Your World Tonight - U.S. border photos, Port expansion questions, agri tourism popularity, and more.

Episode Date: December 26, 2025

Staff picks from recent stories: If you are heading into the U.S. any time soon, prepare to say 'cheese.' Starting today, authorities there will snap photos of every Canadian crossing the border – no matter if they are coming or going.Plus: The concerns over a plan to expand the Port of Montreal. It’s one of the projects on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s list of nation-building initiatives, with a multi-billion dollar price tag that some critics say is money misspent. And: The rise of agri-tourism, and a look at one Alberta rancher’s plans to save the family farm. Also: The year in Alberta politics, rice worm worries in Saskatchewan, unlikely ocean alliance, and more.

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Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. This is a CBC podcast. Doing this at the land ports of entry, the logistics are going to be very difficult. It's the new U.S. rule facing every Canadian heading south, a biometric border measure unwrapped during one of the busiest travel times of the year. It's definitely not helping encourage foreigners come to the United States. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. Also on the program, as the worm turns. We never had these things and now they're starting to pop up everywhere. The little pest causing big problems across some North Saskatchewan crops and why it's so hard to curb its hunger.

Once we understand what it is, what they are, then we can figure out the life cycle of the things, right? And then we can begin thinking about ways to mitigate the problem. And we'll introduce you to an Animal Kingdom Collaboration that's turned old. ocean foes into a new alliance. It's not surprising that they would learn that in order to survive, especially in this day and age, they really do need to work together. If you are heading into the U.S. anytime soon, prepare to say cheese. Starting today, U.S. authorities will snap photos of every Canadian crossing the border,

no matter if they're coming or going. Sophia Harris explains what's happening and why there's. no getting around it. There were two gentlemen in officer clothes. One of them had a handheld camera and took a picture of me. Warren Chappelle had an unsettling experience at Cleveland's International Airport.

He says just before boarding his flight home to Toronto, a border officer snapped his photo, offering no explanation. Well, I was surprised. I was aghast. I felt ambush because it happened so quickly. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is ramping up its facial biometrics program,

photographing international travelers and using facial comparison technology to confirm their identities. All of our arrival systems are now utilizing facial comparison. Close to a decade ago, the U.S. rolled out the technology at airports for international arrivals. Canada did the same.

Now, the U.S. plans to photograph travelers entering and leaving the country by all modes of transport. Full implementation could take several years, but technology that photographs passengers inside vehicles is expected to be in place at land borders in 2006. US immigration lawyer Len Saunders worries it could cause delays. Doing this at the land ports of entry,

the logistics are going to be very difficult, especially when you have a carload of kids. Meanwhile, the U.S. has already started snapping photos at dozens of airports at international departures, something Chappelle discovered unwittingly. I was not alerted that this might happen. and I was not given a choice to have the picture taken. In Canada, all travelers can choose not to be photographed.

Canadians visiting the U.S. did have that right, but starting today, a new Trump administration rule makes it mandatory for non-U.S. citizens to take part. At CBP, our priority mission is the security of our borders. In a recently posted CBP video on social media, a border officer outlines the agency's motives. By using advanced technology like facial biometrics, we not only add an extra layer of security,

but we also streamline the inspection process at entry. But lawyer Saunders says the program's expansion could serve as a deterrent for Canadians traveling to the U.S., which is already in steep decline. It's definitely not helping encourage foreigners come to the United States. And I just was taken aback. After his experience, Chappelle says he's reconsidering further travel to the country. Sophia Harris, CBC News, Toronto.

From a pipeline deal with Ottawa, to a grassroots bid to leave Canada. It's been a breakneck, 2025 for Alberta politics. To break down the past year and what could be ahead, Kathleen Petty, host of CBC podcast, West of Center. Kathleen, this agreement between Ottawa and Alberta could lead to another pipeline in this country. How big a deal is this for Premier Daniel Smith?

You know, Susan, it is definitely her flagship accomplishment for 2025 is, you know, so much of her. political messaging since becoming premier has been about how Ottawa is the enemy and the federal government's policies are holding back the province's energy industry. But, you know, as significant as the MOU is in terms of a political win, frankly, that was the easy part, right? The heart part, yeah, is going to unfold next year as the battles with both the BC government and coastal first nations will definitely intensify over the prospect of another bitumen pipeline. And in addition, as you know, Alberta needs to find a private sector proponent or

consortium to pay for it and build it. Then they submit a proposal to the federal major projects office with that information in place. And the plan also has to show a commitment to the climate requirements that do exist within the MOU on both carbon capture, which is hugely expensive, and a big increase in the industrial carbon price. And that's just the bare bones description of the challenges ahead. Yeah, it's an incredible political story. And so is this list of recall campaigns that she is facing, her government is facing. How serious a threat are they to Daniel Smith's government?

Well, as we record this, and I'm signposting this for a reason because the number keeps growing, but the number of petitions, as it stands right now, that have been approved to go ahead, is that 2120 target UCP MLAs. And yes, the premier is. among them. But as I said, the number is expected to grow, although the bar for triggering a recall vote has been lowered is still a daunting task, right? You need signatures from 60% of the number of people who voted in a writing, you know, the writing that you're talking about in the last election. It has to be gathered over a 90-day period. And most observers actually think few of them

will ultimately succeed to get through that. But even if that bar is reached, then there's an actual recall vote, which is only successful, more than 50% obviously vote in favor of the recall. And should that succeed, then the MLA has to run in a by-election, presuming that they want to. So the odds of enough successful recalls to threaten the government's majority really are remote. But I tell you what, it creates a huge distraction and disruption. It's disruptive, for sure. Most definitely. I mean, the UCP calls the campaigns politically motivated. They say to attempts to overturn democratic elections. But, you know, those behind the recall efforts cite several issues, including Smith using the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work

and impose a contract and to prevent any core challenges to the government's legislation affecting transgender people. And how all these recalls unfold, I'll tell you what, you know, among all the big political stories in this province, this will definitely be one of them. Well, Alberta's direct democracy policy is what allows for recalls. It also also allows for referenda on policy issues or on separation. Are we going to see that, Kathleen? Well, you know, it's going to be so interesting to see where this all lands, right? The entire country is going to be watching this.

There is, first of all, that forever Canadian question, which was essentially an affirmation of Alberta's place in Canada, and a former deputy premier is behind that one and managed to exceed the required number of signatures. And that was under the old rules with a much, much higher bar for signatures, but he got well beyond that. But Thomas Lukasek actually wants his question put to the legislature for MLAs to vote on as a policy question instead of having it as a province-wide referendum. Now, that decision will be made by committee. So we don't know what's going to happen to it. But another group, which is advocating for separation, is preparing now to start collecting signatures for a full referendum on Alberta independence.

And it's hoping to have a vote on it by October, and the government has cleared the decks to allow the Alberta Prosperity Project to proceed without constitutional scrutiny on the question itself. So they are looking for the, do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state? So that's the question. Now, polling suggests the support isn't there for a yes vote, but there is substantial support among UCP members. So this is a political dynamic Smith that's trying to manage. And both questions or neither could be put to Albert. And so, you know, what can I say, Susan? We should say that she wants to stay in Canada.

She has said that, right? Oh, for sure. But she's never said explicitly that she would campaign for that position should there be a referendum, right? She's just sort of made it a statement, I believe, in a sovereign Alberta within the United Canada. So because that's the question that has been put to her. So, you know, fair to say that. you know, keep an eye on Alberta, Susan, because the drama is pretty much baked in. We will not take our eyes off it. Thanks, Kathleen.

Thanks, Susan. That's Kathleen Petty, host of the CBC podcast West of Center, speaking to us from Calgary. Mark Carney might consider his major projects plan a flagship accomplishment. The Prime Minister calls it the best way to fire up the economy. One initiative sure is getting some heat. It's a port expansion near Montreal worth billions. As Eli Glasner explains, critics wonder if the money pledged is a missed opportunity. 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 goes 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 Contraker,

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 Contraker 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 Contra Kerr makes sense. You've got Highway 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 a huge amount of markets. So that project should have taken place 20, 30 years ago. Maritime shipping expert Jean-Paul-Radrigue 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 to be. 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. Well, the port of Montreal says the Contrakechre expansion is a better site because of its

access to markets and transportation systems. Rodrigue 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. Coming up, appetite for destruction. The creepy crawly invader throwing northern Saskatchewan rice crops into crisis. Plus, the Great Escape, how some Alberta ranchers are trying to future-proof their farms with green silo getaways. And later, we'll have this story.

I'm Yasmilenea in Vancouver. Researchers say they have observed some strange animal behavior off the BC coast. We were hearing the dolphins echolocating. And as we started to compare things, we were noticing that the killer was going quiet. What they saw was an unlikely hunting party. that could help both whales and dolphins survive. I'll bring you that story later on your world tonight. It's been a challenging year across Canada's agricultural sector.

Record fires in some regions, historic drought in others. But for some Saskatchewan farmers, the big problem is a wriggly pest chowing down on a critical crop. Alexander Silberman now with the details of the rice worm and the efforts to stop it. On a remote northern lake in Saskatchewan's Boreal Forest, Tommy Smith is driving a propeller-powered boat to harvest wild rice. A traditional food for Cree communities for generations. But as the rice gets bagged, they can see rice worms feasting on. their harvest. It is a huge lot. Smith and his wife gathered just 20 bags last harvest. The average

before the rice worms, 400. You depend on rice for a lot of things, so it's pretty devastating. Wild rice is a major economic driver in many northern Saskatchewan villages. A good harvest can bring in as much as $100,000 for a family. But at the local rice weighing station, stack bags of purchased rice waiting to head to the processing plant are crawling with worms. So many, you can hear them wriggling. They're removed during processing, but it takes longer. These worms are getting to be a big problem. Lionel Smith, who works as a local buyer, is also a long-time harvester.

This season, the bugs are killing so much of his rice, he's decided not to harvest at all. 20, 30% of your co-hop is damaged, so we don't even pick that area because we can tell that it's heavily infested by worms. Researchers are now testing a type of trap, using pheromones to attract the insects away from the rice. Experts don't know exactly why the worms are making their way north from Manitoba and the U.S. It's kind of like the perfect storm in many ways, I think, and we're really trying to find the best way to mitigate them. Tim Sharbell is a professor of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. He believes forest fires could be one of the causes. You get new growth.

It provides an opportunity to the riceworm moths. On Agamic Lake in northern Saskatchewan, Phyllis Smith is starting to fall harvest, using a traditional airboat to scoop the rice off the surface of the shallow water. Every year it seems to get worse. While hard rice tumbles out of some kernels, others are empty. The worms are already hurting the crop. Smith is also considering leaving the industry behind. He almost feel like there's no use for me having a harvesting boat,

so I almost want to give up. She says the search for a solution to save her livelihood can't come soon enough. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, near Pinehouse, Saskatchewan. Some farmers are using science to save their farms others are turning to social platforms. Kyle Bax looks at the growing trend of agritourism. After storing grain for decades,

these two-story metal bins now house guests from around the world. You want a taste of farm life on the Canadian prairies. I grew up on a grain farm. Always loved the idea of grainries. The grain bins were book solid all summer long, says Cindy Marr, on land where 300 cattle gray. There's a living room, kitchen and bathroom. The upstairs bedroom has a large window with views of the pasture and mountains.

Western art and old cowboy photos hang on the round interior walls. We've diversified our ranch, and it's a good opportunity to get extra income that way, too. It's also aimed at keeping this land in the family. Succession planning is a growing problem facing many farmers. Agri-tourism is one way to bridge a generation. gap, enticing the children of farmers to stay in farming. Cindy's daughter-in-law, Peyton. More and more, you can't be just a rancher.

You're always looking for ways to branch out while the goal and the dream is to ranch, but it doesn't always work that way. About $300 billion worth of farmland will change hands over the next decade, as the average age of farmers nears 60 years old. But some farms can be too big or too small to easily pass on. It's one of the most pressing issues right now in the agricultural industry. Rebecca Perk-Stevenson is a University of Alberta professor who studies succession planning on family farms. It's a type of industry where you may have worked your entire life with,

so your own identity is really enmeshed with the work that you're doing and you like doing the work. It's been a fun adventure so far. Brianna Morrison's kids are young, but she's already thinking decades ahead. She converted five grain bins into hotel rooms and began renting them. this summer. We stayed very, very busy. We're starting to kind of book into next year as well. Each filled with Western decor, from bullhead cabinet handles to cowboy prints on the shower curtain. The grain bins are on the land. Her family has farmed for three generations near Pinscher Creek in southwest Alberta. Fingers crossed, she says, her kids will want to join the family business.

They might have more ideas for this place and want to continue it and make it their own to and grow. And on it, and I hope that that can come with the legacy of this ranch, too. For now, she's focusing on marketing and hospitality to keep welcoming guests to the ranch while still looking after the animals. Kyle Backs, CBC News, near Twin Butte, Alberta. We end tonight with a whale of a tale about two arch enemies who set aside their divisive ways to form an unlikely underwater team-up. Here's Yasmin Renea with the story. Underwater video shows a northern resident killer whale swimming behind a pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins off the B.C. coast all on a quest to find Chinook salmon. It's really unique in the animal world to see dolphins and dolphins and

killer whales foraging together. Scientist and drone pilot Keith Holmes first spotted the unusual behavior by accident while doing field work off Vancouver Island. To be honest, at first I was a little bit annoyed because the whole point in the story of our research had nothing to do with dolphins. But then you start seeing them doing foraging dives together. Researchers with the University of British Columbia, Halifax's Dalhousie University and other groups then began tracking the marine mammals.

Study co-author Andrew Trite says suction cup tags were temporarily attached to some whales so that researchers could watch and listen to the whales interactions with dolphins. We were hearing the dolphins echolocating. And as we started to compare things, we were noticing that the killer whale was going quiet. Turns out, the orca was listening to the dolphins who were diving deep into the ocean to search for large Chinook salmon. Pray that dolphins would like to eat but can't catch on their own and that are too big for them to consume hole. Researchers saw the orca make the kill and share with its pod, and the dolphins got the scraps. So it works out for both parties. Everyone's happy at the end of a successful fishing trip.

Everybody gets to eat. And it's no fluke. Researchers saw dolphins swim near whales more than 250 times in one summer. Janie Ray, founder of the non-profit BC whales who wasn't involved in the study, says orcas have had to adapt to changing ecosystems and less salmon. It's not surprising that they would learn that in order to survive, especially in this day and age, when food may not be as accessible as it once, was that they really do need to work together. That teamwork could be critical in helping marine mammals deal with noisy ship traffic, says Dalhousie marine biologist Sarah Fortune. It could be that it becomes more challenging for resident killer whales to find their prey because of acoustic masking.

So potentially it could be advantageous to have. cooperative foraging with other animals. Researchers also wonder if southern resident killer whales considered endangered in Canada partly because of the lack of salmon could also benefit from working with other kinds of marine mammals to find their food. Yasmir Ranea, CBC News, Vancouver. And that's it for this holiday edition of Your World Tonight for Friday, December 26th. I'm Susan Bonner.

for joining us.