Thursday, September 11, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Thursday, September 11, 2025 | Latest Paper

Post Partisan Pundit

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 8, 2025
In order to escape the political box in which Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre finds himself, he needs to find issues that will galvanize his base and also divide Liberals, Gerry Nicholls writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 8, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 8, 2025
In order to escape the political box in which Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre finds himself, he needs to find issues that will galvanize his base and also divide Liberals, Gerry Nicholls writes. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is so detached from any ideological moorings that he’ll even attack his own base if he thinks it will help him score political points, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is so detached from any ideological moorings that he’ll even attack his own base if he thinks it will help him score political points, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 25, 2025
Quebec's nationalist spirit seems to be stirring, as seen by the pro-sovereigntist Parti Québécois' lead in provincial polls and their win in three recent byelections, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 25, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 25, 2025
Quebec's nationalist spirit seems to be stirring, as seen by the pro-sovereigntist Parti Québécois' lead in provincial polls and their win in three recent byelections, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2025
Media
Reporters file their stories at the Conservative Party's event at the Rogers Centre on election night April 28, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2025
Media
Reporters file their stories at the Conservative Party's event at the Rogers Centre on election night April 28, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 7, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at the opening of the Calgary Stampede on July 4, 2025. Photograph courtesy of X/Pierre Poilievre
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 7, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at the opening of the Calgary Stampede on July 4, 2025. Photograph courtesy of X/Pierre Poilievre
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2025
Then-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and NDP MP Don Davies on the Hill on May 21, 2024. Singh resigned as party leader after he lost his own seat and the party was reduced to seven seats from 24 seats in the House in the April 28, 2025, federal election. Davies is now the interim leader. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2025
Then-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and NDP MP Don Davies on the Hill on May 21, 2024. Singh resigned as party leader after he lost his own seat and the party was reduced to seven seats from 24 seats in the House in the April 28, 2025, federal election. Davies is now the interim leader. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 28, 2025
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, pictured at the Kennedy Space Centre on May 30, 2020, was born in South Africa, meaning, according to the U.S. Constitution, he can’t run for president.  Photograph courtesy of NASA HQ PHOTO/Flickr
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 28, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 28, 2025
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, pictured at the Kennedy Space Centre on May 30, 2020, was born in South Africa, meaning, according to the U.S. Constitution, he can’t run for president.  Photograph courtesy of NASA HQ PHOTO/Flickr
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 21, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney at the 2025 Calgary Stampede. Photograph courtesy of X/Mark Carney
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 21, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 21, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney at the 2025 Calgary Stampede. Photograph courtesy of X/Mark Carney
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 14, 2025
Advocacy groups should note that it's beneficial to their cause if they publicly praise a politician or government that's acting on an issue important to the group even if the political leanings between the two are different, writes Gerry Nicholls. For one, that praise will make it harder for the politician to reverse their decision. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 14, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 14, 2025
Advocacy groups should note that it's beneficial to their cause if they publicly praise a politician or government that's acting on an issue important to the group even if the political leanings between the two are different, writes Gerry Nicholls. For one, that praise will make it harder for the politician to reverse their decision. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 7, 2025
NDP interim leader Don Davies, left, and Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, who won New York City's mayoral primary race last week, may have dramatically changed the dynamics of left-wing politics in the U.S., writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 7, 2025
NDP interim leader Don Davies, left, and Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, who won New York City's mayoral primary race last week, may have dramatically changed the dynamics of left-wing politics in the U.S., writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford will soon face some friendly fire, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford will soon face some friendly fire, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured at a first ministers' meeting in Ottawa on March 21, 2025, is riding high in public opinion right now and is 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, according to a June 10 Abacus Data poll. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured at a first ministers' meeting in Ottawa on March 21, 2025, is riding high in public opinion right now and is 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, according to a June 10 Abacus Data poll. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on June 10, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political parties may have their differences, but when it comes to fundraising, they all share the same principles, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Political parties may have their differences, but when it comes to fundraising, they all share the same principles, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and his wife Diana Fox Carney tour Ottawa's Lansdowne Park with King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 26, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 29, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and his wife Diana Fox Carney tour Ottawa's Lansdowne Park with King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 26, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
Generation X: Pierre Poilievre, left, and Mark Carney, are both technically generation Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Poilievre was born in 1979 and Carney was born in 1965, but Carney comes across like a boomer, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2025
Generation X: Pierre Poilievre, left, and Mark Carney, are both technically generation Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Poilievre was born in 1979 and Carney was born in 1965, but Carney comes across like a boomer, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
Former prime minister John Diefenbaker has gotten a raw deal when it comes to his historical reputation, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2025
Former prime minister John Diefenbaker has gotten a raw deal when it comes to his historical reputation, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are not buddies. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 12, 2025
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are not buddies. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
Even though former prime minister Stephen Harper has been off the political stage for nearly 10 years now, the memory of his leadership, the force of his personality, and the power of his intellect, still looms over the Conservative Party like a ghostly colossus, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2025
Even though former prime minister Stephen Harper has been off the political stage for nearly 10 years now, the memory of his leadership, the force of his personality, and the power of his intellect, still looms over the Conservative Party like a ghostly colossus, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
Green co-Leader Elizabeth May in a Hill scrum on Dec. 3, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 28, 2025
Green co-Leader Elizabeth May in a Hill scrum on Dec. 3, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Kory Teneycke, former campaign manager for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Teneycke recently accused the federal Conservatives of 'campaign malpractice.' The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Kory Teneycke, former campaign manager for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Teneycke recently accused the federal Conservatives of 'campaign malpractice.' The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Stuart Benson
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
It's showtime: Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault will face off this week in Montreal for the English and French-language televised leaders' debates. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
It's showtime: Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault will face off this week in Montreal for the English and French-language televised leaders' debates. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, top left, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, bottom left, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, Green co-Leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, top right, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, top left, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, bottom left, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, Green co-Leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, top right, and People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Joey Sabourin
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Thanks to the emergence of social media platforms, 'vibe politics' is more important than ever, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Wikimedia Commons, and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Thanks to the emergence of social media platforms, 'vibe politics' is more important than ever, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Wikimedia Commons, and illustration by Naomi Wildeboer
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Liberals have picked boring over sparkle, but it could work, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Liberals have picked boring over sparkle, but it could work, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
The Conservative Party's recent attack ad, called 'Trump wants our jobs.' Image courtesy of the Conservative Party of Canada
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
The Conservative Party's recent attack ad, called 'Trump wants our jobs.' Image courtesy of the Conservative Party of Canada
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
Watch for Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, to echo this argument in his efforts to push a 'Canada First' agenda. Already, Conservative TV ads are branding Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney as 'weak,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
Watch for Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, to echo this argument in his efforts to push a 'Canada First' agenda. Already, Conservative TV ads are branding Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney as 'weak,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured with daughter Mollie following the 2018 Army Run in Ottawa. Mr. O'Toole served as an air force navigator and then worked as a lawyer before entering politics. Photograph courtesy of Erin O'Toole's Instagram account
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 3, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured with daughter Mollie following the 2018 Army Run in Ottawa. Mr. O'Toole served as an air force navigator and then worked as a lawyer before entering politics. Photograph courtesy of Erin O'Toole's Instagram account
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
Former prime minister Stephen Harper still looms large over the Conservative Party that he founded with Peter MacKay in 2003. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 26, 2020
Former prime minister Stephen Harper still looms large over the Conservative Party that he founded with Peter MacKay in 2003. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's PMO keeps a close eye on political polling—perhaps too close, an anonymous source close to ex-finance minister Bill Morneau told Bloomberg on Aug. 15. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 19, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's PMO keeps a close eye on political polling—perhaps too close, an anonymous source close to ex-finance minister Bill Morneau told Bloomberg on Aug. 15. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
Perhaps the biggest question of all concerns COVID-19; specifically, will there be a 'second wave?' If COVID surges in the fall or winter, does that mean another round of lockdowns? What will that do to the economy? How will voters react? Hard to say, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 17, 2020
Perhaps the biggest question of all concerns COVID-19; specifically, will there be a 'second wave?' If COVID surges in the fall or winter, does that mean another round of lockdowns? What will that do to the economy? How will voters react? Hard to say, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured May 6, 2020, in the House for a Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. To blunt the Liberal Party’s progressive appeal, the New Democrats need to develop their own sense of tribalism, a tribalism based not on culture, but on class, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 6, 2020
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured May 6, 2020, in the House for a Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. To blunt the Liberal Party’s progressive appeal, the New Democrats need to develop their own sense of tribalism, a tribalism based not on culture, but on class, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, at a press conference in the West Block, becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 30, 2020
Whenever Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, at a press conference in the West Block, becomes ensnared in some thorny scandal, he always seems to somehow extricate himself, suffering barely a scratch, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
Conservative leadership candidates Peter MacKay, Erin O'Toole, Leslyn Lewis, and Derek Sloan, pictured. All the feuding and fighting and insult-exchanging that's been going on between the candidates for the past year, probably won’t leave a negative impression with the public, precisely because no one is paying attention, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 23, 2020
Conservative leadership candidates Peter MacKay, Erin O'Toole, Leslyn Lewis, and Derek Sloan, pictured. All the feuding and fighting and insult-exchanging that's been going on between the candidates for the past year, probably won’t leave a negative impression with the public, precisely because no one is paying attention, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, on the Hill. For the WE Charity gift of a scandal to actually have any lasting value in terms of helping the Conservatives and New Democrats chip away at Mr. Trudeau’s lead in the polls, it still needs to be weaponized, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured July 8, 2020, on the Hill. For the WE Charity gift of a scandal to actually have any lasting value in terms of helping the Conservatives and New Democrats chip away at Mr. Trudeau’s lead in the polls, it still needs to be weaponized, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
Jay Hill is the leader of the Wexit Party, and a former Conservative Party MP. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2020
Jay Hill is the leader of the Wexit Party, and a former Conservative Party MP. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2020
The Canadian flag, pictured June 26, 2019. In 2015, then opposition leader Justin Trudeau sharply criticized the Harper Conservative government for not doing enough to celebrate the Maple Leaf flag’s 50th anniversary, implying the Conservatives might still be secretly opposed to the Liberal-created national banner, writes Gerry Nicholls.     The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2020
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2020
The Canadian flag, pictured June 26, 2019. In 2015, then opposition leader Justin Trudeau sharply criticized the Harper Conservative government for not doing enough to celebrate the Maple Leaf flag’s 50th anniversary, implying the Conservatives might still be secretly opposed to the Liberal-created national banner, writes Gerry Nicholls.     The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade