The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 01:00 EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 01:00 EDT

Too many students are packed into overcrowded classrooms in Ontario schools, and it's hurting their ability to learn. But instead of helping our kids, the Ford government is playing politics, taking over school boards and silencing local voices. It shouldn't be this way. Tell the Ford government to get serious about tackling overcrowded classrooms because smaller classes would make a big difference for our kids. Go to Building Better Schools.ca.

A message from the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Hurland. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a plan to end the war in Gaza and bring peace to the region. It's already got the support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Palestinian militant group Hamas is looking at the plan and hasn't agreed to it. Katie Nicholson reports. Donald Trump spoke of his plan in glowing terms. Let's call it eternal peace in the Middle East.

The plan includes an immediate ceasefire if both sides agree and that within 72 hours, all hostages will be returned. And there is an off-ramp here for members of Hamas. If they commit to peaceful coexistence and give up their weapons, they'll be granted amnesty. It proposes a technocratic committee or board that will govern Gaza and begin its rebuilding. It notes this redevelopment

could create a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. That's something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long bucked against. But he acknowledged the peace plan in large part met Israel's objectives. I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.

Hamas said it is now reviewing the proposal in good faith. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Toronto. Prime Minister Mark Carney is reacting tonight to the Trump proposal for Gaza. On the platform X, he says, Canada welcomes President Trump's historic New Middle East peace plan, and we urge all parties to help it realize its full potential. As the critical next step, Hamas must immediately release all hostages. A notorious criminal organization based in India is now considered a terrorist group in Canada. The federal government says the Bishnoi gang uses violence, and intimidation to generate fear and insecurity within the South Asian diaspora.

Tom Perry reports. The announcement came with no fanfare, just a statement from public safety minister Gary Anandesangery, that the government of Canada has listed India's Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the criminal code. The government accuses the gang of a long list of crimes. The RCMP says the group has targeted sick activists at the behest of the Indian government. Alpreet Singh is spokesperson for the World Sick Organization of Canada. So the designation of the Bishno Gang is a terrorist group is something that the community has called for for a very long time.

Singh calls the move a symbolic victory, but also a practical one, because it gives police more power to pursue not just gang members, but the people Singh believes, are directing them. Ottawa says a terrorist designation allows police to seize property, vehicles, and cash controlled by the group and provides more authority to prosecute in areas like financing and recruiting. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. We're following a major story in Alberta tonight. The province's teachers have rejected the government's latest contract offer, setting the stage for a potential province-wide strike next week.

The president of the Alberta Teachers Association says close to 90% of its members voted against a deal that was on the table. The rejected offer included a 12% pay rate, over four years, and a government promise to hire 3,000 more teachers to reduce class size. And we're following another big story in Alberta. There's word tonight of major job cuts at one of the biggest oil companies. Calgary-based Imperial Oil is planning to slash 20% of its workforce by the end of 2027. That would mean about 900 jobs would be eliminated.

Imperial Oil is owned by the American Oil giant Exxon Mo. The Saskatchewan government has apologized to survivors of the Isle-Lacross Residential School. The school predated the federal residential school system, and because of that, it was not included in the settlement deal of 2006. The province has agreed to pay more than $40 million in restitution to former students and their families. And that is your world this hour. I'm Neil Hurland. Thank you.