For the first time since 1978, when he was first elected to Parliament, Bob Rae now finds himself without a so-called “important job.” His term as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations just ended. Now, Ontario’s 21st premier and former interim leader of the federal Liberals is just Citizen Bob. Let’s deal right away with the United…
For decades, Jim Balsillie was best known as the co-CEO of Research in Motion, makers of the Blackberry, and someone who almost brought another NHL team to Canada. But in recent years, he’s turned his attention to trying to get decision-makers to embrace a new destiny for Canada, one in which we focus less on…
Sergio Marchi got himself elected to North York city council at the tender age of 26, and just two years later, became a Liberal MP, just in time to see his party thrashed by Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservatives in 1984. But he stuck around, eventually earning three different jobs in Jean Chretien’s cabinets between 1993…
Article first appeared in The Toronto Star. Has there ever been a more improbable story in Canadian judicial history than Rosalie Silberman Abella’s? She was born stateless in a displaced persons’ camp in post-World War II Allied-occupied Germany, yet somehow made it to the Supreme Court of Canada. In between, she had a huge influence…
Alex Neve is one of Canada’s most passionate and decorated human rights advocates. From 2000 to 2020, he was the head of Amnesty International Canada and is in the midst of crossing the country to deliver the 2025 Massey Lectures on renewing human rights in a fractured world. Steve Paikin: This month is the 80th…
A few months ago, John Mykytyshyn was in a coma his doctors didn’t think he’d wake from. A few days ago, he went to his son’s wedding.
Originally published in The Toronto Star Fifty years ago today, Ontarians went to the polls and elected a new legislative assembly. It was a historic election because for the first time in 32 years, the Progressive Conservatives were able to garner only a minority government. Having said that, the leaders of all three parties may have…
Originally published by the Toronto Star. Two weeks ago, Canadians learned that Ken Dryden had died of cancer at the age of 78. The diagnosis came as a surprise even to his closest friends. I had the joy of interviewing Dryden many times about his stints as goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, president of the…
Originally published in The Toronto Star Has any policy adviser stayed more relevant after the age of 80 than Janice Stein of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy? Stein maintains a schedule that many people half her age couldn’t handle. And don’t try to find out (as I tried)…
Originally published in The Toronto Star Since its debut in 1966, “Star Trek” has been one of the most popular and successful television and film franchises ever. Thirty years ago, viewers got to know Robert Picardo as the hologram doctor in the series “Star Trek: Voyager.” He spent much of last year in Toronto reprising…
First appeared on The Toronto Star After eight fulfilling yet tumultuous years, Rhonda Lenton recently announced she’ll step down at year’s end as York University’s president and vice-chancellor. She has overseen York’s plans to create a medical school in Vaughan (with a big reveal this week) and a new campus in Markham. But the Middle East crisis…
First appeared on The Toronto Star Dalton McGuinty is 70 years old today. For those who remember him as the 48-year-old Premier of Ontario in 2003, it’s hard to believe he’s that old. He looks pretty much the same. We recently spoke at Queen’s Park about his milestone birthday, and his exhilarating and tumultuous time…