Kate McKenna

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Kate McKenna.

Poilievre tries to capitalize on NDP weakness but Liberal surge could complicate things

Poilievre tries to capitalize on NDP weakness but Liberal surge could complicate things

Conservatives eye NDP seats, but Trump threatens to upend everything. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spent much of the first week of this election campaign targeting NDP-held ridings that could be up for grabs now that polls suggest New Democrat support is in free fall — but the recent Liberal surge has upended those plans. The big political story of the...

How a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. led Canada's premiers to an $85,000-a-month lobbying firm

How a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. led Canada's premiers to an $85,000-a-month lobbying firm

How did Canada's premiers end up hiring a Washington lobbying firm for $85,000 US a month? The story involves a meeting with Donald Trump Jr.It was at an encounter with the president's son that one of them met the head of a lobby firm that helped organize the premiers' visit to Washington this week.

Behind the scenes of Canada's push to avoid Donald Trump's punishing tariffs

Behind the scenes of Canada's push to avoid Donald Trump's punishing tariffs

Senior government sources expect the reprieve will be short-lived. Despite winning a month-long reprieve from potentially devastating U.S. tariffs, there is a deep sense of anxiety hanging over some of the most senior Canadian government officials who manage the relationship with President Donald Trump.

Top Poilievre adviser targets former CPC leader for wishing departing Liberal well

Top Poilievre adviser targets former CPC leader for wishing departing Liberal well

Jenni Byrne, an influential Conservative organizer who worked in the Harper PMO, is a key Poilievre strategist. Some of Canada's most prominent Conservatives are defending Pierre Poilievre adviser Jenni Byrne for criticizing former party leader Erin O'Toole on social media. On Sunday, O'Toole wished Liberal MP and cabinet minister Anita Anand well, following her announcement that she would not run...

Netflix and other streaming services now blocked on federal government networks

Netflix and other streaming services now blocked on federal government networks

Federal government employees are no longer able to stream Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming services while at work. The government agency responsible for providing IT services, Shared Services Canada (SSC), confirmed in an email that it blocked the streaming sites on all networks it manages late last year. Though there are some exceptions, Shared Services Canada oversees the majority of...

Poilievre says Liberal leadership aspirants are 'just like Justin'

Poilievre says Liberal leadership aspirants are 'just like Justin'

From coining "Justinflation" to saying Justin Trudeau is "not worth the cost," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been unafraid to target the prime minister directly in his messaging.But following Trudeau's bombshell resignation, it will now be a different Liberal leader facing off with Poilievre in the federal election, which is likely to be held sometime this spring.

Trudeau gave a speech to the Liberals' holiday party — but Freeland stole the show

Trudeau gave a speech to the Liberals' holiday party — but Freeland stole the show

On the day the House of Commons adjourned for the holidays, hundreds of Liberals packed the annual caucus party to hear what could be Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's last public speech until the new year — but many partygoers left the event talking about another star guest. Wearing Liberal red, the now-former finance minister Chrystia Freeland strode into the gathering...

Boissonnault faces new scrutiny over his statements on family's Indigeneity

Boissonnault faces new scrutiny over his statements on family's Indigeneity

Employment minister says he’s not Indigenous — experts say past statements appear contradictory. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is set to face a new round of questions over his business dealings and family history at a parliamentary committee in the wake of a report that his former company claimed to be "Indigenous owned" when bidding for federal contracts in 2020. The...

At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut

At least 17 Conservative MPs advocated for money from a housing program Poilievre vows to cut

More than a dozen Conservatives wrote to the federal government on behalf of communities in their ridings calling for them to receive funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund — a program Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to cut. Poilievre's office released the names of the 17 Conservative MPs on Tuesday after Housing Minister Sean Fraser said about a dozen...

Poilievre calls on premiers to remove sales taxes on new homes under $1M

Poilievre calls on premiers to remove sales taxes on new homes under $1M

‘I am writing to ask you to match my common sense sales tax cut,’ Conservative leader says in letter. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Canada's premiers to match his pledge to remove the federal sales tax on new homes under $1 million by doing the same with provincial sales taxes. "This is a significant step in fixing what...

Veterans may have paid too much for long-term care for years due to federal error

Veterans may have paid too much for long-term care for years due to federal error

A misinterpretation of federal rules may have caused tens of thousands of Canadian veterans to be overcharged for long-term care since at least 2005. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) says it's investigating — and some lawyers have filed a new class-action lawsuit application — after an analysis by CBC News uncovered a possible error in how the department calculates what veterans...

Ex-Conservative MP claims anti-abortion movement has influence inside the party

Ex-Conservative MP claims anti-abortion movement has influence inside the party

Poilievre has said that if he's elected, his government would not support any legislation to regulate abortion. A former Conservative MP who says he left the party because of his "convictions" claims that the number of anti-abortion Conservative members of Parliament is growing, and that anti-abortion activists have influence within the party apparatus. Richmond-Arthabaska MP Alain Rayes made the comments...

CBC president refuses to rule out accepting bonuses for two most recent fiscal years

CBC president refuses to rule out accepting bonuses for two most recent fiscal years

CBC president and CEO Catherine Tait today refused to rule out accepting personal bonuses for the last two fiscal years if they're approved by the Privy Council Office.Speaking before the House of Commons heritage committee, Tait said Canadians expect CBC to honour its commitments to non-union managers and executives if they meet key performance indicators.

Here's what Liberal MPs are saying ahead of an expected push to oust Trudeau

Here's what Liberal MPs are saying ahead of an expected push to oust Trudeau

As rumours swirl around Parliament Hill about efforts within the Liberal caucus to urge Justin Trudeau to resign as party leader, Liberal MPs are saying publicly that it's still an internal matter for the party. Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa on Monday following a week-long pause in the House of Commons calendar. The Liberal caucus is set to meet...

Liberal backbencher calls on Justin Trudeau to resign as Liberal leader

Liberal backbencher calls on Justin Trudeau to resign as Liberal leader

P.E.I. MP Sean Casey says voters in his riding have 'tuned Justin Trudeau out.' A Liberal backbencher is publicly calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as party leader as other MPs co-ordinate their efforts to force him out. Sean Casey, the MP for Charlottetown, told CBC News Network's Power & Politics that Trudeau's leadership has become one...

Pharmacare bill passes key test ahead of next week's final Senate vote

Pharmacare bill passes key test ahead of next week's final Senate vote

The government's pharmacare legislation has survived a key step on the way to becoming law and could pass the Senate next week.Bill C-64, a framework for the implementation of national pharmacare, passed through the Senate's social affairs, science and technology committee without amendments on Thursday. It now proceeds to a final vote on the floor of the Senate.

Ethics commissioner closes most recent probe into Randy Boissonnault's business dealings

Ethics commissioner closes most recent probe into Randy Boissonnault's business dealings

Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein says he has reviewed Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault's records and — in the absence of any evidence that Boissonnault broke the conflict of interest law — has again closed a probe into the minister's business dealings. The commissioner expressed new concerns following a July ethics committee meeting, when additional text messages from Boissonnault's former business...

Conservatives are targeting Singh over his pension — but Poilievre's is three times larger

Conservatives are targeting Singh over his pension — but Poilievre's is three times larger

First elected in 2004, Poilievre is set to receive more than $200K annually when he turns 65, experts say. For weeks, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been accusing NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh of supporting the government until February so he can become eligible for his MP pension. But experts estimate the size of Poilievre's own pension at more than three...

How the NDP's deal with the Liberals died

How the NDP's deal with the Liberals died

On the same day the Liberal government's House leader told reporters she was "confident" her party's governance agreement with the NDP would last until June 2025, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was busy recording a video in front of Parliament saying he was killing the deal. "I'm fairly confident that agreement is a good agreement, it's a strong agreement and we'll...

Lawrence MacAulay mum about running again, says 'I just hope I'm alive' for next election

Lawrence MacAulay mum about running again, says 'I just hope I'm alive' for next election

Canada's second-longest serving MP Lawrence MacAulay won't say whether he's planning to run in the next federal election. MacAulay, who will turn 78 next month, has represented the eastern P.E.I. riding of Cardigan for 35 years, first elected in 1988. He is currently the longest-serving Liberal member, having won 11 consecutive elections. When asked whether he's going for number 12...

As Trudeau cabinet meets, Liberal MPs look for signs of change following byelection loss

As Trudeau cabinet meets, Liberal MPs look for signs of change following byelection loss

Multiple Liberal MPs told CBC News that more needs to be done to salvage the party’s electoral hopes. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with his ministers in Halifax on Sunday for the annual cabinet retreat, a gathering that comes after a year of dire polling for the government and disquiet among some Liberal MPs. Some of those MPs are...

Radio host, author Andrew Lawton seeks CPC nomination in southern Ontario riding

Radio host, author Andrew Lawton seeks CPC nomination in southern Ontario riding

A longtime conservative radio host and journalist has thrown his hat into the ring to win the Conservative Party of Canada's nomination in a London, Ont.-area riding, one day after the incumbent announced she was not seeking re-election. "An opportunity arose, and I reflected on it with family, I prayed on it, and I've reached the decision I'm sharing with...

One year after news ban, Canadian journalism is suffering — but Meta isn't budging

One year after news ban, Canadian journalism is suffering — but Meta isn't budging

Losing the ability to share news on Facebook has hurt Theresa Blackburn's bottom line and her newspaper's ability to serve her community — and as she works around the clock to keep her business afloat, she's pleading with lawmakers to make a deal with Meta so publishers can once again share their content. Blackburn's free newspaper, the River Valley Sun...

Conservative MP Karen Vecchio won't run again in next election

Conservative MP Karen Vecchio won't run again in next election

A Conservative MP with a reputation for being able to work across party lines has confirmed to a local radio station that she's planning to leave federal politics and will not run again in the next election.

Newly released texts raise fresh questions about Randy Boissonnault's business dealings

Newly released texts raise fresh questions about Randy Boissonnault's business dealings

Boissonnault’s former business partner blames autocorrect for nine references to business partner’s name. New text messages unearthed by Conservative MPs on the Commons ethics committee show Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault's former business partner Stephen Anderson citing the name "Randy" in multiple text messages — more than a year after he claims he stopped working with the minister. The Conservatives are...

More than half of recent Senate appointments have ties to Liberal Party

More than half of recent Senate appointments have ties to Liberal Party

Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promise to rid the Senate of partisanship and patronage, most of the senators appointed to the upper house over the past year have ties to the Liberals. Since July 2023, Trudeau has nominated 12 senators, eight of whom — 66 per cent of the total — have donated money to the federal Liberals or have...

Boissonnault cleared in preliminary ethics probe of his business dealings

Boissonnault cleared in preliminary ethics probe of his business dealings

Canada's ethics commissioner will not be investigating claims that Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault broke conflict of interest rules and a preliminary probe turned up no evidence the minister acted improperly, according to a letter obtained by CBC News. "I no longer have concerns that you may have contravened your obligations under the Act and will take no further action at...

No spike in cottage, investment property sales as new capital gains rules take effect

No spike in cottage, investment property sales as new capital gains rules take effect

Changes to the capital gains inclusion rate take effect today — and while some real estate experts say the changes are causing anxiety within the industry, a leading real estate association says it hasn't seen a bump in sales of secondary residences. As of today, the inclusion rate — the taxable percentage — goes from 50 to 66 per cent...

Conservatives call for 'other Randy' to testify as minister's business dealings face ethics probe

Conservatives call for 'other Randy' to testify as minister's business dealings face ethics probe

The Conservatives have filed a motion requesting that the "other Randy" allegedly employed by a company co-founded by Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault appear in front of a parliamentary committee.The motion calls for the individual to testify before the House ethics committee, along with the other co-founder of Global Health Imports.

Québecor says Loblaw deal with telecom is anti-competitive, calls on Ottawa to step in

Québecor says Loblaw deal with telecom is anti-competitive, calls on Ottawa to step in

Québecor's Pierre-Karl Péladeau claims deal between grocery and telecom would take consumers 'hostage.' The head of telecom and media firm Québecor is calling on the federal government to intervene in a deal between Loblaw and a company owned by Rogers and Bell that would see his company and others pushed out of 180 Loblaw-owned stores. In a letter Pierre Karl...

Former riding president alleges meddling in Conservative GTA nomination

Former riding president alleges meddling in Conservative GTA nomination

A former Conservative is accusing party brass of blocking him from running to be nominated as a candidate in the next election.Anthony Yacub, 24, said he believes the party made him ineligible for the nomination in order to run a "star" candidate in his riding, currently held by Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell.

With an election on the horizon, Poilievre's Conservatives sign up dozens of new candidates

With an election on the horizon, Poilievre's Conservatives sign up dozens of new candidates

The next federal election could be more than a year away but political parties are already deep into planning their next campaigns — and recruiting new candidates.Well ahead in the polls and reporting record-breaking sums in political donations, the Conservatives are also leading the pack on nominating candidates new to federal politics.

Pierre Poilievre called lobbyists 'utterly useless,' but they're still attending his fundraisers

Pierre Poilievre called lobbyists 'utterly useless,' but they're still attending his fundraisers

Conservative leader headlines fundraisers at private homes and exclusive clubs, CBC News analysis finds. As Pierre Poilievre presents himself as both a prime minister in waiting and a champion of "the working-class people," he's headlined roughly 50 fundraisers at private venues since becoming Conservative leader in 2022 — some of them in Canada's wealthiest neighbourhoods and most exclusive clubs. A...

Ottawa asked Facebook to remove false article about Trudeau during 2019 election, inquiry hears

Ottawa asked Facebook to remove false article about Trudeau during 2019 election, inquiry hears

One of Canada's top civil servants asked that a false article about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau be removed from Facebook during the 2019 election, according to Friday testimony and documents tabled at the public inquiry into foreign inference. The article in question was published by the Buffalo Chronicle. It contained uncorroborated claims involving Trudeau and was spreading online during the...

Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

The party member behind 2021 petition for a leadership review, Bert Chen, vehemently denies allegations. Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole believes foreign interference may have led to his removal as party leader, according to documents tabled before the foreign interference inquiry. In a document containing notes from an interview between O'Toole and lawyers acting for the Foreign Interference Commission earlier...

Security and access cards, office key stolen in most recent theft of justice minister's vehicle

Security and access cards, office key stolen in most recent theft of justice minister's vehicle

A number of government assets — including government employee security and entry passes and an office key — were stolen and were not recovered when the justice minister's government-issued vehicle was stolen in November 2023.A spokesperson for Justice Minister Arif Virani didn't say what key was taken or whether the lock has been subsequently changed.

King Charles' planned visit to Canada delayed after cancer diagnosis

King Charles' planned visit to Canada delayed after cancer diagnosis

Plans for King Charles III's first visit to Canada as head of state are on hold following his cancer diagnosis, CBC News has learned. Although the visit was never confirmed officially by Buckingham Palace, Canadian government sources told CBC News King Charles III and Queen Camilla were set to visit in May 2024. The planned visit also has been reported...

Trudeau calls out Poilievre after top Conservative adviser is tied to Loblaw lobbying

Trudeau calls out Poilievre after top Conservative adviser is tied to Loblaw lobbying

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on the leader of the opposition to clarify his position on grocery prices after news emerged that a top Conservative adviser's consulting firm has lobbied on behalf of grocery giant Loblaw. The Ontario lobbyist registry lists six employees of Jenni Byrne + Associates as registered lobbyists for Loblaw Companies Limited. The CEO of the...

Authorities investigating massive security breach at Global Affairs Canada

Authorities investigating massive security breach at Global Affairs Canada

Canadian authorities are investigating a prolonged data security breach following the "detection of malicious cyber activity" affecting the internal network used by Global Affairs Canada staff, according to internal department emails viewed by CBC News. The breach affects at least two internal drives, as well as emails, calendars and contacts of many staff members. CBC News spoke to multiple sources...

Feds won't appeal landmark citizenship ruling for 'Lost Canadians'

Feds won't appeal landmark citizenship ruling for 'Lost Canadians'

The federal government will not appeal a court ruling that found part of Canada's Citizenship Act to be unconstitutional.Last month, an Ontario Superior Court justice found the federal government violated Charter rights with its "second-generation cut-off" rule, which denies automatic citizenship to children born abroad if their Canadian parents were also born abroad.