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Tuesday September 12, 2023

September 12, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 12, 2023

Trudeau’s Grounded Plane, Liberal Party Turbulence

April 24, 1997

As the Liberal Party finds itself hemorrhaging support in national public opinion polls, there’s a striking parallel to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent experience in India, where his plane was grounded due to technical issues. The 158-member national Liberal caucus is gathering in London, Ont., for their summer retreat, and it’s a crucial moment for the party to strategize its comeback.

News: Canada PM Justin Trudeau stuck in India after plane breaks down  

July 26, 2023

The Sept. 12-14 retreat marks the first face-to-face meeting between all MPs and Prime Minister Trudeau since his controversial July cabinet shuffle, which sparked dissatisfaction among backbench MPs and generated negative media attention. Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan, chair of the national Liberal caucus, hasn’t commented on the situation, but the retreat’s schedule reveals a significant focus on caucus meetings and discussions.

In these retreats, MPs traditionally share feedback from their constituents and receive updates on government priorities from cabinet ministers and party headquarters. However, the drop in polling numbers is a pressing concern for Liberal MPs, who are eager to understand the government’s strategy to address this decline. They’re also curious about why the government hasn’t effectively countered Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s relentless attacks.

The cabinet shuffle, which cast a shadow over the government’s performance, remains a sore point within the party. Liberal MPs and former senior members alike view it as a morale killer, both inside and outside the caucus. Pollsters attribute the declining poll numbers to the party’s prolonged time in power and rising concerns about inflation and affordability among Canadians.

News: Liberals’ tanking poll numbers ‘top of mind’ as Trudeau, Grits head to national caucus retreat  

February 22, 2018

As the party grapples with these challenges, the situation in India serves as a metaphor for Trudeau’s leadership and the Liberal party’s predicament. Just as Trudeau faces unexpected obstacles with a grounded plane, the Liberal party must navigate its way out of a turbulent political climate, seeking to regain momentum and public trust. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but as experienced campaigners, Liberals know that a strong, strategic effort can make all the difference in the next election.The prime minister had been slated to leave India on Sunday. (AI)

 

Tuesday March 6, 2012

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday March 6, 2012

Could Hamilton be on the Pan Am pitch mound again?

Baseball fans will probably be delighted to hear that Hamilton’s been invited to make a pitch to host the baseball and softball competitions at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Our men won gold last time the games were held. Our women took silver. Could be fun, right?

Sure. But it should surprise no one — and will relieve almost everybody — to hear the initial reception to the idea among the city’s decision makers was cool at best. Bordering on frigid. Especially when council discovered we could be on the hook for nearly $6 million if all-new facilities were required.

Council is still smarting from the endless and painful stadium and velodrome sagas that dominated their lives for months and made them the object of scorn in town. Just the phrase Pan Am Games causes some to break into cold sweats and experience dry heaves. As a result, it was no surprise that a good number sounded like they’d rather shove hot metal pokers into their eyes than step back into the fray of another protracted, potentially pricey facility debate.

“I think you can hear the expressions of not doubt, but concern, that we may be going down an expensive path,” Mayor Bob Bratina said. “Nobody is going to, I don’t think, approve any large expenditure. But we don’t know what the site requirements are or what our participation would involve. So all we need is to find that out.”

A letter dated March 1 from Murray Noble, senior vice-president of infrastructure for the Pan Am organizing committee, invites Hamilton — and some other unnamed cities — to consider putting together a facility that would include a baseball stadium with 8,000 to 10,000 seats, a secondary diamond with 1,500, a main softball stadium that could hold as many as 6,000 and a secondary field with a capacity of 1,000. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)