Your World Tonight - Ceasefire in Gaza, premier and PM brace for tariffs, U.S. bans red dye No. 3, and more

Episode Date: January 15, 2025

Celebrations, and sombre reflections in Israel and Gaza as a deal is finally reached. The deal includes the release of hostages held in Gaza, and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. World leaders are hailing it, families are relieved. Now the questions – what happens next? And will it hold?And: The premiers meet the Prime Minister to talk about how to handle the economic chaos presented by Donald Trump’s tariff threat. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith does not sign onto the plan.Also: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration bans red dye no. 3 from food – 35 years after it was banned from cosmetics for being a cancer risk. The additive is used to give some candies, snack cakes and maraschino cherries a bright red hue. Canada has not yet banned it.Plus: Trying to find a doctor in rural Canada and more.

This video is a message from a little boy named Salman. He disappeared five years ago in Syria during the war to defeat ISIS. He still hasn't been found. My name is Poonam Tineja. I'm traveling to Syria to find out what happened to Salman and the thousands of children like him lost in one of the most dangerous places on earth. From BBC Sounds and CBC podcasts, Bloodlines. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This is a very good afternoon.

Because at long last, I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached. Celebrations across Gaza, vigils in Israel, relief in a region torn apart by history, hostility and more than 15 months of relentless bloodshed. A breakthrough to stop the fighting and release the hostages. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Wednesday January 15th coming up on 6 p.m. Eastern. You can see the tribulation and the faces of the people here.

We are really overwhelmed with happiness. In Gaza where tens of thousands have been killed and the destruction catastrophic, the agreement brings some comfort. Even as technicalities and timing are still being worked out, the deal is being praised around the world as a diplomatic win in a conflict that has caused so much loss. We don't know if they're on the list, if they're going to come back in the first phase, if they're alive, if not.

Scary, scary. In Israel, the hope the agreement brings does not erase the fear for hostage families still waiting and wondering if they should be planning a reunion or a funeral. We have extensive coverage of the developments tonight and as the conflict reaches a potential turning point, here at home, Canadian leaders are steering through a crisis of their own,

with premiers and the Prime Minister mapping out a strategy for Donald Trump's trade threats. But we begin with the Israel-Hamas Agreement and the CBC Senior International Correspondent Margaret Evans. For days now, media outlets have been leading with reports that ceasefire negotiators were on the brink of a deal, building to a huge sense of expectation, finally fulfilled today. Palestinians in Gaza, aching for an end to their suffering,

and families of Israeli hostages aching for their loved ones' return, began celebrating even before an agreement and principle was officially announced by Qatar's prime minister. Everything is being agreed upon and will be in place hopefully on the day of the execution. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Sani offered thanks to a Washington in transition. Seeing a collaboration transcending both administrations was a clear demonstration for the commitment of the US to reach to that deal.

And I really would like to thank both the envoys who are here with us. The deal consists of three phases, details of only the first phase have been agreed on. It begins on Sunday with the staggered release of 33 Israeli hostages over the course of a six week period, at least three a week. Over that period, Israel will release dozens of Palestinians from Israeli jails. There are also timelines that will see a partial pullback of Israeli troops inside Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north. But in the wake of so much death, destruction and pain, the feeling of relief many will be feeling tonight is tempered, bittersweet.

It's like a rollercoaster. Yossi Schneider's cousin Shiri Bibas and her children were taken hostage in the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Not breathing right now. We don't know if they're on the list, if they're going to come back in the first phase, if they're alive. Moshe Emilio Lavi's brother-in-law is a hostage. I am so happy for families who will receive good news, hopefully. And we don't know yet.

But I will not celebrate until the last hostage is home. In Gaza, struggling to be heard over cheering crowds, Muhammad Wadi says her emotions are a seesaw. I swear I can't describe my feelings, she says. Very, very happy and sad at the same time my son was killed I will go home and bury him. I want to go home and rest Mohammed Al Tahir an Iraqi doctor in Gaza says there will be little time for rest in the days ahead We are really overwhelmed with with happiness because the bloodshed has ended

This does not mean that the suffering has ended, however. There are still hundreds of thousands of people that are injured, who need surgery, who need evacuation. There are still displaced people, people without homes. Negotiations for the second and third phases will begin 16 days after the start of the partial ceasefire on Sunday, set to deal with the release of the rest of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and finally, the future of Gaza. Susan. Margaret, the deal is only for the next 42 days.

It is not an end to the war. What next? Well, you're right, Susan, and a lot could still go wrong. You know, the last time there was a significant hostage-prisoner exchange, the only time, lasted just a week before both sides were accusing each other of violating terms. So, you know, what negotiations have essentially done is put off discussing some of the bigger issues, the long-term tougher issues. So they hope they can get some purchase on a bit of progress over this next six weeks, perhaps see some goodwill,

but it's kind of delayed the really tough issues. The Qatari Prime Minister tonight said that Qatar, Egypt and the United States are going to set up some kind of a monitoring center in Cairo to try to ensure that both sides stick to their promises. But if we get to the second and the third phases, you've got bigger questions, but I guess, you know, the stakes, a reminder of the stakes at play, you know, Israeli airstrikes are continuing in Gaza tonight, a couple of more days before the ceasefire is due to begin. Thank you, Margaret. You're welcome. Senior international correspondent Margaret Evans in London.

The conflict may have been raging across Gaza and Israel with peace negotiations happening in Qatar, but today's development has a lot to do with what's been happening in Washington. Here's the CBC's Peter Armstrong with the international reaction to the agreement. Who is the books credit for this Mr. President, you or Trump? The ink on the deal was still drying and outgoing President Joe Biden was facing questions about who should get the credit. Is that a joke? No joke.

Oh. No joke. After all, incoming President Donald Trump posted on social media moments after the news broke, claiming credit and not even mentioning his predecessor. This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, he wrote. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was asked about the U.S. role in shaping the final agreement. I can say that what we have seen from the U.S. in the past few days, seeing a collaboration transcending both administration,

was a clear demonstration for the commitment of the U.S. to reach to that deal. Biden says getting the deal done was one thing. Seeing it through will require yet more work. This deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented for the most part by the next administration. In these past few days, we've been speaking as one team. The deal's three phases will each offer tricky obstacles and stumbling blocks. And United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the ceasefire deal is only the first step.

The humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels. And I call on all parties to facilitate the rapid and hindered and safe humanitarian relief for all civilians in need. Around the world tonight, foreign leaders weighed in. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement saying, in part, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza. And then, he says, our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the ceasefire offers hope. Hope that we can now focus our attention on a true, lasting political solution to this conflict, a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in safety, security and dignity. But right now, after the violence that shattered this region on October 7th and every day since, the prospect of a long-term peace feel distant at best. The task of implementing today's ceasefire will be hard enough without even looking at what possibilities lie further down the road.

Peter Armstrong, CBC News, Washington. The war has rattled lives here in Canada too and the reaction to the ceasefire deal has brought relief and concern about whether the deal can hold. Sarah Levitt spoke to people with strong connections to the war. I'm happy because the kids are happy. Jauded Abouazza's eyes have been glued to his television for days. Sitting in his living room, a huge Palestinian flag pinned to the wall. He's waiting to see if this time a deal would happen.

Finally, news of the ceasefire brings the Palestinian Montrealer cautious relief. For a moment I'm happy. I'm also worried. Ceasefire for me, stop killing kids. At least freedom. Now we have freedom. I know there is no houses. We're talking 15 months every day, war, war, war, war. Abu Aza has spent those months trying to help friends and family who have survived. Not all have.

I lost a lot of people. Some people, we'll talk to him, second day I can't find him. It's missing. I have people from my close to my family. It's dying. Yasmine Magal has also lost someone. The Israeli Canadian's cousin was killed on October 7th. But Omer Nutra's family didn't know he was dead until December the next year. His body hasn't been recovered. It is a very difficult shift to make from the hope of hugging him again to the hope

of burying him. The third phase of the ceasefire agreement still by no means a certainty at this point includes the expected return of the remaining hostage bodies. I think that right now is the most hopeful that people have been for over a year. We deserve to have him back and everyone just deserves to have everyone back. The impact of this war has been felt beyond Israel and Gaza. It's actually, I would say, an almost unprecedented dynamic of divisiveness and polarization. Irwin Kotler is the International Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights. He points to encampments and protests held across Canada. Some led to clashes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Others more serious shots fired and fire bombs thrown at synagogues. It prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to say, this needs to stop. This is not who we are as Canadians. What we've seen, as I said, has been an unprecedented explosion of anti-Semitism in the campus community and the public squares of Canada. A ceasefire may not change that, Kotler says, but he has hope. We're anxiously anticipating the next months.

Yair Slak is the president of Jewish Advocacy Group Federation, CJA. There is this moment where the Jewish world is waiting to exhale to understand who's alive and who's dead. A sentiment Jaude De Boasa says he can agree on for those he knows in Gaza. Sarah Levitz, CBC News, Montreal. Coming up on the podcast, crisis management, Canada's first ministers meet to plot a way through a potential trade war that could kneecap the Canadian economy and banned the US outlaws' red dye food additive after years of controversy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wore a MAGA style hat today to the First Minister's meeting,

a blue ball cap with the words, Canada is not for sale. The premiers and the Prime Minister are trying to pull together a plan to deal with Trump's tariff threats ahead of Monday's inauguration. But Alberta Premier Daniel Smith says she is not on board with the plan. Kate McKenna reports from Ottawa. There's never been a time that's more important for Canadians to be united. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left the First Minister's meeting preaching unity and togetherness. That's something that we all share across this table of saying,

you know what, the interest of this country means we're going to have to look at everything we can. But Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wasn't at the table, and today's meeting ended up highlighting the growing divide between Alberta and the other provinces. She didn't sign a joint statement between the premiers and the prime minister. She posted online saying she wouldn't sign something unless it ruled out using Alberta energy as leverage in a trade fight. Ford says protecting Canada, not individual provinces, should be the priority. I respect Premier Smith. I respect that she's concerned about protecting her energy and that's her choice. That is her choice.

But I have a little different theory. I have a different theory that protect your jurisdiction but country comes first. The stakes are extremely high. If Trump's tariffs go ahead in five days, Ford says Ontario could lose up to half a million jobs. The federal government says it's doing modelling to see how many Canadian jobs are in jeopardy. Alberta is doing the same. Smaller provinces are also worried. More than 90 percent of New Brunswick's exports go to the United States. PEI Premier Dennis King says more than a thousand island

jobs are at risk too. I think we're in very uncertain times, scary times, and they say the detrimental impacts to the economy of PEI is 25% of our GDP when we talk about the impacts of trade to the United States. The issue of whether to consider export tariffs on Canadian energy and critical minerals is divisive among premiers. It was neither ruled out nor directly addressed in the joint statement. Export tariffs on oil, gas and critical minerals could raise costs for American consumers, putting pressure on Trump to back away from tariffs, but it could also cost Canadian jobs. Andrew Fury is the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. I see energy as Canada's queen in this game of chess. We don't need to expose our Queen too early. The opposition does need to know that the

Queen exists, but they don't need to know what we're going to do with the Queen. Saskatchewan uranium is the biggest foreign source of fuel for US nuclear power plants, and the province's potash is a huge source of American fertilizer. Most of the US's imported oil comes from Alberta. Western premiers including Saskatchewan Scott Moe say the conversation around export tariffs could tear Canada apart. It would be the most divisive conversation that this nation would ever have. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says no part of Canada should bear the brunt for whatever happens next.

No one region of the country should disproportionately bear the burden. But he says nothing is off the table if the country ends up in a trade war. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa. The host of CBC Radio's The House, Catherine Cullen, was also at the meeting in Ottawa. Catherine, the warnings loud and clear about the economic implications. How fraught are the politics of managing this crisis? Yeah, Susan, I mean it was clear that Canadian officials were scrambling to try to get everybody on the same page and obviously they didn't

given Alberta's reaction. Despite all those warm words we heard from Kate about unity it's important to consider the magnitude of this moment if Trump does level 25 percent tariffs this is a case of major job losses knee-capping Canada's economy it could launch us into a recession at the same time the government the federal government, is going from being prorogued to likely almost immediately into an election campaign. That is a lot of political uncertainty in the front window. Now it is true that civil servants and diplomats will continue to stay very focused on this issue. The premiers are obviously very preoccupied by it

but there we see the danger of regions feeling that their interests are in competition, not aligned. Alberta's Danielle Smith has evoked the idea that national unity could be at stake, and the fact that she did not sign this communique today, it makes it hard to talk about a Team Canada approach. Consider how her visit to Mar-a-Lago is being discussed in Alberta. There are prominent voices saying she may have to go to great lengths to protect Alberta's oil because the federal government can't be trusted not to use it as a bargaining chip. I mean, that tension, certainly it did exist before Trump, but these internal struggles

that we are seeing play out right now, that is still a consequence that he has wrought before even a single tariff is in place. And what about the federal response to these potential tariffs? Officials pretty tight-lipped about what they're thinking. We really didn't get a lot of details and I think there are a couple of factors at play. One, not showing your cards before the moment. But two, they truly do not know what Trump is going to do here. It's widely understood that these tariffs are coming, but is it the first day, the first

month? How big? He said 25% on everything, but there has been some reporting suggesting he might do something more gradual, tariffs that increase by a few percent every month. There is agreement that Canada's response needs to be proportional. The government doesn't want to needlessly provoke Trump and risk making things worse, but again this is widely expected to be very bad for Canada's economy. There's been talk of financial help for the worst hit sectors. At one point today, a couple of the premiers were encouraging people to start buying Canadian if they had the choice.

It is, of course, important to support domestic business, but there's a kind of turning inward that really speaks to the way the world is changing and the challenges ahead, Susan. Thank you so much, Catherine. Thank you. Catherine Cullen is the host of The House and she joins us from Ottawa. Rapper Drake has filed a defamation lawsuit against his own recording company. The suit alleges UMG made a viral hit out of a so-called diss track by rival artist Kendrick Lamar. It says the track falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile and calls for violent retribution against him.

Drake's suit says the song provoked gunfire at Drake's Toronto home last May. A security guard was injured in the incident. UMG's response accuses Drake of weaponizing the legal process to hurt another artist. The company says it's illogical to claim it would try to harm his reputation when UMG has a stake in his success. It's found in many products from candy to cough syrup and it has a long-standing link to serious health risks. Red dye number three.

Now US regulators are banning the controversial food additive as Canada insists it is safe. Erin Collins reports. It's in everything from licorice to cupcakes. So red dye number three gives that bright cherry red colour to a lot of foods, candies, etc. The controversial additive now on its way out in the U.S. banned today by the FDA. But concerns about the dye have been around for decades.

Dr. Celine Gounder is a professor at NYU's medical school. There seems to be an increased risk at least in rats of thyroid cancer. We also see an association with hyperactivity in kids. The dye already banned from use in U.S. cosmetics for years, but still found in hundreds of foods from candy to fruit cocktails there. The European Union only allows it to be used in processed cherries and pet food. But here in Canada, the additive also known as Eurythrocene is still used in hundreds of cosmetics and food products, but remains unknown to many.

I do not know enough about it. I would have to do my own research before I really knew exactly what I feel about it. No, I've never heard of it. For its part, Health Canada says the additive is safe and has no plans to ban it. In a statement, the agency writes that claims the dye causes cancer are not supported by the available scientific evidence. Still, the dye a concern for many we spoke to. I used to live in Sweden and all that stuff was banned.

You shouldn't be here. You don't need to have it. There's so many things that we're exposed to now in the air, in our water, that anything we can do to keep ourselves healthy would be greatly appreciated. Worries that resonate with some Canadian researchers. When you introduce the word cancer, all of a sudden the red flag of alarm goes up. Professor Joe Schwartz is the director of the Office of Science and Society at McGill University. Schwartz says the cancer risks connected to the dye are likely low.

Still, he has no problem with banning the additive. We don't need these things. We can have a very, very healthy diet that does not include food dyes that have a questionable history. The ban comes as Robert Kennedy is set to take over as U.S. Secretary of Health. Kennedy, controversial for his skepticism of some vaccines and fluoride, has also promised big changes to what goes into the food Americans eat. President Trump and I are going to stop the mass poisoning of American children.

Together, we're going to make America healthy again. Despite the ban, the dye won't be out of U.S. foods right away. Manufacturers have two years to ditch the additive. Erin Collins, CBC News, Calgary. Across Canada, more than six million people do not have a family doctor. And in one rural Ontario town, a rare event today gave 500 residents their lucky break. Jamie Strachan was there speaking with those who braved harsh winter weather for a desperate shot at better health care.

I'm sorry but I'm frozen. My lips are frozen right now. Susan Marshall pushes her walker through the falling snow, part of a snaking line stretching around Walkerton's Legion Hall and down the surrounding streets. More than a thousand people, many arriving before sunrise, for their shot at landing a patient slot with one of the town's new family doctors. I have health issues. I mean come on, when you're 81 years old you always have some health issues.

She hasn't had a doctor for five years. For Jacqueline Simos, who stands bundled up a few spots behind, it's been eight years. I actually saw this post on Facebook of all places and I thought with today's weather that it definitely there wouldn't be so many folks. Seamos's story is common in this line. Without a doctor you either go to the emergency room or deal with the pain. I've gone to the ER in extreme pain for gallstones or other things and you wait

there four or five hours and you still don't see a physician so I mean like what do you do? The need in Walkerton and surrounding communities, nearly three hours northwest of Toronto, is desperate. A new doctor is coming to town with plans to take 500 new patients. Only about half in this line will get a coveted spot. My husband's disabled. He's sitting back in the car because I cannot get him in here in a wheelchair.

At the back of the line, Vrula Smith shivers. The stress of not having a family doctor almost brings her to tears. It's incredibly stressful. Many times I feel like I'm not able to cope. The lineup is a microcosm of a worsening family doctor shortage affecting every corner of the country. In Ontario, 2.5 million people don't have a family doctor, up from 1.8 million in 2020. And in Canada, that number is more than 6.5 million. We're seeing a hunger games all across Ontario.

Dr Dominic Novak, president of the Ontario Medical Association, says the shortage means patients, like one he recently encountered, are missing out on early intervention. They were bouncing around hospitals, emergency rooms, pharmacies as well, and because of all that they had a missed serious cancer diagnosis that ended up diagnosed in the emergency room. Some provinces are attempting to lessen the administrative burden on doctors, restricting the need for things like sick notes, but with little impact on patients, says Canadian Medical Association President Joss Reimer.

It's too slow. Canadians are really suffering not being able to get access to the care that they need. In Walkerton, John and Pam Harris are the lucky ones. They finally have a doctor. It feels like we won the lottery. care that they need. In Walkerton, John and Pam Harris are the lucky ones. They finally have a doctor. It feels like we won the lottery. Many others who braved the cold and snow were not so lucky. Jamie Strash in CBC News, Walkerton, Ontario.

Returning now to our top story and the ceasefire agreement that has been reached between Israel and Hamas, the first stage stage of 42 day halt to the fighting And the gradual release of Israeli hostages In Gaza there is celebration tonight But also realization The pain and suffering is far from over Mohammed Al Tahir is an Iraqi doctor working in Gaza This does not mean that the suffering has ended however

There are still hundreds of thousands of people that are injured Who need surgery, who need evacuation But of course of people that are injured who need surgery who need evacuation But of course at least the hemorrhage has stopped this allows us to build so I want to congratulate My brothers and sisters from Palestine and Gaza For their patience for their forbearance for their endurance through the most difficult times And I gave my word to them when I arrived I said I will be here until the end Allah has blessed mehamdulillah, that I'm amongst my brothers and sisters in Gaza until the very end. Well, Alhamdulillah.

In Israel there is similar uncertainty. For the past 15 months much of the focus has been on the hostages. And for their loved ones today's announcement does not guarantee a safe return. For some it's impossible. Yasmine Magal lives in Jerusalem. Her cousin Omer Nutra was taken on October 7th. Last month, it was confirmed he'd been killed. It is a very difficult shift to make from the hope of hugging him again

to the hope of burying him. But he deserves a proper burial and we deserve to have a grave and the other families deserve to be reunited with their loved ones. So I'm just hopeful that we're on the right path for that. Thank you for joining us. This has been Your World Tonight for Wednesday, January 15th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again.