The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 05:00 EST

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 05:00 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 Neil Herland. U.S. President Donald Trump is vowing to expand his tariffs. April 2nd, reciprocal tariffs kick in. And whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them.

Trump made the promise during a speech last night to the U.S. Congress, after imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The CBC's Megan Fitzpatrick reports from Washington. A supportive crowd of Republicans cheered President Donald Trump on while his critics in Congress at times heckled and booed. For more than an hour Trump highlighted the major changes he's already made in his first few weeks in the White House, calling the pace unrelenting and saying he's just getting started.

The American dream is surging bigger and better than ever before. Trump made a number of claims and promises including that tariffs will make America rich again. Despite warnings that they'll make goods more expensive for consumers, Trump justified the tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China and said he's okay with some disturbance in the economy. We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before. Trump made no mention of Canada becoming the 51st state but did complain about a trade deficit with his northern neighbor and too much fentanyl coming across the border. Megan Fitzpatrick,

CBC News, Washington. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canada's premieres yesterday he's hoping to speak with President Trump today, trying to get the tariffs scrapped. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick spoke with CBC News last night. I think there's going to be a discussion. Canada has offered us an enormous amount again to do better, and I think we're talking to the president and I think there's some room but we'll decide tomorrow. We're looking at all the offers that they've made

and I think there'll be room tomorrow and we'll announce that tomorrow. The Canadian Trucking Alliance says U.S. tariffs will devastate their industry, which is already suffering. Jacob Barker visited a freight company near the U.S. border, which relies heavily on cross-border trade. Customer service rep Courtney Muszynski says it hasn't quite been business as usual at on-freight logistics since the US-Canada trade war began. It's definitely taken a little bit longer for our drivers to cross getting pulled in. The company's president, Steven Onako Sr., says that along with muted demand from the U.S., its costs will also go up. Mexican tariffs could mean as much as $35,000 U.S. dollars will be added to the cost of

a heavy truck. It's going to be subject to a lot of scrutiny by us and by our financial people to make sure we're doing the right thing. 70% of goods transported across the border between Canada and the U.S. moves by truck. According to Steven Leskowski of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the market was already down. There's already being layoffs in our industry. We are expecting more layoffs the longer these tariffs are applied.

Jacob Barker, CBC News, Tecumseh, Ontario. The Grassy Narrows First Nation in northern Ontario is finally breaking ground on its mercury care home. The long-awaited facility will offer treatment and support for those affected by mercury poisoning. Sarah Lai explains. The contamination dates back to the 1960s and 70s, when the Dryden paper mill dumped

about nine tons of mercury into the English Wabigoon River system. Research from Western University suggests the problem has been made worse by ongoing industrial pollution. The federal government says it's spending $146 million on the care home, something the community has been seeking for years. About 90% of residents in Grassyero's experience symptoms of mercury poisoning. While 22 people will live at the home, it will also provide outpatient services to all affected community members. Construction is expected to take between two and three years.

Chief Sherry Akabee says it's a sign of better days to come. Sarah Law, CBC News, Gracassy Narrows First Nation, Ontario. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neal Herland.