Canada Groceries Benefit, energy drinks, astronaut evacuation plans, and more

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We're a family of six, so groceries are very expensive for us and our prices have gone up exponentially.

Prices are up, but despite expectations, so are jobs.

It's a relief. Uh it also doesn't change the kind of like fundamental big picture of what's going on in the job market.

Market.

The economy is flashing mixed signals as Ottawa rolls out more benefits, and Canadians try to figure out what it means for them. This is your world tonight. I'm Stephanie Scanderas. It's Friday, June 5th, coming up on 6 p.m. Eastern. Also on the podcast.

Crew Dragon establish safe haven and if we need to suit up, we will do that.

What if you had to shelter in place 400 kilometers above the surface of the Earth? Astronauts on the International Space Station prepared to evacuate as NASA and Russia disagreed over how to fix an air leak.

Housing, gas prices, groceries, the cost of living is certainly an ongoing concern for Canadians. The federal government is offering a grocery and essentials rebate to roughly 12 million people based on their income. The opposition calls it a gimmick, David Thurton has more from Ottawa.

At a grocery store in the nation's capital, food costs hit hard.

Money is getting less and prices are going up.

Uh a hundred dollars now and that food basically anywhere else.

We're a family of six, so groceries are very expensive for us and our prices have gone up exponentially.

In Brampton, Ontario, Prime Minister Mark Carney was also at a supermarket.

What about all this fruit?

Telling shoppers about the federal government's attempt to ease price pain at the checkout for those eligible.

Today, 12 million Canadians, including 5 million Ontarians, will receive a first-time increase in what's called the groceries and essentials benefit.

The new benefit replaces the GST HST credit. Payments are increasing by twenty-five percent starting next month, but in order to get immediate support starting today, low and modest income earners are receiving a top-up. Those who were eligible for the GST HST payment will automatically receive the new Canada Groceries and Essentials benefit.

So it's a significant amount of money, checks up to$533 today for a family of four to help with the pressures on cost of living.

Advocates call it a step in the right direction with room for improvement. Jasmine Ramsey Razai is with the organization Right to Food.

Our version of the benefit we advocated for as an organization was actually a lot more generous. To be administered on a monthly basis, whereas this benefit is administered on a quarterly basis.

Conservative Garnet Jennis says the benefit won't make up for the struggling economy.

The government's putting out gimmicks but they're not really solving the problem.

At any opportunity, conservatives and other opposition parties have been focusing on the cost of living essential.

Well I think one of the things that have always I think been a vulnerability for the Kearney government is

David Coletto is with the polling firm Abacus Data. He says the new Liberal government has been focused on a lot of macroeconomic policy.

Growth, you know, big projects, things that will take time and and and the average person may not actually feel a benefit in their lives. And so they've had to offer up these kind of microeconomic uh responses.

For decades, Carney has built his brand around his economic competence, with a career in finance and as a central banker overseeing two countries. If Canadians think he's weak on the cost of living, it's not necessarily showing in the polls, given the sizable gap between the liberals and the conservatives. David Thurton, CBC News, Ottawa.

Getting food on the table is connected, of course, to employment, and the latest report from Stats Canada gives us a glimmer of economic. eighty eight thousand more jobs last month after a rough start to the year. Let's bring in senior business correspondent Peter Armstrong. Peter, how much of a surprise was this?

You know, economists were expecting something closer to like 10,000 jobs added. So the headline itself was a surprise, but the details were a surprise too, right? These are all full-time jobs, mostly private sector jobs. They encompassed three of the biggest economies in Canada: Alberta, BC, and Ontario.

There we go.

So there's there's kind of a bunch of surprises.

Okay, but first of all, how do we square this with the GDP numbers showing Canada's economy is contracting?

I mean the economy is always full of contradictions, and that is especially true right now.

Does this put to rest that debate about whether or not we're in a technical recession?

Well, you're certainly not adding eighty eight thousand jobs in a recession. Economists hate this term, the technical recession, because it doesn't really mean anything. The CD Howe Institute's Business Cycle Council, which is Canada's formal kind of arbiter of recessions, it put out a statement saying the conditions we see in the data today simply don't meet the standard of recession yet.

It's a relief.

Uh it also doesn't change the kind of like fundamental big picture of what's going on in the job market.

So what is the bigger picture of what's going on in the jobs market?

Market. So I mean, we've added like a hundred and forty seven thousand jobs in a year, uh, but we're still struggling to get job growth growing. This year in 2026, even with these eighty-eight thousand jobs, that only claws back about like eighty percent of the jobs we had lost since the beginning of this year.

Does this match what we're seeing in the broader economy right now? It does.

The the economy is weak. It was weak before Donald Trump and his trade war came along, and it's expected to remain weak through the rest of this year, but it's also more resilient than we had expected.

Next week we're getting an update from the Bank of Canada. How does that fit into this?

It it probably doesn't change the central bank's view of things. Pretty much everybody expects the bank to leave rates unchanged, but we'll see what they say about going forward when we get that decision on Wednesday.

Peter, thank you. You bet. Senior business correspondent Peter Armstrong in Toronto.

Coming right up, more fear in the Jewish community. A Montreal synagogue is attacked with rocks and almost set on fire. And it's not the first time the building has been targeted. Also, concentrated caffeine drinks could be providing more than a jolt of energy. Experts say they could be affecting the brains and hearts of teenagers. Later we'll have this story.

As the Canadian men's national soccer team gets set for the World Cup, Quebec is hoping for a goal from one of their own. A first if it happens.

We have a lot of diamonds in the rough here in our province of Quebec.

I'm Sarah Levin in Montreal. Later on Your World Tonight, how six Quebecers have cracked the national team roster and what it says about soccer development in the province.

А Монтрел рабби says it's time for action after someone tried to firebomb her synagogue overnight. It's the latest in a wave of attacks on Jewish institutions across the country. And comes just days after Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a major address condemning anti Semitism, a speech that critics argue lacked urgency and concrete plans. Dan Burrett reports.

Because of protections we have on the building, the um smoke got in but the fire did not, otherwise we would be having a very, very different story today.

Rabbi Lisa Greshko stands in front of a fire-scorched window leading to her office at Temple Emmanuel Bath Shalom in Montreal's Westmount neighborhood. Police say late Thursday night a suspect threw an incendiary device numerous times at the back of the synagogue. Westmount's public safety team and police eventually made an arrest. A thirty eight year old man appeared in court charged with arson, using explosives with intent to destroy property, and wearing a disguise among other counts.

The politicians and law enforcement have to do the rest.

That call for political action comes after the Prime Minister said Canada is in a crisis of anti-Semitism and the country's civil compact is failing Jewish Canadians. On Monday, he announced Ottawa is launching a new faith advisory council to combat hate.

Government has a special responsibility to ensure that no culture, faith, race. gender or identity is threatened or suppressed.

But some Jewish leaders argue recognition alone won't solve the problem. Ita Udin, Vice President of Quebec's Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, says action is needed.

We've called it.

For example, training of prosecutors in hate crimes so that they understand the cases before them and having special prosecutors appointed to try those cases.

Ezra Shankin with the Jewish Federation of British Columbia notes a door at his temple was set on fire almost two years ago to the day. He says he thinks the attack in Montreal is a direct challenge to Mark Carney's speech.

And I think this is exactly what they're trying to do right now, is to show that they can continue to attack and harass Jews. with impunity. And um I'm hoping that we're going to uh show them that that's not the case.

Back in Montreal, Rabbi Greshko says they will do what they can to protect themselves physically and spiritually.

And our doors open in all the ways that we can.

Dan Burrett C B C News, Vancouver.

The Mayor of Cambridge, Ontario is defending her decision to interrupt a teenager during their speech at a pride event this week. The young speaker was criticizing a city councillor's social media post from last year that mocked pronouns. Lisa Shing unpacks the controversy and reaction from the two S LGBTQ plus community.

I have experienced many instances of exclusion.

Standing at a podium in front of Cambridge, Ontario's City Hall this week, grade eleven student Sophie Mills gave a speech at its flag raising ceremony for Pride Month. In it they included their thoughts on a controversy involving a city councilor's Facebook post last year.

I have faced transphobia and bullying from my peers in school. And from adults outside of school. Like when Ward Six Counselor Adam Cooper showed a transphobic meme He did not apologize.

Forty seconds in they were interrupted by Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett, who took the microphone away.

No, can you remove that part from your speech case?

Amen.

Counselor Adam Cooper, who in January 2025 posted a meme on Facebook that sparked outrage and referenced US President Donald Trump's executive order ending many policies protecting Two S LGBTQ plus rights. It showed a person with blue hair screaming. Written on it, he took my pronouns. I have to live in reality now. The city's integrity commissioner later found Cooper had violated Council's code of conduct.

like taking my voice away from me in a vulnerable position.

While Mills continued on with their speech after the interruption, they later reflected on how the incident affected them.

I'm being silenced, I'm being censored. She is an elected official, she's the mayor of a city. I I don't have power in that situation.

Days after the event, Ligett released a video statement doubling down on her actions.

City events are not intended to serve as venues for demonstrations, protests, and

Liggett said Mills broke the city's code of conduct which bans disrespectful speech on city property.

This is something that um I couldn't allow to continue to happen.

Thank you.

Uh anybody who disrespects somebody who was there at the time. I can't let that continue.

Eric Cosarano Walton is the co founder of Grand River Pride and says Liggett's actions at the ceremony were disappointing.

I think the mayor has shown us that that she is is not an ally and is not prepared to do the work to become an ally.

In recent years, Grand River Pride has hosted its own pride flag raising, separate from the city. Meanwhile, Mills thinks her response is dismissive and still wants an apology. Lisa Shing, C B C News, Cambridge, Ontario.

Three men from England have pleaded guilty in the death of a restaurant owner in Owen Sound, Ontario. Sharif Ramen was assaulted outside his restaurant in twenty twenty three in a dispute over an unpaid bill. He died in hospital a week later. Marine Ahmed is a local resident who knew Raman and was in the courtroom today.

Nobody ever had a problem with him. He was very devoted to his customers. The restaurant the experiences was lovely. My dad would go there. Um everybody had a kind word to say. He wa and, you know, it's really tragic that so such a kind man and that he lit up the place, that his life was taken so quickly.

Robert Evans Junior pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His father Robert Evans Senior and Uncle Barry Evans pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact for helping Evans Junior flee to the UK. The father and uncle have been sentenced to twenty one months, which they've already reached due to time served. They will remain in custody until Canada Border Services deports them. Evans Jr. will be sentenced in July.

Quebec is moving to ban energy drink sales to kids under 16, sparked by the tragic death. of a fifteen year old boy. His parents are fighting for the law after a single energy drink fatally interacted with his ADHD medication. The bill has gained wide support from doctors, schools, and youth sports leads. But as Christine Birach reports, not everyone is in favor.

What previously? With Quebec's health minister introducing a bill today to ban energy drinks for teens, the Miron family stood by, cautiously taking a break.

I'm relieved. But it it's not over yet. So we're very thankful grateful for all the work that's been done

Veronica Martinez and David Miron have been channeling their grief into a fight for change. In January twenty twenty four, their fifteen year old son Zachary suffered a sudden fatal cardiac arrhythmia on a chair lift during a school ski trip. Since then, the Miron family has been pushing for stricter regulations Starting a petition that has gained over 31,000 signatures.

It's incredible. So we're very happy, grateful, but we're still waiting for the the Finish.

To get there, the bill needs unanimous consent to be fast tracked before next Friday's legislative recess. But independent conservative MNA Maite Blanchette Vesina is calling for more debate.

touche parce que je suis maman d'un petit garçon.

Blanchette Vizina says as a mother herself, she was touched by Zachary's parents, but she doesn't want to rush the process. She insists that if laws pass too quickly, unintended problems can follow. Meanwhile, industry opponents, including the Canadian Beverage Association, argue a ban isn't justified by science, noting energy drinks make up only a small fraction of teen caffeine consumption.

They are definitely addictive. They're definitely have very little um you know, added value, if any value to uh young people.

Olivier Druin is a pediatrician at St. Justin Hospital in Montreal. He says energy drinks pose severe risks to kids developing heart and brain.

We never really add caffeine being consumed uh by this fragile population whose brain is in development. Uh and so we're seeing we're learning as we go, but uh there's both kind of neurological and cardiovascular effect that are uh significant.

The pressure is already prompting voluntary changes. A major pharmacy chain in Quebec and New Brunswick has pulled energy drinks from its shelves entirely. Some teens in Fredericton say it's a smart move. If passed, Quebec would join countries like Norway, Poland, and the UK that already restrict energy drink sales to youth. A vote is expected next week, but any continued opposition could delay the legislation until after Quebec's provincial election.

The International Space Station acts as a beacon of global cooperation. But today tension between the American and Russian space agencies over increasing air leaks and how to fix them prompted some astronauts on board to prepare for evacuation. Thomas Dagler has more.

Station Houston on Space to Ground two for all US OS crew members.

Never in its twenty seven year history have astronauts aboard the International Space Station had to leave in an emergency. That nearly changed today as NASA mission control told its crew to prepare to evacuate.

Dragon established safe haven.

Five astronauts moved to the SpaceX crew dragon capsule docked at the station, while their Russian counterparts fixed a worsening leak. Concerns over small cracks in the massive space lab aren't new, but today the air leak rate reportedly doubled, prompting the rare evacuation alert. Former ISS Commander Chris Cassidy.

It's a procedure that's that's taken very seriously because there's risk to crew and equipment, but more importantly the crew. And so they wanna always want to put the crew in a pr place to be the most safe you can be. So that's why The Americans went to the Crew Dragon on the U side of the space station.

For years the leaks have been showing up in a section of the ISS that's controlled by Russia's space agency. Today those cosmonauts reportedly planned to use a saw to break in and patch the leaks. But NASA disagreed and sent its crew members to seek shelter.

of it are nearly 30 years old and it is getting towards the end of its life.

Libby Jackson with the British Science Museum says the ISS is starting to show its age.

We expect to see that next generation of commercial space stations fly uh sometime uh before the end of this decade and w there will be a transition and one day the International Space Station will be deorbited um and be no more.

After two hours of sheltering in place today, NASA astronauts were told to return to normal operations. The Russian crew fixed one leak and reportedly held off on plans to patch another until NASA agrees. Yeah. Despite today's drama, US astrobiologist Keith Cowing says the incident could help NASA in planning its upcoming high profile mission.

Every time this happens and we you know we figure out how to deal with it, it's one more thing we know and we're better equipped to do things on the moon, Mars or elsewhere.

As for that space station, the US Congress is considering a bill that would extend NASA's role, keeping the ISS in orbit until twenty thirty two. Thomas Dagg, C B C News Toronto.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is rejecting an offer from Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky to meet face to face. Zelensky made the offer in an open letter, which also included a critique of the Russian leader and taunts about his age. Putin called the letter boorish and says he sees no point in the meeting. In Albania,

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the capital Tirana for a sixth day, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. They accuse him of giving an environmentally sensitive part of the Adriatic coast. To investors led by Donald Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner. The one point four billion Euro resort is near a protected landscape, home to flamingos, seals, and sea turtle nesting sites. Protesters say it isn't good for Albania.

Hãy subscribe cho kênh La La School Để không bỏ lỡ những video hấp dẫn us Albanians is destroying the nature there is no benefit for us in this uh in this project this is why we are to give him a clear message that Albania belongs only to Albanians and Albania is not forsaken.

Activists say they will continue until the plan is stopped. Developers claim they will progress responsibly. Air Canada and WestJet have indefinitely suspended flights to Cuba. The Trump administration has imposed a large scale oil blockade on Cuba, plunging the island into its worst economic and energy crisis in recent history.

You're listening to your world tonight from CBC News. And if you want to make sure you never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in.

Five Quebec soccer players have been named to the national men's team at a time when interest in soccer is at an all time high in the province. Montreal has gained two new professional teams in as many years, which is spurring on fan support. Sarah Levitt reports on Quebec's growing love for the beautiful game.

As Canada's men's national soccer team warms up on the pitch, a few among them say they're feeling particularly proud. Proud because they're on home soil in Quebec.

I'm very happy. Uh this is where I grew up.

22-year-old Nathan Saliba cracked the roster. One of five Quebecers to make the team. Six if you count the Brit with a Montrealer as a father.

It shows there's talent in here, it shows um we're hard working people, you know, and it shows how much we can we can make an impact on the rest of the country.

Montreal has been home to MLS team CF Montreal, but in the past year, two new professional teams have launched. Roses FC in the Women's Northern Super League and FC Supra in the Men's Canadian Premier League.

The beauty of Quebec is um there's so many different nationalities. We're very diverse. Um a lot of the immigrants that come to this uh province uh have soccer in their DNA.

Among them, midfielder Ismail Kone, who moved to Quebec from Ivory Coast when he was seven. The 23-year-old is set to take part in his second World Cup, having played with the Canadian men's team in 2022. Placentino coached Kone when he was a teenager.

He earned everything that he has today is is because of himself. Um we just gave him the the chance to believe in himself.

But it's not just love of the sport, there's also been investment in programs and infrastructure. Those on Canada's roster benefiting from that.

It's something that when I play I carry with me and I think all the Quebecers carry with with them. So it's very nice to to represent Quebec.

Maxim Crépot, the starting goalkeeper for Canada, says the world cup being held at home will no doubt add interest.

and uh is to inspire and to believe the little boys and little girls of the country to say, Amen.

It's open.

we can do it

After taking on Ireland in a friendly match in Montreal, the team gets set to hit soccer's biggest stage. Sarah Levitz, C BC News, Montreal.

Finally, what do you think if I say myrmal, myrmal, myrmal? If you're like millions of Canadians, you will instantly recognize the title and nonsense words in a work by Robert. Munch. It's one of the author's nearly one hundred books for children. They've been translated into dozens of languages.

He was really willing and open to help First Nations and Indigenous groups. have access to his books and translate them. He was really awesome to what take whatever your interpretation you want it to be and really just run with it.

That openness is key, says Jaggard. While books like Fifty Below Zero and Thomas's Snowsuit already feel right at home in the Yukon, she says experiencing them in indigenous languages helps children see themselves and their culture in the stories.

All indigenous languages and the Yukon First Nation languages, they carry the world view of the people. So a lot of the languages um are formed through relationship, they're formed through relationship with the land, with each other. And so when you talk about culture and you talk about language, they can't be separated.

This has been Your World Tonight for Friday, June 5th. I'm Stephanie Skanderis. Thank you for being with us. Good night.

For more C BC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcast.