Christopher Nardi

Christopher Nardi covers the mechanics of federal power, with a focus on how political decisions in Parliament translate into concrete impacts on public money, security and party leadership. He works as a parliamentary reporter for the National Post, concentrating on federal politics and the inner workings of government and major political parties. His recent coverage combines document-driven reporting, exclusive memos and interviews with key insiders to show how decisions by cabinet, caucus and the public service play out behind the scenes.

Conservative leadership and party dynamics

Nardi follows Conservative Party leadership and caucus management closely, treating personnel changes and resignations as tests of the party’s broader political strategy. He has reported on the expected resignation of Conservative MP and former leadership contender Scott Aitchison, framing it as part of a pattern of caucus departures and a new electoral test for Pierre Poilievre in Parry Sound - Muskoka. His coverage of a shake-up in Poilievre’s office, including the departure of his chief of staff Ian Todd, links internal staffing moves to the leader’s positioning and preparedness for national campaigns.

Beyond personnel, he analyses how Conservative fortunes compare with their leader’s personal standing, writing about polling that shows the party outpacing Poilievre’s popularity and the limited upside in swapping leaders. He uses large-sample polling and focus groups to examine why potential supporters hesitate to back the party under its current leadership and what that means for strategy in key provinces.

His reporting frequently situates Conservative dynamics within the wider federal landscape, including stories on former provincial finance minister Carlos Leitao seeking a federal Liberal nomination and Mark Carney’s visibility at Rideau Hall during election periods.

Public spending, programs and accountability

Nardi devotes substantial coverage to how federal programs spend public money and what happens when accountability breaks down. His reporting on the so‑called “green slush fund” follows the story across multiple angles, from the government’s decision not to recoup $34 million in payments to ineligible projects to the continued redaction and withholding of fund documents despite a Speaker’s ruling. He also highlights findings that the fund’s former chair “improperly furthered” business interests, showing how governance failures can translate into clear conflicts of interest.

He consistently tracks cases where federal agencies mishandle budgets or contracts, including coverage of the Canada Revenue Agency’s $18‑million “Charlie” tax information chatbot that provided wrong answers.

His work on the federal public health agency focuses on missing funds and opaque contracting, including committee‑driven scrutiny of roughly $150 million in spending where the agency could not identify the contractor or the purpose of the work. He reports on internal public service documents, such as a memo from Ottawa’s top human-resources official outlining plans to reduce excess senior executives in the federal public service.

Policy changes that affect justice and regulation also recur in his work, from federal proposals to tighten bail and sentencing rules for violent and repeat offenders to plans for stricter methane regulations in environmental policy. He covers economic and industrial policy decisions like pausing an electric vehicle mandate and introducing a “buy Canadian” procurement approach, tying them back to broader debates over competitiveness and climate commitments. In each case, he uses specific program numbers, regulatory language and internal memos to show how abstract political promises become concrete rules, spending decisions or institutional reforms.

Security, intelligence and defence policy

Nardi’s reporting on security and intelligence focuses on the culture and internal administration of Canada’s spy and defence agencies. He has covered the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from inside the organization, including a blunt memo in which the director tells employees he “inherited a mess,” prompting staff to applaud frank acknowledgement of systemic problems. His work on intelligence agencies also examines employee retirement programs and how benefit decisions affect morale and retention in sensitive national-security roles.

He extends that lens to defence policy, reporting on assessments from former senior Defence officials who say boosted defence spending remains “nowhere near what we need.” His articles bring out the tension between political announcements of new defence budgets and expert views on whether those numbers match strategic requirements.

He also follows security questions around political leaders, such as the story of China’s premier gifting Mark Carney an “action camera,” where security experts raise concerns about potential surveillance risks embedded in seemingly innocuous devices.

Across foreign and domestic security, he links political rhetoric to practical implications, including Trudeau’s comments that Donald Trump is “no longer working” in the best interest of Americans and allegations that a Canadian minister sought to “blow up” sensitive negotiations. His coverage underscores how diplomatic statements, negotiation tactics and technology gifts intersect with long‑term questions of trust, alliance management and national protection.

Taken together, his body of work shows a reporter who traces the line from closed‑door decisions on money and security to measurable consequences for Canada’s institutions and political leadership.