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Les Whittington

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

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
Maninder Sidhu
Maninder Sidhu
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
Maninder Sidhu
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
More Stories

What’s ahead for small government crusaders in the wake of COVID-19?

  • OTTAWA—Sometime last year, people started joking about the “before times” and “the after times” of COVID-19. Now, with the second anniversary of the arrival
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 6, 2021
Consistent with his small-government, libertarian convictions, Premier Jason Kenney appears destined to go down with the COVID ship in Alberta while in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford was accused of penny pinching during an emergency when it emerged that his government spent $5.6-billion less than proposed in its 2020 budget, including $3.5-billion less than planned on health care, even as COVID continued its damage, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

What’s ahead for small government crusaders in the wake of COVID-19?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 6, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Sometime last year, people started joking about the “before times” and “the after times” of COVID-19. Now, with the second anniversary of the arrival

What’s ahead for small government crusaders in the wake of COVID-19?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 6, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Sometime last year, people started joking about the “before times” and “the after times” of COVID-19. Now, with the second anniversary of the arrival
Consistent with his small-government, libertarian convictions, Premier Jason Kenney appears destined to go down with the COVID ship in Alberta while in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford was accused of penny pinching during an emergency when it emerged that his government spent $5.6-billion less than proposed in its 2020 budget, including $3.5-billion less than planned on health care, even as COVID continued its damage, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

As unmarked residential school graves have reinforced, Canada can’t falter in confronting racism and hate

  • OTTAWA—The recent discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves of children who disappeared at so-called Indian Residential Schools has awakened Canadians more forcefully to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 29, 2021
A rally in Support of Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders marches in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 7, 2020. As the upsurge of far-right intolerance has evolved in Canada, Indigenous people experienced an increase in digital attacks and threats after the Wet’suwet’en Nation hereditary chiefs’ protest in B.C., writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As unmarked residential school graves have reinforced, Canada can’t falter in confronting racism and hate

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 29, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The recent discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves of children who disappeared at so-called Indian Residential Schools has awakened Canadians more forcefully to

As unmarked residential school graves have reinforced, Canada can’t falter in confronting racism and hate

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 29, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The recent discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves of children who disappeared at so-called Indian Residential Schools has awakened Canadians more forcefully to
A rally in Support of Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders marches in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 7, 2020. As the upsurge of far-right intolerance has evolved in Canada, Indigenous people experienced an increase in digital attacks and threats after the Wet’suwet’en Nation hereditary chiefs’ protest in B.C., writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Don’t count on parliamentary progress after this scattershot election outcome

  • OTTAWA—Canadians should demand their newly-elected Members of Parliament take to heart the obvious result of Monday’s election—that voters favour a mixed power dynamic in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The election results suggest a need for compromise to bring forward what, in theory at least, are policies based on consensus among all, or most, parties on what’s best for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Don’t count on parliamentary progress after this scattershot election outcome

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canadians should demand their newly-elected Members of Parliament take to heart the obvious result of Monday’s election—that voters favour a mixed power dynamic in

Don’t count on parliamentary progress after this scattershot election outcome

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canadians should demand their newly-elected Members of Parliament take to heart the obvious result of Monday’s election—that voters favour a mixed power dynamic in
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The election results suggest a need for compromise to bring forward what, in theory at least, are policies based on consensus among all, or most, parties on what’s best for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Déjà vu vote gives Trudeau a mandate of sorts in a volatile, disjointed political landscape

  • OTTAWA—Canada demonstrated its deeply etched divisions again in the Sept. 20 election, but opted in the end for a progressive, forward-looking approach to the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 22, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured on election night in Montreal. While the standings in the Commons should be settled for some time now in as much as forcing another election would be manifestly unpopular, Trudeau will confront a volatile political situation with big, potentially disruptive unknowns on legislative co-operation, the future of parties’ leadership, and evolving federal-provincial relations, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Déjà vu vote gives Trudeau a mandate of sorts in a volatile, disjointed political landscape

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 22, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canada demonstrated its deeply etched divisions again in the Sept. 20 election, but opted in the end for a progressive, forward-looking approach to the

Déjà vu vote gives Trudeau a mandate of sorts in a volatile, disjointed political landscape

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 22, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canada demonstrated its deeply etched divisions again in the Sept. 20 election, but opted in the end for a progressive, forward-looking approach to the
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pictured on election night in Montreal. While the standings in the Commons should be settled for some time now in as much as forcing another election would be manifestly unpopular, Trudeau will confront a volatile political situation with big, potentially disruptive unknowns on legislative co-operation, the future of parties’ leadership, and evolving federal-provincial relations, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

After a campaign that only reinforced Canada’s divisions, it’s unclear what, if anything, will be resolved Monday

  • OTTAWA—Not surprisingly for a national election during a once-in-a-century health crisis, Canadians appear likely to wind up on Sept. 20 more divided than ever
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2021
The campaign is the most unfocused federal contest in recent memory. It has emerged as a mish-mash dominated by populist-style personal attacks, Trumpist extremism, reshuffled right-left political alignments, diminished commitments to the role of the federal government, and the weaponization of public health issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

After a campaign that only reinforced Canada’s divisions, it’s unclear what, if anything, will be resolved Monday

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Not surprisingly for a national election during a once-in-a-century health crisis, Canadians appear likely to wind up on Sept. 20 more divided than ever

After a campaign that only reinforced Canada’s divisions, it’s unclear what, if anything, will be resolved Monday

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Not surprisingly for a national election during a once-in-a-century health crisis, Canadians appear likely to wind up on Sept. 20 more divided than ever
The campaign is the most unfocused federal contest in recent memory. It has emerged as a mish-mash dominated by populist-style personal attacks, Trumpist extremism, reshuffled right-left political alignments, diminished commitments to the role of the federal government, and the weaponization of public health issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Breaking new ground in Canadian politics, O’Toole slips a bogus conspiracy theory into the nationally televised leaders’ debate

  • OTTAWA—Late in the English-language leaders’ debate, the Conservatives’ Erin O’Toole decided to inject a bogus conspiracy theory into the chaotic proceedings. “Mr. Trudeau, Canadians
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 13, 2021
Contrary to what Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, right, told the public during the Sept. 9 English-language leaders’ debate, there’s no evidence whatsoever of doing away with the capital gains tax break for residences in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal campaign proposals. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Breaking new ground in Canadian politics, O’Toole slips a bogus conspiracy theory into the nationally televised leaders’ debate

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the English-language leaders’ debate, the Conservatives’ Erin O’Toole decided to inject a bogus conspiracy theory into the chaotic proceedings. “Mr. Trudeau, Canadians

Breaking new ground in Canadian politics, O’Toole slips a bogus conspiracy theory into the nationally televised leaders’ debate

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the English-language leaders’ debate, the Conservatives’ Erin O’Toole decided to inject a bogus conspiracy theory into the chaotic proceedings. “Mr. Trudeau, Canadians
Contrary to what Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, right, told the public during the Sept. 9 English-language leaders’ debate, there’s no evidence whatsoever of doing away with the capital gains tax break for residences in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal campaign proposals. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

What to make of Singh’s claim that the Liberals are in league with the rich?

  • OTTAWA—With his usual free-floating reasoning, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh regularly disparages the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau as a supposed friend of the super-rich—not average people.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2021
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh are pictured during the Sept. 8 French-language leaders’ debate in Gatineau, Que. Singh says the NDP would find the money needed to help average people by increasing taxes on the wealthy. Of course, Singh neglects to mention that the Liberal government already did this, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

What to make of Singh’s claim that the Liberals are in league with the rich?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—With his usual free-floating reasoning, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh regularly disparages the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau as a supposed friend of the super-rich—not average people.

What to make of Singh’s claim that the Liberals are in league with the rich?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—With his usual free-floating reasoning, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh regularly disparages the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau as a supposed friend of the super-rich—not average people.
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh are pictured during the Sept. 8 French-language leaders’ debate in Gatineau, Que. Singh says the NDP would find the money needed to help average people by increasing taxes on the wealthy. Of course, Singh neglects to mention that the Liberal government already did this, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

When your election platform is just a rough draft

  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is trying to redefine the concept of integrity in an election campaign. Is it possible to reverse your party’s position
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 8, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is now ‘offering a more convoluted stance that sounds good to the general public but which can clearly be construed as a dog whistle to sports shooters and collectors of assault weapons,’ according to gun control advocate Nathalie Provost. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

When your election platform is just a rough draft

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 8, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is trying to redefine the concept of integrity in an election campaign. Is it possible to reverse your party’s position

When your election platform is just a rough draft

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 8, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is trying to redefine the concept of integrity in an election campaign. Is it possible to reverse your party’s position
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is now ‘offering a more convoluted stance that sounds good to the general public but which can clearly be construed as a dog whistle to sports shooters and collectors of assault weapons,’ according to gun control advocate Nathalie Provost. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Harper without a scowl: can O’Toole sell voters a package of Harper retreads?

  • OTTAWA—When Stephen Harper lost the election to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals on the night of Oct. 19, 2015, he left the stage of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2021
Under Erin O’Toole, former prime minister Stephen Harper is back—at least when it comes to the package of ideas, many of them a decade or so old—the Conservative leader is presenting to voters, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

Harper without a scowl: can O’Toole sell voters a package of Harper retreads?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—When Stephen Harper lost the election to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals on the night of Oct. 19, 2015, he left the stage of

Harper without a scowl: can O’Toole sell voters a package of Harper retreads?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—When Stephen Harper lost the election to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals on the night of Oct. 19, 2015, he left the stage of
Under Erin O’Toole, former prime minister Stephen Harper is back—at least when it comes to the package of ideas, many of them a decade or so old—the Conservative leader is presenting to voters, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

How much of the Trump factor are we going to see in this election?

  • OTTAWA—The anti-vaxx crazies trying to disrupt Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s rallies have an all-too-familiar aura. Shouting “lock her up” at the Liberals’ Chrystia Freeland
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 1, 2021
What we don’t know is whether these anti-vaxx political vandals are just more of the nutcases who have been staging occasional rallies against lockdowns for months or whether they are the leading edge of a shift by some Canadians to the more aggressive, manic public behaviour of Trumpish extremists, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

How much of the Trump factor are we going to see in this election?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 1, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The anti-vaxx crazies trying to disrupt Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s rallies have an all-too-familiar aura. Shouting “lock her up” at the Liberals’ Chrystia Freeland

How much of the Trump factor are we going to see in this election?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 1, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The anti-vaxx crazies trying to disrupt Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s rallies have an all-too-familiar aura. Shouting “lock her up” at the Liberals’ Chrystia Freeland
What we don’t know is whether these anti-vaxx political vandals are just more of the nutcases who have been staging occasional rallies against lockdowns for months or whether they are the leading edge of a shift by some Canadians to the more aggressive, manic public behaviour of Trumpish extremists, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

It’s a guy thing: will male voters’ hostility sink Trudeau?

  • OTTAWA—Canadians liked what they saw of Justin Trudeau in 2015, particularly in contrast to Stephen Harper. Nearly six years later, women voters still approve
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2021
What is it about Justin Trudeau that bothers men? There’s no question that some men are put off by the Liberals’ progressive agenda and the Trudeau government’s willingness to use debt financing to pay for more generous funding programs, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

It’s a guy thing: will male voters’ hostility sink Trudeau?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canadians liked what they saw of Justin Trudeau in 2015, particularly in contrast to Stephen Harper. Nearly six years later, women voters still approve

It’s a guy thing: will male voters’ hostility sink Trudeau?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Canadians liked what they saw of Justin Trudeau in 2015, particularly in contrast to Stephen Harper. Nearly six years later, women voters still approve
What is it about Justin Trudeau that bothers men? There’s no question that some men are put off by the Liberals’ progressive agenda and the Trudeau government’s willingness to use debt financing to pay for more generous funding programs, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

A true-blue Tory in the Conservatives’ big tent? In search of Erin O’Toole

  • OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole has learned that it doesn’t matter what your convictions are as long as you say things people want to hear and deny
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole played both ends against the middle successfully during his victorious Conservative leadership race. But within hours after winning the contest last year, he committed to a centrist approach with the overarching goal of broadening the party’s appeal beyond its western-dominated base, something hard-core right-wingers are still wondering about, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

A true-blue Tory in the Conservatives’ big tent? In search of Erin O’Toole

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole has learned that it doesn’t matter what your convictions are as long as you say things people want to hear and deny

A true-blue Tory in the Conservatives’ big tent? In search of Erin O’Toole

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole has learned that it doesn’t matter what your convictions are as long as you say things people want to hear and deny
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole played both ends against the middle successfully during his victorious Conservative leadership race. But within hours after winning the contest last year, he committed to a centrist approach with the overarching goal of broadening the party’s appeal beyond its western-dominated base, something hard-core right-wingers are still wondering about, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Liberals start with a fairly strong lead, but achieving a majority looking like an uphill climb

  • OTTAWA—Six weeks ago, an election at summer’s end looked like a pretty good bet to produce a majority victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2021
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pictured above at an Aug. 18 announcement in Vancouver. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pictured below at an Aug. 16 announcement in Toronto. With three dominant parties, there’s always the possibility that a strong showing by the NDP could cut into the Liberal vote, possibly being the deciding factor in what could be a volatile outcome, writes Les Whittington. Photographs courtesy of Twitter/JoyceMurray and Twitter/theJagmeetSingh

Liberals start with a fairly strong lead, but achieving a majority looking like an uphill climb

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Six weeks ago, an election at summer’s end looked like a pretty good bet to produce a majority victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Liberals start with a fairly strong lead, but achieving a majority looking like an uphill climb

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Six weeks ago, an election at summer’s end looked like a pretty good bet to produce a majority victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pictured above at an Aug. 18 announcement in Vancouver. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pictured below at an Aug. 16 announcement in Toronto. With three dominant parties, there’s always the possibility that a strong showing by the NDP could cut into the Liberal vote, possibly being the deciding factor in what could be a volatile outcome, writes Les Whittington. Photographs courtesy of Twitter/JoyceMurray and Twitter/theJagmeetSingh

The post-COVID agenda: will voters affirm a more progressive, activist approach to government?

  • OTTAWA—As elections go, there’s no doubt 2015 was a watershed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began moving his party further left in his first campaign
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2021
Since early 2020, no government in the western world has embraced the role of national guardian at a time of crisis more than the federal Liberals, writes Les Whittington, who says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet have been absorbed with helping Canadians survive, planning the recovery, and setting the stage for an epochal fight against global warming. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The post-COVID agenda: will voters affirm a more progressive, activist approach to government?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—As elections go, there’s no doubt 2015 was a watershed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began moving his party further left in his first campaign

The post-COVID agenda: will voters affirm a more progressive, activist approach to government?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—As elections go, there’s no doubt 2015 was a watershed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began moving his party further left in his first campaign
Since early 2020, no government in the western world has embraced the role of national guardian at a time of crisis more than the federal Liberals, writes Les Whittington, who says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet have been absorbed with helping Canadians survive, planning the recovery, and setting the stage for an epochal fight against global warming. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The life-and-death stakes of politicizing COVID

  • OTTAWA—Some of the more harrowing stories coming out of the COVID calamity in the United States concern nurses and doctors who, having struggled fruitlessly
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 11, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, both pictured pre-COVID in 2019. In Alberta, where 22 per cent of adults are still uncertain or unwilling to be vaccinated, Kenney is determined, like conservatives in the U.S., to throw off COVID public health restrictions despite rising infections, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The life-and-death stakes of politicizing COVID

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 11, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Some of the more harrowing stories coming out of the COVID calamity in the United States concern nurses and doctors who, having struggled fruitlessly

The life-and-death stakes of politicizing COVID

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 11, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Some of the more harrowing stories coming out of the COVID calamity in the United States concern nurses and doctors who, having struggled fruitlessly
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, both pictured pre-COVID in 2019. In Alberta, where 22 per cent of adults are still uncertain or unwilling to be vaccinated, Kenney is determined, like conservatives in the U.S., to throw off COVID public health restrictions despite rising infections, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

A walk in the park or a minefield? COVID election may break the mould

  • OTTAWA—All indications are that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will call an election after the week or two of holidays he is currently taking. And
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 4, 2021
It also remains to be seen if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and the Liberals can make inroads against Yves-François Blanchet’s Bloc Québécois in Quebec. And B.C. looks like a tough three-way contest pitting the Liberals against Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives and Jagmeet Singh’s NDP, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

A walk in the park or a minefield? COVID election may break the mould

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 4, 2021
  • OTTAWA—All indications are that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will call an election after the week or two of holidays he is currently taking. And

A walk in the park or a minefield? COVID election may break the mould

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 4, 2021
  • OTTAWA—All indications are that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will call an election after the week or two of holidays he is currently taking. And
It also remains to be seen if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and the Liberals can make inroads against Yves-François Blanchet’s Bloc Québécois in Quebec. And B.C. looks like a tough three-way contest pitting the Liberals against Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives and Jagmeet Singh’s NDP, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade

What’s worse for the U.S. than having Trump as president? Having Trump as ex-president

  • OTTAWA—Musing about the effect of being impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives, Donald Trump recently told a cheering crowd of Republicans in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 28, 2021
Aided by right-wing television personalities, feckless Republican legislators, and the rampant craziness flooding the internet, the former president has bulked up his cult status with the establishment of a huge lie at the heart of U.S. politics, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

What’s worse for the U.S. than having Trump as president? Having Trump as ex-president

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Musing about the effect of being impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives, Donald Trump recently told a cheering crowd of Republicans in

What’s worse for the U.S. than having Trump as president? Having Trump as ex-president

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Musing about the effect of being impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives, Donald Trump recently told a cheering crowd of Republicans in
Aided by right-wing television personalities, feckless Republican legislators, and the rampant craziness flooding the internet, the former president has bulked up his cult status with the establishment of a huge lie at the heart of U.S. politics, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

Still behind the curve on COVID all these months later

  • OTTAWA—What does the fact that Canada’s prime minister lives in a nondescript old house that was once the accommodation provided to the governor general’s
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 21, 2021
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, said it might be up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but the prime minister handed the responsibility for vaccine proof back to the provinces. As we contend with the potential fourth wave, the picture here is once again a hodgepodge characterized by official fence-sitting, hesitancy, and lack of national co-ordination, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Still behind the curve on COVID all these months later

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 21, 2021
  • OTTAWA—What does the fact that Canada’s prime minister lives in a nondescript old house that was once the accommodation provided to the governor general’s

Still behind the curve on COVID all these months later

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 21, 2021
  • OTTAWA—What does the fact that Canada’s prime minister lives in a nondescript old house that was once the accommodation provided to the governor general’s
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, said it might be up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but the prime minister handed the responsibility for vaccine proof back to the provinces. As we contend with the potential fourth wave, the picture here is once again a hodgepodge characterized by official fence-sitting, hesitancy, and lack of national co-ordination, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Learning urban forestry the hard way in the nation’s capital

  • OTTAWA—This year is decidedly the low point in a new experience for people in the nation’s capital in the midst of the worst outbreak
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 14, 2021
One tends to look to government for solutions in this kind of situation. But governments have, of course, been understandably overloaded because of COVID-19. Still, the blasé attitude of officialdom can be annoying to anyone who has collected and killed thousands of caterpillars in hopes of saving trees, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Learning urban forestry the hard way in the nation’s capital

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 14, 2021
  • OTTAWA—This year is decidedly the low point in a new experience for people in the nation’s capital in the midst of the worst outbreak

Learning urban forestry the hard way in the nation’s capital

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 14, 2021
  • OTTAWA—This year is decidedly the low point in a new experience for people in the nation’s capital in the midst of the worst outbreak
One tends to look to government for solutions in this kind of situation. But governments have, of course, been understandably overloaded because of COVID-19. Still, the blasé attitude of officialdom can be annoying to anyone who has collected and killed thousands of caterpillars in hopes of saving trees, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Politics in the age of conspiracy

  • OTTAWA—Yielding to conspiracy theories has been a human habit worth recording going back at least to the late 1800s, and has contributed to all
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 7, 2021
Pro-Trump protestors are pictured in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 2020. Six months after the Nov. 3 vote, polls show two-thirds of Republicans still believe Joe Biden’s victory was illegitimate, with nearly one-third of independents voicing the same opinion, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Geoff Livingston

Politics in the age of conspiracy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 7, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Yielding to conspiracy theories has been a human habit worth recording going back at least to the late 1800s, and has contributed to all

Politics in the age of conspiracy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 7, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Yielding to conspiracy theories has been a human habit worth recording going back at least to the late 1800s, and has contributed to all
Pro-Trump protestors are pictured in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 2020. Six months after the Nov. 3 vote, polls show two-thirds of Republicans still believe Joe Biden’s victory was illegitimate, with nearly one-third of independents voicing the same opinion, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Geoff Livingston

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