Martin Regg Cohn | Authors

Martin Regg Cohn

Martin Regg Cohn writes the Ontario politics column for the Toronto Star. A foreign correspondent for 11 years, he was chief of the Middle East and Asia bureaus, then Foreign Editor, and a world affairs columnist. He has reported from more than 40 countries, from Afghanistan to Yemen, and been nominated five times for the National Newspaper Award. He previously covered national politics from Ottawa. His political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Reach him at 416-325-3850.

Elections are about more than the economy, stupid: Cohn

Thu Oct 22 2015

Six lessons from the last federal election that will change the way future campaigns are fought.
Justin Trudeau owes Kathleen Wynne after election win: Cohn

Mon Oct 19 2015

In the federal campaign, Ontario’s premier was an early adopter. And an enthusiastic endorser.
Canadians need democracy as much as Syrians do: Cohn

Sat Oct 17 2015

If you want regime change in the Middle East, it takes a village. In Canada, it takes a voter.

Liberals trying to have it both ways on IVF funding: Cohn

Thu Oct 15 2015

IVF funding has gestated through three election cycles, with the Liberals perennially zigzagging over zygotes.comments
Ontario’s election lessons for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives: Cohn

Tue Oct 13 2015

Politicians will do everything in their power to hang on to it in hung parliaments.comments
Stephen Harper’s hypocrisy and hysteria on marijuana: Cohn

Thu Oct 08 2015

Like liberalizing beer sales in Ontario, legalizing marijuana remains the last social taboo for politicians.comments
A Tory blend of burqa-bashing and sex-education protests: Cohn

Sun Oct 04 2015

Conveniently for Conservatives, a homophobia-Islamophobia doubleheader is creating double jeopardy for their rivals. comments
Home care could be political poison for Liberals: Cohn

Thu Oct 01 2015

The political appeal of home care is irresistible. But when the system breaks down, the human costs are high.comments
How Hydro One’s privatization reversed our political polarity: Cohn

Tue Sep 29 2015

Scandalously high salaries symbolize everything that is wrong with privatizing what should be a public service.comments
How national security trumped retirement security: Cohn

Sat Sep 26 2015

Federal campaign could be last chance for NDP and Liberal leaders to forge national consensus on CPP reform.comments
How Ontario put water in its wine for beer sales: Cohn

Wed Sep 23 2015

It will take years for the glacial liberalization of beer to reach a critical mass — and it’s already behind schedule.comments
Why the federal election seems so provincial: Cohn

Tue Sep 22 2015

An Ontario voter’s guide to game-playing by federal politicians leading up to the Oct. 19 election.comments
Don’t let election debates become boutique debates: Cohn

Sat Sep 19 2015

Politicians must face voters — the entire electorate, not mere slivers — in national TV debates, not sideshows.comments
How backroom politics became police business: Cohn

Thu Sep 17 2015

The OPP’s sense of timing has always been odd. We have seen this law-and-disorder movie before.comments
How Patrick Brown can reposition Ontario PCs: Cohn

Mon Sep 14 2015

Let’s see how far Patrick Brown will go to distance himself from the social conservatives who helped crown him leader.comments
Some hard truths no one wants to hear on refugees: Cohn

Sat Sep 12 2015

We need to open our hearts to the latest wave of Syrian refugees, but we also need to open our minds to what lies ahead.comments
Why Pan Am Games don’t qualify us for Olympics: Cohn

Wed Sep 09 2015

Here are the top three reasons — gold, silver and bronze — to drop out of the Olympics race. Because if we win, we lose.comments
Why heading the ball in soccer is so wrongheaded: Cohn

Wed Sep 02 2015

Soccer still relies on outdated rules codified 150 years ago, before the risks of concussions were recognized.comments
Stephen Harper’s anti-pension obsession hits Ontarians: Cohn

Fri Jul 17 2015

Stephen Harper’s decision to stab Ontario in the back — and middle-class Ontarians in the front — over the province’s efforts to create a public pension sets a new low.comments
Alberta tries a new tone on oilsands development: Cohn

Thu Jul 16 2015

There’s a new oil baron in town. Alberta’s Rachel Notley is redrawing the political map when it comes to pipelines.comments