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Gerry Nicholls

Gerry Nicholls is a communications consultant.

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign
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

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign

Poilievre’s backseat drivers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 17, 2025
  • It’s easy to say things like a campaign should change its messaging or alter its tone, but to do this during an election campaign
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

The theatre of leaders’ debates

  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points
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

The theatre of leaders’ debates

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points

The theatre of leaders’ debates

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2025
  • The election debates we see on TV nowadays are little more than political leaders going on a stage to express carefully crafted talking points
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

Controlling the campaign message

  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the
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

Controlling the campaign message

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the

Controlling the campaign message

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2025
  • One of the more interesting battles that occur during elections is the one between politicians and journalists over who is going to control the
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

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely
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

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely

Good vibrations: why vibes matter in this election campaign

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2025
  • Social media puts emotion much more front and centre. Unfortunately, for Pierre Poilievre, the vibes surrounding him for the past few weeks have been largely
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

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political
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

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political

The Liberal Constanza strategy: do the opposite of usual practice

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2025
  • The Liberals have done a 180-degree shift; they’ve ditched the politics of pizzazz and personality and replaced it with the politics of mundane political
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

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted
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

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted

Conservative attack ad lacks authenticity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2025
  • Most political consumers will reject the Conservative ad attacking Mark Carney as helping Donald Trump by driving jobs south because it won’t seem rooted
The Conservative Party's recent attack ad, called 'Trump wants our jobs.' Image courtesy of the Conservative Party of Canada

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.
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

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.

Get ready for a clash of nationalisms 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 6, 2025
  • My point is, given how the Liberals essentially 'own' anti-American-style nationalism, it’ll be difficult for the Conservatives to exploit anti-Trump feeling. Difficult, but not impossible.
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

Singh’s no-win scenario

  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
No matter what strategy he employs in the next federal election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will fail to improve his party’s standing, predicts Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Singh’s no-win scenario

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 

Singh’s no-win scenario

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 3, 2025
  • It’s hard to see how Jagmeet Singh can overcome this no-win scenario. Of course, Captain Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test, but he cheated. 
No matter what strategy he employs in the next federal election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will fail to improve his party’s standing, predicts Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Conservative course correction

  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
Pierre Poilievre and his son, Cruz, pictured Feb. 15, 2025, at the Conservative Party's rally in Ottawa at the Rogers Centre. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The Conservative course correction

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 

The Conservative course correction

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 20, 2025
  • Only time will tell if this new plan survives contact with the enemy. 
Pierre Poilievre and his son, Cruz, pictured Feb. 15, 2025, at the Conservative Party's rally in Ottawa at the Rogers Centre. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The paradox of free trade

  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
Canadians see Trump’s tariff threats as an attack on our country, a feeling which was further fuelled by his frightening rhetoric about absorbing Canada as America’s '51st state,' writes Gerry Nicholls.   Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

The paradox of free trade

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 

The paradox of free trade

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2025
  • Bad economics sometimes makes for good politics. 
Canadians see Trump’s tariff threats as an attack on our country, a feeling which was further fuelled by his frightening rhetoric about absorbing Canada as America’s '51st state,' writes Gerry Nicholls.   Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

Freeland’s flaws

  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s flaws

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have

Freeland’s flaws

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 10, 2025
  • Chrystia Freeland should have vacated the scene for a while, put some distance between herself and the prime minister, and then she could have
Chrystia Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault recently admitted that he was open to implementing alternatives to the carbon tax.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 

Guilbeault’s carbon tax pivot

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2025
  • This is why I always tell activists, if you want to stay true to your cause, stay out of partisan politics. 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks with reporters in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 7, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault recently admitted that he was open to implementing alternatives to the carbon tax.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to redefine liberalism

  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured on Jan. 10, 2024, once said: 'When ... the left says of you you’re a right winger, and when the people on the right say you’re a left winger, you’re a good Canadian Liberal.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time to redefine liberalism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will

Time to redefine liberalism

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 27, 2025
  • With Trump's return and the Liberals’ sagging poll numbers, that brand of progressivism seems to be a spent force. This is why the party will
Jean Chrétien
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, pictured on Jan. 10, 2024, once said: 'When ... the left says of you you’re a right winger, and when the people on the right say you’re a left winger, you’re a good Canadian Liberal.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
One of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's defining characters is that he's totally unpredictable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side

The politics of Trump’s Panama Canal gambit

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 16, 2025
  • Panama’s president met Trump’s threats with defiance, declaring 'we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.' That’s the way of politics: nationalism on one side
Donald Trump
One of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's defining characters is that he's totally unpredictable, writes Gerry Nicholls. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is

Trudeau brought down by his political fragility

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2025
  • When anxiety is the population’s dominant emotion, voters want leaders who show strength instead of empathy, toughness instead of sensitivity. Trudeau’s political fragility is
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in a Hill scrum on Oct. 29, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,

My crazy Christmas conspiracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 19, 2024
  • My Christmas conspiracy theory is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided—long before his dramatic split with former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland—to resign his position,
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in a Hill scrum on Oct. 29, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The importance of internal polls

  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau recently suggested Poilievre can’t 'unite Canadians' against president-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, which was likely based on internal polling, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The importance of internal polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually

The importance of internal polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2024
  • Those public opinion polls you see on TV and in newspapers are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the polling action is actually
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau recently suggested Poilievre can’t 'unite Canadians' against president-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, which was likely based on internal polling, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The politics of climate change are changing

  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
Canada's federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of climate change are changing

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming

The politics of climate change are changing

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 9, 2024
  • Economists tell us such carbon taxes are the most efficient way to fight climate change. Yet, regular people will often see them as disproportionately harming
Canada's federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, pictured on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will Trumpism change Canada’s political parties?

  • In the years ahead, we can expect Conservative populism, Liberal pragmatism, and NDP contemplation. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2024
Donald Trump.
Donald Trump.
Some questions about how Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory will impact Canadian politics are easier to answer than others, writes Gerry Nicholls. Caricature courtesy of DonkeyHotey/Wikimedia Commons

Will Trumpism change Canada’s political parties?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2024
  • In the years ahead, we can expect Conservative populism, Liberal pragmatism, and NDP contemplation. 

Will Trumpism change Canada’s political parties?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 2, 2024
  • In the years ahead, we can expect Conservative populism, Liberal pragmatism, and NDP contemplation. 
Donald Trump.
Some questions about how Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory will impact Canadian politics are easier to answer than others, writes Gerry Nicholls. Caricature courtesy of DonkeyHotey/Wikimedia Commons

The anger versus joy election

  • What does all this joy-versus-anger stuff teach us? If you’re going to campaign solely on emotion, make sure that it's in sync with the public
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2024
Donald Trump, left, and Kamala Harris. In the U.S. election campaign, the vibe Harris chose to emphasize was 'joy,' whereas Trump chose 'anger.' Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Flickr

The anger versus joy election

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2024
  • What does all this joy-versus-anger stuff teach us? If you’re going to campaign solely on emotion, make sure that it's in sync with the public

The anger versus joy election

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 25, 2024
  • What does all this joy-versus-anger stuff teach us? If you’re going to campaign solely on emotion, make sure that it's in sync with the public
Donald Trump, left, and Kamala Harris. In the U.S. election campaign, the vibe Harris chose to emphasize was 'joy,' whereas Trump chose 'anger.' Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Flickr

Trump’s win is bad for news for Trudeau

  • Just as Americans seemed determined to punish the Biden administration, Canadians seem ready to topple the Trudeau regime. Just as Americans had a populist
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters before the Liberal caucus meeting in West Block on Nov. 6, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump’s win is bad for news for Trudeau

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2024
  • Just as Americans seemed determined to punish the Biden administration, Canadians seem ready to topple the Trudeau regime. Just as Americans had a populist

Trump’s win is bad for news for Trudeau

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 18, 2024
  • Just as Americans seemed determined to punish the Biden administration, Canadians seem ready to topple the Trudeau regime. Just as Americans had a populist
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters before the Liberal caucus meeting in West Block on Nov. 6, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The coming ad war

  • If the Conservatives see their poll numbers dropping, they’ll quickly respond by increasing their own ad buys and intensifying their attacks on the Liberals.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Given the huge advantage the Conservatives have for raising money, it’ll be hard for the Liberals to match them dollar for dollar when it comes to duking it out in an all-out advertising war, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The coming ad war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2024
  • If the Conservatives see their poll numbers dropping, they’ll quickly respond by increasing their own ad buys and intensifying their attacks on the Liberals.

The coming ad war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 11, 2024
  • If the Conservatives see their poll numbers dropping, they’ll quickly respond by increasing their own ad buys and intensifying their attacks on the Liberals.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Given the huge advantage the Conservatives have for raising money, it’ll be hard for the Liberals to match them dollar for dollar when it comes to duking it out in an all-out advertising war, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The problem of political homelessness

  • According to Nik Nanos, 'more than four in 10 people likely consider themselves (politically) homeless in Canada.' So, what’s causing this to happen and
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2024
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The politically homeless won't necessarily be attracted to the main parties if they move to the centre, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia/illustration by Neena Singhal

The problem of political homelessness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2024
  • According to Nik Nanos, 'more than four in 10 people likely consider themselves (politically) homeless in Canada.' So, what’s causing this to happen and

The problem of political homelessness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | November 4, 2024
  • According to Nik Nanos, 'more than four in 10 people likely consider themselves (politically) homeless in Canada.' So, what’s causing this to happen and
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. The politically homeless won't necessarily be attracted to the main parties if they move to the centre, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia/illustration by Neena Singhal

U.S. election offers Liberals a glimmer of hope

  • In short, the U.S. election results may help the Liberals, but it won’t be their political salvation. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 24, 2024
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, and photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr

U.S. election offers Liberals a glimmer of hope

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 24, 2024
  • In short, the U.S. election results may help the Liberals, but it won’t be their political salvation. 

U.S. election offers Liberals a glimmer of hope

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 24, 2024
  • In short, the U.S. election results may help the Liberals, but it won’t be their political salvation. 
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, U.S. Vice-president Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, and photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr

Poilievre’s real ‘hidden’ agenda?

  • Conservatives talk like conservatives while in opposition, but govern like liberals when they’re in power. 
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 17, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, flanked by Conservative MPs Melissa Lantsman, left, Raquel Dancho and Don Stewart. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s real ‘hidden’ agenda?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 17, 2024
  • Conservatives talk like conservatives while in opposition, but govern like liberals when they’re in power. 

Poilievre’s real ‘hidden’ agenda?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 17, 2024
  • Conservatives talk like conservatives while in opposition, but govern like liberals when they’re in power. 
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, centre, flanked by Conservative MPs Melissa Lantsman, left, Raquel Dancho and Don Stewart. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The decline and fall of the Liberal empire

  • On top of everything else, the Liberals are losing the ability to set the national agenda as the NDP and Bloc Québécois are continually
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2024
Under pressure: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Trudeau's getting it from all sides as his Liberals face a big loss in the next election, according to the public opinion polls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Neena Singhal

The decline and fall of the Liberal empire

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2024
  • On top of everything else, the Liberals are losing the ability to set the national agenda as the NDP and Bloc Québécois are continually

The decline and fall of the Liberal empire

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 14, 2024
  • On top of everything else, the Liberals are losing the ability to set the national agenda as the NDP and Bloc Québécois are continually
Under pressure: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Trudeau's getting it from all sides as his Liberals face a big loss in the next election, according to the public opinion polls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and illustration by Neena Singhal

It’s okay to judge politicians on how they play the game

  • Part of playing the game in politics is working to keep persuading the public about your policies' benefits. By the way, this is a
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters before a Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on Oct. 2, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s okay to judge politicians on how they play the game

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2024
  • Part of playing the game in politics is working to keep persuading the public about your policies' benefits. By the way, this is a

It’s okay to judge politicians on how they play the game

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | October 7, 2024
  • Part of playing the game in politics is working to keep persuading the public about your policies' benefits. By the way, this is a
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters before a Liberal caucus meeting in the West Block on Oct. 2, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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The artistry of fundraising

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
The charm offensive: Imagine if newly minted Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured on Sept. 12, 2022, with his wife Anaida and their son Cruz, sent out a seemingly handwritten letter on his own letterhead to party donors that said something like, 'Dear Joe; it’s late at night and I’m sitting here in my study worried about our party’s finances. The bills for the leadership campaign are piling up on my desk. That’s why I’m writing to you. You’ve stood by me from the beginning so I know you’ll stand by me now at this crucial moment when I need your help.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The artistry of fundraising

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always

The artistry of fundraising

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The worst enemy for any fundraiser is the trash can. After all, anyone who receives a fundraising letter in the mail is always
The charm offensive: Imagine if newly minted Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured on Sept. 12, 2022, with his wife Anaida and their son Cruz, sent out a seemingly handwritten letter on his own letterhead to party donors that said something like, 'Dear Joe; it’s late at night and I’m sitting here in my study worried about our party’s finances. The bills for the leadership campaign are piling up on my desk. That’s why I’m writing to you. You’ve stood by me from the beginning so I know you’ll stand by me now at this crucial moment when I need your help.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s wrong with the Greens?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May, pictured Oct. 3, 2020, is running to be leader again. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s wrong with the Greens?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the

What’s wrong with the Greens?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 22, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes political organizations need to focus less on ideological fervor and more on the practicalities of politics. A case in point is the
Former Green Party leader Elizabeth May, pictured Oct. 3, 2020, is running to be leader again. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
Pierre Poilievre is a badass leader and exactly what Conservatives want right now; they want a leader who's willing to mix it up with his opponents, who’s willing to vigorously defend conservatism, and who’s prepared to stand up to the 'Laurentian elites,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and

Poilievre will need disciplined aggressiveness

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that the dust has settled in the Conservative Party leadership race, I think it’s safe to look back on it all and
Pierre Poilievre is a badass leader and exactly what Conservatives want right now; they want a leader who's willing to mix it up with his opponents, who’s willing to vigorously defend conservatism, and who’s prepared to stand up to the 'Laurentian elites,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The sad plight of classical Liberals

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
Wilfrid Laurier, who was prime minister from 1896-1911 and one of Canada’s most celebrated prime ministers, was a classical liberal, writes Gerry Nicholls. As author Brian Lee Crowley notes in his book, The Canadian Century, Laurier promoted 'minimal state interference, low taxes and respect of property and of contract.' Photograph courtesy of Flickr

The sad plight of classical Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about

The sad plight of classical Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I’d like to tell you a sad tale about a beleaguered political faction. It’s a faction no political party seems to care about
Wilfrid Laurier, who was prime minister from 1896-1911 and one of Canada’s most celebrated prime ministers, was a classical liberal, writes Gerry Nicholls. As author Brian Lee Crowley notes in his book, The Canadian Century, Laurier promoted 'minimal state interference, low taxes and respect of property and of contract.' Photograph courtesy of Flickr

The secret to Tory unity

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
The Conservative Party will choose its new leader—whether it's populist Pierre Poilievre, right, or moderate Jean Charest, left—on Sept. 10, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The secret to Tory unity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain

The secret to Tory unity

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | September 1, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain
The Conservative Party will choose its new leader—whether it's populist Pierre Poilievre, right, or moderate Jean Charest, left—on Sept. 10, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
Other parties have been cutting away at the NDP base, and leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured, better find a way to stop the leak, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on

The NDP’s strategic dilemma

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 24, 2022
  • Federal New Democrats should view the partition of Poland in the 18th century as a cautionary tale. For those of you not up on
Other parties have been cutting away at the NDP base, and leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured, better find a way to stop the leak, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The politics of vacation shaming

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
Shortly after unveiling a new haircut, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left to vacation with his family in Costa Rica—much to the chagrin of his political opponents. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter

The politics of vacation shaming

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation

The politics of vacation shaming

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 18, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation
Shortly after unveiling a new haircut, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau left to vacation with his family in Costa Rica—much to the chagrin of his political opponents. Screenshot courtesy of Twitter

How to deal with bad polls

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his family on July 1, 2022, at the Canada Day celebration in Ottawa, has been polling badly lately, painting a bleak picture for his government. A recent Abacus poll indicated that 51 per cent of Canadians have a negative view of his government, the highest number ever recorded since the Liberals were elected in 2015. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

How to deal with bad polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about

How to deal with bad polls

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his family on July 1, 2022, at the Canada Day celebration in Ottawa, has been polling badly lately, painting a bleak picture for his government. A recent Abacus poll indicated that 51 per cent of Canadians have a negative view of his government, the highest number ever recorded since the Liberals were elected in 2015. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Poilievre and the Harper effect

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
Harper picks his favourite to win: Former prime minister Stephen Harper, pictured in his video posted on Facebook and Twitter on July 25, 2022, endorsing Pierre Poilievre for leader of the Conservative Party. If Poilievre ends up winning the leadership, the torch will have been passed. Maybe then, Harper will finally disappear into the background; maybe then the 'Harper effect' will come to an end, writes Gerry Nicholls. Screen capture images courtesy of Stephen Harper's Facebook

Poilievre and the Harper effect

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,

Poilievre and the Harper effect

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | August 4, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Former prime minister Stephen Harper recently did a huge favour for every political pundit in the country. During the dog days of summer,
Harper picks his favourite to win: Former prime minister Stephen Harper, pictured in his video posted on Facebook and Twitter on July 25, 2022, endorsing Pierre Poilievre for leader of the Conservative Party. If Poilievre ends up winning the leadership, the torch will have been passed. Maybe then, Harper will finally disappear into the background; maybe then the 'Harper effect' will come to an end, writes Gerry Nicholls. Screen capture images courtesy of Stephen Harper's Facebook

Trudeau launches hair war

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured recently sporting his new haircut. It is surprising that Trudeau would make such a radical change to his appearance, especially since his thick and magnificent coiffure was such an integral part of his image, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Twitter

Trudeau launches hair war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle

Trudeau launches hair war

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 27, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I want to talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new haircut, because, believe it or not, I actually think there’s a political angle
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured recently sporting his new haircut. It is surprising that Trudeau would make such a radical change to his appearance, especially since his thick and magnificent coiffure was such an integral part of his image, writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of Twitter

Now is the summer of our discontent

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
Money and politics: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green Party interim leader Amita Kuttner. It’s almost impossible this summer to escape or to ignore the hard, cold realities of what’s currently going on in the world, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Now is the summer of our discontent

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.

Now is the summer of our discontent

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It should go without saying that 2022 hasn’t exactly been a typical year, which also means this hasn’t exactly been a typical summer.
Money and politics: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, and Green Party interim leader Amita Kuttner. It’s almost impossible this summer to escape or to ignore the hard, cold realities of what’s currently going on in the world, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Don’t underestimate Poilievre 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.”  This saying perfectly sums up
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2022
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, pictured May 5, 2022, at the first leadership debate at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s conference in Ottawa. Perhaps Canadians would reject Poilievre's message today, but the question is, will they reject it in two or three years?  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Don’t underestimate Poilievre 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.”  This saying perfectly sums up

Don’t underestimate Poilievre 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 13, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Those who have knowledge, don’t predict. Those who predict, don’t have knowledge.”  This saying perfectly sums up
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, pictured May 5, 2022, at the first leadership debate at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s conference in Ottawa. Perhaps Canadians would reject Poilievre's message today, but the question is, will they reject it in two or three years?  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In politics, ideological opposites feed off each other

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that ideological opposites feed off each other. For this reason, I’m pretty sure NDP Leader Jagmeet
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre. As former prime minister Brian Mulroney once aptly put it, 'In politics ... you need two things: friends, but above all an enemy,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

In politics, ideological opposites feed off each other

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that ideological opposites feed off each other. For this reason, I’m pretty sure NDP Leader Jagmeet

In politics, ideological opposites feed off each other

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | July 6, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the truisms of politics is that ideological opposites feed off each other. For this reason, I’m pretty sure NDP Leader Jagmeet
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre. As former prime minister Brian Mulroney once aptly put it, 'In politics ... you need two things: friends, but above all an enemy,' writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

An ominous poll for the Liberals

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to a recent Nanos poll, the leaderless Conservative Party of Canada is currently a whopping five percentage points ahead of the Liberals,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 21, 2022, after delivering remarks at a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa. Things aren’t trending well for the Liberals, writes Gerry Nicholls, and as pollster Nik Nanos put it, 'Canadians are grumpy and the Conservatives are in the driver's seat.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

An ominous poll for the Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to a recent Nanos poll, the leaderless Conservative Party of Canada is currently a whopping five percentage points ahead of the Liberals,

An ominous poll for the Liberals

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 30, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—According to a recent Nanos poll, the leaderless Conservative Party of Canada is currently a whopping five percentage points ahead of the Liberals,
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured June 21, 2022, after delivering remarks at a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa. Things aren’t trending well for the Liberals, writes Gerry Nicholls, and as pollster Nik Nanos put it, 'Canadians are grumpy and the Conservatives are in the driver's seat.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Playing the game of politics 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A successful political consultant once told me the thing he loved most about his job was “playing the game.”  In other words, he
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2022
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 31, 2022, at a rally in Ottawa. His campaign team recently made an interesting tactical move when it called upon Elections Canada to investigate fellow candidate Patrick Brown over alleged election law violations, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Playing the game of politics 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A successful political consultant once told me the thing he loved most about his job was “playing the game.”  In other words, he

Playing the game of politics 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 23, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A successful political consultant once told me the thing he loved most about his job was “playing the game.”  In other words, he
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, pictured March 31, 2022, at a rally in Ottawa. His campaign team recently made an interesting tactical move when it called upon Elections Canada to investigate fellow candidate Patrick Brown over alleged election law violations, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The case against uniting the left

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A famous old adage says, “United we stand; divided we fall.” Yet, even though, most of the time, that’s an inspiring rallying cry,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Writer Gerry Nicholls argues that in politics, division is often better than unity, and that it's better for the Liberals to remain a separate political entity from the NDP. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

The case against uniting the left

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A famous old adage says, “United we stand; divided we fall.” Yet, even though, most of the time, that’s an inspiring rallying cry,

The case against uniting the left

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 16, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—A famous old adage says, “United we stand; divided we fall.” Yet, even though, most of the time, that’s an inspiring rallying cry,
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Writer Gerry Nicholls argues that in politics, division is often better than unity, and that it's better for the Liberals to remain a separate political entity from the NDP. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

Ontario’s perfect storm for apathy

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Ontario election’s historically low voter turnout has generated lots of anxious handwringing. University professor and author Emmett Macfarlane bluntly summed up much
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2022
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured on the Hill on Nov. 21, 2019, just won a massive majority victory by getting the votes of just 18 per cent of Ontario’s eligible voters. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ontario’s perfect storm for apathy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Ontario election’s historically low voter turnout has generated lots of anxious handwringing. University professor and author Emmett Macfarlane bluntly summed up much

Ontario’s perfect storm for apathy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 9, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Ontario election’s historically low voter turnout has generated lots of anxious handwringing. University professor and author Emmett Macfarlane bluntly summed up much
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured on the Hill on Nov. 21, 2019, just won a massive majority victory by getting the votes of just 18 per cent of Ontario’s eligible voters. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Sore losers are bad for democracy, so don’t be a sore loser 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To operate as it should, democracy requires good losers.  That’s to say, people who are on the losing side of a democratic election,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 2, 2022
Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre, top left, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, above left, Roman Baber and Scott Aitchison. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and handouts

Sore losers are bad for democracy, so don’t be a sore loser 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To operate as it should, democracy requires good losers.  That’s to say, people who are on the losing side of a democratic election,

Sore losers are bad for democracy, so don’t be a sore loser 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | June 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—To operate as it should, democracy requires good losers.  That’s to say, people who are on the losing side of a democratic election,
Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre, top left, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, above left, Roman Baber and Scott Aitchison. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and handouts

Making the case for an unlikely comeback

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It’s crossed my mind that Jason Kenney’s decision to step down as leader of the United Conservative Party has set the stage for
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2022
It's too crazy an idea to even contemplate, since former prime minister Stephen Harper is happily retired from partisan politics. But, as crazy as it might sound, there’s still a lot about the idea which makes sense. For one thing, throughout his career, Harper has always made protecting Alberta’s culture and economy his number one priority, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Making the case for an unlikely comeback

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It’s crossed my mind that Jason Kenney’s decision to step down as leader of the United Conservative Party has set the stage for

Making the case for an unlikely comeback

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 26, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—It’s crossed my mind that Jason Kenney’s decision to step down as leader of the United Conservative Party has set the stage for
It's too crazy an idea to even contemplate, since former prime minister Stephen Harper is happily retired from partisan politics. But, as crazy as it might sound, there’s still a lot about the idea which makes sense. For one thing, throughout his career, Harper has always made protecting Alberta’s culture and economy his number one priority, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In praise of polling

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American politician Sarah Palin once dismissed polls saying they were for “strippers and cross-country skiers.” Of course, Palin isn’t the only politician who
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2022
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, and Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath are running to win the June 2 election. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

In praise of polling

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American politician Sarah Palin once dismissed polls saying they were for “strippers and cross-country skiers.” Of course, Palin isn’t the only politician who

In praise of polling

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 19, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American politician Sarah Palin once dismissed polls saying they were for “strippers and cross-country skiers.” Of course, Palin isn’t the only politician who
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, and Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath are running to win the June 2 election. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

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