Sunday, December 21, 2025

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Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is dealing with a Rubik’s cube of provincial, financial, environmental, political, labour force, and Indigenous issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 17, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is dealing with a Rubik’s cube of provincial, financial, environmental, political, labour force, and Indigenous issues, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
Donald Trump
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Prime Minister Mark Carney participate in the FIFA World Cup drawing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 10, 2025
Donald Trump
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Prime Minister Mark Carney participate in the FIFA World Cup drawing in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to lessen the binary choices on the environment and conventional energy development, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 3, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to lessen the binary choices on the environment and conventional energy development, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been going ahead with what has to be called a top-to-bottom renovation of Canada’s economic posture and place in the world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 26, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been going ahead with what has to be called a top-to-bottom renovation of Canada’s economic posture and place in the world, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently broke with his usual patter by admitting tariffs may ‘in some cases’ drive up consumer prices, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 19, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently broke with his usual patter by admitting tariffs may ‘in some cases’ drive up consumer prices, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
If the turmoil in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reached the point where MPs who might be considering defecting are getting threats to destroy their futures, as has been widely reported, it’s obvious that the leader is in serious trouble, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 12, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
If the turmoil in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reached the point where MPs who might be considering defecting are getting threats to destroy their futures, as has been widely reported, it’s obvious that the leader is in serious trouble, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
The budget presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne embodies a business-focused, expansionist strategy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2025
The budget presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne embodies a business-focused, expansionist strategy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is well aware that in today’s social media-driven political ecosphere, outrage sells, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 29, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is well aware that in today’s social media-driven political ecosphere, outrage sells, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
Mark Carney
In his first budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney has on his shoulders a collective task that surpasses the long-term challenges undertaken by a single prime minister in decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 22, 2025
Mark Carney
In his first budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney has on his shoulders a collective task that surpasses the long-term challenges undertaken by a single prime minister in decades, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 15, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 8, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 1, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 24, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 17, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 10, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 3, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 30, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 23, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 16, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 9, 2025
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
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 | October 7, 2020
A pedestrian walks past a sign advertising face masks on Bank Street in downtown Ottawa on May 15. Canadians must shelve the anti-social, destructive mindsets associated with mask rejection and COVID conspiracies, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 7, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 7, 2020
A pedestrian walks past a sign advertising face masks on Bank Street in downtown Ottawa on May 15. Canadians must shelve the anti-social, destructive mindsets associated with mask rejection and COVID conspiracies, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 30, 2020
From Trudeau on down, Canada’s political leaders have been behind the curve on COVID-19 from its emergence as an oddity in faraway China 10 months ago, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 30, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 30, 2020
From Trudeau on down, Canada’s political leaders have been behind the curve on COVID-19 from its emergence as an oddity in faraway China 10 months ago, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2020
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre and new party leader Erin O'Toole. O’Toole, who has infused his middle-of-the-road political personality with a more populist tone, is not making a big deal about the need to bring the fisc, as some call it, back into traditional alignment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2020
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre and new party leader Erin O'Toole. O’Toole, who has infused his middle-of-the-road political personality with a more populist tone, is not making a big deal about the need to bring the fisc, as some call it, back into traditional alignment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2020
New Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, left, pictured on his way to his first caucus meeting as leader on Sept. 9 alongside his chief of staff, Tausha Michaud, and the party's new national campaign manager, Fred DeLorey. To date, O’Toole’s main departures from the standard Conservative line have been shelving his party’s defining fixation with the federal deficit and casting himself as a champion of workers, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 16, 2020
New Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, left, pictured on his way to his first caucus meeting as leader on Sept. 9 alongside his chief of staff, Tausha Michaud, and the party's new national campaign manager, Fred DeLorey. To date, O’Toole’s main departures from the standard Conservative line have been shelving his party’s defining fixation with the federal deficit and casting himself as a champion of workers, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump is promoting the idea that the way to deal with the country's reckoning over its failure to address racial inequality over the last 150 years is for white people to use whatever means they want, including violence, to suppress Black people or others protesting on their behalf, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Sean Lee
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 9, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump is promoting the idea that the way to deal with the country's reckoning over its failure to address racial inequality over the last 150 years is for white people to use whatever means they want, including violence, to suppress Black people or others protesting on their behalf, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Sean Lee
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and the heads of all federal parties will be put to the test over the next several months as the country comes to grips with Canada in the age of COVID, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 2, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and the heads of all federal parties will be put to the test over the next several months as the country comes to grips with Canada in the age of COVID, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2020
For all the upbeat speechifying afterwards, the leadership balloting announced Sunday clearly showed that this was not a race about which candidate the Conservative membership liked most, but who they disliked the least, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot via Conservative Party livestream
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 26, 2020
For all the upbeat speechifying afterwards, the leadership balloting announced Sunday clearly showed that this was not a race about which candidate the Conservative membership liked most, but who they disliked the least, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot via Conservative Party livestream
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2020
Conservative leadership candidates Derek Sloan, Leslyn Lewis, Erin O'Toole, and Peter MacKay. Whenever the election comes, the question for the Conservatives is whether they can field a team with the cross-Canada appeal needed to capitalize on Justin Trudeau’s weaknesses, writes Les Whittington. Twitter photographs, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 19, 2020
Conservative leadership candidates Derek Sloan, Leslyn Lewis, Erin O'Toole, and Peter MacKay. Whenever the election comes, the question for the Conservatives is whether they can field a team with the cross-Canada appeal needed to capitalize on Justin Trudeau’s weaknesses, writes Les Whittington. Twitter photographs, The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 5, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on June 11 touring Régimbal Awards and Promotions to highlight the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, introduced in response to COVID-19. There’s no doubt now that Trudeau will be seen historically as the COVID prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 5, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 5, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on June 11 touring Régimbal Awards and Promotions to highlight the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, introduced in response to COVID-19. There’s no doubt now that Trudeau will be seen historically as the COVID prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 29, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump is applauded as he signs a series of executive orders on lowering drug prices July 24. Promising cheaper imported medicines is an obvious pre-election gambit for Trump, even if it is unlikely to ever happen, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 29, 2020
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 29, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump is applauded as he signs a series of executive orders on lowering drug prices July 24. Promising cheaper imported medicines is an obvious pre-election gambit for Trump, even if it is unlikely to ever happen, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead