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Thursday, March 12, 2026

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Les Whittington

Iran war underscores Canada’s vulnerability when it comes to the U.S.

  • Thousands of Canadian livelihoods are at stake in this year’s CUSMA review, so it’s understandable that the prime minister would generally express support for
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
The launch of a widening regional war by U.S. President Donald Trump without a compelling justification has underscored the vulnerability of relying on the U.S. for security and economic well-being for 75 years, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Iran war underscores Canada’s vulnerability when it comes to the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2026
  • Thousands of Canadian livelihoods are at stake in this year’s CUSMA review, so it’s understandable that the prime minister would generally express support for

Iran war underscores Canada’s vulnerability when it comes to the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2026
  • Thousands of Canadian livelihoods are at stake in this year’s CUSMA review, so it’s understandable that the prime minister would generally express support for
Donald Trump
The launch of a widening regional war by U.S. President Donald Trump without a compelling justification has underscored the vulnerability of relying on the U.S. for security and economic well-being for 75 years, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

What’s next for Cuba?

  • Now that the U.S. president has reimagined Washington’s right to control hemispheric affairs, the next steps with Cuba are a more pressing question than
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. It seems the U.S. may be ready to trade oil availability for Cuba for reforms that would begin to open up private sector activities, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok and courtesy of COP28/Mahmoud Khaled

What’s next for Cuba?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2026
  • Now that the U.S. president has reimagined Washington’s right to control hemispheric affairs, the next steps with Cuba are a more pressing question than

What’s next for Cuba?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2026
  • Now that the U.S. president has reimagined Washington’s right to control hemispheric affairs, the next steps with Cuba are a more pressing question than
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. It seems the U.S. may be ready to trade oil availability for Cuba for reforms that would begin to open up private sector activities, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok and courtesy of COP28/Mahmoud Khaled

Will Trump eventually get Epsteined? The scandal laps closer to the White House door

  • The astounding story of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex abuses and his vast network of friends and contacts continues to spin off in all directions.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 18, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
The ties to Jeffrey Epstein among the U.S. president’s associates represent a serious political liability for Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Will Trump eventually get Epsteined? The scandal laps closer to the White House door

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 18, 2026
  • The astounding story of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex abuses and his vast network of friends and contacts continues to spin off in all directions.

Will Trump eventually get Epsteined? The scandal laps closer to the White House door

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 18, 2026
  • The astounding story of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex abuses and his vast network of friends and contacts continues to spin off in all directions.
Donald Trump
The ties to Jeffrey Epstein among the U.S. president’s associates represent a serious political liability for Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

  • The former PM has devoted much of his post-political career to helping to empower right-wing political parties, but drew the line at threatening Canada’s
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 11, 2026
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper used his anniversary appearances to drive home the idea that the American president spells the end of the era of beneficial Canada-U.S. co-operation, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 11, 2026
  • The former PM has devoted much of his post-political career to helping to empower right-wing political parties, but drew the line at threatening Canada’s

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 11, 2026
  • The former PM has devoted much of his post-political career to helping to empower right-wing political parties, but drew the line at threatening Canada’s
Stephen Harper
Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper used his anniversary appearances to drive home the idea that the American president spells the end of the era of beneficial Canada-U.S. co-operation, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre lends credence to western separatists’ blame-it-all-on-Ottawa bias

  • The Tory leader claimed his government would end separatist sentiment by renewing historic pride and delivering policies that would bring hope to disaffected youth
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 4, 2026
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
In his convention speech, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre steered clear of commenting directly on the risks posed to Canada by separatists, laying the whole problem at the feet of the Liberals, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Amir Said

Poilievre lends credence to western separatists’ blame-it-all-on-Ottawa bias

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 4, 2026
  • The Tory leader claimed his government would end separatist sentiment by renewing historic pride and delivering policies that would bring hope to disaffected youth

Poilievre lends credence to western separatists’ blame-it-all-on-Ottawa bias

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 4, 2026
  • The Tory leader claimed his government would end separatist sentiment by renewing historic pride and delivering policies that would bring hope to disaffected youth
Pierre Poilievre
In his convention speech, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre steered clear of commenting directly on the risks posed to Canada by separatists, laying the whole problem at the feet of the Liberals, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Amir Said

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

  • PM Mark Carney’s takedown of the president in the world spotlight, while popular, has added profound new uncertainties to the entire Ottawa-Washington matrix.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 28, 2026
Mark Carney and Donald Trump
Mark Carney and Donald Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump take media questions in the Oval Office on Oct. 7, 2025. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 28, 2026
  • PM Mark Carney’s takedown of the president in the world spotlight, while popular, has added profound new uncertainties to the entire Ottawa-Washington matrix.

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 28, 2026
  • PM Mark Carney’s takedown of the president in the world spotlight, while popular, has added profound new uncertainties to the entire Ottawa-Washington matrix.
Mark Carney and Donald Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump take media questions in the Oval Office on Oct. 7, 2025. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

  • Affording a home now is not quite as problematic as it was during the COVID years, but affordability is still the worst it’s been
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 21, 2026
Gregor Robertson
Gregor Robertson
Housing Minister Gregor Robertson. The federal government will have to revolutionize the country’s notoriously unproductive homebuilding sector, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 21, 2026
  • Affording a home now is not quite as problematic as it was during the COVID years, but affordability is still the worst it’s been

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 21, 2026
  • Affording a home now is not quite as problematic as it was during the COVID years, but affordability is still the worst it’s been
Gregor Robertson
Housing Minister Gregor Robertson. The federal government will have to revolutionize the country’s notoriously unproductive homebuilding sector, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How far will Trump go?

  • It’s obvious that Donald Trump has established a situation where he can operate with little—if any—of the normal constraints of a U.S. president.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 14, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats may at times be just pressure tactics and it’s also possible he is going too far, even for today’s Americans, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

How far will Trump go?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 14, 2026
  • It’s obvious that Donald Trump has established a situation where he can operate with little—if any—of the normal constraints of a U.S. president.

How far will Trump go?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 14, 2026
  • It’s obvious that Donald Trump has established a situation where he can operate with little—if any—of the normal constraints of a U.S. president.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats may at times be just pressure tactics and it’s also possible he is going too far, even for today’s Americans, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

  • For all the Liberals’ high points since they dodged what was shaping up as certain electoral defeat, the year ahead looms as an even
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is dealing with a Rubik’s cube of provincial, financial, environmental, political, labour force, and Indigenous issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
  • For all the Liberals’ high points since they dodged what was shaping up as certain electoral defeat, the year ahead looms as an even

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
  • For all the Liberals’ high points since they dodged what was shaping up as certain electoral defeat, the year ahead looms as an even
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is dealing with a Rubik’s cube of provincial, financial, environmental, political, labour force, and Indigenous issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

  • All the countries sending athletes to next year’s event have been struggling with the damage caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Prime Minister Mark Carney participate in the FIFA World Cup drawing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
  • All the countries sending athletes to next year’s event have been struggling with the damage caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
  • All the countries sending athletes to next year’s event have been struggling with the damage caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Donald Trump
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Prime Minister Mark Carney participate in the FIFA World Cup drawing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

  • The decision to put the possibility of a pipeline back in the national conversation marks a seismic shift in the Liberals’ approach to climate
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to lessen the binary choices on the environment and conventional energy development, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
  • The decision to put the possibility of a pipeline back in the national conversation marks a seismic shift in the Liberals’ approach to climate

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
  • The decision to put the possibility of a pipeline back in the national conversation marks a seismic shift in the Liberals’ approach to climate
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to lessen the binary choices on the environment and conventional energy development, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

With even Conservatives conspiring to pass Carney’s budget, PM turns attention to the wider world

  • The prime minister is engaged in a series of strikingly ambitious undertakings from leveraging Canada’s status as a global middle power to launching a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been going ahead with what has to be called a top-to-bottom renovation of Canada’s economic posture and place in the world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

With even Conservatives conspiring to pass Carney’s budget, PM turns attention to the wider world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
  • The prime minister is engaged in a series of strikingly ambitious undertakings from leveraging Canada’s status as a global middle power to launching a

With even Conservatives conspiring to pass Carney’s budget, PM turns attention to the wider world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
  • The prime minister is engaged in a series of strikingly ambitious undertakings from leveraging Canada’s status as a global middle power to launching a
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been going ahead with what has to be called a top-to-bottom renovation of Canada’s economic posture and place in the world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

  • It is clear that the upward pressure on prices exerted by Donald Trump’s tariffs is becoming a political liability for the United States president.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently broke with his usual patter by admitting tariffs may ‘in some cases’ drive up consumer prices, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
  • It is clear that the upward pressure on prices exerted by Donald Trump’s tariffs is becoming a political liability for the United States president.

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
  • It is clear that the upward pressure on prices exerted by Donald Trump’s tariffs is becoming a political liability for the United States president.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently broke with his usual patter by admitting tariffs may ‘in some cases’ drive up consumer prices, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Pierre Poilievre may be done

  • The Conservative leader has shown no inclination or ability to temper his highly polarized style, which makes his chances in the next election appear
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
If the turmoil in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reached the point where MPs who might be considering defecting are getting threats to destroy their futures, as has been widely reported, it’s obvious that the leader is in serious trouble, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pierre Poilievre may be done

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
  • The Conservative leader has shown no inclination or ability to temper his highly polarized style, which makes his chances in the next election appear

Pierre Poilievre may be done

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
  • The Conservative leader has shown no inclination or ability to temper his highly polarized style, which makes his chances in the next election appear
Pierre Poilievre
If the turmoil in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reached the point where MPs who might be considering defecting are getting threats to destroy their futures, as has been widely reported, it’s obvious that the leader is in serious trouble, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney rewrites the Liberals’ vision in a pro-growth budget for a post-NAFTA era

  • The historic budget will forever mark the end of Canada’s era of economic integration over 75 years with its erstwhile U.S. ally.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
The budget presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne embodies a business-focused, expansionist strategy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney rewrites the Liberals’ vision in a pro-growth budget for a post-NAFTA era

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
  • The historic budget will forever mark the end of Canada’s era of economic integration over 75 years with its erstwhile U.S. ally.

Carney rewrites the Liberals’ vision in a pro-growth budget for a post-NAFTA era

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
  • The historic budget will forever mark the end of Canada’s era of economic integration over 75 years with its erstwhile U.S. ally.
The budget presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne embodies a business-focused, expansionist strategy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Outrage sells: with Poilievre, it’s got nothing to do with attracting moderates

  • It doesn’t matter about the facts or reality involved. It’s all about the media attention a stunt generates.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is well aware that in today’s social media-driven political ecosphere, outrage sells, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Outrage sells: with Poilievre, it’s got nothing to do with attracting moderates

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
  • It doesn’t matter about the facts or reality involved. It’s all about the media attention a stunt generates.

Outrage sells: with Poilievre, it’s got nothing to do with attracting moderates

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
  • It doesn’t matter about the facts or reality involved. It’s all about the media attention a stunt generates.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is well aware that in today’s social media-driven political ecosphere, outrage sells, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Remaking Canada at warp speed: Nov. 4 will be a budget like no other

  • The Liberals have been left to draw up a budget package in the midst of the destruction of the trade relationship that is the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
In his first budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney has on his shoulders a collective task that surpasses the long-term challenges undertaken by a single prime minister in decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Remaking Canada at warp speed: Nov. 4 will be a budget like no other

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
  • The Liberals have been left to draw up a budget package in the midst of the destruction of the trade relationship that is the

Remaking Canada at warp speed: Nov. 4 will be a budget like no other

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
  • The Liberals have been left to draw up a budget package in the midst of the destruction of the trade relationship that is the
Mark Carney
In his first budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney has on his shoulders a collective task that surpasses the long-term challenges undertaken by a single prime minister in decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s always do or die on budget day

  • Budgets have always tended to be historical markers that stood as a defining or make-or-break moment for federal governments.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 15, 2025
As finance ministers, the likes of John Crosbie, left, Allan MacEachen, Jim Flaherty, and Chrystia Freeland all had to plant their respective governments’ flagpoles. Photographs courtesy of Library and Archives Canada and The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright and Andrew Meade

It’s always do or die on budget day

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 15, 2025
  • Budgets have always tended to be historical markers that stood as a defining or make-or-break moment for federal governments.

It’s always do or die on budget day

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 15, 2025
  • Budgets have always tended to be historical markers that stood as a defining or make-or-break moment for federal governments.
As finance ministers, the likes of John Crosbie, left, Allan MacEachen, Jim Flaherty, and Chrystia Freeland all had to plant their respective governments’ flagpoles. Photographs courtesy of Library and Archives Canada and The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright and Andrew Meade

A crisis in search of a cause: Smith brandishes unity issue in dangerous new pipeline gambit

  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made it clear she would see anything but a go-ahead from Ottawa as a powerful accelerant for the smouldering Alberta
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
Danielle Smith
Danielle Smith
Asking the Liberals to scrap one of their signature environmental policies is just a political stunt, but Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seems to see her move as a win-win, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A crisis in search of a cause: Smith brandishes unity issue in dangerous new pipeline gambit

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made it clear she would see anything but a go-ahead from Ottawa as a powerful accelerant for the smouldering Alberta

A crisis in search of a cause: Smith brandishes unity issue in dangerous new pipeline gambit

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made it clear she would see anything but a go-ahead from Ottawa as a powerful accelerant for the smouldering Alberta
Danielle Smith
Asking the Liberals to scrap one of their signature environmental policies is just a political stunt, but Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seems to see her move as a win-win, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

At the UN, Zelenskyy urges action to avert a world of war

  • In his Sept. 24 UN General Assembly address, the Ukrainian president gave a stark warning about the collapse of international law.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24. Photograph courtesy of the Office of the President of Ukraine

At the UN, Zelenskyy urges action to avert a world of war

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2025
  • In his Sept. 24 UN General Assembly address, the Ukrainian president gave a stark warning about the collapse of international law.

At the UN, Zelenskyy urges action to avert a world of war

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2025
  • In his Sept. 24 UN General Assembly address, the Ukrainian president gave a stark warning about the collapse of international law.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24. Photograph courtesy of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Waiting for the truckers to come back

  • A great deal has changed in federal politics in a few months, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre? Not so much.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 24, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces a leadership review this winter, so we shouldn't assume he'll suddenly begin prioritizing moderate, incremental, and fact-based politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Waiting for the truckers to come back

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 24, 2025
  • A great deal has changed in federal politics in a few months, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre? Not so much.

Waiting for the truckers to come back

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 24, 2025
  • A great deal has changed in federal politics in a few months, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre? Not so much.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces a leadership review this winter, so we shouldn't assume he'll suddenly begin prioritizing moderate, incremental, and fact-based politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

  • If we are going to succeed in the historic task of reinventing our economic culture, it will take hitherto unknown co-operation, compromise, and good-faith
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney makes a housing announcement in Nepean, Ont., on Sept. 14. Carney has set out a roadmap for the biggest upheaval in this country’s economic life in many decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
  • If we are going to succeed in the historic task of reinventing our economic culture, it will take hitherto unknown co-operation, compromise, and good-faith

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
  • If we are going to succeed in the historic task of reinventing our economic culture, it will take hitherto unknown co-operation, compromise, and good-faith
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney makes a housing announcement in Nepean, Ont., on Sept. 14. Carney has set out a roadmap for the biggest upheaval in this country’s economic life in many decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

  • There is no reason to think a Poilievre government wouldn’t find ways to seriously weaken the country's social programs.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
As minister of social development, Ken Dryden laid the groundwork for the Liberals’ early learning and childcare plan, which was the most important Canadian social program since medicare, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
  • There is no reason to think a Poilievre government wouldn’t find ways to seriously weaken the country's social programs.

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
  • There is no reason to think a Poilievre government wouldn’t find ways to seriously weaken the country's social programs.
Ken Dryden
As minister of social development, Ken Dryden laid the groundwork for the Liberals’ early learning and childcare plan, which was the most important Canadian social program since medicare, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Putin’s gulling of Trump a historic setback for Ukraine and the world’s democracies

  • The Aug. 15 meeting gave Russia the green light to continue its invasion without worrying too much about Washington intervening in a major way
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 3, 2025
It’s clear that U.S. President Donald Trump, right, has decided that it’s up to somebody else to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin’s obsession with wiping out Ukraine and other in eastern Europe, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Putin’s gulling of Trump a historic setback for Ukraine and the world’s democracies

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 3, 2025
  • The Aug. 15 meeting gave Russia the green light to continue its invasion without worrying too much about Washington intervening in a major way

Putin’s gulling of Trump a historic setback for Ukraine and the world’s democracies

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 3, 2025
  • The Aug. 15 meeting gave Russia the green light to continue its invasion without worrying too much about Washington intervening in a major way
It’s clear that U.S. President Donald Trump, right, has decided that it’s up to somebody else to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin’s obsession with wiping out Ukraine and other in eastern Europe, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

A world without principles

  • The commitment to democracy and individual rights has been and continues to be badly eroded, in part because of U.S. regression under its current
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu
Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The horrors being visited on the people of Gaza are one of the most grievous of the many atrocities consistent with a world increasingly steered by rights-ignoring leaders, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

A world without principles

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
  • The commitment to democracy and individual rights has been and continues to be badly eroded, in part because of U.S. regression under its current

A world without principles

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
  • The commitment to democracy and individual rights has been and continues to be badly eroded, in part because of U.S. regression under its current
Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The horrors being visited on the people of Gaza are one of the most grievous of the many atrocities consistent with a world increasingly steered by rights-ignoring leaders, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Disconnect on Canada-U.S. trade as CUSMA eludes Trump menace

  • The continuation of the broad CUSMA exemption is still a significant positive development for this country in the context of the full-blown trade war
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Unsurprisingly, with Ottawa’s negotiations with the U.S. taking place behind closed doors, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his ministers aren’t saying a lot about CUSMA’s status, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Disconnect on Canada-U.S. trade as CUSMA eludes Trump menace

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
  • The continuation of the broad CUSMA exemption is still a significant positive development for this country in the context of the full-blown trade war

Disconnect on Canada-U.S. trade as CUSMA eludes Trump menace

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
  • The continuation of the broad CUSMA exemption is still a significant positive development for this country in the context of the full-blown trade war
Mark Carney
Unsurprisingly, with Ottawa’s negotiations with the U.S. taking place behind closed doors, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his ministers aren’t saying a lot about CUSMA’s status, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Has Trump realized Putin was making a fool out of him on the world stage?

  • The Russian leader’s ability to hoodwink the American former reality show host has been a constant element of Trump’s actuality for more than a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have finally changed his tune on the Russians because Russian President Vladimir Putin has run circles around the self-appointed great dealmaker, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Has Trump realized Putin was making a fool out of him on the world stage?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
  • The Russian leader’s ability to hoodwink the American former reality show host has been a constant element of Trump’s actuality for more than a

Has Trump realized Putin was making a fool out of him on the world stage?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
  • The Russian leader’s ability to hoodwink the American former reality show host has been a constant element of Trump’s actuality for more than a
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have finally changed his tune on the Russians because Russian President Vladimir Putin has run circles around the self-appointed great dealmaker, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
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The politics of budget-making as Canadians brace for stagflation

  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is trying to rein in spending at a time when the expected economic downturn could significantly worsen Ottawa’s deficit position.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
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

The politics of budget-making as Canadians brace for stagflation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is trying to rein in spending at a time when the expected economic downturn could significantly worsen Ottawa’s deficit position.

The politics of budget-making as Canadians brace for stagflation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 15, 2023
  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is trying to rein in spending at a time when the expected economic downturn could significantly worsen Ottawa’s deficit position.
Chrystia Freeland
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

Will the West’s support for Ukraine stand the test of time?

  • The overriding question is becoming whether the West will persist in helping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold back the invasion for the long term.
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

Will the West’s support for Ukraine stand the test of time?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 8, 2023
  • The overriding question is becoming whether the West will persist in helping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold back the invasion for the long term.

Will the West’s support for Ukraine stand the test of time?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 8, 2023
  • The overriding question is becoming whether the West will persist in helping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold back the invasion for the long term.
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

Protecting publicly funded health care is shaping up as a last-ditch stand

  • Holding off the push toward private care will take measurable results.
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

Protecting publicly funded health care is shaping up as a last-ditch stand

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 1, 2023
  • Holding off the push toward private care will take measurable results.

Protecting publicly funded health care is shaping up as a last-ditch stand

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 1, 2023
  • Holding off the push toward private care will take measurable results.
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

Rouleau lays much of the blame for Ottawa’s occupation where it belongs—with Doug Ford

  • He reminds everyone that, under Canada’s federal system, restoring order in an Ontario city in the midst of near-riotous conditions is the remit of
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

Rouleau lays much of the blame for Ottawa’s occupation where it belongs—with Doug Ford

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 22, 2023
  • He reminds everyone that, under Canada’s federal system, restoring order in an Ontario city in the midst of near-riotous conditions is the remit of

Rouleau lays much of the blame for Ottawa’s occupation where it belongs—with Doug Ford

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 22, 2023
  • He reminds everyone that, under Canada’s federal system, restoring order in an Ontario city in the midst of near-riotous conditions is the remit of
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

Ford’s free pass from integrity commissioner shows plenty of leeway in Ontario ethics conventions

  • The public may want to concentrate a bit more closely than it has been on the actions of the premier and his colleagues.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
Doug Ford
Doug Ford
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

Ford’s free pass from integrity commissioner shows plenty of leeway in Ontario ethics conventions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
  • The public may want to concentrate a bit more closely than it has been on the actions of the premier and his colleagues.

Ford’s free pass from integrity commissioner shows plenty of leeway in Ontario ethics conventions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 15, 2023
  • The public may want to concentrate a bit more closely than it has been on the actions of the premier and his colleagues.
Doug Ford
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

The little-discussed threat to Canadians’ long-term prosperity

  • In the face of lagging business investment, there’s no guarantee the feds’ stock-buyback plan is going to be the answer.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
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

The little-discussed threat to Canadians’ long-term prosperity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
  • In the face of lagging business investment, there’s no guarantee the feds’ stock-buyback plan is going to be the answer.

The little-discussed threat to Canadians’ long-term prosperity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 8, 2023
  • In the face of lagging business investment, there’s no guarantee the feds’ stock-buyback plan is going to be the answer.
Chrystia Freeland
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

Will Canadians opt for co-operative progress or nihilistic post-COVID chaos?

  • It seems 2023 will be the year that begins to clarify the aftermath—political, economic, and otherwise—of the once-in-a-century virus.
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

Will Canadians opt for co-operative progress or nihilistic post-COVID chaos?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 1, 2023
  • It seems 2023 will be the year that begins to clarify the aftermath—political, economic, and otherwise—of the once-in-a-century virus.

Will Canadians opt for co-operative progress or nihilistic post-COVID chaos?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 1, 2023
  • It seems 2023 will be the year that begins to clarify the aftermath—political, economic, and otherwise—of the once-in-a-century virus.
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

Likening medicare to communism, Ford moves ahead with plans for privatized, two-tier health care in Ontario

  • The crumbling of the country’s medical services during COVID has opened the way for a major push by those who favour private, for-profit health
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
Doug Ford
Doug Ford
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

Likening medicare to communism, Ford moves ahead with plans for privatized, two-tier health care in Ontario

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
  • The crumbling of the country’s medical services during COVID has opened the way for a major push by those who favour private, for-profit health

Likening medicare to communism, Ford moves ahead with plans for privatized, two-tier health care in Ontario

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 25, 2023
  • The crumbling of the country’s medical services during COVID has opened the way for a major push by those who favour private, for-profit health
Doug Ford
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

Trudeau looks to gather momentum in clean tech race after potentially game-changing signs from U.S.

  • The issue is whether Ottawa has the money and the ability to move quickly enough to stay competitive with the U.S., which is pumping
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

Trudeau looks to gather momentum in clean tech race after potentially game-changing signs from U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 18, 2023
  • The issue is whether Ottawa has the money and the ability to move quickly enough to stay competitive with the U.S., which is pumping

Trudeau looks to gather momentum in clean tech race after potentially game-changing signs from U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 18, 2023
  • The issue is whether Ottawa has the money and the ability to move quickly enough to stay competitive with the U.S., which is pumping
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

Challenges to how Canada operates only likely to deepen in 2023

  • These situations contribute to potential chaos, distrust of government, and the weakening of the country’s system of shared governmental powers.
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

Challenges to how Canada operates only likely to deepen in 2023

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 11, 2023
  • These situations contribute to potential chaos, distrust of government, and the weakening of the country’s system of shared governmental powers.

Challenges to how Canada operates only likely to deepen in 2023

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 11, 2023
  • These situations contribute to potential chaos, distrust of government, and the weakening of the country’s system of shared governmental powers.
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

On health, premiers cherish their jurisdiction, not their responsibilities

  • Having let the health system reach a state of near collapse where patients run the risk of dying in emergency rooms, the premiers are
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

On health, premiers cherish their jurisdiction, not their responsibilities

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 14, 2022
  • Having let the health system reach a state of near collapse where patients run the risk of dying in emergency rooms, the premiers are

On health, premiers cherish their jurisdiction, not their responsibilities

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 14, 2022
  • Having let the health system reach a state of near collapse where patients run the risk of dying in emergency rooms, the premiers are
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

Smith leads the way as the right challenges democratic norms in the post-COVID political wasteland

  • Alberta’s Sovereignty Act takes place against a backdrop of anger and grievance aimed at the Trudeau government that is largely based on myth.
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

Smith leads the way as the right challenges democratic norms in the post-COVID political wasteland

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 7, 2022
  • Alberta’s Sovereignty Act takes place against a backdrop of anger and grievance aimed at the Trudeau government that is largely based on myth.

Smith leads the way as the right challenges democratic norms in the post-COVID political wasteland

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 7, 2022
  • Alberta’s Sovereignty Act takes place against a backdrop of anger and grievance aimed at the Trudeau government that is largely based on myth.
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

The real Rouleau inquiry question: who was responsible for allowing the illegal trucker blockades to drag on?

  • The issue of responsibility has tended to get lost in the endless hours of legalistic testimony in the Emergencies Act review.
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

The real Rouleau inquiry question: who was responsible for allowing the illegal trucker blockades to drag on?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2022
  • The issue of responsibility has tended to get lost in the endless hours of legalistic testimony in the Emergencies Act review.

The real Rouleau inquiry question: who was responsible for allowing the illegal trucker blockades to drag on?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2022
  • The issue of responsibility has tended to get lost in the endless hours of legalistic testimony in the Emergencies Act review.
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

Reaction to Trudeau-Xi exchange shows partisanship trumps all, even our national interest

  • Rather than see it for what it really was, right-wing media, politicians, and commentators couldn’t resist the opportunity to portray Canada’s leader as weak
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

Reaction to Trudeau-Xi exchange shows partisanship trumps all, even our national interest

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 23, 2022
  • Rather than see it for what it really was, right-wing media, politicians, and commentators couldn’t resist the opportunity to portray Canada’s leader as weak

Reaction to Trudeau-Xi exchange shows partisanship trumps all, even our national interest

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 23, 2022
  • Rather than see it for what it really was, right-wing media, politicians, and commentators couldn’t resist the opportunity to portray Canada’s leader as weak
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

A week that could reverberate in Canada and beyond for years

  • From the U.S. midterm elections, to policies on China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, last week saw an unusual constellation of events.
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

A week that could reverberate in Canada and beyond for years

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 16, 2022
  • From the U.S. midterm elections, to policies on China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, last week saw an unusual constellation of events.

A week that could reverberate in Canada and beyond for years

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 16, 2022
  • From the U.S. midterm elections, to policies on China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, last week saw an unusual constellation of events.
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

Even with COVID receding, economic decision-making not getting any easier

  • As Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said, governments knew how to turn off the economy to try to slow the spread of
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

Even with COVID receding, economic decision-making not getting any easier

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 9, 2022
  • As Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said, governments knew how to turn off the economy to try to slow the spread of

Even with COVID receding, economic decision-making not getting any easier

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 9, 2022
  • As Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said, governments knew how to turn off the economy to try to slow the spread of
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

Paranoid populism arrives in force

  • OTTAWA—Danielle Smith doesn’t just want to change the rules around government vaccine mandates to suit the anti-vaxxers who put her in power in Alberta.
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

Paranoid populism arrives in force

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 2, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Danielle Smith doesn’t just want to change the rules around government vaccine mandates to suit the anti-vaxxers who put her in power in Alberta.

Paranoid populism arrives in force

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 2, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Danielle Smith doesn’t just want to change the rules around government vaccine mandates to suit the anti-vaxxers who put her in power in Alberta.
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

An ominous signal to Putin from the Republicans’ Russia apologists

  • OTTAWA—Of all the horrific developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine—a seemingly endless list—one of the most appalling is the unwillingness of Republicans in
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

An ominous signal to Putin from the Republicans’ Russia apologists

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Of all the horrific developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine—a seemingly endless list—one of the most appalling is the unwillingness of Republicans in

An ominous signal to Putin from the Republicans’ Russia apologists

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Of all the horrific developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine—a seemingly endless list—one of the most appalling is the unwillingness of Republicans in
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

Convoy grifters get another boost with an equivalent voice before Rouleau

  • OTTAWA—Without intending any disrespect for Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Paul Rouleau, one has to wonder when he opened the Emergencies Act inquiry with
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

Convoy grifters get another boost with an equivalent voice before Rouleau

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Without intending any disrespect for Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Paul Rouleau, one has to wonder when he opened the Emergencies Act inquiry with

Convoy grifters get another boost with an equivalent voice before Rouleau

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Without intending any disrespect for Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Paul Rouleau, one has to wonder when he opened the Emergencies Act inquiry with
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

The sporting life and the cost of bad decisions

  • OTTAWA—The positive cultural value available from Canadian sport appeared to be on the upswing in 2019 when the CBC belatedly relieved us from having
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

The sporting life and the cost of bad decisions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The positive cultural value available from Canadian sport appeared to be on the upswing in 2019 when the CBC belatedly relieved us from having

The sporting life and the cost of bad decisions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The positive cultural value available from Canadian sport appeared to be on the upswing in 2019 when the CBC belatedly relieved us from having
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

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