Hillier is the right choice to lead Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution
OTTAWA—Much like General Douglas MacArthur returning to the Philippines during the Second World War when the beleaguered nation needed rescue, Gen. Rick Hillier has returned to the national stage to oversee a key battle against COVID-19. Hillier has been asked by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to run the task force that will manage the distribution […]
Canada’s security is languishing under the Trudeau government
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the Canadian economy, it also lays bare Canada’s vulnerability to increasingly hostile foreign actors. The Liberal defence plan, Strong, Secure, Engaged, left Canada ill-prepared for the real world. The new reality of COVID-19, the return of great-power rivalry, and interrupted supply chains for critical equipment, is causing Canadians to doubt […]
In Quebec, a wilful blindness to racism against Indigenous people
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—The death of Joyce Echaquan on Sept. 28 in the Joliette, Que., hospital, northeast of Montreal, drew national headlines for the way she died: Facebook Live streaming nursing staff as they hurled racist insults at her in a hospital bed. When the 37-year-old Atikamekw woman received morphine for stomach pains, she complained to the […]
Resist the MAGA-lite theatrics and make premiers accountable again
CALGARY—Canadian conservatism is showing itself to be a whiny bastion of imperious, incompetent, and now flailing mostly white men—and their co-conspirator women—who blame everyone else for their problems and shortcomings. It’s beginning to look like a lighter version of our MAGA-obsessed southern neighbours. What the pandemic has shown is that the so-called “Resistance”—as defined by […]
‘Inevitable’ return to testy federal-provincial relations will showcase discord with differing priorities, say politicos and experts
As the collaborative approach between federal and provincial political leaders is collapsing, politicos and experts say it is an “inevitable” return to normal as policy priorities diverge. Gone are the days of cordial co-operation between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers, as the prime minister urges the provinces to contain the spiralling second wave […]
‘This is a national crisis, not a series of provincial pandemics,’ says columnist Gilmore, urging PM to take ‘national response’
Recent high infection rates of COVID across Ontario and across parts of the country sparked calls for a “national response” last week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to “stop scolding premiers from the sidelines.” Maclean’s columnist and entrepreneur Scott Gilmore wrote in a Nov. 10 piece that Mr. Trudeau “mostly side-stepped responsibility and decided 10 […]
Infrastructure gaps for Inuit are critical
OTTAWA—Did you know that infrastructure gaps for Inuit are critical? As a southerner, I have been honoured to travel to Nunavut numerous times to support Inuit capacity and leadership development. Just like every other southerner, I was wide-eyed and awestruck the first time. The Arctic has that effect on all newcomers. I also experienced an […]
Feds may face tough choices if record spikes in new infections continue, says Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a stern warning to premiers on Friday, saying the government could be forced to make tough decisions about where to deploy its “limited resources” if it’s unable to rein in the “really troubling surges” in parts of the country. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) said his […]
A less attractive Northwest Passage is good for Canada
OTTAWA—Back in 1998, when I was the commander of the Canadian Forces Northern Area, I became concerned with the impact of global warming and the disappearance of the ice in the Canadian Archipelago. Although there were no apparent military threats to the Canadian Arctic at the time, there was nevertheless a concern with increasing risks […]
Expected rise in mail-in voting to alter GOTV dynamics, federal parties need to adjust strategies for the next election, say political players
If the next federal election is held before the COVID-19 pandemic is over, millions of people are expected to use mail-in ballots, according to Elections Canada, and political players are advising candidates and political parties to make adjustments in their Get Out the Vote strategies. The use of postal ballots has significantly altered GOTV operations, […]
