The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/05/29 at 08:00 EDT

Episode Date: May 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/05/29 at 08:00 EDT

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Find an agent today at Desjardins.com slash business coverage. From CBC News, it's the world this hour. I'm Joe Cummings. A U.S. federal court has handed President Donald Trump a big setback. It is blocking most of the Trump administration's global tariff campaign, ruling that the White House has overstepped its authority. For more now on what this means for Canada, here's Janice McGregor. This decision doesn't strike down all the tariffs that Canada's been facing. The tariffs on steel

and aluminum and automotive exports were based on a different executive power than the one that this legal challenge interpreted. And those tariffs arguably are the ones that are more damaging to Canada's economy. But this nevertheless, sparks a glimmer of hope for exporters and not only those impacted by those early tariffs based on border security. The same emergency powers were used to justify tariffs on small packages under $800 that could previously ship into the US tariff-free. If those lift, that would be a huge boost to Canadian e-retailers to get their duty-free

access to American consumers back. And of course, Canadian officials have argued that all these tariffs imposed so far are fundamental violations of the North American trade agreement and should never have been imposed in the first place. Janice McGregor, CBC News, Ottawa. A vast area of the Canadian prairies has become the focus of this year's wildfire season. In Manitoba, Premier Wab Kanu has declared a province-wide state of emergency with as many as 17,000 people now under evacuation orders.

And in neighboring northern Saskatchewan, 19 active fires are being monitored, with more than 10 evacuation orders currently in effect. That includes one for the 4,000 residents of Pelican Narrows. They are being forced to flee their community in what is for many a harrowing journey. Ashwarya Duda reports. The fire is very dangerous. Stephen Custer made it to Saskatoon, but he worries about what he left behind, his friend, their puppy, and his home. We could see red flames building up. It was so bright.

Somebody had to stay there and take care of that dog because that dog is only five months. George Thomas evacuated to Prince Albert. He says it was nearly impossible to get out. A bunch of smoke coming towards us and I thought, oh shit, I don't know how the hell it's gonna get passed through because the smoke was coming to the roads, you know. Iona Linklater-Custer is a teacher at Pelican Narrows. She helped others get out of danger first and then helped her own family. I just wanted to be safe for my children. That's the main priority. Officials say this is shaping up to be one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades.

Evacuees are now scattered across the province, waiting, watching and hoping they'll get to go home. Ashwarya Duda, CBC News, Saskatoon. Incidentally, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is on social media today, issuing praise for the emergency crews battling fires across the Prairie provinces. Cindy Woodhouse-Nipenec says she's been in contact with First Nations chiefs and is planning to speak today with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Ottawa this week for a defense conference

is insisting that when it comes to national defense concerns, Canada can still trust the United States. Murray Brewster reports. I think the Canada defense relationship, U.S. relationship, is going to remain strong. I'm convinced of it. Mike Pompeo served in the first Trump administration as Secretary of State and head of the CIA. He had nothing but praise for Canada. When asked if Canadians should feel threatened by his former bosses' annexation rhetoric,

Pompeo was unequivocal. No. Why not? Because Canada is going to do all the things necessary to protect its own sovereignty. I'm convinced of it. And to that end, Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada should not be spending 75 cents of every defence dollar buying US-made weapons and munitions. He's hoping to sign Canada up for a European rearmament plan. Pompeo says it's Carney's job to say that, but added that Canada, if it does go shopping elsewhere, will be hard-pressed to find better cutting-edge military equipment.

Murray Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. And that is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.