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Les Whittington

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

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore
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Canadians must get serious about combatting hate speech and gender violence

  • OTTAWA—Belatedly, but importantly, the city of Montreal last week marked the 30th year since the murder by a Quebec man of 14 women at
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
There’s a direct line over the decades connecting the Montreal massacre to the outpouring of sexualized hate and threats that forced the government to give former environment minister Catherine McKenna a security detail earlier this year, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadians must get serious about combatting hate speech and gender violence

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Belatedly, but importantly, the city of Montreal last week marked the 30th year since the murder by a Quebec man of 14 women at

Canadians must get serious about combatting hate speech and gender violence

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Belatedly, but importantly, the city of Montreal last week marked the 30th year since the murder by a Quebec man of 14 women at
There’s a direct line over the decades connecting the Montreal massacre to the outpouring of sexualized hate and threats that forced the government to give former environment minister Catherine McKenna a security detail earlier this year, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau gets an unexpected ally in the climate change wars

  • OTTAWA—Central bankers, the arms-length public servants who try to enhance their countries’ economies by influencing commercial borrowing rates, are generally seen as some of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2019
In the new year, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will start a new role as the UN special envoy for climate change and climate finance. Photograph courtesy of Jin Lee/Bloomberg

Trudeau gets an unexpected ally in the climate change wars

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Central bankers, the arms-length public servants who try to enhance their countries’ economies by influencing commercial borrowing rates, are generally seen as some of

Trudeau gets an unexpected ally in the climate change wars

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Central bankers, the arms-length public servants who try to enhance their countries’ economies by influencing commercial borrowing rates, are generally seen as some of
In the new year, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney will start a new role as the UN special envoy for climate change and climate finance. Photograph courtesy of Jin Lee/Bloomberg

Will Scheer take one for the team?

  • OTTAWA—The main question about Andrew Scheer’s leadership is shifting from whether he can survive a party-wide review of his role in April, to whether
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
It’s hard to set aside the surprising outpouring of criticism and warnings about Andrew Scheer’s leadership from within his own party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will Scheer take one for the team?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The main question about Andrew Scheer’s leadership is shifting from whether he can survive a party-wide review of his role in April, to whether

Will Scheer take one for the team?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The main question about Andrew Scheer’s leadership is shifting from whether he can survive a party-wide review of his role in April, to whether
It’s hard to set aside the surprising outpouring of criticism and warnings about Andrew Scheer’s leadership from within his own party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Winding down of the carbon century will be a test for all Canadians

  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to make history go backwards. One need only review the United Kingdom’s experience in trying to untangle itself from nearly 50 years
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, pictured meeting with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Ottawa on May 4. The task ahead for Canada will be to find a way to channel the angst and insecurity felt by westerners—and cranked up by the likes of Kenney—into a long-term transition strategy that can reduce the shocks from the epochal shifts in energy demand, while giving Canadians in all regions a head start in developing a post-carbon economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Winding down of the carbon century will be a test for all Canadians

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to make history go backwards. One need only review the United Kingdom’s experience in trying to untangle itself from nearly 50 years

Winding down of the carbon century will be a test for all Canadians

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to make history go backwards. One need only review the United Kingdom’s experience in trying to untangle itself from nearly 50 years
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, pictured meeting with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Ottawa on May 4. The task ahead for Canada will be to find a way to channel the angst and insecurity felt by westerners—and cranked up by the likes of Kenney—into a long-term transition strategy that can reduce the shocks from the epochal shifts in energy demand, while giving Canadians in all regions a head start in developing a post-carbon economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau needs Freeland at foreign affairs to deal with NAFTA cliffhanger

  • OTTAWA—The economy always scores fairly high when voters are asked during election campaigns about the issues that matter most. But it’s debatable whether economic
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a press conference in August during U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit. Getting the revised NAFTA agreement in place is the one reason why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put Freeland back in the foreign affairs portfolio when he names a new cabinet next week, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau needs Freeland at foreign affairs to deal with NAFTA cliffhanger

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The economy always scores fairly high when voters are asked during election campaigns about the issues that matter most. But it’s debatable whether economic

Trudeau needs Freeland at foreign affairs to deal with NAFTA cliffhanger

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The economy always scores fairly high when voters are asked during election campaigns about the issues that matter most. But it’s debatable whether economic
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a press conference in August during U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit. Getting the revised NAFTA agreement in place is the one reason why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put Freeland back in the foreign affairs portfolio when he names a new cabinet next week, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

More than wishful thinking needed for this Parliament to accomplish anything

  • OTTAWA—There’s been a lot of talk since the election about how voters sent federal parties a message that they need to be more co-operative
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been reduced to a minority. But there’s little indication so far that co-operation is likely to be anything resembling a hallmark of this Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

More than wishful thinking needed for this Parliament to accomplish anything

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There’s been a lot of talk since the election about how voters sent federal parties a message that they need to be more co-operative

More than wishful thinking needed for this Parliament to accomplish anything

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There’s been a lot of talk since the election about how voters sent federal parties a message that they need to be more co-operative
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been reduced to a minority. But there’s little indication so far that co-operation is likely to be anything resembling a hallmark of this Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Trudeau’s real job now: sparking national action on a post-carbon future

  • OTTAWA—Apparently Doug Ford didn’t really mean it when he said in the summer that he would let voters in the federal election decide whether
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2019
Incited by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, left, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, right, Prairie residents have been encouraged to see the federal Liberals as a scapegoat for all their problems, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s real job now: sparking national action on a post-carbon future

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Apparently Doug Ford didn’t really mean it when he said in the summer that he would let voters in the federal election decide whether

Trudeau’s real job now: sparking national action on a post-carbon future

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Apparently Doug Ford didn’t really mean it when he said in the summer that he would let voters in the federal election decide whether
Incited by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, left, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, right, Prairie residents have been encouraged to see the federal Liberals as a scapegoat for all their problems, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau survives in a rejection of Scheer, but now faces his biggest test yet

  • OTTAWA—The post-election leaders’ speeches delivered in the early hours of Oct. 22 encapsulated the entire campaign. A diminished Justin Trudeau tried to find the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau greet supporters in Montreal on Oct. 21. The Liberals suffered a rebuke at the hands of voters disillusioned with Mr. Trudeau in the wake of the blackface mess and the SNC-Lavalin affair, but managed to survive and achieve a strong minority government because of strategic voting designed to keep Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer out of power, writes Les Whittington The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau survives in a rejection of Scheer, but now faces his biggest test yet

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The post-election leaders’ speeches delivered in the early hours of Oct. 22 encapsulated the entire campaign. A diminished Justin Trudeau tried to find the

Trudeau survives in a rejection of Scheer, but now faces his biggest test yet

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
  • OTTAWA—The post-election leaders’ speeches delivered in the early hours of Oct. 22 encapsulated the entire campaign. A diminished Justin Trudeau tried to find the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau greet supporters in Montreal on Oct. 21. The Liberals suffered a rebuke at the hands of voters disillusioned with Mr. Trudeau in the wake of the blackface mess and the SNC-Lavalin affair, but managed to survive and achieve a strong minority government because of strategic voting designed to keep Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer out of power, writes Les Whittington The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Unpromising ‘none-of-the-above’ campaign mercifully drawing to a close

  • OTTAWA—Over five or six weeks of campaigning, most federal elections clarify themselves, providing a narrative, a key issue, or a consensus that shapes and
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2019
Party supporters gather outside the Canadian Museum of History ahead of the French-language leaders’ debate on Oct. 10. Canada is generating intense political fault lines that this election is unlikely to assuage, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Unpromising ‘none-of-the-above’ campaign mercifully drawing to a close

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Over five or six weeks of campaigning, most federal elections clarify themselves, providing a narrative, a key issue, or a consensus that shapes and

Unpromising ‘none-of-the-above’ campaign mercifully drawing to a close

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Over five or six weeks of campaigning, most federal elections clarify themselves, providing a narrative, a key issue, or a consensus that shapes and
Party supporters gather outside the Canadian Museum of History ahead of the French-language leaders’ debate on Oct. 10. Canada is generating intense political fault lines that this election is unlikely to assuage, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Election 2019: Revving up the base in the divisive post-truth era

  • OTTAWA—It’s obvious to everyone how populism south of the border, in the United Kingdom, and much of western Europe has thrived in the post-truth
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured in the National Press Theatre in June. Presumably hoping to amp up animosity towards Trudeau, Scheer has personalized his campaign rhetoric to the point where you would think the Liberals are the 'Justin Trudeau' party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Election 2019: Revving up the base in the divisive post-truth era

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s obvious to everyone how populism south of the border, in the United Kingdom, and much of western Europe has thrived in the post-truth

Election 2019: Revving up the base in the divisive post-truth era

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s obvious to everyone how populism south of the border, in the United Kingdom, and much of western Europe has thrived in the post-truth
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured in the National Press Theatre in June. Presumably hoping to amp up animosity towards Trudeau, Scheer has personalized his campaign rhetoric to the point where you would think the Liberals are the 'Justin Trudeau' party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No matter how bad the climate situation becomes, tackling it is still an uphill climb politically

  • OTTAWA—I used to say, “maybe people will start getting concerned about climate change when the polar bears start swimming up to their front steps.”
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
Participants of the Ottawa climate strike take to Parliament Hill on Sept. 27. The Green Party registered an uptick in its poll numbers after the climate protest marches, whereas being denounced by Thunberg for lack of action seems to have hurt Trudeau more than sidestepping the protests entirely hurt Scheer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

No matter how bad the climate situation becomes, tackling it is still an uphill climb politically

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
  • OTTAWA—I used to say, “maybe people will start getting concerned about climate change when the polar bears start swimming up to their front steps.”

No matter how bad the climate situation becomes, tackling it is still an uphill climb politically

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
  • OTTAWA—I used to say, “maybe people will start getting concerned about climate change when the polar bears start swimming up to their front steps.”
Participants of the Ottawa climate strike take to Parliament Hill on Sept. 27. The Green Party registered an uptick in its poll numbers after the climate protest marches, whereas being denounced by Thunberg for lack of action seems to have hurt Trudeau more than sidestepping the protests entirely hurt Scheer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

With wide-ranging platform, Liberals aim to shore up support on affordability

  • The Liberals tried Sunday to build an advantage on the central election issue of affordability by announcing a wide array of tax and spending
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2019
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, attempting to blunt the Conservatives' message that their government would make life more affordable, sought to link Andrew Scheer to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's cuts to education, health care, and environmental protection regulations. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

With wide-ranging platform, Liberals aim to shore up support on affordability

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2019
  • The Liberals tried Sunday to build an advantage on the central election issue of affordability by announcing a wide array of tax and spending

With wide-ranging platform, Liberals aim to shore up support on affordability

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2019
  • The Liberals tried Sunday to build an advantage on the central election issue of affordability by announcing a wide array of tax and spending
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, attempting to blunt the Conservatives' message that their government would make life more affordable, sought to link Andrew Scheer to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's cuts to education, health care, and environmental protection regulations. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Clout of young voters remains the crucial election question

  • OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau’s theatricality and mindless whimsy have cost him dearly. The prime minister’s dress-up antics in India last year raised a lot of doubts
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 18 during a scrum on his campaign plane in which he apologized for having previously donned blackface and brownface. Trudeau’s insensitive costuming mistakes from the past are putting the election choice in sharper relief, writes Les Whittington. Screen capture of an Associated Press video

Clout of young voters remains the crucial election question

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau’s theatricality and mindless whimsy have cost him dearly. The prime minister’s dress-up antics in India last year raised a lot of doubts

Clout of young voters remains the crucial election question

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau’s theatricality and mindless whimsy have cost him dearly. The prime minister’s dress-up antics in India last year raised a lot of doubts
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 18 during a scrum on his campaign plane in which he apologized for having previously donned blackface and brownface. Trudeau’s insensitive costuming mistakes from the past are putting the election choice in sharper relief, writes Les Whittington. Screen capture of an Associated Press video

First debate doesn’t inspire great hopes for the rest of the 2019 campaign

  • OTTAWA—It’s debatable, as it were, whether the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau made a serious mistake in not showing up for the first leaders’ verbal sparring
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet SIngh, and Green Leader Elizabeth May took part in the Sept. 12 Maclean's/CityTV leaders' debate. As it was, the affair was pretty much a debate-free zone, overflowing with accusations, unsubstantiated opinions, and incoherent back and forth with a distinct lack of reasonable argument, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

First debate doesn’t inspire great hopes for the rest of the 2019 campaign

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s debatable, as it were, whether the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau made a serious mistake in not showing up for the first leaders’ verbal sparring

First debate doesn’t inspire great hopes for the rest of the 2019 campaign

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
  • OTTAWA—It’s debatable, as it were, whether the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau made a serious mistake in not showing up for the first leaders’ verbal sparring
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet SIngh, and Green Leader Elizabeth May took part in the Sept. 12 Maclean's/CityTV leaders' debate. As it was, the affair was pretty much a debate-free zone, overflowing with accusations, unsubstantiated opinions, and incoherent back and forth with a distinct lack of reasonable argument, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Attempts to tap into issues behind populist mood will be front and centre in this election campaign

  • OTTAWA—By Oct. 21, Canadians will have a better idea how the populist wave that has swept through Western democracies in recent years will play
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2019
Let's do this: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. Mr. Scheer, as a career politician who has enjoyed some of the most luxurious taxpayer-funded perks on the federal scene and now makes $200,000-plus a year, is not the most obvious figure to argue that the Liberal elites don’t care about the economic problems of the Canadian rank and file. But Mr. Scheer has worked hard to try to sketch a meaningful contrast between his middle-class upbringing and that of Mr. Trudeau, the rich son of a former prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Attempts to tap into issues behind populist mood will be front and centre in this election campaign

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2019
  • OTTAWA—By Oct. 21, Canadians will have a better idea how the populist wave that has swept through Western democracies in recent years will play

Attempts to tap into issues behind populist mood will be front and centre in this election campaign

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2019
  • OTTAWA—By Oct. 21, Canadians will have a better idea how the populist wave that has swept through Western democracies in recent years will play
Let's do this: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. Mr. Scheer, as a career politician who has enjoyed some of the most luxurious taxpayer-funded perks on the federal scene and now makes $200,000-plus a year, is not the most obvious figure to argue that the Liberal elites don’t care about the economic problems of the Canadian rank and file. But Mr. Scheer has worked hard to try to sketch a meaningful contrast between his middle-class upbringing and that of Mr. Trudeau, the rich son of a former prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

With drug plan, Trump tosses another nasty, disingenuous grenade into U.S.-Canada relations

  • OTTAWA—Blaming foreign “freeloaders” for the outrageous cost of pharmaceuticals in the United States, President Donald Trump has injected another potential irritant into his country’s
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 11, 2019
The U.S. government announced in the summer a plan to allow FDA approval for certain medications imported from outside of the country, including Canada. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

With drug plan, Trump tosses another nasty, disingenuous grenade into U.S.-Canada relations

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 11, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Blaming foreign “freeloaders” for the outrageous cost of pharmaceuticals in the United States, President Donald Trump has injected another potential irritant into his country’s

With drug plan, Trump tosses another nasty, disingenuous grenade into U.S.-Canada relations

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 11, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Blaming foreign “freeloaders” for the outrageous cost of pharmaceuticals in the United States, President Donald Trump has injected another potential irritant into his country’s
The U.S. government announced in the summer a plan to allow FDA approval for certain medications imported from outside of the country, including Canada. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

What’s Andrew Scheer’s vision for Canada?

  • OTTAWA—“Canadians are struggling at a time when our economy is supposedly doing well,” the federal party leader said, “and people I meet across the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 4, 2019
There’s nothing new about the affordability issue, which Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has selected as the centrepiece of his party’s upcoming campaign to unseat the Trudeau Liberals, writes Les Whittington. These days, right-wingers like to campaign on the beguiling notion that voters can have it all without having to pay for it. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s Andrew Scheer’s vision for Canada?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 4, 2019
  • OTTAWA—“Canadians are struggling at a time when our economy is supposedly doing well,” the federal party leader said, “and people I meet across the

What’s Andrew Scheer’s vision for Canada?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 4, 2019
  • OTTAWA—“Canadians are struggling at a time when our economy is supposedly doing well,” the federal party leader said, “and people I meet across the
There’s nothing new about the affordability issue, which Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has selected as the centrepiece of his party’s upcoming campaign to unseat the Trudeau Liberals, writes Les Whittington. These days, right-wingers like to campaign on the beguiling notion that voters can have it all without having to pay for it. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The world can’t take much more right-wing populism

  • OTTAWA—One of the more interesting little moments at every G7 summit comes toward the end when the country that will be the host the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 28, 2019
The G7 country leaders, pictured on Aug. 25, met in Biarritz, France, where U.S. President Donald Trump upped the ante on his usual three days’ worth of confusion and chaos, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

The world can’t take much more right-wing populism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 28, 2019
  • OTTAWA—One of the more interesting little moments at every G7 summit comes toward the end when the country that will be the host the

The world can’t take much more right-wing populism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 28, 2019
  • OTTAWA—One of the more interesting little moments at every G7 summit comes toward the end when the country that will be the host the
The G7 country leaders, pictured on Aug. 25, met in Biarritz, France, where U.S. President Donald Trump upped the ante on his usual three days’ worth of confusion and chaos, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Despite majority support for a Canadian handgun ban, the politics of doing so may remain insurmountable

  • OTTAWA—There’s nothing like the gun lobby. Imagine if car manufacturers objected to the registration of automobiles because it was an infringement on the liberties
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 21, 2019
Organized Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair, pictured speaking to reporters in Ottawa in March, was tasked with consulting on banning certain types of firearms and was met with staunch opposition from gun advocates. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Despite majority support for a Canadian handgun ban, the politics of doing so may remain insurmountable

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 21, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There’s nothing like the gun lobby. Imagine if car manufacturers objected to the registration of automobiles because it was an infringement on the liberties

Despite majority support for a Canadian handgun ban, the politics of doing so may remain insurmountable

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 21, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There’s nothing like the gun lobby. Imagine if car manufacturers objected to the registration of automobiles because it was an infringement on the liberties
Organized Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair, pictured speaking to reporters in Ottawa in March, was tasked with consulting on banning certain types of firearms and was met with staunch opposition from gun advocates. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Despite all the killing, obsession with guns still dominant in U.S. politics

  • OTTAWA—In the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly—and erroneously—claimed the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton would, if elected, do away with Americans’ Second Amendment constitutional
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 15, 2019
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Senate majority leader, is pictured holding a gun at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. He has so far refused to consider Democrat bills to tighten background checks for American gun buyers. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

Despite all the killing, obsession with guns still dominant in U.S. politics

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 15, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly—and erroneously—claimed the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton would, if elected, do away with Americans’ Second Amendment constitutional

Despite all the killing, obsession with guns still dominant in U.S. politics

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 15, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly—and erroneously—claimed the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton would, if elected, do away with Americans’ Second Amendment constitutional
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Senate majority leader, is pictured holding a gun at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. He has so far refused to consider Democrat bills to tighten background checks for American gun buyers. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

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