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 Spencer Van Dyk.
The leader scrums that had been scheduled for after Thursday’s English-language debate have been cancelled due to security concerns. CTV News first reported the development while the debate was underway. Leaders’ Debates Commission executive director Michel Cormier later confirmed it, telling reporters the organizers don’t feel they “can actually guarantee a proper environment for this activity.” Cormier did not elaborate...
Longtime Conservative MP Ed Fast says his party held a “sham” nomination process in his B.C. riding, where he has endorsed an Independent candidate to be his successor. “I still support the election of a strong Conservative government under (leader) Pierre Poilievre, but this is not the way to do it,” Fast told CTV’s Power Play host Vassy Kapelos in...
Leading Conservative campaign strategist Kory Teneycke is taking aim at his own party, accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his team of squandering a big lead. “I know it’s uncomfortable for people to hear that said out loud, but it’s in every poll and every poll aggregator, the numbers are the numbers, and saying that you don’t believe in polls...
Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May says while a majority-Conservative election victory seemed like a foregone conclusion at this time last year, she now believes Canada is in for another Liberal government. “I think predictions are not a game I want to play,” May said in a joint interview with party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault on CTV News Channel’s Power Play. “Certainly...
The Conservatives have dropped a second candidate in the election race, in a single day. Stefan Marquis — who was running for the Conservatives in the Montreal riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie, held by Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault since 2019 — wrote in a post on social media that he is no longer a candidate for the party. “In a call...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, appearing alongside conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, told a Florida gala last week the federal Liberals’ upswing in public support can be attributed to a change in leadership. “When I was down before, we were talking about the potential for a total wipe-out of the Liberal party. That’s how unpopular they had become,” Smith said, when asked...
Most Canadians support Liberal Leader Mark Carney disclosing the financial assets he’s placed in a blind trust while in office, as well as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre obtaining security clearance to receive briefings about foreign interference, according to new data from Nanos Research.
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton is cautioning not to read too much into the more positive tone struck by U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney following Friday’s phone call between the two, but said if the commander-in-chief is a fan of the Liberal leader, a smoother bilateral relationship could be possible. “I don’t think you...
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig says news China has executed what was later revealed to be four Canadians in recent months shows the country has no intention of improving bilateral relations. “What it clearly demonstrates is that any hopes that China might be willing to extend some olive branches or try to heal rifts in the relationship, to try to...
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada is prepared for a trade war with the U.S., should President Donald Trump implement the sweeping tariffs he’s threatened, as promised, on Tuesday. “We will be ready,” Joly told reporters on Parliament Hill Monday, categorizing Trump’s tariffs as “an existential threat.” Trump first threatened the punishing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods...
As Buckingham Palace remains quiet on U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent attacks on Canadian sovereignty, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to have an audience with King Charles III on Monday. Trump has quadrupled down on his comments in recent months that Canada should become the 51st state. He’s said on several occasions the country could avoid the sweeping and...
Buckingham Palace is refusing to weigh in on U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent attacks on Canadian sovereignty. Trump has quadrupled down on his comments in recent months that Canada should become the 51st state. He’s said on several occasions the country could avoid the sweeping and significant tariffs he’s threatening if it agreed to annexation, and that he’s prepared to...
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says that with just days to go before U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30-day tariff reprieve expires, there’s been no indication whether Canada can avoid the levies. “There’s no certainty on this,” Miller told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “It’ll be hanging over our head until we know, and we’ll probably...
The four remaining candidates in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberals squared off in the first of two debates Monday. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, former government House leader Karina Gould — who resigned last month to run for the leadership — and former MP...
Liberal leadership contender Karina Gould says she’s going to wait to gauge the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship when the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is determined in mid-March, before deciding whether to call an early election, if she wins the contest. “I am going to see where the country is at that moment in time, because if...
With just two and a half weeks to go until the Liberals choose their next leader and the person who will replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, presumptive frontrunners Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland made campaign stops on Wednesday. Freeland, following a tour of a dairy farm in Waterville, Que., vowed to protect supply management in future trade negotiations with the...
The premier of Newfoundland and Labrador says he found it “incredibly concerning” to hear senior staff from U.S. President Donald Trump’s office convey that the commander-in-chief is “very serious” when he talks about annexing Canada. “As Canadians, we need to realize that he is not joking, that he is definitively looking towards the 51st state being Canada,” Andrew Furey told...
Germany’s defence chief says the level to which Russia is building up its military, which he categorized as an “imminent threat,” is deeply concerning to him. “What we’re seeing is that Russia is ramping up, that Russia is really getting into new structures, that they are producing more and more main battle tanks, that they are using more battle tanks...
Liberal leadership hopefuls Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland unveiled parts of their policy planks Wednesday, both taking aim at U.S. President Donald Trump and pledging to attract investment, among other promises. In a Wednesday morning press conference in Windsor, Ont, Carney pledged Canada will hit the NATO defence spending target sooner than currently projected, cancel the capital gains tax increase...
The premier of Alberta says if Canada wants to avoid U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canadian imports in a month’s time, federal and provincial governments should “stop making excuses” and heed President Donald Trump’s border security demands. “He wants us to recognize that Canada enjoys a very special relationship with the U.S. that no other country in the world enjoys, and just...
Liberal leadership contender Chrystia Freeland says everything should be on the table when it comes to Canada’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, while insisting she can get provinces united on that response. “We have to be prepared to use every single tool in the toolbox,” Freeland told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview Sunday, when...
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says he hopes MPs across the aisle can come together when Parliament resumes in late March to quickly tackle some of the recommendations from the foreign interference inquiry report, some of which would require legislation. In an interview on CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Tuesday McGuinty said “foreign interference is not a partisan...
After years of speculation about his political aspirations, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney has officially thrown his hat in the ring to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister. As one of the race’s top three contenders, alongside deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland and Government House Leader Karina Gould...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith — who’s stood in staunch opposition to the idea of cutting of energy exports to the U.S. in response to the potential imposition of tariffs — insists she isn’t creating a national unity crisis by publicly opposing her fellow premiers on the issue. “I think the problem that we saw is that we were getting together...
Amid a reported increase in the number of people saying they hope to leave the U.S. for Canada out of concern around President Donald Trump’s new gender identity policy, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the U.S. is “a safe country” for LGBTQ2S+ people. “To suggest that the U.S. is not a safe space for trans people, for the LGBT...
Canada’s new chief of the defence staff says there are “absolutely” ways the federal government could speed up its defence-spending timeline to meet its NATO commitments sooner than the current 2032 target. “It’s absolutely possible, and this is what we have been working on since I’ve come on board,” Gen. Jennie Carignan said in an interview on CTV Power Play...
Hours after his inauguration, U.S. President Donald Trump is floating the date of Feb. 1 as the day he plans to slap Canada and Mexico with a 25 per cent tariff – and the federal government says Trump’s latest comment is not a surprise. “We took note, obviously, of what President Trump said earlier today in Washington. None of this...
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party still plans to vote to bring down the federal government as soon as possible, despite the Liberals looking for a leader, and the looming economic threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump. “I’ve been really clear, and I remain clear, and I appreciate the opportunity to repeat it. We will be voting to...
Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand says Canada is ready to take on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and levy countermeasures immediately, should the incoming commander-in-chief follow through with his threat to impose punishing tariffs on all Canadian imports on day one of his presidency. “Retaliatory measures are ready, and we will use all tools in our toolbox to ensure...
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. says Donald Trump’s incoming administration hasn’t made any promises that Canada’s new border plan will help avoid the significant tariffs the U.S. president-elect has threatened to impose. In an interview with CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Wednesday, when asked whether the tariffs are certainly coming or whether they can be avoided, Kirsten Hillman...
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark will not run in the Liberal leadership race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, she said Tuesday.Sources tell CTV News Clark was “emotional” telling her core team about her decision on a conference call.“I have made the difficult decision to step back,” Clark wrote in an email sent to her supporters.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is not ruling out any countermeasures when it comes to dealing with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump — his threat of significant tariffs on Canadian imports, in particular. In an interview with host Vassy Kapelos for CTV Question Period, airing Sunday, Joly would not rule out cutting off energy exports to the U.S. in response to...
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is likely to walk back his threat of punishing tariffs and the resulting trade war with Canada, because the Americans are too reliant on a number of Canadian exports, namely in the energy sector. "He's apparently said this morning that he does not need our electricity. Fine," Chrétien said in...
With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Liberal party leader, several well-known political faces may be waiting in the wings for their opportunity to take his place. Trudeau announced Monday he’s stepping down from the party’s leadership, but staying on as prime minister until a new leader is selected through what he called a “robust, nationwide, competitive process.” As the...
A new book about Chrystia Freeland has just come out, after the publishing company sped up its release date by a few months, in light of the bombshell news its main character has made in recent days. Titled, "Chrystia: From Peace River to Parliament Hill," the unauthorized biography was written by Toronto-based journalist Catherine Tsalikis and published by House of...
If the Canadian government wants to make headway with the incoming U.S. administration, it should look at scrapping some sticking-point policies, such as the controversial digital services tax, former Liberal finance minister Bill Morneau says. “I would move away from that, and think about the other places that we have a mutual interest in moving forward,” Morneau told CTV’s Question...
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to get on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s good side for the sake of a smooth bilateral relationship, he’ll likely have to be openly deferential, says former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton. “It's always possible, if somebody kisses the ring. I mean, that's what Trump likes,” Bolton told CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos...
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to table the federal government’s fall economic statement next Monday, the government announced today.The fiscal check-in will happen just one day before the House of Commons is expected to adjourn for the year, after months of procedural wrangling over a Conservative-led privilege debate.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly insisted she supports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is focused on her own re-election, but wouldn't explicitly rule out a future Liberal leadership bid, in an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday. The questions come amid a profile of the minister published in the New York Times on Wednesday, labelling Joly as Trudeau’s “possible...
U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen says while Canada's defence spending is going in the right direction, the federal government's persistent failure to meet NATO targets has been damaging to the country's reputation on the world stage. Canada is one of the few countries that has yet to meet the alliance's agreed-upon goal to spend two per cent of GDP...
The prime minister’s emergency meeting with opposition leaders on Tuesday appears to have bolstered a more united front against U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats. The meeting comes four days after Trudeau met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the two spoke about a wide range of issues the incoming president would like to see addressed. Trump has threatened significant tariffs...
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. insists it’s a good sign U.S. president-elect Donald Trump feels “comfortable” joking with Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau made a surprise visit to Mar-a-Lago Friday — accompanied by a small Canadian delegation — to meet with Trump. The trip came just days after the incoming president threatened to implement 25 per cent...
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will “absolutely” be adding more Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP ‘human resources’ at the border.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his fellow provincial leaders are united in pushing for Canada to meet its NATO defence spending targets ahead of schedule, and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was "surprised" to hear it. Ford — currently chair of the Council of the Federation of Canada’s Premiers — told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive...
While federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has taken aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week — calling him too "weak" to engage with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump — Ontario Premier Doug Ford declined to echo the characterization in an exclusive Canadian broadcast interview set to air this Sunday on CTV's Question Period. "I'm not going to get involved in...
As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatens Canada with major tariffs, sounding alarms over the number of people and drugs illegally crossing into America, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and some premiers say they agree that more could be done. Trump is threatening to implement the 25 per cent tariff on day one of his presidency, until both Canada and Mexico address...
The chair of the United States House intelligence committee says Canada needs to accelerate its defence spending targets, especially with its military in "desperate" need of investment."You're already past due," Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner told CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive Canadian broadcast interview airing Sunday.
Canadian human rights advocate and former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler — who was the target of an alleged foiled assassination plot by agents of Iran — says he isn’t concerned about the alleged threats, because he has confidence in his protective detail. Cotler added that he believes the alleged threats against him are not personal, but rather an example...
Following the re-election of former U.S. president Donald Trump, former finance minister Bill Morneau says the Canadian government should re-evaluate the timing of some cornerstone Liberal policies, such as the oil and gas sector emissions cap, in order to better align with its southern neighbour and its new incoming administration. “I would question whether putting caps on emissions right now...
Canada’s ambassador to the United States — and co-lead of the federal government’s Team Canada war room — says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has a different understanding of the bilateral relationship than he did during his first term in the White House. Trump, throughout this latest election campaign, has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs on imports, to reopen America's trilateral...
Following president-elect Donald Trump’s decisive election victory, there are sure to be significant knock-on effects for Canada.While this will be Trump’s second go-around in the Oval Office, and the second with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in office in Canada, the world looks very different than it did four years ago.
The former U.S. ambassador to Canada, who served under former U.S. president Donald Trump, says Canada needs to spend more on defence, and do so faster than the federal government’s currently plans to. "Canada, you can do better. I know you can do better," Kelly Craft told CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, in a panel interview alongside former Canadian...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre thinks it would be “not fair” for the Liberals to oust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now, as in his view they are “morally obligated” to keep him. Poilievre’s comments come ahead of another potentially significant Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday, during which members are expected to continue discussions around the party’s leadership and the next election...
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says there has been a “significant reduction” to the public safety threat since six Indian diplomatic officials were expelled from the country last week. “I can confirm, from different techniques that we use in normal investigation and reach out from the community, I can confirm that there has been a significant reduction in the threats,” Duheme...
Longtime Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the views of his backbenchers in determining his future leading the Party, rather than relying on those in his immediate orbit. “Seriously, get away from your inner circle,” Long told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, in an interview airing Sunday. “I don't want to...
On the 10-year anniversary of the deadly Parliament Hill shooting, former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers says there's "not a day that goes by" where he doesn't think about it. On Oct. 22, 2014, a gunman shot and killed 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun — a dual Canada-United States citizen and the target of an alleged assassination attempt in New York City last year — says the expelled Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, is "less of a diplomat, and more of a hypocrite." "What needs to be done is to decimate and dismantle the spy network, which they...
India’s high commissioner to Canada — who has been expelled from the country — says while the economic relationship between Canada and India will likely be preserved, the political one is now characterized by “mistrust.” In an exclusive interview with CTV’s Question Period, airing Sunday, Sanjay Kumar Verma said any decision by India about whether or not to replace him...
Amid mounting pressure from within the Liberal caucus for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to consider stepping down as party leader, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather says there should be “robust” conversations on the topic. When asked directly during an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play whether he supports Trudeau’s continued leadership of the party, Housefather wouldn’t say. “I support whoever...
Former cabinet minister Marc Garneau, who describes himself in his new book as always-a-Liberal, "but a decidedly blue one," says he hopes the party still has room for someone like him. "I hope so," Garneau told CTV's Power Play host Vassy Kapelos, when asked exactly that. "I hope that the Liberal party will continue to listen to a variety of...