Your World Tonight - Stablecoins, copper boom, dementia treatment and more

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

Staff Picks from recent stories:With a new year starting, many of us are trying to change our habits. An Alberta company is interested in shaking up Canadian currency by creating a digital coin, backed by the loonie.And: Canada is trying to cash in on a shift to renewables and EV technology. One of the metals essential to those industries is copper. It's needed to build batteries, military equipment, and big tech. Two copper mines are on the prime minister's list of major infrastructure projects.Also: Hundreds of Canadians are diagnosed with dementia every day. It is expected to become an even more pressing health problem as Canada’s population ages. Now researchers are studying a treatment built around sunshine, fresh air and farm animals.Plus: Infusion centres, technology to remember Vimy Ridge, a year of environmental policy changes, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. We deserve a better system. Fewer middlemen, fewer fees. That's how crypto works. Where I come from, anything in crypto, the main business case is funding crime and avoiding taxes. New year, new financial system. The pitch for a digital only currency. and the risks that come with it.

Welcome to your world tonight. I'm Susan Bonner, also on the program. At the core of the agreement, of course, is a priority to have a pipeline to Asia. Prime Minister Mark Carney's environmental approach includes a pipeline, mining, and killing the carbon tax. Critics say he's turned his back on protecting the climate. Supporters say he's facing the economic realities.

And... You know, doors, the movement, and the cognitive... stimulation and the exercise and the social features. It's certainly going to improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's disease. Goats, chickens, and people grappling with memory loss. Canadian researchers are studying how farming can help dementia patients. With a new year starting, many of us might try to change our habits. An Alberta company is interested in shaking up Canadian currency. It's a digital coin backed by the Looney.

Jenna Ben Chitrit explains how it works. It was a brutal weekend for crypto. Bitcoin sank below $93,000 on Sunday. It's lowest level since April, extending a slide that has wiped out nearly all of this year's gains. Bitcoin prices are famously volatile, shattering records one month and crashing the next. But another kind of crypto promises to be more stable.

Stablecoins. They're sort of like digital dollars. The idea is that this crypto can be converted into a real dollar at any time, in any place, without extra fees. As cybersecurity lawyer Brent Arnold puts it, it's kind of like way back in the old days when every U.S. dollar was backed up by gold in a reserve. And just as it was then, they want to know that something is actually backing this asset. Those who argue in favor of stable coins say they're cheaper and faster than traditional money transfers, and their value doesn't fluctuate as much as other cryptocurrencies because they're backed by a national currency or a precious metal, making it easier for Canadians to send money to family members abroad or for companies to do business internationally.

We deserve a better system. Fewer middlemen, fewer fees. That's how crypto works. To be clear, though, there are risks and doubts that stable coins are as safe as enthusiasts say they are. Stable coins are exchanged through a network of computers that record and verify transactions on what's called a blockchain. Faster and cheaper, sure. But banks are completely cut out from the process.

And so were the guardrails they put up to make sure a transaction is legitimate. That has some critics, including Arnold, worried. Where I come from, anything in crypto, the main business case is funding crime and avoiding taxes. I'm still yet to see a really good, compelling explanation for why this is necessary or anything other than a solution in search of a problem. Still, the global race to make stable coins mainstream is heating up. The U.S. government passed a new set of rules to regulate them earlier this year. Japan, the U.K., and the EU have done the same, and China may soon follow suit.

The government wants to use some other government's infrastructure. Christian Catalini is the founder of the MIT Crypto Economics Lab. says a lot of the hoopla around stable coins is about digital sovereignty. In a world already dominated by the U.S. dollar, countries are creating their own versions of emerging tech, like stable coins. Right now, most stable coins are dollar denominated because, of course, the dollar is the global reserve currency. And so there's demand for dollars all over the globe. But over time, I think other countries will try to really distribute their currencies and bring them into commerce, into trade, through new technology. Canada was behind on this for a while,

but it's trying to catch up. The federal government recently moved to regulate stable coins, making it easier for businesses to issue them. Still, until it's crystal clear that stable coins have real value and can be exchanged for real dollars, cybersecurity lawyer Brent Arnold says he's skeptical. Prove to me you actually have the assets to back this and that they are liquid assets and that they're stable assets.

Because if those conditions aren't in place and no one's making sure they're in place, you could still end up in a situation where everyone realizes the token's worth nothing, there's a run on the bank, and you have a collapse. The first regulated Canadian dollar-backed stable coin may not be that far away. An Alberta company announced a few months ago that it will create one. It's even got funding from National Bank, Wealth Simple, and Shopify to do it. It hopes to launch the currency sometime in the coming months.

Jenna Benchichit, CBC News, Toronto. Up until today, there was not enough money in the world. to fund the transition. And right here, right now, is where we draw the line. Mark Carney at the UN Climate Conference in 2021, rallying the financial world to save the physical one from the devastating effects of climate change. That was then. This is now. At the core of the agreement, of course, is a priority to have a pipeline to Asia. Carney's handshake agreement to support an oil pipeline. To some critics, It's an about face on climate change, but it's a move the CBC Science and Climate reporter, Anand Rahm, has seen all year.

Anand, tell us about that shift. Well, what you just heard from the Prime Minister is part of one interconnected story about climate that's been playing out, as you said, all year. It's a story of clawback on climate action. And it starts with an unmistakable voice that's back in the room. Climate change, it's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world. my opinion. Donald Trump, U.S. President once again, and noted opponent of wind turbines. Those big windmills are so pathetic and so bad. And I bring that up because he started his second term with a sharp focus on revitalizing the U.S. energy industry, specifically fossil fuels.

We will drill baby drill. But also reversing many policies and protections that the previous administration had to fight climate change and bring down emissions, things like the inflation reduction Act, which had many boosts for green initiatives. And people definitely hear that as anti-climate. That's right. And words matter. The term, climate change, just that term alone. There were reports of federal agencies sending memos to employees to not use it and other terms in their communications. And there are sections about climate change even erased from government websites. I was at the G7 Energy and Environment Conference in Toronto at the end

of October. And there I heard, the U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, on stage, perhaps fittingly on Halloween, refer to climate change as a boogeyman to scare children. So we have seen this U.S. administration erase climate change as a global and immediate crisis in their language. Which brings us, of course, to Canada. What impact is Donald Trump and those kinds of views having here in this country? I mean, the major impact is really that tariff and trade uncertainty in Canada. And we've seen that cause a lot of flips. Mark Carney won the election, decidedly, on that nervousness felt by people. And it's meant that he, who was once seen as we heard as a climate champion,

has made some serious rollbacks to the climate policies of his own party. My government will immediately remove the consumer carbon tax. We will remove the 2026 electric vehicle availability standard. So those are just two moves, but in the recent budget, the government indicated that there are ways to get to emissions reductions without the proposed emissions cap on the oil and gas sector. All of this has been reframed as climate competitiveness, but seen by some critics as a walk away from strong climate policies.

And that memorandum of understanding with the Alberta government to build an oil pipeline to take Alberta crude to the West Coast and send off to Asia. Absolutely. That's a huge one. And it should be noted that, you know, despite having big pro-climate policies, the Trudeau government bought a pipeline and it's moving oil right. now. But this Alberta agreement looks to ultimately expand fossil fuel production and puts its climate-saving hope in unproven carbon-capture technology. Okay, I hesitate to ask this. We don't have a lot of time, but bright spots this year looking ahead. So, I mean, as we just mentioned,

the U.S. is out, but that means other people step in, right? The void of leadership is being filled in some sense. And, you know, there are two examples of that. One is China. They've driven a renewables boom with making solar power way more affordable, and they're advancing battery and EV technology, which is going to help decarbonize other nations who buy from them. But also, one disagreement at this latest climate conference was over the wording to phase out fossil fuels. 80 countries wanted that, but no dice in the final agreement. Canada being one of them. Absolutely. It did not want to do it, just like Saudi Arabia and Russia. They didn't want

that language in there. So these others are going it alone. And hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, they're coming together in April to hammer out a roadmap to phase out these planet destabilizing gases. And, you know, we can't leave without saying that the one thing we can depend on for 2026 is more destabilization of the climate as these climate strengthened disasters will affect millions of people around the planet. So true, but not a bright spot. So let me end on one. You will guide us through whatever happens in 2026. I'll try. Thank you. The CBC Science and climate reporter Anandram in Toronto. Canada is trying to cash in on that shift to renewables and EV technology. One of the metals essential to those industries, copper. It's needed to build

batteries, military equipment, and big tech. And two copper mines are on the Prime Minister's list of major infrastructure projects. Alexander Silberman has more on Mark Carney's push to put Canadian copper in the spotlight. In Flin-Flawn, Manitoba, a mining city, a much-needed economic boom is on the horizon. Some copper and zinc is already coming out of the ground in this region. But mining activity, with hundreds of jobs in the pipeline, is expected to get a lot busier. It's an incredibly positive thing. Corey Eastman is president of the Flynn-Flawn Chamber of Commerce.

He's welcoming news that the federal government will fast-track a massive local copper mine. The McLevena Bay Project, five kilometers away in Saskatchewan, is one of the nation-building projects. Ottawa plans to prioritize. These 400 direct jobs then lead to, obviously, a more population. The expansion of the Red Criss Copper and Gold Mine in northwestern BC is also on the list, signaling a push to turn Canada's $9 billion copper industry into a larger global player. It's encouraging.

Over the last decade, we've seen approximately, 25% decline in copper production in Canada. Votini Kutavlis is with the Canadian Mining Association. She says there's big global demand for the metal in a range of rapidly growing industries, including artificial intelligence data centers, electric cars, and military spending. New technologies will demand much more power and copper is essential for electrification. The world's biggest mining deal of the past decade recently turned attention to the metal. Vancouver-based tech resources, and Britain's Anglo-American agreed to merge,

creating a copper-focused giant worth about $70 billion. Danita Silva is a senior portfolio manager at Middlefield Limited. It just highlights the dearth of kind of shovel-ready projects. But the effort to fast-track some mining projects could face some roadblocks. In BC, the Red Chris Mine expansion has faced opposition from a nearby First Nation. and there are also concerns over environmental risks. In Northeast Saskatchewan, the McElwina Bay Mine Project is making indigenous engagement a priority.

Foren Mining, the company behind the project, signed in agreement with the nearby Peter Ballantyne Crenation on economic development. Jonathan French is vice president of capital markets and external affairs. Our big focus there was building these relationships. Copper demand is projected to keep growing rapidly over the next few years. But the mining industry warns

that the slow timeline to permit and build mines means a looming supply crunch. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, Regina. Coming right up, FAQs about IV therapy, as experts warn the trendy procedure

drips with potential health risks. And using farms to treat cognitive decline, how the extent, Experience is harvesting results for dementia patients. Later, we'll have this story. I'm Colin Butler in London, Ontario, with the story of a hidden archive beneath Vimy Ridge, revealing the last thoughts of Canadian soldiers who carve messages into the chalk walls before going into battle.

It's like walking into a church alone, and you see these carvings on the wall that these soldiers had done in some cases right before they died. The tunnels might be fragile, but 21st century. Technology is bringing the stories back to life. I'll have that story later on your world tonight. As people muse about health goals for the new year, they may come across alternative treatments. Intravenous therapy is an emerging trend, promising all kinds of benefits. Private providers say infusions can boost energy, beat a hangover, even balance your hormones.

As Lauren Pelley reports, some health experts warn the treatments come with significant risks and not enough regulation. My client booked in for a glutathion and vitamin C IV drip. Social media is filled with ads for intravenous therapy, cocktails of vitamins and supplements that cost hundreds of dollars and get injected right into someone's veins. The growth that you're seeing probably is in part because there is so little regulatory oversight. Dr. Joseph Ross is with the Yale School of Medicine. He's part of a research team that recently studied the booming business of IV therapy south of the border. They found less than a third of clinics required consultation with a licensed medical professional before treatment

or described the potential health risks. Those include possible cross-contamination, adverse reactions, or even serious infections. If consumers are going to go off and use these, particularly often without their doctors even knowing that they're using these, we have to make sure that the safeguards are in place that nobody gets hurt. CBC News found private IV clinics on this side of the border often fall into a regulatory gray zone as well. Health Canada authorizes intravenous health products, while a patchwork of provincial watchdogs monitor workers,

such as naturopaths, physicians, or registered nurses. Which arm would you like to be folk? At a wellness center in Mississauga, naturopathiola Deshko says her team members adhere to strict safety standards for their IV offerings, including a sterile environment, patient exams, and vital checks. We are regulated by the college and we go through inspections with the college prior to providing this treatment to patients. But Deshko worries that's not the case everywhere. She says a recent customer told her she passed out during a session at a different facility

after being given a partially frozen IV bag. And this really concerns us as a providers of this treatment because it can be very dangerous for the patient. Unfortunately, I think these IV clinics, they're falling through the cracks. Timothy Caulfield is one of Canada's top experts on health and wellness trends. The University of Alberta professor says the biggest issue is there's often no evidence backing up claims about IV therapy's long list of possible health benefits. In fact, I think that these products should be viewed as a major.

major red flag. Doctors told us if you're sick, seek medical advice. And if you're healthy, there's typically no need for any type of IV therapy. Lauren Pelley, CBC News, Toronto. To another alternative care model for a condition hundreds of Canadians are diagnosed with every day. Dementia is expected to become an even more pressing health problem as Canada's population ages. Now, researchers are studying a treatment built around sunshine, fresh air, and farm animals. Yasmin Renea explains. Would you like some chicken food? It's feeding time at the village Langley.

Here we've got some chickens. Aren't they? I love them. Just outside of Vancouver, this is a long-term care facility specifically for people living with dementia. It has a farm with chickens, goats, and a garden to give the 75 full-time residents a chance to be active outdoors. These kinds of farms have been operating in Europe since the late 90s, with the Netherlands leading the way. Research shows this model can help improve the mobility, cognitive function,

and well-being of dementia patients. It's hard to watch them go through that sort of stuff. Gail Dial's 94-year-old mom was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and attends a day program at the farm. Dial says as her mom's full-time caregiver, the village Langley gives her some reprieve. I know that she's in a safe environment and she's happy and she's active and it's comfortable. The Alzheimer's Society of Canada estimates more than 700,000 Canadians live with dementia. By 2030, it says that number could reach roughly 1 million. It's not a cure. It's not going to prevent them getting worse. Dr. Howard Chirko, a cognitive neurologist at Toronto's Baycrest Health Sciences Center, says while care farms can't reverse dementia, they can help improve patients

of life. People who are socially isolated, they go downhill more rapidly, the disease progresses more rapidly, and they become more depressed, lonely, agitated. Professors from B.C. Simon Fraser University and Ontario's McMaster University are now researching the Langley Farm. SFU lead Habib Chowdhury says they're looking to find ways to replicate some elements across the country. The vast majority of care homes don't have the luxury of a nice outdoor space that can have gardens, that can have animals and so on. But we want to bring in the evidence that interaction with nature is important. It costs as much as $13,000 a month to live full-time at the Langley facility. Right now, this is all done privately. There's no government money

going to support people living here. Its co-founder Elroy Jesperson says he hopes the university The research could eventually lead to government funding and affordable care for more people. Yasim Ranea, CBC News, Langley, British Columbia. Finally tonight, a story we first brought you before Remembrance Day. During the First World War in the battle for Vimy Ridge in France, Canadian soldiers proved themselves a distinct fighting force, a defining moment in this country's military history. Now new technology is revealing how Canadians who fought there

left their mark on the battlefield. Colin Butler explains. The last post echoes, a tribute to the soldiers who left their marks on these chalk walls. It's like walking into a church alone. Dan Mansfield from Canadime Group knows these caves well. Members of the London, Ontario non-profit have been visiting them for 15 years. They're back again to preserve this sacred space for all time. You see these carvings on the wall that these soldiers had done in some cases right before they died.

Using new technology, they can now scan these walls like never before, capturing this haunting gallery of names and art and color and texture, bringing to life what Canadian soldiers created on the eve of battle in tunnels below Vimy Ridge that stretch kilometers, some still unexplored. There were subway tunnels through here, and they were all connected. Teresa Yacabelli is a First World War historian with the Canadian War Museum. So the supplies as well as the men are moving through these, this fast, fast tunnel system. It took weeks of work, mostly underground, to prepare for the battle.

the soldiers ate and slept there, and in their free time, carved and wrote on the walls. Just so you pick up everything, this is a fairly deep one, right? Hand-held 3D scanners capture the carvings in vivid detail, revealing over 30 names once lost a time. It's extremely rewarding. Zen and Andrew Sision is Canadime Group's art director. He says, once scanned, the carvings are digitally linked to the soldier who made them, even recreated on a 3D printer offering a glimpse into their thoughts. often of love and home.

It links the past with the presence and it sort of gets that message across that we need to remember the people that actually serve. But their work is a race against time. The tunnels are unstable and some have already collapsed. A Canadian was killed in 1998 while documenting the art and the art here, like the caves themselves, is brittle. The chalk that is down there, it's very, very fragile.

Paul Culleton is Canadaim's videographer. He says, Unlike the impressive monument above, the caves below Vimy aren't on protected land. It is a national treasure. It is an unrecognized national treasure. A century later, the tunnels still have stories to tell, but they won't last without help. Teams are working to preserve them, fighting to keep this history from being lost to time. Colin Butler, CBC News, London, Ontario. This has been a special edition of Your World Tonight for Friday, January 2nd.

I'm Susan Bonner. Good night.