CBC News provided updates on several developing stories during its broadcast on Thursday.

Air Canada Arbitration Pilot Project

Air Canada is piloting a new arbitration process with an independent third party to address a backlog of approximately 96,000 passenger complaints, according to the broadcast. Passengers currently seeking compensation for flight delays or cancellations through the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) can face wait times of up to three years.

Under the pilot project, an arbitrator will have up to 90 days to rule on each case for approximately 500 customers. The results of the arbitration will be binding for Air Canada, but not for the passengers, who can still pursue claims with the CTA. Despite the CTA hiring additional staff, the agency still faces a significant backlog. The Canadian Aviation Dispute Resolution organization, whose parent company is based in the UK, has been hired by Air Canada.

Experts expressed concerns about the arrangement, with one commentator stating the need for “independent oversight, hopefully government oversight” to ensure fairness. Air Canada plans to share the results of the pilot project with the federal government this summer, leaving the decision of establishing and funding a broader arbitration system to Ottawa.

Protests Continue in Nova Scotia

The broadcast also touched on ongoing protests following an RCMP raid on a cannabis shop on Budledec First Nation in Nova Scotia. Details of the protests were not elaborated upon during the segment.

Jeremy Hansen's Space Mission

CBC News also featured coverage of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s mission. His wife, Dr. Catherine Hansen, spoke to CBC News about the experience of watching her husband in space, describing a recent family conversation where Hansen expressed his excitement about being in zero gravity and his love for the mission. She also highlighted a moment where Hansen named a crater on the moon after a friend’s wife who had passed away, describing it as a deeply emotional moment for the crew and those watching.