Power & Politics

Ontario Conservative MP Michael Ma announced Thursday evening that he was crossing the floor to the Liberals, bringing the government within one seat of the 172-vote threshold for a majority in the House of Commons. Power & Politics breaks the news live on the program and gets instant reaction from the bureau chiefs of the Globe and Mail, Canadian Press and La Presse. Plus, despite no official resumption of Canada's trade talks, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tells Power & Politics that 'what we're trying to do now is sectoral deals' with the U.S. and that 'discussions are ongoing.' 

There's no official word yet on who will be replacing Kirsten Hillman once she leaves her post as Canada's ambassador to the U.S. in January, but whoever picks up that file will soon be heading into CUSMA negotiations. Power & Politics hears from former ambassador Frank Mckenna. The Power Panel weighs in.

Liberal MP Corey Hogan weighs in on the breaking news that Canada’s Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman is stepping down. Plus, Liberal MPs reject an attempt to put their caucus in an uncomfortable position, as Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre tries to wedge the Liberals on their pipeline support. The Power Panel breaks down the vote. 

The Conservatives are looking to magnify a potential rift in Liberal caucus on Tuesday, with a motion that would force MPs to show their support for a new oil pipeline to B.C. and changes to the North Coast tanker ban. Andrew Scheer tells Power & Politics his party is putting forward the motion because 'Canadians deserve clarity,' and accuses Prime Minister Mark Carney of delivering a different message to Alberta than other parts of the country. Plus, Catherine Abreu explains why she was one of two members who resigned from Canada's Net-Zero Advisory Body last week, saying the Carney government 'at no point' sought its advice on the oil and gas projects it's supporting.

The Weekly Wrap panel breaks down the biggest moments in Canadian politics this week. With Carlene Variyan, Ginny Roth and Zain Velji.

The leaders of all three nations in the North American free trade deal spent more than an hour chatting and laughing in the stands of the FIFA World Cup draw on Friday, before Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum retreated to a 45-minute private meeting without any staff. Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations member Jean Charest warns that Canada can 'expect a lot of posturing' like threats to abandon CUSMA from the U.S., but that patience and focus will preserve the deal. Plus, CBC's Peter Armstrong explains how a revision to Canada's economic data shows that growth has actually been better than previously thought.

The day after denying his party's announcement that they'd removed him as leader and posting on social media that he was 'not going anywhere,' John Rustad resigned his leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party. Trevor Halford, the new interim leader of the party, joins Power & Politics to discuss the path forward from the caucus revolt. Plus, Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu responds to Algoma Steel's layoff of 1,000 workers and explains the extension of federal child-care subsidies in Ontario as fees still remain above $10 a day. 

On the first day of hearings on the U.S. review of CUSMA, the free trade deal that exempts most Canadian goods from 35 per cent tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to either let it expire — the current deal would end in 2036 if not renewed — or pursue a different agreement. Brad Wood, a senior director at the National Foreign Trade Council who's testifying at the hearings, says he'll be telling the top U.S. trade official that keeping the deal is 'critical' for U.S. business. Plus, Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty reacts to the Assembly of First Nations' unanimous call for the withdrawal of her government's pipeline agreement with Alberta.  

In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, First Nations chiefs called for the withdrawal of the energy agreement between Ottawa and Alberta at the AFN's special chiefs assembly in Ottawa. B.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee and Indian Resource Council president Stephen Buffalo join Power & Politics to respond to Prime Minister Mark Carney's address to the assembly. Plus, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May explains why she says voting for the Liberal budget was a 'mistake' she won't make again.

Prime Minister Mark Carney left Trudeau-era mainstay Marc Miller out of his first cabinet, but turned to the former immigration minister on Monday to replace Steven Guilbeault as minister of Canadian identity and official languages. Miller joins Power & Politics to discuss his return. Plus, Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker reacts to Algoma Steel's confirmation that it served 1,000 layoff notices to workers at its plant in the city.