Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Latest Paper
Thursday, October 16, 2025 | Latest Paper
Subscribe Now

TRENDING:

Les Whittington

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

Canada today: an exporting country in a trade-compromised world

  • For all the effort towards building new overseas trade relationships, the prospects for an outward-focused nation like Canada—where exports account for 34 per cent
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 9, 2025
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. The reordering of Canadian export options is taking place in a world of increasing anti-globalization, splintering trade frameworks, and deteriorating supply chains, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada today: an exporting country in a trade-compromised world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 9, 2025
  • For all the effort towards building new overseas trade relationships, the prospects for an outward-focused nation like Canada—where exports account for 34 per cent

Canada today: an exporting country in a trade-compromised world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 9, 2025
  • For all the effort towards building new overseas trade relationships, the prospects for an outward-focused nation like Canada—where exports account for 34 per cent
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. The reordering of Canadian export options is taking place in a world of increasing anti-globalization, splintering trade frameworks, and deteriorating supply chains, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

  • With the deployment of 200 people and the use of AI in some instances, the Phoenix backlog is gradually coming under control, but a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
Alex Benay, the associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada in whose lap this mess has landed, estimated on June 23 that the cost of fixing and replacing Phoenix would be $5.1-billion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
  • With the deployment of 200 people and the use of AI in some instances, the Phoenix backlog is gradually coming under control, but a

The failed $5-billion program the feds can’t shake

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
  • With the deployment of 200 people and the use of AI in some instances, the Phoenix backlog is gradually coming under control, but a
Alex Benay, the associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada in whose lap this mess has landed, estimated on June 23 that the cost of fixing and replacing Phoenix would be $5.1-billion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney blows the roof off inertia-bound Ottawa, but there’s no guarantee of success

  • Canada’s highly decentralized federation requires time, energy, and good fortune to reach consensus.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney
It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Mark Carney's government can make all this work in a timeframe that complies with his refreshing, unconventional campaign to rapidly bring the country together to start building a stronger, more independent economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney blows the roof off inertia-bound Ottawa, but there’s no guarantee of success

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
  • Canada’s highly decentralized federation requires time, energy, and good fortune to reach consensus.

Carney blows the roof off inertia-bound Ottawa, but there’s no guarantee of success

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
  • Canada’s highly decentralized federation requires time, energy, and good fortune to reach consensus.
Prime Minister Mark Carney
It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Mark Carney's government can make all this work in a timeframe that complies with his refreshing, unconventional campaign to rapidly bring the country together to start building a stronger, more independent economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

That’s what dictators do

  • This plunge into totalitarian-style histrionics is just a minor manifestation of the upheaval in public norms radiating across the U.S. from Trump’s White House.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
Only five months into his new term, U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed moved quite a ways down the road to his own version of one-man rule, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

That’s what dictators do

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
  • This plunge into totalitarian-style histrionics is just a minor manifestation of the upheaval in public norms radiating across the U.S. from Trump’s White House.

That’s what dictators do

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
  • This plunge into totalitarian-style histrionics is just a minor manifestation of the upheaval in public norms radiating across the U.S. from Trump’s White House.
Only five months into his new term, U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed moved quite a ways down the road to his own version of one-man rule, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Visions of a gold rush in expanded oil exports fly in the face of a decades-old reality

  • The potential for a conduit to load oil tankers in the dangerous waters of the northern B.C. coast actually ended more than three decades
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would have been in her late teens when the Exxon Valdez forever changed the public attitude on pipelines on B.C.’s northern coast, so maybe she didn’t pay much attention, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Brickett

Visions of a gold rush in expanded oil exports fly in the face of a decades-old reality

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
  • The potential for a conduit to load oil tankers in the dangerous waters of the northern B.C. coast actually ended more than three decades

Visions of a gold rush in expanded oil exports fly in the face of a decades-old reality

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
  • The potential for a conduit to load oil tankers in the dangerous waters of the northern B.C. coast actually ended more than three decades
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would have been in her late teens when the Exxon Valdez forever changed the public attitude on pipelines on B.C.’s northern coast, so maybe she didn’t pay much attention, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Brickett

Election? What election?

  • The Conservatives seem to be trying to juggle the need to be constructive during a national crisis, and the belief that they got cheated
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
One might indeed be forgiven for thinking Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a bit focused on the rear-view mirror, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Election? What election?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
  • The Conservatives seem to be trying to juggle the need to be constructive during a national crisis, and the belief that they got cheated

Election? What election?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
  • The Conservatives seem to be trying to juggle the need to be constructive during a national crisis, and the belief that they got cheated
Pierre Poilievre
One might indeed be forgiven for thinking Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a bit focused on the rear-view mirror, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In 50 years, the G7’s never had a summit like the one Carney is hosting next month

  • It’s hard to imagine how the stakes could be higher in the midst of the U.S. president's economic warfare against most of the other
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s last trip to Canada was for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in 2018. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

In 50 years, the G7’s never had a summit like the one Carney is hosting next month

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
  • It’s hard to imagine how the stakes could be higher in the midst of the U.S. president's economic warfare against most of the other

In 50 years, the G7’s never had a summit like the one Carney is hosting next month

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
  • It’s hard to imagine how the stakes could be higher in the midst of the U.S. president's economic warfare against most of the other
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s last trip to Canada was for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in 2018. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Unchartable as ever: Canada’s future still up in the air as Trump juggles his trade strategy

  • Canada needs some kind of breakthrough soon because the combination of existing tariffs and the uncertainty from Trump’s tariff shell game has this country
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be entering into a more difficult phase in his unorthodox economic project, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Unchartable as ever: Canada’s future still up in the air as Trump juggles his trade strategy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
  • Canada needs some kind of breakthrough soon because the combination of existing tariffs and the uncertainty from Trump’s tariff shell game has this country

Unchartable as ever: Canada’s future still up in the air as Trump juggles his trade strategy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
  • Canada needs some kind of breakthrough soon because the combination of existing tariffs and the uncertainty from Trump’s tariff shell game has this country
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be entering into a more difficult phase in his unorthodox economic project, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

  • The Alberta premier and Conservative leader’s regular excoriations of Ottawa policy never seem to contain a reference to Trans Mountain.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly stated he's willing to adopt a new approach to energy development, combining increased conventional oil production with climate mitigation tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
  • The Alberta premier and Conservative leader’s regular excoriations of Ottawa policy never seem to contain a reference to Trans Mountain.

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
  • The Alberta premier and Conservative leader’s regular excoriations of Ottawa policy never seem to contain a reference to Trans Mountain.
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly stated he's willing to adopt a new approach to energy development, combining increased conventional oil production with climate mitigation tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The man who lost his seat will soon return

  • It will be interesting to see how Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre—once back in his parliamentary role—chooses to position his party as the Liberals try
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
It’s not clear what would motivate Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to back off the anti-Liberal crusade he has been profiting off of for years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The man who lost his seat will soon return

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
  • It will be interesting to see how Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre—once back in his parliamentary role—chooses to position his party as the Liberals try

The man who lost his seat will soon return

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
  • It will be interesting to see how Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre—once back in his parliamentary role—chooses to position his party as the Liberals try
Pierre Poilievre
It’s not clear what would motivate Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to back off the anti-Liberal crusade he has been profiting off of for years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

  • Canadians can’t count on a flip-flop on tariffs since the U.S. president seems obsessed with undermining Canada in keeping with his persistent lusting after
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump can’t seem to get through a day in the Oval Office without reverting to his accusations about those freeloaders in Canada, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
  • Canadians can’t count on a flip-flop on tariffs since the U.S. president seems obsessed with undermining Canada in keeping with his persistent lusting after

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
  • Canadians can’t count on a flip-flop on tariffs since the U.S. president seems obsessed with undermining Canada in keeping with his persistent lusting after
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump can’t seem to get through a day in the Oval Office without reverting to his accusations about those freeloaders in Canada, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

  • Whatever happens on April 28, Mark Carney will be remembered as the man who stepped up to offer his services to fellow Canadians in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney greets supporters at a rally outside of the Lusitania Portuguese Club of Ottawa on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
  • Whatever happens on April 28, Mark Carney will be remembered as the man who stepped up to offer his services to fellow Canadians in

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
  • Whatever happens on April 28, Mark Carney will be remembered as the man who stepped up to offer his services to fellow Canadians in
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney greets supporters at a rally outside of the Lusitania Portuguese Club of Ottawa on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Doug Ford
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
More Stories

Dafonte Miller case another shocking wake-up call for police reform

  • OTTAWA—It took Ontario Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca four-and-a-half hours’ worth of rationalization to conclude in his judgment that the white off-duty cop
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
Commissioner Brenda Lucki’s comment to Members of Parliament that her officers are feeling picked on and ‘demoralized’ by the ‘anti-police narrative’ belies all her talk about reform, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Dafonte Miller case another shocking wake-up call for police reform

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It took Ontario Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca four-and-a-half hours’ worth of rationalization to conclude in his judgment that the white off-duty cop

Dafonte Miller case another shocking wake-up call for police reform

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It took Ontario Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca four-and-a-half hours’ worth of rationalization to conclude in his judgment that the white off-duty cop
Commissioner Brenda Lucki’s comment to Members of Parliament that her officers are feeling picked on and ‘demoralized’ by the ‘anti-police narrative’ belies all her talk about reform, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Beleagured Trump signals he’s betting it all on a white racist backlash

  • OTTAWA—The trajectory of the U.S. presidential election campaign clarified itself on the weekend as President Donald Trump confirmed the unyielding position he is carving out as
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
Having risen to prominence and won the White House on an appeal to white racism, U.S. President Donald Trump is openly embracing that approach again, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Beleagured Trump signals he’s betting it all on a white racist backlash

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The trajectory of the U.S. presidential election campaign clarified itself on the weekend as President Donald Trump confirmed the unyielding position he is carving out as

Beleagured Trump signals he’s betting it all on a white racist backlash

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The trajectory of the U.S. presidential election campaign clarified itself on the weekend as President Donald Trump confirmed the unyielding position he is carving out as
Having risen to prominence and won the White House on an appeal to white racism, U.S. President Donald Trump is openly embracing that approach again, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

The never-ending outrage: Canadians need to finally come to terms with police brutality and racial injustice

  • OTTAWA—The video of RCMP officers attacking and punching Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam is disturbing enough. But the truly shocking part of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
Demonstrators participate in the No Peace Until Justice rally on Parliament Hill on June 5. Given the protections for police built into the current system, it’s clear the only way to make progress will be through a drastic overhaul of the current policing model, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The never-ending outrage: Canadians need to finally come to terms with police brutality and racial injustice

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The video of RCMP officers attacking and punching Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam is disturbing enough. But the truly shocking part of

The never-ending outrage: Canadians need to finally come to terms with police brutality and racial injustice

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The video of RCMP officers attacking and punching Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam is disturbing enough. But the truly shocking part of
Demonstrators participate in the No Peace Until Justice rally on Parliament Hill on June 5. Given the protections for police built into the current system, it’s clear the only way to make progress will be through a drastic overhaul of the current policing model, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Though badly needed, curbing officially sanctioned racism may prove long and difficult

  • OTTAWA—Technology and the internet have led to deeply troubling questions about the ongoing health of politics and democracy. But a single invention, the camera
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
As protests of unfair policing have mounted in more than 100 cities around the globe and in Canada, including in Ottawa on June 5, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other elected leaders have vowed to do more to tackle the problem, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Though badly needed, curbing officially sanctioned racism may prove long and difficult

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Technology and the internet have led to deeply troubling questions about the ongoing health of politics and democracy. But a single invention, the camera

Though badly needed, curbing officially sanctioned racism may prove long and difficult

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Technology and the internet have led to deeply troubling questions about the ongoing health of politics and democracy. But a single invention, the camera
As protests of unfair policing have mounted in more than 100 cities around the globe and in Canada, including in Ottawa on June 5, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other elected leaders have vowed to do more to tackle the problem, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Stuck with Trump in a nation-defining moment, there’s no turning back for the U.S.

  • OTTAWA—In 1989, as five young teens (four Black, one Latino) were going to trial in New York for allegedly beating and raping a woman
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
The protests and riots in the U.S. may ultimately work to Donald Trump’s advantage, distracting attention from his mishandling of COVID-19 and invigorating the law-and-order vote, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian

Stuck with Trump in a nation-defining moment, there’s no turning back for the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
  • OTTAWA—In 1989, as five young teens (four Black, one Latino) were going to trial in New York for allegedly beating and raping a woman

Stuck with Trump in a nation-defining moment, there’s no turning back for the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
  • OTTAWA—In 1989, as five young teens (four Black, one Latino) were going to trial in New York for allegedly beating and raping a woman
The protests and riots in the U.S. may ultimately work to Donald Trump’s advantage, distracting attention from his mishandling of COVID-19 and invigorating the law-and-order vote, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian

Virus-hounded Trump digs in for most ugly, unpredictable electoral free-for-all ever

  • OTTAWA—Exposed by the pandemic as an incompetent, uncaring con man, U.S. President Donald Trump has ditched any semblance of respect for American democratic tradition
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
Positioning himself as the torch-bearer of the economic recovery after COVID is now the key to U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election strategy and he is showing he won’t hesitate to use any and all means to fan the anger and division that sprung up around the crisis, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Virus-hounded Trump digs in for most ugly, unpredictable electoral free-for-all ever

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Exposed by the pandemic as an incompetent, uncaring con man, U.S. President Donald Trump has ditched any semblance of respect for American democratic tradition

Virus-hounded Trump digs in for most ugly, unpredictable electoral free-for-all ever

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Exposed by the pandemic as an incompetent, uncaring con man, U.S. President Donald Trump has ditched any semblance of respect for American democratic tradition
Positioning himself as the torch-bearer of the economic recovery after COVID is now the key to U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election strategy and he is showing he won’t hesitate to use any and all means to fan the anger and division that sprung up around the crisis, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Beyond COVID-19: an unchartable political course for months, maybe years

  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who came to power touting “sunny ways,” is now presiding over Canada in what can only be called the Year
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
As with everything else, the virus raises questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s future and, beyond that, about how the wider national political scene will be transformed, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Beyond COVID-19: an unchartable political course for months, maybe years

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who came to power touting “sunny ways,” is now presiding over Canada in what can only be called the Year

Beyond COVID-19: an unchartable political course for months, maybe years

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who came to power touting “sunny ways,” is now presiding over Canada in what can only be called the Year
As with everything else, the virus raises questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s future and, beyond that, about how the wider national political scene will be transformed, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As COVID-19 plays out, the world finds itself at a crossroads

  • OTTAWA—Like the Second World War, COVID-19 has the potential to be a dividing line that will be felt around the globe for years to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 13, 2020
Protesters participate in a rally in Vancouver on April 27. It is well known that extremist, right-wing groups are trying to capitalize on COVID-born fear and frustration to drum up thousands of new recruits—pumping conspiracy theories and taking advantage of anti-shelter-in-place demonstrations, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph courtesy of GoToVan

As COVID-19 plays out, the world finds itself at a crossroads

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 13, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Like the Second World War, COVID-19 has the potential to be a dividing line that will be felt around the globe for years to

As COVID-19 plays out, the world finds itself at a crossroads

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 13, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Like the Second World War, COVID-19 has the potential to be a dividing line that will be felt around the globe for years to
Protesters participate in a rally in Vancouver on April 27. It is well known that extremist, right-wing groups are trying to capitalize on COVID-born fear and frustration to drum up thousands of new recruits—pumping conspiracy theories and taking advantage of anti-shelter-in-place demonstrations, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph courtesy of GoToVan

Monetary policy in the time of COVID: obscure, but vital, BofC gets a new governor

  • OTTAWA—Covering Ottawa for years, I wrote thousands of articles about economics, politics, and so forth. Of these, one article that received an unexpectedly huge
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 6, 2020
Tiff Macklem is pictured at the May 1 announcement of his appointment as the next Bank of Canada governor. These days the governor’s job has evolved into the much broader task of complementing governments’ fiscal measures with a range of other robust policy initiatives, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Monetary policy in the time of COVID: obscure, but vital, BofC gets a new governor

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Covering Ottawa for years, I wrote thousands of articles about economics, politics, and so forth. Of these, one article that received an unexpectedly huge

Monetary policy in the time of COVID: obscure, but vital, BofC gets a new governor

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 6, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Covering Ottawa for years, I wrote thousands of articles about economics, politics, and so forth. Of these, one article that received an unexpectedly huge
Tiff Macklem is pictured at the May 1 announcement of his appointment as the next Bank of Canada governor. These days the governor’s job has evolved into the much broader task of complementing governments’ fiscal measures with a range of other robust policy initiatives, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Nova Scotia massacre again drives home urgent need for action on gun control, gender violence

  • OTTAWA—At a raucous party in Portapique, N.S., some years ago, the shooter in the recent massacre had an argument with his girlfriend, removed the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 29, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters in front of Rideau Cottage on April 14. Mr. Trudeau has promised action on gun controls, but not much is likely to happen until Canadians join together to forcefully demand tougher firearms restrictions to break through the influence of the gun lobby and Conservatives’ opposition, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Nova Scotia massacre again drives home urgent need for action on gun control, gender violence

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—At a raucous party in Portapique, N.S., some years ago, the shooter in the recent massacre had an argument with his girlfriend, removed the

Nova Scotia massacre again drives home urgent need for action on gun control, gender violence

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—At a raucous party in Portapique, N.S., some years ago, the shooter in the recent massacre had an argument with his girlfriend, removed the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters in front of Rideau Cottage on April 14. Mr. Trudeau has promised action on gun controls, but not much is likely to happen until Canadians join together to forcefully demand tougher firearms restrictions to break through the influence of the gun lobby and Conservatives’ opposition, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Crisis or not, Canada’s right-wing sticks with the politics of anger and division

  • OTTAWA—Despite the need for the country to pull together in this emergency, Canada’s right-wingers appear incapable of resisting a Donald Trump-style campaign of inflammatory,
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 22, 2020
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured at a West Block press conference on April 20, always seemed to be trying to channel a bit of Donald Trump’s populist appeal, has seized on the issue of China’s handling of the outbreak as a way to slam the Liberals today. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Crisis or not, Canada’s right-wing sticks with the politics of anger and division

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 22, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Despite the need for the country to pull together in this emergency, Canada’s right-wingers appear incapable of resisting a Donald Trump-style campaign of inflammatory,

Crisis or not, Canada’s right-wing sticks with the politics of anger and division

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 22, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Despite the need for the country to pull together in this emergency, Canada’s right-wingers appear incapable of resisting a Donald Trump-style campaign of inflammatory,
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured at a West Block press conference on April 20, always seemed to be trying to channel a bit of Donald Trump’s populist appeal, has seized on the issue of China’s handling of the outbreak as a way to slam the Liberals today. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

BoJo takes it on the chin

  • OTTAWA—Well, at least he didn’t die. At least Boris Johnson didn’t leave the United Kingdom leaderless at a moment when the U.K. is facing
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 15, 2020
In an Easter Sunday video, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked his country’s health service for steering him through his own bout with COVID-19. Screenshot courtesy of Boris Johnson’s Facebook

BoJo takes it on the chin

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 15, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Well, at least he didn’t die. At least Boris Johnson didn’t leave the United Kingdom leaderless at a moment when the U.K. is facing

BoJo takes it on the chin

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 15, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Well, at least he didn’t die. At least Boris Johnson didn’t leave the United Kingdom leaderless at a moment when the U.K. is facing
In an Easter Sunday video, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked his country’s health service for steering him through his own bout with COVID-19. Screenshot courtesy of Boris Johnson’s Facebook

COVID upheaval may prompt long overdue repudiation of selfishness disguised as austerity

  • OTTAWA—More than a decade has passed since, during the 2009 financial meltdown, we heard the now-resurrected refrain: “We’re all socialists now.” That ironic phrasing
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 8, 2020
Conservative efforts to hollow out government in the name of austerity and private sector superiority were championed by the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, pictured at Camp David in 1984, and often bankrolled by the super-rich. Photograph courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration

COVID upheaval may prompt long overdue repudiation of selfishness disguised as austerity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 8, 2020
  • OTTAWA—More than a decade has passed since, during the 2009 financial meltdown, we heard the now-resurrected refrain: “We’re all socialists now.” That ironic phrasing

COVID upheaval may prompt long overdue repudiation of selfishness disguised as austerity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 8, 2020
  • OTTAWA—More than a decade has passed since, during the 2009 financial meltdown, we heard the now-resurrected refrain: “We’re all socialists now.” That ironic phrasing
Conservative efforts to hollow out government in the name of austerity and private sector superiority were championed by the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, pictured at Camp David in 1984, and often bankrolled by the super-rich. Photograph courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration

The U.S. heads into the abyss

  • OTTAWA—As the COVID-19 crisis has gained momentum, Donald Trump has reduced the office of the U.S. president to a kind of endless, theatre-of-the-absurd talk
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 1, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the White House Coronavirus Task Force update briefing on March 29. The fact that half of Americans can find something to approve in his performance shows how much he has converted his leadership into a cult, write Les Whittington. White House photograph courtesy of Andrea Hanks

The U.S. heads into the abyss

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As the COVID-19 crisis has gained momentum, Donald Trump has reduced the office of the U.S. president to a kind of endless, theatre-of-the-absurd talk

The U.S. heads into the abyss

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 1, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As the COVID-19 crisis has gained momentum, Donald Trump has reduced the office of the U.S. president to a kind of endless, theatre-of-the-absurd talk
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the White House Coronavirus Task Force update briefing on March 29. The fact that half of Americans can find something to approve in his performance shows how much he has converted his leadership into a cult, write Les Whittington. White House photograph courtesy of Andrea Hanks

This pandemic will change everything

  • OTTAWA—Judging from the accounts of 20-somethings packing the beaches and partying in the face of the coronavirus disaster, the young people who fought the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 25, 2020
If anyone has gained in terms of personal stature, it has been Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a March 20 press conference providing updates to the government’s response to COVID-19, who looks increasingly like the Liberals’ best choice as the next leader, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

This pandemic will change everything

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 25, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Judging from the accounts of 20-somethings packing the beaches and partying in the face of the coronavirus disaster, the young people who fought the

This pandemic will change everything

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 25, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Judging from the accounts of 20-somethings packing the beaches and partying in the face of the coronavirus disaster, the young people who fought the
If anyone has gained in terms of personal stature, it has been Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a March 20 press conference providing updates to the government’s response to COVID-19, who looks increasingly like the Liberals’ best choice as the next leader, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A crisis defining leadership around the world

  • OTTAWA—Given U.S. President Donald Trump’s seemingly congenital inability to confront the potential size of the coronavirus catastrophe, it’s been left to U.S. governors and
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 18, 2020
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and U.S. President Donald Trump will all find their leadership tested in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, No. 10 Downing Street photograph courtesy of Andrew Parsons, and White House photograph courtesy of D. Myles Cullen

A crisis defining leadership around the world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 18, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Given U.S. President Donald Trump’s seemingly congenital inability to confront the potential size of the coronavirus catastrophe, it’s been left to U.S. governors and

A crisis defining leadership around the world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 18, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Given U.S. President Donald Trump’s seemingly congenital inability to confront the potential size of the coronavirus catastrophe, it’s been left to U.S. governors and
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and U.S. President Donald Trump will all find their leadership tested in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, No. 10 Downing Street photograph courtesy of Andrew Parsons, and White House photograph courtesy of D. Myles Cullen

American democracy versus Trump: an election like no other

  • OTTAWA—You can hear the chants of “Lock him up” already. If Joe Biden emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump and
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2020
Whether he faces off against Bernie Sanders, left, or Joe Biden, right, U.S. President Donald Trump will unleash plenty of ugliness against his Democratic rival, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photographs by Gage Skidmore and White House photograph courtesy of Joyce N. Boghosian

American democracy versus Trump: an election like no other

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—You can hear the chants of “Lock him up” already. If Joe Biden emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump and

American democracy versus Trump: an election like no other

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—You can hear the chants of “Lock him up” already. If Joe Biden emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump and
Whether he faces off against Bernie Sanders, left, or Joe Biden, right, U.S. President Donald Trump will unleash plenty of ugliness against his Democratic rival, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photographs by Gage Skidmore and White House photograph courtesy of Joyce N. Boghosian

Canada’s political, economic roller-coaster only gaining speed as 2020 rushes on

  • OTTAWA—As they say in Haiti, “Beyond the mountains … more mountains.” So it seems with the Canadian economy. In light of today’s conditions, it
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2020
Finance Minister Bill Morneau should roll out the federal budget sooner rather than later, writes Les Whittington, but whenever it comes out, the financial plan will likely have less of a focus on the environment than protecting the overall economy. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s political, economic roller-coaster only gaining speed as 2020 rushes on

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As they say in Haiti, “Beyond the mountains … more mountains.” So it seems with the Canadian economy. In light of today’s conditions, it

Canada’s political, economic roller-coaster only gaining speed as 2020 rushes on

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—As they say in Haiti, “Beyond the mountains … more mountains.” So it seems with the Canadian economy. In light of today’s conditions, it
Finance Minister Bill Morneau should roll out the federal budget sooner rather than later, writes Les Whittington, but whenever it comes out, the financial plan will likely have less of a focus on the environment than protecting the overall economy. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will the CPC manage to get to June 27 without imploding politically?

  • OTTAWA—Leaving aside Andrew Scheer’s recent salute to the capitalistic values of Paw Patrol, it is becoming increasingly recognized that voters’ reluctance to hand over
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2020
Canadians, as much they dislike the protests, are committed to a wide-ranging, open-ended effort to try to overcome the past and put relations with Indigenous people onto a new, mutually respectful and constructive footing. The responses from Conservative Party leadership candidates Peter MacKay, left, and Erin O’Toole, right, aren’t hitting the mark, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph and photograph by Andrew Meade

Will the CPC manage to get to June 27 without imploding politically?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Leaving aside Andrew Scheer’s recent salute to the capitalistic values of Paw Patrol, it is becoming increasingly recognized that voters’ reluctance to hand over

Will the CPC manage to get to June 27 without imploding politically?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Leaving aside Andrew Scheer’s recent salute to the capitalistic values of Paw Patrol, it is becoming increasingly recognized that voters’ reluctance to hand over
Canadians, as much they dislike the protests, are committed to a wide-ranging, open-ended effort to try to overcome the past and put relations with Indigenous people onto a new, mutually respectful and constructive footing. The responses from Conservative Party leadership candidates Peter MacKay, left, and Erin O’Toole, right, aren’t hitting the mark, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph and photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada may be facing its biggest test in a generation

  • OTTAWA—This month will likely be remembered as the defining moment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure. It’s hardly worth mentioning the irony of the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2020
A rally in support of Wet'suwet'en land defenders marches in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 7. In the widest sense, the fallout from the opposition of hereditary chiefs to the natural gas pipeline is a reminder of the fault lines of the federation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada may be facing its biggest test in a generation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2020
  • OTTAWA—This month will likely be remembered as the defining moment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure. It’s hardly worth mentioning the irony of the

Canada may be facing its biggest test in a generation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2020
  • OTTAWA—This month will likely be remembered as the defining moment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure. It’s hardly worth mentioning the irony of the
A rally in support of Wet'suwet'en land defenders marches in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 7. In the widest sense, the fallout from the opposition of hereditary chiefs to the natural gas pipeline is a reminder of the fault lines of the federation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

get help

Subscribe
CloseMenu