Mar 16 2020 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — We’re going to learn a lot about ourselves, this week. We’re going to learn whether we have the discipline to temporarily cut ourselves off, each from the other, to prevent a contagion from killing us by the thousands. If we succeed, the new coronavirus outbreak in Canada will have a profile similar to that of […]
Mar 13 2020 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Those who crave efficiency sometimes complain about the cumbersome nature of Canadian federalism, with power divided between a relatively weak central government and strong provinces. Those critics should take note of how well the system is working during the coronavirus emergency. And the events of recent weeks prove another point: that in times of crisis, […]
Feb 21 2020 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — As the Trudeau government struggles to resolve the impasse with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and their supporters over a gas pipeline, the federal Conservatives stand to reap the political benefit. Outgoing leader Andrew Scheer and front-running leadership candidates Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole are hammering their message: They support the elected Wet’suwet’en chiefs and the band […]
Jan 14 2020 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The Queen announced Monday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to spend part of the year in Canada. Very nice for them, I’m sure, but there are laws in this country. If the Sussexes want to live here, they’ll have to apply. If they’re smart, Meghan will be the one filling out the […]
Jan 8 2020 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — There have been too many nights like this since Sept. 11, 2001: tense hours waiting for confirmation of how bad things are, how much worse they might get. But one thing made Tuesday night different: On this night, the world could not trust the American president. Reports said Donald Trump was in the situation room, […]
Nov 26 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Leading the fractious Conservative Party of Canada is a challenge for any leader. Andrew Scheer does not appear up to that challenge. Within the party, people are asking whether he will step down now or draw out the agony until April’s leadership vote. Mr. Scheer’s supporters have good reason to be upset by this lack […]
Nov 17 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Do you favour activist progressive government? Well you’re about to get one whether you like it or not. After cordial meetings with Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clearly has a green light to move on an agenda centred on fighting climate change, spending heavily […]
Sep 13 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — While Jagmeet Singh and Elizabeth May fought for the title of Chief Progressive Alternative at the first leaders’ debate of this election campaign, Andrew Scheer focused on the phantom menace who wasn’t even in the room. The Maclean’s/Citytv national leaders’ debate, Thursday night, was defined by who wasn’t there: Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. And the […]
Sep 11 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Did Justin Trudeau threaten to demote Jody Wilson-Raybould from the role of attorney-general unless she intervened to protect SNC-Lavalin from prosecution on corruption charges? The RCMP would like to know, and so would every Canadian. But this government refuses to release those involved from their oath of secrecy, frustrating the police inquiry and the public […]
Sep 4 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — On Monday, Maxime Bernier sent out a string of tweets attacking Greta Thunberg, the student environmental activist. The leader of the new People’s Party seeks to bring to Canada a poison afflicting many democracies: the collapse of convention. That approach is working for politicians in other countries. We can only hope it fails here. Mr. […]
Aug 12 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — It is deeply wrong for any government to prohibit a previously legal and legitimate practice out of nothing more than unfounded fear. That is what the Liberals would be doing if they banned handguns. In the wake of a spate of shootings in Toronto – 14 during the August long weekend and another five last […]
Jul 16 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Sometimes Liberals act for the best possible reason and the worst possible reason at the same time. Their move to criminalize conversion therapy is a case in point. Conversion therapy, which is not therapy and converts no one, can be so harmful to LGBTQ patients that some provinces and municipalities have moved to restrict the […]
Jun 12 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — The Canadian Senate should be credible, independent but subordinate. Thanks to Justin Trudeau’s reforms, the Red Chamber today is closer to that ideal than at any time in its past. If Andrew Scheer becomes prime minister, the Conservative Leader should build on these improvements rather than scuttling them, as he has threatened to do. For […]
Jun 10 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — A bond has been broken between Justin Trudeau and the voters of Mississauga Centre. If he is to remain prime minister after Oct. 21, Mr. Trudeau must reforge that bond. Mississauga Centre is a typical 905 riding, which is why I spent time here before the last election and returned to it recently. The suburban […]
May 22 2019 — John Ibbitson — Globe and Mail — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will campaign in Ontario during this fall’s general election in an effort to convince new Canadians living in suburban ridings that Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives are a safe choice for their votes. Mr. Kenney’s journey to the Ontario heartland is a remarkable intervention by a premier in a federal campaign, a move […]