Cross Country Checkup

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?

"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?

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?

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?

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?

They can fly by before you even hear them - those sleek two wheeled battery powered scooters. They are transforming city sidewalks, bike lanes and roads, often bypassing traffic jams and drawing riders with a quick zip to their destination. But beyond the breezy rides there's a growing concern. Emergency room doctors are sounding the alarm - injuries linked to e-scooters have surged 32% in just one year, according to the latest data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Head trauma, shattered bones, sudden emergency department visits from what seems like a quick, fun ride. Sales are booming, sidewalks are crowding, and city planners and politicians are scrambling to figure out where they belong. Our question: Are e-scooters revolutionizing your daily commute or are they an accident waiting to happen?

Mark Carney hasn't been on the job for long, but a lot has already happened during his time in office. The trade dispute with the U.S. continues. Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Thursday. He ended the consumer carbon tax, passed Bill C-5 - aimed at fast-tracking 'nation-building' projects, and he has made pledges to end barriers to interprovincial trade by Canada Day and to boost military spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035, an increase that could cost $150 billion per year. Our question: What grade are you giving Prime Minister Mark Carney, so far?

Political differences can be a minefield among family and friends, trade tensions. new tariff threats from Donald Trump. "Elbows Up' and calls to “Buy Canadian", there's a shift happening —not just policy, but how many Canadians relate to their neighbours south of the border. It's changing what many people buy, where we travel - even how we talk to American family, friends and coworkers. Our question: What conversations are you having with Americans? How are the Canada-US relationships going in your life?

The job picture is bleak for young people right now. Canadian youth between the ages of 15 to 24 are facing the highest unemployment rate since the mid-90's, the only exception —the pandemic years. According to numbers from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the jobless rate for young people has been rising faster here in the past two years than any other major economy. How are you seeing this play out in your own life, or with your friends and family? Our question: How are you affected by youth unemployment? What’s your summer job search story?

According to a survey, four out of ten people said they were planning to leave their jobs earlier this year. So whether you decided to quit your job to follow your passion, left the corporate world for a more quiet life, or maybe you're weighing the decision to quit right now, how did you know it was the right time to leave your job? How did that decision change your path?

This summer millions of Canadians will trek, hike, camp in our great outdoors like never before, which means more human encounters with Canadian wildlife. Have you come face to face with a moose, beaver or caribou? One of those frozen-in-time moments you'll never forget? Our question: What was your unexpected encounter with a wild animal?

In many schools across the country, this was, among other things, the year of the cell phone ban. Six Canadian provinces restricted cell phone use in the classroom. In May, the province of Quebec announced a full ban —zero phone use from the first to the last bell— starting next September. We wanted to hear from students, teachers, administrators, parents, anyone with first hand experience in the classroom. Our question: How did your school's cell phone ban go this year? What impact did it have?

On Saturday, US bombers attacked 3 nuclear sites inside Iran, including the Fordo uranium enrichment plant - a site which is vital to Iran's nuclear capabilities. Israel has said they were in "full coordination" with these attacks. The next morning, US Defence Secretary said the US has "devastated the Iranian nuclear program". It is an ominous escalation in the Iran-Israel War - one that has implications for civilians in Iran, Israel and across the Middle East and anyone who has friends or family in the region. Our question: What questions do you have about the Israel-Iran war? How does it affect you?

Closing arguments in the sex assault trial for 5 former world junior hockey players concluded on Friday. All five accused men have pleaded not guilty to alleged sexual assaults at a London, Ontario hotel in June 2018. The woman at the centre of the case told the judge she agreed to go back to the hotel and have sex with one of the players but didn't consent to what happened later. Our question: Why is it so hard to talk about consent? What conversations are you having with the people in your life?

In 1998, Canada achieved what health officials call "measles elimination status" but now the country could lose that designation. Ontario is reporting more measles cases each week than it once saw over an entire decade. And just earlier this month Ontario's Ministry of Health has announced the first recorded death of a measles patient. Alberta is also experiencing its worst measles outbreak since the mid 90s. And according to the Pan American Health Organization, Canada has more cases than any other country in the Americas. At the same time, vaccine hesitancy has grown nationally along with a drop in measles immunization rates which is prompting some to call for mandatory childhood measles vaccination. An Angus Reid poll conducted last month found that 69% of Canadians agreed that vaccinations should be mandatory for kids. Our question: Should a childhood measles vaccination be mandatory?

Alberta plans to implement new rules for "age-appropriate" books in school libraries after parent groups flagged four books, saying they contained sexually explicit content not suitable for younger readers. But critics say the review is unfairly targeting 2SLGBTQ+ books and promoting intolerance toward those communities in the process Our question: Who should decide what books are too explicit for schools? At what point does restricting graphic content turn into censorship?

There’s no question artificial intelligence is catapulting human capability to new heights, if it's used properly and ethically, and there’s the question. University students are using it more than ever before, according to some surveys more than 80%, sometimes to help them with their work, and sometimes to do it for them. And that brings us to the workplace where AI use can be a source of competitive advantage or unethical and even harmful outcomes without appropriate human intervention. Our question: Are you falling behind because everybody else is using AI to get ahead? Is AI creating a generation of cheaters or achievers?

The size and scale of this year's wildfire season already lead to two states of emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, leaving thousands of evacuees scrambling to leave their homes and seek shelter. In Manitoba, Pukatawagan First Nation is boxed in by wildfire, with planes and helicopters scrambling to get everyone out, and the entire city of Flin Flon has just been cleared, leaving fire crews to fight the out of control wildfire. There are nearly 200 wildfires burning across Canada right noW, and the forecast for hot, dry weather in many parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are not looking promising. What questions do you have about wildfire preparedness and response?

Your perspective on oil and gas pipelines may have changed over the last few months. When Donald Trump launched his trade war with Canada, protecting Canadian sovereignty quickly became a hot topic, and with that, concerns about energy independence. But the wildfires in Canada right now are a reminder of some of the other considerations when it comes to our pipeline policies. Most scientists say the connection is clear between an increase in intense wildfires and climate change. So how do you balance dealing the economic threats from an unpredictable U.S. president and the dangers of the climate crisis? Does Canada need another pipeline? Our question: With wildfires and a trade war with the US, does Canada need another pipeline?

Cleaning out a parent or grandparents home can be emotional, and adding to that is what to do with all the stuff. Is that fine china a valuable family heirloom, or old dishes that no one is ever going to use? What if your grandfather really wants you to have that black velvet painting? Or maybe two or three siblings really want that butter dish? Our question: What are you going to do with all those unwanted family heirlooms?