Nation-building projects, manhunt for Kirk shooter, Canadian stablecoin, and more

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Your World Tonight

Episode: Nation-Building Projects, Manhunt for Kirk Shooter, Canadian Stablecoin, and More

Host: Susan Bonner (with contributions from Stephanie Skenderis)
Date: September 11, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Your World Tonight delivers an in-depth exploration of the day's major stories from a Canadian perspective. The primary focus is on the Canadian government’s new push for nation-building infrastructure projects—aimed at reviving the economy and competitiveness. Other critical topics include the manhunt after the assassination of US political activist Charlie Kirk and the fears over growing political violence in the United States, new developments on Canadian immigration policy in response to shifting public sentiment, and the announcement of a Calgary start-up entering the stablecoin cryptocurrency market. The episode wraps up with an uplifting story about a Montreal soccer player’s recovery from homelessness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Canada’s “Nation-Building” Infrastructure Push

• (00:37-09:55)

• Announcement Details:

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney outlines five immediate infrastructure “nation-building” projects:
    • Phase two of LNG Canada (BC)
    • New nuclear project (Ontario)
    • Expansions to Port of Montreal
    • Two major copper mine developments (Northern BC and Saskatchewan)
  • Aim: Create thousands of jobs; inject over $60 billion into the economy; build resilience against US trade disputes.
  • Projects selected due to their advanced approval/consultation status and “shovel-ready” potential.

• Premiers and Local Leaders' Responses:

  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is optimistic but notes no pipeline project is included yet.
    • “You can’t turn that around immediately. I think it’s a really exciting period.” (03:27)
  • Manitoba Premier Wab Kanu—excited to see Port of Churchill considered for future projects.
    • “To see our federal government...talk about Manitoba having a potential project of national importance—I don’t know if we’ve had that since Manitoba entered Confederation.” (03:50)
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sharply critical, calling the announcements slow and unsubstantial.
    • “He’s going to send an email to an office that isn’t even fully staffed up yet, which will one day consider possibly approving five projects.” (04:16)

• Copper Mining Boom and Challenges:

  • Red Chris mine expansion & McIlvenna Bay project (Saskatchewan) prioritized to supply critical metals for emerging tech and military needs.
  • Industry experts (e.g., Canadian Mining Association’s Votini Koutsavlis) highlight urgent global demand and Canada’s recent production decline.
    • “New technologies will demand much more power and copper essential for electrification.” (06:44)
  • Indigenous engagement cited as key; First Nations agreement highlighted.

• Analysis by Katherine Cullen (Host of CBC’s “The House”):

  • Welcomes new energy for jobs and upgraded infrastructure but criticizes a lack of clarity and questions real government influence, as approvals are mostly in place already.
    • “It points to the fact that this process isn’t quite clear.” (08:27)
  • Environmental debate: Push for more sustainable energy (nuclear, carbon capture) balanced against LNG expansion with lingering emission concerns.
  • Political split on resource projects: Alberta supportive; Saskatchewan less satisfied.
    • “Smith said she feels like Albertans are, finally, being heard by this federal government.” (10:10)

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2. The Manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s Killer & Rising Political Violence in the US

• (11:02-17:49)

• Incident Recap:

  • Charlie Kirk, a conservative influencer, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University; suspect remained at large at time of broadcast.
  • The shooter reportedly used a high-powered rifle from a rooftop and escaped into a nearby neighborhood.
  • FBI has identified a person of interest and recovered the suspected weapon.
  • National grief and concern mount as President Trump and other politicians respond.
    • Trump: “I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.” (14:03)

• Wave of Political Violence:

  • Recent US incidents discussed: murders of politicians, arson attacks, assassination attempts (including two on Trump).
    • Statistic from Senator Dick Durbin: “In 20 years leading up to 2015, we had two incidents of political violence against elected officials. In the 10 years since, we’ve had 25. The numbers tell the story.” (15:49)
  • Experts link escalation to polarized rhetoric, easy weapon access, and weakened prevention programs.
    • Michael Smerconish (CNN): “We’ve got to get it together and not provide so much incitement for those who are...prone to do something heinous.” (16:10)
    • Amy Pate (NCST): “There is a heightened risk for this type of violence that requires...a variety of policy responses.” (16:56)
  • Lawmakers call for unity, but skepticism remains about actual progress.

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3. Canadian Immigration: Shrinking Targets and Rising Backlash

• (17:49-20:39)
• PM Carney signals further cuts to immigration targets, amid record growth and strained public support.
  • Recent polling: Nearly three-quarters of Canadians favor a reduction in immigration.
    • “It’s almost like a whiplash in terms of how fast public opinion changed on that.” (18:37), pollster David Coletto
• Conservatives demand the elimination of the temporary foreign worker program, labeling it as exploitative.
• Progressive voices and immigrant rights groups push back, warning of unintended consequences and the risk of scapegoating migrants in tough economic times.
  • “In times of economic crisis, anti-migrant sentiment really rises because it is used as a useful scapegoat and a distraction.” (20:12), Karen Koch

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4. Canadian Dollar Stablecoin: Promise & Perils

• (11:30, 23:15-25:51)
• Calgary’s TetraDigital raises $10M to launch a stablecoin pegged to the Canadian dollar, aiming to digitize currency for faster, cheaper transactions.
  • CEO Didier Lavallee: “We see an opportunity, a Canadian effort in the global race to digitize money.” (23:33)
  • Institutional support from Shopify, Wealthsimple, and National Bank.
• Critics, like lawyer Brent Arnold, warn about stability, regulatory gaps, and risk of collapse if underlying assets aren’t transparent.
  • “Prove to me you actually have the assets to back this...If those conditions aren’t in place...you have a collapse.” (24:31, 24:48)
• Regulatory tension: US and China are advancing stablecoin rules, while Canadian frameworks remain conservative, treating stablecoins as securities.
  • “Currently, we do not have an elected official with a mandate to coordinate across the government.” (25:27), Lucas Matheson (Coinbase Canada)

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5. Closing Uplift: Soccer, Homelessness, and Recovery

• (25:51-27:19)
• Montreal goalkeeper Daniel Tiberge recounts his journey from homelessness to competing in the Homeless World Cup, crediting soccer for “saving” him.
  • “It was a difficult situation. I tried to get my daughter. I pay a lot for that, you know. I cannot pay my apartment...I’m left.” (26:15), Daniel Tiberge
  • “It’s very special because that stabilizes your life a lot...it’s the best thing of their life.” (27:09), Daniel Tiberge
• Canadian Street Soccer Association’s Karina Naim describes the long-term life change their programs bring.
  • “I feel like almost everybody...was very involved on a long-term scale. For our players it was a really cool experience.” (26:58)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We used to build big things in this country and we used to build them quickly. It's time to get back at it and it's time to get on with it.”
  — Mark Carney, Prime Minister (02:34)

• “Smith said she feels like Albertans are, ‘finally being heard by this federal government.’”
  — Katherine Cullen, Parliamentary analysis (10:10)

• “In the 10 years since, we've had 25 [political attacks]. The numbers tell the story.”
  — Senator Dick Durbin, on US violence (15:49)

• “Prove to me you actually have the assets to back this...If those conditions aren't in place...you have a collapse.”
  — Brent Arnold, cybersecurity lawyer (24:31, 24:48)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nation-building project announcement & discussion: 00:37–11:02
• Copper mining and market/global context: 05:04–08:12
• Analysis on politics/environment/economics: 08:12–11:02
• Charlie Kirk shooting manhunt: 11:02–14:41
• US political violence analysis: 14:41–17:49
• Canadian immigration policy shift: 17:49–20:39
• Global news updates: 20:39–23:15
• Canadian stablecoin story: 23:15–25:51
• Montreal soccer player and Homeless World Cup: 25:51–27:19

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Tone & Language

The episode balances urgent investigative reporting with moments of reflection and optimism. The hosts maintain a clear, analytical tone, often directly quoting officials, experts, and affected individuals, capturing both political friction and personal resilience.

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This summary captures all major topics, providing an accessible yet comprehensive overview for listeners who missed the full episode.

Transcript

[Narrator/Reporter]

Hugh is a rock climber, a white supremacist, a Jewish neo Nazi, a spam king, a crypto billionaire, and then someone killed him. It is truly a mystery.

[Investigator/Agent]

It is truly a case of whodunit.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Dirtbag Climber. The story of the murder and the many lives of Jesse James. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

[Field Reporter]

This is a CBC podcast.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We used to build big things in this country and we used to build them quickly. It's time to get back at it and it's time to get on with it.

[Susan Bonner]

It's not yet shovels in the ground, but Mark Carney is putting pen to paper and officially releasing his list of major projects from mines to modular reactors. The big the prime minister wants approved to create jobs, new markets and a more resilient Canadian economy. Welcome to youo World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Thursday, September 11, just before 6pm Eastern. Also on the podcast, after the shooting.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus and into a neighborhood.

[Susan Bonner]

The shocking campus shooting of Charlie Kirk and a killer who slipped away. Police in the United States have photos and a potential murder weapon, but the search for the suspect continues as fear about a new wave of unrest grips a country that has a long and traumatic history of political violence. It's a high stakes plan to create thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in economic activity and and it starts with a list of five major infrastructure projects. But there's early pushback, including concern about environmental protection and indigenous consultation. We have full coverage on this story tonight, beginning with Olivia Stefanovic, who was at the prime minister's announcement in Edmonton.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We will create economic opportunities that help Canadians not just manage through this crisis. We will manage through this crisis. Our goal is to prioritize, prosper from it.

[Mark Carney]

Faced with a slowing economy and a never ending trade war with the US Prime Minister, Mark Carney says Canada has no choice but to turn its fortunes around itself.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We used to build big things in this country and we used to build them quickly. It's time to get back at it and it's time to get on with it.

[Mark Carney]

Standing in a carpenter's training center in Edmonton, Carney revealed the first five major energy and infrastructure projects he's greenlighting. He expects them to generate more than $60 billion. They include the second phase of LNG Canada in Northern British Columbia, a new nuclear project in southern Ontario, and expansions to the Port of Montreal.

[Narrator/Reporter]

When I looked at the first Five projects. I thought, finally they get it because it's all the projects that have been difficult to build.

[Mark Carney]

Alberta Premier Daniel Smith met with Kearney just before the announce. And even though there's no oil pipeline on the list now, Smith says that doesn't mean that one can't be added later.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And I would just ask people to be patient. I mean, we went from having chased away, what, half a trillion dollars worth of investment over the last 10 years. You can't turn that around immediately. I think it's a really exciting period.

[Mark Carney]

Manitoba Premier Wab Kanu doesn't have a project on the initial list, but upgrades to the Port of Churchill are listed on the second wave of projects up.

[Narrator/Reporter]

For consideration to the Prime Minister of Canada. To see our federal government in Canada talk about Manitoba having a potential project of national importance. I don't know if we've had that since Manitoba entered confederation.

[Mark Carney]

But it's not all praise for Carney.

[Narrator/Reporter]

This is pathetic.

[Mark Carney]

Conservative leader Pierre Poliev says the Prime Minister is moving too slow for the urgency of the moment.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What he's done today is announced that he's going to send an email to an office that isn't even fully staffed up yet, which will one day consider possibly approving five projects.

[Mark Carney]

The projects Kearney is recommending to the Major Projects office are already quite advanced and have gone through Indigenous consultation.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And that's part of the reason why we're able to be in a position to identify them as the federal government and passed to the project's office to shepherd them for it.

[Mark Carney]

Carney says the projects will require federal dollars to spur private investment, but isn't yet saying how much. Carney says that second set of major projects will be announced by the Grey cup in mid November. Olivia Stofanovic, CBC News, Edmonton.

[Susan Bonner]

Two other projects on Mark Carney's list involve Canadian copper mines. The metal is in high demand, from military needs to the components that power Big Tech. Copper is having a moment on the world stage and the Prime Minister wants Canadian production in the spotlight. Alexander Silberman has more.

[Field Reporter]

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.

[Paul Hunter]

It's an incredibly positive thing.

[Field Reporter]

Corey Eastman is president of the Flynn Flann Chamber of Commerce. He's welcoming news that the federal government will fast track a massive local copper mine. The McElveena Bay project, 5 km away in Saskatchewan is one of five nation building projects Ottawa plans to prioritize.

[Narrator/Reporter]

These 400 direct jobs then lead to obviously more population.

[Field Reporter]

The expansion of the Red Cris copper and gold mine in northwestern B.C. on the list signaling a push to turn Canada's $9 billion copper industry into a larger global player.

[Katherine Cullen]

It's encouraging. Over the last decade We've seen approximately 25% decline in copper production in Canada.

[Field Reporter]

Votini Koutsavlis 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.

[Katherine Cullen]

New technologies will demand much more power and copper essential for electrification.

[Field Reporter]

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 Ltd.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It just highlights the dearth of kind.

[Investigator/Agent]

Of shovel ready projects.

[Field Reporter]

But the effort to fast track some mining projects could face some roadblocks. In B.C. the red crisp mine expansion has faced opposition from a nearby First Nation. And there are also concerns over environmental risks. In northeast Saskatchewan, the McElveena Bay Mine Project is making indigenous engagement a priority and expects to start commercial production in the middle of next year. Foran Mining, the company behind the project, signed an agreement with the nearby Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation on economic development. Jonathan French is vice president of capital markets and external affairs.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Our big focus there was building these relationships.

[Field Reporter]

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 Silverman, CBC News, Regina.

[Susan Bonner]

Katherine Cullen is the host of CBC Radio's the House. She's in our parliamentary bureau. Catherine Mark Carney has really built up these projects as an important part of Canada's economic future. How can we assess the process?

[Katherine Cullen]

Susan at first blush, there's positive news here. More energy for well over a million homes. Critical minerals, natural gas that is less polluting and as we look to future projects, high speed rail. But one question that is emerging here is how much the federal government is really getting these projects over the line, particularly that first tranche of five. Look at the Darlington Ontario nuclear project. It seems many, perhaps all of the approvals are in place. It's not clear what financing is missing. So in that case, how much credit can the federal government claim? Now the flip side is that they are seeking projects that can be completed quickly. But I think it points to the fact that this process still isn't quite clear.

[Susan Bonner]

You mentioned natural gas emissions. What does today's announcement tell us about where Mark Carney is curbing Canada's emissions?

[Katherine Cullen]

On the one hand, there's certainly a big emphasis on more sustainable forms of energy. Nuclear doesn't result in carbon emissions. So yes, it creates nuclear waste, but critical minerals, carbon capture. The prime minister certainly tried to put the emphasis on picking projects that have some environmental cred. But liquefied natural gas, for instance, does create carbon emissions, even if this project is supposed to be much lower emitting. So there's division among some in the climate community over this choice. And of course, Carney has signaled that he's willing to move ahead on a new oil pipeline, but that it would have to be tied to a carbon capture and storage project. So again, there's an effort to strike a balance, but it would still lead to more emissions.

[Susan Bonner]

Okay. On the pipeline front, there's no ironclad commitment yet, but Alberta's premier seems pretty happy with what she heard today. Well, conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is highly critical. What's going on there?

[Katherine Cullen]

Smith still has plenty of criticism for Mark Carney on other issues like immigration, but she is remarkably positive about the major project news. Now, recall, there is no private company that has publicly come forward to say it wants to build a new pipeline for Alberta oil, though Smith has said she's aware of one. She said today she feels like Albertans are, quote, finally being heard by this federal government and that the changes she is seeking to other resource laws like the oil emissions cap, well, she says those things are being worked out. So certainly there are some questions about what all all of that is going to look like. It does, though, make Pierre Poliev's case that Carney is getting nowhere a bit harder to prosecute when one of his, you know, political allies to some extent is so positive. That said, Saskatchewan expressing some disappointment about the list. But several other premiers are cheering on today's news.

[Susan Bonner]

Thank you, Katherine.

[Katherine Cullen]

Thank you.

[Susan Bonner]

The host of CBC Radio's the House, Katherine Cullen in Ottawa. Coming right up, photos and video footage. Even a rifle linked the killing of Charlie Kirk. But still no suspect as a manhunt continues. And the political influencer's shocking death is just the latest incident to rock America. And there's concern about a surge in political violence. Later, we'll have this story.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

Stablecoins are a kind of cryptocurrency that advocates think will revolutionize the way we exchange money now. A Calgary based company has raised $10 million to create a stablecoin backed by the Canadian dollar.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That's why we're launching this business.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

We see an opportunity, a Canadian effort in the global race to digitize money. I'm Jenna Benchetrid in Toronto. I'll have that story for you on youn World tonight.

[Susan Bonner]

There were hundreds of witnesses at the crowded campus event. Millions have watched it online, but the suspect in the fatal shooting of American activist Charlie Kirk is still at large. Police continue to scour the area around the Utah university where Kirk was speaking, and they believe the shooter was perched on a rooftop more than 100 meters away. Erin Collins has the latest.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday's shooting.

[Investigator/Agent]

The FBI may have the gun used to kill Charlie Kirk, but not the shooter. Still, Special Agent Robert Bowles says investigators do have a person of interest releasing a photograph of a young man dressed in black, wearing sunglasses and a hat.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We're doing everything we can to find him and we're not sure how far he is gone yet, but we will do our best. All I can say is that we're working the investigation the best we have with the environment we're given. So thank you.

[Investigator/Agent]

Wednesday's shooting came as Charlie Kirk spoke to students at Utah Valley University promoting the event on his radio show.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It is the American Comeback Tour. We have thousands and thousands of tickets that have already been facilitated.

[Investigator/Agent]

The political activist holding the event to drum up support for his brand of conservatism. Kirk sitting under a tent, taking questions from the crowd when a single shot rang out.

[Paul Hunter]

We didn't know that this was a single shot event.

[Narrator/Reporter]

There's been so many mass shootings.

[Investigator/Agent]

After that single shot from a high powered rifle, Kirk fell back and the crowd ran.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And in my head I was thinking, we gotta get out of here. So I started yelling, we gotta go, we gotta go.

[Investigator/Agent]

The FBI says it has tracked their suspect's movements before and after that event, believing he may have jumped off of a roof, fleeing into a nearby neighborhood. And as the hunt continues, the grief mounts. Kirk, a major supporter of Donald Trump, the president, weighing in on his death.

[Daniel Tiberge]

I have no doubt that Charlie's voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people.

[Investigator/Agent]

Will live on and on the need to find his killer.

[Daniel Tiberge]

And let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt.

[Investigator/Agent]

Trump announcing Kirk would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That as the hunt for his killer continues, and political tensions in an already polarized America mount. Aaron Collins, CBC News, Washington.

[Susan Bonner]

From the assassinations of presidents to the killings of civil rights leaders, America has a troubling history of political violence. And with the killing of Charlie Kirk being added to a growing list of more recent incidents, there's concern the country is headed in the wrong direction. Paul Hunter has that part of the story.

[Paul Hunter]

Be it the funeral for Minnesota's former Speaker of the House, who, along with her husband was shot to death in June, or the arson attack at the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in April.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What was it about Shapiro you don't.

[Paul Hunter]

Like, let alone last summer in Pennsylvania?

[Daniel Tiberge]

Take a look at what happened.

[Paul Hunter]

And the attempted assassination of then candidate for the White House Donald Trump, one of two such attempts on Trump's life last year. This Charlie Kirk killing in Utah and all the other examples of political violence in this country lately has left Americans stunned, not least because it's so quickly getting worse. As Democrat Senator Dick Durbin soberingly put.

[Daniel Tiberge]

It today, in 20 years leading up to 2015, we had two incidents of political violence against elected officials. In the 10 years since, we've had 25. The numbers tell the story.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The nation is sick, we're frayed, we're fragmented.

[Paul Hunter]

Political talk show host Michael Smerconish today on cnn.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Each one of these incidents, I think, was perpetrated by an individual with mental health issues. That seems obvious, but we've got to get it together and not provide so much incitement for those who are among us, who are prone to do something heinous.

[Katherine Cullen]

I think we're at a pretty dangerous point right now, inflection point in the United States in terms of political violence.

[Paul Hunter]

Amy Pate, acting director of the U.S. national Consortium for the Study of Terrorism, told CBC. Acts of terror and targeted violence in the U.S. are more than double this year over last and trending higher. She cites ever more heated political rhetoric and polarization as a factor, but also access to weapons and a gutting of prevention programs as among the key factors.

[Katherine Cullen]

There is a heightened risk for this type of violence that requires some sort of a variety of policy responses for.

[Paul Hunter]

Now, as they have in the past, US Politicians talk. Democrat Amy Klobuchar saying there's no place for political violence in this country.

[Katherine Cullen]

It has to end and we have to join together to condemn it.

[Paul Hunter]

Likewise, Republican Senator Katie Britt the time.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

For unity, the time for peace. It is now.

[Paul Hunter]

But whether the talk leads to change is the forever question. Trump himself already criticized for more rhetoric, blaming as he put it the radical left for the Kirk shooting.

[Katherine Cullen]

I will not be doing any outdoor events anytime soon.

[Paul Hunter]

And South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace has her own plan of action in her home state going forward.

[Katherine Cullen]

I will have a firearm on my person all the time.

[Paul Hunter]

Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington.

[Susan Bonner]

New changes are coming to Canada's immigration targets. The already shrinking quotas are coming down even further. And it's happening as something else is on the decline. Public support for immigration. JP Tasker has that story.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Now it's clear that we have to work to continue to improve our overall immigration policies.

[JP Tasker]

Outlining his priorities before Parliament's return, the prime minister says more changes are coming to an immigration system he calls unsustainable.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So we're working on that, setting those goals, adjusting and working to ease the strain on housing.

[JP Tasker]

This shift comes, as recent polls suggest, a dramatic change in public opinion. According to a new survey from nanos Research, nearly three quarters of Canadians now favor cutting back on immigration.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It's almost like a whiplash in terms of how fast public opinion changed on that.

[JP Tasker]

Pollster David Coletto is tracking the drop in popular support for immigration. The about face is stunning. He says the Canadian consensus that adding more newcomers is generally a good thing appears to be collapsing amid the post pandemic surge in new arrivals.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We went from Canada welcoming Syrian refugees almost with like open arms in a very outwardly welcoming kind of posture to one today which is very closed.

[JP Tasker]

The country added roughly a million people a year for three years in a row. An influx that is testing housing and health care capacity. And Canadians patience for explosive growth.

[Katherine Cullen]

It's too high. They brought in too many people in too short a period of time.

[JP Tasker]

The Conservatives are taking a harder line than they have in the past. The party's immigration critic, Michelle Rempel Garner, is demanding the temporary foreign worker program be scrapped altogether.

[Katherine Cullen]

We have a state sponsored intervention that supports an indentured underclass instead of promoting policies that employ Canadian workers.

[JP Tasker]

Even in Carney's caucus, there's pressure to curb the program, including from Mark Miller, the former immigration minister.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We also have to have a conversation, I think, with industry that has gotten addicted to temporary work in Canada.

[JP Tasker]

Immigrant rights groups are pushing back, saying population growth has already stalled after cuts to foreign students and workers by the last government.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

This sort of idea of runaway immigration never existed to begin with, but it is most certainly not the case in 2025.

[JP Tasker]

Karen Koch speaks for the Migrant Workers Alliance.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

In times of economic crisis, anti migrant sentiment really rises because it is used.

[Susan Bonner]

As a useful scapegoat.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

And a distraction.

[JP Tasker]

Canada's large immigrant population has long been regarded as a virtue and necessary for economic growth as the birth rate falls. But now it's fair game as the two major parties clamor to cut back, even if there may be unintended consequences. J.P. tasker, CBC News, Ottawa Brazil's former.

[Susan Bonner]

President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election. The far right politician governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022. He was found guilty of five crimes by three members of a five justice panel. The justices sentenced Bolsonaro to more than 27 years in prison. Israel's prime minister is pushing ahead with a settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Benjamin Netanyahu visited a settlement to sign an agreement on the expansion and to insist there will not be a Palestinian state. The project, known as E1, will bisect the west bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority and its allies say the plan is illegal and would rip up any peace plans for the region. NATO is strengthening its defenses after Russian incursions into Polish airspace. Poland shot down multiple drones earlier this week. Russia said it did not intend to hit any targets there. The Czech Republic is sending helicopters and troops to Poland, and France and Britain are sending extra aircraft to secure NATO's eastern flank. Germany says it will permanently station a brigade in Lithuania. The National Hockey League says five Canadian players acquitted of sexual assault can play again. The professional status of Dylan Dube, Cal Foot, Alex Fermentin, Carter hart and Michael McLeod had been up in the air. They were suspended from the NHL during legal proceedings, but all were found not guilty earlier this summer in connection to an incident dating back to 2018. The NHL says after careful evaluation, the players will be eligible to sign contracts with teams on October 15th and begin play by December 1st. A Calgary company is banking on a big venture to digitize our dollar. It plans to launch a Canadian stablecoin next year, pitching it as a safer type of cryptocurrency. Advocates call it the future of finance, but critics say despite the name, the currency can still be volatile and the reward may not be worth the risk.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Jenna Benchetrit explains there's massive appetite for this product.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

Imagine this, a digital version of the Canadian dollar, an e coin you can exchange for real life money at any time, in any place for no extra charge.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That's why we're launching this business. We see an opportunity.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

That's Didier Lavallee, the CEO of Tetradigital. The Calgary company raised $10 million to create a Canadian stablecoin, a type of crypto that mirrors the value of a national currency. The idea is that one stablecoin equals $1 and that Canadians can eventually use them to pay for, well, anything. They're meant to be fast and easy to exchange without crypto's ups and downs. Advocates like Lavalle say here's a product.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That'S built for institution by institutions, essentially to help automate, reduce friction, reduce costs, and increase speed of transaction and transparency.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

Tetra's project is backed by heavyweights like Shopify, wealthsimple, and National Bank. Bigger Canadian banks are still weighing the benefits and risks of digital currencies. Stablecoin transactions bypass traditional banking infrastructure and the fees that come with them. Critics argue that's part of the problem.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Proves to me you actually have gold in Fort Knox. Prove to me you actually have the assets to back this and that they are liquid assets and that they're stable assets.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

Brent Arnold is a cybersecurity lawyer in Toronto. He's skeptical that stablecoins are as safe and stable as their champions believe they are.

[Narrator/Reporter]

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.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

Still, the global race to digitize money is speeding up. The US Passed a new set of rules to regulate stablecoins earlier this year. China plans to do the same, fearing that the US Dollar will dominate digital currency. Right now, Ottawa regulates stablecoins as securities like stocks or other investments. Some advocates say that's a mistake that puts Canada behind other countries. Lucas Matheson, the CEO of Coinbase Canada, wants the federal government to streamline those rules.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Currently, we do not have an elected official with a mandate to coordinate across the government.

[Jenna Benchetrit]

A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry told CBC News that it's actively measuring the risks and rewards of digital money. With a federal budget on the horizon, stablecoin advocates are holding out for a regulatory breakthrough. Jenna benchetrid, CBC News, Toronto.

[Susan Bonner]

We end tonight with a Montreal soccer player back on the field and back on his feet after some tough times.

[Daniel Tiberge]

Soccer is one of my favorite sports. It's easy to play pretty much everywhere.

[Susan Bonner]

Daniel Tiberge makes a lot of saves as a goalkeeper, but he credits the sport he loves for saving him after losing his home and living on the street.

[Daniel Tiberge]

It was a difficult situation. I tried to get my daughter. I pay a lot for that, you know, I cannot pay my apartment at this time and yet I'm left.

[Susan Bonner]

Tiberge says it was a turning point last year when he connected with the Canadian Street Soccer association, an organization that uses sport to help people living on the street. Tiberge earned a spot on the team that competed last month in Norway at the Homeless World cup, an international tournament for players experiencing homelessness run by a charitable foundation. Karina Naim with the Canadian Street Soccer association says the tournament helps players by inspiring them to reshape their lives.

[Katherine Cullen]

When you say life changing, I feel like almost everybody in the program was very involved on a long term scale and for our players it was a really cool experience to just see them get out of this bubble.

[Daniel Tiberge]

It's very special because that stabilizes your life a lot and when we re get something that we lost, it's the best thing of their life.

[Susan Bonner]

Tiberge credits the experience with helping him get his life back on track. You can only participate in the Homeless World cup once, but even if that rule didn't exist, Tiberge would not be eligible to play next year because he's no longer homeless. Thank you for joining us. This has been youn World Tonight for Thursday, September 11th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Foreign.

[Field Reporter]

For more CBC Podcasts, go to CBC CA Podcasts.