Sarah Ritchie

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 Sarah Ritchie.

Party leaders make promises on job skills training, scam protection for seniors

Party leaders make promises on job skills training, scam protection for seniors

OTTAWA -- The main federal parties campaigned in the Montreal area Tuesday, with the Liberals pitching a new training benefit for mid-career workers and the Conservatives promising to protect seniors from scams.

Party leaders make announcements in Montreal as debate prep kicks into high gear

Party leaders make announcements in Montreal as debate prep kicks into high gear

OTTAWA -- The main federal parties are campaigning in the Montreal area as their leaders get ready for the debates later this week -- and the first face-to-face confrontation between Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Poilievre pledges to use the notwithstanding clause, Carney talks defence procurement

Poilievre pledges to use the notwithstanding clause, Carney talks defence procurement

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising that a government led by him would use the notwithstanding clause to override Charter rights to implement his tough-on-crime agenda -- something no prime minister has ever done.

Trump says Liberal government would be easier, says Poilievre is 'no friend of mine'

Trump says Liberal government would be easier, says Poilievre is 'no friend of mine'

OTTAWA -- With polls suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration's use of punishing tariffs are a top-of-mind issue for Canadians ahead of the upcoming federal election, Trump has now offered his thoughts on which political party he would rather work with.

Poilievre says Trump is right to say a Liberal PM would be easier to deal with

Poilievre says Trump is right to say a Liberal PM would be easier to deal with

OTTAWA -- With polls suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration's use of punishing tariffs are a top-of-mind issue for Canadians ahead of the upcoming federal election, Trump has now offered his thoughts on which political party he would rather work with.

Poilievre says Trump is right to say a Liberal PM would be easier to deal with

Poilievre says Trump is right to say a Liberal PM would be easier to deal with

OTTAWA -- With polls suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration's use of punishing tariffs are a top-of-mind issue for Canadians ahead of the upcoming federal election, Trump has now offered his thoughts on which political party he would rather work with.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government terminates consumer carbon price

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government terminates consumer carbon price

Prime Minister Mark Carney's first move after taking office on Friday was to eliminate the consumer carbon price, undoing Justin Trudeau's signature climate policy.Carney addressed members of the media after the Friday afternoon cabinet meeting, saying the government is "focused on action.""We will be eliminating the Canada fuel charge, the consumer fuel charge, immediately, immediately," he said.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government terminates consumer carbon price

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government terminates consumer carbon price

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's first move after taking office on Friday was to eliminate the consumer carbon price, undoing Justin Trudeau's signature climate policy.

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister

Ottawa -- Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister in a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday morning — along with a leaner Liberal cabinet that he said is focused on confronting the immediate threat of U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. Breezing past reporters on his way into the ceremony about an hour after Justin...

Justin Trudeau has resigned as prime minister as Mark Carney gets set to take over

Justin Trudeau has resigned as prime minister as Mark Carney gets set to take over

Justin Trudeau visited Gov. Gen. Mary Simon this morning and formally resigned as prime minister. Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister at Rideau Hall at 11 a.m., where he will also reveal his first cabinet. His team is expected to be smaller than Trudeau's 37-member team, and some current ministers will lose their cabinet positions...

Mark Carney set to become prime minister and name his cabinet this morning

Mark Carney set to become prime minister and name his cabinet this morning

OTTAWA -- Mark Carney will be sworn in as prime minister this morning at Rideau Hall, where he will also reveal his new cabinet.

Mark Carney set to name cabinet ministers at Friday morning ceremony

Mark Carney set to name cabinet ministers at Friday morning ceremony

OTTAWA -- Mark Carney will reveal the makeup of his cabinet on Friday morning, a collection of Liberal ministers who will see Canada through the next election.

Incoming prime minister Mark Carney says he has put his assets in a blind trust

Incoming prime minister Mark Carney says he has put his assets in a blind trust

OTTAWA -- Mark Carney's leadership campaign says he has given a "full and robust conflict of interest management plan" to the country's ethics commissioner.

Conservative candidate drops out of race for Ontario seat as election looms

Conservative candidate drops out of race for Ontario seat as election looms

The Conservative candidate for a northern Ontario riding has dropped out just weeks ahead of an expected election, citing issues with the local electoral district board.Cassidy Villeneuve, who was nominated to run for the Tories in Nipissing-Timiskaming, said in a letter posted to social media on Sunday that she's been working tirelessly on the campaign for the past 18 months.

Conservative candidate drops out of race for Ontario seat as election looms

Conservative candidate drops out of race for Ontario seat as election looms

OTTAWA -- The Conservative candidate for a northern Ontario riding has dropped out just weeks ahead of an expected election, citing issues with the local electoral district board.

The Liberals are about to choose the next prime minister. What happens next?

The Liberals are about to choose the next prime minister. What happens next?

OTTAWA -- The Liberals will choose a new leader Sunday, marking the end of Justin Trudeau's decade as prime minister.

Service Canada says you'll soon get your passport processed in 30 days, or it's free

Service Canada says you'll soon get your passport processed in 30 days, or it's free

OTTAWA -- The federal government says it's going to implement a new 30-business-day guarantee for passports.

Poilievre takes aim at Carney as he calls for changes to Conflict of Interest Act

Poilievre takes aim at Carney as he calls for changes to Conflict of Interest Act

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Friday pledged to amend the Conflict of Interest Act to require that party leadership candidates make financial disclosures similar to those cabinet ministers must make -- closing what Poilievre calls the "Carney loophole." The change would direct all leadership candidates to disclose their financial holdings to the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner within 3...

Manitoba becomes first province to join national pharmacare program with $219M deal

Manitoba becomes first province to join national pharmacare program with $219M deal

OTTAWA -- Manitoba became the first province to officially join Ottawa's pharmacare program today, giving it access to federal funding to cover the cost of birth control and diabetes medications.

Conservatives launch attacks on Mark Carney over his firm's relocation to the U.S.

Conservatives launch attacks on Mark Carney over his firm's relocation to the U.S.

The polls, fundraising hauls and endorsements aren't the only things suggesting former central bank governor Mark Carney is on track to win the Liberal leadership -- Conservatives seem convinced as well. Carney has become the primary target of Conservative attacks in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the party accused Carney of lying to the media after Tuesday's Liberal leadership debate and...

Polls suggest a close race as federal election approaches

Polls suggest a close race as federal election approaches

Multiple polls now suggest the next federal election -- which could begin in a matter of weeks -- will be a tight race. At least one major pollster has the Liberals in the lead and ahead of the Conservatives for the first time in nearly four years. A new survey from Ipsos released this week suggests that if an election...

Polls suggest a close race as federal election approaches

Polls suggest a close race as federal election approaches

OTTAWA -- Multiple polls now suggest the next federal election -- which could begin in a matter of weeks -- will be a tight race.

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

In a series of press conferences in recent weeks, the federal Conservatives have demanded that Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney comply with the conflict of interest rules that apply to members of Parliament and cabinet ministers. Carney, who is neither an MP nor a member of cabinet, has said he will comply with the rules when they apply to him...

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

The Tories say Carney is being 'sneaky' about his assets. What do the rules say?

OTTAWA -- In a series of press conferences in recent weeks, the federal Conservatives have demanded that Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney comply with the conflict of interest rules that apply to members of Parliament and cabinet ministers.

Poilievre sticks with 'axe the tax,' adds policy details to slogans as election nears

Poilievre sticks with 'axe the tax,' adds policy details to slogans as election nears

The Conservatives' favourite slogan -- "axe the tax" -- has been a rallying cry for the better part of three years as frustrated Canadians looked for relief from the rising cost of living. But now, with key Liberal leadership candidates backing away from the federal consumer carbon price, some have been asking whether the Tories need to axe their slogan...

Poilievre sticks with 'axe the tax,' adds policy details to slogans as election nears

Poilievre sticks with 'axe the tax,' adds policy details to slogans as election nears

OTTAWA -- The Conservatives' favourite slogan -- "axe the tax" -- has been a rallying cry for the better part of three years as frustrated Canadians looked for relief from the rising cost of living.

Poilievre pledges to restore 'promise of Canada' in campaign-style speech

Poilievre pledges to restore 'promise of Canada' in campaign-style speech

Pierre Poilievre began a speech on Saturday with a quote from the country's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, pledging to create a united, rich nation "instead of making us a tributary to American laws, to American railways, to American bondage, to American tolls." The Conservative leader, who appeared at a rally in a room at a downtown Ottawa...

Poilievre pledges to restore 'promise of Canada' in campaign-style speech

Poilievre pledges to restore 'promise of Canada' in campaign-style speech

OTTAWA -- Pierre Poilievre began a speech on Saturday with a quote from the country's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, pledging to create a united, rich nation "instead of making us a tributary to American laws, to American railways, to American bondage, to American tolls."

Mark Carney's leadership campaign says it's raised $1.9M

Mark Carney's leadership campaign says it's raised $1.9M

A spokesperson for Mark Carney's leadership campaign says they've raised more than $1.9 million so far in donations from over 11,000 people.The Liberal leadership hopefuls are required to submit biweekly reports to the chief electoral officer and Carney's team says their latest report was submitted this week and includes donations up to Feb. 9.

Hundreds show up to Conservative party's 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

Hundreds show up to Conservative party's 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

Hundreds of people have filled a downtown Ottawa convention centre to hear Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speak this afternoon. About half an hour before the event was set to begin a small group of people was still standing outside after being turned away at the doors. Inside, attendees who were asked to show up in red and white in honour...

Hundreds show up to Conservative party's 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

Hundreds show up to Conservative party's 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

OTTAWA -- Hundreds of people have filled a downtown Ottawa convention centre to hear Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speak this afternoon.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to speak at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to speak at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa

OTTAWA -- Pierre Poilievre is set to address Conservative party supporters this afternoon at a rally in downtown Ottawa.

Conservative caucus meets in Ottawa as poll numbers slump and Trump's threats loom

Conservative caucus meets in Ottawa as poll numbers slump and Trump's threats loom

Conservative MPs will meet on Parliament Hill this morning for the first time since December, returning to a much different political landscape than the one they left at the holiday break. Parliament has been on pause since Jan. 6, the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his plans to step down, triggering a Liberal leadership race. Two weeks later, Donald...

Conservative caucus meets in Ottawa as poll numbers slump and Trump's threats loom

Conservative caucus meets in Ottawa as poll numbers slump and Trump's threats loom

OTTAWA -- As political parties gear up for a federal election campaign that could begin as soon as March 10, the Conservatives appear focused on the man they believe they'll be running against: Mark Carney.

Conservative strategists say Trump comparisons no reason for Poilievre to change gear

Conservative strategists say Trump comparisons no reason for Poilievre to change gear

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pledge to boost Arctic security through a "massive" cut to Canada's foreign aid budget has led to renewed attacks from his political opponents, who are accusing him of borrowing policy from U.S. President Donald Trump. But some Conservative strategists are brushing off those comparisons, saying now is not the time for the party to change course...

Conservative strategists say Trump comparisons no reason for Poilievre to change gear

Conservative strategists say Trump comparisons no reason for Poilievre to change gear

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pledge to boost Arctic security through a "massive" cut to Canada's foreign aid budget has led to renewed attacks from his political opponents, who are accusing him of borrowing policy from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Federal government hosts Canada-U.S. economic summit during tariff threat pause

Federal government hosts Canada-U.S. economic summit during tariff threat pause

The federal government is hosting a summit in Toronto today aimed at bolstering the economy in the face of Canada's rapidly changing relationship with its largest trading partner. U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to impose sweeping tariffs this week has been put on pause until March 4. That looming threat and the volatility of his administration has many business and...

Federal government hosts Canada-U.S. economic summit during tariff threat pause

Federal government hosts Canada-U.S. economic summit during tariff threat pause

OTTAWA -- The federal government is hosting a summit in Toronto today aimed at bolstering the economy in the face of Canada's rapidly changing relationship with its largest trading partner.

Opposition parties call for Parliament's return after Trump hits pause on tariffs

Opposition parties call for Parliament's return after Trump hits pause on tariffs

OTTAWA -- The federal Conservatives and New Democrats say the government needs to recall Parliament within the next month to act on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat.

Trudeau says U.S. tariffs on Canada will be paused for 30 days

Trudeau says U.S. tariffs on Canada will be paused for 30 days

OTTAWA -- U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed not to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico for another month, pulling back from a plan that would have tipped North America into a trade war on Tuesday.

Trump insists Canada is 'very unfair' to U.S. ahead of second call with Trudeau

Trump insists Canada is 'very unfair' to U.S. ahead of second call with Trudeau

OTTAWA -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he thinks he'll have another "very good conversation" with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the afternoon, when the two leaders are set to speak about the impending trade war.

U.S. agrees to delay Mexican tariffs; Trump and Trudeau to speak Monday afternoon

U.S. agrees to delay Mexican tariffs; Trump and Trudeau to speak Monday afternoon

OTTAWA -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he thinks he'll have another "very good conversation" with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the afternoon, when the two leaders are set to speak about the impending trade war.

U.S. agrees to delay Mexican tariffs; Trump and Trudeau to speak Monday afternoon

U.S. agrees to delay Mexican tariffs; Trump and Trudeau to speak Monday afternoon

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will not impose tariffs on Mexico this week after he and his Mexican counterpart cut a deal during a phone call Monday morning. On Saturday, Trump signed executive orders that laid out a plan to hit Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent tariffs on Tuesday, with a lower 10 per cent levy on...

Health minister calls on NDP to give Liberals more time to sign pharmacare deals

Health minister calls on NDP to give Liberals more time to sign pharmacare deals

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Mark Holland is calling on the federal NDP to give the Liberal government more time in power to sign bilateral deals on pharmacare.

Federal health minister says more pharmacare deals will be signed 'in coming days'

Federal health minister says more pharmacare deals will be signed 'in coming days'

OTTAWA -- Health Minister Mark Holland says he's looking forward to signing more pharmacare deals with provinces and territories "in the coming days" -- and opposition parties should rethink their plans to bring down the government this spring to allow that to happen.

NDP urges action on pharmacare, dental care as health ministers meet in Halifax

NDP urges action on pharmacare, dental care as health ministers meet in Halifax

OTTAWA -- Canada's provincial and territorial health ministers are meeting with their federal counterpart in Halifax this week, and the New Democrats are urging them to ink pharmacare deals.

Foreign interference probe calls on party leaders to get security clearances

Foreign interference probe calls on party leaders to get security clearances

OTTAWA -- The federal public inquiry into foreign interference is calling on the leaders of all political parties to get top-secret security clearances -- a recommendation that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not following.

Foreign interference probe urges party leaders to get top-secret security clearances

Foreign interference probe urges party leaders to get top-secret security clearances

OTTAWA -- The public inquiry into foreign interference is calling on the leaders of all political parties to get top-secret security clearances.

Trump says Canada should become part of U.S. Our head of state isn't weighing in.

Trump says Canada should become part of U.S. Our head of state isn't weighing in.

Canada's political leadership has found rare unanimity in recent weeks: nobody wants the country to become the "51st state," as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pitched. The heads of all major political parties resoundingly reject the idea, but Canada's head of state, King Charles III, is not weighing in. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said Trump's takeover threat is...

Trump says Canada should become part of U.S. Our head of state isn't weighing in.

Trump says Canada should become part of U.S. Our head of state isn't weighing in.

OTTAWA -- Canada's political leadership has found rare unanimity in recent weeks: nobody wants the country to become the "51st state," as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pitched.

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

One of the seven Liberal leadership hopefuls says the party is not allowing him to run, as another high-profile cabinet minister endorsed Mark Carney on Sunday. Ontario member of Parliament Chandra Arya said the Liberal party informed him he's out of the running to be its next leader. Arya, who was the first to announce his candidacy to replace Prime...

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

OTTAWA -- One of the seven Liberal leadership hopefuls says the party is not allowing him to run, as another high-profile cabinet minister endorsed Mark Carney on Sunday.

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

Arya says he's out of Liberal leadership race, as Carney gets more caucus support

OTTAWA -- One of the seven Liberal leadership hopefuls says the party is not allowing him to run, as another high-profile cabinet minister endorsed Mark Carney on Sunday.

Francois-Philippe Champagne backs Mark Carney, says they share an economic vision

Francois-Philippe Champagne backs Mark Carney, says they share an economic vision

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says he shares the same economic vision as Mark Carney, and he's throwing his support behind the former central banker to become the next Liberal leader and prime minister.

Canada leaning toward matching tariffs on U.S. -- but not all premiers agree

Canada leaning toward matching tariffs on U.S. -- but not all premiers agree

OTTAWA -- Canada appears to be leaning toward hitting the United States with matching tariffs if President Donald Trump makes good on his threats, but not all of the country's premiers support that approach.

Danielle Smith 'understands we need to be united,' Doug Ford says after meeting

Danielle Smith 'understands we need to be united,' Doug Ford says after meeting

OTTAWA -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith understands why Canada's political leaders need to be united in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat, and he believes the country's premiers are "moving her along" in her position.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says he won't run in next election

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says he won't run in next election

OTTAWA -- Another member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's front bench has decided to step away from federal politics at the next election.

Premiers, prime minister meet to talk Trump tariffs after cabinet retreat

Premiers, prime minister meet to talk Trump tariffs after cabinet retreat

OTTAWA -- Canada's premiers are meeting virtually with the prime minister today to talk about Donald Trump's early moves as president and the looming threat of tariffs.

Trudeau says 'everything is on the table' for response to Trump tariffs

Trudeau says 'everything is on the table' for response to Trump tariffs

Montebello -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that if President Donald Trump wants to usher in a "golden age" for the United States, he'll need the energy, critical minerals and resources that Canada is ready to provide.

Federal cabinet braces for trade war as Donald Trump is inaugurated

Federal cabinet braces for trade war as Donald Trump is inaugurated

Federal cabinet ministers are gathering in Montebello, Que., today as Donald Trump returns to the White House. Trump has pledged to sign an executive order on inauguration day to impose 25 per cent tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico. When he first made the threat, the president-elect said the tariffs were a response to what he called inaction by...