Thursday, October 16, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Thursday, October 16, 2025 | Latest Paper

Need To Know

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 | 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 | October 2, 2024
Semi-detached single family homes in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood
It will take a great deal more concentrated effort on the part of the federal government, the provinces, and municipalities to reverse the urban sprawl trend, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
Semi-detached single family homes in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood
It will take a great deal more concentrated effort on the part of the federal government, the provinces, and municipalities to reverse the urban sprawl trend, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reduced the immensely complicated business of government to a few dozen words in several simplistic slogans that sound almost like a parody of a political con artist, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reduced the immensely complicated business of government to a few dozen words in several simplistic slogans that sound almost like a parody of a political con artist, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
New Liberal Party adviser Mark Carney is calling for more government action, not less, to tackle climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
New Liberal Party adviser Mark Carney is calling for more government action, not less, to tackle climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
A recent survey suggests the angry mood of voters is the most notable feature as half the world’s population holds elections in 2024, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Yogendra Singh
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
A recent survey suggests the angry mood of voters is the most notable feature as half the world’s population holds elections in 2024, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Yogendra Singh
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and his fellow G7 leaders face a challenging situation at this week’s leaders’ summit Italy, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and his fellow G7 leaders face a challenging situation at this week’s leaders’ summit Italy, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has warned the central bank’s key interest rate is going to be much higher in the near future than Canadians got used to in the past 10 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has warned the central bank’s key interest rate is going to be much higher in the near future than Canadians got used to in the past 10 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
The willingness by maybe half of U.S. voters to accept this kind of authoritarian behaviour in opposition to everything democracy stands for already amounts to a kind of de facto coup by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of George C./Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
The willingness by maybe half of U.S. voters to accept this kind of authoritarian behaviour in opposition to everything democracy stands for already amounts to a kind of de facto coup by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of George C./Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Under Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s capital gains gambit, companies and individuals making profits on the sale of assets will still enjoy special tax treatment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Under Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s capital gains gambit, companies and individuals making profits on the sale of assets will still enjoy special tax treatment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Canadians are angry and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s central argument that government can be a force to help the public solve its problems seems to be increasingly going unheard, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Canadians are angry and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s central argument that government can be a force to help the public solve its problems seems to be increasingly going unheard, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is unfortunately caught in a vicious circle since shelter costs make up a large portion of the inflation measure used by the central bank, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is unfortunately caught in a vicious circle since shelter costs make up a large portion of the inflation measure used by the central bank, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade