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Wednesday, October 15, 2025

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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.

Anita Anand’s India challenge: engage without enabling

  • Re-engagement with India makes strategic sense. Without political accountability and institutional backbone, it risks repeating past failures.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2025
Anita Anand
Anita Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand's task isn’t to draft a flawless India policy, but to reinforce Canadian autonomy, backed by legislative and institutional muscle. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Anita Anand’s India challenge: engage without enabling

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2025
  • Re-engagement with India makes strategic sense. Without political accountability and institutional backbone, it risks repeating past failures.

Anita Anand’s India challenge: engage without enabling

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 13, 2025
  • Re-engagement with India makes strategic sense. Without political accountability and institutional backbone, it risks repeating past failures.
Anita Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand's task isn’t to draft a flawless India policy, but to reinforce Canadian autonomy, backed by legislative and institutional muscle. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The challenge around AI is simple: anchor policy in public purpose

  • Ottawa risks chasing tech-fuelled illusions without building the governance architecture for an AI-driven future.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 1, 2025
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon. If AI is to serve the public good, Ottawa must step up as a regulator. Anything less is legislative neglect, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The challenge around AI is simple: anchor policy in public purpose

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 1, 2025
  • Ottawa risks chasing tech-fuelled illusions without building the governance architecture for an AI-driven future.

The challenge around AI is simple: anchor policy in public purpose

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 1, 2025
  • Ottawa risks chasing tech-fuelled illusions without building the governance architecture for an AI-driven future.
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon. If AI is to serve the public good, Ottawa must step up as a regulator. Anything less is legislative neglect, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s cabinet exit a lesson in high ideals and harsh politics

  • The envoy role may honour the Liberal MP's personal narrative, but it looks more like an escape from fiscal reckoning and waning political relevance.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 18, 2025
Chrystia Freeland, left, once defined Liberal foreign and fiscal policy, but she now departs as Prime Minister Mark Carney's special envoy for Ukraine with a title, but no institutional authority, Bhagwant Sandhu writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s cabinet exit a lesson in high ideals and harsh politics

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 18, 2025
  • The envoy role may honour the Liberal MP's personal narrative, but it looks more like an escape from fiscal reckoning and waning political relevance.

Freeland’s cabinet exit a lesson in high ideals and harsh politics

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 18, 2025
  • The envoy role may honour the Liberal MP's personal narrative, but it looks more like an escape from fiscal reckoning and waning political relevance.
Chrystia Freeland, left, once defined Liberal foreign and fiscal policy, but she now departs as Prime Minister Mark Carney's special envoy for Ukraine with a title, but no institutional authority, Bhagwant Sandhu writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Gaza is testing Canada’s moral compass, and Carney’s credibility

  • As the UN debates Palestinian statehood on Sept. 22, the prime minister must decide whether to shape the conversation or to keep equivocating.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney should stop equivocating and act decisively by demanding a credible path for an immediate two-state solution, and voting for Palestine’s ascension to full UN membership, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Gaza is testing Canada’s moral compass, and Carney’s credibility

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 15, 2025
  • As the UN debates Palestinian statehood on Sept. 22, the prime minister must decide whether to shape the conversation or to keep equivocating.

Gaza is testing Canada’s moral compass, and Carney’s credibility

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 15, 2025
  • As the UN debates Palestinian statehood on Sept. 22, the prime minister must decide whether to shape the conversation or to keep equivocating.
Prime Minister Mark Carney should stop equivocating and act decisively by demanding a credible path for an immediate two-state solution, and voting for Palestine’s ascension to full UN membership, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a South America strategy, not just a trade agenda

  • If Canada wants real influence in South America, it needs to ditch Trudeau’s U.S.-first legacy and rethink its diplomatic posture from Cuba to Colombia
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 1, 2025
Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu
Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu's trips to Brazil and Colombia should act as a step to spur active diplomacy across South America The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs a South America strategy, not just a trade agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 1, 2025
  • If Canada wants real influence in South America, it needs to ditch Trudeau’s U.S.-first legacy and rethink its diplomatic posture from Cuba to Colombia

Canada needs a South America strategy, not just a trade agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 1, 2025
  • If Canada wants real influence in South America, it needs to ditch Trudeau’s U.S.-first legacy and rethink its diplomatic posture from Cuba to Colombia
Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu's trips to Brazil and Colombia should act as a step to spur active diplomacy across South America The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No place for Poilievre’s old politics against Liberal centre-right pivot

  • With the Carney Liberals occupying the centre-right, the Conservatives face a hard question: evolve to lead a changing Canada or stay stuck in a
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 20, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre won the Aug. 18 Alberta byelection which will send him back to the House of Commons this fall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No place for Poilievre’s old politics against Liberal centre-right pivot

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 20, 2025
  • With the Carney Liberals occupying the centre-right, the Conservatives face a hard question: evolve to lead a changing Canada or stay stuck in a

No place for Poilievre’s old politics against Liberal centre-right pivot

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 20, 2025
  • With the Carney Liberals occupying the centre-right, the Conservatives face a hard question: evolve to lead a changing Canada or stay stuck in a
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre won the Aug. 18 Alberta byelection which will send him back to the House of Commons this fall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
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.
Mark Carney
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
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Hogue inquiry prompts questions for Canada’s spy agency

  • Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s foreign interference inquiry has enlightened us on the failings of our security apparatus and its inability to engage constructively with Canadians.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2024
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue will release her first report on foreign interference this week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Hogue inquiry prompts questions for Canada’s spy agency

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2024
  • Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s foreign interference inquiry has enlightened us on the failings of our security apparatus and its inability to engage constructively with Canadians.

Hogue inquiry prompts questions for Canada’s spy agency

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 29, 2024
  • Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s foreign interference inquiry has enlightened us on the failings of our security apparatus and its inability to engage constructively with Canadians.
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue will release her first report on foreign interference this week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Predicting Poilievre’s foreign policy plans

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s challenge will be avoiding ideologies and instead relying on policy realism for his foreign affairs approach.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 18, 2024
If Pierre Poilievre becomes prime minister, he could build our foreign policy on tact, soft diplomacy, negotiations, and dialogue. That won’t happen though, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. He is apt to label those kinds of things as too ‘woke.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Predicting Poilievre’s foreign policy plans

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 18, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s challenge will be avoiding ideologies and instead relying on policy realism for his foreign affairs approach.

Predicting Poilievre’s foreign policy plans

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 18, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s challenge will be avoiding ideologies and instead relying on policy realism for his foreign affairs approach.
If Pierre Poilievre becomes prime minister, he could build our foreign policy on tact, soft diplomacy, negotiations, and dialogue. That won’t happen though, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. He is apt to label those kinds of things as too ‘woke.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time for Poilievre to join a constructive pharmacare conversation

  • Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have done their part as responsible opposition critics on this policy. Now it’s Pierre
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 15, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, should pay attention to the costs wasted on drug prices in Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. At least Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, centre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have pushed for a more cost-effective approach for Canadians.

Time for Poilievre to join a constructive pharmacare conversation

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 15, 2024
  • Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have done their part as responsible opposition critics on this policy. Now it’s Pierre

Time for Poilievre to join a constructive pharmacare conversation

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 15, 2024
  • Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have done their part as responsible opposition critics on this policy. Now it’s Pierre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, should pay attention to the costs wasted on drug prices in Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. At least Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, centre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh have pushed for a more cost-effective approach for Canadians.

What’s behind Pierre Poilievre’s ‘common-sense crusade’?

  • Interestingly, common sense has a long political etymology.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 28, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has hinged his campaign on 'common sense,' but he should be careful not to affix his political cause on that notion alone—Canadians will eventually catch on, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s behind Pierre Poilievre’s ‘common-sense crusade’?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 28, 2024
  • Interestingly, common sense has a long political etymology.

What’s behind Pierre Poilievre’s ‘common-sense crusade’?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 28, 2024
  • Interestingly, common sense has a long political etymology.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has hinged his campaign on 'common sense,' but he should be careful not to affix his political cause on that notion alone—Canadians will eventually catch on, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When it comes to Gaza, political insincerity is not cutting it

  • The Liberal government is driven less by firm policy commitments than it is by soundbites and impromptu announcements to capture the news cycle. 
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 21, 2024
Foreign Affairs recently shared a photo of Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured, meeting with humanitarian groups in Gaza, with the caption 'the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic.' You don't say, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When it comes to Gaza, political insincerity is not cutting it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 21, 2024
  • The Liberal government is driven less by firm policy commitments than it is by soundbites and impromptu announcements to capture the news cycle. 

When it comes to Gaza, political insincerity is not cutting it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 21, 2024
  • The Liberal government is driven less by firm policy commitments than it is by soundbites and impromptu announcements to capture the news cycle. 
Foreign Affairs recently shared a photo of Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured, meeting with humanitarian groups in Gaza, with the caption 'the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic.' You don't say, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pierre Poilievre should share more of his policy agenda

  • Speculation is precisely what happens when politicians use shibboleths and slogans as substitutes for detailed policy.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 18, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre may not want to risk his lead in the polls by speaking about policy issues, but the pitfall of his silence is that it will get filled with speculation, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pierre Poilievre should share more of his policy agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 18, 2024
  • Speculation is precisely what happens when politicians use shibboleths and slogans as substitutes for detailed policy.

Pierre Poilievre should share more of his policy agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 18, 2024
  • Speculation is precisely what happens when politicians use shibboleths and slogans as substitutes for detailed policy.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre may not want to risk his lead in the polls by speaking about policy issues, but the pitfall of his silence is that it will get filled with speculation, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan failings demonstrate deep structural flaws in senior public service ranks

  • As the ArriveCan and Phoenix scandals have shown, mismanagement in the public service is far-reaching and deeply structural.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 6, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan, pictured, delivered a report on the ArriveCan app to the House of Commons on Feb. 12, stating she found a 'glaring disregard for basic management practices' in her investigation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan failings demonstrate deep structural flaws in senior public service ranks

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 6, 2024
  • As the ArriveCan and Phoenix scandals have shown, mismanagement in the public service is far-reaching and deeply structural.

ArriveCan failings demonstrate deep structural flaws in senior public service ranks

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 6, 2024
  • As the ArriveCan and Phoenix scandals have shown, mismanagement in the public service is far-reaching and deeply structural.
Auditor General Karen Hogan, pictured, delivered a report on the ArriveCan app to the House of Commons on Feb. 12, stating she found a 'glaring disregard for basic management practices' in her investigation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When it comes to foreign aid, Canada fails to be guided by morality

  • Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre think that morality is contingent on the management of money. Some might call that kind of logic morally bankrupt.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 21, 2024
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen pictured speaking to reporters before Question Period on Feb. 15, 2024. Canada can play a constructive role in Africa's Sahel region, but the Liberal government nor the Conservative Party are willing to spend the money to do so, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

When it comes to foreign aid, Canada fails to be guided by morality

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 21, 2024
  • Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre think that morality is contingent on the management of money. Some might call that kind of logic morally bankrupt.

When it comes to foreign aid, Canada fails to be guided by morality

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 21, 2024
  • Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre think that morality is contingent on the management of money. Some might call that kind of logic morally bankrupt.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen pictured speaking to reporters before Question Period on Feb. 15, 2024. Canada can play a constructive role in Africa's Sahel region, but the Liberal government nor the Conservative Party are willing to spend the money to do so, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If Prime Minister Trudeau wants to score easy points in the polls, he only has to think of Cuba

  • Canadian prime ministers from John Diefenbaker to Stephen Harper realized the strategic advantages of supporting Cuba.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 14, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, could lobby U.S. President Joe Biden, left, to reverse his predecessor Donald Trump's abrupt decision to put Cuba on the U.S. hit list of state sponsors of terrorism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

If Prime Minister Trudeau wants to score easy points in the polls, he only has to think of Cuba

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 14, 2024
  • Canadian prime ministers from John Diefenbaker to Stephen Harper realized the strategic advantages of supporting Cuba.

If Prime Minister Trudeau wants to score easy points in the polls, he only has to think of Cuba

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 14, 2024
  • Canadian prime ministers from John Diefenbaker to Stephen Harper realized the strategic advantages of supporting Cuba.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, could lobby U.S. President Joe Biden, left, to reverse his predecessor Donald Trump's abrupt decision to put Cuba on the U.S. hit list of state sponsors of terrorism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

What a Poilievre government might look like

  • Hint: it's remarkably similar to what a Maxime Bernier government might look like.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 7, 2024
As the federal election approaches, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will have to decide where to put his political marbles: with the neoconservative grievances of Maxime Bernier’s playbook, or with the policies of pragmatism preferred by the rest of us, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What a Poilievre government might look like

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 7, 2024
  • Hint: it's remarkably similar to what a Maxime Bernier government might look like.

What a Poilievre government might look like

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 7, 2024
  • Hint: it's remarkably similar to what a Maxime Bernier government might look like.
As the federal election approaches, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will have to decide where to put his political marbles: with the neoconservative grievances of Maxime Bernier’s playbook, or with the policies of pragmatism preferred by the rest of us, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s 2024, and Black MPs are still being tokenized

  • In the confines of large organizational structures like political parties, diversity still remains a tactical device.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2024
When Black politicians succeed, they do so not because of any boost from the political structures within which they function, but because of their own merit and character. Greg Fergus, the first Black House Speaker, is a good example, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s 2024, and Black MPs are still being tokenized

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2024
  • In the confines of large organizational structures like political parties, diversity still remains a tactical device.

It’s 2024, and Black MPs are still being tokenized

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2024
  • In the confines of large organizational structures like political parties, diversity still remains a tactical device.
When Black politicians succeed, they do so not because of any boost from the political structures within which they function, but because of their own merit and character. Greg Fergus, the first Black House Speaker, is a good example, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Greg Fergus and Parliament’s structural bind

  • In Parliament, decency has lost ground to indecency as the political parties vie to control the national discourse.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 22, 2024
Greg Fergus, the first Black Speaker of the House of Commons, had to jump through hypocritical hoops to prove his sincerity to his peers, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Greg Fergus and Parliament’s structural bind

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 22, 2024
  • In Parliament, decency has lost ground to indecency as the political parties vie to control the national discourse.

Greg Fergus and Parliament’s structural bind

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 22, 2024
  • In Parliament, decency has lost ground to indecency as the political parties vie to control the national discourse.
Greg Fergus, the first Black Speaker of the House of Commons, had to jump through hypocritical hoops to prove his sincerity to his peers, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On Israel, Justin Trudeau dances on the fence

  • On the surface it would seem as if Justin Trudeau has muddled his messaging on Israel. But perhaps there is merit to Pierre Poilievre's
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 17, 2024
Liberal MP Salma Zahid speaks to the press in December, 2023. Justin Trudeau's biggest critics on the Israel file are on his own team, and Zahid is one of them, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

On Israel, Justin Trudeau dances on the fence

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 17, 2024
  • On the surface it would seem as if Justin Trudeau has muddled his messaging on Israel. But perhaps there is merit to Pierre Poilievre's

On Israel, Justin Trudeau dances on the fence

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 17, 2024
  • On the surface it would seem as if Justin Trudeau has muddled his messaging on Israel. But perhaps there is merit to Pierre Poilievre's
Liberal MP Salma Zahid speaks to the press in December, 2023. Justin Trudeau's biggest critics on the Israel file are on his own team, and Zahid is one of them, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Justin Trudeau should employ pragmatic diplomacy

  • Pragmatic diplomacy is a first-rate diagnostic device. Used in concert with motivational factors, it can reveal options that are morally defensible and serve the
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 11, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has two options when it comes to Ukraine: uphold the illusion that ongoing war represents a victory for Ukraine; or, use pragmatic diplomacy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Justin Trudeau should employ pragmatic diplomacy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 11, 2024
  • Pragmatic diplomacy is a first-rate diagnostic device. Used in concert with motivational factors, it can reveal options that are morally defensible and serve the

Why Justin Trudeau should employ pragmatic diplomacy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 11, 2024
  • Pragmatic diplomacy is a first-rate diagnostic device. Used in concert with motivational factors, it can reveal options that are morally defensible and serve the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has two options when it comes to Ukraine: uphold the illusion that ongoing war represents a victory for Ukraine; or, use pragmatic diplomacy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Justin Trudeau’s 2023 foreign policy in review

  • Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy logic is pretzeled because it tries to balance the 'forever wars' mentality of the U.S. against our moral code of
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 28, 2023

Justin Trudeau’s 2023 foreign policy in review

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 28, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy logic is pretzeled because it tries to balance the 'forever wars' mentality of the U.S. against our moral code of

Justin Trudeau’s 2023 foreign policy in review

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 28, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy logic is pretzeled because it tries to balance the 'forever wars' mentality of the U.S. against our moral code of

Israel-Hamas is more complex than good versus evil

  • The immorality of apartheid, fascism, or Stalinism was defeated not because the ruling classes or managers of power saw the error of their ways.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 22, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly have looked to the Americans for moral guidance, going against the tide of world opinion and joining the U.S. to vote down UN General Assembly resolutions that denounced Israel’s belligerent behaviour. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Israel-Hamas is more complex than good versus evil

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 22, 2023
  • The immorality of apartheid, fascism, or Stalinism was defeated not because the ruling classes or managers of power saw the error of their ways.

Israel-Hamas is more complex than good versus evil

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 22, 2023
  • The immorality of apartheid, fascism, or Stalinism was defeated not because the ruling classes or managers of power saw the error of their ways.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly have looked to the Americans for moral guidance, going against the tide of world opinion and joining the U.S. to vote down UN General Assembly resolutions that denounced Israel’s belligerent behaviour. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau should not put geopolitics ahead of Canadians

  • Irrespective of the pulls of domestic politics or the pushes of foreign allies, Justin Trudeau's only priority should be the safe return of all
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 8, 2023
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is serious about making Canada an interlocutor of peace and diplomacy, he should use this time to gather academics, experts, and diaspora community members to build global goodwill, policy capacity, and programming which can be deployed once the war is over, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau should not put geopolitics ahead of Canadians

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 8, 2023
  • Irrespective of the pulls of domestic politics or the pushes of foreign allies, Justin Trudeau's only priority should be the safe return of all

Trudeau should not put geopolitics ahead of Canadians

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 8, 2023
  • Irrespective of the pulls of domestic politics or the pushes of foreign allies, Justin Trudeau's only priority should be the safe return of all
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is serious about making Canada an interlocutor of peace and diplomacy, he should use this time to gather academics, experts, and diaspora community members to build global goodwill, policy capacity, and programming which can be deployed once the war is over, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly unveils astute policy framework, but must bridge gaps between words and action

  • The framework stands on two planks: defending Canadian sovereignty, and using pragmatic diplomacy to prevent global conflicts.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 1, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly
Speaking at the Economic Club of Canada on Oct. 30, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly presented a detailed new foreign policy framework. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly unveils astute policy framework, but must bridge gaps between words and action

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 1, 2023
  • The framework stands on two planks: defending Canadian sovereignty, and using pragmatic diplomacy to prevent global conflicts.

Joly unveils astute policy framework, but must bridge gaps between words and action

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 1, 2023
  • The framework stands on two planks: defending Canadian sovereignty, and using pragmatic diplomacy to prevent global conflicts.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly
Speaking at the Economic Club of Canada on Oct. 30, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly presented a detailed new foreign policy framework. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Domestic political calculus shapes federal response to Israel-Hamas conflict

  • A review of statements by our politicians during previous Israel-Hamas conflicts shows they follow one steadfast script: 'We stand with Israel,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 25, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. When it comes to their position on Israel-Hamas conflict, federal politicians of all stripes are far too busy picking sides in hopes of scooping up votes wherever they can, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Domestic political calculus shapes federal response to Israel-Hamas conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 25, 2023
  • A review of statements by our politicians during previous Israel-Hamas conflicts shows they follow one steadfast script: 'We stand with Israel,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu.

Domestic political calculus shapes federal response to Israel-Hamas conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 25, 2023
  • A review of statements by our politicians during previous Israel-Hamas conflicts shows they follow one steadfast script: 'We stand with Israel,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. When it comes to their position on Israel-Hamas conflict, federal politicians of all stripes are far too busy picking sides in hopes of scooping up votes wherever they can, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our foreign policy has turned into performative political theatre, and we’re worse off for it

  • Part of the problem is we have allowed our politicians to get way with abbreviating serious policy debates into simple wisecracks.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 19, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs' conference on Antisemitism on Oct. 17. Responding to the Israel-Hamas conflict, party leaders recite pre-scripted lines that follow a pattern of 'we stand with Israel' to 'we call on all parties to show restraint,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our foreign policy has turned into performative political theatre, and we’re worse off for it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 19, 2023
  • Part of the problem is we have allowed our politicians to get way with abbreviating serious policy debates into simple wisecracks.

Our foreign policy has turned into performative political theatre, and we’re worse off for it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 19, 2023
  • Part of the problem is we have allowed our politicians to get way with abbreviating serious policy debates into simple wisecracks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs' conference on Antisemitism on Oct. 17. Responding to the Israel-Hamas conflict, party leaders recite pre-scripted lines that follow a pattern of 'we stand with Israel' to 'we call on all parties to show restraint,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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