CTV National News for Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liberals near majority as another Conservative MP crosses the floor

The Liberals only need one more seat to reach a majority after another floor crossing, with three byelections set for Monday. The newly agreed-upon truce looks fragile as U.S. and Iran both claim victory and tensions linger over oil routes and Lebanon’s role and as oil prices fell and markets rallied after news of the ceasefire, with people now wondering if gas prices will drop – and how soon relief could reach the pumps.

An 11th‑hour ceasefire deal stalls U.S. President Trump’s warning that a 'whole civilization will die tonight' if Iran rejects the terms by the deadline; Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested that Ottawa may step in to help consumers if gas prices don’t fall, hinting at potential federal relief measures; Conflict of interest questions arise over Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s ties to a government-funded high-speed rail project, prompting calls for an ethics review.

The crew of Artemis II has officially broken the distance record for human travel from Earth;Trump says Iran 'could be taken out in one night' over Strait of Hormuz; Conservatives take a different approach with new ad campaign; Suspected romance scam victim faces up to 10 years in South Korean prison; and Cold spring slows maple syrup season, squeezing small producers.

A missing U.S. military member was found after his jet was shot down over Iran amid Trump’s continued threats towards the nation’s energy supply; advocates say pet owners may not realize how much work goes into taking care of a rabbit; Heather Butts speaks to Dr. Catherine Hansen about her husband’s space preparation ahead of the Artemis II launch; and more.

Jeremy Hansen provides an update on the Artemis II mission live from space; health care wait times are concerning Manitoba residents as hospital resources become more strained; Gagetown, New Brunswick, home of the second-largest military base in Canada, hopes the NATO spend will help build the community; and more.

Judy Trinh examines how the war in Iran is driving up costs globally as well as the U.S. military bill after Iran shot down two U.S. aircraft on Friday; Kamil Karamali has more on the struggle some pre-construction condo buyers in Toronto are facing amid Canada's condo market downturn; Genevieve Beauchemin shares an inside look at the strategic reserve and how it is preventing a potential shortage during this year's slow production.

Graham Richardson examines Pierre Poilievre's push for Ottawa to cut the federal tax on fuel until the end of 2026, as businesses and consumers feel the squeeze; John Vennavally-Rao has the latest on Artemis II's mission and what issues the crew encountered as they conducted a series of important tests; Andrew Johnson has more on the arrest made by Vancouver police and how widespread the issue of Pokémon card theft is becoming in Canada.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is set to become the first non-American beyond low Earth orbit on a historic mission around the Moon; U.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to declare mission accomplished in Iran soon, while continuing to criticize NATO; Restrictions on American alcohol imports are driving demand for Canadian made spirits, giving local distilleries a major boost.

Former diplomat and noted advocate Stephen Lewis, father of new federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis, dies at 88 after a battle with cancer; As a new wave of strikes hit Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump tells allies facing high fuel costs to 'get their own oil, and as the Iran conflict continues to escalate, so do the prices at the pump. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford struck a new housing agreement aimed at cutting costs for buyers; with Canadians feeling the pinch as the global conflict in the Middle East and seasonal changes prompt rising gas prices, and after winning the NDP leadership with A 56 per cent of the vote, Avi Lewis now faces the challenge of rebuilding the party after significant losses.