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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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Chasing ‘meh’ voters 

  • The much-anticipated Republican 'red wave' was more like a 'red trickle.' The question is, what happened? Why did the supposed Republican juggernaut fizzle out? 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 1, 2022
Not-so-sleepy Joe: U.S. President Joe Biden's Democrats outperformed the historical trend in the Nov. 8, 2022, midterm elections. According to The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter, the election hinged on what she termed the 'meh voters,' defined as independents, Americans not registered as either Republicans or Democrats. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Chasing ‘meh’ voters 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 1, 2022
  • The much-anticipated Republican 'red wave' was more like a 'red trickle.' The question is, what happened? Why did the supposed Republican juggernaut fizzle out? 

Chasing ‘meh’ voters 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 1, 2022
  • The much-anticipated Republican 'red wave' was more like a 'red trickle.' The question is, what happened? Why did the supposed Republican juggernaut fizzle out? 
Not-so-sleepy Joe: U.S. President Joe Biden's Democrats outperformed the historical trend in the Nov. 8, 2022, midterm elections. According to The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter, the election hinged on what she termed the 'meh voters,' defined as independents, Americans not registered as either Republicans or Democrats. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Planning the politics of division 

  • Will Pierre Poilievre emulate Ronald Reagan and try to split Canada along ideological lines, perhaps by setting populists against elites? Or, like Justin Trudeau, maybe
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 28, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Trudeau could seek a less controversial division, such as splitting up Canadians between those who want change in government and those who favour keeping the status quo. We’ll have to wait and see how Poilievre's pollsters come up with a way to divide and conquer. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Planning the politics of division 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 28, 2022
  • Will Pierre Poilievre emulate Ronald Reagan and try to split Canada along ideological lines, perhaps by setting populists against elites? Or, like Justin Trudeau, maybe

Planning the politics of division 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 28, 2022
  • Will Pierre Poilievre emulate Ronald Reagan and try to split Canada along ideological lines, perhaps by setting populists against elites? Or, like Justin Trudeau, maybe
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Trudeau could seek a less controversial division, such as splitting up Canadians between those who want change in government and those who favour keeping the status quo. We’ll have to wait and see how Poilievre's pollsters come up with a way to divide and conquer. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s self-sabotaging comment 

  • Chrystia Freeland’s apology essentially informed Canadians that she really isn’t like 'us,' which is why she doesn’t understand our economic problems, which is why
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 16, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured recently on the Hill. In the political game of 'Us vs. Them,' politicians must follow one key rule: they should always identify with 'us,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s self-sabotaging comment 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 16, 2022
  • Chrystia Freeland’s apology essentially informed Canadians that she really isn’t like 'us,' which is why she doesn’t understand our economic problems, which is why

Freeland’s self-sabotaging comment 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 16, 2022
  • Chrystia Freeland’s apology essentially informed Canadians that she really isn’t like 'us,' which is why she doesn’t understand our economic problems, which is why
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured recently on the Hill. In the political game of 'Us vs. Them,' politicians must follow one key rule: they should always identify with 'us,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Closing a Charter loophole

  • So that’s the lesson for all those who oppose the notwithstanding clause. Maybe you can’t close that loophole in the court of law, but
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 10, 2022
Ontario Doug Ford, pictured on Oct. 17, 2022, at Nokia in Kanata, Ont., recently buckled on his threat to use the notwithstanding clause to pre-emptively protect a law his government had enacted banning the province’s education workers from going on strike. Apparently, he miscalculated. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Closing a Charter loophole

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 10, 2022
  • So that’s the lesson for all those who oppose the notwithstanding clause. Maybe you can’t close that loophole in the court of law, but

Closing a Charter loophole

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 10, 2022
  • So that’s the lesson for all those who oppose the notwithstanding clause. Maybe you can’t close that loophole in the court of law, but
Ontario Doug Ford, pictured on Oct. 17, 2022, at Nokia in Kanata, Ont., recently buckled on his threat to use the notwithstanding clause to pre-emptively protect a law his government had enacted banning the province’s education workers from going on strike. Apparently, he miscalculated. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Singh’s TikTok problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This is going to sound strange, but it seems NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh could at least partially blame his loss in the last
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 2, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured Nov. 12, 2021, on TikTok. The video, which picked up on a popular TikTok trend and showed Mr. Singh eating spaghetti and dancing, had received 212,800 likes, 6143 comments, and more than 3.2 million views. Photograph courtesy of Jagmeet Singh's TikTok

Singh’s TikTok problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This is going to sound strange, but it seems NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh could at least partially blame his loss in the last

Singh’s TikTok problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This is going to sound strange, but it seems NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh could at least partially blame his loss in the last
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured Nov. 12, 2021, on TikTok. The video, which picked up on a popular TikTok trend and showed Mr. Singh eating spaghetti and dancing, had received 212,800 likes, 6143 comments, and more than 3.2 million views. Photograph courtesy of Jagmeet Singh's TikTok

What to expect in the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To understand what’s truly going on in the crazy and wacky world of American politics, you really need to rely on people with
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 27, 2022
The Capitol Hill Building in Washington, D.C. According to recent polls, the issues that dominate right now in most American states are the economy, inflation, crime, justice, immigration, and border chaos. All these issues, by the way, favour the Republicans, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

What to expect in the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To understand what’s truly going on in the crazy and wacky world of American politics, you really need to rely on people with

What to expect in the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To understand what’s truly going on in the crazy and wacky world of American politics, you really need to rely on people with
The Capitol Hill Building in Washington, D.C. According to recent polls, the issues that dominate right now in most American states are the economy, inflation, crime, justice, immigration, and border chaos. All these issues, by the way, favour the Republicans, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Trudeau’s got an inflation problem, whether or not he caused it

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you want to know who’s going to win the next federal election, pay less attention to opinion polls and more attention to
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2022
It doesn’t matter if Justin Trudeau isn’t to blame for the onset of inflation, it doesn’t matter if it’s worse in other countries, it doesn’t matter if there’s no short-term, painless way to stop it; at the end of the day, all that matters is he’s the prime minister and the loonie ultimately stops at his desk, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s got an inflation problem, whether or not he caused it

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you want to know who’s going to win the next federal election, pay less attention to opinion polls and more attention to

Trudeau’s got an inflation problem, whether or not he caused it

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 21, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you want to know who’s going to win the next federal election, pay less attention to opinion polls and more attention to
It doesn’t matter if Justin Trudeau isn’t to blame for the onset of inflation, it doesn’t matter if it’s worse in other countries, it doesn’t matter if there’s no short-term, painless way to stop it; at the end of the day, all that matters is he’s the prime minister and the loonie ultimately stops at his desk, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

O’Toole’s bad luck

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole may have lost the last federal election because he lacked a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 12, 2022
Former Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole in a recent media interview basically claimed that what brought him down was a sudden stroke of bad luck, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

O’Toole’s bad luck

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 12, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole may have lost the last federal election because he lacked a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover.

O’Toole’s bad luck

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 12, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole may have lost the last federal election because he lacked a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover.
Former Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole in a recent media interview basically claimed that what brought him down was a sudden stroke of bad luck, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will Singh embrace populism lite?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Thanks to the NDP, I’m unable at this point to make a fully confident prediction about what kind of communication strategies will be
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 6, 2022
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Sept. 30, 2022, speaking with attendees at the National Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony on Parliament Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will Singh embrace populism lite?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 6, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Thanks to the NDP, I’m unable at this point to make a fully confident prediction about what kind of communication strategies will be

Will Singh embrace populism lite?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 6, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Thanks to the NDP, I’m unable at this point to make a fully confident prediction about what kind of communication strategies will be
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Sept. 30, 2022, speaking with attendees at the National Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony on Parliament Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The artistry of fundraising

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
The charm offensive: Imagine if newly minted Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured on Sept. 12, 2022, with his wife Anaida and their son Cruz, sent out a seemingly handwritten letter on his own letterhead to party donors that said something like, 'Dear Joe; it’s late at night and I’m sitting here in my study worried about our party’s finances. The bills for the leadership campaign are piling up on my desk. That’s why I’m writing to you. You’ve stood by me from the beginning so I know you’ll stand by me now at this crucial moment when I need your help.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The artistry of fundraising

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always

The artistry of fundraising

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always
The charm offensive: Imagine if newly minted Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured on Sept. 12, 2022, with his wife Anaida and their son Cruz, sent out a seemingly handwritten letter on his own letterhead to party donors that said something like, 'Dear Joe; it’s late at night and I’m sitting here in my study worried about our party’s finances. The bills for the leadership campaign are piling up on my desk. That’s why I’m writing to you. You’ve stood by me from the beginning so I know you’ll stand by me now at this crucial moment when I need your help.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s wrong with the Greens?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May, pictured Oct. 3, 2020, is running to be leader again. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s wrong with the Greens?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the

What’s wrong with the Greens?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May, pictured Oct. 3, 2020, is running to be leader again. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
Pierre Poilievre is a badass leader and exactly what Conservatives want right now; they want a leader who's willing to mix it up with his opponents, who’s willing to vigorously defend conservatism, and who’s prepared to stand up to the 'Laurentian elites,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and
Pierre Poilievre is a badass leader and exactly what Conservatives want right now; they want a leader who's willing to mix it up with his opponents, who’s willing to vigorously defend conservatism, and who’s prepared to stand up to the 'Laurentian elites,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The sad plight of classical Liberals

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
Wilfrid Laurier, who was prime minister from 1896-1911 and one of Canada’s most celebrated prime ministers, was a classical liberal, writes Gerry Nicholls. As author Brian Lee Crowley notes in his book, The Canadian Century, Laurier promoted 'minimal state interference, low taxes and respect of property and of contract.' Photograph courtesy of Flickr

The sad plight of classical Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about

The sad plight of classical Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about
Wilfrid Laurier, who was prime minister from 1896-1911 and one of Canada’s most celebrated prime ministers, was a classical liberal, writes Gerry Nicholls. As author Brian Lee Crowley notes in his book, The Canadian Century, Laurier promoted 'minimal state interference, low taxes and respect of property and of contract.' Photograph courtesy of Flickr

The secret to Tory unity

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
The Conservative Party will choose its new leader—whether it's populist Pierre Poilievre, right, or moderate Jean Charest, left—on Sept. 10, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The secret to Tory unity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain

The secret to Tory unity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain
The Conservative Party will choose its new leader—whether it's populist Pierre Poilievre, right, or moderate Jean Charest, left—on Sept. 10, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
Other parties have been cutting away at the NDP base, and leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured, better find a way to stop the leak, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on
Other parties have been cutting away at the NDP base, and leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured, better find a way to stop the leak, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of vacation shaming

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
Shortly after unveiling a new haircut, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left to vacation with his family in Costa Rica—much to the chagrin of his political opponents. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter

The politics of vacation shaming

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation

The politics of vacation shaming

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation
Shortly after unveiling a new haircut, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left to vacation with his family in Costa Rica—much to the chagrin of his political opponents. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter

How to deal with bad polls

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his family on July 1, 2022, at the Canada Day celebration in Ottawa, has been polling badly lately, painting a bleak picture for his government. A recent Abacus poll indicated that 51 per cent of Canadians have a negative view of his government, the highest number ever recorded since the Liberals were elected in 2015. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

How to deal with bad polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about

How to deal with bad polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his family on July 1, 2022, at the Canada Day celebration in Ottawa, has been polling badly lately, painting a bleak picture for his government. A recent Abacus poll indicated that 51 per cent of Canadians have a negative view of his government, the highest number ever recorded since the Liberals were elected in 2015. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Poilievre and the Harper effect

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
Harper picks his favourite to win: Former prime minister Stephen Harper, pictured in his video posted on Facebook and Twitter on July 25, 2022, endorsing Pierre Poilievre for leader of the Conservative Party. If Poilievre ends up winning the leadership, the torch will have been passed. Maybe then, Harper will finally disappear into the background; maybe then the 'Harper effect' will come to an end, writes Gerry Nicholls. Screen capture images courtesy of Stephen Harper's Facebook

Poilievre and the Harper effect

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,

Poilievre and the Harper effect

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,
Harper picks his favourite to win: Former prime minister Stephen Harper, pictured in his video posted on Facebook and Twitter on July 25, 2022, endorsing Pierre Poilievre for leader of the Conservative Party. If Poilievre ends up winning the leadership, the torch will have been passed. Maybe then, Harper will finally disappear into the background; maybe then the 'Harper effect' will come to an end, writes Gerry Nicholls. Screen capture images courtesy of Stephen Harper's Facebook

Trudeau launches hair war

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured recently sporting his new haircut. It is surprising that Trudeau would make such a radical change to his appearance, especially since his thick and magnificent coiffure was such an integral part of his image, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Twitter

Trudeau launches hair war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle

Trudeau launches hair war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured recently sporting his new haircut. It is surprising that Trudeau would make such a radical change to his appearance, especially since his thick and magnificent coiffure was such an integral part of his image, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Twitter

Now is the summer of our discontent

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
Money and politics: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green Party interim leader Amita Kuttner. It’s almost impossible this summer to escape or to ignore the hard, cold realities of what’s currently going on in the world, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Now is the summer of our discontent

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.

Now is the summer of our discontent

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.
Money and politics: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green Party interim leader Amita Kuttner. It’s almost impossible this summer to escape or to ignore the hard, cold realities of what’s currently going on in the world, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

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