Your World Tonight - Carney off to court China, Trump’s message to Iran, the price of cheaper fast food, and more

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

Mark Carney heads to China with designs on trade diversification. But his plans may get big pushback from some Canadian premiers, and their competing economic needs.The Prime Minister made a stop in B.C. before his Chinese trip, for a meeting with First Nations leaders who oppose Ottawa’s pipeline pledge with Alberta, and the project’s goal to send oil to tankers along the West Coast.Also: The U.S. President tells Iranian protesters ‘help is on the way,’ as Iran’s regime continues its brutal crackdown on demonstrators, and Canadians nervously watch the developments for any signs from loved ones caught in the unrest.And: Soaring food prices have some Canadians doing more to watch what they eat, and spend less on eating out. And it’s having a big effect on one industry in particular.Plus: More unrest in Minneapolis, Ottawa’s promise to tackle extortion crimes, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. China is our second largest customer, and so they're very significant. We can't replace them very easily. When you have the Chinese government wanting to dump cheap Chinese parts, it costs to Canadian and American jobs. From Canola to cars, it's the baggage weighing down. Prime Minister Mark Carney as he takes off on a critical trade trip to China while trying to balance the competing interests of provincial economies.

Welcome to. your world tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Tuesday, January 13th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. We reiterated that there is no technology that can clean up an oil spill at sea, and that it would take just one spill to destroy our way of life. There was an important stopover on the Prime Minister's itinerary, meeting with coastal First Nations in British Columbia. With pipeline talk moving forward, local leaders say, An oil tanker ban isn't going anywhere. Plus, the latest on the anti-government unrest in Iran, reports of a ballooning death toll.

And... It's too expensive. I didn't even buy it. I just buy coffee. With fewer Canadians dining out, franchises try to lure customers back in. It was a timely reminder of what's at stake with this trip. U.S. President Donald Trump once again taking aim at Canada-U.S. trade. As that relationship struggles,

Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to China for more opportunity. But there's opposition coming from some provinces. Catherine Cullen reports. I want to see Canada and Mexico do well, but the problem is we don't need their product. This is the reason there's urgency around Mark Carney's trip to China. Once again today, US President Donald Trump talking down Canada's economy, specifically the auto industry from a Ford factory,

in Detroit. And he added, he doesn't care whether the Canada-U-S.-Mexico trade agreement, which is up for a view, continues. No real advantage to us. It's irrelevant to me. Canada would love it. Canada wants it. They need it. Because we don't need Canada product. That may just be Trump's art of the deal. But Canada does need the trade agreement, which right now is giving this country enormous protection from tariffs. And the question of the auto sector itself is a big, for Carney as he heads to China. China wants Canada to drop its tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, but that would mean more competition for Canada's struggling auto sector. Canada put 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs two years ago, following the U.S. lead, arguing China's government was unfairly flooding the market with cheap EVs.

In response, China's government hit back tariffing Canadian canola oil and meal by 100%, and pork and seafood by 25%. Canola producers like Roger Chevro are anxious for progress. China is our second largest customer, and so they're very significant. We can't replace them very easily. He's a fourth-generation canola farmer in Alberta and director of the Canadian canola growers association.

He says he wants the auto sector to do well, but farmers in Western Canada have been left wanting. So our fingers are really crossed that the past few months in the work that our bureaucrats have done has led us to a point where Mark Carney can make an agreement. Manitoba Premier Wab Canoe is also hoping Carney can secure tariff relief for farmers in his province. I hope he's successful and I hope that we're able to get an off-ramp. Saskatchewan's premier also wants the tariffs gone and he'll be joining Carney on the trip.

But their Ontario counterpart, Doug Ford, says no way. And when you have the Chinese government wanting to dump cheap Chinese parts and cheap vehicles here, It cost to Canadian and American jobs. So I'm absolutely 100% dead against this. And so the Prime Minister already faces disagreement within Canada about the right moves. Add to that, Canada's roller coaster relationship with the authoritarian Chinese government and the potential for any new deals with China to further irk Trump. All of it means Kearney and Canada's path forward with China's government is anything but clear.

Catherine Cullen, CBC News, Ottawa. On his way to China, the Prime Minister made a stop in British Columbia to meet with coastal First Nations. They have rejected plans for a new pipeline to the BC coast and could stand in the way of ambitions to expand Canada's oil exports. Yasmin Renéya is following this for us. Yasmin, tell us about the Prime Minister's objectives for this meeting. The Prime Minister says his meeting with First Nations leaders

was really about dialogue and exploring how First Nations can partner with Ottawa to build the economy sustainably through major projects in Northern British Columbia. He met with the Coastal First Nations and a lines that represents several First Nations communities working to protect the BC coastline and the Great Bear rainforest. A statement from the PM's office said during that meeting, Carney told First Nations leaders about his commitment to ocean protection and that is not just a moral obligation, but an economic necessity. And he says there's a huge responsibility to protect the environment. And so he said today's meeting was about listening, not any big announcements. Today is really about a dialogue. It's a dialogue of what's been happening in the region,

the projects that have been led by the various First Nations here, the various opportunities that do exist, the imperative of conservation, And Yasmin, that's the Prime Minister's view. First Nations have been pretty clear they are opposed to a pipeline. Tensions between Ottawa and coastal First Nations came to a head in the fall when the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta Premier Daniel Smith.

The deal included language about a path forward for a possible bitumen pipeline that would go through B.C.'s North Coast to transport oil to Asia. The deal also opens the door for changes to a law that bans tanker off BC's North Coast. First Nations are concerned about lifting that ban, saying any oil spill would be catastrophic to the environment. And today they reiterated that they are not budging on that stance. They say that a new pipeline will never be built on BC's North Coast. Here's Coastal First Nations President Marilyn Slet. We reiterated that there is no technology that can clean up an oil spill at sea and that it would take just one spill to destroy our way of life.

We shared our reliance on a healthy and intact ocean and our determination to protect the ocean and the ecosystem that we rely upon. And so Susan, First Nations are not backing off on their position against the pipeline and neither are those who believe it should go ahead. Yes, mean, thank you. You're welcome. The CBC's Yasmin Renea in Vancouver. Coming right up, Donald Trump turns up his support for Iranian protesters,

telling them, help is on the way. And as the demonstrations continue, many in Canada's Iranian community are backing them from abroad. Later, we'll have this story. A price freeze on fries. for a dollar, with fast food menu prices too high for some diners. It's too expensive. I didn't even buy it. I just buy coffee. I'm Alexander Silberman in Regina. Later on Your World Tonight, how restaurants are battling

to get cost-conscious Canadians willing to open up their wallets. In Iran, some cell phone service was restored today for outgoing calls. It had been cut off, along with the internet, since last week. The information that is trick- out of the country is worrisome. And there are unverified reports of up to 2,000 deaths related to the ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests. All this while the world waits to see whether U.S. President Donald Trump takes military action. Senior international correspondent Margaret Evans reports. The reality of what's happening on the ground in Iran still reveals itself only in fragments, images or voice notes managing to evade the regime's internet blackout. He shoot directly to the peoples from the alleys and other streets.

This is a description of security forces attacking demonstrators in Tehran on Friday and Saturday from a 35-year-old man. His voice distorted for his protection. They were pointing directly the guns to the people. They had a shotgun on their hands. And the shooting directly to their people. Human rights groups believe security forces have killed thousands in the regime's crackdown. The 35-year-old is one who hopes for intervention from abroad. And we want Trump and the old war to help us to finish the Islamic regime. Look, one death is so much.

The U.S. President Donald Trump has repeated in person a message he delivered on social media earlier today, telling protesters help is on the way. And by the way, to all Iranian patriots, keep protesting, take over your institutions, if possible, and save the name of the killers and the abusers that are abusing you. You're being very badly abused. But the price is high, morgue's filling up with the dead, while the living swing between despair and defiance.

The U.N. office of the High Commissioner for your people, Human Rights says thousands of protesters have been arrested, spokesman Jeremy Lawrence. It is also extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings. A 26-year-old named Erfans Sultani, arrested by security forces last week for participating in the protests is reportedly scheduled for execution tomorrow. It is an existential battle for Iran's ruling clerics, and they're fighting it, says analyst Nisan Rafati with the International Crisis Group.

They are in perhaps the greatest inflection point for this system since the 1979 revolution. At the same time, what they have bloodily displayed over the past two weeks is that they retain a suppressive capacity at home. Hard to win a battle of wills when the weapons are all on one side. Margaret Evans, CBC News, London. The latest advice on Iran from Ottawa is for Canadians to leave the country now if you can do so safely. Since consular services are so limited, Canadians with loved ones in Iran are watching developments closely. Over the weekend, nationwide protests began here, and again today, crowds of Canadians rallied to show their support in Toronto.

Lisa Singh has that story. Hundreds of Iranian Canadians outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto waving flags, including organizer Salar Golami. We cannot fight Islamic Republic. They have a grant. We don't have anything. The deadly government crackdown and the regime shutting down the internet, results. halted in five days of silence, worrying those with loved ones in Iran. She was nervous. She was very nervous. Mesa Miliahi reached his mother Tuesday morning, but only for about 30 seconds before the call dropped. Five days I did not sleep, 24-7. It's like, you know, I close my eyes for half an hour, wake up, check the news.

Even though restrictions were lifted and Iranians could dial abroad with their mobile phones after, not everyone was able to get through, including Nilu Arzash. I called to my sister, to my family, my brother. He's not said, no, you cannot talk. This line is closed. Just for four hours, from Iran to here, they open the line. Not from here to Iran. I have never seen a blackout like this in my life.

Iranian-Canadian cybersecurity expert, Azam Jan Gravi, says the Islamic Republic known to use these tactics during times of civil unrest is taking it even further this time. The outage, longer, phone lines out of service, and activists receiving fishing attacks. Five days ago, we received a link that changed your password. They shot on the internet to silent the people of Iran. They can't, you know, send the videos. All the more evidence this time could result in real change,

Pegas Salari, who lives in Edmonton. It does feel different in the sense that, especially from an economical standpoint, and, you know, looking at the previous uprisings, the level of discontent has gotten to a level now that we are really dealing with a regime on the cusp of its collapse. Holding signs, reading, Make Iran Great Again. Many outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto

or calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to follow through on his threats of military intervention. Kiyondara is one of them. Because you are not just supporting our freedom and our people. We are supporting the Canadians and Americans to end the regime. And it's not a protest anymore. This is a revolution. Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in Ottawa has been defaced. The national emblem removed from its entrance, an act of protest and a call to action.

Lisa Xing, CBC News, Toronto. The American Vice President and Secretary of State are scheduled to to meet the foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday, with the U.S. pushing to take over Greenland. The territory's prime minister is saying, absolutely not. And if we should choose between USA and Denmark here and now, so we'll choose Denmark. Jens Frederick Nielsen speaking in Copenhagen today.

He said, if Greenland has to pick between the United States and Denmark, it chooses Denmark, and it chooses to remain in the EU and NATO. Donald Trump has said the U.S. should govern Greenland for national security reasons. Trump also took aim at Minnesota today defending an ongoing immigration crackdown. In a social media post, he threatened reckoning and retribution are coming. The message sent as more clashes broke out and with more ICE agents heading to the state.

Katie Nicholson has the latest. Ice agents find out. pepper balls into a Minneapolis street. Puffs of the irritant gas billow around the angry crowd as officers pin someone to the ground. Not far from where last week, an agent shot and killed Renee Good. The push against this latest ice surge now not just on the streets, but in the courts, after lawyers for the state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit against the federal government to back off on its massive immigration enforcement. We're not saying that ICE cannot have a presence in Minnesota.

We're saying the dramatic escalation, which is unwarranted and politically motivated, is harming our state. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison. We're in a situation where it's depressing our economy in our local markets. It's depressing school attendance. It's putting dramatic pressure on our local law enforcement. At the same time, a wave of Minnesota federal prosecutors have resigned. reportedly because of the direction of the Department of Justice's investigation into goods shooting and the DOJ's reluctance to examine the ICE agent who shot the mother of three.

Since her death, ICE has continued to arrest protesters and people who follow their vehicles. On a normally quiet residential street on Sunday morning as people were having breakfast, neighbors were stunned when ICE smashed the windows of a car, they told CBC News, and arrested two people. In a statement today to CBC News, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the two were stalking and obstructing ICE law enforcement and said any rioter who obstructs impedes or assaults law enforcement

will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As another thousand ICE officers are set to join them more than 2,000 in the Twin Cities, schools have extended remote learning options. Last week, an ICE operation converged near a school just, as kids were being let out. Many are choosing to stay home. Some Somalis in the area have also been laying low and now have a new reason. The Trump administration announced it was ending temporary protective status for nearly 2,500 Somalis who could now be deported in March. And that's not all, said U.S. President Donald Trump.

We're also going to revoke the citizenship of any naturalized immigrant from Somalia or anywhere else who is convicted of defrauding our citizens. We're going to get them the hell out of here, Fid. As ICE steps up its presence, protesters are stepping up their game. There are new, urgent calls for activists to make noise outside hotels

where those agents may be staying so they can't sleep. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Washington. Save women's sports! Save women's sports! People opposed to transgender athletes competing in female sports demonstrated

outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, part of the dueling rallies on the court steps. Inside arguments were being made on the legality of the issue. Idaho and West Virginia have barred transgender girls and women from playing on school teams. They say their laws protect female athletes from unfair competition. Trans students who challenged the bans say the restrictions violate their 14th Amendment right for equal protection. With a wave of extortion hitting businesses and communities across Canada, the federal government is ramping up its response.

Ottawa is bolstering investigations and enforcement in an effort to crack down on the crime. Jamie Strassan has more. The gunshots sprayed Manjit Rans home. They send me a video shooting in my house. Soon after, a demand for money in this case. case $2 million. We don't know what we can do now. We are just thinking move from here.

Cases like this have become common in Peel region, an area home to more than 1.5 million people just outside of Toronto. The target members of the area's vast South Asian community. It's been going in the wrong direction for the last couple of years. Peel's Deputy Police Chief Mark Andrews points out that two years ago, his force was only dealing with a few dozen cases. Now there's 500 active investigations and a dedicated. extortion task force with 30 officers.

And there are gaps around that are not just exclusive to extortion, but the ability to share intelligence between agencies, not just policing agencies, but across the entire justice system. But local leaders in affected communities in Peele and parts of British Columbia, where most extortion incidents are happening, have been begging for more assistance. Today, a summit that brought together all levels of government with the promise to do more.

All of us here today agree that we have to stop extortion and deal with the bad actors who are doing it. Police say there's lots of work to do, including who's behind the calls. PL Police Chief Nishan Duriapas says many calls have been traced to locations in Canada of the United States and Europe, mostly members of the South Asian community,

targeting other members of the South Asian community. But it's been hard to pin down a pattern or group with many copycats emerging. What is happening is we know that there, for example, everybody's aware of the Bishnoi gang in India, which has been designated as a terrorist entity here in Canada. The name of that gang is utilized by people here to intimidate others. So far, Duriapas says no cases have been linked back to India, but the RCMP's assistant commissioner Matt Pegg says everything is being explored.

It's very much local crime. It's very much local crime. But of course, we would be foolish if we didn't look and make sure that there was. is not greater. Things that we need to look at. Deputy Police Chief Andrews says police know many cases are never reported and that many people in the community are scared. I don't feel like it's a problem. It's out of control.

It's a large, difficult and challenging problem. One Andrews says his force and those across the country are learning more about every day. Jamie Strashon, CBC News, Toronto. This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in.

A major player in Canada's fast food industry is trying to lure Canadians with cheaper prices. But with fewer Canadians eating out, it may be a hard sell. And as Alexander Silberman reports, smaller independent restaurants, have the most to lose. At a busy McDonald's in Regina, crispy fries are getting scooped. As customers like James Smith keep a close eye on the prices.

I didn't even buy, I just buy coffee. The fast food giant is promising to keep prices at $5 for its McValue meals and keep small coffees at $1 for the next year. A cost Wallace McKay thinks is reasonable. Oh, I'm happy with the first coffee. That's only two bucks. I'm happy with it.

As food prices increase, fast food is getting more expensive. So restaurants are trying new strategies to lure in cost-conscious diners. Three-quarters of Canadians say they're eating out less frequently because of the rising cost of living. According to an Angus Reed poll conducted last year, Robert Carter is a restaurant industry analyst in Toronto. He says chains are adapting to financial uncertainty. They're trying to have Canadians say, you know, I feel good about, about what I paid for what I got. Other brands like Taco Bell, A&W, and Burger King are competing for customers by aggressively promoting specials and meal deals.

And chains like Chipotle are leaning into their rewards programs. The heated up competition comes as more American brands expand into Canada, like burger chain shake shack and sandwich chain Jersey mics. Consumers are becoming more prices sensitive. Zha Zhang is a marketing professor at Western University's Ivy School of Business. McDonald's is doing this because they want to really go back to their core customer base. These are the customers who really care about the value that they can get from the brand. The appeal of cheap coffee convinced Christine Ratch to switch from her local coffee shop to McDonald's.

Price is very good on a dollar. Well, I mean, anybody can afford coffee at a dollar. I would think so anyway. Experts warn customers like Ratch, lured by cheap prices, could ultimately hurt smaller restaurants. Unable to compete with corporate giants like McDonald's, who can afford to sell items at a loss to get customers through the door. Tamara Soma is a professor at Simon Fraser University, who specializes in food security. The Canadian mom and pop shops and restaurants,

like, you know, they're not necessarily going to be able to cut their price down and they're struggling and they might even have to close up. As more restaurants compete for Canadians' tighter budgets, analysts say smaller businesses will remain under. pressure and warn restaurants who need to increase menu prices can only go so far before pushing customers away. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, Regina. We end tonight on Vancouver's North Shore with the rescue effort for a rescue dog,

lost in the wilderness for nearly two months. When she was missing, I felt that a part of me was missing. The hardest part was dealing with the uncertainty, not knowing where she is. Vancouver resident Yeni G talking about Bami, her four-year-old dog from Korea. In November, Bami, a gindo mix, slipped out of her collar and slipped into the backcountry around Mount Seymour. G and her husband searched for days before calling in professional help. It was about 54 days, a crazy amount of time. It was, you know, one of the tricker cases I've encountered in many years.

Parker Mills runs Pet Searchers Canada. He says it was a challenging case because rescue dogs tend to be skittish and Bami was heading farther and farther up the mountain. Trail cameras captured images of the dog. She was losing weight and likely running out of time. The break came last Friday when Mills spotted Bami with a drone, curled up and sleeping in a bush. Knowing he could startle the dog

and send her running off again, Mills called G to the area, and it worked. As soon as she saw Yenny, she ran right up to her, and it was like she never left. Yeah, it was a super emotional and relieving moment. You just need to trust the process and trust your dog or pets that they will survive and eventually come out. Bami's now recovering at home, and G hopes her story will encourage others who've lost pets not to give up. Thank you for joining us for your world. tonight for Tuesday, January 13th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. For more CBC podcasts, go to CBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.