Your World Tonight - Carney’s cabinet gets its marching orders; Wildfires rage in Manitoba; Why the UN suggests Canada’s kids are not alright.

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

The Prime Minister meets with his new cabinet, and announces the government’s first order of business – a middle class tax cut by Canada Day. Mark Carney laid out a number of other priorities for his team. However, a federal budget by year’s-end won’t be among them.Also: Hot, dry weather is fuelling ‘dangerous’ wildfires in parts of Manitoba. One of the largest is spreading near the municipality of Lac du Bonnet, about a 90 minute drive northeast of Winnipeg, where encroaching flames have killed at least two people, and forced hundreds of people from their homes. Local officials say the fire has also burned down some buildings, causing ‘significant loss.’And: Bad grades. A new global report card on the well-being of Canadian children suggests our kids are struggling socially and mentally compared to youths from other rich nations.Plus: The U.S. President continues his tour of the Middle East, amid the controversy surrounding his potential new gift from Qatar; the aftermath of more airstrikes in Gaza; Canada’s plan for Arctic defence, and more.

Other People's Problems was the first podcast to take you inside real-life therapy sessions. I'm Dr. Hilary McBride, and again, we're doing something new. The ketamine really broke down a lot of my barriers. This work has this sort of immediate transformational effect. Therapy Using Psychedelics is the new frontier in mental health. Come along for the trip. Other People's Problems Season 5, available now. This is a CBC Podcast.

Canadians sent a clear message that they need to see improvements in their affordability. We promised a middle-class tax cut. We're acting today. Prime Minister Mark Carney moving quickly on a promised tax cut, but not exactly in a hurry to table a budget. There won't be one this spring, with the government aiming instead for a fall fiscal update. And after a campaign focused on the need for urgent action, it's a move the opposition is wasting no time in criticizing. Welcome to Your World Tonight, I'm Anand Ram,

it's Wednesday, May 14th, coming up on 6pm Eastern. Also on the podcast. There were literally calms of fire on either side of me. It was wild, I touched the glass on the driver's side windows as I was driving along and it was getting really hot. And that was around the point where I was like, okay, this is the line. Feeling the heat from fast moving wildfires, more than 20 are burning across Manitoba, where the spring weather has been hot, dry, and now deadly, as flames force residents out of their homes and cruise into a dangerous firefight. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet held their first official meeting on Parliament Hill this morning, a day after the new ministers were sworn in.

As Tom Perry reports, Mark Carney used the occasion to show he's taking action on one important priority, although he'll still need the support of opposition parties to pass it. As we look to build out this economy, it's my pleasure on behalf of the cabinet to sign this order to deliver that tax cut. There was no black Sharpie, but Mark Carney did seem to channel Donald Trump as he sat before his new cabinet and signed with a flourish, a decree tucked inside a red binder directing his finance minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to enact a middle class tax cut

the Liberals promised in the recent election. This is very significant and it sends a very strong and clear message to Canadians. Champagne says the cut worth up to $840 to a two-income family will need to be passed in Parliament to take effect. With the Liberals just shy of a majority in the House, Champagne expects opposition parties to support the measure or at least not stand in the way. But there are more contentious issues the Liberals will need to navigate as they get down to work including growing resentment toward Ottawa in parts of Western Canada. Well as we all know we're one Canada.

Buckley Belanger, the only liberal elected in Saskatchewan, now sits in cabinet as Secretary of State for Rural Development. Well I think the Prime Minister made a lot of fantastic moves in terms of reaching out and having a First Minister's Conference in Saskatchewan. I'm a Saskatchewan boy. I love, well, I shouldn't say older gentleman, but I love Canada. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has taken a different view and has criticized Carney's new environment minister, Toronto MP Julie De Bruyzen, comparing her to the former minister Stephen Gilbo, who Smith labels a militant environmentalist. I think we will have to agree to disagree with Premier Smith.

We think that protecting the environment, fighting climate change is important. Gilbo, who now serves as Minister of Culture and Official Languages today, reminded the Premier it was the Liberals who bought a pipeline to transport Alberta oil. Asserting as well, no private company is looking to undertake a new pipeline project, which prompted an angry response from Smith. This new government is pressing ahead with its agenda, which will be laid out in a throne speech delivered by King Charles later this month. There is one noticeable absence. In laying out the government's proposed tax cut today, the finance minister revealed he has no plans to release a budget before summer, meaning Canadians will have to wait for a fall economic statement to see the government's books,

leading conservative leader Pierre Poliev to accuse the Liberals of having no roadmap, no vision and no willingness to lead. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. Manitoba and Ontario are the latest provinces working toward bringing down inter-provincial trade barriers. Their two premiers signed a memorandum of understanding in Toronto.

They are pledging to ease barriers on the flow of goods and workers. Here's Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. So I'm very glad to be here to represent the people of Manitoba and to put pen to paper on the next stage of working together to build up our great country. We're knocking down trade barriers and we're building up Team Canada. Ontario, Manitoba and everybody coming to the table. It's a great thing to see. Last month Ontario signed similar deals with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Well in Manitoba two people have been killed in a wildfire northeast of

Winnipeg. Officials say they were residents who became trapped by flames in their community. At least two dozen fires are burning in the province. The largest is out of control and driving more than a thousand people out of their homes. The CBC's Cameron McIntosh has more on the struggle to stay safe. Driving home from canoeing in Manitoba's Nopaming Provincial Park, the thick dark smoke came up fast on Riley Martin. He recorded it on his phone. This is when he saw the flames.

Flaring up right next to his car. And there were literally calms of fire on either side of me, lighting up a tree on either side. Making for a harrowing couple of minutes of driving. Oh, there's the heat, there's the heat. I could feel it on my face. It was wild, I touched the glass on the driver's side windows

I was driving along and it was getting really hot. At over 100,000 hectares, the Nopeming fire is the largest of 24 fires burning in Manitoba. At times so volatile, it's been too dangerous for fire crews to fight it. One of six fires posing significant threats, mostly in the provinces east where conditions are extremely dry with temperatures in the high 30s.

This is an extremely dynamic time for us. Christine Stevens is with the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. She says the worst fires are nowhere close to under control. We are very much in a live response type of situation where we're working to protect organization. She says the worst fires are nowhere close to under control. We are very much in a live response type of situation where we're working to protect people, critical infrastructure and property. Right now it's all changing by the hour with at least six municipalities issuing evacuation orders. It was really scary. I've got three kids with me and it's really it's hard not knowing what's going to happen next.

Krista Diddick rushed from her home in the municipality of Alexander. She doesn't know what she'll return to. It really shows you if you're prepared or not and I don't think we were as prepared as we could have been. Damages haven't even begun to be assessed. Water bombers are flying rotations as conditions allow. Manitoba premier Wab Kanu praising fire crews. When you see people heading towards danger at a time when property, life, livelihoods are put at risk, we got to say thanks. We got to say thanks in each and every day to the

first responders and people on the front lines. There is rain and cooler temperatures in the forecast, but authorities say it's not likely going to be enough to knock the fires out. Manitoba's wildfire season off to an early and blazing start. Cameron McIntosh, CBC News, Winnipeg. Coming up on the podcast, Donald Trump touches down in Qatar. A new study shows Canadian kids may not be alright. Plus Canada bolstering its military presence in the North. I'd be frank, they weren't impressed by that gesture. The Prime Minister in an interview with Sky News out of the UK, Mark Carney had been asked

about the British Prime Minister inviting Donald Trump for an official state visit. The invitation was sent back in February, at the height of the US president's talk of making Canada the 51st state. Given the circumstance, it was at a time when we were being quite clear, some of us were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty. I was not yet prime minister, but I was being clear on the campaign trail and it cut across some of those messages. King Charles is scheduled to deliver the throne speech when parliament resumes later this

month. The prime minister says the king's visit sends a clear message of Canadian sovereignty. Donald Trump is giving a major boost to Syria's new government, meeting with the country's president and announcing the lifting of U.S. sanctions. It's the first time in 25 years leaders of the two countries have met, and it comes as Syria tries to recover from decades of dictatorship and a brutal civil war. Chris Brown reports. My meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharah.

Ahmed al-Sharah's journey is nothing short of astounding. In just five months, he's gone from militant with a bounty on his head to the President of Syria with an endorsement from the President of the United States. We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria's new government, as you know. Saudi officials released silent video and images of Trump meeting with Shahra and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. I felt very strongly that this would give them a chance. It's not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good strong chance and it was my honor to do so. So we'll be dropping

all of the sanctions on Syria, which I think really is going to be a good thing. Trump's surprise announcement to end the sanctions that were imposed in the former brutal Assad regime was urged by his Saudi hosts and Turkey and it generated Trump's biggest round of applause over his two-day visit to Riyadh. Later Trump told reporters on Air Force One that al-Sharah, the one-time al-Qaeda militant and US prisoner who pushed Assad out impressed him. There were celebrations across Syria at the news, but the country is fragile, with border areas occupied by Israel, and Shara has a huge challenge keeping sectarian divisions

from pulling the country apart. In the capital Damascus, though, many believe the US move to end sanctions will mean an end to international isolation. From today, money transfers will be easier, said exchange employee Amar Khalaji. The country's Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Hind Kawaba, said Syria can't make progress without foreign help and this move makes that possible. We know that this is a new era for us because we've been suffering a lot. So yes, it might take some time in routine, in bureaucracy, but we know that there is always light and we're going to get there. On this trip, Trump has talked up the immense business possibilities that exist in the region

and at his next stop, not only did his Qatari hosts throw him an opulent welcome party, they were also ready with pen and paper to sign an enormous contract for new jets from Boeing. Trump was told repeatedly when he was in Saudi Arabia that the whole Middle East must have peace to be prosperous. In his talk with Shara, Trump said he encouraged Syria's leader to recognize Israel. But Israel's government was one of the few urging the U.S. president to keep the sanctions in place.

It is referred to Shara as a terrorist. Chris Brown, CBC News in Riyadh. As the U.S. president announced that deal for Qatar to purchase dozens of jets from Boeing, a single aircraft going in the opposite direction continues to attract attention. Donald Trump says he will accept a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar's royal family to replace Air Force One. But as Eli Glasner explains, that's raising legal, ethical, and security concerns. You take a look at this room.

This room is the real deal. That's called white marble. It's very hard to buy. Ever the former real estate mogul, even in Doha, Qatar, Trump always has his eye on material things. But the Qatari royal family have a plan to give him something he's long desired,

an upgraded Air Force One. Speaking on board the presidential plane, Trump talked about how America is falling behind. The plane that you're on right now is almost 40 years old. And when you land and you see Saudi Arabia and you see UAE and you see Qatar and you see all these— and they have these brand new Boeing 747s mostly. It's true the current fleet of Air Force One 747 jets

have been in service since 1990. Now Qatar is exploring gifting the Trump administration a luxury 747 Boeing described as a flying palace in the sky. Trump is all in. They're giving us a free jet. I could say no, no, no, don't give us, I want to pay you a billion or 400 million or whatever it is. Or I could say, thank you very much. But the Constitution also has something to say. It's called the Immoluments Clause, and it says, no person shall accept any present from any king, prince, or foreign state.

So how is this legal? With the blessing of the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, who lobbied for Qatar in the past, the plan is for Qatar to give the plane to the Defense Department. Then before the end of Trump's term, it will be decommissioned and go to his library or foundation. Richard Brifault is a law professor at Columbia University. He says giving it to a foundation doesn't make it legal. Residents sponsor events to support their foundations and their libraries.

And this is, it's possible that they'll be able to do this to skirt the legal problem, but it is in spirit and in effect a gift to him of just the kind that the emoluments clause was designed to prevent. Then there's the massive security issue. Air Force One aircraft are hardened against attacks and carry sophisticated communication centers. Mark Palmaropoulos is a former CIA intelligence officer. He says the idea of retrofitting another country's plane is preposterous. You're worried about things such as you know listening devices,

things that could knock out the again these various exquisite counter intelligence systems and so in reality if we are going to uphold current security standards, you have to take this aircraft and rip it apart piece by piece. And so the free gift that Trump is touting? This is actually going to cost the U.S. taxpayers a great deal more money. While Trump's trip continues, back home, both Democrats and Republicans have been pushing back. But with the Trump family pursuing cryptocurrency ventures and golf clubs in the region, Pomeropoulos says there's a reason Trump visited the Gulf States

first. He feels comfortable amongst these kind of rulers. And of course he just admires one thing more than all else, which is wealth and the cutteries certainly have it. Eli Glasner, CBC News, Toronto. Trump's visit to the Middle East does not include a stop in what has been one of America's most important allies in the region, Israel. The country is facing growing international condemnation for its blockade of Gaza.

Health officials and aid groups say it has brought the territory to the brink of famine. And as Briar Stewart reports, Israel's military has again ramped up airstrikes, killing dozens of civilians. In the northern Gaza city of Jabalia, a few residents pick through a neighborhood that has been crushed into ash-gray rubble. While not far away, one of the few functioning hospitals is crowded with the dead and those mourning them. According to Gaza health officials, at least 80 people were killed in strikes in the past 24 hours, including more than 20 children. Israel said it had warned residents

of Jabalia and neighbouring areas to evacuate. My children were sleeping here safely when the rubble and rocks started flying over us said 52 year old Abu Al-Ab Salli. Just hours earlier in the south there was another strike outside the European hospital in Han Yunis. Israel said it was targeting a top Hamas leader and a command and control compound. It accused militants of using the patients and doctors as shields. Some of them, like Rizmi Al Saleh, were left dazed and stranded on the street. My leg is broken, she told a videographer working for CBC News. They told me to get

out and there's no ambulance, no car, nothing. But the threat of the strikes is far from the only danger in the besieged enclave. Since early March, Israel has blocked food and other supplies from entering Gaza. Aid groups and officials from the World Health Organization warn that Gaza is on the brink of famine,

charges that Israel has repeatedly dismissed. Nobody is starving in Gaza. Amit Halevi is a member of the Israeli Knesset. If somebody will be starving, it's on the heads of Hamas. Today, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused France's President Emmanuel Macron of siding with Hamas, after the French leader called Israel's policy on Gaza shameful. But there is growing international condemnation Canada's new foreign affairs minister Anita on it over 50,000 people have died as a result

The aggression caused against the Palestinian and the Gaza people Using food as a political tool is simply unacceptable using food as a political tool is simply unacceptable. Israel is sending negotiators to Qatar to try to secure a deal to pause the fighting and free the remaining hostages. It's believed around two dozen of them are still alive. But at the same time, Israel is also vowing to intensify and expand its operations in Gaza. Briar Stewart, CBC News, London. Vladimir Putin will not be attending peace talks with Ukraine.

The Kremlin announced Russia's delegation in a statement and its president is not on the list. A Putin aide will be joined by a Deputy Defense Minister and intelligence officials in Istanbul. Ukraine's president is headed to Ankara for talks with Turkey's president. Vladimir Zelensky has said he would only go to Istanbul if Putin is there in person. A new study is raising concern about the well-being of Canadian children, suggesting they are

less happy, less healthy, and more lonely than those in other countries. The report looked at children in 36 high-income countries. Canada ranked 19th overall. Jennifer Yoon has that story. This is not a report card that I think we would be proudly putting on our fridge. Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, but our kids are not all right, according to UNICEF. The UN agency just released its latest report card on childhood wellness.

Savant Palvatian is the CEO of UNICEF Canada. When I see statistics like one in four of our children and young people are not learning the social skills that they need or that one in five is saying that they are frequently bullied at school, these are rates that are alarming. Canada has failed to invest in mental health programs, while other wealthy countries have, Pavetian says.

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among adolescents. And while UNICEF's data dates back to 2022, the situation today is just as alarming, says Elisa Simon with Kids Help Phone. Most of us would think that if young people are talking about suicide it's probably older teens and what we're seeing is an increase in younger kids under the age of 13. I don't think we've prioritized the health of children and their well-being in a way that's serious. Dr. Andrew Buzari with the Dalai Lama School of Public Health says these

are problems that have existed for years. He says systemic issues like food insecurity and housing also play a role. And governments need to do more so no kid is hungry in the classroom and no family has to choose between paying for medicine or rent. These impossible choices have downstream impacts on children's health and well-being, whether that's around higher rates of asthma or difficulty treating chronic disease. Recommendations in the report include tackling inequities for indigenous children who don't always have access to the same services and health care,

and listening to and working with young people themselves on solutions. Like 17-year-old Tavan Betts from Tayandinaga Mohawk territory. He says he would ask for programs promoting physical activity which would help break the isolation. It could be something as simple as drop in basketball or drop in sports, you know, just any stuff like that. Or focusing on the impact of social media on mental health, says 17-year-old Emma Ann McDougall from Prince Edward Island.

On social media you're exposed to all kinds of things, like many toxic things. It really affected my mental health. McDougal and Betsy, they're teaming with ideas on how to make life better for young people like themselves. They're just hoping the adults listen. Jennifer Yoon, CBC News, Toronto. Music Thousands of kilometres from Washington, the Canadian military is making adjustments that could help the country with some of the bluster coming from the White House. CBC News has learned that Canada is planning to deploy forces to the Arctic more often and for longer periods of time starting later this year.

And it may invite a few friends to join in, in a show of solidarity and Canadian sovereignty. Murray Brewster has the details. We want to be in the Arctic on a near permanent basis. Lieutenant General Steve Boivin is the military's operations commander who says plans have already been drawn up to expand Operation Anuk, Canada's major Arctic exercise. In March, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $420 million in additional funding to create a greater sustained military presence in the far north. Boivin says his plans for more time in the field were drawn up before that focusing on the skills of Canadian troops. But there's

room for allies. And we've got a number of allies that have voiced their interest to operate with us in the Arctic. In February in brutal winter conditions 450 Canadian and 110 other NATO soldiers, including US troops, took part in training in Inuvik and the Mackenzie Delta, just as US President Donald Trump was doubling down on talk of annexing Canada. That got defence observers thinking. Well, one could think imaginatively about how our allies could support Canadian sovereignty. Michael Byers is an Arctic expert at the University of British Columbia who says having Allied troops, especially

Europeans, in greater numbers in our far north would send an unmistakable message to Trump about Canadian sovereignty. If there's political will there's a lot we can do in the short term that doesn't involve spending billions and billions of dollars on new equipment. This is a touchy subject though. While Canada's allies have participated in small numbers in Arctic exercises, Ottawa has been notoriously reluctant to invite NATO in large numbers the way Norway does every year. Ed Arnold of the UK-based Royal United Services Institute says that was before Trump's 51st state trolling and the threats to annex Greenland.

From a Canadian point of view and also the Danish point of view, they'd probably be pretty annoyed about that. Arnold says a show of solidarity by allies would be a shot in the arm for Canadian morale, given how quiet allied governments have been about Trump's threats. The UK has been remarkably silent on support to Canada. And I think the worry is that allies notice this type of behavior in the current security environment and maintaining that unity. It is critical.

Arnold also says allies could see the value of Canadian participation in NATO beyond arguments over defence funding. They could have that opportunity this summer when the biggest portion of Canada's Arctic training takes place on land, at sea, and in the air. Marie Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. We close tonight at the Eurovision Song Contest and a very special guest appearance. Dear Eurovision family and contestants, Dion appearing on screen last night. This contest is being held in Switzerland this year, 37 years after Dion performed for the country and won with her rendition of the Swiss composed song Ne partez pas sans moi.

Dion credits the 1988 Eurovision win for introducing her to a global audience, and there was speculation she could perform at the competition this year. Dion was diagnosed with a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms in 2022, and her only public performance since was on the Eiffel Tower at last summer's Paris Olympics. To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love. Dion's message came during the Eurovision first semi-final. The second semi is tomorrow night and the grand finale is on Saturday. Organizers say they are still holding onto hope of Dion appearing on that stage. Thanks for being with us.

This has been Your World Tonight for Wednesday, May 14th. I'm Anna Drum. Talk to you later. And one day on the sun, on the planets