Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. The NDP’s decision to end its deal with the Liberals — which for two years brought stability to the minority government — has raised the spectre of a snap federal election. The House sits down with one of the NDP architects of the deal to find out why the party chose to back out now, and what comes next.

Then, months after a Toronto byelection loss that rocked the governing Liberals, another test is on the way later this month in a Montreal race. We travel to LaSalle-Émard-Verdun to find out how the campaign — with national implications — is playing out on the ground.

Also, a Liberal minister and national campaign committee co-chair sits down with Catherine Cullen to talk through her party’s plan to regain their mojo and win — they hope — a fourth term.

Plus — Germany has embraced a novel diplomatic arrangement: two ambassadors for the price of one. A married couple who will rotate in and out of the posting in Ottawa explain what’s behind the arrangement.

This episode features the voices of:

• Anne McGrath, principal secretary to Jagmeet Singh
• Craig Sauvé, NDP candidate
• Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Bloc Québécois candidate
• Philippe J. Fournier, founder, 338canada.com
• Soraya Martinez Ferrada, tourism minister, Liberal campaign committee co-chair
• Matthias Lüttenberg and Tjorven Bellmann, German ambassadors-designate