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Les Whittington

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him

Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
  • While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.

The world waits to see how long Trump’s attack on the global economy can last

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
  • The president has brushed off political realities that would have sunk most political actors a hundred times over.
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.

Trump has flipped the election narrative, but it’s a long way to April 28

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
  • The knock-on effects of tariffs could be well on the way to erasing the Liberals’ advantage in the Trump survival showdown.
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.

Trump’s most despised adversary has an election

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
  • It’s beyond troubling that Canada is always being singled out for its supposedly nasty negotiating stance, and alleged unfair trading relationship with Americans.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Doug Ford
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate

The real message from the Ford-initiated meeting in D.C.? Canada has no chance of dodging Trump’s trade war for now

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
  • As relieved as the Canadian contingent was to be engaged in an adult conversation, the March 13 discussion yielded nothing in the way of immediate
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.

Conservatives left searching for a message as Carney demonstrates his political potential

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
  • The Tories’ advantage has blown up in their faces as Canadians have begun to take another look at their political options.
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.

Oval Office blow-up confirmed where Trump really stands

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
  • It’s becoming undeniable to all concerned that the world we have known has suddenly evaporated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on

Ottawa looks to new partnerships in Europe as Trump’s threats against Canada materialize

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
  • Canada’s and Europe’s leaders are trying to rewrite the framework of power to open the way for an end to Russia’s murderous attack on
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are

Canadians face a new reality as the U.S. abandons 75 years of rules-based, liberal world order

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fixation with this country and his constant denigration of Canadians and our right to exist as a nation are
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door

Carving a new future in the wake of Trump’s betrayal

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to turn on his northern neighbour has forced Canadians to take stock of their heritage, and thrown open the door
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.

Trump forcing Canadians to look more closely at what our country is all about

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
  • Canadians need to grab this moment to redefine our internal and external relations.
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to

President’s threat to rules-based world order is no joke

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
  • As Trump continues his shakedown of Canada, it is becoming apparent that his talk about using 'economic force' to annex this country needs to
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore

Two-nation partnership that was a beacon of trust in a fractious world goes down Trump’s drain

  • Trump’s expansionist approach may turn out to be highly counterproductive.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Two-nation partnership that was a beacon of trust in a fractious world goes down Trump’s drain

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
  • Trump’s expansionist approach may turn out to be highly counterproductive.

Two-nation partnership that was a beacon of trust in a fractious world goes down Trump’s drain

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
  • Trump’s expansionist approach may turn out to be highly counterproductive.
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Staring down the barrel of 2025

  • The current uncertainty and lack of a well-anchored, unifying voice will put Canada at a severe disadvantage in the onrushing showdown with Donald Trump.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Staring down the barrel of 2025

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
  • The current uncertainty and lack of a well-anchored, unifying voice will put Canada at a severe disadvantage in the onrushing showdown with Donald Trump.

Staring down the barrel of 2025

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
  • The current uncertainty and lack of a well-anchored, unifying voice will put Canada at a severe disadvantage in the onrushing showdown with Donald Trump.
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Freeland’s chaos-inducing resignation brings ever more uncertainty in the face of Canada’s trade emergency

  • Chrystia Freeland’s dramatic move has thrown the ruling Liberals into disarray, and raised new questions about the stability of Trudeau’s minority government.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Freeland’s chaos-inducing resignation brings ever more uncertainty in the face of Canada’s trade emergency

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland’s dramatic move has thrown the ruling Liberals into disarray, and raised new questions about the stability of Trudeau’s minority government.

Freeland’s chaos-inducing resignation brings ever more uncertainty in the face of Canada’s trade emergency

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
  • Chrystia Freeland’s dramatic move has thrown the ruling Liberals into disarray, and raised new questions about the stability of Trudeau’s minority government.
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

With one post, Trump has scrambled Canada’s political agenda

  • If nothing else, it has given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a national mission that resonates with most Canadians.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Donald Trump.
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News

With one post, Trump has scrambled Canada’s political agenda

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
  • If nothing else, it has given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a national mission that resonates with most Canadians.

With one post, Trump has scrambled Canada’s political agenda

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
  • If nothing else, it has given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a national mission that resonates with most Canadians.
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News

Don’t expect any breaks from Tariff Man

  • Whatever Donald Trump says about his reasons for slapping tariffs on Canadian imports, it’s safe to assume it's only part of the story.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Canada is just another villain in what U.S. president-elect Donald Trump imagines is a worldwide plot to take advantage of American open trade policies, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Don’t expect any breaks from Tariff Man

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
  • Whatever Donald Trump says about his reasons for slapping tariffs on Canadian imports, it’s safe to assume it's only part of the story.

Don’t expect any breaks from Tariff Man

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
  • Whatever Donald Trump says about his reasons for slapping tariffs on Canadian imports, it’s safe to assume it's only part of the story.
Donald Trump
Canada is just another villain in what U.S. president-elect Donald Trump imagines is a worldwide plot to take advantage of American open trade policies, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Playing the Mexico card

  • Any radical demands will have to take a back seat now that Trump has lumped Canada and Mexico together in his vow to impose
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, needs Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, centre, as a partner in any trade discussions involving U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and his well-known divide-and-conquer tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and photographs by Eneas De Troya, and Gage Skidmore

Playing the Mexico card

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2024
  • Any radical demands will have to take a back seat now that Trump has lumped Canada and Mexico together in his vow to impose

Playing the Mexico card

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2024
  • Any radical demands will have to take a back seat now that Trump has lumped Canada and Mexico together in his vow to impose
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, needs Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, centre, as a partner in any trade discussions involving U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and his well-known divide-and-conquer tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and photographs by Eneas De Troya, and Gage Skidmore

A lesson for Canadians in Americans’ economic disconnect

  • As voters look for relief from the high cost of living, misguided nostalgia can play a major role in a campaign.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump won because people in the U.S. believe he will be better than the Democrats at improving the country’s economic conditions, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CSPAN

A lesson for Canadians in Americans’ economic disconnect

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2024
  • As voters look for relief from the high cost of living, misguided nostalgia can play a major role in a campaign.

A lesson for Canadians in Americans’ economic disconnect

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2024
  • As voters look for relief from the high cost of living, misguided nostalgia can play a major role in a campaign.
President-elect Donald Trump won because people in the U.S. believe he will be better than the Democrats at improving the country’s economic conditions, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CSPAN

The world changed on Nov. 5

  • For Canadians, the potential impact of another Trump administration could be nothing less than a turning point in the country’s modern history.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump
We shouldn’t make the same mistake a lot of American voters apparently made of thinking that president-elect Donald Trump doesn’t mean what he says, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

The world changed on Nov. 5

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
  • For Canadians, the potential impact of another Trump administration could be nothing less than a turning point in the country’s modern history.

The world changed on Nov. 5

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
  • For Canadians, the potential impact of another Trump administration could be nothing less than a turning point in the country’s modern history.
Donald J. Trump
We shouldn’t make the same mistake a lot of American voters apparently made of thinking that president-elect Donald Trump doesn’t mean what he says, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Information blackout still shrouds investigation of shocking murder of Ontario resto owner

  • Fourteen months later, Owen Sound citizens continue to deal with a troubling lack of information about a murder that cast a cloud of anxiety
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2024
The handling of the information in the Sharif Rahman case by the police has raised questions about secrecy and the need to maintain an open justice system. Pexels photograph by Nikita Sh 

Information blackout still shrouds investigation of shocking murder of Ontario resto owner

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2024
  • Fourteen months later, Owen Sound citizens continue to deal with a troubling lack of information about a murder that cast a cloud of anxiety

Information blackout still shrouds investigation of shocking murder of Ontario resto owner

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2024
  • Fourteen months later, Owen Sound citizens continue to deal with a troubling lack of information about a murder that cast a cloud of anxiety
The handling of the information in the Sharif Rahman case by the police has raised questions about secrecy and the need to maintain an open justice system. Pexels photograph by Nikita Sh 

Sanewashing, denial, and hate-mongering: the new normal in the U.S.

  • About half the voting populace seems ready to cast a presidential ballot for a criminal who has trod on every notion of decency in
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump
No modern mainstream politician has been so explicit in their bigoted rhetoric as former and prospective U.S. president Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Sanewashing, denial, and hate-mongering: the new normal in the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
  • About half the voting populace seems ready to cast a presidential ballot for a criminal who has trod on every notion of decency in

Sanewashing, denial, and hate-mongering: the new normal in the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
  • About half the voting populace seems ready to cast a presidential ballot for a criminal who has trod on every notion of decency in
Donald J. Trump
No modern mainstream politician has been so explicit in their bigoted rhetoric as former and prospective U.S. president Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

The authenticity game

  • It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that talking a good populist game is more politically advantageous than any agenda devoted to actually improving peoples’
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2024
Politicians like Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have an advantage when voters care more about the perception of a official as honest rather than likable, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

The authenticity game

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2024
  • It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that talking a good populist game is more politically advantageous than any agenda devoted to actually improving peoples’

The authenticity game

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2024
  • It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that talking a good populist game is more politically advantageous than any agenda devoted to actually improving peoples’
Politicians like Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have an advantage when voters care more about the perception of a official as honest rather than likable, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Real estate nation: Canada’s biggest business sector scores low in the all-important area of economic productivity

  • Investment in housing takes away from money in other sectors, undercutting the country’s ability to devote funds to the kinds of spending crucial to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2024
The overemphasis on housing is an important factor in what is perhaps Canada’s most pressing economic problem: declining economic productivity, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Real estate nation: Canada’s biggest business sector scores low in the all-important area of economic productivity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2024
  • Investment in housing takes away from money in other sectors, undercutting the country’s ability to devote funds to the kinds of spending crucial to

Real estate nation: Canada’s biggest business sector scores low in the all-important area of economic productivity

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2024
  • Investment in housing takes away from money in other sectors, undercutting the country’s ability to devote funds to the kinds of spending crucial to
The overemphasis on housing is an important factor in what is perhaps Canada’s most pressing economic problem: declining economic productivity, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Pack your bags’: this Parliament is headed for the exit

  • The debate now is not whether the Liberals would lose an election held tomorrow, but whether they would be wiped out à la Conservatives
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The chances of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal minority surviving very much longer have gone from iffy to something approaching zero, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Pack your bags’: this Parliament is headed for the exit

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
  • The debate now is not whether the Liberals would lose an election held tomorrow, but whether they would be wiped out à la Conservatives

‘Pack your bags’: this Parliament is headed for the exit

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
  • The debate now is not whether the Liberals would lose an election held tomorrow, but whether they would be wiped out à la Conservatives
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The chances of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal minority surviving very much longer have gone from iffy to something approaching zero, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Fixing the housing affordability crisis? It’s the density, stupid

  • In Ontario, the Ford government’s long-brewing housing plan fails to adequately address the single most important issue: density.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
Semi-detached single family homes in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood
Semi-detached single family homes in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood
It will take a great deal more concentrated effort on the part of the federal government, the provinces, and municipalities to reverse the urban sprawl trend, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Fixing the housing affordability crisis? It’s the density, stupid

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
  • In Ontario, the Ford government’s long-brewing housing plan fails to adequately address the single most important issue: density.

Fixing the housing affordability crisis? It’s the density, stupid

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
  • In Ontario, the Ford government’s long-brewing housing plan fails to adequately address the single most important issue: density.
Semi-detached single family homes in Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood
It will take a great deal more concentrated effort on the part of the federal government, the provinces, and municipalities to reverse the urban sprawl trend, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What are Canadians really buying into with Poilievre?

  • Over the past two years, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has joyously capitalized on the rhetorical viciousness that has oozed out of the internet to
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reduced the immensely complicated business of government to a few dozen words in several simplistic slogans that sound almost like a parody of a political con artist, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What are Canadians really buying into with Poilievre?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
  • Over the past two years, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has joyously capitalized on the rhetorical viciousness that has oozed out of the internet to

What are Canadians really buying into with Poilievre?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
  • Over the past two years, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has joyously capitalized on the rhetorical viciousness that has oozed out of the internet to
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reduced the immensely complicated business of government to a few dozen words in several simplistic slogans that sound almost like a parody of a political con artist, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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April 19: next act in the politics of the pandemic

  • OTTAWA—Everything at the national political level seems obscured now by COVID-19, which belatedly registered here a little over a year ago with Prime Minister
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 31, 2021
The country is going to be in need of leadership nationally, whether by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, or someone else. Turning points are trite, but Canada is at an historic crossroads as it prepares to move beyond the pandemic, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

April 19: next act in the politics of the pandemic

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 31, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Everything at the national political level seems obscured now by COVID-19, which belatedly registered here a little over a year ago with Prime Minister

April 19: next act in the politics of the pandemic

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 31, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Everything at the national political level seems obscured now by COVID-19, which belatedly registered here a little over a year ago with Prime Minister
The country is going to be in need of leadership nationally, whether by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, or someone else. Turning points are trite, but Canada is at an historic crossroads as it prepares to move beyond the pandemic, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

O’Toole’s attempt to entice Canada’s soccer moms into the Conservative fold skewered by his own hard-liners

  • OTTAWA—Seldom is a political situation encapsulated so completely in a single moment as in the climate change gaffe at the Conservative policy convention. First,
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 24, 2021
In a March 19 keynote speech, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole urged the Conservative faithful to have the courage to jettison some of their extremist positions in order to win over moderate voters outside the party’s Prairie and rural Ontario strongholds. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

O’Toole’s attempt to entice Canada’s soccer moms into the Conservative fold skewered by his own hard-liners

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Seldom is a political situation encapsulated so completely in a single moment as in the climate change gaffe at the Conservative policy convention. First,

O’Toole’s attempt to entice Canada’s soccer moms into the Conservative fold skewered by his own hard-liners

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Seldom is a political situation encapsulated so completely in a single moment as in the climate change gaffe at the Conservative policy convention. First,
In a March 19 keynote speech, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole urged the Conservative faithful to have the courage to jettison some of their extremist positions in order to win over moderate voters outside the party’s Prairie and rural Ontario strongholds. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

A year after Nova Scotia shooting tragedy, it’s clear there’s plenty of guilt to go around

  • OTTAWA—Maybe someday we’ll find out what the Nova Scotia killer (his name should be buried along with him) was really up to all those
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 17, 2021
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. With a class-action lawsuit being launched by victims’ families and the federal and Nova Scotia governments deciding under public pressure to establish a full judicial inquiry, Canadians may eventually find out more about how this all happened and who bears responsibility, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A year after Nova Scotia shooting tragedy, it’s clear there’s plenty of guilt to go around

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Maybe someday we’ll find out what the Nova Scotia killer (his name should be buried along with him) was really up to all those

A year after Nova Scotia shooting tragedy, it’s clear there’s plenty of guilt to go around

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Maybe someday we’ll find out what the Nova Scotia killer (his name should be buried along with him) was really up to all those
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. With a class-action lawsuit being launched by victims’ families and the federal and Nova Scotia governments deciding under public pressure to establish a full judicial inquiry, Canadians may eventually find out more about how this all happened and who bears responsibility, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why accuracy and facts count

  • OTTAWA—With Republicans doing everything they could in the U.S. Congress to hold up passage of a COVID-19 aid package, Sen. Ron Johnson forced Senate
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 10, 2021
The Conservatives, led by Erin O’Toole, who is pictured on March 2, can’t be said to have steered clear of the internet craziness that has contributed to extremism and violence in the U.S. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why accuracy and facts count

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—With Republicans doing everything they could in the U.S. Congress to hold up passage of a COVID-19 aid package, Sen. Ron Johnson forced Senate

Why accuracy and facts count

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—With Republicans doing everything they could in the U.S. Congress to hold up passage of a COVID-19 aid package, Sen. Ron Johnson forced Senate
The Conservatives, led by Erin O’Toole, who is pictured on March 2, can’t be said to have steered clear of the internet craziness that has contributed to extremism and violence in the U.S. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The long road back from COVID will challenge Canadians on every front

  • OTTAWA—The ever-receding light at the end of the tunnel is, if nothing else, getting a little brighter now that Canadians are finally being vaccinated.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 3, 2021
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 23, 2020, is preparing to deliver the government’s first budget in two years. Struggling with one of the most devastating crises in a century, we’re not really focusing on the next phase beyond considerations of ‘building back better,’ writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The long road back from COVID will challenge Canadians on every front

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The ever-receding light at the end of the tunnel is, if nothing else, getting a little brighter now that Canadians are finally being vaccinated.

The long road back from COVID will challenge Canadians on every front

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The ever-receding light at the end of the tunnel is, if nothing else, getting a little brighter now that Canadians are finally being vaccinated.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured Nov. 23, 2020, is preparing to deliver the government’s first budget in two years. Struggling with one of the most devastating crises in a century, we’re not really focusing on the next phase beyond considerations of ‘building back better,’ writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Another lose-lose situation on guns, the black hole of North American politics

  • OTTAWA—The scene was a Feb. 20 rally in Toronto in response to the apparently random fatal shooting last month of 20-year-old Hashim Omar Hashi.
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 24, 2021
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. As a half-measure, Bill C-21 seems unlikely to please anyone. Gun control advocates see the unexpected voluntary nature of the buyback of assault-style rifles as a betrayal of Trudeau’s promises, and the move to allow municipalities to ban handguns is widely viewed as passing the buck to largely powerless cities, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Another lose-lose situation on guns, the black hole of North American politics

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The scene was a Feb. 20 rally in Toronto in response to the apparently random fatal shooting last month of 20-year-old Hashim Omar Hashi.

Another lose-lose situation on guns, the black hole of North American politics

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The scene was a Feb. 20 rally in Toronto in response to the apparently random fatal shooting last month of 20-year-old Hashim Omar Hashi.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair is pictured in Ottawa on Oct. 19, 2020. As a half-measure, Bill C-21 seems unlikely to please anyone. Gun control advocates see the unexpected voluntary nature of the buyback of assault-style rifles as a betrayal of Trudeau’s promises, and the move to allow municipalities to ban handguns is widely viewed as passing the buck to largely powerless cities, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Will next month’s long-awaited divorce law reforms make a difference?

  • OTTAWA—One woman every six days is murdered by their intimate partner in Canada. Men account for 95 per cent of those accused of murder-suicide,
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 17, 2021
When the revised Divorce Act goes into force on March 1, Canadians will begin to get an inkling of whether long-overdue legislative efforts at the federal level to update divorce rules and better protect victims of domestic violence will be effective in addressing this problem, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels

Will next month’s long-awaited divorce law reforms make a difference?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—One woman every six days is murdered by their intimate partner in Canada. Men account for 95 per cent of those accused of murder-suicide,

Will next month’s long-awaited divorce law reforms make a difference?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—One woman every six days is murdered by their intimate partner in Canada. Men account for 95 per cent of those accused of murder-suicide,
When the revised Divorce Act goes into force on March 1, Canadians will begin to get an inkling of whether long-overdue legislative efforts at the federal level to update divorce rules and better protect victims of domestic violence will be effective in addressing this problem, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels

The strange, unremarked case of Corey Hurren

  • OTTAWA—So, seven months later, we have established that it’s against the law to bust into the Rideau Hall grounds by ramming through the iron
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 10, 2021
There’s no doubt that everyone involved needs to shed their complacency about security for elected representatives in Ottawa after Corey Hurren’s July 2, 2020 storming of Rideau Hall, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CTV News

The strange, unremarked case of Corey Hurren

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—So, seven months later, we have established that it’s against the law to bust into the Rideau Hall grounds by ramming through the iron

The strange, unremarked case of Corey Hurren

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—So, seven months later, we have established that it’s against the law to bust into the Rideau Hall grounds by ramming through the iron
There’s no doubt that everyone involved needs to shed their complacency about security for elected representatives in Ottawa after Corey Hurren’s July 2, 2020 storming of Rideau Hall, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CTV News

Second COVID wave, vaccine issues rapidly unwinding any and all political assumptions

  • OTTAWA—Politically, everything we have surmised about the impact of COVID-19 is no longer applicable. Last year, the tragedy of the pandemic assumed a fairly
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 3, 2021
The Liberals must get the government’s handling of the pandemic back into reasonable shape as 2021 progresses. Otherwise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hopes for a third mandate could be non-existent, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Second COVID wave, vaccine issues rapidly unwinding any and all political assumptions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Politically, everything we have surmised about the impact of COVID-19 is no longer applicable. Last year, the tragedy of the pandemic assumed a fairly

Second COVID wave, vaccine issues rapidly unwinding any and all political assumptions

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Politically, everything we have surmised about the impact of COVID-19 is no longer applicable. Last year, the tragedy of the pandemic assumed a fairly
The Liberals must get the government’s handling of the pandemic back into reasonable shape as 2021 progresses. Otherwise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hopes for a third mandate could be non-existent, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Requiem for irrelevance: does it matter that the GG didn’t work out?

  • OTTAWA—How anyone could manage to foul up the you-won-the-lottery job of Canada’s governor general will always be bewildering. The job places one in the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 27, 2021
The resignation of former governor general Julie Payette, pictured at her installation on Oct. 2, 2017, is an embarrassment for the prime minister, but optimally, the controversy might focus more attention on the future of the archaic, ill-suited constitutional monarchy Canada is still stuck with, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Requiem for irrelevance: does it matter that the GG didn’t work out?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 27, 2021
  • OTTAWA—How anyone could manage to foul up the you-won-the-lottery job of Canada’s governor general will always be bewildering. The job places one in the

Requiem for irrelevance: does it matter that the GG didn’t work out?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 27, 2021
  • OTTAWA—How anyone could manage to foul up the you-won-the-lottery job of Canada’s governor general will always be bewildering. The job places one in the
The resignation of former governor general Julie Payette, pictured at her installation on Oct. 2, 2017, is an embarrassment for the prime minister, but optimally, the controversy might focus more attention on the future of the archaic, ill-suited constitutional monarchy Canada is still stuck with, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pre-Trump America is no more; Canada will have to rethink its world view

  • OTTAWA—I covered the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, where a million people took to the streets, dodging police and their water cannons,
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 20, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden attend a lunch in Ottawa in December 2016. Solving Canadian trade disputes with the Biden administration may not be that much easier than it was under Trump, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, in positions of power in D.C. will be able to effectively shore up global economic co-operation now that Trump has turned many Republicans into protectionists, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph

Pre-Trump America is no more; Canada will have to rethink its world view

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 20, 2021
  • OTTAWA—I covered the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, where a million people took to the streets, dodging police and their water cannons,

Pre-Trump America is no more; Canada will have to rethink its world view

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 20, 2021
  • OTTAWA—I covered the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, where a million people took to the streets, dodging police and their water cannons,
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden attend a lunch in Ottawa in December 2016. Solving Canadian trade disputes with the Biden administration may not be that much easier than it was under Trump, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, in positions of power in D.C. will be able to effectively shore up global economic co-operation now that Trump has turned many Republicans into protectionists, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times file photograph

Awash in lies and the politics of hate, U.S. drives home the risks to 21st century democracy

  • OTTAWA—Among the many disturbing images of the right-wing crazies rampaging through the U.S. Capitol was that of the man nonchalantly walking along with a
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 13, 2021
The U.S. debacle should drive home the need for Canadians to be more vigilant about their public affairs and the information flows that undergird them, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph by Brett Davis

Awash in lies and the politics of hate, U.S. drives home the risks to 21st century democracy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Among the many disturbing images of the right-wing crazies rampaging through the U.S. Capitol was that of the man nonchalantly walking along with a

Awash in lies and the politics of hate, U.S. drives home the risks to 21st century democracy

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Among the many disturbing images of the right-wing crazies rampaging through the U.S. Capitol was that of the man nonchalantly walking along with a
The U.S. debacle should drive home the need for Canadians to be more vigilant about their public affairs and the information flows that undergird them, writes Les Whittington. Flickr photograph by Brett Davis

Jury still out on whether 2020’s COVID tragedy will lead to a better post-pandemic world

  • OTTAWA—The year 2020: not a great year for the human race. It will be remembered in the long run as one of a series
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 23, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, centre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will need to deal with a multi-dimensional puzzle of shifting issues and interests that will be a make-or-break factor for each party in the next national vote, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Jury still out on whether 2020’s COVID tragedy will lead to a better post-pandemic world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 23, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The year 2020: not a great year for the human race. It will be remembered in the long run as one of a series

Jury still out on whether 2020’s COVID tragedy will lead to a better post-pandemic world

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 23, 2020
  • OTTAWA—The year 2020: not a great year for the human race. It will be remembered in the long run as one of a series
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, centre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will need to deal with a multi-dimensional puzzle of shifting issues and interests that will be a make-or-break factor for each party in the next national vote, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Politics without policy, or how to attract voters whose interests you disdain

  • OTTAWA—In one of the more consequential political shifts in recent years, Republicans in the U.S. under Donald Trump have putatively capped a major realignment
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 16, 2020
Populists like Donald Trump have appealed to ‘blue-collar’ Americans’ sense of grievance and encouraged them to blame outsiders and the so-called elite (by which they mean urban-dwelling liberals) for their woes, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Politics without policy, or how to attract voters whose interests you disdain

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 16, 2020
  • OTTAWA—In one of the more consequential political shifts in recent years, Republicans in the U.S. under Donald Trump have putatively capped a major realignment

Politics without policy, or how to attract voters whose interests you disdain

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 16, 2020
  • OTTAWA—In one of the more consequential political shifts in recent years, Republicans in the U.S. under Donald Trump have putatively capped a major realignment
Populists like Donald Trump have appealed to ‘blue-collar’ Americans’ sense of grievance and encouraged them to blame outsiders and the so-called elite (by which they mean urban-dwelling liberals) for their woes, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Championing a coup in plain sight, Trump’s latest outrage is a lesson in the dangers of post-reality extremism

  • OTTAWA—It’s interesting to look back at the comments by U.S. analysts in the early aftermath of the Nov. 3 election, when most were saying
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 9, 2020
While many denizens of the White House have reportedly internalized the reality of Joe Biden’s victory, President Donald Trump is demonstrating there is no end to what he will do to pursue his bogus claim of a rigged election. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Championing a coup in plain sight, Trump’s latest outrage is a lesson in the dangers of post-reality extremism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 9, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It’s interesting to look back at the comments by U.S. analysts in the early aftermath of the Nov. 3 election, when most were saying

Championing a coup in plain sight, Trump’s latest outrage is a lesson in the dangers of post-reality extremism

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 9, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It’s interesting to look back at the comments by U.S. analysts in the early aftermath of the Nov. 3 election, when most were saying
While many denizens of the White House have reportedly internalized the reality of Joe Biden’s victory, President Donald Trump is demonstrating there is no end to what he will do to pursue his bogus claim of a rigged election. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

Liberals harness more spending power to fight COVID and lay out election-ready agenda

  • OTTAWA—Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland reopened Ottawa’s spending taps to help Canadians cope with the epidemic while setting out an expansive, equity-focused agenda for the
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2020
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented on Nov. 30 a 237-page package of new supports for businesses and individuals touching nearly every facet of the country’s life. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals harness more spending power to fight COVID and lay out election-ready agenda

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland reopened Ottawa’s spending taps to help Canadians cope with the epidemic while setting out an expansive, equity-focused agenda for the

Liberals harness more spending power to fight COVID and lay out election-ready agenda

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland reopened Ottawa’s spending taps to help Canadians cope with the epidemic while setting out an expansive, equity-focused agenda for the
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented on Nov. 30 a 237-page package of new supports for businesses and individuals touching nearly every facet of the country’s life. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds make long-overdue start on levelling the playing field on data protection

  • OTTAWA—A long struggle to give Canadian consumers an assist in their unequal dealings with tech giants got underway last week with the introduction of
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 25, 2020
Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains is pictured in the West Block during a press conference ahead of the introduction of Bill C-11 on Nov. 17. Among concerns germane to the bill are questions about how long it will take to get it passed, develop regulations, and begin enforcement, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds make long-overdue start on levelling the playing field on data protection

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 25, 2020
  • OTTAWA—A long struggle to give Canadian consumers an assist in their unequal dealings with tech giants got underway last week with the introduction of

Feds make long-overdue start on levelling the playing field on data protection

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 25, 2020
  • OTTAWA—A long struggle to give Canadian consumers an assist in their unequal dealings with tech giants got underway last week with the introduction of
Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains is pictured in the West Block during a press conference ahead of the introduction of Bill C-11 on Nov. 17. Among concerns germane to the bill are questions about how long it will take to get it passed, develop regulations, and begin enforcement, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

While Trump spews lies next door, countries join forces here for global media freedom

  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to imagine a more pressing context for a conference on media freedom than a moment when the president of the United States
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 18, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured in Ottawa on Nov. 13, told the Global Conference for Media Freedom on Nov. 16 that press freedom is a fundamental building block of democracy and stressed the need to push back against disinformation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

While Trump spews lies next door, countries join forces here for global media freedom

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 18, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to imagine a more pressing context for a conference on media freedom than a moment when the president of the United States

While Trump spews lies next door, countries join forces here for global media freedom

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 18, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It’s hard to imagine a more pressing context for a conference on media freedom than a moment when the president of the United States
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured in Ottawa on Nov. 13, told the Global Conference for Media Freedom on Nov. 16 that press freedom is a fundamental building block of democracy and stressed the need to push back against disinformation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Anything is better than Trump, but Canadians shouldn’t expect great progress with the U.S.

  • OTTAWA—If the United States under president-elect Joe Biden can meet the “Do No Harm” standard, that in itself would be a significant improvement for
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 11, 2020
Canadians, as Americans’ neighbours, will be struggling for some time to absorb the fact that, despite performing by any standard as the worst president in modern times, U.S. President Donald Trump came very close to winning again, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Reuters

Anything is better than Trump, but Canadians shouldn’t expect great progress with the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—If the United States under president-elect Joe Biden can meet the “Do No Harm” standard, that in itself would be a significant improvement for

Anything is better than Trump, but Canadians shouldn’t expect great progress with the U.S.

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 11, 2020
  • OTTAWA—If the United States under president-elect Joe Biden can meet the “Do No Harm” standard, that in itself would be a significant improvement for
Canadians, as Americans’ neighbours, will be struggling for some time to absorb the fact that, despite performing by any standard as the worst president in modern times, U.S. President Donald Trump came very close to winning again, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Reuters

What have we learned from Trump?

  • OTTAWA—It took decades for Americans’ overarching postwar notion of their country as a force for progress in the world, however flawed, to deteriorate into
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump used the internet to fuel his political ascendancy, in turn greatly accelerating the erosion of what passed for political discourse, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

What have we learned from Trump?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It took decades for Americans’ overarching postwar notion of their country as a force for progress in the world, however flawed, to deteriorate into

What have we learned from Trump?

Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 4, 2020
  • OTTAWA—It took decades for Americans’ overarching postwar notion of their country as a force for progress in the world, however flawed, to deteriorate into
U.S. President Donald Trump used the internet to fuel his political ascendancy, in turn greatly accelerating the erosion of what passed for political discourse, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Tia Dufour

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