It seems like every press conference is similar to a hot mic stream of consciousness. In a presser on the American-Iranian ceasefire, Trump bragged that he personally dropped all the bombs that led to an Iranian capitulation, claiming credit for ‘kicking Iran’s ass.’

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on June 22, 2026.

OTTAWA—The hot mics in France last week were not that hot.

What they showed was our prime minister making best use of his time to convince United States President Donald Trump to sign onto the trilateral trade agreement set to expire July 1.

A real hot mic usually involves scandal. Someone says something that puts someone else in a bad light, and heads roll.

Perhaps one of the most famous was a hot mic incident at a NATO meeting in Prague in 2002, where the prime minister’s communications director Françoise Ducros was overheard calling then-U.S. president George W. Bush “a moron.”

Journalist Bob Fife heard the remark and immediately reported it. All hell broke loose. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien refused to fire Ducros, and simply repeated that he was good friends with the president and did not think he was a moron.

But the pressure was too great and Ducros eventually offered her resignation, saying it was impossible for her to do her job because of the controversy.

Another “hot mic” story wasn’t exactly a hot mic. It was a hot seat on an Air Canada flight between Ottawa and New Brunswick in 1998. Then solicitor-general Andy Scott was chatting with his seatmate about the circumstances surrounding the use of police pepper spray on protesters at a meeting of the leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Canada hosted the 1997 meeting, and Chrétien defended the use of pepper spray with the famous comment, “For me, I put it (pepper) on my plate.”

A public inquiry was held the following year into the whole affair, but during the infamous plane ride, the solicitor-general told his seat-mate that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would take the fall for the spray.

Little did Scott know that New Democratic Party MP Dick Proctor, a former sports reporter, was sitting right near him, and transcribing the whole conversation.

When the contents were released in the House of Commons, Scott was forced to resign from his post. After his resignation, whenever I was in conversation with someone in a public place, and voices got louder, I would simply make a plea for silence by saying ‘A.S.’ That immediately reduced the volume on any discussion.

The third, relatively famous hot mike conversation was again, not on a mic.

Instead, a former Conservative minister in the government of Stephen Harper accidently left a tape recorder in the office of a radio station which ended up hitting the national news. As natural resources minister, Lisa Raitt was responsible for the production of nuclear isotopes at the government lab in Chalk River, Ont. At the time, there were radioactive leaks at the lab, for which Raitt believed she had a solution.

In the tape, she claimed it was a good issue because “it’s sexy … radioactive leaks. Cancer,” and she said she would score political credit for fixing it.

When the recording was exposed, a tearful Raitt offered her resignation, but it was turned down by the prime minister. Instead, she was demoted in the next cabinet shuffle.

A more recent Canadian hot mic incident was experienced by then-prime minister Justin Trudeau during a NATO anniversary celebration at Buckingham Palace.

In a conversation with several leaders, including Britain’s Boris Johnson, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and Princess Anne, Trudeau generated a chuckle when he commented on why Trump was late to the celebration, saying, “He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top. … You just watched his team’s jaws drop to the floor.”

Trump countered with his own hot mic experience. After publicly calling Trudeau “two-faced,” he went on to privately say this own attack on Trudeau was funny.

These days, Trump doesn’t need a hot mic. It seems like every press conference is similar to a hot mic stream of consciousness. In a presser on the American-Iranian ceasefire, Trump bragged that he personally dropped all the bombs that led to an Iranian capitulation, claiming credit for “kicking Iran’s ass.”

Trump has repeatedly promised that the United States would never sign an agreement to send money to rebuild Iran, but the agreement calls for a $300-billion reparation package for reconstruction.

Trump claims nothing will come from the American public purse, but he said the same thing about the construction of the White House ballroom.

The Washington Post reported last week that approximately half of the $600-million in contractors’ invoices would be paid by the public. Private donors would cover the balance.

Trump doesn’t need a hot mic to expose his own contradictions.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

U.S. President Donald Trump complains that allies did not join America in the fight, but neglects to mention that he launched the war without involving any other country except Israel.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on April 13, 2026.

OTTAWA—Easter is supposed to be the holiest day on the Christian calendar.

It is the day when the Son of God rises from the dead in an effort to free all men from sin, and open the doors to the gates of Heaven.

United States President Donald Trump secured his presidential victory by enlisting religious leaders and their congregations with his promise to stack their Supreme Court with anti-abortion judges, and to ensure that his political team would promote Christian principles.

So it was a little hard to swallow Trump’s Easter Sunday, profanity-laced message of “Praise be to Allah,” and a vow to eradicate the Iranian civilization.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell—JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

The post on his social media outlet prompted a swift reaction from some unusual corners.

Tucker Carlson, a conservative pundit and Trump supporter, called the post “vile on every level.” In a Carlson podcast, he retorted “How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to the country? Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning.”

Carlson also accused Trump of mocking the religion of Islam, stating, “no decent person mocks other peoples’ religion. You may have a problem with the theology …but to mock another person’s faith is to mock the idea of faith itself.”

Carlson has joined a growing group of former Trump supporters who are unhappy with the president’s decision to launch military attacks across the Middle East.

Many MAGA supporters were attracted by Trump’s claim that the U.S. did not have to be involved in world conflict. In fact, he promised he would focus on home-grown issues like the economy.

Instead, gas prices have been rising globally throughout the war that Trump started, and the American economy is suffering from tariff-based supply-chain problems and increasing energy costs.

His personal popularity is now lower than at any point in the administration of then-president Joe Biden.

And with the November mid-term elections looming, the president is obviously feeling the heat.

His Easter ‘f**k’ tweet was one of 70 that he apparently posted that day. You wonder who can actually stop him? It appears that he won’t follow the advice of anyone he doesn’t agree with.

Just last week, the U.S. Army chief of staff leading the war effort mysteriously retired.

The New York Times subsequently reported that the reason for Gen. Randy George’s departure was that he refused a request from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to delete two women and two black officers from a promotion list.

Hegseth fired two other officers on the same day, and the retirement notice posted by remaining military personnel was clearly aimed at backing their military leadership and not their political masters.

“Since 1988, General George and his family have consistently answered the nation’s call with honour and dedication. We are profoundly thankful to General George and his wife, Patty, for their many years of sacrifice and devotion to those who serve. As they graduate from this distinguished chapter of service and look toward the future, we wish them both continued happiness and success in all that lies ahead.”

That statement was widely interpreted as a major show of support for the ousted general, and a slap in the face to Hegseth and his political boss.

Meanwhile, the date and time of the hellfire that was supposed to be visited on Iran keeps changing.

While Trump was announcing a ceasefire, Iran was striking Kuwait and Israel was attacking Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.

Oil prices plunged and stock markets rose upon word of the ceasefire, but as details fail to be confirmed, global uncertainty continues.

Trump’s press secretary confirmed the possibility that the U.S. could leave NATO. When referring to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, “They were tested. And they failed,” was Karoline Leavitt’s direct quote from the president.

Trump continues to complain that allies did not join America in the fight, but neglects to mention that he launched the war without involving any other country except Israel.

He also keeps saying that the U.S. has achieved the regime change it was seeking.

On the Iranian side, there is no evidence of such. Some believe the Iranian position has actually been strengthened as a result of Trump’s war.

The Strait of Hormuz now appears to be within their military and financial control, and that is a definite gain.

Trump has to craft a winning storyline to support his exit. The damage inflicted by the war is simply too harmful to Republicans. The November reckoning awaits.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Most Canadians believe that Trump cannot be trusted on the trade file. That same fear will heat up as the war escalates. No one seems to know what the end game is. If regime change involves simply swapping out the murderous Ayatollah for his son, Canadian appetite for this war effort will quickly fade.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on March 9, 2026.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing his greatest challenge yet.

He must thread the needle of support for an American-Israeli attack on Iran that ignored international law.

While Spain has made it very clear that it will have nothing to do with the attacks on Iran, Canada was one of the first countries to come out in support of the unilateral American-Israeli action.

Canada’s outright support was not shared by some allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron said France “cannot approve” of the strikes because they were carried out “outside the world order.”

Macron also added that the death of Ayatollah Ali Khomeini would not be mourned because “history never weeps for the executioners of their own people.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his Parliament that the United Kingdom “does not believe in regime change from the sky.” He also added that “President Trump does not agree with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes.”

For his part, American President Donald Trump responded to Starmer saying the prime minister “is no Winston Churchill.”

His response to Spain’s refusal to allow Americans to use the country’s military bases was swift. After Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero said Spaniards “will not be vassals” to another country, Trump threatened to impose complete sanctions on all trade.

Spain appears to be the only European country refusing to let Americans use its military bases. Britain initially refused, but reversed itself when Iranian attacks spread to areas that Starmer said involved British self-defence.

Britain, Germany, and France issued a joint statement claiming that the Iranian attacks all over the Middle East were a disproportionate response, and, therefore, they would work with the United States and other allies in their own defence in the relevant areas.

So the Europeans have now aligned their perspective with that of Canada, but in the meantime, it appears as though the American people are divided on the nature and conclusion of the attacks on Iran.

Congress is upset that the military actions were undertaken without any congressional input, and some polls show the majority of Americans do not support the attacks.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, it was reported last week that only one in four Americans approve of the action. Some 27 per cent said they favoured the attacks, while 43 per cent were opposed. A further 29 per cent were unsure, even though 90 per cent of the respondents had learned of the attacks.

Approval ratings seem to be politically aligned, with 78 per cent of Democrats opposing the attacks, and 11 per cent approving while 76 per cent of Republicans approve with 10 per cent disapproving.

In Canada, Carney’s initial statement of support for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to cause some consternation amongst colleagues whose own comments on the subject appeared more nuanced.

But his later clarification appeared to line him up well with other international players.

Carney told an Australian audience that the government’s approval of the attacks was not a blank cheque. He also said it reinforced his view that a new world order means traditional multilateral decision-making is not necessarily an option in this political climate.

Repeating some of the messaging delivered in Davos, Switzerland, Carney once again repeated that “we are actively taking on the world as it is, not passively waiting for the world we wish it to be. But we also take this position with some regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order.”

Speaking at the Lowy Institute, Carney also stated that “geostrategically, hegemons are increasingly acting without constraint or respect for international norms while others bear the consequences.”

Carney first refused to weigh in the legality of the American-Israeli intervention, claiming that was a judgment for others to make. He subsequently clarified his comments, saying the attack appears to be a prima facie case of breaking international law.

While threading that needle, Carney managed to avoid the ire of Trump, who had harsh words and actions for all countries who did not support the attacks.

Most Canadians believe that Trump cannot be trusted on the trade file, as he changes his position almost daily. That same fear will heat up as the war escalates and other parts of the Arab Gulf are under siege. No one seems to know what the end game is. If regime change involves simply swapping out the murderous Ayatollah for his son, Canadian appetite for this war effort will quickly fade.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Iran’s decision to rain missiles upon Tel Aviv last week will unleash a response that means trouble for the whole world. 

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on October 7, 2024.

OTTAWA—We are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Hamas slaughter of innocent Israelis this week.

On Oct. 7 of last year, Hamas attacked young people attending a music festival and old people quietly living in their homes with a fury that seems impossible to understand.

But those of us who don’t understand why have only to take a page from the book of Iran’s supreme leader.

He can tell women what to do and what to wear, and what the penalties are for not following his advice.

If you don’t have your head covered in the right way, you can be subjected to physical attacks and imprisonment. In some cases, those attacks have led to death.

In 2022, Mahsa Amini was killed while in custody after being arrested for not properly wearing her head covering.

Penalties can also be levied for sexual relations outside of marriage, including stoning someone to death.

Likewise, if someone is not heterosexual, sexual relations with a same-sex partner is also punishable by death.

Death as punishment for homosexual relations is unique to Iran in the world, although Afghanistan is currently reviewing the application of a similar policy.

There is a reason that hundreds of ex-patriot Iranians around the world were celebrating the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Iran is the chief patron of Hezbollah, and has supported Nasrallah’s leadership for 32 years.

Ex-pats blame Nasrallah and the Iranian government for the oppression that has dampened the spirit of Iranian people for years.

A United Nations fact-finding mission concluded that the Iranian government was responsible for Amini’s death, and accused Iran of committing “crimes against humanity” as the result of a months-long security crackdown that killed more than 500 people, and detained more than 20,000.

The UN report said that Iranian security forces regularly used submachine guns and assault rifles against peaceful demonstrators, and noted a pattern of protesters being “branded” by shooting them in the eye, leading to permanent damage.

Iran’s Supreme Commander Ayatollah Ali Khamenei doesn’t see any problem with his country’s internal situation, although thousands of Iranians may think otherwise.

He has been in power since 1979, the year which marked the end of “westernizing” Iran with the departure of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

His government’s view of the Middle East is that all problems would be solved if only Israel would disappear. He blames all challenges there on the Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon.

Thousands of Canadian supporters of Palestine have been lobbying non-stop for an end to the war in Gaza in an effort to save thousands of lives, and end the displacement of thousands more.

There are now more than one million Lebanese who are on the move to get away from the fighting, and to find safety for their families.

Most protesters would not want to strengthen Iran’s hand, but they have been silent on surrogates in the region like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Hamas carried out an unprecedented civilian slaughter on Oct. 7, 2023.

Silence doubles as support for Hamas, and one result of the Iranian attack on Israel is that Iran is no longer silently fuelling Israel’s enemies.

Instead, it is leading the charge with its stated intent to eliminate Israel’s existence.

Israel is receiving international support for the right to defend itself against the Iranian incursion.

Its ground invasion of Lebanon has already led to military casualties.

But the incursion into Gaza and the wanton deaths of thousands of civilians have raised the global ire of millions.

To date, most of the pressure has been focused on Israelis to withdraw from Gaza as the only way to secure the release of the hostages who have now been held for a full year.

But now the pressure point will be on Iran. And those in the Arab world who do not support Iran will be called to engage in the fight.

Iran’s decision to rain missiles upon Tel Aviv last week will unleash a response that means trouble for the whole world.

Already one of the outcomes is a rapid hike in the price of oil, which puts the fragile economic recovery under threat.

The hike may help producers, but will put further stress on Canadian consumers.

Meanwhile, the world is waiting with bated breath as we teeter on the edge of a world war.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.

Air crashes are so rare that few families have undergone the heartbreak of experiencing the loss of their dear ones to an aeronautical incident.

By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on January 13, 2020.

OTTAWA—It will likely be months before we know the true story behind the crash of Ukraine flight 752. Theories abound but given the suspension of diplomatic relations between Iran and Canada, grieving families will be dependent on third-party information as to the nature of the catastrophe. Last Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was evidence indicating the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile, adding that it might have been an unintentional act.

Families wiped out, newlyweds gone, communities devastated. The long-term effects of this disaster will be felt by many on a very personal level.

Air crashes are so rare that few families have undergone the heartbreak of experiencing the loss of their dear ones to an aeronautical incident.

I happen to have been in one of those families.

My grandmother and her sister were killed back in 1957 in a crash in Issoudun, Que., where 74 Canadians lost their lives. Sixty-two years later, it is still ranking as the seventh-worst plane crash on Canadian soil.

Three other modern-day disasters had similar tragic trajectories. Two hundred twenty-nine people died in a Swissair crash off Nova Scotia. Air India lost 329 people including an unprecedented 268 Canadians in a crash in Ireland and in 1985, an American military charter crash in Gander, Newfoundland killed 256 people.

In the case of Swissair, the accident was ultimately attributed to a mechanical misfire, faulty wires causing the plane’s insulation to ignite.

The Air India crash was the single most egregious aviation terrorist act until the World Trade Centre attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Separatist Sikhs planted a bomb on the plane. Only one man, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was ever convicted in the bombing and he was released from prison four years ago.

The judicial enquiries that resulted from the attack ultimately cost more than $130-million and pointed the finger at various police forces for botching the potential for other convictions.

In the Gander case, the crash was attributed to icy wings, but a minority report on the aeronautical investigation attributed the catastrophe to a bomb, leaving grieving families in limbo as to the burning question, “Why?”

In my grandmother’s case, there was never any real investigation by anyone. Times were different then so when her Maritime Central Airways flight went down, there were no major investigations.

The crash was attributed to bad weather, as the plane flew into a cloud during a storm while en route from London, England to Toronto.

It was rumoured that the plane ran out of gas, and that the pilot was undergoing psychiatric treatment for depression which had not been reported to his company.

The family never got closure, and even the insurance policy my grandmother purchased for the trip was not honoured, because it covered a flight time that had been exceeded when the plane left London several hours behind schedule.

More than 20 members of our family had gathered to greet my grandmother and her sister on their return from a trip to their hometown in Surrey.

We had a picnic planned to celebrate the moment. Saturday was gramma time and we had missed her so much during her two months away. Alice Guthro had come to Canada as a war bride in 1918 and this two-month trip had been her first visit home in 49 years. She was travelling with her sister and best friend.

To this day, I remember the howl of collective grief when we were all called into a room at the Toronto airport and it was announced coldly, that her flight had gone down and there were no survivors. I was only five and did not really understand why everyone was crying, so my older sister put her arm around me and said, “Gramma’s dead.”

There are dozens of families putting their arms around loved ones today and trying to make sense out of this senseless tragedy.

Answers won’t come immediately. In our case, they never came. Recognition may come. The crash never even warranted a monument of recognition until as minister, I ordered a plaque erected in the Issoudun church graveyard decades later.

At the time, my department warned me that I could be accused of conflict of interest for erecting a plaque commemorating a tragedy involving my own family. I agreed to take the risk. For years, we had gone to visit my grandmother’s gravesite in an overgrown forest where a local farmer had erected a simple wooden cross.

At the ceremony unveiling the plaque, dozens of relatives from across the country finally got the closure they deserved.

Without answers, the terrible loss suffered by so many families last week will never heal.

Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.