CBC Politics

Ontario Premier Doug Ford heading to Texas to talk trade and tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford will push a pro-trade and anti-tariff message during a multi-day trip to Texas, U.S. where he will meet Governor Greg Abbott, an ally of President Donald Trump, and business leaders.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-texas-trip-9.7145909?cmp=rss

NDP leadership hopefuls make final pitches
NDP leadership candidates Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and Tony McQuail speak to delegates at the party's convention in Winnipeg. The party's new leader will be announced Sunday.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.7144730?cmp=rss

Should gambling taxes fund sports? Former Olympian says it's a 'devil's bargain'
The government will be making a "devil's bargain" if it moves ahead with a recommendation to boost revenue for sport organizations through taxes on sports gambling, former track and field Olympian Bruce Kidd said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sports-betting-taxes-funding-9.7145213?cmp=rss

Federal New Democrats are in Manitoba — but do Prairie NDP leaders want them there?
Despite Premier Wab Kinew delivering words of affirmation to New Democrats gathered in Winnipeg, sources says the Manitoba NDP has tried to distance itself from the federal wing of the party, as tensions with Prairie New Democrats are once again playing out in the leadership race.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-ndp-convention-provincial-prairie-leaders-9.7145641?cmp=rss

Canadian Army overhaul looms as DND finalizes mobilization plans
Canada's army is preparing a sweeping reorganization just as the National Defence Department moves to finalize its mobilization plan. Senior commanders warn the current force is ill suited to a more dangerous world, with proposals under study to expand reserves and generate hundreds of thousands of additional personnel in a crisis.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/army-canada-mobilization-soldiers-9.7145446?cmp=rss

What happens after communism? Cubans face huge challenges, big decisions
Cuba appears to be tottering toward some kind of political transition. Some Cubans are concerned that the residents own nothing and are too impoverished to take over the few functioning businesses on the island, while there is a large and wealthy diaspora community (and potentially also foreign investors) who would be able to swoop in and buy ...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cuba-transition-communism-9.7142334?cmp=rss

NDP leadership candidates to give final pitch before party chooses new head
The five candidates vying for the NDP's leadership into the next election will have one final chance to woo members before the party chooses its next leader.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-leadership-convention-final-pitch-speeches-9.7144650?cmp=rss

Métis National Council president says RCMP statement of regret falls short
The president of the Métis National Council says the RCMP's response to an extensive spying program that targeted hundreds of Indigenous people falls short.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mnc-rcmp-indigenous-spying-program-9.7144746?cmp=rss

Air Canada CEO's lack of respect outweighs his lack of French, crisis management expert says
The CEO of Canada’s largest airline remains under fire from multiple fronts this week following a botched expression of condolence and a subsequent fumbled apology.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/air-canada-ceo-french-controversy-collision-9.7144663?cmp=rss

NDP says goodbye to the past, ponders what the future holds
New Democrats gave tribute to NDP former leader Jagmeet Singh on Friday — just days before they're set to announce his successor.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-leadership-past-future-9.7144953?cmp=rss

'This is a dumb war,' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says in letter urging PM to take action to stop Iran conflict
Manitoba's premier is calling on Mark Carney to help stop the war in Iran.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wab-kinew-iran-war-mark-carney-9.7145251?cmp=rss

Poilievre backs J.K. Rowling's support for Olympic ban of transgender women from women's sports
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is supporting a ruling this week by the International Olympic Committee that bans transgender women from women's sports at the Games.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-olympic-gender-policy-9.7145171?cmp=rss

Liberal MP's Chinese forced labour comments come as U.S. probes Canada's imports
Liberal MP Michael Ma's apology for confronting an academic witness about whether her evidence on Chinese aluminum supply chains could be "hearsay" coincides with a highly sensitive moment in Canada's trade war with the Trump administration. The U.S. included Canada in its recent tariff investigation to crack down on...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michael-ma-china-forced-labour-investigation-9.7144931?cmp=rss

Canada loaning millions to proposed Nunavik rare earth mining project linked to Trump White House
Amid Prime Minister Mark Carney’s calls that the Canada-U.S. relationship is ruptured, Ottawa has committed $175-million to a mining project in northern Quebec whose major U.S. investor is closely linked to the Trump administration.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nunavik-rare-earth-mining-project-9.7138515?cmp=rss

At historic low point, New Democrats descend on Winnipeg to choose a new leader
The NDP will have a new leader by Sunday afternoon — and whoever comes out of the party's convention in Winnipeg with the top job will be tasked with bringing the party back from a historic low.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-leadership-convention-9.7142422?cmp=rss

What's new in Ottawa-Alberta deal to cut methane emissions from oil and gas sector
As part of the wide-ranging Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding on energy policy and a new oil pipeline, the two sides announced an agreement-in-principle on new methane rules and targets. It could speed up methane reductions, experts say, but some questions remain.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/methane-canada-alberta-oil-gas-9.7143673?cmp=rss

Floor-crossing Liberal MP downplays reports of forced labour in China
Liberal MP Michael Ma is facing criticism for downplaying persistent allegations of forced labour in Xinjiang, China, during a committee hearing on Thursday.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-mp-uyghur-forced-labour-9.7143558?cmp=rss

The parliamentary budget officer is caught again in partisan conflict. Should MPs pick their own watchdog?
It's very possible the Conservatives will forget about their concerns as soon as the new PBO releases a report that is unflattering to the government. But ideally the appointment of an independent officer of Parliament would not be the subject of political conflict and partisan email campaigns.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pbo-ryan-jacques-conservatives-analysis-9.7143506?cmp=rss

Gun charges stayed against Canadian Sikh Khalistani leader
Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who leads the Sikhs for Justice movement in Canada following the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has had gun possession charges against him stayed in an Ontario court.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inderjeet-singh-gosal-charges-dropped-9.7143340?cmp=rss

Death of First Nation chief's grandson in house fire spurs renewed calls for Ottawa to take action
The recent death of the three-year-old grandson of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Chief Donny Morris has prompted renewed calls for Ottawa to take action. The Oji-Cree community in northwestern Ontario and a tribal council launched a human rights complaint seven months ago against Indigenous Services Canada, arguing...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/ki-fatal-house-fire-9.7143159?cmp=rss

Canadians might be soon waiting longer to have their air travel complaints heard
The federal government is currently weighing whether to renew funding meant to address a massive backlog of airline passenger complaints — funding that if not extended could result in Canadians having to wait longer to have their cases heard.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/funding-to-clear-backlog-air-passenger-complaints-9.7127811?cmp=rss

Former NATO chief says he doesn't think allies will be pulled further into Middle East conflict
The former secretary general of NATO says he doesn't think allies will be pulled further into the conflict in the Middle East, but he's concerned the ongoing war with Iran will benefit Russia's economy and take the world’s attention away from the invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nato-iran-israel-us-war-9.7127634?cmp=rss

Parks Canada planning to cull dozens of deer on historic Quebec island
Parks Canada is proposing to kill dozens of white-tailed deer at a storied historic site near Quebec City, saying the deer population on the island presents a threat to rare plants and the safety of employees flying in. However, an animal-rights advocate is calling for the agency to use non-lethal solutions to deal with the deer.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parks-canada-deer-grosse-ile-9.7127828?cmp=rss

Quebec Conservatives sour on Don Cherry nomination as party pushes Order of Canada petition
Opposition is mounting among Quebec's federal Conservatives to their own party's push to award the Order of Canada to controversial hockey commentator Don Cherry.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/don-cherry-order-canada-conservatives-quebec-9.7128629?cmp=rss

Ottawa to allow rural employers to increase proportion of temporary foreign workers
Ottawa will allow rural employers to have a greater proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers on their payroll on a time-limited basis, as part of new measures the federal government announced on Friday.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-foreign-workers-rural-employers-9.7128274?cmp=rss

As Trump pauses Russian shadow fleet sanctions, Carney says Canada holding firm
Three world leaders — two of them members of the G7 — stood united in opposition Friday to the Trump administration's decision to ease sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/shadow-fleet-trump-sanctions-russia-iran-9.7127830?cmp=rss

Carney says Canada's job creation still way ahead of U.S. despite losing 84,000 jobs last month
The Canadian economy lost more jobs in February than it has in a single month in the last four years — but Prime Minister Mark Carney says when compared to the United States, we're doing pretty good.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-jobs-united-states-six-months-9.7127667?cmp=rss

IN PHOTOS | Highlights from NATO's Cold Response exercise
Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store were near Bardufoss, Norway, to watch NATO's Cold Response. The joint military exercises, which Norway hosts every two years, involves 32,000 troops, 100 aircraft and 30 warships from 14 nations.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/in-photos-highlights-from-nato-s-cold-response-exercise-9.7127578?cmp=rss

Canada's economy lost 84,000 jobs in February, unemployment rate ticked up to 6.7%
Canada's economy lost 84,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate edged up to 6.7 per cent, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-labour-force-survey-february-2026-9.7127105?cmp=rss

Poilievre to focus on trade and auto sector as he launches U.S. trip in Detroit
Canada's Opposition leader is launching his trip to the U.S. with a stop in Detroit to talk about the automotive industry and cross-border trade, per a press release.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/poilievre-usa-detroit-visit-canada-trade-auto-conservative-9.7125759?cmp=rss

Submarines off the table as Carney meets with leaders of Norway, Germany
Prime Minister Mark Carney touched down in Norway early Friday where he will get important face time with the Nordic country’s leader and the German chancellor before taking in a major NATO wargaming exercise that includes Canadian troops.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/submarines-canada-norway-germany-carney-9.7126976?cmp=rss

How rare is it for a prime minister to attract 4 floor-crossers in 4 months?
Floor-crossing has always been a feature of Canadian politics dating back to the first Parliament — and seeing four opposition MPs jump ship to join the government in a matter of months is rare but not unprecedented.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/history-floor-crossing-to-join-government-9.7126641?cmp=rss

Carney to meet with King Charles while in United Kingdom next week
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with King Charles while he's in the United Kingdom next week.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-meeting-king-charles-9.7126725?cmp=rss

Carney announces $35B for defence, infrastructure in Canada's North
The Liberal government has unveiled a detailed, multibillion-dollar proposal to modernize and expand Canada's military footprint in the country's Far North.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-defence-north-announcement-9.7126640?cmp=rss

Silence from Ottawa 'shameful' after report of Canadian camp hit by missile: Conservative MP
Conservative defence critic James Bezan says it's "really shameful" the federal government did not tell the public that the airbase in Kuwait, where the Canadian Armed Forces have a camp, was hit by an Iranian missile attack on March 1.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kuwait-attack-canadian-camp-9.7126481?cmp=rss

CRTC to eliminate fees when cancelling or switching cellphone and internet plans
Canada's telecommunications regulator says it will prevent companies from charging customers when they cancel, change or activate plans.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/crtc-fees-cellphone-internet-9.7125858?cmp=rss

Liberal government introduces bill it says will help track and identify criminals online
The Liberal government has introduced a new lawful access bill that it says will help police and security services track and identify people who may be using tools like social media or artificial intelligence to commit crimes or threaten national security.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lawfull-access-legislation-liberal-9.7125891?cmp=rss

This chart shows how rare it is for floor-crossers to survive the next election
The path across the aisle is often a precarious one for members of Parliament and few who switch parties make it through the next election.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/charting-floor-crossers-historic-9.7124302?cmp=rss

Carney heads to Arctic war games as NATO flexes muscle in Norway
Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Norway to observe NATO's massive Cold Response exercise above the Arctic Circle and meet Nordic leaders before visiting the United Kingdom. The trip underscores Canada's focus on Arctic security, allied co-operation and closer ties with northern European partners.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-nato-war-games-norway-canada-9.7124665?cmp=rss

NDP's U.S. arms-control bill fails, 15 Liberal MPs break rank with government
An NDP private member's bill that would have ended exemptions from Canada's export-control regime for weapons and ammunition destined for the U.S. failed to pass at the House of Commons on Wednesday, though it garnered the support of 15 Liberal MPs who sided against their government.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-bill-loopholes-arms-exports-9.7124756?cmp=rss