The year-end political upheaval in Ottawa and a looming 25 percent tariff by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have ensured that 2024 doesn’t end quietly for Canadians.
Here’s a look at some of the issues that had political ramifications in Canada in 2024.
Year-End Upheaval for the Liberals, Surge of Conservatives
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during an “Axe the Tax” rally in Ottawa on March 24, 2024. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby
The year ended for the Liberals with the high-profile resignation of Chrystia Freeland from cabinet on Dec. 16, the Liberal caucus divided on the issue of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigning, and the NDP—the last opposition party supporting the minority Liberal government—vowing to defeat the government in a vote of non-confidence.
The Conservatives, who have been surging in the polls, have consistently called for an early election, and leader Pierre Poilievre has continued to draw large crowds to his cross-country rallies, while breaking fundraising records.
The Bloc Québécois had earlier joined that chorus of asking for an election in the fall after it became clear the Liberals weren’t helping to pass two pieces of legislation the Bloc was seeking, one to increase Old Age Security payments for younger seniors and the other to keep supply management out of future trade negotiations.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland receives applause as she shakes hands with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after presenting the federal budget in the House of Commons on April 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
The Liberals have been trailing in the polls, while surveys show that the Conservatives have a 20-point advantage. Meanwhile, the Grits lost two long-term strongholds in byelections this year to the Conservatives and the Bloc, and ended the year with losing another previously Liberal-held riding to the Conservatives in a byelection in B.C., in which the Tory candidate won by a landslide. A byelection in Winnipeg in September in an NDP stronghold saw the New Democrats holding on to their seat.
End of Liberal-NDP Agreement
The NDP ended its supply-and-confidence-agreement with the Liberals on Sept. 4. The deal provided NDP support to the Liberals on confidence votes in exchange for introducing key pieces of legislation sought by the NDP, including pharmacare and dental care programs.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh gives remarks during a press conference, in Toronto on Sept. 5, 2024. Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
Upon ending the agreement, the NDP said it would consider non-confidence motions on a case-by-case basis. It has so far been voting to keep the minority government in power.
Foreign Interference Inquiry
Following a string of intelligence leaks in the media in 2022 and 2023 about widespread Chinese meddling in Canada’s democracy, a public inquiry into the matter was launched and initial public hearings were held in March and April 2024.After hearing from top officials and digging into troves of government intelligence, the inquiry said in an interim report released in May that foreign interference is taking place, with the Chinese regime being the main perpetrator, though noting that it did not impact the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 elections. The commissioner said the interference, however, potentially had an impact in local ridings.
Hearings in the fall showed a disagreement between Canada’s intelligence community and diplomats on what constitutes foreign interference.
Commissioner Justice Marie-Josee Hogue delivers her opening remarks as the Foreign Interference commission begins fall hearings, on Sept. 16, 2024 in Ottawa. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
The inquiry was also tasked by the House of Commons to look into the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report about lawmakers being “witting” participants in colluding with foreign states. The inquiry said it would not be releasing any names, and no related findings have been made to date. The deadline for the commission’s final report has been pushed back to the end of January 2025.
The federal government also introduced a piece of legislation to curb foreign interference. Among other things, the legislation put in place a foreign agent registry and ramped up criminal penalties for foreign meddling. The bill cleared the Senate to become law on June 20.
Winnipeg Lab Scandal
After a long wait, the public was able to learn more about what transpired at Canada’s top biosafety laboratory in Winnipeg, where two Chinese-born scientists were fired in January 2021 following an internal investigation.After fighting several House orders in the previous Parliament, Ottawa released a trove of documents on the case in February. They show that even though the government had security concerns about the scientists, one of them was allowed to facilitate sending deadly pathogens to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China.
The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg is shown in a file photo. The Canadian Press/John Woods
According to the documents, the scientists were involved in multiple local security breaches and had extensive ties and work arrangements with Chinese regime entities, including the military. Xiangguo Qiu, one of the scientists, was also involved in gain-of-function research at the WIV while a Canadian public servant. In 2016, Qiu was nominated for an award by a top Chinese general for using “Canada’s Level 4 Biosecurity Laboratory as a base to assist China to improve its capability to fight highly-pathogenic pathogens.”
India Spat
Diplomatic relations between Canada and India went downhill in late 2023 after Trudeau publicly accused Indian agents of being involved in the assassination of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.The matter escalated in October when Ottawa declared six Indian diplomats persona non grata, saying the RCMP has “concrete evidence” identifying the diplomats as “persons of interest” in the Nijjar case. The RCMP at the same time said agents of India have been involved in “serious criminal activity” in Canada, including homicides and extortion.
The Indian flag is seen flying at the High Commission of India in Ottawa in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle
Ottawa said it went public with the information due to India refusing to cooperate on the matter. India, which denies the allegations, responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats and said it received no proper evidence from Canada.
Strikes
With the rising cost-of-living issues, the growing string of strikes from 2023 continued into 2024.The Westjet mechanics’ strike just ahead of the Canada Day long weekend threw the travel plans of many into disarray, while Air Canada pilots came close to going on strike in the fall.
Ship and dock foremen at the Port of Vancouver also came close to going on strike in July, while dockworkers proceeded with their strike in October.
Locked out Canadian National Rail workers stand at a picket line as locomotives are moved by management at CN Rail's Thornton Yard, in Surrey, B.C., on Aug. 22, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
Rail workers also went on strike in August, causing major disruptions to the economy before the federal government intervened to mandate arbitration. The move had political repercussions for the Liberals, as the NDP ended its supply-and-confidence agreement with the party soon after.
The year ended with the Canada Post strike going on for around four weeks ahead of the Christmas holidays, before the federal government again intervened to get the Labour Board involved.
Inflation Tamed, Rate Cuts Start
As previously high inflation rates started to fall, the Bank of Canada began lowering interest rates mid-way through 2024. The rate fell from 5 percent to 4.75 percent in June, to 4.5 percent in July, and 4.25 percent in September. Then the bank cut its key interest rate for the fourth time in 2024, bringing it down to 3.75 percent in October and 3.25 percent in December.Inflation first began rising around June 2021 amid disrupted supply chains, increased government spending, and higher energy and fertilizer prices due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Inflation rose from 3.1 percent in June 2021 to 7.6 percent in July 2022, leading the central bank to raise interest rates from 0.25 percent to 2.5 percent over the same period, eventually topping at 5 percent in July 2023.
Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins looks on as Governor Tiff Macklem speaks during a news on Dec. 11, 2024 in Ottawa. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP
On Dec. 11, in the bank’s most recent rate cut announcement, governor Tiff Macklem said inflation could fall further if Canada’s economy continues “growing below its potential,” while elevated wage increases, weak productivity, and U.S. tariffs could push inflation higher.
Canada Rattled After Trump Tariffs Threat
Not long after Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election in November, the president-elect sent shockwaves through its northern and southern neighbours by threatening a 25 percent tariff on all goods unless Canada and Mexico took action to confront illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States through their borders.Now, before Trump takes office, political leaders across the country have focused on preventing economic damage from punitive U.S. tariffs.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during Turning Point USA''s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix on Dec. 22, 2024. Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
Ottawa presented its $1.3 billion border plan on Dec. 17 to boost border surveillance and crack down on transnational criminal groups. Alberta has come forward with its own plan to boost border security using provincial sheriffs, while Ontario has launched ad campaigns to show his province as an ally in the United States. Provincial and territorial premiers have also met to discuss the issue.
Reversal on Immigration
The federal government massively increased immigration in recent years, which caused the country’s population to rise from 38 million in 2020 to an estimated 41.7 million by the end of 2024. Polls have shown that Canadians hold a negative view of this population increase amid housing, health-care, and education woes.Ottawa began reversing course in early 2024, taking steps such as capping the number of international students and raising their cost-of-living requirement. In October, the government announced a reduction in permanent residents until 2027, with Trudeau saying that “we didn’t get the balance quite right.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2024. The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle
With the incoming U.S. administration focused on border security, and an estimated 2.4 million non-permanent residents set to leave Canada or change status over the next two years, immigration is poised to be a top issue in 2025.
Reversal on Drug Policies
With increased outcry about the impact of drug consumption in residential areas, the federal government accepted B.C.’s request to end its pilot program of decriminalizing hard drugs in the province this year.
Needles are seen on the ground in Oppenheimer park in Vancouver's downtown eastside in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward
Meanwhile, Ontario banned supervised drug consumption sites near schools and child care centres, while Alberta has continued its approach of treatment-focused strategy rather than using harm reduction doctrines.
Fallout of Gaza War in Canada
The Israel-Hamas war that started after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the terrorist group on Israeli civilians continued to have repercussions in Canada this year.Pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests have been taking place regularly, and several university campuses were also occupied. Multiple acts of anti-Semitic violence have been reported, including Jewish institutions such as schools and synagogues being riddled with gunshots or firebombed.
Pro-Palestine supporters protest in front of a synagogue hosting an event in Thornhill, Ont., on March 7, 2024. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn
The tensions spilled over into the Liberal caucus, with MPs divided over how to react to the war. Ottawa has changed its traditional stance of backing Israel at the United Nations, and Trudeau said in November that Canada would comply with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Green Fund Scandal, House Gridlock
Ottawa moved to transfer its $1 billion green fund to the National Research Council in June after a report by the auditor general found “significant lapses“ in its governance, with some 90 breaches of conflicts of interest. Board directors at Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) were sending taxpayer funds to their own companies or financing ineligible projects, the report said.
The view of the government benches is seen from the Speakers Chair in the Chamber of the House of Commons, in Ottawa, on Sept. 12, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
An order of the House of Commons in June required the government to provide all SDTC documents to the RCMP for investigation. The opposition filibustered House proceedings during almost the entire fall session over the government’s failure to provide all requested documents.
ArriveCan Scandal
The ArriveCan application introduced in 2021 as a simple way to check the COVID-19 vaccine status of travellers entering Canada morphed into a multimillion-dollar boondoggle that kept the Public Accounts committee busy investigating it for over a year.Auditor General Karen Hogan revealed in February that the app cost around $59.5 million, but the official costs could not be determined due to poor management practices in the app’s contracting, development, and implementation. The ArriveCan saga escalated throughout the rest of 2024. The head of GC Strategies, a contracting company tied to the app, became one of the few people in Canadian history to be admonished before Parliament for failing to answer the committee’s questions, while also having his house raided by the RCMP.
Canada's ArriveCAN app log in screen is seen on a mobile device in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Questions also swirled around who at the Canada Border Services Agency was responsible for choosing GC Strategies to work on the app, how 1,700 emails related to ArriveCan were deleted, and how the CEO of a company could be involved with the app’s development while simultaneously being a government employee.
Carbon Tax Fight
The Conservatives have remained focused on their promise to “axe the carbon tax” in 2024, saying that eliminating the levy would improve affordability. The year saw even B.C.’s NDP Premier David Eby distancing himself from the levy as people struggle with cost-of-living issues, even though his province was the first to adopt a provincial carbon tax in 2008.Meanwhile, the federal Liberals view the policy as crucial to their climate change agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Conservatives introduced motions during the year to stop the carbon tax increase or dissolve the House to allow for an election on the issue, all of which were defeated.
A woman gasses up at a gas station in Mississauga, Ont., on Feb. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov
Both parties have battled around their interpretation of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s analysis of the carbon tax, with the Liberals maintaining that most Canadians get more back in rebates, and the Tories saying most Canadians ultimately get poorer. According to the analysis, when the economic impact of the carbon tax is taken into account, most Canadians are worse off.
Rise in Crime, Auto Theft
The volume and severity of crime has been rising in Canada in recent years, and posts about carjackings and home invasions show that it has become an issue of concern. The problem of car theft became a hot political issue, and in February Ottawa convened a national summit to combat the scourge.Many cars are stolen in the Greater Toronto Area and shipped to the Port of Montreal for export. Ottawa said in October that its national action plan resulted in a 19 percent decline in auto theft in 2024. The Canada Border Services Agency says it has intercepted over 2,200 stolen vehicles in 2024 as of Dec. 3 this year, compared to 1,806 in 2023.
Trucks carrying shipping containers drive through the Port of Montreal in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi
The federal government introduced the national action plan in May 2024 to tackle the issue. The plan includes additional funding for law enforcement and tougher penalties for auto theft connected with violence, organized crime, and money laundering, among other measures.
Meanwhile, police associations and premiers have called on the government to tighten bail policies, as many violent crimes are reported to have been committed by repeat offenders out on bail.
Provincial Elections, Smith’s Leadership Review
The year started with three scheduled provincial elections, but a snap election in Nova Scotia in November added one more to that count. The campaigns saw parties vying to show which one can best address affordability and health-care issues.The New Brunswick Liberals defeated the two-term Progressive Conservative government in October, with Susan Holt becoming the province’s first female premier.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad (L) and B.C. NDP Leader David Eby shake hands as B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau watches while posing for photographs before the televised leaders' debate, in Vancouver, on Oct. 8, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
The same month in B.C., the incumbent NDP held on to its majority government, but with the bare minimum number of seats, after a dramatic election that took more than a week to call. But the main story of the election was the rapid rise of the B.C. Conservatives from the fringes of politics to becoming a close second to the NDP and forming the Official Opposition.
Also in October, the Saskatchewan Party won the provincial election, continuing its majority government streak for the fifth consecutive time, although it ceded more seats to the NDP.
New Brunswick Liberal Leader and Premier-elect Susan Holt addresses supporters at her campaign headquarters in Fredericton, N.B., on Oct. 21, 2024. The Canadian Press/Stephen MacGillivray
Although 2024 was not an election year in Alberta, a major piece of news toward the end of the year was Premier Danielle Smith getting 91.5 percent support from her party at its annual convention. The last United Conservative Party leader and premier, Jason Kenney, resigned after getting only 51.4 percent support in 2022.
Gender, Parental Rights Legislation
Alberta passed legislation in early December to require parental consent if students under 16 wish to change names or pronouns at school. The legislation also requires schools to ask parents to opt in before topics about gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality can be taught in classrooms.The province introduced two other pieces legislation in late October, one of which proposes to prohibit gender transition surgery on minors, and the other proposes to require sports-related organizations to maintain biological female-only divisions and allow transgender athletes, where numbers warrant, to compete in co-ed divisions.
United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith addresses party members at their annual general meeting in Red Deer, Alta., on Nov. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
During the election campaign in Saskatchewan in October, Premier Scott Moe said that once re-elected, his “first order of business” would be regarding gender-neutral change rooms in schools, to no longer allow biological boys in change rooms with biological girls. However, after the election, he said that’s no longer a priority. A year earlier, his government had brought in policies requiring parental consent for students under 16 wishing to change names or pronouns at school, and also allowing parents to opt out of sexual health education curriculum.
Meanwhile, in New Brunswick, which in 2023 became the first province to require parental consent for pronoun change at school under the previous Progressive Conservative government, reversed course at year-end under the new Liberal government. The revised policy will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
