World Report - December 12: Friday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

The Carney Liberals are one seat away from a majority after former Conservative Michael Ma crosses the floor.New evacuation orders for Abbotsford BC, as floodwaters from atmospheric river are expected to peak today.Record flooding in Washington state prompts evacuations and water rescues.The UN says more than 800,000 people in Gaza are at risk of flooding after a powerful storm battered the beleaguered territory.Hundreds of geese in Manitoba killed by avian flu.First segment of Canada's high-speed train will connect Montreal to Ottawa, with stop in Laval. 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' sweeps nine Game Awards including Game of the Year.

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Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott. Prime Minister Mark Carney's governing liberals are now just one seat away from a majority. Toronto area MP Michael Maugh announced last night he was leaving the Conservative Party and joining the liberals. Let's bring in Janice McGregor from our Parliamentary Bureau. Janice, did anyone see this coming?

No, particularly not conservatives who were circulating a picture on social media last night of Michael Maugh smiling alongside Pierre Pollyev and his wife, literally the night before this happened, at their own holiday party. Ma voted with the conservative caucus yesterday afternoon, but before the day was out, he'd also met with Prime Minister Mark Carney. And shortly after six, liberals released his stunning statement that he was crossing the floor. He said he entered public service to help people to focus on solutions, not division. This latest addition to the Liberal caucus headcount multiplied the cheer at the government's end of sitting festivities last night. Yeah, what's everybody's favorite number? What is it, Mona?

171. Closer, closer to that majority they crave. Moss said his constituents like what he called Mark Carney's steady practical approach. Markham Unionville, his riding, is. is a 905 swing seat. And so, Janice, where does all of this leave the Conservatives? Well, after the humbling experience of losing two MPs, Pierre Ballyab's office thought it had stopped the bleeding.

But Liberal House leader Steve McKinnon told reporters yesterday that behind the scenes, the opposition is not united under its leadership. Unfortunately, there is a part of the Conservative Caucus that views obstruction as a good day for them. There are a number of conservative MPs. They talk to me, they talk to my colleagues, who don't share that view. Pollyev wasn't in Ottawa when this news broke last night. He was at a private home that was hosting a conservative fundraiser

in Toronto's wealthy Forest Hill neighborhood. This latest floor crossing, likely making the mood in that room, somewhat less than festive. Janice McGregor in Ottawa. Thanks, Janice. You're welcome. Rising floodwaters have led to new evacuation orders for properties around Abbotsford, BC. These are in addition to the nearly 460 properties

already under similar orders and more than 1,000 others on evacuation alert. An atmospheric river has deluged to the Fraser Valley. Yasmin Renea reports. I've been gauged in that white car there to see how high it's when coming up. In Abbotsford, BC, close to the Canada-US border, John Will watches floodwaters

completely cover a vehicle's tires and license plate. His home is under evacuation order, along with dozens of others in the area. When it starts coming in my driveway, then I'll think about time to go. After days of relentless rain, floodwaters from the Nooksack River in Washington State continue to rise in the Fraser Valley, shutting down a major route into Abbotsford last night. We will do whatever it takes to protect people and communities, because in moments like these, no one stands alone. BC Emergency Management Minister Kelly Green says staff are providing supports around the clock.

We continue to deploy flood assets and equipment like sandbags, tiger dams, and these will protect property and livestock. Residents are being urged to stay out of evacuation areas and away from all flooded roads. The province says the coming days may be difficult, as another atmospheric river is expected to hit the region Sunday. and Monday. Yasmil Ganea, CBC News, Abbotsford, British Columbia. South of the border, Washington State is taking the brunt of the same weather system. We're going to be lower in our rescue somewhere. Take it up two survivors, go into the LVU to drop moss, and then come back to the next jump.

The U.S. Coast Guard helicopter positions to airlift two people stranded in a submerged house in the town of Sumas, Washington. Water levels there have reached higher than four and a half meters. 100,000 people are facing evacuation orders. Washington's governor, Bob Ferguson, has declared a statewide emergency. The report we received from the National Weather Service was the situation is potentially catastrophic. That's their term. And also has the potential for significant loss of life.

Ferguson says at this point, no fatalities are being reported. The UN says more than 800,000 people in Gaza are at risk because of flooding after a powerful storm battered the beleaguered territory. Storm Byron has collapsed buildings and deluged the camps of people displaced by the Israel-Hamas war. Three more people died overnight, reportedly bringing the total number of deaths from the severe weather to 12. Rafi Buji Kanan has more. The prayer chant in the west of Gaza City to mourn the loss of Khadir and Khalil Hanune. Their cousin Marwan tells a freelance video. working for CBC News, they died when a wall collapsed on their tents early this morning.

Also in Gaza City, 9-year-old Hadil Hamdan died. Due to the cold, says the child's father, Abdullah. For months now, eight organizations have warned that tents for the Palestinians displaced by the Gaza conflict are inadequate for winter. We need shelter and reliable shelter commodities, right? So we're talking proper tents. We're talking prefabricated containers that can at least protect people. Willie Nieco is with the United Nations World Food Program. He says another urgent need is to replace ruined sewage systems. The wastewater has basically been mixing off with the rainwater.

And we're quite concerned that, you know, the next phase of these might be a disease outbreak. Aid groups estimated 1.3 million people were without shelter even before Byron's arrival this week. A number, they say surely must have gone up in the wake of the storm. Rafi Bujikani on TVC News, Jerusalem. Scientists in Manitoba say they've never seen the kind of mass die-offs of geese they're encountering this year. It's part of an active avian influenza outbreak in Canada that has resulted in the deaths of more than 16 million birds over the last four years. Karen Pauls has more. This is my first experience at this scale of mortality. Federal wildlife biologist Frank Baldwin visited Niverville, Manitoba, to check out dead geese on retention ponds in town.

Samples were collected and tested, the cause of death, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Thursday, confirming 500 carcasses were collected in that community alone, with many more deaths reported in other locations across the province. So these birds, when they get sick, they're unable to feed because they're unable to fly. their proximate cause of death may be from freezing, but ultimately what led to them dying would be this virus. Hannah Wallace is a virologist at the University of Manitoba's Kindrichuk Lab. We would think that some of the birds that had been exposed throughout the last four years or so would have some protection.

So it is a bit weird that we're seeing this many die. She says the big concern is if the birds are eaten by wild or domestic animals and then if that virus mutates in a mammal. It could also then become better at infecting people. That's a distant possibility at this point, but that's always at the back of our minds. Conspiracy theories are flying on social media about what's causing the deaths, but Niverville Mayor Myron Dick says trust the experts. So I leave it to the scientists that have more knowledge and deal with us on a regular basis.

You know, we put our faith in the professionals that know that more than we do. Those professionals advising people not to handle the dead birds and keep their people. pets away. Karen Paul's, CBC News, Winnipeg. Federal Transport Minister Stephen McKinnon says the first segment of the alto high-speed rail line will be built between Montreal and Ottawa. Now, why start with this part of the route? It is a relatively short and straight portion of the overall route. This provides an excellent opportunity for teams in both provinces to begin to develop together the expertise needed to deliver the other segments, both in Ontario, and and in Quebec.

The exact route has not yet been determined. Consultations for that will begin in January. And the first sod is scheduled to be turned in 2029. A high-speed rail line is intended to eventually connect Quebec City to Toronto. And finally, to one of the biggest accolades in the gaming industry. And the game of the year is, my ami Claire Obscure, Expedition 33! Claire Obscure, Expedition 33, was the biggest winner at last night's annual game awards in Los Angeles. It made an historic sweep of nine awards, including the top prize, game of the year, and also best score and music.

The game's objective is to destroy a cosmic entity called the Painteress before it erases humanity. It's a dark fantasy world inspired by. by Belipoc, France. The creators are a small French studio. Claire Obscure is their debut game. And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News.

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