Chief – mackaycartoons

Tuesday December 22, 2015

December 21, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 22, 2015

De Caire’s resignation for Mac job surprises police board

In a move that shocked many, Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire announced he is leaving policing and taking on a new role as director of security and parking at McMaster University.

De Caire gave his bosses at the Hamilton Police Services Board just 15 minutes’ notice before he released the news via a two-page letter at 1 p.m. Friday.

“All the essential parts are in place,” De Caire wrote after several paragraphs describing the accomplishments of the service during his tenure.

The news came mere weeks after De Caire pursued and accepted a two-year extension to his controversial term as chief.

At a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, police board chair and city councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he received the chief’s resignation “with great surprise and some regret.”

“The chief and I have worked very well together during my two years as chair,” Ferguson said as he praised the changes in budgeting and policing that have taken place during De Caire’s tenure.

“The singular most impressive program put in place by Chief De Caire is the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team,” Ferguson said, referring to a joint police/St. Joseph’s hospital initiative that pairs a mental-health worker and constable on daily patrols.

Board member Terry Whitehead said Friday afternoon that “we had no idea” the chief was retiring.

“The chief maintained that he wanted another four years and wanted to keep the job,” he said. “There was no sign that was not sincere.”

At Friday’s news conference, De Caire explained that he had applied for the McMaster job before his board had committed on Nov. 19 to extending his term as chief. “I had no conflict (of interest).” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday August 13, 2014

August 12, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 13, 2014

Justin Trudeau Vows To Scrap First Nations Financial Transparency Act

Justin Trudeau has promised to scrap a controversial law forcing First Nations leaders to disclose salaries and band financial statements online and replace it with something more “respectful” if he becomes prime minister in 2015.

Trudeau told The Vancouver Sun the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, passed in 2013 amid complaints from many aboriginal leaders, has been used as a “weapon” against critics of the Stephen Harper government.

“I wouldn’t keep the legislation in place,” Trudeau told the newspaper. “I would work with First Nations to make sure that a proper accountability act that would have disclosed any excesses we see, but is done in a way that is respectful of the First Nation communities.”

The law requires First Nations bands post audited financial statements — including remunerations of chiefs and councillors — on their websites within 120 days of the end of the financial year. Smaller bands without websites can post them to the sites of larger First Nations groups or a site hosted by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

The department is publishing the documents online as they are received from more than 600 First Nations bands. As of Monday afternoon, documents from less than 250 bands were posted, despite a deadline to submit the information by July 29.

After the rules came into effect two weeks ago, it was revealed Kwikwetlem First Nation Chief Ron Giesbrecht received nearly $1 million in remuneration last year for serving as leader and economic development officer of his B.C. band. (Source: Huffington Post)

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This cartoon was posted to Yahoo News Canada, and iPolitics.

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p.s. that’s not even what a six nations headdress looks like. you can’t even get your racist stereotypes right @TheSpec @mackaycartoons

— kris (@khrismmm) August 14, 2014

From the Hamilton Spectator: From: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4756600-august-13-editorial-cartoon/

Saturday, March 23, 2013

March 23, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, March 23 2013

Sheriff Glenn Decaire’s Last Stand

It is interesting, and disturbing in some ways, to watch the test of wills between city council and our police. Our elected officials seem set on making it clear they are in charge of the purse strings, even though they have no line-by-line control over the police budget.

As The Spectator’s Emma Reilly has reported, for the first time in recent memory, council is considering whether to reject a budget increase requested by the police with the endorsement of the Police Service Board (PSB). If council rejects the budget presented by Chief Glenn De Caire, it will go back to the board, which could accept council’s suggested increase or appeal to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

These circumstances are unusual in Hamilton. Historically, councillors have not aggressively disputed the police budget in this way. One result has been a push for the PSB to be accountable to taxpayers, not just the chief, and that is good thing.

It is troubling, though, to see the relationship deteriorate between council and police leadership. It appears council’s confidence and trust in the police leadership has eroded as councillors pushed for answers to valid questions on behalf of Hamilton taxpayers. This is not such a good thing and we must be concerned about the outcome if that relationship is not repaired. Police leaders must adapt to the demands of accountability, particularly regarding taxpayers’ money. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday December 13, 2012

December 13, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday December 13, 2012

Toronto sets a good tone on police budget

A confidential report says Congratulations to Toronto’s police board, which had the gumption to nix a 2 per cent budget increase, voting instead to freeze its budget for 2013. Let’s hope that puts some pressure on the Hamilton Police Services Board to rein in the budget here.

There needs to be more than a little wiggle room in Chief Glenn De Caire’s requested 5.25 per cent increase, which is substantially higher than the 3.5 per cent hike the city expected. Meanwhile, all other departments and agencies have been told to build budgets based on no increased spending.

Members of our police board must stiffen their spines — they represent taxpayers as well as the police. While a 0 per cent increase probably isn’t in the cards, police management should at least hit the 3.5 per cent target. Taxpayers’ pockets are not bottomless. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Tuesday July 24, 2012

July 24, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday July 24, 2012

Toronto police funding ‘huge victory,’ says Mayor Ford

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford declared victory after getting an assurance Monday from the province that funding would continue for a special police unit charged with addressing the root causes of violence.

Funding for the Toronto anti-violence intervention strategy (TAVIS) unit comes from the province, and Ford said Monday that Premier Dalton McGuinty committed to extending that funding on a permanent basis.

“I think that’s a huge victory for the taxpayers of Toronto,” Ford said in brief remarks after a meeting Monday afternoon with the premier and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair that was called in the wake of a recent spate of violent gun crime in the city.

“I take Mr. McGuinty at his word. He told me straight out and no, there was no BS. I wasn’t going to sit there and listen to it,” Ford said.

“I asked for funding for TAVIS and he said, ‘Yes, we’re going to continue funding TAVIS.’ That’s what the people want. People want to live in this great city, which it is, and people want to come here and create jobs and have a safe environment to create jobs.”

Chief Blair said the funding commitment from the province will allow police to build on what TAVIS has already accomplished and to plan future deployments.

The mayor has previously disparaged youth outreach initiatives as “hug-a-thug” programs, while the premier has said a balanced approach is needed, with a need to invest in both social programs and police initiatives.

In another development, Ford will meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Toronto on Tuesday to discuss gun crime. (Source: CBC News)