24 Sussex

Friday September 1, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 1, 2023

Building a New Official Residence for Canada’s Prime Minister

April 8, 2023

April 8, 2023

The current state of the prime minister’s official residence, 24 Sussex Drive, leaves much to be desired. It is no secret that the house is in desperate need of repairs and renovations, making it uninhabitable. However, while plans are being considered for a new official residence, there is an interesting twist to this story.

Recent polls have shown a surge in support for the Conservative party, with Pierre Poilievre emerging as a potential future occupant of the prime minister’s residence. It is quite ironic that Poilievre, who has expressed little interest in the refurbishment or replacement of the official residence, could find himself residing in a place that requires a gatekeeper.

News: Security concerns might finally solve the 24 Sussex conundrum  

February 6, 2018

Poilievre has made it clear that his priorities lie elsewhere, and he envisions a more basic and secure residence for the prime minister. He emphasizes the need for practicality and the ability to receive dignitaries while ensuring the utmost security. Little did he know that a gatekeeper might be necessary for a residence that requires such extensive renovations and repairs.

As the discussions about the future of the prime minister’s residence continue, it is essential to consider the aspirations of potential future occupants like Poilievre. While he may not prioritize the refurbishment, his design input could greatly influence the architecture and functionality of the new residence, from the living quarters to formal reception areas and, ironically, the gatekeeper’s role in ensuring security.

News: 24 Sussex wasn’t always a rat-infested death trap  

August 9, 2023

It is intriguing to think about the prospect of Poilievre residing in a residence that he initially deemed unimportant. Perhaps this would provide him with a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the prime minister and their need for a suitable and secure place to live and work.

As the government explores options for the future of the prime minister’s residence, including potential new locations or a complete rebuild, it is crucial to take into account the desires and input of potential occupants like Poilievre. After all, a residence worthy of Canada’s prime minister should accommodate the needs and preferences of its future residents, including the ironic necessity of a gatekeeper. (AI) 

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

Saturday April 8, 2023

April 8, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 8, 2023

Demolition by Neglect

The state of 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Canadian prime minister, is a fitting metaphor for Canada’s declining international reputation. The building has been unoccupied since 2015 due to its severe state of disrepair, just as Canada’s influence and standing on the global stage has been steadily eroding in recent years.

News: ‘An embarrassment to the nation’: Former PM Chretien on state of 24 Sussex Drive

May 8, 2008

Canada’s traditional allies, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have been preoccupied with their own domestic issues, leaving Canada to fend for itself. Its once-sterling reputation on the world stage has taken a hit in recent years, with the country being accused of being a laggard on climate change, Indigenous reconciliation, and global security. Furthermore, Canada has been slow to respond to China’s human rights abuses and has been hesitant to take a more assertive stance on the world stage, unlike France, which has been pushing for a more assertive European Union. 

February 6, 2018

France’s ambassador to Canada, Michel Miraillet, recently highlighted Canada’s weak military engagement and urged the country to choose between broadening its links with Europe or tying itself entirely to the United States. Miraillet argued that the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia was the culmination of a decade of Moscow and Beijing working to weaken democracies.

News: French envoy: Canada should link with Europe, surpass ‘weak’ military engagement

Miraillet’s warning that all elected leaders are subject to short-term mandates while autocrats remain in power, and his suggestion that Canada needs to demonstrate a commitment to global security, echoes concerns raised by other countries about Canada’s declining influence.

January 12, 2022

As the world organizes itself along new axes of power, with the China-Russia pact on one side and democracies on the other, Canada cannot continue to align itself only with American interests. The democratic world needs to act together and have close friends to navigate the transition to a more multipolar logic. Canada must deepen its partnership with countries such as France to strengthen its position on the world stage.

The dilapidated state of 24 Sussex Drive is a physical representation of Canada’s current state of disrepair. It is time for Canada to invest in itself, to strengthen its military and its commitment to global security, and to broaden its links with Europe. If Canada fails to act, it risks being left behind in a world where autocrats are gaining power and democracies are losing ground. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give editorial cartooning a try.

Thursday August 26, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 26, 2021

Trudeau promises new incentives worth billions and a tax on ‘flipping’ to help Canadians buy a home

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau today promised a suite of new measures to help Canadians buy a home at a time when a red-hot housing market has made owning property seem like a distant dream for many young people.

April 7, 2017

Speaking to reporters in Hamilton, Trudeau said the real estate market is afflicted by “instability” and “uncertainty” and a COVID-fuelled spike has led to soaring prices, bidding wars, rampant speculation and too many vacant properties. He said the situation demands government intervention to help more people acquire their own homes.

The aggressive plan — billions of dollars in new funding, measures to curb the practice of “flipping” homes, efforts to block foreign nationals from buying homes for two years and new regulatory measures to police exploitative real estate agents — comes at a time when Canadians are telling pollsters that housing is one of the issues they care about most.

September 12, 2019

The three-point program includes commitments to “unlock home ownership” through new government funding, a plan to build more homes to address supply constraints and measures to establish and protect new rights for buyers.

“If you work hard, if you save, that dream of having your own place should be in reach. But for too many people, it just isn’t — and that’s not right,” Trudeau said.

“You shouldn’t have to move far away from your job or school or family to afford your rent. You shouldn’t lose a bidding war on your home to speculators. It’s time for things to change.” 

If the Liberals are re-elected on Sept. 20, Trudeau said, he would introduce a first home savings account which would allow Canadians up to age 40 to save $40,000 toward their first home and withdraw it tax-free when it comes time to buy. Money added to the account would go in tax-free and could be withdrawn without any taxes owing on possible investment gains.

May 7, 2014

He said a Liberal government would double the first-time home buyers tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 — an incentive that would help with the many closing costs that come with buying property.

“Let’s remember, in 2017, as we launched that national housing strategy, we were starting from a standing start because for the previous ten years a Conservative government decided the federal government had no role to play in housing. That’s wrong,” Trudeau said. “But absolutely, there is more to do — much more to do.”

Trudeau took a swipe at Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s housing plan, which commits to building one million new homes over three years while easing mortgage requirements and making more federal land available for development.

May 8, 2008

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, O’Toole said he won’t take lessons from Trudeau on housing.

“Mr. Trudeau’s had six years and he’s failed. The housing crisis has exploded in the last three, four years under his leadership,” O’Toole said. “After six years of inaction, more hollow words today is not what Canadians deserve. They deserve a plan.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was equally critical, saying the situation has only gotten worse in the last six years under Trudeau.

Federal Election 2021

“Housing has become more expensive. Renting has become more expensive. We can’t handle another four years of this,” Singh said at a campaign stop in Mississauga, Ont., where he announced a plan to nationalize Revera, the country’s largest for-profit long-term care home operator.(CBC) 

 

Tuesday February 6, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday February 6, 2018

Drop the politics and fix 24 Sussex Drive

Few things better symbolize the stupid, counterproductive, hyperpartisan atmosphere that pervades Canada’s federal political scene than the on-again, off-again debate over what to do with 24 Sussex Drive.

It’s not new. The tempest in a teapot over investing in the residence intended to house the leader of the country has been blowing hot and cold for years.

Everyone agrees, this mansion is a dump. It has asbestos. Heating and cooling systems are out of date. While no national leader wants to live there, swarms of mice do. It has literally been dubbed unfit for human habitation by architectural and safety experts. Most recent estimates suggest Sussex needs $10 million in renovations and upgrades. They could have been done for much less in years past, but because no one had the guts to make the commitment, the situation has gone from bad to worse.

And even in its current unoccupied state, it’s costing taxpayers money. Between November 2015 and March 2016, it cost $180,000 to keep it heated, lit up and clear of snow. The hydro bills alone for that five-month period weighed in at $38,881. And the National Capital Commission, in charge of the residence, has let something like $133,000 in contracts related to the house since 2016.

Why? Because no political leader wants to be seen as feathering his or her own nest by investing the necessary money to make Sussex safe and respectable. The opposition would have a field day, which they did when Brian Mulroney raised the prospect of improvements. Paul Martin had the same experience. Kim Campbell said she wouldn’t touch the subject with a pole.

Justin Trudeau is much the same. But he’s trying, to his credit, to get an independent overseer to take charge and make non-partisan decisions in the best interest of preserving the monument. Even that effort is politically risky. The NDP has agreed to not go all-partisan on the matter. The PCs did too, and then broke that pledge by insisting they want something from the government in return for approving the plan.

In the scheme of things, the fate of Sussex is a trifle. But think about what our inability to maintain and preserve the official residence says about Canada. Can you picture the Americans devolving into partisan sniping over ensuring The White House is maintained?

Sussex may not be especially historic. It was built as a lumber baron’s home in 1868, and didn’t start serving as the official residence until the early ’50s. But since then, a dozen or so prime ministers have lived there. It is, after all, the official residence for Canada’s top elected leader. It’s a piece of living, if not healthy at the moment, history.

If there is collective national will, and we would argue there is, all three parties should agree to allow the National Capital Commission to make the necessary investment. It’s time to put this small but telling embarrassment to bed once and for all. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Wednesday September 5, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday September 5, 2012 Harper must walk political tightrope in PQÕs Quebec Blamed by some in his own party for adopting policies that helped reawaken the QuebecÊindependence movement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper now finds himself walking a politicalÊtightrope as he prepares to face the demands of a fresh Parti Quebecois government. ÒHeÕs in charge and heÕs got to figure it out. So weÕre in for great fun and games,Ó said veteranÊQuebec Conservative organizer Peter White. ÒBut it isnÕt the end of Canada.Ó For months, White has argued that Harper and his small team of Quebec MPs were angering aÊlarge majority in the province by adopting unpopular policies and decisions in areas such asÊlanguage, law and order, and the environment. But despite the fact there are only five Quebec Tory MPs in Ottawa, White has also said HarperÊcould tackle the problem by raising his public profile in Quebec and explaining his policies more. ÒQuebecers came very close to saying ÔYesÕ last time (in the 1995 referendum on sovereignty) andÊthings were not nearly as bad then as they are today in terms of the emotion of the thing,Ó WhiteÊsaid Tuesday.Ê(Source: Postmedia) http://o.canada.com/news/harper-must-walk-political-tightrope-in-pqs-quebec Canada, Stephen Harper, Pauline Marois, Parti Quebecois, 24 Sussex, Unity, Crisis, independence, movement, poo, bag, PQ, victory

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday September 5, 2012

Harper must walk political tightrope in PQ’s Quebec

Blamed by some in his own party for adopting policies that helped reawaken the Quebec independence movement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper now finds himself walking a political tightrope as he prepares to face the demands of a fresh Parti Quebecois government.

“He’s in charge and he’s got to figure it out. So we’re in for great fun and games,” said veteran Quebec Conservative organizer Peter White. “But it isn’t the end of Canada.”

For months, White has argued that Harper and his small team of Quebec MPs were angering a large majority in the province by adopting unpopular policies and decisions in areas such as language, law and order, and the environment.

But despite the fact there are only five Quebec Tory MPs in Ottawa, White has also said Harper could tackle the problem by raising his public profile in Quebec and explaining his policies more.

“Quebecers came very close to saying ‘Yes’ last time (in the 1995 referendum on sovereignty) and things were not nearly as bad then as they are today in terms of the emotion of the thing,” White said Tuesday. (Source: Postmedia)