Paul Wells
Encyclopedia
Paul Wells is a Canadian
journalist and pundit, currently working as a columnist
for Maclean's. His column previously appeared in the back page slot famously occupied for many years by Allan Fotheringham
, but is now kept at the front of the magazine with other columns.
and attended Sarnia Northern where he played trumpet in the school's jazz band and captained a winning Reach for the Top team. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario
in 1989 with a BA in political science
. While at UWO, Wells spent a lot of his time working on The Gazette, the undergraduate student newspaper, where he was news editor. After graduation, he landed an internship at the Montreal Gazette
. Midway through his tenure there, Wells took a year off and moved to France
to study politics
and improve his French
, hoping that this would help him move to the political beat.
In 1994 the Gazette assigned Wells to Ottawa
as a political columnist. His work for the Gazette and his occasional pieces in Saturday Night
magazine during this period brought him to the attention of editors and political writers, and in 1998 Wells moved to the new National Post
daily newspaper as a political columnist. Wells became frustrated at the Post after its sale to the Asper family and the severe downsizing that followed, and in 2003 he moved to Maclean's. Wells supplements his weekly column with his blog
, Inkless Wells hosted on the Maclean's website
.
Wells' first book, Right Side Up: The Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism, debuted in October 2006 and quickly appeared on multiple Canadian best seller lists.
in Canada
and has devoted several columns to this issue. He argues that Canada could gain from the current decline in international graduate student applications to the United States
, but is not doing enough to encourage potential graduates to apply to Canadian universities. Wells' solution to improve Canadian education is to increase tuition fees. While Wells does state that there should be increased public funding of higher education, he has also consistently urged lower taxes, making it unclear where the extra public money would come from.
Wells promotes the politics of substance over personality. He was particularly critical of former Prime Minister
Paul Martin
, and regularly railed at unsubstantial announcements coming from the Prime Minister's Office. While most of his attention (and criticism and sarcasm) had been focused on the formerly governing Liberals, Wells also has criticized Stephen Harper
's Conservative party, notably for their positions on same sex marriage. Wells supports the Clarity Act
and was an early proponent of the act's author, Stéphane Dion
who went on to be elected Liberal Party leader.
Wells is a fan of jazz
music, a topic he frequently writes about in his blog.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist and pundit, currently working as a columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for Maclean's. His column previously appeared in the back page slot famously occupied for many years by Allan Fotheringham
Allan Fotheringham
Allan Fotheringham is a Canadian newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".-Life:Fotheringham attended Chilliwack Secondary School, where he was...
, but is now kept at the front of the magazine with other columns.
Background
Wells was born in Sarnia, OntarioSarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
and attended Sarnia Northern where he played trumpet in the school's jazz band and captained a winning Reach for the Top team. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in 1989 with a BA in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. While at UWO, Wells spent a lot of his time working on The Gazette, the undergraduate student newspaper, where he was news editor. After graduation, he landed an internship at the Montreal Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
. Midway through his tenure there, Wells took a year off and moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to study politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and improve his French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, hoping that this would help him move to the political beat.
In 1994 the Gazette assigned Wells to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
as a political columnist. His work for the Gazette and his occasional pieces in Saturday Night
Saturday Night (magazine)
Saturday Night was a Canadian general interest magazine. It was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1887.The publication was first established as a weekly broadsheet newspaper about public affairs and the arts, which was later expanded into a general interest magazine. The editor, Edmund E. Sheppard,...
magazine during this period brought him to the attention of editors and political writers, and in 1998 Wells moved to the new National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
daily newspaper as a political columnist. Wells became frustrated at the Post after its sale to the Asper family and the severe downsizing that followed, and in 2003 he moved to Maclean's. Wells supplements his weekly column with his blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, Inkless Wells hosted on the Maclean's website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
Wells' first book, Right Side Up: The Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism, debuted in October 2006 and quickly appeared on multiple Canadian best seller lists.
Interests
Wells is concerned with the state of higher educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and has devoted several columns to this issue. He argues that Canada could gain from the current decline in international graduate student applications to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but is not doing enough to encourage potential graduates to apply to Canadian universities. Wells' solution to improve Canadian education is to increase tuition fees. While Wells does state that there should be increased public funding of higher education, he has also consistently urged lower taxes, making it unclear where the extra public money would come from.
Wells promotes the politics of substance over personality. He was particularly critical of former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, and regularly railed at unsubstantial announcements coming from the Prime Minister's Office. While most of his attention (and criticism and sarcasm) had been focused on the formerly governing Liberals, Wells also has criticized Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
's Conservative party, notably for their positions on same sex marriage. Wells supports the Clarity Act
Clarity Act
The Clarity Act is legislation passed by the Parliament of Canada that established the conditions under which the Government of Canada would enter into negotiations that might lead to secession following such a vote by one of the provinces. The Clarity Bill was tabled for first reading in the...
and was an early proponent of the act's author, Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 2006 to 2008...
who went on to be elected Liberal Party leader.
Wells is a fan of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music, a topic he frequently writes about in his blog.
External links
Related video
- Appeared on CBC News: The HourCBC News: The HourGeorge Stroumboulopoulos Tonight is a Canadian television talk show broadcast on CBC Television and hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos. Originally known as The Hour from 2005 to 2010, it first aired on January 17, 2005. The program is currently initially broadcast on CBC Television at 11:05 p.m....
, where he answered the host'sGeorge StroumboulopoulosGeorge Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos is a Canadian television and radio personality, best known as the host of CBC Television's George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and being a VJ for Canadian music television channel MuchMusic...
"five election questions", 28 November 2005.