Your World Tonight - Crucial budget vote, stubborn cervical cancer rates, whale sanctuary pushback, and more

Episode Date: November 17, 2025

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government faces a crucial test — will the budget pass? Success means approval for Carney’s economic plan for the country. Failure could mean another federal election — less than a year after the last one.And: Death rates from cancer continue to fall in Canada as fewer people are dying of lung and colorectal cancer. But one type of cancer is not seeing the same drop, and the extra tragedy is — it’s preventable. We’ll look at what’s happening with cervical cancer.Also: The plan for North American's first-ever whale sanctuary is making waves.Some in the small oceanside community along Nova Scotia's eastern shore are in support of the project, but a handful of landowners say it's moving forward without their consent.Plus: Trump’s about-face on Epstein files, UK government’s plans to overhaul asylum rules, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. This is an opportunity to build our country. The vote is today. Stand up and get counted. Prime Minister thinks he can put his budget on a limitless credit card. Does he really expect Canadians are going to buy groceries the same way? Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Paulyev have made it clear how they are voting. It's a handful of other MPs who have not, creating suspense,

the survival of the government on the line, ahead of a critical budget vote that could trigger another federal election. So against what I had expected to say to you today, I'm going to vote yes. More support trickling in late this afternoon as the vote nears and the Liberals inch a little closer to their goal. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Monday, November 17th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast.

The Canadian government made a commitment to the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. But if things continue as they are now, we're not going to meet that timeline. Progress stalled. Doctors are pushing for more screening and vaccines to fight a form of cancer that is highly preventable. But we begin on Parliament Hill with that budget vote, breaking down how we got here,

what happens next over the next few hours and what to expect over the days and weeks to come. Ashley Burke starts our coverage in Ottawa. Good morning. Are you going to support the budget? No way. Just hours before the vote, uncertainty building over if it will pass. How are you feeling? Well, we voting for it.

Liberal MP Charles Sousa sounding unsure. I hope the opposition will find it in their hearts to support the Canadian people. His colleague, Sean Casey, says he doesn't know where they're going to get the votes they need, but says they will. I don't see any universe in which the government falls, none. The liberals are facing a confidence vote on their budget. If it fails, it would topple the government. Inside the House, Mark Carney, making his pitch. Mr. Spaker, today is a historic day.

the leader of the opposition and his colleagues have an opportunity to vote for generational investment to build this. Conservative leader Pierre Pollyov taking aim at the budget after several of his MPs said they'd vote against it. So once again, the Prime Minister thinks he can put his budget on a limitless credit card.

Does he really expect Canadians are going to buy groceries the same way? In a dramatic move, the liberals already gained a seat the day they tabled their budget after then-conservative MP Chris Dantramont crossed the floor. But the liberals are still two votes short of a majority and need to find some opposition support, MP Maria Lenn Godreau, reiterating the block Quebecois position.

The block will vote no. There's not enough things for Quebecers. The NDP's Heather McPherson, keeping her party's cards close to her chest. How are we going to vote? You'll see soon. But back in the House, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, going public that she wants a commitment to climate targets for her vote. Can he confirm here on the floor of this house?

Carney doesn't usually respond to May in the House, but did this time. I can confirm to this House that we will respect our Paris commitments for climate change and we're determined to achieve them. In a surprise move, May later revealed Carney won or over. I'm going to vote yes for the country. country for the planet. If all liberal MPs vote tonight, the government would need one more opposition vote or two opposition MPs to abstain from voting, that would get the liberals to a tie that the speaker could break. Leaving question period, Carney was matter of fact. Prime Minister, how are you going to get your budget passed? More people are going to vote for it and then

against it. MPs are expected to vote around 6.45 p.m. Eastern. Ashley Burke, CBC News, Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio's The House, is watching all of this in Ottawa. Catherine, still some suspense at this hour. What are some of the scenarios? Well, Susan, the Liberals either need one more vote for their budget or two abstentions. The most likely place to find those abstentions seems to be the NDP. The party's been in hours of meetings. So clearly, they're wrestling with this question of what to do.

They are in a leadership race. So an election could potentially be tough for them. It's not clear that they have the funds to run a national campaign either. But even if they agree that members of their party should be the ones to abstain, who would actually take the hit? Because the party has been quite critical of this budget and its cuts to government and jobs and departments as well, like Indigenous Services Canada. What about the conservatives?

At least one maybe could possibly sit out? Hasn't that already happened on previous votes to amend the budget? Well, it's right. In fact, quite a few missed the last couple of confidence votes, and you've got to wonder what the conservatives do now. They completely oppose the budget, but they haven't been out there making the case that this is the time for an election. And here in Parliament Hill, it seems pretty clear that they'd like to avoid one at this moment. Since MPs have the option of voting virtually through an app, the conservatives can't necessarily just watch what the NDP do and then decide based on that. So do they have some of their MPs sit the vote out?

It's politically tougher for them because they've been so insistent day in and day out that this budget makes Canadians poor. And Pollyev says Carney is worse than Justin Trudeau. So which MP is willing to just sit one out? Could be a tricky question. Even if the budget does pass, as many people expect, what's the potential fallout? This has really been a sort of game of political chicken up to this point, Susan. The liberals really do not seem to have had this. locked down well in advance. So it's coming up to a question of who blinks first. If certain

NDP or conservative members abstain from voting, there could be political consequences back in their riding if voters are unhappy. But I think for Pierre Paulyev in particular, who has struggled recently with a floor crossing and the resignation of another MP, the possibility of having to give in to get the liberal budget passed would be particularly painful. And what about the liberals in Mark Carney? What are we to learn here from how they go through this. I mean, this is a gamble. The liberals are trying to send a message that they're not that interested in making political deals, putting water in their wine. Look at Elizabeth May. Yes, she did get a statement from the prime minister in order to get her vote, but none of that actually

changed what was in the budget. It's a far cry from the days of the agreement with the NDP and Justin Trudeau's liberals, or the liberals were literally checking off a list of NDP demands like Pharmacare. That arrangement provided more stability for the government. This way, does ratchet up the drama, Susan. Thank you, Catherine. Thank you. Catherine Cullen is the host of CBC Radio's The House in Ottawa. Coming right up, cases of cervical cancer

have Canadian health experts trying to figure out what is slowing progress and what to do next. Also, an Epstein-Files flip from Donald Trump. The U.S. President changes his mind about the disclosure of documents. Later, we'll have this story. I'm Selena Alders in Wine Harbor, Nova Scotia,

where a proposed whale sanctuary is causing tension among residents. It's not perfect, but let's do everything we can to work together and be good neighbors and support the whales. Some hope it will bring more opportunities to the small seaside community. Others say they'll lose ocean access, and the project is moving forward without their consent. I'll have that story coming up on Your World Tonight. There's reason for optimism in a new cancer report.

It says the chances of surviving a diagnosis are getting better for Canadians. In cases of leukemia, lung and colorectal cancer are declining too. But it's not all good news. That same report reveals the country is falling short when it comes to cervical cancer. Health reporter Lauren Pelley explains why and what doctors say can be done about it. It took so much away from me. Shannon Pethick was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 32. She hadn't had a PAP test to screen for early warning signs in close to a decade.

The Saskatoon resident endured chemotherapy and two forms of radiation. It's one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. 15 years later, Pethic is cancer-free, but the memories still haunt her. And I'm grateful that I came up the other side, but I wouldn't wish what I went through on anybody. Hundreds of Canadians are expected to die from cervical cancer this year alone. A new report shows after two decades of falling rates, progress has stalled to nearly zero percent. The Canadian government made a commitment to the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. But if things continue as they are now, we're not going to meet that timeline.

Brandon Purcell is with the Canadian Cancer Society, the advocacy group behind the new report. The group is now pushing for a switch away from the standard PAP test, to one specifically for human papillomavirus or HPV, which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. That test is less frequent and more accurate. But so far, those screening programs are only available in the Northwest Territories, BC, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec.

And the final piece of this puzzle is the vaccination. Right now, adults who miss the HPV vaccine during school-aged immunization programs often have to pay hundreds out of pocket. Purcell says the shots should be free for everyone. So we're looking for provinces and territories to make the move towards what we call a once-eligible, always-eligible vaccine policy, which means that if at any point in your life you have been eligible to receive an HPV vaccine for free, you will always be eligible to receive that vaccine for free.

The science is clear. HBV vaccines work. One study in Scotland found zero cases of invasive cervical cancer among women vaccinated in their early teens. Dr. Amanda Selk from Women's College Hospital in Toronto says all Canadians need to get their children the HPV shot. The vaccine is how to have primary prevention, so people don't get the virus in the first place. Multiple countries are now striving to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, if not sooner.

Australia is on track after rolling out a nationwide vaccination program. While Sweden hopes to wipe out the disease within the next few years, in part thanks to widespread use of at-home HPV test kits. Advocates say if those countries can do it, so can Canada. Lauren Pelley, CBC News, Toronto. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's open to launching strikes on Mexico. Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's okay with me.

Whatever we have to do to stop drugs, Mexico is, look, I looked at Mexico City over the weekend. There's some big problems over there. if we had to, what we do there, what we've done to the waterways, you know, there's almost no drugs coming in through our waterways anymore. The U.S. military has conducted multiple strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, killing more than 80 people. Most have been off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. From the U.S. President's foreign policy to a surprise reversal on one of his biggest

domestic challenges, Donald Trump now says files in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation should be released, a U-turn that comes after months of pushing for documents connected to his former friend and sex offender to stay sealed. Katie Simpson reports. And it's a hoax. The whole thing is a hoax. Sitting in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump faced journalists for the first time since he changed his mind about releasing more files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation,

confirming he wants House Republicans to vote in favor of a bill to compel his government to release all documents connected to the late sex offender and that he would sign it into law if it also passes the Senate. I don't, they can do whatever they want. We'll give them everything. Sure I would. Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it. But don't talk about it too much because, honestly, I don't want to take it away from us. Trump's suggesting he hopes his reversal will make the issue finally going.

go away, appearing frustrated that it remains a distraction. All I want is I want for people to recognize a great job that I've done. This is a significant climb down for Trump, who had spent months trying to kill support for this bill, a change that was likely influenced by shifting attitudes, as dozens of Republicans are expected to vote yes when it comes to the floor tomorrow, according to political analyst Rod Brownstein. You know, there are various versions of an all saying that as a politician, it's better to lead a parade than get run over by a parade, and I think that's what we have here.

Trump's critics say his new position, it is an awkward contradiction. Since he is the president, he has the power to make the documents public. There doesn't need to be a congressional vote. The top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, writing on social media, the vote is to compel you to release them. Let's make this easier. Just release the files now. They deserve those answers.

Jack Scarola, an attorney for Epstein Survivor, says the women he represents are pleased to see growing public support for their cause, hoping it will finally lead to systemic change. But I am increasingly optimistic about the fact that public pressure is going to require an investigation be conducted into the corruption of the justice system. The Epstein issue has deeply divided Trump's MAGA base, as he has so far failed to deliver on. his campaign promise to make all files public. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. The UK government is proposing an overhaul of how the country handles asylum seekers build as the most sweeping change to the system in modern times. The plan would make it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

Senior international correspondent Margaret Evans explains what's behind the change and the backlash. The Home Secretary. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, with your permission. The Labour Government's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud unveiling her proposed new asylum rules in the British Parliament today. Immigration, illegal or otherwise, tops the list of British concerns, according to the latest Ipsos poll here, beating out both the economy and a struggling national health service.

Mahmoud says a broken system is tearing. the country apart. If we failed to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred. She says her new policy will make it easier to deport failed claimants and act as a deterrent. Those granted asylum would no longer be entitled

to automatic support from the state. Their status would be re-evaluated every two and a half years and they'd only be eligible for permanent residency after 20. That's compared to five now. Many of the proposals are modelled on Denmark's system, where a drop in asylum claims has been attributed to tougher laws. It doesn't sit well with some Labour MPs, including Nadia Whittem.

The Denmark style policies briefed in the last couple of days are dystopian. It's shameful that a Labour government is ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Is this how we'd want to be treated? if we were fleeing for our lives, of course not. Critics accuse the Labour government of scapegoating asylum seekers and dawning the mantle of the populist anti-immigration reform UK, a small party but one now leading in the polls.

There have been clashes in recent months between far-right activists marching against asylum hotels and those who would protect them. Analysts say there's been a disproportionate focus and the numbers of asylum seekers risking their lives to cross the channel on small boats. Peter Walsh is a senior researcher with the Migration Observatory. Successive governments in the UK have really focused on the idea of control as being central.

And this, of course, is very clear evidence of a lack of control, by definition. These are unauthorized arrivals and has a quality of spectacle about it. Nearly 40,000 people have arrived. arrived this way this year, putting their lives in the hands of smugglers. It is a drop in the bucket compared to the numbers arriving through regular migration. Far fewer people claim asylum in Britain than in France, Germany, Italy, or Spain. Margaret Evans, CBC News, London. 25 girls have been abducted from a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria. The attack happened before sunrise in Kebby State. Local police say gunmen exchange

fire with guards before taking the girls from their dorms. At least one staff member is dead. No group has claimed responsibility. Armed groups have targeted schoolchildren in the region for ransom since 2014. A court in Dhaka has found former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of allowing and inciting lethal force against protesters. Hundreds of people were killed and about 14,000 injured in a student-led uprising last year.

As soon as she was convicted, the war crimes court announced her sentence. We have decided to inflict her with only one sentence, that is sentence of death. Hasina issued a statement from exile in India saying her actions were in good faith, and she tried to minimize the loss of life. 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 new radar site proposed by the Department of National Defense has some Ontario residents pushing back in their own defense. Farmers are being asked if they'd like to sell their land, and those who aren't interested are worried. that request could soon become an order. Jamie Strasson reports. And I remember opening the letter and thinking, is this a joke?

Like, what's going on here? Is this a scam? For Ontario farmer Rachel Brooks, the anxiety and despair hovering over her family since early August began with a letter. It was from the Department of National Defense asking if she would consider selling her 100-acre property. It immediately impacted my sense of security

in my home. having a place to live, and my security in the sense of something that I own could possibly be taken from me. Clearview Township, about two hours north of Toronto, has some of the best farmland in the province. It's here D&D wants to build a massive radar site spanning around 4,000 acres. Part of Canada's $38 billion air defense modernization, the site would see rows of 20-foot antennas surrounded by barbed wire. family has been here since 1879 and I'm the fifth generation to take over and my son is hopefully going to be the sixth generation. The government has already purchased a 700-acre parcel in the area but requires additional land to make the project viable. Matt and Jennifer Hutchison have also

being approached like many others. They worry they could be forced out no matter what their family decides. He asked me, Mom, what are we going to do? I don't know what to do. How to say, hey, you will have a future farming. Your family farm, how do I say? It most likely won't happen. The area's MP, Terry Dowdell, only learned about the project after the government acquired the initial 700-acre parcel. He's been unable to get answers about what direction the project will take

if his constituents decide not to sell their farms. It's a lot of money that the government's putting into this property without getting that commitment. And so I don't know, and that's part of the concern with the residents up there. Will they or will they not expropriate? In a statement to CBC, D&D says it's not currently working on expropriation, but doesn't say anything about the future. Most area residents, including Clearview Township Mayor Doug Measures,

support the idea of the project, but question the choice of location. Because I believe it's going to impact our economic ability to continue as an agricultural community. A farmer will purchase goods from local suppliers, stores, but all of those jobs will eventually be impacted. Right now, everything is in limbo. A bad place, Jennifer Hutchison says, for an industry built around long-term planning. As farmers, we work for our future.

All are hard work. It could possibly be gone. Jamie Strash and CBC News near Stainer, Ontario. The plan for North America's first whale sanctuary is making some waves on dry land. The refuge would be built near a small town on Nova Scotia's east coast. There are questions tonight about the project's viability and how much support it has in the community.

Selina Alders has more. We were not consenting. Tracy Burns Gagnon and her family own the largest plot of land in Wine Harbor. The village sits along Nova Scotia's tranquil eastern coast between Halifax and Cape Breton. It's also the proposed site of a whale's sanctuary backed by a U.S. non-profit and Greenland by the province. It's a sad day that the government

would choose an American company over Nova Scotians. The provincial government has given its approval to grant the organization a land and water lease for 20 years. Burns Gagnon says her family has been in Wine Harbor for generations and they own much of the seaside area now earmarked for the whale sanctuary project. She argues the province needs unanimous consent from affected land. donors before crown leases are considered. We're all going to have our ocean access completely taken away from us and no one must consult it. The province declined to speak to CBC news on this issue, but in a recent statement, a spokesperson for the government acknowledged reaching consensus can be difficult, adding they felt there was enough regional support for the sanctuary

to move ahead. I think this project can bring a lot of hope to our community. Four people live in Wine Harbor year round. One of them is cafe owner Tammy Votour. She says the sanctuary would bring in much needed tourism and employment to the remote area. We're at a tipping point right now that if we don't do something for our community, we're going to lose it. The whale sanctuary project is billed as one of a kind for North America. It's aimed at creating a coastal refuge for whales retired from theme parks. The $20 million proposal recently garnered international attention as a possible site for some of the beluga whales from Ontario's marine land. But the now shuttered amusement park refuses to release the mammals to the refuge,

arguing construction has yet to start, and the plan still needs a lot more funding. It's not perfect. Charles Vinnick is the CEO of the Whale Sanctuary Project. He insists the refuge will be open by the summer and says he understands the proposal has caused tension among residents. Let's do everything we can to work together and be good neighbors and support the whales. For Burns Ganyahu, she wants the province to take a step back and reconsider its support for the project before construction begins. Selina Alders, CBC News, Wine Harbor, Nova Scotia. Finally, it came down to the wire last night. The Saskatchewan Rough Riders are Grey Cup champions.

The end zone to flunk out and it falls to the field. And gray has just turned green and white. The Saskatchewan Ruff Riders and Trevor Harris have won the Grey Cup. The Rough Riders defeated the Montreal Alouettes, 25 to 17. Darren Morrow's from Moosestra is a self-described Saskatchewan super fan. He made the trip to Winnipeg for the big game. This was just a borderline relief and elation, all mixed. into one at the same time, hugging complete random strangers in every single aisle around us,

just taking selfies and pictures and video and filling my entire phone with experiences and memories from this day. It was just a spectacular weekend all around. We could not have asked for a better experience. Huge shout out to Winnipeg and the Grey Cup Committee for doing such a fantastic job. It's the fifth Grey Cup title for the Rough Riders. They last won in 2013. Quarterback, Trevor Harris, was named the game's most valuable player. Wide receiver, Samuel Emelis, earned the Most Valuable Canadian Award. Thank you for joining us. This has been your world tonight for Monday, November 17th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca slash podcasts.