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Gerry Nicholls

Gerry Nicholls is a communications consultant.

Does Doug Ford want Pierre Poilievre’s job?

  • Some polls are showing Doug Ford and his party are polling 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, but if the polls start
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured at a first ministers' meeting in Ottawa on March 21, 2025, is riding high in public opinion right now and is 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, according to a June 10 Abacus Data poll. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Does Doug Ford want Pierre Poilievre’s job?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
  • Some polls are showing Doug Ford and his party are polling 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, but if the polls start

Does Doug Ford want Pierre Poilievre’s job?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
  • Some polls are showing Doug Ford and his party are polling 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, but if the polls start
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured at a first ministers' meeting in Ottawa on March 21, 2025, is riding high in public opinion right now and is 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, according to a June 10 Abacus Data poll. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s ideological advantage

  • Mark Carney might only be a rookie politician, but it looks like he knows how to play the game. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney’s ideological advantage

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
  • Mark Carney might only be a rookie politician, but it looks like he knows how to play the game. 

Carney’s ideological advantage

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
  • Mark Carney might only be a rookie politician, but it looks like he knows how to play the game. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feeding the fundraising beast

  • One of the key principles of fundraising is that you don’t give your donor base a chance to relax, which is to say, you
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political parties may have their differences, but when it comes to fundraising, they all share the same principles, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Feeding the fundraising beast

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
  • One of the key principles of fundraising is that you don’t give your donor base a chance to relax, which is to say, you

Feeding the fundraising beast

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
  • One of the key principles of fundraising is that you don’t give your donor base a chance to relax, which is to say, you
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political parties may have their differences, but when it comes to fundraising, they all share the same principles, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Economic ambush awaits Carney

  • Unfortunately, for the prime minister, when it comes to mending the economy, there are no easy solutions, no quick fixes, no magic answers. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and his wife Diana Fox Carney tour Ottawa's Lansdowne Park with King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 26, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Economic ambush awaits Carney

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
  • Unfortunately, for the prime minister, when it comes to mending the economy, there are no easy solutions, no quick fixes, no magic answers. 

Economic ambush awaits Carney

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
  • Unfortunately, for the prime minister, when it comes to mending the economy, there are no easy solutions, no quick fixes, no magic answers. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and his wife Diana Fox Carney tour Ottawa's Lansdowne Park with King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 26, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Carney’s boomer base

  • Mark Carney’s alliance with the boomer generation could pose future challenges for the Liberals. For one thing, if the Liberals do anything that boomers consider
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
Generation X: Pierre Poilievre, left, and Mark Carney, are both technically generation Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Poilievre was born in 1979 and Carney was born in 1965, but Carney comes across like a boomer, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Carney’s boomer base

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
  • Mark Carney’s alliance with the boomer generation could pose future challenges for the Liberals. For one thing, if the Liberals do anything that boomers consider

Carney’s boomer base

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
  • Mark Carney’s alliance with the boomer generation could pose future challenges for the Liberals. For one thing, if the Liberals do anything that boomers consider
Generation X: Pierre Poilievre, left, and Mark Carney, are both technically generation Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Poilievre was born in 1979 and Carney was born in 1965, but Carney comes across like a boomer, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

New book reappraises Diefenbaker’s legacy

  • Bob Plamondon paints Diefenbaker as a passionate, charismatic, quick-witted politician who, above all else, strongly identified with the common people. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
Former prime minister John Diefenbaker has gotten a raw deal when it comes to his historical reputation, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

New book reappraises Diefenbaker’s legacy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
  • Bob Plamondon paints Diefenbaker as a passionate, charismatic, quick-witted politician who, above all else, strongly identified with the common people. 

New book reappraises Diefenbaker’s legacy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
  • Bob Plamondon paints Diefenbaker as a passionate, charismatic, quick-witted politician who, above all else, strongly identified with the common people. 
Former prime minister John Diefenbaker has gotten a raw deal when it comes to his historical reputation, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Ford’s embrace of realpolitik

  • If it’s in Doug Ford’s own self-interest to have you as a friend, then he’s your friend; but if it’s in his interest to
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are not buddies. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Ford’s embrace of realpolitik

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
  • If it’s in Doug Ford’s own self-interest to have you as a friend, then he’s your friend; but if it’s in his interest to

Ford’s embrace of realpolitik

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
  • If it’s in Doug Ford’s own self-interest to have you as a friend, then he’s your friend; but if it’s in his interest to
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are not buddies. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The CPC’s Harper problem

  • The Harper syndrome is weakening the Conservative Party because instead of looking forward, it keeps looking back. It’s hard for a party to advance that
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
Even though former prime minister Stephen Harper has been off the political stage for nearly 10 years now, the memory of his leadership, the force of his personality, and the power of his intellect, still looms over the Conservative Party like a ghostly colossus, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The CPC’s Harper problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
  • The Harper syndrome is weakening the Conservative Party because instead of looking forward, it keeps looking back. It’s hard for a party to advance that

The CPC’s Harper problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
  • The Harper syndrome is weakening the Conservative Party because instead of looking forward, it keeps looking back. It’s hard for a party to advance that
Even though former prime minister Stephen Harper has been off the political stage for nearly 10 years now, the memory of his leadership, the force of his personality, and the power of his intellect, still looms over the Conservative Party like a ghostly colossus, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How to face defeat

  • People vote for parties because they believe in ideas, not because they want Parliament to work better, and fighting to the end is always
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
Green co-Leader Elizabeth May in a Hill scrum on Dec. 3, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How to face defeat

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
  • People vote for parties because they believe in ideas, not because they want Parliament to work better, and fighting to the end is always

How to face defeat

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
  • People vote for parties because they believe in ideas, not because they want Parliament to work better, and fighting to the end is always
Green co-Leader Elizabeth May in a Hill scrum on Dec. 3, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Kory Teneycke, former campaign manager for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Teneycke recently accused the federal Conservatives of 'campaign malpractice.' The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Stuart Benson

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Kory Teneycke, former campaign manager for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Teneycke recently accused the federal Conservatives of 'campaign malpractice.' The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Stuart Benson

The theatre of leaders’ debates

  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
It's showtime: Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault will face off this week in Montreal for the English and French-language televised leaders' debates. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The theatre of leaders’ debates

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points

The theatre of leaders’ debates

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points
It's showtime: Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault will face off this week in Montreal for the English and French-language televised leaders' debates. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Controlling the campaign message

  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, top left, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, bottom left, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, Green co-Leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, top right, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Controlling the campaign message

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the

Controlling the campaign message

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, top left, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, bottom left, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, Green co-Leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, top right, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Thanks to the emergence of social media platforms, 'vibe politics' is more important than ever, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Wikimedia Commons, and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Thanks to the emergence of social media platforms, 'vibe politics' is more important than ever, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Wikimedia Commons, and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Liberals have picked boring over sparkle, but it could work, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Liberals have picked boring over sparkle, but it could work, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
The Conservative Party's recent attack ad, called 'Trump wants our jobs.' Image courtesy of the Conservative Party of Canada

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted
The Conservative Party's recent attack ad, called 'Trump wants our jobs.' Image courtesy of the Conservative Party of Canada

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
Watch for Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, to echo this argument in his efforts to push a 'Canada First' agenda. Already, Conservative TV ads are branding Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney as 'weak,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.
Watch for Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, to echo this argument in his efforts to push a 'Canada First' agenda. Already, Conservative TV ads are branding Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney as 'weak,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

Singh’s no-win scenario

  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
No matter what strategy he employs in the next federal election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will fail to improve his party’s standing, predicts Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Singh’s no-win scenario

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 

Singh’s no-win scenario

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 
No matter what strategy he employs in the next federal election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will fail to improve his party’s standing, predicts Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Conservative course correction

  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
Pierre Poilievre and his son, Cruz, pictured Feb. 15, 2025, at the Conservative Party's rally in Ottawa at the Rogers Centre. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The Conservative course correction

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 

The Conservative course correction

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 
Pierre Poilievre and his son, Cruz, pictured Feb. 15, 2025, at the Conservative Party's rally in Ottawa at the Rogers Centre. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The paradox of free trade

  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
Canadians see Trump’s tariff threats as an attack on our country, a feeling which was further fuelled by his frightening rhetoric about absorbing Canada as America’s '51st state,' writes Gerry Nicholls.   Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

The paradox of free trade

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 

The paradox of free trade

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 
Canadians see Trump’s tariff threats as an attack on our country, a feeling which was further fuelled by his frightening rhetoric about absorbing Canada as America’s '51st state,' writes Gerry Nicholls.   Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

Freeland’s flaws

  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s flaws

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have

Freeland’s flaws

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault recently admitted that he was open to implementing alternatives to the carbon tax.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault recently admitted that he was open to implementing alternatives to the carbon tax.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to redefine liberalism

  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured on Jan. 10, 2024, once said: 'When ... the left says of you you’re a right winger, and when the people on the right say you’re a left winger, you’re a good Canadian Liberal.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to redefine liberalism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will

Time to redefine liberalism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will
Jean Chrétien
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured on Jan. 10, 2024, once said: 'When ... the left says of you you’re a right winger, and when the people on the right say you’re a left winger, you’re a good Canadian Liberal.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
One of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's defining characters is that he's totally unpredictable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side
Donald Trump
One of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's defining characters is that he's totally unpredictable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in a Hill scrum on Oct. 29, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in a Hill scrum on Oct. 29, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The importance of internal polls

  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau recently suggested Poilievre can’t 'unite Canadians' against president-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, which was likely based on internal polling, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The importance of internal polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually

The importance of internal polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau recently suggested Poilievre can’t 'unite Canadians' against president-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, which was likely based on internal polling, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The politics of climate change are changing

  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
Canada's federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of climate change are changing

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming

The politics of climate change are changing

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming
Canada's federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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The beauty of billboards

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Maybe this is a sign I’m getting old, but it always pleases me when, in this age of high-tech communication strategies, an “old-fashioned”
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2020
Not long after the billboards were put up, CTV news posted a story on its website with the provocative headline: 'Anti-Trudeau billboards advertising Alberta Wexit campaign cause uproar.' Screenshot image courtesy of CTV News

The beauty of billboards

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Maybe this is a sign I’m getting old, but it always pleases me when, in this age of high-tech communication strategies, an “old-fashioned”

The beauty of billboards

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Maybe this is a sign I’m getting old, but it always pleases me when, in this age of high-tech communication strategies, an “old-fashioned”
Not long after the billboards were put up, CTV news posted a story on its website with the provocative headline: 'Anti-Trudeau billboards advertising Alberta Wexit campaign cause uproar.' Screenshot image courtesy of CTV News

The Conservative challenge: picking a leader today to meet the needs of tomorrow

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The fallout from the recent eradication of a top Iranian military commander should remind us all as to just how quickly the Canadian
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2020
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured on Dec. 5, 2019. Conservatives may just have to roll the dice and hope their new leader of today will meet Canada’s psychological needs of tomorrow, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Conservative challenge: picking a leader today to meet the needs of tomorrow

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The fallout from the recent eradication of a top Iranian military commander should remind us all as to just how quickly the Canadian

The Conservative challenge: picking a leader today to meet the needs of tomorrow

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The fallout from the recent eradication of a top Iranian military commander should remind us all as to just how quickly the Canadian
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured on Dec. 5, 2019. Conservatives may just have to roll the dice and hope their new leader of today will meet Canada’s psychological needs of tomorrow, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

2019: the year of the unexpected

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the fun aspects about politics is its unpredictably. You just never know what’s going to happen next. And nowadays it seems,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured. Forget about predictions; the only thing you can really expect in 2020 is the unexpected, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

2019: the year of the unexpected

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the fun aspects about politics is its unpredictably. You just never know what’s going to happen next. And nowadays it seems,

2019: the year of the unexpected

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the fun aspects about politics is its unpredictably. You just never know what’s going to happen next. And nowadays it seems,
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured. Forget about predictions; the only thing you can really expect in 2020 is the unexpected, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Will parties face a cash crunch in 2020?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to an old military adage, “amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.” So just to sound professional, I will forgo discussing topics related
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. In addition to worrying about how they can change the world, Canada’s federal parties might also have to worry about how they will pay the rent, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Will parties face a cash crunch in 2020?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to an old military adage, “amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.” So just to sound professional, I will forgo discussing topics related

Will parties face a cash crunch in 2020?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to an old military adage, “amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.” So just to sound professional, I will forgo discussing topics related
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. In addition to worrying about how they can change the world, Canada’s federal parties might also have to worry about how they will pay the rent, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s lame duck problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Recently, while attending a luncheon in Toronto, I made a bit of a political faux pas. You see, the guy sitting next to
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2019
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured Nov. 6, 2019, speaking with reporters after his caucus met in the West Block on Parliament Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s lame duck problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Recently, while attending a luncheon in Toronto, I made a bit of a political faux pas. You see, the guy sitting next to

Scheer’s lame duck problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Recently, while attending a luncheon in Toronto, I made a bit of a political faux pas. You see, the guy sitting next to
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured Nov. 6, 2019, speaking with reporters after his caucus met in the West Block on Parliament Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Watch out for the Bloc

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The most interesting playing piece on Canada’s political chessboard right now is the Bloc Québécois. It might be just a regional and third
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2019
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, pictured Nov. 13, 2019, in the Commons foyer after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the next Parliament. The most interesting playing piece on Canada’s political chessboard right now is the Bloc Québécois.      The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Watch out for the Bloc

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The most interesting playing piece on Canada’s political chessboard right now is the Bloc Québécois. It might be just a regional and third

Watch out for the Bloc

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The most interesting playing piece on Canada’s political chessboard right now is the Bloc Québécois. It might be just a regional and third
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, pictured Nov. 13, 2019, in the Commons foyer after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the next Parliament. The most interesting playing piece on Canada’s political chessboard right now is the Bloc Québécois.      The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pondering a counterfactual Conservative leader

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When analyzing a current political situation it’s sometimes useful (and fun) to engage in a little bit of speculative counterfactual thinking. For instance,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2019
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured campaigning in the recent federal election. The knives are already out for the party leader. He is coming under attack for his socially conservative views, with many basically suggesting his religious beliefs are making him toxic. So would it be any better for the Conservatives had they chosen a different leader? Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Andrew Scheer

Pondering a counterfactual Conservative leader

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When analyzing a current political situation it’s sometimes useful (and fun) to engage in a little bit of speculative counterfactual thinking. For instance,

Pondering a counterfactual Conservative leader

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When analyzing a current political situation it’s sometimes useful (and fun) to engage in a little bit of speculative counterfactual thinking. For instance,
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured campaigning in the recent federal election. The knives are already out for the party leader. He is coming under attack for his socially conservative views, with many basically suggesting his religious beliefs are making him toxic. So would it be any better for the Conservatives had they chosen a different leader? Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Andrew Scheer

Singh’s not-so-great expectations

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—English poet Alexander Pope once said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” If that’s the case, then
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2019
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Oct. 7, 2019, in Gatineau, Que., with his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, arriving at the televised leaders' debate. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Singh’s not-so-great expectations

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—English poet Alexander Pope once said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” If that’s the case, then

Singh’s not-so-great expectations

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—English poet Alexander Pope once said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” If that’s the case, then
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Oct. 7, 2019, in Gatineau, Que., with his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, arriving at the televised leaders' debate. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The problem with Scheer’s passive conservatism

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Ever since he came up short in the 2019 federal election, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer has been taking an awful lot of
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2019
Ever since he came up short in the 2019 federal election, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured arriving at the English-language televised leadership debate on Oct. 7, 2019, has been taking an awful lot of heat, which is too bad because, after all, he’s really such a nice guy, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The problem with Scheer’s passive conservatism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Ever since he came up short in the 2019 federal election, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer has been taking an awful lot of

The problem with Scheer’s passive conservatism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Ever since he came up short in the 2019 federal election, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer has been taking an awful lot of
Ever since he came up short in the 2019 federal election, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured arriving at the English-language televised leadership debate on Oct. 7, 2019, has been taking an awful lot of heat, which is too bad because, after all, he’s really such a nice guy, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have Trudeau’s tactics torn us apart?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the ironies of the 2019 election is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who pledged to end the politics of division in
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 28, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, pictured at the Palais des congrès in Montreal on Oct. 21, 2019, after winning his second term in office. In a democracy, the side that loses today at least knows it can regroup and win tomorrow. So, yes, the tactics of democracy might divide us, but its ideals bind us together, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have Trudeau’s tactics torn us apart?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 28, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the ironies of the 2019 election is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who pledged to end the politics of division in

Have Trudeau’s tactics torn us apart?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 28, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the ironies of the 2019 election is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who pledged to end the politics of division in
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, pictured at the Palais des congrès in Montreal on Oct. 21, 2019, after winning his second term in office. In a democracy, the side that loses today at least knows it can regroup and win tomorrow. So, yes, the tactics of democracy might divide us, but its ideals bind us together, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

An election where the past haunted the present

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If the 2019 federal election has taught us anything (and it probably hasn’t) it’s that political parties need some genius scientist to invent
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2019
It's been a real slice: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer both learned some tough lessons in the election campaign, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

An election where the past haunted the present

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If the 2019 federal election has taught us anything (and it probably hasn’t) it’s that political parties need some genius scientist to invent

An election where the past haunted the present

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If the 2019 federal election has taught us anything (and it probably hasn’t) it’s that political parties need some genius scientist to invent
It's been a real slice: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer both learned some tough lessons in the election campaign, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Buckle up, it’s going to get nastier

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you think the ongoing Canadian election has featured too much negativity, better buckle your seat belt because it’s likely going to get
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeht May, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. If you think the ongoing Canadian election has featured too much negativity, better buckle your seat belt because it’s likely going to get worse, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Buckle up, it’s going to get nastier

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you think the ongoing Canadian election has featured too much negativity, better buckle your seat belt because it’s likely going to get

Buckle up, it’s going to get nastier

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you think the ongoing Canadian election has featured too much negativity, better buckle your seat belt because it’s likely going to get
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeht May, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. If you think the ongoing Canadian election has featured too much negativity, better buckle your seat belt because it’s likely going to get worse, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

When it comes to climate change, Scheer should ignore the media

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One fun thing about elections is how they suddenly turn journalists and columnists into masters of political strategy. Indeed, if you scan social
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2019
Climate change protesters, pictured Sept. 27, 2019, on Parliament Hill. It's estimated that 5,000 people took to the Hill for the protest. 'A recent Ipsos poll indicated that 46 per cent of Canadians do not want to spend any additional money in the form of taxes or higher costs of goods to combat climate change. Isn’t this evidence that many Canadians will put their economic welfare ahead of melting glaciers,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

When it comes to climate change, Scheer should ignore the media

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One fun thing about elections is how they suddenly turn journalists and columnists into masters of political strategy. Indeed, if you scan social

When it comes to climate change, Scheer should ignore the media

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One fun thing about elections is how they suddenly turn journalists and columnists into masters of political strategy. Indeed, if you scan social
Climate change protesters, pictured Sept. 27, 2019, on Parliament Hill. It's estimated that 5,000 people took to the Hill for the protest. 'A recent Ipsos poll indicated that 46 per cent of Canadians do not want to spend any additional money in the form of taxes or higher costs of goods to combat climate change. Isn’t this evidence that many Canadians will put their economic welfare ahead of melting glaciers,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

In the name of banning ‘fake news,’ the government is infringing on free speech

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—With all the furore that’s surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s blackface scandal, it’d be easy to miss an important news item that came
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 30, 2019
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, top left, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, top right, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, above left, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, above right. Ideally elections should be the time when we vigorously engage in a free and open exchange of ideas; the more ideas discussed and debated the better it is for democracy. Sec. 91, as it now stands, would seriously hinder that debate, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Twitter

In the name of banning ‘fake news,’ the government is infringing on free speech

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 30, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—With all the furore that’s surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s blackface scandal, it’d be easy to miss an important news item that came

In the name of banning ‘fake news,’ the government is infringing on free speech

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 30, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—With all the furore that’s surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s blackface scandal, it’d be easy to miss an important news item that came
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, top left, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, top right, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, above left, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, above right. Ideally elections should be the time when we vigorously engage in a free and open exchange of ideas; the more ideas discussed and debated the better it is for democracy. Sec. 91, as it now stands, would seriously hinder that debate, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Twitter

Scheer’s marketing problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—For better or worse, electoral politics in Canada has evolved into a leader-centric form of political combat. In other words, the current federal
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer. The current federal election isn’t really about pitting political parties or ideologies against each other, it’s more of a one-on-one contest between party champions, i.e., between Mr. Scheer and Mr. Trudeau, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s marketing problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—For better or worse, electoral politics in Canada has evolved into a leader-centric form of political combat. In other words, the current federal

Scheer’s marketing problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—For better or worse, electoral politics in Canada has evolved into a leader-centric form of political combat. In other words, the current federal
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer. The current federal election isn’t really about pitting political parties or ideologies against each other, it’s more of a one-on-one contest between party champions, i.e., between Mr. Scheer and Mr. Trudeau, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Elections, media, and the politics of politics

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the federal election is officially underway, we can all sit back and watch the Canadian media’s fascination with the politics of
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 16, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. Now that the federal election is officially underway, we can all sit back and watch the Canadian media’s fascination with the politics of politics go into overdrive. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Elections, media, and the politics of politics

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 16, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the federal election is officially underway, we can all sit back and watch the Canadian media’s fascination with the politics of

Elections, media, and the politics of politics

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 16, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the federal election is officially underway, we can all sit back and watch the Canadian media’s fascination with the politics of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. Now that the federal election is officially underway, we can all sit back and watch the Canadian media’s fascination with the politics of politics go into overdrive. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The nasty primal subtext of Liberal attacks

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When trying to gauge the true power and intent of a political communication strategy, sometimes you need to look past the words which
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 9, 2019
Hop on the bus Jus: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on a city bus, in the Liberals' 'Choose Forward' ad released on Aug. 25, 2019. He's also pictured in this ad talking to people in coffee shops, running and laughing with chidlren, gazing out the bus window at a dollar store, and meeting with mothers and their babies. Screen capture image courtesy of Liberal Party of Canada

The nasty primal subtext of Liberal attacks

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 9, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When trying to gauge the true power and intent of a political communication strategy, sometimes you need to look past the words which

The nasty primal subtext of Liberal attacks

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 9, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When trying to gauge the true power and intent of a political communication strategy, sometimes you need to look past the words which
Hop on the bus Jus: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on a city bus, in the Liberals' 'Choose Forward' ad released on Aug. 25, 2019. He's also pictured in this ad talking to people in coffee shops, running and laughing with chidlren, gazing out the bus window at a dollar store, and meeting with mothers and their babies. Screen capture image courtesy of Liberal Party of Canada

Scheer’s elephant problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The recent spate of Liberal attacks on the Conservative Party reminds me of the six blind men and the elephant parable. You’ve heard
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 2, 2019
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer's party is polling roughly evenly with the governing Liberals, and has faced sustained attacks from the Grits over his positions on abortion and gay rights. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s elephant problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 2, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The recent spate of Liberal attacks on the Conservative Party reminds me of the six blind men and the elephant parable. You’ve heard

Scheer’s elephant problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 2, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The recent spate of Liberal attacks on the Conservative Party reminds me of the six blind men and the elephant parable. You’ve heard
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer's party is polling roughly evenly with the governing Liberals, and has faced sustained attacks from the Grits over his positions on abortion and gay rights. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Don’t worry, political ads still work

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A poll came out recently which, if taken at face value, would be bad news for all the good people in this country
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2019
A recent poll by Forum Research suggested that supporters of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer's party respond more positively to political ads than those who support other parties. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Don’t worry, political ads still work

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A poll came out recently which, if taken at face value, would be bad news for all the good people in this country

Don’t worry, political ads still work

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2019
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A poll came out recently which, if taken at face value, would be bad news for all the good people in this country
A recent poll by Forum Research suggested that supporters of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer's party respond more positively to political ads than those who support other parties. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Beware the Twitter Sapiens

  • Maybe it’s just me, but I think the nature of humanity is being dramatically altered by Twitter. As a matter of fact, I’d say
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2019
Toronto man Damany Skeene was convicted in 2015 of criminal harassment and uttering threats after making a stream of violent threats on Twitter against Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, pictured last year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Beware the Twitter Sapiens

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2019
  • Maybe it’s just me, but I think the nature of humanity is being dramatically altered by Twitter. As a matter of fact, I’d say

Beware the Twitter Sapiens

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2019
  • Maybe it’s just me, but I think the nature of humanity is being dramatically altered by Twitter. As a matter of fact, I’d say
Toronto man Damany Skeene was convicted in 2015 of criminal harassment and uttering threats after making a stream of violent threats on Twitter against Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, pictured last year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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