Your World Tonight - Tumbler Ridge families sue, the price tag of Iran war, generic Ozempic, and more

Episode Date: April 29, 2026

Families of victims of the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. take OpenAI to court. They say the tech company behind ChatGPT should have alerted police of troubling posts by the shooter. And that ChatGPT is a defective product, since it didn’t challenge those posts, or direct her to get help.And: Americans get a sense of the financial cost of the war in Iran. The Pentagon says it has spent roughly $25 billion — so far. The Secretary of War tells a Congressional hearing the war is justified, and so is the price tag.Also: Canada approves a generic version of the drug Ozempic. About three million Canadians take GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, for diabetes, and for weight loss. A new option in the market should mean more supply, and lower prices.Plus: Stabbing of two men in London investigated as terrorism, Major League Soccer may move the Whitecaps out of Vancouver, Ottawa promises to streamline disability tax credit, and more.

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It's something which doesn't just allow people to post-violent material. It actually encourages it. A mass shooting that was AI predicted and AI facilitated. That's the accusation of family members of the victims in Tumblr Ridge. Now some are suing the American company behind ChatGPT for failing to report the shooter's violent online posts. This is Your World Tonight. It's Wednesday, April 29th, coming up on 6 p.m. Eastern.

I'm Stephanie Scanderas. Also on the podcast? I think in the end it's actually good for Canadians to have access to a drug that if it's appropriate for them, we'll do, on average, more good than harm. Millions of Canadians are already using drugs like OZempic for diabetes and weight loss. Now that Health Canada has approved the first generic version, will a lower price lure more people to give it a shot. One of Canada's worst mass shootings

could be the catalyst for greater accountability in AI. Seven families of Tumblr Ridge victims are suing open AI in a California court. They say the company pursued profits over safety when it decided not to report the shooter's disturbing chat GPT content. Tanya Fletcher tells us about the precedent this case could set. It's a complete breakdown.

of all safety protocols. Jay Edelson is the U.S. lawyer representing the seven families. He says their case alleges two points. First, that chat GPT is too dangerous to be on the market. They've programmed their platform to keep conversations going, even when you're talking about self-harm or third-party harm. He says their second argument claims OpenAI routinely invites deactivated users to return. So someone whose account was banned for even the worst things possible can get back on their platform, within an hour. The lawsuits claim the shooter's chat GPT account had been banned for disturbing content, which allegedly included planning violent scenarios, and that despite nearly a dozen OpenAI employees urging the company to notify police, no further action was taken.

Lawyers say litigating the cases in Canada would be challenging, with payouts for pain and suffering here capped at under $500,000. And so the cases are being launched in California to pursue what lawyers are calling landmark damage awards. The BC lawsuit previously filed by the family of Maya Gabala, who's still recovering, has been discontinued as the American suit proceeds. It's hard to imagine that that jury wouldn't come back and award Maya over a billion dollars. BC Premier David Eby says it's well known that California has significantly higher court awards than any other Canadian jurisdiction. Still, he vows answers around accountability will come from this side of the border. Whether it was Open AI's role, or whether it was mental health services

role, or how the guns were handled. We will ensure that they get the answers to those questions here in British Columbia. Some predict this case will set a precedent with more like it expected. Well, it's not as if this isn't a risk that Open AI couldn't have predicted. Aaron Wenner is a legal AI tech expert based in Toronto. He says the central question in this case will lay the groundwork for future litigation. We are all the need to wrestle with where liability and responsive lies, partly within our own practices around using these tools, but also in the way that the companies that deliver these tools to us and the safeguards that they put into place. It comes just days after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote an apology letter to the community.

But in a statement shared by lawyers, Maya's mother says she's not accepting that apology, calling it empty and soulless. Now they're asking Altman to visit Tumblr Ridge himself. Meet with the families, see the harm that his company has done. And if you want to take some real accountability, that's the first step. In a statement responding to the lawsuits, OpenAI says it's already strengthened safeguards, including better assessment and escalation of potential threats of violence. Tanya Fletcher, CBC News, Vancouver. There are still a lot of questions about the fine print in the Carney government's fiscal update.

Details are limited for a lot of what was announced yesterday, including the federal. disability tax credit. The Liberals promised to streamline the process for people who qualify, but experts say the tweaks don't go far enough. Ashley Burke explains why. It shouldn't be so hard to apply for it. Casey Grimard says he's struggling to get reapproved for Canada's disability tax credit. I'm on a disability. I shouldn't have to go through all this stress and I shouldn't have to jump through their fiery hoops just to get the disability tax credit and the extra $200 a month. Grimard says he has a host of long-term conditions, and like many, has to reapply for this credit.

Omar Al-Kila is with non-profit group disability without poverty. So it's a very complex process, right? And it's very dehumanizing at the end of the day. He says people applying have to find a doctor willing to certify their forms and often pay them to do it. The fee can vary anywhere from $100 to $150. Sometimes it's even more. And you're asking people who are living in the deepest of... poverty to pay out of pocket.

Then he says it can take months to get approval, which opens the door to apply for a monthly benefit of about $200. So now you're essentially forcing people to do two application processes, and if they don't get the first one, they can't get the second one. The government's spring economic update is promising to streamline the process to make it easier for people diagnosed with at least one of more than 40 long-term conditions, including Alzheimer's, dementia, and Down syndrome. Jobs Minister Patty Hydu.

Well, I think it's going to help a whole bunch of people, new people, that maybe have found the disability tax credit too difficult to get. It adds certain disabilities. Secretary of State for the CRA, Wayne Long, says the changes should also help cut back on the hours. Doctors are spending filling out forms. They gave us a number, believe it or not, that it was almost a million patient visits per year that could be saved time-wise by expanding the... application process. The proposed changes include expanding the list of medical practitioners

who can certify eligibility to include podiatrists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. Yesterday in the House of Commons, conservative leader Pierre Poliav congratulated the finance minister for this move. Our people should be spending their times living their lives rather than filling out forms. We want to make life simpler for people but NDPMP Leah Gazan says the liberals aren't going far enough. $200 a month certainly doesn't cut it. She's calling on the government to boost that monthly benefit. Ashley Burke, CBC News, Ottawa.

The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate unchanged at 2.5%. Governor Tiff Macklam says the war in Iran is creating uncertainty in the economy. Macklems says the bank won't let that become persistent inflation. Uncertainty is unusually elevated, and there are many possible outcomes. Monetary policy may need to be nimble. If the United States imposes significant new trade restrictions on Canada, we may need to cut the policy rate further to support economic growth. Alternatively, if oil prices continue to increase,

and particularly if they remain elevated, the risk that higher energy prices become ongoing inflation increases. Macklems says to counter that the bank could increase interest rates. Coming up tense exchanges on Capitol Hill as the U.S. Defense Secretary is accused of lying about the conflict with Iran. Pete Hegseth defends the military action and the $25 billion it has cost so far. And Ottawa is giving Vancouver and Toronto more money for security. during the FIFA World Cup. In the meantime, some cultural groups

complain they've been displaced by the world's biggest sporting event. Later, we'll have this story. The Vancouver Whitecaps in Las Vegas? The team is one of the best in Major League soccer, but problems off the pitch could see it move south

of the border. Imagine your team, Montreal Canadians, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Oilers, their owners suddenly plucking up their team and going to the United States. I'm Yasmil Ganea in Vancouver. Later on your role tonight, why a move to the U.S. is on the table

and what's at stake for Canadian soccer. Fighting between the U.S. and Iran may be on hold for now, but the internal battle over the war is not. The U.S. Defense Secretary faced a grilling on Capitol Hill today over the cost of the war, its objectives, and the exit strategy. Katie Simpson has more from Washington. All right. Committee will come to order. Lawmakers getting their first chance to question the defense

secretary and top U.S. military leaders about the war in Iran since the conflict began. Pete Hegseth appearing defiant and combative as the Trump administration's objectives, achievements, and statements were examined. The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats in some ways. Republicans. Hegset lashed out at anyone publicly critical of the mission and those who asked pointed questions, including Democratic Congressman John Garimandy. The president has got himself in America stuck in the quagmire of another war in the Middle East. And you call it a quagmire

handing propaganda to our enemies. Shame on you for that statement. Who are you cheering for here? Who are you pulling for? Two months into the war, the Pentagon revealed it has spent $25 billion US so far, with most of that paying for munitions. Hegset declined to put limits on how much more the U.S. is willing to spend. And the question I would ask this committee is, what is it worth to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon? Considering the radical ambitions of that regime. Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has stopped, but Iran continues to block traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. is blocking ships going in or out of Iranian ports. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is in phone contact with Iran,

but there are no plans for any in-person peace talks. When you have to fly 18 hours every time you want to have a meeting, and you know what the meeting is all about, and you know they're going to give you a piece of paper that you don't like before you even leave. It's ridiculous. Iran and the war in Ukraine came up today during a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Trump unsure which of those conflicts will be resolved.

next. It's very interesting. Which war would end first? I don't know. Maybe they're on a similar timetable. Trump continues to threaten Iran on social media. The latest, a 4 a.m. post of an AI-generated photo showing Trump holding an automatic rifle saying Iran better get its act together. No more Mr. Nice Guy. At the congressional hearing, these kinds of posts led to intense questioning by Democratic lawmaker Sarah Jacobs. Do you believe that the president is mentally stable enough to be the commander-in-chief. Did you ask the same question of Joe Biden for four years? And I won't even engage with the level of disparagement that you're putting on the commander-in-chief.

Heg Seth's tone is on par with other Trump cabinet secretaries, intensely loyal, deeply partisan, the kind of display the president wants to see. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. In London, police are investigating what they call an act of terrorism after two Jewish men were stabbed in broad daylight. Breyer Stewart breaks down what we know about the attacks and concerns about rising anti-Semitism. Police tape seals off a few blocks of a busy road in northwest London as officers investigated double stabbing which officials have called terrorism.

Video taken at the start of the attacks shows a man wielding a knife, chasing an Orthodox Jewish man down a street near a synagogue. Ben Grossnass was among the first responders. He is a community patrol. volunteer with the group, Shomri. Started stabbing someone outside there, then went on down Golds Green Road, and he continued stabbing an elderly gentleman, visibly Jewish, and he went after him, pushed him over and started stabbing him repeatedly.

Police say when they arrived, they thought the attacker might have been carrying an explosive device. They tasered him and pinned him to the ground. Both of the victims were taken to hospital and are in stable condition. We have two more members of the community who are victims of this horrific attack. Debbie Barks is with the UK's Jewish Leadership Council. We are angry. We are terrified. As the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley tried to address the media, he was interrupted by some in the crowd shouting shame.

This is an awful attack today. It is completely understandable why Jewish Londoners feel afraid. That's why we're putting so much extra police. over the last month, police in London have arrested more than two dozen people as part of investigations into attacks on Jewish-linked buildings and groups. Last month, four ambulances used by a Jewish charity were torched. It's been reported that an Islamist group suspected of having Iranian links said it was responsible for that attack and for Wednesday stabbing,

but those claims haven't been verified. Police say the suspect arrested today had a history of violence and mental health issues. We need to get to the root causes of extremism and anti-Semitism. UK Prime Minister Kirstarmer said the government will provide more funding to boost security. But on Wednesday night, as dozens of people gathered near the still closed-off crime scene, prosecute these people. They called for swifter, harsher punishment. Esther Levy wants to see more police.

and have them better armed, as most officers in London don't routinely carry guns. I don't like it. And I have a feeling that is only the start. I hope I'm wrong. Do you feel safe on the streets here? No. And she says she and others felt that way, even before Wednesday's attack. Breyer-Stewart, CBC News, London. Patients who use Ozmpic could soon get it cheaper. Canada has approved a generic semi-glutide injection. It's meant to treat. type 2 diabetes, but it's commonly used for weight loss. Toshana Reid tells us what experts are saying.

I think it's good for Canada, and it's good for Canadian patients. Canada is now the first G7 country to approve a generic semaglite drug for type 2 diabetes. The new weekly injection is a generic version of blockbuster drug, OZempe, and developed by Indian drug maker Dr. Reddy Laboratories. Health Canada says the approval came after a thorough review of evidence and that it met its criteria for safety, efficacy, and quality. Dr. Herzl Gerstein is an endocrinologist and professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He says the introduction of generics is significant. It will be less expensive and they will have people who could not afford the drug

or they did not have insurance that would pay for the drug may be more open to trying the drug if it is something appropriate for them. Health Canada is currently reviewing eight other citizens. admissions for generics and decisions are expected in coming months. We need more companies to get approved to get the real cost savings. Mina Tadros is an associate professor who teaches drug safety and policy at the University of Toronto. He says as more generic drugs get approved, we'll see the costs go down even more. Yeah, monthly they can go down from spending $250 to $300 a month down to probably a little around $100,

depending on how it works. While pricing has yet to be determined, Health Canada says, Overall, generic medications are 45 to 90% cheaper than their name brand counterparts. This new generic is only approved for people with type 2 diabetes. However, this class of drugs can be prescribed off label for weight loss. So yes, they are effective. Yes, they are powerful, but you need that village of support. Sandra Alia is an advocate and educator with obesity matters, an organization that supports people living with obesity. With the generics coming on to the market, it's an exciting time.

because that pharmacotherapy was out of reach for so many people who desperately needed the medicine. A recent survey put the total number of adult Canadians taking GLP1 drugs at 3 million people. And more health benefits are being discovered and researched. But Dr. Herzl Gerstein says we need to be cautious. They're powerful drugs. They do good things. They can be taken in a wrong way and that can cause problems and side effects. And like any drug, before somebody,

takes it. They need advice from a health care professional. The new generic somaglotide could be available in coming months. And by then, there may be even more options on the market. Tashana Reid, CBC News, Toronto. You're listening to Your World Tonight from CBC News. And if you want to make sure you 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. Some people in Vancouver and Toronto are flashing FIFA a yellow card. They say major summer festivals are being pushed aside because of the planet's biggest soccer tournament. She and Desjardin has more on the World Cup rules that have community groups calling foul.

Unfortunately, we explored a wide range of solutions. The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival has been around for four decades in Vancouver. Typically held in June, it's one of the. biggest races of its kind. But spokesperson Dominic Lai says this year is different. We weren't able to move it to a new date or location and so the decision was collaboratively made between all the different parties to have it cancelled for this year. The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11th across North America. Both Vancouver and Toronto are host cities. Lai says he's running a different race later this year and he isn't the only one being forced to switch gears. It's frustrating. Mena Horvath is with the

Vancouver International Jazz Festival. She says she's been working for years trying to sort out details. The festival is still happening, but not on its usual dates. We don't line up as well with some of the other jazz festivals in Canada. We're also missing out on several of the touring acts that we would normally be able to book. FIFA's contracts with host cities bar them from holding certain events without FIFA sign-off. In a statement of the city of Vancouver says it's committed to enabling events to thrive throughout the tournament period, where possible. The goal is to ensure local annual events can proceed safely. That's another concern.

One Minister of Public Safety, Gary and Onda Sangeri, announced another $145 million to help. This funding will support provinces and municipalities in their efforts to ensure people remain safe, while enjoying the tournament and ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to deliver a safe and well-managed event. Toronto is no stranger to massive events like this. Mayor Olivia Chow says some festivals have had to make accommodations. Yes, it takes a bit more work, but the benefit is really the world is going to be in Toronto. All eyes is in Toronto and they will see what fantastic city we have and how diverse and how harmonious and how safe Toronto is all about. Pride Toronto is one that got the go-ahead.

That's a little comfort to the organizer. of a smaller pride event called Yo Homo. It really does feel like we're left to the side to offend for ourselves. Phil Villenev says he was forced to cancel everything after not being able to secure a venue. The trickle down is what is really disappointing and leaves us feeling for sure that we're an afterthought. A learning opportunity for future events he hopes, but one that comes too late this time. Shian de Chalding, CBC News, Toronto. Iranian media is reporting Iran's Soccer Federation officials will not participate in this

week's FIFA Congress in Canada. The report cites the behavior of immigration officials at Toronto's airport. Immigration refugees and citizenship Canada refused to comment on individual cases, but in a statement, said members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps are not welcome in Canada. The IRGC is listed as a terrorist organization in this country. In Vancouver, the white caps have been a proud and popular part of the city's sports fabric since 1974. That could end soon.

Major League Soccer says it may relocate the team out of the city and out of Canada. As Yasmin Renea tells us, momentum is growing to try to stop that move. Save the South Caps, Save the Caps. That's the sound of hundreds of Vancouver White Caps fans rallying downtown fighting to keep the beloved team in their city. This team means way too much to Vancouver to let them go. It's important that they stay here. The white caps could possibly be moving.

The team is reporting low revenue and has been up for sale for over 16 months. Its lease at BC Play Stadium expires at the end of the year, and now reporting from the Athletics says Major League Soccer owners are discussing potentially relocating the team to the U.S., with Las Vegas being the top option. This just cannot happen. Carrie Serwetnik, a former player with Canada's women's soccer team, says losing the white caps would be devastating.

Imagine your team, Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Oilers, their owners suddenly plucking up their team and going to the United States. The white caps are worth about $445 million U.S., according to Forbes, and MLS leadership could make millions more from a relocation fee. And the owners want to cash out. Ravi Kalon, the BC minister in charge of the Crown Corporation that owns B.C. place, says the province is open to a long-term stadium deal, but claims MLS owners are focused on profit. What I would say to them is if there are some genuine things that they need done to keep the team here, we want to see that happen. We want to see the white caps stay in this community.

It's wonderful free-flowing football from the white caps. Despite the off-field uncertainty, the white caps are currently one of the best in the league and regularly selling out BC place. The city is exploring a new stadium for the team at a former horse track. At the same time, Vancouver's mayor, is pushing to bring a major league baseball team to the city in a bid for re-election. Surrethinic questions how Vancouver could pursue MLB while risking losing a successful soccer club. Politicians, I don't think fans will ever forgive you if you don't make White Caps stay here in Vancouver.

We're arriving from a deep position. Both the White Caps and MLS say the preference is to keep the team in Vancouver. But so far, no viable offers have emerged. As the uncertainty continues, one thing is clear, White Caps fans won't stop fighting to keep their team home. Yasmin Ranea, CBC News, Vancouver. Finally, the Buffalo Sabres lost game five of their playoff series against Boston the other night.

But not before, 19,000 Sabers fans made a big cross-border save. As you can hear, local singer, Kemi Kluen was struggling with a defective microphone when the crowd at Buffalo's Key Bank Center rose to the occasion. It's not like they hadn't heard the lyrics countless times. Buffalo plays the Canadian anthem at all home games, even when no Canadian team is playing. After all, the city is just minutes away from the border. and regularly hosts thousands of Canadian fans. The Buffalo region has seen a lot of Donald Trump's strong and from far and wide okay.

The Buffalo region has seen a steep decline in cross-border travelers over the past year, with many Canadians citing Donald Trump's tariffs, verbal attacks, and deployment of ICE agents. So this anthem moment is getting a lot of traction on social media, with some saying this is just what they'd expect from a true border town. And this has been your world tonight for Wednesday, April 29th. I'm Stephanie Scandaris. Good night. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbcbc.ca.ca.com.