construction

Friday September 1, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 1, 2023

Building a New Official Residence for Canada’s Prime Minister

April 8, 2023

April 8, 2023

The current state of the prime minister’s official residence, 24 Sussex Drive, leaves much to be desired. It is no secret that the house is in desperate need of repairs and renovations, making it uninhabitable. However, while plans are being considered for a new official residence, there is an interesting twist to this story.

Recent polls have shown a surge in support for the Conservative party, with Pierre Poilievre emerging as a potential future occupant of the prime minister’s residence. It is quite ironic that Poilievre, who has expressed little interest in the refurbishment or replacement of the official residence, could find himself residing in a place that requires a gatekeeper.

News: Security concerns might finally solve the 24 Sussex conundrum  

February 6, 2018

Poilievre has made it clear that his priorities lie elsewhere, and he envisions a more basic and secure residence for the prime minister. He emphasizes the need for practicality and the ability to receive dignitaries while ensuring the utmost security. Little did he know that a gatekeeper might be necessary for a residence that requires such extensive renovations and repairs.

As the discussions about the future of the prime minister’s residence continue, it is essential to consider the aspirations of potential future occupants like Poilievre. While he may not prioritize the refurbishment, his design input could greatly influence the architecture and functionality of the new residence, from the living quarters to formal reception areas and, ironically, the gatekeeper’s role in ensuring security.

News: 24 Sussex wasn’t always a rat-infested death trap  

August 9, 2023

It is intriguing to think about the prospect of Poilievre residing in a residence that he initially deemed unimportant. Perhaps this would provide him with a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the prime minister and their need for a suitable and secure place to live and work.

As the government explores options for the future of the prime minister’s residence, including potential new locations or a complete rebuild, it is crucial to take into account the desires and input of potential occupants like Poilievre. After all, a residence worthy of Canada’s prime minister should accommodate the needs and preferences of its future residents, including the ironic necessity of a gatekeeper. (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 illustration a try:

Friday July 5, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday July 5, 2002

City, developer lay claim to cannon

A 19th-century cannon that withstood the siege of Sebastopol during the Crimean War has become the centrepiece of a battle between a developer and the city of Hamilton.

Angelo Riccio, of Brampton-based Varcon Construction Co., says the Russian cannon, which stood guard front of the Royal Hamilton Military Institute for three decades, belongs to him.

Glorious architecture gallery

The city, however, says the cannon belongs to the citizens of Hamilton, and Ward 2 Councillor Andrea Horwath is talking about speaking to lawyers.

“They knew it was our property,” Horwath said yesterday at a special meeting of the city’s Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC).

The cannon was removed Saturday from the Robinson and Park streets landmark, which Riccio started tearing down last week ahead of city efforts to try to designate it a heritage building.

Riccio — who was granted a demolition permit from the city two weeks ago — said yesterday he removed the cannon and placed it in storage for safekeeping after receiving calls about it last week. He said he has no intention of selling it, but he wants the cannon to be displayed on the property again if and when it’s developed, as a reminder of the site’s military heritage.

“I want the city to show me proof of ownership,” Riccio said. “It came with the property.” (Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday June 11, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday June 11, 2022

A toast to bad roads and integrity

Today, a little positivity seems in order. And so, two tips of the proverbial chapeau.

February 13, 2015

First, to the Canadian Automobile Association, which just released its annual worst roads in Ontario report. Not because Hamilton gets top billing, as home of the worst road in the province — Barton Street East. And not because the report also has a regional component which tells us the worst roads in Hamilton are Barton East, Aberdeen Avenue, Burlington Street East, Upper James and Rymal Road East.

Anyone who drives the city will confirm that these are among the worst, although there are just so many to choose from.

May 19, 2021

No, we raise a glass to the CAA because its annual report is so useful in many ways. It keeps the state of our roads on the public and government radar. It is holistic in the sense that it doesn’t just ask drivers to vote, it includes pedestrian and cyclists. Too often city streets are judged too much on the whims of motorists, when those arteries are so much more.

The CAA’s report is also a good reality check. You don’t have to look far to find a Hamiltonian who will swear that this city’s roads are simply the worst anywhere. No doubt it seems that way sometimes, but the report’s wide lens confirms that road conditions are terrible in many if not most Ontario cities. Toronto and Prince Edward County are other municipalities that made the worst-of-the-worst list again this year.

March 30, 2022

The truth is that nearly all Ontario cities, especially the older ones like Hamilton, have brutal infrastructure deficits, and roads figure prominently. Municipal governments, ours included, are always running behind trying to keep up. Using the Barton Street example, city hall has plans to spend $7.5 million over the next two years on Barton area streets and sidewalks. By the time that is done, there will be another street on the worst-of list, and more competing demands for money and resource time to fix them.

Not to let city hall off the hook entirely, but it’s worth bearing in mind that our worst roads are often in the industrial heartland of the city, where heavy truck traffic takes its toll more than where traffic is largely residential and commercial. Upper James may be an exception to a point, although it too carries its share of heavy truck traffic across the top of the city to downtown.

A final note: We also love the CAA roads report because it never fails to generate lots of reader comments and letters. We can’t get too many of those, so thanks CAA. See you next year. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

L E T T E R  to the  E D I T O R

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, June 16, 2022

Hamilton’s future

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, June 16, 2022

I am very disappointed in both The Spectator for printing Graeme MacKay’s Saturday editorial cartoon and in Mr. MacKay for creating it. First, to The Spectator — Hamilton is actually part of your newspaper’s name. Too bad you do not accurately promote the city.

But mostly my disappointment is with Mr. MacKay whom I thought would have better knowledge of the LRT project which is such a vital part of Hamilton’s future. I’m pretty sure he actually lives in the area and should be better informed.

The many misinformed who are anti-LRT never did get the fact that a very vital part of the LRT construction is to repair aging infrastructure along the LRT route. These repairs and the LRT project overall will take the city into a much better future. And the monetary value of LRT (business, taxes, etc.) will take care of some potholes, too.

Jane Slote, Hamilton

 

Tuesday July 5, 2016

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday July 5, 2016 One Month to Go - Should we panic about Rio Olympics? Get real When is it time to panic about the Olympics? ItÕs true, things are not pretty in Rio de Janeiro, even as the Olympic torch arrived Tuesday in Brazil, with three months until the opening ceremony of the Games. ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ThereÕs the raw sewage in Guanabara Bay, slated for sailing events. The doubts over whether the subway line connecting the Olympic venues will be finished in time. The horror of the collapse of a recently built $12 million seaside bike pathÊ(two dead, three injured), calling into question the integrity of the other structures the city has built for the Games -- for which, by the way, ticket sales are still hovering at only about 62%. But panic? Well, the Zika virus is spreading, with some delegations debuting "Zika-proof" uniforms. The city's notorious crime rate looms large, and Amnesty International has called attention to the death toll from police crackdowns in the favelas, or shantytowns. All this while the country remains embroiled in economic recession, a corruption scandal and political drama, most notably impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. But letÕs pause a moment. It has become tradition to sound alarm bells in the months leading up to an Olympic Games. Before the last go-round, Sochi for example, cries of crisis came often: Venues built on protected lands. Swollen budgets tied to crime syndicates. Illegal dumping and contaminated water. Anti-gay legislation and hate crimes. Pussy Riot. And stray dogs, everywhere. But good luck finding an example of a truly noble Olympics. Politics take a toll because the Olympics are never free and clear of their political moment. (Continued: CNN News) http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/opinions/rio-olympics-panic-bass/ World, Olympics, Rio, Brazil, 2016, Summer, games, delays, construction, #Rio2016, #RioOlympics

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday July 5, 2016

One Month to Go – Should we panic about Rio Olympics? Get real

When is it time to panic about the Olympics? It’s true, things are not pretty in Rio de Janeiro, even as the Olympic torch arrived Tuesday in Brazil, with three months until the opening ceremony of the Games.

There’s the raw sewage in Guanabara Bay, slated for sailing events. The doubts over whether the subway line connecting the Olympic venues will be finished in time. The horror of the collapse of a recently built $12 million seaside bike path (two dead, three injured), calling into question the integrity of the other structures the city has built for the Games — for which, by the way, ticket sales are still hovering at only about 62%.

But panic? Well, the Zika virus is spreading, with some delegations debuting “Zika-proof” uniforms.

The city’s notorious crime rate looms large, and Amnesty International has called attention to the death toll from police crackdowns in the favelas, or shantytowns.

All this while the country remains embroiled in economic recession, a corruption scandal and political drama, most notably impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.

But let’s pause a moment. It has become tradition to sound alarm bells in the months leading up to an Olympic Games. Before the last go-round, Sochi for example, cries of crisis came often:

Venues built on protected lands. Swollen budgets tied to crime syndicates. Illegal dumping and contaminated water. Anti-gay legislation and hate crimes. Pussy Riot. And stray dogs, everywhere.

But good luck finding an example of a truly noble Olympics. Politics take a toll because the Olympics are never free and clear of their political moment. (Continued: CNN News)

The above cartoon ran locally on June 11, 2015, in advance of the Toronto Pan Am Games.

Saturday November 21, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday November 21, 2015 Confusion surrounds push to preserve Desjardins Canal bridge The fate of one of the city's busiest old bridges is up in the air. And it's entirely possible that not one of the 5,180 drivers-per-hour who use it at peak times could name or even locate the bridge on a map. Don't feel bad Ñ neither could Hamilton councillors Wednesday, despite their decision to talk to the province about preserving parts of the 84-year-old span. The Ministry of Transportation calls the structure one-half of the Desjardins Canal bridges Ñ basically, the east and west traffic lanes of Highway 403 that cross the old watercourse connecting the harbour to Cootes Paradise. But in a previous life, the eastbound span was called the Longwood low-level bridge, carrying that road across the canal from 1931 until the 1960s, when it was incorporated into the highway. (The westbound span was built in the '60s.) The city has to act fast if it wants to influence a looming provincial plan to replace the historical bridge, said Coun. Aidan Johnson, who moved a motion Wednesday directing staff to talk to the province. "All heritage architecture and infrastructure in the city should be protected to the best of our ability precisely because it is our heritage," he said. "Especially if the province is going to pay for it." Johnson said city cultural staff alerted him to the impending bridge replacement Ñ and an opportunity, through the environmental assessment, to lobby to retain "heritage aspects" of the concrete bridge, such as distinctive abutments. The bridge doesn't meet the criteria to be a provincial heritage bridge, according to the project website. But MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei said via email it's possible the existing bridge piers could be "cut off" and preserved to "reflect the width and materials of the old bridge" with the cost of the work covered by the province. A replacement bridge would

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday November 21, 2015

Confusion surrounds push to preserve Desjardins Canal bridge

The fate of one of the city’s busiest old bridges is up in the air.

And it’s entirely possible that not one of the 5,180 drivers-per-hour who use it at peak times could name or even locate the bridge on a map.

Beaten to death by the stadium

Don’t feel bad — neither could Hamilton councillors Wednesday, despite their decision to talk to the province about preserving parts of the 84-year-old span.

The Ministry of Transportation calls the structure one-half of the Desjardins Canal bridges — basically, the east and west traffic lanes of Highway 403 that cross the old watercourse connecting the harbour to Cootes Paradise.

But in a previous life, the eastbound span was called the Longwood low-level bridge, carrying that road across the canal from 1931 until the 1960s, when it was incorporated into the highway. (The westbound span was built in the ’60s.)

The dreams which never die

The city has to act fast if it wants to influence a looming provincial plan to replace the historical bridge, said Coun. Aidan Johnson, who moved a motion Wednesday directing staff to talk to the province.

“All heritage architecture and infrastructure in the city should be protected to the best of our ability precisely because it is our heritage,” he said. “Especially if the province is going to pay for it.”

Johnson said city cultural staff alerted him to the impending bridge replacement — and an opportunity, through the environmental assessment, to lobby to retain “heritage aspects” of the concrete bridge, such as distinctive abutments.

The bridge doesn’t meet the criteria to be a provincial heritage bridge, according to the project website. But MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei said via email it’s possible the existing bridge piers could be “cut off” and preserved to “reflect the width and materials of the old bridge” with the cost of the work covered by the province.

A replacement bridge would still be built, she noted, but the remnant piers would remain as city property. Construction is slated to start next year and won’t finish until 2018.

Neverending Lister

The project website says the preferred fix for the aging canal span is to completely replace and widen the old Longwood bridge while rehabilitating the younger westbound highway structure.

Johnson argued the city has nothing to lose for arguing to preserve part of the “beautiful” bridge — even as he acknowledged being initially confused about exactly what bridge is under threat.

Councillors bemusedly searched the Internet and unsuccessfully tossed out guesses about exactly which bridge was under discussion during the meeting.

The confusion was understandable — the canal is criss-crossed by several historic spans, including the McQuesten high-level bridge and rail bridges used by CP and CN.

But unless you paddle the canal or walk the adjacent trail, you’d never realize the stretch of Highway 403 is a bridge at all.

Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, a former construction industry boss, expressed doubt about the idea of a partial preservation.

“In my experience, it’s not easy to save parts of a bridge,” he said. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)