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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

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TRENDING:

‘Year of sport’: SecState van Koeverden pitches Canada as ‘best host nation in the world’ ahead of 2026 World Cup

NewsBY STUART BENSON
  • Athletics 'are a great way to open doors,' says Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. But although the World Cup excitement is ‘undeniable,’ human rights concerns, and hockey’s ‘reckoning’ in 2025 have left Canadian fans feeling ‘deeply conflicted,’ counters NDP critic Gord Johns.
Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden is betting on Canadians seizing the economic, diplomatic, and social dividends offered by the 13 World Cup matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver next summer, and hopes the tournament's legacy will inspire Canadian kids to choose 'teammates over TikTok.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Year of sport’: SecState van Koeverden pitches Canada as ‘best host nation in the world’ ahead of 2026 World Cup

NewsBY STUART BENSON
  • Athletics 'are a great way to open doors,' says Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. But although the World Cup excitement is ‘undeniable,’ human rights concerns, and hockey’s ‘reckoning’ in 2025 have left Canadian fans feeling ‘deeply conflicted,’ counters NDP critic Gord Johns.

‘Year of sport’: SecState van Koeverden pitches Canada as ‘best host nation in the world’ ahead of 2026 World Cup

NewsBY STUART BENSON
  • Athletics 'are a great way to open doors,' says Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. But although the World Cup excitement is ‘undeniable,’ human rights concerns, and hockey’s ‘reckoning’ in 2025 have left Canadian fans feeling ‘deeply conflicted,’ counters NDP critic Gord Johns.
Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden is betting on Canadians seizing the economic, diplomatic, and social dividends offered by the 13 World Cup matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver next summer, and hopes the tournament's legacy will inspire Canadian kids to choose 'teammates over TikTok.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

THE LATEST

A ‘laser-focused’ Carney and ‘embattled’ Poilievre share contrasting messages in year-end interviews

Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre reflect on the past year and offer a look-ahead for 2026 in their multiple year-end interviews.
NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • When asked by the CBC about the floor-crossing Conservatives, Leader Pierre Poilievre framed the issue as 'a problem of [Mark] Carney’s leadership,' accusing the prime minister of 'trying to manipulate his way through backroom deals to get that majority.'

A ‘laser-focused’ Carney and ‘embattled’ Poilievre share contrasting messages in year-end interviews

NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • When asked by the CBC about the floor-crossing Conservatives, Leader Pierre Poilievre framed the issue as 'a problem of [Mark] Carney’s leadership,' accusing the

Anxiety over Canada-U.S. relations drives eyes to The Hill Times’ 20 most-read stories of 2025

NewsBY THE HILL TIMES STAFF
Prime Minister Mark Carney, clockwise from top left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Anxiety over Canada-U.S. relations drives eyes to The Hill Times’ 20 most-read stories of 2025

NewsBY THE HILL TIMES STAFF
Prime Minister Mark Carney, clockwise from top left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Public servants under pressure to enact ‘delivery-and-execution agenda’ in 2026 with job cuts on the horizon

NewsBY MARLO GLASS
  • But broad-based reform may not be coming in the near feature, says ex-civil servant David McLaughlin, calling it 'a heavy lift' that requires 'sustained commitment' from senior bureaucrats and cabinet.
  • But broad-based reform may not be coming in the near feature, says ex-civil servant David McLaughlin, calling it 'a heavy lift' that requires 'sustained

‘Most dangerous period that we’ve been in’: Carney urged to bolster ‘Team Canada’ approach ahead of CUSMA review

NewsBY NEIL MOSS
  • The Carney government isn't repeating many of the same steps that allowed Canada to come out of the NAFTA renegotiations with a trade deal intact even though the U.S. president can do more damage to the Canadian economy this time around, says Senator Hassan Yussuff.
  • The Carney government isn't repeating many of the same steps that allowed Canada to come out of the NAFTA renegotiations with a trade deal
See all News

‘Twas the morning before Christmas

  • Plus, we break down the government’s cyber security bill.

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Peter Boehm

Senate’s Africa report exposes Canada’s strategic blind spot

  • The question is no longer whether deeper engagement with Africa makes sense. Parliament has answered that. The question now is whether Canada is prepared to act with the consistency, seriousness, and confidence that true partnership requires.
Opinion

Gurney, Harris, and Whittington rank as most-read columns of 2025

See all Opinion

PODCAST: THE HOT ROOM

Mark Critch on Donald Trump, Canadian politics, and being TikTok famous

NEWS

Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Joël Lightbound, awarded contracts that were worth a total value of $7.4-billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

PSPC failed to meet key economic, environmental, and social procurement targets last fiscal year, departmental data shows

NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • The department met its 80-per-cent target in two indicators measuring suppliers’ access to procurements and the fairness and transparency of the process, but fell short on goals for Indigenous, women-owned, and green contracts.

PSPC failed to meet key economic, environmental, and social procurement targets last fiscal year, departmental data shows

NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • The department met its 80-per-cent target in two indicators measuring suppliers’ access to procurements and the fairness and transparency of the process, but fell short on goals for Indigenous, women-owned, and green contracts.
568A1335_1.t5b463527.m2048.xUhVK5Nc_

Record-breaking November lobbying sees U.S. trade war and federal budget among top concerns

NewsBY JESSE CNOCKAERT

Feds should ‘sharpen’ definition of Canadian to ensure new ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement policy works, says industry

NewsBY IREM KOCA
See all News

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Parliamentary Calendar

Decked halls of Parliament on pause until House returns on Jan. 26

Podcast

Who wants an election? With David Coletto

Senior Advisor, Government Relations (Telework/Hybrid)

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is supported by a total of almost 80 staffers on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Who’s who in Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative OLO: Part 1

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT
  • Ian Todd and Matthew Antonitti continue as chief of staff and principal secretary to the leader, respectively, while Aaron Wudrick leads policy in the OLO.

Who’s who in Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative OLO: Part 1

FeatureBY LAURA RYCKEWAERT
  • Ian Todd and Matthew Antonitti continue as chief of staff and principal secretary to the leader, respectively, while Aaron Wudrick leads policy in the OLO.
See all Hill Life & People

POLITICS

See all Politics
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre celebrates winning the byelection in Battle River–Crowfoot, Alta., on Aug. 18. His campaign posted nearly $190,000 in expenses, relying on party and riding association transfers to cover the difference between his $2,800 in fundraising from four contributors. Photograph courtesy of X

Conservatives’ $189K Alberta byelection spend ‘left nothing to chance’ on leader’s return to Parliament, say strategists

NewsBY STUART BENSON
  • The ‘all-in’ bet on Pierre Poilievre’s August byelection campaign paid off, but the 24-to-1 fundraising deficit to his right-flank reveals an 'undercurrent’ that could snowball if left unchecked, says Liberal strategist Dan Arnold.

Conservatives’ $189K Alberta byelection spend ‘left nothing to chance’ on leader’s return to Parliament, say strategists

NewsBY STUART BENSON
  • The ‘all-in’ bet on Pierre Poilievre’s August byelection campaign paid off, but the 24-to-1 fundraising deficit to his right-flank reveals an 'undercurrent’ that could snowball if left unchecked, says Liberal strategist Dan Arnold.

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

THE HILL TIMES NEWSPAPER

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

OPINION & COLUMNISTS

Alberta’s health-care reforms don’t go far enough  

OpinionBY NADEEM ESMAIL, TEGAN HILL
  • If the Smith government allowed private ‘urgent care’ and family care, it could open the door for innovation and personalization.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu. The federal government needs effective tools to end work stoppages in federally regulated industries, write Jasmin Guénette and Christina Santini. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Work stoppages are crippling Canada’s economy—it’s time for Parliament to act

OpinionBY JASMIN GUéNETTE, CHRISTINA SANTINI
  • Small businesses cannot afford the ongoing costs and unpredictability work stoppages are causing in Canada’s major economic sectors.

Work stoppages are crippling Canada’s economy—it’s time for Parliament to act

OpinionBY JASMIN GUéNETTE, CHRISTINA SANTINI
  • Small businesses cannot afford the ongoing costs and unpredictability work stoppages are causing in Canada’s major economic sectors.
See all Opinion

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DE ADDER

  • de Adder’s Take: 12-17-2025
  • de Adder’s Take: 12-15-2025
  • de Adder’s Take: 12-10-2025

Public Service

FOREIGN POLICY

See all Foreign Policy
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, speaks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the White House on Oct. 7, 2025. Photograph courtesy Official White House photographer by Daniel Torok

Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE
  • On Dec. 17, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canadian cultural laws 'discriminate against U.S. tech and media firms.' But Canadian cultural groups insist both the Online Streaming Act and the government’s free-trade exemption are critical to supporting this country’s arts and media industries.

Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption

NewsBY DAVIS LEGREE
  • On Dec. 17, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canadian cultural laws 'discriminate against U.S. tech and media firms.' But Canadian cultural groups insist both the Online Streaming Act and the government’s free-trade exemption are critical to supporting this country’s arts and media industries.

BOOKS, BIG IDEAS, Q&As

The Taking of Vimy Ridge: First World War Photographs of William Ivor Castle, by Carla-Jean Stokes, looks at the 150 photographs taken by Castle at Vimy Ridge. Book cover courtesy of Wilfrid Laurier Press University Press

Canadian war photography historian looks into Vimy Ridge

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY
  • Carla-Jean Stokes' book about William Ivor Castle's work tells the stories behind the famous photographer's First World War photos, including the ones he manipulated.

Canadian war photography historian looks into Vimy Ridge

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY
  • Carla-Jean Stokes' book about William Ivor Castle's work tells the stories behind the famous photographer's First World War photos, including the ones he manipulated.
See all Books & Big Ideas

Most Popular

Policy

Policy

PMPRB closes all open drug-pricing investigations before implementing new guidelines on Jan. 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI
  • But that doesn’t mean the drug pricing tribunal can’t look at past years’ data to inform future reviews of drug prices, says director general Guillaume Couillard.
Guillaume Couillard, director general at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, says that the high number of investigations in 2023 and 2024 are due to one approach set by the 2022 temporary guidelines, which will be replaced by permanent guidance on Jan. 1, 2026. Photograph courtesy of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

PMPRB closes all open drug-pricing investigations before implementing new guidelines on Jan. 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI
  • But that doesn’t mean the drug pricing tribunal can’t look at past years’ data to inform future reviews of drug prices, says director general Guillaume Couillard.

PMPRB closes all open drug-pricing investigations before implementing new guidelines on Jan. 1

NewsBY TESSIE SANCI
  • But that doesn’t mean the drug pricing tribunal can’t look at past years’ data to inform future reviews of drug prices, says director general Guillaume Couillard.
Guillaume Couillard, director general at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, says that the high number of investigations in 2023 and 2024 are due to one approach set by the 2022 temporary guidelines, which will be replaced by permanent guidance on Jan. 1, 2026. Photograph courtesy of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

Redesigning Canada’s health policy to spur innovation

OpinionBY E. RICHARD GOLD
  • When patents create an unbalanced system of protection, regulatory exclusivities, which safeguard a firm’s data from being copied by competitors while still allowing scientific collaboration, offer a better alternative.
If Canada is to address rare and complex diseases, we need to encourage firms to explore exclusivities that genuinely drive innovation, writes E. Richard Gold. Photograph courtesy of the National Cancer Institute via Unsplash

Redesigning Canada’s health policy to spur innovation

OpinionBY E. RICHARD GOLD
  • When patents create an unbalanced system of protection, regulatory exclusivities, which safeguard a firm’s data from being copied by competitors while still allowing scientific collaboration, offer a better alternative.

Redesigning Canada’s health policy to spur innovation

OpinionBY E. RICHARD GOLD
  • When patents create an unbalanced system of protection, regulatory exclusivities, which safeguard a firm’s data from being copied by competitors while still allowing scientific collaboration, offer a better alternative.
If Canada is to address rare and complex diseases, we need to encourage firms to explore exclusivities that genuinely drive innovation, writes E. Richard Gold. Photograph courtesy of the National Cancer Institute via Unsplash
See all Policy stories

Bill to create modern treaty commissioner wins Bloc, NDP, and Green support

NewsBY PETER MAZEREEUW
  • With the Conservatives opting to keep Bill C-10 in House debate, Green Leader Elizabeth May warned against making it a 'political football' when it

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

THE LATEST POLICY BRIEFINGS

Environment

features

features

Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and former prime minister Justin Trudeau were all top newsmakers of 2025. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

This year in photos: Trudeau exits, Carney enters politics, Parliament dissolves

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE
  • The best photos from the first quarter of 2025 featured snapshots from the Canada-U.S. trade war, the fall and rise of two Liberal leaders, and the start of the federal election campaign.

This year in photos: Trudeau exits, Carney enters politics, Parliament dissolves

FeatureBY ANDREW MEADE
  • The best photos from the first quarter of 2025 featured snapshots from the Canada-U.S. trade war, the fall and rise of two Liberal leaders, and the start of the federal election campaign.
See all Features

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EXCLUSIVE LISTS

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

This Parliament’s ethics roundup: blind trusts, recusals, gifts, and more

See all Lists

Finance & Budget

Finance & Budget

Four key steps can help secure Canadian sovereignty

  • The government has not defined a clear strategy to build and maintain Canadian ownership of our assets. Combined with the federal budget’s focus on attracting private capital, there’s a real danger that Ottawa will enable a sell-off of Canadian firms to foreign investors.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT
  • A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT
  • A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT
  • A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT
  • A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

PostBY JESSE CNOCKAERT
  • A national supply chain strategy will require a holistic understanding of what the supply chain is, which is often misunderstood, according to Martin Montanti, president and CEO of Supply Chain Canada.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the national supply chain office “will enhance the resilience, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation systems,” in a Transport Canada press release on Dec. 1, 2023.

EXCLUSIVE LISTS

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

Supply chain strategy must go beyond transportation, says Supply Chain Canada president

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