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These are the 30 most read items on National Newswatch, from the last seven days.

Barging into office, yelling from Conservative leadership ‘sealed the deal’ on defection: d’Entremont

Barging into office, yelling from Conservative leadership ‘sealed the deal’ on defection: d’Entremont

MP says Conservatives felt like ‘part of a frat house rather than a serious political party.’ Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont says pushing and yelling from Conservative Party leadership "sealed the deal" on his choice to cross the floor of the House of Commons to the Liberals this week. After d’Entremont’s musings over a possible defection were reported by Politico...

There’s a reason Mark Carney isn’t talking to Donald Trump

There’s a reason Mark Carney isn’t talking to Donald Trump

Where Carney was once in nearly a 24/7 texting-back-and-forth relationship with Trump, the prime minister and the president have had no contact on trade since the APEC summit in Korea, his office confirmed to the Star Friday. Prime Minister Mark Carney and his team are so over it. From scampering in search of meetings with President Donald Trump and top...

Conservative MP Bragdon ousts Liberal MP Duguid as co-chair of ‘influential’ Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group: Grits are ‘kicking ourselves’

Conservative MP Bragdon ousts Liberal MP Duguid as co-chair of ‘influential’ Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group: Grits are ‘kicking ourselves’

In a stunning upset that has left the Liberal caucus “kicking ourselves,” the Conservatives have ousted a senior Liberal MP as co-chair of the powerful Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group. At the Oct. 29 meeting held to elect a new co-chair, Conservative MP Richard Bragdon (Tobique-Mactaquac, N.B.) defeated four-term Liberal MP and cabinet minister Terry Duguid (Winnipeg-North, Man.) for the position. The...

47% of those on the right believe it's best to choose a new leader for the Conservative Party

47% of those on the right believe it's best to choose a new leader for the Conservative Party

Betting on Poilievre is betting that someone who’s been in politics for 20 years will grow more popular, and the odds tell us that only rarely happens. The list of politicians who gain popularity after 20 years in public life is short. When it happens, it involves a major change in the politician, or a bigger change in the world...

Liberal MP insists he’s ‘not unhappy’ despite environmental policy shift, Poilievre claims

Liberal MP insists he’s ‘not unhappy’ despite environmental policy shift, Poilievre claims

B.C. Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson says he is “not unhappy” as a member of the Liberal government, despite a significant shift in environmental policies under Prime Minister Mark Carney. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, pointed on Wednesday to reporting from the Toronto Sun that says Wilkinson – who served as both environment and climate change minister and energy and natural...

Liberals clear high-stakes confidence vote to pass federal budget, avoid holiday election

Liberals clear high-stakes confidence vote to pass federal budget, avoid holiday election

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government narrowly survived its third confidence vote in as many weeks on Monday, passing the federal budget by a vote of 170-168 and staving off a holiday election. The vote was a make-or-break one for the Liberal government, which is two seats shy of a majority. Leading up to the vote, both the Bloc...



House Speaker Scarpaleggia residing at an Ottawa hotel instead of official residence, ‘The Farm,’ for family reasons

House Speaker Scarpaleggia residing at an Ottawa hotel instead of official residence, ‘The Farm,’ for family reasons

It’s more economical for the Speaker to live at a hotel than at the official residence in Gatineau Hills, says spokesman Olivier Duhaime. Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who was elected as House Speaker in May following the last general election, has chosen not to reside at “The Farm,” the Speaker’s official residence in the Gatineau Hills in Quebec, opting instead...

‘Shame on you’: N.S. MP Chris d’Entremont booed during Remembrance Day ceremony

‘Shame on you’: N.S. MP Chris d’Entremont booed during Remembrance Day ceremony

A high-profile Nova Scotia politician was booed at a Remembrance Day event on Tuesday. Chris d’Entremont, the longtime Conservative MP who crossed the floor to join the Liberals last week, attended the ceremony at the legion in Annapolis Royal, N.S. When he laid a wreath in front of the stage, booing could be heard, sparking some grumbles from other members...

With an eye on the party's future, go-getter Tory MP Jivani says he doesn't have time for party infighting

With an eye on the party's future, go-getter Tory MP Jivani says he doesn't have time for party infighting

Jivani has lately been spending a lot of time meeting young Canadians. Conservative MP Jamil Jivani doesn’t yet have a critic assignment, but he’s still finding plenty of ways to keep himself busy. One glance at the link-heavy website for the Yale Law graduate’s new “Restore the North” initiative conjures up the image of an overachieving high school senior anxiously...

Nenshi’s NDP relaunch gets big outside help: NYC mayor's ad agency and Ottawa Liberals

Nenshi’s NDP relaunch gets big outside help: NYC mayor's ad agency and Ottawa Liberals

New party ad stresses Albertans' struggles on affordability, health — light on details of how to fix them. Nearly a year and a half after Naheed Nenshi began serving as Alberta NDP leader, and about two years out from the next scheduled election, his party has determined it’s time to reintroduce him to Albertans this week. The newly released video...

Poilievre says no reflection on his leadership style following floor crossing and resignation

Poilievre says no reflection on his leadership style following floor crossing and resignation

In his first media availability since two MPs announced they’re leaving his caucus, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he plans to continue leading the party as he has been. When asked by a reporter to respond to comments by former Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont — who last Tuesday announced he was crossing the floor to the Liberals and later blamed...

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

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...

Swedish manufacturer says 10,000 new jobs could soon come to Canada

Swedish manufacturer says 10,000 new jobs could soon come to Canada

The Swedish manufacturer of the Gripen fighter jet, SAAB, says 10,000 manufacturing and research jobs could land in Canada if Ottawa adds the aircraft to its military fleet. SAAB President and CEO Micael Johansson confirmed to CTV News during an interview at the company’s headquarters in Stockholm that he has talked to Ottawa about making Gripens on Canadian soil. He...

Poilievre and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week

Poilievre and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week

Last week was an awful one for the Conservative Party. It should have been a time when Leader Pierre Poilievre and his team were critiquing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget and laying out alternatives. Instead, they spent most of the week answering questions about Poilievre’s leadership as one of his Members of Parliament crossed the floor and joined the...

NDP prepares for election as its MPs decide whether to vote against Carney government’s budget

NDP prepares for election as its MPs decide whether to vote against Carney government’s budget

The NDP is considering how to fast-track its campaign readiness in the case of a snap election, sources say, as its MPs weigh a budget vote that could trigger the fall of the Carney government. The NDP is weighing how to fast-track its campaign readiness in the case of a snap election, sources say, as its MPs weigh a budget...

Carney refers one strategy, six initiatives to Major Projects Office

Carney refers one strategy, six initiatives to Major Projects Office

Three critical mineral extraction projects, a nickel mine in Ontario and a transmission line on the northern B.C. coast are among the new initiatives added to the growing list of projects referred to the Major Projects Office. Prime Minister Mark Carney says the “transformational” projects announced Thursday in northern B.C. represent more than $56 billion in new investment and will...

Senior Tory accuses Liberals of fuelling ‘harassment’ of Conservative MPs amid floor-crossing rumours

Senior Tory accuses Liberals of fuelling ‘harassment’ of Conservative MPs amid floor-crossing rumours

Conservative MPs facing questions about party loyalty are enduring unfair “harassment” fuelled by rumours and Liberal attempts to earn a majority in the House of Commons through convincing opposition members to defect to the government, a senior Tory claims. In an interview with the Star, Conservative whip Chris Warkentin bemoaned how MPs in his caucus are being repeatedly asked whether...

Next round of major projects list coming Thursday: Carney

Next round of major projects list coming Thursday: Carney

The second round of major so-called nation-building projects will be announced this Thursday in Prince Rupert, B.C., Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday. Carney confirmed the date during a press conference in Fredericton, following a meeting with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. “We’ve got big strategies that then also have implications for provinces across the country,” Carney said, when...



‘It’s none of their business’: Senators hit the brakes on new staff ethics code after political-disclosure rules make waves

‘It’s none of their business’: Senators hit the brakes on new staff ethics code after political-disclosure rules make waves

A new Code of Values and Ethics for Senate Staff—developed and adopted behind closed doors last spring—caught many by surprise when it was implemented earlier this fall, and its requirement for staff to disclose their political activities has sparked concerns among both Senators and their staff. Thanks to a motion from Conservative Senator Michael MacDonald (Cape Breton, N.S.) adopted by...

Former immigration minister says Canada's reputation on welcoming refugees is at risk

Former immigration minister says Canada's reputation on welcoming refugees is at risk

Former immigration minister Lloyd Axworthy, a prominent global champion for refugees, said he believes Canada is putting its reputation as a welcoming place for refugees at risk through recent federal policy shifts. Those shifts, he said, include the Carney government's new border security bill, C-12, which would limit the ability of individuals who have been in Canada for more than...

Poilievre should take a page out of Brian Mulroney’s playbook on caucus management, say political players: ‘an absolute master,’ it was his ‘secret sauce’

Poilievre should take a page out of Brian Mulroney’s playbook on caucus management, say political players: ‘an absolute master,’ it was his ‘secret sauce’

David McLaughlin says building and maintaining trust requires two-way communication. It's also political capital that leaders can draw upon in tough times. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre needs to reach out to his MPs individually, rather than through the House leader and the whip.

Here are three scenarios — including a Christmas election — that could happen with Monday’s budget vote

Here are three scenarios — including a Christmas election — that could happen with Monday’s budget vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government will face a crucial test on Monday, Nov. 17, as it will face a third and final confidence vote on his budget, Already, Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois have said their MPs would be voting against the government’s fiscal plan, leaving few options for the Liberals to find the two votes needed in the...

MMA gym owners, coaches ID’d at secretive neo-Nazi event in B.C.

MMA gym owners, coaches ID’d at secretive neo-Nazi event in B.C.

Expert says event exemplifies worrying overlap between martial arts and extremism. Some of the country’s most prominent white supremacist groups gathered in Vancouver this summer for a secretive neo-Nazi conference that also included martial arts gym owners, coaches and trainers. Held at the Scottish Cultural Centre in the city’s south end, the event was organized by a group called Exiles...

Forcing an election against this budget would be a big risk for opposition parties

Forcing an election against this budget would be a big risk for opposition parties

69% think the opposition parties should let the budget pass, including 73% on the left and 51% on the right. Hardly fertile ground for the NDP and the CPC. As the House of Commons approaches confidence votes on Mark Carney’s first budget, they know that to force an election would be to court the ire of the public. It may...

Canada’s chance to find itself again

Canada’s chance to find itself again

Reimagining this country is not only possible, it is essential. I present the following thought exercise to you: if some overeager, industrious journalist were to write an obituary for Canada, how would it read? Today, the world marked the passing of Canada, younger than most, older than some. Canada, on her best days was a beacon in the world for...

Stellantis takes Ontario auto supplier to court over claims of extortion

Stellantis takes Ontario auto supplier to court over claims of extortion

Peterson Spring court filing claims it can’t afford to ship parts below cost to produce them in Woodstock. Stellantis and one of its Canadian auto suppliers are battling in court over the price of brake rotors in a dispute that threatens to shutter multiple auto assembly plants in the U.S. Peterson Spring says in a court filing it can’t afford...

New nation-building projects list to include mines, LNG, Iqaluit hydro: sources

New nation-building projects list to include mines, LNG, Iqaluit hydro: sources

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to make announcement in Prince Rupert, B.C., on Thursday. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce a second set of “nation-building projects,” including at least two focused on critical mineral extraction, one for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) and at least one transmission project, sources told CBC News. They said there will be...

B.C. Conservative riding executives urge MLAs to show 'courage' and oust Rustad

B.C. Conservative riding executives urge MLAs to show 'courage' and oust Rustad

A group of riding executives and former candidates with the Conservative Party of B.C. have become the latest voices to call for an end to John Rustad's leadership, writing to the party's legislators to urge them to oust him. Corey Brooks, president of the riding association for Burnaby-North, says in an interview the party will "continue bleeding" support and won't...

Ottawa hasn’t seen this kind of soap opera drama in decades

Ottawa hasn’t seen this kind of soap opera drama in decades

Former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer insisted Friday that no one is interested in palace intrigue. But after his party saw a floor crosser, a resignation, allegations of bullying and threats levied against MPs, and rumours of more Conservative caucus dissenters now too afraid to make a move, who isn’t interested? Ottawa hasn’t seen this kind of daytime soap opera since...

NDP MP ‘very confident’ no New Democrats will cross floor to Liberals as budget vote nears

NDP MP ‘very confident’ no New Democrats will cross floor to Liberals as budget vote nears

Conservative House leader denies any pressure on Tory MPs to stay in caucus. B.C. NDP MP Gord Johns says he’s “very confident” none of the seven New Democrats in the House of Commons will cross the floor to the Liberals — even as he admits he’s regularly approached by the Liberals. “Oh, that’s an everyday conversation they have with me...