2022-05

Wednesday February 9, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 9, 2022

Conservatives split on whether convoy protest should stay or vacate Parliament Hill

June 24, 2021

Conservatives appear increasingly split over whether a protest against COVID-19 health restrictions in the nation’s capital should stay or go.

Many Tory members of Parliament have pledged full support to the protesters, including recently elected interim leader Candice Bergen and Pierre Poilievre, the first candidate to announce his bid for party leadership.

Entering the House of Commons on Tuesday, Alberta Conservative MP John Barlow says he doesn’t think the protesters should leave and believes they have been respectful, adding some of his constituents are in the crowd.

“Let’s put this in perspective. This isn’t like you brought Ottawa to a screeching halt,” he said.

“I live right downtown when I’m in Ottawa. I’ve managed to get to work. I haven’t been kept up all night. Is it ideal? No. But this could be ended if the prime minister comes out and does his job.”

Tuesday February 8, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday February 8, 2022

How conspiracy theorists steered Canada’s anti-vaccine trucker protest

February 26, 2021

Thousands of demonstrators have successfully occupied Canada’s frigid capital for days, and say they plan on staying as long as it takes to thwart the country’s vaccine requirements.

The brazen occupation of Ottawa came as a result of unprecedented coordination between various anti-vaccine and anti-government organizations and activists, and has been seized on by similar groups around the world.

It may herald the revenge of the anti-vaxxers.

The so-called “freedom convoy” – which departed for Ottawa on 23 January – was the brainchild of James Bauder, an admitted conspiracy theorist who has endorsed the QAnon movement and called Covid-19 “the biggest political scam in history”. Bauder’s group, Canada Unity, contends that vaccine mandates and passports are illegal under Canada’s constitution, the Nuremberg Code and a host of other international conventions.

Saturday February 5, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 5, 2022

Doug Ford makes statement ahead of Toronto convoy protest

Young Doug Ford: The Series

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he has full confidence Toronto police will be able to handle Saturday’s convoy protest and there will be “zero tolerance” for any potential acts of violence. 

Ford made the comments during a virtual news conference with Canada’s premiers on Friday.

“Any harassment or acts of hatred or acts of violence will have zero tolerance,” Ford said.

Ford said he has been in contact with Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ottawa Major Jim Watson to offer whatever resources are necessary. 

Protesters are expected to arrive in Toronto on Saturday and will gather at Queen’s Park.

Part of University Avenue has been closed in preparation for the protest, in order to ensure emergencies services have access to Hospital Row. 

January 26, 2022

Residents have been warned to expect a large police presence in the downtown core during the protests. 

Meanwhile, in Ottawa, protesters have gathered for nearly a week and have said they won’t leave until Canada removes COVID-19-related mandates.

“What is happening in Ottawa, in my opinion, is unacceptable,” Ford said. “Regarding Ottawa, the occupations, it’s not a protest anymore, it’s become an occupation.”

Ford said the protesters are hurting local businesses in a “big way” and believes it’s time for the situation to “come to and end.”

“You think we like lockdowns or pubic health measures? We don’t,” Ford said, adding he believes “They were necessary.”

Ford said the situation in Ontario hospitals is improving day-by-day and the province is “so close to getting back to normal.”

“We have to be united as Ontarians, as Canadians,” Ford said. (CTV News) 

 

Friday February 4, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 4, 2022

A recipe for hope: How to vaccinate the world and end the pandemic

January 7, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Olympic Winter Games open on Friday, during a subdued opening ceremony that is following less than six months after the end of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Games.

Athletes from more than 90 countries are settled into Beijing’s National Stadium, a.k.a. the “Bird’s Nest,” for the opening ceremony of these Games — a familiar scene as the city is the first to host both a Summer and Winter Olympics, with many venues repurposed for winter use after the 2008 Summer Games. (CBC) 

Meanwhile, there is new reason for hope in ending unequal vaccine access and finding a global resolution for the pandemic.  Researchers at Baylor College in Texas have developed a vaccine  based on established technology and common handling and refrigeration techniques. Best of all, they have no intention of filing a patent but have concrete plans for large-scale manufacturing in the Global South.

Thursday February 3, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 3, 2022

Did the truckers get Erin O’Toole fired?

August 25, 2020

Only days ago, O’Toole could have expected that he was safe until a scheduled leadership review in mid-2023. But in a surprise Wednesday morning caucus vote, he was turfed out by a margin of 73 to 45. Just like another former Tory leader, Andrew Scheer, he’s going to stick around as an MP.

O’Toole’s ouster marks the first time since the Second World War that Tories have elected two consecutive party leaders who have failed to become prime minister. The only comparable episode came in the waning days of the Progressive Conservative party, when members chewed through three leaders until eventually disbanding to merge with the Canadian Alliance. Conservatives have traditionally been more patient with their leaders; Progressive Conservative Leader Robert Stanfield was notably allowed to lose three elections in a row (1968, 1972 and 1974) without any kind of caucus revolt.