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Wednesday December 10, 2003

December 10, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

December 10, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 10, 2003

Tory stalwart Joe Clark partyless

The new Conservative Party of Canada lost three MPs yesterday, hours after a proud announcement that it had officially registered for business and begun operations.

Former Tory leader Joe Clark and fellow MPs Andre Bachand of Quebec and John Herron of New Brunswick said they couldn’t bring themselves to participate in the new organization, formed through a merger with the Canadian Alliance.

“This is not my party,” Clark said as he arrived for what he called his last Tory caucus meeting. “This is something entirely new. I will not be part of this new party.”

Herron, like Clark, said he had notified Speaker Peter Milliken that he would serve out his current term but would keep calling himself a Progressive Conservative — the old party name that was ditched in the merger.

“I sought a mandate to be elected as a Progressive Conservative,” Herron said. “I plan on fulfilling my mandate.”

In effect, Clark and Herron will be treated as independents under Commons rules, with reduced opportunity to ask questions, participate in debates and serve on committees.

Bachand, who has been courted by the federal Liberals, said he hasn’t decided whether to remain in politics but, if he does, it won’t be under the banner of the new Conservative party. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Saturday August 21, 2003

August 21, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 21, 2003

Chirac and Chretien vacation together

On holiday in the Eastern Townships since Friday, French President Jacques Chirac is visiting Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in his home riding of Shawinigan.

The two will be touring an art exhibit in an old aluminium smelter that’s been converted into a museum.

Accompanied by his wife Bernadette, Chirac arrived at the airport in Trois-Rivières late Wednesday morning. The Chiracs will be visiting a sculpture exhibition at the Cité de l’Énergie museum.

The exhibition, The Body Transformed, features more than 60 sculptures by 16 celebrated artists, including Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.

Following the tour of the museum, Chirac and his wife will visit Chrétien and his wife Aline at their cottage in Lac des Piles. (CP)

Saturday April 19, 2003

April 19, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 19, 2003

A different Easter

Tess Malolos understands the SARS quarantines are necessary, but says it is particularly hard to miss out on services and masses during Easter.

The Toronto woman is a member of the devout Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant Community, a charismatic prayer group, in Toronto. The 500 members were all quarantined after being exposed to SARS at a religious mass and retreat, a funeral home and large gathering.

“The bishop is clear that right now, your public duty is your religious duty,” said Malolos, who is in quarantine with her husband and two teenage boys until the 10-day isolation ends Tuesday.

Her sister-in-law Clarita Malolos, added, “It’s a tough time because we are a religious group and practising our faith is very important to us.”

The BLD members are among about 650 Ontarians in quarantine and Dr. James Young, Ontario’s commissioner of public safety, said it is crucial that people follow quarantine rules.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms or fever is urged to stay home and not attend Easter services.

Young called this long weekend a “very, very critical time” in the fight against SARS.

SARS had an impact on those who did attend Good Friday services. (CP)

Thursday January 30, 2003

January 30, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 30, 2003

Sweating the Sweater Stuff

Defence Minister John McCallum came under a barrage of unfriendly fire yesterday when he made a “flippant” remark about Tory MP Elsie Wayne’s glistening sweater.

The comment came after Wayne asked the minister if special paint to identify Canadian armoured vehicles in the battlefield would be used to ensure our soldiers didn’t become victims of friendly fire.

“What steps has the minister of defence taken to obtain the necessary marking system to avoid any more tragic losses?” Wayne asked as the sequined pattern in her black sweater shimmered under the Commons lights.

“If our soldiers were to wear the dress of the honourable member … they would be very well identified,” shot back McCallum to the laughter of some Grit MPs.

“It was a sexist remark and it was a remark that trivialized a very serious question – quite literally about the life and death of Canadian Forces in service,” grumbled Tory Leader Joe Clark outside the Commons.

A furious Wayne demanded an apology. (Source: CBC News)

Saturday January 25, 2003

January 25, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 25, 2003

Waiting to Dance

Jean Chrétien has cast doubt on whether Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, a position that puts Canada at odds with the United States and Great Britain.

“I don’t know if Saddam has these weapons,” Mr. Chrétien said in a weekend interview with the Financial Times of London. In the interview, he took credit for convincing George W. Bush, the U.S. President, to win United Nations approval to dispatch weapons inspection teams to Iraq before launching military action.

”I said to Bush when we met in Detroit [last fall] after his Camp David meeting with Tony Blair –no argument, you must go to the UN Security Council. And he went to the Council.”

The Bush administration opted for weapons inspections on the insistence of France, Russia and China, three of the five permanent members of the Security Council who objected to military action unless there was evidence showing Iraq was a danger to the international community. The United States and Britain are the other permanent members. (CP)