World Report - May 14: Thursday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: May 14, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney announces clean energy strategy, involving more natural gas for electricity generation. Honda Canada indefinitely halts plans for a 15-billion-dollar electric vehicle complex in Alliston, Ontario. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping praise the US-China relationship at elaborate state dinner in Beijing. Alberta Premier Daniel Smith signals her government may appeal judge's decision to quash a petition pushing for a referendum on Alberta Independence. Canada is sending a team of observers to Armenia for next month's election. Ontario begins inspection blitz cracking down on ticket resellers, including SeatGeek and Stubhub. 

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No, not today. Looks like people are starting to know Beneva pretty well. You're stronger with the right partner, Beneva. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm John Northcott. Prime Minister Mark Carney says changes are coming to the way Canadians generate power. His government will be holding consultations to improve Canada's energy strategy.

And over the next few months, we'll work with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples, utilities, unions, to identify the actions needed to double. our grid most effectively and affordably. The new plan includes an increased role for natural gas in the electricity grid. Janice McGregor is following the announcement from our parliamentary bureau. Janice, what did the PM have to say? John, in a major departure from the clean electricity regulations of the previous Trudeau government era, Ottawa's strategy focus now is less about cutting carbon emissions in electricity generation,

an area where Canada is already globally, quite clean and competitive, and now expanding Canada's grid so that there's no impediment to the broader electrification of Canada's economy, worrying less about disincentivizing or preventing the construction of new natural gas plants, giving provinces new flexibility to enable natural gas generation, if that's what a province needs to meet its growing demands. There's still language up for consultation about balancing environmental consideration, So we'll see if this means Canada's grid remains about 80% low-emitting

as a strategy to double its overall capacity proceeds. But to make sure that Canada's leveraging this strength, it has to do a better job of sharing it across the country and isn't, as the Prime Minister noted last weekend, stuck on individual provincial islands, incapable of trading its low-cost, low-emitting power between provincial utilities based on supply and demand. That means more high-power transmission,

ties across borders, something now seen as a potential major project in and of itself capable of creating more jobs. And Carney's vision is if the cost of this massive grid expansion is properly spread out between now and 2050, it should be possible to keep electricity affordable, even cut costs for individual households as they use more and more electricity, less and less fossil fuels, and renewing government incentives to consume more efficiently, like home retrofits, well, that's going to be part of this. CBC's Janice McGregor in Ottawa. Thanks, Janice. You're welcome. Honda Canada is confirming it is indefinitely halting plans for a $15 billion electric vehicle complex in Alaston, Ontario.

The new plant had the potential to create a thousand manufacturing jobs. The federal and provincial governments had pledged a total of $5 billion for the proposed project. Flavio Volpe is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association. He says multiple factors that Honda led to the decision. They're hemorrhaging billions because they don't know whether they can access the market. And that market also said, we're going to get rid of our purchase incentives for EVs and mandates for EVs. Honda says current employment and production levels at the existing manufacturing facility in Alaston will not be affected. China's president is praising his country's relationship with the United States.

During his total, he's totaling, fanerun, change. During his toast to Donald Trump at the state banquet in Beijing, Xi Jinping called the U.S.-China relationship the most important in the world. The elaborate dinner followed a day of pomp and ceremony, as well as negotiations over trade and other issues. Emily Sue has more. Cordial exchanges between the U.S. and China continued at a state banquet in Beijing, following a day of closely washed talks,

with both sides offering the other high praise. President Xi Jinping noting that China's progress and Donald Trump's mission to make America great again can go hand in hand. It was a fantastic day. President Trump, meanwhile, paid tribute to his host. I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome. The talks earlier in the day signaled stabilizing relations between the world's two biggest superpowers. Though, there was tension on the topic of Taiwan. President Xi warned of potential clashes if mishandled. A readout from the White House made no mention of the self-governing island, which Beijing regards as its own territory.

The release did say the two sides agreed that the strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy and that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Business heavyweights from both countries were also present at the banquet. Earlier, President Xi promised to open up China's economy to the world, addressing a long-standing U.S. complaint over protectionism. In a win for the Trump administration, reports say China has renewed import licenses for hundreds of U.S. beef plants, which Beijing let laps last year at the height of trade tensions between the two sides. Stark differences remain in a range of areas, but the summit offers relief to many at a time of geopolitical uncertainty. Emily Sue for CBC News, Hong Kong.

Alberta Premier Daniel Smith is signaling her government may appeal a judge's decision to quash a petition pushing for a referreferential. on Alberta independence. She says she'll meet with her cabinet in the coming days to decide next steps. But the First Nations that brought the case before the courts say an appeal would be a mistake. Here's Chief Alan Adam of the Athabaska Chippewan First Nation. It's an opportunity for all government levels to work together to build this country because what is happening here in Alberta is going to destroy our economy and it's going to chase investors away for a long time.

Yesterday, a judge ruled a referendum on separation would violate indigenous people's treaty rights and that the Alberta government failed in its duty to consult First Nations. Canada is sending a team of observers to Armenia for next month's election. The vote could pivot Armenia away from Russia, pushing it more into Europe's orbit. But some democracy advocates are warning the shift may not mean greater freedom for its citizens. Rafi Bucci Canyon explains. Freedom, rule of law of democracy. Mr. Mark Cardi in Yerevan last week, attending the European political community summit.

These values shape our relationships. Up next, Canada is sending seven elections observers to Armenia in June. Armenians are gearing up for a campaign where splitting from their country's traditional ally, Russia, and a fraught peace process with neighboring Azerbaijan after decades of war are taking center stage. But there are questions about whose voices are being heard. We found a disturbing tendency on the part of the current government. Kenneth Roth is the former head of human rights watch. He was part of a fact-finding mission to Yerevan with an NGO called the International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia.

It found the government is prosecuting opponents, including opposition politicians and the clergy. Incumbent Nigol Pashinian's lead opposition, a Russian Armenian tycoon named Samvel Garabedian is under house arrest. Those imprisoned include a bishop, Canadian citizenship. Paschignan's critics say his embrace of the West while the country is practically right next to Russia is risky. It's too simple to say this is about, you know, are you in the Kremlin's camp or in the West's camp? Another debate seizing the country, how much to push Azerbaijan on its political prisoners and the right of return for refugees who fled the once Armenian populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan won a war with Armenia. Issues Western

countries have continued to raise. Rafi Bucucan, Yon, CBC News, Ottawa. Ontario is beginning to crack down on exploitative ticket resellers. The province has passed a law, making it illegal to resell tickets above face value, and just ahead of the World Cup and summer concert season. Inspectors are conducting a blitz, targeting large sale ticket brokers and resale website, seat geek and stub hub. Dave Seagland's reports.

And a curveball hit high and deep. It was high prices for last fall's Blue Jays run in the World Series that prompted the Ontario government to pass a new price cap. Stephen Crawford is the minister responsible. People are really getting gouged. Tickets that were face value of $200 or $300 might be resold in the market for $5,000, $10,000. So, as of last month, reselling tickets for above face value is now illegal in Ontario. Crawford says this week inspectors are contacting major brokers and resale web.

sites. Whether you're a small vendor or a large vendor, part of the secondary market, you are going to be receiving a letter and you are going to be receiving an inspection. So that goes for Stubbhub. Seatkeek. Big sites appear to be complying, but CBC found a number of tickets on Stubhub still at prices far above face value. Frankie Mulqueen is with Stubhub and its parent company via Go-go. Oh yeah, we remove any ticket that's in breach. And if we're notified immediately of a specific listing, we'd investigate it, spend a listing. He says, while Stubbubb will comply, he opposes this new law. Well, Queen says it'll be hard to enforce

and will just drive resellers underground to private Facebook groups or back alleys. Provincial fines start at $3,000, up to as high as $250,000 for continued noncompliance. Dave Seagland, CBC News, Toronto. And that is the latest

national and international news from World Report. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca slash podcasts.