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Wednesday, October 15, 2025

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Les Whittington

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

It’s always do or die on budget day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Waiting for the truckers to come back

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

Is Canada ready for the nation-defining challenges ahead?

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

The Canada that Dryden believed in remains at risk today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A world without principles

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

A world without principles

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

A world without principles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s what dictators do

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

That’s what dictators do

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

That’s what dictators do

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Election? What election?

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

Election? What election?

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

Election? What election?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

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

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

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

Mark Carney and the disappearing pipeline

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

The man who lost his seat will soon return

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

The man who lost his seat will soon return

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

The man who lost his seat will soon return

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

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

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

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

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

And now comes the hard part: negotiating with Trump

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

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

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

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

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

Mark Carney puts it all on the line

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

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

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

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

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

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

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

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

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

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Real estate nation: putting the economy at risk and disadvantaging a generation

  • OTTAWA—It’s been a decade since the commercial bank borrowing rates influenced by the Bank of Canada shifted permanently downward as the central bank adopted
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 30, 2021
Millennials are facing the outcome of decades of neo-liberal government policies that have left the country with stagnant wages way below what’s needed to comfortably buy a home today, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Mika Baumeister

Real estate nation: putting the economy at risk and disadvantaging a generation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 30, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It’s been a decade since the commercial bank borrowing rates influenced by the Bank of Canada shifted permanently downward as the central bank adopted

Real estate nation: putting the economy at risk and disadvantaging a generation

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 30, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It’s been a decade since the commercial bank borrowing rates influenced by the Bank of Canada shifted permanently downward as the central bank adopted
Millennials are facing the outcome of decades of neo-liberal government policies that have left the country with stagnant wages way below what’s needed to comfortably buy a home today, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Mika Baumeister

As political variants of concern rise, Trudeau may yet pay the price for long-time vaccine production failures

  • OTTAWA—Despite an up-and-down performance combatting COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has generally been given okay marks by the public and weathered 16 months of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 23, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be about to belatedly pay the price for his and other Canadian leaders’ failure over several decades to recognize the danger of large-scale influenza outbreaks and the need to establish domestic pandemic defences, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

As political variants of concern rise, Trudeau may yet pay the price for long-time vaccine production failures

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Despite an up-and-down performance combatting COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has generally been given okay marks by the public and weathered 16 months of

As political variants of concern rise, Trudeau may yet pay the price for long-time vaccine production failures

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Despite an up-and-down performance combatting COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has generally been given okay marks by the public and weathered 16 months of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be about to belatedly pay the price for his and other Canadian leaders’ failure over several decades to recognize the danger of large-scale influenza outbreaks and the need to establish domestic pandemic defences, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

With Trump left behind and COVID easing, Trudeau can soon test his standing and vision with voters

  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau evaded the Trump menace and is now on the verge of politically surviving the worst public health crisis in a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 16, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, was present in Britain on the weekend as G7 leaders and others—European Council President Charles Michel, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel—turned the lights on again after wandering around for years in the confused darkness cast by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Simon Dawson

With Trump left behind and COVID easing, Trudeau can soon test his standing and vision with voters

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau evaded the Trump menace and is now on the verge of politically surviving the worst public health crisis in a

With Trump left behind and COVID easing, Trudeau can soon test his standing and vision with voters

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau evaded the Trump menace and is now on the verge of politically surviving the worst public health crisis in a
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, was present in Britain on the weekend as G7 leaders and others—European Council President Charles Michel, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel—turned the lights on again after wandering around for years in the confused darkness cast by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Simon Dawson

Boris Johnson’s conjurer’s act finally hits the big time

  • OTTAWA—Most of us are all too aware of the unreal, destructive story of Donald Trump. But relatively little attention has been paid to the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 9, 2021
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the foremost modern disruptor of European co-ordination by closing the deal on Brexit, the climax of the Euroskeptic theme the prime minister had been using to successfully promote his personal ambitions for decades, writes Les Whittington. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Andrew Parsons

Boris Johnson’s conjurer’s act finally hits the big time

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Most of us are all too aware of the unreal, destructive story of Donald Trump. But relatively little attention has been paid to the

Boris Johnson’s conjurer’s act finally hits the big time

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Most of us are all too aware of the unreal, destructive story of Donald Trump. But relatively little attention has been paid to the
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the foremost modern disruptor of European co-ordination by closing the deal on Brexit, the climax of the Euroskeptic theme the prime minister had been using to successfully promote his personal ambitions for decades, writes Les Whittington. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Andrew Parsons

Milking scapegoats: Biden administration bows to demands to reopen hyped up attacks on Canadian dairy, lumber

  • OTTAWA—One of the reasons Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency in 2016 was his promise to “drain the swamp”—that is, reduce the immense power
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 2, 2021
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is former president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the lobby group whose demands for action in retaliation for Canada’s allegedly unfair dairy practices put the tariff-rate quotas issue on the government agenda in Washington, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Milking scapegoats: Biden administration bows to demands to reopen hyped up attacks on Canadian dairy, lumber

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—One of the reasons Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency in 2016 was his promise to “drain the swamp”—that is, reduce the immense power

Milking scapegoats: Biden administration bows to demands to reopen hyped up attacks on Canadian dairy, lumber

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—One of the reasons Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency in 2016 was his promise to “drain the swamp”—that is, reduce the immense power
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is former president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the lobby group whose demands for action in retaliation for Canada’s allegedly unfair dairy practices put the tariff-rate quotas issue on the government agenda in Washington, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The populist riddle: who can you recruit to support their own race to the bottom?

  • OTTAWA—The fact that millions of Americans vote against their own interests—long a subject of political science curiosity—is becoming increasingly beside the point. In the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 26, 2021
As reported by the Toronto Star, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, right, intrigued by the shift of blue-collar voters to the right in Britain led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and in the U.S. under Donald Trump, left, is paying for social media tactics from British-based consultants who worked for Johnson during the 2019 U.K. election, writes Les Whittington. Official White House photograph by Shealah Craighead, Flickr photograph by Arno Mikkor, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The populist riddle: who can you recruit to support their own race to the bottom?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The fact that millions of Americans vote against their own interests—long a subject of political science curiosity—is becoming increasingly beside the point. In the

The populist riddle: who can you recruit to support their own race to the bottom?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The fact that millions of Americans vote against their own interests—long a subject of political science curiosity—is becoming increasingly beside the point. In the
As reported by the Toronto Star, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, right, intrigued by the shift of blue-collar voters to the right in Britain led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and in the U.S. under Donald Trump, left, is paying for social media tactics from British-based consultants who worked for Johnson during the 2019 U.K. election, writes Les Whittington. Official White House photograph by Shealah Craighead, Flickr photograph by Arno Mikkor, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Unfinished political business piles up as pandemic drags on

  • OTTAWA—People with broken teeth are putting off visits to the dentist. In Ontario, you haven’t been able to get a replacement for a disintegrating
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 19, 2021
In an unexpected move, Quebec Premier François Legault has resurfaced the volatile sovereignty issue in a manner freighted with unknown consequences as part of the newly released Bill 96, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Unfinished political business piles up as pandemic drags on

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—People with broken teeth are putting off visits to the dentist. In Ontario, you haven’t been able to get a replacement for a disintegrating

Unfinished political business piles up as pandemic drags on

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—People with broken teeth are putting off visits to the dentist. In Ontario, you haven’t been able to get a replacement for a disintegrating
In an unexpected move, Quebec Premier François Legault has resurfaced the volatile sovereignty issue in a manner freighted with unknown consequences as part of the newly released Bill 96, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

While no longer a daily spectacle, Trump still has U.S. democracy on the ropes

  • OTTAWA—Not having to read about or hear about Donald Trump every day has been like a six-month vacation. But those who thought the former
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 12, 2021
Despite Donald Trump being disgraced by impeachment in the House of Representatives, despite his leaving office with the lowest approval rating in 40 years, despite his effort to literally overthrow the results of the election, and despite him being the first incumbent president to be ousted by voters in nearly three decades, his grip on Republicans appears for now immutable, writes Les Whittington. Pixabay image by Gerd Altmann

While no longer a daily spectacle, Trump still has U.S. democracy on the ropes

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Not having to read about or hear about Donald Trump every day has been like a six-month vacation. But those who thought the former

While no longer a daily spectacle, Trump still has U.S. democracy on the ropes

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Not having to read about or hear about Donald Trump every day has been like a six-month vacation. But those who thought the former
Despite Donald Trump being disgraced by impeachment in the House of Representatives, despite his leaving office with the lowest approval rating in 40 years, despite his effort to literally overthrow the results of the election, and despite him being the first incumbent president to be ousted by voters in nearly three decades, his grip on Republicans appears for now immutable, writes Les Whittington. Pixabay image by Gerd Altmann

So, Ontario, how’s electing unqualified, anti-government populists working out for you?

  • OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s handling of COVID-19 and the public response are reminiscent of the way things went with former U.S. president Donald Trump’s
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 5, 2021
Doug Ford
Doug Ford
With Premier Doug Ford’s failures as Ontario’s pandemic leader peaking in recent weeks, the Progressive Conservatives have taken Trump-like to outright lying in an attempt to silt up the political waters and deflect attention from the out-of-control provincial health catastrophe, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

So, Ontario, how’s electing unqualified, anti-government populists working out for you?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s handling of COVID-19 and the public response are reminiscent of the way things went with former U.S. president Donald Trump’s

So, Ontario, how’s electing unqualified, anti-government populists working out for you?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s handling of COVID-19 and the public response are reminiscent of the way things went with former U.S. president Donald Trump’s
Doug Ford
With Premier Doug Ford’s failures as Ontario’s pandemic leader peaking in recent weeks, the Progressive Conservatives have taken Trump-like to outright lying in an attempt to silt up the political waters and deflect attention from the out-of-control provincial health catastrophe, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo to Singh: the NDP enabled the demise of Canada’s only national childcare program

  • OTTAWA—Accuracy is not a prominent feature in today’s public affairs and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh probably doesn’t expect people to remember 2005 events—certainly, he
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 28, 2021
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured during a press conference on Feb. 23. Singh should have a chat with Ken Dryden, who as Liberal social development minister spent 2004 and 2005 negotiating federal-provincial childcare agreements, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo to Singh: the NDP enabled the demise of Canada’s only national childcare program

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Accuracy is not a prominent feature in today’s public affairs and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh probably doesn’t expect people to remember 2005 events—certainly, he

Memo to Singh: the NDP enabled the demise of Canada’s only national childcare program

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Accuracy is not a prominent feature in today’s public affairs and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh probably doesn’t expect people to remember 2005 events—certainly, he
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured during a press conference on Feb. 23. Singh should have a chat with Ken Dryden, who as Liberal social development minister spent 2004 and 2005 negotiating federal-provincial childcare agreements, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

COVID or not, Freeland’s budget doesn’t shy away from challenging Canadians on their vision for the future

  • OTTAWA—Despite the immediate crunch of the third wave, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government shows no signs of backing away from its plan to transform
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2021
In the most impactful budget in recent memory, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland looked beyond COVID-19 on Monday to preview the greener, fairer Canada the Liberals are hoping voters will endorse for the future, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

COVID or not, Freeland’s budget doesn’t shy away from challenging Canadians on their vision for the future

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Despite the immediate crunch of the third wave, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government shows no signs of backing away from its plan to transform

COVID or not, Freeland’s budget doesn’t shy away from challenging Canadians on their vision for the future

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Despite the immediate crunch of the third wave, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government shows no signs of backing away from its plan to transform
In the most impactful budget in recent memory, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland looked beyond COVID-19 on Monday to preview the greener, fairer Canada the Liberals are hoping voters will endorse for the future, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

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