baby

Wednesday June 5, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 5, 2019

Cabinet must stop enabling Ford’s incompetence

An enabler, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a person or thing that makes something possible.”

August 9, 2018

In light of the Ontario government’s obsession with alcohol, it’s also instructive to turn to literature on the psychology of addiction, which further defines an enabler as someone who “passively permits or unwittingly encourages” destructive behaviour and often “feels powerless to prevent it.”

And that brings us to the 20 men and women who were elected by Ontario voters a year ago this Friday and subsequently named to Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet.

When a series of unlikely circumstances collided to make Ford leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, those who had experienced the Ford brand of governing by chaos rather than consensus at Toronto City Hall were incredulous.

If he can’t be trusted to run a city, how can he run the entire province?

March 13, 2018

Don’t worry, his supporters said, Ford will shake things up a bit but he won’t do anything too reckless because Queen’s Park isn’t anything like city hall and the seasoned politicians who will join him at the cabinet table will temper the worst of his tendencies.

In short, they’ll keep him in check.

But, as we’ve seen, it’s been the other way around.

The City of Toronto, for all the seeming messiness of its council meetings, is full of independent thinkers.

It’s under the party system that Ford’s brand of reckless governing has been able to spread like measles through an unvaccinated community.

September 14, 2018

With the help of his chief of staff, Dean French, Ford has brought all those experienced and capable politicians who were supposed to lift him up, down to his level. A level that surely the likes of Caroline Mulroney and Christine Elliott, who had ambitions to lead the party, could scarcely have imagined.

As attorney general, Mulroney acquiesced to Ford’s rush to hit the nuclear button with the “notwithstanding” clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in his vindictive move to cut Toronto city council in half with the municipal election already underway. And the government has churned out legislation to shield itself from the financial liabilities that go with its desire to tear up contracts.

Ford may want to use powers that are rarely used for good reason, as though they’re free candy for the taking, but the adults in the building are supposed to know better.

While everything may begin with Ford and his unelected advisers, it can’t come to pass without the attorney general and the rest of the cabinet.

One of them, Environment Minister Rod Phillips, once said he was running for the Ontario PCs to be part of a “positive, inclusive” team.

November 17, 2018

How is that going?

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli happily adds and subtracts billions from the provincial deficit depending, it seems, on the day of the week and whether Ford is in a mood to attack the past Liberal government or tout his success as a leader and general good guy.

Under Ford, cabinet ministers jump up like trained seals, clap wildly and support the unsupportable with canned lines that don’t pass even a cursory sniff test.

Did they all agree to check their brains and backbones at the door to cabinet?

Health Minister Christine Elliott, Education Minister Lisa Thompson, Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, and Children and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod all lurch from one half-baked policy to the next depending on which way Ford Nation winds blow.

January 12, 2019

Some of these cabinet ministers may want to tell themselves they’re powerless to stop this and that’s par for the course with enablers. But it’s not true. As Oxford tells us, enablers make things possible.

Some of Ford’s cabinet might also still be imagining a future for themselves where memoirs are written about their time in politics. They should start thinking about how they want the 2018-2022 chapter to read.

While Ontarians are gasping at how Year One under the Ford government has gone, and holding their breath for what’s to come in Year Two, his cabinet ministers can — and should — do more than that.

Those 20 men and women can ask themselves whether they want to continue to be enablers or whether they want to relocate their spines and try for something more. (Hamilton SpectatorEditorial) https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/9408338-editorial-cabinet-must-stop-enabling-ford-s-incompetence/

 

Thursday May 10, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 30, 2019

Ontario to end Beer Store deal, paving way for beer in corner stores

The Progressive Conservative government has tabled legislation that would terminate a contract with The Beer Store.

The previous Liberal government signed a 10-year deal with the brewers that permitted an expansion of beer and wine sales to hundreds of grocery stores.

Premier Doug Ford has indicated he plans to put beer and wine in corner stores, but he has to break that agreement to do so and the industry has warned that could trigger steep financial penalties.

While tabling today’s bill, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said the current system is a monopoly that is a bad deal for consumers and businesses.

The legislation comes after the province’s special adviser on alcohol delivered a report Friday to Fedeli on ways to improve consumer choice and convenience.

The Tories also announced a number of loosened alcohol restrictions in last month’s budget, including allowing alcohol to be served at 9 a.m., seven days a week, letting people consume booze in parks, and legalizing tailgating parties near sports events.

Meanwhile, there’s been a swift reaction from Labatt Brewing Company Limited and Molson Canada 2005 — two of the three large brewers who predominantly own The Beer Store — to the legislation tabled Monday.

CBC Toronto obtained a copy of a lawyers’ letter from Labatt  and Molson putting the government on notice of a potential legal challenge to the beer legislation. Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP represent Labatt, while Molson is represented by Gowling WLG.

In the letter, the lawyers note that the 2015 Master Framework Agreement was negotiated with the province to enhance customer convenience, choice and shopping experience, while ensuring that customers in Ontario can purchase beer at prices below the Canadian average, and to enhance the beer retailing system for all brewers selling beer in Ontario.

“The Bill will destroy those benefits, legislate 7,000 Ontario-based The Beer Store employees out of work and cause billions of dollars in damages … and result in higher costs and prices for consumers,” the lawyers wrote. (CBC) 

 

Tuesday December 4, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday December 4, 2012

Prince William, Kate expecting 1st baby

Ultrasound image of royal fetus is entertainment news

A confidential report says Prince William’s wife Kate is expecting the couple’s first baby, the prince’s office said Monday.

The news came as Kate, 30, was admitted today to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with hyperemesis gravidarum, or acute morning sickness, which requires supplementary hydration and nutrients.

“As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter,” the statement said.

There was no confirmed information provided on when the baby is due. Several media reports, however, indicated Kate was approaching the 12th week of her pregnancy.

The palace said the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news of the pregnancy.

“They will make wonderful parents,” British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted following the announcement.

In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper tweeted his good wishes to the royal couple on behalf of himself and his wife: “Laureen and I congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wonderful news #royalbaby.”

Gov. Gen. David Johnston sent a congratulatory message from Peru, where he is travelling on a diplomatic mission to Central and South America. He noted that the royal couple had attracted large and appreciative crowds when they toured Canada last year. “With this happy news, we have once again a chance to show our admiration,” he wrote. (Source: CBC News) 

 

Thursday February 25, 1999

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday February 25, 1999 No food or drink in pool, breastfeeding mom told A mother breastfeeding while swimming at a city recreation centre was ordered to leave because "no food or drink is allowed in the pool."Shannon Wray, 25, was enjoying family swim time Friday morning at Huntington Park Recreation Centre on the East Mountain when her nine-month-old daughter Chyenne got hungry. "I was sitting in the hot pool with my daughter in front of me and I pulled down my bathing suit strap, " Wray said. "And I took my breast out and put her on it.Ó A moment later, Wray was approached by the pool's aquatic director, who advised the mother she would have to go into the change room to feed her child. Wray said she was told that it's the culture and recreation department's policy that there is no breastfeeding in the pool area. "I'm very sorry you're offended, " Wray told the woman. "But that's your problem. I'm nursing my baby and I'm not moving. You're going to have to deal with it.Ó Wray believes other swimmers complained. When Wray refused to leave, she was told by the aquatic director that she couldn't stay in the pool because of the state of "her attire." Then, she said, a male lifeguard told her she had to stop breastfeeding "because no food or drink is allowed in the pool.Ó Wray said she has breastfed her baby in public many times -- including at the Huntington Park pool -- but never had any complaints before now. "It's unfortunate that a natural act had to become some political brouhaha, " said Wray. "This was very inappropriate and very humiliating.Ó Alderman Mary Kiss, vice-chairperson of the city's parks and recreation committee, said she was "appalled" that breastfeeding in public was still an issue for some people. "It's great to have mothers breastfeeding their children. I'll definitely look into this.Ó The lifeguard and aquatic director were just plain wrong, said Gary Makins, manager of

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 25, 1999

No food or drink in pool, breastfeeding mom told

A mother breastfeeding while swimming at a city recreation centre was ordered to leave because “no food or drink is allowed in the pool.”Shannon Wray, 25, was enjoying family swim time Friday morning at Huntington Park Recreation Centre on the East Mountain when her nine-month-old daughter Chyenne got hungry.

“I was sitting in the hot pool with my daughter in front of me and I pulled down my bathing suit strap, ” Wray said. “And I took my breast out and put her on it.”

A moment later, Wray was approached by the pool’s aquatic director, who advised the mother she would have to go into the change room to feed her child. Wray said she was told that it’s the culture and recreation department’s policy that there is no breastfeeding in the pool area.

“I’m very sorry you’re offended, ” Wray told the woman. “But that’s your problem. I’m nursing my baby and I’m not moving. You’re going to have to deal with it.”

Wray believes other swimmers complained.

When Wray refused to leave, she was told by the aquatic director that she couldn’t stay in the pool because of the state of “her attire.” Then, she said, a male lifeguard told her she had to stop breastfeeding “because no food or drink is allowed in the pool.”

Wray said she has breastfed her baby in public many times — including at the Huntington Park pool — but never had any complaints before now.

“It’s unfortunate that a natural act had to become some political brouhaha, ” said Wray. “This was very inappropriate and very humiliating.”

Alderman Mary Kiss, vice-chairperson of the city’s parks and recreation committee, said she was “appalled” that breastfeeding in public was still an issue for some people.

“It’s great to have mothers breastfeeding their children. I’ll definitely look into this.”

The lifeguard and aquatic director were just plain wrong, said Gary Makins, manager of the city’s east recreation district.

As far as the culture and recreation department goes, said Makins, mothers can nurse “at the pool, in the pool or on the side of the pool.

“I think our lifeguard or aquatic supervisor shouldn’t have asked her to leave, ” he said. Makins will send a copy of the city’s breastfeeding policy to each of the pools he supervises and he will write Wray a letter of apology.

As for no food or drink in the pool? “That doesn’t apply here, ” he said. “But if she was eating a sandwich in the pool, that would be a problem.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)