Thursday, March 23, 2023
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Thursday, March 23, 2023 | Latest Paper

Les Whittington

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 22, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s repeated drive-by smears accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of colluding with China are an obvious attempt to whip up conspiracy thinking about the legitimacy of the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 22, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 22, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s repeated drive-by smears accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of colluding with China are an obvious attempt to whip up conspiracy thinking about the legitimacy of the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
The 2023 federal budget will be tabled in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on March 28. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
The 2023 federal budget will be tabled in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on March 28. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 8, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, has vowed to stand by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as long as necessary, but Biden’s ability to keep up the current level of assistance is increasingly being questioned, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 8, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 8, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, has vowed to stand by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as long as necessary, but Biden’s ability to keep up the current level of assistance is increasingly being questioned, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 1, 2023
The future of public health care may depend on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ability to break the mould and translate commitments forged with the provinces into actual improvements for Canadian patients, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 1, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 1, 2023
The future of public health care may depend on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ability to break the mould and translate commitments forged with the provinces into actual improvements for Canadian patients, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 22, 2023
Public Order Emergency Commissioner Paul Rouleau doesn’t mince words when it comes to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s hands-off approach to the blockade of streets and the lawlessness around Parliament Hill in February 2022, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 22, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 22, 2023
Public Order Emergency Commissioner Paul Rouleau doesn’t mince words when it comes to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s hands-off approach to the blockade of streets and the lawlessness around Parliament Hill in February 2022, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the provincial integrity czar OK’d a party at his house in which guests, including people who do business with the government, purchased tickets and donated money to Ford’s daughter to pay for her wedding, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the provincial integrity czar OK’d a party at his house in which guests, including people who do business with the government, purchased tickets and donated money to Ford’s daughter to pay for her wedding, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland highlighted a new corporate stock buyback tax in last November’s fall economic statement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland highlighted a new corporate stock buyback tax in last November’s fall economic statement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 1, 2023
The 'Freedom Convoy 2.0' anniversary protests held at Parliament Hill on Jan. 28. When it comes to public life, the generally accepted notions about shared realities, the limits of advocacy, establishing the truth, and working toward reasonable solutions have been left behind in much of the western world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 1, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 1, 2023
The 'Freedom Convoy 2.0' anniversary protests held at Parliament Hill on Jan. 28. When it comes to public life, the generally accepted notions about shared realities, the limits of advocacy, establishing the truth, and working toward reasonable solutions have been left behind in much of the western world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
There’s a lot of money to be made in private health services and Premier Doug Ford, as with his other projects, seems determined to make sure Ontario’s wealthy business class gets a big chunk of it, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
There’s a lot of money to be made in private health services and Premier Doug Ford, as with his other projects, seems determined to make sure Ontario’s wealthy business class gets a big chunk of it, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan. 10. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Eneas De Troya
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 18, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan. 10. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Eneas De Troya
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 11, 2023
The health-care clash pitting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against the premiers is likely to continue to destabilize national political affairs in 2023, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 11, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 11, 2023
The health-care clash pitting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against the premiers is likely to continue to destabilize national political affairs in 2023, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 14, 2022
The country’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers met virtually on Dec. 9. The first ministers' meetings are political theatre of the most highly charged variety, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 14, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 14, 2022
The country’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers met virtually on Dec. 9. The first ministers' meetings are political theatre of the most highly charged variety, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 7, 2022
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her signature legislation are saying the province of Alberta does not have to comply with laws passed by the democratically chosen Members of Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 7, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 7, 2022
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her signature legislation are saying the province of Alberta does not have to comply with laws passed by the democratically chosen Members of Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testifies at the Public Order Emergency Commission on Nov. 25. The federal government was left with no option but to use emergency powers as a last-resort tactic to move the truckers who clearly had no intention of voluntarily doing so, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testifies at the Public Order Emergency Commission on Nov. 25. The federal government was left with no option but to use emergency powers as a last-resort tactic to move the truckers who clearly had no intention of voluntarily doing so, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 23, 2022
For anyone who appreciates the importance of openness and bottom-up buy-in politics, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came off as the better of the two during the now-famous exchange with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 23, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 23, 2022
For anyone who appreciates the importance of openness and bottom-up buy-in politics, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came off as the better of the two during the now-famous exchange with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 16, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly recently previewed Ottawa’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy by signalling that Canada’s decades-long effort to improve trade integration with China will be reshaped, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 16, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 16, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly recently previewed Ottawa’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy by signalling that Canada’s decades-long effort to improve trade integration with China will be reshaped, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 9, 2022
In the short run, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s government is for the most part facing a lose-lose proposition, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 9, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 9, 2022
In the short run, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s government is for the most part facing a lose-lose proposition, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 2, 2022
The open question is how much damage Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s anger-based paranoid populism will bring to Canadian society and governance, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 2, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 2, 2022
The open question is how much damage Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s anger-based paranoid populism will bring to Canadian society and governance, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 26, 2022
Some experts believe former U.S. president Donald Trump, left, opened the door for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expanded war against Ukraine by weakening by weakening U.S. democracy and turning Ukraine’s future into a divisive political issue, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 26, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 26, 2022
Some experts believe former U.S. president Donald Trump, left, opened the door for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expanded war against Ukraine by weakening by weakening U.S. democracy and turning Ukraine’s future into a divisive political issue, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 19, 2022
Convoy organizer Tamara Lich, centre, arrives for the Public Emergency Order Commission public hearing with lawyers Eva Chipiuk, left, and Keith Wilson at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa on Oct. 13. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 19, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 19, 2022
Convoy organizer Tamara Lich, centre, arrives for the Public Emergency Order Commission public hearing with lawyers Eva Chipiuk, left, and Keith Wilson at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa on Oct. 13. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 12, 2022
Andrea Skinner’s resignation as Hockey Canada’s interim board chair isn’t likely to put the issue of payouts for player sexual misconduct to rest, as MPs are probably going to want to get to the bottom of it all, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 12, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 12, 2022
Andrea Skinner’s resignation as Hockey Canada’s interim board chair isn’t likely to put the issue of payouts for player sexual misconduct to rest, as MPs are probably going to want to get to the bottom of it all, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 5, 2022
Quebec Premier François Legault, left, Alberta United Conservative Party leadership front-runner Danielle Smith, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are championing self-defeating causes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 5, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 5, 2022
Quebec Premier François Legault, left, Alberta United Conservative Party leadership front-runner Danielle Smith, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are championing self-defeating causes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 26, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin seems ready to push his self-appointed war with the West into even more dangerous realms, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 26, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 26, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin seems ready to push his self-appointed war with the West into even more dangerous realms, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 21, 2022
There’s no compelling reason for this country to have the British monarch, now King Charles III, as head of state; however, there’s no easy way to get rid of this antiquated situation, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 21, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 21, 2022
There’s no compelling reason for this country to have the British monarch, now King Charles III, as head of state; however, there’s no easy way to get rid of this antiquated situation, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 14, 2022
Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida greet the audience after he becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on Sept. 10. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 14, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 14, 2022
Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida greet the audience after he becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on Sept. 10. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 7, 2022
The United People of Canada supporters gather outside their location in the former St. Brigid’s church in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood on Aug. 25, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 7, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 7, 2022
The United People of Canada supporters gather outside their location in the former St. Brigid’s church in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood on Aug. 25, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 31, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland addresses Laurier Club members at the Canadian War Museum on June 13. The improvement in wealth inequality has attracted little media attention, and a lot of the people helped by the federal government’s anti-poverty efforts are not among those with a high voting tendency, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 31, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 31, 2022
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland addresses Laurier Club members at the Canadian War Museum on June 13. The improvement in wealth inequality has attracted little media attention, and a lot of the people helped by the federal government’s anti-poverty efforts are not among those with a high voting tendency, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 24, 2022
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre hasn’t said much yet about economic policy, but you can bet his plan to make Canada ‘the freest nation on earth’ will include freedom for the rich to pay fewer income taxes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 24, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 24, 2022
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre hasn’t said much yet about economic policy, but you can bet his plan to make Canada ‘the freest nation on earth’ will include freedom for the rich to pay fewer income taxes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 17, 2022
By refusing to lift the effective wage freeze Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposed on nurses, he is hastening the decline in the health-care system and without doubt setting the stage for further privatization in the province, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/CityNews
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 17, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 17, 2022
By refusing to lift the effective wage freeze Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposed on nurses, he is hastening the decline in the health-care system and without doubt setting the stage for further privatization in the province, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/CityNews
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 10, 2022
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, pictured during the party's first leadership debate held at the Canada Strong and Free Network's conference in Ottawa on May 5. It gets more obvious every week that Poilievre, a sort of Trump stand-in, is riding a wave of angry anti-establishment sentiment with a lot more momentum than anyone expected, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 10, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 10, 2022
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, pictured during the party's first leadership debate held at the Canada Strong and Free Network's conference in Ottawa on May 5. It gets more obvious every week that Poilievre, a sort of Trump stand-in, is riding a wave of angry anti-establishment sentiment with a lot more momentum than anyone expected, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 3, 2022
The art installation Broken, by Dennis Josef Meseg, is pictured in Bonn, Germany. In 2021 alone, 173 women and girls were violently killed in Canada, with the vast majority of the accused being male, research shows. Unsplash photograph by Mika Baumeister
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 3, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 3, 2022
The art installation Broken, by Dennis Josef Meseg, is pictured in Bonn, Germany. In 2021 alone, 173 women and girls were violently killed in Canada, with the vast majority of the accused being male, research shows. Unsplash photograph by Mika Baumeister
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 25, 2022
RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell testified before the Mass Casualty Commission on July 25. It’s hard to imagine how any other single individual could have come to the attention of the various police forces in the region more than the Nova Scotia shooter during his decades-long run of lawless behaviour before the 2020 shooting, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of the Mass Casualty Commission
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 25, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 25, 2022
RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell testified before the Mass Casualty Commission on July 25. It’s hard to imagine how any other single individual could have come to the attention of the various police forces in the region more than the Nova Scotia shooter during his decades-long run of lawless behaviour before the 2020 shooting, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of the Mass Casualty Commission
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 20, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly sits alongside her Chinese, America, Brazilian, and German counterparts at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Bali, Indonesia on July 8. The relatively young G20 was designed to bring together leading wealthy and developing nations to tackle world problems, but it has instead laid bare the acceptance in some capitals of Putin’s bloodletting, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Ron Przysucha courtesy of Flickr/the U.S. Department of State
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 20, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 20, 2022
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly sits alongside her Chinese, America, Brazilian, and German counterparts at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Bali, Indonesia on July 8. The relatively young G20 was designed to bring together leading wealthy and developing nations to tackle world problems, but it has instead laid bare the acceptance in some capitals of Putin’s bloodletting, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Ron Przysucha courtesy of Flickr/the U.S. Department of State
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 13, 2022
Outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers his resignation statement outside 10 Downing Street on July 7. Johnson helped give rise to Brexit, sold it to Britons in 2016, and got the keys to 10 Downing Street to finally make the separation with the EU happen. Which he did. But, after only three years, he is giving up as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Tim Hammond courtesy of No 10 Downing Street's Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 13, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 13, 2022
Outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers his resignation statement outside 10 Downing Street on July 7. Johnson helped give rise to Brexit, sold it to Britons in 2016, and got the keys to 10 Downing Street to finally make the separation with the EU happen. Which he did. But, after only three years, he is giving up as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Tim Hammond courtesy of No 10 Downing Street's Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 6, 2022
The general thinking has been that choosing chief trucker convoy apologist Pierre Poilievre as Conservative leader would be a huge gift for the Liberals. But that may prove fanciful, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 6, 2022
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 6, 2022
The general thinking has been that choosing chief trucker convoy apologist Pierre Poilievre as Conservative leader would be a huge gift for the Liberals. But that may prove fanciful, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia