Cross Country Checkup | Canada's tipping culture is flawed and there's no clear fix in sight: experts

From oil changes to take-out food, the "tip nudge" has quickly become a "well-established societal norm" in Canada, according to food economist Mike von Massow.

Card payment machines have made it simple for businesses to prompt a gratuity option, even in industries where tipping previously wasn't part of the cost or conversation. And data from Canadian trade associations show the average percentage tip for restaurant dining has gone up since the pandemic began. 

Von Massow, who's also a professor at the University of Guelph, says the expectation for Canadians to increase the amount of their gratuities is getting out of control, and has become a hot-button issue across the country.

NEW PODCAST| Giant Murder Underground 

Enter one of the most bitter labour disputes in Canadian history. On September 18, 1992, nine workers crossed the picket line at the ‘Giant’ Gold Mine in Yellowknife. Minutes later all were killed in a horrific explosion. The fallout was a city divided, and one of the most labour-intensive murder investigations the RCMP has ever seen. Thirty years later, ‘Giant - Murder Underground’ tells this complex story through the voices of those who lived it, from top police investigators and critical union members to anguished victims, and murder suspects — many of whom have never spoken publicly before. Through rich archival tape and gripping new interviews, ‘Giant - Murder Underground’ explores how a labour dispute spiraled into murder, and lays bare the lingering impact and hard lessons of this tragedy.

 Meet New Host A. Harmony| Marvin's Room 

The legacy of Marvin’s Room, the legendary studio where Marvin Gaye recorded much of his catalogue, is a perfect example of R&B’s influence on the world.

From Drake’s song of the same name, to samples of Gaye’s work in Kendrick Lamar’s catalogue, Marvin’s Room is an example of how, even in corners you wouldn’t expect, it all comes down to R&B. Follow your host A. Harmony each week as she explores how R&B shapes the artists, the culture, and the moments that define us.