The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/17 at 00:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/17 at 00:00 EDT

When they predict we'll fall, we rise to the challenge. When they say we're not a country, we stand on guard. This land taught us to be brave and caring, to protect our values, to leave no one behind. Canada is on the line, and it's time to vote as though our country depends on it, because like never before, it does. I'm Jonathan Pedneau, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada.

This election, each vote, makes a difference. Authorized by the Registered Agent of the Green Party of Canada. From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Neil Herland. Federal party leaders squared off in the first debate of the election campaign. The leaders of the four major parties went head-to-head in French tonight. As Tom Perry reports, Liberal leader Mark Carney was the main target for his three opponents. Conservative leader Pierre Poliev took every opportunity to draw a direct line between Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau. Carney looking to draw a clear

distinction between himself and his predecessor. line between Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau. Carney looking to draw a clear distinction between himself and his predecessor. I just got here, Carney said, the liberal leader arguing this election is about choosing who can best take on Donald Trump. We must take your word without experience in politics. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet says Carney is asking voters to take his word he can negotiate with the U.S. president with no political experience. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh went after all three of his fellow leaders, positioning his party

as the only one that will fight for workers. All four leaders managed to hold their own and make their points. They'll do it all again Thursday night in English. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. And my colleagues Susan Bonner and Pia Chattopadhyay will bring you full coverage of the federal leaders English language debate Thursday night. And then it's your chance to weigh in with a special debate edition of Cross Country Checkup. It all begins at 7 p.m. Eastern on CBC Radio 1 and the CBC Listen app. The Bank of Canada is taking a wait-and-see approach on interest rates after seven consecutive

monthly cuts. It's now leaving its key lending rate unchanged at 2.75 percent. Peter Armstrong reports. The Bank of Canada is struggling with many of the same things the rest of us are, namely all this uncertainty. Just consider how the Bank of Canada is struggling with many of the same things the rest of us are, namely all this uncertainty. Just consider how the Bank of Canada began its explanation of this decision. It says, the major shift in direction of U.S. trade policy and the unpredictability of tariffs have increased uncertainty, diminished prospects for economic growth, and raised inflation expectations. The bank forecasted two distinct scenarios, one where the trade war remains rather limited in scope, where growth cools but only temporarily,

but also a scenario where it lasts longer and bites deeper. In that scenario, Canada dives into a recession and inflation surges. So in a way the bank is saying it wants to save any changes it may make to interest rates until it sees how this trade war actually unfolds. Peter Armstrong, CBC News, Toronto. The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom has ruled a woman is defined as someone who is born biologically female.

While supporters of the ruling say it's a simple recognition of science, trans rights groups say the decision could lead to more discrimination. Briar Stewart has reaction from London. We are enormously grateful to the Supreme Court for this ruling. Susan Smith is with the group which challenged the Scottish government over the 2010 Equality Act, legislation protecting people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. The government argued that trans women with a formal legal

document called a gender recognition certificate can't be excluded from women's only services and spaces like shelters or prisons. Smith and others thought they should be and the court agreed. Women can now feel safe. But trans activists like Helen Belcher fear where the decision may lead. It's getting harder and harder to exist as an openly trans person in this country. Belcher is also a local counselor in southwest England and says she has a message for other trans people. Nothing significant changes in your day-to-day life, but we need to make sure that it goes no further. Briar Stewart, CBC News, London. And finally, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blames the environment for

causing autism. He says he's committed to identifying the root causes by September. The American Health Secretary's comments clash with decades of research and scientific consensus that genetics play a large role. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neal Herland.