Power & Politics

A single victory in today's three byelections would be enough to give the Liberals a majority, but they'll need at least two if they want to avoid leaning on the Speaker to break ties. The Power Panel discusses how the outcome will change the face of the Carney government and its approach to the House. Plus, former House of Commons senior parliamentary counsel Steven Chaplin says he hasn't found any Canadian or Commonwealth precedent for assembling a majority this way, and explains why the Liberals will still need rules changes if they want their majority control to extend to House of Commons committees.

The Liberals only need to win one of Monday's three federal byelections to clinch a majority in the House of Commons, but Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed one NDP and four Conservative floor-crossers to get here. Laura D'Angelo, Zain Velji and Michael Solberg debate whether managing a slim majority and a patchwork caucus could become Carney's nightmare.

Globe and Mail Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife, The Canadian Press deputy parliamentary bureau chief Mia Rabson and La Presse parliamentary bureau chief Joël-Denis Bellavance debate whether the crossing of a deeper-blue Conservative to the Liberals could be a headache for both parties, with Fife saying MP Marilyn Gladu is plainly going against what she previously said she believes in.

Prime Minister Mark Carney defends accepting former Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu into his caucus despite her past opposition to a host of Liberal policies and positions, saying crossers bring 'a series of perspectives and expertise that is aiding the country.' Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon tells Power & Politics that the party has values that Gladu 'has to adhere to.' Plus, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says he wants Carney to call a byelection in Gladu's riding so voters can confirm they really want a Liberal MP.

Former Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu became the latest to cross the floor to the Liberals on Thursday, putting the Carney government in position to secure a majority with just one of three byelection wins next week. Liberal Party caucus chair James Maloney responds to Gladu's socially Conservative views and past controversies like downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic, and says 'the bigger the tent the better.' Plus, former Canadian top soldier Tom Lawson accuses the U.S. president of 'gaslighting' with his threats to destroy Iran, and saying the U.S. is presenting the ceasefire terms differently than they were negotiated because 'the Americans see this as their way out.'

U.S. President Donald Trump stuck to his threat to end Iran's 'whole civilization' and bomb bridges and power plants until less than two hours before his Tuesday deadline, when he suddenly posted that there would be a 'a double-sided ceasefire' for two weeks. Experience the night and the news as it unfolded live on Power & Politics, beginning with former Canadian UN ambassador Bob Rae, who says Trump's threat was 'genocidal,' the administration is corrupt and the U.S. is behaving immorally and illegally. Plus, Canada's last head of mission in Saudi Arabia, Dennis Horak, brings instant analysis of Trump's announcement.

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has until 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday to open the Strait of Hormuz — or else he'll destroy civilian infrastructure. Power & Politics hears from former Middle East peace negotiator Aaron David Miller. Plus, three federal byelections could push the government over the edge of a majority. The Power Panel weighs in.

It's a pivotal time for all three main federal political parties. Greg MacEachern, Mélanie Richer and Fred DeLorey check Canada's political pulse as the Liberals inch closer to a majority government.

We're changing things up on Fridays. To get you the Power & Politics podcast before your weekend starts, each Friday we're making an earlier drop with one of our favourite panels: The Reporter Roundtable, where some of Ottawa's smartest journalists take you behind the Hill's biggest stories. This week, La Presse's Joël-Denis Bellavance, The Economist's Rob Russo and CBC's Aaron Wherry discuss the start of voting in byelections that could complete a Liberal majority, and whether the results could still surprise us all. 

The price of oil surged again following U.S. President Donald Trump's Wednesday night address on the Iran war. Conservative transportation critic Dan Albas explains his party's call to cut taxes on gas for the rest of the year, arguing the over $5-billion price tag can be covered by cutting wasteful spending. Plus, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association president Flavio Volpe argues that assembling Chinese EVs at the idle Stellantis plant in Brampton, Ont., would be a 'devolution' of the 'whole automotive ecosystem' in the region.