CTV News Blog entries from Don Martin

Retired Gen. Rick Hillier, right, chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force and Ontario Premier Doug Ford give an update regarding the Ontario COVID-19 vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Don Martin: Hillier's can't-fail vaccine mission finally armed for battle

After an awkward and apologetic start, Rick Hillier confidently leading Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Despite public health guidelines strongly discouraging international travel amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, several Canadian politicians were caught jet-setting across the world over the holidays. (CTV News)

Don Martin: No more sunny ways as political travellers bring back perfect storm of controversy

A perfect storm is battering the brand of politicians across party lines and provincial boundaries, worsened by having leaders caught up in the turbulence, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Don Martin: Elections, vaccinations and other happier political predictions for 2021

In a new political column on CTVNews.ca, Don Martin dusts off the crystal ball to decipher what future shocks will rattle the political landscape in 2021.

Don Martin: The faces of the future in Canadian politics

In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin picks his top watch-worthy politicians, a handful of names who, based on solid or inspiring performances, will likely become powerhouses of their realm in the years ahead.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks around the room during a news conference Friday October 23, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Don Martin: Why Justin Trudeau is my (reluctant) pick for politician of the year

If you rule out a microscopic organism, specifically that spiked ball of viral misery called COVID-19, picking the top Canadian newsmaker in 2020 is a helluva tough call. Having said that, the obvious Canadian politician of the year is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

A nurse pulls a ventilator into an exam room where a patient with COVID-19 went into cardiac arrest Monday, April 20, 2020, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, N.Y. The emergency room team successfully revived the patient. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Don Martin: Like the lockdown? Sleep better on a ventilator? Then refuse the vaccine.

Widespread vaccination is the fastest and surest route to normal life returning for all of us. But there's another compelling reason why it's a no-brainer – the most likely unvaccinated victim is you, writes Don Martin.

Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland gets a fist bump from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after delivering the 2020 fiscal update in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Don Martin: Fiscal update shows a revamp, like spring and an election, is coming

Amid the dizzying lineup of 12-digit figures financing the government’s pandemic response were the monetary makings for whatever the prime minister has in mind to revamp Canadian society once the pandemic passes, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney are seen in this composite image.

Don Martin: It's Ford versus Kenney in a race for the best pandemic playbook

Criticism towards Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and praise for Ontario Premier Doug Ford on their handling of the pandemic all comes down to optics, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

A person wears a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they walk past the emergency department of the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver Wednesday, November 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Don Martin: The second lockdown cometh, but Canadians may resist house arrest

Government responses to COVID-19 have become a disjointed game of catch-up and confusion, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Don Martin: For the Canadian mouse, relief in having a next-door American elephant who won't rampage without a reason

P.R.E.S.I.D.E.N.T. B.I.D.E.N: That’s how you spell relief to most Canadians as adult supervision seems set to return to the White House, Don Martin writes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during a news conference Friday October 23, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Don Martin: Quick recoveries in the provinces after election fever became a surprise symptom of COVID-19

Of all the COVID-19 symptoms, the most unexpected is election fever. A third clinical trial ended Monday night, an election suggesting the best treatment for party leaders in these uncertain times is a snap inoculation by their voters, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Empty seats are seen during a flight from Vancouver to Calgary, Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Airlines in Canada and around the world are suffering financially due to the lack of travel and travel bans due to COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Don Martin: Airlines can't defy the gravity of this pandemic without a government lift

A source in Transport Canada says speculation about incoming federal relief for airlines is mostly accurate. But the optics are tricky, with higher priorities on the government’s radar than bailing out companies which stacked and packed passengers profitably for many years, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Don Martin: Surprise! Trudeau, even more than Harper, is the master of parliamentary manipulation

The prime minister made an attempt to force an election that shows he's a master of parliamentary manipulation, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford holds a press conference with his medical team regarding new restrictions at Queen's Park during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, October 2, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Don Martin: Resistance grows against lockdowns driven without data

Without the data to show how, where and why infections spots are going hot, hitting hospitality, sports and fitness sectors with widespread clampdowns are a lazy, ineffective and irresponsible response, Don Martin writes in his weekly column for CTVNews.ca.

Paramedics administer nasal swabs at a drive through, pop-up COVID-19 test centre outside the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, in Ottawa, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Don Martin: Response to second COVID-19 wave puts the 'mess' into messaging

It’s scary enough out there without misinformation, conflicting advice, changing directions and policy disagreements muddying the waters in the returning wave of COVID-19, Don Martin writes in his weekly column for CTVNews.ca.

An American and Canadian flag are seen in this undated file photo. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Don Martin: Building back better on the snoozy side of the border

There’s a cure for Americans reeling from that brass-knuckled presidential slugfest, despairing over U.S. politics as a giant black hole from which intellectual light cannot escape: for comic relief, look north, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads back to his seat before the delivery of the Speech from the Throne at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Don Martin: The prime minister talks turkey in a political address to the nation

The prime minister’s rare televised address was little more than an echo of the throne speech and an overtly-partisan listing of government actions already taken, Don Martin writes in his latest column for CTVNews.ca.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland hold a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, July 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Don Martin: Is Justin Trudeau already checking out?

Watching the deputy prime minister bask in the glow of this week’s American surrender on aluminum tariffs, presumably retreating under threat of Canadian retaliation, raises an interesting question, writes Don Martin in his weekly column for CTVNews.ca. Has Justin Trudeau already checked out?

Don Martin joined his granddaughter Ali's walk to school with her parents and older brothers today to launch her education on a first-day start unlike any other. (Don Martin)

Don Martin: Bubbles collide in the classroom as the most daring educational experiment of our time begins

The most daring educational experiment of our time has begun as Canada sends its children into a giant pandemic petri dish to see what happens when all those bubbles collide in the classroom, writes Don Martin in his weekly column for CTVNews.ca.

Sir John A. Macdonald’s final resting place in Kingston, Ontario. (Don Martin)

Don Martin: Decapitating Macdonald's statue a wrong-headed take on history

To tear down statues of key figures from our history is a protest too far, writes Don Martin in his weekly column for CTVNews.ca.

CTV News Blog entries from Don Martin

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