CBCN - Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 12:00 a.m. (ET) - Segment #31

>> Reporter: and he said, you know, that fish is a staple part of the community's diet there, and it's a traditional practise for the community there. And he says that the community has long been advocating for more to be done to improve health of people there. 90% of whom it is believed that are suffering from the effects of mercury poisoning. And he says that this new study kind of confirms suspicions that they had that the situation wasn't improving in terms of the mercury levels in that river. We also have reaction -- political reaction -- from N.D.P. M.P.P.s who are calling on the ontario government to take some action, potentially stopping the wastewater from being released into the river in the first place, andrew. We have reached out to the provincial government, the federal government points to the fact that they're helping to fund a mercury care centre -- a home. That construction is set to get underway this summer that will provide some healthcare to people in grassy narrows. >> Andrew:CBC'S meagan fitzpatrick in toronto. >>> The federal minister of indigenous services was asked about the situation if grassy narrows and though she says that it falls to the provincial government she did admit to delays for the long-promised treatment centre. Saying that the covid-19 pandemic was a key reason. >> I think that, unfortunately, there were many delays related to covid. I think we would have been able to do that earlier had the community and canada not been seized with the need to respond to covid concerns. But we are moving forward now, and the chief is pleased. There are others with health supports and social support there is for the community members. But it doesn't replace the kind of long-term residential support that many of the most severely affected individuals need. >> Andrew: ottawa first helped to build the centre in 2017 and in the 2019 election, and promised to move forward along with the grassy narrows on the centre, saying that money is not the objection. >> Jacqueline: the 2023 atlantic hurricane season was one of the most active on record. But 20 named storms and three major hurricanes. Today we're getting an idea of what this year could look like. The U.S. national oceanic and atmospheric administration revealed its outlook for the 2024 hurricane season. And cbc's international international climate correspondent susan ormiston has more on how the season is shaping up. >> Reporter: they're essentially saying that all of the conditions that lead to both severity and frequency of hurricanes are adding up together this year here's how rick spinrad of noaa explained it. >> It's based on the el nino/la niña playing a significant role. Of note, the forecast for named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes is the highest noaa has ever issued for the may outlook. >> Reporter: so essentially why? Well, we're looking at extraordinary ocean warmth. Still, the oceans are warm, particularly where hurricanes are known to develop. In fact, in some readings, they are as warm now as they usually are in august and we're just at the beginning of the hurricane season as of june 1st. And so what that means is that there will be more warm air and a warm water and hurricanes use those both to intensify. We also heard a little bit about canada's situation. In fact, the warm -- the ocean off of atlantic canada is actually cooler than average at the moment, but we learned today that modeling projections expect that warmth to actually to get -- sorry -- that coolness to disappear by the time of the most hurricanes and that is between august and september. And here's spokesperson this morning from environment canada -- >> When we see warm water like we're seeing now, and I've gotta say that the level of heat that's contained in the ocean right now is pretty much unprecedenced. And we can expect some of these storms to -- to become major hurricanes and like noaa was talking about this morning, I think that it is four to seven named storms that will reach major hurricane status. >> Reporter: normally hurricanes develop south of us, florida keys, around there, and even further south. What environment canada told us today is that on average about

35% of the storms actually make it up to our storm response region. What they can't predict is where that will be and whether any of these storms will make landfall. >> Jacqueline: what about the characteristics of some of the storms for this year, susan? What does it suggest about that? >> Reporter: yes, we're seeing this pattern of intensification, meaning that hurricanes which normally on average develop more slowly, three days in some cases, so, you know, predictions can get the course, and the path of the hurricanes set out and people can make preparations. And we're seeing that some major storms develop very fast, in fact, we saw that with otis last october in mexico. Last october in mexico where just the day before it was a mild tropical storm. And intensified to a category 5. You can expect more of that accords to ken graham, who spoke with the U.S. national weather service. >> Every category 5 storm that made landfall in the united states, in the last hundred years -- you ready -- this is a tropical storm or less three days prior. Big ones are fast, right, and we're going to see them like this, you know, you could see some pretty strong storms with this forecast. In the last hundred years, every single one of these cat 5s were a tropical storm or less three days prior and several didn't even exist three days prior. >> Reporter:GRAHAM had comment that water kills more people in storms than the wind, because of the storm surge and various auxiliary water events, so be careful of that. And just lastly -- they named the storms that may come this year -- 21 official names from a to w. And the last one, william, is my son's name and here's hoping that we don't get to that. >> Jacqueline:CBC'S international climate correspondent susan ormiston. >>> Well, here's a look at the house of commons. Coming up we'll go to ottawa for today's round of question period. That's still ahead on cbc news network. ( ) >> Adrienne Arsenault: You are constantly on the move, and so are we, making sense of the moments that matter, together. >> Asking what? Why? When? >> Soon as the ban was announced, Dermott ordered more. >> Adrienne: To the centre of the biggest stories, meeting the people living them. >> I really like the good ideas that come out of these conversations. >> Adrienne: Making sense of our world. >> Are you ok, by the way? >> It's been quite a day, to be honest. >> What on earth? Why didn't you leave? >> Adrienne: With you, and for you. I'm Adrienne Arsenault. This isThe National. Do you remember when I gave you that? 50 years ago, and I'm still trying to figure it out. Well, one thing we did figure out was a better way to waterproof decks and balconies. Certainly did. It takes no time at all to solve your decking needs at duradek.com I I was standing ( ) You were there Two worlds collided And they could never tear us apart ( ) I I was standing You were there Two worlds collided -With a reverse mortgagefrom Equitable Bank...I feel more in controlof my re -Like fresh caviar for brunch,I highly recommend it. A new arrival alarms the brotherhood of muscle. Muscular features signal power and performance. Attributes they've never seen in this build. ( ) Behold a new breed. Ready to swarm, ready to sting, ready to electrify. ( ) The defiant power packed hybrid electric Dodge Hornet r/t. Performance electrified. Good. Good. Good morning. Hey. Good morning with Dulcolax ...for a gentle and fast relieve Dulcolax Soft Chews works with the water in your body... in as little as 30 minutes. Making your good morning... ...even better with Dulcolax. [ Serene music playing ] Welcome to the Wayborhood. The Wayfair vibe at our place is Western. My thing, Darling? Shine. Gardening. Some of us go for the dramatic. How didn't I know Wayfair had vanities in tile? [ gasps ] This. Wow! Do you have any ottomans without legs. Sure. You'll flip for the poof cart. in the Wayborhood, there's a place for all of us. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. My brother and I started Duradek when that wardrobe was-

groovy. For 50 years now, we've been waterproofing decks and balconies so people can relax and enjoy rain or shine. Duradek. Some things never go out of style. >> Andrew: the federal government is going to extend or restore citizenship to children of canadian parents born outside of this country. Under a previous conservative government, some of those children lost their right to citizenship in a move later declared unconstitutional. Here's some of today's announcement in ottawa -- >> The proposed legislation will extend the citizenship beyond first generation in a way that is inclusive and upholds the value of our citizenship. It passed the bill, and extends automatic citizenship to anyone born to a canadian parent before the legislation comes into force. And we also introduced the meants to respond to issues raised at the parliamentary committees as well as in the courts. They will restore citizenship to those that we call lost canadians, that could be someone who is never able to become a citizen, or lost citizenship because of previous and outdated legislative provisions. >> Andrew: the legislation also proposes a new criterion for those so-called lost canadians. A parent would have had to have spent at least 1,095 days inside of this country before the birth or adoption of a child that they want to pass on citizenship. The U.S. department of justice is suing live nation after years of frustration and anger from music fans, washington is accusing the ticketmaster owner of an illegal monopoly. The U.S. attorney general today outlined why they chose to take legal action. >> In recent years, live nation ticketmaster's exorbitant fees and technological failures have been criticized by fans and artists alike. But we are not here today because live nation ticketmaster's conduct is inconvenient, or frustrating. We are here because as we allege that conduct is anti-competitive and illegal. >> Andrew: the cbc's richard madan has more from washington on this anti-trust lawsuit. And what it could mean for the music industry powerhouse and for music fans >> Reporter: well, the attorney general merrick garland is taking on america's biggest player in the live concert business. The department of justice is suing live nation, accusing of it running a monopoly. And they say that it abuses its market dominance by controlling all aspects from promotion and access to venues and of course the ticket sales. He says this unlawful process stifles competition and he says most importantly it squeezes fans by tacking on outrageous fees on ticket prices. >> Live nation ticketmaster has made itself ubiquitous in the live entertainment industry. It controls at least 80% of primary ticketing at concert venues and directly manages more than 400 artists and controls more than 60% of concert promotions across the country. And it owns or controls more than 60% of large amphitheaters in the united states. We allege that through sustained dominance, live nation relies on unlawful anti-competitive conduct. >> Reporter: now the D.O.J. began investigating live nation about two years ago after ticketmaster's disastrous rollout of taylor swift concert tickets. Legions of angry fans complained of long waits in the queue and massive service fees attached to the few tickets that weren't already scooped up by scalpers. Now in response to this lawsuit, live nation called the allegations baseless, a short-term solution that won't solve ticket prices for in-demand shows. Now this is to create more competition from big tech to big pharma. And if the feds are successful, the breakup could reshape the concert industry, 14 years after the regulators first approved the merger. Richard madan, cbc news, washington. ( ) >> Jacqueline: let's go to ottawa now where question period has just begun. >> (Speaker of the House): [Speaking French] >> [Speaking French] [Voice Of Translator]: an increase in homelessness and one-quarter of canadians are skipping meals because of a lack of money. The bloc voted for $500 billion in inflationary spending to add to the -- under their 100,000 public servants and doubling consultant spending.

they said they had no choice because the government was going to shut down otherwise. Can the government inform the bloc that this spending would have been adopted with the N.D.P. regardless how the bloc voted? >> (Speaker of the House): [Speaking French] [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable minister. >> [Voice Of Translator]: mr. Speaker, I find this question somewhat hypocritical because the conservative party is talking about homelessness, but in their programme and plans, this word doesn't even exist. I find it hypocritical of a party that voted in this house against all of the measures that could have given homes to canadians and I think that, mr. Speaker, that the conservative party needs to look at what the real intentions of the conservative party are with respect to the -- [indiscernible] >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable leader of the opposition. >> [Voice Of Translator]: the debt rose and taxes and inflation and saying that all of this money would fund programmes -- generous programmes -- to eliminate homelessness. Since then, homelessness has risen by 38%. And 25% of canadians skip meals because they don't have enough money. And it's not because with the support of the bloc that the government is spending money of canadians. Why is the bloc liberal coalition forcing canadians -- [indiscernible] rather than to feed canadian families. >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable minister of economic development. >> [Voice Of Translator]: mr. Speaker, it's so hypocritical. This party voted against this school food programme, so when we're talking about feeding canadians, let's start with children, and they voted against it. When they say, yes, people are asking for money -- we are giving them help. There's a child benefit. They're voting again it. And we want canadians to have roofs over their head and they vote against it. Make up your mind, do they want to help canadians or cut service? >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable leader of the opposition. >> After nine years, this N.D.P. liberal prime minister is not worth the homelessness and hunger. He doubled the debt and increased taxes and caused inflation but said it it was to fund generous programmes to end homelessness. Now homelessness is now up 38%. And a quarter of the canadians are skipping meals because they can't afford them. That's because his greedy government is consuming everything canadians earn. Why is the N.D.P. and the liberals forcing canadians to feed this morbidly obese government instead of feeding their families? >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable president of the treasury board. >> Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the conservatives. [Interjections] they don't care about canadians and poverty when they vote against those supports, $10-a-day childcare, and early childhood education -- they are not supporting our budgetary measures to put school in lunch boxes for 400,000 children, mr. Speaker. It's unbelievable on one hand they will say that they support canadians, and on the other hand vote against those supports every single time. Thank you, mr. Speaker. >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable leader of the opposition. >> I'm grateful that the member points out that we have voted against every single policy that has caused homelessness to rise by 38%. We have voted against every single inflationary policy that has forced one-quarter of canadians to skip meals because they can't afford a meal on their table. Mr. Speaker, the government has doubled the debt, increased inflation, and blocked home building. Why is it that they force canadians to feed this morbidly obese government rather than feeding their families? >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable president of the treasury board. >> Mr. Speaker, our government is actually focused on keeping inflation low. [Interjections] and they will know that inflation has come down below the targeted range of 3%. And at the same time, mr. Speaker, we have budget 2024. We have support for renters. We have support for affordable housing. We have a national school food programme on the table, mr. Speaker. And we will continue to support canadians with early childhood education, all the while the conservatives vote against, mr. Speaker. There's no plan on that side of the house. We will support -- [Interjections]

>> (Speaker of the House): the the honourable leader of the opposition. >> She repeats the same costly promises that the prime minister has been breaking for nine years. Mr. Speaker, in a six-week period, 50 homeless encampments have opened up in toronto. Let that sink in. There are a total of 256 tent cities in toronto alone. It wasn't like this before this prime minister and it won't be like this after he's gone. Will he admit that everything is broken after nine years of his government? >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable minister of health. >> When that member was a minister and had responsible for housing that there were more than two million more canadians living in poverty. And the number of times that he's talked about vulnerable people or taking action to help homeless -- zero. He wants to hold out people in difficulty across the world and that the solution is to then cut the programmes they need -- to tax away dental care and take away pharmacare, and the shame on him for it. We will stand up for vulnerable people in a way that he never has. [Interjections] >> (Speaker of the House): [Speaking French] [Voice Of Translator]: the member. The member from la prairie. >> [Voice Of Translator]: and they're secretive to respect to foreign interference. They have cabinet confidence to prevent the judge from having access to them. But we're talking about documents that will be published and we're talking about the documents needed for the judge's investigation. Who has a mandate to protect the strategic information. This calls into question the effectiveness of this commission. The minister of public security has promised that the judge will have access to all of the documents. Does he agree that all of this hiding is enough -- enough is enough? >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable minister of public security. >> [Voice Of Translator]: mr. Speaker, I appreciate greatly the question from my bloc colleague. And I also appreciate working with him and my other colleagues last december when we established the commission. And he knows full well that we are committed to sharing with the commission in exceptional time, which is not often, we accepted to share information from the cabinet like we did under mr. Johnson. We're always available to work with the commission to ensure that they have access to all of the appropriate documents. >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable member for la prairie. >> [Voice Of Translator]: they just can't help it. Let me remind you that the reason that we created the commission was precisely because the liberals have been covering up foreign interference since day one. The commission was committed to put an end to all of that. And let's get to the bottom of this through a neutral non-partisan judge. The public doesn't need to read all of the confidential information, but the judge does. That's precisely her mandate. If the commission doesn't have access to all of the information, québecors will lose confidence in this inquiry. Will the liberals be responsible and transparent with the judge? >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable minister of public safety. >> [Voice Of Translator]: mr. Speaker, the answer is, yes, we will continue to remain transparent. And cooperative with the commission. I agree with my colleague and it was an exceptional justice, like justice hogue is in a good position to give canadians the trust they need in our institutions. And canadians have to understand that all all at all times that they will have access to all of the necessary documents to do this important work. And I greatly appreciate the work that I was able to do with my friend from la prairie. >> (Speaker of the House): (Voice of Translator): the honourable member for rose la-patrierie. >> [Voice Of Translator]: there is a worrisome state of the st. Lawrence river. The scientists have sounded an alarm, we have reached a fatal oxygen level for species. And the minister of the environment is ignoring this serious problem. What will it take for this minister of the environment to give the st. Lawrence river rights to protect québec's biodiversity? >> (Speaker of the House): [Voice Of Translator]: the honourable minister of the environment and climate change. >> [Voice Of Translator]: I would like to thank my colleague for the question. I would like to remind him when we came into power in 2019,

canada wasn't even protecting 1% of our territorial waters and now we're up to 15%, and 20% next year. And at least 30% by 2030. So this is our objective, that all countries -- [indiscernible] in montréal. And we have established record amounts with partnerships across the country to protect our territory. Thank you. >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable member from victoria. >> Mr. Speaker, families saw their homes burned to the ground in northern british columbia this week. And summer hasn't even started. Yet, the conservatives don't seem to think that climate change is real and this environment minister offers up nothing but empty words and delays. The liberals refuse to invest the billion dollars needed for a B.C. watershed security fund that would prevent wildfires and save lives. They knew that this wildfire season was going to be devastating for communities, yet they're leaving british columbians to fend for themselves. Will the government fix their mistake and immediately establish a B.C. watershed security fund? >> (Speaker of the House): the honourable minister for natural resources and energy. >> Mr. Speaker, it certainly -- the issues that we have seen around forest fires last year and, unfortunately, this year -- particularly in british columbia and in the fort nelson area -- have been devastating. And certainly our hearts go out to all of those folks who are affected. It's the reason that we set aside $350 million to help provinces to procure equipment and the reason that we're trying forest fighters and the reason that we have a comprehensive climate plan to ensure that we are addressing the existential threat of climate change. Mr. Speaker, the conservative party of canada has a climate plan, and it's the responsible thing to do, and it's shameful -- [Interjections] >> Jacqueline: we have been listening in to the beginning of question period there. They covered quite a bit of ground. But did spend some time talking about some issues that are really front of mind for many canadians, including affordability and putting food on the table as well as homelessness, and encampments in various cities, including toronto. Let's bring in cbc's olivia stefanovich who has been listening along with us. So, olivia, what jumped out to you on the affordability front? >> Reporter: well, jacqueline, we saw a bit of a heated exchange there between the official opposition and the federal government over affordability. Once again, this is an issue that has been dominating question period. Over the last few months we have seen the conservatives stick to this issue and it's come up almost every time that there's a question period. And it's helped them a lot in national polls. We have seen the conservatives, the support for the conservatives, surge, largely as they've been sticking to this issue. So it shows the discipline there on behalf of the conservative leader pierre poilievre who is trying to blame all affordability issues really in the country at the federal government's feet. Now we did see the treasury board president anita anand stand up and point out that the conservatives have voted against affordability measures that the federal government has passed or has tried to pass, including the $10-a-day daycare. And even the national school food programme that was promised in the latest federal budget. Of course, that hasn't been passed yet, but something that the federal government wants to introduce. And now this is an issue that we expect to see more vigorous debate on, jacqueline, since it is really one of the number one issues in the country. Of course, it's not just an issue though that canada is facing. Other countries around the world are facing an issue -- the issue of affordability -- and the governments everywhere are struggling with how to respond to this. And to really to deal with the issue of post-pandemic -- since the, issues have become worse since the covid-19 pandemic, since the government spent so much money to help canadians and to spend money various other measures during that time. And now canadians have to pay back a lot of that. So this is really what is driving this issue, and it's going to remain a number one issue in question period over the next few weeks, jacqueline. >> Jacqueline: and just quickly, there's always a question there about the foreign interference inquiry and some questions about whether the liberal government was withholding documents? >> Yeah, that's right. And this comes from a "globe & mail" report that came out today about the fact that the federal government is withholding some of the documents that the commission for foreign interference, that public inquiry, needs to finish its work. So the "globe & mail" report raised concerns about this, the fact that the federal government is not releasing all secret cabinet documents to deal with foreign interference, that the commission would like to see and that the federal government promised to provide. We did see the safety public

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