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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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Advocacy groups and the challenge of COVID 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When thinking of former prime minister Stephen Harper, people usually picture him as a policy wonk or as a political tactician or as
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 19, 2020
Fundraisers will have to make the case that, even during a period of economic anxiety, certain causes and ideas are still worth supporting. Crafting such a message will be tough, but it’s doable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Advocacy groups and the challenge of COVID 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 19, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When thinking of former prime minister Stephen Harper, people usually picture him as a policy wonk or as a political tactician or as

Advocacy groups and the challenge of COVID 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 19, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When thinking of former prime minister Stephen Harper, people usually picture him as a policy wonk or as a political tactician or as
Fundraisers will have to make the case that, even during a period of economic anxiety, certain causes and ideas are still worth supporting. Crafting such a message will be tough, but it’s doable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Pixabay

The perils of polling 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there was a poll gauging American attitudes towards polling, I bet it’d show that a lot of Americans are skeptical about the accuracy of
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2020
U.S. vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and U.S. president-elect Joe Biden, pictured Nov. 10, 2020. Photograph courtesy of Joe Biden's Twitter

The perils of polling 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there was a poll gauging American attitudes towards polling, I bet it’d show that a lot of Americans are skeptical about the accuracy of

The perils of polling 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there was a poll gauging American attitudes towards polling, I bet it’d show that a lot of Americans are skeptical about the accuracy of
U.S. vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and U.S. president-elect Joe Biden, pictured Nov. 10, 2020. Photograph courtesy of Joe Biden's Twitter

For O’Toole, a carbon tax should always be a bad idea 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There are some things in politics that should never ever happen.  The mayor of New York City should never declare himself to be
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 9, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured Nov. 4, 2020, in Ottawa. There are some things in politics that should never ever happen. The mayor of New York City should never declare himself to be a Boston Red Sox fan, the premier of Quebec should never join the Monarchist League, and the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada should never support new taxes, writes Gerry Nicholls.    The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

For O’Toole, a carbon tax should always be a bad idea 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 9, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There are some things in politics that should never ever happen.  The mayor of New York City should never declare himself to be

For O’Toole, a carbon tax should always be a bad idea 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 9, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There are some things in politics that should never ever happen.  The mayor of New York City should never declare himself to be
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured Nov. 4, 2020, in Ottawa. There are some things in politics that should never ever happen. The mayor of New York City should never declare himself to be a Boston Red Sox fan, the premier of Quebec should never join the Monarchist League, and the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada should never support new taxes, writes Gerry Nicholls.    The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s the politics of COVID dissent 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the classic 1960s science fiction TV series, The Outer Limits, there’s an episode where a group of scientists fake an alien invasion of
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 30, 2020
Conservative MP Gerard Deltell, pictured Oct. 28, 2020, outside the Conservative party caucus meeting in Ottawa. Our battle against the COVID virus—which, when you think about it, is kind of like an enemy alien species—hasn’t exactly united our society, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s the politics of COVID dissent 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 30, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the classic 1960s science fiction TV series, The Outer Limits, there’s an episode where a group of scientists fake an alien invasion of

It’s the politics of COVID dissent 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 30, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the classic 1960s science fiction TV series, The Outer Limits, there’s an episode where a group of scientists fake an alien invasion of
Conservative MP Gerard Deltell, pictured Oct. 28, 2020, outside the Conservative party caucus meeting in Ottawa. Our battle against the COVID virus—which, when you think about it, is kind of like an enemy alien species—hasn’t exactly united our society, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pondering the NDP’s future 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP’s future is an interesting topic right now, because Canada’s main socialist party seems to be at crossroads.  Where does it
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 22, 2020
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 18, 2020. The federal NDP’s future is an interesting topic right now, because Canada’s main socialist party seems to be at crossroads, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pondering the NDP’s future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 22, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP’s future is an interesting topic right now, because Canada’s main socialist party seems to be at crossroads.  Where does it

Pondering the NDP’s future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 22, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP’s future is an interesting topic right now, because Canada’s main socialist party seems to be at crossroads.  Where does it
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 18, 2020. The federal NDP’s future is an interesting topic right now, because Canada’s main socialist party seems to be at crossroads, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

O’Toole’s balancing act 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole better have a good sense of balance because he’ll have to perform a delicate tightrope act.  To put
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 15, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured on the Hill on Sept. 9, 2020. If he hopes to topple the Liberals, the Conservative leader will also need to attract more socially liberal Canadians to his banner, especially those who inhabit 'vote-rich' Ontario. So how does he reach out to social liberals without simultaneously pushing away social conservatives, asks Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

O’Toole’s balancing act 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 15, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole better have a good sense of balance because he’ll have to perform a delicate tightrope act.  To put

O’Toole’s balancing act 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 15, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole better have a good sense of balance because he’ll have to perform a delicate tightrope act.  To put
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured on the Hill on Sept. 9, 2020. If he hopes to topple the Liberals, the Conservative leader will also need to attract more socially liberal Canadians to his banner, especially those who inhabit 'vote-rich' Ontario. So how does he reach out to social liberals without simultaneously pushing away social conservatives, asks Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The question politicians need to answer 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of my worries about modern-day politics is how bad communication strategies are creating a chasm in our society, a divide that’s disconnecting
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 8, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured at a press conference on Oct. 5, 2020, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The question politicians need to answer 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 8, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of my worries about modern-day politics is how bad communication strategies are creating a chasm in our society, a divide that’s disconnecting

The question politicians need to answer 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 8, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of my worries about modern-day politics is how bad communication strategies are creating a chasm in our society, a divide that’s disconnecting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured at a press conference on Oct. 5, 2020, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ryan Gosling’s lesson on political communications 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—My all-time favourite movie on politics, Ides of March, provides a good lesson in political communication.  I’m talking about a scene in that movie where
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 5, 2020
My all-time favourite movie on politics, Ides of March, provides a good lesson in political communication. I’m talking about a scene in that movie where a political consultant, played by Ryan Gosling, pictured, learns that his candidate’s rival in a Democratic presidential primary race may have invested in a Liberian diamond mine.  Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Ryan Gosling’s lesson on political communications 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 5, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—My all-time favourite movie on politics, Ides of March, provides a good lesson in political communication.  I’m talking about a scene in that movie where

Ryan Gosling’s lesson on political communications 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 5, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—My all-time favourite movie on politics, Ides of March, provides a good lesson in political communication.  I’m talking about a scene in that movie where
My all-time favourite movie on politics, Ides of March, provides a good lesson in political communication. I’m talking about a scene in that movie where a political consultant, played by Ryan Gosling, pictured, learns that his candidate’s rival in a Democratic presidential primary race may have invested in a Liberian diamond mine.  Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Trumpism could outlast Trump 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the things which makes the 2020 American presidential election so odd, is the surge it’s triggered in hypothetical questions.  In other
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2020
Some are wondering whether U.S. President Donald Trump will leave office gracefully if he loses a close vote or if he’ll desperately hang onto power, claiming the election was somehow 'rigged,' thus setting in motion a constitutional crisis that’ll make the Florida 'chad hanging' controversy of 20 years ago seem like a walk in the park, writes Gerry Nicholls.   Image courtesy of Pixabay

Trumpism could outlast Trump 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the things which makes the 2020 American presidential election so odd, is the surge it’s triggered in hypothetical questions.  In other

Trumpism could outlast Trump 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 23, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the things which makes the 2020 American presidential election so odd, is the surge it’s triggered in hypothetical questions.  In other
Some are wondering whether U.S. President Donald Trump will leave office gracefully if he loses a close vote or if he’ll desperately hang onto power, claiming the election was somehow 'rigged,' thus setting in motion a constitutional crisis that’ll make the Florida 'chad hanging' controversy of 20 years ago seem like a walk in the park, writes Gerry Nicholls.   Image courtesy of Pixabay

Politics, polls, and persuasion  

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This might surprise you, but when the next federal election rolls around, I doubt our political parties will be airing many media ads
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 21, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Politics, polls, and persuasion  

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 21, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This might surprise you, but when the next federal election rolls around, I doubt our political parties will be airing many media ads

Politics, polls, and persuasion  

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 21, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—This might surprise you, but when the next federal election rolls around, I doubt our political parties will be airing many media ads
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Green Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The need for fundraising urgency 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Rumours abound these days that a federal election could come soon.  And, I suspect, the people who are doing a lot to agitate
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 10, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political fundraising pitch. Image courtesy of Liberal Party of Canada

The need for fundraising urgency 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 10, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Rumours abound these days that a federal election could come soon.  And, I suspect, the people who are doing a lot to agitate

The need for fundraising urgency 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 10, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Rumours abound these days that a federal election could come soon.  And, I suspect, the people who are doing a lot to agitate
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political fundraising pitch. Image courtesy of Liberal Party of Canada

O’Toole’s built-in advantage 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that voters will often judge books by their covers. That’s to say people will (usually on
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured with daughter Mollie following the 2018 Army Run in Ottawa. Mr. O'Toole served as an air force navigator and then worked as a lawyer before entering politics. Photograph courtesy of Erin O'Toole's Instagram account

O’Toole’s built-in advantage 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that voters will often judge books by their covers. That’s to say people will (usually on

O’Toole’s built-in advantage 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that voters will often judge books by their covers. That’s to say people will (usually on
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured with daughter Mollie following the 2018 Army Run in Ottawa. Mr. O'Toole served as an air force navigator and then worked as a lawyer before entering politics. Photograph courtesy of Erin O'Toole's Instagram account

Erin O’Toole’s ghost problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t want to scare anybody out there, but newly-minted Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole has a serious ghost problem. It’s true. According
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
Former prime minister Stephen Harper still looms large over the Conservative Party that he founded with Peter MacKay in 2003. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Erin O’Toole’s ghost problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t want to scare anybody out there, but newly-minted Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole has a serious ghost problem. It’s true. According

Erin O’Toole’s ghost problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t want to scare anybody out there, but newly-minted Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole has a serious ghost problem. It’s true. According
Former prime minister Stephen Harper still looms large over the Conservative Party that he founded with Peter MacKay in 2003. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberal polling feud, explained

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Just when you thought the year 2020 couldn’t get any crazier, Bill Morneau decides, out of the blue, to quit as Canada’s finance
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's PMO keeps a close eye on political polling—perhaps too close, an anonymous source close to ex-finance minister Bill Morneau told Bloomberg on Aug. 15. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberal polling feud, explained

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Just when you thought the year 2020 couldn’t get any crazier, Bill Morneau decides, out of the blue, to quit as Canada’s finance

Liberal polling feud, explained

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Just when you thought the year 2020 couldn’t get any crazier, Bill Morneau decides, out of the blue, to quit as Canada’s finance
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's PMO keeps a close eye on political polling—perhaps too close, an anonymous source close to ex-finance minister Bill Morneau told Bloomberg on Aug. 15. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

An impenetrable mist is masking our political future 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Anyone who dares to make predictions about Canada’s political future right now, does so at their peril.  After all, never before in our
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
Perhaps the biggest question of all concerns COVID-19; specifically, will there be a 'second wave?' If COVID surges in the fall or winter, does that mean another round of lockdowns? What will that do to the economy? How will voters react? Hard to say, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

An impenetrable mist is masking our political future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Anyone who dares to make predictions about Canada’s political future right now, does so at their peril.  After all, never before in our

An impenetrable mist is masking our political future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Anyone who dares to make predictions about Canada’s political future right now, does so at their peril.  After all, never before in our
Perhaps the biggest question of all concerns COVID-19; specifically, will there be a 'second wave?' If COVID surges in the fall or winter, does that mean another round of lockdowns? What will that do to the economy? How will voters react? Hard to say, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s invisible problem 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP faces several challenges which are plain and clear for all to see—poor fundraising results, bad polling numbers, ineffective leadership—yet, I’d
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured May 6, 2020, in the House for a Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. To blunt the Liberal Party’s progressive appeal, the New Democrats need to develop their own sense of tribalism, a tribalism based not on culture, but on class, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s invisible problem 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP faces several challenges which are plain and clear for all to see—poor fundraising results, bad polling numbers, ineffective leadership—yet, I’d

The NDP’s invisible problem 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal NDP faces several challenges which are plain and clear for all to see—poor fundraising results, bad polling numbers, ineffective leadership—yet, I’d
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured May 6, 2020, in the House for a Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. To blunt the Liberal Party’s progressive appeal, the New Democrats need to develop their own sense of tribalism, a tribalism based not on culture, but on class, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s Sunny Ways scandals 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch.  And, yes,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, at a press conference in the West Block, becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s Sunny Ways scandals 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch.  And, yes,

Trudeau’s Sunny Ways scandals 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch.  And, yes,
Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, at a press conference in the West Block, becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives show how to camouflage a leadership race 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the Conservative Party leadership race is (at long last) heading into its end game, I think we can all finally admit
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
Conservative leadership candidates Peter MacKay, Erin O'Toole, Leslyn Lewis, and Derek Sloan, pictured. All the feuding and fighting and insult-exchanging that's been going on between the candidates for the past year, probably won’t leave a negative impression with the public, precisely because no one is paying attention, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Conservatives show how to camouflage a leadership race 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the Conservative Party leadership race is (at long last) heading into its end game, I think we can all finally admit

Conservatives show how to camouflage a leadership race 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the Conservative Party leadership race is (at long last) heading into its end game, I think we can all finally admit
Conservative leadership candidates Peter MacKay, Erin O'Toole, Leslyn Lewis, and Derek Sloan, pictured. All the feuding and fighting and insult-exchanging that's been going on between the candidates for the past year, probably won’t leave a negative impression with the public, precisely because no one is paying attention, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Weaponizing the WE scandal 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sure is generous.  After all, thanks to the inept way he triggered the “WE Charity” fiasco, Trudeau charitably bestowed to his
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, on the Hill. For the WE Charity gift of a scandal to actually have any lasting value in terms of helping the Conservatives and New Democrats chip away at Mr. Trudeau’s lead in the polls, it still needs to be weaponized, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Weaponizing the WE scandal 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sure is generous.  After all, thanks to the inept way he triggered the “WE Charity” fiasco, Trudeau charitably bestowed to his

Weaponizing the WE scandal 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sure is generous.  After all, thanks to the inept way he triggered the “WE Charity” fiasco, Trudeau charitably bestowed to his
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, on the Hill. For the WE Charity gift of a scandal to actually have any lasting value in terms of helping the Conservatives and New Democrats chip away at Mr. Trudeau’s lead in the polls, it still needs to be weaponized, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Wexit threat has yet to be proven

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A political consultant friend of mine once told me what he loved most about his profession was playing the “game.” In other words,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
Jay Hill is the leader of the Wexit Party, and a former Conservative Party MP. The Hill Times file photograph

Wexit threat has yet to be proven

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A political consultant friend of mine once told me what he loved most about his profession was playing the “game.” In other words,

Wexit threat has yet to be proven

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A political consultant friend of mine once told me what he loved most about his profession was playing the “game.” In other words,
Jay Hill is the leader of the Wexit Party, and a former Conservative Party MP. The Hill Times file photograph

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