Power And Politics

Feb. 15, 2024 - The White House confirmed Thursday Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapons system but said there's no immediate threat to anyone's safety. Power & Politics speaks to Defence Minister Bill Blair about the emerging space-based threat, Russia's war against Ukraine and NATO alliance defence spending. Plus, a key Liberal MP rips his government's policy on Gaza war in a leaked private call with a constituent. CBC's Evan Dyer has the details and the Power Panel weighs in.

Feb. 14, 2024 - Ottawa says it suspended all contracts with GC Strategies — the company at the centre of a blistering auditor general's report about the federal government's ArriveCan app — in November 2023. But the Official Opposition is still demanding an investigation into the company's relationship with the Liberals. Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan responds. Plus, Canadians bought more homes in January, suggesting the housing market may be turning a corner. The senior economist at the Canadian Real Estate Association breaks down the numbers.

Feb. 13, 2024 - A scathing federal court decision says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal justice minister 'failed' Canadians seeking timely justice by letting the number of judicial vacancies reach a state of crisis. Power & Politics hears from lawyer Nicholas Pope, who brought the case to court. Plus, Canada's housing advocate says the growing number of encampments across the country are now a 'life and death' matter. She's calling for a national action plan by August. Minister of Employment Randy Boissonnault shares the government's response.

Feb. 12, 2024 - The final cost of the controversial ArriveCan app is impossible to determine due to poor record-keeping, a new auditor general's report has found. Power & Politics hears from Auditor General Karen Hogan and Charles Sousa, parliamentary secretary to the minister of public services and procurement. Plus, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump says he won't guarantee the safety of NATO allies who don't meet defence spending targets if he is re-elected. The CBC's Katie Simpson has the latest from Washington.

Feb. 9, 2024 - The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously upheld the Trudeau government's Indigenous child welfare law, dismissing Quebec's appeal. Power & Politics speaks to Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse about the landmark opinion affirming Indigenous Peoples' jurisdiction over child and family services. Plus, Ontario signed a $3.1B deal with the federal government to help the province hire more health-care workers. The Ontario Medical Association reacts.

Feb. 8, 2024 - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggests his government is considering tougher penalties for auto theft as the head of the RCMP warns that some thefts are being carried out with "extreme violence." Power & Politics hears from Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc. Plus, Bell Media's parent company is slashing thousands of jobs, many in local and national news divisions, and selling off 45 regional radio stations. B.C. Premier David Eby says BCE has 'sucked the life' out of the industry. The Power Panel weighs in.

Feb. 7, 2024 -The Canada Border Services Agency will get $28 million to tackle vehicle theft. Tomorrow, the government will host a national auto-theft summit on the issue. We speak to Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner ahead of his participation in the summit. Plus, Israel has firmly rejected the terms of a ceasefire proposal from Hamas. A former Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia is here to weigh in.

Feb. 6, 2024 - The updated Canada-Ukraine free trade deal passed with support from the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois. Conservative MPs voted against the bill. Power & Politics speaks to Ontario Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara and NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson. Plus, we bring you reaction from the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

Feb. 5, 2024 - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in the capital defending her controversial gender identity policy. Smith argues the policy is about protecting children; we ask her about the critics who say she's actually harming them. Plus, we bring you the latest from Buckingham Palace on King Charles' cancer diagnosis.

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.

Jan. 30, 2024 - Canada is sending another $40 million in aid to organizations that are helping people in the Gaza Strip after joining at least eight other countries in pausing funding to the UN's relief agency for Palestinians. The United Nations is pleading for those countries to reverse their decision to cut off Gaza's main relief agency. Power & Politics hears from International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen. Plus, Save The Children Canada warns of the impact this decision could have on the 'rapidly worsening' humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Jan. 29, 2024 - Parliament returns for its winter sitting and the housing crisis is top of the political agenda. Power & Politics speaks with Housing Minister Sean Fraser about an expansion of the government's low-cost loans program to build more student housing. Plus, the long-awaited public inquiry into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections begins. Human rights groups representing some diaspora groups say they could withdraw from the inquiry if three politicians accused of ties to Beijing are allowed to cross-examine them. P&P hears from the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project.

Jan. 26, 2024 - The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire. Power & Politics speaks to Israel's ambassador to Canada, the chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, and the South African high commissioner to Canada. Plus, the Liberals' attempt at a narrative reset ahead of Parliament's return did not go as planned. The Power Panel is here to weigh in.

January 25, 2024 - Liberal MP Ken McDonald made waves this week when he said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should face a leadership review — then walked back that statement. We ask Government House Leader Mark McKinnon for his take. Plus, as parties gear up for the return of Parliament on Monday, Power & Politics discusses what Canadians should watch for this winter in a panel with David McLaughlin, chief of staff to former prime minister Brian Mulroney, and Tim Murphy, chief of staff to former prime minister Paul Martin.

Jan. 24, 2024 - 'Every leader, every party has a best-before date. Our best-before date is here,' says MP Ken McDonald. Radio-Canada's Laurence Martin tells us why McDonald thinks Justin Trudeau may be doing his party more harm than good. Plus, police in London, Ontario reportedly have ordered five former world junior hockey players to surrender to face sexual assault charges. We bring you more details on this explosive news from the hockey world.

Jan 23, 2024 - A federal judge has ruled the Liberal government's controversial use of the Emergencies Act to clear convoy protestors out of downtown Ottawa in early 2022 was 'unreasonable' and infringed on the protesters' Charter rights. We ask Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne about the government's plans to appeal the decision. Plus, Canada's ambassador to the United States is here to weigh in on the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency.

Jan. 22, 2024 - The federal government will cap the number of student permits over the next two years. It's part of the government's response to the housing crisis and the impact of growing numbers of international students on the housing market. Minister of Immigration Marc Miller makes the case for capping international study permits. Plus, we have industry reaction from Michael Sangster, CEO of the National Association of Career Colleges.

Jan. 19, 2024 - Some Liberal caucus members are calling on Ottawa to reject claims of genocide being made against Israel. Power & Politics speaks with Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who co-authored an op-ed with former cabinet minister Marco Mendocino calling for Canada to join other G7 allies in opposing the case South Africa has brought to the International Court of Justice. Plus, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has picked a fight on social media with the mayors of Montreal and Quebec City over a dip in the number of new homes built. The Power Panel weighs in.