Front Burner

Mark Carney's next challenge: minority rule

The Liberals have a minority government, huge plans and a divided country. How will they make it work?
A man wearing a suit and tie waves in front of a building.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to the media upon arriving at his office on Parliament Hill April 29, 2025 in Ottawa, Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged Tuesday to beat the United States in Donald Trump's trade war after winning Canada's election and leading his Liberal Party to another term in power. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images) (Dave Chan/AFP/Getty Images)

It's official: the Liberals have a minority government. 

They've got ambitious plans, and they've made big promises. But even though they got a substantial 44 per cent of the popular vote, they're now leading a country where 41 per cent of voters coalesced around their biggest opponent, the Conservatives. And they're still dealing with Donald Trump's trade war.

So how will they make it work?

Today, Paul Wells — a longtime political journalist who also publishes a Substack under his own name —  joins us to talk about the Liberals' path forward.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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