campaign

Saturday October 10, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday October 10, 2015 The niqab is a distraction. Voters should focus on real issues An editorial that appeared in the Globe & Mail 10 days ago is as pertinent today as it was when it was first published on October 1. This test of endurance known as the 2015 election campaign has presented Canadians with plenty of serious issues to consider. The economy, for starters. How does a country that benefited from an oil boom maintain jobs and growth when the price of crude oil plummets for an extended period? There are also big fiscal choices: Does Canada need budgets in surplus, or is it wiser to run small deficits and spend more on infrastructure now, when interest rates are at record lows? How about the environment? Should Ottawa have a national plan to substantially reduce carbon emissions, or should it leave the field largely to the provinces? Or foreign policy: Should Canada be bombing the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, or should we be focusing on training local troops and delivering humanitarian aid? And what is the right number of Syrian refugees to accept? For the first seven weeks of the 11-week campaign, voters and candidates mostly focused on these and other pertinent issues. But with the Oct. 19 vote now just weeks away, this election is at risk of being overtaken by a single emotional issue that has no tangible bearing on the lives and well-being of Canadians. WeÕre talking about the niqab. The Conservative Party and its leader Stephen Harper want the niqab banned at citizenship ceremonies. The Bloc QuŽbŽcois, desperate for votes, demand the same. Both parties falsely accuse Muslim women who wear the face coverings of Òhiding their identities.Ó Mr. HarperÕs focus on this issue has begun to open up a little daylight between his party and the Liberals and New Democrats, and heÕs pushing it harder than ever. Many believe that a veiled female face goes against Canadian values. In a fr

Saturday October 10, 2015

The niqab is a distraction. Voters should focus on real issues

An editorial that appeared in the Globe & Mail 10 days ago is as pertinent today as it was when it was first published on October 1.

This test of endurance known as the 2015 election campaign has presented Canadians with plenty of serious issues to consider. The economy, for starters. How does a country that benefited from an oil boom maintain jobs and growth when the price of crude oil plummets for an extended period?

There are also big fiscal choices: Does Canada need budgets in surplus, or is it wiser to run small deficits and spend more on infrastructure now, when interest rates are at record lows?

How about the environment? Should Ottawa have a national plan to substantially reduce carbon emissions, or should it leave the field largely to the provinces?

Or foreign policy: Should Canada be bombing the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, or should we be focusing on training local troops and delivering humanitarian aid? And what is the right number of Syrian refugees to accept?

For the first seven weeks of the 11-week campaign, voters and candidates mostly focused on these and other pertinent issues. But with the Oct. 19 vote now just weeks away, this election is at risk of being overtaken by a single emotional issue that has no tangible bearing on the lives and well-being of Canadians. We’re talking about the niqab.

The Conservative Party and its leader Stephen Harper want the niqab banned at citizenship ceremonies. The Bloc Québécois, desperate for votes, demand the same. Both parties falsely accuse Muslim women who wear the face coverings of “hiding their identities.” Mr. Harper’s focus on this issue has begun to open up a little daylight between his party and the Liberals and New Democrats, and he’s pushing it harder than ever.

Many believe that a veiled female face goes against Canadian values. In a free society, they are entitled to that belief. But Canada’s religious freedoms mean a woman can wear a niqab in public. This is a non-issue that has no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of the population, yet it risks turning into a deciding factor in the election.

If you support the ban, ask yourself: Have you ever been to a citizenship ceremony? Do you actively follow who is being sworn in as Canadian citizens every week? Had you ever given this a moment’s thought before the Tories and the BQ made it an issue?

Of course not. The niqab is a distraction – a culture war fabricated to take voters’ minds off the real and complex issues in this election. Don’t fall for it. Wearing a veil is one thing – wearing a blindfold is another altogether. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

     

Posted by Project Democracy on Monday, October 12, 2015

Lots of discussion on this Reddit thread.

Wednesday October 7, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 7, 2015 'Trade wins hands down': Why leaders may seize TPP as a wedge issue With the announcement of a tentative deal on the Trans Pacific Partnership landing at the tail end of a marathon federal election campaign, voters can expect the party leaders to use it as a wedge issue, says one polling expert. Canada is one of 12 nations that came to a tentative agreement Monday, following five days of round-the-clock negotiations. The TPP trade agreement would encompass about 40 per cent of the world's economy, and eliminate barriers for certain Canadian exports. While the agreement will still need to be ratified by national governments, all of the main party leaders have already staked their positions on the agreement. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has hailed the deal as a way of opening up new markets for Canada and creating new jobs. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has reserved judgment until more details are revealed, but has said his party is "pro-trade." Meanwhile, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has stated that his party won't be bound by the sweeping trade agreement, which he accused the Tories of negotiating in "secret." Shachi Kurl, senior vice-president of the Angus Reid Institute, said the tentative agreement will be seen as a major win for the Conservatives among their base. "This is a winner with Conservative supporters," she told CTV's Canada AM from Vancouver, noting that Canadians are generally supportive of trade. "When you stack it up against other foreign policy imperatives that Canada should be pursuing, looking at foreign aid or humanitarian efforts or beefing up our military or trade Ð trade wins hands down with Canadians," she said. Mulcair is also looking to win support with his stance on the deal, Kurl said, noting that the NDP leader appears to be using the agreement to differentiate himself from the other leaders. (Source: CTV News) http://www.ctvnews.ca/po

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 7, 2015

‘Trade wins hands down’: Why leaders may seize TPP as a wedge issue

With the announcement of a tentative deal on the Trans Pacific Partnership landing at the tail end of a marathon federal election campaign, voters can expect the party leaders to use it as a wedge issue, says one polling expert.

Canada is one of 12 nations that came to a tentative agreement Monday, following five days of round-the-clock negotiations. The TPP trade agreement would encompass about 40 per cent of the world’s economy, and eliminate barriers for certain Canadian exports.

While the agreement will still need to be ratified by national governments, all of the main party leaders have already staked their positions on the agreement.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has hailed the deal as a way of opening up new markets for Canada and creating new jobs. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has reserved judgment until more details are revealed, but has said his party is “pro-trade.” Meanwhile, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has stated that his party won’t be bound by the sweeping trade agreement, which he accused the Tories of negotiating in “secret.”

Shachi Kurl, senior vice-president of the Angus Reid Institute, said the tentative agreement will be seen as a major win for the Conservatives among their base.

“This is a winner with Conservative supporters,” she told CTV’s Canada AM from Vancouver, noting that Canadians are generally supportive of trade.

“When you stack it up against other foreign policy imperatives that Canada should be pursuing, looking at foreign aid or humanitarian efforts or beefing up our military or trade – trade wins hands down with Canadians,” she said.

Mulcair is also looking to win support with his stance on the deal, Kurl said, noting that the NDP leader appears to be using the agreement to differentiate himself from the other leaders. (Source: CTV News)

 

Saturday October 3, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday October 3, 2015 Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair battle each other as Stephen Harper pulls ahead In this election campaign, Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair have nothing kind to say about each other. New Democratic Party leader Mulcair dismisses Trudeau as a callow youth. Echoing Conservative attack ads, his New Democrats say the 43-year-old Liberal leader just isnÕt ready to become prime minister. From time to time, and again echoing the Conservatives, Mulcair dismissively refers to his Liberal rival as ÒJustin.Ó Trudeau is no less harsh. He accuses Mulcair of duplicity Ñ of saying one thing in French and another in English. He says the NDP, by pandering to Quebec separatists, threatens national unity. He dredges up old charges that Mulcair, a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister, once contemplated the idea of exporting fresh water in bulk. All of this occurs at a time when Prime Minister Stephen HarperÕs Conservatives are quietly edging up in the polls. For the Liberals and New Democrats, the back and forth attacks make sense. Each hopes to present itself as the unique alternative to the governing Conservatives. That in turn, they calculate, requires them to tear each other down. But to a wide array of Liberal and NDP voters, the two opposition parties appear to be engaging in a game of mutually assured destruction. These so-called progressive voters desperately want Harper gone. And they are horrified by the real possibility that this war to the death between Liberals and New Democrats will split the anti-Harper vote, thus allowing the Conservatives to win power again. Recent polls have underscored those fears. On Tuesday, Forum Research released a poll putting the Conservatives in first place among decided voters, with 34 per cent support. The NDP and the Liberals were significantly behind at 28 and 27 per cent respectively. That follows an earlier Ekos poll that shows the Cons

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 3, 2015

Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair battle each other as Stephen Harper pulls ahead

In this election campaign, Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair have nothing kind to say about each other.

Thursday March 19, 2015New Democratic Party leader Mulcair dismisses Trudeau as a callow youth. Echoing Conservative attack ads, his New Democrats say the 43-year-old Liberal leader just isn’t ready to become prime minister.

From time to time, and again echoing the Conservatives, Mulcair dismissively refers to his Liberal rival as “Justin.”

Trudeau is no less harsh. He accuses Mulcair of duplicity — of saying one thing in French and another in English. He says the NDP, by pandering to Quebec separatists, threatens national unity.

Saturday November 8, 2014He dredges up old charges that Mulcair, a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister, once contemplated the idea of exporting fresh water in bulk.

All of this occurs at a time when Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are quietly edging up in the polls.

For the Liberals and New Democrats, the back and forth attacks make sense. Each hopes to present itself as the unique alternative to the governing Conservatives.

That in turn, they calculate, requires them to tear each other down.

But to a wide array of Liberal and NDP voters, the two opposition parties appear to be engaging in a game of mutually assured destruction.

These so-called progressive voters desperately want Harper gone. And they are horrified by the real possibility that this war to the death between Liberals and New Democrats will split the anti-Harper vote, thus allowing the Conservatives to win power again.

Recent polls have underscored those fears.

On Tuesday, Forum Research released a poll putting the Conservatives in first place among decided voters, with 34 per cent support. The NDP and the Liberals were significantly behind at 28 and 27 per cent respectively.

That follows an earlier Ekos poll that shows the Conservatives leading with 35 per cent support.

In fact, the possibility of a Conservative win has never been out of the question. Harper’s claim to be a good economic manager has always had resonance. (Continued: Toronto Star)

2015-10-03tearsheet

The Telegram, St. John’s, Newfoundland

 

 

Wednesday September 30, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday September 30, 2015 Mulcair cut a little too close last night The smart money Monday night at the Munk Debate on foreign policy was on NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair taking down Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. Dropping in the national opinion polls after his performance last week during the French-language, the view was he needed to attack Mr. Trudeau to gain back his momentum. Instead, he just got angry - and a little too personal. ÒHe doesnÕt understand debates because heÕs used to having people write lines for him,Ó Mr. Mulcair said at one point, suggesting Mr. Trudeau was lacking in intellect. The 2,500-member audience was packed into Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto, and it was just as much part of the debate as were the leaders. The audience groaned at Mr. MulcairÕs remark, clearly not appreciating it. Earlier, the NDP Leader took a swipe at Mr. TrudeauÕs late father and former prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, for jailing Canadians without allowing them a trial under the War Measures Act during the 1970 October Crisis. (Some ÒoohsÓ and ÒahhsÓ from the audience could be heard.) Mr. Trudeau responded emotionally: ÒThroughout this campaign both of these gentlemen at various points have attacked my father. Let me say very clearly I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliott TrudeauÕs son.Ó He noted, too, it was Ò15 years ago tonight that he passed away É and I know that he wouldnÕt want us to be fighting the battles of the past, heÕd want us squarely focused on the future ÉÓ The low blows didnÕt help Mr. Mulcair. By the end of the evening, the smart money had moved to Stephen Harper and Mr. Trudeau and they shared the win. (Source: Globe & Mail) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mulcair-cut-a-little-too-close-last-night/article26580858/ Canada, elxn42, Thomas Mulcair, NDP, polls, election, 2015, campaign, surfing, seasons, Summer, Fall, beach

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 30, 2015

Mulcair cut a little too close last night

The smart money Monday night at the Munk Debate on foreign policy was on NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair taking down Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

Dropping in the national opinion polls after his performance last week during the French-language, the view was he needed to attack Mr. Trudeau to gain back his momentum.

Instead, he just got angry – and a little too personal.

“He doesn’t understand debates because he’s used to having people write lines for him,” Mr. Mulcair said at one point, suggesting Mr. Trudeau was lacking in intellect.

The 2,500-member audience was packed into Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto, and it was just as much part of the debate as were the leaders. The audience groaned at Mr. Mulcair’s remark, clearly not appreciating it.

Earlier, the NDP Leader took a swipe at Mr. Trudeau’s late father and former prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, for jailing Canadians without allowing them a trial under the War Measures Act during the 1970 October Crisis. (Some “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience could be heard.)

Mr. Trudeau responded emotionally: “Throughout this campaign both of these gentlemen at various points have attacked my father. Let me say very clearly I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s son.”

He noted, too, it was “15 years ago tonight that he passed away … and I know that he wouldn’t want us to be fighting the battles of the past, he’d want us squarely focused on the future …”

The low blows didn’t help Mr. Mulcair. By the end of the evening, the smart money had moved to Stephen Harper and Mr. Trudeau and they shared the win. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

Western Star - Corner Brook, Nfld

Western Star – Corner Brook, Nfld

 

Thursday September 17, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday September 17, 2015 Chris Austin, Liberal candidate, pulled for views 'irreconcilable' with party values The Liberal Party has removed another Alberta candidate for expressing views that it says don't conform to the party's values. In a statement Wednesday, the party said Chris Austin is no longer a candidate in Sturgeon River-Parkland. "New information was brought to our attention which led to the revocation of his green light status, ending his candidacy," the party said. "Some of Chris Austin`s views, as articulated in past comments, are irreconcilable with the values of the Liberal Party of Canada." Facebook posts still visible on Chris Austin's page include comments made after the Oct. 22 shootings in Ottawa that said "Harper has turned our Nation's Capital into a War Zone as his thirst for War," and suggest the RCMP was the "Canadian Gestapo." This riding will be the party's second nomination do-over in this campaign. - Liberal candidate Chris Brown apologizes for offensive booze-fuelled tweets - Tim Dutaud 2nd Conservative candidate dropped over embarrassing videos - Joy Davies resigns as Liberal candidate over pro-pot Facebook post - NDP candidate Morgan Wheeldon resigns over Israel comments The Liberal candidate in CalgaryÐNose Hill, Ala Buzreba, apologized and resigned earlier in the campaign for things she said on Twitter when she was 16. A third Alberta candidate fingered for off-colour remarks, Chris Brown in Peace River-Westlock, apologized for making profanity-laced remarks on Twitter, attributing them to booze-fuelled anger over the death of his partner in an accident involving a drunk driver. He remains on the ballot. All three parties have had similar candidate controversies in recent weeks, in a growing list of social media trip-ups. The deadline for all parties to nominate their slates of candidates in advance of the Oct. 19 federal election is Sept. 28. (Sou

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 17, 2015

Chris Austin, Liberal candidate, pulled for views ‘irreconcilable’ with party values

The Liberal Party has removed another Alberta candidate for expressing views that it says don’t conform to the party’s values.

In a statement Wednesday, the party said Chris Austin is no longer a candidate in Sturgeon River-Parkland.

“New information was brought to our attention which led to the revocation of his green light status, ending his candidacy,” the party said.

“Some of Chris Austin`s views, as articulated in past comments, are irreconcilable with the values of the Liberal Party of Canada.”

Facebook posts still visible on Chris Austin’s page include comments made after the Oct. 22 shootings in Ottawa that said “Harper has turned our Nation’s Capital into a War Zone as his thirst for War,” and suggest the RCMP was the “Canadian Gestapo.”

This riding will be the party’s second nomination do-over in this campaign.

  • Liberal candidate Chris Brown apologizes for offensive booze-fuelled tweets
  • Tim Dutaud 2nd Conservative candidate dropped over embarrassing videos
  • Joy Davies resigns as Liberal candidate over pro-pot Facebook post
  • NDP candidate Morgan Wheeldon resigns over Israel comments

The Liberal candidate in Calgary–Nose Hill, Ala Buzreba, apologized and resigned earlier in the campaign for things she said on Twitter when she was 16.

A third Alberta candidate fingered for off-colour remarks, Chris Brown in Peace River-Westlock, apologized for making profanity-laced remarks on Twitter, attributing them to booze-fuelled anger over the death of his partner in an accident involving a drunk driver. He remains on the ballot.

All three parties have had similar candidate controversies in recent weeks, in a growing list of social media trip-ups.

The deadline for all parties to nominate their slates of candidates in advance of the Oct. 19 federal election is Sept. 28. (Source: CBC News)