Chocolate

Thursday April 6, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 6, 2023

Trump: Fearless Defender, or Hollow Chocolate Easter Egg

March 22, 2023

As Easter weekend approaches, the US is facing a different kind of resurrection: the first criminal trial of a former president in history. Donald Trump, resembling a giant hollow chocolate Easter egg being cracked by Lady Justice, has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records and violating federal campaign finance law. The charges relate to a hush money payment of $130,000 made to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with Trump.

News: Trump’s Day of Martyrdom Didn’t Go Quite as He Expected

While Trump calls it a “fake case” and accuses Democrats of conspiracy to interfere with next year’s presidential election, prosecutors say it points to a pattern of suppressing potentially damaging stories. The charges, which carry a maximum of four years in prison, could prove to be a major distraction for the Republican front-runner and add a new layer of turmoil to his party’s primary.

November 10, 2022

The trial could begin as early as January 2024, just as primaries begin to select the party’s nominee for the presidential election. While a criminal conviction would not prevent Trump from either running for president or from reclaiming the Oval Office, the prolonged legal fight could prove to be a major distraction and add a new layer of turmoil to his party’s primary.

This is not the only legal battle Trump faces. He is also the focus of three other investigations, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the attack on the Capitol as it was certifying Joe Biden’s victory, and over the former president’s handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. As the legal battles continue to loom over him, Trump may claim he’s “fearlessly defending our nation”, but many are concerned that the country seems to be going to hell, as he once put it.

News: Trump remains the most popular Republican despite his indictment 

July 23, 2022

Despite the charges against him, Trump remains a divisive figure in American politics, with a strong base of supporters who are fiercely loyal to him. However, the case against him has pulled the country into uncharted political territory, and many are watching to see how it will play out in the coming months and years.

As we approach the Easter weekend, a time of reflection and renewal, it seems fitting to consider the potential impact of this trial on the country’s political landscape. Will it bring about a renewed sense of justice and accountability, or will it deepen the divisions that have already fractured the nation? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the coming months are sure to be filled with uncertainty, as the US grapples with the aftermath of the Trump presidency and looks towards the future. (AI)

 

Saturday April 16, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 16, 2022

Ford wants masking in high-risk places, but optimistic wave has peaked

Young Doug Ford: The Series

Premier Doug Ford said Thursday he would like to see mask mandates continue on transit, in hospitals and other high-risk locations in Ontario, but he is optimistic the current wave of the pandemic might have peaked based on wastewater data.

Both the premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott also repeated Thursday that Ontario’s hospital system has the capacity to handle any increase in cases related to the current pandemic wave.

That was the message the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health gave to local public health officials who met with him late Wednesday to ask the province to take more action, such as mask mandates in schools, to reduce high rates of COVID-19 transmission across the province. The provincial government removed most pandemic restrictions last month and says there is no need to reinstate them.

Saturday April 3, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 3, 2021

Ontario’s COVID-19 ’emergency brake’ shutdown takes effect on Saturday

January 13, 2021

An Ontariowide “shutdown” will be put in place to combat an “alarming” surge in COVID-19 infections, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday as intensive care admissions related to the virus surpassed those of the second wave of the pandemic.

Citing the need for drastic action, Ford said the change will take effect Saturday and continue for at least four weeks.

The government is asking Ontarians to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication and other essential services, but stopped short of imposing a stay-at-home order like it did in January.

Retail stores will see limits on capacity while restaurants will be restricted to takeout, delivery and drive-through service, the premier said.

April 11, 2020

The government has said schools will also remain open because they are crucial to students’ mental health.

“The decision was not made lightly,” Ford said in announcing the new measures. “I know the toll these restrictions continue to take on people’s mental health and well-being.”

The announcement came hours after the province’s science advisers said stay-at-home orders are needed to control the third wave driven by more contagious and deadly COVID-19 variants.

The Ontario Science Advisory Table said that otherwise, the province could see up to 6,000 new infection cases by mid-April. With the restrictions in place, the modelling data shows there will still be about 800 people in ICUs by the end of April.

December 1, 2007

“The decision was not made lightly,” Ford said in announcing the new measures. “I know the toll these restrictions continue to take on people’s mental health and well-being.”

The announcement came hours after the province’s science advisers said stay-at-home orders are needed to control the third wave driven by more contagious and deadly COVID-19 variants.

The Ontario Science Advisory Table said that otherwise, the province could see up to 6,000 new infection cases by mid-April. With the restrictions in place, the modelling data shows there will still be about 800 people in ICUs by the end of April. (Global News)

Every cartoon starts as a scrappy sketch

 

Tuesday February 2, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday February 2, 2021

No written guarantee on EU vaccine shipments, says international trade minister

January 28, 2021

Minister of International Trade Mary Ng said she has received assurances that export controls on vaccines introduced by the European Union will not affect Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine orders. 

Testifying at the House of Commons trade committee Monday, Ng said the government received verbal assurances in phone conversations with EU officials that Canada’s shipments will not be disrupted.

Opposition MPs asked Ng why the government had not secured a more formal, written guarantee from the EU.

Ng said she spoke with EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“I reiterated that Canada has advanced purchase agreements with vaccine manufacturers in Europe, and we expect that those agreements be respected,” Ng said.

January 7, 2021

“Vice-President Dombrovskis provided strong reassurances that this mechanism will not delay vaccine shipments to Canada, and we both committed to continue to work together, as we have since the beginning of the pandemic.”

On Jan. 29, the European Commission introduced new export controls for the 27-member bloc, which requires member states to get authorization before they can export vaccine doses out of the EU.

The export controls have raised concerns that Canada’s advance purchase agreements may not be honoured, which would threaten the supply of vaccines coming into the country. Canada is not on a list of countries exempted from the controls.

While Ng said Canada would prefer to get on that list, she did not elaborate on a pathway to do so. She repeatedly brought up that other countries such as the United States and Australia are also not exempt.

Ng said she spoke with the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Sunday, Sophie Wilmès, who gave similar assurances that Canada’s advanced purchase agreements would be honoured.  The Pfizer vaccines Canada has ordered are being manufactured at a facility in Puurs, Belgium.

Conservative MP Ziad Aboultaif said the government should have pushed for a written guarantee. 

“There’s a term here — if it’s not in writing, [it] never happened. Do you agree?” Aboultaif asked.

Ng responded that she was confident in the assurances she had received.

“What I would say is that assurances by a vice-president and commissioner of the European Union, as well as the European Union president, to a prime minister, is a … good thing,” Ng said. (CBC) 

 

Thursday February 14, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 14, 2019

Blasting Premier Doug Ford for cronyism in appointments

February 14, 2018

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is cranking up the heat on Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford as MPPs prepare to return to Queen’s Park next week.

In a fiery speech last Friday to New Democrats at an Ajax caucus meeting, Horwath accused Ford of cronyism.

“He’s handing out tickets on his gravy train. And while the appointments, the backroom deals, and the favours to friends are piling up, the rest of Ontario is paying for it,” she said.

January 12, 2019

That’s an apparent reference to the Tories’ bid to install Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner, a Ford pal, as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Integrity commissioner J. David Wake is currently doing an ethics investigation into the appointment, which has raised questions about the independence of the OPP. Taverner, 72, is in limbo until Wake’s probe, which was triggered by an NDP complaint, is complete.

Horwath also took aim at Dr. Rueben Devlin, head of the premier’s council on tackling hospital overcrowding.

Animated!

“What has Doug Ford done? He has launched a sham health-care consultation and given his buddy a $1-million contract to consult, all while scheming behind closed doors to overhaul health care, and throw open the door to unprecedented levels of privatization,” she said.

Last week, the NDP was leaked draft legislation that proposes to reform the health-care system by creating a new super agency that Horwath claims would increase privatization of medical services.

Health Minister Christine Elliott has denied that charge, insisting nothing has been “finalized.” (Source: Toronto Star)