Power & Politics: Top 5 news stories of 2016

A remarkable transition south of the border, a Senate in flux and long-awaited moves on pipelines made some of the biggest headlines in Canada in 2016.

CBC News Network's Power & Politics has combed through this year's archives to bring you some of the political highlights of 2016, from the most cringe-worthy blunders to the biggest players to watch. Today, we turn our attention to the top news stories of 2016.

The Power Panel political strategist Kathleen Monk, former policy of director to Stephen Harper Rachel Curran, Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove and Susan Smith of BlueskyStrategy Group helps Rosemary Barton count down the can't-miss moments.

5. New Senate

Top 5 news stories: the Senate

8 years ago

Duration 7:46

Top 5 news stories: the Senate

2016 saw big changes in the UpperChamber. The year started with the denouement of the Senate scandal, with Mike Duffy's court decision and the subsequent dropping of the RCMP investigations into other senators.

• Judge clears Duffy of all charges, slams Harper PMO
• Timeline: Chronology of the Senate expenses scandal

Now, the upper house is trying to turn over a new leaf, with a fresh batch of senators and a new appointment process.

But it's not all coming up rosy for the Red Chamber. Independent senators are growing restless with the pace of change, and Conservative senator Denise Batters recently accused Justin Trudeau of trying to "destroy" opposition in the Senate.

4. Carbon tax

Top 5 news stories: carbon pricing

8 years ago

Duration 6:55

Top 5 news stories: carbon pricing

The federal government delivered a climate change ultimatum to the provinces this year. The message? Like it or not, a carbon price is coming to Canada.

• Justin Trudeau gives provinces until 2018 to adopt carbon price plan
• Here's where the provinces stand on carbon prices

A tough-talking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the provinces by surprise when he announced they have until 2018 to adopt a carbon pricing scheme, or the federal government will step in and impose a price for them.

Trudeausaid the price on carbon dioxide pollution should start at a minimum of $10 atonnein 2018, rising by $10 each year to $50 atonneby 2022.

The unexpected announcement helped set a testy new tone between the provinces and feds, one that's been mirrored in ongoing health care talks.

But will the carbon pricing plan help Canada meet its climate change commitments as outlined in the Paris agreement? That remains to be seen.

3. Oil

Top 5 news stories: oil

8 years ago

Duration 9:06

Top 5 news stories: oil

A devastating fire in Fort McMurray, a slow climb in oil prices and some bigdecisions on key pipelines all made oil a dominant political focus in 2016.

• Canada's stagnant, slipping wealth overly reliant on oil: study
• The new two solitudes: 'Alberta and the rest of Canada'

But the federal government's approach to oil in 2016 highlighted a growing divide between Alberta and the rest of Canada, with federal politicians like interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose going toe-to-toe with Trudeauover Alberta job cuts, and an oil rig worker making an impassioned plea in the House of Commons for more support for the energy sector.

2. Assisted dying

Top 5 news stories: assisted dying

8 years ago

Duration 7:58

Top 5 news stories: assisted dying

The government introduced legislation to regulate physician-assisted dying this year. The federal law governing medical assistance in dying came into effect June 17, after weeks of passionate, and sometimes very personal, political debate.

• Liberals' assisted-dying bill is now law
• More than 100 Canadians have opted for assisted death since law passed

But the issue opened up a wider political, legal and societal debate over end-of-life care, personal autonomy, the age of consent and mental illness.

1. U.S. election

Top 5 news stories: the U.S. election

8 years ago

Duration 10:01

Top 5 news stories: the U.S. election

2016 was an election year like no other, and the result of the U.S. election to be made official at Donald Trump's inauguration Jan. 20 was felt around the world.

• Donald Trump wins U.S. election in astonishing victory
• 'How could we be so wrong?': Clinton's stunning election loss

Wild turns, unpredictable moments and history-making firsts will ensure the 2016 presidential election will be studied by political scientists for decades to come.

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 2016 and the year ahead.