Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday May 8, 2006
Land negotiators join native talks
Federal and provincial land claims negotiators have been appointed to join talks with natives in Caledonia that are expected to resume next Tuesday.
The federal government has named Barbara McDougall as its negotiator with Six Nations leaders over all of their claims related to lands originally given to them in 1784 in what is called the Haldimand Tract. McDougall, a former Conservative MP, served as Minister of State for Finance and the Status of Women, Minister of Employment and Immigration and Minister of External Affairs.
Former federal minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Jane Stewart will represent Ontario at the table. Ontario’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said Stewart was the obvious choice for the job.
Ramsay said former premier David Peterson will remain involved for the short term to try to find a solution to the native occupation of one piece of disputed land, the Douglas Creek Estates subdivision.
Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer was excited to learn negotiators have been appointed.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “Now we’ll have to wait and find out from the natives who their representatives will be. It’s wonderful to get the show on the road. People are getting frustrated.” (Hamilton Spectator)
(This cartoon was inspired by the work of James Gillray.)
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday January 23, 2006
Voting is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democracy, empowering individuals to voice their opinions and influence the direction of their government. It is not just a civic duty but a powerful opportunity to shape the future of communities and the nation. Each vote represents a choice for the values and policies that matter most to citizens, making participation in elections essential for ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and considered. By voting, individuals take an active role in the democratic process, fostering accountability and driving change that reflects the will of the people.
Federal Election 2006: What’s at Stake on January 23
As Canada prepares for the federal election set for January 23, 2006, the political landscape is charged with anticipation and debate. With 308 seats available in the House of Commons, the stakes have never been higher. A party needs to secure at least 155 seats to achieve a majority government. Should no party reach this threshold, the leader of the party with the most seats will be tasked with forming a minority government, which must receive the approval of the Governor-General.
Current Parliament Overview
The current parliamentary makeup is a reflection of the competitive political arena. Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal Party holds 133 seats, while Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party follows closely with 98 seats. The Bloc Quebecois, led by Gilles Duceppe, commands 53 seats, and Jack Layton’s New Democratic Party (NDP) holds 18. Additionally, there are four independent members, with two seats remaining vacant. This distribution sets the stage for a highly contested election where every seat could be pivotal.
Key Issues at Play
The election campaign is underscored by several pressing issues that resonate deeply with the electorate. Discussions about cutting taxes, imposing stricter penalties for violent crimes, and enhancing military capabilities have dominated the dialogue. Furthermore, border security and the relationship with the United States are also significant concerns for voters.
The Conservative Party has zeroed in on ongoing federal inquiries into corruption allegations against the Liberal Party, aiming to sway public opinion against the ruling government. In response, the Liberals have accused the Conservatives of harboring a concealed right-wing agenda that threatens to undermine established rights, particularly regarding abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Voting Information
Approximately 22.7 million Canadians are registered to participate in this critical election, with access to around 60,000 polling stations across the country. Voting begins early in the day, with polls opening in eastern Newfoundland at 6:30 a.m. EST and closing in western British Columbia at 10 p.m. EST. As is customary, results are expected to start rolling in approximately one hour after the polls close, providing the first glimpse into the future of Canada’s governance.
As Canadians gear up to cast their votes, the outcome of this election will shape the country’s direction for years to come. With a dynamic political landscape and pivotal issues at stake, every vote will count in determining the next chapter in Canada’s parliamentary history.
Re-Airing an old animated cartoon
Below is a link to one of my ancient cartoons featuring a businessman and a hippy squaring off in a democratic duel on election day. It was animated thanks to my friend, Scott Blackett who at the time was working at 3rd Floor Film Productions in Toronto. Originally drawn for the Hamilton Spectator (18 years ago!) this piece was created as a public service announcement to encourage voting for the January 23, 2006, federal election. This video marks one of the first times I ventured into animating traditional cartoons, requiring the expertise of professionals like Scott to bring static drawings to life. The technology back then, while groundbreaking, was incredibly time-consuming, demanding hours of work to create just seconds of animation.
Posted to MacKaycartoons website: https://mackaycartoons.net/2006/01/23/monday-january-23-2006/
I’ve always had a passion for this art form, and now, with the advent of user-friendly apps like Procreate and Cap-Cut, I can animate each day’s editorial cartoon much more efficiently, without the help of experts, sorry Scott, adding music, sound, and special effects in a fraction of the time. I wish other cartoonists would get on board this! Come on, people! It’s exciting to witness the process of putting ink to tablet, and I’m thoroughly enjoying this creative journey. As technology continues to evolve, I look forward to the advancements that will support the vital craft of delivering satire.
Back to the message in this olde cartoon, it’s a reminder that it’s an important day in Ontario. I want to emphasize how empowering it is for voters in the province to exercise their right to vote. Every ballot cast is a step towards shaping our future, and I encourage everyone to make their voices heard! If you’re engaged in what’s going on there really is no excuse. Vote.
By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday October 21, 2005
Ontario ombudsman to probe MPAC
Ontario’s ombudsman is investigating the corporation that assigns values to private property for the purposes of municipal taxation. Andre Marin says there is a lack of transparency in how the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, or MPAC, arrives at its decisions.
Marin says the complaints meter in his office has moved into the red-zone over MPAC’s ways and there is deep-rooted dissatisfaction over property assessments.
He calls the corporation aloof and mysterious and says citizens are dazed and confused over their inability to get the corporation to reveal basic criteria on how values are set.
Marin says he knows something is wrong when the mayor of Sarnia refers to MPAC’s methods as Monty Python-like.
The ombudsman says he’ll investigate a number of areas, including MPAC’s refusal to adhere to a successful appeal of a property’s valuation in subsequent assessments.
The investigation is expected to last four to six months. (Source: Ottawa Citizen)
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday July 14, 2005
‘Redneck’ Harris irked OPP inspector
Former Ontario premier Mike Harris was a “redneck” who wanted speedy action to remove native protesters from Ipperwash Provincial Park, but was resigned to proceeding through the courts, a judicial inquiry was told yesterday.
OPP Insp. Ron Fox testified yesterday he was paged to a noon-hour meeting at Queen’s Park on Sept. 6, 1995, the same day Dudley George was killed during a skirmish between police and protesters who’d moved into the park two days earlier.
At the meeting was the-then Conservative premier, his attorney general, solicitor general, natural resources minister and their deputy ministers.
In a subsequent call to the police commander at the Ipperwash standoff, John Carson, Fox warned police were dealing “with a real redneck government.”
“They are f . . . barrel suckers. They just are in love with guns. There’s no question they don’t give a sh . . less about Indians,” he said in the recorded call played yesterday at the Ipperwash inquiry.
During the meeting, Harris criticized police for not taking immediate action when the natives moved into the park and suggested it would be raised at a later inquiry, Fox said. (Hamilton Spectator)
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 9, 2005
McGuinty Brushes off Developer’s Accusation
A developer who says he got favourable treatment when Ontario was drawing up conservation boundaries is provoking trouble because so much of his land was placed inside the so-called greenbelt, Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested Tuesday.
The allegation by developer Silvio De Gasperis that he had land excluded from the conservation plan after pleading his case with Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen threw the province’s Opposition into a ferment Monday.
Their attacks forced Mr. Gerretsen to backpedal on earlier statements that he had avoided any talks with landowners about the proposed boundaries.
But Mr. McGuinty sought Tuesday to deflect attention by noting that lots of other land owned by Mr. De Gasperis does fall inside the greenbelt boundaries, putting it at the mercy of strict development rules and reducing its value. (Globe & Mail)
