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Wednesday, December 4, 2024
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Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | Latest Paper

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Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 4, 2024
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2024
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2024
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
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 
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2024
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 
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 30, 2024
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2024
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
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 16, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2024
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
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
New Liberal Party adviser Mark Carney is calling for more government action, not less, to tackle climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2024
New Liberal Party adviser Mark Carney is calling for more government action, not less, to tackle climate change, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
A recent survey suggests the angry mood of voters is the most notable feature as half the world’s population holds elections in 2024, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Yogendra Singh
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 19, 2024
A recent survey suggests the angry mood of voters is the most notable feature as half the world’s population holds elections in 2024, writes Les Whittington. Unsplash photograph by Yogendra Singh
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and his fellow G7 leaders face a challenging situation at this week’s leaders’ summit Italy, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 12, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and his fellow G7 leaders face a challenging situation at this week’s leaders’ summit Italy, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Adam Schultz
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has warned the central bank’s key interest rate is going to be much higher in the near future than Canadians got used to in the past 10 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 5, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has warned the central bank’s key interest rate is going to be much higher in the near future than Canadians got used to in the past 10 years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
The willingness by maybe half of U.S. voters to accept this kind of authoritarian behaviour in opposition to everything democracy stands for already amounts to a kind of de facto coup by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of George C./Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 29, 2024
The willingness by maybe half of U.S. voters to accept this kind of authoritarian behaviour in opposition to everything democracy stands for already amounts to a kind of de facto coup by Donald Trump, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of George C./Flickr
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Under Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s capital gains gambit, companies and individuals making profits on the sale of assets will still enjoy special tax treatment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 22, 2024
Under Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s capital gains gambit, companies and individuals making profits on the sale of assets will still enjoy special tax treatment, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Canadians are angry and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s central argument that government can be a force to help the public solve its problems seems to be increasingly going unheard, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 15, 2024
Canadians are angry and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s central argument that government can be a force to help the public solve its problems seems to be increasingly going unheard, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is unfortunately caught in a vicious circle since shelter costs make up a large portion of the inflation measure used by the central bank, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 8, 2024
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem is unfortunately caught in a vicious circle since shelter costs make up a large portion of the inflation measure used by the central bank, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 1, 2024
Former U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson, left, former U.S. president Donald Trump, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Pippa Fowles, photograph by Gage Skidmore, and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 1, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 1, 2024
Former U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson, left, former U.S. president Donald Trump, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. No. 10 Downing Street photograph by Pippa Fowles, photograph by Gage Skidmore, and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 24, 2024
As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s use of such themes in varying degrees has resonated with Canada’s working class during a period of high inflation and housing shortages, union leaders have responded with alarm, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 24, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 24, 2024
As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s use of such themes in varying degrees has resonated with Canada’s working class during a period of high inflation and housing shortages, union leaders have responded with alarm, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 17, 2024
Facing possible political devastation, Housing Minister Sean Fraser and the Trudeau government have decided to take on the national housing crisis in a full-bore, government-wide fashion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 17, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 17, 2024
Facing possible political devastation, Housing Minister Sean Fraser and the Trudeau government have decided to take on the national housing crisis in a full-bore, government-wide fashion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 10, 2024
Left to his own devices, Ontario Premier Doug Ford seems inclined to ignore the problem of domestic violence, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 10, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 10, 2024
Left to his own devices, Ontario Premier Doug Ford seems inclined to ignore the problem of domestic violence, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 3, 2024
In a recent speech, Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers dwelled on the long-standing lack of business investment in machinery and equipment by Canadian companies, but didn’t mention the controversial issue of share buybacks, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 3, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 3, 2024
In a recent speech, Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers dwelled on the long-standing lack of business investment in machinery and equipment by Canadian companies, but didn’t mention the controversial issue of share buybacks, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 27, 2024
Former U.S. president and 2024 Republican candidate Donald Trump recently said cultural phenomenon Taylor Swift would be acting in a ‘disloyal’ way if she supported President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 27, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 27, 2024
Former U.S. president and 2024 Republican candidate Donald Trump recently said cultural phenomenon Taylor Swift would be acting in a ‘disloyal’ way if she supported President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 20, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has a clear shot at a victory for his party in the next election based, to a large extent, on this single campaign against the carbon levy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 20, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 20, 2024
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has a clear shot at a victory for his party in the next election based, to a large extent, on this single campaign against the carbon levy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 13, 2024
It’s hard to overstate the enormity of the consequences of former U.S. president Donald Trump’s, left, rematch against incumbent President Joe Biden, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Gage Skidmore, and U.S. Department of Defense photograph by Lisa Ferdinando
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 13, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 13, 2024
It’s hard to overstate the enormity of the consequences of former U.S. president Donald Trump’s, left, rematch against incumbent President Joe Biden, writes Les Whittington. Photograph by Gage Skidmore, and U.S. Department of Defense photograph by Lisa Ferdinando
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s down-in-the-polls Liberals have belatedly began stepping up their response to problems, but there won’t likely to be quick resolutions, as the post-COVID crises are an intensification of decades-old economic fault lines, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 20, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s down-in-the-polls Liberals have belatedly began stepping up their response to problems, but there won’t likely to be quick resolutions, as the post-COVID crises are an intensification of decades-old economic fault lines, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has asked the province’s integrity commissioner to examine if his housing minister’s former chief of staff broke public service conflict-of-interest rules, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 30, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has asked the province’s integrity commissioner to examine if his housing minister’s former chief of staff broke public service conflict-of-interest rules, Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford claims that there was no ‘preferential treatment’ of developers by his government, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 23, 2023
Ontario Premier Doug Ford claims that there was no ‘preferential treatment’ of developers by his government, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2022 Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. Putin seems to have made a serious miscalculation when he decided to weaponize food as part of his war effort, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 16, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2022 Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. Putin seems to have made a serious miscalculation when he decided to weaponize food as part of his war effort, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
The province is rolling in money as a result of Premier Doug Ford’s preference for leaving Ontarians’ needs unmet by refusing to spend taxpayer dollars, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 9, 2023
The province is rolling in money as a result of Premier Doug Ford’s preference for leaving Ontarians’ needs unmet by refusing to spend taxpayer dollars, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
At a meeting in India last week, G20 environment ministers, including Canada's Steven Guilbeault, were meant to set the stage for their national leaders on the climate issue. The outcome was notable for the lack of consensus in the face of global pleas for united action, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | August 2, 2023
At a meeting in India last week, G20 environment ministers, including Canada's Steven Guilbeault, were meant to set the stage for their national leaders on the climate issue. The outcome was notable for the lack of consensus in the face of global pleas for united action, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
Despite endless opportunities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal cabinet has largely failed when it comes to communications, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 26, 2023
Despite endless opportunities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal cabinet has largely failed when it comes to communications, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says new Financial Consumer Agency of Canada rules are about ensuring the ‘support that banks and other financial institutions should be providing to Canadians who are struggling with rising mortgage payments.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 19, 2023
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says new Financial Consumer Agency of Canada rules are about ensuring the ‘support that banks and other financial institutions should be providing to Canadians who are struggling with rising mortgage payments.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
If leader Pierre Poilievre is going to capitalize on the Conservatives’ current advantages, he will have to convince Canadians that he has the policies and mindset that make him an acceptable alternative to Justin Trudeau as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 12, 2023
If leader Pierre Poilievre is going to capitalize on the Conservatives’ current advantages, he will have to convince Canadians that he has the policies and mindset that make him an acceptable alternative to Justin Trudeau as prime minister, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
A relic of the 1980s when policymakers felt bigger was better for the Canadian economy, our version of anti-trust policy has over the years reduced competition and allowed concentration to take place across the business sector, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 5, 2023
A relic of the 1980s when policymakers felt bigger was better for the Canadian economy, our version of anti-trust policy has over the years reduced competition and allowed concentration to take place across the business sector, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Pexels