Canada – Page 339 – mackaycartoons

Wednesday December 10, 2003

December 10, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

December 10, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday 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)

Saturday August 21, 2003

August 21, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 21, 2003

Chirac and Chretien vacation together

On holiday in the Eastern Townships since Friday, French President Jacques Chirac is visiting Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in his home riding of Shawinigan.

The two will be touring an art exhibit in an old aluminium smelter that’s been converted into a museum.

Accompanied by his wife Bernadette, Chirac arrived at the airport in Trois-Rivières late Wednesday morning. The Chiracs will be visiting a sculpture exhibition at the Cité de l’Énergie museum.

The exhibition, The Body Transformed, features more than 60 sculptures by 16 celebrated artists, including Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso.

Following the tour of the museum, Chirac and his wife will visit Chrétien and his wife Aline at their cottage in Lac des Piles. (CP)

Thursday June 19, 2003

June 19, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 19, 2003

Canada to allow gay marriage

Graeme’s Gallery 2003

Same-sex marriages will be recognized as legal in a new law that will re-write the traditional definition of marriage, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien says.

At the same time, the draft bill will protect religious freedom and “the rights of churches and religious organizations to sanctify marriage as they define it,” he told reporters yesterday.

Chrétien has been careful not to express his personal opinion, but insiders say he became persuaded of the need to recognize same-sex marriages over the past year as a Commons committee canvassed the country, and three lower courts — Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario — ruled in its favour.

Yesterday, Chrétien said he recognized “there is evolution in the society, and according to the interpretation of the courts, they concluded that these unions should be legal in Canada.”

He added it is “important” to him that the bill “make a distinction” between religious marriage and the legal institution of marriage. (CP)

Thursday May 1, 2003

June 1, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 1, 2003

Typical Hamiltonian

Graeme’s Gallery 2003

Sheila Copps, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and a candidate for the Liberal leadership, risks losing her Cabinet post if she continues to snipe at ministerial colleagues on sensitive issues, a senior government insider said yesterday.

The source, who was familiar with conversations at yesterday’s special Cabinet meeting in Toronto, said Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, made it “very clear” that Ms. Copps’ criticism of Anne McLellan, the Minister of Health, over the government’s low-profile handling of the SARS outbreak was an unacceptable breach of Cabinet solidarity.

Asked whether the Prime Minister’s criticism of Ms. Copps amounted to a warning, the source said, “Yes, it did.”

A final warning? “Well, let’s cross that bridge when we get to it…. Let’s hope it’s not necessary [to warn her again.]”

Persistent feuding between Ms. Copps and Ms. McLellan over the federal response to SARS came to a head on Monday, when Ms. Copps lashed out at Ms. McLellan on CBC Newsworld. (CP)

Tuesday April 8, 2003

April 8, 2003 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 8, 2003

PM Marks Milestone

Graeme’s Gallery 2003

Some people just naturally like to party. Other people just naturally like to work. If there was any doubt about which camp Jean Chretien falls into, consider the way he will spend today, the 40th anniversary of his first election to Parliament.

The prime minister plans to chair a cabinet meeting in the morning, as he does every Tuesday when the House of Commons is in session, and attend question period in the afternoon. In the evening he’ll really pull out all the stops.

He is scheduled to fly to London, Ont., for dinner and a speech to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, which is honouring his government’s financial support for scholarly research and industrial innovation.

“He’s very proud of the time he has spent in Parliament, that he has been able to serve his constituency and his country,” said spokesman Jim Munson.

But aside from brief tributes by fellow MPs in the House on Tuesday, and a private gathering of family and friends in his hometown of Shawinigan, Que., the following weekend, nothing special is planned to mark the passing of four decades in public life. (CP)