The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/21 at 19:00 EST

Episode Date: February 22, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/21 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 This Hour, I'm Karen Howelluck. The Liberal Party is disqualifying Ruby Dalla from its leadership race. A source tells CBC News Dalla is accused

of violating finance rules on 12 occasions and allowing a non-citizen to work on her campaign. The party says that would be seen as foreign interference during a federal election. Dalla spoke to CBC News about the allegations before the disqualification. When it comes to foreign interference, it is certainly not the case and I will not allow anyone to label me because I am of an Indian ethnicity. I will not allow anyone to label any immigrant for that matter in Canada with the airbrush of foreign interference.

It is unacceptable. Dalek and appeal the disqualification. Last month candidate Chandra Arya was also disqualified, but no reason was given. Ottawa says it's removing about half of its barriers to internal trade, and internal trade minister Anita Anand will meet with her provincial counterparts next week. As Olivia Stefanovic reports, the move comes less than a week before U.S. tariffs could hit. It's also time for us to strengthen ourselves

internally. From Canadian beer and wine to trucking regulations and skilled tradespeople, Labour Minister Steve McKinnon says the federal government is working with the provinces and territories to remove internal trade barriers and regulations. That have existed for far too long and have grown a bit like weeds. Today, Internal Trade Minister Anita Onond informed the provinces. The federal government is eliminating 20 of 39 remaining federal barriers in the Canada Free Trade Agreement, a move applauded by BC Jobs Minister Diana Gibson.

It's really great to see the federal government coming to the table with such substantive movement. The provinces are expected to announce their plans to improve internal trade when they meet with Onond again next Friday. Olivia Stefanovic, CBC News, Ottawa. An earthquake shook BC's south coast this afternoon. It was felt throughout the lower mainland and in southern Vancouver Island. But as Rafferty Baker reports, there were no reports of injuries or damage. Earthquakes Canada reports the magnitude 5.1 quake happened about 30 kilometres west of Squamish. Later, a magnitude 1.9 aftershock struck the same area. Grocery store manager Derek Bland describes the experience in Seashelt.

It lasted what felt like 10 to 20 seconds. Everyone kind of shuffled the front door frame and made their way outside to our mustard station in the middle of the parking lot. We were surprised at how little actually fell off the shelf. For many people in Vancouver, the event started as a rumble. I was kind of sleepy and then I felt my chair was just moving. I felt the ground shaking, then my eyes were shaking, I was like, oh. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services say they haven't received any calls related to injuries or

damage. Earthquakes Canada calls the quake significant, close to the threshold of magnitude 5.5 where structural damage can occur. Rafferty Baker, CBC News, Vancouver. The man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie has been found guilty of attempted murder and assault. In August of 2022, 27-year-old Hadi Matar ran up onto a New York stage where Rushdie was about to give a speech.

The attacker proceeded to stab the author more than a dozen times before he was tackled to the ground. The 77-year-old Rushdie survived but lost sight in one eye. The Pope's doctors say he has yet to recover from his lung infection, but he's not in imminent danger of dying. Dr. Sergio Alfieri. He is in critical condition. That means that one patient of 80, 80 years old with chronic Lyme disease and you have some infection is critical condition, but he's fine now.

Poh Francis was admitted to hospital in Rome a week ago after he was struggling to breathe. He was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, made worse by bronchitis. Doctors expect the 88-year-old will remain in hospital at least through next week. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Karen Howerlund.