The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/20 at 01:00 EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/20 at 01:00 EST

This ascent isn't for everyone. You need grit to climb this high this often. You've got to be an underdog that always over-delivers. You've got to be 6,500 hospital staff, 1,000 doctors, all doing so much with so little. You've got to be Scarborough. Defined by our uphill battle and always striving towards new heights. And you can help us keep climbing.

Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. From CBC News, The World This Hour. I'm Mike Miles. Recommendations from the Alberta next panel were made public Friday, including multiple calls for referendums. The panel's tasked with reviewing the province's relationship with Ottawa, Karina Zapata has more from Calgary. Among the panel's recommendations, a referendum on whether the province should exercise more control over immigration, and another on establishing an Alberta pension plan after a detailed proposal is sent out to Albertans. The panel also wants a referendum on constitutional changes like the right to opt out of federal programs, appoint its own court of Kings Bench judges, and abolish the Senate.

It also calls for the Alberta Police Service to replace the RCMP without holding a referendum. On that point, Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams. They know that Albertans don't want it and are just going to proceed. It's a bit odd. Opposition NDP leader Nahed Nenshi says the town halls didn't paint an accurate picture. They were only talking to people who were at the town halls because they supported it. Their online survey, which is tens of thousands of Albertans, shows massive opposition to their plans. The province says the government caucus will look at which recommendations it might adopt.

Karena Zapatah, CBC News, Calgary. A holiday letter from Alberta's education minister is garnering divisive online reaction. The letter focuses heavily on the. birth of Jesus Christ, and it was sent to all Alberta school boards to be shared with parents. Natalie Jolie is a parent and trustee with the St. Albert Public School Board. She says the letter was not inclusive. I love that many people experience spiritual drive to serve, but that message and sending that message across Alberta suggesting that it's a universal shared experience was bizarre to see.

In a response to CBC News, a press secretary for the education. and child care ministry says it shared a Christmas message with parents and school boards wishing them a Merry Christmas and all the best over the break and sincerely wishes all Albertans whatever their beliefs or celebrations a safe and joyful holiday season. As in other parts of the country before, Alberta is experiencing a spike in the number of flu cases and it's putting a strain on hospitals. As Aaron Collins tells us, it's turning out to be a tougher than usual influenza season. My husband's had it pretty bad. He had like the cough and the chills and all the things.

Tis the season for influenza. That's my bus driver. Top of mind outside this Calgary school as the holiday break starts. Yeah, a couple weeks ago, he only had nine kids in his class that day because there are so many out sick. The flu is hitting hard this year driven by the H3N2 strain. 650 people are in hospital with the flu in Alberta, nearly double last week's total. Lewis Franciscetti is an ER doctor in Edmonton. There's no if, ends or butts about it.

The flu is here with a vengeance. We're in the exponential phase right now. This year's flu shot isn't a good match for the H3N2 strain. Still, doctors are urging people to get vaccinated before gathering for the holidays because it reduces the risk of a severe infection and complications. Aaron Collins, CBC News, Calgary. Admits the Canada-U.S. tariff dispute, Ontario Premier Doug Ford crossed the border to drum up business for Ontario.

He was in Buffalo, New York Friday, alongside Governor Katie Hokel, entering an agreement in principle for collaboration on the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies. Ford calls it groundbreaking for both sides. Ontario Power Generation and New York Power Authority will work together on developing an implementation of advanced nuclear technology. I always say it's safe number one, it's clean, it's green, it's reliable, and it's cost affordable for especially the rate payers. Under the agreement, Ontario Power Generation will share information and leverage their respective expertise and resources to advance technological innovation while enhancing understanding of nuclear financing and economics. That is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles. Thank you.