Darren Major

Darren Major

Debates commission looking at changes after 'perfect storm' clouded last leaders' showdown

Issues around leaders' scrums, participation caused controversy. The head of Canada's Leaders' Debates Commission says the independent body should stop organizing post-debate news conferences and will make changes to how it decides what leaders to invite after this spring's leadership debate was surrounded by controversy. Michel Cormier, the commission's executive director, appeared before a committee of MPs on Thursday to...

Darren Major

Minister apologizes for 'poor choice of words' about meeting with B.C. First Nations group

Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson says he has apologized to Coastal First Nations for what he says were a “poor choice of words” regarding a meeting he offered to have with the group on Friday. Hodgson said he would meet with the alliance of nine First Nations, who are opposed to a bitumen pipeline to the northern B.C. coast, in...

Darren Major

Ontario’s rep in Washington says Reagan ad not coming up in talks with U.S. lawmakers

The Ontario government’s representative in Washington says the infamous ad that upset U.S. President Donald Trump and ostensibly pushed him to halt trade talks with Canada hasn’t prevented him from having productive meetings. David Paterson told CBC News chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton that the Ontario government-backed advertisement — featuring clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about...

Darren Major

Ottawa, Alberta expected to sign new energy sector deal on Thursday: source

Memorandum of understanding expected to include language around a new oil pipeline. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are expected to sign an agreement on the future of Alberta's energy sector on Thursday, according to a senior federal government source. CBC News reported earlier this week that the memorandum of understanding between the federal and provincial governments...

Darren Major

Budget, government’s fate up in the air as MPs prepare for crucial vote

Liberals have already survived 2 confidence votes on the budget; final vote expected Monday evening. The House of Commons is set for one final vote on the main budget motion that will determine if the fiscal policy can go ahead and if the Liberal Party can keep governing. The Liberal government tabled the budget earlier this month. It calls for...

Darren Major

By the numbers: Here's what needs to happen in a budget vote to avoid an election

Liberals will need co-operation of one of the opposition parties to pass budget. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government was elected just a few seats shy of a majority, meaning the Liberals will need the co-operation of one of the opposition parties to pass their budget. The budget is considered a confidence vote, meaning the government will fall if it fails...

Darren Major

Canada collected $3B from U.S. counter-tariffs before a majority were dropped

Liberals promised to raise $20B through levies on U.S. goods this fiscal year. Canada had collected more than $3 billion through U.S. counter-tariffs before removing a swath of levies in September, according to the Finance Department — a fraction of what the Liberals had promised to rake in during the current fiscal year. The Liberals’ spring election platform estimated that...

Darren Major

'Why did he promise it?': Poilievre criticizes Carney for not securing U.S. trade deal

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is questioning why Prime Minister Mark Carney promised he could handle U.S. President Donald Trump, given that the two countries have yet to finalize a trade agreement that would see Canada granted some tariff relief. Speaking to CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, Poilievre said Carney has not delivered on what he promised during the spring election campaign...

Darren Major

Liberal House leader ‘starting to worry’ about support for upcoming budget

Minister MacKinnon dismissing ‘ludicrous’ demands other parties have put forward for the budget. Liberal House leader Steve MacKinnon signalled Tuesday that he’s concerned the government’s budget might not get support from the opposition benches, while at the same time dismissing some demands other parties have laid out. The Liberal government will need the co-operation of at least one other party...

Catharine Tunney, Darren Major

Poilievre blasts ‘despicable’ RCMP leadership, accuses Mounties of covering up for Trudeau

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took aim at the RCMP’s independence in a recent interview, calling the national police force’s "despicable" leadership and accusing it of covering up for the Liberal government and former prime minister Justin Trudeau. “If the RCMP had been doing its job and not covering up for him, then he would have been criminally charged,” the Opposition...

Darren Major

Alberta will need B.C. government’s backing to build proposed pipeline: energy minister

Alberta to apply to Major Projects Office for new bitumen pipeline to northern B.C. coast. Canada’s energy minister says Alberta will need to get its neighbouring province on board in order to see its proposed pipeline project to the West Coast come to fruition. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced earlier this month that her government will get started on its...

Darren Major

Carney calls for swift action after Israel, Hamas reach initial agreement on U.S.-peace plan

Prime Minister Mark Carney is calling for a swift implementation of the first phase of the U.S.-proposed peace deal between Israel and Hamas, following news of an agreement late Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump said that means Hamas will release all remaining Israeli hostages and Israel will withdraw its troops "to an agreed upon line." Carney congratulated Trump and representatives...

Darren Major

Federal budget watchdog's comments are 'just wrong,' says one of his predecessors

Kevin Page says PBO should ‘walk back’ comments about 'unsustainable' finances. A former parliamentary budget officer says it is "just wrong" to suggest that the federal finances are unsustainable and is publicly disagreeing with the current fiscal watchdog. Kevin Page — who was Canada's first parliamentary budget officer (PBO) starting in 2008 — told CBC's Power & Politics that he...

Darren Major

Time is up for the biannual clock change, Liberal MP says

Marie-France Lalonde plans to introduce bill aimed at ending daylight time. An MP says all of Canada should end the practice of changing the clocks twice a year — and is planning on introducing legislation she hopes will ensure the custom is lost to time. "Canadians will often engage in conversation and debates about why it is we change our...

Darren Major

How the votes need to land to get legislation passed this parliamentary session

Liberals are only a few seats short of a majority, will need support from another party to push agenda through. MPs returned to Parliament Hill this week after a summer break that was preceded by a short spring sitting. April's election saw Canadians elect a slim Liberal minority government — the sixth minority government in the past two decades —...

Darren Major

Head of new Major Projects Office to make north of $577K

Office is being set up to fast-track approvals for projects deemed in national interest. The head of the federal government's new Major Projects Office will earn a salary between $577,000 and $679,000 a year, according to an order in council issued last week. Prime Minister Mark Carney has tapped Dawn Farrell, former CEO and chair of the board of directors...

Darren Major

Most of Canada's retaliatory tariffs are gone. Now what?

Canada-U.S. trade minister says work is still needed to reach a deal with Trump. Most of the counter-tariffs Ottawa slapped on U.S. goods earlier this year have now been removed, with a few exceptions. Canada placed duties on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods in response to American tariffs on various Canadian goods. Those tariffs are gone as of Monday...

Darren Major

Few ballots rejected in Poilievre's byelection, despite write-in requirement

The requirement to write in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre or other candidates' names during last week's byelection doesn't appear to have made an impact on how many ballots were rejected. A larger share of ballots were rejected when Poilievre lost in his former Carleton riding in April than the Aug. 18 race in Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot. The validated results posted...

Darren Major

Was Battle River-Crowfoot the last hurrah for the long ballot protest?

Elections Canada adopted a write-in ballot as politicians weigh possible changes to election rules. In attempting to give Monday's federal byelection in Alberta the longest ballot in Canadian history, a group of electoral reform advocates may have instead created the shortest one — and with further policy changes possibly on the horizon, the future of such protests is unclear. Elections...

Darren Major

Elizabeth May says she won't lead Green Party in next election

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May told supporters Tuesday that she won't be leading the party into the next election. May — who is currently the only Green MP — made the announcement in an email to party members which was shared with CBC news. She said she intends to stay on as an MP and leader pending the results of...

Darren Major

Carney to visit Mexico next month as both countries navigate tense U.S. relations

Trump slapped Canada with higher tariffs Aug. 1 while giving Mexico more time. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit Mexico next month as the countries try to navigate trade relations with the United States. Both Mexico and Canada have been subject to tariffs and tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump since he was re-elected last fall. Trump...

Darren Major

Is the tradition of giving party leaders a free pass to the House dead?

‘Leadership courtesy’ convention has been inconsistently applied over the decades. Political parties won't be giving Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre a free ride back into the House of Commons — seemingly ignoring a parliamentary tradition that dates back decades. But the convention of political parties standing aside to allow seatless party leaders an easy path to the House — known as...

Darren Major

Viable trade deal wasn't on the table ahead of deadline, Canada-U.S. trade minister says

Business groups raise concerns but say 'no deal is better than a bad deall' The federal minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade says Canada won't accept a bad deal from the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and that there had been no viable deal on the table this week. Minister Dominic LeBlanc told Radio-Canada's Canada Midi that he was encouraged because...

Darren Major

Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state in September, Carney says

Palestinian Authority must commit to reforms for Canada to recognize statehood. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September if the West Bank's governing body agrees to certain conditions. The prime minister said the Palestinian Authority must hold an election in 2026 and commit to other democratic reforms. Carney's announcement came after he spoke to...

Darren Major

Over 200 candidates sign up for Poilievre's byelection — doubling previous record

More than 200 candidates, mostly associated with a group of electoral reform advocates, have signed up to run in an upcoming federal byelection next month. The number more than doubles the previous record on a single ballot. Former Alberta MP Damien Kurek vacated his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot to give Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre a chance to rejoin the House...

Darren Major

More than 100 candidates — most in Canadian history — to run against Poilievre in byelection

102 candidates have registered so far, beating the previous record of 91. Next month's byelection in Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot will break the record for the most candidates on a federal ballot in Canadian history. As of Friday, 108 candidates — mostly associated with a group of electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee — have registered to run...

Darren Major

The U.K. is lowering its voting age to 16. Should Canada follow suit?

The U.K. government announced Thursday that it will be lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, in time for its next general election. The move is encouraging for advocates who want to see the same change made in Canada. "It's a step that should have been done a long time ago," Jaden Braves, CEO of Young Politicians of Canada...

Darren Major

'This is a scam': Poilievre wants rules changed to stop long ballot protests

Protesters again signing up dozens of candidates to run against Conservative leader. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he wants Canada's election laws changed to prevent long ballot protests as he is set to face another one next month. "We have to take action because this is a scam. It is unfair, it is unjust and it must stop," Poilievre said...

Darren Major

Trump threatening 35% tariffs on Canadian goods across the board

Trump and PM Carney have been locked in negotiation to reach a trade agreement by July 21. U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to slap a 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods as the two countries have been engaged in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement. Trump's latest threat came in a letter to Prime Minister...

Darren Major

Canadians in ICE detention centres left in legal limbo as families try to secure release

Relatives of Canadians detained by ICE in the United States say they're furious and frustrated by the treatment of their loved ones and the battles they're having to fight for even the most basic information. Global Affairs Canada said it's aware of roughly 55 Canadians in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, though it said that the numbers can fluctuate.

Darren Major

Another Trudeau-appointed senator joins Conservative caucus

Manitoba Sen. Mary Jane McCallum is 2nd to join caucus this month. Sen. Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba is now part of the Conservatives' Senate caucus — making her the second senator appointed by former prime minister Justin Trudeau to join the party this month. McCallum, who is Cree and a member of the Barren Lands First Nation, said she...

Darren Major

Marc Garneau died after 'short but very difficult battle' with cancer, former staffer says

Former astronaut and federal cabinet minister died on Wednesday at 76. Marc Garneau died this week after being diagnosed with two types of cancer earlier this year, his former staffer says. The first Canadian to travel to space and former cabinet minister died on Wednesday. He was 76. Marc Roy, Garneau's former chief of staff, told CBC's Power & Politics...

Darren Major

House unanimously adopts Liberals' promised income tax cut

Liberals say tax cut will save 2-income families up to $840 a year. The House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the Liberals' promised income tax cut on Thursday. The Liberals promised to bring in a one percentage point reduction in the lowest marginal tax rate — taking it from 15 per cent to 14 per cent — during...

Darren Major

'Love is in the air': Cautious optimism as premiers pitch major projects to Carney

There was cautious optimism in the air as provincial and territorial premiers began arriving in Saskatoon to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The first ministers are meeting on Monday, and Carney has said he wants to hear provincial ideas for "nation-building projects." The prime minister struck an optimistic tone as he spoke to the premiers in front of reporters...

Darren Major

Carney has 'nation-building projects' on his mind as he meets with premiers in Saskatoon

Prime minister says he wants projects to ‘compete’ for federal approvals. Prime Minister Mark Carney's main focus will be on project development as he sits down with provincial and territorial premiers this week. First ministers are gathering in Saskatoon Monday for the first time since the April 28 federal election. Carney told CBC's Power & Politics in an exclusive interview...

David Thurton, Darren Major

Ottawa planning 'up-front' approval for projects deemed in the national interest

Internal federal documents suggest legislation could be tabled as early as next month. The Liberal government will introduce legislation to assist in identifying projects in the national interest and provide "up-front regulatory approvals" to major projects, according to a federal document obtained by CBC News. "Once a project is determined to be in the national interest, federal reviews will shift...

Darren Major

Poilievre says Conservatives will back Liberal tax cuts, but wants them to go further

Interim NDP leader says his party will get a question 'every day' in question period. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday that his party will support proposed Liberal tax cuts but urged the governing party to make those cuts steeper. "We are the party of taxpayers. We will vote for every tax cut always and everywhere. We love taxpayers and...

Darren Major

Carney says more movement on tariffs needed before CUSMA talks start

Prime minister thinks Trump beginning to get the hint about Canadian sovereignty. Prime Minister Mark Carney says more progress needs to be made on resolving the tariff issue with the United States before renegotiations of the North American trade deal begin. In an exclusive interview with CBC's Power & Politics on Tuesday, Carney said "fairly intensive discussions" with the U.S...

Darren Major

Parliament is returning after nearly 6 months away — and will look different than usual

First order of business will be to elect a Speaker before King Charles presents the throne speech. Parliament will return on Monday after more than six months and will feel a little different than usual thanks to some unusual circumstances. Each parliamentary session typically opens with some routine proceedings, which include the election of a Speaker of the House of...

Catharine Tunney, Darren Major

'Totally unacceptable' that IDF fired shots near Canadians, Carney says

Ottawa expects 'full investigation,' prime minister says. Prime Minister Mark Carney says it's "totally unacceptable" that members of the Israeli army fired shots near a diplomatic delegation, which included Canadians, in the West Bank on Wednesday. The federal government confirmed Wednesday that four Canadian personnel were part of a tour in the city of Jenin when members of the Israel...

Darren Major

The Liberals aren't tabling a budget. How does that affect the economy — and your wallet?

Economist says lack of budget could slow down promised stimulus. The recently re-elected Liberal government isn't planning to release a budget this year, opting instead for an economic statement later this fall. But experts warn that not providing a fiscal snapshot could erode economic confidence and delay the government's agenda.

Darren Major

Scheer doesn't seem keen to move into Stornoway, but says talks are 'ongoing'

Newly minted interim Opposition leader Andrew Scheer says talks are "ongoing" about the current Stornoway conundrum — but he doesn't sound eager to move into the official residence. The Saskatchewan MP was chosen to temporarily take over Pierre Poilievre's parliamentary duties as the Conservative leader seeks to reclaim a seat in the House of Commons. Poilievre lost his long-held Ontario...

Darren Major

Liberal minority back up to 169 after Elections Canada validates close Ontario race

Revised result close enough to be subject to automatic recount. Elections Canada's validation process has revealed a second closely contested riding's winner has changed after Monday's preliminary result — this time from the Conservatives to the Liberals. The unofficial results posted on election night showed that Conservative Parm Gill had won the redrawn riding of Milton East-Halton Hills South by 298 votes.

Darren Major

Conservative MP open to speaking with friend JD Vance if Liberals ask for help

Conservative MP Jamil Jivani — who is also a friend of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance — says he's open to helping the government during negotiations with the U.S. administration if the Liberals ask. Since U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration, Jivani has been fairly muted about his close friendship with Vance.

Darren Major

Liberals lose closely contested seat to Bloc Québécois after vote validation

The Liberals have dropped one seat after Elections Canada's validation process determined they lost a tightly contested Quebec riding. Terrebonne, just north of Montreal, was one of the last ridings to be called on Tuesday afternoon. The final vote count had the Liberals flip the seat from the Bloc Québécois by 35 votes.

Darren Major

These big-name MPs won't be returning to Parliament after Monday's vote

Poilievre, Singh are most notable losses, but other familiar faces won't be back.

Darren Major

Nova Scotia premier blasts Bloc leader for calling Canada 'artificial country'

Houston says Blanchet should take more pride in Canada 'or step aside.' Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is stepping into the federal fray, blasting the leader of the Bloc Québécois for calling Canada an "artificial country." At a campaign stop earlier this week, Yves-François Blanchet said he felt like he was a member of a "foreign parliament." When asked about...

Darren Major

Election campaign, debates will give voters something to chew on this long weekend

As voters enjoy a holiday meal with family and friends this long weekend, they might also be digesting the leadership debates — and the election campaign writ large. Holidays in the middle of a campaign aren't new. Canada's fixed date election rules means the vote usually takes place in October after the Thanksgiving weekend. But the spring snap election call...

Darren Major

Greens held back some candidates despite giving full slate to debates commission - Party needed candidates for 90% of ridings to qualify for leaders' debates

The Green Party says it deliberately didn't run candidates in some ridings, even though the party submitted a full slate of potential candidates to the commission responsible for organizing the leadership debates.

Darren Major

Debates commission defends inviting Greens despite party's candidate shortage

Party provided full list of candidates to commission, but only about 2/3 are registered to run. Canada's Leaders' Debates Commission is defending its decision to invite Green Party co–leader Jonathan Pedneault to this week's debates, even though the party is well short of a full slate of candidates.

Darren Major

Poilievre digs at Carney's 'banker's haircut,' Liberal says his rival hasn't managed a crisis

Conservative leader's swipes at main opponent get personal on Day 17 of campaign. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's criticisms of Mark Carney got personal on Tuesday, while the Liberal leader hit back at Poilievre's political career. Poilievre's past swipes at his main political opponent include criticisms that Carney is no different than his predecessor Justin Trudeau and that the Liberal leader...

Darren Major

Longest ballot protest targets Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's riding

Group said it also intended to overload ballot in Carney's riding, but ran out of time. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be facing more opponents than ever in his eighth federal campaign, thanks to dozens of protest candidates running in his riding. Nearly 80 candidates registered to run in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton, where Poilievre has been the MP...

Darren Major, Alexander Panetta

Trump going ahead with 25% tariffs on autos

U.S. President Donald Trump is dealing another tariff blow to Canada, signing an executive order on Wednesday that will hit all non-U.S.-made autos with hefty import levies. Trump said the United States will be applying a 25 per cent tariff on those imports, but it's not clear when they would apply. The president said the auto tariffs will kick in...

Darren Major

Has the rise of Carney's Liberals sunk this upstart centrist party?

The Canadian Future Party bills itself as a place for voters disillusioned by Liberals and Conservatives. Dominic Cardy, leader of the upstart Canadian Future Party, is under no illusions that he will be prime minister after Canadians cast their vote next month. "This party just started and what we really want to do in this race is to raise the...

Darren Major

Elections Canada has been in touch with social media platforms about election misinformation

The head of Elections Canada says he has been in touch with social media platforms in an effort to address concerns about misinformation as Canada wades into an election campaign. Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault told reporters on Monday that he has reached out to social media sites such as X and TikTok to "seek their support to making this...

Darren Major

Canadian senator challenges Donald Trump Jr. to a boxing match

Challenge comes as tariff chaos continues. Sen. Patrick Brazeau wants to punch Donald Trump in the face. Not the U.S. president, but his son, Donald Trump Jr. The Quebec senator took to social media on Thursday to challenge the younger Trump to a charity boxing match.

Darren Major

Trudeau voices support for Ukraine following tense Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau voiced support for Ukraine after a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy went completely off the rails. Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday as the leaders met to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, access to the country's critical minerals and a potential ceasefire with...

Darren Major

Trump says Gretzky supports Canada remaining an independent country

U.S. President Donald Trump is voicing his support for hockey legend Wayne Gretzky while suggesting the former NHLer isn't keen on the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state. Gretzky has drawn the ire of some Canadians in recent weeks due to his affiliation with Trump, who has threatened Canada with steep tariffs and talked about making the country the...

Darren Major

Federal polls showing a rare, rapid shift — but unclear if numbers will hold

Latest surveys suggest a tightening race between Liberals and Conservatives. Recent federal polls have shown a dramatic shift in Canadians' voting preferences, but analysts say there is no guarantee it's a lasting trend. CBC's Poll Tracker has clocked a massive Conservative lead for the better part of the last two years. But survey results from the past few weeks suggest...

Darren Major

Liberal leadership hopefuls pitch themselves as best person to take on Trump

The four candidates vying to be the next Liberal leader and prime minister pitched themselves to supporters as the best person to handle relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Canada-U.S. relations was the first topic of discussion as the contenders to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau squared off in the Liberal Party's French-language debate. Monday's showdown came just hours after...