Donald Trump just skipped the second Republican debate. He figures the nomination is in the bag. E.J. Dionne explains what is happening: Trump wants his foes to stay weak. By not showing up, he reduces them to squabbling bit players trying to bring each other down while the major contenders
Continue readingAuthor: Owen Gray
Northern Reflections: Clouds In The Future
Politics isn’t just about elections. It’s also about what happens between elections. Doug Ford made that abundantly clear yesterday when he reversed his decision to build houses on Ontario’s Greenbelt. Despite the change, the editors of The Toronto Star were not impressed: Let’s be crystal clear. There is no redemption in
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: We Should Be Ashamed
The news services are abuzz with Justin Trudeau’s accusation that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen. But, on that subject, something happened in the House of Commons yesterday that should concern us all. Erica Ifill writes: On Monday, Trudeau rose to address Parliament and
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Mike Roman
In Georgia, a guy named Mike Roman has been indicted in the case involving Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the election in that state. Michael Harris writes that Roman has been a Republican dirty trickster for decades: Roman’s backstory is a tangled tale, but one worth telling.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Don’t Be Fooled
Global News reports that in 2018 Doug Ford instructed his Environment Minister, Rod Phillips, to make environmental legislation ineffective: When Ontario Premier Doug Ford first took office in 2018, his first environmental minister was given a simple yet central task: get climate legislation out of the way of business. The
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Not New And Improved
Their convention is over and the Conservatives are riding high in the polls. Given the policies they adopted on transgender kids and race-based hiring, Canadians should be wary of the party. But, Michael Harris writes, they should be even more wary of the party’s leader: Poilievre presents as the champion
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: For A Long Time
The Greenbelt scandal has become quicksand for Doug Ford. It has exposed the “man of the people” for what he is. Emma Teitel writes: Ontario Premier Doug Ford must assume us “folks” aren’t too bright. How else to explain the premier’s lame excuse that he wasn’t aware of alleged biases
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: We’ve Been Here Before
The owners of Big Tech are the new Robber Barons. Linda McQuaig writes: Like the Railroad Barons of the late 19th century, today’s Big Tech giants strut around, acting like they own the world (which they mostly do). Among their many imperious actions, they’ve taken to blocking Canadians’ access to
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Those Who Seek Scapegoats
Canada has a housing crisis. And some are blaming immigrants. Susan Delacourt writes: If politicians in this country are going to be seized with housing in the coming months — as they are all promising — they’re going to have to learn to tread carefully around the minefield of immigration.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: They’re Expendable
If there’s one thing modern conservatives have trouble with, it’s the truth. Max Fawcett writes: Sometimes, it pays to read past the headline. That’s certainly the case with a recent National Post story titled “Trudeau’s Law Society,” one that suggested “it’s no coincidence that more judges who donate to the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Monumental Cowardice
Today, a judge in Washington will set the date for Donald Trump’s trial for attempting to overthrow the government of the United States. Instead of being appalled by what Trump did, Republicans are stumbling over themselves to defend him. Consider what happened at the recent Republican debate. Michael Harris writes:
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Lot Depends On The Alternative
The conventional wisdom is that Justin Trudeau is in the twilight of his political career. Michael Harris doesn’t believe it. He writes: The way most pollsters and pundits and all Harper-Cons see it, you can put a fork in Trudeau; he’s done. But they can put away the cutlery for
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Conservatives And Conspiracy Theories
Pierre Poilievre continues to strengthen his ties to conspiracy theorists. Max Fawcett writes: It’s not exactly a secret that conservatism has made more room in recent years for conspiracy theories, whether they’re about vaccines and COVID-19 or the World Economic Forum (WEF) and its apparently nefarious influence over the Canadian
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Blood On Trump’s Hands
Jack Smith has charged Donald Trump with crimes he’s committed throughout his life — fraud and conspiracy. But he does not hold Trump responsible for the violence behind January 6th. He writes that Trump “took advantage of ” the violence. Fauny Willis puts violence at the centre of her indictment
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Even Worse
The Canadian Press reports that Pierre Poilievre is selling conspiracy theories: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been hitting the summer barbecue circuit with ramped-up rhetoric around debunked claims that the World Economic Forum is attempting to impose its agenda on sovereign governments. It is, some experts suggest, another sign that
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Something’s Out Of Joint
In a blistering report, Ontario’s auditor general has skewered Doug Ford’s government. Rob Ferguson and Rob Benzie write in The Toronto Star: Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives “favoured certain developers” in a controversial $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap rammed through in a fashion the premier admits was “wrong,” the auditor general found.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Trump Of The North
According to a recent Abacus poll, a large number of Canadians don’t like any of the party leaders. Michael Harris writes: Here are the numbers: 33 per cent Liberal; 22 per cent NDP and 19 per cent Conservative. According to pollster David Coletto, it is this group of people who
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Indicted Again
Donald Trump has been indicted for a third time. Jennifer Rubin writes: Trump has spent his life evading responsibility for his conduct; within the space of a few months, he has been indicted three times in criminal court and held liable in civil court for defaming and sexually abusing writer
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Intellectually Dishonest
A cabinet shuffle offers us an opportunity to conduct our politics differently — something, Michael Harris writes, that we desperately need to do. But Pierre Poilievre is having none of it: When it came time for Pierre Poilievre to offer his reaction to the government’s facelift, the leader of the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Uncommonly Stupid
Donald Trump will be remembered for many things. But, most of all, he will be remembered for his monumental stupidity. Ruth Marcus writes: If the allegations in the latest indictment of Donald Trump hold up, the former president is a common criminal — and an uncommonly stupid one. Everyone knows,
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