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Les Whittington

Poilievre tests the limits of populist flim-flam with his pitch to Canada’s workers

  • The current version of the strategy is to capitalize on the crushed dreams of middle-class prosperity, and the horrendous income inequality the whole right-wing
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 6, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stems from a conservative tradition that has been striving for decades to reduce the supports and services that help working people and lower-income Canadians achieve better outcomes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre tests the limits of populist flim-flam with his pitch to Canada’s workers

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 6, 2023
  • The current version of the strategy is to capitalize on the crushed dreams of middle-class prosperity, and the horrendous income inequality the whole right-wing

Poilievre tests the limits of populist flim-flam with his pitch to Canada’s workers

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 6, 2023
  • The current version of the strategy is to capitalize on the crushed dreams of middle-class prosperity, and the horrendous income inequality the whole right-wing
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stems from a conservative tradition that has been striving for decades to reduce the supports and services that help working people and lower-income Canadians achieve better outcomes, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Missing the point of Freeland’s what-have-we-got-to-lose mini-budget

  • The Nov. 21 economic statement was the implicit recognition of the political reality facing the Liberals in the aftermath of eight years of all-in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 29, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s, left, fall economic statement signalled that times have changed since 2016 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Liberals had a mandate from Canadians to invest, not cut spending, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Missing the point of Freeland’s what-have-we-got-to-lose mini-budget

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 29, 2023
  • The Nov. 21 economic statement was the implicit recognition of the political reality facing the Liberals in the aftermath of eight years of all-in

Missing the point of Freeland’s what-have-we-got-to-lose mini-budget

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 29, 2023
  • The Nov. 21 economic statement was the implicit recognition of the political reality facing the Liberals in the aftermath of eight years of all-in
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s, left, fall economic statement signalled that times have changed since 2016 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Liberals had a mandate from Canadians to invest, not cut spending, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Fixing Canada’s problems will remain an uphill struggle until voters start holding provinces accountable

  • The provinces have been unwilling to step in and use their authority over municipalities to fix the housing problem, and now they’re worried about
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 22, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is one of the provincial leaders who has accused the Trudeau government of jurisdictional creep. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Fixing Canada’s problems will remain an uphill struggle until voters start holding provinces accountable

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 22, 2023
  • The provinces have been unwilling to step in and use their authority over municipalities to fix the housing problem, and now they’re worried about

Fixing Canada’s problems will remain an uphill struggle until voters start holding provinces accountable

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 22, 2023
  • The provinces have been unwilling to step in and use their authority over municipalities to fix the housing problem, and now they’re worried about
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is one of the provincial leaders who has accused the Trudeau government of jurisdictional creep. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Still losing the war on climate change all these years later

  • The likelihood of the carbon tax becoming a game-changing problem for the government was advanced by the prime minister’s failure to effectively explain to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 15, 2023
The price on carbon has emerged as a major symbolic liability for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Still losing the war on climate change all these years later

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 15, 2023
  • The likelihood of the carbon tax becoming a game-changing problem for the government was advanced by the prime minister’s failure to effectively explain to

Still losing the war on climate change all these years later

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 15, 2023
  • The likelihood of the carbon tax becoming a game-changing problem for the government was advanced by the prime minister’s failure to effectively explain to
The price on carbon has emerged as a major symbolic liability for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What counts with voters?

  • If policy ever counted for much, it certainly is not the case in the era of QAnon and wall-to-wall misinformation.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 8, 2023
Ontario voters returned Doug Ford, left, as premier last year, despite his track record, while according to the polls, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now increasingly unpopular, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What counts with voters?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 8, 2023
  • If policy ever counted for much, it certainly is not the case in the era of QAnon and wall-to-wall misinformation.

What counts with voters?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 8, 2023
  • If policy ever counted for much, it certainly is not the case in the era of QAnon and wall-to-wall misinformation.
Ontario voters returned Doug Ford, left, as premier last year, despite his track record, while according to the polls, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now increasingly unpopular, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Economic turmoil, irrepressible housing bubble leave Liberals playing for time

  • As long as the economy remains the central political issue, the Liberals’ only real friend is the time between now and the likely federal
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 1, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has no easy fixes and very little likelihood of major shifts in the key economic factors contributing to the public’s discouragement and anxiety, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Economic turmoil, irrepressible housing bubble leave Liberals playing for time

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 1, 2023
  • As long as the economy remains the central political issue, the Liberals’ only real friend is the time between now and the likely federal

Economic turmoil, irrepressible housing bubble leave Liberals playing for time

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 1, 2023
  • As long as the economy remains the central political issue, the Liberals’ only real friend is the time between now and the likely federal
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has no easy fixes and very little likelihood of major shifts in the key economic factors contributing to the public’s discouragement and anxiety, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is this any way to run a country?

  • Amid the urgent need to do something about the catastrophe of climate change, Canadians on the right continue to undermine the required national co-operation.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s willing to lead the charge with other premiers opposing the federal government’s environmental and energy policies, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is this any way to run a country?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2023
  • Amid the urgent need to do something about the catastrophe of climate change, Canadians on the right continue to undermine the required national co-operation.

Is this any way to run a country?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2023
  • Amid the urgent need to do something about the catastrophe of climate change, Canadians on the right continue to undermine the required national co-operation.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s willing to lead the charge with other premiers opposing the federal government’s environmental and energy policies, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A week of destruction, carnage, and provocation that lit the Middle East powder keg

  • The region is the scene of urgent diplomatic and military manoeuvres desperately trying to head off an expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, modulated his all-out support for Israel to stress the need for its military to abide by the ‘rules of war,’ while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau balanced Canada’s support for Israel with an expression of serious concerns about ‘the dire humanitarian situation’ in the Gaza Strip, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A week of destruction, carnage, and provocation that lit the Middle East powder keg

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 18, 2023
  • The region is the scene of urgent diplomatic and military manoeuvres desperately trying to head off an expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A week of destruction, carnage, and provocation that lit the Middle East powder keg

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 18, 2023
  • The region is the scene of urgent diplomatic and military manoeuvres desperately trying to head off an expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, modulated his all-out support for Israel to stress the need for its military to abide by the ‘rules of war,’ while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau balanced Canada’s support for Israel with an expression of serious concerns about ‘the dire humanitarian situation’ in the Gaza Strip, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time for unaligned nations to take a stand on outright militant incursions

  • There is little doubt this latest Israel-Hamas upsurge partly reflects the trend toward overt armed action in the deepening clash with the western alliance
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 11, 2023
While Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to have had direct responsibility for the new assault on Israel, Hamas’ action has to be seen in a wider geo-political context, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Time for unaligned nations to take a stand on outright militant incursions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 11, 2023
  • There is little doubt this latest Israel-Hamas upsurge partly reflects the trend toward overt armed action in the deepening clash with the western alliance

Time for unaligned nations to take a stand on outright militant incursions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 11, 2023
  • There is little doubt this latest Israel-Hamas upsurge partly reflects the trend toward overt armed action in the deepening clash with the western alliance
While Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to have had direct responsibility for the new assault on Israel, Hamas’ action has to be seen in a wider geo-political context, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Right-wing rage-farming attacks on LGBTQ kids not a worthwhile import

  • The anger-generating wedge issue of school pronoun policy has suddenly become a cause célèbre among many of Canada’s conservatives.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 4, 2023
Parental rights protestors gather at Parliament Hill on Sept. 20 for the 1 Million March 4 Children, opposing, among other things, teaching LGBTQ2S+ issues in schools. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Right-wing rage-farming attacks on LGBTQ kids not a worthwhile import

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 4, 2023
  • The anger-generating wedge issue of school pronoun policy has suddenly become a cause célèbre among many of Canada’s conservatives.

Right-wing rage-farming attacks on LGBTQ kids not a worthwhile import

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 4, 2023
  • The anger-generating wedge issue of school pronoun policy has suddenly become a cause célèbre among many of Canada’s conservatives.
Parental rights protestors gather at Parliament Hill on Sept. 20 for the 1 Million March 4 Children, opposing, among other things, teaching LGBTQ2S+ issues in schools. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Doug Ford tries to save the furniture

  • Ford’s Sept. 21 reversal of the Greenbelt decision was clearly a rear-guard action in the face of the fast-growing shambles overtaking his government regarding
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 27, 2023
The furor over the questionable Greenbelt land deal is only likely to get louder, despite Ontario Premier Doug Ford trying to change the channel, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Doug Ford tries to save the furniture

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 27, 2023
  • Ford’s Sept. 21 reversal of the Greenbelt decision was clearly a rear-guard action in the face of the fast-growing shambles overtaking his government regarding

Doug Ford tries to save the furniture

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 27, 2023
  • Ford’s Sept. 21 reversal of the Greenbelt decision was clearly a rear-guard action in the face of the fast-growing shambles overtaking his government regarding
The furor over the questionable Greenbelt land deal is only likely to get louder, despite Ontario Premier Doug Ford trying to change the channel, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The COVID meltdown finally catches up with Trudeau

  • Reversing the situation will take more political finesse and timely accomplishments than the Liberal government lately seems capable of.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s down-in-the-polls Liberals have belatedly began stepping up their response to problems, but there won’t likely to be quick resolutions, as the post-COVID crises are an intensification of decades-old economic fault lines, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The COVID meltdown finally catches up with Trudeau

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
  • Reversing the situation will take more political finesse and timely accomplishments than the Liberal government lately seems capable of.

The COVID meltdown finally catches up with Trudeau

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
  • Reversing the situation will take more political finesse and timely accomplishments than the Liberal government lately seems capable of.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s down-in-the-polls Liberals have belatedly began stepping up their response to problems, but there won’t likely to be quick resolutions, as the post-COVID crises are an intensification of decades-old economic fault lines, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Where the buck stops in the Greenbelt scandal is anybody’s guess

  • Several attempts by authorities to scrutinize or consider scrutinizing the secret decision-making operation are ongoing, but responsibility for getting to the bottom of this
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has asked the province’s integrity commissioner to examine if his housing minister’s former chief of staff broke public service conflict-of-interest rules, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Where the buck stops in the Greenbelt scandal is anybody’s guess

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
  • Several attempts by authorities to scrutinize or consider scrutinizing the secret decision-making operation are ongoing, but responsibility for getting to the bottom of this

Where the buck stops in the Greenbelt scandal is anybody’s guess

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
  • Several attempts by authorities to scrutinize or consider scrutinizing the secret decision-making operation are ongoing, but responsibility for getting to the bottom of this
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has asked the province’s integrity commissioner to examine if his housing minister’s former chief of staff broke public service conflict-of-interest rules, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What happens with no ‘gatekeepers’? Just look at Ford’s Greenbelt scandal

  • The Greenbelt property sell-out is as sordid a saga of backroom dealings, favouritism, greed, and government corner-cutting as you are ever likely to encounter.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford claims that there was no ‘preferential treatment’ of developers by his government, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What happens with no ‘gatekeepers’? Just look at Ford’s Greenbelt scandal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
  • The Greenbelt property sell-out is as sordid a saga of backroom dealings, favouritism, greed, and government corner-cutting as you are ever likely to encounter.

What happens with no ‘gatekeepers’? Just look at Ford’s Greenbelt scandal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
  • The Greenbelt property sell-out is as sordid a saga of backroom dealings, favouritism, greed, and government corner-cutting as you are ever likely to encounter.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford claims that there was no ‘preferential treatment’ of developers by his government, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Putin faces deepening isolation as world leaders belatedly react

  • Recent events seem to signal that more countries are willing to at least make an effort to co-operate on a strategy to force an
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2022 Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. Putin seems to have made a serious miscalculation when he decided to weaponize food as part of his war effort, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Putin faces deepening isolation as world leaders belatedly react

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
  • Recent events seem to signal that more countries are willing to at least make an effort to co-operate on a strategy to force an

Putin faces deepening isolation as world leaders belatedly react

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
  • Recent events seem to signal that more countries are willing to at least make an effort to co-operate on a strategy to force an
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2022 Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. Putin seems to have made a serious miscalculation when he decided to weaponize food as part of his war effort, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In Ford’s Ontario, Toronto gets the short end of the stick

  • Ford can get away with neglect of Ontarians’ needs partly because of public confusion about the federal-provincial governance system.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
The province is rolling in money as a result of Premier Doug Ford’s preference for leaving Ontarians’ needs unmet by refusing to spend taxpayer dollars, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In Ford’s Ontario, Toronto gets the short end of the stick

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
  • Ford can get away with neglect of Ontarians’ needs partly because of public confusion about the federal-provincial governance system.

In Ford’s Ontario, Toronto gets the short end of the stick

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
  • Ford can get away with neglect of Ontarians’ needs partly because of public confusion about the federal-provincial governance system.
The province is rolling in money as a result of Premier Doug Ford’s preference for leaving Ontarians’ needs unmet by refusing to spend taxpayer dollars, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will the world’s people destroy their only home?

  • The G20 summit in India next month is being viewed as a sort of last chance for the world’s largest economies to commit to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
At a meeting in India last week, G20 environment ministers, including Canada's Steven Guilbeault, were meant to set the stage for their national leaders on the climate issue. The outcome was notable for the lack of consensus in the face of global pleas for united action, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will the world’s people destroy their only home?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
  • The G20 summit in India next month is being viewed as a sort of last chance for the world’s largest economies to commit to

Will the world’s people destroy their only home?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
  • The G20 summit in India next month is being viewed as a sort of last chance for the world’s largest economies to commit to
At a meeting in India last week, G20 environment ministers, including Canada's Steven Guilbeault, were meant to set the stage for their national leaders on the climate issue. The outcome was notable for the lack of consensus in the face of global pleas for united action, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s cabinet needs to tailor its communications to today’s political realities

  • The Liberals need leaders who are not afraid to raise their voices, and who realize that today’s politics are not the sedate politics of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
Despite endless opportunities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal cabinet has largely failed when it comes to communications, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s cabinet needs to tailor its communications to today’s political realities

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
  • The Liberals need leaders who are not afraid to raise their voices, and who realize that today’s politics are not the sedate politics of

Trudeau’s cabinet needs to tailor its communications to today’s political realities

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
  • The Liberals need leaders who are not afraid to raise their voices, and who realize that today’s politics are not the sedate politics of
Despite endless opportunities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal cabinet has largely failed when it comes to communications, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The curious case of Ottawa’s housing bubble backstop

  • The cost of helping mortgage holders avoid the pain of higher interest rates will be borne by all consumers as the banks pass the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says new Financial Consumer Agency of Canada rules are about ensuring the ‘support that banks and other financial institutions should be providing to Canadians who are struggling with rising mortgage payments.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The curious case of Ottawa’s housing bubble backstop

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
  • The cost of helping mortgage holders avoid the pain of higher interest rates will be borne by all consumers as the banks pass the

The curious case of Ottawa’s housing bubble backstop

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
  • The cost of helping mortgage holders avoid the pain of higher interest rates will be borne by all consumers as the banks pass the
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says new Financial Consumer Agency of Canada rules are about ensuring the ‘support that banks and other financial institutions should be providing to Canadians who are struggling with rising mortgage payments.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Amid growing demands for political change, Trudeau’s best hope remains Pierre Poilievre

  • There’s no doubt the country is very much in the mood for change, but it’s clear the Conservative leader may not be positioned to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
If leader Pierre Poilievre is going to capitalize on the Conservatives’ current advantages, he will have to convince Canadians that he has the policies and mindset that make him an acceptable alternative to Justin Trudeau as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Amid growing demands for political change, Trudeau’s best hope remains Pierre Poilievre

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
  • There’s no doubt the country is very much in the mood for change, but it’s clear the Conservative leader may not be positioned to

Amid growing demands for political change, Trudeau’s best hope remains Pierre Poilievre

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
  • There’s no doubt the country is very much in the mood for change, but it’s clear the Conservative leader may not be positioned to
If leader Pierre Poilievre is going to capitalize on the Conservatives’ current advantages, he will have to convince Canadians that he has the policies and mindset that make him an acceptable alternative to Justin Trudeau as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Economic damage mounts from failure to fight anti-competitive business practices

  • Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell’s latest report says the current state of the grocery business hurts consumers and does not drive companies to lower their
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
A relic of the 1980s when policymakers felt bigger was better for the Canadian economy, our version of anti-trust policy has over the years reduced competition and allowed concentration to take place across the business sector, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels

Economic damage mounts from failure to fight anti-competitive business practices

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
  • Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell’s latest report says the current state of the grocery business hurts consumers and does not drive companies to lower their

Economic damage mounts from failure to fight anti-competitive business practices

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
  • Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell’s latest report says the current state of the grocery business hurts consumers and does not drive companies to lower their
A relic of the 1980s when policymakers felt bigger was better for the Canadian economy, our version of anti-trust policy has over the years reduced competition and allowed concentration to take place across the business sector, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels

Rewriting the Bank of Canada’s playbook as the post-COVID economy defies all expectations

  • It seems certain that the expectations of how people react to a tighter credit environment will have to be rethought.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 28, 2023
The overall economic picture is likely to be too expansive to prevent Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem from raising interest costs again at the next setting date in July, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Rewriting the Bank of Canada’s playbook as the post-COVID economy defies all expectations

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 28, 2023
  • It seems certain that the expectations of how people react to a tighter credit environment will have to be rethought.

Rewriting the Bank of Canada’s playbook as the post-COVID economy defies all expectations

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 28, 2023
  • It seems certain that the expectations of how people react to a tighter credit environment will have to be rethought.
The overall economic picture is likely to be too expansive to prevent Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem from raising interest costs again at the next setting date in July, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Looming historic clash over energy will again redraw federal political fortunes

  • Despite talk about collaboration, the country seems headed for another bruising national fight over energy in the months ahead.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has wagered much of his political fortunes on trying to shape Canada’s energy sector to deal with major challenges and chart what the Liberals see as a better future for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Looming historic clash over energy will again redraw federal political fortunes

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2023
  • Despite talk about collaboration, the country seems headed for another bruising national fight over energy in the months ahead.

Looming historic clash over energy will again redraw federal political fortunes

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2023
  • Despite talk about collaboration, the country seems headed for another bruising national fight over energy in the months ahead.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has wagered much of his political fortunes on trying to shape Canada’s energy sector to deal with major challenges and chart what the Liberals see as a better future for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Nothing funny about this year’s Press Gallery Dinner

  • The PM skipped a situation where he would not have been able to avoid addressing the most immediate question on everyone’s mind about David
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 14, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s video appearance at the June 10 Press Gallery Dinner alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had the effect of pointing out that there are matters of state more pressing than the nasty, pox-on-all-your houses skirmish in Parliament, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube

Nothing funny about this year’s Press Gallery Dinner

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 14, 2023
  • The PM skipped a situation where he would not have been able to avoid addressing the most immediate question on everyone’s mind about David

Nothing funny about this year’s Press Gallery Dinner

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 14, 2023
  • The PM skipped a situation where he would not have been able to avoid addressing the most immediate question on everyone’s mind about David
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s video appearance at the June 10 Press Gallery Dinner alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had the effect of pointing out that there are matters of state more pressing than the nasty, pox-on-all-your houses skirmish in Parliament, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube

Trickle-down economics: the hoax that will not die

  • The trend toward lower taxes has tilted the economy in favour of the well-off and left average people struggling to get by on stagnant
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 7, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is already playing the tax-cut card, as has every leader of Canada’s main right-wing party going back 40 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trickle-down economics: the hoax that will not die

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 7, 2023
  • The trend toward lower taxes has tilted the economy in favour of the well-off and left average people struggling to get by on stagnant

Trickle-down economics: the hoax that will not die

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 7, 2023
  • The trend toward lower taxes has tilted the economy in favour of the well-off and left average people struggling to get by on stagnant
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is already playing the tax-cut card, as has every leader of Canada’s main right-wing party going back 40 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A lesson in the dangers of extremist, scorched-earth politics from U.S. Republicans

  • While nothing in Canada is on a par with the debt ceiling clash in the U.S., voters here should think twice about endorsing a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 31, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, far left, meets with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss the debt ceiling in the Oval Office of the White House on May 9. White House photograph by Adam Schultz

A lesson in the dangers of extremist, scorched-earth politics from U.S. Republicans

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 31, 2023
  • While nothing in Canada is on a par with the debt ceiling clash in the U.S., voters here should think twice about endorsing a

A lesson in the dangers of extremist, scorched-earth politics from U.S. Republicans

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 31, 2023
  • While nothing in Canada is on a par with the debt ceiling clash in the U.S., voters here should think twice about endorsing a
U.S. President Joe Biden, far left, meets with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss the debt ceiling in the Oval Office of the White House on May 9. White House photograph by Adam Schultz

Bank of Canada quietly signals long-term shift with potential for economic, political upheaval

  • The end of the low-interest-rate policy sets the stage for widespread household financial stress in 2025 and 2026, when the majority of mortgages are
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 24, 2023
The new, apparently permanent, financial reality Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem described—and the painful fallout it entails—has the potential to scramble the political outlook, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Bank of Canada quietly signals long-term shift with potential for economic, political upheaval

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 24, 2023
  • The end of the low-interest-rate policy sets the stage for widespread household financial stress in 2025 and 2026, when the majority of mortgages are

Bank of Canada quietly signals long-term shift with potential for economic, political upheaval

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 24, 2023
  • The end of the low-interest-rate policy sets the stage for widespread household financial stress in 2025 and 2026, when the majority of mortgages are
The new, apparently permanent, financial reality Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem described—and the painful fallout it entails—has the potential to scramble the political outlook, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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Alberta election will provide insight into Canadian tolerance for extremism

  • The Alberta race is a potential watershed for Canadians, many of whom seem ready to give the kind of anger-based, hateful politics flourishing in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 17, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith might not support all or any of the authoritarian policies of the Republicans in the U.S., but she would still be right at home politically with many of these legislators, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Alberta election will provide insight into Canadian tolerance for extremism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 17, 2023
  • The Alberta race is a potential watershed for Canadians, many of whom seem ready to give the kind of anger-based, hateful politics flourishing in

Alberta election will provide insight into Canadian tolerance for extremism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 17, 2023
  • The Alberta race is a potential watershed for Canadians, many of whom seem ready to give the kind of anger-based, hateful politics flourishing in
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith might not support all or any of the authoritarian policies of the Republicans in the U.S., but she would still be right at home politically with many of these legislators, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The coronation an upbeat interlude in a country going from Brexit to Bregret

  • U.K. consumers have been facing the worst decline in living standards since the 1950s as a result of the combination of soaring inflation and
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 10, 2023
The May 6 coronation of King Charles III was forecast to create a one-time boom for much of the U.K. economy, with the hospitality and travel sector alone looking for a $1-billion-plus shot in the arm, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/The Royal Family Channel

The coronation an upbeat interlude in a country going from Brexit to Bregret

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 10, 2023
  • U.K. consumers have been facing the worst decline in living standards since the 1950s as a result of the combination of soaring inflation and

The coronation an upbeat interlude in a country going from Brexit to Bregret

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 10, 2023
  • U.K. consumers have been facing the worst decline in living standards since the 1950s as a result of the combination of soaring inflation and
The May 6 coronation of King Charles III was forecast to create a one-time boom for much of the U.K. economy, with the hospitality and travel sector alone looking for a $1-billion-plus shot in the arm, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/The Royal Family Channel

All bets are off in today’s policy-free political environment

  • Policies, or the specific actions of governments, seem less important than ever in an era when emotion and the demagoguery that taps into it
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 3, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s success has to be seen as emblematic of the way politics has changed since 2015 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put the Liberals back in power federally, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

All bets are off in today’s policy-free political environment

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 3, 2023
  • Policies, or the specific actions of governments, seem less important than ever in an era when emotion and the demagoguery that taps into it

All bets are off in today’s policy-free political environment

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 3, 2023
  • Policies, or the specific actions of governments, seem less important than ever in an era when emotion and the demagoguery that taps into it
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s success has to be seen as emblematic of the way politics has changed since 2015 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put the Liberals back in power federally, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadians should look closely at U.S. shambles before endorsing Poilievre’s Republican-style populism

  • There are many disturbing developments in the U.S. that are cause for growing alarm for anyone concerned about humanistic governance, public order, and the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 26, 2023
Canadians might want to give some thought to what kind of country they want as they sidle up to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose post-truth, pernicious, and divisive tactics would win high marks from any Republican organizer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadians should look closely at U.S. shambles before endorsing Poilievre’s Republican-style populism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 26, 2023
  • There are many disturbing developments in the U.S. that are cause for growing alarm for anyone concerned about humanistic governance, public order, and the

Canadians should look closely at U.S. shambles before endorsing Poilievre’s Republican-style populism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 26, 2023
  • There are many disturbing developments in the U.S. that are cause for growing alarm for anyone concerned about humanistic governance, public order, and the
Canadians might want to give some thought to what kind of country they want as they sidle up to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose post-truth, pernicious, and divisive tactics would win high marks from any Republican organizer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Mass killing report a scathing condemnation of Canada’s failure to curb violence against women

  • As the Nova Scotia inquiry found, there is no excuse for not moving ahead vigorously and forcefully to address this shameful, ongoing crisis.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2023
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is the minister responsible for the RCMP. The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission's report is a scathing indictment of Canadians’ lack of progress over many years in reducing and dealing with deeply ingrained and widespread violence against women, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Mass killing report a scathing condemnation of Canada’s failure to curb violence against women

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2023
  • As the Nova Scotia inquiry found, there is no excuse for not moving ahead vigorously and forcefully to address this shameful, ongoing crisis.

Mass killing report a scathing condemnation of Canada’s failure to curb violence against women

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2023
  • As the Nova Scotia inquiry found, there is no excuse for not moving ahead vigorously and forcefully to address this shameful, ongoing crisis.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is the minister responsible for the RCMP. The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission's report is a scathing indictment of Canadians’ lack of progress over many years in reducing and dealing with deeply ingrained and widespread violence against women, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A uniquely Canadian national embarrassment

  • It’s been obvious for many years that Canadians resent spending on the prime minister’s residence, labelling it self-indulgent and wasteful.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 12, 2023
The deterioration of 24 Sussex Drive reflects Canada’s innate regional divisions and the resentment of centralized power in a very decentralized, regionally oriented federal system, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Kevin Philipupillai

A uniquely Canadian national embarrassment

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 12, 2023
  • It’s been obvious for many years that Canadians resent spending on the prime minister’s residence, labelling it self-indulgent and wasteful.

A uniquely Canadian national embarrassment

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 12, 2023
  • It’s been obvious for many years that Canadians resent spending on the prime minister’s residence, labelling it self-indulgent and wasteful.