Power & Politics: Top 5 news stories of 2017

An asylum-seeker surge across the Canada-U.S.border, the run-up to legalized potand a trade relationship in flux made some of the biggest headlines in Canada in 2017.

CBCNews Network'sPower & Politicshas combed through this year's archives to bring you some of the political highlights of 2017, from the most cringe-worthy blunders to the biggest players to watch. Today, we turn our attention to the top news stories of 2017.

The Power Panel Counsel Public Affairs'BradLavigne, former Conservative cabinet ministerStockwellDay,Bloomberg'sJoshWingrove, University of Regina School of Journalism'sMereldaFiddler and Susan Smith ofBlueskyStrategy Group helptheCBC'sDavidCochranecount down the can't-miss moments of 2017.

5. Asylum-seeker surge

Top 5 news stories: Asylum seekers

7 years ago

Duration 7:12

Top 5 news stories: Asylum seekers

A debate in the United States overexpiring temporary protected status for migrantsdidn't just trickle across the border to Canada,it surged. Thousands of asylum seekers illegally crossed the U.S. border into Canada in 2017, most notably in Manitoba and Quebec, after President Donald Trump's clampdown on immigration triggered an exodus.

• Why are thousands of Haitians streaming into Canada from the U.S.?

• Waves of asylum seekers keep coming at illegal border crossing

• Refugee influx: 5 things to know

The Canadian government responded by doubling down on a message seemingly at odds with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's viral tweet welcoming all those fleeing persecution entering irregularly isnot a free ticket into Canada.

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussenlaunched a public awareness campaign to dissuade potential crossers, and Trudeau alsodispatched Haitian-Canadian Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg to Miamito talk tothe local community ther and convey proper information about the rules of legal entry to Canada.

4. Reconciliation

Top 5 news stories: Reconciliation

7 years ago

Duration 8:31

Top 5 news stories: Reconciliation

As Canada celebrated 150 years, the state of the relationship between Indigenous Canadians and the government came into the spotlight.

• Support growing for reset to MMIWG Inquiry

• 'Sick internal culture' says fired staffer of MMIWG inquiry

• A timeline of staff departures from the MMIWG inquiry

Ottawa took several symbolic steps in the name of reconciliation, includingrenaming the Langevin buildingin the national capitalandapologizing toNewfoundland and Labradorresidential school survivors. But ascalls continue for a resetto the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,is reconciliation moving in the direction Indigenous Canadians are askingfor?

3. Legalized marijuana

Top 5 news stories: Legalized marijuana

7 years ago

Duration 8:07

Top 5 news stories: Legalized marijuana

With the deadline for legalized pot fast approaching, this year was all about paving the road to legalization in 2018. The federal government unveiled plans for aminimum $1 per gram tax, while cities and provinces clamoured for a larger piece of the tax pie andgrappled with bylaw and regulatorychanges.

• How the provinces are planning for pot legalization

• What will legal weed stores look like?

• Proposed pot regulations open door to craft growers

Although some questions were answered this year asprovincescame forwardwiththeir pot plans,details of just how the roll-out will unfold are still up in the air.

2. NAFTAnegotiations

Top 5 news stories: NAFTA negotiations

7 years ago

Duration 8:23

Top 5 news stories: NAFTA negotiations

The fate of the North American Free Trade Agrement hung in the balance in 2017, as the first five rounds of renegotiationsplayed out amidstnumerous threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to tear the deal up.

• Canada 'prepared for the worst' amid NAFTAsquabbles,Freeland says

• 'Napping on NAFTA': Harper blasts Trudeau government

• Analysis:Rising pessimism has Mexico exploring world of post-NAFTA possibilities

Trade deal drama was a constant in 2017, as the U.S. continued to talk tough especially on theCanadian dairy sectorand Canada and Mexico geared up for a potential post-NAFTA world.

1. Taxes

Top 5 news stories: Taxes

7 years ago

Duration 9:08

Top 5 news stories: Taxes

Taxes and death are two certainties in life, but the blowbackto theLiberals' proposed tax changesseemed to take the government by surprise in 2017.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau scrambled to sell a contentious tax plan that was criticized by farmers, business owners, doctors, senators, andeven backbenchers in his own party.

• Morneau gets a 'tongue lashing' on tax reforms

• Morneau's small business tax changes promise simpler rules for income sprinkling

• Analysis: Liberals turn to pasta to move past 3 months of fuss and fury over tax fairness

After fumbling the roll-out of the controversial changes in July, Morneaucontinued consultations into the fall of 2017 and promised simpler, fairer rules. Will the issue follow the Liberals to the ballot box in 2019, or has the government managed to assuage worries?

Be sure to check in all week as Power& Politics counts down the Top 5 newsmakers, political blunders, issues to watch, and players to watch of 2017and the year ahead.