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Tuesday, November 5, 2024
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Thomas Walkom

Thomas Walkom is a columnist for The Toronto Star.

Climate fears are real so the filthy oilsands must close

Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Government-mandated production cuts and government-purchased rail tanker cars can keep the oilsands limping along. But in a world whose very existence is threatened by the greenhouse gases this industry creates, the more sensible option is to shut it down, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Government-mandated production cuts and government-purchased rail tanker cars can keep the oilsands limping along. But in a world whose very existence is threatened by the greenhouse gases this industry creates, the more sensible option is to shut it down, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Government-mandated production cuts and government-purchased rail tanker cars can keep the oilsands limping along. But in a world whose very existence is threatened by the greenhouse gases this industry creates, the more sensible option is to shut it down, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Government-mandated production cuts and government-purchased rail tanker cars can keep the oilsands limping along. But in a world whose very existence is threatened by the greenhouse gases this industry creates, the more sensible option is to shut it down, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Doug Ford's new Ontario plan is an attempt to devise a climate change solution that does not involve the carbon tax Ford campaigned against. To that end, the Progressive Conservative government has borrowed broadly and shamelessly, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | December 10, 2018
Doug Ford's new Ontario plan is an attempt to devise a climate change solution that does not involve the carbon tax Ford campaigned against. To that end, the Progressive Conservative government has borrowed broadly and shamelessly, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | November 5, 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump has become synonymous with the word populist, which once had neutral or even leftist connotations, writes Thomas Walkom. Department of Homeland Security photo via Barry Bahler
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | November 5, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | November 5, 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump has become synonymous with the word populist, which once had neutral or even leftist connotations, writes Thomas Walkom. Department of Homeland Security photo via Barry Bahler
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 29, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured on Oct. 1, 2018. Even with a fully functioning carbon tax, the Liberal government is nowhere near meeting the targets it set for itself in the 2015 climate summit, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 29, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 29, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured on Oct. 1, 2018. Even with a fully functioning carbon tax, the Liberal government is nowhere near meeting the targets it set for itself in the 2015 climate summit, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 17, 2018
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured in this file photo on the Hill, was willing to bring Weir back into the fold if he apologized contritely, but changed his mind when the Regina MP dared to publicly defend himself against one of the four. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 17, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 17, 2018
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, pictured in this file photo on the Hill, was willing to bring Weir back into the fold if he apologized contritely, but changed his mind when the Regina MP dared to publicly defend himself against one of the four. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 23, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured May 31 in Ottawa with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freehand, has dismissed Donald Trump’s demands that Canada and other NATO members spend at least two per cent of their entire economic output on defence—and rightly so. For Canada, that sum amounts to roughly $44-billion—$5-billion more than the federal government spends on medicare each year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 23, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 23, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured May 31 in Ottawa with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freehand, has dismissed Donald Trump’s demands that Canada and other NATO members spend at least two per cent of their entire economic output on defence—and rightly so. For Canada, that sum amounts to roughly $44-billion—$5-billion more than the federal government spends on medicare each year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 16, 2018
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May pose for a photo during the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. European companies are currently working with a Russian state enterprise to build a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, the Nord Stream 2. Photograph by Shealah Craighead, courtesy of the White House
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 16, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 16, 2018
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May pose for a photo during the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. European companies are currently working with a Russian state enterprise to build a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, the Nord Stream 2. Photograph by Shealah Craighead, courtesy of the White House
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 9, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 9, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 9, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 25, 2018
Conservative Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen is behind a bill that seeks to ban the manufacture and sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 25, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 25, 2018
Conservative Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen is behind a bill that seeks to ban the manufacture and sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 15, 2018
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland was in Washington, D.C., earlier this week, where she delivered a speech before a Foreign Policy magazine forum. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 15, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 15, 2018
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland was in Washington, D.C., earlier this week, where she delivered a speech before a Foreign Policy magazine forum. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 6, 2018
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, is expected to lose in the election on Thursday, leaving PC leader Doug Ford, middle, and NDP leader Andrea Horwath to fight it out. The Hill Times file photograph and photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 6, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 6, 2018
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, is expected to lose in the election on Thursday, leaving PC leader Doug Ford, middle, and NDP leader Andrea Horwath to fight it out. The Hill Times file photograph and photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 4, 2018
For Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, the Trans Mountain expansion represented a historic compromise: Alberta would sign on to Ottawa’s climate-change agenda; in return, the federal government would guarantee the province a new pipeline to get tar-sands bitumen to market, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 4, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | June 4, 2018
For Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, the Trans Mountain expansion represented a historic compromise: Alberta would sign on to Ottawa’s climate-change agenda; in return, the federal government would guarantee the province a new pipeline to get tar-sands bitumen to market, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 28, 2018
Like the Liberals before him, Doug Ford promises to develop the so-called Ring of Fire mining region near James Bay. But like the Liberals before him, he doesn’t say how. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 28, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 28, 2018
Like the Liberals before him, Doug Ford promises to develop the so-called Ring of Fire mining region near James Bay. But like the Liberals before him, he doesn’t say how. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 22, 2018
Photo via Pexels
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 22, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 22, 2018
Photo via Pexels
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 14, 2018
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, pictured on April 27 in Panmunjeom at their historic meeting. The upcoming June 12 summit in Singapore between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will be important. No question about that. America is a major force in the region. As well, it and other members of the 1950-53 UN Command (including Canada) are still technically at war with North Korea, writes Thomas Walkom. Photo courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 14, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | May 14, 2018
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, pictured on April 27 in Panmunjeom at their historic meeting. The upcoming June 12 summit in Singapore between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will be important. No question about that. America is a major force in the region. As well, it and other members of the 1950-53 UN Command (including Canada) are still technically at war with North Korea, writes Thomas Walkom. Photo courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 16, 2018
Alberta’s NDP Premier Rachel Notley needs the Trans Mountain pipeline built if she is to have a chance of winning the next election. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 16, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 16, 2018
Alberta’s NDP Premier Rachel Notley needs the Trans Mountain pipeline built if she is to have a chance of winning the next election. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 9, 2018
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s maternal grandfather, Michael Chomiak, was a Nazi collaborator during the Second World War. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this an effort 'by Russian propagandists' to smear Ms. Freeland, which perhaps it was. PMO photograph courtesy Adam Scotti
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 9, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | April 9, 2018
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s maternal grandfather, Michael Chomiak, was a Nazi collaborator during the Second World War. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this an effort 'by Russian propagandists' to smear Ms. Freeland, which perhaps it was. PMO photograph courtesy Adam Scotti
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | March 19, 2018
Forget the comparisons to Donald Trump. Doug Ford, Ontario's new Progressive Conservative leader, is very much a homegrown phenomenon. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | March 19, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | March 19, 2018
Forget the comparisons to Donald Trump. Doug Ford, Ontario's new Progressive Conservative leader, is very much a homegrown phenomenon. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | January 15, 2018
Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, left, Canada's Minister of Foriegn Affairs Chrystia Freeland, centre, and U.S. ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, right, give a joint statement on Sept. 27, 2017 at the end of the third round of negotiations to rework NAFTA. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | January 15, 2018
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | January 15, 2018
Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, left, Canada's Minister of Foriegn Affairs Chrystia Freeland, centre, and U.S. ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, right, give a joint statement on Sept. 27, 2017 at the end of the third round of negotiations to rework NAFTA. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Thomas Walkom writes that the real aim of recently passed Bill 62 is to pander to anti-Islamic prejudice by singling out those Muslim women who, for religious reasons, veil their faces. Among other things, the law would prevent women wearing niqabs, pictured, and burkas in Quebec from using public transportation—unless they receive special authorization. Ji-Elle/Wikimedia Commons photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Thomas Walkom writes that the real aim of recently passed Bill 62 is to pander to anti-Islamic prejudice by singling out those Muslim women who, for religious reasons, veil their faces. Among other things, the law would prevent women wearing niqabs, pictured, and burkas in Quebec from using public transportation—unless they receive special authorization. Ji-Elle/Wikimedia Commons photograph
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Score another win for Donald Trump's high-handed version of protectionism. Monday's decision by Montreal-based Bombardier to give away control over its much-vaunted C Series jet virtually guarantees that the U.S. will get the lion's share of any new jobs created. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 23, 2017
Score another win for Donald Trump's high-handed version of protectionism. Monday's decision by Montreal-based Bombardier to give away control over its much-vaunted C Series jet virtually guarantees that the U.S. will get the lion's share of any new jobs created. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 20, 2017
Finance Minister Bill Morneau's promised changes to the government's tax plan were unveiled this week, as the Liberals continue to grapple with the political fallout from the proposed reforms. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 20, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 20, 2017
Finance Minister Bill Morneau's promised changes to the government's tax plan were unveiled this week, as the Liberals continue to grapple with the political fallout from the proposed reforms. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 16, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured Sept. 19 at the opening day of the United Nations’ General Assembly’s annual general debate in New York. Photograph courtesy of the United Nations
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 16, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 16, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured Sept. 19 at the opening day of the United Nations’ General Assembly’s annual general debate in New York. Photograph courtesy of the United Nations
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 2, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 2, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | October 2, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 18, 2017
The world had been told that Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, left, pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on June 7, 2017, was a heroine of democracy and human rights. Now it turns out that her idea of human rights doesn't include the roughly 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims living in Burma's western state of Rakhine. Photograph courtesy of the PMO
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 18, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 18, 2017
The world had been told that Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, left, pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on June 7, 2017, was a heroine of democracy and human rights. Now it turns out that her idea of human rights doesn't include the roughly 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims living in Burma's western state of Rakhine. Photograph courtesy of the PMO
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 11, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 11, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 11, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 4, 2017
When the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People's issued a report in 1996, prime minister Jean Chrétien’s austerity-focused Liberal government had no interest in spending the billions of dollars on Indigenous people that it called for, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 4, 2017
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 4, 2017
When the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People's issued a report in 1996, prime minister Jean Chrétien’s austerity-focused Liberal government had no interest in spending the billions of dollars on Indigenous people that it called for, writes Thomas Walkom. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 19, 2016
U.S. President Barack Obama once famously called the Libyan war ‘a shit show.’ The show, it seems, goes on. The Hill Times Photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 19, 2016
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | September 19, 2016
U.S. President Barack Obama once famously called the Libyan war ‘a shit show.’ The show, it seems, goes on. The Hill Times Photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 28, 2016
Clinton has long been controversial. As first lady to former president Bill Clinton, she played an unusually visible role in government—in particular masterminding a health-care reform package that ultimately failed, writes Walkom. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons by Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 28, 2016
Opinion | BY THOMAS WALKOM | July 28, 2016
Clinton has long been controversial. As first lady to former president Bill Clinton, she played an unusually visible role in government—in particular masterminding a health-care reform package that ultimately failed, writes Walkom. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons by Gage Skidmore