontario bettors suggest millions of people in that province alone will be placing wagers. For many people it adds a little excitement to the game, but for others, sports gambling opens a door that can lead to a life-changing addiction. Our question: What impact has sports betting had on your life? How far is too far?

With the US tariff threat now on hold until March 4th, Trudeau has pledged $1.3 billion in new spending and a so-called “Fentanyl Czar” to curb illicit drugs at the border. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre wants Parliament to resume while issuing a new pledge life sentences for those convicted of trafficking fentanyl. With a Liberal leadership race and a federal election on the horizon voters are now thinking about who’s the best leader to face Donald Trump at the negotiating table. Our question: What grade are you giving the Trudeau government on Trump’s tariff threat? How will it affect your vote?

After days of uncertainty and disbelief, President Trump has gone ahead with his pledge of imposing 25% tariffs across the board for Canadian imports, except for energy which will be 10%. As expected, Prime Minister Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs. Will Trump escalate the tariffs because of Canada's response? Or will he go in another direction altogether? As this trade war escalates, what questions do you have about US tariffs and how they'll hit your pocketbook?

A lot of Canadians are angry over Donald Trump's repeated references about Canada being the 51st state, there's also anxiety over what impact 25 per cent tariffs will have on exports from this country to the states, and worry over a seismic shift in US government values. Our question: From vacations to groceries to doing business, how is the Trump presidency changing your plans? What's your Plan B?

We often hear people refer to their pets as members of the family, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they're willing to do almost anything they can to keep their pet healthy. But as vets have more sophisticated diagnostic tools and expensive drugs the bills can create financial hardship. What's behind the costs and can something be done to make care more affordable? Our question: What happened when you were faced with a sky-high veterinary bill? How did you deal with it?

Chrystia Freeland has officially launched her Liberal Party leadership campaign joining a list of contenders including Karina Gould, Mark Carney and others. Whoever wins the race has an uphill battle ahead of them with the Conservatives leading the polls. Our question: Can any Liberal leadership candidate sway your vote? With CPC ahead by more than 20 points, is the election result a foregone conclusion?

With Trump's second term upon us, Canadian politicians are holding their breath to see how serious Trump is about imposing tariffs on Canadians imports. He's threatened to put a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods on day one of his presidency. If that comes to pass, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it could cost half a million job in his province alone. Yesterday, Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand announced Canada is ready to counter with retaliatory measures she says will "be the single largest trade blow the U.S. economy has ever endured". Our question: What does another Trump presidency mean to you? How seriously are you taking his tariff threats?

Well, when you pick up a six-pack or bottle of wine at the store, how often are you thinking about the health risks? Just last week the U.S. Surgeon General recommended new warning labels on alcohol packaging, a cause also being taken up by Senator Patrick Brazeau here in Canada. Our question: Do we need cancer warnings on beer, wine and liquor? Are you rethinking how much you drink?

According to a poll this month from CIBC, paying down debt is the top financial priority for Canadians in 2025. And nearly a third of those surveyed said they took on more debt in the last 12 months because of the cost of living. For many, 2025 will also see mortgage payments go up, with over 1 million Canadians facing a mortgage renewal this year. Our question: How are you dealing with personal debt? What questions do you have?

Idols and heroes can have a huge influence in your life as you follow their lives from afar. But what happens when you actually meet them? Have you had a celebrity encounter? What happened when you met your hero?

Dealing with obesity and weight management can be a sensitive, deeply personal challenge. Often when someone goes looking for answers about weight loss they are confronted with a sea of misinformation online or unsolicited advice from not-so-helpful acquaintances. We spoke to an expert who answered a wide range of questions about weight management, whether you’re feeling guilty about how much you consumed over the holidays or trying to reach that new year’s resolution Our question: What’s missing in the conversation about obesity, dieting and detox? What questions do you have?

2024 has been full of non-stop headlines that hit home for Canadians and their families around the world. From the fall of the Assad regime to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza to the situations in Haiti and Sudan. Here at home it's been a tumultuous year in Canadian politics with calls for Prime Minister Trudeau to resign as Canada prepares to negotiate with the incoming Trump administration. We're joined by a panel of CBC journalists to reflect on this year's news cycle and why these stories matter.

For many, the unbridled joy of the holiday season awaits at the other side of a long flight. It's a time when millions of strangers gather inside airports and airplanes to jump cues at security, fall asleep in aisle seats, and possibly to remove their shoes mid flight. Whether you're travelling solo or with family, it's hard to know all the unwritten rules of flying from reclining chairs, to pre-boarding calls we spoke with two experts, one to answer your questions about holiday travel, and another to help counsel us all on flight etiquette.

It’s been a tumultuous week for the Liberals. On Friday, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Parliament should reconvene just after the NDP vowed to vote down Liberal government. On the same day, Justin Trudeau announced a cabinet shuffle with eight new faces joining cabinet. This chain of events was set in motion after Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet in dramatic fashion last Monday. A total of 21 Liberal MPs have publicly urged the Prime Minister to resign. And on Saturday, over 50 Liberal MPs from the Ontario caucus met and collectively decided that Justin Trudeau needs to step down as party leader. Those calls have not been answered. Our question: Do you have confidence in the Trudeau government? Where do we go from here?

Last month Prime Minister Trudeau traveled o Mar-A-Lago to talk about the threat of U.S. tarrifs with President-elect Donald Trump. At that meeting Trump apparently joked about Canada becoming the so-called "51st state." It wasn't the first time. Then last week Trump appeared to take another jab at Trudeau calling him the "Governor" of the "Great State of Canada." According to a recent Leger poll 13 per cent of Canadians said they would support Canada becoming the 51st State. The majority surveyed rejected the idea. What do you make of all the Trump jokes? Should Canada be America’s 51st state?