The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/13 at 19:00 EST

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/13 at 19:00 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 is our. I'm Tom Harrington. The A's are 52, the N's are 48, confirmation is confirmed.

The US Senate has confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Donald Trump's new Health and Human Services Secretary. During the debate, Democratic senators voiced their concerns about Kennedy, especially his embrace of conspiracy theories and vaccine skepticism. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called him a dangerous choice. Which is more important to you, the health and wellbeing of your constituents or blindly obeying orders, knowing full well the dangerous impacts your vote will enable? Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, was the only Republican

to vote against Kennedy. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is warning world leaders to be wary of Vladimir Putin's peace overtures. President Trump says he's spoken with the Russian leader about talks to end the nearly three-year-old war. Some European countries are insisting they and Ukraine must be involved. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Whatever the outcome is, we have to make sure that Vladimir Putin will never, ever try again

to attack Ukraine. That is crucial. But there has never been a promise to Ukraine that as part of a peace deal they would be in NATO. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated Ukraine should not expect to become a member of the alliance. Donald Trump's terror threats appear to be having an impact in British Columbia. The province's finance minister has cancelled a $1,000 grocery rebate promised during last

fall's provincial election. Brenda Bailey says it's impossible to predict the impact of what she's calling Trump's reckless and destabilizing levies. Bailey also announced a government hiring freeze. In less than a month, members of the Liberal Party will choose a new leader and Canada's next Prime Minister. Today, candidates have been talking about tariffs and when to call a general election. Karina Roman has more from Ottawa. Karina Roman, Liberal Leadership Candidate,

Christie of Freeland says the government needs to push back and push back hard on the Trump administration, once again calling for dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs and a 100% tariff on Tesla vehicles. Freeland also says there shouldn't be a March or April federal election, arguing if she wins the leadership, she can hit the ground running because she's a sitting MP. Candidate Mark Carney, who does not have a seat, is less definitive on ideal election timing. You never take a decision before you need to take a decision. Let's see what the situation is in the middle of March. Candidate Karina Gould says holding off on an election might have merit if Canada is in a full-blown trade war with

the US. But we are also in a minority government so it's actually not just up to the government. At least one of the opposition parties would have to agree to hold off bringing down the government. None have said they're willing to do that. Karina Roman, CBC News, Ottawa. A massive winter storm has left many parts of the country digging out but also digging in. That's because there is more of the white stuff on the way. Jamie Strachan has that story. For Erin Smale, the best way to her Ottawa office this morning, skis.

The office is open and because I don't want to drive my car this morning, I thought this might be a bit faster than walking. A massive winter storm dumped between 15 and 40 centimeters across an area from southern Ontario to eastern Quebec. It meant a snow day for many students. Most schools in Toronto and Montreal cancelled. Canada Post also suspended service in Ontario. The storm caused multiple flight delays, snarled municipal transit and clogged roads, making

it difficult for drivers to get around, says the OPP's Kerry Schmidt. Not a lot of crashes in the overnight hours but dozens of vehicles that were either stuck or stranded in the snow banks. The storm is moving east. New Brunswick expects to see 25 centimeters by tonight. Schools there also closed for the day. Jamie Strash in CBC News, Toronto. And that is your World This Hour for CBC News. I'm Tom Harrington. Thanks for listening.