The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/24 at 10:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/24 at 10:00 EDT

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 lovescabrew.ca. From CBC News, it's the world this hour. I'm Joe Cummings. The federal election campaign has only just begun and already tax cut promises are being rolled out.

And it starts with a big, patriotic, bold and beautiful bring it home tax cut for all Canadians. At his campaign launch last night in Toronto, that is Conservative leader Pierre Poliev making reference to a tax cut. This morning we know the details. Poliev says it will be a 15% cut for those in the lowest tax bracket. And he says it will help seniors and working Canadians save close to $2,000 a year. Meanwhile, the Liberals are also promising a tax cut, but their cut will be smaller, and it's aimed at making up for the loss of the carbon rebate. As for Liberal leader Mark Carney, he's in Gander today.

Poliev is still in the GTA, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is in Montreal. The Bloc is officially launching their campaign in Quebec City, and the Green Party's co-leaders are splitting their day between Vancouver Island and Montreal. Along with those tax cuts, a common theme so far, not surprisingly, is the ongoing trade war with the United States, which the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says poses a different level of risk to different cities across the country. And at the very top of the list is St. John, New Brunswick. Kayla Hounsell has more.

Kayla Hounsell, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Kayla Hounsell has more. St. John sends 96.3% of its exports to the U.S., largely forestry products, seafood, and oil, home to the largest oil refinery in the country. Irving Oil can process more than 320,000 barrels of crude a day, with the vast majority exported south of the border. And that's the biggest reason the Canadian Chamber

of Commerce has determined St. John is more tariff vulnerable than any other Canadian city. It's interesting times as they say. Mayor Donna Reardon says being a tariff hotspot is informing how she's thinking about the federal election. I'm watching for strategies, I'm watching for leadership. I want to know that there is a concrete vision. And while there's been a focus on diversifying, industry experts say there aren't necessarily readily available alternatives for energy products. Kayla Hounsell, CBC News, St. John. Away from the stump speeches and the rallies, the election battle is also being waged, as always, through targeted campaign ads, which according to Yvette Brand, range this year from celebrity endorsements to playing

up the importance of family. What are the two seasons in Toronto? Winter and construction. Wow. You really are Canadian. It only took this ad, featuring Liberal leader Mark Carney and comedian Mike Myers, a day to reach 10 million views. UBC political scientist Stuart Press says the liberal message is clear.

It's all in invoking this idea that this is Team Canada. It didn't appeal to conservative voter Al Schliegel. It's important to me but it's not genuine. But it's a common theme. Pierre Pauliev's slogan is Canada first and his wife voices some of his ads. His children know him in French, Spanish and English as Papa. Prest says it's all part of Pauliev building his ads. His children know him in French, Spanish, and English as Papa. Prost says it's all part of Poliev building his image. So introducing himself and his family is a kind of a first family vibe if you like to show that this is this is a family like any other.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh jumped into a TikTok trend in this video viewed by four million people. I retime my turban at least once a day. Evette Brand, CBC News, Vancouver. A comedian in India is being investigated for defamation after posting one of his stand-up routines on Instagram. That is Kanel Kamra taunting a close ally of the Indian Prime Minister. Party supporters of Eknath Shinde issued a complaint and that led to the police investigation. As well, the comedy club where Kamra filmed his routine has been ransacked.

Under Indian law, those found guilty of defamation can face up to two years in prison. And that is The World This Hour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts. The World This Hour is updated every hour, seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.