Friday, June 27, 2025

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Friday, June 27, 2025 | Latest Paper

Susan Riley

Susan Riley is a veteran political columnist and regular contributor to The Hill Times.

Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves the Prime Minister’s Office in Ottawa, Ont. on May 20, 2025, to head to a cabinet forum at Meech Lake, Que. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s his recent talk of 'decarbonized oil' deals a near-fatal blow to climate hopes for his new government. No one who is serious about fighting climate change would parrot this ludicrous talking point, drawn directly from the oil and gas sector’s well-funded marketing department, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 16, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves the Prime Minister’s Office in Ottawa, Ont. on May 20, 2025, to head to a cabinet forum at Meech Lake, Que. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s his recent talk of 'decarbonized oil' deals a near-fatal blow to climate hopes for his new government. No one who is serious about fighting climate change would parrot this ludicrous talking point, drawn directly from the oil and gas sector’s well-funded marketing department, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 2, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Senate of Canada building in Ottawa to attend the Speech from the Throne on May 27, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa to attend the Throne Speech on May 27, 2025. He is so extraordinarily ambitious for this country, so focused, deliberate, and determined to do big things in record time, that it seems churlish to doubt him, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 2, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 2, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Senate of Canada building in Ottawa to attend the Speech from the Throne on May 27, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa to attend the Throne Speech on May 27, 2025. He is so extraordinarily ambitious for this country, so focused, deliberate, and determined to do big things in record time, that it seems churlish to doubt him, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 25, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference in West Block on May 21, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 25, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 25, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference in West Block on May 21, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 19, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
It took Alberta Premier Danielle Smith a nano-second (after her 'positive' first conversation with the new prime minister), to trash some of his new cabinet choices, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 19, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 19, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
It took Alberta Premier Danielle Smith a nano-second (after her 'positive' first conversation with the new prime minister), to trash some of his new cabinet choices, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 5, 2025
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, right, and his wife Anaida arrive at the federal leaders' debate in Montréal, Que., on April 17, 2025. How our new political era unfolds largely depends on Poilievre's strategy, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 5, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 5, 2025
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, right, and his wife Anaida arrive at the federal leaders' debate in Montréal, Que., on April 17, 2025. How our new political era unfolds largely depends on Poilievre's strategy, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | April 14, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 4, 2025, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | April 14, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | April 14, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 4, 2025, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 31, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured March 23, 2025, after holding a press conference outside Rideau Hall in Ottawa after dissolving Parliament and calling an election. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 31, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 31, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured March 23, 2025, after holding a press conference outside Rideau Hall in Ottawa after dissolving Parliament and calling an election. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 17, 2025
Newly elected party leader Mark Carney arrives for the Liberal Party caucus meeting in West Block on March 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Newly elected party leader Mark Carney arrives for the Liberal Party caucus meeting in the West Block on March 10, 2025. You don’t need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. In Canada, it is blowing right, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 17, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 17, 2025
Newly elected party leader Mark Carney arrives for the Liberal Party caucus meeting in West Block on March 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Newly elected party leader Mark Carney arrives for the Liberal Party caucus meeting in the West Block on March 10, 2025. You don’t need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. In Canada, it is blowing right, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 3, 2025
Mark Carney
Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney, picture in Montreal on Feb. 25, 2025. Dubbed 'Carbon-Tax Carney' by the Conservatives, Carney has rejected the consumer-based carbon tax that the Liberal government adopted, but failed to sell, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 3, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | March 3, 2025
Mark Carney
Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney, picture in Montreal on Feb. 25, 2025. Dubbed 'Carbon-Tax Carney' by the Conservatives, Carney has rejected the consumer-based carbon tax that the Liberal government adopted, but failed to sell, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | February 17, 2025
The race to be our national flag-bearer is tightening. Mark Carney, left, comes across as a sober, able, low-key manager, but he needs to turn up the volume. Pierre Poilievre is a snappy, energetic communicator, but he needs to tone down the hatred, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | February 17, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | February 17, 2025
The race to be our national flag-bearer is tightening. Mark Carney, left, comes across as a sober, able, low-key manager, but he needs to turn up the volume. Pierre Poilievre is a snappy, energetic communicator, but he needs to tone down the hatred, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 27, 2025
Donald Trump doesn't care about climate change, but Canada does have one important card to play. We could significantly reduce the 100-per-cent tariff it imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, and induce China to build some of their EV cars here, to get a toehold on a huge continent market, writes Susan Riley. Image courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 27, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 27, 2025
Donald Trump doesn't care about climate change, but Canada does have one important card to play. We could significantly reduce the 100-per-cent tariff it imposed on Chinese-made electric vehicles, and induce China to build some of their EV cars here, to get a toehold on a huge continent market, writes Susan Riley. Image courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 13, 2025
The Liberals' placeholder candidate cannot be the genial Dominic LeBlanc, newly-minted finance minister and beloved party veteran, who has taken himself out of contention so he can attend to the business of the nation, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 13, 2025
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | January 13, 2025
The Liberals' placeholder candidate cannot be the genial Dominic LeBlanc, newly-minted finance minister and beloved party veteran, who has taken himself out of contention so he can attend to the business of the nation, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 17, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau addresses Liberal Party supporters at a Laurier Club fundraiser at the Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Dec. 16, 2024. There is something to be said for rising above the political weather bomb that hit the Hill this week, and 'reflecting' as Trudeau apparently assured his shell-shocked caucus that he would, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 17, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 17, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau addresses Liberal Party supporters at a Laurier Club fundraiser at the Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Dec. 16, 2024. There is something to be said for rising above the political weather bomb that hit the Hill this week, and 'reflecting' as Trudeau apparently assured his shell-shocked caucus that he would, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 9, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in announcing her government’s two-month GST holiday on certain goods and a $250 check for working Canadians in the spring—referred to the 'vibe-session,' a newly-coined phrase that refers to the divide between complicated economic reality and the way people are feeling. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 9, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | December 9, 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, in announcing her government’s two-month GST holiday on certain goods and a $250 check for working Canadians in the spring—referred to the 'vibe-session,' a newly-coined phrase that refers to the divide between complicated economic reality and the way people are feeling. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 25, 2024
CBC
More urgent than anything is the potential loss of CBC News. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is convinced—as have all Conservative leaders before him—that CBC reporters favour Liberals, and universally betray a socially liberal bias, writes Susan Riley.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 25, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 25, 2024
CBC
More urgent than anything is the potential loss of CBC News. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is convinced—as have all Conservative leaders before him—that CBC reporters favour Liberals, and universally betray a socially liberal bias, writes Susan Riley.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 11, 2024
Donald Trump
The good news is that Donald Trump, pictured, will be gone for good in four years. It will be up to the next U.S. government to repair the devastation he leaves, or not, writes Susan Riley. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 11, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | November 11, 2024
Donald Trump
The good news is that Donald Trump, pictured, will be gone for good in four years. It will be up to the next U.S. government to repair the devastation he leaves, or not, writes Susan Riley. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 28, 2024
David Eby, left, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Kamala Harris, David Rustad, Pierre Poilievre, and Danielle Smith. Politics is a thankless business, so perhaps we shouldn’t begrudge our leaders the fun they are having with issues like foreign interference, Trump’s admiration for Hitler, Rustad’s flirtations with crazy conspiracies, writes Riley. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Flickr/British Columbia Government and The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 28, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 28, 2024
David Eby, left, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Kamala Harris, David Rustad, Pierre Poilievre, and Danielle Smith. Politics is a thankless business, so perhaps we shouldn’t begrudge our leaders the fun they are having with issues like foreign interference, Trump’s admiration for Hitler, Rustad’s flirtations with crazy conspiracies, writes Riley. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Flickr/British Columbia Government and The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, illustration by Neena Singhal
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 14, 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, left, is the latest public figure to face Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s lacerating criticism, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 14, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | October 14, 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, left, is the latest public figure to face Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s lacerating criticism, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | September 30, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. After years on the fringes of every consequential election in this country, perhaps the moment has finally come for 'none-of-the-above,' writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | September 30, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | September 30, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. After years on the fringes of every consequential election in this country, perhaps the moment has finally come for 'none-of-the-above,' writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 26, 2024
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to follow the United States in placing a punishing tariff on affordable Chinese EVs, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 26, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 26, 2024
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to follow the United States in placing a punishing tariff on affordable Chinese EVs, writes Susan Riley. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 12, 2024
Kamala Harris
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris is like a breath of fresh air, writes Susan Riley. Photograph courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 12, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | August 12, 2024
Kamala Harris
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris is like a breath of fresh air, writes Susan Riley. Photograph courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 29, 2024
Last summer's forest fires in Alberta. With a few exceptions, our politicians are divided into two camps: the stout defenders of the oil and gas industry regardless of damage to the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions cause; or, those rhetorically committed to addressing climate change, but, maybe next decade, or in 2050. Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc, DND Canada
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 29, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 29, 2024
Last summer's forest fires in Alberta. With a few exceptions, our politicians are divided into two camps: the stout defenders of the oil and gas industry regardless of damage to the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions cause; or, those rhetorically committed to addressing climate change, but, maybe next decade, or in 2050. Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc, DND Canada
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 15, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a bilateral meeting in Ottawa on March 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 15, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 15, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a bilateral meeting in Ottawa on March 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 1, 2024
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, pictured on the Hill on April 16, 2024, with some of his Conservative MPs. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 1, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | July 1, 2024
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, pictured on the Hill on April 16, 2024, with some of his Conservative MPs. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 17, 2024
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May told reporters last week that 'There is no list of MPs who have shown disloyalty to Canada,' but said one former unnamed MP was a willing tool of Beijing. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 17, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 17, 2024
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May told reporters last week that 'There is no list of MPs who have shown disloyalty to Canada,' but said one former unnamed MP was a willing tool of Beijing. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 3, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the Hill on April 16, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 3, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | June 3, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the Hill on April 16, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 13, 2024
Public Service Alliance of Canada president Chris Aylward during PSAC's picket line in Ottawa on April 19, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 13, 2024
Opinion | BY SUSAN RILEY | May 13, 2024
Public Service Alliance of Canada president Chris Aylward during PSAC's picket line in Ottawa on April 19, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade