Articles by John Ibbitson

Aug 13 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The painful confrontation with Saudi Arabia is yet another example of the continuity-of-error that defines much of this Liberal government’s approach to Canada in the world. “It’s a sad tale of unfulfilled promises and possibilities left unexplored and amateurish stumbling about,” says Daryl Copeland, a foreign policy analyst who spent three decades as a diplomat […]

Aug 3 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government faces a battle royale with provincial premiers that could leave Andrew Scheer the last one standing. Except that Mr. Scheer isn’t able to explain why he wants to be prime minister. The Conservative Leader needs to answer that question, if he is to capitalize on Mr. Trudeau’s travails. After a decade […]

Jul 28 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Doug Ford was 30 when Mike Harris became Ontario’s premier in June, 1995. It appears the young man took notes. Mr. Harris moved so fast, on so many fronts, that opponents simply couldn’t keep up. Photo radar: gone. Employment equity rules: gone. The new Eglinton West subway line: cancelled. Welfare rates: slashed by more than […]

Jul 16 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — In these opening weeks, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s team has moved swiftly to implement a populist, socially conservative agenda. You may hate that agenda, but this is a focused, capable government. It is also the ideological antithesis of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in Ottawa, which is why the animus between the two is deep and personal.

Jul 9 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The photograph on Doug Ford’s Facebook page of last week’s meeting with Justin Trudeau said it all. On one side of the table sits the new Ontario Premier and his aides, grinning confidently. On the other side, the Prime Minister and his aides look seriously unimpressed. Brace yourself for a chapter like no other in […]

Jun 30 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — As we celebrate Canada Day, the surveys once again confirm the blessings of living in this land. Canada is the most inclusive and tolerant country in the world (Ipsos), the second best place in the world to live, after Switzerland (U.S. News and World Report). Canadians are among the happiest people on Earth (ranked seventh […]

Jun 19 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Yes, the Conservatives had a popular hockey coach as candidate, but their thumping of the Liberals in Chicoutimi-Le Ford, Monday night, should worry the Grits. Canadian voters are not rallying to the Liberals in solidarity as Justin Trudeau confronts Donald Trump over tariffs and trade. If that confrontation damages the economy, watch out. Next year […]

Jun 11 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — After June 29, when the Ontario Progressive Conservatives take office, we will get two Doug Fords. There will be days when a disciplined leader draws from the collective wisdom of a talented team to deliver effective conservative government. There will be days when a rogue premier riles up his base by raging against the elites. […]

Jun 8 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Doug Ford’s majority-government victory in Ontario’s election, Thursday, cements the arrival of populism in a province that once was governed by common sense. For the 14 million people living in Canada’s most populous province, the question now is whether and when pragmatic government will return, and how the province is to be governed in its […]

May 30 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — One of the boldest and riskiest qualities of the Trudeau government is its resolve, on certain key priorities, to decide first and worry about ”how” later. So marijuana use will become legal. Canada will have a carbon tax. The Trans Mountain pipeline will be built. If this approach works, at the end of their first […]

May 21 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Suppose that, after almost 15 years of Liberal government, you’re ready to see the back of Kathleen Wynne. But the thought of what Andrea Horwath’s NDP might do to Ontario’s finances worries you, and you find Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford’s populist anger just plain scary. Should you decide not to vote in the Ontario […]

Apr 30 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — This is so frustrating. Because of a perceived flaw, the Senate may send back to the House a bill that would expunge the criminal records of men who were convicted of committing homosexual acts in the years when such acts were illegal. The Senate may amend the bill and return it to the House of […]

Apr 27 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The Trudeau government refuses job grants to students who would have worked at summer camps and soup kitchens, but happily gives money to students to organize pipeline protests. The government has an explanation, but it doesn’t matter. Your jaw dropped when you first heard about this. That matters.

Apr 13 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Good news! We are facing a crisis in national unity, but for once it’s not about Quebec. The dispute over the Trans Mountain pipeline is a major challenge both for the country and for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But that dispute also reflects how Canada has changed. This is not about language or culture. Rather, […]

Apr 2 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Someone needs to send this Liberal government an urgent message: Stop calling us deplorables! Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, under calm but persistent questioning from Evan Solomon on CTV’s Question Period, blurted out Sunday that “I have no time for folks who are like, you know, ‘we shouldn’t take action,’ ” on climate change. She later […]