Your World Tonight - Freeland and Gould join leadership race, Gaza ceasefire begins, preparing for mass deportations in the U.S. and more

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and government house leader Karina Gould have officially launched their campaigns to become next leader of the Liberal party. We'll take a look at how the race is shaping up.Also: After months of bombings, bloodshed and contentious, on and off negotiations...a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is now in effect. And: Donald Trump has promised his administration will carry out mass deportations, which could begin soon after his inauguration on Monday. We go to two communities where undocumented immigrants are preparing for an uncertain future.

Every language is a note in the symphony of our heritage. Together, they create a harmony that cannot be silenced. Discover your voice on the new APTN Languages TV channel. This is a CBC Podcast. Hi, I'm Stephanie Scanderis and this is your World Tonight. On the podcast, in less than 24 hours, Donald Trump will be sworn in as US President again.

We'll look at what it means for Canada. Plus, one of his early promises is to end the war in Ukraine quickly. But how do Ukrainians feel about that? We'll take you to Kiev to find out. And the first hostages are released back to Israel as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Tamas begins. But first, two more challengers make their case as to why they should be the next Prime Minister of Canada. The race to be the next Prime Minister is heating up.

Today, at rallies in southern Ontario, two candidates officially kicked off their campaigns to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader, former finance minister and deputy Prime Minister Christia Freeland and government House leader Carina Gould. As Rafi Boujikaneen reports, whoever takes over will face a popular Conservative party and a hostile US administration. From the choice of soundtrack to the supporters packing the venue for Christia Freeland, including Health Minister Mark Holland,

everything at Freeland's official launch was geared toward the message she's the right person to stare down the incoming US president. Freeland renegotiated Canada's free trade agreement with the U.S. during Trump's first presidency. She's now presenting that as part of her credentials to take over as liberal leader. In a race triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement earlier this month, he would be stepping down. A decision that came after months of caucus division and Freeland's own abrupt departure from his cabinet as finance minister last December.

She told journalists today the differences with Trudeau were more long-standing. For some time I had been in disagreement with the prime minister, specifically over spending. Those disagreements got worse after President Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on our country. Now trying to distance herself from a signature Trudeau government policy, the carbon tax. Freeland says she would scrap the unpopular consumer levy on pollution. At her launch she faced questions over the government's position on an entirely different issue. Get the snide, supporter! More than a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters interrupting her speech one by one to call out what they see as the federal government's too pro-Israel stance on the conflict in Gaza.

Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! But the bigger disruption to Freeland's ambitions may well be the entrance of another contender into this race. My name is Karina Gould and I'm running to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Unlike Freeland and her other big contender for the job, former back of Canada Governor Mark Carney, nobody was expecting Gould to take a run at this gig until a couple of weeks ago. I think what Canadians need as a country is to have a leader who has the confidence of the party and more importantly a leader who has the confidence of the country.

And once the contest is over, it won't be long before whoever wins faces off against Pierre Paulyèvre in the next federal election. For now, the liberal leadership contenders are seeking endorsements from their colleagues in caucus. Frelon has the edge in sheer numbers so far, collecting about two dozen names. But on Sunday, Carney got a key voice to back him, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie, seen as a key organizing force in Quebec where the political fortunes of would-be Liberal leaders are often decided. Rafi Boudjikani on CBC News, Toronto. While the Liberal candidates spar over who is best suited to stand up to Donald Trump,

sitting federal and provincial leaders are also grappling with what's to come. We're going to be taking a closer look at some of Trump's promises throughout the show, particularly his plans for mass deportations, and we have reports coming from Texas and Chicago. But officials here in Canada are focused on a possible trade war. And JP Tasker has more on that. Trump is back! On the streets of Washington, jubilant Donald Trump supporters revel in his victory ahead of the inauguration.

Back in Canada, politicians are filled with dread, including Liberal leadership contender Christia Freeland. Our country is facing what could well be an existential threat. And Ontario's Energy Minister Stephen Lecce. A 25% tariff could mean hundreds of thousands of jobs for Ontariansarians alone Trump has promised tariffs that have the potential to throw Canada's economy into a tailspin Tariff he's considering several options including a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods There's also the chance of a 10% tariff on products from all countries Or lastly an escalating tariff that starts low and rises over time.

We think we've done a lot of good advocacy work, but we're also now ready to respond whatever decisions he makes. If Trump slaps a tariff on Canada right away, the federal government is ready to hit back with retaliatory measures, including tariffs of our own on $37 billion worth of American goods. Finance Minister Dominic de Blas. This isn't a simple or frankly a positive undertaking. It's not something that we want to do.

We will do it in response of course if the Americans decide to do it. There's also the possibility of more draconian measures like cutting off Canadian oil, something Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has outright refused to do. They will have a national unity crisis on their hands. But Ontario's Doug Ford wants to go all in, announcing today there will be provincial countermeasures beyond what Ottawa has in the works. We have to send a message.

When someone comes up and tries to destroy our economy, it will be devastating for Canadians. Ontario is also weighing a possible energy export ban that would leave 1.5 million Americans without electricity. Here's Stephen Lecce. We need to be ready to apply maximized pressure on those decision makers, on local economies, that will get the attention of the presidents.

Meanwhile, Trump's former tariff czar says Canada can't win a trade war with the US. It's better to cut a deal to appease the incoming president, says Wilbur Ross. I don't think that kind of tit-for-tat would be a good idea. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will convene a special meeting of his cabinet just hours after Trump takes the oath of office. The only agenda item? Trying to hold off economic devastation.

J.P. Tasker, CBC News, Ottawa. A federal court has agreed to expedite a hearing of a legal challenge to the Prime Minister's move to suspend Parliament. In their application, two Nova Scotia residents want the court to set aside Trudeau's request to prorogue Parliament and to declare that this session of Parliament has not been prorogued. They argue that by suspending the legislature, the Government of Canada will not be able to effectively work on solutions to pressing issues,

including Donald Trump's threatened tariffs. The hearing will take place on February 13th and 14th in Ottawa. Still ahead, another of President-elect Donald Trump's big promises has been to end the war in Ukraine. We'll take you to Kiev to find out how people there feel about Trump and his possible plan. Coming up on Your World Tonight. After months of bombings and bloodshed and contentious on and off negotiations, a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is now in effect. Hamas released three female hostages it has held captive since October 7, 2023.

In exchange, Israel has released 90 Palestinians who were held in Israeli prisons. Meanwhile, the UN World Food Program says trucks carrying aid have started entering Gaza. Chris Brown reports from Tel Aviv. The euphoric moment was 470 days in the making. As thousands watched on giant screens at a plaza in Tel Aviv dubbed Hostage Square, Israeli TV showed Arab channels live streaming remarkable scenes from Gaza. First, the Red Cross convoy entering a landscape obliterated by Israeli bombs. Then throngs of armed, well-equipped Hamas fighters in Gaza City surrounding the

pickup location. A short time later the fighters opened a car door for the three Israeli captives who emerged from a building and pushed through the madness to be driven off. In Tel Aviv 15 year old Ruth Abta broke into tears when she saw them. We're all waiting for them. I didn't think you could miss someone you didn't know that much. Israel's defense forces released video of the handover from the Red Cross and then joyous reunions with their mothers. Emily Demary, who held up a hand that apparently showed she had lost two fingers, Doron Steinbrecher and Romy Gonen.

Gal, did you hear? Yes, hello. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who many hostage families blame for passing up multiple chances to get them home earlier, received the news that the women were airlifted to a Tel Aviv hospital. Seemingly in good health,

the three walked through a hospital door and into the arms of ecstatic relatives. Four more hostages are set to be released in a week and a total of 33 over the next six weeks, but freeing dozens more will depend on more shaky ceasefire talks. For Dina Birnenbaum, that made this a bittersweet moment. Happy and sad together, happy and sad. There are more hostages there. Nobody knows if they will come.

Yom Ha'achim, Yom Ha'achim, Yom Ha'achim. As Israelis cheered the release of hostages in East Jerusalem, Palestinians also celebrated outside of a prison as Israel released detainees from its jails. Of the 90 released today as part of the ceasefire, almost all were women and all were arrested after October the 7th. The ceasefire actually started about three hours late, with Israel blaming Hamas for not giving details of the women's transfer, and the IDF using the delay to launch one final barrage on Gaza City, killing 13, say, local health officials.

But once the truce began, hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by war started making their way back to their homes. Some said by just surviving, it felt like their side had prevailed. Some said by just surviving it felt like their side had prevailed Is there anything better than going home and feeling secure said Mohammed Abdu With the ceasefire holding hundreds of truckloads of aid began to pour in from Egypt and other crossings in Israel But new drone video also revealed the expansiveness of the Israeli attacks here. Around Rafa, everything for kilometres appears utterly destroyed, begging the question, how will the territory ever be rebuilt? Chris Brown, CBC News, Tel Aviv.

There are many people in this country with ties to both Israel and Gaza. Philipp Lee Shannach now on how some of them are feeling about today's events. Today we begin the hard work of helping Romy heal and rediscover herself. Maureen Lesham is the cousin of Romy Gonin. The 24-year-old was kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. In Toronto, Lesham spoke today of her cousin's long road to recovery and of the remaining hostages still in Gaza. We cannot forget that there are still 94 hostages trapped in Hamas captivity. What kind of world do we create if we fail to fight for the innocent? In Vancouver, Nasir Najjar says he's glad his

family who live in Gaza can now start rebuilding after a devastating 15-month war. You go through the survival guilt that why are you safe? Why are you here while your people are suffering back there? But he says this ceasefire took much too long to happen. The exact same proposals. They were signed, which was proposed in May 2023, so we wasted all of this time for nothing. Still, Sadiha Joha, who has 30 family members in Gaza,

says she feels nothing but happiness. Oh, I feel an incredible feeling. Uh feeling that the war is over in Gaza. I feel like my heart is going to stop. I'm so happy. My family are happy. All people are happy in Gaza. This is the second ceasefire in the war, and unlike the week-long pause in November 2023,

she hopes it will lead to an end to the fighting for good. I wish peace for everyone in the world, for Israel, for Palestine, for everyone. Philip LeShannok, CBC News, Toronto. Environment and climate change Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for parts of the country. Temperatures could plummet below minus 40 in some places including northern Alberta and most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The cold will move east reaching parts of northern Ontario and Quebec over the next couple of days. The agency urges people to stay inside if possible and if not to be aware that frostbite can develop on exposed skin in a matter of minutes.

Chilly weather hasn't stopped tens of thousands of Donald Trump's supporters from gathering in Washington DC. The cold snap means Monday's inauguration won't be as public as expected, it'll be indoors, but as Katie Simpson reports there's still a sense of celebration in the U.S. Capitol. Under a steady drizzle of rain, thousands of Donald Trump supporters huddled together in the streets of downtown Washington. A sea of red, make America great again ball caps stretching for blocks as people waited to go through security to get into the president-elect's pre-inauguration

victory rally. It's just been a day of like joy and happiness so it feels good to be here. I'm feeling very patriotic at this moment. It's been more than four years since Washington hosted a pro-Trump crowd of this size. The last big draw was Trump's January 6th speech which took place hours before his supporters stormed the Capitol. Trump's re-election marks a political comeback unlike any other in American history. Through two impeachments, four criminal indictments, one conviction and two

attempted assassinations, his win has drawn Americans from across the US. Tim traveled all the way from Jacksonville, Florida to be here. Finally feels like the boots coming off off of our necks basically. What makes you say boot off the neck? If you don't have the right beliefs, you kind of just get ignored, censored. You feel like you don't have a voice, especially in our government. With Trump winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote and Republicans taking the House and the Senate,

there is a real sense of excitement in this crowd. Carolyn, who's from Frisco, Texas, says she sees this as validation. For the American people to be able to stand up to the establishment and not have our government dictated to us this is we the people dictating to the government what we want and I think it's magical. Trump's official return to Washington included a wide range of pre-inauguration events starting with a somber wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Followed by that rally at the city's downtown arena. But starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country. We have to do it. We're not going to have a country like that. Some Trump supporters were a little disappointed. Inauguration events are being moved indoors because of frigid temperatures. Many who had hoped to watch outside are now scrambling to find a viewing party.

Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. Among the many sweeping promises Trump is making for his second term, ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine quickly. Breyer Stewart is in Kiev, where there's a mix of doubt and optimism that a deal with Russia is even doable and that Donald Trump is the one to pull it off. Outside of St. Michael's Monastery in central Kiev, troops carry the casket for one of the latest Ukrainian soldiers killed at the front, one of more than 40,000, in a war that keeps grinding on.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been injured, including Elena Bespalova's husband. I think that now it's possible to stop the war. Bespolova is from Mariupol, now living in a new housing complex in Kyiv, designed for those who escape the besieged city that remains under Russian occupation. She never wants to return and thinks it's time for Ukraine to negotiate and hopes Donald Trump can help.

He says he's going to end the war quickly. Do you think that's possible? I would like to honestly, she said. Of course there's territory and all that, but the life of a person, I think, is the most important thing. Weary of war, Ukrainians want to see an end, but there's no consensus on what concessions

they would be willing to make. Many are skeptical that Trump will be able to strike an agreement. There's also concern because the US is Ukraine's biggest military backer and Trump has criticized the tens of billions of dollars in aid. Now it's a risk for Ukraine of course. Mikola Kapitonenko is an associate professor in international relations at the National University in Kyiv. He says Trump could completely halt military aid, but doubts he will.

Letting Ukraine lose will significantly undermine American leadership in the world. I will have that settlement done within 24 hours. Trump has recently backed off that campaign boast. Still in Kyiv, some hope he can jumpstart badly needed peace talks. At the Trump Cafe, which was named after Trump during his first term in office, Count Manager Roman Kravstov among the optimistic. The cafe serves up coffees and cocktails, including an orange concoction called the Trump Sour. Kravstov thinks the self-proclaimed dealmaker can be a strong advocate for Ukraine.

I think that's good. Let's support him to make kind of magic about Ukrainian political situation. Trump has never said how he plans to end the war, but his team has hinted both sides will need to make concessions. Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia is expected to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks. Briar Stewart, CBC News, Kyiv. Shortly after he is sworn in on Monday, Donald Trump is expected to sign dozens of executive orders aimed at fulfilling key election promises on trade,

regulation and immigration. We will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of the United States. That mass deportation plan could start as early as this week. Our Richard Madden is in McAllen, Texas, which is near the border with Mexico, and sends us this report. is in McAllen, Texas, which is near the border with Mexico, and sends us this report. MUSIC Preparing for dramatic change in this busy southern border town of McAllen, Texas, where incoming President Donald Trump's vow of mass deportations and thickening of the border

will hit this community hard, and his aggressive plans are dividing the town. Yes, it is a crisis. At this popular diner, Alonzo Lopez is wearing a bright red cap in support of Trump's agenda. He compares locking borders to locking his front door. It's a crisis to me because too many immigrants are flooding the country. They're not coming. They're flooding. It is day and night they walk into the country without any kind of vetting, any kind of inspection.

His daughter-in-law, Celie Castenda, says Trump's plans will damage the economy, losing reliable workers on farms and in construction. I don't think it's been thought through. It's gonna hurt families. Blocks away, sister Norma Pinnentell is sheltering dozens of migrants inside a church, providing food, clean clothes and a place to sleep. She says most were apprehended over the weekend crossing into Texas, but the volumes she says are not as alarming as Trump describes. Since the election, voter patrol is bringing more people to us, you know, more so than they did before. Okay. And so, but not a lot, you know,

in comparison to other years, we're seeing at most 300 people a day, which is almost now in comparison to before, nada, you know, nothing. Jason Gonzalez, his father and his two young children are staying at the shelter. They say they fled their home in Venezuela and spent four months traveling by foot and bus up through South and Central America before getting apprehended Friday night. He says they're worried about Trump's deportation plans but are looking for a better life and have nothing back home. While Trump made big gains with Latino voters on his campaign promise to crack down on immigration

in the last election, US Homeland Security says illegal crossings and apprehensions were down more than 60% during the past six months. Still, Trump's officials say they're planning a show of force along the southern border on day one of his presidency, including several executive orders targeting immigrants. And residents here are bracing for impact. Richard Madden, CBC News, McAllen, Texas. One city where Trump's mass deportation plan could begin is Chicago. Nick Purdin visited Chicago to hear how undocumented immigrants are preparing for what may come.

One way to understand how the thousands of undocumented immigrants in Chicago are getting ready for the new Trump presidency is at this church. Cecilia Garcia is the pastor at Lincoln United Methodist. She's told her congregation not to show up to Sunday service. So it is disheartening when we come in and we don't see anybody here. United Methodist. She's told her congregation not to show up to Sunday service. So it is disheartening when we come in and we don't see anybody here. We want to keep our families safe. The church is almost empty. All service is online because much of the congregation here

is undocumented and Garcia doesn't want them targeted by immigration officers. Still one family did come to Mass. Francisco Lino sits in the front row with her family. For Lino, this church is almost home. She's undocumented. And during the first Trump presidency, she lived here for more than three years to avoid deportation. Now she's worried again. Lino tells me she's very afraid and she doesn't want to hide anymore, that she's tired and she's not a criminal.

The threat of deportation is everywhere at the church. Pastor Garcia is a U.S. citizen, but her husband, who had been in the U.S. for 16 years, was undocumented. One night driving home from work, was pulled over detained and deported. I don't like to use that term but my husband was literally abducted from us. I feel like he was kidnapped and taken away. This is why even during mass Pastor Garcia tells her congregation what to do if immigration officers come to their house. Tell the kids don't answer the door. Have a plan B. Okay, if mommy doesn't get home by this time, daddy doesn't get home by that time, you call

auntie, you call your uncle. What would you say is at stake for your community? Everything is at stake. We just got to show this country that we are valuable and are essential to this country. They need us. Pastor Garcia says this service will remain online until she can guarantee the safety of her congregation. Nick Perdon, CBC News, Chicago. Another executive order Trump will sign on Monday will be aimed at saving TikTok.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump says he will give TikTok's owners 90 days to find a buyer before the app is permanently banned in the U.S., adding he would, quote, like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. TikTok went offline for users in the U.S. at midnight Sunday, and Google and Apple removed it from their app stores. About 14 hours later, in response to Trump's post, TikTok started restoring service to U.S. users. According to my unscientific poll, asking people around the newsroom if they like cherry blossoms gets

a consistent answer. Yes, love them, so pretty. Then I have to clarify that I'm talking about cherry blossom, the candy, and then most of them look confused. Chocolate on the outside. Cherry blossoms have been a love'em or hate'em staple of Canadian confectionery since the 1890s. Chocolate, coconut, peanuts, a syrupy maraschino cherry in the middle. When you get to the centre it's a very special centre.

All encased in a retro yellow box. Well, the haters have won. Hershey Canada is cutting off cherry blossoms, discontinuing them as of early this year. Concordia University Food Marketing Professor Jordan Labelle tells CBC News the confectionary business has gotten too competitive. Consumers are demanding products that provide a wow experience, if you will. They're looking for these things that surprise them and take them somewhere else. Some might say no one needs more of a surprise than the

drippy cherry goo in the middle of one of these things, but point taken. So how do Canadians feel about cherry blossoms? CBC News reporter, Quibina Oduro, took a bite out of one for research. So it's been a while since I've tried this chocolate. I don't remember what it tastes like so I'm gonna do it right now. I don't like this. It's not good. But he still asked Montrealers for their opinions. It's not bad at all. It's not bad?

Yeah. I cannot erase the past so I like it. I'm old, of course I know about this. Disgusting. So the humble cherry blossom is out and you'll have to look elsewhere for your retro sweet treat. Molasses kiss anyone? This has been your World Tonight. I'm Stephanie Scanderis. Thanks for listening.