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Thursday, March 12, 2026

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Les Whittington

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s next for Cuba?

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

What’s next for Cuba?

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

What’s next for Cuba?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

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

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

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

Trump finally went too far for Stephen Harper 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

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

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

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

Canada-U.S. relations heading into uncharted territory

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

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

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

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

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

The slow, uphill climb to fix the housing mess

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

How far will Trump go?

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

How far will Trump go?

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

How far will Trump go?

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

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

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

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

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

2026: Another year on the edge for Carney and Canada

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

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

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

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

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

Welcome to the ‘Trade War World Cup’

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

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

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

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

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

Untrodden ground: Carney looks to kickstart post-NAFTA economy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

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

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

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

The laws of economics finally catch up with Trump

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

Pierre Poilievre may be done

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

Pierre Poilievre may be done

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

Pierre Poilievre may be done

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A world without principles

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

A world without principles

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

A world without principles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can the Conservatives make themselves relevant again?

  • OTTAWA—Here’s Peter MacKay’s take on Canada’s responsibility to help address the global climate change emergency: “We could throw all our car keys in Halifax
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2020
Conservative Party leadership contenders Marilyn Gladu, left, Peter MacKay, middle, and Erin O’Toole, right, participated in a Feb. 8 event for party faithful in Halifax. It was an early manifestation of the very dicey situation Conservatives continue to face on issues like climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and file photograph

Can the Conservatives make themselves relevant again?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Here’s Peter MacKay’s take on Canada’s responsibility to help address the global climate change emergency: “We could throw all our car keys in Halifax

Can the Conservatives make themselves relevant again?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Here’s Peter MacKay’s take on Canada’s responsibility to help address the global climate change emergency: “We could throw all our car keys in Halifax
Conservative Party leadership contenders Marilyn Gladu, left, Peter MacKay, middle, and Erin O’Toole, right, participated in a Feb. 8 event for party faithful in Halifax. It was an early manifestation of the very dicey situation Conservatives continue to face on issues like climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and file photograph

While Canada holds course on the trade front, the U.K. sheds a half-century of history for the unknown

  • OTTAWA—It can’t go unremarked that the United Kingdom ended 47 years of liberalized trade ties to Europe two days after the Canadian Parliament began
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump signs the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Jan. 29. While Canada’s relationship with the U.S. is not analogous to that of the U.K. and the EU, Canada would have been faced with its own potentially disastrous Brexit-like unknowns had our federal government not managed to keep Trump’s protectionist, belligerent attitude from getting out of hand, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

While Canada holds course on the trade front, the U.K. sheds a half-century of history for the unknown

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It can’t go unremarked that the United Kingdom ended 47 years of liberalized trade ties to Europe two days after the Canadian Parliament began

While Canada holds course on the trade front, the U.K. sheds a half-century of history for the unknown

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It can’t go unremarked that the United Kingdom ended 47 years of liberalized trade ties to Europe two days after the Canadian Parliament began
U.S. President Donald Trump signs the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Jan. 29. While Canada’s relationship with the U.S. is not analogous to that of the U.K. and the EU, Canada would have been faced with its own potentially disastrous Brexit-like unknowns had our federal government not managed to keep Trump’s protectionist, belligerent attitude from getting out of hand, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Impeached Trump doesn’t belong in the White House but could be there for another four years anyway

  • OTTAWA—If you’ve been shocked by the political events of the past four years in the United States, get ready to be picking yourself off
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump has completely scrambled the map of U.S. politics by remaking the party in his own image and taking almost total control, to the point where opposing him is considered career suicide for Republicans, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Impeached Trump doesn’t belong in the White House but could be there for another four years anyway

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—If you’ve been shocked by the political events of the past four years in the United States, get ready to be picking yourself off

Impeached Trump doesn’t belong in the White House but could be there for another four years anyway

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2020
  • OTTAWA—If you’ve been shocked by the political events of the past four years in the United States, get ready to be picking yourself off
U.S. President Donald Trump has completely scrambled the map of U.S. politics by remaking the party in his own image and taking almost total control, to the point where opposing him is considered career suicide for Republicans, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

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