The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 15:00 EST

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 15:00 EST

When a body is discovered 10 miles out to sea, it sparks a mind-blowing police investigation. There's a man living in this address in the name of a deceased. He's one of the most wanted men in the world. This isn't really happening. Officers are finding large sums of money. It's a tale of murder, skullduggery and international intrigue. So who really is he? I'm Sam Mullins and this is Sea of Lies from CBC's Uncovered, available now.

From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Tom Harrington. Fentanyl and its victims are a focus for Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary. Howard Lutnick told senators at his confirmation hearing, the threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods is designed to encourage a tougher strategy from Canada. You know that the labs in Canada are run by Mexican cartels. So this tariff model is simply to shut their borders

with respect, respect America. If we are your biggest trading partner, show us the respect. Shut your border and end fentanyl coming into this country. Lutnick says if the U.S. is satisfied with Canada's border measures, there won't be any tariffs. The White House says the Saturday, February 1st deadline still holds. Federal ministers are promising Ottawa will help support those affected by Donald Trump's threatened tariffs.

That development emerged following a virtual first minister's meeting with the prime minister. Ravi Budjikanian has details. We may have workers and entrepreneurs that will need supports. Renewed urgency by New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt with American tariffs potentially days away. Much of the meeting was focused on the conversation of supports. A source says the federal government is thinking of a multi billion dollar aid package. Federal Labor and Employment Minister

Stephen McKinnon would not go that far, but he does say workers will not pay the price for or bear the brunt of a tariff decision made by the US administration. He adds the government can enact some measures immediately. The kinds of tools that I'm talking about that we would like to see of a tariff decision made by the U.S. administration. He adds the government can enact some measures immediately. The kinds of tools that I'm talking about that we would use to support workers,

those tools already exist without parliamentary approval. McKinnon admits MPs would need to be in the House of Commons to pass some of the measures planned by Ottawa. Rafi Boudjikani on CBC News, Ottawa. The Bank of Canada has lowered its key interest rate again. It dropped it by a quarter of one percent to three percent. Governor Tiff MacLam says inflation has remained at the target level and economic activity is growing. But that stability is in danger if the U.S. carries out its threat to put tariffs on Canadian goods. MacLam says the bank is preparing. As we consider our monetary policy response,

we will need to carefully assess the downward pressure on inflation from weakness in the economy and weigh that against the upward pressure on inflation from higher input prices and supply chain disruptions. The bank has lowered its GDP growth projections to 1.8% for 2025 and 2026. South of the border, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged. It sits at 4.25 to 4.5%. The central bank cites uncertainty about the impact of President Trump's economic policies

that includes his proposed tariffs as well as plans to deport millions of illegal immigrants, Trump had recently said he wanted to see a substantial rate cut by the Fed. Another confirmation hearing took place today for President Trump's controversial pick for Health and Human Services Secretary. Robert Kennedy Jr. has long cast doubt on the safety and benefits of vaccines, everything from the polio vaccine to the COVID shot. Those previous comments prompted a combative grilling from senators. I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine.

I will do nothing as HHS secretary. That makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines. Anybody who believes that ought to look at the measles book you wrote saying parents have been misled into believing that measles is a deadly disease. Despite being pro-choice, Kennedy also reiterated his support for Trump's position that abortion is a matter for the states to decide. If confirmed, RFK jr. would oversee dozens of US agencies. That list includes the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes for Health.

Ottawa plans to overhaul the way it reimburses provinces and territories after natural disasters. Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says the new program will speed up the flow of money. Provinces will have 90 percent and territories 100 percent of their costs covered by Ottawa in high-risk areas. The changes will take effect on April 1st. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Tom Harrington. Thanks for listening.