Your World Tonight - Avi Lewis wins NDP leadership race, U.S. media says Trump is considering ground troops in Iran, Artemis II prepares for lift off, and more

Episode Date: March 29, 2026

Avi Lewis is the new leader of Canada’s New Democrats. The activist, filmmaker and former journalist coasted to a first round victory at the party's convention Sunday, owing in part to his progressive policy ideas. Policies that Lewis says can be paid for with a wealth tax on corporations and billionaires. You'll hear reactions to Lewis' win, and the challenges his party faces as it tries to rebuild after its worst election night in history last year. Also: U.S. media is reporting the Trump administration is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran. It comes as diplomatic efforts ramp up in Pakistan, aimed at finding a path to de-escalation - though neither Iran nor the U.S.are directly talking at the table.And: For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are heading to the Moon. NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch as early as Wednesday. It's the very first step in NASA'S ambitious plan to build a base on the Moon and send people to Mars. The astronauts invovled in the mission, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, say they are ready to go.Plus: Syrian refugees fleeing Lebanon, Nigeria's fuel crisis, Immigration advocates vow to challenge Bill C-12, and more. 

Every language is a note in the symphony of our heritage. Together, they create a harmony. Silence. TN. Languages TV channel. This is a CBC podcast. Canada, mark your calendar. The NDP comeback starts now. Meet the new NDP leader.

Avi Lewis wins the party's leader. leadership with promises of a progressive agenda. You'll hear reaction from the NDP Convention and his thoughts on rebuilding the struggling party. This is your world tonight. I'm Kimberly Gale. Also on the podcast, there are reports the U.S. may send ground troops into Iran as the war reaches the one-month mark and diplomacy stalls. And yes, a Canadian is going to go into deep space. That's extraordinary thing. But I hope others outside of Canada feel part of this too. Nassah's first

step toward a moon base could launch Wednesday. Avi Lewis is the new leader of Canada's New Democrats. The activist, filmmaker, and former journalist coasted to a first round victory at the party's convention Sunday, owing in part to his progressive policy ideas. Policies

that Lewis says can be paid for with a wealth tax on corporations and billionaires. The NDP is trying to rebuild after Jugmeet Singh led the party to its worst election night in history last year. Marina von Stackleberg reports from the convention floor in Winnipeg. Please welcome the new leader of Canada's NDP, Avi Lewis. A decisive win with a decisive new vision for Canada's NDP. Avi Lewis, a self-described anti-capitalist, swept this race with 56% support,

pulling in double the votes of his main competition, Edmonton MP Heather McPherson. Lewis brought her the other candidates, MPs and supporters onto the stage for his victory speech. After seven months of campaigning across this country, here's one thing I know for sure and I want to say it out loud. Canada, mark your calendar. The NDP comeback starts now. Lewis joins a family legacy. His grandfather, David Luther, Lewis once led this party. His dad, Stephen, was the Ontario NDP leader in the 1970s. And friends, a lot of you know that my dad, Stephen Lewis, is not doing too well. But he is still with us and hanging on to see the next chapter of our movement. Lewis's victory signals a major

political shift for the federal NDP. His campaign galvanized by the support of many activists and young people, like Lynn Luke. I want people who are allowing me to dream big and dream better. Some of those ideas include creating public grocery stores, banks, and cell phone providers. Lewis wants the government to build large-scale housing and a cross-country electrical grid. And he has aggressive climate policy calling for an end to fossil fuel expansion. Lou, who lives in Edmonton, says she knows that won't be an easy sell to some back home. I think there's a lot of fear because when they sit here that he's not pipeline, they're worried about their jobs. NDP, NDP.

Manitoba's new Democrat premier Wob Canoe stood on the stage with Lewis, but his prairie counterparts are far from happy. Alberta NDP leader Nathad Nenshi and Saskatchewan's leader Carla Beck both released statements blasting the new leader. Beck called Lewis's stance on resource development, ideological and unrealistic. Polls analyst Eric Grenier says Lewis has a more left-leaning popular. list approach. That is a policy set we haven't seen for a while, but if the NDP needs someone

and grab a bit of attention and raise some money, Abby Lewis is probably the candidate of the list that meets those requirements. Lewis may have won, but the challenges ahead are far bigger. The party is $13 million in debt and only has six MPs. He'll need to win his own seat in the House of Commons and most of all convince Canadians to once again vote for the federal NDP. Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News, Winnipeg. For more on the new NDP leader, let's go to our chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton. Rosemary, when you spoke to Avi Lewis today, he's clear that his goal is to form a government. What challenges does he face in rebuilding the NDP into a competitive electoral force?

Well, he's overcome some of them already, frankly. He's been bringing in money $1.4 million in fundraising through the leadership. campaign. He's been growing the party's membership and building some momentum, which is coming out of the convention. Those are the easy things, if you will. The real challenges that he faces are much more daunting. He needs to keep his very small caucus on side. He needs to try to find a way for the NDP to be part of the national conversation, which has proven really difficult for other opposition leaders, even Pierre Puehliev. He needs to become better known to Canadians because polls show that he is not a very recognizable face to most Canadians. And finally, he needs to do all of that without a seat

inside the House of Commons. When I asked him today whether he would be doing that, he said, yeah, this is something that's important to me, but he wouldn't set a timeline for when that might happen. So he'll also need to find a space inside the House of Commons at some point. Now, in terms of policy, his ideas suggest the NDPs moving in a more progressive direction. Is this enough to win back voters lost to the liberals and conservatives? Listen, there's definitely some space on the political spectrum for the NDP to claim here, particularly given that there is some discomfort, even inside the Liberal caucus itself, with some of the positions the government has taken on some policy issues.

Look at the billions in spending on the military, for instance. And we certainly know that the issue of affordability, which is one that Avi Lewis talked a lot about, is a real one for Canadians. So using that could also be effective. We also heard Lewis try to reposition the NDP as the party. of workers. The problem is that the NDP has been losing that traditional support to the conservatives as of late. So can he turn that around? And finally, the last election certainly demonstrated that Canadians are looking for stability in the face of a changing world and the threats from Donald Trump.

So just offering a different progressive position may not be enough. There's also, of course, the prospect can really that the party moves too far to the left with some of these anti-capitalist promises. And so isn't able to reclaim some of the people that were supportive of it in the past. You know, in terms of support, we've heard a few prominent new Democrats who've spoken out against him and his environmental policies. How can he unify the party? I think this is the biggest immediate challenge for Lewis, frankly. He's taken a very strong, as you said, sort of anti-further resource development stance. That's already caused this friction with his provincial cousins in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Lewis says it's fine to have different

positions on big issues inside a political party. And that's, that's what happens inside a big tent. He also says that he now has the mandate from members to push ahead with these positions. That may be true, but it also runs the risk of abandoning parts of the country that have previously been welcoming to the NDP and of solidifying the view that this party is increasingly moving towards sort of urban voters who have concerns about climate change and giving very little thought to some of the workers behind some of those key sectors inside the country. All right. Thanks for this, Rosemary.

Thank you. That's the CBC's chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton, in Ottawa. The federal liberal and conservative leaders have congratulated Avi Lewis on his win. In a social media post, Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote, he looks forward to speaking about how we can work together to keep delivering for Canadians. While conservative leader Pierre Pauliev took a shot at the federal government in his statement, writing, I look forward to working to hold the Carney liberals to account, adding, we must make Canada affordable and safe for us all. Still ahead, the war in the Middle East is hitting Nigeria hard.

Even as an oil producer, Africa's most populous nation relies on imports and is struggling with a spike in prices. There is new reporting today the U.S. could send ground troops into Iran. This comes as diplomatic efforts ramp up in Pakistan, aimed at finding a path to de-escalation, though neither, Whether Iran nor the U.S. is directly at the table, Katie Nicholson reports. Rescuers with the Red Crescent in Tehran step gingerly through debris in the dark after a missile strike on an apartment building. The battle in the air, unrelenting. Even his concerns shift to a potential battle on the ground.

The Washington Post now reporting the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran. The White House has cautioned the president hasn't made any decisions. yet. But Democrats like Senator Andy Kim lined up Sunday to dissuade him. I want to take a moment to make a direct call to President Trump and congressional Republicans saying we cannot have American troops on the ground in Iran. This is going to be such a risky operation. And for what purpose? While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard spokesperson says they have been waiting for the U.S. to put troops on the ground. And threatened humiliating captivity and dismemberment, saying American commanders and soldiers will become good food for the sharks of the Persian Gulf.

Retired Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie said, if there is a ground incursion, it could be limited to brief stints targeting specific locations within the Strait of Hormuz. Seizing islands, seizing small bases, typically raids, and a raid is an operation with a planned withdrawal. You're not going to stay. But some of those islands you could seize and hold, that would have a couple effects. First of all, it would be profoundly humiliating for Iran and would give us great weight in negotiations. All of this, of course, as Pakistan has taken the lead in peace negotiations these last few days. Attended only by representatives from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishak Dar, emerged today, hinting more serious talks between the U.S. and Iran could

follow. Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict. It's not clear how on board either country truly is, and Iran's parliamentary speaker has accused the U.S. of negotiating while secretly planning a ground attack. The war, however, continues to escalate. Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis now in the game, having launched missiles and drones at Israeli targets on. Saturday. While today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli tanks to expand their buffer zone deeper into Lebanon, inflaming fears of a protracted Israeli occupation as the war grinds on. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Washington. Israeli police have blocked the head of Jerusalem's

Catholic Church from marking Palm Sunday at Christianity's holiest sight. The Latin patriarch and a reverend were stopped from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to hold a mass for the first time in centuries. World leaders are condemning the move, but Israel's prime minister says it was done to ensure the safety of the Cardinal and his party. Meanwhile, in Rome, Pope Leo issued a sharp rebuke to global leaders as the war in Iran enters its second month. He delivered the remarks during a Palm Sunday Mass before tens of thousands in San Diego, St. Peter's Square, saying, God rejects the prayers of those who wage war and have hands full of blood. Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon has triggered a mass cross-border exodus with nearly

150,000 people entering Syria this month alone. The vast majority are Syrian refugees, once again displaced, returning to a homeland still struggling to rebuild after years of civil war. Freelance reporter Rahm al-Azum has that story. cries of women and children feel the crossing. Families arrive in cars and buses, carrying what they could bring with them. Some say they fled under bombardment. Others arrived cold, exhausted, unable to stand after the journey. Fatima fled Syria's war two years ago and is now returning with her children.

An airstrike hit the home of my sister. their-in-law's son and his wife. They were martyred. Marriage, just five months, newlyweds. Their home collapsed on them. They haven't seen anything yet in life. Several Syrians didn't share their full names with CBC news. Some because they were rushing their families to safety.

Others feared possible repercussions from Lebanese authority if they returned to that country. My children were going to die from the cold. We were there. And my husband kept moving us from place to place as strikes hit around us. Fatima's husband stayed behind in Lebanon to bury relatives. But for some, the fear wasn't only from the bombardment. Syrians like this man at the border describe a double fear from Israeli strikes

and hostilities from Hezbollah. We don't dare go outside. Husbalah is her rising Syrians, we stayed home for about a week, stocking up on food. At the border, Syrian civil defense crews are providing first aid, food, water, and transportations for arrivals. Ra'z Salih, a Syria's minister of emergency and disaster management and a permanent Canadian resident, he says his team is supporting Syrian returnees despite challenges and limited force. The country's conditions are below zero. We need to remove landmines, clear rubble and rebuild infrastructure.

Those challenges come as Syria is already struggling to rebuild after 14 years of war. And for some, shaping what comes next means coming back from abroad. Muzna Duraid is a Syrian-Canadian who has returned to the country to take part in the part in the rebuilding effort. Because like a transitional period is very sensitive and we need all Syrians who can

come back and build the country. So we need all of them to contribute specifically women to increase more participation in this transitional period. As Syria enters a new phase rebuilding is no longer just a goal but a necessity.

Rehama al-Azum for CBC News at the Syrian-Labanese border. The war in the Middle East is sending shockwaves far beyond the region, including Africa's most populated country. In Nigeria, fuel and cooking gas prices have surged, driving up transport costs, food prices, and the cost of living. Kunle Babs reports from the capital, Abuja.

We are not getting anything out of this business again. For commercial drivers like Friday, Daniel, rising costs are already cutting deep into their daily earnings. You will buy for a 10,000 and for a whole day before, But not even 30,000 would not be enough. And passengers don't need to pay money. They complain that they have not increased their salary. So we don't know what to do.

And it's not just commercial drivers failing the squeeze. I have not bought a full tank since this crisis started. Salma Yahya says the rising cost is shaping how she spends. For instance, now my car is on quarter tank. I'm buying $40,000. I always used to buy a full tank. But I can't because it's tying down money. Few prices in Nigeria have risen significantly since the U.S., Israel and Iran conflict began

from about 61 cents to over one U.S. dollar per liter, with $1.1 now exchanging for roughly 1,318 IRA. Data from Business Day shows Nigeria has recorded one of the highest increases globally. But it's not just petrol driving the pain. They are softened. Aria to a module, an Abuja-based businesswoman says even basic cooking gas is becoming out of rich. The last time we bought a gas per kage, 1000. But the next time that my gas finished to pump back and fill it again

and I see that it has increased to 150. Many households are now cutting back or turning to cheaper, less save alternatives. Nigeria is one of Africa's largest producers and hosts the continent's biggest gas reserves. It has sported most of its oil to global markets and still relies heavily on imported fuel. That leaves it highly exposed to global supply shocks. Ascension rise in the Middle East, a key hub for global energy supply, concerns are pushing prices higher worldwide. It's a double jeopardy for Nigeria. Energy expert Nick Aguilli says Nigeria's dependence on fuel for transport and power makes the impact more severe.

It says the country now faces urgent choices on how to respond. What Nigeria needs to do is walk away from dependence on petroleum products. can generate energy from renewable sources of which will have them in abundance. The Nigerian government says it is monitoring the situation and exploring ways to stabilize fuel supply and prices. But for many Nigerians, the impact is already here. A conflict thousands of miles away is now shaping how people move, eat and live. For millions here, the question is not just how high prices will go, but how long they can keep going. Only baths for The CBC News, Abuja, Nigeria.

Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, is in Jordan, part of a tour to try to build support among Gulf states. Zelensky is bluntly accusing Moscow of helping Tehran, and he's worried the war in Iran is shifting focus and resources away from the conflict in his country. Jennifer Yunn reports. He has benefits, a lot of benefits of this war. A stark warning from Ukrainian president

Volodymyr Zelensky. Russian President Vladimir Putin may end up being the biggest winner as the Middle East plunges deeper into crisis a month after the U.S. and Israel launched the war in Iran. Russia needs long war in Middle East because the focus will be on Middle East. The U.S. has been a major supplier of weapons to Ukraine. Now Zelensky fears much-needed arms that were headed to his country may end up going to support American interests in the middle. Middle East instead. I'm very worried. I hope that the United States will not make such mistake. It's not just weapons that may be diverted from Ukraine.

The Trump administration may put diplomatic talks on the backburner, too, says Andrew Rosilius, a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, especially with an imminent electoral test for an administration facing low approval ratings. You know, the U.S. elections coming up in the fall, the midterms, and that the American attention, depending on the Iran war, of course, will completely shift from Ukraine and that the window to make a deal may actually dissipate. On the ground in Ukraine, the war continues to grind on. Russia launched a barrage of drones in waves of attacks over the weekend,

killing for and damaging energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials. The southern Odessa region was hit the hardest, Ukraine says. You start to believe in anything in everything in every. when you're scared and the Shah had drones are flying towards you, says Odessa resident Olena Kuryoshova. She's referring to Iranian designed drones. Russia has been using them for years to batter Ukraine and improving the design as it went. Now Russia is sending those upgraded drones back to Iran according to European and Ukrainian intelligence. Russia is also sharing intelligence with Iran, Zelensky says. I think that in Russian interest to

help Iranians. All this is why the Ukrainian president is in the Middle East now, flying from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, then Qatar and now Jordan in a matter of days. All countries that have recently become targets of Iranian drone strikes. Zelensky is offering anti-dron technology in exchange for advanced air defense missiles and long-term support, trying to find opportunity at a risky time for his country. Jennifer Yun, CBC News, Toronto. Immigration and refugee advocates say they're gearing up to challenge a new federal immigration law. Bill C-12 was given royal assent last week.

The law will make it harder for many people to claim asylum in Canada. The liberals argue the measures are needed to bring immigration levels under control. Rafi Bucci-Cannion reports. Is it your pleasure, honorable senators, to adopt the motion? We agree. Carried, adoptee. After months of debate between MPs and senators, Bill C-12 is. is now law. The legislation gives the federal government the power to cancel large numbers of visas

all at once, allows the immigration department broader information sharing with national security agencies, and largely limits refugee claims to one year after claimant's arrival here, all to bring immigration levels under control, the government says. This represents the most significant rollback of refugee rights in more than a decade. Adam Sidinsky is with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. He says the government's new powers are likely to end up sending refugee claimants to countries of origin where their lives could be in danger. I have no doubt that this matter will ultimately end up before the courts. The term limits on asylum claims apply to anyone who arrived here after June 2020 and made their claims after June of last year,

meaning some 19,000 refugee claim cases will get dismissed before they're hurt. These powers that the government is giving itself, in our view, could lead to violations of Canada's international legal obligations. Julia Sand is with Amnesty International Canada. She says it's rare for the human rights organization to fully oppose Canadian government legislation. You could have left behind an entire life that you've built to come here to build a life. And with a simple stroke of a pen, Canada can just mass cancel your documents. Ottawa has used hypothetical scenarios to justify its need for mass cancellation powers like wars, a new pandemic, or fraud. However, CBC News reported last fall based on internal immigration department documents that officials were requesting the powers to counter what they called country-specific challenges, citing mass fraud and visa applications from India and Bangladesh. As for the term limits on asylum claims, you know, if you're coming to Canada as an example,

and you've been living in Canada for a year, whether it's studying or visiting. Is there a need to allow someone of that nature to be able to claim refugee, which could bottleneck the system? Liberal MP Kevin Lamarou defended the government's thinking during one of the last debates before the legislation passed. I believe the short answer to that is no. In a statement, the government also says its legislation complies with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, saying mass cancellation would only be used in the public interest the fall of cabinet agrees and there would be limits on what kind of information can be shared and when. Rafi Bji Kahn, Yon CBC News, Ottawa.

Hockey legend Bill Riley has died. A trailblazer from Amherst Nova Scotia, making history in 1974, by becoming the third black player to skate in the NHL. Riley played for the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets. He devoted his life to playing the game. mentoring and coaching young players. Bill Riley was 75 years old. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are heading to the moon. Set to launch as early as Wednesday, Artemis 2 is the very first step in NASA's ambitious plan to build a base on the moon

and send people to Mars. The four-person crew includes Canadian Jeremy Hanson. They spoke to reporters today, and Quabina Aduro was listening in. Things are certainly starting to feel real here at the Cape. NASA astronaut Christina Koch will be making history becoming the first woman to travel to the moon. We're at a time where we've recognized the importance of if we are not going for all and by all, we aren't truly answering all of humanity's call to explore. That to me is what's worth celebrating.

The roughly 10-day mission will send the crew on a high-speed loop around the moon and back. Commander Reed Wiseman wants to remind everyone that. this is a test flight. This is the first time we're going to try this. This is the first time we're loading humans on board. And I will tell you the four of us, we are ready to go. The team is ready to go and the vehicle is ready to go.

But not for one second. Do we have an expectation that we are going? We will go when this vehicle tells us it's ready and when the team is ready to go. NASA has targeted an April 1st launch for Artemis 2, with a six-day launch window running through April 6. The space agency attempted to send the four astronauts in February, but the launch was delayed by hydrogen fuel leaks and helium flow problems. Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian to go beyond low-earth orbit toward the moon.

I'm wearing a Canadian patch here that was designed by an Ashnabi artist in Canada. And it just represents some of the beauty of indigenous culture and their perspective on the moon and the seven sacred laws. The mission's pilot, Victor Glover, will become the first black astronaut to travel into the moon's vicinity. Young brown boys and girls can look at me and go, hey, he looks like me and he's doing what? And that's great. I love that. But I also hope we are pushing the other direction that one day we don't have to talk about these first, that one day this is just human history. It's the story of humanity, not black history, not women's history, but that it becomes human history.

The four astronauts are now in quarantine as they continue to get ready for their launch. Exploration Ground Systems Program Manager, Sean Quinn says, the weather is the only thing that can stop them from launching. So at this point, we can safely say the crew is ready, the rocket's ready, the spaceship's ready, ground systems are ready and we only need to have the weather to cooperate on Thursday and we're ready to go. Hansen says this mission is about inspiring the next generation and viewing the moon

through the lens of all human beings. Just look at it and I really feel like gosh that is really far away and it just gives me a great appreciation for it. We all share this same moon in the sky but honoring humans around the world and how they revered the moon. That's really important to us. Hansen says although they won't set foot on the moon during this mission, it's paving the way for the next Artemis missions,

which will eventually land on the moon and beyond to Mars. Kubino Ruro, CBC News, Montreal. We'll close the show with Canada's biggest night in music, the Juno's, and an honor for one of our most beloved artists. You're just starting out, sort of, aren't you? Actually, I've been singing professionally now for two years. That was 1967. The CBC interview with a young folk singer from the prairies named,

Joni Mitchell. She talked about how she'd become more Canadian since moving to the U.S. and the inspiration behind her songs. Happiness, most of them have happy endings. Joni Mitchell would go on to record 19 studio albums and six live records,

blending folk, jazz and rock, ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest of songwriters, singers, and guitarists, an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and also very private, telling CBC in 2013 that her goal was never to be venerated, instead wanting people to use her music as a mirror for their own lives. If you listen to that music and you see yourself, it'll probably make you cry and you'll learn something about yourself, and now you're getting something out of it.

And tonight, six decades on, the spotlight is on Joni Mitchell as she receives a lifetime achievement award at the Juno's. Presented by Sarah McLaughlin. Joni is one of my heroes. I grew up listening to her, idolizing her and loving and dissecting her music and her lyrics. So to be able to honor her in this way is pretty incredible. So we'll leave you tonight with more Joni Mitchell on Your World Tonight. I'm Kimberly Gail. Thank you for listening.

For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca slash podcasts.