Your World Tonight - Fears over Honda report, food inflation, chemicals in mattresses, and more

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Honda says it is not planning to move production out of Canada in the foreseeable future. A report in Japanese media claimed the automaker was considering moving to the United States in response to Donald Trump’s tariff plan. Political leaders respond on the federal campaign trail.And: Overall inflation cooled to 2.3 per cent in Canada last month, but the price of food rose. Products such as orange juice, fruits and vegetables are being hit by cross-border tariffs.Also: The Alberta government unveils health care legislation aimed at helping people with severe addiction, including plans for intervening when a person refuses to be treated.Plus: Children’s mattresses may contain harmful chemicals, the 80th anniversary of Canadian troops helping to liberate the Netherlands from the Nazis, and more.

1942, Europe. Soldiers find a boy surviving alone in the woods. They make him a member of Hitler's army. But what no one would know for decades, he was Jewish. Could a story so unbelievable be true? I'm Dan Goldberg. I'm from CBC's Personally, Toy Soldier. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC Podcast. I've been here for 10 years now and it's starting to bloom but I would like to see it grow more and not less. Yeah, I want to keep the jobs here in Canada. Reaction to a newspaper report in Japan that sent shockwaves throughout Canada's auto sector.

Honda possibly relocating some work to the United States. The company says that's not the plan, the tension and anxiety that have become part of life in a trade war. Welcome to your world tonight. the plan, the tension and anxiety that have become part of life in a trade war. Welcome to Your World Tonight. It's Tuesday, April 15th, just before 6pm Eastern. I'm Angie Seth, also on the podcast. If you don't pass on those increases, you're not going to be an independent grocer. You're going to be an out-of-business grocer.

Inflation was down last month, but it wasn't because of the prices at the grocery store. Tariffs are making it harder to balance your diet while also balancing your budget. Only two automakers are operating near full capacity in Canada right now. For time today it looked like that number would drop to one. A report suggested Honda was planning to move some of its work to the United States because of Trump's tariffs. The automaker says it's not going anywhere for now. But as Carina Roman reports, the ongoing uncertainty is doing nothing to calm an industry that's already in anxiety overdrive.

A lot of people would lose their jobs. Yeah, it wouldn't be very good. Definitely could go bad around here. In Alliston, Ontario, population approximately 23,000. More than 4,000 people have jobs at the Honda plant. So, a report out of Japan this morning that Honda is planning to move some of its Canadian production to the U.S. caused a great deal of stress. So what about all the people working over here?

What becomes of the families? That's their livelihood. So it's like taking their livelihood away from them. Eventually Honda put out a statement confirming that its Alastin plant will operate at full capacity for the foreseeable future. David Adams is the president and CEO of Global Automakers of Canada, a national trade association that includes Honda Canada.

Well, look, I think whether it's Honda or Toyota or any of the other manufacturers, they've invested billions of dollars into their footprint in the Canadian-Ontario marketplace here. And those are investments for the long term. Still, the initial reaction highlights the very real fear that U.S. tariffs will convince auto companies to shift south. Liberal leader Mark Carney addressed that on the campaign trail today. Well we can protect our workers and we will.

Well we can provide incentives for the production to maintain here, which we have. It's a war and we can can provide guarantees for every situation. Those incentives include a new program that will mean auto companies won't have to pay Ottawa's 25 percent counter tariffs if they continue to produce vehicles in Canada and if they complete planned investments. And the government will provide six-month tariff relief for US imported goods that are used in Canadian manufacturing, processing, public health and public safety. Carney says he has spoken to automaker CEOs over the past few weeks.

Their point is clear. They want to maintain their activities in Canada and we're working with them so that it maximizes the chances that they will do so. Conservative leader Pierre Poliev says the way to keep companies in Canada is to change which party forms government. We can't afford a fourth liberal term. We need change to axe taxes, cut red tape, approve resource projects, make this the best place in the world to do business. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh repeats his own take on how to thwart companies from jumping ship,

telling them they can't strip out the parts because federal and provincial governments have also invested billions in auto plants. Companies shouldn't think that they can take those investments out of our country. Global automakers association's David Adams is hoping there will soon be an off-ramp from the chaos in the form of negotiations that are set to happen between Trump and whomever the Prime Minister is

after the Canadian election in just two weeks' time. Karina Roman, CBC News, Montreal. Canada's next Prime Minister will also need to navigate Trump's threats to the country's sovereignty. The topic came up again at today's White House briefing along with more questions on tariffs and the president's erratic trade policy. Katie Simpson was there and has this report. I would reject the president's position on Canada has shifted. In front of a packed White House briefing room, press secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed

the U.S. president still wants Canada to become the 51st state. Donald Trump has stopped making the threat at least publicly for several weeks now, even though he routinely complains about long-standing irritants in the Canada-U.S. trading relationship. The president still maintains his position on Canada. The United States has been subsidizing Canada's national defense, and he believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America. Levitt responded to two questions from CBC News at today's White House press briefing. Which outlet are you in?

The Canadian Public Broadcaster. Nice to see you. Thank you. Yesterday in the Oval Office, President Trump suggested that there could be some help for automakers. I'm wondering what that looks like. In response, Levitt reiterated Trump's promise to consider possible relief for car makers

as they navigate 25% tariffs on foreign-made autos and brace for new 25% tariffs on foreign-made auto parts starting next month. Any sort of pause or change could have massive implications for Canadian auto workers and plants. As for autos and auto parts, I don't have anything to read out for you there, but I think the point the president was making is flexibility,

and he has flexibility when it comes to negotiations and talks. As Trump pushes ahead with his ever-shifting tariff policy, Washington has a new direct message for Beijing. The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them. Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be looking to make deals elsewhere at the moment. Xi arriving in Malaysia, the second stop on his three country tour as Beijing tries to present itself as a stable regional partner, a challenge given its history of

trading practices widely criticized by much of the Western world. In the face of external uncertainties, China will insist on joining hands rather than throwing punches, this Foreign Ministry spokesman says. Tensions between China and the U.S. continue to intensify, as do tensions with the U.S. and most of its trading partners, including Canada. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. The Honda situation meant the state of the auto industry was back onto the election campaign agenda, but it wasn't the only issue the main party leaders were talking about.

In Montreal, Pierre Pauliev was also focused on protecting Canadian seniors from fraud. We're going to pass the Stop Scamming Seniors Act, a common-sense law that forces banks and telecom companies to deploy state-of-the-art technology to catch scams and stop them before they happen, not after when it is too late. The Conservative leader unveiled a plan to detect and automatically flag suspicious activity in a senior's bank account. It includes mandatory jail time for people convicted of financial scams. The way Capital Gains works right now is if you are working hard, you're a nurse, a teacher,

your entire salary is taxable. But if you sit at home and sell shares, only half of the money you make is taxable. That's unfair. That's inherently unfair. NDB leader Jagmeet Singh was also in Montreal where he announced his party would work to keep changes to the capital gains tax made in last federal budget. Both the liberals and conservatives say they would scrap the tax increase on gains over $250,000. Singh said the NDP would use revenue to hire more doctors and expand pharma care. All the main

party leaders are now getting ready for tomorrow night's French language debate. And well, there's a little less prep time. I would like like anybody else to watch the game. If the date can be changed, let's do that. I will of course make myself available at any moment. Blanc-Québécois leader Yves-Rançois Blanchet and hockey fans across Quebec will be happy with a tweak to the schedule tomorrow. The debate was set to begin at 8pm Eastern time, but it's been moved up two hours to

start at 6pm to avoid a conflict with the Montreal Canadiens' final game of the regular season. The Canadiens could clinch a playoff spot with a win. Still to come on the podcast, inflation dropped slightly last month, driven, so to speak, by the price of gas, not by the price of food. Also, a comfy mattress can help a kid sleep soundly, but a new study warns there might be some danger lurking in the form of harmful chemicals. And canola farmers are planting right now, unsure what the market will look like when it comes time to harvest.

Later, we'll have this story, a blanket of tulips to honour Canada's service 80 years ago, an annual reminder of Dutch gratitude for liberating the Netherlands from Nazi occupation during the Second World War. You can be forgiven for a sense of trepidation you may feel approaching the checkout counter at a grocery store these days. Even though overall inflation has slowed down, food prices are still going up. Business reporter Carl Bax breaks down the numbers. As shoppers fill their carts at a grocery store in North East Calgary, they notice price

tags keep climbing. From breakfast cereals to condiments, costs are going up, not down. Especially fruit and veggies. We try to stretch the amount that we buy for a lot longer. I have a minor increase and in part that's because I choose to buy Canadian whenever possible. If I have to adapt on the fruit and veggies I eat I'll have to adapt because my paycheck's not getting any bigger just prices are getting higher. Counter tariffs introduced in early March are starting

to impact certain products like orange juice. I just checked out the price of it and it looked like it doubled so I just decided I'll refill my waters and leave the orange juice behind. At Loblaws, a two and a half litre jug of made in US orange juice is more than $11. That's almost twice the price compared to other orange juice with the label Prepared in Canada selling for just over $6. We've started to see some impact in terms of the relationship with the Americans. Fruits and vegetables are a main concern, says Gary Sands with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. If you don't pass on those increases, you're not going to be an independent grocer,

you're going to be an out-of-business grocer. So we are seeing the increases. Price tags at the grocery store are climbing faster than most other expenses. Up more than 3% compared to a year ago. In general, the latest figures from Statistics Canada show inflation actually cooled from 2.6% in February to 2.3% in March. Some prices actually dropped, like gasoline down 1.6% and airfares diving 12%. Call it a March break as the overall inflation rate was lower than experts were predicting. There were a few pleasant surprises.

Sebastian McMahon is an economist with IA Financial Group. Including a lower price of energy and lower price of gasoline, of course because of recession risks that are rising around the world. The latest numbers come on the eve of Decision Day for the Bank of Canada on interest rates. Slower inflation could convince the central bank to maintain rates, but the ever-shifting trade war may lead the bank to cut to help stimulate the economy. Kyle Backs, CBC News, Calgary. While children may be breathing in harmful chemicals while they sleep, Canadian researchers

examined mattresses and have found some contained high levels of harmful compounds, including some that are banned. Health reporter Jennifer Yoon has more. If only you try. All done. We're not going to read more right now. Trevor Vanderdolen negotiates with his kids for one last story before tucking them into bed for the night.

He wants to make sure they're safe and snug. That's why he wants to find out if they're exposed to potentially harmful chemicals while they sleep. I don't think most parents think about these things prior to purchasing a mattress. A new study now suggests there are chemicals in children's mattresses in higher amounts than allowed by Health Canada regulations, or that shouldn't be there at all. Kids sleep 18 hours a day. University of Toronto professor Miriam Diamond is a co-author of the study published today in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Researchers bought 16 new foam mattresses for children, ranging between $50 and $150. We were really surprised to find that one of the mattresses exceeded the regulatory guideline in Canada for a plasticizer. Another mattress had a chemical that is restricted from use for children's products in Canada." Dr. Chris Carlston, a respiratory specialist and a professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia, has studied plasticizers, which helps make products soft and flexible. Some, specifically the type found above the Canadian limit in one of the mattresses, have

been linked with damage in the airways, he says. Broadly speaking, these are chemicals I think we all should justifiably not want to have in these mattresses of children. Carlston was not involved with the study, but he says he's not surprised by the findings. This paper really serves as a way to bring attention to a problem that's existed for a long time but it hasn't been documented in this exquisite detail in this particular setting. Diamond, the co-author, says it's up to manufacturers to make sure products are safe. It's really important that manufacturers be more vigilant. We cannot rely on government to test every mattress.

Health Canada said in a statement it is reviewing the study and promises to take appropriate action. In the meantime, parents can take steps to protect their kids from potentially harmful chemicals. Bedding and clothing can act as a protective barrier so it's important to wash them frequently, Diamond says. It's just washing on a more regular basis. Action some parents, like Vanderderdolen have started taking already.

Jennifer Yoon, CBC News, Toronto. The Alberta government calls it compassionate intervention. Critics say it contravenes rights and may not even work. The province has introduced legislation that could force people into treatment for drug addictions. The CBC's Madeleine Cummings is in Edmonton tonight with the details. So Madeline, tell us what's in the legislation. So under the Compassionate Intervention Act, someone could only be forced into treatment if they are likely to cause substantial harm to themselves or others within a reasonable time due to their substance use. So what will happen is a family member, a health care professional, a police or peace

officer would submit an application to a new digital platform. There's a 72-hour assessment period. A statutory director and a team would review that application, then submit it to an independent commission. That commission, which would include a lawyer, a doctor, and a member of the public, would then hold a hearing. And assuming the person meets the criteria for involuntary care, they would either receive secure care for up to three months or community-based care, which is less intensive, for up to six months. The legislation was tabled today, and we know some involuntary care beds are supposed to

be opening next year, but two facilities dedicated to this type of treatment, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary, are not expected to open until 2029. Okay, so those are a few years away. But what if people don't want this kind of treatment? Well, the government says this legislation will adhere to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights. People would have the right to a lawyer

to speak with a mental health patient advocate and there'd be an appeal process as well. This topic is controversial though, raising ethical questions about forcing people to do something they don't want to do and there are also questions over whether or not it will work. A task force from the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine

reviewed worldwide research on involuntary treatment or not it will work. A task force from the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine reviewed worldwide research on involuntary treatment for substance use disorders. They looked at 42 studies and determined there was a lack of high quality evidence to support or refute it. Premier Danielle Smith says the government has tried other approaches already. So this is just one additional aspect of what we're going to try and we have established the framework so a lot of data will be available and we'll do the analysis to see what works and if we need to try something new we will try something new. The government also says it's expanding voluntary treatment opening new beds as well and they say

involuntary care is meant to be used as a last resort. So only for the most severe cases. Okay, Madeleine, thank you so much for this. You're welcome. The CBC's Madeleine Cummings in Edmonton. The value of crops fluctuates a lot, often due to unpredictable weather, but now the political climate is adding another layer of uncertainty for canola farmers. It's been nearly a month since China slapped steep tariffs on some Canadian canola exports, and it's not the only strain on growers.

Alexander Silberman spoke to some in Saskatchewan, fearful for their livelihoods. Margaret Righetti is getting ready to seed on her family farm near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, making sure every tractor and piece of equipment is prepared, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fertilizer and seed waiting to go in the ground. We're ready to go to the field and there's a lot of unknowns.

The biggest unknown for this year's crop, the stress of tariffs on canola prices. We seem to be in the crosshairs of two global superpowers having a trade war. Last month China hit Canadian canola oil and meal with 100 percent tariffs, a response to Canada's duties on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminum and steel. The threat of tariffs from the U.S. is also making prices volatile for farmers like Ragetti. Well it really leaves us wondering if planting this canola crop is the right thing to do. Canola contributes more than $43 billion each year to the Canadian economy.

The industry has a large manufacturing sector, which produces oil from seeds and meal a high protein animal feed. Another emerging canola product is renewable diesel a fossil fuel alternative that reduces emissions but the demand for canola biodiesel is shrinking in the United States. The immediate impact is where do we sell our products tomorrow. Chris Verveet is executive director of the Canadian Oil Seed Processors Association. He says a change in American policy in January means canola-based renewable diesel no longer qualifies for a tax credit. Without eligibility for that tax credit, we find ourselves having a difficult time to compete in the US biofuel market.

Amid all that uncertainty, plans for several multi-billion dollar processing plants in Regina are now on hold. It's all just very unpredictable. Henry N is a resource economist at the University of Alberta. We don't know if it's going to change tomorrow, next week. Everybody's just kind of on edge. Back at the farm, Raggeti says her industry feels forgotten in the trade war. We have to understand that the hurt to our farms and our communities is going to be devastating. With millions of dollars invested in their farms, producers say the stakes are high and they desperately need free trade for their industry to have a future.

Alexander Silberman, CBC News, near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. You are listening to Your World Tonight from CBC News. I'm Angie Seth. You can hear Your World Tonight on the CBC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. [♪ On this day 80 years ago, a Canadian regiment went back the city of Laywarden. The CBC's Jay Turnbull spoke with a 100-year-old veteran who was there. We had that feeling of liberation. Jim Parks joined the army in Winnipeg when he was just 15. Four years later, on D-Day, he jumped into water over his head and swam onto Juneau Beach.

Eventually, he marched into the Dutch province of Friesland, tasked with the dangerous job of rooting out stubborn German soldiers. I had to go and check this farmhouse and he said, well, this will touch a grenade in first. But I didn't like the idea of doing that. I opened up the door and here's a whole Dutch family there, mother, dad and four kids. I often think about that, how lucky I was not to do that. The mission was a success, but it came at a high cost. Close to 7,600 Canadians died liberating the Netherlands.

One person called Dub Dauwling, he was killed in action that day. You have no time to grieve anyway. It's too bad he's gone. Later on you think about it. Parks is 100 now and living in Mount Albert, Ontario. He's looking forward to flying back to the Netherlands later this month, and the Dutch will greet him with open arms. He's still our hero.

Even after the 80s years, he's still our hero here in the Netherlands. Marco Kallmein is part of a group that helps Canadian veterans fly back to the country for visits. Parkes has been back half a dozen times. The precious thing of freedom the Canadian soldiers gave to us, we have to remember that every year. The country's show of gratitude has not waned over the decades and now something new. That's the voice of Jim Parkes again, this time narrating a

video for SC Cambourg, a professional soccer team in the city of Leverorden. Parkes helped liberate the city on April 15th, 1945. The team has unveiled a special jersey adorned with maple leaves and resembling the Royal Canadian Dragoons uniform. Ruben Sitesma speaks for the soccer team. We will play the anthem of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. So every little thing, every little touch we can do in that game will be in remembrance and in honour of especially the Dragoons

and the Canadian people in general. Jim Parks won't be there for the game, but his Dutch friends have a busy week planned for him once he steps off the plane. I still have good memories of our liberation. So I'm looking forward to it. Jay Turnbull, CBC News, Montreal. Finally Canadians are finding lots of ways to show their pride these days.

Grassroots protests, elbows up buttons, shirts and hats, and of course flags. Drive by the Chateauguay Apartments in Winnipeg's St. Boniface neighbourhood, and you'll see lots of flags, one on almost every one of the 88 balconies. Lorraine Simard had the original idea and made some pamphlets. No, I just wanted to show that we were proud Canadians and I wanted to do something. And we all did it together, yeah. Simard's friend Jean-Paul Doucette was in charge of getting the flags. He says it turned out to be a mini-boom for the local dollar stores and more work for him.

We started off with five and then people wanted more. I went and bought another ten and then we ran out and I went and bought another 20. That's how it started and so we kind of drained a few Dollarama stores out of the flags. Well Lorraine put on the sign, we do installation. So I didn't know that because I was the installer. So she filled me in on the routine. So it went well. Now one thing they forgot to do was tell the installer. So she filled me in on the routine. So it went well. Now one thing they forgot to do was tell the administration.

Michelle Vermeulen is the manager. She first found out about the plan when someone slipped a brochure under her door. But she says it's a great idea. And yep, she's got a flag too. It exploded. The amount of pride that our tenants have is amazing and this kind of just shows that we have a lot of dedicated Canadians. The idea got so popular that people who live on the other side of the building, which doesn't even face the street, joined in as well.

So in total there are now 200 flags hanging all over the building. Thanks for being with us. This has been Your World Tonight for Tuesday, April 15th. I'm Angie Seth. Talk to you soon.