How budget week turned into a nightmare for the Conservatives
CBC
This is not the week Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wanted to have.
For the Opposition, budget week is a communications gift. It’s an easy way for the party to call out government spending, shout about what’s been included and decry what’s left out.
For a leader who has built his brand on calling out Liberal spending, tabling a budget with a $78-billion deficit is the political equivalent of pitching a strike straight down the middle to Dodger slugger Shohei Ohtani.
Instead of taking a victory lap around the bases, the Conservative ended the week facing questions about his leadership — after losing one MP to his rivals and another resigning from federal politics altogether.
Here’s how it played out, according to CBC News sources and public accounts.
Prime Minister Mark Carney holds two meetings that set in motion a memorable week in Canadian politics.
One is with Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont, who would ultimately be swayed to cross the floor and serve as a Liberal. Carney didn’t say when they met, just that it was “in advance of [d’Entremont’s] decision.
Another was with Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux in an attempt to have him defect to the government side of the House, according to a senior Liberal source.
It’s budget day— a newsy day to begin with, especially in Ottawa.
Journalists and stakeholders head into a lockup to pore over the 400-plus-page document before it’s tabled in the House of Commons.
About 20 minutes before the lockup ends, phones begin to buzz over a scoop from Politico: “Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont says he is considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party.”
The mad dash to confirm the story (while still reporting on the budget's contents) begins.
A source with knowledge of the situation tells CBC News that after the Politico story dropped, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer and whip Chris Warkentin walked into d’Entremont’s office without an appointment and started to pressure him to stay.
The first reports trickle out that d'Entremont resigned from caucus. By 6:30 p.m. d'Entremont confirms he’s joined the Liberal caucus.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.
The driver wanted in connection with a fatal hit and run on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified, police say.
There are mixed feelings about the proposed Grays Bay road and port project, among people who live in nearby communities.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse and includes graphic content.
Provincial police in Lambton County have charged a 23-year-old man with second degree murder following a death investigation that began this past Saturday.