Thursday, July 3, 2025

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Thursday, July 3, 2025 | Latest Paper

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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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 22, 2020
The gravity of the charge of uttering threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to have been obscured in all the talk about what a decent guy Corey Hurren is, his COVID-related trauma and his concerns about losing the vehicle he needs as a northern Canadian Ranger, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 22, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 22, 2020
The gravity of the charge of uttering threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to have been obscured in all the talk about what a decent guy Corey Hurren is, his COVID-related trauma and his concerns about losing the vehicle he needs as a northern Canadian Ranger, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 15, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inflammatory language and pro-police stance are reminiscent of the likes of pro-segregationist former Alabama governor George Wallace, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 15, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 15, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inflammatory language and pro-police stance are reminiscent of the likes of pro-segregationist former Alabama governor George Wallace, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 8, 2020
Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s 168-page fiscal release, which was more like a family album than a snapshot, will disappoint some Canadians because it was positioned not as a strategy for an immediate post-COVID recovery, but as a middle step in the battle against the epidemic, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 8, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 8, 2020
Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s 168-page fiscal release, which was more like a family album than a snapshot, will disappoint some Canadians because it was positioned not as a strategy for an immediate post-COVID recovery, but as a middle step in the battle against the epidemic, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
Commissioner Brenda Lucki’s comment to Members of Parliament that her officers are feeling picked on and ‘demoralized’ by the ‘anti-police narrative’ belies all her talk about reform, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 1, 2020
Commissioner Brenda Lucki’s comment to Members of Parliament that her officers are feeling picked on and ‘demoralized’ by the ‘anti-police narrative’ belies all her talk about reform, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
Having risen to prominence and won the White House on an appeal to white racism, U.S. President Donald Trump is openly embracing that approach again, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 24, 2020
Having risen to prominence and won the White House on an appeal to white racism, U.S. President Donald Trump is openly embracing that approach again, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
Demonstrators participate in the No Peace Until Justice rally on Parliament Hill on June 5. Given the protections for police built into the current system, it’s clear the only way to make progress will be through a drastic overhaul of the current policing model, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 17, 2020
Demonstrators participate in the No Peace Until Justice rally on Parliament Hill on June 5. Given the protections for police built into the current system, it’s clear the only way to make progress will be through a drastic overhaul of the current policing model, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
As protests of unfair policing have mounted in more than 100 cities around the globe and in Canada, including in Ottawa on June 5, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other elected leaders have vowed to do more to tackle the problem, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 10, 2020
As protests of unfair policing have mounted in more than 100 cities around the globe and in Canada, including in Ottawa on June 5, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other elected leaders have vowed to do more to tackle the problem, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
The protests and riots in the U.S. may ultimately work to Donald Trump’s advantage, distracting attention from his mishandling of COVID-19 and invigorating the law-and-order vote, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 3, 2020
The protests and riots in the U.S. may ultimately work to Donald Trump’s advantage, distracting attention from his mishandling of COVID-19 and invigorating the law-and-order vote, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
Positioning himself as the torch-bearer of the economic recovery after COVID is now the key to U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election strategy and he is showing he won’t hesitate to use any and all means to fan the anger and division that sprung up around the crisis, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 27, 2020
Positioning himself as the torch-bearer of the economic recovery after COVID is now the key to U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election strategy and he is showing he won’t hesitate to use any and all means to fan the anger and division that sprung up around the crisis, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
As with everything else, the virus raises questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s future and, beyond that, about how the wider national political scene will be transformed, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 20, 2020
As with everything else, the virus raises questions about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s future and, beyond that, about how the wider national political scene will be transformed, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade