Canada

Wednesday December 11, 2002

Reflecting on a cartoon crafted in December 2002 to mark NAFTA's 10th anniversary, the split-screen imagery juxtaposes a reunion of NAFTA architects with an imagined "Long Goodbye" gathering, providing insight into the intricate dynamics of Canadian politics during Jean Chretien's departure, while recent news of Brian Mulroney's passing adds a poignant layer to this retrospective exploration.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 11, 2002

Liberal Leadership Hopeful

Southam News reported December 8, “Wrestling with the prospect that he will have no lasting legacy to rival Pierre Trudeau’s repatriation of the constitution or even Brian Mulroney’s North American Free Trade Agreement, Chretien is reportedly preparing to assemble a high-level committee to determine the feasibility of a…minimum-income guarantee, which would be developed by merging all or parts of the federal child benefit, welfare, employment insurance and old age pension programs, [and] would allow Chretien to fulfil a number of his campaign promises, notably attacking child poverty.” 

This was a leaden trial balloon. On December 13, Southam News reported that the prime minister had ridiculed the “legacy” idea. “This is our program,” he scoffed, brandishing a copy of Red Book III. “So if you want to know what we’ll do in the next four years, read it.” He admitted a full review of federal income support programs was underway. 

Mr. Chretien has often been accused of breaking his word, and anyone who reads Red Book III will search in vain for the phrase “child poverty.” On January 4, the National Post reported that Finance Minister Paul Martin had assured activist June Callwood “he will use the Liberal government’s new mandate to address the root causes of child poverty.” So what will Mr. Chretien do? Who knows? (AP) (Old website post) 

*** The Long Goodbye ***

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday March 2, 2024 Reflecting on Brian Mulroney's passing, a celestial scene contrasts with a contemporary tableau of present federal leaders engaged in an uncivilized punch-up, highlighting the disagreeable nature of today's political discourse and its evolution.

March 2, 2024

Given the news of Brian Mulroney’s passing, I find myself delving into the intricacies of the Canadian political landscape of his time, and, in particular, reflecting on this editorial cartoon from December 2002, created to mark the 10th anniversary of NAFTA.

The cartoon, framed as a split screen, showcased a reunion in 2002 of NAFTA architects—Carlos Salinas, George H. W. Bush, and Brian Mulroney. It imagined a 2014 gathering marked by the “Long Goodbye,” where a rumpled-looking Jean Chretien sits alone, musing, “‘ow can anybody forget?”

This cartoon’s backdrop was a commemorative event that brought together key players in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Former U.S. President George Bush, in a symbolic gesture, mimicked Ross Perot’s predictions of a “giant sucking sound” resulting from free trade, asserting that such a scenario did not occur. The three North American leaders expressed support for NAFTA, emphasizing the creation of 2 million better-paying jobs despite the loss of 350,000 manufacturing jobs.

The context centred around Chretien’s leadership, often criticized as a protracted farewell, aptly named the “Long Goodbye.” Despite internal party pressures and disapproval, Chretien’s departure ushered in a two-stage renewal for the Liberal party, featuring an agenda to address previous shortcomings.

Chretien’s “lame duck” phase offered a nuanced balance between constraints and newfound freedom, resulting in notable legislative initiatives such as the legalization of same-sex marriage and changes to marijuana laws. The cartoon also alluded to political financing legislation aimed at addressing corruption, particularly in the context of the Sponsorship scandal, worked on earnestly in the final months of Chretien’s reign. Despite these efforts, the Sponsorship scandal remains a lasting part of Chretien’s legacy, overshadowing progressive policies and legislation. (Graeme MacKay – March 3, 2024)

Tuesday October 29, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday October 29, 2002 Kyoto Quiz Canada is still set to ratify the 1997 Kyoto treaty on global warming this year, even as its provinces grumble at its terms and insist that they should not foot the bill, Environment Minister David Anderson said on Monday. Speaking at the end of a one-day meeting in a Halifax casino, Anderson acknowledged he did not set the agenda to ratify the treaty, which would oblige Canada to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 6 percent from 1990 levels by 2012. But he said the chance of delay was "highly unlikely," despite complaints from the provinces that a government plan on how Canada will meet the Kyoto targets is short on detail about what ratification will cost and on who needs to act. Prime Minister Jean Chretien says Canada will ratify the treaty by the end of this year, and that it is the federal government, not the provinces, which determines the issue. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Canada, Alberta, Kyoto, protocol, Ralph Klein, Jean Chretien, environment, climate change, quiz, accord

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 29, 2002

Kyoto Quiz

Canada is still set to ratify the 1997 Kyoto treaty on global warming this year, even as its provinces grumble at its terms and insist that they should not foot the bill, Environment Minister David Anderson said on Monday. Speaking at the end of a one-day meeting in a Halifax casino, Anderson acknowledged he did not set the agenda to ratify the treaty, which would oblige Canada to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 6 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

But he said the chance of delay was “highly unlikely,” despite complaints from the provinces that a government plan on how Canada will meet the Kyoto targets is short on detail about what ratification will cost and on who needs to act.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien says Canada will ratify the treaty by the end of this year, and that it is the federal government, not the provinces, which determines the issue. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday September 5, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 5, 2002

A sober second thought

A panel set up by Canada’s Senate recommended on Wednesday that the government legalize the use of marijuana, saying it should be sold on a regulated basis like alcohol.The report by the Senate — the unelected upper house of Parliament — adds to a growing debate over what to do about the widespread use of marijuana and the attraction the illegal drug holds for organized crime.

The report was immediately denounced by police and is also likely to trigger alarm in the United States, where some politicians are already unhappy about the amount of Canadian-grown marijuana crossing the border.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said in July he was considering whether to decriminalize marijuana but the Senate’s special committee on illegal drugs urged him to go much further.

“Essentially, the committee recommends from now on that marijuana be legalized and available for restricted use, so Canadians can choose whether to consume it or not,” said committee chairman Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin. (Source: Cannabis News) 

 

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Thursday June 20, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 20, 2002

Chretien faces toughest fight

Prime Minister Jean Chretien says his opponents within his own Liberal party are underestimating him again, and he confidently predicts he has enough friends in the party to put together an organization to beat back any challenge to his leadership next February.

Chretien said yesterday he has made a political career of exceeding expectations — and he will do so again.

In an interview with The Toronto Star, he dismissed polls suggesting his rival Paul Martin is more popular in the Liberal party, saying former party leader John Turner was also once seen as the “white knight” in waiting.

“It’s easy to be popular when you’re outside,” he said.

As he prepared to do battle in his toughest fight during 12 years at the party helm, the prime minister was relaxed and animated during a 50-minute conversation in his living room at 24 Sussex Dr.

He promised to draw on the lessons of history to ensure he will leave his party in its best possible shape when he departs.

He predicted a historic deal on African aid at next week’s G-8 summit, which he chairs in Kananaskis, Alta.; he denied any intervention in Izzy Asper’s decision to fire Ottawa publisher Russell Mills, and shrugged off questions of media concentration.

He also said he personally knows that Martin’s support in caucus is inflated. A number of MPs report receiving personal phone calls from their leader as Chretien seeks to shore up support before party voting on his future begins in November. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Wednesday April 24, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday April 24, 2002

Canada Addresses a Meeting of the Insecurity Council of the United Indignations

Fidel Castro on Monday offered the world a chance to eavesdrop on a falsely cordial exchange between heads of state and the behind-the-scenes choreography of a summit meeting. Upset at Mexico’s support of a U.N. condemnation of Cuba’s human rights record last week, Mr. Castro released a tape of a phone call he received from Mexico’s president, Vicente Fox, before last month’s U.N. aid conference in Monterrey. Mr. Fox was outwitted by Cuba’s wily 75-year-old dictator. Contrary to his claims that he had not pressured Mr. Castro to leave the meeting early, Mr. Fox is caught on tape asking ”as a friend” that Mr. Castro do just that. After Mr. Castro agreed to leave early and asked what else he could do for his Mexican ”friend,” Mr. Fox requested that the Cuban leader refrain from criticizing the United States and President Bush. Mr. Castro was incensed. Mr. Fox’s call was akin to a dinner party host reaching out beforehand to an ill-mannered guest. (The New York Times)