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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Finally at a loss for an opinion
Opinion I have often joked that if I wrote my autobiography it would be titled Never at a Loss for an Opinion, Which Everyone Is Entitled to, Whether They Want It or Not. The joke arises from my 50-plus years of providing commentary on politics and government on the national, provincial and local levels, including writing biweekly columns in this space for the past decade. For better or worse, I have been a pundit, someone who opines regularly on topics about which they are presumed to have some expertise. My days of punditry are over. In grocery terms, I have passed my 'best-before date' and thankfully have not reached my 'expiry date.' This will be my last column and my availability to reporters will be limited to topics of deep interest to me. For several reasons, most academics decline to play the pundit role. Preparing for and talking to the media takes time they believe is better spent on research and engaging with students. Tenure, promotion and salary increases are based mainly on the quantity and quality of a professor's research and publications, not on the sharing of knowledge with the media and the general public. Some academics will talk to the media only about their own research, believing that their opinions on other subjects are worth no more than those of any informed citizen. Others decline media interviews because they believe it will involve dumbing down their specialized knowledge for a general public. Others fear they will be misquoted or statements will be taken out of context. Others are 'media hesitant' because they lack confidence in their capacity to offer insights in the brief and engaging fashion the media most values. From 1969 to 2010 I was paid from the public purse to teach Canadian politics, public policy and public administration. This specialty meant there were always more media requests than for colleagues in other fields like political theory or international relations. No doubt there was some vanity involved with my regular appearances on television and seeing my name in print. However, it was also my belief that I was partly paid to conduct educational outreach and community service. A colleague once jokingly labelled me 'rent-a-quote Thomas,' which is not entirely true since the only media 'gigs' that paid a modest fee were election-night coverage for the CBC and this biweekly column. Because I was a public servant and then a parliamentary intern in the House of Commons before becoming an academic, I developed a strong interest in merging theory and practice and a belief that teaching and learning should go beyond the classroom. Engaging in media work led to connections with others with shared interests, including providers and users of government services, who taught me a great deal based on the distinctive knowledge which comes from first-hand experience. I never assumed that my opinions had a wide impact, but the media offered a much larger audience than the handful of academics and students who read my books and journal articles. That is also why I undertook a number of outside assignments leading or participating in public bodies/inquiries which led to reports and related media coverage, which had educational value even when the recommendations went into a black hole. In providing commentaries, my goal was always to be accurate, fair and balanced, which hopefully happened more often than not. Positive and negative reactions were in principle equally welcome, but naturally the former led to more satisfaction. I was once threatened with a lawsuit when on television I labelled a candidate in a hopeless cause as a 'sacrificial lamb,' an unnecessary attempt on my part to be colourful. Mistrust of 'experts' has always existed, but it is now more widespread than when I first became a commentator. The proliferation of social media has resulted in more mis- and disinformation in circulation. This should mean a greater obligation on academics, whose employment and research has been funded with public money, to share their knowledge on a wide range of topics. Media outlets should not always return to the 'usual suspects.' Rather, they should seek out and encourage younger academics to share their expertise and fresh perspectives. This is made easier today because many academics make use of social media and Substacks to publicize their research and their opinions. I know from experience that with encouragement and support academics can improve their communications skills to reach both specialist and general audiences. At CBC, numerous producers and hosts on television and radio patiently tried to make a 'decent' commentator out of a woolly headed academic. After rehearsals for election night television coverage, for example, there was a review of the tape and I was coached on how to tell the 'big picture' stories behind the constituency-level election results. Meanwhile, over at the editorial desk of this newspaper, Shannon Sampert recruited me as a regular contributor to this page and along with other editors, like Brad Oswald and Russell Wangersky, curbed my wordiness and taught me not to 'bury the lede.' Punditry has been stimulating and fun for me. My commentaries were often on 'wonky' topics so I am grateful if some people found them of value. Paul G. Thomas is professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Another day, another Trump tariff threat
Opinion We apologize. We apologize deeply for going back to the same ground we worked in our July 11 editorial, when we said, about U.S. President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff levy on Brazil, 'It was Canada a couple of weeks ago, when Trump was railing about the unfairness of a Canadian dairy tariff that he actually agreed to in the last Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade pact and that hasn't been levied, and it's Brazil's turn now. And it will be Canada again.' Because it is Canada. Again. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday night, on his own social media outlet, Trump posted a letter that he was sending to Prime Minister Mark Carney, decrying drugs 'pouring into our Country' from Canada, and complaining about the aforementioned tariff on dairy products. (Which American dairy exporters would face if they reached certain export levels — which they never have reached, and hence, are tariffs they never have paid. But why bother to worry about facts?) The letter starts out 'It is a great honour for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our trading relationship, and the fact that the United States has agreed to continue working with Canada, despite Canada having financially retaliated against the United States…' Trump then goes on to say that he is ordering a 35 per cent tariff on Canadian products to come into effect on Aug. 1, over and above tariffs already announced on steel, aluminum and auto parts, and threatens to increase that rate if Canada retaliates with tariffs of its own. It doesn't explain whether, like his last threat of 10 per cent or 20 per cent, the tariff only applies to products outside the CUSMA trade agreement. 'If Canada works with me to stop the flow of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These tariffs may be modified upwards or downwards, depending on our relationship with your country. You will never be disappointed with the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Far from never being disappointed, we are, in fact, deeply disappointed with the United States of America. Or, at least, with its threatener-in-chief. He does not negotiate in good faith, he changes his demands and the reasons for them at the drop of a hat, and seems to think that disrupting global trade, roiling global financial markets and upending relationships with long-standing friendly nations is somehow 'doing business.' It's not. At this point, we should be looking at cutting our losses in the best way we can. It's time to leave Trump behind: we can make nice in trade talks, do our best to mollify a president who can't even be bothered to use facts to bolster his 'national security' tariffs, but in every possible way, we should be moving to separate ourselves from trade with the United States under Trump. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. We should avoid American products, decline to vacation or travel in the United States, and refuse to absorb American tariffs into the prices Canadian sellers charge American customers. Americans should feel the full cost of their president's unilateral 'negotiations.' As well, we should look to enter trade agreements with nations that negotiate honestly and fairly, and that then live up to the terms and spirit of those negotiations. And move every bit of trade we can to those countries. It took just seven hours from when our earlier editorial was written until Trump proved the editorial's central thesis to be correct: 'There is a simple truth President Trump is making more and more clear with each passing day and each passing edict. If you give in to blackmail, the blackmailer will just come back later for more.' He'll be back, demanding even more. Depend on it.
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, July 12, 2025
Saturday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun BIKE STAND Re 'Female cyclist defends decision not to take podium with transgender winner' (Dan Bilicki, Jul 8): It is truly appalling that this would be allowed in professional women's sports. I am so proud of cyclist Julie Peterson for standing her ground on this terrible woke ideology. When do we draw the line on this apparent nonsense? It truly tells me that anything goes, including this ridiculous notion that men are allowed to compete in women's sports. Perhaps there should be a separate transgender category in sports? Just saying. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Thomas McKenna Toronto (Some sports associations have taken that stand) NO SURPRISES Some things are complete surprises. But here are a few that aren't — this morning the sun rose in the east and then set in the west; U.S. President Donald Trump created and then rescinded additional tariffs; CBC allegedly 'sidelined, retaliated against' and denied 'editorial access and institutional support' to broadcaster and host Travis Dhanraj due to his alleged conservative diversity. Tom C. Newell Niagara Falls (To be continued tomorrow and the next day and…) STRIKEOUT Major League Baseball is to try out its robotic umpire calling strikes and balls. Hmmm??? Perhaps major league all-stars should send up a 'robot hitter.' Yes, my house robot wrote this. Ron St. Louis Welland (Robot in the on-deck circle) NHL Editorial Cartoons World World Relationships
