The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/08/16 at 16:00 EDT

Episode Date: August 16, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/08/16 at 16:00 EDT

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From CBC News, The World This Hour, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. The Air Canada Strike and Lockout ended just hours after it began, but not because the two sides reached an agreement. Instead, the federal government ordered them back to work and is imposing binding arbitration. Marina von Stackleberg reports. I absolutely reject the notion that our government is anti-union. Jobs Minister Patty Heidu defending her decision to

intervene less than 12 hours after the Air Canada labor dispute began. The union says Haidu rewarded Air Canada after it consistently refused to negotiate in good faith. But the minister says she's stepping in after meeting with both the union and airline late into the night. She says Air Canada presented another offer, but talks broke down. It is clear that the parties are not any closer to resolving some of the key issues that remain. And they will need help with an arbitrator. Haidu used a section of the Labor Code to order a return to work. It's the same way Ottawa sent employees back on the job last year at Ports, Rail, and Canada Post.

Unions say that violates their right to strike. Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News, Ottawa. In Newfoundland, people who were forced to leave their community because of the Paddy's Pond Wildfire are back home today. Although they're still under an evacuation alert because the fire is still burning. The state of emergency and alerts have been lifted in St. John's, Paradise, and Conception Bay South, but not in Conception Bay North. And a new evacuation alert has been issued for fresh water. Cooler temperatures are helping, but firefighters are struggling to contain three out-of-control fires across the province. Craig Cody is the director of wildfire management.

These fires present serious control problems, as they are virtually impossible to contain until the burning conditions lessen greatly. Directed to. is rarely possible given the fire's probable ferocity except immediately after ignition and should only be attempted with the utmost caution. Air quality warnings are also in effect in several areas across the province. New Brunswick's largest wildfire burning near Miramashie is still out of control. Natural Resources Minister John Herron said 40 firefighters from Ontario were expected to arrive in the province today, while 20 from Nova Scotia are. are returning home to help battle wildfires there.

In Nova Scotia, the municipality of the county of Annapolis has declared a state of local emergency as an out-of-control wildfire continues to grow in the Annapolis Valley. And more people are under evacuation alerts deciding what to take and what not to. It was a little heartbreaking to go through the baby nursery and pick out all the items that we had just gotten as gifts. A helicopter pilot is also recovering

after he was involved in a crash during firefighting operations. Well, on the other side of the country, firefighters have been battling a wildfire near the city of Port Albany on Vancouver Island, but lately, they've had help from the weather. Julia Wong has more.

The rain did a lot. 33 millimeters of rain has fallen over the Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Albany since Thursday, according to Stefan Hood with the BC Wildfire Service. And that has been a boon for crews on the front lines. While the fire has grown to more than 36 square kilometers, Hood says the moisture has dampened fire behavior and slowed spread.

We'll still see flames, but the majority of the fire has quieted down significantly. So smoldering ground fire is the most of what we're seeing. But that certainly doesn't mean that the work is done. Hood says firefighters are focused on the northwest corner of the fire nearest to Port Albany. It remains about eight kilometers from the city, but officials are urging residents to stay vigilant. Julia Wong, CBC News, Port Albany, British Columbia. BC is going to provide $2.5 million in funding to help poultry farmers reduce the risk their flocks will get avian flu. The program will help egg and poultry producers equip their

barns with tools such as air filters and ultraviolet light systems. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. Thanks for listening. Thank you.