Power & Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump continued to attack his NATO allies for not sending ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, posting on Truth Social that they are 'COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!' Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole reacts. Plus, Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations member Jean Charest discusses the next steps toward a CUSMA review after the top U.S. trade official accused Canada of lagging behind Mexico.  

Controversial podcaster Joe Rogan released a two-hour interview with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Thursday, where political philosophy and mutual condemnation of COVID-19 mandates interwove with talk of mixed martial arts and Poilievre's denial of a conspiracy theory about former prime minister Justin Trudeau. CBC's Kate McKenna breaks down the biggest moments, including when Poilievre said he wished the U.S. president would 'knock that s--t off' on 51st state comments. Plus, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the conversation on energy projects has changed under Prime Minister Mark Carney, but approval and development 'does need to be quicker.'

The Bank of Canada held its key interest rate steady on Wednesday, as Governor Tiff Macklem described an uncertain economic future caught between the potential for higher oil revenues and the threat of damage from inflation. CBC's Peter Armstrong explains why inflation risks are a 'dual crisis' with the continuing damage from U.S. trade uncertainty, and RBC senior economist Claire Fan reacts to the central bank's warning that the risk of price hikes spreading increases as the war stretches on. Plus, Abacus Data's David Coletto and Leger's Sébastien Dallaire dissect the numbers underlying the Liberals' big lead in recent polling.

After the U.S. president threatened NATO allies for not sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz, Canada's Defence Minister David McGuinty reiterates that 'we were not consulted, we have not been active and we're not going to be active' in the Iran war offensive, saying Canada also isn't currently considering any military options to protect states in the region from Iranian attacks. Plus, The Writ's Éric Grenier breaks down how the Liberals reached a polling high a year after Prime Minister Mark Carney was sworn in, and what it could mean for majority-deciding byelections next month.

U.S. President Donald Trump is calling for countries including China and his NATO allies to send ships and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for the world's oil that's been choked by Iran — but neither friend nor foe has agreed to do so. Retired lieutenant-general Andrew Leslie, a former Canadian Army commander, says 'the level of strategic incoherence coming out of the White House, and specifically the president of the United States, is unsupportable.' Plus, C.D. Howe Institute fellow-in-residence Don Drummond explains why new numbers that showed inflation cooled last month are likely to rise for March and April.

The NDP lost its first floor-crosser to the Carney Liberals the day after voting began for its new leader, further reducing a caucus that lost more than two-thirds of its members in the last election. Zain Velji, Michael Solberg and Carlene Variyan discuss what the future of the party could be, and what a long-term collapse would mean for Canada's political landscape.

CBC's Peter Armstrong breaks down new Statistics Canada data that says the country lost 84,000 jobs last month, marking the biggest drop outside of the pandemic since 2009. Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer discusses the international pressure points developing after two weeks of the Iran war, and whether there's any path to end the conflict in the near future. Plus, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson reacts to Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan to invest $35 billion in the North, and weighs in on whether the money is going to the right places.

CBC's David Common joins Power & Politics from Amman, Jordan, where he recaps the new Iranian supreme leader's vow to keep blocking a key waterway for oil shipments and reports that Iran may have put mines in the strait. CBC's Kyle Bakx discusses the possibility that a rollercoaster of oil price spikes could drive investment in Canada's oil industry. Plus, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree defends his government's new lawful access bill against questions about privacy.

Former NDP MP Lori Idlout joins the Liberals, letting them secure a majority if they win two of three April byelections. NDP president Mary Shortall and leadership candidate Heather McPherson react. Former Liberal Party campaign co-chair David Herle, former NDP director Anne McGrath and former Conservative chief of staff David McLaughlin debate the pains it could cause each party — including an even smaller NDP caucus, a Conservative Party drifting further from power and the difficulty of managing a 'razor-thin' Liberal vote advantage in the House. Plus, Nunavut Premier John Main discusses what he hopes the crossing of the territory's only MP will mean for its future.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu tells Power & Politics that her announcement of $228.8 million to reskill tariff-hit Ontario workers isn't a sign that her government is giving up on near-term U.S. tariff relief, instead calling it an 'insurance policy.' Plus, interim NDP Leader Don Davies says a Tuesday night parliamentary debate on the war in Iran failed to address his concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney's response, saying Carney's support of U.S.-Israeli strikes is 'fundamentally wrong and a betrayal.'

Iran announced Monday that the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will be his successor. The Stimson Center's Randa Slim and NATO Defense College fellow Bessma Momani discuss how the selection of a hardliner with 'revenge intentions' could impact Iran's approach to the war. Plus, as Prime Minister Mark Carney calls three byelections, The Writ's Éric Grenier breaks down the challenge the Liberals could face in winning all three ridings to pass the threshold for a majority in the House of Commons.

Laura D'Angelo, Zain Velji and Michael Solberg debate whether Prime Minister Mark Carney’s changing statements on the Iran war this week reflect the nuance of the situation — or merely amount to Carney contradicting himself. 

In the first high-level trade meeting since U.S. President Donald Trump called off negotiations with Canada in October, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Friday. CBC's Kate McKenna reports the few details we've received surrounding the meeting, and former prime minister Justin Trudeau's deputy chief of staff Brian Clow previews what to expect from the CUSMA talks with Trump this month. Plus, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield led one of the lawsuits that saw the U.S. Supreme Court strike down Trump's broadest tariffs, and explains his argument as he leads a 24-state lawsuit against the tariffs Trump used to replace them.

After just six days of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, more than a dozen countries have become involved either as direct targets or through interception of drones and missiles. Arif Lalani, a former Canadian ambassador to multiple nations in the region, breaks down the risk for further expansion. Plus, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says Prime Minister Mark Carney presented a 'clear-eyed, positive, strong view of the world' to Australia's Parliament this week.

AI Minister Evan Solomon debriefs Power & Politics on his meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, following revelations that the company banned the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooter's ChatGPT account but didn't report it to police. Solomon says Altman agreed to safety requests including the direct reporting of threats to the RCMP and said Altman assured him a review of past flags for threats is already underway. Plus, Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong accuses Prime Minister Mark Carney of making 'contradictory' statements about supporting both U.S.-Israeli strikes and de-escalation with Iran — but Chong affirms that supporting the strikes was the right move for Canada. 

At a news conference where he took questions for the first time since his India trip began and the U.S and Israel attacked Iran, Prime Minister Mark Carney called for 'rapid de-escalation' in the Middle East and said 'Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents' — but stopped short of saying the U.S. or Israel violated it. CBC's Rosemary Barton breaks down Carney's comments, and former Liberal foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy explains why he says Carney is taking the wrong approach to the U.S. on Iran.

Fallout from the U.S. and Israel's war on Iran continues to expand throughout the Middle East as Iran retaliates with widespread attacks in the region and Israel launches waves of missiles on Lebanon in response to attacks by Hezbollah. Former Canadian ambassador to the UN Bob Rae describes the diplomatic role Canada can play to avoid a larger regional war. The Stimson Center's Randa Slim brings us the view from Beirut. Plus, Canada's last head of mission in Iran Dennis Horak, lawyer and human rights activist Kaveh Shahrooz and University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's changing comments about his endgame for Iran.

Before Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in India this week, a senior Canadian official reignited controversy by saying the federal government believes Indian interference has stopped. Laura D'Angelo, Zain Velji and Michael Solberg break down how trade collided with security, and whether the Liberals are striking the right balance as they pursue a free trade deal with India.

Prime Minister Mark Carney touches down in India as his government seeks progress on a free trade deal, but a senior official's comments about the end of Indian interference continue to cause controversy in Canada. Former national security adviser to the prime minister Jody Thomas and former director of CSIS Ward Elcock evaluate whether the threat could have subsided, and Thomas argues that the official misspoke. Plus, Helen Hayes with the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy explains the regulatory reforms she's calling for after revelations about the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., shooter's ChatGPT accounts.

Asked repeatedly whether she agrees with a senior Canadian official who said Ottawa is 'confident' India is no longer involved in violence and interference in Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand calls the topic 'extremely sensitive' and directs attention to Canadian guardrails in the relationship. World Sikh Organization of Canada's Balpreet Singh says Sikh Canadians feel as though their lives 'are not as important as Prime Minister Carney's desire to sell more lentils to India.' Plus, the Power Panel dissects Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's new speech on the U.S. relationship.  

CBC's Katie Simpson caught up with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer outside of the president's state of the union address on Tuesday, where he told her that countries must accept 'protective tariffs' to make a U.S. deal and that it will be 'helpful' if Canada agrees to higher levies while opening up its own markets. Power & Politics gets federal reaction from International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and provincial reaction from New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt before both head to India with the prime minister.

B.C. Premier David Eby says families in Tumbler Ridge are asking themselves if their kids would still be alive if the developer of ChatGPT had alerted law enforcement after banning the shooter's account months prior. Eby describes his anger after experiences that have 'changed me forever' and says that while he can't be sure from the outside, 'it sure looks like' OpenAI could have prevented the tragedy. Plus, Defence Minister David McGuinty previews what he and Prime Minister Mark Carney are hoping to accomplish when they head to India this week. 

A Mexican military raid that killed a drug lord and triggered a surge of cartel violence on Sunday has left thousands of Canadians stuck by cancelled flights or shelter-in-place orders. Canada's Ambassador to Mexico Cameron MacKay praises the Mexican president's cartel strategy for 'producing results' — and when asked about the lack of warning Ottawa says it received from Mexico, MacKay says 'we understand' that few people could know about the operation to execute it. Then, Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk discusses what his country still needs from Canada on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale war, and responds to the apparent stalemate in peace talks. 

Within hours of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down U.S. President Donald Trump's broad tariffs, Trump announced 10 per cent global tariffs and listed other avenues for further levies. Michael Solberg, Zain Velji and Carlene Variyan break down whether Canada could end up worse off, and look back on how big the loss of a third floor-crosser to the Liberals is for the Conservatives.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the broad tariffs President Donald Trump justified with national emergency powers — including the 35 per cent imposed on non-CUSMA-compliant Canadian goods — are illegal, leading Trump to immediately announce a global 10 per cent tariff through a different legal avenue. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc responds to questions about whether Canada will still enjoy a CUSMA exemption by saying the U.S. never granted it 'because they want to be nice to us,' but because it's in the 'American economic interest.' Then, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defends her plan for an October referendum that would ask about imposing fees and limitations on services for immigrants without certain statuses, as well as constitutional changes like abolishing the federal Senate.

Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo tells Power & Politics that the Conservative caucus is still behind leader Pierre Poilievre after a third floor-crossing to the Liberals, saying 'the mood for me is one of business as usual.' The Power Panel reacts. Then, asked what U.S. data showing its global trade deficit hitting a record high says about the effectiveness of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, economist Justin Wolfers responds with a laugh.

CBC's Rosemary Barton explains everything we know about Alberta Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux's decision to cross the floor to the Liberals, and rumours that more Conservatives could still follow. Then, former Conservative campaign manager Fred DeLorey and former Liberal campaign co-chair David Herle discuss the potential of a Liberal majority, which could now be completed with a win in a Quebec vote that DeLorey calls 'the most consequential byelection in Canadian history.' 

Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a bold new 'buy Canadian' plan to build up Canada's military. Power & Politics hears from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. Plus, Mark Wiseman begins his new job as Canada's ambassador to the U.S. The Power Panel weighs in.

U.S. Democrats have launched an investigation into President Donald Trump's threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ont., and Detroit. Power & Politics hears from Windsor Coun. Angelo Marignani. Plus, NDP leadership candidates face off in a last debate this week. Two of them join P&P with their vision for the party.

Is there a coalition forming between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre? Our panellists certainly wouldn't go that far. But Carlene Variyan, Rachael Segal and Laura Stone are here to break down signs that the parties are working together to avoid further parliamentary gridlock and the potential of a spring election. Then, a reflection on how Canada's leaders came together in response to the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and the leaders of every party in the House of Commons came together to lay flowers at a memorial in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Friday, before attending an evening vigil in the community. NDP interim Leader Don Davies, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and the region's provincial MLA Larry Neufeld join Power & Politics to reflect ahead of the vigil. Plus, the RCMP reveal more information about the weapons used in Tuesday's mass shooting.

The prime minister and the leaders of all of Canada's major federal parties are expected to travel to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., to attend a vigil in the community on Friday. As the RCMP identifies all eight of the victims murdered in the shooting, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald joins Power & Politics for an update on the ongoing investigation. The MP for Tumbler Ridge, Conservative Bob Zimmer, describes how relatives and community members are coping with the tragedy. Then, Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks introduced the resolution to stop U.S. President Donald Trump's 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods that passed with the support of six Republicans on Wednesday night. Meeks says he believes Trump is 'starting to receive' the message that Americans oppose those tariffs.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the commanding officer for the RCMP in B.C. said five of the eight victims killed in a mass shooting in the community of Tumbler Ridge were students aged 12 and 13, and a sixth was an educator. CBC's Ian Hanomansing reports the latest from Tumbler Ridge. B.C. deputy premier and Attorney General Niki Sharma describes how the province is responding. The provincial MLA that represents Tumbler Ridge, Larry Neufeld, explains why he says English words don't exist to describe the grief. Then, Colchester Country, N.S., Mayor Christine Blair uses her community's experience from the 2020 shooting that killed 22 people to advise Tumbler Ridge: 'It will be surreal and it will be surreal for a while.'

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump about a bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit early Tuesday, and explained it was paid for in full by Canada and that the Americans already have an ownership stake. But later on Tuesday, the White House still called the arrangement 'unacceptable' and said Trump had the right to amend a permit that could stop the bridge from opening. Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar, who represents the district where the bridge lands in Detroit, responds. Plus, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin explains why her government scrapped the EV mandate in favour of what she calls an 'all-encompassing,' 'more durable' and 'pragmatic' policy.

Sources tell CBC's Kate McKenna that the government and Opposition are working behind the scenes on potential deals that could end a parliamentary gridlock and avoid a second federal election in 12 months. Liberal MP and justice committee chair James Maloney tells Power & Politics that the cancellation of one of the committee's meetings is a sign that a 'solution' is coming on legislation that's been stuck there. Plus, Sebastien Lai, son of pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, tells Power & Politics China has imprisoned his father's body but hasn't 'imprisoned his spirit,' as Beijing hands down a 20-year sentence to the 78-year-old under China's internationally scrutinized national security law. 

Former prime minister Stephen Harper is back in the spotlight this week as he celebrates 20 years since winning his first election — and he's got a stark warning about U.S. threats to Canada's economy. Power & Politics reflects on Harper's legacy with a panel of former colleagues and observers: those who worked with him, for him or wrote about him.

The Liberals' new auto strategy ditches the EV mandate and downgrades ambitions for emissions savings, while still pouring billions into encouraging an electric transition. Zain Velji, Laura D'Angelo and Rachael Segal evaluate the plan, and discuss whether former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper is besting the current Conservative leader with his U.S. messaging.

The day after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the Liberals' new auto strategy, automaker Stellantis announced it was selling its 49 per cent stake in Canada’s first large-scale battery manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ont., for just $100 US. CBC's Peter Armstrong breaks down the move and looks at contradictory signals in Canada's new jobs numbers. Plus, our political insiders discuss former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper's advice for how Canada should tackle the U.S. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney's new auto strategy ditches the Trudeau-era electric vehicle mandate in favour of stronger emissions standards, revives EV purchase incentives with a $2.3-billion program and sets aside $3 billion of the Liberals' Strategic Response Fund for the sector as it faces U.S. tariffs. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly defends restrictions for rebates on non-Canadian EVs, acknowledging that only one electric vehicle is currently made in Canada. Plus, the Power Panel discusses former prime minister Stephen Harper's imperatives for Canada on U.S. relations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invited 50 countries to a critical minerals meeting in Washington to pitch a new 'preferential trade zone' that would introduce a fair pricing agreement for allies. While the EU, Japan and Mexico signed on to critical mineral action plans with the U.S., Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada needs more information on the initiative. Plus, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston reacts to news that the Liberals will announce a new auto strategy and the end of the electric vehicle mandate on Thursday, according to a CBC News source.

The federal Liberals are facing the possibility of losing a third MP as Nate Erskine-Smith announces his renewed bid for Ontario Liberal leadership, but they're also gaining a byelection candidate from the province as Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum says she's running for the Liberals in the federal seat Bill Blair vacated. The Power Panel reacts to the federal NDP's accusations of betrayal of her values and damage to democracy. But first, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew makes his pitch for how environmental protection can coincide with his push for an expansion of the Port of Churchill and interest in shipping fossil fuels, as the province puts money behind a study for a new national marine conservation area.

An overwhelming majority of Conservative delegates voted to keep Pierre Poilievre as the leader of their party, but pollsters David Coletto and Shachi Kurl break down why Poilievre's impressions with other potential voters will be a significant obstacle to reversing his fortunes from the last election. Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman tells Power & Politics about the new path for co-operation her party sees in the House of Commons. Plus, CBC's J.P. Tasker breaks down the policies the party adopted at last weekend's convention.

In the end, it wasn't even close. After delegates' votes were counted late on Friday night at the Conservative convention in Calgary, Pierre Poilievre won his leadership review with the backing of 87.4 per cent. Join CBC's Rosemary Barton and David Cochrane for a special episode of Power & Politics live from the convention floor, where they'll talk to our political insiders and big names from the party's past about whether the biggest Conservative challenge still lies ahead.

Join Power & Politics on the floor of the Conservative convention in Calgary, just hours before delegates vote on whether Pierre Poilievre should remain the party's leader. Conservative campaign manager Steve Outhouse discusses the path from from the leadership vote to the next federal election, but refuses to predict whether the convention will stabilize Conservative caucus after two defections to the Liberals. Then, our panel of political insiders and CBC's Rosemary Barton discuss how much support Poilievre needs to silence doubts about his future, and whether a greater challenge lies ahead with Poilievre's appeal to voters outside his base. 

As Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Canada's premiers in Ottawa, the U.S. State Department confirmed it had met with a group of Alberta separatists — leading B.C. Premier David Eby to accuse the separatists of 'treason' and the group to defend the talks as a 'feasibility study.' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he sees the meetings within the context of U.S. threats against Greenland and attacks on the prime minister, arguing 'there's a lot being thrown at us to try to destabilize us' before talks to renew the CUSMA trade deal this year. Then, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson explains how the premiers and Carney discussed Arctic security following the U.S. demands for Greenland.

After meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Ottawa, B.C. Premier David Eby says 'there wasn't any substantial new information from Alberta, and B.C.'s position hasn't changed' on a new oil pipeline. But he still called the talks 'borderline friendly.' Then, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says that the pipeline 'has to happen for our country,' and discusses what he needs to hear from Carney on the U.S.-Canada relationship when the premiers meet on Thursday.

After U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of 'aggressively' reversing comments from his World Economic Forum speech in a Monday call with President Donald Trump, Carney offers a virtually opposite account of the conversation. Carney says he told Trump: 'I meant what I said in Davos.' Former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton responds to the idea that recent U.S. threats are a negotiating tactic for CUSMA, calling the idea of Trump having an overarching strategy 'an oxymoron.' Plus, This Hour Has 22 Minutes star Mark Critch explains how Greenlanders reacted when he visited in character as Trump and asked to buy their country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney framed five years and an estimated $11-12 billion in GST rebate hikes as a 'bridge' to help Canadians in the near-term, as they wait for his policies to transform the broader Canadian economy to pay off. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defends the spend, and Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer explains why his party won't 'stand in the way' of the measure — but lays out the limitations on his party's broader pledge for co-operation. Then, Minneapolis Coun. Aurin Chowdhury calls the second killing by federal agents in her city in a month a 'public execution.'

CBC’s new weekly podcast, Two Blocks from the White House, takes a clear-eyed look at what’s happening in the U.S. right now and what it means for Canadians. This week Washington correspondents Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry digest Prime Minister Mark Carney’s striking remarks at the World Economic Forum, talk about the President’s latest moves on Greenland, and explore what this moment could reveal about where Canada-U.S. relations are headed. Find and follow Two Blocks from the White House wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.mgln.ai/2BFTWHxPnP

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump’s speeches in Davos laid out starkly opposed visions of the world order and Canada’s relationship to its greatest powers. Zain Velji, Laura D'Angelo and Rachael Segal break down the international reverberations of Carney’s speech and how the Conservatives are responding.