Feb 1 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The 2019 election is shaping up to be a referendum on Justin Trudeau’s leadership, which is odd. After only a few years in power, the Prime Minister should not be such a polarizing figure that this fall’s vote is All About Him. Stephen Harper successfully skated through three elections before he was faced with a […]
Dec 28 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — In Poland two months ago, more than 200 schools planning to hold a “Rainbow Friday” to promote tolerance for sexual minorities had to cancel the event, under orders from the increasingly authoritarian government’s Minister of Education. In the United States, as part of the Trump administration’s attack on transgender rights, the Department of Health and […]
Dec 7 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Canada may have had little choice but to arrest Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou as she was transferring from one flight to another at the Vancouver airport, this past Saturday. This country has an extradition treaty with the United States, and the U.S. had asked Canada to make the arrest, so that was that. But […]
Nov 29 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The problem of people crossing the Canada-U.S. border illegally and then seeking asylum just became a bigger headache for the Liberals, one they emphatically do not need less than a year before the next election. The situation at the border appeared to be improving. In 2017, more than 20,000 asylum-seekers crossed illegally into Canada from […]
Nov 12 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Maxime Bernier wants to win the Canadian Trump vote. In a speech on Saturday at a conference hosted by the right-wing Rebel Media in Calgary, the leader of the new People’s Party of Canada questioned the science of climate change, pilloried the United Nations and insisted immigrants to Canada must embrace “Western civilization values.”
Sep 22 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — David Johnston, who stepped down as governor-general a year ago, has written a book called Trust. Julie Payette should read it. On Oct. 2, Ms. Payette will mark her first anniversary as Canada’s 29th governor-general. The year has been controversial, not because of what she has done, but because of what she hasn’t done. The […]
Sep 2 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The hammer blows of last week have left the Trudeau government vulnerable on four fronts. A win later this month at the North American free-trade talks would go a long way to repairing the damage. But if those talks fail, the Liberals will be challenged to win the next election, a prospect that seemed unlikely […]
Aug 28 2018 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The Conservative Party should forget about Maxime Bernier and concentrate on what matters: preparing for the first issue-based election in three decades. In most elections, voters either choose Leader X to mind the store, or Leader Y to bring change. But every now and then, there’s an issue election. Issue-based elections are fought more fiercely, […]
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 […]