World Report - October 1: Wednesday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: October 1, 2025

Could the next round of Canadian "nation-building" projects include new infrastructure for Nunavut? After weeks of calling for a new pipeline, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is about to announce a new energy infrastructure project. For the first time in more than 6 years, the United States government is shutting down. At least 69 people are dead after a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines. Plan for peace in Gaza still on hold while Hamas reviews 20-point plan struck by Israel and United States. Federal government denies Marineland request to export beluga whales to China. New online scam targets Girl Guide cookie lovers in BC and Ontario. 

This is an ad by BetterHelp. October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a time to reflect on our emotional well-being and this year to say thank you to the therapists who help make healing possible. Whether it's a life-changing breakthrough or just feeling hurt on a tough day, the right therapist can truly change the way forward. BetterHelp has connected over 5 million people to credentialed therapists worldwide, each one committed to listening, asking the right questions, and helping people move towards a better mental state.

If you've been thinking about therapy, this is a great time to try it. BetterHelp makes it easy to get started with a short questionnaire. And if your first match isn't the right fit, you can switch therapists at any time, at no extra cost. This World Mental Health Day, we're celebrating the therapists who've helped millions of people take a step forward. If you're ready to find the right therapist for you, BetterHelp can help you start that journey. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com slash Canada World. That's better, help.com slash Canada world. This is a CBC podcast.

This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Angie Seth. Well, with the next month and a half, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce the next round of major nation-building projects. His government is supporting the fast-tracking of five projects so far. None are in the north.

But as CBC's David Common reports, Nunavut has some options it wants Ottawa to consider. The Canadian Air Force surveillance plane passes over the snow-cap mountain expanse of western Nunavut. Beneath the untapped terrain below lie the critical and rare earth minerals the world now craves. Getting it out of the ground and on to global customers is the challenge. No, we've really seen the love of interest to the Arctic.

Nunavut's outgoing Premier P.J. Akiyagok is eager to see talk of developing land and port infrastructure. It is the investment Kickstarter. He believes the region with the highest employment in the country urgently needs. We know there's an incredible abundance of halibut or shrimp that we could really build our own economies using our own resources right in our backyard, but it requires investments in infrastructure. Some of that is about power. Nunavut's electricity comes from diesel generators. Its internet, unlike most Canadians, comes by satellite. New generating models and internet fibre would be a game changer. Akegaook wants to make sure the north isn't an afterthought

as the nation turns to building to spur its own economy. David Common, CBC News, Akkadowit. And it appears Alberta Premier Daniel Smith may have a nation-building project of her own to pitch to Ottawa. and we're expecting those details to come later today. Smith is going to announce a new energy infrastructure project of some kind. For weeks now, she's been advocating for a new pipeline that would bring Alberta Bichwin to British Columbia. And the Alberta Premier has been hinting a corporate proposal could be coming soon. Well, a stalemate at the U.S. Senate has forced a government shutdown.

Congress failed to reach a deal on a Republican spending bill by the midnight deadline. Several services have now been cut off, and hundreds of thousands. of federal workers are now on unpaid leave. U.S. President Donald Trump says the jobs of thousands more could be gone permanently. The CBC's at Willie Lowry joins me now from Washington. He's covering this story. So, Willie, how is this going to affect people across the U.S.? Well, in a myriad of ways, while essential services like law enforcement, hospital care,

and air traffic control will continue. Many of the people who work in these fields will be expected to work without pay. That's the same for the military. active duty troops are expected to report for duty as normal, but they may eventually be forced to work without pay as well. Agencies are expected to furlough tens of thousands of people. Now, Social Security benefits and Medicaid will continue, but if employees there are furloughed, services may be delayed. Essentially, everything slows down. TSA may be operating at a reduced capacity, meaning longer lines. Border services will remain open, but most national parks

are expected to close. Okay. So with all that being said as we're watching that, what can we expect next? Well, there's another vote to continue funding the government expected today, but as of now, the numbers haven't changed. Yesterday, the Senate voted 55-45 in favor of the government's funding resolution, but that's still five votes short of the required 60 to pass it. The Democrats' proposal also failed 47 to 53. That would have included a a funding continuation, and an additional trillion dollars to health care spending. Now, Democrats are calling on Republicans to negotiate.

There's going to be a crescendo as through the beginning of October, the vast majority of Americans get those bills, and they're going to say, what the heck are we going to do? We need health care, but we can't afford it. So we want to sit down and negotiate, but the Republicans can't do it in their partisan way. That was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested that the shutdown may also lead to mass layoffs of government employees.

Trump saying some jobs could be gone permanently. The CBC's Willie Lowry for us in Washington. Thanks a lot for this, Willie. My pleasure. An overwhelmed hospital in the Philippines treats patients in its driveway. The fear of possible aftershocks after yesterday's earthquake is real. as many people say they're too scared to go back inside. At least 69 people are dead after a powerful 6.9 magnitude quake struck Tuesday night.

The epicenter measured off the coast of the central Cebu province. Several buildings collapsed, trapping people inside, some still being pulled from the rubble. As a search for survivors continues, so do efforts to restore power and water supplies that were badly damaged. The military has also been called in to help. The United Nations says more than a quarter of a million people have been displaced from Gaza City in the last month, forced to leave as the Israel military pushes ahead with its ground offensive. Soon Israel says it will close the last remaining road out of the city

and its troops will move farther north to root out the last remaining Hamas militants. The plan for peace in Gaza still on hold as Hamas reviews the details. CBC's Sasser Petrissik has more. After almost two years of war, the promise of peace is dangling over Gaza. But among the displaced Palestinians in Dear Al-Bala, there's doubt. Jamil al-Aidi doesn't think the deal would give them control over their lives. The Palestinian people need to end the occupation in Holland. We need to live like other people in the world.

We need to live in peace and justice. UNICEF's James Elder was in Gaza yesterday at a hospital treating injuries from Israel's ongoing ground assault in Gaza City. I met four children who had all been shot. I then saw a boy who had been shot lying on the floor bleeding out. Every single corridor was packed with people. There are many vague details in U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. Will Israel's military control end once the war does? Will the proposed international administration bring power to Palestinians or just a new colonial government?

Could there ever be a Palestinian state? But the big question is, will Hamas accept this deal? It's said no to similar offers already. Trump says now it's take it or leave it. Is there real to negotiate with Hamas or is this a take it or need a deal? You know, with Hamas, we want very simple. We want the hostages back immediately. and we want some good behavior.

Arab leaders are reportedly putting great pressure on Hamas to take this offer, expecting an answer as early as today. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem. We have an update on Marine Land's efforts to sell its last 30 belugas to China. The federal government has denied Marine Land's export request. It says if the whales were sent to the Ocean Kingdom theme park in China, it would mean a continued life in China. captivity and return to public entertainment. Here's Fisheries and Oceans Minister, Joanne Thompson.

The Fisheries Act, which is important in guiding the decision, is clear. Wales do not belong in tanks and captivity for entertainment purposes, and that really was at the center of the decision. Marie Land Canada has not commented. Some advocates are calling on the federal government to establish a sanctuary for the whales. And finally, for us, cookie lovers, Be warned, a new online scam is gaining popularity, and it involves grilled guide cookies. Yasmine Renea has the details. They don't seem to have access to any cookies. They are not associated with our organization.

Diamond Eisinger, spokesperson for BC Girl Guide, says scammers have baked up a fresh way to steal money. We are obviously concerned about seeing examples like this out there in the wild, but we hope that they don't discourage any of our supporters from supporting a really essential program for kids and youth and adults. Post from Facebook community groups in B.C. and Ontario show people who claim their children are selling the cookies. They ask for e-transfers up front, but don't deliver the tasty treats. Hello.

Would you like to buy a box of Girl Guide cookies? Cookies are the Girl Guides of Canada's main fundraising tool, helping raise money for programs, activities, and camp fees. Scammers online today will do anything for. a dishonest dollar. Cyber security expert David Shipley says there are ways you can protect yourself. First, pay after delivery. So make arrangements, get the cookies dropped off by the parents, and then once you physically have the goods, do the payment then and there. But if you do fall for these kinds of scams, he says don't be ashamed and report it to help others. Yesam Ganea,

CBC News, Vancouver. latest national and international news from World Report. If you're enjoying the World Report podcast, please follow us and tell a friend. It helps spread the word. I'm Angie Seth. This is CBC News.