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China

Friday May 5, 2023

May 5, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 5, 2023

Chong’s Family Targeted by Chinese Operative: Trudeau Government Plays Dumb

April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023

In ancient Rome, Nero famously fiddled while the city burned. In modern-day Canada, it seems that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is similarly preoccupied with distractions while a critical issue simmers. Specifically, the issue of foreign interference from China has been bubbling up for months, and yet the Trudeau government has repeatedly failed to act decisively.

The latest scandal involves the targeting of MP Michael Chong’s family by a Chinese operative, allegedly in retaliation for Chong’s vote in support of deeming China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority as a genocide. This behavior is repugnant and underscores the need for Canada to take a strong stand against foreign interference.

News: Joly weighs Chinese retaliation  

February 25, 2023

What is truly shocking, however, is that the Trudeau government failed to pass on this critical information to Chong or even the Prime Minister himself. The fact that the Chinese operative remained accredited in the Toronto consulate for two years after being identified as the source of the threat is downright inexplicable.

Trudeau’s response to the situation has been lackluster, with his statements contradicting those of his chief of staff and failing to take decisive action. It was only after the scandal hit the headlines that the government announced it would summon China’s ambassador to Canada to protest the alleged intimidation of Chong and his family.

Expelling a diplomat is not a decision to be taken lightly, but the Trudeau government’s ongoing failure to address the issue of foreign interference suggests that stronger action is needed. The fact that the two Michaels were being held as political prisoners in Beijing when this scandal came to light underscores the severity of the issue.

March 9, 2023

MP Chong has every right to be upset and is calling for the operative to be declared persona non grata immediately. It is time for the Trudeau government to stop deflecting, downplaying, and obfuscating and take a strong stand against foreign interference.

David Johnston’s upcoming report on the need for a public inquiry into foreign interference is a step in the right direction, but it is increasingly clear that action needs to be taken now. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but Canada cannot afford to do the same. It’s time for the Trudeau government to wake up and take action to protect our democracy. (AI)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-08, Canada, China, fiddles, intelligence, interference, Justin Trudeau, Michael Chong, Nero, security

Wednesday May 10, 2023

May 1, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 9, 2023

The Beaver and the Panda: A Forest Showdown

Once upon a time, in a peaceful forest, there lived a meek and hardworking beaver named Canada. He always tried to avoid conflict and maintain good relations with his neighbours. One day, a fearsome panda named China came to the forest and demanded respect from all the animals.

At first, the beaver tried to appease the panda by being friendly and accommodating. However, the panda became increasingly aggressive and began to interfere in the beaver’s affairs. The beaver suspected that the panda was trying to intimidate him and his family.

News: Trudeau says expulsion of Chinese diplomat shows Canada ‘will not be intimidated’  

March 26, 2013

One day, the beaver had enough of the panda’s interference and decided to take action. He expelled a Chinese delegate who was causing trouble in the forest. In retaliation, the panda expelled a Canadian diplomat.

But the beaver was not intimidated by the panda’s aggressive behavior. He stood firm and declared that he would not accept foreign interference in his forest. The panda was stymied by the beaver’s sudden aggressiveness and promised further unspecified retaliatory measures.

Researcher: China working to get Canadians ‘at each other’s throats’ 

Despite the panda’s threats, the beaver remained resolute and determined to protect his forest from foreign interference. He warned the panda and other countries engaging in such behaviour that he takes it extraordinarily seriously.

February 25, 2023

In the end, the beaver’s courage and determination paid off. He showed the panda that he was not to be trifled with and that he would do whatever it takes to safeguard his forest from foreign threats. The panda learned a valuable lesson and realized that he could not bully the beaver into submission.

And they lived happily ever after. (AI)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-08, beaver, bully, Canada, China, conflict, diplomacy, foreign interference, forest, intimidation, panda

Friday April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

April 15, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 14, 2023

Babysitting Trudeau: Will Katie Telford’s Testimony Shed Light on Foreign Interference?

March 24, 2023

As we watch Katie Telford, the chief of staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, testify before a parliamentary committee on foreign interference in Canadian elections, it’s hard not to imagine her as a babysitter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Telford, who has been by Trudeau’s side since his early days in politics, has been referred to as “one of the most powerful women in this country” by Conservative MP Raquel Dancho. She has been the ultimate gatekeeper for Trudeau, shaping the political messaging and information that reaches him.

But Telford’s testimony at the committee raises questions about accountability and transparency in the PMO. She has appeared before committees in the past, but Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman rightly asks, “What is the difference this time?” Telford’s role in the Liberal party and her closeness to Trudeau make her testimony crucial in understanding the issue of foreign interference in Canadian elections. However, there are concerns that the committee may not learn anything of value from her, and that her testimony may be a waste of time.

Opinion: Justin Trudeau’s most trusted adviser has always avoided the spotlight. That’s about to change  

February 20, 2019

Moreover, Telford’s unelected position as chief of staff highlights the issue of unaccountable power in the PMO. She and Gerald Butts, Trudeau’s former principal secretary, both have significant influence in the government without being elected by Canadians. This raises questions about democratic accountability and whether the power of the PMO needs to be diluted, as Trudeau had promised in the past.

Telford’s background as a longtime political strategist, who started her career in politics at a young age and has been with Trudeau through multiple election campaigns, speaks to her expertise in navigating the political landscape. However, her loyalty to the Liberal party has also been criticized, with some arguing that she serves the party rather than the interests of Canadians.

News: Trudeau’s top aide to face MPs’ questions today about China’s election meddling  

March 2, 2023

As Telford testifies before the committee, it’s important to keep in mind the larger context of accountability, transparency, and democratic governance in the PMO. Canadians deserve a government that is transparent and accountable, and that values the interests of the people above party politics. As Telford answers questions about foreign interference in Canadian elections, let’s hope that her testimony sheds light on the issue and helps to strengthen our democracy. (AI)

 

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: 2023-07, babysitting, Canada, China, foreign interference, infant, interference, Justin Trudeau, Katie Telford, Parliament

Friday March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 24, 2023

Trudeau’s China Scandal Turns Liberals Into Circus Act

March 3, 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the circus of Canadian politics! Under the big top, we have quite the spectacle with Justin Trudeau trying to tame the wild accusations of Chinese interference in the federal elections. Katie Telford is high-wiring her way out of questioning, while Jagmeet Singh is performing impressive feats on his unicycle. Watch Han Dong as he’s blown out of a cannon, stepping down from the governing Liberal Party over allegations of involvement in Chinese political interference. 

Trudeau, however, seems to have forgotten the age-old advice of stopping digging when in a hole. The uproar over Chinese interference allegations in the federal elections in 2019 and 2021 is taking centre stage. Trudeau’s attempts to dismiss or lash out at his critics have not gone unnoticed, and his government’s refusal to allow a public inquiry is only adding fuel to the fire.

March 9, 2023

David Johnston, the appointed ringmaster, is not calming the chaos either, as he’s been panned by many for his close relationship to Trudeau. The NDP, the Bloc Québécois, and the Conservatives all want an inquiry, and polls this week show the gap between Liberals and Conservatives is negligible.

But wait, who’s that entering the tent? It’s none other than the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who’s come to see the show! With a message for Canada to ramp up air defence and a goal of charting a path forward in the response to Haiti, he’s brought some surprise to the circus.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Biggest Show on…er… for China. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give editorial cartooning a try.

https://mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-0324-NATshort.mp4

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-06, Canada, China, circus, David Johnston, Han Dong, Jagmeet Singh, Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Katie Telford, Pierre Poilievre, procreate, USA

Friday March 3, 2023

March 3, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 3, 2023

Did foreigners interfere in Canada’s elections? Don’t expect politicians to sort it out

The best argument so far for an independent inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada has come from the least independent voices in this escalating furor — politicians and members of Parliament.

February 25, 2023

A hearing at a Commons committee on Wednesday vividly proved the point. National security discussions should come with a warning label — don’t try this at home. Or more accurately, don’t try this in the House.

It comes down simply to this: the question of whether foreign actors have been meddling in Canadian elections is simply too important to be litigated by the people who were players in those elections, with vested interests. That goes for all the political parties: the governing Liberals and their opposition rivals.

Opposition parties are in fact on side with the idea of some independent inquiry, though Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also wants MPs to continue their Commons committee investigation, such as it is right now.

“We cannot allow this affair to simply go up in smoke with a secret private investigation, it must be public so that Canadians know exactly what is going on,” Poilievre told reporters on Wednesday. “We cannot shut those parliamentary inquiries down with a promise that in two years there will be some report on a public inquiry.”

But if Wednesday’s Commons hearings were any indication, Canadians aren’t going to get many answers from the political arena. Justin Trudeau’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, explained as much during her testimony.

January 16, 2020

“We cannot talk about national security information in a public forum,” said Jody Thomas, who stared down this committee with the same, flat, no-nonsense tone she brought to last fall’s public inquiry into the “freedom convoy.” Thomas said at those hearings that she was one of the influential advisers saying yes to a declaration of emergency on the convoy last winter. On Wednesday, she made clear she’s one of the people on the inside arguing against a wide-open public inquiry.

A lot of the back and forth between MPs, Thomas and other senior security officials testifying on Wednesday proved the national security adviser’s point. MPs — who do come from political parties — were gamely trying to get the security people to say how much political parties were in the loop about possible election threats in 2019 and 2022.

Sorry, the politicians were told — that’s top secret. (Though the officials did manage to reveal that the RCMP is not investigating any of the allegations surfacing in the media of late, which is significant.)

The problem with politicians looking into political interference is that they’re not the ones who need to be reassured that Canadian elections are free and fair. It’s the voting public, and the news on that right now is not good.

November 24, 2020

An Angus Reid poll released this week showed that a disturbing two-thirds of Canadians believed that China either definitely or probably tried to influence the past two elections in Canada. An even more disturbing 42 per cent of past Conservative voters were inclined to believe the elections had been “stolen.” Sound familiar?

That means that the horse is already out of the barn on this one. Reassurances from the Liberal government will just feed the cynicism of non-Liberal voters, while opposition’s continuing attempts to cry foul could make those parties sound like they have an axe to grind — a pox on all their houses, in other words.

The opposition leaders are right to ask that their parties have a voice in determining the shape of any future inquiry. In the past, I’ve been told, no election-reform legislation proceeded without broad agreement between all the parties.

That may have been a myth, I haven’t tested that against the long historical record. But it seems the point is wise. On something as important as democracy and electoral legitimacy, you don’t want anyone saying that the ruling party put its thumb on the scale.

Trudeau continues to say that we have all the inquiries we need into electoral interference right now and they need to run their course. The current Commons committee hearings, with no offence to any of the MPs doing their questioning, is not going to be the final word — any more than the various parliamentary hearings into the convoy, which paled in comparison to Justice Paul Rouleau’s inquiry.

Trudeau’s next move should be to convene a meeting of all the opposition leaders, swear them to the highest levels of security clearance, and hammer out how they can get a grasp on this issue before the public gets any more cynical about the fairness of elections. That one gesture in itself would prove that the politicians are putting democracy over their partisan interests.

It would also, as a bonus, be enormously frustrating to whatever foreign actors are enjoying the current spectacle of Canadians questioning whether their democracy works. (The Toronto Star)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-04, Canada, China, Democracy, election, interference, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Punch and Judy, puppet, Xi Jinping
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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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