The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 10:00 EST

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/05 at 10:00 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, it's the world this hour. I'm Joe Cummings. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to speak today to US President Donald Trump.

And it appears the president will be offering to scale back some of the tariffs implemented yesterday on Canadian imports. Here is U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Early this afternoon or this afternoon, we expect to make an announcement. And my thinking is it's going to be somewhere in the middle. So not 100 percent of all products and not none. Somewhere in the middle because I think Mexico and Canada are trying their best and let's see where we end up. So I do think somewhere in the middle is a likely outcome.

That's Lutnick speaking this morning to Bloomberg News. But it looks like a partial rollback won't be good enough for the Canadian government. Here's Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc. We're not interested in some sort of reduction of the tariffs. We want the free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico respected. And we'll continue to work with the government on the United States on issues once the tariffs are lifted. Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke with Howard Luttwick last night and is reported to have government of the United States on issues once the tariffs are lifted. Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke with Howard Luttwick last night and is reported to have

told the Commerce Secretary that there can be no negotiations until the tariffs are dropped. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to announce her province's tariff response plan today. Canada's Premiers have been one by one rolling out their retaliation measures, with some pulling American alcohol from provincial outlets, bars and restaurants. Ontario has announced a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says she's considering cutting off electricity to Maine. All this follows President Trump's address to Congress last night.

The speech touched on a range of issues, from the war in Ukraine and immigration, to the ongoing cuts in government spending. And he defended the trade action he's taking against Canada, Mexico, and China, saying the tariffs will strengthen the American economy. He's also making a direct appeal to the people of Greenland to consider joining the U.S. And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America. We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we're working with everybody involved to try and get it.

But we need it really for international world security. And I think we're going to get it. One way or the other, we're going to get it. When Prime Minister of Greenland has commented, saying, quote, Greenland is ours and cannot be taken or bought. Meanwhile, Canada's spy agency is sounding the alarm over the future of the Arctic. A newly released CSIS report points to the environment, critical infrastructure, economic activity, and geopolitics as converging factors that make the region susceptible to threats from abroad.

The brief is being called the most extensive public account to date of the spy service's concerns about espionage and foreign influence in the Canadian North. Now to the Grassy Narrows First Nation in Northern Ontario, which is finally breaking ground on a mercury care home. A long-awaited facility will offer treatment and support for those affected by decades of mercury poisoning. Sarah Law reports. The contamination dates back to the 1960s and 70s, when the Dryden paper mill dumped

about nine tons of mercury into the English Wabagoon 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's been seeking for years. About 90% of residents in Grassy Narrows 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 Akebe says it's a sign of better days to come. Sarah Law, CBC News, Gri Narrows First Nation, Ontario. And that is The World This Hour. For news anytime, go to our website cbcnews.ca. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.