The end is nigh – iPolitics

Good evening to you and happy Friday!

It’s the final day of the final week of the federal campaign, as only the weekend stands between Canada and the country’s 45th general election.

The day started with Liberal Leader Mark Carney visiting Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., which he called “ground zero” for the economic crisis Canada is currently experiencing.

Carney’s speech was nothing we haven’t heard before throughout the campaign. He talked about how Trump is trying to break Canada, why the pre-existing relationship with the U.S. is over, and how his countervailing tariffs are focused on having a “maximum” impact on the U.S. with a “minimum” impact at home.

However, there were some notable exchanges in the ensuing question-and-answer period, highlighted by a question about Canada’s ethics rules and the beleaguered access to information system, both of which have been heavily criticized, and both of which were missing from the Liberal Party’s election platform.

In response, Carney specified that, while it’s not in the platform, “it’s in my head.”

“I do think looking at access to information is quite important,” he said. “The speed with which the information is provided… and the redactions, I’m happy to commit to having a review of that.”

“An objective review of that would serve Canadians well, regardless of the result of the election.”

Also of note, Carney was non-committal on electoral reform, suggesting it wasn’t a top-of-mind priority at the moment, given the scale of the economic uncertainty facing Canada. He did, however, suggest there may be a time down the road, after Canada has “advanced on other immediate pressing priorities,” that it could be looked at.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre finished his week in Saskatchewan, which marked his first campaign stop in the province.

The theme of Poilievre’s remarks? You guessed it — change, as he railed against the Justin Trudeau’s administration and strongly cautioned against giving the Liberals a fourth-consecutive term in office.

Of note, Poilievre vowed, if elected, to keep Parliament open through the summer to pass three laws which, he said, would “bring change,” including the “Affordability for a Change Act,” “Safe Streets for a Change Act,” and “Bring Home Our Jobs for a Change Act.”

Each law would consist of various elements included in the Conservative platform, said Poilievre, adding that “until those laws are passed, Parliament will not be shut down for the summer.”

In a press release, the party called it Poilievre’s ‘100 Days of Change’ campaign.

Elsewhere, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singhwas in Toronto this morning, where he repeated his platform promises in a stump speech to supporters.

In particular, Singh discussed the next federal budget and how, regardless of who win’s Monday election, he’s concerned that “the priorities of the other parties aren’t the right priorities for Canadians.”

You can keep up with all the news by checking out iPolitics‘ live blog, which will run everyday until the federal election. Also, stay tuned to our daily Campaign Countdown newsletter for a recap of the day’s events. You can find that here.

In other news, the long-running drama playing out behind the scenes between Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s team and the federal Conservatives has erupted in full view of the public in the dying stages of the 2025 election.

The relationship between the two camps has long been fraught, but things have hit a fever pitch as Ontario PC sources recently alerted the media to efforts by the federal party to keep Poilievre’s Ottawa-area riding blue. It has meant the Conservatives have had to contend with several stories critical of the party’s strategy and campaign team as Poilievre makes his final pitch to voters ahead of the April 28 election day.

It has some wondering whether Ford has his eyes on the federal arena.

“They never liked each other. There’s so much story on that,” a PC source familiar with the dynamics between the two parties said.

“I don’t know if he wants a federal seat, but he wants options. And keeping himself separate from the Poilievre brand helps with that.”

The bad blood has also spilled across Ontario’s borders, with media reports suggesting that Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston — a close ally of Ford who endorsed him in the provincial election earlier this year — is on bad terms with the Poilievre camp.

Barbara Patrocinio has more on that.

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In Other Headlines

Internationally

In the U.S., Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty Friday to a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as prosecutors formally declared their intent to seek the death penalty against him.

Mangione, 26, stood with his lawyers as he entered the plea, leaning forward toward a microphone as U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett asked him if understood the indictment and the charges against him.

Mangione said, “yes.” Asked how he wished to plead, Mangione said simply, “not guilty” and sat down.

Mangione’s arraignment for the killing last December attracted several dozen people to the federal courthouse in Manhattan, including former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who served about seven years in prison for stealing classified diplomatic cables.

AP has the latest.

Still stateside, the Trump administration has decided that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is not immune from being sued, reversing the U.S. government’s long-standing position that the organization was protected from civil liability.

The Justice Department revealed its new stance in a letter it filed in federal court in New York on Thursday as part of a lawsuit that aims to hold the agency, known as UNRWA, accountable for the Oct. 7, 2023, deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. The change in position underscores the hardened perspective toward the agency under the Trump administration following allegations by Israel that some of the agency staff was involved in the Hamas rampage.

AP also has more on that.

In Other International Headlines

The Kicker

We leave you with a story out of the U.K., where a man recently discovered he has bought his own stolen car.

BBC explains.

And with that, we’ll see you on election day, but, in the meantime, stay tuned to iPolitics.ca over the weekend for any updates…