Carney likely to win majority government in Monday byelections; why Canada’s defence is still a mess; and more

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the 2026 Liberal National Convention in Montreal Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photo by John Kenney/Postmedia

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It’s Monday, April 13. Here are the top stories we’re following today.

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Carney one seat away from majority as voters go to the polls in three federal byelections today

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The Liberals only need to win one of the three byelections to have a slim majority and are heavy favourites in the two Toronto ridings.

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Canada’s defence is still a mess despite Ottawa’s NATO-spending claims: Full Comment podcast

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With government press releases claiming that Canada’s defence budget meets NATO’s two-per-cent-of-GDP target, Canadians might think we’ve become serious about defence, but our allies and our enemies have reason to question that.

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters on Westminster Bridge overlooking the Thames River in London, U.K., on his first international trip as Opposition leader, March 3, 2026. Photo by Christopher Nardi/National Post

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The U.K. Tories need help. And they’re turning to Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives for advice

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Britain’s Conservative Party, which is trailing Reform UK in the polls, hopes to avoid a long schism like the one between Canadian right-wing parties that led to the Reform party contributing heavily to the Progressive Conservatives’ historic defeat in the 1993 federal election.

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A Quebec judge alleges Crown prosecutors are seeking lighter sentences for non-citizens to avoid deportation from Canada. Photo by Ryan Remiorz /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Judge accuses Montreal prosecutors of proposing ‘candy’ sentences for criminals at risk of deportation

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The judge accused the provincial prosecutor of creating an “unnecessary” two-tier sentencing system by “regularly” proposing absolute discharges or lenient sentences specifically for non-Canadians convicted of crimes because they risk deportation.

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People attend a pro-Israel rally across from McGill University in Montreal, Oct. 7, 2024. Photo by John Mahoney/Postmedia

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Jesse Kline: Israel-haters have largely failed to persuade Canadians, according to new poll

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The vast majority of respondents (80 per cent) agree that the “Jewish people have a right to a homeland,” and three-quarters believe “Israel has a right to defend itself,” despite the Leger poll finding that, “Canadians hold generally unfavourable views of Israel” at the moment.

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