CBC News | Power & Politics

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday he won't be running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Former B.C. premier Christy Clark also bowed out after previously hinting at a leadership bid. That leaves the Liberals with only three leadership hopefuls that have publicly announced their intentions to run. The CBC's Catherine Cullen and Radio-Canada's Louis Blouin have the latest on who we can soon expect to join the race. Plus, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge weighs in on what it means to not have a major Quebecois or francophone contender running.

After meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on the weekend, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says tariffs are 'likely coming' in one week. O'Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O'Leary was at the meeting and argues that Canada needs to 'get ready' to negotiate. Plus, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and P.E.I. Premier Dennis King detail their final hopes — and efforts — to stop Trump from enacting the tariffs.

Liberal Party national campaign co-chair Terry Duguid walks through the rules for the party's race to select a new leader — and prime minister. Former B.C. premier Christy Clark contradicts her political past ahead of her potential run. Plus, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson weighs in on whether he'll enter the race.

Liberal Party executives meet as they try to finalize the rules for a leadership race. Liberal MP Chandra Arya explains why he's the first in caucus to announce he'll run, and defends his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Plus, B.C. Premier David Eby responds to the provincial Conservatives' call for an inquiry into the 2024 provincial election.

Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu and Atlantic Liberal caucus Chair Kody Blois speak to Power & Politics after the Liberals' first caucus meeting since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would resign, discussing how a truncated leadership race can unfold and what the field looks like after Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc bowed out. Plus, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says premiers will travel to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12 to present a 'collective unified voice' against tariffs.

Strategizing for the Liberal leadership begins, as Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne explains why he's "seriously considering" running, and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis makes his pitch as the first to announce his leadership bid. Plus, as president-elect Donald Trump says the U.S. could use "economic force" to absorb Canada, Trudeau says there "isn't a snowball's chance in hell" of it happening.

Justin Trudeau is promising to step aside as prime minister once the Liberals choose his successor. Parliament is now prorogued. Power & Politics has been covering every moment since Trudeau made the announcement Monday morning, and brings you the reaction from MPs, cabinet ministers, strategists and top figures from past Liberal governments.

Dec. 27, 2024 - Power and Politics' panel of political insiders — Fred DeLorey, Greg MacEachern and Melanie Richer — on Canadian political stories to watch in 2025.

Dec. 24, 2024 - Host David Cochrane and Power Panelists Laura D’Angelo, Paul Wells, Jordan Leichnitz and Tim Powers count down the top five political newsmakers of 2024.

Dec. 23, 2024 - Host David Cochrane and Power Panelists Kate Harrison, Matthew Dubé, Vandana Kattar and Rob Benzie count down the top five political news stories of 2024.

May 6, 2024 - The federal government has tabled a bill aimed at countering foreign interference, just days after a public inquiry said attempts by other countries to meddle in Canada's last two elections undermined Canadians' trust in democracy. Former CSIS director Ward Elcock brings us his assessment. Plus, two Middle East experts walk us through a potential ceasefire proposal between Hamas and Israel.

May 3, 2024 - Canadian police have arrested members of an alleged hit squad investigators believe was tasked by the government of India with killing prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. last June. The CBC's Evan Dyer brings us up to speed on everything we know about today's arrests. Plus, the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference released its first report. We ask Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc about these two major developments.

May 2, 2024 - Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2022 as the economy rebounded from the pandemic, according to new figures released by the federal government. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault tells Power & Politics that Canada is still on track to meet its 2030 reduction goals — and meeting that goal requires an emissions cap on the oil and gas sector. Plus, B.C. wants to roll back part of its drug decriminalization policy. Power & Politics speaks with Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson.

April 12, 2024 - Power & Politics speaks to Housing Minister Sean Fraser as the Liberals lay out their full plan to address the housing crisis. Plus, we ask Alberta Premier Danielle Smith why she's threatening to block municipalities from cutting their own deals with Ottawa.

April 11, 2024 - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has introduced legislation that would compel municipalities, schools or agencies looking to make deals with the federal government to first secure provincial approval. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek tells us what this means for her city. Plus, the federal Liberals announce housing affordability measures for first-time buyers. The CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association is here to react.

April 10, 2024 - Testifying before a public inquiry on foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that intelligence leaks to the media can't be refuted without declassifying secret information. The CBC's Karina Roman, Janyce McGregor and Rosemary Barton join Power & Politics host David Cochrane to break it all down. Plus, we hear from two former CSIS directors.

April 9, 2024 - The prime minister's top staffers testify before the inquiry into foreign interference, challenging some of the intelligence leaks that prompted the public inquiry in the first place. The CBC's Karina Roman brings us the latest.

March 8, 2024 - Power & Politics speaks to Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, after the Canadian government confirmed it will restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Plus, we speak to Canada's ambassador to Haiti as a violent power struggle paralyzes the Caribbean nation.

March 6, 2024 - "UNRWA has basically manipulated and monopolized all of the assistance that goes into Gaza," Israel's Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed tells Power & Politics, claiming that the UN relief agency for Palestinians is "fully oriented" toward the goals of Hamas. Plus, Chris Houston, former head of logistics for the World Health Organization in Yemen, weighs in.

March 5, 2024 - Laura Dawson, executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, and David MacNaughton, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., joined Power & Politics Tuesday to discuss what's at stake for Canada as Joe Biden and Donald Trump appear poised to fight for the U.S. presidency again. Plus, the Task Force for Housing and Climate is calling on governments to implement more pro-density policies and invest in factory-built housing to tackle the housing crisis.

Feb. 2, 2024 - The federal government is providing Toronto with another $143 million to help cover the cost of housing thousands of asylum seekers. The money comes from a new fund to help provinces, territories and municipalities provide shelter to the growing number of refugees coming into Canada. But it's less than the $250 million Toronto asked for. Power & Politics hears from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Plus, the first week of the foreign interference inquiry comes to a close. Two former CSIS directors break it all down.

Feb. 1, 2024 - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has proposed what critics say is Canada's most restrictive transgender rights policy. It's an effort to make sure parents have more of a say in their children's lives, says Smith. Power & Politics hears from a Calgary-based queer advocacy group vowing to take Smith's new policy to court, and Alberta MP Randy Boissonnault, who says the policy is 'dangerous for youth in Alberta.' Plus, the Alberta Teachers' Association weighs in on the potential impact on students.

Jan. 31, 2024 - UN officials are meeting with member states who have suspended funding to its relief agency in Gaza. Canada is one of several countries which paused funding after some of UNRWA's staff were linked to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Power & Politics hears from Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, on how that conversation went. Plus, some Alberta daycares are staging rolling closures over funding concerns with $10-a-day child care. We hear from the Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs and Canada's Minister of Families Jenna Sudds.