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Friday, November 15, 2024
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Friday, November 15, 2024 | Latest Paper

Nelson Wiseman

Nelson Wiseman is the director of the Canadian Studies Program at the University of Toronto.

The play of politics: elections and leaders

Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. By 2025, Trudeau will be at or near the decade ceiling. Unlike his father in 1980, there will be no comeback if he loses. We are in an era when major party leaders get one chance to win an election and if they fail, they're out, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. By 2025, Trudeau will be at or near the decade ceiling. Unlike his father in 1980, there will be no comeback if he loses. We are in an era when major party leaders get one chance to win an election and if they fail, they're out, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. By 2025, Trudeau will be at or near the decade ceiling. Unlike his father in 1980, there will be no comeback if he loses. We are in an era when major party leaders get one chance to win an election and if they fail, they're out, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | July 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. By 2025, Trudeau will be at or near the decade ceiling. Unlike his father in 1980, there will be no comeback if he loses. We are in an era when major party leaders get one chance to win an election and if they fail, they're out, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 21, 2023
David Johnston is an honourable man who was treated dishonourably, subjected to unwarranted slings and arrows by the opposition parties. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 21, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 21, 2023
David Johnston is an honourable man who was treated dishonourably, subjected to unwarranted slings and arrows by the opposition parties. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 14, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, left, and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley. The most telling upshot of last month's provincial election was not the United Conservative Party’s victory, but rather the NDP’s performance, capturing an even higher percentage of the popular vote than in 2015, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright and file photograph
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 14, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 14, 2023
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, left, and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley. The most telling upshot of last month's provincial election was not the United Conservative Party’s victory, but rather the NDP’s performance, capturing an even higher percentage of the popular vote than in 2015, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright and file photograph
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 31, 2023
Polls have former MP and widow of NDP leader Jack Layton, Olivia Chow, pictured in 2014, leading in the current race. Name recognition is a vital determinant of voting behaviour when political parties do not officially participate. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 31, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 31, 2023
Polls have former MP and widow of NDP leader Jack Layton, Olivia Chow, pictured in 2014, leading in the current race. Name recognition is a vital determinant of voting behaviour when political parties do not officially participate. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 22, 2023
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan's claim at the House National Defence Committee that he was too busy to monitor his emails does not wash, says Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 22, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 22, 2023
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan's claim at the House National Defence Committee that he was too busy to monitor his emails does not wash, says Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 8, 2023
A Foreign Policy article recently identified Chrystia Freeland as a leading candidate for NATO secretary general. But as NATO allies raise concerns about Canada’s defence spending, her chance of getting the top job dims, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 8, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 8, 2023
A Foreign Policy article recently identified Chrystia Freeland as a leading candidate for NATO secretary general. But as NATO allies raise concerns about Canada’s defence spending, her chance of getting the top job dims, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 24, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joined Public Service Alliance of Canada members picketing on Parliament Hill on April 19. There is no advantage to the NDP in voting with the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois to bring down the government, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 24, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 24, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joined Public Service Alliance of Canada members picketing on Parliament Hill on April 19. There is no advantage to the NDP in voting with the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois to bring down the government, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. For some, there is no democracy without shared prosperity and social welfare. By these standards, Canada is a democratic model to many and is why our country is attractive to immigrants, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 17, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. For some, there is no democracy without shared prosperity and social welfare. By these standards, Canada is a democratic model to many and is why our country is attractive to immigrants, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 3, 2023
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 3, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 3, 2023
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 9, 2023
Louis St. Laurent, left, and William Lyon Mackenzie King. St. Laurent led Canada from 1948-1957, while King was prime minister from 1926-30 and 1935-1948. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 9, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 9, 2023
Louis St. Laurent, left, and William Lyon Mackenzie King. St. Laurent led Canada from 1948-1957, while King was prime minister from 1926-30 and 1935-1948. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 1, 2023
First spotted over the U.S. on Jan. 28, 2023, the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon was photographed by Montana resident Chase Doak on Feb. 1, 2023, and the image circulated among news outlets. The U.S. Air Force shot down the balloon on Feb. 3.. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 1, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 1, 2023
First spotted over the U.S. on Jan. 28, 2023, the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon was photographed by Montana resident Chase Doak on Feb. 1, 2023, and the image circulated among news outlets. The U.S. Air Force shot down the balloon on Feb. 3.. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 23, 2023
John Diefenbaker, seen here at the opening of Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, never acted without his cabinet. Asked how many cabinet meetings had been held, a deputy minister replied, 'Just one. It started on June 22, 1957, and it’s still going on—with occasional brief adjournments,' writes Nelson Wiseman. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 23, 2023
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 23, 2023
John Diefenbaker, seen here at the opening of Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, never acted without his cabinet. Asked how many cabinet meetings had been held, a deputy minister replied, 'Just one. It started on June 22, 1957, and it’s still going on—with occasional brief adjournments,' writes Nelson Wiseman. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 12, 2022
If all Pierre Poilievre, pictured, needed to win the Conservative leadership was the support of caucus, he'd be a sure winner. But that's not how the Conservative Party elects its leaders anymore. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 12, 2022
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 12, 2022
If all Pierre Poilievre, pictured, needed to win the Conservative leadership was the support of caucus, he'd be a sure winner. But that's not how the Conservative Party elects its leaders anymore. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 21, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. There is both more and less to the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply deal than meets the eye, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 21, 2022
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 21, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. There is both more and less to the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply deal than meets the eye, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 7, 2022
Pierre Poilievre and Jean Charest are the top-tier aspirants. Second-tier candidates include Leslyn Lewis and Patrick Brown. The others, if they can raise the money to stay in the race, will probably be also-rans; their public profile is low, too low to gather the momentum and sign up the new party members necessary to win, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 7, 2022
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 7, 2022
Pierre Poilievre and Jean Charest are the top-tier aspirants. Second-tier candidates include Leslyn Lewis and Patrick Brown. The others, if they can raise the money to stay in the race, will probably be also-rans; their public profile is low, too low to gather the momentum and sign up the new party members necessary to win, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 31, 2022
Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel recycled the suggestion for a provincial police service, to which the Jason Kenney government committed only to study further, which is a way of saying they will not act on the proposal. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 31, 2022
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 31, 2022
Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel recycled the suggestion for a provincial police service, to which the Jason Kenney government committed only to study further, which is a way of saying they will not act on the proposal. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 13, 2022
Deleting party names from the ballot would make party leaders more responsive to their caucus and their caucus would be less fearful of their leader. It would weaken the power of the unelected apparatchiks in the Prime Minister’s Office, pictured, and strengthen the power of elected officials, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 13, 2022
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 13, 2022
Deleting party names from the ballot would make party leaders more responsive to their caucus and their caucus would be less fearful of their leader. It would weaken the power of the unelected apparatchiks in the Prime Minister’s Office, pictured, and strengthen the power of elected officials, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | December 13, 2021
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet, pictured on Oct. 22, 2021, whose BQ rejected the 1992 Charlottetown Accord which guaranteed Quebec 25 per cent of Commons seats in perpetuity, is outraged at the prospect of his province losing a seat. He has promised to unleash the 'fires of hell' if it does, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | December 13, 2021
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | December 13, 2021
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet, pictured on Oct. 22, 2021, whose BQ rejected the 1992 Charlottetown Accord which guaranteed Quebec 25 per cent of Commons seats in perpetuity, is outraged at the prospect of his province losing a seat. He has promised to unleash the 'fires of hell' if it does, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 11, 2018
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould, pictured May 25 on the Hill, is the minister responsible for the Elections Modernization Act. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 11, 2018
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 11, 2018
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould, pictured May 25 on the Hill, is the minister responsible for the Elections Modernization Act. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 14, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump pictured at the White House on Feb. 13, 2017. Photograph courtesy of Donald Trump's Twitter
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 14, 2017
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 14, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump pictured at the White House on Feb. 13, 2017. Photograph courtesy of Donald Trump's Twitter
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 27, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured Feb. 13, 2017, at the White House. Photograph courtesy of Donald Trump's Twitter
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 27, 2017
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 27, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured Feb. 13, 2017, at the White House. Photograph courtesy of Donald Trump's Twitter
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 15, 2016
Conservative MP Scott Reid has dismissed the cost of a referendum: 'If we’re worried about the cost of democracy, then we should suspend having any future elections, shouldn’t we?' The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 15, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | August 15, 2016
Conservative MP Scott Reid has dismissed the cost of a referendum: 'If we’re worried about the cost of democracy, then we should suspend having any future elections, shouldn’t we?' The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 27, 2016
Trump is a master at trumpery: Donald Trump is as unlikely to win the presidency as was Ford when he declared his candidacy for mayor. Trump may win if there is a terrorist attack on the eve of the election or if there are some more serious revelations about Clinton’s misuse of her personal email server. Photograph courtesy of YouTube
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 27, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 27, 2016
Trump is a master at trumpery: Donald Trump is as unlikely to win the presidency as was Ford when he declared his candidacy for mayor. Trump may win if there is a terrorist attack on the eve of the election or if there are some more serious revelations about Clinton’s misuse of her personal email server. Photograph courtesy of YouTube
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 20, 2016
Canadian Forces pictured in Iraq on March 16, 2015. In Iraq as in Afghanistan, the military efforts of Canada and the West are alas doomed to fail. Canada’s military leaders know this but their obligatory submission to civilian control prevents them from saying so publicly. Photograph courtesy of DND/Canadian Forces
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 20, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | June 20, 2016
Canadian Forces pictured in Iraq on March 16, 2015. In Iraq as in Afghanistan, the military efforts of Canada and the West are alas doomed to fail. Canada’s military leaders know this but their obligatory submission to civilian control prevents them from saying so publicly. Photograph courtesy of DND/Canadian Forces
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 30, 2016
Royal Canadian Air Force members of Air Task Force-Iraq pictured in a training area in Kuwait on March 16, 2015. Photograph courtesy of Op Impact, DND
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 30, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | May 30, 2016
Royal Canadian Air Force members of Air Task Force-Iraq pictured in a training area in Kuwait on March 16, 2015. Photograph courtesy of Op Impact, DND
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 18, 2016
With Tom Mulcair a lame duck interim leader and low polling numbers, the federal NDP is in danger of becoming even more marginalized. It may revisit the lost 1990s when, in three consecutive elections, it garnered between seven and 11 per cent of the vote. The Hill Times photograph by Laura Ryckewaert
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 18, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | April 18, 2016
With Tom Mulcair a lame duck interim leader and low polling numbers, the federal NDP is in danger of becoming even more marginalized. It may revisit the lost 1990s when, in three consecutive elections, it garnered between seven and 11 per cent of the vote. The Hill Times photograph by Laura Ryckewaert
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 21, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 21, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | March 21, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
The new government’s commitment to an 'open, merit-based appointments system' is laudable, but the government’s action inappropriately shames the appointees, many of whom clearly merited the positions to which they had been appointed. Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc’s, pictured, letter was not consistent with the 'sunny ways' Justin Trudeau has been preaching. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
The new government’s commitment to an 'open, merit-based appointments system' is laudable, but the government’s action inappropriately shames the appointees, many of whom clearly merited the positions to which they had been appointed. Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc’s, pictured, letter was not consistent with the 'sunny ways' Justin Trudeau has been preaching. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
The new government’s commitment to an 'open, merit-based appointments system' is laudable, but the government’s action inappropriately shames the appointees, many of whom clearly merited the positions to which they had been appointed. Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc’s, pictured, letter was not consistent with the 'sunny ways' Justin Trudeau has been preaching. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | February 22, 2016
The new government’s commitment to an 'open, merit-based appointments system' is laudable, but the government’s action inappropriately shames the appointees, many of whom clearly merited the positions to which they had been appointed. Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc’s, pictured, letter was not consistent with the 'sunny ways' Justin Trudeau has been preaching. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 25, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 25, 2016
Opinion | BY NELSON WISEMAN | January 25, 2016