Election-year heavy hitters: the 99 most influential figures to watch in federal politics in 2019

Politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and media: here are the top 99 most powerful and influential people to watch in federal politics in 2019.

PM should create permanent emergency preparedness cabinet committee, say experts, political players: ‘being prepared for the next natural disaster, terrorist act or health crisis is the objective’

A former national security adviser to the prime minister says 'if this country wants the national security agencies to worry about a pandemic, then they need to raise it on the list of priorities set by cabinet.'

‘These jobs are not coming back’: economists pour cold water on O’Toole‘s Canada First policy

‘Some people are going to win from a Canada-first policy. Most people are going to lose,’ says Queen’s professor Ian Keay.

Old and new priorities compete for space in Liberals’ fall agenda

Talk of pharmacare, childcare and clean energy is nothing new, but a re-surging pandemic could sideline everything else.

‘Ping-pong’ gun politics continue to divide voters, as O’Toole courts GTA seats

'I think it’s going to help some of the Conservative candidates in some of those swing ridings,' says Ontario Tory MP Alex Ruff of the Liberal ban on 'assault weapons.'

Recovery measures for ‘national safety net’ should be in place before any talk of election, says Singh

Bloc Québécois Leader tested positive for the virus and is in isolation until Sept. 26, which means he will be missing the Throne Speech.

‘Disheartening’ report on child well-being places urgency on creation of commissioner, say experts

'We know this generation will be paying the debt that's incurred in the pandemic for a long time, so Canada needs to look at things we’ve been calling for for a long time now,' says Lisa Wolff of UNICEF.

‘Like a criminal’: Canada-U.S. asylum agreement has a human cost, refugee says

The U.S. 'is not a safe country for refugees,’ says a woman who Canada turned away because she entered the U.S. first. Her case helped convince a Federal Court judge the SCTA should end, a ruling the feds are appealing.

Parties ramp up fundraising to cope after ‘big hiccup’ of pandemic, with a modified ‘return to normal,’ say experts

Given 'all the different hints' of an early election call, Burlington Conservative riding association head Ross Noble says his team is looking to expand its fundraising efforts, with different formats and larger groups.

‘Basic human rights’ at stake in Nunavut housing crisis, says NDP MP Qaqqaq

'I feel like I’m fighting all the time,' says Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, who isn’t sure whether she’ll run for office again.