Power & Politics: Top 5 newsmakers of 2016

Who stirred discussion, drove the agenda and set tongues wagging in the world of politics in 2016?

CBC News Network'sPower & Politicshas combed through this year'sarchives 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 political newsmakers of the year.

• P&P Top 5: News stories of 2016

The Power Panel former Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day, former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Yolande James, Maclean'sMarty Patriquin and Robin MacLachlan of Summa Strategies helps host Rosemary Barton count down the list of politicians in the spotlight in the past year.

5. Tom Mulcair

Top 5 newsmakers: Tom Mulcair

8 years ago

Duration 6:57

Top 5 newsmakers: Tom Mulcair

2015 wasn't the greatest year for Tom Mulcair who went from Leader of the Official Oppositionto leader of the third party following the election but 2016 was arguably worse, after he was rejected by his own party at a leadership review vote in April.

• Rejecting Mulcair, NDP votes for leadership race
• Analysis: Mulcair left NDP wanting more, and looking for what's next

Mulcair has vowed tostayat the helm of the party until a new leader is chosen in fall 2017, but despite a continued presence in the House of Commons, concerns over party unity and his low profile over the summer have raised questions about what's next for Mulcair and the party.

4. Rona Ambrose

Top 5 newsmakers: Rona Ambrose

8 years ago

Duration 7:03

Top 5 newsmakers: Rona Ambrose

Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose stands out from her Conservative colleagues for being one of the few who's actually not running to lead the party.

• Analysis: No contestant has captured Canadians' attention yet: poll
• Ambrose says leadership race wide open with 'no big name'

But don't dismiss Ambrose asa mere political placeholder. Outspoken on issues ranging from electoral reform to pipelinesand carbon taxes, the interim leader has carved out a formidable role for herself as an opponent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

3. Rachel Notley

Top 5 newsmakers: Rachel Notley

8 years ago

Duration 8:17

Top 5 newsmakers: Rachel Notley

The Alberta premier'sfirst full year in power was dominated by the fires in Fort McMurray, a sluggish economy, low oil prices and pitched political pipeline battles.

• Notley gets kudos for handling of Fort McMurray wildfire
• Breaking cycle: How Alberta is trying to diversify

Then there was her announcement of a carbon tax for Alberta, a move the prime minister credited as the reason why Ottawa was able to justifygreenlighting two major pipeline projects.

Not everyone in the province was pleased. Notley was the target of "lock her up!" chants at a rally against the carbon tax, and she's come under criticism for her efforts in balancing the economy and the environment.

But there may be hope on the horizon for Notley in 2017Alberta is poised to emerge from one of the worst recessions in recent history and return to economic growth in 2017, says the Conference Board of Canada.

2. Justin Trudeau

Top 5 newsmakers: Justin Trudeau

8 years ago

Duration 9:47

Top 5 newsmakers: Justin Trudeau

The prime minister made a lot of headlines both at home and abroad in 2016, his first full year in power.

• Analysis: PM still strong in the polls, but drop suggests vulnerability
• Neil Macdonald:Trudeau's long, respectful, empty 2016 recap

There were tough decisions, most notably to stand firm on a no-ransom policy around the deaths of Canadian hostages in the Philippines. Trudeau also began the difficult task of delivering on campaign promises, from the inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women to legalization of marijuana.

Then there were the controversies questions over cash-for-access and Liberal fundraising seem likely to continue dogging Trudeau into the new year, and his comments after the death of Fidel Castro garnered him worldwide attention and criticism.

1. Donald Trump

Top 5 newsmakers: Donald Trump

8 years ago

Duration 9:24

Top 5 newsmakers: Donald Trump

Could it be anyone else?

2016 belongs, for better or worse, to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. After dominating the Republican primaries in the spring, the former businessman blazed a trail to the White House that few predicted.

• Trump surpasses 270 electoral votes, formally wins presidency
• America chose Trump: A special The House/Pollcast analysis

It's still to be determined whether Trump will "make America great again," but with his inaugurationcoming up Jan. 20, it's almost guaranteed the incoming president will continue to be a top newsmaker through 2017.