Power & Politics

Power & Politics brings you The Weekly Wrap, a new Saturday podcast where our political insiders break down what the biggest federal election stories actually mean for the campaign.

Former Justin Trudeau adviser Laura D'Angelo, former Harper government staffer Michael Solberg and former Alberta NDP strategist Zain Velji analyze the biggest moments on the trail and bring you under-the-radar storylines you won't hear on our TV program.  

This week:

In a campaign that was always going to be about the U.S. president, auto tariffs give leaders their first Donald Trump test.

Calls come from inside the Conservative house to warn Pierre Poilievre about his tactics.

And Carney's biggest asset looks like his biggest liability as his opponents attack his business dealings. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney says U.S. President Donald Trump respected Canada's sovereignty in the leaders' call on Friday. CBC reporters have the latest on what was said, and our political insiders debate whether Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's argument that Carney is Trump's preferred candidate will register with voters. Plus, the mayors of Toronto and Columbus, Ohio, discuss the way forward on tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says that 'nothing is off the table' to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's auto tariffs, and that the U.S. relationship based on increasing integration 'is over.' The Power Panel debates whether the Liberal, Conservative and NDP leaders are meeting the tariff moment with their respective arguments for economic independence. Plus, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association president Flavio Volpe and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston assess the potential damage tariffs could do to the auto sector. 

Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston provides instant reaction to the U.S. president's announcement of 25 per cent tariffs on vehicle imports beginning April 2. Party leaders react, and Kingston and the Power Panel tackle confusion about how the White House says the tariffs will apply in North America. Plus, the latest on how Liberal Leader Mark Carney's green funds at Brookfield avoided some taxes by registering in Bermuda. 

A new Globe and Mail report on alleged Indian meddling supporting Pierre Poilievre's Conservative leadership bid has Poilievre battling more questions about his refusal to get security clearance. The Globe and Mail's Robert Fife expands on what his source with top-secret clearance revealed to him about CSIS' allegations. Plus, the Power Panel and former CSIS executive manager Dan Stanton break down Poilievre's defence — and his opponents' attacks — over refusing clearance. 

The Liberals and Conservatives are making two separate proposals to cut the tax rate for the lowest income bracket in the first two days of the campaign. The Power Panel debates whether either cut can fit into an uncertain fiscal picture — or between other commitments that could cost tens of billions of dollars. Plus, TheWrit.ca's Éric Grenier breaks down where the polls are at the start of the election, and CBC reporters bring you the latest from every stop on the campaign trail.

Ahead of an expected election call on Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney holds his first meeting with provincial and territorial premiers. Party insiders discuss what was on the agenda amid a trade war with the U.S.

CBC's Rosemary Barton and Radio-Canada's Louis Blouin report that — according to sources — Prime Minister Mark Carney will ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament Sunday, and Canadians will vote in a federal election on either April 28 or May 5. The Toronto Star's Robert Benzie discusses his report that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Premier Doug Ford to ask for his help in the upcoming election, but Ford said he was too busy. Plus, former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick explains how a caretaker government can and can't respond to additional U.S. tariffs if they're implemented on April 2.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly responds to President Donald Trump's comments that he'd 'rather deal with a liberal than a conservative' as Canada's prime minister, which Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre calls an endorsement of his rival. Joly confirms that Canada is in 'very serious' talks with the European Union about a deal for a joint military buildup to decrease reliance on the U.S. Plus, the Power Panel discusses an update to the CBC Poll Tracker that now has a Liberal majority as the most likely election outcome.

CBC’s Poll Tracker shows the Liberal Party in majority territory for the first time in years. Two pollsters join Power & Politics to explain what’s happening: CEO and founder of Abacus Data, David Coletto, and executive vice-president of the Eastern Canada team for Leger, Sébastien Dallaire. ‘Millions’ more Canadians are now open to voting Liberal under Mark Carney, says Coletto. Plus, the Conservatives accuse Carney of ‘hiding’ his assets from Canadians. We ask a blind trust expert whether Carney is falling short of meeting conflict of interest rules.