The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/11/20 at 15:00 EST

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/11/20 at 15:00 EST

You may have heard of the sex cult nexium and the famous actress who went to prison for her involvement, Alison Mack. But she's never told her side of the story, until now. People assume that I'm like this pervert. My name is Natalie Robamed, and in my new podcast, I talked to Alison to try to understand how she went from TV actor to cult member and what she thinks of it all now. How do you feel about having been involved in bringing sexual trauma at other people? I mean, I don't even know how to answer that question. Alison, after Nexium from CBC's On Cover, is available now wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour.

I'm Kate McGilfrey. The White House says it has briefed Ukraine on its draft plan to end the war with Russia. Senior U.S. officials are now in Kiev discussing the details. There are reports that the framework to end fighting was jointly prepared by the U.S. and Russia, and that it would require Ukraine to surrender territory and scale back the size of its military. The European Union's top diplomat, Kaya Kallas, says both Ukraine and Europe must be on board with this plan. The pressure must be on the aggressor, not on the victim. Rewarding aggression will only invite more of it.

Supporting Ukraine is a bargain compared to the cost of Russian victory. Kallas says the EU is also working on imposing new sanctions. which will target Russia's shadow oil fleet. Those are older vessels with obscure ownership structures used by Moscow to evade international sanctions. Officials in Brampton, Ontario, say the rental home that burned down early this morning was not in compliance with a building permit.

At least two people were killed, another four people, including a five-year-old, were taken to hospital after jumping from an upper floor. Three others haven't been accounted for. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says the landlord, failed to follow the conditions laid out in the building permit, including having the building inspected. As mayor, when I hear that investigations were refused, the entry was refused, it gives me

great concern that, unfortunately, this is going to end up being one of those circumstances. You know, our city has a heavy heart today. The fire chief says heavy equipment is going to be brought in tomorrow to allow for a thorough search. The Quebec coroner's office has launched an investigation into the actions of a funeral contractor. A video circulating online shows the man dragging a body on the ground. Steve Rukovina has more. The short video has no sound.

It shows a man on a long second floor balcony of a walk-up apartment building in Quebec City. There's a body bag on the ground. The man picks up one end of the bag and drags the body the length of the balcony headed towards the stairs. Annie Saint-Pierre is with a group representing workers in Quebec's funeral sector. Saint-Pierre says the video is shocking, whatever the context, and shows a lack of respect for human dignity. The coroner's office confirms the man was a private funeral transporter in Quebec City working under contract for the coroner.

That contract has been suspended and the coroner's office is investigating. It's also reached out to the deceased person's family to apologize. Steve Rukovina, CBC News, Montreal. A new report looking at health care, Around the world shows there are clear links between privatization and higher mortality rates. This comes as several Canadian provinces are embracing private for-profit health care services. Christine Birak reports. We can do better.

A new Canadian report comparing 25 OECD countries found health care systems where patients privately pay for-profit clinics for care are associated with worse outcomes and lower life expectancy. And Canada's got to pull up it sucks. We are a middling at best. Catherine Scott is a researcher at the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, which authored the report. She says Canadians have public insurance, but many services are not covered and must be accessed privately. And now, provinces like Alberta are seeking to increase private for-profit health care options. You know, if you're interested in population health, you should be aware that these systems do not generate good health outcomes for the population.

Obviously, our health care system is struggling a lot right now. Dr. Melanie Bouchard is with doctors for Medicare. But the way to fix it is really to give it appropriate resources, to invest in primary and preventative care, not to start looking at private options. Christine Beirach, CBC News, Toronto. And a painting by Frida Kahlo may fetch the highest price ever paid for a work by a female artist.

A self-portrait showing the famous Mexican artist asleep on her bed goes up for auction today at Sotheby's in New York. It's estimated price between 40 and 60 million U.S. dollars. And that is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Kate McGilfrey.