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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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In Conservative leadership race, everyone has an angle

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Before the dust had even settled from the very first Conservative Party leadership debate, concerned voices were
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 11, 2022
At the first—unofficial—Conservative leadership debate, Pierre Poilievre, left, had some heated moments with opponents including Leslyn Lewis, right. Scott Aitchison, centre, said in an email to supporters after the debate that he was 'embarrassed' by its tone. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In Conservative leadership race, everyone has an angle

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Before the dust had even settled from the very first Conservative Party leadership debate, concerned voices were

In Conservative leadership race, everyone has an angle

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Before the dust had even settled from the very first Conservative Party leadership debate, concerned voices were
At the first—unofficial—Conservative leadership debate, Pierre Poilievre, left, had some heated moments with opponents including Leslyn Lewis, right. Scott Aitchison, centre, said in an email to supporters after the debate that he was 'embarrassed' by its tone. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Liberal branding advantage

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American billionaire (and soon to be the owner of Twitter) Elon Musk once said, “Brand is just a perception, and perception will match
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on April 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Branding, in short, provides, what I call, 'structural support.' Certainly, Liberals in Canada have strong branding, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The Liberal branding advantage

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American billionaire (and soon to be the owner of Twitter) Elon Musk once said, “Brand is just a perception, and perception will match

The Liberal branding advantage

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | May 5, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—American billionaire (and soon to be the owner of Twitter) Elon Musk once said, “Brand is just a perception, and perception will match
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on April 28, 2022, in Ottawa. Branding, in short, provides, what I call, 'structural support.' Certainly, Liberals in Canada have strong branding, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Trudeau versus Blue Liberals?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There’s lots of discussion these days about whether the federal Conservatives are moving too far to the right. And yes, I certainly get
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 29, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 22, 2022, on the Hill. There’s lots of discussion these days about whether the federal Conservatives are moving too far to the right. And yes, I certainly get why that’s happening. But maybe we should also spend some time discussing whether the federal Liberals are moving too far to the left, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia

Trudeau versus Blue Liberals?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There’s lots of discussion these days about whether the federal Conservatives are moving too far to the right. And yes, I certainly get

Trudeau versus Blue Liberals?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 29, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—There’s lots of discussion these days about whether the federal Conservatives are moving too far to the right. And yes, I certainly get
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured March 22, 2022, on the Hill. There’s lots of discussion these days about whether the federal Conservatives are moving too far to the right. And yes, I certainly get why that’s happening. But maybe we should also spend some time discussing whether the federal Liberals are moving too far to the left, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times Photograph by Sam Garcia

The power of small numbers

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Winston Churchill once said, “short words are best.” What that means is, unless you’re talking to Conrad Black, if you want to make
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2022
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured in Ottawa on Nov. 21, 2019. Ford's government, in the name of refunding the cost of past licence sticker fees which are being phased out, recently mailed every qualified driver in the province a cheque for $280. That’s smart politics because receiving that bit of cash will likely please Ontarians more than if the government had announced some sort of multi-billion-dollar spending scheme, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The power of small numbers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Winston Churchill once said, “short words are best.” What that means is, unless you’re talking to Conrad Black, if you want to make

The power of small numbers

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 14, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Winston Churchill once said, “short words are best.” What that means is, unless you’re talking to Conrad Black, if you want to make
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, pictured in Ottawa on Nov. 21, 2019. Ford's government, in the name of refunding the cost of past licence sticker fees which are being phased out, recently mailed every qualified driver in the province a cheque for $280. That’s smart politics because receiving that bit of cash will likely please Ontarians more than if the government had announced some sort of multi-billion-dollar spending scheme, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Charting a path for a Charest victory

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race, Pierre Poilievre has a clear advantage over his main rival, Jean Charet. This is mainly because
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2022
Even though Jean Charest is a 'non-winged' underdog candidate, he can still come up with a theory for winning, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Charting a path for a Charest victory

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race, Pierre Poilievre has a clear advantage over his main rival, Jean Charet. This is mainly because

Charting a path for a Charest victory

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | April 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race, Pierre Poilievre has a clear advantage over his main rival, Jean Charet. This is mainly because
Even though Jean Charest is a 'non-winged' underdog candidate, he can still come up with a theory for winning, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Why Poilievre will ignore Bergen’s plea 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t consider myself a rebel, but years ago, while working in a U.S. Senatorial Republican primary race, I was part of a
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2022
This is me: Conservative MP Pierre Poillievre, pictured Feb. 14, 2022, speaking with reporters outside the House of Commons before Question Period. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Poilievre will ignore Bergen’s plea 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t consider myself a rebel, but years ago, while working in a U.S. Senatorial Republican primary race, I was part of a

Why Poilievre will ignore Bergen’s plea 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 31, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t consider myself a rebel, but years ago, while working in a U.S. Senatorial Republican primary race, I was part of a
This is me: Conservative MP Pierre Poillievre, pictured Feb. 14, 2022, speaking with reporters outside the House of Commons before Question Period. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The New Democrats throw the Liberals a lifeline

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—So, the New Democrats have agreed to a deal which will see them prop up the Liberal government until 2025. I’m not entirely
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2022
Let's do this: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Nov. 14, 2019, publicly announced on Monday, March 21, 2022, that they had struck a rare 'supply and confidence' agreement aimed at keeping this Parliament and the prime minister's mandate going until the fall of 2025, when the next fixed election date is scheduled. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

The New Democrats throw the Liberals a lifeline

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—So, the New Democrats have agreed to a deal which will see them prop up the Liberal government until 2025. I’m not entirely

The New Democrats throw the Liberals a lifeline

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 24, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—So, the New Democrats have agreed to a deal which will see them prop up the Liberal government until 2025. I’m not entirely
Let's do this: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured on Nov. 14, 2019, publicly announced on Monday, March 21, 2022, that they had struck a rare 'supply and confidence' agreement aimed at keeping this Parliament and the prime minister's mandate going until the fall of 2025, when the next fixed election date is scheduled. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia

Why political dilettantes have a path to power

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne recently had blunt advice for federal Conservatives as they ponder choosing a new leader. He wrote: “Clown
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2022
One of the ancient Roman Republic’s most successful politicians was general Gaius Marius, who styled himself as a novo homo, 'new man,' writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of www.bridgemanart.com

Why political dilettantes have a path to power

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne recently had blunt advice for federal Conservatives as they ponder choosing a new leader. He wrote: “Clown

Why political dilettantes have a path to power

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 17, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne recently had blunt advice for federal Conservatives as they ponder choosing a new leader. He wrote: “Clown
One of the ancient Roman Republic’s most successful politicians was general Gaius Marius, who styled himself as a novo homo, 'new man,' writes Gerry Nicholls. Image courtesy of www.bridgemanart.com

The world’s bad news is good news for the CPC

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal Conservative leadership race will be decided on Sept. 10, which, reckoned in political-events time, is about a million years from now.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 10, 2022
Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen, pictured in Ottawa. With Russia pummelling Ukraine and China sabre-rattling over Taiwan, Canadians will likely see the world as a much more dangerous place. This works for the Conservatives because they’ve always been known as the party which favours having a strong defence and a well-equipped, well-funded military, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The world’s bad news is good news for the CPC

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 10, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal Conservative leadership race will be decided on Sept. 10, which, reckoned in political-events time, is about a million years from now.

The world’s bad news is good news for the CPC

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 10, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The federal Conservative leadership race will be decided on Sept. 10, which, reckoned in political-events time, is about a million years from now.
Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen, pictured in Ottawa. With Russia pummelling Ukraine and China sabre-rattling over Taiwan, Canadians will likely see the world as a much more dangerous place. This works for the Conservatives because they’ve always been known as the party which favours having a strong defence and a well-equipped, well-funded military, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is there such a thing as a ‘real Conservative?’

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Apparently, former prime minister Stephen Harper doesn’t think much of former Progressive Conservative Party leader Jean Charest’s brand of conservatism. Indeed, it seems
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 2, 2022
Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, pictured at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on March 5, 2019, posing for a selfie with people who attended The Prime Ministers Series, a partnership between the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute and the Canada School of Public Service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is there such a thing as a ‘real Conservative?’

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Apparently, former prime minister Stephen Harper doesn’t think much of former Progressive Conservative Party leader Jean Charest’s brand of conservatism. Indeed, it seems

Is there such a thing as a ‘real Conservative?’

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | March 2, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Apparently, former prime minister Stephen Harper doesn’t think much of former Progressive Conservative Party leader Jean Charest’s brand of conservatism. Indeed, it seems
Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, pictured at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on March 5, 2019, posing for a selfie with people who attended The Prime Ministers Series, a partnership between the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute and the Canada School of Public Service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s sad, polarized political future 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Mark Twain once said, “The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 25, 2022
A Freedom Convoy supporter, pictured on Wellington Street on Feb. 17, 2022. Justin Trudeau has helped create a political climate where everybody despises everybody and everyone will eventually have to pick a side—the good guys or the bad guys. There will be no in between. This is known as polarizing the electorate, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s sad, polarized political future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 25, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Mark Twain once said, “The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he

Canada’s sad, polarized political future 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 25, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Mark Twain once said, “The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he
A Freedom Convoy supporter, pictured on Wellington Street on Feb. 17, 2022. Justin Trudeau has helped create a political climate where everybody despises everybody and everyone will eventually have to pick a side—the good guys or the bad guys. There will be no in between. This is known as polarizing the electorate, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How protesting truckers challenged political identities

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whether you love it or hate it, one thing can’t be denied, the “Trucker Rebellion of 2022” sparked political shockwaves not only here
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2022
A 'Freedom' protester, pictured Feb. 12, 2022, in downtown Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How protesting truckers challenged political identities

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whether you love it or hate it, one thing can’t be denied, the “Trucker Rebellion of 2022” sparked political shockwaves not only here

How protesting truckers challenged political identities

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 17, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Whether you love it or hate it, one thing can’t be denied, the “Trucker Rebellion of 2022” sparked political shockwaves not only here
A 'Freedom' protester, pictured Feb. 12, 2022, in downtown Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Doug Ford’s base problem

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If nothing else, Erin O’Toole’s recent unceremonious ouster as Conservative Party leader should serve as a cautionary tale to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 11, 2022
If nothing else, Erin O’Toole’s recent unceremonious ouster as Conservative Party leader should serve as a cautionary tale to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Doug Ford’s base problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If nothing else, Erin O’Toole’s recent unceremonious ouster as Conservative Party leader should serve as a cautionary tale to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Doug Ford’s base problem

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 11, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If nothing else, Erin O’Toole’s recent unceremonious ouster as Conservative Party leader should serve as a cautionary tale to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
If nothing else, Erin O’Toole’s recent unceremonious ouster as Conservative Party leader should serve as a cautionary tale to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives need to fix their communications strategy, stat 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes you learn things too late to do you any good. Such is the case for Erin O’Toole the now-ousted Conservative Party leader,
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2022
Erin O’Toole, pictured at a Hill presser on Jan. 27, 2022, was ousted as party leader on Feb. 2. Some 73 MPs voted in favour of ousting him while 45 voted to endorse his leadership. Voters can sniff out phoniness; they won’t be persuaded by a leader trying to project an artificial image, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives need to fix their communications strategy, stat 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes you learn things too late to do you any good. Such is the case for Erin O’Toole the now-ousted Conservative Party leader,

Conservatives need to fix their communications strategy, stat 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | February 3, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes you learn things too late to do you any good. Such is the case for Erin O’Toole the now-ousted Conservative Party leader,
Erin O’Toole, pictured at a Hill presser on Jan. 27, 2022, was ousted as party leader on Feb. 2. Some 73 MPs voted in favour of ousting him while 45 voted to endorse his leadership. Voters can sniff out phoniness; they won’t be persuaded by a leader trying to project an artificial image, writes Gerry Nicholls.   The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our discordant debates damage democracy

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there’s anything certain in this world, it’s that conflict and politics go together like Justin Trudeau and cute socks. In fact, as
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2022
Wouldn’t it be a great idea if Justin Trudeau, Erin O’Toole, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, and Amita Kuttner got together once in a while just to have a friendly televised conversation, asks Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Our discordant debates damage democracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there’s anything certain in this world, it’s that conflict and politics go together like Justin Trudeau and cute socks. In fact, as

Our discordant debates damage democracy

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 20, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there’s anything certain in this world, it’s that conflict and politics go together like Justin Trudeau and cute socks. In fact, as
Wouldn’t it be a great idea if Justin Trudeau, Erin O’Toole, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, and Amita Kuttner got together once in a while just to have a friendly televised conversation, asks Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Omicron’s political impact 

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Omicron COVID surge reminds me a lot of the Vietnam War’s Tet offensive.  What do I mean by making such a crazy
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos, pictured on Jan. 5, 2022, arriving for a presser at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. If voters are angry about losing the COVID war, then politicians who have been championing the policy of lockdowns could be in trouble. And right now, there are faint signs that anger is growing, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Omicron’s political impact 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Omicron COVID surge reminds me a lot of the Vietnam War’s Tet offensive.  What do I mean by making such a crazy

Omicron’s political impact 

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 13, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Omicron COVID surge reminds me a lot of the Vietnam War’s Tet offensive.  What do I mean by making such a crazy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos, pictured on Jan. 5, 2022, arriving for a presser at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. If voters are angry about losing the COVID war, then politicians who have been championing the policy of lockdowns could be in trouble. And right now, there are faint signs that anger is growing, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Whither the Green Party?

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Imagine if your job aboard the sinking Titanic was to convince its passengers to remain optimistic. Be a pretty tough task, wouldn’t it?
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 7, 2022
Green Party Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May, pictured Dec. 1, 2021, on the Hill, was put in charge of writing a fundraising letter to Green donors that aimed to put a positive spin on her party’s future. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Whither the Green Party?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Imagine if your job aboard the sinking Titanic was to convince its passengers to remain optimistic. Be a pretty tough task, wouldn’t it?

Whither the Green Party?

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | January 7, 2022
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Imagine if your job aboard the sinking Titanic was to convince its passengers to remain optimistic. Be a pretty tough task, wouldn’t it?
Green Party Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May, pictured Dec. 1, 2021, on the Hill, was put in charge of writing a fundraising letter to Green donors that aimed to put a positive spin on her party’s future. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s indirect attack on Bill 21

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—As I watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deal with the thorny political issue of Quebec’s Bill 21, I can’t help but think he
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 29, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Dec. 13, 2021, at a press conference on the Hill, has been making a lot of noise lately about why he opposes Sec. 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms—better known as the 'notwithstanding clause,' which gives governments the power to overturn court decisions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s indirect attack on Bill 21

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 29, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—As I watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deal with the thorny political issue of Quebec’s Bill 21, I can’t help but think he

Trudeau’s indirect attack on Bill 21

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 29, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—As I watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deal with the thorny political issue of Quebec’s Bill 21, I can’t help but think he
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Dec. 13, 2021, at a press conference on the Hill, has been making a lot of noise lately about why he opposes Sec. 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms—better known as the 'notwithstanding clause,' which gives governments the power to overturn court decisions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

My free holiday advice for federal leaders

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that we’re deep into the festive season, it’s an excellent time to discuss the three wise men. And, of course, by that
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 23, 2021
2022 or bust: Justin Trudeau is doing pretty well, but if the COVID pandemic continues to worsen, if the global economy seriously falters, if inflation keeps soaring, if things could get really ugly, really fast for the Liberal government. Erin O’Toole’s main weakness as a politician is his inability to present a balanced communication strategy. Jagmeet Singh has spent too much time and effort seeking to portray himself as a trendy, social media savvy leader who understands and identifies with young people, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

My free holiday advice for federal leaders

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 23, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that we’re deep into the festive season, it’s an excellent time to discuss the three wise men. And, of course, by that

My free holiday advice for federal leaders

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 23, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—Now that we’re deep into the festive season, it’s an excellent time to discuss the three wise men. And, of course, by that
2022 or bust: Justin Trudeau is doing pretty well, but if the COVID pandemic continues to worsen, if the global economy seriously falters, if inflation keeps soaring, if things could get really ugly, really fast for the Liberal government. Erin O’Toole’s main weakness as a politician is his inability to present a balanced communication strategy. Jagmeet Singh has spent too much time and effort seeking to portray himself as a trendy, social media savvy leader who understands and identifies with young people, writes Gerry Nicholls. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Trudeau and Biden exist in alternate realities

  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to ideology, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden have a lot in common, yet, when it comes
Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2021

Trudeau and Biden exist in alternate realities

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to ideology, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden have a lot in common, yet, when it comes

Trudeau and Biden exist in alternate realities

Opinion | BY GERRY NICHOLLS | December 16, 2021
  • OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to ideology, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden have a lot in common, yet, when it comes

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