Circumpolar Inuit gather for historic assembly in Alaska
UTQIAGVIK, ALASKA—Inuit from four circumpolar nations are gathered on the shores of the Beaufort Sea this week for the quadrennial general assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). They include Canada, Alaska (United States), Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). The meeting is taking place in the birthplace of the international Inuit organization, founded 41 years ago […]
Ford’s sex-ed policy reverses progress
The federal government has made great strides in advancing gender-equality principles in Parliament and policy, particularly through Canada’s international assistance policy. We require our international work to be gender-focused and we require international health projects to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls. Yet, here in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford […]
Donald Trump won, he beat us all
TORONTO—When we have all been reduced once again to ashes—when the issue of The Hill Times you now clutch in your hands is but dust—thinkers will think, as thinkers do: how did Donald Trump win? Because, you know, he did. Donald Trump won. He beat us all. He has dominated the politics of this era like […]
In politics, no good deed goes unpunished
CHELSEA, QUE.—The people of southern Ontario and parts of Quebec owe former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty a heartfelt thank you. Partly because of action his government took in 2013—namely, the closure of a large, coal-fired electricity plant on Lake Erie—this sweltering summer has featured no smog days so far. In fact, smog days—once a feature […]
Conservatives counting on new faces in Quebec, with few obvious ridings to target in 2019
The federal Conservatives are counting on well-liked local candidates and a message of “openness” from leader Andrew Scheer to convince Quebecers to give them more seats in 2019, say political players. Despite the Bloc Québécois’ messy divorce, however, there are signs it will be tough to build on the party’s recent success in the province. […]
Feds’ fight over carbon tax with Ford could help Trudeau score points, say NDP, Liberal politicos
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s fight with the feds over the carbon tax delivers the Trudeau government the kind of political opposition that could work to its favour, say some Liberal- and NDP-connected politicos, while some Tory insiders say that the growing provincial opposition will help strengthen the Conservatives’ appeal federally. “The Liberals like the fight […]
Is social licence to govern a thing?
As we approach the end of a decade, with another provincial election under our belts–and a new government–I find myself reflecting on days gone by and what the future might hold. With change on the horizon, I can’t help but feel a sense of uncertainty. Will this new government reflect my values? Enact change that benefits […]
Telling feds to pay more for asylum seekers is fair game for Premier Ford, stopping cooperation is not
New Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s move to stop cooperating with Ottawa on asylum seekers arriving in the province is, at best, a negotiating tactic for more federal support, and at worst, a cynical, political manoeuvre at the expense of good public policy. Let’s hope it’s more the former than the latter. Mr. Ford has cancelled […]
‘Tough on crime’ tactics won’t address spike in shootings, says downtown Toronto Grit MP
Toronto has been dominating headlines for the spate of shootings that have rocked the city in recent months, but Liberal MP Adam Vaughan says these incidents are not “unique” to it. “It’s clear that, quite frankly, mandatory minimums and 10 years of being tough on crime have not solved the problems we’re dealing with,” said […]
Ford government’s move to withdraw support for resettlement of asylum seekers ‘short-sighted,’ says Vaughan
The Ford government’s decision to halt its co-operation with Ottawa on the resettlement of asylum seekers could throw a wrench in the plan to establish an information-sharing system between the province and the federal government that seeks to alleviate pressures on social services. Calling the influx of migrants entering Canada a “mess” that Ottawa is […]
