Politics 2014: Flaherty, Ford, Redford topped Canada's newsmakers list

The past year will be remembered for the death of long-serving finance minister Jim Flaherty, a heated political tussle over Toronto's mayoral seat and a string of ups and downs for provincial politicians.

CBC News looks back at some notable political stories and ahead at the one big storyset to dominate the agenda in 2015.

JimFlaherty dies

The former finance ministerdied in April, just weeks after stepping down from cabinet.Flaherty, who served as a provincial politician before being elected as an Ontario MP in 2006,spent nearly eight years at the helm of the Finance Ministry.

At a state funeral, Prime Minister Stephen Harper praisedhis close colleague and friend, saying, "as a human being, he was the complete package."

• JimFlaherty'slife and legacy: 1949-2014

• Watch: JimFlahertyhailed as a 'hero' by his sons

Rob Ford wins a council seat

Rob Ford is still serving at Toronto City Hall, but his dreams of re-election as mayor weredashed by a rare cancerthat forced him to drop out of the mayoral race.

The political changes and medical problems came months after Ford checked into rehab totackle addiction issues. "I hurt a lot of people lying, conniving, hiding to cover up for this problem,"Ford told CBC's DwightDrummond.

Ford captured much of the attention, but John Tory'swin of the top job in Toronto and Olivia Chow's weak results werehuge stories in Canada's largest city.

• Watch: Rob Ford speaks to CBC's DwightDrummondabout politics, drugs and recovery

• The Rob Ford years, by the numbers

Harassment on the Hill

Two majornewsmakersof the year have chosen not to be publicly identified. Inearly November, Liberal LeaderJustin Trudeau suspendedScott Andrews andMassimoPacettiafter two unnamedNDPMPsalleged they were harassed by the LiberalMPs.

The allegations, which came on the heels of sex assault allegations against former CBC Radio host JianGhomeshi, have prompted broader discussions about harassment and how such allegations are handled on the Hill.

Thefederal Liberals hired a human rights lawyerto compile a fact-finding report about the harassment allegations, and additional processes through either the Speaker's office or outside parties could still happen.

• Parliament Hill harassment: House speakerunveils new policy for MPs, staff

Alison Redford steps down

After facing questions over her conduct as leader and some of herexpenses, Alison Redford was forcedtostep down, first as premier of Alberta, then asa Conservative member of the legislature.

"On election night two years ago I pledged that we would govern with unity and build prosperity," Redford said in her resignation speech in March. "Well, at least we got the prosperity part right."

• Timeline:Alison Redford's turbulent time as Alberta premier

Wildrosedefections

The political turmoil in Alberta heightened again in December, when Danielle Smith and eight Wildrose members of the legislaturestunned Albertanswith their unprecedented decision to cross the floor and join Jim Prentice's governing Progressive Conservatives.

• The rise and fall of the Alberta Wildrose Party
• Analysis:What could Wildrose's Danielle Smith possibly have been thinking?

In the days since Smith's dramatic defection, some in her riding have called for her to resign her seat and face a byelection.

Kathleen Wynne's surprise Liberal majority

KathleenWynne went into the Ontario election in June with a minority government and lingering Liberal controversies that led many to predict her party would be booted out of office. Hersurprise Liberal majorityprompted her NDP rival to say people voted "out of fear" of the Conservative election plan under Tim Hudak. Whatever the reason, Wynne has a majority but that hasn't endedher political problems.

Questions remain about the Liberal's handling of the cancelled gas plants and the Pan Am Games, among other issues, and some arguethat Wynne's government isn't doing enough to deal with Ontario's troubled finances.Among Wynne's latest challenges? Repairing Ontario's relationship with the federal government and working with Toronto's new mayor.

• Kathleen Wynne makes full-court press for meeting with PM

• John Tory, Premier Wynne talk transit and housing in Toronto

Robocalls: Michael Sona gets 9 months

The "robocall scandal" unfolded years ago ahead of the 2011 federal election, but after a lengthy investigation the case finally headed to court in 2014.

In November, a judge sentenced former Conservative staffer Michael Sona to nine months in jail, saying hiscrime of misdirecting voters showed a"callous and blatant disregard for the right of people to vote."

Judge Gary Hearn said he doesn't doubt that Sona was involved but he did note that questions remain as to whether the 26-year-old orchestrated the misleading robocalls on his own.

• MichaelSonasentenced to 9 months in jail for 'callous' robocalls

Interview with Prime Minister Stephen Harper

10 years ago

Duration 16:10

Stephen Harper sits down with Peter Mansbridge to talk about falling energy prices, climate change and Canada's role in the new Cuba-U.S. relationship.

Philippe Couillard's Liberals win Quebec

Voters in Quebec headed to the polls this year and sent the PartiQubcoisgovernment packing, leaving it with just 30 of 125 seats. In its place? Philippe Couillard's Liberals, who swept to power with 70 seats.

The new premier said one of the first orders of business after the election was going back to the basics:"We need to re-establish the confidence of Quebecers in their government."

The poor PQ showing prompted leader Pauline Marois to quit her post.An interim leader is in place, but the party is still weighing its future as members prepareto select a new leader.

• PhilippeCouillardpledges transparency, integrity

• PaulineMaroisloses seat,PartiQubcois loses power

Greg Selinger caucus revolt in Manitoba

Further west,Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger faced a major backlash from hisown cabinet ministers. The provincial NDP haslong held power in Manitoba, but at least one analyst thinks Selinger's troubles may signal worse to come for his party.

• Analysis:Greg Selinger's cabinet revolt part of worrying trend for incumbents
• Manitoba revolt: 5 ministers resign from Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet

The 2015 election

The fixed federal election date is set for Oct. 19, 2015, but there's been speculation that it could come earlier.The question now is when the campaign will officially begin and which issues will draw the most attention from voters.

• Election 2015: Will Harper spring forward or fall back on fixed date?
• Analysis: Polls show Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper in tight Ontario race

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it's going ahead as scheduled andthat his party is planning on a fall election "like everybody else."

"I won't say there's nothing that could change it, but there's nothing on the horizon that I see changing that," Harper said in his year-end interview with CBC.