Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Monday, August 18, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Latest Paper
Monday, August 18, 2025 | Latest Paper
Subscribe Now

TRENDING:

Bhagwant Sandhu

Bhagwant Sandhu is a retired director general from the federal government. Between 2002-21 he held senior roles in several departments, including Fisheries and Ocean Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat, and Public Works Canada. He has also held executive positions in the governments of Ontario and British Columbia.

Carney’s trade talks demand transparency

  • Shifting deadlines may require discretion, but that’s no excuse to shield national decisions from democratic oversight and public scrutiny.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 11, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn’t need to reveal the blow-by-blow of his negotiations with the American president—but he does need to speak plainly about what’s guiding his decisions, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s trade talks demand transparency

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 11, 2025
  • Shifting deadlines may require discretion, but that’s no excuse to shield national decisions from democratic oversight and public scrutiny.

Carney’s trade talks demand transparency

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 11, 2025
  • Shifting deadlines may require discretion, but that’s no excuse to shield national decisions from democratic oversight and public scrutiny.
Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn’t need to reveal the blow-by-blow of his negotiations with the American president—but he does need to speak plainly about what’s guiding his decisions, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP leadership race: continuity, rupture, or reinvention?

  • As the party prepares for its March 2026 convention, the question isn’t who will lead but what purpose the NDP will serve in Canadian
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 23, 2025
NDP MP Heather McPherson is considering a leadership run. The party has to decide what it wants to be, in an era where political branding, not base-building, is the shortcut to survival, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP leadership race: continuity, rupture, or reinvention?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 23, 2025
  • As the party prepares for its March 2026 convention, the question isn’t who will lead but what purpose the NDP will serve in Canadian

The NDP leadership race: continuity, rupture, or reinvention?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 23, 2025
  • As the party prepares for its March 2026 convention, the question isn’t who will lead but what purpose the NDP will serve in Canadian
NDP MP Heather McPherson is considering a leadership run. The party has to decide what it wants to be, in an era where political branding, not base-building, is the shortcut to survival, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s fiscal plans put the public service at risk

  • Austerity masked as modernization has a history. Former Conservative PM Stephen Harper offers the real lessons for navigating the balance between fiscal targets and
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney shouldn’t lean too heavily on his corporate background, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Applying Bay Street’s quarterly logic of returns on capital investment to a 158-year-old civil service is a slow grind to institutional death. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s fiscal plans put the public service at risk

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2025
  • Austerity masked as modernization has a history. Former Conservative PM Stephen Harper offers the real lessons for navigating the balance between fiscal targets and

Carney’s fiscal plans put the public service at risk

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2025
  • Austerity masked as modernization has a history. Former Conservative PM Stephen Harper offers the real lessons for navigating the balance between fiscal targets and
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney shouldn’t lean too heavily on his corporate background, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Applying Bay Street’s quarterly logic of returns on capital investment to a 158-year-old civil service is a slow grind to institutional death. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s China challenge requires a foreign policy reset

  • Ottawa won’t gain global independence by echoing Washington or isolating China. It’s time for selective engagement, grounded in Canadian interests.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 2, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney cannot let defence spending stand-in for a foreign policy strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu.

Carney’s China challenge requires a foreign policy reset

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 2, 2025
  • Ottawa won’t gain global independence by echoing Washington or isolating China. It’s time for selective engagement, grounded in Canadian interests.

Carney’s China challenge requires a foreign policy reset

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 2, 2025
  • Ottawa won’t gain global independence by echoing Washington or isolating China. It’s time for selective engagement, grounded in Canadian interests.
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney cannot let defence spending stand-in for a foreign policy strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu.

As the U.S. follows Israel into Iran, where is Canada’s voice?

  • Canada needs bold diplomacy, not cautious complicity, as the Middle East tilts toward a wider war.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 25, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
On the Middle East, Prime Minister Mark Carney is no ideologue, nor does he appear interested in his predecessor’s optics-heavy style. Carney seems more calibrated, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As the U.S. follows Israel into Iran, where is Canada’s voice?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 25, 2025
  • Canada needs bold diplomacy, not cautious complicity, as the Middle East tilts toward a wider war.

As the U.S. follows Israel into Iran, where is Canada’s voice?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 25, 2025
  • Canada needs bold diplomacy, not cautious complicity, as the Middle East tilts toward a wider war.
Mark Carney
On the Middle East, Prime Minister Mark Carney is no ideologue, nor does he appear interested in his predecessor’s optics-heavy style. Carney seems more calibrated, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The high price of a handshake: Carney’s G7 Modi invite 

  • If Canada cannot draw a line at political assassination on its own soil, where will we draw one?
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 9, 2025
Canada's invite to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 is historic in the way political duplicities often are: low-key, deliberate, and draped in the language of pragmatic necessity, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The high price of a handshake: Carney’s G7 Modi invite 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 9, 2025
  • If Canada cannot draw a line at political assassination on its own soil, where will we draw one?

The high price of a handshake: Carney’s G7 Modi invite 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 9, 2025
  • If Canada cannot draw a line at political assassination on its own soil, where will we draw one?
Canada's invite to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 is historic in the way political duplicities often are: low-key, deliberate, and draped in the language of pragmatic necessity, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Canada’s G7 moment: rewrite the script or play along?

  • Mounting contradictions have dulled the G7’s edge. Canada can lead it toward revitalization—or be complicit in its decline.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
As the G7’s 2025 president, Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, can uphold the status quo or help redefine its resolve, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s G7 moment: rewrite the script or play along?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2025
  • Mounting contradictions have dulled the G7’s edge. Canada can lead it toward revitalization—or be complicit in its decline.

Canada’s G7 moment: rewrite the script or play along?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2025
  • Mounting contradictions have dulled the G7’s edge. Canada can lead it toward revitalization—or be complicit in its decline.
Mark Carney
As the G7’s 2025 president, Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, can uphold the status quo or help redefine its resolve, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

NDP identity crisis calls for a return to party’s roots

  • In losing official status, the NDP faces a hard test: does it remain tied to power politics or return to its social democratic origins?
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 28, 2025
Delegates vote on a resolution at the NDP's 2023 convention. With the goal of broadening the party’s appeal, NDP leadership has adopted the posture of Liberal centrism. The result is blurred lines, policy convergence, and disenchanted voters, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

NDP identity crisis calls for a return to party’s roots

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 28, 2025
  • In losing official status, the NDP faces a hard test: does it remain tied to power politics or return to its social democratic origins?

NDP identity crisis calls for a return to party’s roots

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 28, 2025
  • In losing official status, the NDP faces a hard test: does it remain tied to power politics or return to its social democratic origins?
Delegates vote on a resolution at the NDP's 2023 convention. With the goal of broadening the party’s appeal, NDP leadership has adopted the posture of Liberal centrism. The result is blurred lines, policy convergence, and disenchanted voters, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Message to Foreign Minister Anand: build doctrine, not optics

  • Anita Anand’s appointment as foreign affairs minister is a chance to end Canada’s drift and define a sovereign foreign policy rooted in purpose, not
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 15, 2025
Anita Anand
Anita Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand brings a fresh face to a portfolio that badly needs direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Message to Foreign Minister Anand: build doctrine, not optics

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 15, 2025
  • Anita Anand’s appointment as foreign affairs minister is a chance to end Canada’s drift and define a sovereign foreign policy rooted in purpose, not

Message to Foreign Minister Anand: build doctrine, not optics

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 15, 2025
  • Anita Anand’s appointment as foreign affairs minister is a chance to end Canada’s drift and define a sovereign foreign policy rooted in purpose, not
Anita Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand brings a fresh face to a portfolio that badly needs direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s safe Alberta seat: a symbol of retreat or renewal?

  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s bid to re-enter the House of Commons through an Alberta byelection—after losing his longtime Ontario seat in Carleton—is about more
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 8, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's defeat in Carleton, Ont., reflects a deeper dissonance between his polarizing persona and what a growing share of the electorate expects from national leadership, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s safe Alberta seat: a symbol of retreat or renewal?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 8, 2025
  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s bid to re-enter the House of Commons through an Alberta byelection—after losing his longtime Ontario seat in Carleton—is about more

Poilievre’s safe Alberta seat: a symbol of retreat or renewal?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 8, 2025
  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s bid to re-enter the House of Commons through an Alberta byelection—after losing his longtime Ontario seat in Carleton—is about more
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's defeat in Carleton, Ont., reflects a deeper dissonance between his polarizing persona and what a growing share of the electorate expects from national leadership, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s first test isn’t Trump, it’s his cabinet

  • Power isn’t only about winning elections. It’s also about building a cabinet that can turn political ambition into actual results.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 1, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to supporters at the TD Centre in Ottawa on April 29, 2025, after winning the election. If his cabinet can’t deliver, nothing else will, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s first test isn’t Trump, it’s his cabinet

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 1, 2025
  • Power isn’t only about winning elections. It’s also about building a cabinet that can turn political ambition into actual results.

Carney’s first test isn’t Trump, it’s his cabinet

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 1, 2025
  • Power isn’t only about winning elections. It’s also about building a cabinet that can turn political ambition into actual results.
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to supporters at the TD Centre in Ottawa on April 29, 2025, after winning the election. If his cabinet can’t deliver, nothing else will, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada drifting towards a two-party trap? 

  • The 2025 election results reveal the dangers of narrowing choices in an era that demands broader solutions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took a combined 85 per cent of the popular vote on April 28. That points to a two-party setup, which stifles innovation, intensifies polarization, and reduces politics to a zero-sum game, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Is Canada drifting towards a two-party trap? 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2025
  • The 2025 election results reveal the dangers of narrowing choices in an era that demands broader solutions.

Is Canada drifting towards a two-party trap? 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2025
  • The 2025 election results reveal the dangers of narrowing choices in an era that demands broader solutions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took a combined 85 per cent of the popular vote on April 28. That points to a two-party setup, which stifles innovation, intensifies polarization, and reduces politics to a zero-sum game, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Tories and Grits spar over the political centre

  • The party that reclaims that space could define the future of Canadian politics. It's clear those who lead with a steady hand will define
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 17, 2025
With polls leaning in the Liberals' favour, voters are responding to the serious image offered by Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, in contrast to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's partisan theatrics, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Tories and Grits spar over the political centre

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 17, 2025
  • The party that reclaims that space could define the future of Canadian politics. It's clear those who lead with a steady hand will define

Tories and Grits spar over the political centre

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 17, 2025
  • The party that reclaims that space could define the future of Canadian politics. It's clear those who lead with a steady hand will define
With polls leaning in the Liberals' favour, voters are responding to the serious image offered by Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, in contrast to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's partisan theatrics, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Poilievre can win votes by exploiting Liberal foreign policy failures 

  • To turn the tables on Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre should highlight the Trudeau government’s record of aligning Canada too tightly to American geopolitical objectives. 
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 9, 2025
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's many foreign policy failures represent a Liberal record that his successor, Mark Carney, should be forced to defend, and which Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre can expose as part of his 'Canada First' strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Poilievre can win votes by exploiting Liberal foreign policy failures 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 9, 2025
  • To turn the tables on Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre should highlight the Trudeau government’s record of aligning Canada too tightly to American geopolitical objectives. 

Poilievre can win votes by exploiting Liberal foreign policy failures 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 9, 2025
  • To turn the tables on Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre should highlight the Trudeau government’s record of aligning Canada too tightly to American geopolitical objectives. 
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's many foreign policy failures represent a Liberal record that his successor, Mark Carney, should be forced to defend, and which Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre can expose as part of his 'Canada First' strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team should adopt an approach that takes stock of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strengths and why he is clicking with Canadians, and then adjust their strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team should adopt an approach that takes stock of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strengths and why he is clicking with Canadians, and then adjust their strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney need to offer vision and foresight—qualities that seem to be in short supply in Canada’s hyper-partisan politics these days, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney need to offer vision and foresight—qualities that seem to be in short supply in Canada’s hyper-partisan politics these days, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. A wholesale change in party leadership would be good for Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. A wholesale change in party leadership would be good for Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
Union members picket the old post office on April 25, 2023. Often-overlooked, public servants have kept the country’s public administration running smoothly with solid policy proposals to mitigate against shockwaves from the United States, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why
Union members picket the old post office on April 25, 2023. Often-overlooked, public servants have kept the country’s public administration running smoothly with solid policy proposals to mitigate against shockwaves from the United States, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, needs to adjust his talking points with Liberal leadership front-runners Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland now in the mix, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and illustration by Joey Sabourin

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, needs to adjust his talking points with Liberal leadership front-runners Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland now in the mix, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
By invoking U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the stakes for the Liberal leadership race, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
By invoking U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the stakes for the Liberal leadership race, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
After weeks of building pressure from his caucus to resign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his plan to step down as Liberal Party leader on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister
Justin Trudeau
After weeks of building pressure from his caucus to resign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his plan to step down as Liberal Party leader on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Being booted from finance was likely a tough pill to swallow if you see yourself as smart and indispensable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.
Chrystia Freeland
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Being booted from finance was likely a tough pill to swallow if you see yourself as smart and indispensable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to prove that he grasps the psychology of why many voters feel let down by his government, and present a comprehensive package of reforms, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to prove that he grasps the psychology of why many voters feel let down by his government, and present a comprehensive package of reforms, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
Mashup
Mashup
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade/illustration by Neena Singhal

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.
Mashup
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade/illustration by Neena Singhal

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, has a soft spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, like the incoming U.S. president, also exudes an air of despotic edginess. Trump has barely discussed foreign policy, making it very difficult to predict his plans, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, has a soft spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, like the incoming U.S. president, also exudes an air of despotic edginess. Trump has barely discussed foreign policy, making it very difficult to predict his plans, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Canadian politicians should get real about India

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
This week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada has expelled India's high commissioner and five diplomats who are all persons of interest in what the RCMP alleges is serious criminal activity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian politicians should get real about India

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on

Canadian politicians should get real about India

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on
Justin Trudeau
This week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada has expelled India's high commissioner and five diplomats who are all persons of interest in what the RCMP alleges is serious criminal activity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, nor Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are offering leadership amid a rising death toll and widening regional conflict in the Middle East, writes Bhagwant Sandu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, nor Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are offering leadership amid a rising death toll and widening regional conflict in the Middle East, writes Bhagwant Sandu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
More Stories

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on July 26, standing in front of his newly shuffled cabinet. Post-cabinet shuffle, bureaucrats will be preparing briefs for all the incoming ministers, but don't expect them to be providing policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on July 26, standing in front of his newly shuffled cabinet. Post-cabinet shuffle, bureaucrats will be preparing briefs for all the incoming ministers, but don't expect them to be providing policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. Internally, the public service functions as a tightly-wound hierarchy. Externally, it's steered by the political power of the relevant minister and commands of the PMO, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. Internally, the public service functions as a tightly-wound hierarchy. Externally, it's steered by the political power of the relevant minister and commands of the PMO, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine. The war is stuck in a stalemate, but Trudeau has no reason to change course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of the government of Ukraine

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine. The war is stuck in a stalemate, but Trudeau has no reason to change course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of the government of Ukraine

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is part of a far-right populism that is in serious decline, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is part of a far-right populism that is in serious decline, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
Special Rapporteur David Johnston could have succumbed to political pressures and recommended a public inquiry. Instead, he gave his neutral, independent advice, despite the possibility this his good name would be dragged through the political mud, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.
Special Rapporteur David Johnston could have succumbed to political pressures and recommended a public inquiry. Instead, he gave his neutral, independent advice, despite the possibility this his good name would be dragged through the political mud, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
Notwithstanding his image as a hip internationalist, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s realpolitik engagement in the world has been nothing short of 1960s-style American imperialism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will
Notwithstanding his image as a hip internationalist, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s realpolitik engagement in the world has been nothing short of 1960s-style American imperialism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
This is not the first time the Liberals have been caught flat-footed in an evacuation emergency. This same Sudanese script was acted out in 2021 in Afghanistan, a file for which Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has taken some heat, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.
This is not the first time the Liberals have been caught flat-footed in an evacuation emergency. This same Sudanese script was acted out in 2021 in Afghanistan, a file for which Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has taken some heat, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is easily filling the gap left open by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh when it comes to the working class, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is easily filling the gap left open by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh when it comes to the working class, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
In February, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre gave the government one month to stop illegal migrants from crossing through Quebec’s Roxham Road border crossing, but that demand is no longer his focus with other issues more damaging to the Liberals in his sight line. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.
In February, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre gave the government one month to stop illegal migrants from crossing through Quebec’s Roxham Road border crossing, but that demand is no longer his focus with other issues more damaging to the Liberals in his sight line. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
CSIS director David Vigneault
CSIS director David Vigneault
Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director David Vigneault, seen here on July 16, 2020. Where are the senior managers at CSIS, asks Bhagwant Sandhu. Should they not reassure us that Canadian democracy and public institutions are safe-guarded with due process and management controls? The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy
CSIS director David Vigneault
Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director David Vigneault, seen here on July 16, 2020. Where are the senior managers at CSIS, asks Bhagwant Sandhu. Should they not reassure us that Canadian democracy and public institutions are safe-guarded with due process and management controls? The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
Mélanie Joly
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly should be careful and clear-headed in what she wants out of India, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly should be careful and clear-headed in what she wants out of India, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre want to increase their appeal to new Canadians voters. To do that, they will have to speak up and offer tangible foreign policy alternatives, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.
Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre want to increase their appeal to new Canadians voters. To do that, they will have to speak up and offer tangible foreign policy alternatives, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is getting a new chief of staff and with that fresh start comes a golden opportunity to turn the page on our ineffective and ultimately costly foreign policy framework, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is getting a new chief of staff and with that fresh start comes a golden opportunity to turn the page on our ineffective and ultimately costly foreign policy framework, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was supposed to shine in 2022 as dean of the G7. That didn’t happen, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was supposed to shine in 2022 as dean of the G7. That didn’t happen, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific plan offers Canadian stamp on an American strategy

  • The running theme in both the U.S. National Defence Strategy and Canada's recently-released strategy for the region is an 'us versus them' dichotomy. Them
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 30, 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden, pictured Feb. 23, 2021, delivering a joint press statement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the East Room of the White House. Canada’s new Indo-Pacific strategy is about the Trudeau’s Liberals propping up the U.S. Democrats on the one hand, and fighting off the Conservatives on the other, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times file photograph

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific plan offers Canadian stamp on an American strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 30, 2022
  • The running theme in both the U.S. National Defence Strategy and Canada's recently-released strategy for the region is an 'us versus them' dichotomy. Them

Trudeau’s Indo-Pacific plan offers Canadian stamp on an American strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 30, 2022
  • The running theme in both the U.S. National Defence Strategy and Canada's recently-released strategy for the region is an 'us versus them' dichotomy. Them
U.S. President Joe Biden, pictured Feb. 23, 2021, delivering a joint press statement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the East Room of the White House. Canada’s new Indo-Pacific strategy is about the Trudeau’s Liberals propping up the U.S. Democrats on the one hand, and fighting off the Conservatives on the other, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times file photograph

Military must do its part to curb carbon emissions

  • It is not just the big industrial polluters or everyday consumers filling up their gas tanks that are poisoning the atmosphere, it is also
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 17, 2022
If Justin Trudeau's Liberals are unable to produce results after seven years in government, maybe we should look to the Conservatives and their new leader, Pierre Poilievre, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Military must do its part to curb carbon emissions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 17, 2022
  • It is not just the big industrial polluters or everyday consumers filling up their gas tanks that are poisoning the atmosphere, it is also

Military must do its part to curb carbon emissions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 17, 2022
  • It is not just the big industrial polluters or everyday consumers filling up their gas tanks that are poisoning the atmosphere, it is also
If Justin Trudeau's Liberals are unable to produce results after seven years in government, maybe we should look to the Conservatives and their new leader, Pierre Poilievre, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Haiti does not need gunboat diplomacy

  • It needs to be able to chart its own course, without being thwarted by unelected autocrats. It also needs Canada to mind its own
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 2, 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken hold a joint press conference on Oct. 27 in Ottawa. Canada doesn't have to support Blinken’s agenda. We could mediate a national reconciliation process, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Haiti does not need gunboat diplomacy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 2, 2022
  • It needs to be able to chart its own course, without being thwarted by unelected autocrats. It also needs Canada to mind its own

Haiti does not need gunboat diplomacy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 2, 2022
  • It needs to be able to chart its own course, without being thwarted by unelected autocrats. It also needs Canada to mind its own
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken hold a joint press conference on Oct. 27 in Ottawa. Canada doesn't have to support Blinken’s agenda. We could mediate a national reconciliation process, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian politicians can learn from Truss’ rapid rise and fall

  • OTTAWA—Aside from the perfunctory nod to our “shared history, values, and traditions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Sept. 6 statement to congratulate Liz Truss, the
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 26, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets then-British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, at COP26 in November 2021. Just before resigning her post, Truss was still touting herself as 'a fighter, not a quitter,' self-characterizations reducing her to a caricature: strident, superficial, and predictable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. U.K. Government photograph by Karwai Tang

Canadian politicians can learn from Truss’ rapid rise and fall

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Aside from the perfunctory nod to our “shared history, values, and traditions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Sept. 6 statement to congratulate Liz Truss, the

Canadian politicians can learn from Truss’ rapid rise and fall

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Aside from the perfunctory nod to our “shared history, values, and traditions,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Sept. 6 statement to congratulate Liz Truss, the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets then-British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, at COP26 in November 2021. Just before resigning her post, Truss was still touting herself as 'a fighter, not a quitter,' self-characterizations reducing her to a caricature: strident, superficial, and predictable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. U.K. Government photograph by Karwai Tang

Feds need real feminist bonafides now to prevent backsliding later

  • OTTAWA—Two months before he became prime minister in 2015, Justin Trudeau declared: “I am a feminist. I’m proud to be a feminist.” He was
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to crank up the feminist agenda to a pitch from which it can never be rolled back, by anyone, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds need real feminist bonafides now to prevent backsliding later

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Two months before he became prime minister in 2015, Justin Trudeau declared: “I am a feminist. I’m proud to be a feminist.” He was

Feds need real feminist bonafides now to prevent backsliding later

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Two months before he became prime minister in 2015, Justin Trudeau declared: “I am a feminist. I’m proud to be a feminist.” He was
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to crank up the feminist agenda to a pitch from which it can never be rolled back, by anyone, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau picks strong envoy to China after two missteps

  • OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s appointment of career diplomat Jennifer May as the ambassador to China indicates one of two things. It reveals
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 27, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s marching orders to his new ambassador to China are very direct. He wants her to advance 'Canadian priorities in the Canada-China relationship, including supporting the long-standing people-to-people, economic, and business ties between our two countries,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau picks strong envoy to China after two missteps

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 27, 2022
  • OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s appointment of career diplomat Jennifer May as the ambassador to China indicates one of two things. It reveals

Trudeau picks strong envoy to China after two missteps

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 27, 2022
  • OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s appointment of career diplomat Jennifer May as the ambassador to China indicates one of two things. It reveals
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s marching orders to his new ambassador to China are very direct. He wants her to advance 'Canadian priorities in the Canada-China relationship, including supporting the long-standing people-to-people, economic, and business ties between our two countries,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

get help

Subscribe
CloseMenu