A round up of the controversy of the year: 2013

Who said Canadian politics is boring? This year has been a news-maker filled with controversy and action. From the battle that wages over the economy to the one being waged in the senate, Canadian political junkies had ample opportunities to gather popcorn or join the discussion over the issues that matter to them.

Worst Job Growth in a Decade: An Economic Recovery?

Some economists are raising red flags on the topic of the economy which has been dear to the Conservatives' electoral strategy. Job creation has been the weakest in a decade for a non-recession year and the low quality of these limited jobs are cause for concern. If that isn't enough, the national deficit ticked $1.3 billion upward this year.

Conservative fiscal mismanagement is crippling our military

Canada's armed forces are being suffocated by bureaucracy and cutbacks in the equipment and training they need. The Conservatives claim to be there for our military but former officials will tell you otherwise.

Northern Gateway pipeline now awaits federal approval

With 209 conditions that need to be met, the joint panel reviewing the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal has given the idea a green light, leaving the final decision in the hands of the federal government.

Canada Post CEO cripples service to save $500K salary

There is no more telling scene of mismanagement than Canada Post, a crown corporation that has been mismanaging its funds, funneling it to its management's entitled salaries. Its CEO, Deepak Chopra, is paid between $440,900 and $518,600 to decide that seniors want the exercise his new community mailbox plan entails. A crown corporation now expected to be going deeper in the red every year has one place to cut: the top.

Canada Post: A real uncreative mess

Canada Post's decision to end home delivery to the Conservative Government's applaud actively shows how the service is a real uncreative mess - effectively ending its last opportunity to revive itself.

Trudeau reveals some policy stances ahead of new year

In an interview with Evan Solomon yesterday, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau revealed some of his policy stances ahead of the new year.

Ministers' staffers receive gag order from committee

A parliamentary committee has asked ministers' staff to sign Lifetime Confidentiality Agreements which would inhibit them from sharing information - which has been used by whistle-blowers and lead to revelations in the PMO scandal that has swallowed Conservative support across the country.

Canada rolled out the red carpet for American spies

New Snowden documents released to CBC last week show a troubling reality that took place during the G20 summit 2 years ago: Canada rolled out the red carpet for American spies.

The Harper Government is obsessed with Big Brother

Canadian citizens have a right to be concerned, their government is taking the most unprecedented steps in recent history to monitor and manipulate our rights and freedoms. George Orwell wrote his "1984" as a warning and Harper's government is obsessed with turning it into a handbook.

Conservatives defy the odds in Brandon-Souris

With Forum polls predicting a Liberal sweep in Brandon-Souris, and a series of scandals bogging the Conservatives, it appears they've pulled off a surprise comeback, but the trends are not in their favour.

Conservatives, Liberals exchange fire in Brandon-Souris

A Conservative loss in Brandon-Souris on Monday would confirm the sour taste Canadians have from hypocrisy and a government which has lost the moral authority to govern.

Treasury Board uses taxpayers money to reward "favourite" employees

Wasteful spending in the Treasury Board brings more questions about Tony Clement's ability to manage public funds.

Law and Order: The Conservatives are hypocrites

Recent events have trumped Conservative tough on crime rhetoric. From the Duffy Affair to Rob Ford's drug problems, the Conservatives have been slow to realize these events are their time to shine, not fail as miserably as they have.

Trudeau: "But [the mainstream media] can now report that I prefer China."

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau faced a lot of heat this week from a "ladies night" that turned into a political football.

The Duffy Affair: Doing the right thing?

The senate voted to suspend senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau without pay yesterday, an unprecedented move that has trumped due process in an attempt to silence a year-long scandal.

The Duffy Affair: Harper contradicts himself... again

As Canadians look for answers in the ongoing senate saga, Harper's statements and lack of statements have raised more questions than answers. One minute, the scandal is isolated to his former chief of staff Nigel Wright, the next, "very few people" knew. One minute, he was saddened to see Wright resign, now Wright was "dismissed." In 2005, the Prime Minister was responsible for the actions of his staff, today, there is no correlation. In 2005, withholding information was enough reason to hold a political leader to the fire, today, it is the norm. It appears contradictions are dominating Harper's dialogue and actions, should he be held by his 2005 standards today?

Duffy drops another bombshell on the Harper government

Within six days of Duffy's bombshell allegation implicating Harper in the Duffy affair, Duffy released documents today which implicate Conservative Party lawyer Arthur Hamilton in a second cheque.

The Duffy Affair: Just how many more could there be?

There is no going back on The Duffy Affair, the breach of trust and scar to the Conservative brand will last a while. The story is on people's minds and despite an aggressive effort to get it off the agenda, the fall session of Parliament is picking up where the spring session left off - in an interrogation room setting with an opposition playing whack a mole with a defiant prime minister.

Harper targeted in allegations raised in The Duffy Affair

The Duffy Affair exploded with controversy Tuesday when disgraced senator Mike Duffy implicated Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the scandal in a speech to the senate to save his job. The speech has led a domino effect exposing over a dozen Conservative insiders who knew of the affair - despite Harper's claims that former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright acted alone.

Harper using media assault as fundraising ploy

It is no secret the only media the Conservatives trust is their own and insiders will often refer to the "liberal media" or "media elite" as a cause for criticisms on their governance and their difficulty attaining power prior to 2006. This mistrust and hatred as spilled to the way Harper deals with journalists and a recent feud is now the centre of a Tory fundraising ploy.

Harper used taxpayer money to pitch keystone to Americans

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's bold showcase in New York City on September 26 cost taxpayers $65,500 and featured keystone lobbyists.

Tory throne speech to change channel with NDP ideas

The Conservative government is set to return Wednesday with a throne speech that will avoid the senate scandal by taking pages out of the opposition's - notably the NDP's - playbook.

The Duffy Affair: Explosive new details summarized

The Conservatives have desperately tried to dodge the scandals floating in the senate but as time progresses, the situation appears to be getting worse. The Duffy Affair already has some explosive new leads: one of the senators who became known for whitewashing an independent audit is also wrapped into scandal, a mysterious binder belonging to Harper's former Chief of Staff reveals Duffy's calendar, Duffy contracted $65,000 for “little or no apparent work.”

Mulcair rejects star candidate's bid to re-open Pandora's box

Toronto-Centre is shaping up to be the battle of media titans as Liberal Chrystia Freeland and NDP Linda McQuaig enter the rink. However, Mulcair's candidate is attempting to reopen the very Pandora's box he has been desperately sealing away.

Carolyn Stewart Olsen to repay senate expenses

The alarms were raised when Carolyn Stewart Olsen helped whitewash a senate audit into then-Conservative senator Mike Duffy. Recently, Olsen has herself pledged to repay monies that she took from Canadian taxpayers on the basis of false housing allowance claims while she owned property in Ottawa.

Did Harper play a role in the U.S. shutdown?

Major U.S. Democratic Party fundraiser Tom Steyer sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggesting his firm lobbying for the XL Keystone pipeline may have contributed to the U.S. shut down.

Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro charged under Elections Act

Elections Canada has laid charges on Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro and one of his campaign staffers after a two year investigation into his campaign finances. If convicted, Del Mastro could face a $5,000 fine and 5-year jail sentence for concealing $21,000 in campaign expenses. The PMO has since expelled him from the Conservative caucus and his court date is set for November 7, 2013.

New York Times slams Harper's record of muzzling scientists

American newspaper giant the New York Times has slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper for trying to "guarantee public ignorance" in a recent editorial.

Federal parties oppose Quebec Charter of Values

The PQ announced the creation of their coveted Charter of Quebec Values yesterday and was met by opposition across the board on the federal spectrum.

Tory EAP money targeted by corrupt Quebec companies

As Quebec corruption comes under the microscope in the Charbonneau commission, it appears Quebec politicians aren't the only ones who need to be worried about the ongoing collusion. It turns out the Conservative Economic Action plan didn't escape the hands of corrupt engineering firms and construction unions which colluded federal stimulus contracts. It is also notable that a former Conservative candidate in Montreal faces corruption charges under the same investigation.

Harper Government jacked up foreign musician taxes

The low-tax Conservatives have jacked up taxes on foreign musicians who wish to perform in Canada, creating misery for small businesses and bars.

The Duffy Affair: Wright wasn't alone in Duffy deal

CTV News has learned Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright wasn't alone in reaching a deal with Mike Duffy to buy his silence.

Harper limits questions, blocks Chinese journalist

Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrapped up his annual Northern Tour yesterday dodging the media and blocking Chinese journalist Li Xue Jiang from asking a question.

Harper is running away from his scandals

Parliament won't resume until October, possibly October 21, thanks to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's latest decision to prorogue parliament as his party scrambles with damage control.

The Wallin Affair: Stephen Harper's Nightmare come to life?

Disgraced former Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin is on the hook for $121,348 in inappropriate travel expenses since her appointment in 2008. Despite already repaying nearly $38,000 prior to the total set in the Deloitte audit, the senate committee could ask for up to $20,978 more to be repaid. The controversy becomes evermore damning when the politics factor in, including the defense of Prime Minister Stephen Harper this spring.

Unemployment rate up to 7.2% as 39,400 jobs lost in July

If it wasn't already difficult to find a job in most of Canada, expect situations to get worse as the jobs market took a sharp and unexpected downward turn.

Poilievre: Conservative proposed senate changes can be done

Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre announced the government can reform the senate without opening the constitution.

Harper's deficit wasn't supposed to rise but did

The Conservatives have held a mantra of fiscal responsibility. It has worked up to now because neither the Liberals or NDP could offer a credible alternative. However, anyone who looks at the Conservative record would see their mantra is nothing but lies.

An American fugitive's influence on the Harper Government?

American fugitive Nathan Jacobson is on his way to an American prison after being arrested yesterday, not without embedding himself with the Harper government first.

The Duffy Affair: Search warrant needed to get PMO email?

The Prime Minister's Office and RCMP are at a bypass over the February 20 email disgraced Senator Mike Duffy wrote to receive compensation for his fraudulent housing allowance claims with former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright.

Harper's new cabinet brings request for updated blacklist

It is clear the stunt orchestrated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to save the face of his government was a flop. Not only is the new team riddled in controversy and incompetence, a July 4 email suggests the team isn't a change. Same old, different day, different faces, a bid to save the face of the Conservative government now finds itself in damage control.

Harper overhauls his cabinet - may do more harm than good

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced his cabinet shuffle in light of a scandalous spring session he would rather forget. The Duffy Affair isn't gone yet, and while changing face may aide Harper, it turns out some of the people he's promoted may do more harm than good to his credibility. The Duffy Affair wasn't a cabinet problem, but rather a PMO problem which found its way to the Prime Minister himself.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews leaves politics tomorrow

Effective tomorrow, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will resign his cabinet post and his seat as MP. Not only does Toews join a list of MPs walking out the door, Toews makes room for Harper's attempt to put new blood into the front benches of his government - which he hopes will revive the dying brand. Toews is leaving to spend time with his family and pursue opportunities in the private sector.

Document: Conservative Party wanted to repay Duffy's expenses

A new document reveals the Conservative party wanted to pay disgraced senator Mike Duffy's owing in a bid to cover up his scandal. The documents obtained by the RCMP and obtained by CTV show the Conservative Party would have cut the $90,000 cheque former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright did.

Bureaucracy ballooned under Harper at expense of services

Canadians angry about Conservative austerity measures have a new reason to be upset. While the cuts the Conservatives made directly impacted services, bureaucracy and federal payrolls ballooned as a result of their governance. In short: Canadians lost services and meat so they could keep useless bureaucrats and fat.

Conservative Senate Leader Marjory LeBreton resigns

Amid an upcoming cabinet shuffle, Conservative Senate Leader Marjory LeBreton has resigned the cabinet and a few other Conservative MPs have indicated they won't run for re-election. The spring sitting was mired in scandal and the upcoming cabinet shuffle may be Harper's only hope at reviving a severely tarnished brand.

Trudeau visit to catholic elementary school spurs controversy

Parents of children who attend St. Claire catholic elementary school in Orleans are crying "scandal" after Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visited and spoke to the children. The parents argue the Ottawa Catholic School Board should have a stricter process of choosing speakers, blocking those that believe in same-sex marriage and "the fundamental right" for a woman to chose whether she'll have an abortion.

PMO interferes with standard RCMP procedure in High River

The Alberta floods weren't without its controversy - from a PMO that tends to get itself deeper into problems every time it acts on something. The PMO ordered the RCMP return guns that officers took from the abandoned homes of High River as a standard safety procedure to prevent crimes in the wake of disaster.

Obama: Keystone pipeline approval depends on its emissions

US President Barack Obama drew a clear line in the sand today on where he stands on the controversial keystone pipeline project. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver responded to the remarks, saying he's confident the facts support the approval of the project in a time when the Conservatives will likely be shifting their attention to the resource-based economy.