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Thursday, April 3, 2025

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Bhagwant Sandhu

Bhagwant Sandhu is a retired director general from the federal government. Between 2002-21 he held senior roles in several departments, including Fisheries and Ocean Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat, and Public Works Canada. He has also held executive positions in the governments of Ontario and British Columbia.

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team should adopt an approach that takes stock of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strengths and why he is clicking with Canadians, and then adjust their strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America

Can Poilievre capitalize on Carney’s weak spots?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 19, 2025
  • To derail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upsurge, Conservatives must adjust their strategy—focusing on unity, the social safety net, and practical policies that confront America
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team should adopt an approach that takes stock of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strengths and why he is clicking with Canadians, and then adjust their strategy, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney need to offer vision and foresight—qualities that seem to be in short supply in Canada’s hyper-partisan politics these days, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.

Carney vs. Poilievre: who will restore Canada’s global independence?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. President Donald Trump abandons Western alliances, our next prime minister must act decisively to secure Canada’s autonomy, and restore our global influence.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal leadership front-runner Mark Carney need to offer vision and foresight—qualities that seem to be in short supply in Canada’s hyper-partisan politics these days, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. A wholesale change in party leadership would be good for Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals

Party leaders should shift gears as Liberal popularity surges

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 19, 2025
  • Even with his ’Canada First’ rebrand, Pierre Poilievre’s clock is ticking. If he doesn’t shift gears soon, he might find himself watching the Liberals
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. A wholesale change in party leadership would be good for Canada, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
Union members picket the old post office on April 25, 2023. Often-overlooked, public servants have kept the country’s public administration running smoothly with solid policy proposals to mitigate against shockwaves from the United States, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why

Civil servants the unsung heroes steadying the ship against Trump’s tariff waves

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 5, 2025
  • OTTAWA—With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation, Parliament in prorogation, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre struggling to define a cohesive narrative for why
Union members picket the old post office on April 25, 2023. Often-overlooked, public servants have kept the country’s public administration running smoothly with solid policy proposals to mitigate against shockwaves from the United States, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, needs to adjust his talking points with Liberal leadership front-runners Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland now in the mix, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and illustration by Joey Sabourin

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates

The Liberal race is on, so where’s Poilievre?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 23, 2025
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appears stuck in a twilight zone, locked in a bubble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Liberal leadership candidates
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, needs to adjust his talking points with Liberal leadership front-runners Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland now in the mix, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia, Andrew Meade, and illustration by Joey Sabourin

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
By invoking U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the stakes for the Liberal leadership race, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.

Leadership race positions Liberals to own coming news cycles about Donald Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 10, 2025
  • Tight timelines, rigid rules, and a big-ticket entry fee will force most Liberal leadership lightweights to bow out.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
By invoking U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, left, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the stakes for the Liberal leadership race, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
After weeks of building pressure from his caucus to resign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his plan to step down as Liberal Party leader on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister

Memo to Liberals: Canada needs another Trudeau, but without the baggage 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 6, 2025
  • Liberal Party members have much to consider after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to resign as party leader and then as prime minister
Justin Trudeau
After weeks of building pressure from his caucus to resign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his plan to step down as Liberal Party leader on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Being booted from finance was likely a tough pill to swallow if you see yourself as smart and indispensable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.

Freeland’s opportunism on display in stunning resignation letter

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland ought to be reminded that she's held the finance portfolio since 2020. Not one of her budgets was ever balanced.
Chrystia Freeland
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Being booted from finance was likely a tough pill to swallow if you see yourself as smart and indispensable, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to prove that he grasps the psychology of why many voters feel let down by his government, and present a comprehensive package of reforms, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.

Trudeau could offer change by proposing a bold, structural overhaul of Canada’s political system

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 2, 2024
  • These changes could address oversight of the federal public service, such as the seemingly political stances of Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to prove that he grasps the psychology of why many voters feel let down by his government, and present a comprehensive package of reforms, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
Mashup
Mashup
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade/illustration by Neena Singhal

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.

Parliament is a gong-show, MPs care more about their political parties

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 18, 2024
  • Real change will occur only if parliamentary reform is an election issue. It will force party leaders to unite to address emergent crises.
Mashup
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade/illustration by Neena Singhal

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, has a soft spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, like the incoming U.S. president, also exudes an air of despotic edginess. Trump has barely discussed foreign policy, making it very difficult to predict his plans, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and

Bracing for a geopolitical shock with Trump

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | November 7, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hands-down best suited to take on Donald Trump, having a proven track-record dealing with the Republican's trade attacks and
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, left, has a soft spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, like the incoming U.S. president, also exudes an air of despotic edginess. Trump has barely discussed foreign policy, making it very difficult to predict his plans, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Canadian politicians should get real about India

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
This week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada has expelled India's high commissioner and five diplomats who are all persons of interest in what the RCMP alleges is serious criminal activity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian politicians should get real about India

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on

Canadian politicians should get real about India

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 16, 2024
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to heed the warnings of India’s meddling, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been too quiet on
Justin Trudeau
This week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada has expelled India's high commissioner and five diplomats who are all persons of interest in what the RCMP alleges is serious criminal activity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, nor Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are offering leadership amid a rising death toll and widening regional conflict in the Middle East, writes Bhagwant Sandu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.

Trudeau and Poilievre playing politics with Middle East conflict

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 10, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not pressuring Canada to use multilateral diplomacy to stop the war in the Middle East. Instead, he’s sowing division.
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre
Neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, nor Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are offering leadership amid a rising death toll and widening regional conflict in the Middle East, writes Bhagwant Sandu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Joly’s Africa engagement strategy copies the American approach

  • If the Liberal government cared about engaging constructively with Africa, it would have developed the strategy in its first or second terms when it
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 25, 2024
Mélanie Joly
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly's call for public consultation on Canada's approach to Africa emphasizes our 'feminist foreign policy' and 'engaging' African countries 'to build stronger, and more visible partnerships,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly’s Africa engagement strategy copies the American approach

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 25, 2024
  • If the Liberal government cared about engaging constructively with Africa, it would have developed the strategy in its first or second terms when it

Joly’s Africa engagement strategy copies the American approach

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 25, 2024
  • If the Liberal government cared about engaging constructively with Africa, it would have developed the strategy in its first or second terms when it
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly's call for public consultation on Canada's approach to Africa emphasizes our 'feminist foreign policy' and 'engaging' African countries 'to build stronger, and more visible partnerships,' writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau needs a post-byelection game plan 

  • On the heels of the byelection collapse of a Liberal stronghold in June, a loss of another Liberal-held riding would be a big blow
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be worried about the Bloc and the NDP, his chief rivals in the riding of Lasalle-Émard-Verdun, Que., writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau needs a post-byelection game plan 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2024
  • On the heels of the byelection collapse of a Liberal stronghold in June, a loss of another Liberal-held riding would be a big blow

Trudeau needs a post-byelection game plan 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 12, 2024
  • On the heels of the byelection collapse of a Liberal stronghold in June, a loss of another Liberal-held riding would be a big blow
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be worried about the Bloc and the NDP, his chief rivals in the riding of Lasalle-Émard-Verdun, Que., writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau misses opportunity for brand reset ahead of cabinet retreat 

  • Celebrity is hard to sustain in Canadian politics. Justin Trudeau should shine the spotlight on the rest of his team—after a shakeup of his
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 26, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs a reset, and some ministers have held their files for far too long, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau misses opportunity for brand reset ahead of cabinet retreat 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 26, 2024
  • Celebrity is hard to sustain in Canadian politics. Justin Trudeau should shine the spotlight on the rest of his team—after a shakeup of his

Trudeau misses opportunity for brand reset ahead of cabinet retreat 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 26, 2024
  • Celebrity is hard to sustain in Canadian politics. Justin Trudeau should shine the spotlight on the rest of his team—after a shakeup of his
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs a reset, and some ministers have held their files for far too long, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It won’t be easy when the election rolls in

  • Political parties will exploit our hopes and fears by prepping candidates to ensure our choice is driven by reactionary emotions, not critical analysis. Luckily, we
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 15, 2024
Justin Trudeau, left, Pierre Poilievre, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, above left, and Elizabeth May. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

It won’t be easy when the election rolls in

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 15, 2024
  • Political parties will exploit our hopes and fears by prepping candidates to ensure our choice is driven by reactionary emotions, not critical analysis. Luckily, we

It won’t be easy when the election rolls in

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 15, 2024
  • Political parties will exploit our hopes and fears by prepping candidates to ensure our choice is driven by reactionary emotions, not critical analysis. Luckily, we
Justin Trudeau, left, Pierre Poilievre, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, above left, and Elizabeth May. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Dumbing down the electoral process

  • Instead of letting voters evaluate the merits of competing policies, political parties are steering us towards simplistic diversions and visceral reactions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 24, 2024
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Political marketing machines intend to have voters react to ballot questions as consumers of celebrity, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, and photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr

Dumbing down the electoral process

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 24, 2024
  • Instead of letting voters evaluate the merits of competing policies, political parties are steering us towards simplistic diversions and visceral reactions.

Dumbing down the electoral process

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 24, 2024
  • Instead of letting voters evaluate the merits of competing policies, political parties are steering us towards simplistic diversions and visceral reactions.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Political marketing machines intend to have voters react to ballot questions as consumers of celebrity, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, and photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr

If NATO is not useful for democracy or to win wars, what purpose does it serve?

  • NATO may have lost all of its actual, on-the-ground wars, but armed with its scare tactics and access to top political decision-makers, it is
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 11, 2024
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Some argue that NATO is no more than a lobbyist for defence manufacturing based on its persistent pressure to squeeze out two per cent of the GDP of its 32 members, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If NATO is not useful for democracy or to win wars, what purpose does it serve?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 11, 2024
  • NATO may have lost all of its actual, on-the-ground wars, but armed with its scare tactics and access to top political decision-makers, it is

If NATO is not useful for democracy or to win wars, what purpose does it serve?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 11, 2024
  • NATO may have lost all of its actual, on-the-ground wars, but armed with its scare tactics and access to top political decision-makers, it is
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Some argue that NATO is no more than a lobbyist for defence manufacturing based on its persistent pressure to squeeze out two per cent of the GDP of its 32 members, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Haiti needs home-grown bottom-up solutions, not top-down foreign interference

  • Many Canadian prime ministers have meddled in Haiti before, but this time, we’ve outsourced the solution to Kenyan soldiers.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 4, 2024
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau truly cared about the Haitian people, he would end the flawed Transitional Council, and replace it with a national reconciliation project, writes Bhagwant Sandhu.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Haiti needs home-grown bottom-up solutions, not top-down foreign interference

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 4, 2024
  • Many Canadian prime ministers have meddled in Haiti before, but this time, we’ve outsourced the solution to Kenyan soldiers.

Haiti needs home-grown bottom-up solutions, not top-down foreign interference

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 4, 2024
  • Many Canadian prime ministers have meddled in Haiti before, but this time, we’ve outsourced the solution to Kenyan soldiers.
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau truly cared about the Haitian people, he would end the flawed Transitional Council, and replace it with a national reconciliation project, writes Bhagwant Sandhu.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadians want authenticity in their political candidates

  • Political candidates who come across as caricatures fashioned by consultants and marketing machines will lose. Canadians are tired of it.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 26, 2024
The surprise win by Conservative Don Stewart in downtown Toronto likely suggests the party's on the right track to win the general election, as long as Leader Pierre Poilievre stays the course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of X

Canadians want authenticity in their political candidates

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 26, 2024
  • Political candidates who come across as caricatures fashioned by consultants and marketing machines will lose. Canadians are tired of it.

Canadians want authenticity in their political candidates

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 26, 2024
  • Political candidates who come across as caricatures fashioned by consultants and marketing machines will lose. Canadians are tired of it.
The surprise win by Conservative Don Stewart in downtown Toronto likely suggests the party's on the right track to win the general election, as long as Leader Pierre Poilievre stays the course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of X

G7 faces legitimacy crisis as new players gain influence

  • Trudeau can take the G7 to a new policy outlook, one which uses peace and diplomacy and makes NATO the tool of last resort,
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 20, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, holds a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ottawa in April 2018. Stoltenberg was again in Ottawa on April 19. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

G7 faces legitimacy crisis as new players gain influence

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 20, 2024
  • Trudeau can take the G7 to a new policy outlook, one which uses peace and diplomacy and makes NATO the tool of last resort,

G7 faces legitimacy crisis as new players gain influence

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 20, 2024
  • Trudeau can take the G7 to a new policy outlook, one which uses peace and diplomacy and makes NATO the tool of last resort,
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, holds a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ottawa in April 2018. Stoltenberg was again in Ottawa on April 19. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre, Trudeau choose partisan politicking over action on NSICOP report

  • Rather than act expeditiously on the advice of intelligence agencies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plays partisan games, and has politicized the foreign interference file. 
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 12, 2024
Following the stunning NSICOP report, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, is on the attack while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to hold the line, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Poilievre, Trudeau choose partisan politicking over action on NSICOP report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 12, 2024
  • Rather than act expeditiously on the advice of intelligence agencies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plays partisan games, and has politicized the foreign interference file. 

Poilievre, Trudeau choose partisan politicking over action on NSICOP report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 12, 2024
  • Rather than act expeditiously on the advice of intelligence agencies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plays partisan games, and has politicized the foreign interference file. 
Following the stunning NSICOP report, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, is on the attack while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to hold the line, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s messaging signals plans for an austerity agenda

  • Poilievre’s credentials as a member of the proletariat are lacking, but his skill in political scheming is not. He’s steering the discourse away from
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peddles empty ideas like ‘freedom’ instead of hard policies to help workers, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s messaging signals plans for an austerity agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2024
  • Poilievre’s credentials as a member of the proletariat are lacking, but his skill in political scheming is not. He’s steering the discourse away from

Poilievre’s messaging signals plans for an austerity agenda

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 5, 2024
  • Poilievre’s credentials as a member of the proletariat are lacking, but his skill in political scheming is not. He’s steering the discourse away from
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peddles empty ideas like ‘freedom’ instead of hard policies to help workers, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s climate strategy a master class in greenwashing 

  • On climate change, Canada’s politicians have created a culture of excuses, blame games, outright denials, and fatalistic calls for adaptation strategies. Except for Green
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 29, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has enshrined a net-zero goal by 2050 into law, but the data suggests that won’t be met, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s climate strategy a master class in greenwashing 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 29, 2024
  • On climate change, Canada’s politicians have created a culture of excuses, blame games, outright denials, and fatalistic calls for adaptation strategies. Except for Green

Trudeau’s climate strategy a master class in greenwashing 

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 29, 2024
  • On climate change, Canada’s politicians have created a culture of excuses, blame games, outright denials, and fatalistic calls for adaptation strategies. Except for Green
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has enshrined a net-zero goal by 2050 into law, but the data suggests that won’t be met, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Sanctions do nothing to promote democracy

  • What works in foreign policy is diplomacy, negotiations, and ethical consistency, which is hard to do when you are busy trying to topple governments.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 16, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has sanctioned over 2,100 Russian individuals and entities since the start of the war in Ukraine. Sanctions, it turns out, disenfranchise the poor, not the political elites, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Sanctions do nothing to promote democracy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 16, 2024
  • What works in foreign policy is diplomacy, negotiations, and ethical consistency, which is hard to do when you are busy trying to topple governments.

Sanctions do nothing to promote democracy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 16, 2024
  • What works in foreign policy is diplomacy, negotiations, and ethical consistency, which is hard to do when you are busy trying to topple governments.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has sanctioned over 2,100 Russian individuals and entities since the start of the war in Ukraine. Sanctions, it turns out, disenfranchise the poor, not the political elites, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Disgruntled demagogue or holier-than-thou PM? These are your options, Canada

  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre keeps digging himself into an ever-constricting corner as an extremist ideologue, motivated by derision and reactionary dogma.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 2, 2024
Lucky for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trending even lower on personal likeability than he is The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Disgruntled demagogue or holier-than-thou PM? These are your options, Canada

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 2, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre keeps digging himself into an ever-constricting corner as an extremist ideologue, motivated by derision and reactionary dogma.

Disgruntled demagogue or holier-than-thou PM? These are your options, Canada

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 2, 2024
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre keeps digging himself into an ever-constricting corner as an extremist ideologue, motivated by derision and reactionary dogma.
Lucky for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trending even lower on personal likeability than he is The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
More Stories

As Trudeau hosts CARICOM, will he repeat mistakes of the past?

  • Justin Trudeau is at risk of repeating the mistakes of former prime minister Jean Chrétien when it comes to Haiti, relying on weapons to
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 12, 2023
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wants 'to do more' on Haiti. That usually means humanitarian aid will rapidly follow the deployment of 1,000 armed Kenya-led soldiers to the beleaguered island. Since 2010, Canada has directed $1.87-billion in aid to Haiti. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As Trudeau hosts CARICOM, will he repeat mistakes of the past?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 12, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau is at risk of repeating the mistakes of former prime minister Jean Chrétien when it comes to Haiti, relying on weapons to

As Trudeau hosts CARICOM, will he repeat mistakes of the past?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | October 12, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau is at risk of repeating the mistakes of former prime minister Jean Chrétien when it comes to Haiti, relying on weapons to
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wants 'to do more' on Haiti. That usually means humanitarian aid will rapidly follow the deployment of 1,000 armed Kenya-led soldiers to the beleaguered island. Since 2010, Canada has directed $1.87-billion in aid to Haiti. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre failing to hold government accountable on Indian interference

  • On China, Poilievre was razor sharp. On India, he has yet to mention its prime minister by name.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 28, 2023
If Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants to be politically astute, he can turn the heat high on the prime minister on India, as he did with China, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre failing to hold government accountable on Indian interference

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 28, 2023
  • On China, Poilievre was razor sharp. On India, he has yet to mention its prime minister by name.

Poilievre failing to hold government accountable on Indian interference

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 28, 2023
  • On China, Poilievre was razor sharp. On India, he has yet to mention its prime minister by name.
If Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants to be politically astute, he can turn the heat high on the prime minister on India, as he did with China, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada can still be a force of global peace and prosperity if Trudeau changes his foreign policy

  • It is Justin Trudeau’s good fortune that our elections are not contested on foreign policy successes. But they could be on its failures.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 20, 2023
Instead of getting a grip on the changing nature of global politics, leaders like Justin Trudeau, pictured on Sept. 19, still view the Global South as a third-world abstraction to be used, not as a shrewd driver of its own domestic political interests and transnational agendas, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada can still be a force of global peace and prosperity if Trudeau changes his foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 20, 2023
  • It is Justin Trudeau’s good fortune that our elections are not contested on foreign policy successes. But they could be on its failures.

Canada can still be a force of global peace and prosperity if Trudeau changes his foreign policy

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 20, 2023
  • It is Justin Trudeau’s good fortune that our elections are not contested on foreign policy successes. But they could be on its failures.
Instead of getting a grip on the changing nature of global politics, leaders like Justin Trudeau, pictured on Sept. 19, still view the Global South as a third-world abstraction to be used, not as a shrewd driver of its own domestic political interests and transnational agendas, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Embracing homophobia and transphobia is not a smart move for Poilievre

  • History shows us that politicians who fish for votes by sowing division don’t fare too well in the long run.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 11, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Marci Ien, centre, raise Pride flags on Parliament Hill on June 8, 2023, surrounded by other MPs from different parties. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he missed the ceremony because he had been working late the night before. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Embracing homophobia and transphobia is not a smart move for Poilievre

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 11, 2023
  • History shows us that politicians who fish for votes by sowing division don’t fare too well in the long run.

Embracing homophobia and transphobia is not a smart move for Poilievre

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 11, 2023
  • History shows us that politicians who fish for votes by sowing division don’t fare too well in the long run.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Marci Ien, centre, raise Pride flags on Parliament Hill on June 8, 2023, surrounded by other MPs from different parties. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he missed the ceremony because he had been working late the night before. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

For Pierre Poilievre, nastiness serves a strategic political purpose

  • Anger is Poilievre’s calling card. It got him elected, made him a cabinet minister, and won him the Conservative leadership.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 6, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has recently attempted to soften his image through a series of video advertisements. However, we can safely assume that the nastiness will continue, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

For Pierre Poilievre, nastiness serves a strategic political purpose

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 6, 2023
  • Anger is Poilievre’s calling card. It got him elected, made him a cabinet minister, and won him the Conservative leadership.

For Pierre Poilievre, nastiness serves a strategic political purpose

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | September 6, 2023
  • Anger is Poilievre’s calling card. It got him elected, made him a cabinet minister, and won him the Conservative leadership.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has recently attempted to soften his image through a series of video advertisements. However, we can safely assume that the nastiness will continue, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The economy isn’t broken, but things are changing and we have to keep up

  • To change the channel on Poilievre, Trudeau and his cabinet should show foresight and foreign policy realism, starting with scouting emerging markets for Canadian
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 16, 2023
It is odd that Justin Trudeau and his new cabinet, pictured in the background, is expected to crank up messaging on the economy when we already have one of the strongest economies in the G7, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The economy isn’t broken, but things are changing and we have to keep up

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 16, 2023
  • To change the channel on Poilievre, Trudeau and his cabinet should show foresight and foreign policy realism, starting with scouting emerging markets for Canadian

The economy isn’t broken, but things are changing and we have to keep up

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 16, 2023
  • To change the channel on Poilievre, Trudeau and his cabinet should show foresight and foreign policy realism, starting with scouting emerging markets for Canadian
It is odd that Justin Trudeau and his new cabinet, pictured in the background, is expected to crank up messaging on the economy when we already have one of the strongest economies in the G7, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on July 26, standing in front of his newly shuffled cabinet. Post-cabinet shuffle, bureaucrats will be preparing briefs for all the incoming ministers, but don't expect them to be providing policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.

Government policy doesn’t come from the public service. Should it?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | August 2, 2023
  • It is mostly wealth and capital, not political parties, that steers policies of the modern state.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on July 26, standing in front of his newly shuffled cabinet. Post-cabinet shuffle, bureaucrats will be preparing briefs for all the incoming ministers, but don't expect them to be providing policy direction, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. Internally, the public service functions as a tightly-wound hierarchy. Externally, it's steered by the political power of the relevant minister and commands of the PMO, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven

The federal public service needs to adapt to a new political reality, and stat

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 19, 2023
  • Senior leadership should stop lamenting what was, and start adapting to what is, trading deference for critique and creativity; and old hierarchies for mission-driven
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. Internally, the public service functions as a tightly-wound hierarchy. Externally, it's steered by the political power of the relevant minister and commands of the PMO, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine. The war is stuck in a stalemate, but Trudeau has no reason to change course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of the government of Ukraine

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.

Without skin in the game, Trudeau won’t change policy direction on Ukraine—even if it’s not working

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | July 10, 2023
  • Those who like to prolong wars 'for as long as it takes' can only destroy things, not put them back together.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine. The war is stuck in a stalemate, but Trudeau has no reason to change course, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. Photograph courtesy of the government of Ukraine

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is part of a far-right populism that is in serious decline, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is

Why Maxime Bernier should be in Parliament

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | June 21, 2023
  • Ideologies that have potency on the periphery can be rendered lifeless once they are brought under investigation in the mainstream. Canada’s Green Party is
People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is part of a far-right populism that is in serious decline, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
Special Rapporteur David Johnston could have succumbed to political pressures and recommended a public inquiry. Instead, he gave his neutral, independent advice, despite the possibility this his good name would be dragged through the political mud, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.

David Johnston rises above politics in delivering his foreign interference report

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 24, 2023
  • Justin Trudeau and his government can breathe a sigh of relief—for now—but foreign interference is not going away.
Special Rapporteur David Johnston could have succumbed to political pressures and recommended a public inquiry. Instead, he gave his neutral, independent advice, despite the possibility this his good name would be dragged through the political mud, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
Notwithstanding his image as a hip internationalist, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s realpolitik engagement in the world has been nothing short of 1960s-style American imperialism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will

Canada needs to regain its independence from U.S. foreign policy—especially on China

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 22, 2023
  • Trudeau needs to bring the CSIS leakers to justice, and quickly. With bureaucracy gone rogue, it won’t be China or the Conservatives he will
Notwithstanding his image as a hip internationalist, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s realpolitik engagement in the world has been nothing short of 1960s-style American imperialism, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
This is not the first time the Liberals have been caught flat-footed in an evacuation emergency. This same Sudanese script was acted out in 2021 in Afghanistan, a file for which Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has taken some heat, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.

Canadian government puts politics ahead of people in Sudan

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | May 4, 2023
  • If left unchecked, the political class will always make policy decisions based not on legal, moral, or rational evaluation, but on angling electoral cohorts.
This is not the first time the Liberals have been caught flat-footed in an evacuation emergency. This same Sudanese script was acted out in 2021 in Afghanistan, a file for which Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has taken some heat, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is easily filling the gap left open by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh when it comes to the working class, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they

Poilievre could easily earn the support of the working poor—but he won’t

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | April 28, 2023
  • The working poor are not tied to any political party, only their socio-economic concerns. But they don't have the means to lobby as they
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured, is easily filling the gap left open by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh when it comes to the working class, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
In February, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre gave the government one month to stop illegal migrants from crossing through Quebec’s Roxham Road border crossing, but that demand is no longer his focus with other issues more damaging to the Liberals in his sight line. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.

Poilievre’s pivot from migrant issue part of cross-party failure to offer policy solutions

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 16, 2023
  • There's a lot of political posturing on the asylum seekers and parties seem content to appeal to their bases instead of offering policy solutions.
In February, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre gave the government one month to stop illegal migrants from crossing through Quebec’s Roxham Road border crossing, but that demand is no longer his focus with other issues more damaging to the Liberals in his sight line. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
CSIS director David Vigneault
CSIS director David Vigneault
Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director David Vigneault, seen here on July 16, 2020. Where are the senior managers at CSIS, asks Bhagwant Sandhu. Should they not reassure us that Canadian democracy and public institutions are safe-guarded with due process and management controls? The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy

Have CSIS leaders lost control of the spy agency?

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | March 2, 2023
  • Given the number of leaks, the onus is on CSIS senior management to comfort us that they have things under control at the spy
CSIS director David Vigneault
Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director David Vigneault, seen here on July 16, 2020. Where are the senior managers at CSIS, asks Bhagwant Sandhu. Should they not reassure us that Canadian democracy and public institutions are safe-guarded with due process and management controls? The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
Mélanie Joly
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly should be careful and clear-headed in what she wants out of India, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken

Joly’s India trip nothing like Canadian trade missions of the past

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 6, 2023
  • The two day trip looks to be less about trade and more about pressing the Canadian-American desire to turn India away from Russia, weaken
Mélanie Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly should be careful and clear-headed in what she wants out of India, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre want to increase their appeal to new Canadians voters. To do that, they will have to speak up and offer tangible foreign policy alternatives, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.

Opposition parties need to up their foreign policy game

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | February 1, 2023
  • Opposition parties get stuck in the frame of personal attacks and reactionary scapegoating, rather than providing alternatives for hard policy questions.
Both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre want to increase their appeal to new Canadians voters. To do that, they will have to speak up and offer tangible foreign policy alternatives, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is getting a new chief of staff and with that fresh start comes a golden opportunity to turn the page on our ineffective and ultimately costly foreign policy framework, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and

Joly should reposition Canada’s foreign policy to combat Freeland after-effect

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | January 18, 2023
  • Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly can push the positives of foreign policy, moving away from predecessors who prefer war over peace, rule-breaking over law and
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is getting a new chief of staff and with that fresh start comes a golden opportunity to turn the page on our ineffective and ultimately costly foreign policy framework, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that
Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was supposed to shine in 2022 as dean of the G7. That didn’t happen, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that

Liberals get a failing grade on foreign policy in 2022

Opinion | BY BHAGWANT SANDHU | December 29, 2022
  • Exuding a high moral posture or trafficking in fears and phobias might have short-term appeal, but it does not constitute good policy-making—or for that
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was supposed to shine in 2022 as dean of the G7. That didn’t happen, writes Bhagwant Sandhu. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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