ICYMI: Stephen Lewis on Cross Country Checkup

Stephen Lewis passed away early on March 31st, 2026. He appeared on Cross Country Checkup multiple times throughout his career as a politician, ambassador, and activist. Here's a selection from an interview he did back in October of 1977 when he was the leader of the Ontario NDP. The question for callers on that program was, "What do you think is the critical issue facing the next session of parliament?”

Cross Country Spotlight - highlights from Checkup on Sunday. A month into the US–Israel war in Iran, civilian deaths rise, tensions spread across the region, and allies like Canada face tough choices. Here's a digest of Checkup's Q&A with experts on what’s happening now...and what could come next.

It wasn’t that long ago that the federal NDP held 103 seats. Since then, it’s been a steady slide. Just seven MPs were elected last time, and one has since crossed the floor to the Liberals. NDP members are hoping that the rebuild begins, with their new leader Avi Lewis, and a new direction. What does the NDP need to do to be relevant? Does Canada need 3 major political parties? 

Avi Lewis was elected as the new leader of the federal NDP party, earlier on March 29, 2026. We are revisiting another memorable moment for many in that party, August 2011. Former NDP leader Jack Layton died of cancer, just months after leading the NDP to its best ever election result.

It’s been just over a month since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. The fallout is global, oil prices have spiked, pushing up the cost of living, and what happens next is far from clear. What questions do you have about the war in the Middle East?

Spiking gas prices will have a ripple effect across the Canadian economy, leading to higher prices for groceries, heating and holiday travel. So how are you adapting? What habits have you changed to stay afloat?

With graduation season looming, Grade 12 students are feeling the heat. University admission averages have climbed for 15 straight years—a trend experts call "grade inflation." As the race for top marks intensifies, what's it doing to student stress levels, and their future opportunities?

Canada's healthcare system is buckling. Doctors in Quebec are leaving the public system. Alberta is opening the door to more private care.Meanwhile millions of patients are waiting for surgery, or a family doctor.Are private clinics and physicians the solution to Canada’s healthcare crisis?

AI is no longer theoretical; it's in the boardroom, it's on the battlefield, and it's reshaping everyday life across Canada. Reports suggest Anthropic's AI platform, Claude, may have been used in recent US strikes on Iran. Closer to home, companies are increasingly citing AI as the reason for layoffs as they realize new efficiencies. As this technology accelerates, Canadians are asking a simple but urgent question: Is AI helping us ...or quietly taking over? With Canada set to unveil a new national AI strategy in the coming weeks the answers to those questions are more pressing now than ever. 

After the US-Israel strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Mark Carney initially backed efforts to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Days later, he added that all sides...including the US and Israel....must follow international law and work toward de-escalation. His comments come as questions grow about whether Canada's military could be pulled into the widening conflict, especially with attacks reaching countries beyond Iran, including a NATO ally. So how do you grade Mark Carney's stance on the crisis? And what should Canada's response be as the conflict expands?