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 Rachel Aiello.
Prime Minister Mark Carney touted his “big, broad, and growing Liberal tent” on Thursday night, buoyed by another MP jumping ship from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s caucus to join his, a year after the party appeared to be in dire straits. “Some of you – and I salute you – have been Liberals your whole life. Some of you apparently...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s motion calling for the House of Commons to declare their support for a new Alberta pipeline failed Tuesday, after a day of considerable parliamentary wrangling. By a vote of 139 to 196, the motion – the official Opposition’s final opportunity of the year to force a vote on an issue they deem pressing – was defeated...
As the Canadian government reviews its commitment to purchase American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, a new poll shows what Canadians think should be prioritized in procuring replacements to the aging CF-18s. The CTV News and Nanos Research survey gauged Canadian’s views on what matters the most to them in terms of defence cooperation, in light of ongoing trade tensions...
Steven Guilbeault has resigned from the prime minister’s cabinet, citing his strong opposition to the federal Liberal government’s major new energy agreement with Alberta, accusing Mark Carney of dismantling of climate plans. The dramatic departure comes just hours after Carney signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, laying the groundwork for strengthened cooperation on major energy...
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have signed a major new energy cooperation agreement outlining the emission and other climate conditions that need to be met in order for a new oil pipeline to the Pacific to be approved under the federal major projects law. Signing a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), the federal and provincial governments...
The prime ministers of Canada and India have agreed to launch negotiations towards a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), according to a senior government official. Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian President Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The two countries – who are in the midst of a reset of a strained relationship...
The first confidence vote connected to Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne’s 2025 federal budget will take place in the House of Commons on Thursday night. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon’s office confirmed to CTV News that the Liberals are treating both the Conservative sub-amendment, and the Bloc Quebecois amendment to the main motion seeking approval for the budget, as matters of...
Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly welcomed Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont to his Liberal caucus Wednesday morning, thanking him for his decision to cross the floor, bringing the minority government one vote closer to a majority. “I’m honored to welcome him as the newest member of our government caucus,” Carney said, at an announcement at a public transit facility in...
Presenting a plan for major infrastructure and industrial investments intended to shape Canada’s future, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first ever federal budget focuses on driving economic growth, while projecting a deficit that is billions of dollars bigger than forecast a year ago. Framed as a plan to create an economy “by Canadians, for Canadians,” the budget – titled “Canada Strong”...
Conservatives Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canada’s youth have “sacrificed enough,” telling them that he thinks ahead of next week’s budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to “lull” them “into accepting a worse quality of life.” In a campaign-style speech to youth in downtown Toronto on Thursday night, Poilievre painted a grim picture of their present, placed the blame at...
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is falling short on recruiting and training enough members to meet this country’s operational requirements, a new audit finds. Amid a renewed recruitment push and massive spending commitment from the federal government, a report tabled in the House of Commons this morning from Auditor General Karen Horgan found that while thousands apply annually, on average...
Next week, the Canadian government will bring forward a new bail reform bill aimed at cracking down on violent and repeat offenders, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday. The new legislation will target those accused of serious crimes such as violent auto thefts, breaking and entering, human trafficking, as well as sexual and violent assaults, in an effort to keep...
Today Industry Minister Melanie Joly will be unveiling the federal government’s vision for bringing Canada into a new industrial era, with a strategy to save jobs, open new employment opportunities, and draw in global investment and talent. The minister is set to articulate this new Canadian industrial strategy in a speech at the Canadian Club of Toronto. A copy of...
The federal health minister says the national dental care plan will be spared from spending cuts, but pressed on the program’s uptake – nearly half of those enrolled have yet to visit a dentist – Marjorie Michel says “it’s still a work in progress.” The minister spoke to the state of the program at an event in Ottawa on Thursday...
Amid his push to strengthen energy and economic ties with Europe, Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed Tuesday that the federal government will imminently be unveiling major new investments in port infrastructure. “Our government is in the process of unleashing half a trillion dollars of investment in energy infrastructure, port infrastructure, particularly intelligence infrastructure, as well, with AI,” Carney said Tuesday...
Turnout at advanced polls in the Alberta byelection, where Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is vying to regain a seat in the House of Commons, is on par with the number of electors in the riding who cast early ballots during the general election this spring. According to an estimate issued by Elections Canada on Wednesday, 14,454 electors in Battle...
Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson holds dual Canada-U.S. citizenship and sees “no reason” to give up his American citizenship “at this time.” Hodgson confirmed his dual citizenship in an interview on The Vassy Kapelos Show on Tuesday, stating he has “no confusion about where my loyalties lie.” The rookie minister entered federal politics this year, under Prime...
U.S. ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says the current stage of trade negotiations is slow moving, but not stalled. “It’s going to take a while to work through it,” Hoekstra said in an interview with CTV News Senior Political Correspondent Mike Le Couteur on Tuesday. “There’s a lot of issues that are still on the table ... the next few...
Ahead of the First Nations summit to discuss the federal government’s controversial major projects bill getting underway, Assembly of First Nations Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is calling for “more listening” from Prime Minister Mark Carney. “We’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he produces tomorrow,” Woodhouse Nepinak told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday. “I think that...
Ten weeks after a disastrous election outcome that saw the federal New Democrats lose most of their seats, the party is launching a “review and renewal process” before triggering its next leadership race. The post-defeat soul searching is slated to last all summer long, with consultations stretching into the fall, aimed at reflecting on the 2025 campaign to “help shape...
Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Montreal-area riding of Lac–Saint–Louis, has been elected Speaker of the House of Commons. Monday marks the return to the House for newly elected and returning MPs, after a five-month hiatus to choose a new Liberal leader and hold a general election. According to House of Commons procedure, electing a Speaker of the House...
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has not had any conversations with anyone from the other federal parties about crossing the floor in order to help the Liberals form a majority government, a metric the party is now just two seats shy of. In an excusive interview with CTV News’ Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos, his first broadcast interview since...
Prime Minister Mark Carney will be sworn in and unveil his new cabinet on Tuesday, Rideau Hall has confirmed. In a ceremony presided over by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, the newly elected prime minister will present to Canadians who he has picked to deliver on his series of campaign commitments, and lead on key files at a pivotal time for...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre didn’t adapt enough to Justin Trudeau’s departure or U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office, says Erin O’Toole, who is now suggesting his successor reconsider his tone and approach to provincial relationships before taking a second crack at becoming prime minister. In an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play with Vassy Kapelos, O’Toole said the...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says what he’s learned from the 2025 federal election is that “the map has changed dramatically” and the party needs to plot out a path to pick up enough additional votes to get them across the finish line next time. “If you told me … that we would get 41 per cent of the vote a...
Outgoing NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s national campaign director is taking responsibility for the results of the 2025 federal election, the worst electoral showing in the party’s history. “It is painful to be where we’re at. It is painful for me to know that this is the campaign that I ran, and I take responsibility for the outcome,” said Singh’s chief...
Amid questions about the future of the Conservative Party and its leader Pierre Poilievre, one Progressive Conservative premier says it’s time for some “soul searching,” and one defeated member of Parliament says she thinks the party needs to not be “so extreme” going forward.
After a challenging election campaign that saw New Democrats sidelined, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has failed to secure his re-election, and announced he will step down once an interim leader is appointed. “Choosing to commit your life to politics obviously comes with some sacrifice, but we choose this life because of the chance to change the country you love for...
According to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, the party’s internal numbers are “much better” than what national polling indicates, and he is “confident” about how many NDP MPs will be elected on Monday. “We’re going to re-elect lots of New Democrats and we’re going to elect more New Democrats. We’re confident about that,” Singh said in an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos...
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has been campaigning in British Columbia – the province home to half of the party’s seats – since Friday. Asked repeatedly over the long weekend about spending some of the final days of the 2025 federal election in potentially at-risk ridings the party currently holds, Singh responded by stating who wouldn’t want to be enjoying the...
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...
Canada has a new prime minister, and on his first day with the new title Mark Carney is already signalling that Canadians will be going to the polls early. Carney said voters “certainly should expect to go to the polls before November,” when asked after the ceremony whether his plans over the next few weeks include recalling Parliament or triggering...
When prime minister-designate Mark Carney unveils his first ever front bench at Rideau Hall on Friday, it will be substantially smaller than the version outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left him. CTV News has confirmed that among the ministers that are being dropped from cabinet are Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc...
While former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland lost by a wide margin to Mark Carney in the Liberal leadership race, her campaign team was told that she placed second in 317 of 343 ridings. According to an internal email sent to members of Freeland’s leadership team and leaked to CTV News by a campaign source, Freeland came second in every...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians are great and shouldn’t change, in a final message posted from his office on his last day in it. Trudeau – in a post captioned: “Hey Canada, one last thing.” – said he is “so proud” of Canadians. “I’m proud to have served a country full of people who stand up for what’s right...
Justin Trudeau said today – in what was one of, if not his final press conference as prime minister – that he won’t try to stay on in a caretaker capacity once his successor is named. Appearing to get emotional at times when talking about his decade in power, Trudeau said he is looking forward “to a transition to my...
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland says if she wins and becomes prime minister, she will invite rival Mark Carney to serve as her finance minister, a job she dramatically vacated just a few months ago. “I intend to win on Sunday, and when I win, I will invite Mark to serve as finance minister in my government. I think we’ll...
The governor of Kentucky says U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on countries including Canada are not what Americans voted for and will cause “significant harm,” as prices south of the border to go up. In an exclusive interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play, Democrat Andy Beshear said that he believes that as the economic impact of the massive trade...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while the Liberal party will be naming its new leader on Sunday, his last official day leading this country has yet to be determined. “That will be up to a conversation between the new leader and myself to figure out how long a transition is needed,” Trudeau said Tuesday during his press conference announcing retaliatory...
Liberal leadership frontrunner Mark Carney is hitting back at former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper for accusing the Liberal leadership frontrunner of taking undue economic credit. Responding to a letter Harper penned to Conservative party members – and sent out as a fundraising blast – Carney’s campaign accused Harper of being called on “to save Pierre Poilievre from a historic...
The Canadian Armed Forces is on track to meet its recruitment goal for the year, thanks in part to an uptick in applications in the month since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House. While senior military officials stopped short of attributing the influx over the last month to any specific factor, they did not rule out the...
The Canadian government has ended its ban on advertising on Meta platforms and allocated up to $100,000 for a campaign to promote the GST rebate, CTV News has learned. The Privy Council Office (PCO) said the government deemed it “essential that Canadians receive credible information about government programs designed to support them,” when asked what informed the decision to reverse...
Canada’s new “fentanyl czar” will work with Canadian and U.S. officials to help halt the flow of illegal drugs across the northern border, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says. Shedding some new light on what exactly Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s newly-promised drug czar will do, McGuinty said the title was “chosen carefully” in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s focus...
U.S. President Donald Trump said there is “nothing” Canada can do to prevent the punishing tariffs expected to be unleashed tomorrow. During a press conference Friday afternoon, Trump was asked if there’s “anything” Canada, China or Mexico could do to forestall the tariffs. The president left little up for interpretation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ready to respond, if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his plans to impose 25 per cent import tariffs tomorrow, but that the country could be in for hard times if he does. “I won’t sugar coat it. Our nation could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks,” Trudeau...
Thursday was the deadline for those looking to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to file their candidacy, seeing seven hopefuls officially throw their hat in the Liberal leadership race. The key first milestone in the campaign came on the same day as Liberal MPs convened in the nation’s capital, talking about how the search for a new leader has invigorated...
The Canadian government is ready to respond with proposed retaliatory tariffs on an initial round of American goods on Monday if U.S. president-elect Donald Trump moves to immediately levy tariffs on inauguration day, sources confirm to CTV News. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on Day 1 of his administration, “as one...
With U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to hit Canada with a 25 per cent import tariff within days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says if Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants his job, he “has a choice to make.” “Either he stands up to fight for all Canadians alongside all premiers and the federal government that are doing that, or he chooses...
With U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and “day one” 25 per cent import tariff threat looming, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is launching a new Canada-U.S. relations council.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he thinks U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is drumming up drama on Canadian statehood to detract from tariff talks. "What I think is happening in this is President Trump, who's a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation," Trudeau said in an interview on CNN with Jake Tapper.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announcing Monday that he intends to resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as his party names his replacement, has set a series of political machinations in motion. Trudeau, saying he "absolutely" still thinks the Liberals can beat Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives, has asked Liberal Party of Canada president Sachit Mehra to immediately initiate a...
In a seismic political move, Justin Trudeau has announced his intention to step down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and prime minister, once his successor is named. This decision comes after more than nine years in the country's top job and nearly 12 years at the helm of his party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. In an historic announcement outside his official Rideau Cottage residence, Trudeau declared his intention to stay on as prime minister until a new leader is chosen. Trudeau also met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon this morning, where he asked for the prorogation of Parliament until...
A special meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national Liberal caucus has been called for next Wednesday, sources say. Trudeau was back in Ottawa today, but having yet to signal he's ready to address the snowballing resignation calls, the Liberal caucus' regional chairs met to discuss next steps. The virtual meeting took place at 3 p.m. EST, according to sources...
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre announced that he will submit a letter to the Governor General asking to recall the House for a confidence vote. This follows Jagmeet Singh's letter earlier this morning saying the NDP "will vote to bring this government down."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is adding eight Liberal MPs to his front bench and is reassigning four ministers in a cabinet shuffle currently underway in Ottawa. Making several changes to his ministerial roster now comes after a tumultuous week for the federal Liberals, and was framed as a bid to inject some stability, exactly one month before U.S. president-elect Donald...
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...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning to shuffle his cabinet on Friday, sources confirm to CTV News. The long-awaited reconfiguration of Trudeau's front bench comes amid turmoil for the Liberal government after the shocking resignation of Chrystia Freeland, and as a few ministers juggle multiple portfolios.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's looming tariff threat is part of the reason why he's not committing to voting non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. In an interview on CTV's Your Morning with Anne-Marie Mediwake, Singh was asked repeatedly to explain how he's calling on the embattled Liberal leader to resign, but won't say he's...
The House of Commons is slated to adjourn on Tuesday, bringing an end to an unstable fall sitting that has been bookended by Liberal byelection losses. The conclusion of the fall sitting comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government is in turmoil. From facing down a series of Conservative-led confidence votes and failing to pass nearly any legislation amid...