The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/10/17 at 14:00 EDT

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/10/17 at 14:00 EDT

The spirit of innovation is deeply ingrained in Canada, and Google is helping Canadians innovate in ways both big and small, from mapping accessible spaces so the disabled community can explore with confidence, to unlocking billions in domestic tourism revenue. Thousands of Canadian companies are innovating with Google AI. Innovation is Canada's story. Let's tell it together. Find out more at g.co slash Canadian Innovation. From CBC News, the world this hour.

I'm Kate McGilfrey. Ottawa has shared details on its plan to pour $600 million into new border security measures, including hiring 1,000 new border agents. Olivia Stefanovic has details. This will greatly enhance our capability at the borders. Public safety minister, Gary Anandisangery, dismissing the suggestion that Ottawa is hiring 1,000. new border officers just to appease the U.S.

This really is about ensuring Canada's safety and security and our sovereignty. Still, there's no denying the announcement is being made in the wake of Trump's tariffs. The federal government is setting aside more than $600 million over the next five years for the hiring blitz at the Canada Border Services Agency. The government is also trying to make the job more attractive by increasing CBSA's recruit stipend. $125 to $525 per week, along with improved benefits. The new funding means the government is now spending close to $2 billion on new border measures.

Olivia Estebanovich, CBC News, Ottawa. The union representing striking public service workers in British Columbia has now agreed to enter non-binding mediation with the province. This strike is now in its seventh week, with the two sides still far apart on wages. BC Premier David E.B. hopes mediation will be able to bridge that gap. This is a labor action that has hurt businesses, public, and valued government employees that help us deliver for British Columbians every day. And so getting to the table with a mediator, we hope will reach a quick resolution.

The union says its members will remain on the picket line during mediation. The strike has disrupted many BC services, including the justice system and some financial aid programs. Alberta teachers will remain on strike, despite the province's request that they return to the classroom on Monday. Their union insists it is committed to a negotiated agreement through the bargaining process. But time is quickly running out for that. The province says it will legislate the teachers back to work when the legislature resumes sitting next Thursday. Fueled by demand, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty, the price of gold is reaching historic highs. But with that rise is coming an increase in theft.

Karen Paul's has more. Masked gunmen burst into a Winnipeg home last week, heading straight for the inventory of the family's online jewelry shop, filling bags and shooting the owner and his father when they tried to stop them. My leg got a seven shots, and it's too painful. It's not just Rajandala's health and feeling of security that were stolen. And also they're all bringing me like five or six cage gold. That's almost one million dollars worth of gold.

And it's not the only example, says Ian Messenger of the Canadian Financial Crime Academy. The significant increases in the price of gold and other precious metals has been driving an increase in crime. By thieves and organized crime. When we think about money laundering, for example, gold and precious metals being anonymous, being often untraceable. Industry groups say they've been inundated with calls. Businesses worried as gold prices rise, so will thefts. Karen Paul's, CBC News, Winnipeg. And Ukraine's president has arrived at the White House for a crucial meeting with President Donald Trump.

This is the momentum to finish Russia's war against Ukraine. I'm confident that with your help, we can stop this war. Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to push the U.S. to supply Ukraine with more long-range missiles. The in-person meeting comes on the heels of a lengthy phone call yesterday between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin called that conversation productive. Putin has made it clear that providing missiles would be crossing a red line and would damage Moscow-Washington relations. And that is Your World This Hour.

You can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts. We update every hour seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Kate McGilfrey. Thank you.