Liberals signal they'll expand House power, take committee control

Liberals signal they'll expand House power, take committee control

Author: CBC April 16, 2026 Duration: 1:00:24

Parties unanimously locked in a House committee structure that gave the opposition the advantage last year, allowing them to hold up legislation. Today, Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon said his government is assessing what it would look like to change that: 'I think there's a generally accepted principle that committees reflect the composition of Parliament.' Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett and Liberal whip Mark Gerretsen weigh in. Plus, NDP Leader Avi Lewis says the Liberals' 'floor-crossing majority' has legitimacy, but says he's worried about the implications for faith in democracy.



Power & Politics cuts through the noise of the 24-hour news cycle to deliver substantive conversation on the forces shaping Canada. Host David Cochrane engages directly with the country's decision-makers, pressing for clarity and accountability on the issues that impact listeners' lives. This CBC podcast is built on more than just headlines; it provides context through analysis from seasoned political journalists and a roster of insightful panelists who dissect the implications of breaking stories. Each episode blends timely interviews with deeper discussion, moving beyond the soundbite to explore the strategies, conflicts, and personalities driving the national conversation. Tune in for a grounded and thorough examination of power in action, where the focus is on understanding the how and why behind the day's events. For anyone looking to move past surface-level reporting, this podcast offers a consistent and critical listen.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 80

Power & Politics
Podcast Episodes
Can Poilievre turn a leadership win into election redemption? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:21
An overwhelming majority of Conservative delegates voted to keep Pierre Poilievre as the leader of their party, but pollsters David Coletto and Shachi Kurl break down why Poilievre's impressions with other potential vote…
Conservatives vote on the future of Poilievre's leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
Join Power & Politics on the floor of the Conservative convention in Calgary, just hours before delegates vote on whether Pierre Poilievre should remain the party's leader. Conservative campaign manager Steve Outhouse di…
U.S. confirms it met Alberta separatists. Is it 'treason'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:07
As Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Canada's premiers in Ottawa, the U.S. State Department confirmed it had met with a group of Alberta separatists — leading B.C. Premier David Eby to accuse the separatists of 'treaso…
Carney denies 'aggressively walking back' Davos speech to Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:09
After U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of 'aggressively' reversing comments from his World Economic Forum speech in a Monday call with President Donald Trump, Carney offers a virtu…
Carney announces billions in rebates as cost-of-living stopgap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:18
Prime Minister Mark Carney framed five years and an estimated $11-12 billion in GST rebate hikes as a 'bridge' to help Canadians in the near-term, as they wait for his policies to transform the broader Canadian economy t…
Trump’s threats and Carney’s pushback | Analysis from Washington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:37
CBC’s new weekly podcast, Two Blocks from the White House, takes a clear-eyed look at what’s happening in the U.S. right now and what it means for Canadians. This week Washington correspondents Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson…
Weekly Wrap: Carney tells the world to change. Will it listen? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:02
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump’s speeches in Davos laid out starkly opposed visions of the world order and Canada’s relationship to its greatest powers. Zain Velji, Laura D'Angelo and Rachael…