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Book Review

The impossible office: why Canadian prime ministers fail

  • The Canadian prime ministership is an impossible office, demanding that its occupant simultaneously pass three unforgiving tests: political, managerial, and collegial. Fail one and
FeatureBY PATRICE DUTIL, STEPHEN AZZI | September 29, 2025
Top left, left to right: Carney, Trudeau, Harper, Martin, Chrétien, Campbell, Mulroney, Turner, Clark, Trudeau, Pearson, Diefenbaker, St. Laurent, Bennett, King, Meighen, Borden, Laurier, Tupper, Bowell, Thompson, Abbott, Mackenzie, and Macdonald. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia, Government of Canada

The impossible office: why Canadian prime ministers fail

FeatureBY PATRICE DUTIL, STEPHEN AZZI | September 29, 2025
  • The Canadian prime ministership is an impossible office, demanding that its occupant simultaneously pass three unforgiving tests: political, managerial, and collegial. Fail one and

The impossible office: why Canadian prime ministers fail

FeatureBY PATRICE DUTIL, STEPHEN AZZI | September 29, 2025
  • The Canadian prime ministership is an impossible office, demanding that its occupant simultaneously pass three unforgiving tests: political, managerial, and collegial. Fail one and
Top left, left to right: Carney, Trudeau, Harper, Martin, Chrétien, Campbell, Mulroney, Turner, Clark, Trudeau, Pearson, Diefenbaker, St. Laurent, Bennett, King, Meighen, Borden, Laurier, Tupper, Bowell, Thompson, Abbott, Mackenzie, and Macdonald. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia, Government of Canada

For democracy, we have to make public life appealing again

  • Despite our county’s many strengths, our politics suffer from some formidable challenges. The national discourse has become more polarized, divisive, and nastier. Unfortunately, we
FeatureBY SERGIO MARCHI | September 29, 2025
Anti-government protesters stand outside the West Block and on Wellington Street on the House's first day back on Sept. 15, 2025. A 2022 Angus Reid poll found that almost 60 per cent of Canadians did not trust their government, that's up from 47 per cent registered five years earlier, writes Sergio Marchi. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

For democracy, we have to make public life appealing again

FeatureBY SERGIO MARCHI | September 29, 2025
  • Despite our county’s many strengths, our politics suffer from some formidable challenges. The national discourse has become more polarized, divisive, and nastier. Unfortunately, we

For democracy, we have to make public life appealing again

FeatureBY SERGIO MARCHI | September 29, 2025
  • Despite our county’s many strengths, our politics suffer from some formidable challenges. The national discourse has become more polarized, divisive, and nastier. Unfortunately, we
Anti-government protesters stand outside the West Block and on Wellington Street on the House's first day back on Sept. 15, 2025. A 2022 Angus Reid poll found that almost 60 per cent of Canadians did not trust their government, that's up from 47 per cent registered five years earlier, writes Sergio Marchi. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists talk about their books

  • The $25,000 prize will be handed out on Sept. 24 in Ottawa at the Politics and the Pen event, the annual fundraiser for the
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | September 24, 2025
The nominees are: The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau, by Stephen Maher; The Knowing, by Tanya Talaga; Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Shaping of a National Identity, by Raymond Blake; Health for All, by Jane Philpott; and The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, by Alasdair Roberts. Book covers courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, UBC Press, Harper Collins Canada, McGill-Queen’s University Press and Simon & Schuster

Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists talk about their books

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | September 24, 2025
  • The $25,000 prize will be handed out on Sept. 24 in Ottawa at the Politics and the Pen event, the annual fundraiser for the

Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists talk about their books

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | September 24, 2025
  • The $25,000 prize will be handed out on Sept. 24 in Ottawa at the Politics and the Pen event, the annual fundraiser for the
The nominees are: The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau, by Stephen Maher; The Knowing, by Tanya Talaga; Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Shaping of a National Identity, by Raymond Blake; Health for All, by Jane Philpott; and The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, by Alasdair Roberts. Book covers courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, UBC Press, Harper Collins Canada, McGill-Queen’s University Press and Simon & Schuster

Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation?

  • The reported absence of significant attacks will likely continue to fuel the belief in democratic policy circles that Finland is a shining example other
FeatureBY ALICIA WANLESS | September 11, 2025
Alicia Wanless is the director of the Information Environment Project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and author of The Information Animal: Humans, Technology and the Competition Reality, published this year. Book cover and author photo courtesy of Hurst Publishing

Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation?

FeatureBY ALICIA WANLESS | September 11, 2025
  • The reported absence of significant attacks will likely continue to fuel the belief in democratic policy circles that Finland is a shining example other

Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation?

FeatureBY ALICIA WANLESS | September 11, 2025
  • The reported absence of significant attacks will likely continue to fuel the belief in democratic policy circles that Finland is a shining example other
Alicia Wanless is the director of the Information Environment Project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and author of The Information Animal: Humans, Technology and the Competition Reality, published this year. Book cover and author photo courtesy of Hurst Publishing

From power corridors to fiction world: former deputy minister Sheikh pens second novel

  • Munir Sheikh shared his upcoming book's message and memories of working with now-Prime Minister Mark Carney as bureaucrats at Finance.
News | BY ABBAS RANA | August 24, 2025
Former chief statistician Munir Sheikh has penned his second novel entitled, '2047: The Story of an American Revolution'. He spoke to The Hill Times about the book, and why he stepped away from his role as Canada's chief statistician in 2010. Photograph courtesy of Munir Sheikh

From power corridors to fiction world: former deputy minister Sheikh pens second novel

News | BY ABBAS RANA | August 24, 2025
  • Munir Sheikh shared his upcoming book's message and memories of working with now-Prime Minister Mark Carney as bureaucrats at Finance.

From power corridors to fiction world: former deputy minister Sheikh pens second novel

News | BY ABBAS RANA | August 24, 2025
  • Munir Sheikh shared his upcoming book's message and memories of working with now-Prime Minister Mark Carney as bureaucrats at Finance.
Former chief statistician Munir Sheikh has penned his second novel entitled, '2047: The Story of an American Revolution'. He spoke to The Hill Times about the book, and why he stepped away from his role as Canada's chief statistician in 2010. Photograph courtesy of Munir Sheikh

Q&A | New five-per-cent NATO target ‘achievable’ if Canada is ‘smart about it,’ says David Perry

  • Canada has pledged to meet the new NATO target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence.
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 30, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
On June 9, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada would spend and extra $9-billion on defence this fiscal year, to finally reach the military alliance's then-two per cent of GDP spending target. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Q&A | New five-per-cent NATO target ‘achievable’ if Canada is ‘smart about it,’ says David Perry

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 30, 2025
  • Canada has pledged to meet the new NATO target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence.

Q&A | New five-per-cent NATO target ‘achievable’ if Canada is ‘smart about it,’ says David Perry

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 30, 2025
  • Canada has pledged to meet the new NATO target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence.
Mark Carney
On June 9, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada would spend and extra $9-billion on defence this fiscal year, to finally reach the military alliance's then-two per cent of GDP spending target. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs ‘utterly subservient’ to leaders, says Globe columnist Andrew Coyne who offers a path away from Canada’s anti-democratic system in his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy

  • In his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, Andrew Coyne unpacks how parties choose their leaders, how the leaders control their MPs, and
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 26, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney. In his new book, Andrew Coyne says he tries to show that centralized power is ‘worse here than in other countries.’

MPs ‘utterly subservient’ to leaders, says Globe columnist Andrew Coyne who offers a path away from Canada’s anti-democratic system in his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 26, 2025
  • In his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, Andrew Coyne unpacks how parties choose their leaders, how the leaders control their MPs, and

MPs ‘utterly subservient’ to leaders, says Globe columnist Andrew Coyne who offers a path away from Canada’s anti-democratic system in his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | June 26, 2025
  • In his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, Andrew Coyne unpacks how parties choose their leaders, how the leaders control their MPs, and
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney. In his new book, Andrew Coyne says he tries to show that centralized power is ‘worse here than in other countries.’

Author says Canada’s ability to scale up companies involves fixing problems with corporate governance in Western economies

  • The following is an excerpt from Hard Lessons in Corporate Governance, by Bryce C. Tingle, shortlisted for this year's Donner Prize, one of the
FeatureBY BRYCE C. TINGLE | May 19, 2025
Author Bryce C. Tingle on why he wrote this book: 'Business corporations are among the most important and powerful institutions in our society, but most Canadians don’t actually know how they are governed and who gets a say in what they do.' Book cover and author photograph courtesy of Cambridge University Press

Author says Canada’s ability to scale up companies involves fixing problems with corporate governance in Western economies

FeatureBY BRYCE C. TINGLE | May 19, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Hard Lessons in Corporate Governance, by Bryce C. Tingle, shortlisted for this year's Donner Prize, one of the

Author says Canada’s ability to scale up companies involves fixing problems with corporate governance in Western economies

FeatureBY BRYCE C. TINGLE | May 19, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Hard Lessons in Corporate Governance, by Bryce C. Tingle, shortlisted for this year's Donner Prize, one of the
Author Bryce C. Tingle on why he wrote this book: 'Business corporations are among the most important and powerful institutions in our society, but most Canadians don’t actually know how they are governed and who gets a say in what they do.' Book cover and author photograph courtesy of Cambridge University Press

Authors dig deep into government’s response to COVID-19

  • The following is an excerpt from Seized by Uncertainty: The Markets, Media, and Special Interests That Shaped Canada's Response to COVID-19, which is one
FeatureBY KEVIN QUIGLEY, KAITLYNNE LOWE, SARAH MOORE, AND BRIANNA WOLFE | May 12, 2025
Seized By Uncertainty: The Markets, Media and Special Interests That Shaped Canada’s Response to COVID-19, by Kevin Quigley, Kaitlynne Lowe, Sarah Moore, and Brianna Wolfe, published by McGill-Queen's University Press. Book cover and author photographs courtesy of McGill-Queen's University Press

Authors dig deep into government’s response to COVID-19

FeatureBY KEVIN QUIGLEY, KAITLYNNE LOWE, SARAH MOORE, AND BRIANNA WOLFE | May 12, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Seized by Uncertainty: The Markets, Media, and Special Interests That Shaped Canada's Response to COVID-19, which is one

Authors dig deep into government’s response to COVID-19

FeatureBY KEVIN QUIGLEY, KAITLYNNE LOWE, SARAH MOORE, AND BRIANNA WOLFE | May 12, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Seized by Uncertainty: The Markets, Media, and Special Interests That Shaped Canada's Response to COVID-19, which is one
Seized By Uncertainty: The Markets, Media and Special Interests That Shaped Canada’s Response to COVID-19, by Kevin Quigley, Kaitlynne Lowe, Sarah Moore, and Brianna Wolfe, published by McGill-Queen's University Press. Book cover and author photographs courtesy of McGill-Queen's University Press

Kelly looks at how governments react to judicial invalidation in Constraining the Court

  • The following is an excerpt from Constraining the Court: Judicial Power in Policy Implementation in the Charter Era, one of five books shortlisted for
FeatureBY JAMES B. KELLY | May 5, 2025
James B. Kelly: 'This book should be read by any prime minister or premier that contemplates using Section 33 of the Charter of Rights, in a pre-emptive fashion.' Book cover and author's photo courtesy of UBC Press

Kelly looks at how governments react to judicial invalidation in Constraining the Court

FeatureBY JAMES B. KELLY | May 5, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Constraining the Court: Judicial Power in Policy Implementation in the Charter Era, one of five books shortlisted for

Kelly looks at how governments react to judicial invalidation in Constraining the Court

FeatureBY JAMES B. KELLY | May 5, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Constraining the Court: Judicial Power in Policy Implementation in the Charter Era, one of five books shortlisted for
James B. Kelly: 'This book should be read by any prime minister or premier that contemplates using Section 33 of the Charter of Rights, in a pre-emptive fashion.' Book cover and author's photo courtesy of UBC Press

‘This is a book about gender-based violence, with a focus on intimate partner abuse,’ says Donner-nominated author of And Sometimes They Kill You

  • The following is an excerpt from And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence, by Pamela Cross, nominated for this
FeatureBY PAMELA CROSS | April 28, 2025
Author Pamela Cross' book, And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence is one of five books on this year's Donner Prize shortlist, and considered one of the best public policy books of the year. Book cover and photograph courtesy of

‘This is a book about gender-based violence, with a focus on intimate partner abuse,’ says Donner-nominated author of And Sometimes They Kill You

FeatureBY PAMELA CROSS | April 28, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence, by Pamela Cross, nominated for this

‘This is a book about gender-based violence, with a focus on intimate partner abuse,’ says Donner-nominated author of And Sometimes They Kill You

FeatureBY PAMELA CROSS | April 28, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence, by Pamela Cross, nominated for this
Author Pamela Cross' book, And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence is one of five books on this year's Donner Prize shortlist, and considered one of the best public policy books of the year. Book cover and photograph courtesy of

Poilievre is a ‘classic political ripper,’ says author of new bestselling biography

  • Mark Bourrie says Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre is as much about the failings of modern political parties and the Canadian media as
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | April 21, 2025
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured April 12, 2025, making an announcement on a campaign stop at the Tomlinson Environmental Services shop in Nepean, Ont. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre is a ‘classic political ripper,’ says author of new bestselling biography

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | April 21, 2025
  • Mark Bourrie says Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre is as much about the failings of modern political parties and the Canadian media as

Poilievre is a ‘classic political ripper,’ says author of new bestselling biography

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | April 21, 2025
  • Mark Bourrie says Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre is as much about the failings of modern political parties and the Canadian media as
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured April 12, 2025, making an announcement on a campaign stop at the Tomlinson Environmental Services shop in Nepean, Ont. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Fiscal Choices takes a sober look at economic dimensions of pandemic

  • The following is an excerpt from Michael M. Atkinson and Haizen Mou's, Fiscal Choices: Canada After the Pandemic, one of the five finalists for
FeatureBY MICHAEL M. ATKINSON, HAIZHEN MOU | April 21, 2025
Authors Mou Haizhen and Michael Atkinson on why they wrote this book: 'We wrote Fiscal Choices out of a genuine concern for Canada’s capacity to cope with both short-term economic shocks and long term-fiscal challenges.' Book cover and photograph courtesy of the University of Toronto Press

Fiscal Choices takes a sober look at economic dimensions of pandemic

FeatureBY MICHAEL M. ATKINSON, HAIZHEN MOU | April 21, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Michael M. Atkinson and Haizen Mou's, Fiscal Choices: Canada After the Pandemic, one of the five finalists for

Fiscal Choices takes a sober look at economic dimensions of pandemic

FeatureBY MICHAEL M. ATKINSON, HAIZHEN MOU | April 21, 2025
  • The following is an excerpt from Michael M. Atkinson and Haizen Mou's, Fiscal Choices: Canada After the Pandemic, one of the five finalists for
Authors Mou Haizhen and Michael Atkinson on why they wrote this book: 'We wrote Fiscal Choices out of a genuine concern for Canada’s capacity to cope with both short-term economic shocks and long term-fiscal challenges.' Book cover and photograph courtesy of the University of Toronto Press

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

  • Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | April 21, 2025
Rose LeMay is the author of Ally Is a Verb. Book cover courtesy of Page Two and handout photograph

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | April 21, 2025
  • Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'

Reconciliation starts local, says author of guide book for non-Indigenous allies

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | April 21, 2025
  • Rose LeMay says it's 'up to non-Indigenous people to change these systems so that Indigenous Peoples are not treated worse than others.'
Rose LeMay is the author of Ally Is a Verb. Book cover courtesy of Page Two and handout photograph

Ripper offers a detailed, accessible, engrossing look at the making of Pierre Poilievre

  • Mark Bourrie sets out to tell Pierre Poilievre’s story from the beginning, and shows not only his origins and how they shaped the man
FeatureBY JAMIE CARROLL | April 2, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre launched his campaign outside of the Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on March 23. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Ripper offers a detailed, accessible, engrossing look at the making of Pierre Poilievre

FeatureBY JAMIE CARROLL | April 2, 2025
  • Mark Bourrie sets out to tell Pierre Poilievre’s story from the beginning, and shows not only his origins and how they shaped the man

Ripper offers a detailed, accessible, engrossing look at the making of Pierre Poilievre

FeatureBY JAMIE CARROLL | April 2, 2025
  • Mark Bourrie sets out to tell Pierre Poilievre’s story from the beginning, and shows not only his origins and how they shaped the man
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre launched his campaign outside of the Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on March 23. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Trump wants Canada economically weak and politically divided, says author of ‘The Adaptable Country’

  • Alasdair Roberts, author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, offers advice on how Canada can get through the Trump
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | March 1, 2025
Alasdair Roberts
Alasdair Roberts
Alasdair Roberts, author of 'The Adaptable Country,' says 'this is a book about the capacity of all Canadians to determine the future of their country. In other words, it is a book for Canadians who want to take back control.' Book cover and author photograph courtesy of McGill-Queen's University Press

Trump wants Canada economically weak and politically divided, says author of ‘The Adaptable Country’

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | March 1, 2025
  • Alasdair Roberts, author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, offers advice on how Canada can get through the Trump

Trump wants Canada economically weak and politically divided, says author of ‘The Adaptable Country’

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | March 1, 2025
  • Alasdair Roberts, author of The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century, offers advice on how Canada can get through the Trump
Alasdair Roberts
Alasdair Roberts, author of 'The Adaptable Country,' says 'this is a book about the capacity of all Canadians to determine the future of their country. In other words, it is a book for Canadians who want to take back control.' Book cover and author photograph courtesy of McGill-Queen's University Press

Are we fascist yet?

  • Ken McGoogan’s Shadows of Tyranny is a calm work born of panic, written before Trump was re-elected. If you’ve ever wondered how you would have behaved
FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | January 9, 2025
In his new book, Shadows of Tyranny, left, Ken McGoogan argues we're at a historical juncture, where an ascendant right—personified by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, right—is fed up with this system of laws, regulations, and institutions and means to rewrite them, writes Christopher Dornan. Book cover courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre and Trump photo courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

Are we fascist yet?

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | January 9, 2025
  • Ken McGoogan’s Shadows of Tyranny is a calm work born of panic, written before Trump was re-elected. If you’ve ever wondered how you would have behaved

Are we fascist yet?

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | January 9, 2025
  • Ken McGoogan’s Shadows of Tyranny is a calm work born of panic, written before Trump was re-elected. If you’ve ever wondered how you would have behaved
In his new book, Shadows of Tyranny, left, Ken McGoogan argues we're at a historical juncture, where an ascendant right—personified by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, right—is fed up with this system of laws, regulations, and institutions and means to rewrite them, writes Christopher Dornan. Book cover courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre and Trump photo courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

New biography warns against underestimating Chrystia Freeland

  • Chrystia is an origin story. Author Catherine Tsalikis presents Freeland’s past to assist readers with understanding her present and speculating on her future.
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | January 2, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Chrystia Freeland prior to her resignation from cabinet. A new biography on Freeland details the former finance minister and deputy prime minister's past. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New biography warns against underestimating Chrystia Freeland

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | January 2, 2025
  • Chrystia is an origin story. Author Catherine Tsalikis presents Freeland’s past to assist readers with understanding her present and speculating on her future.

New biography warns against underestimating Chrystia Freeland

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | January 2, 2025
  • Chrystia is an origin story. Author Catherine Tsalikis presents Freeland’s past to assist readers with understanding her present and speculating on her future.
Chrystia Freeland
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, with Chrystia Freeland prior to her resignation from cabinet. A new biography on Freeland details the former finance minister and deputy prime minister's past. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Tony Blair’s new book offers hard-earned lessons to pass along

  • Blair’s On Leadership is not a tell-all rehash of old political battles. No scores are settled or secrets spilled. Instead, he offers his insights
Opinion | BY MARK JOHNSON | December 23, 2024
Tonay Blair’s On Leadership describes the necessity of having a 'hinterland' of family, non-political friends, hobbies, and interests that keep you sane, grounded, and ultimately make you a better leader, writes Mark Johnson. Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Tony Blair’s new book offers hard-earned lessons to pass along

Opinion | BY MARK JOHNSON | December 23, 2024
  • Blair’s On Leadership is not a tell-all rehash of old political battles. No scores are settled or secrets spilled. Instead, he offers his insights

Tony Blair’s new book offers hard-earned lessons to pass along

Opinion | BY MARK JOHNSON | December 23, 2024
  • Blair’s On Leadership is not a tell-all rehash of old political battles. No scores are settled or secrets spilled. Instead, he offers his insights
Tonay Blair’s On Leadership describes the necessity of having a 'hinterland' of family, non-political friends, hobbies, and interests that keep you sane, grounded, and ultimately make you a better leader, writes Mark Johnson. Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

‘She knows how to make a splash, and knows how to get things done,’ says author of new Freeland book

  • Catherine Tsalikis spent four years researching Chrystia Freeland's life. She tells The Hill Times that she sees two constants in the former deputy prime
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 17, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Dec. 3, 2024, resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘She knows how to make a splash, and knows how to get things done,’ says author of new Freeland book

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 17, 2024
  • Catherine Tsalikis spent four years researching Chrystia Freeland's life. She tells The Hill Times that she sees two constants in the former deputy prime

‘She knows how to make a splash, and knows how to get things done,’ says author of new Freeland book

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 17, 2024
  • Catherine Tsalikis spent four years researching Chrystia Freeland's life. She tells The Hill Times that she sees two constants in the former deputy prime
Chrystia Freeland
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Dec. 3, 2024, resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

  • 2. A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, by Marc Garneau, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada,
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 16, 2024
Book covers courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, Simon & Schuster, Véhicule Press, James Lorimer, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada, and McGill-Queen's University Press

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 16, 2024
  • 2. A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, by Marc Garneau, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada,

The Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books in 2024

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 16, 2024
  • 2. A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, by Marc Garneau, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada,
Book covers courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada, Simon & Schuster, Véhicule Press, James Lorimer, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada, and McGill-Queen's University Press

A formidable exercise in truth telling

  • Alex Himelfarb's book Breaking Free is a stunning accomplishment, providing new insights into the analysis of neoliberalism. It is unsurpassed.
FeatureBY BRUCE CAMPBELL | December 16, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Trudeau's office on Parliament Hill on March 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A formidable exercise in truth telling

FeatureBY BRUCE CAMPBELL | December 16, 2024
  • Alex Himelfarb's book Breaking Free is a stunning accomplishment, providing new insights into the analysis of neoliberalism. It is unsurpassed.

A formidable exercise in truth telling

FeatureBY BRUCE CAMPBELL | December 16, 2024
  • Alex Himelfarb's book Breaking Free is a stunning accomplishment, providing new insights into the analysis of neoliberalism. It is unsurpassed.
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Trudeau's office on Parliament Hill on March 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carol Off’s timely warning on the use—and misuse—of words

  • Author and journalist Carol Off pulls no punches in describing the great strain democracy and the dissemination of factual reality are currently under, as
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 16, 2024
Carol Off's At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage is a worthwhile assessment of the world we face, taking a step back from the daily news and examining why we're divided, how this has happened, and who stands to benefit the most from a polity that cannot find a common ground on basic reality. Photographs courtesy of Penguin Random House

Carol Off’s timely warning on the use—and misuse—of words

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 16, 2024
  • Author and journalist Carol Off pulls no punches in describing the great strain democracy and the dissemination of factual reality are currently under, as

Carol Off’s timely warning on the use—and misuse—of words

FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | December 16, 2024
  • Author and journalist Carol Off pulls no punches in describing the great strain democracy and the dissemination of factual reality are currently under, as
Carol Off's At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage is a worthwhile assessment of the world we face, taking a step back from the daily news and examining why we're divided, how this has happened, and who stands to benefit the most from a polity that cannot find a common ground on basic reality. Photographs courtesy of Penguin Random House

My Life in Politics is a formidable read

  • In many ways, Lloyd Axworthy is more of a golden boy than the statue that sits atop the Manitoba legislature.
FeatureBY PAUL PARK | December 16, 2024
Former Jean Chrétien-era foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy, pictured in Ottawa on March 25, 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

My Life in Politics is a formidable read

FeatureBY PAUL PARK | December 16, 2024
  • In many ways, Lloyd Axworthy is more of a golden boy than the statue that sits atop the Manitoba legislature.

My Life in Politics is a formidable read

FeatureBY PAUL PARK | December 16, 2024
  • In many ways, Lloyd Axworthy is more of a golden boy than the statue that sits atop the Manitoba legislature.
Former Jean Chrétien-era foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy, pictured in Ottawa on March 25, 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Angus says his new book is not a lament, it’s a call to arms

  • Charlie Angus talks about his new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, and about the state of federal politics
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 4, 2024
NDP MP Charlie Angus just released a new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, his ninth book: 'I don’t think I would have been able to keep doing the political work if I didn’t nurture space for musical creativity and research.' Photograph courtesy of Paul Rincon and House of Anansi Press

Angus says his new book is not a lament, it’s a call to arms

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 4, 2024
  • Charlie Angus talks about his new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, and about the state of federal politics

Angus says his new book is not a lament, it’s a call to arms

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 4, 2024
  • Charlie Angus talks about his new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, and about the state of federal politics
NDP MP Charlie Angus just released a new book, Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed, his ninth book: 'I don’t think I would have been able to keep doing the political work if I didn’t nurture space for musical creativity and research.' Photograph courtesy of Paul Rincon and House of Anansi Press

What’s so wrong with Canada that we best snap out of our complacency?

  • Through nine persuasive yet demoralizing chapters, Jonathan Manthorpe leads us through his rational report card on our nation’s prospects. If we don't attend to
FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | October 30, 2024
Justin Trudeau, left, Pierre Poilievre, and Jagmeet Singh. Author Jonathan Manthorpe insists our representative democracy is crucially misrepresentative. The first-past-the-post electoral system skews the outcome, so the governments we get are a triple distortion of voters’ political will, writes Chris Dornan. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

What’s so wrong with Canada that we best snap out of our complacency?

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | October 30, 2024
  • Through nine persuasive yet demoralizing chapters, Jonathan Manthorpe leads us through his rational report card on our nation’s prospects. If we don't attend to

What’s so wrong with Canada that we best snap out of our complacency?

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | October 30, 2024
  • Through nine persuasive yet demoralizing chapters, Jonathan Manthorpe leads us through his rational report card on our nation’s prospects. If we don't attend to
Justin Trudeau, left, Pierre Poilievre, and Jagmeet Singh. Author Jonathan Manthorpe insists our representative democracy is crucially misrepresentative. The first-past-the-post electoral system skews the outcome, so the governments we get are a triple distortion of voters’ political will, writes Chris Dornan. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

Trudeau: he eludes us still

  • Stephen Maher and Paul Wells both offer insights into who Justin Trudeau is and what makes him tick. But one wonders if we’ll ever
FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | June 10, 2024
Hot tickets: Stephen Maher's The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau, and Paul Wells' Justin Trudeau on the Ropes are must-reads this spring. Images courtesy of Simon & Schuster, Sutherland House, and The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright

Trudeau: he eludes us still

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | June 10, 2024
  • Stephen Maher and Paul Wells both offer insights into who Justin Trudeau is and what makes him tick. But one wonders if we’ll ever

Trudeau: he eludes us still

FeatureBY CHRISTOPHER DORNAN | June 10, 2024
  • Stephen Maher and Paul Wells both offer insights into who Justin Trudeau is and what makes him tick. But one wonders if we’ll ever
Hot tickets: Stephen Maher's The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau, and Paul Wells' Justin Trudeau on the Ropes are must-reads this spring. Images courtesy of Simon & Schuster, Sutherland House, and The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright
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China’s growing authoritarianism is a global story

  • Dear Joanna Chiu, I am (Dan). I am from China. I just graduated from (a Quebec university). I hesitated for a whole night before
FeatureBY JOANNA CHIU | May 16, 2022
Joanna Chiu, author of China Unbound and a senior journalist at The Toronto Star. 'There are many books that study China's political system but China Unbound fills a gap in providing an accessible yet research-dense work of global reportage that provides concise historical context, cross-country comparisons as well as revealing individual stories.' Photograph courtesy of House of Anansi

China’s growing authoritarianism is a global story

FeatureBY JOANNA CHIU | May 16, 2022
  • Dear Joanna Chiu, I am (Dan). I am from China. I just graduated from (a Quebec university). I hesitated for a whole night before

China’s growing authoritarianism is a global story

FeatureBY JOANNA CHIU | May 16, 2022
  • Dear Joanna Chiu, I am (Dan). I am from China. I just graduated from (a Quebec university). I hesitated for a whole night before
Joanna Chiu, author of China Unbound and a senior journalist at The Toronto Star. 'There are many books that study China's political system but China Unbound fills a gap in providing an accessible yet research-dense work of global reportage that provides concise historical context, cross-country comparisons as well as revealing individual stories.' Photograph courtesy of House of Anansi

‘I wrote it because Canadians have forgotten Flora MacDonald’: Geoffrey Stevens

  • Following the 1979 election, what I needed most was to get out of Ottawa and away from the crazy, swirling rumour mill during the
FeatureBY FLORA MACDONALD & GEOFFREY STEVENS | May 16, 2022
Flora MacDonald, pictured in 2010 and who died in 2015, was Canada's first female foreign affairs minister. Geoffrey Stevens says MacDonald's final decades were remarkable. 'This high-profile cabinet minister disappeared from public view. She became an unpaid volunteer working in refugee camps in Africa and Asia, in an international campaign to preserve the watersheds of the great rivers of Tibet, and as a teacher and builder of schools and hospitals in remote mountain villages of Afghanistan.' The Hill Times file photograph by Jake Wright

‘I wrote it because Canadians have forgotten Flora MacDonald’: Geoffrey Stevens

FeatureBY FLORA MACDONALD & GEOFFREY STEVENS | May 16, 2022
  • Following the 1979 election, what I needed most was to get out of Ottawa and away from the crazy, swirling rumour mill during the

‘I wrote it because Canadians have forgotten Flora MacDonald’: Geoffrey Stevens

FeatureBY FLORA MACDONALD & GEOFFREY STEVENS | May 16, 2022
  • Following the 1979 election, what I needed most was to get out of Ottawa and away from the crazy, swirling rumour mill during the
Flora MacDonald, pictured in 2010 and who died in 2015, was Canada's first female foreign affairs minister. Geoffrey Stevens says MacDonald's final decades were remarkable. 'This high-profile cabinet minister disappeared from public view. She became an unpaid volunteer working in refugee camps in Africa and Asia, in an international campaign to preserve the watersheds of the great rivers of Tibet, and as a teacher and builder of schools and hospitals in remote mountain villages of Afghanistan.' The Hill Times file photograph by Jake Wright

‘We should never underestimate China,’ say authors of The Two Michaels, Blanchfield and Hampson

  • TEN DAYS AFTER BEING detained by Canadian authorities in Vancouver, and one day after Michael Kovrig was detained, Trump said publicly he “would certainly
FeatureBY MIKE BLANCHFIELD AND FEN HAMPSON | May 16, 2022
Co-author Mike Blanchfield, pictured. 'We wanted to shine the light on an important case of two Canadians who were arrested and imprisoned in China as time was marching on and there seemed little prospect of their being released.' The Hill Times photograph by Kate Malloy

‘We should never underestimate China,’ say authors of The Two Michaels, Blanchfield and Hampson

FeatureBY MIKE BLANCHFIELD AND FEN HAMPSON | May 16, 2022
  • TEN DAYS AFTER BEING detained by Canadian authorities in Vancouver, and one day after Michael Kovrig was detained, Trump said publicly he “would certainly

‘We should never underestimate China,’ say authors of The Two Michaels, Blanchfield and Hampson

FeatureBY MIKE BLANCHFIELD AND FEN HAMPSON | May 16, 2022
  • TEN DAYS AFTER BEING detained by Canadian authorities in Vancouver, and one day after Michael Kovrig was detained, Trump said publicly he “would certainly
Co-author Mike Blanchfield, pictured. 'We wanted to shine the light on an important case of two Canadians who were arrested and imprisoned in China as time was marching on and there seemed little prospect of their being released.' The Hill Times photograph by Kate Malloy

‘Growing political polarization will make it increasingly difficult to reach political consensus on our best paths forward’: Poloz 

  • A particularly interesting situation occurs when two tectonic plates are grinding past each other. Much of the time, the plates drift in this way
FeatureBY STEPHEN POLOZ | May 16, 2022
Stephen Poloz, pictured on May 1, 2020, at a press conference on the Hill. 'Failing to meet this challenge is likely to strain many of the foundations we hold dear, placing extraordinary demands on our political leadership. Indeed, the next age of uncertainty will demand longer-term thinking not only by companies and individuals, but by governments, besides.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Growing political polarization will make it increasingly difficult to reach political consensus on our best paths forward’: Poloz 

FeatureBY STEPHEN POLOZ | May 16, 2022
  • A particularly interesting situation occurs when two tectonic plates are grinding past each other. Much of the time, the plates drift in this way

‘Growing political polarization will make it increasingly difficult to reach political consensus on our best paths forward’: Poloz 

FeatureBY STEPHEN POLOZ | May 16, 2022
  • A particularly interesting situation occurs when two tectonic plates are grinding past each other. Much of the time, the plates drift in this way
Stephen Poloz, pictured on May 1, 2020, at a press conference on the Hill. 'Failing to meet this challenge is likely to strain many of the foundations we hold dear, placing extraordinary demands on our political leadership. Indeed, the next age of uncertainty will demand longer-term thinking not only by companies and individuals, but by governments, besides.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The threat picture Canada faces has seldom been so challenging

  • Being an intelligence analyst can sometimes feel like dipping in and out of an endless stream of information. You arrive at work, placing your
FeatureBY STEPHANIE CARVIN | May 9, 2022
Stephanie Carvin, author of Stand on Guard: Reassessing Threats to Canada’s National Security. 'What is necessary is for Canadians to responsibly widen their understanding of national security threats so that they may be more empathetic towards those affected.' Photographs handouts

The threat picture Canada faces has seldom been so challenging

FeatureBY STEPHANIE CARVIN | May 9, 2022
  • Being an intelligence analyst can sometimes feel like dipping in and out of an endless stream of information. You arrive at work, placing your

The threat picture Canada faces has seldom been so challenging

FeatureBY STEPHANIE CARVIN | May 9, 2022
  • Being an intelligence analyst can sometimes feel like dipping in and out of an endless stream of information. You arrive at work, placing your
Stephanie Carvin, author of Stand on Guard: Reassessing Threats to Canada’s National Security. 'What is necessary is for Canadians to responsibly widen their understanding of national security threats so that they may be more empathetic towards those affected.' Photographs handouts

Innovation is not invention

  • A key to understanding innovation-based growth is to understand that innovation is not invention, nor is it only high-tech and the creation of new
FeatureBY DAN BREZNITZ | May 2, 2022
Author Dan Breznitz, author of Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World, published by Oxford University Press. 'Innovation is the whole progression of taking new ideas and devising new or improved products and services. It comes in all stages of the production of goods and services, from the first vision, de­sign, development, production, sale, and usage to the after-sale.' Images courtesy of the Donner Prize

Innovation is not invention

FeatureBY DAN BREZNITZ | May 2, 2022
  • A key to understanding innovation-based growth is to understand that innovation is not invention, nor is it only high-tech and the creation of new

Innovation is not invention

FeatureBY DAN BREZNITZ | May 2, 2022
  • A key to understanding innovation-based growth is to understand that innovation is not invention, nor is it only high-tech and the creation of new
Author Dan Breznitz, author of Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World, published by Oxford University Press. 'Innovation is the whole progression of taking new ideas and devising new or improved products and services. It comes in all stages of the production of goods and services, from the first vision, de­sign, development, production, sale, and usage to the after-sale.' Images courtesy of the Donner Prize

Some interesting reads about Canadian politics in 2021

  • Political scientists authored many interesting books about Canadian politics in 2021. Here’s a sample published by three of Canada’s largest academic publishers: University of
FeatureBY ALEX MARLAND | December 20, 2021
A must-read for anyone interested in the Senate is Constitutional Pariah: Reference re Senate Reform and the Future of Parliament (UBC Press), by Emmett Macfarlane. Grounded in the Supreme Court’s reference decision in 2014 about electing Senators and setting term limits, Constitutional Pariah branches into a detailed examination of the role of the Senate and the fallout of that landmark decision, writes Alex Marland. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Some interesting reads about Canadian politics in 2021

FeatureBY ALEX MARLAND | December 20, 2021
  • Political scientists authored many interesting books about Canadian politics in 2021. Here’s a sample published by three of Canada’s largest academic publishers: University of

Some interesting reads about Canadian politics in 2021

FeatureBY ALEX MARLAND | December 20, 2021
  • Political scientists authored many interesting books about Canadian politics in 2021. Here’s a sample published by three of Canada’s largest academic publishers: University of
A must-read for anyone interested in the Senate is Constitutional Pariah: Reference re Senate Reform and the Future of Parliament (UBC Press), by Emmett Macfarlane. Grounded in the Supreme Court’s reference decision in 2014 about electing Senators and setting term limits, Constitutional Pariah branches into a detailed examination of the role of the Senate and the fallout of that landmark decision, writes Alex Marland. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Michael Wernick on governing, political journalism, and his Machiavellian inspiration

  • Michael Wernick spent 38 years working in Canada’s non-partisan public service. For the last three of those years, from 2016 to 2019, he served
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | December 20, 2021
Michael Wernick served as clerk of the Privy Council between 2016 and 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Michael Wernick on governing, political journalism, and his Machiavellian inspiration

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | December 20, 2021
  • Michael Wernick spent 38 years working in Canada’s non-partisan public service. For the last three of those years, from 2016 to 2019, he served

Michael Wernick on governing, political journalism, and his Machiavellian inspiration

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | December 20, 2021
  • Michael Wernick spent 38 years working in Canada’s non-partisan public service. For the last three of those years, from 2016 to 2019, he served
Michael Wernick served as clerk of the Privy Council between 2016 and 2019. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Hill Times’ 100 Best Books in 2021

  • 1. Across Boundaries: Essays in Honour of Robert A. Young, edited by André Blais, Cristine de Clercy, Anna Lennox Esselment and Ronald Wintrobe, McGill-Queen’s
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 20, 2021
This year's list of 100 best books includes an eclectic mix of books about Canadian politics, the machinery of government, Indigenous issues, anti-Black racism, public affairs, reconciliation, Canadian history, memoirs, national security, Canadian foreign policy, the pandemic, and much more. Image compilation by Serena Masonde/photographs from The Hill Times files and handouts

The Hill Times’ 100 Best Books in 2021

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 20, 2021
  • 1. Across Boundaries: Essays in Honour of Robert A. Young, edited by André Blais, Cristine de Clercy, Anna Lennox Esselment and Ronald Wintrobe, McGill-Queen’s

The Hill Times’ 100 Best Books in 2021

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | December 20, 2021
  • 1. Across Boundaries: Essays in Honour of Robert A. Young, edited by André Blais, Cristine de Clercy, Anna Lennox Esselment and Ronald Wintrobe, McGill-Queen’s
This year's list of 100 best books includes an eclectic mix of books about Canadian politics, the machinery of government, Indigenous issues, anti-Black racism, public affairs, reconciliation, Canadian history, memoirs, national security, Canadian foreign policy, the pandemic, and much more. Image compilation by Serena Masonde/photographs from The Hill Times files and handouts

Don Oliver, on his life as Canada’s first Black man appointed to the Senate

  • Former Conservative Senator Donald Oliver, 82, who was the first Black man appointed to the Upper Chamber in 1990, grew up in the only Black
FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 5, 2021
Former Senator Don Oliver, who is also a former deputy Senate Speaker, pictured Feb. 9, 2012, in the Senate Chamber. Sen. Oliver retired on Nov. 16, 2013, and has recently written a book about his life. 'I wanted to write a short book about some of my life’s experiences and how I dealt with anti-Black systemic racism in Canada. I outlined some specific steps I took through lived experiences of turning anger into action to attempt to bring racism to an end. My hope is that the book can become a call to action for our leadership in all levels of our society.' The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Don Oliver, on his life as Canada’s first Black man appointed to the Senate

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 5, 2021
  • Former Conservative Senator Donald Oliver, 82, who was the first Black man appointed to the Upper Chamber in 1990, grew up in the only Black

Don Oliver, on his life as Canada’s first Black man appointed to the Senate

FeatureBY KATE MALLOY | November 5, 2021
  • Former Conservative Senator Donald Oliver, 82, who was the first Black man appointed to the Upper Chamber in 1990, grew up in the only Black
Former Senator Don Oliver, who is also a former deputy Senate Speaker, pictured Feb. 9, 2012, in the Senate Chamber. Sen. Oliver retired on Nov. 16, 2013, and has recently written a book about his life. 'I wanted to write a short book about some of my life’s experiences and how I dealt with anti-Black systemic racism in Canada. I outlined some specific steps I took through lived experiences of turning anger into action to attempt to bring racism to an end. My hope is that the book can become a call to action for our leadership in all levels of our society.' The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

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