Your World Tonight - MP crosses floor, veterans benefits' outrage, measles & March Break, and more

Episode Date: February 18, 2026

Matt Jeneroux is now a Liberal. The ex-Conservative MP switched sides in a surprise move that puts the Carney government closer to a majority. Jeneroux said last year he was quitting politics to spend more time with family. He’s now a special adviser on economic and security partnerships. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called Jeneroux’s flip a betrayal to his Edmonton Riverbend voters.Also: Canadian military veterans are furious over a proposed federal bill that would retroactively change the way their benefits are calculated. The government’s measure would effectively kill lawsuits alleging it has been underpaying and overcharging vets for decades, saving the federal government millions of dollars. Ottawa argues it can retroactively change laws at any time.And: How measles may put a damper on your upcoming March Break plans.Plus: Addressing Canada’s labour gaps, Norway’s Olympic golden boy, Bobsledders ‘drag’ their hockey counterparts, and more.

For years, I've sounded like a broken record. I do not want kids. I do not ever want to have kids. I don't want to have a kid. Don't want to have a kid. Don't want to have a kid. I'm in my 40s now. The door is almost closed. And suddenly, I'm not so sure. The story has always been, no. I'm just wondering to what degree it's just a story.

From CBC's personally, this is Creation Myth. Available now on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. For me, it felt just in genuine and quite simply wrong to be sitting on the sidelines anymore. So I reached out to the Prime Minister's office and we'll be joining his caucus. Alberta MP Matt Jenneroo was elected as a conservative. He announced back in the fall that he'd be stepping down. Instead, he's stepping across the floor.

A move his former boss calls a dirty backroo. room deal, a deal that helps the liberals move closer to turning their minority into a majority. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Wednesday, February 18th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. These are folks who've given. And we're not people who come and say, as veterans, who come forward and say, you know, give me something and then I'll give you something. Veterans ask Ottawa to reconsider new legislation that could save the government millions, but cost veterans' benefits they say they were promised. Embracing another MP and flirting with a majority.

Mark Carney has added another member to his liberal caucus, a long-time Alberta conservative, who just months ago was waving goodbye to politics. Today he was shaking hands with the Prime Minister. Tom Perry has more on the liberal gain and reaction from the conservative leader. Well, let me say, first off, welcome, Matt. Welcome to the government team. It's a great honor.

Prime Minister Mark Carney welcoming the latest convert to the liberal fold, confirming Matt Jenneru, an opposition conservative MP for Edmonton is switching sides to join the government. Matt brings a wealth of experience, despite his young demeanor, he brings a wealth of experience. Genaroo is the third conservative so far to cross the floor, but his name came up last November.

After Nova Scotia MP, Christontra, became the first to jump ship. The rumor was Jenneru might follow. Instead, he announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his family. That is, until he changed his mind. Quite honestly, it was the speech in Davos, where you took everything head on. and I think for me that's where a lot of the world change. I think it opened a lot of eyes. Carney has named Jenneru his special advisor on economic and security partnerships. Though conservative leader Pierre Paliyev puts a different label on his former caucus colleague.

A deputy who, unfortunately, has trai his coment. This is an MP who sadly has betrayed his constituents, Pali have said in an interview with the Quebec Network TVA. The conservative leader posted an English message online. Mark Carney, he said, is trying to seize a costly liberal majority government that Canadians voted against in the last election through dirty backroom deals. I'm surprised. I'm really surprised that he crossed the line. In Genoos, Edmonton Riverbend riding, Carol Salisni, who has backed Genaroo since he won the seat for the conservatives in 2015,

says she feels let down. Well, I was really disappointed. I mean, I've worked for him the last three or four elections, and he was very much a conservative. Other voters like Doug Knight take a more charitable view. They appreciate the turmoil that he must have gone through with all of this, but I think on behalf of Canada, I think it was a good decision to make. Jeneru's move takes the Liberals to 169 seats, three short of a majority, with three by-elections to fill three vacant. ridings in Ontario and Quebec set to be called in the near future. Add to that the possibility of other opposition MPs, perhaps eyeing the government benches and the political balance on Parliament Hill could end up shifting.

Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. For more on all of that shifting and balancing, let's bring in Catherine Cullen. She's the host of CBC Radio's The House. Catherine, how does this land for Conservatives and Pierre Palliaf? Well, listen, any time a party loses an MP, it is not great. The fact that this is the third MP Pierre Polyev has lost in just a few months makes this especially painful. It also sends a message to people who have voted conservative that even longtime conservative politicians like Janiru and Nova Scotia's Chris Dantramal feel at home in this liberal party. That comment from Jenru about feeling like in light of the Davos speech he couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore, that's got a sting.

Well, what about inside the conservative caucus and the idea of party unity? Here it's touchy too, Susan, because it was just yesterday that Pollyev was publicly clashing with one of his MPs, Ontario's Jamil Giovanni. Giovanni recently went to the White House, met with his longtime friend, Vice President J.D. Vance. He met with a bunch of other officials from the Trump administration as well. And then Giovanni told a U.S. news outlet that, quote, we are shooting ourselves in the foot if we continue this anti-American hissy fit. The problem is that

there are a lot of people in Canada who feel that Trump is attacking this country and that it's wrong to put the blame on Canadian. So Pollyev wound up saying he doesn't agree with Giovanni and that Giovanni only speaks for himself, whereas Pollyev is the one who speaks for the party. His own MP put him on the defensive. Yes, and this is the issue that arguably lost

Pauliyev the last election. You add to that another defection to the liberals and it puts Pollyev once again on shaky footing. He might have thought he regained when he decisively won that leadership vote from party delegates just a few weeks ago. What about Mark Carney? Where does this move leave him?

Well, it does not leave him with a majority government. So certainly politically helpful, perhaps, in terms of the message to voters, but it does not materially change whether the liberals can get their agenda through Parliament. That said, there are a lot of whispers about the possibility of more floor, crossers. Worth noting that voters don't necessarily like the idea of floor crossing, some of them don't

certainly. So you can see, Polyev is really trying to lean into this message that it's immoral. But of course, Pollyave also thought that these folks were good enough to run for his party less than a year ago. And then there's all that early election speculation, Catherine. Does what happened today change the calculus on that? It's hard to say, Susan, Carney's inner circle is small. We don't know a lot about their tactical thinking. And while Carney's poll numbers are good, the constant threats from Trump probably help him politically. It has been less than a year since Canadians voted. And if an election call did seem opportunistic rather than something that was really needed to run the country, that might not sit well with voters. Thank you, Catherine. Thank you. That is Catherine Cullen,

host of CBC Radio's The House in our Parliamentary Bureau. Coming right up, Ottawa's budget bill included retroactive changes to the rules for veterans' benefits. Changes veterans say would continue decades of mistreatment. Also, the federal government announces plans to make it easier for skilled workers to move to Canada. And one of the most decorated Olympians of all time adds to his trophy case in Italy. Later, we'll have this story. Measles has made a big comeback, and it's now hitting travel hotspots like Mexico in the southern US. When you go to check your passport, check your vaccination status.

I'm health reporter Lauren Peli, and I'll have more on what Canadians need to know before flying out for March break. coming up on Your World Tonight. Canadian veterans say the government has been miscalculating their benefits, overcharging and undercompensating them. They want that money back and plan to take their claims to the courts. The government wants to change how these benefits are calculated, calling it a clarification. Veterans call it manipulation.

Kate McKenna explains. I see their faces regularly, weekly. For Nova Scotian, James Farrah, volunteering his time to help veterans in long-term care means a lot. He's a retired lieutenant colonel and did a tour of Afghanistan. He understands the sacrifices made by Canada's veterans. These are folks who've given. And we're not people who come and say, as veterans,

who come forward and say, you know, give me something and then I'll give you something. We'll do anything for this country, for its sovereignty. He's urging the federal government to reverse course on new legislation that could legitimize past overcharging of veterans and quash ongoing lawsuits. Lawyers allege federal administrative errors led to veterans overpaying for long-term care for decades while also underfunding veterans' pensions. The government has chosen, chosen, to look at long-term care and say, no, we're not going to honor what the law says will honor.

We're going to retroactively change it. And these are the folks who are going to hurt. The Carney government's budget bill is over 600 pages long. In it, there are proposed changes that would retroactively amend the laws governing the value of some veterans' benefits. The change would essentially erase the error allegedly made by the government and likely kill three lawsuits seeking to make veterans whole. It could save the government tens of millions of dollars. I'm sure I've never seen this before. Retired Colonel Michel Drapot is one of the lawyers representing veterans in the lawsuits.

He says these proposed changes are a betrayal of Canada's commitments to veterans. If there's anything that is sacred, it's the obligation, repeated government of all colors have made since the First World War, that our obligation of veterans to look after them, certainly not to reverse our obligation to them and our duty to pay money owe to them because it basically satisfied a budgetary obligation of the day. The Ombud representing veterans is also speaking up, sending a letter to the Veterans Affairs Minister to say these changes are inappropriate, unfair, and undermine confidence in government decision-making while denying justice to those who served Canada.

There is still time for the Budget Act to be amended. Conservatives have said they're open to proposing changes. In the meantime, the government says it's allowed to retroactively change laws and it will clarify the existing methods used to calculate benefits. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa. Ottawa says it has found a way to address Canada's skilled labor shortage without a spike in immigration. The plan includes new categories

in Canada's express entry program, but as Alexander Silberman tells us experts question whether Canada can actually have it both ways. An ambitious international talent attraction strategy. Immigration Minister Lena Metlige Diaab, promising to fast-track permanent residency for foreign workers in some of Canada's most in-demand fields. When newcomers help fill labor gap,

build more homes, strengthen access to health care, all Canadians benefit. The federal government is adding new categories to its express entry immigration program. The expansion targets researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, and skilled military recruits with job offers. All part of an effort to support a new defense industrial strategy announced Tuesday, strengthening supply chains and bolstering the Canadian armed forces. It's long overdue. Ted Wilson is owner of the executive wing,

a Toronto-based recruitment firm that specializes in the aerospace industry. He says the sector is facing an acute labor shortage, and while a new express entry category will help, getting skilled workers to Canada with all the red tape can be slow. It takes years in some cases, you know. So, I mean, we're dealing right now with a pipeline of people that applied in 2020. for. And now they're finally here. The new categories come as Canada pushes ahead with major reductions to immigration levels. New student arrivals in December fell below 10,000, down from 90,000 a year

prior, and two-thirds fewer temporary foreign workers entered the country. The government seems a bit confused about its own immigration policy. Daniel Bernhardt is CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a charity which works to bring skilled talent to Canada. He says, creating new pathways without increasing the overall number of spots will only hurt in-demand sectors. They are effectively splitting a smaller pie into many more pieces. But Diaab says the new categories were designed with the current scaled-back immigration plan in mind. One area with some extra spots, healthcare, 5,000 doctors will be fast-tracked over and above current immigration levels. And we are very much able to fulfill those targets within the levels, plans that we have.

The plans aim to cut non-permanent residents, students and temporary foreign workers to below 5% of the population by next year. A move the government promises will ease pressure on housing and social services while balancing the needs of the economy. Alexander Silverman, CBC News, Montreal. The White House says President Trump is well. his options on Iran. Negotiations wrapped up this week without a nuclear pact. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says Tehran is expected to update its negotiation position. Within weeks, she's urging the regime to reach a deal soon. Well, there's many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran.

The president has always been very clear, though, with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option. and Iran would be very wise to make a deal. Trump has threatened to attack Iran over its nuclear ambitions and the regime's recent crackdown on anti-government protesters. The U.S. military is bolstering its forces in the Middle East. The build-up includes dozens of warships and fighter jets. It may not feel like it in much of this country,

but spring break is just weeks away. Many Canadians use the time off to head to warmer locales. Health officials are warning that along with the sun and the sand, there's now increased risk for measles. The U.S. is experiencing its biggest outbreak in decades, and cases are also on the rise in Mexico. Health reporter Lauren Pelley brings us this story. I know the vaccines is a very controversial thing,

and you know I've asked you a lot of questions. At a clinic in South Carolina, medical staff are trying to get more kids vaccinated against measles. The state has hundreds of new cases so far. far this year. Part of the biggest outbreak the United States has seen in decades. There's no limit, really. I mean, I think it's going to find the pockets that have a high population of unvaccinated individuals, and it's going to spread really quickly and really rapidly in those places. Dr. Nathan Heffington says travel adds extra fuel. People are getting on planes or getting on cruise ships or doing

things. Like, it's really important to make sure you're up to day on your MMR, make sure your kids are, because it could spread everywhere. vacation hotspots for Canadians. There have been more than a thousand new measles cases across the US in 26, including a growing outbreak at a university campus in southwest Florida and massive numbers of new infections in Mexico. The country has reported more than 2,700 cases since the start of the year. It's affecting countries that you don't normally think of as being a risk for measles, and that's really important right now because people are thinking about going on holiday. Canada's Acting Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Natasha Crowcroft

offered this advice to those heading abroad. When you go to check your passport, check your vaccination status and check the status of everyone in the family. At Toronto's Pearson Airport, some travellers say that's already their plan. Well, we're all vaccinated, and I wouldn't travel with my child without vaccinations. You know, we maintain all of our vaccinations and for our daughter as well, and so I don't believe that measles would have been a very big concern for us. I think we're going to be fine, and I hope a lot of people

have that conscious and they got the vaccine. If you're not vaccinated against measles, the risks are real. It's among the world's most contagious infections and can lead to serious complications or even death. Alongside a telltale rash, measles can cause pneumonia, blindness, severe ear infections, and brain swelling. Where it becomes problematic is for when people are traveling with really young babies. We don't vaccinate babies before 12 months in Canada unless there's an outbreak ongoing. And unfortunately, those are the ones that are the most at risk. McMaster University immunologist Don Baudish says parents can request an early dose for their

infants before making travel plans. And it's definitely worth the peace of mind of not having a baby who might be harmed by a serious, serious infection like measles. A dangerous disease that no one wants to bring home from a holiday. Lauren Pelley, CBC News, Toronto. 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. The Winter Olympics are the playground of the Norwegians. The Scandinavian nation regularly finishes atop the medal podium in number of gold and overall medals. Much of that success comes in cross-country skiing. But even by Norwegian standards, this has been a special career, 10 Olympic gold medals for a record-breaking skier who is not done yet.

Julia Wong has more. And right now I am tingling because we are watching history. And with that, Johannes Husflot Klabo glides across the finish line, the 29-year-old Norwegian cross-country skier, making it look effortless as he clinches yet another gold medal at the Winter Olympics. To his fans, King Klabo to the field, the Norwegian nightmare. Labo now has 10 gold medals, five from these games and five from the last two Olympics. It's pretty unreal, to be honest. I feel like everything has worked out very well now.

I feel like my shape is good. I'm still motivated to do well on the races. I sleep a little bit better now than I did the first week here. The young man's talent honed back in Norway under the care of his grandfather, Kora Hussflot. I have trained Clabo my whole life, he says. Adding as a teenager, Clabo wanted to become the world's best cross-country skier, so then I had to do something about it. It's five goals in five of eights.

The Norwegian has become just that, winning World Cups and Nordic World Championships, in catching the eye of Ulf Klepper, the head coach of the Edmonton Nordic ski club. You can compare Johannes to economic, David. He is probably one of the best, if not, the best cross-country skier, not just in Norway, but anywhere. Kleppa calls Klabo a generational skier, pointing to how the Norwegian

created a new technique called the Klabo run. While everyone else glides up hills, he sprints in skis. That and other techniques create what Klepa calls Klabo's secret sauce. Attention to detail, and you watch him ski, like he's so relaxed on his skis, he's so balanced on his skis. he reads the room, if he will, very well. He's a great tactician. And, you know, that's innate.

That just comes. Technically, his technique is flawless. It's what caught the attention of Becky Scott. The two-time Canadian Olympic cross-country ski medalist says Claibault has impressive endurance. That's why you see him, you know, excel in longer races and be able to out-sprint anybody to the finish line. He's got that incredible combination.

He's also technically refined. He's incredibly efficient, every move he makes. Scott estimates Clabo is nearing the final third of his storied career. And what comes next, she says, is up to him. I think it's going to be a matter of how much he can sustain probably emotionally and mentally and how long he feels he can put this level of dedication into the sport. That dedication on display at the Olympics for a little longer. Clabo will try for a sixth gold medal later this week.

Julia Wong, CBC News, Edmonton. Finally tonight, if you watch a lot of hockey, you know what the player interviews are like, cliches, hat responses like this. We talked to coach after the first period there. We were really thinking about just getting the puck in deep, dump and chase, you know, the classics. Yeah, absolutely. You know, we're just trying to stick to the process. I'm here to bang bodies, get pucks deep, get in front of the net, you know, maybe get in the goalie's eyes, see what we can do.

You know, you've got a role to play, and I'm here to play my role. Classic hockey interview for sure, except those are. Canadian bobsledders, Jay Deerborn and Mike Evelyn O'Higgins. They are known as Jokers, posting videos of lifting weights together, holding the same bar, or tying each other's shoes, running on the same treadmill. And they committed to the bit in Italy after being eliminated following their third run yesterday. Yeah, it's a tough one. That's why you play the game.

A couple losses on the road this weekend, so we're looking forward to taking game four back home. have our home town crowd and try to turn it around there. It's a long series. Yeah, you know, you're only guaranteed three periods. You know, we weren't able to get the job done. Got to stay out of the box, but is what it is. Time with the showers. Do they have hockey on their minds after two nailed biting wins by Canadian men and women?

Nope. The point, they say, is to remember what's important about being on a team together. We're going to be pals. Long after, Bob's led, long after the Olympics. And for me, I'm trying to appreciate this moment with my buddy. You know, we're just trying to, you know, enjoy what this is. And the result might not be exactly what we wanted to be, but it doesn't mean we can't have the best time of our lives.

Dearborn and Evelyn O'Higgins aren't done. There are still the four-man events, which they'll be taking one day at a time and giving 110%. Thank you for joining us on your world tonight for Wednesday, February 18th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. For more CBC podcast, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.