John Milloy, Author at QP Briefing

Milloy: Maybe it’s time political parties stopped acting like private clubs

Political parties that receive taxpayer subsidies deserve accountability too, argues columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: Clear worldviews missing from Liberal leadership race

It's not enough for Liberal leadership hopefuls to have big policy ideas — they also need to communicate the worldview that gives it context, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: The case for why publicly-funded Catholic schools work

Columnist John Milloy argues that the Catholic system is performing well, and energy should be put into improving rather than abolishing it. ...

Milloy: Should teachers be allowed to strike?

Columnist John Milloy says while he wants his children’s education to proceed uninterrupted, he also wants those working in the education system to feel supported. ...

Milloy: When it comes to investing in higher education, the government shouldn’t shake it off

The government should look at the dividends from investing in colleges and universities, argues columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: How the premier can reform patronage

The premier can instil greater confidence in the appointments process by providing more transparency and detail, columnist John Milloy writes. ...

Milloy: Hey Premier Ford, while you’re trying to fix patronage, why not reform political fundraising as well?

Trying to reform something in politics shouldn't be done in the middle of a storm, columnist John Milloy writes. ...

Milloy: Memo to Premier Ford — if you don’t like the booing, don’t just change your ministers, change your story

The list of Ford's cuts "fails to tell a story about the government’s priorities or overall deficit reduction strategy," writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: When it comes to making friends, politicians need to be careful

Newfound political allies can be exciting, but columnist John Milloy warns that the relationships come with pitfalls. ...

Milloy: Don’t get distracted by beer and logos

Focus on the items that matter most, like cuts to legal aid or education changes, argues columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: Compared to a slash and burn budget, maybe ‘Rae Days’ weren’t that bad after all

Columnist John Milloy writes that a new take on ‘Rae Days’ may be better than the alternative. ...

Milloy: Successful stakeholder management comes with empathy

The approach from Lisa MacLeod on the autism issue provides a textbook example on how not to manage stakeholders, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: Liberals need to re-establish collective identity before choosing a leader

Columnist John Milloy says having conversations about policy and politics will establish an important framework for the leadership race. ...

Milloy: We should care that the Ford government is getting rid of officers of the legislature

Columnist John Milloy says saving money shouldn’t be an easy justification for shutting down accountability measures. ...

Milloy: The real story behind politicians’ Christmas cards

A lot more goes into the cards then one might expect, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: Math changes show smart politics doesn’t always equal good policy

It will be an impossible job to turn open-ended feedback from parents into education policy, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: Ford’s promise to use notwithstanding clause highlights political accountability crisis

Premiers need to be held in check too, columnist John Milloy argues. ...

Milloy: The insanity of the Ford government’s plan for social assistance

Reforming social assistance reminds columnist John Milloy of a quote misattributed to Einstein about “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” ...

Milloy: Cancelling updated sex ed may be more popular than many think

Supporters of the 2015 sex-ed curriculum don't speak to its opponents in a way that addresses their core concerns, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: In ending free coffee for public servants, what message is Doug Ford sending?

Columnist John Milloy observes that symbolic actions often backfire. And how is the public service supposed to feel when a cup of coffee and a veggie wrap during a meeting are viewed as an example of “waste?” ...

Milloy: Ontario is going to have a polarized election, should we care?

It's difficult to govern after you've labelled the other side the enemy, columnist John Milloy writes. ...

Milloy: Beware of politicians talking of government waste (I should know, I was one)

Columnist John Milloy says there are really only three options for funding new spending: Raise taxes, make real cuts to existing programs and services or run deficits. ...

Milloy: Don’t expect a lengthy pre-writ legislative session

Columnist John Milloy has advice for Queen's Park watchers as the new legislative session begins: don't get too comfortable. ...

Milloy: Ontarians ought to be concerned about recent PC party infighting

Columnist John Milloy, in noting the PCs' failed attempt to use the courts to muzzle opposition from within, argues there are better ways to deal with disgruntled members and that a lawsuit should be used only as a last ...

Milloy: Should the Sudbury court decision mark a tipping point in Ontario politics?

Columnist John Milloy hopes the time has come for political parties to stop involving the police and courts when they throw around spaghetti to see what sticks. ...

Milloy: Tackling income inequality – how Ontario Liberals got it right and federal Liberals got it wrong

In politics, you're always in trouble when your opponent's story starts to resemble a Hallmark movie plot, columnist John Milloy observes. ...

Milloy: Time for a grown-up conversation on candidate nominations (without involving the police)

Columnist John Milloy says a healthy conversation about nominations might result in some cathartic yelling. ...

Milloy: Believe it or not, now might be the best time to talk about MPP’s pay

When it comes to politics, you often get what you pay for, writes columnist John Milloy. ...

Milloy: An MPP’s decision to retire deserves some respect

Columnist John Milloy says it's easy, but not always accurate, to attribute a politician's retirement to a lack of faith in their party. ...

Milloy: What Queen’s Park can teach British Columbia about minority governments

In a minority situation, columnist John Milloy says the opposition is usually focused on one thing: destabilizing the government. ...

Milloy: Hey, Jagmeet, are you sure you really want to try this?

Columnist John Milloy wonders if Jagmeet Singh will soon miss simpler times at Queen's Park. ...

Milloy: Basic income pilot will require a big rethink by all Ontarians

Apropos of the new basic income pilot project, columnist John Milloy says Ontarians need to start thinking of poverty in terms of a person's dignity. ...

Milloy: Ontario must amend its assisted-dying legislation to recognize conscience rights

Columnist John Milloy notes Alberta and other provinces have offered outs for physicians who don't want to participate in assisted dying. ...

Milloy: On hydro rates, opposition leaders can learn from electoral reform failure

Columnist John Milloy cautions the NDP and Tories in making campaign promises they may not be able to keep on hydro rates. ...

Milloy: Note to Patrick Brown: Religion and politics can mix

Columnist John Milloy believes faith plays a healthy role at Queen's Park. ...

Milloy: Believe it or not, the auditor general is not perfect

Former cabinet minister John Milloy recalls the standard response to the auditor general's report when he was at Queen's Park: Totally agree with the AG (even if you didn’t). ...

Milloy: Police and politics can be a dangerous mix

Columnist John Milloy goes to bat for all the behind-the-scenes staffers who get caught up in political scandal-making. ...

Milloy: Let’s stop the insanity and end political fundraising altogether

Columnist and former cabinet minister John Milloy say it's time to "end political fundraising in Ontario and have the entire system operate through a system of public subsidies." ...

Milloy: Patrick Brown’s sex-ed letter more comedy than conspiracy

Columnist John Milloy has a simple explanation for Patrick Brown's sex-ed quandary: stuff happens. ...

Author Archives: John Milloy