Your World Tonight - Ingersoll idling, mayors on climate, trade standoff or standstill?

Episode Date: April 11, 2025

GM lays off hundreds of workers from a plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. The plant makes EV delivery vans. The company is pointing to the market, saying it is in a slump. But the union is pointing to U.S. policies, including tariffs, and a turn away from EVs.And: The White House says the U.S. can’t be dependent on China. The two countries have raised their tariffs to levels that will make trade between them very difficult. Some U.S. companies say that could force them out of business altogether. And it all could have a trickle-down effect on the cost of Chinese goods in Canada.Also: Municipal leaders from across the country say there is a major issue missing from the federal election campaign. Their plan — Elbows up for Climate Action — includes ideas they say will address climate change… AND the threats to Canada’s economic sovereignty.Plus: polls suggest the NDP may be flirting with the loss of its party status, countries reach a deal on global fuel standards, and more.

When they predict we'll fall, we rise to the challenge. When they say we're not a country, we stand on guard. This land taught us to be brave and caring, to protect our values, to leave no one behind. Canada is on the line, and it's time to vote as though our country depends on it, because like never before, it does. I'm Jonathan Pedneau, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada.

This election, each vote makes a difference. Authorized by the Registeredleader of the Green Party of Canada. This election, each vote makes a difference. Authorized by the registered agent of the Green Party of Canada. This is a CBC Podcast. Devastating and crushing for our members working at Cammie in Ingersoll. They've put their blood, their sweat, their tears, their heart and their soul into building these vans." GM announces it's temporarily closing an assembly plant in Ontario because the electric vans made there are not selling.

But the union suggests there could be more going on, including tariffs slapped on by the United States. Welcome to your world tonight. It's Friday, April 11th, just before 6pm Eastern. I'm Julianne Hazelwood. Speaking of those tariffs… More than 75 countries have now reached out to the Trump administration eager to address the trade issues that have exploited America and hurt our workers in the process.

The phones have been ringing off the hook. Phones likely made with parts imported from China, a country that instead of dialing tensions back or dialing the White House, is raising the stakes in its trade war with the US, matching Washington's tariffs with their own counter tariffs, which has led to a situation that might have a familiar ring.

Yet another day of concern and confusion about the global economy. With instability and uncertainty hitting the North American auto sector, General Motors is temporarily shutting down one of its Canadian assembly lines. It means hundreds of workers will be laid off at the company's EV van plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. Business reporter Anis Haidari has more. Approximately 450 people, which is really 450 families, will be affected.

Mike Van Bokkel is a union chairperson at the Cammie plant in Ingersoll, Ontario. General Motors is shutting down production there until the fall. They make electric delivery trucks. And the sales haven't been what they had hoped for or what we need. And if you start adding tariffs to it too, and we're already in a tough market, it just apparently it's making it so we're shutting down. While auto workers for Stellantis working in Windsor

have been laid off due to tariffs, GM says the Ingersoll cuts are about current demand. Last year it didn't sell many of the models produced there, less than 2,000. The assumption was that we would continue to see increasing demand across the North American market for electric vehicles. Brian Kingston is president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association in Ottawa. And for vehicles like the Bright Drop, which is a delivery vehicle which you see being purchased for fleet purposes, if there is not the market demand for a vehicle that they are building, they have to adjust production. Adjusting that production also means when the plant reopens in October, only up to 750 people will be returning to work out of 1,200.

A tough blow for Mike Van Buckel and the workers he represents. I mean it's devastating. It's one thing to get a layoff for a couple weeks or even a month. It's another thing when they tell you you're not coming back to work. It's not a good day. It's certainly not a good day for anybody. I can't imagine what they're going through. Less than 14,000 people live in Ingersoll. Mayor Brian Petrie says losing hundreds of jobs

will affect everyone there. Really, it's gonna affect our whole community. There's no doubt about that. It is our largest employer, it's our largest taxpayer, and it's gonna affect the supplier network as well as the local grocery stores and right down to local coffee shops. Back at the auto assembly plant,

Mike Van Bokle says he hopes General Motors will find something else to build there. It's not the first time this plant has seen layoffs. We've got a great workforce no one makes it better than Canadians so hopefully we can find some more product and get the plant back up on its feet and get running again with everybody going. While General Motors says it's committed to the future of the Ingersoll facility. For now, the union says the layoffs are indefinite. Annie Seidari, CBC News, Calgary. In Donald Trump's global trade fight, the latest blow comes from China.

After more than a week of punches and counter punches between the world's economic heavyweights, China hit back hard again today, spiking tariffs against the U.S. to 125 percent and calling Trump's tariffs economic bullying. Paul Hunter has more from Washington. Firing back on social media the Chinese government with a video depicting higher prices in the US for almost everything and posted on social media in China and the US another, and what's meant to be grotesquely obese American workers in sweatshop-type factories eating corn chips

and hamburgers while slowly making iPhones and lingerie. And China's foreign affairs minister posting an image of a MAGA hat priced at $77. All of it. A message to the U.S., perhaps. Be careful what you wish for. On state TV in Beijing today, Word China will now put tariffs on American goods up to 125 percent. That country's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest upping of tariffs on

goods into the U.S. from China, now 145 percent. The trade war between those two countries now raging. The president has made it very clear he's open to a deal with China. China calls it economic bullying, but at the White House today, press secretary Caroline Levitt saying Trump is, quote, optimistic a deal can be made. But on those fresh tariffs from China.

The president made it very clear when the United States is punched he will punch back harder and he hopes to make a deal that benefits the American worker and our companies that have been ripped off for far too long and he's finally taking bold and courageous action to do that. Trump himself posting on social media today. We're doing very well on our tariff policy, very exciting for America and the world. Levitt underlining again some 75 countries have now contacted Trump seeking a trade deal. Trust in Trump.

And though U.S. stocks ended the week on a high note, word today from the European Union, it's willing to work with Trump, but if the U.S move away from its new tariff policy, the EU will push back. Here's its commissioner for the economy, Valdis Dombrovskis. We will help to defend our economy, we'll help to defend our companies and also come with countervailing measures. All of it, leaving everyone else fearful, mystified and still staring at the unknown. Where is all of this going? At a Harley-Davidson motorcycle

dealership in France, said one customer looking to make a big purchase as he sees it with the US trade war now threatening almost everything, it's now or never to buy one. Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington. Trade between the US and China last year was worth $650 billion US. Now with the tariffs suddenly so high, that trade is at risk. Businesses are trying to nail down exactly what that means for themselves and their customers. As Phil Bly-Shanock reports, Canadians could also end up paying the price. You simply can't grow a Somme tea in the United States.

Anjali Bhargava is owner of Anjali's Cup, a New York City chai company. She says much of what she sells is imported, including packaging from China. 79% tariff potentially, which is what my supplier told me yesterday. I just don't have the margin to absorb that. Not only is the trade war impacting her business, she won't be able to pay people here for things such as shipping and delivery. I don't fundamentally understand how something can help America if it hurts small business. Can't sleep, obviously, because it's going to be a big impact for a customer. Tracy Tran is the co-owner of a popular Asian mall in the outskirts of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stores here sell goods imported from Korea, Vietnam and China. Suppliers already sent letters informing us that the prices will increase. Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst for bankrate.com, says the latest U.S. inflation figures show a dip in gasoline prices that will be a relief for commuters. Other areas of the household budget, staples, continue to go up at a faster than desired pace. That's the big concern going forward.

Consumers, businesses, even the Federal Reserve are all bracing for higher prices in the months ahead. While tariffs imposed on Chinese goods totaling 145% are only paid by American consumers, there is a risk for Canadians. Gil Lan teaches business and law at Toronto Metropolitan University. He says goods in transit through the US for sale in Canada should not be subject to tariffs but... Certain procedures that have to be followed and if they're not followed properly, it's quite possible that duties might end up getting charged.

So putting complete reliance on this process might be a little bit hazardous given the uncertainty that we're facing right now. And he says anything that Canadians buy from the US could also end up costing more. And that's even before the reciprocal tariffs that Canada is placing on certain US goods. Any US manufacturer that uses Chinese parts to make their goods now has to pay more for those Chinese parts. Lan says the upside is that Chinese goods may cost less as exporters there discount prices to find more markets for their goods. And Canadian exporters of such things as agricultural products may find new customers as Chinese tariffs make U.S. products too expensive. Philip LeShannok, CBC News, Toronto.

The global trade turmoil took Liberal leader Mark Carney off the federal campaign today. Instead, he was in Ottawa in his role as Prime Minister to meet with the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations and national security. Carney did not provide any details on the meeting but said it was a good discussion. In the last week, there have been a lot of developments in terms of U.S. tariff policy, reactions from others, including China. We reviewed our response to those tariffs, our core strategy of to fight, to protect, and to build. We left instructions for officials to ensure that the next government, Canadians choose,

will be in the best possible position for negotiations with the United States. Carney repeated that he and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed those negotiations will start in May after the federal election. Coming up, leaders from Canadian cities and towns are calling on federal leaders to take climate action. And on the campaign trail, the Liberals and Conservatives are gaining votes at the expense of the NDP block and Greens.

We'll hear what that means for those parties and their election tactics. And how the first global carbon tax is taking aim at cargo ship emissions. With the federal election campaign dominated by tariffs, talk of climate solutions is getting lost. Now dozens of municipal leaders across the country are hoping to change the conversation. In an open letter, they're calling on the major parties to take climate action. Sam Sampson reports. Nothing but chimneys standing.

Jasper, Alberta is still recovering from the wildfire that destroyed one-third of the town last summer. And while more than 37,000 hectares of forest burned, there are still untouched trees to the west, aka fire fuel. The threat is still high. Mayor Richard Ireland wants Canadians to know this will happen again. And so if we can use our experience to help other communities across Canada be prepared for the reality of severe weather and climate change on their communities, then at least we have used our disaster to help others. He's among more than 100 local leaders from across Canada who wrote a letter to the main federal parties calling for action on climate change. That includes funding a

resilience response and recovery plan for climate disasters, building a national electric grid, a high-speed railway, two million affordable green homes and home retrofits like heat pumps. What we're asking for is the right thing to do. Former Toronto Mayor David Miller says these goals are achievable if Canada redirects money from fossil fuel subsidies, financial support for the production and consumption of things like oil, gas and coal. So if you repurpose that money, which isn't needed, the oil companies make billions, to

clean solutions, we can build a clean economy that helps our communities be safe and creates tens if not hundreds of thousands of good union jobs. Last year the Liberal government pledged to phase out any fossil fuel subsidies that weren't lowering emissions or offering essential energy to remote communities. But still some say this is not a simple task. There is no free lunch here. Richard Masson is an executive fellow at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy. He says those federal dollars are needed to make Canada a viable place for developers, so our country remains a major exporter of the world's most profitable resources.

What the mayors are talking about may have value on its merits, but it's not like there's just a bunch of money being thrown at oil and gas companies. The structure is trying to keep them competitive in a world where you have to attract capital. The Greens and NDP told CBC News they are committed to projects detailed in this letter. The Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives did not respond to us before deadline, and the Liberals directed us to their climate change plan, which does not explicitly list what the mayors want. Sam Sampson, CBC News, Edmonton. Polls suggest this election has become a two-party race between the Liberals and

the Conservatives. That's squeezing out other parties which are struggling to break through. David Thurton checks in on the state of the NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green Party. Here's the hard truth. If the liberals win, just because they're less bad than the alternative, nothing ever changes for the better. NDP leader Juckmeet Singh speaking to a crowd at the annual Progress Summit in Ottawa,

a gathering hosted by an institute named after the party's former leader, Ed Broadbent. That's how we got here. 10 years of liberals. And what do we have to show for it? Rising rents, exploding grocery prices, emergency rooms stretched to the breaking point. Singh then underlined what's immediately at stake

when parliament returns. Very shortly after the election, there will be a federal budget. And you need new Democrats to be there, fighting to make sure it delivers for working and middle class people. It was a crowd receptive to Singh's message, but some, like voter Alex Patterson, are realistic about his chances.

I think this election is pretty grim for the NDP, and I simply think that that's based on the communication strategy. Polls suggest the party's at risk of losing most of its seats and official party status. Joe Gunn, also a conference attendee, says this narrow election race is squeezing progressive parties. Well, I think for the NDP, it makes it very hard. It makes it very hard for the Greens as well. It makes it hard for any smaller party.

Smaller parties have a hard time showing they have what it takes to govern, especially those dealing with their own dysfunction, like the Greens, according to former candidate David Murner. You know, we can do our best, but you know, we haven't nominated a full slate of candidates. And that is like shooting yourself in the foot. Ironically, none of the other parties have either but the Greens aren't even close. So that's a problem. The party needs to get basic organization, like nominating candidates in time, under control. Otherwise, I think it has little credibility with the voters.

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet seems unfazed by his party's low polling. He suggests the Bloc could benefit from three-way races with the Liberals and Conservatives. I don't have any concern because I believe that the race will have those parties set apart in Quebec and maybe give us the largest part of the Quebec electorate. Like the Greens, the Bloc can be seen as a single-issue party and both have two weeks to address the single issue that's dominating this campaign. Who voters trust to take on Donald Trump? David Thurton, CBC News, Ottawa. Elsewhere on the campaign trail, Conservative leader Pierre Poliev was talking about his proposed economic policies and they had a familiar ring. At an event in St. Catharines, Ontario,

Poliev said his plan is modeled on policies used by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the 2008 financial crisis. This plan includes tax relief. We will cut taxes on work, investment, home building and energy to unleash production and paychecks here in Canada. We'll cut income taxes by 15% for the average worker to save a working couple almost $2,000. With more money in their pockets, Canadians will be able to spend at local businesses, boosting employment in restaurants, corner stores and

hotels. Polyev says he would work with Canadian municipalities to bring down the cost of building homes. And if elected, his government would create a fund to protect workers in the steel, aluminum, and auto sectors from the impact of U.S. tariffs. You're listening to Your World Tonight from CBC News. I'm Juliane Hazelwood. You can hear Your World Tonight on the CBC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. A US immigration judge has ruled the Trump administration can move ahead with its deportation

case against Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Washington is stepping up its crackdown on immigrants, even tracking their social media. Sharon Yonan-Reynold reports. The fight is far from over for Mahmoud Khalil, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. A Louisiana immigration court has now ruled that the U.S. government's deportation case against him can proceed.

A decision as unjust as it is alarming. Sabrin Mohamed is a member of Khalil's support team. This is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and a dangerous precedent for anyone who believes in free speech and political expression. Khalil holds a green card and is married to a U.S. citizen. He was arrested under a seldom used provision of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. It allows the Secretary of State to start deportation proceedings against anyone whose statements or associations

compromise United States foreign policy. In a public memo, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Khalil spread anti-Semitism through his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, undermining the country's policy to combat anti-Semitism. The administration is just targeting him for his constitutionally protected speech. Aaron Tur is with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Philadelphia. He says the case is just one example of the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters. The government really isn't providing any justification here except the content and viewpoint of the opinions that people are expressing.

The Trump administration has said it wants to quell anti-Semitism on college campuses. Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it revoked the visas of hundreds of students connected to pro-Palestinian protests. And this week, the department announced it will screen social media for evidence of anti-Semitism as grounds for denying immigration requests. The screenings will affect people applying for permanent residency and foreigners affiliated with educational institutions. In a statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it's cracking down on extremists

and terrorist aliens, including those who support anti-Semitic terrorism ideologies and organizations. You know, who is the decider as to what is anti-Semitic? Immigration lawyer David Leopold is based in Cleveland, Ohio. The point is there's no parameter here. There's no metric by which to test this. To me, it's a way to broaden the denial of visas for people to come to the United States and to narrow the scope of people who are coming here. As for Mahmoud

Khalil's case, he must also face a federal judge in New Jersey where he is fighting the constitutionality of his detention. Sharon Yonan-Reynolds, CBC News, Montreal. Canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff has died. Kotcheff directed dozens of feature films and TV productions in Canada and abroad. All this land is going to be mine. Over there there's going to be a hotel, a children's camp, everything. Right over there. Right over there I'm going to build a farm for my grandfather.

A man without land is nobody. Right over there. Right over there I'm going to build a farm for my grandfather. A man without land is nobody. His work includes an adaptation of Mordecai Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, the Australian cult classic Wake in Fright, and the Hollywood comedy Weekend at Bernie's. The Directors Guild of Canada honored Kotcheff with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. The director's family says he died yesterday at the age of 94. The ships that carry goods across oceans also carry a huge environmental impact. But countries at the UN shipping agency have reached a deal to change that, or at least limit it. Ships that go over a new emissions limit will face steep fees,

and vessels burning cleaner fuel will be rewarded. Anayat Singh reports. It's been a very intense week, as you may have heard. We are all running on very little sleep. Natasha Stamatiou is an analyst with the Environmental Defense Fund. She spent the last week in London, where countries have been hashing out a deal to lower the planet-warming emissions of cargo ships. At the end, some disappointment, but also hope. We would have originally supported a carbon pricing mechanism that would have covered

100% of emissions, so a universal price on emissions. That's not happened. It's going to be lower than that, but we can't ignore the fact that there are certainly some positive aspects of the measure." The deal puts a new fuel standard on ships, requiring them to cut down on carbon emissions from that fuel over time. Miyako Ushio, director of environmental affairs at the Shipping Federation of Canada, says the new rules will push companies to invest money into developing new alternative fuels. The actual uptake of new fuels is not so easy. There are not new alternative fuels readily available. So the first part of this is going to be the investment piece and looking for what is that

new fuel." That's where the new carbon price will come in. Starting in 2028, in some cases, ships could face a fee of up to $380 USD for every extra ton of carbon they emit over a limit. Amanda Jang researches decarbonization in shipping at the University of British Columbia. So there are a lot of these fuels that are currently in pilot testing for instance. But to really get that scaled up and particularly the production of low carbon versions of these fuel scales up, we need these sorts of signals. The deal was ultimately a compromise since many

trade dependent countries like Brazil, China and the US opposed the levy. But it's a win for low-income climate-vulnerable nations that have pushed for it, along with supporters like Canada. And some of the billions raised in fees could go to developing countries to fight climate change. This is very much a priority for, for instance, specific states who are very much facing severe climate impacts. Details on how the carbon price will be collected and spent still need to be agreed on. That meeting is scheduled for October.

Inayat Singh, CBC News, Toronto. And finally. That was where Grace, that was Grace's temple, that was her church, that was her everything, you know, hockey was her life. It sounds like it might be, it would be pretty beautiful if we were able to rename the arena, Grace Bowen Arena. That's actor Ryan Reynolds making a virtual appearance at a committee meeting this week in Coburg, Ontario, in favour of a motion to rename the local rink.

Grace Bowen was a young girl he met backstage at an event more than 10 years ago. She was very ill from cancer, but she could see Reynolds was nervous. So she gave him a hug and cheered him up. As far as I was concerned, I wasn't doing anything with this platform that I had, and Grace just changed that. Just from the moment I met her that night, I said, I'm never, as long as I live, if I have a free moment for any kid

who's carrying a bag of rocks around like that, I will make time for them. Grace Bowen died not long after at nine years old, but Reynolds stayed in touch with her family and has since helped raise millions for Ontario's Sick Kids Hospital. Grace's father, Greg Bowen, also spoke in support of the motion. As parents of someone that has lost a child, I think I can speak for everyone in our shoes. The biggest fear is you'll never hear someone else say their name again. Truly.

You see, I mean, we all see Ryan's ugly sweater campaign at Christmas and that all comes from his love for Grace and meeting Grace. The committee voted unanimously in favour of renaming the arena. It will go to a full council vote at the end of the month. Thanks for being with us. This has been Your World Tonight for Friday, April 11th. I'm Julianne Hazelwood. Take care.

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