Thursday, May 2, 2024
Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | Latest Paper

Copps’ Corner

Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 29, 2024
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured, was among those in 2021 who criticized the decision to grant bail to Umar Zameer. Without an external review of the judicial process in this case, too many questions remain unanswered, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 29, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 29, 2024
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured, was among those in 2021 who criticized the decision to grant bail to Umar Zameer. Without an external review of the judicial process in this case, too many questions remain unanswered, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 22, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland inside the budget lockup in Ottawa on April 16, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 22, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 22, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland inside the budget lockup in Ottawa on April 16, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 15, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and design by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 15, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 15, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and design by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 8, 2024
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 20, 2024, addressing his national caucus on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 8, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 8, 2024
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 20, 2024, addressing his national caucus on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 1, 2024
The Hill Times photographs by Cynthia Münster and Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 1, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 1, 2024
The Hill Times photographs by Cynthia Münster and Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 25, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured, has made it very clear that the government has no intention to reverse its climate plan, even after Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier Andrew Furey joined six Conservative premiers in his request to cancel the proposed carbon price hike.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 25, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 25, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured, has made it very clear that the government has no intention to reverse its climate plan, even after Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier Andrew Furey joined six Conservative premiers in his request to cancel the proposed carbon price hike.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 18, 2024
Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien, left, and Stephen Harper wanted to privately fundraise money for 24 Sussex Dr. The late NDP leader Ed Broadbent was also on board. Sheila Copps argues that saving 24 Sussex is in the public interest. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 18, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 18, 2024
Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien, left, and Stephen Harper wanted to privately fundraise money for 24 Sussex Dr. The late NDP leader Ed Broadbent was also on board. Sheila Copps argues that saving 24 Sussex is in the public interest. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 7, 2024
The centrist party Mulroney led no longer exists. Instead, anti-government ex-Reformers have taken centre stage in the Conservative movement. The notion of collective responsibility has been replaced by rabid individualism. Mulroney understood that there was no place in politics for hate, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 7, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 7, 2024
The centrist party Mulroney led no longer exists. Instead, anti-government ex-Reformers have taken centre stage in the Conservative movement. The notion of collective responsibility has been replaced by rabid individualism. Mulroney understood that there was no place in politics for hate, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 4, 2024
The federal government finally introduced legislation governing online harms last week. Justice Minister Arif Virani specifically targeted three obligations, including 'a duty to protect children, a duty to act responsibly and the duty to remove the most egregious content.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 4, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | March 4, 2024
The federal government finally introduced legislation governing online harms last week. Justice Minister Arif Virani specifically targeted three obligations, including 'a duty to protect children, a duty to act responsibly and the duty to remove the most egregious content.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 26, 2024
'Brief' is the only way to describe Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s reaction to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 26, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 26, 2024
'Brief' is the only way to describe Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s reaction to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 12, 2024
CTV Ottawa, pictured. BCE Inc. is selling off almost half its radio stations and eliminating 4,800 jobs across the country as so-called heritage media continues to lose advertising revenue to social media outlets, writes Sheila Copps. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Michel Rathwell
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 12, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 12, 2024
CTV Ottawa, pictured. BCE Inc. is selling off almost half its radio stations and eliminating 4,800 jobs across the country as so-called heritage media continues to lose advertising revenue to social media outlets, writes Sheila Copps. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Michel Rathwell
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 5, 2024
Immigration Minister Marc Miller made a $362-million refugee housing announcement last week which opened the door for provincial governments and critics to claim that the amount in question is simply too little to deal with the problem, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 5, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | February 5, 2024
Immigration Minister Marc Miller made a $362-million refugee housing announcement last week which opened the door for provincial governments and critics to claim that the amount in question is simply too little to deal with the problem, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 29, 2024
Tucker Carlson was in Calgary last week delivering his 'Liberating Canada' speech. His appearance might be limited to Alberta. He may not be invited elsewhere as he continually referred to Toronto as 'an atrocity', a great crowd-pleaser. He laughed at gays, and defended white anglos who are being undermined in Canada. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 29, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 29, 2024
Tucker Carlson was in Calgary last week delivering his 'Liberating Canada' speech. His appearance might be limited to Alberta. He may not be invited elsewhere as he continually referred to Toronto as 'an atrocity', a great crowd-pleaser. He laughed at gays, and defended white anglos who are being undermined in Canada. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 22, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured in a scrum last November on the Hill. Sheila Copps argues that Trudeau has done a poor job communicating the quarterly rebate his government is sending to Canadians for the carbon tax. In some cases, it amounts to more than $1,500 a year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 22, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 22, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured in a scrum last November on the Hill. Sheila Copps argues that Trudeau has done a poor job communicating the quarterly rebate his government is sending to Canadians for the carbon tax. In some cases, it amounts to more than $1,500 a year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 15, 2024
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured in Ottawa on Jan. 10, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 15, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 15, 2024
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured in Ottawa on Jan. 10, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 8, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presents Navalik Tologanak, a residential school survivor, with a flag at the second annual Survivors’ Flag raising in 2023. Trudeau is not the first leader to speak out about the challenges facing Indigenous Peoples, but he is certainly the first to invest major cash in the solutions, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 8, 2024
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | January 8, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presents Navalik Tologanak, a residential school survivor, with a flag at the second annual Survivors’ Flag raising in 2023. Trudeau is not the first leader to speak out about the challenges facing Indigenous Peoples, but he is certainly the first to invest major cash in the solutions, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 18, 2023
Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, pictured, was the main opponent of Speaker Greg Fergus's's actions, but was forced into silence himself when it was revealed that he had made a similar mistake earlier this year, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 18, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 18, 2023
Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, pictured, was the main opponent of Speaker Greg Fergus's's actions, but was forced into silence himself when it was revealed that he had made a similar mistake earlier this year, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 11, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre seems to be winning the ground war, and has not been damaged by his bully tactics on parliamentary bills, writes Sheila Copps.  The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 11, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 11, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre seems to be winning the ground war, and has not been damaged by his bully tactics on parliamentary bills, writes Sheila Copps.  The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 4, 2023
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. Without Canadian government leadership, the chance to grow a dying news industry is slim to none, argues Sheila Copps.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 4, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | December 4, 2023
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge. Without Canadian government leadership, the chance to grow a dying news industry is slim to none, argues Sheila Copps.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 27, 2023
After winning the Grey Cup on Nov. 19, 2023, Montreal Alouettes’ Marc-Antoine Dequoy criticized the game's lack of respect for the French language. RDS screenshot courtesy of CBC News
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 27, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 27, 2023
After winning the Grey Cup on Nov. 19, 2023, Montreal Alouettes’ Marc-Antoine Dequoy criticized the game's lack of respect for the French language. RDS screenshot courtesy of CBC News
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, 2023, at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 20, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, 2023, at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 13, 2023
Mississauga Mayor and former Liberal MP Bonnie Crombie, left, Liberal MPs Yasir Naqvi and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, and former Liberal MP Ted Hsu are all seeking the Ontario Liberal Party's leadership. Photograph courtesy of Bonnie Crombie's campaign, The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 13, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 13, 2023
Mississauga Mayor and former Liberal MP Bonnie Crombie, left, Liberal MPs Yasir Naqvi and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, and former Liberal MP Ted Hsu are all seeking the Ontario Liberal Party's leadership. Photograph courtesy of Bonnie Crombie's campaign, The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 6, 2023
Buffy Sainte-Marie speaks after Canada Post unveiled a stamp in her honour at an event in Ottawa on Nov. 18, 2021. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 6, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | November 6, 2023
Buffy Sainte-Marie speaks after Canada Post unveiled a stamp in her honour at an event in Ottawa on Nov. 18, 2021. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 30, 2023
Santa Claus is coming to town: A news item last week revealed that a Girl Guides inclusivity policy prohibits members from joining any Santa Claus parade across the country. Image courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 30, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 30, 2023
Santa Claus is coming to town: A news item last week revealed that a Girl Guides inclusivity policy prohibits members from joining any Santa Claus parade across the country. Image courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 13, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured recently on the Hill, will be at his party's policy convention this weekend in Hamilton, Ont. It's the first in-person NDP convention in five years. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 13, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 13, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured recently on the Hill, will be at his party's policy convention this weekend in Hamilton, Ont. It's the first in-person NDP convention in five years. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 9, 2023
Newly elected House Speaker Greg Fergus in his first Speaker's Parade shortly after he won the House Speaker's election on Oct. 3, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 9, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 9, 2023
Newly elected House Speaker Greg Fergus in his first Speaker's Parade shortly after he won the House Speaker's election on Oct. 3, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a statement to reporters in West Block on Sept. 27, 2023, apologizing for the acknowledgement of Nazi SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka in the House during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament on Sept. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 2, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | October 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a statement to reporters in West Block on Sept. 27, 2023, apologizing for the acknowledgement of Nazi SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka in the House during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament on Sept. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his family at the Canada Day celebration at LeBreton Flats on July 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | July 3, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his family at the Canada Day celebration at LeBreton Flats on July 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 19, 2023
Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall's private member's bill C-311 was defeated at second reading last week. With her party's strong support for the bill, it will only be a matter of time before the question of the legal status of fetuses ends up being litigated, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 19, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 19, 2023
Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall's private member's bill C-311 was defeated at second reading last week. With her party's strong support for the bill, it will only be a matter of time before the question of the legal status of fetuses ends up being litigated, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 12, 2023
Most opposition leaders keep the attention focused on the government, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continues to shine the light on himself, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 12, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 12, 2023
Most opposition leaders keep the attention focused on the government, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continues to shine the light on himself, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 5, 2023
Special Rapporteur David Johnston's decision to ignore a negative parliamentary vote could have added fuel to the firestorm surrounding alleged foreign interference, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 5, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | June 5, 2023
Special Rapporteur David Johnston's decision to ignore a negative parliamentary vote could have added fuel to the firestorm surrounding alleged foreign interference, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 29, 2023
David Johnston holds a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 29, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 29, 2023
David Johnston holds a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 22, 2023
United Conservative Party of Alberta leader Danielle Smith, left, and Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley. What could have been a daily discussion of Smith’s positions on private medicine and her meddling in the judicial system has taken a back seat to wildfire safety briefings, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 22, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 22, 2023
United Conservative Party of Alberta leader Danielle Smith, left, and Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley. What could have been a daily discussion of Smith’s positions on private medicine and her meddling in the judicial system has taken a back seat to wildfire safety briefings, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 15, 2023
Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall, pictured on the Hill in 2017, introduced a private member's bill called Violence Against Pregnant Women, ostensibly dealing with the 'legal void around abortion in Canada,' writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 15, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 15, 2023
Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall, pictured on the Hill in 2017, introduced a private member's bill called Violence Against Pregnant Women, ostensibly dealing with the 'legal void around abortion in Canada,' writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 8, 2023
King Charles III’s warm personality will soon convince most Canadians of the historic and enduring value of a constitutional monarchy, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 8, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 8, 2023
King Charles III’s warm personality will soon convince most Canadians of the historic and enduring value of a constitutional monarchy, writes Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 1, 2023
Alex Silas, the Public Service Alliance of Canada's regional executive vice-president, National Capital Region, leads PSAC members picketing Parliament Hill in a chant on April 26, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 1, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | May 1, 2023
Alex Silas, the Public Service Alliance of Canada's regional executive vice-president, National Capital Region, leads PSAC members picketing Parliament Hill in a chant on April 26, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 24, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's decision to ally himself with Twitter owner Elon Musk, pictured, runs the risk of alienating Canadians, writes Sheila Copps. Photograph courtesy of NASA HQ PHOTO/Flickr
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 24, 2023
Opinion | BY SHEILA COPPS | April 24, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's decision to ally himself with Twitter owner Elon Musk, pictured, runs the risk of alienating Canadians, writes Sheila Copps. Photograph courtesy of NASA HQ PHOTO/Flickr