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Friday February 6, 2004

February 6, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

February 6, 2004

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 6, 2004

Will French schtick choke Cherry?

Don Cherry’s voice is as loud as the garish suits he wears. No surprise there. He’s an outspoken fixture on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.

He’s spent years perfecting the persona he puts out for public consumption. Sure, hockey’s the topic, but when it comes right down to it, Cherry is an entertainer. He’s a personality. He’s loud, he’s brash, he’s opinionated. He’s also a snappy dresser. That’s Cherry’s schtick.

So should he be assessed a penalty — maybe even a game misconduct — for his latest high-schticking incident?

He’s under investigation by the federal official languages commissioner, who’s looking into alleged anti-French remarks Cherry made on air.

Cherry’s choice of words is often inappropriate, sometimes offensive. He plays the buffoon and occasionally goes too far. Even so, we wouldn’t want to see him benched. But we’d have no problem with a firm warning. (CP)

Tuesday January 20, 2004

January 20, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 20, 2004

Black: Sacked, sued and selling

Conrad Black’s days as a newspaper baron are over.

Capping months of turbulence and accusations of self-dealing and diverting company money, Black agreed yesterday to sell his controlling stake in Hollinger Inc. to British billionaire twin brothers David and Frederick Barclay as part of a takeover offer valued at $605.5 million.

Conrad Black Cartoon Gallery

The Barclay brothers’ Press Holdings International Ltd., which already owns several British newspapers including the Scotsman, as well as London’s Ritz Hotel, would pay $423.8 million in cash and assume debt of $181.7 million.

The Barclays said they have an irrevocable agreement with Ravelston Corp., Black’s investment vehicle, to buy its 78 per cent stake in Hollinger Inc. The brothers will then offer to buy out minority shareholders.

“I am delighted that we have been able to enter into this agreement and I have no doubt that the financial strength and direction that we can bring will allow the group to flourish, ” said David Barclay, whose company is based in the Channel Islands between Britain and France.

Based in Toronto, Hollinger Inc. controls U.S. subsidiary Hollinger International Inc., the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Jerusalem Post and flagship London Daily Telegraph.

Hollinger Inc., which as recently as 1999 controlled 60 per cent of Canada’s daily newspapers, still owns 13 Canadian dailies, including the Kamloops Daily News in British Columbia, and Quebec’s Sherbrooke Record.

In a statement yesterday, Black said it would be “distressing” to part with the newspapers, “but these fine titles must not be hobbled any longer by the current controversies and financial uncertainty.”

Black’s agreement to sell his interest in the media empire came a day after Hollinger International announced it had fired Black as chairman and filed a $200 million (U.S.) lawsuit against Black, his investment firms, and David Radler, Black’s former top director. The company alleged Black, a member of Britain’s House of Lords, siphoned company money away from investors and altered financial statements. (Toronto Star, 1/19/2004, A1)

Wednesday January 14, 2004

January 14, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 14, 2004

Peter MacKay, Leader No More

Former Tory leader Peter MacKay is taking a pass on the Conservative Party leadership race, but isn’t bowing out of politics. MacKay said he made his decision in “the last 24 hours” and called it the toughest of his political career. “While my heart said ‘go,’ my head said ‘no,’ ” he said. However, he added he will seek the nomination for his Nova Scotia riding in the next federal election. MacKay said he’s not yet prepared to throw his support behind a leadership candidate.

MacKay, Peter , 1966–, Canadian politician, b. New Glasgow, N.S. A lawyer who briefly worked (1992–93) in Germany, MacKay returned to his native Nova Scotia in 1993 and became a crown attorney. Elected to the federal parliament as a Progressive Conservative in 1997, he became Tory House leader, a position he held until 2002, when he resigned to run for the party leadership. In 2003, the youthful MacKay was chosen to succeed Joe Clark as leader of the Progressive Conservative party, winning in part because he agreed not to seek a merger with the Canadian Alliance. A few months later, however, he led his party into a merger with the Alliance to form the Conservative party of Canada, and subsequently became the new party’s deputy leader. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday January 8, 2004

January 8, 2004 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 8, 2004

So much for Clementmania

Auto parts magnate Frank Stronach thinks it would be a great idea if his daughter Belinda ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

“I said: ‘Look Belinda, you’re a privileged lady. I think it’s the greatest honour if you could serve your country,’.” Mr. Stronach, who founded the auto parts company that his daughter now heads, said yesterday.

If she throws her hat into the ring, as she is expected to do later this week or perhaps early next week, Belinda Stronach will be following in the political and business footsteps of her father, who was a Liberal candidate in a Toronto-area riding in the 1988 federal election.

But she’s different, Mr. Stronach said in a telephone interview yesterday from Baltimore.

“I maybe was a bit more aggressive. I shot a little more out of the hip. She is very thoughtful.”

Supporters of former Ontario health minister Tony Clement held conference calls to discuss his candidacy for leadership of the party. (Source: Globe & Mail)

December 10, 2003

December 10, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – December 10, 2003

Tory stalwart Joe Clark partyless

The new Conservative Party of Canada lost three MPs yesterday, hours after a proud announcement that it had officially registered for business and begun operations.

Former Tory leader Joe Clark and fellow MPs Andre Bachand of Quebec and John Herron of New Brunswick said they couldn’t bring themselves to participate in the new organization, formed through a merger with the Canadian Alliance.

“This is not my party,” Clark said as he arrived for what he called his last Tory caucus meeting. “This is something entirely new. I will not be part of this new party.”

Herron, like Clark, said he had notified Speaker Peter Milliken that he would serve out his current term but would keep calling himself a Progressive Conservative — the old party name that was ditched in the merger.

“I sought a mandate to be elected as a Progressive Conservative,” Herron said. “I plan on fulfilling my mandate.”

In effect, Clark and Herron will be treated as independents under Commons rules, with reduced opportunity to ask questions, participate in debates and serve on committees.

Bachand, who has been courted by the federal Liberals, said he hasn’t decided whether to remain in politics but, if he does, it won’t be under the banner of the new Conservative party. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)