Power & Politics Top 5: What to watch in 2018

It has been apacked political year that included unpredictable moves from foreign governments, major trade negotiations, and federal action on key files from marijuana to tax changes.What's on our radar for 2018?

CBCNews Network'sPower & Politicshas combed through this year's archives to bring you some of the political highlights of 2017. Now it's time toturn our attention to the top political stories to watch for in the coming year.

• Top 5 political news stories
• Top 5 political newsmakers
• Top 5 political blunders
• Top 5 political moves

The Power Panel The Globe and Mail's Kelly Cryderman, Maclean's Paul Wells, Marie Vestel of Le Devoir, and the CBC's Aaron Wherry helps theCBC'sDavidCochranecount down the stories to watch in 2018.

5. Trans Mountain and Keystone

Top 5 stories to watch: Pipelines

7 years ago

Duration 9:29

Top 5 stories to watch: Pipelines

The fates of twopipeline projects remain unclear in 2018, promising to have major political repercussionswhether they're approved or not.

The Trans Mountain expansion in British Columbia has received the stamp of approval by both Ottawa and the former B.C. Liberal government. But the province's new NDPpremier, John Horgan,has vowed to do everything in hispower to stop it.

• Analysis:What B.C. can and cannot do to stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline

• Kinder Morgan cleared to start work on Trans Mountain

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump approved Keystone XL earlier this year, as one of his first moves in office. But the state of Nebraska dealt a blow to TransCanada in November, approving an alternate route which could potentially throw more hurdles in the company's path.

• Nebraska regulators reject Keystone XL route reconsideration

• Analysis:Keystone XL clears final hurdle only to see more hurdles

Will these pipelines ever get built? The Power Panel looks into its 2018 crystal ball to find out.

4. Ontario and Quebec head to the polls

Top 5 stories to watch: Ontario and Quebec elections

7 years ago

Duration 8:06

Top 5 stories to watch: Ontario and Quebec elections

Two political elections are on Power & Politics' radar for 2018. Ontarians will head to the polls on June 7, while in Quebec, the election is Oct. 1.

Both Premiers Kathleen Wynne and Philippe Couillardwill try to hold onto power. In Ontario, polls indicate Wynne is on track to lose, possibly ending 14 years of Liberal rule.

• Analysis: There is no polling consensus of Ontario's political landscape and that could be a problem

• How Ontario's 2018 election campaign will be different from 2014

• Kathleen Wynne pitches Liberals as 'change' after 14 years in power

Meanwhile, Quebec's race is largely shaping up to be a two-party showdown, with the right-leaning Coalition Avenir Qubec surging in the polls.

• Analysis: If Qubec Solidaire and Option Nationale merge, the stakes may be higher than you think

• Couillard dismisses CAQ as 'joke,' despite rival party's rise in polls

What are the top issues that will decide the outcome of these two races? And what will be the impact of the two most populous provinces' elections on the rest of the country?

3. Trump's White House

Top 5 stories to watch: Trump's White House

7 years ago

Duration 8:01

Top 5 stories to watch: Trump's White House

As U.S. President Donald Trump heads into his second year in office, he will face mid-term elections in November, increasing tensions with North Korea,and potentially more information coming out of Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

• Trump signs tax bill into law

• Trump promises to rebuild FBI after 'really disgraceful' handling of Clinton email investigation

2. NAFTA nixed or renewed?

Top 5 stories to watch: NAFTA's fate

7 years ago

Duration 8:28

Top 5 stories to watch: NAFTA's fate

The fate of NAFTAremains up in the air as 2018 begins,after being at the centre of tumultuous talks between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico throughout 2017.

• Life after NAFTA: Canadian businesses start to plan for bleak new trade reality

• Trade lawyer's advice to Canadian businesses in NAFTA talks: 'start contingency planning'

The initial rush to renegotiate theagreement was in partprompted by the political calendar, as some worried that if a deal wasn't completed by the time national election campaigns start in Mexico and the U.S. next year, it wouldn't happen before 2019. Five rounds in, there's no clear end to negotiations.

The U.S. negotiating team's bombshell demands hasMexico exploring the world of post-NAFTApossibilities, while Canada is "prepared for the worst", Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in November.

Then, there's always the lingering threat from Trump to "tear up" what he called the "worst trade deal in history" while campaigning for president.

Will NAFTA survive 2018? The Power Panel digs into the possible outcomes.

1. Legal pot in Canada

Top 5 stories to watch: Legalized pot

7 years ago

Duration 8:35

Top 5 stories to watch: Legalized pot

The federal government has promised to make marijuana legal in Canada by the summer of 2018. It's a timeframe that has caused headaches for provinces, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and police forces across the country, grappling with bylaws, regulations and enforcement issues.

• Governments grappling with how to keep pot bought online out of the hands of underage users

• MPs urged to push forward with legal cannabis despite calls to slow down

Can the deadline still be met? And how will it change the way Canadians view marijuana? The push for legalized pot is Power & Politics' number one political issue to watch in 2018.