The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/07 at 18:00 EST

Episode Date: February 7, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/07 at 18:00 EST

In Scarborough, there's this fire behind our eyes. A passion in our bellies. It's in the hearts of our neighbors. The eyes of our nurses. And the hands of our doctors. It's what makes Scarborough, Scarborough. In our hospitals, we do more than anyone thought possible. We've less than anyone could imagine.

But it's time to imagine what we can do with more. Join Scarborough Health Network and together, we can turn grit into greatness. Donate at lovescarborough.ca. From CBC News, The World This Hour, I'm Julianne Hazelwood. Canadian business leaders came together today with political and labor leaders

to hammer out how to face the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. Easing inter-provincial trade barriers was a popular topic. But as Thomas Dagla tells us, the Prime Minister had a sobering message for those attending. It is time for us in Canada to be able to work east-west. Former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley acknowledges there's lots of red tape to cut through, but she says provinces need to be able to trade more freely with one another to reduce Canada's dependence on commerce with the U.S. I don't think we're going to get rid of everything in 30 days.

The next deadline imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump comes in early March, so business leaders meeting in Toronto acknowledge there's an urgent need for change. And Candice Lange, head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says it's not just about immediate danger. This is so much more than just getting through a tariff threat. This is about positioning ourselves against a much broader agenda. Behind closed doors the Prime Minister told business leaders Trump's threat to annex Canada is in Justin Trudeau's words a real thing. Thomas Daigle, CBC News, Toronto. Trump's threat to annex Canada is, in Justin Trudeau's words, a real thing.

Thomas Daigle, CBC News, Toronto. Arlene Dickinson was right behind Trudeau when he talked about Trump's plans. She's a member of the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and says she's not surprised by what the Prime Minister said. I do believe that objective of Donald Trump is to take over our resources and to get access to them. That is absolutely what he's intending to do. We have to believe that his words are not just meaningless or for show that he actually

has those intentions. I think it's prudent to talk about it and to address it and to not pretend it doesn't exist. Shamp has said that border security and fentanyl smuggling were the reasons for his proposed tariff on Canada, but Dickinson calls that a distraction from the idea of annexing the country. Melanie Jolisse says an important way to keep Canada strong in the face of Donald Trump's tariff threat is to buy from Canadian companies. We have to look at their procurement processes. We need to make sure that you know municipalities, provinces, the federal government, we buy Canadian and we also and I guess you'll

ask me a question, but yeah, we need to invest more in the military and we need to make sure that we're actually working on supporting jobs here at home. The Foreign Affairs Minister also told the Halifax Chamber of Commerce the federal government is working on an assistance program in case Trump makes good on his tariff vow. The Canadian agency tasked with monitoring election interference says it has detected an online campaign targeting Chrystia Freeland. The MP is one of five candidates for the liberal leadership. The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force says coordinated

malicious activity was traced to an anonymous blog on China's popular social media site WeChat with alleged ties to Beijing. The Super Bowl kicks off Sunday in New Orleans and to say the least security is tight. The US National Guard, Homeland Security and local law enforcement officers are on high alert after the New Year's Day attack in the city. Phil B. Shaddock has more. Among the crowds, New Orleans resident Donna Morgan watches US National Guard troops patrol Bourbon Street's enhanced security zone

and feels reassured. This is the safest place to be in America right now. Oh, yes. 14 people were killed when they were run down in an attack on New Year's Day. This week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem just steps from a memorial on Bourbon Street, said there were no specific credible threats against the event. The world is a much more dangerous place, but here in the homeland we are safe.

Security officials with the National Football League say they've reviewed emergency response plans to make sure the city's record 11th time hosting the championships, which US President Donald Trump plans to attend on Sunday, stays safe. Philip LeShadok, CBC News, Toronto. And that is your World This Hour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts updated every hour, seven days a week. And for News Anytime, cbcnews.ca. For CBC News, I'm Julianne Hazelwood.