The hard right nears power in Italy
LONDON, U.K.—There’s an election in Italy on Sept. 25, almost exactly 100 years after Benito Mussolini’s “blackshirts” marched on Rome and brought the first fascist dictator to power. Giorgia Meloni, the hard-right populist politician who is likely to win that election, rejects any comparison with that ugly past. The party she leads, Brothers of Italy, […]
Can Canada step up in the face of a new UN Agenda for Peace?
Is there hope for a more effective United Nations—one that might yet save succeeding generations? There’s much to be expected from a forthcoming United Nations Agenda for Peace. According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “the world is now facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945.” Climate change has morphed into the “ultimate threat […]
Here’s what’s still needed to drive innovation
In 2017, Canada launched the world’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy—led by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and funded by the federal government—was created to help establish a robust national AI ecosystem by 2030. The ambitious goal was to accelerate AI research and education, spur the development […]
What comes after a humiliating Russian loss in Ukraine?
OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of significant developments in the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it remains the case that the widely divergent claims from each side makes it difficult to get a clear picture of what is transpiring, one thing that is crystal clear is that the Russian invaders […]
Stoltenberg’s visit opens questions about Canada’s Arctic strategy
OTTAWA—Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada’s North was unprecedented. From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the manner normally reserved for visiting heads of state, full of ceremonial-style military inspections, photo-ops, and joint press conferences. There are two possibilities for giving Stoltenberg the royal treatment. It could be […]
Cybersecurity expert says he’s confident MPs are receiving proper guidance on cyber threats
Following a warning from a senior RCMP official, the House Speaker’s Office says MPs and their staffers are provided with specially configured devices and with classroom instruction on cybersecurity, and that additional briefings are provided to MPs who are travelling to high-risk events. David Masson, the director of enterprise security for Darktrace, a cybersecurity company […]
The ugly truth about nuclear disarmament
EDMONTON—”The ugly truth, no matter how we wrap it, is that all nine nuclear weapon states have no intention to disarm; quite the contrary, the trajectory is towards more sophisticated ‘usable’ weapons and delivery systems! The emperor has no clothes.” This terse analysis by Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, cuts […]
Some MPs hope for more transparency on Canada’s military response to invasion of Ukraine
With media reports of Canadian special forces troops operating on the ground in Ukraine and the announcement of successive military deployments in response to Russia’s invasion, there has been limited willingness for increased parliamentary consultations—though some MPs are hoping that will change. While the deployment of the Canadian Forces is under the executive’s jurisdiction, successive […]
Politics This Morning: Swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall for cabinet shuffle
Good Wednesday morning, Governor General MARY SIMON and Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will be at Rideau Hall at 10 a.m. today for a swearing-in ceremony for what is expected to be a relatively small-scale cabinet shuffle. The Hill Times’ ABBAS RANA tweeted earlier this week that at least two cabinet ministers, one from Ontario and one from B.C., are expected […]
Russia and Ukraine locked in a battle of attrition
OTTAWA—On Aug. 24, Ukrainians celebrated their 31st Independence Day against the backdrop of that date also marking the six-month milestone of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin gambled on a lightning victory, which would have toppled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government. A pro-Russian installed puppet interim Ukraine leader could then recognize the separatist regions […]
