Thursday, December 18, 2025

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Thursday, December 18, 2025 | Latest Paper

Plain Speak

Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 17, 2025
Ahead of Conservative Pierre Poilievre’s leadership review, he has shown more pugnacity than the kind of reasonableness with which his opponent seems to be scoring well with the public, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 17, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 17, 2025
Ahead of Conservative Pierre Poilievre’s leadership review, he has shown more pugnacity than the kind of reasonableness with which his opponent seems to be scoring well with the public, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 10, 2025
Mark Carney
The energy framework Prime Minister Mark Carney signed with Alberta last month sends a message to the domestic and global investment community that in Carney’s Canada, the door is now open again to do business, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 10, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 10, 2025
Mark Carney
The energy framework Prime Minister Mark Carney signed with Alberta last month sends a message to the domestic and global investment community that in Carney’s Canada, the door is now open again to do business, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 26, 2025
Widely viewed as a mature professional, Steve Outhouse has run and won campaigns for different Canadian conservative leaders in different parts of the country, writes Tim Powers. Photograph courtesy of Steve Outhouse
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 26, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 26, 2025
Widely viewed as a mature professional, Steve Outhouse has run and won campaigns for different Canadian conservative leaders in different parts of the country, writes Tim Powers. Photograph courtesy of Steve Outhouse
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 12, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his team need to want to be better to overcome the vulnerability exposed last week, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 12, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 12, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his team need to want to be better to overcome the vulnerability exposed last week, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 29, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump clearly preferred the federal government’s charm offensive, but it had—at least publicly—not borne any fruit, writes Tim Powers. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 29, 2025
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 29, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump clearly preferred the federal government’s charm offensive, but it had—at least publicly—not borne any fruit, writes Tim Powers. White House photograph by Joyce N. Boghosian
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 | January 20, 2021
Voters in Newfoundland and Labrador will go to the polls on Feb. 13. Premier Andrew Furey, left, is hoping for a majority, while Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie and NDP Leader Alison Coffin are hoping Furey will make mistakes in his first provincial election campaign, writes Tim Powers. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador photograph and House of Assembly photographs
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 20, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 20, 2021
Voters in Newfoundland and Labrador will go to the polls on Feb. 13. Premier Andrew Furey, left, is hoping for a majority, while Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie and NDP Leader Alison Coffin are hoping Furey will make mistakes in his first provincial election campaign, writes Tim Powers. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador photograph and House of Assembly photographs
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 13, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured outside Rideau Cottage for a press conference on Jan. 8. With Quebec currently a province with a mandated public curfew and Ontario back in a state of emergency, there will not be, and should not be, an election until circumstances dramatically improve, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 13, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 13, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured outside Rideau Cottage for a press conference on Jan. 8. With Quebec currently a province with a mandated public curfew and Ontario back in a state of emergency, there will not be, and should not be, an election until circumstances dramatically improve, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 5, 2021
Provincial politicians who chose to leave the country for tropical holidays found themselves with different jobs when they came home, including former Ontario finance minister Rod Phillips, left, former Alberta municipal affairs minister Tracy Allard, and former Quebec Liberal critic Pierre Arcand. Wikimedia Commons photograph, Facebook photograph, and Quebec UK Flickr photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 5, 2021
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | January 5, 2021
Provincial politicians who chose to leave the country for tropical holidays found themselves with different jobs when they came home, including former Ontario finance minister Rod Phillips, left, former Alberta municipal affairs minister Tracy Allard, and former Quebec Liberal critic Pierre Arcand. Wikimedia Commons photograph, Facebook photograph, and Quebec UK Flickr photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 16, 2020
Giants who fell in 2020 included political heavyweight John Crosbie, left, Summa Strategies’ Tracey Hubley, and former prime minister John Turner. The Hill Times file photographs and courtesy of Summa Strategies
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 16, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 16, 2020
Giants who fell in 2020 included political heavyweight John Crosbie, left, Summa Strategies’ Tracey Hubley, and former prime minister John Turner. The Hill Times file photographs and courtesy of Summa Strategies
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 9, 2020
Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel Garner, Leader Erin O'Toole, and Deputy Leader Candice Bergen are pictured at a press conference on Oct. 22. Conservatives will now move, as they have, to critiquing the pace of distribution and its methods of allocation. The latter has all sorts of challenges around the stoking of division while trying to act responsibly in a crisis, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 9, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | December 9, 2020
Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel Garner, Leader Erin O'Toole, and Deputy Leader Candice Bergen are pictured at a press conference on Oct. 22. Conservatives will now move, as they have, to critiquing the pace of distribution and its methods of allocation. The latter has all sorts of challenges around the stoking of division while trying to act responsibly in a crisis, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 25, 2020
With COVID fatigue and hope bundled in the eventual relief a distributed vaccine will provide, Gen. Rick Hillier, pictured in 2016, will be an important voice in motivating Ontarians and Canadians to get through the next phase of this pandemic odyssey, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 25, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 25, 2020
With COVID fatigue and hope bundled in the eventual relief a distributed vaccine will provide, Gen. Rick Hillier, pictured in 2016, will be an important voice in motivating Ontarians and Canadians to get through the next phase of this pandemic odyssey, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 18, 2020
MP Yasmin Ratansi’s sister was rehired to work as her constituency assistant in 2017—a clear violation of the 2012 rule, and she should be called out, writes Tim Powers, but an overdone course correction is not needed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 18, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 18, 2020
MP Yasmin Ratansi’s sister was rehired to work as her constituency assistant in 2017—a clear violation of the 2012 rule, and she should be called out, writes Tim Powers, but an overdone course correction is not needed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 11, 2020
By refusing to accept defeat and peddling extreme propaganda about the election process, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to demonstrate he is a self-centred phoney, writes Tim Powers. Flickr photograph by Vinnie Langdon III
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 11, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 11, 2020
By refusing to accept defeat and peddling extreme propaganda about the election process, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to demonstrate he is a self-centred phoney, writes Tim Powers. Flickr photograph by Vinnie Langdon III
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 4, 2020
It is more important now than ever to recognize that to be a successful politician, as Don Mazankowksi was, you do not need to be an uber-partisan, venom-spewing ass, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 4, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | November 4, 2020
It is more important now than ever to recognize that to be a successful politician, as Don Mazankowksi was, you do not need to be an uber-partisan, venom-spewing ass, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 28, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Oct. 23. The government's perspective has changed on trying to trigger an election sooner, writes Tim Powers. For one, a pattern has emerged in three provincial elections held during the pandemic. In both New Brunswick and B.C., the winners went from minority to majority. That would be appealing to the Trudeau brain trust. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 28, 2020
Opinion | BY TIM POWERS | October 28, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Oct. 23. The government's perspective has changed on trying to trigger an election sooner, writes Tim Powers. For one, a pattern has emerged in three provincial elections held during the pandemic. In both New Brunswick and B.C., the winners went from minority to majority. That would be appealing to the Trudeau brain trust. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade