6 Canadian political stories to watch in 2020

Party Lines first burst onto the podcast scene as a primer for the 2019 Canadian federal election. Now, as a new government gets down to business, co-hosts Rosemary Barton (Chief Political Correspondent for CBC News) and Elamin Abdelmahmoud (Editor of News Curation for BuzzFeed News) are back by popular demand. 

The podcast returns Jan. 30 — the same week MPs filter back into the House of Commons for the first time this year. Each episode takes you beyond the talking points and provides the insights you need to understand the political stories shaping Canada today. 

So, as a warm up before the two of them get back behind the mic, Rosemary and Elamin have rounded up the biggest political stories they'll be keeping an eye on in the coming months (plus a couple of water cooler extras).  

Rosie's 3 things to watch:

• Flight PS752: "I'll be watching how the government continues to deal with Iran and whether or not it gets answers in the months ahead. This will be an important political story for the country, one that could well drag on for years in terms of getting families compensation. Ultimately, it will also be a defining moment for Justin Trudeau's leadership."
   
• The Conservative leadership race: "Who the party elects will be fundamental to what the future of the party looks like. How far is a new leader willing to go on climate change policy? Do social issues continue to play a big role in this party? Will the party choose someone who can make breakthroughs in other provinces and not just shore up support in Western Canada?"
   
• National Pharmacare: "It was a big promise by the Liberal government and it's something a lot of Canadians would like to see happen. Does operating as a minority government limit their ability to do that? How do they get the provinces on board? And what is a reasonable timeline for such a big plan, overall?"

Elamin's 3 things to watch: 

• Chrystia Freeland: "Freeland has a new gig that makes her even more visible — and she was already one of the most visible faces of the last cabinet. It wasn't exactly obvious what Freeland is going to do in her new role as deputy PM and minister of intergovernmental affairs — until it became clear that her job is, basically, everything. I am curious how she'll take that visibility and central role and use it to get things done in a minority government scenario."
   
• Coastal GasLink pipeline: "The conflict over the LNG pipeline is increasing in intensity, and protests are becoming more frequent. It's hard to imagine a scenario where the federal government would remain silent on this. The question of who speaks for the Wet'suwet'en people will force necessary conversations about the meaning of reconciliation if the federal government is just going to impose its will."
   
• The stability of Trudeau's minority: "Minority governments in this country last on average about two years, but it'll be eight months into Trudeau's government before the Conservatives even have a leader. Will Trudeau present a more humble approach and try to compromise while his biggest opposition is searching for a greater uniter, or will he act as though he's got a majority?"

Okay, how about something decidedly more frivolous for those that read to the end? 

Rosie: Well, because I was forced: does the PM keep the beard? Or was this just a winter experiment?

Elamin: And because I was forced, too: Will we be talking about the $4 doughnut at the end of the year? What kind of doughnut was it? Is the doughnut a signifier of a prime minister's disconnectedness from the people?  Who even spells it 'doughnut,' and why are they like this?

Want to keep up with Party Lines?

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