Podcast Summary: Your World Tonight (CBC)

Episode: "Flu soaring, Wiseman as ambassador to U.S., First Nations child welfare, and more"
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Anand Ram

Episode Overview

This episode dives into pressing Canadian and global stories: a severe flu season sweeping Canada, ongoing economic uncertainty shaping holiday spending, new federal offers and debate over long-term First Nations child welfare reform, the appointment of Mark Wiseman as ambassador to the U.S. amid key trade negotiations, the fallout from Australia’s Bondi Beach shooting, escalating cartel violence in Mexico, and updates on critical Canadian labor negotiations. The episode wraps up with a human interest segment spotlighting one of Ottawa’s last cobblers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Flu Season Hits Canada Hard

[00:25-04:19]

• Surge in Cases: Canada is seeing the highest flu positivity rate in years, with Health Canada reporting 27.7% positive flu tests in the second week of December. The H3N2 strain of influenza A is predominant.
• Severe Impact on Children: Children are particularly affected, with Public Health Ontario citing a 73.3% positivity rate among kids. Recent deaths include three children aged five to nine in the Ottawa region.
• Vaccine Mismatch: The season’s vaccine is not a perfect match for the circulating H3N2 strain, leading to increased severity.
• Expert Perspective:
  • Dr. Isaac Bogoch, Infectious Disease Specialist: “The component that protects us against H3N2 is not as good as we’d like it to be, and that’s because the virus changes with time.” [03:01]
• Public Advice: Medical officers stress the importance of masking or staying home if sick during the holidays to protect vulnerable groups and reduce severity, even if the vaccine’s efficacy is lower this year.

2. Economic Pressures Impact Holiday Spending

[04:19-06:49]

• Rising Financial Stress: Angus Reid survey finds one in five Canadians faces high financial pressure this season.
• Changing Habits: Shoppers are spending less but choosing more meaningful gifts.
  • Jason Bogle, Shopper: “Things are tighter. Everyone is feeling it. I’m not spending as much as last year, but I think that the gifts are more meaningful.” [04:47]
• Top Concerns: Nearly three in five Canadians list cost of living as their chief worry heading into 2026.
• Sector-Specific Impact: Tariffs continue to hit auto, steel, and aluminum sectors hard; others are largely unaffected.
• Mortgage Renewals: Despite drops in some rents, housing remains a major expense; tariff impacts increase costs for imported goods.
  • Laura Familietti, Mortgage Holder: “Cost of things have gone up, especially with the tariffs and everything, right. Because you’re not just buying products from Canada.” [06:23]
• Lingering Anxiety: Despite some economic bounce-back, almost one in three Canadians feels worse off this year compared to last.

3. First Nations Child Welfare Reform — New Federal Proposal

[06:49-09:54]

• Federal Offer: Ottawa proposes over $35 billion for regional deals with First Nations groups to reform on-reserve child welfare—a longer-term, higher total than the previous plan.
• Historical Context: Follows years of litigation and a tribunal ruling that found chronic underfunding of First Nations services constituted discrimination.
  • Minister Mandy Gulmasti: “Every day that we continue to...define what an agreement looks like...is another day that a child doesn’t care.” [07:44]
• Community Perspective: Gulmasti wants First Nations communities to drive spending decisions.
• Alternative Proposals: Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society supports a national solution, not just regional or community-by-community fixes.
  • Cindy Blackstock: “Canada systemically discriminated against every First Nations child across the country. So we need systemic solutions...That can’t happen on a community by community approach.” [08:34]
• Funding Sustainability: New plan promises >$4 billion annually after the initial $35.5 billion expires in 2034, aiming for the long-term commitment Chiefs have demanded.
• Decision Pending: The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal will select the plan most likely to end discrimination.

4. Mark Wiseman Appointed Ambassador to the U.S.

[10:51-13:50]

• Non-Traditional Choice: Businessman and PM confidant Mark Wiseman replaces career envoy Kirsten Hillman. He has no diplomatic experience but a background in finance (Alberta Investment Management, CPPIB, BlackRock).
  • Jataine da Silva, Ex-Alberta Deputy Minister: “I think it’s great that the prime minister has appointed someone...with whom he obviously has a strong personal relationship, as that will be really key in these negotiations.” [11:32]
  • Richard Madden, Manitoba’s Rep. to the U.S.: “His finance background is an asset when it comes to dealing with the treasury secretary and the commerce secretary…” [12:32]
• Quebec’s Concerns: Wiseman has criticized supply management, causing concern for Quebec’s dairy sector and Bloc Québécois.
• Political Implications: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre ties Wiseman to higher immigration, challenging Liberal policies.
• Context: Canada faces high-stakes trade talks with the U.S. amid ongoing tariffs. Wiseman tasked with “tough deal making.”
  • Richard Shimocha, Macdonald-Laurier Institute: “The most critical issue that Canada’s facing is obviously our trade relations with the United States.” [13:23]
• Wiseman starts February 15, 2026.

5. Major News in Brief

• Bondi Beach Attack, Australia [13:50-17:21]
  • Police confirm the mass shooting’s perpetrators spent weeks planning, including training with rifles and taping a jihadi video; homemade bombs failed, gunmen killed 15. New anti-terror gun laws and public debate on radicalization follow.
  • Chris Minns, New South Wales Premier: “We can’t let preachers of hate unleash demons in our community that we can’t control.” [15:57]
• Civil War in Sinaloa Cartel, Mexico [17:21-20:48]
  • Factions loyal to “El Mayo” and the sons of “El Chapo” in deadly conflict after a dramatic 2024 kidnapping. Over 2,400 killed and nearly 3,000 missing. Civilians are fleeing and living in fear.
  • Miguel Angelvega, Sinaloa Journalist: “Whoever commits this crime, they are professional now. This is an everyday scene. It happens all the time.” [17:54]
• Labour Agreements and Air Travel Disruptions [20:48-24:22]
  • Canada Post and CUPW reach new 5-year contract. Airlines continue to see labor turbulence—Air Transat, Air Canada, WestJet, Porter all face or recently faced potential strikes.
  • Meryl Carmichael, Air Traveler: “I also go online and I check for the expiry date of the current collective agreements for cabin crew, pilots and airline mechanics. And that gives me an idea...if the flight...would be possibly at risk.” [21:48]
  • John Graddick, Aviation Expert: “Fasten your seatbelt and keep it well fastened because there will be some turbulence in the air.” [22:27]

6. Human Interest: Ottawa’s Last Cobbler

[24:22-25:56]

• Salt Damage & Tradition: Mohamed Merhi, one of Ottawa’s few remaining cobblers, copes with a flood of repairs due to sidewalk salt and discusses the dying art of cobbling.
  • Merhi: “The majority of the repairs I get, 80% of them is damages from salt, whether it’s your zippers or the leather on top, that’s another major issue that salt causes.” [24:40]
  • On his trade: “I like challenges... Sometimes they bring me shoes that they love. They don’t want to let go, but they’re falling apart. Sometimes I’m able to fix them, and sometimes I tell them it’s not worth it.” [25:10]
  • “It is a dying trade. Nobody wants to learn it because everybody wants a government job. So there’s only few of us in Ottawa.” [25:45]

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Isaac Bogoch: “The component that protects us against H3N2 is not as good as we’d like it to be, and that’s because the virus changes with time.” [03:01]
• Jason Bogle (Shopper): “Things are tighter. Everyone is feeling it and I’m not spending as much as last year, but I think that the gifts are more meaningful.” [04:47]
• Mandy Gulmasti (Minister): “Every day that we continue to...define what an agreement looks like...is another day that a child doesn’t care.” [07:44]
• Cindy Blackstock: “Canada systemically discriminated against every First Nations child across the country. So we need systemic solutions...That can’t happen on a community by community approach.” [08:34]
• John Graddick (Aviation Expert): “Fasten your seatbelt and keep it well fastened because there will be some turbulence in the air.” [22:27]
• Mohamed Merhi (Cobbler): “I like the fact when somebody brings me something that somebody else told them that can’t be done, to bring it to me and challenge me with it. I like challenges.” [25:10]

Timestamps Map

| Segment | Start | End | |----------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Flu season & health impacts | 00:25 | 04:19 | | Holiday shopping & economic anxiety | 04:19 | 06:49 | | First Nations child welfare reform | 06:49 | 09:54 | | Canadian politics & ambassador appointment | 10:51 | 13:50 | | Global headlines (Bondi Beach, Mexico cartel)| 13:50 | 20:48 | | Labour/airline updates | 20:48 | 24:22 | | Human interest: Ottawa’s cobbler | 24:22 | 25:56 |

Conclusion

This episode delivers an information-packed overview of major issues affecting Canada and the world — from health, economics, Indigenous rights, and diplomatic strategy, to crime, public safety, labor relations, and the heritage crafts that hold communities together. The blend of expert commentary, real voices, and memorable moments provides a well-rounded snapshot of the pressing concerns—and the resilience—of Canadians in late 2025.