Your World Tonight - Shingles vaccine slows dementia, CUSMA hearings, Somali community reaction and more

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

A study on one variety of shingles vaccine already showed it cut diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment. Now researchers have dug deeper into the data – and found the shot could slow progression of dementia in those who already have it.And: People in Minnesota are bracing for more U.S. immigration agents to arrive in their state. Specifically targeting its large Somali population. It comes after Donald Trump told immigrants from the African country to go back to where they came from.Also: Legislators and industry groups are in Washington, D.C. for CUSMA hearings. The free trade agreement is up for review next year. And the results of these talks could change the nature of the trade relationship between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico for years to come.Plus: B.C. Conservative leader fights ouster, debate over Montreal port expansion, the benefits of singing for stroke patients, and more.

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Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. This is a CBC podcast. My grandmother and my mother having it, now I have it. I worry about my kids. And if this vaccine could prevent or slow down, wouldn't that be amazing? The disease it's meant to guard against causes a painful rash on your skin. But new research suggests this common vaccine can also protect. your brain. The shingles vaccine and dementia. More data pointing towards a potential

breakthrough and what that might mean for Canadians. Welcome to your world tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Wednesday, December 3rd, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. No, I said what I said, and I think I proved in my previous roles, you know, it's nice to talk, but actions count, and I think I've proved myself. Standing by his words in both official languages, After weighing in on the debate over the decline of French, Canada's new culture minister isn't backing down, as Mark Miller's comments ignite controversy in Quebec. And we're in some pretty incredible, unprecedented times,

and what I've been calling for is stability. Looking for stability and getting a political standoff. BC Conservatives say they've removed the party leader. But John Rustad says he's not going anywhere. With millions of people around the world suffering from dementia, there is a global research push to develop ways to slow or prevent it. Tonight, there's more hope in that effort, and it's coming from a treatment used for something totally different.

Jennifer Lagrasa explains. An arrow flies out of Phyllis Faire's hands. The 66-year-old got to. into archery after finding out she had early onset Alzheimer's over a decade ago. I'm just staying the way I am by staying active, staying involved. Fair is one of more than 700,000 Canadians estimated to be living with dementia. We're extremely excited about this research in my group. Dr. Pascal Geltzitzer is the lead author of a new study out of Wales.

This latest research builds on other findings from Geltzzer from earlier this year that showed a shingles vaccine can reduce the risk of getting dementia. Now, his research shows that the vaccine may slow progression of the disease and reduce the risk of dying from dementia. We're showing that there's not just benefits from shingles vaccination for dementia prevention, but that there also appear to be benefits among those who already have dementia. The research looked at more than 300,000 people over nine years. In 2013, whales rolled out a shingles vaccine.

People younger than 79 were eligible, but anyone older wasn't. This cutoff gave researchers a unique chance to compare nearly two identical groups, one that was vaccinated and one that wasn't. Preventing a disease is one thing. Dr. Donald Weaver is a neurologist in Toronto. But being able to actually therapeutically change its natural history, its course, is something completely different. is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. The vaccine used in this study is the live version.

It uses a weakened form of the virus. It's still unclear why this might offer protection, but there's some theories. The vaccine just globally decreases inflammation in the brain and anything that decreases inflammation in the brain is going to have a therapeutic benefit and therefore decrease the likelihood of dementia. The vaccine in this study isn't available. in Canada, but the one on the market here is newer and more effective at keeping shingles at bay. And initial research on it has shown it may also lower the risk of dementia. This study is so hopeful to me. All of this promising for people like Fair, who already got her shingles vaccine.

With my grandmother and my mother having it, now I have it, I worry about my kids. And if this vaccine could prevent or, you know, slow down, wouldn't that be? amazing? The next step for experts here, more research on the vaccine available in Canada to see if it could have the same far-reaching effects. Jennifer LaGrasse, CBC News, Toronto. Canada's new culture minister started his tenure by diving into a delegate debate in his home province. Now Mark Miller is defending his stance on the status of the French language after backlash from Quebec's premier. Kate McKenna has the details from Ottawa. No, I said what I said.

Official languages, Minister Mark Miller, isn't backing down. Yesterday, on his first full day in his new job as minister, he said he was fed up with how the debate about the French language is often about identity and politics. He refused to say the French language is in decline in Quebec, saying only it is under threat and that it's weakened in North America. This foray into a deeply sensitive topic yielded a quick reaction in Quebec. Premier Francois Legoe called Miller a disgrace for all Quebecers

and questioned how the new Canadian culture minister will be able to attend any Quebec events. There was also political reaction from the leader of the Peltie Quebecois, Paul St. Pierre Plamandandon, who said Miller has worked very hard against Quebec interests in other cabinet portfolios held, including immigration. It's nice to talk, but actions count, and I think I've proved myself. Today, Miller said Lagos' comments hurt, but he says he has supported moves to protect the French language made by the previous Trudeau government, which he was part of. I've been part of a government that recognized the client of the French language across

Canada and modified the law on official languages as a result, plus the $4 million investment and send $800 million to Quebec for franchisation of new arrival. Miller is an anglophone Montrealer, but he's fluent in both languages, having done most of his schooling in French. He raised his children to speak it as well. Colleagues, including government house leader Stephen McKinnon, stood by him. I don't have a lot to say about that, but I think Mr. Lago has some interesting opinion sometimes. But the controversy followed him into question period again today. With Conservative MP Pierre Paulus,

needling Miller over how it took one day in the job for his comments to get him in trouble. There's person in Canada who thinks Pierre Polyeve will protect the French. Miller hit back saying no one in Canada thinks conservative leader Pierre Pauliev will protect the French language. For now, the new minister says he's staying the course,

even if it means starting his tenure in the middle of a political firestorm. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa. An unprecedented leadership battle is shaping up in BC. The provincial Conservative Party says it has removed its leader, but John Rustad says he's not leaving. The CBC's Tanya Fletcher is following the turmoil in the province's official opposition. Tanya, what is the status of the party's leadership right now?

Well, Susan, it's still unclear. The BC Conservative Party says John Rustad has been removed as leader, but John Rustad himself says not a chance. Now, this all started this morning. The BC Conservatives, say, around 20 MLA signed a letter saying they had lost confidence in Rustad and that an interim leader had been selected. Now, the statement goes on to stay that the party had a majority of caucus inform legal counsel that they no longer supported Rustad, and that triggered a caucus vote selecting an interim leader. Now, the party's board says it has certified Rustad as, quote, professionally incapacitated under Section. 1102 of its constitution and formerly appointed Surrey White Rock MLA Trevor

Helford in his place. Now, he spoke briefly this afternoon. Here's what he said. You know, we're in some pretty incredible, unprecedented times. And what I've been calling for is stability. And I think it's paramount that we get stability inside of our caucus. I think it's paramount that we get stability with our party. I think it's paramount that British Colombians get stability. Not long after that, John Rustad himself responded quickly with a social media post saying, quote, I have not resigned, I have not been removed, and I'm not going anywhere. He goes on to say a political party's board can throw around whatever creative terminology they like, professional incapacitation, give me a break. Let me be clear, he says, that's not a

constitutional mechanism. Tanya, what's at the heart of this? What are the MLAs angry about? Essentially, it's ineffective leadership, both internally, you know, not being able to mend cracks within the party and keep multiple MLAs now from breaking off and going independent, but also externally not being able to capitalize on the groundswell of small-sea conservative momentum since the last provincial election. You know, Rustad was first chosen leader of the BC conservatives in 2023 after he crossed the floors from the BC Liberals, and the party did relatively well. It rose to official opposition. But lately, there have been disputes for months now, and pressure has been mounting for him to step down as leader. So what happens?

now. Well, that's the big question. A lot of unknowns about legally what's transpired here as well. A lot of questions about this latest caucus vote today were all BC Conservatives' MLAs in the room. A lot we still don't know. The section of the party constitution cited by the VC Conservatives reads, the leader can only be removed from office by resignation, death, incapacitation, or the leadership review vote resulting in less than 50% support. Now, they cite incapacitation. They added the word professional in front of that. So it's yet to be determined what is legally valid here and how much Rustad will choose to continue to fight this. Thank you, Tanya. You bet. The CBC's Tanya Fletcher in Vancouver. Coming right up. First, there was NAFTA, then Kuzma. Now officials are planning what's

next for North American free trade. And Somali immigrants in the United States prepare for a crackdown the day after Donald Trump called them garbage. Later, we'll have this story. I'm Alison Northcod in Montreal, where researchers are turning to music to help people communicate again after a stroke. Later on your world tonight, I'll tell you about a study looking to see

if singing and a choir can help people regain their voices. Three days of high-stakes trade talk have started in Washington. Government officials and industry stakeholders from across North America are in the U.S. Capitol for Kuzma hearings. The trade agreement is up for review next year. And there are concerns about its future, given that President Donald Trump isn't respecting the current agreement. The CBC's Katie Simpson was at today's meetings.

Katie, what did you hear? It was largely pro-Kuzma, or USMCA, as it's called down here. A lot of arguments in favor of keeping the agreement in place as it provides stability and predictability for industries and businesses. So, for example, part of this afternoon, the hearings focused on agriculture, and there were representatives for all kinds of American farmers and grain producers. Have a listen to Dennis Nuxel. He represents Western U.S. growers who farm produce. We believe that the U.S.MCA should be renewed.

that tariff-free access between all three of our countries for produce is vital for American growers, Canadian growers, Mexican growers, and then consumers across North America. But we also believe that this review is an opportunity to look at the trade between our three countries in produce and try to make some improvements. On the improvement angle, a theme emerged. Several witnesses spoke about challenges when it came to Mexico specifically. complaints about how the low cost of Mexican labor, how in certain states cheap Mexican produce can undercut American products.

One blueberry producer put it this way. He said the good partner is Canada, and when it comes to Mexico, we have a partner we need to work on. It's important to remember that these hearings are a really big deal. The testimony could help shape decisions made by the Trump administration when the formal review process begins next June. And, Katie, that formal review process, people are braced, expecting it to be difficult.

Yeah, Donald Trump frequently complains about trade with both Canada and Mexico, and he wants concessions from both countries. The review set for June initially was seen as a procedural kind of thing, but with Trump signaling he wants change, it is expected to be a very intensive negotiation process. In the Oval Office today, Trump was asked about what he expects. You know, that's just an ongoing thing. It expires at about a year.

and we'll either let it expire or we'll maybe work out another deal with Mexico and Canada but look Mexico and Canada have taken advantage of the United States like just about every other country it all fair to say it's not them I'm not blaming them

now Trump has previously floated the idea of leaving Kuzma or coming up with some new kind of agreement though he's not really gotten into any sort of specifics that clip might scare a lot of people that's not the first time he's said something like that He has frequently and casually said things like that in the past. But based on the testimony we heard today, that is something many American businesses and industry leaders.

They don't want to have to deal with that kind of uncertainty. Katie, thank you. Thanks. The CBC's Katie Simpson in Washington. In Minnesota, people are bracing for more U.S. immigration agents to arrive in the state, specifically targeting its large Somali population. That follows Donald Trump telling immigrants, from the African country to go back to where they came from.

Katie Nicholson reports. This language has consequences. Community leaders lined up this morning in the Twin Cities to condemn the U.S. president's language. It emboldens extremists and it puts real people in danger. What is happening in Minnesota. Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed a tirade against Somalis. Their country stinks.

And we don't want them in our country. And referenced a fraud scandal which he laid at their feet. Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars, and they contribute nothing. It is true that nearly 80 Minnesotans have been charged in connection to a fraud investigation of a multimillion-dollar COVID-era child hunger fund. And that dozens of those charged are Somali, though most of them were U.S. citizens and the alleged ringle. leader is white. State Senator Omar Fate says Trump is wrong that his community contributes nothing. We know that our Somali community, we have teachers, we have business owners, we have politicians, we have folks that have contributed immensely to our city, to our state, to our nation.

Not only ours were hurtful, but it's just flat out wrong. Trump also debased Somalia as a country, calling it garbage. You know, they have no, they have no anything. They just run around killing each other. On the streets of Mogadishu, Somalis condemned those remarks. Somali individuals in America hold significant dignity within their communities, says Abdisalana Ahmed, and his remarks were a grave mistake. These remarks come as multiple agencies are reporting renewed ICE operations targeting Somali communities in Minnesota.

And by the way, there are more than 80,000 Somali people living in Minnesota. Almost all of them are both documented and citizens. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry spoke out against the plans. Targeting Somali people means that due process will be violated. Mistakes will be made. And let's be clear, it means that American citizens will be detained for no other reason than the fact that they look like they are Somali. The new ice influx getting a frosty reception.

Minneapolis's police chief reminded the public, his force won't help in any federal immigration crackdown. While Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the action a PR stunt. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Washington. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Ottawa is not involved in the sale of Canadian-made armored vehicles to the U.S. Immigration Agency. Washington is ordering 20 armored vehicles from a company based in Brampton, Ontario,

as part of its crackdown on immigrants in the U.S. The contract with Rochelle is worth $10 million to be delivered within 30 days. Anand was asked if the federal government needs to approve the deal first. At this time, the government is not involved in the transaction. We have not received any questions or permit requests regarding this. transaction, and I will continue to reiterate that Canada and the United States have a strong bilateral relationship with an open line of communication in which, if necessary, I will raise the issues with Secretary Rubio.

Annan made the comments at the NATO Foreign Minister's meeting in Brussels. She also said Canada has pledged another $200 million for military gear for Ukraine and $35 million in non-lethal aid. It's part of an international effort to share the burden in equipping Ukraine after the U.S. said it would reduce its commitment. Canada has now promised more than $800 million. A nor'easter is bringing heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to much of the Atlantic region. The storm knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses impacted travel and many schools were closed for the day. The center of the storm skirted along the coast of Nova Scotia

and is now headed for Newfoundland's east coast. The federal government's major projects plan is more than just a pipeline. There's also port expansion in Controquere near Montreal. But a proposal to invest billions of dollars on the international shipping terminal is getting local pushback and has experts wondering if it is the right move. Eli Glasner explains. Afternoon at the Port of Montreal, as shipping containers are picked up and sorted like children's toy blocks.

The port handles 2,500 trucks per day, 80 trains a week and over 2,000 ships per year. Julie Gascon is a Montrealer who fell in love with the industry. Now she's the port's CEO. But her port has a problem. She says it's reaching capacity. If you increase by 6% the cargo that used to go to U.S. that now go. to another destination. This port's full. It's full. To create space in September, Ottawa announced plans to fast-track the expansion of a terminal

in Contra Kerr, a project which Ottawa says will create thousands of jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars. 50 kilometers down the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, cranes are busy removing trees in Contra Kerr. Residents of the Quebec community say they're worried about their quality of life. They moved here to be in a quiet and beautiful place. They did not move here to live in a port, in an industrial zone, for sure. Ellen Reeves is a spokesperson for the Citizens Group for Conterker with an impact assessment report predicting an increase in truck traffic to as much as 1,200 a day she fears for her community's future. It's dead. I mean, it will be dead. It's going to

become a huge industrial zone, and it's not going to be the beautiful little town on the St. Lawrence River. But the port of Montreal's CEO says Conte Kerr makes sense. You've got Iway 30. You've got the railway that's already there. You've got the power with, of course, hydro, we secured all the power for the terminal. And you have access to huge amount of markets. So that project should have taken place 20, 30 years ago. Maritime shipping expert Jean-Paul Rodriguez says this expansion is too little too late. Meanwhile, the position of Montreal became increasingly, you could say, marginalized in terms of the big trade because the ships were getting bigger. He points out the trend in container shipping is towards so-called mega-ships far too large to travel and dock on the St. Lawrence.

Rodriguez says the federal government should have put its money into expanding the deep water port in Quebec. city instead. There was investment committed by one of the largest terminal operator in the world, which was HBH and the largest Canadian rail line, CN. But that plan was scuttled by the federal government in 2021. While the port of Montreal says the Contrakechre expansion is a better site because of its access to markets and transportation systems, Rodriguez worries as Canada increasingly pivots to trade with Asia, Montreal could be shut out of the larger ship traffic it depends on. Eli Glastner, CBC News, Montreal.

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. Every year, tens of thousands of Canadians suffer strokes. For many survivors,

long-term effects include a loss of their ability to speak, but a ground-breaking study in Montreal is using song to help patients recover their voice. Alison Northcott explains. Singing together gives members of this small choir a chance to use their voices. The four singers sitting side by side behind music stands in a Montreal community center have all all suffered strokes and developed a condition called aphasia, which affects their ability to speak. They're here as part of a study to see if singing together can help their recovery. Edith Durant is a speech-language pathology professor at the University of Quebec at Tro-Rivier and one of the researchers. We are hoping that this study will demonstrate that a choir.

activity is really good for people, good for their language, but good for their social relation too. Durand says ephasia often comes with a drop in social participation because it's hard to communicate with friends and loved ones. The randomized controlled trial has sites in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Tampa Bay, Florida. It's part of the Toronto-based initiative Singwell, a network of researchers studying group singing. Serge Belancic has had trouble writing and finding his words

since his stroke in 2022. The 81-year-old scientist and former professor hopes this study leads to more treatment options. It will take time to go through the data collected and see if it helps improve participants' language skills and quality of life. Previous research suggests music may help leverage the part

of the brain not damaged by a stroke to improve communication. But stroke neurologist Alexander Teal says the available evidence is limited and more studies like this one are needed. There is definitely evidence that these kind of therapies can work.

Doing this in this broad, a choir-like context, in the social context, is something something new and we will have to see how these trials will end up. The choir's vocal director, Jennifer Young Me Lee, says participants get something out of it regardless. When they start singing, you could just see the soul free up. Belancic says it's been a positive experience for him and he hopes the study can help others with his condition in the future. Alison Northcott, CBC News, Montreal.

Tonight with a party animal ransacking a liquor store outside of Richmond, Virginia, then passing out on the bathroom floor. My officer came in and told me I pretty much apprehended a suspect. I was like, fantastic, what happened? Jeffrey Parker says the call came in last Saturday morning after an employee showed up for work to find the store had been broken into. Bottles smashed on the floor. The suspect sleeping right beside the toilet.

Parker was called because he's Hanover County's chief of animal. animal protection. The drunk as a skunk suspect was actually a raccoon that snuck into the store through the ceiling, found face down on the floor. Some call them trash pandas. This one was trashed, described by the responding officer as very intoxicated. You can't make this stuff up. It happens. And I actually gave my officer a high five. I was like, fantastic. I wish we had little handcuffs to put on him, you know. It's believed the raccoon sampled a little too much from some of the spirits spilled on the floor. Whiskey appeared to be the drink of choice. The animal was taken to a local shelter to

sleep it off. Parker says the raccoon was not injured. Maybe a headache. And after sobering up, it was released back into the wild. Thank you for joining us. This has been your world tonight for Wednesday, December 3rd. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you. you again.