SALLY BARNES

I’ve been fascinated and excited by elections since I was a teenager many decades ago. I’ve covered elections as a journalist, served as gopher and campaign manager in elections at all levels, and even ran as a provincial candidate once. I have experienced the joy of victory and the pain of defeat, made lifelong friendships in the political trenches and have always been proud to be part of the democratic process. I have tremendous respect for good people in public life and t

As condolences poured in this week over news of the death of former Ontario Premier Bill Davis, I found comfort in thinking about the good times and the privilege I had to work with him, his family and a lot of other wonderful people. By now, the public has been well reminded about his many accomplishments as statesman and setting the gold standard for integrity, honesty, and honouring the responsibility of public office. I’d like to share some personal thoughts and experienc

Far be it from me to second guess the highly paid experts and grey beard campaign veterans around you, but I think you could be making a big mistake. This one would surpass that real doozie when you chose a governor general who was a star in outer space but a disaster down here among mere mortals. Calling a federal election in the middle of a pandemic, with polls showing most Canadians don’t want or need it, is in a class all by itself. What we so desperately need in Canada r