The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 04:00 EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 04:00 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. Alberta teachers have rejected the government's latest contract offer, setting the stage for a potential province-wide strike next week involving public, Catholic, and Francophone teachers. Liam Newbiging has more.

Teachers will be on strike on October 6th. Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers Association, Does the deal fail to change teachers' minds? Of more than 43,000 votes, nearly 90% said no. The government previously offered a wage increase of 12% over four years. New to this deal were commitments to hire more teachers and assistants. It's just not enough for what we're seeing in our classrooms. Shilling calls it a drop in the bucket, saying the job is complex.

Teachers have to deal with special needs students and others with health challenges. Jenel Melanchuk, a teacher from Red Deer, says after 21 years on the job, the strike feels necessary. It's the last straw. Enough is enough. We can't keep going on this way. It's not fair to the kids. From kindergarten to grade 12, 700,000 students could be staying home from school. Alberta Premier Daniel Smith called the contract rejection a disappointment. Liam Newbigink, CBC News, Edmonton. One of Canada's biggest oil companies is slashing jobs. Calgary-based Imperial Oil is planning to cut 20% of its workforce by the end of 2027.

That would mean about 900 jobs would be eliminated. Richard Mason is an executive fellow at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy. I think this is not really a comment on the oil market or Imperial's outlook in Canada. I expect this is more about a bigger trend about trying to be more efficient by taking advantage of technology. Imperial oil is owned by the American oil giant ExxonMobil. Mason calls this a significant restructuring and says head office functions such as accounting might be centralized in Houston. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to set a 10% tariff rate on imports of lumber and 25% on vanities, kitchen cabinets, and upholstered wooden products. The tariffs will take effect on October 14th.

It's not clear how these tariffs might affect Canada, which already faces lumber tariffs from the U.S. We're following a developing story in Indonesia. A school has collapsed in East Java, killing at least one student. Rescue teams are trying to saw through the rubble. About 100 people have been rescued. 80 are injured and were taken to hospital. Another 38 are missing under a mangle of concrete and metal.

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and CBC News will have special coverage of indigenous ceremonies and stories. Well, the death of an indigenous woman at a Quebec hospital five years ago is changing the way medical students learn to treat patients. The goal is to teach the next generation of students how to recognize racism in health care. Natalia Vikesell has more. The patient is the expert in the room. The community is the expert. at the table. Alex McComber stands before a classroom at McGill University's Department of Family Medicine.

As the assistant professor begins his lecture, he reminds his students about the importance of Joyce's principal. Joyce Eshiquan was an itchemic mother of seven, who died in a Quebec hospital in 2020 as staff hurled racist comments at her. Her death led to the creation of Joyce's principle. It's a call to action for the Quebec government to address systemic racism, while guaranteeing health and social services free of discrimination for indigenous people. Amir Chalati has been enrolled in the class since August. Chalati wants to become a family

doctor. Actually, I encourage everyone to join these kinds of classes. Julia Zubay is a spokesperson for the Office of Joyce's Principal. It will not be enough until the changes come from a systemic level. Zbei says that five years on, the Quebec government still hasn't acknowledged systemic racism or fully adopted Joyce's principal. Natalia Vikesl. CBC News, Montreal. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Hurland.