Monday, October 27, 2025

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Plain Speak

Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 22, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Whether it is a personal animus towards Justin Trudeau or habitual behaviour, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is doing neither the nation nor his party any favours by making accusations against him, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 22, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 22, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Whether it is a personal animus towards Justin Trudeau or habitual behaviour, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is doing neither the nation nor his party any favours by making accusations against him, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, may have had a good meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last week, but there is a restiveness forming at home, writes Tim Powers. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 15, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, may have had a good meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump last week, but there is a restiveness forming at home, writes Tim Powers. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 1, 2025
Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier John Hogan, left, Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham, and NDP Leader Jim Dinn are facing off in a provincial race. Photographs courtesy of Facebook and Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 1, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 1, 2025
Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier John Hogan, left, Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham, and NDP Leader Jim Dinn are facing off in a provincial race. Photographs courtesy of Facebook and Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 24, 2025
The Canadian women’s rugby team will take on England at the World Cup finals on Sept. 27. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Rugby World Cup
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 24, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 24, 2025
The Canadian women’s rugby team will take on England at the World Cup finals on Sept. 27. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Rugby World Cup
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 10, 2025
Ken Dryden
Even in death, former hockey legend and cabinet minister Ken Dryden makes us think, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 10, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 10, 2025
Ken Dryden
Even in death, former hockey legend and cabinet minister Ken Dryden makes us think, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | August 27, 2025
These games represented the best of Canada, not only because of what happened on the pitches, in the pool, or at the track, but because of how competitors from all across the country came together to help each other, writes Tim Powers. Photograph courtesy of Pexels
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | August 27, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | August 27, 2025
These games represented the best of Canada, not only because of what happened on the pitches, in the pool, or at the track, but because of how competitors from all across the country came together to help each other, writes Tim Powers. Photograph courtesy of Pexels
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s, centre, July 28 announcement of the Confederation Bridge toll cut is is old-school pork-barrel politics at its best, writes Tim Powers. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 30, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s, centre, July 28 announcement of the Confederation Bridge toll cut is is old-school pork-barrel politics at its best, writes Tim Powers. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 16, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre knows that this—sadly—is when you start building the narrative of Prime Minister Mark Carney as the wealthy, self-interested, effete leader, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 16, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 16, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre knows that this—sadly—is when you start building the narrative of Prime Minister Mark Carney as the wealthy, self-interested, effete leader, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 9, 2025
Sharon Musgrave
Recently retired senior CBC producer Sharon Musgrave is an unforgettable force, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 9, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | July 9, 2025
Sharon Musgrave
Recently retired senior CBC producer Sharon Musgrave is an unforgettable force, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 25, 2025
Conservatives Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and interim NDP Leader Don Davies. The NDP’s biggest challenge over the coming months is figuring out what their leadership race looks like, and who might contest it, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 25, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 25, 2025
Conservatives Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and interim NDP Leader Don Davies. The NDP’s biggest challenge over the coming months is figuring out what their leadership race looks like, and who might contest it, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 18, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre may be getting some instructive feedback from the people with whom he is speaking, but there is reportedly some cynicism about the outreach, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 18, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 18, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre may be getting some instructive feedback from the people with whom he is speaking, but there is reportedly some cynicism about the outreach, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 11, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is running at an Olympic champion sprinter’s pace to complete his list of tasks, and the public—for now—is giving him all the track he needs, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 11, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | June 11, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is running at an Olympic champion sprinter’s pace to complete his list of tasks, and the public—for now—is giving him all the track he needs, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 28, 2025
Conservative MP Jonathan Rowe, left, and Liberal candidate Anthony Germain both demonstrated great class and decency towards each other over the course of their recount ordeal. Photographs courtesy of the the Conservative Party and Liberal Party
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 28, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 28, 2025
Conservative MP Jonathan Rowe, left, and Liberal candidate Anthony Germain both demonstrated great class and decency towards each other over the course of their recount ordeal. Photographs courtesy of the the Conservative Party and Liberal Party
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 21, 2025
Adam van Koeverden
If the prime minister and Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden lean in here they could produce some big wins from which we’d all benefit, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 21, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 21, 2025
Adam van Koeverden
If the prime minister and Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden lean in here they could produce some big wins from which we’d all benefit, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 7, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party should avoid rushing back into predictable oppositional politics with the same cast of characters, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 7, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | May 7, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party should avoid rushing back into predictable oppositional politics with the same cast of characters, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 30, 2025
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will all have some things to take away from this campaign, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, and illustration by Joey Sabourin
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 30, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 30, 2025
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will all have some things to take away from this campaign, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, and illustration by Joey Sabourin
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 16, 2025
Mark Carney
While the team running Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign may deserve credit when all said and done, character and circumstance have played a big role to date—not Liberal strategic brilliance, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 16, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 16, 2025
Mark Carney
While the team running Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign may deserve credit when all said and done, character and circumstance have played a big role to date—not Liberal strategic brilliance, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 9, 2025
Preston Manning
Preston Manning’s forecast of national disharmony should the Liberals remain in office seems selfish, and ignores the reality of the human-to-human respect we demonstrate as a nation, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 9, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 9, 2025
Preston Manning
Preston Manning’s forecast of national disharmony should the Liberals remain in office seems selfish, and ignores the reality of the human-to-human respect we demonstrate as a nation, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 2, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre still has a path to victory, but all of his political polish and pitches are working against him now, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 2, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | April 2, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre still has a path to victory, but all of his political polish and pitches are working against him now, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 26, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are two factors who may help shape an outcome for this election, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 26, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 26, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump are two factors who may help shape an outcome for this election, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 19, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a skilled politician with smart, able advisers who must see that the field they set to win the 2025 election is not the one where the current game is being played, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 19, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 19, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a skilled politician with smart, able advisers who must see that the field they set to win the 2025 election is not the one where the current game is being played, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 5, 2025
Andrew Furey
There are capable people putting their hand up to succeed Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, but his service won’t be forgotten, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 5, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | March 5, 2025
Andrew Furey
There are capable people putting their hand up to succeed Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, but his service won’t be forgotten, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 26, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump likes winners, so let’s use sports to Canada’s global benefit, writes Tim Powers. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/NHL
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 26, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 26, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump likes winners, so let’s use sports to Canada’s global benefit, writes Tim Powers. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/NHL
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 12, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland has positioned herself as being the best foil for the U.S. president, but that may be too premature a posture, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 12, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | February 12, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland has positioned herself as being the best foil for the U.S. president, but that may be too premature a posture, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 10, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, left, and MPs Marilyn Gladu and Leslyn Lewis, right. At some point, if the Conservative Party brand continues to burn because of the weird science caucus, O’Toole will have to abandon his strategy of accommodation and remove them, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 10, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 10, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, left, and MPs Marilyn Gladu and Leslyn Lewis, right. At some point, if the Conservative Party brand continues to burn because of the weird science caucus, O’Toole will have to abandon his strategy of accommodation and remove them, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 3, 2021
Not every former prime minister who offers public commentary causes a party’s leadership concern. But in the case of both Jean Chrétien and Brian Mulroney, they remain deeply connected to their tribal politics, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 3, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 3, 2021
Not every former prime minister who offers public commentary causes a party’s leadership concern. But in the case of both Jean Chrétien and Brian Mulroney, they remain deeply connected to their tribal politics, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 27, 2021
Finance Minister and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland, left, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault are the big winners in this new cabinet, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 27, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 27, 2021
Finance Minister and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland, left, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault are the big winners in this new cabinet, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 20, 2021
Tim Powers ponders whether new cabinet roles be in the future for Liberals like Marc Miller, left, Steven Guilbeault, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, and Randy Boissonnault. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Jake Wright
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 20, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 20, 2021
Tim Powers ponders whether new cabinet roles be in the future for Liberals like Marc Miller, left, Steven Guilbeault, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, and Randy Boissonnault. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Jake Wright
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 13, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is pictured on his way into his first post-election caucus meeting in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Oct. 5. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 13, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 13, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is pictured on his way into his first post-election caucus meeting in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Oct. 5. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 29, 2021
Former MP and cabinet minister Peter Penashue and former Indspire head Roberta Jamieson. Be thankful for Canada’s Indigenous peoples, their courage, compassion, and leadership in trying to make us all better, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photographs
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 29, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 29, 2021
Former MP and cabinet minister Peter Penashue and former Indspire head Roberta Jamieson. Be thankful for Canada’s Indigenous peoples, their courage, compassion, and leadership in trying to make us all better, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photographs
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The election results suggest a need for compromise to bring forward what, in theory at least, are policies based on consensus among all, or most, parties on what’s best for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 23, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The election results suggest a need for compromise to bring forward what, in theory at least, are policies based on consensus among all, or most, parties on what’s best for the country, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 22, 2021
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole. We aren’t quite back to a Canada circa 2019, we all have the scares of the pandemic to prove that, but we do have a Parliament that looks eerily familiar, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 22, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 22, 2021
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole. We aren’t quite back to a Canada circa 2019, we all have the scares of the pandemic to prove that, but we do have a Parliament that looks eerily familiar, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 15, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, middle, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, right, have run strong, solid campaigns evidenced by recent public polls that show Justin Trudeau’s Liberals and Conservatives tied in national support with the NDP solidly in third. But those same research samplings show them currently stalled, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 15, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 15, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, middle, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, right, have run strong, solid campaigns evidenced by recent public polls that show Justin Trudeau’s Liberals and Conservatives tied in national support with the NDP solidly in third. But those same research samplings show them currently stalled, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 8, 2021
Had the prime minister not done a $5-billion deal on Muskrat Falls electricity rate mitigation with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador before the campaign, he might have had more difficulties in my home province, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 8, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | September 8, 2021
Had the prime minister not done a $5-billion deal on Muskrat Falls electricity rate mitigation with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador before the campaign, he might have had more difficulties in my home province, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster