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Monday, August 18, 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.

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
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Trudeau-Poilievre match up will be a clash of personalities over policy substance

  • OTTAWA—Pierre Poilievre has pivoted. He has shelved the crazy conspiracy theories which helped him win leadership of the Conservative Party for the more mundane
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 21, 2022
New Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. From these two, don't expect any meaningful debates to overhaul the way we do policy and run our institutions in Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau-Poilievre match up will be a clash of personalities over policy substance

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 21, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Pierre Poilievre has pivoted. He has shelved the crazy conspiracy theories which helped him win leadership of the Conservative Party for the more mundane

Trudeau-Poilievre match up will be a clash of personalities over policy substance

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 21, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Pierre Poilievre has pivoted. He has shelved the crazy conspiracy theories which helped him win leadership of the Conservative Party for the more mundane
New Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. From these two, don't expect any meaningful debates to overhaul the way we do policy and run our institutions in Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Stoltenberg’s visit opens questions about Canada’s Arctic strategy

  • OTTAWA—Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada’s North was unprecedented. From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2022
From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat, Jens Stoltenberg, pictured in 2018, was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the manner normally reserved for visiting heads of state, full of ceremonial-style military inspections, photo-ops, and joint press conferences. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Stoltenberg’s visit opens questions about Canada’s Arctic strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada’s North was unprecedented. From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the

Stoltenberg’s visit opens questions about Canada’s Arctic strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada’s North was unprecedented. From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the
From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat, Jens Stoltenberg, pictured in 2018, was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the manner normally reserved for visiting heads of state, full of ceremonial-style military inspections, photo-ops, and joint press conferences. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MP Oliphant the right choice to lead Canada’s new Africa strategy

  • The Liberal plan to develop a new African engagement strategy offers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an opportunity to turn things around on the foreign
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 29, 2022
Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, was tapped to lead Canada in developing an Africa strategy. He has been a tenacious voice for the continent, but will face challenges, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MP Oliphant the right choice to lead Canada’s new Africa strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 29, 2022
  • The Liberal plan to develop a new African engagement strategy offers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an opportunity to turn things around on the foreign

MP Oliphant the right choice to lead Canada’s new Africa strategy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 29, 2022
  • The Liberal plan to develop a new African engagement strategy offers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an opportunity to turn things around on the foreign
Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, was tapped to lead Canada in developing an Africa strategy. He has been a tenacious voice for the continent, but will face challenges, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada giving Cuba the cold shoulder?

  • OTTAWA—Is Canada suddenly giving Cuba the cold shoulder? It sure seems like it. At the June 6 press conference with visiting Chilean President Gabriel
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 17, 2022
At the June 6 press conference with visiting Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked if he opposed the American decision to keep Cuba out of the Organization of American States meeting in Los Angeles. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada giving Cuba the cold shoulder?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 17, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Is Canada suddenly giving Cuba the cold shoulder? It sure seems like it. At the June 6 press conference with visiting Chilean President Gabriel

Is Canada giving Cuba the cold shoulder?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 17, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Is Canada suddenly giving Cuba the cold shoulder? It sure seems like it. At the June 6 press conference with visiting Chilean President Gabriel
At the June 6 press conference with visiting Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked if he opposed the American decision to keep Cuba out of the Organization of American States meeting in Los Angeles. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Get back to foreign policy basics, ditch faulty approach on Ukraine

  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at the lowest point in the polls he’s ever been. According to a recent Abacus Data survey, only 31
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 10, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers, pictured on Feb. 24 announcing measures following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have alternated between wanting a regime change in Russia and strengthening the NATO alliance to consolidating democracy in Ukraine, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Get back to foreign policy basics, ditch faulty approach on Ukraine

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 10, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at the lowest point in the polls he’s ever been. According to a recent Abacus Data survey, only 31

Get back to foreign policy basics, ditch faulty approach on Ukraine

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 10, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at the lowest point in the polls he’s ever been. According to a recent Abacus Data survey, only 31
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers, pictured on Feb. 24 announcing measures following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have alternated between wanting a regime change in Russia and strengthening the NATO alliance to consolidating democracy in Ukraine, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s platform offers scant details on foreign policy positions

  • OTTAWA—The problem for Conservative leadership candidate front-runner Pierre Poilievre—once he takes over the party after the race results are in and gets set to
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 20, 2022
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre answers a question during the party's first leadership contest debate, held at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s conference in Ottawa on May 5, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s platform offers scant details on foreign policy positions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 20, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The problem for Conservative leadership candidate front-runner Pierre Poilievre—once he takes over the party after the race results are in and gets set to

Poilievre’s platform offers scant details on foreign policy positions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 20, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The problem for Conservative leadership candidate front-runner Pierre Poilievre—once he takes over the party after the race results are in and gets set to
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre answers a question during the party's first leadership contest debate, held at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s conference in Ottawa on May 5, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau must make foreign policy course correction for South America

  • Canadian prime ministers have always exhibited an intense idiosyncratic hostility towards left-leaning governments in South America –with the possible exception of Cuba. This has
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 8, 2022
The election of social-democratic governments across South America puts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his foreign policy postures in a tight spot, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau must make foreign policy course correction for South America

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 8, 2022
  • Canadian prime ministers have always exhibited an intense idiosyncratic hostility towards left-leaning governments in South America –with the possible exception of Cuba. This has

Trudeau must make foreign policy course correction for South America

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 8, 2022
  • Canadian prime ministers have always exhibited an intense idiosyncratic hostility towards left-leaning governments in South America –with the possible exception of Cuba. This has
The election of social-democratic governments across South America puts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his foreign policy postures in a tight spot, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Global Affairs review a golden opportunity to shift gears on Canada’s incoherent foreign policy

  • It’s good Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has launched an operational review of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to modernize her department’s culture and its cadre.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 16, 2022
Mélanie Joly is the fifth minister to oversee foreign affairs since the Liberals swept to power in 2015. The problem is not the rank and file, nor the departmental culture. It is the lack of political leadership and informed policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph Andrew Meade

Global Affairs review a golden opportunity to shift gears on Canada’s incoherent foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 16, 2022
  • It’s good Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has launched an operational review of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to modernize her department’s culture and its cadre.

Global Affairs review a golden opportunity to shift gears on Canada’s incoherent foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 16, 2022
  • It’s good Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has launched an operational review of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to modernize her department’s culture and its cadre.
Mélanie Joly is the fifth minister to oversee foreign affairs since the Liberals swept to power in 2015. The problem is not the rank and file, nor the departmental culture. It is the lack of political leadership and informed policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph Andrew Meade

Canada must push for peace in Ukraine

  • Where to next with Ukraine? If it were left to the ideological hawks, the answer would be more bombs, more death, more destruction. Three
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 12, 2022
On April 7, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said 'the world’s democracies—including our own—can be safe only once the Russian tyrant and his armies are entirely vanquished.' That's essentially urging for regime change in Russia, writes Bhagwant Sandhu, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must push for peace in Ukraine

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 12, 2022
  • Where to next with Ukraine? If it were left to the ideological hawks, the answer would be more bombs, more death, more destruction. Three

Canada must push for peace in Ukraine

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 12, 2022
  • Where to next with Ukraine? If it were left to the ideological hawks, the answer would be more bombs, more death, more destruction. Three
On April 7, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said 'the world’s democracies—including our own—can be safe only once the Russian tyrant and his armies are entirely vanquished.' That's essentially urging for regime change in Russia, writes Bhagwant Sandhu, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly rightly called Canada a convener, and it’s time to put her words into action

  • Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is right. During a recent CTV appearance, she offered a deep political insight, noting that Canada is “a middle-sized
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 13, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s assessments are accurate: middle-sized powers should stay away from the geo-political games of the big guns, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Joly rightly called Canada a convener, and it’s time to put her words into action

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 13, 2022
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is right. During a recent CTV appearance, she offered a deep political insight, noting that Canada is “a middle-sized

Joly rightly called Canada a convener, and it’s time to put her words into action

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 13, 2022
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is right. During a recent CTV appearance, she offered a deep political insight, noting that Canada is “a middle-sized
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s assessments are accurate: middle-sized powers should stay away from the geo-political games of the big guns, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Spike in NATO member defence spending warrants closer look

  • For decades, Western powers have promised Ukrainians a lifelong insurance policy by signing up with NATO. Ukraine fell for it, though that membership never
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 17, 2022
Defence Minister Anita Anand says she is looking at 'aggressive options' to increase Canada's military spending to address a NATO request that allied nations spend a minimum of two per cent. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Spike in NATO member defence spending warrants closer look

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 17, 2022
  • For decades, Western powers have promised Ukrainians a lifelong insurance policy by signing up with NATO. Ukraine fell for it, though that membership never

Spike in NATO member defence spending warrants closer look

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 17, 2022
  • For decades, Western powers have promised Ukrainians a lifelong insurance policy by signing up with NATO. Ukraine fell for it, though that membership never
Defence Minister Anita Anand says she is looking at 'aggressive options' to increase Canada's military spending to address a NATO request that allied nations spend a minimum of two per cent. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must take ethical stance to stop bloodshed in Yemen

  • Canada’s foreign policy is now tethered to what the Trudeau government calls a “rules-based order.” At first glance, this sounds sensible and morally satisfying:
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should cancel our shipments of combat machinery to Saudi Arabia. Unlike the Ukrainians under attack by Russia, the Yemenis offer no domestic political capital to our well-disposed politicians. Yemen, unfortunately, is on its own, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada must take ethical stance to stop bloodshed in Yemen

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2022
  • Canada’s foreign policy is now tethered to what the Trudeau government calls a “rules-based order.” At first glance, this sounds sensible and morally satisfying:

Canada must take ethical stance to stop bloodshed in Yemen

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2022
  • Canada’s foreign policy is now tethered to what the Trudeau government calls a “rules-based order.” At first glance, this sounds sensible and morally satisfying:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should cancel our shipments of combat machinery to Saudi Arabia. Unlike the Ukrainians under attack by Russia, the Yemenis offer no domestic political capital to our well-disposed politicians. Yemen, unfortunately, is on its own, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Domestic politics in play in Canada’s posturing on Ukraine and Russia

  • The hard part of any war effort is to get the public on side. It takes a well co-ordinated messaging strategy and speaking points.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 27, 2022
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly just spent a week in Ukraine meeting with the Ukrainian officials to demonstrate, as she put it, 'Canada’s unwavering solidarity in the ongoing crisis,' adding shortly thereafter that 'Canada’s position has not changed. We believe that Ukraine should be able to join NATO.' That last remark might have been an unintended slip, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Domestic politics in play in Canada’s posturing on Ukraine and Russia

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 27, 2022
  • The hard part of any war effort is to get the public on side. It takes a well co-ordinated messaging strategy and speaking points.

Domestic politics in play in Canada’s posturing on Ukraine and Russia

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 27, 2022
  • The hard part of any war effort is to get the public on side. It takes a well co-ordinated messaging strategy and speaking points.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly just spent a week in Ukraine meeting with the Ukrainian officials to demonstrate, as she put it, 'Canada’s unwavering solidarity in the ongoing crisis,' adding shortly thereafter that 'Canada’s position has not changed. We believe that Ukraine should be able to join NATO.' That last remark might have been an unintended slip, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau should proceed with caution on Indo-Pacific policy project

  • Historically Canada has been seen by the world as an independent, peaceful country with no known enemies and a cultural identity affixed to the
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 19, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, left, and Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge, right, on Dec. 8, 2021, to announce the government’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games. Trudeau should mandate Joly to normalize relations with China as a priority, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau should proceed with caution on Indo-Pacific policy project

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 19, 2022
  • Historically Canada has been seen by the world as an independent, peaceful country with no known enemies and a cultural identity affixed to the

Trudeau should proceed with caution on Indo-Pacific policy project

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 19, 2022
  • Historically Canada has been seen by the world as an independent, peaceful country with no known enemies and a cultural identity affixed to the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, left, and Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge, right, on Dec. 8, 2021, to announce the government’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games. Trudeau should mandate Joly to normalize relations with China as a priority, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly can prove critics wrong, rebrand Canada, and make her mark on foreign policy

  • The recent appointment of Mélanie Joly as Canada’s latest foreign affairs minister has been derided and ridiculed by many commentators. This is not fair.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 10, 2021
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured leaving a Liberal caucus meeting Nov. 8, is the fifth minister to hold the foreign affairs portfolio in the six years prime minister Justin Trudeau has been in power. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly can prove critics wrong, rebrand Canada, and make her mark on foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 10, 2021
  • The recent appointment of Mélanie Joly as Canada’s latest foreign affairs minister has been derided and ridiculed by many commentators. This is not fair.

Joly can prove critics wrong, rebrand Canada, and make her mark on foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 10, 2021
  • The recent appointment of Mélanie Joly as Canada’s latest foreign affairs minister has been derided and ridiculed by many commentators. This is not fair.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, pictured leaving a Liberal caucus meeting Nov. 8, is the fifth minister to hold the foreign affairs portfolio in the six years prime minister Justin Trudeau has been in power. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Moïse assassination calls for renewed Canadian regionally-rooted, multilateral approach in Haiti

  • For many Haiti watchers, the news of the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse came as a sudden shock. It did not come as a  surprise.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 14, 2021
Haitian President Jovenel Moise, pictured in Port au Prince on Feb. 7, 2017, after being sworn in as the 58th president of Haiti. Canada, unfortunately, remains a steadfast supporter of Haiti’s political status quo, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Moïse assassination calls for renewed Canadian regionally-rooted, multilateral approach in Haiti

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 14, 2021
  • For many Haiti watchers, the news of the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse came as a sudden shock. It did not come as a  surprise.

Moïse assassination calls for renewed Canadian regionally-rooted, multilateral approach in Haiti

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 14, 2021
  • For many Haiti watchers, the news of the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse came as a sudden shock. It did not come as a  surprise.
Haitian President Jovenel Moise, pictured in Port au Prince on Feb. 7, 2017, after being sworn in as the 58th president of Haiti. Canada, unfortunately, remains a steadfast supporter of Haiti’s political status quo, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Trudeau should continue steady-as-she-goes style and demeanour with China

  • OTTAWA—Tit-for-tat is a well-established strategy in game theory. It is known to produce win-win scenarios when at least one player decides to favour cooperation
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 13, 2021
Justin Trudeau, pictured April 22, 2021, taking part in the leaders' summit on climate change, should recruit U.S. President Joe Biden into the mix also. Unlike his predecessor, Biden sees China more of a competitive threat to American trade and commerce, not as a political risk to American hegemony, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Trudeau should continue steady-as-she-goes style and demeanour with China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Tit-for-tat is a well-established strategy in game theory. It is known to produce win-win scenarios when at least one player decides to favour cooperation

Trudeau should continue steady-as-she-goes style and demeanour with China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Tit-for-tat is a well-established strategy in game theory. It is known to produce win-win scenarios when at least one player decides to favour cooperation
Justin Trudeau, pictured April 22, 2021, taking part in the leaders' summit on climate change, should recruit U.S. President Joe Biden into the mix also. Unlike his predecessor, Biden sees China more of a competitive threat to American trade and commerce, not as a political risk to American hegemony, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Canada needs to take a real hard look at its foreign policy, and reset it

  • From rejoining the Paris Climate Accord to rapprochement with Iran and China, the Biden administration appears to be actively resetting the U.S. government’s foreign
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 22, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 5, 2021, should task Bob Rae, the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, with resolving Canada’s apparent foreign policy contradictions as a top priority, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to take a real hard look at its foreign policy, and reset it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 22, 2021
  • From rejoining the Paris Climate Accord to rapprochement with Iran and China, the Biden administration appears to be actively resetting the U.S. government’s foreign

Canada needs to take a real hard look at its foreign policy, and reset it

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 22, 2021
  • From rejoining the Paris Climate Accord to rapprochement with Iran and China, the Biden administration appears to be actively resetting the U.S. government’s foreign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 5, 2021, should task Bob Rae, the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, with resolving Canada’s apparent foreign policy contradictions as a top priority, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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