Tuesday January 23, 2024
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 23, 2024
Trudeau’s Let-Them-Eat-Cake Moment
January 9, 2023
Oh, how heartwarming to see Justin Trudeau, the self-proclaimed master of understanding the masses, grace us with his presence in an interview with Susan Delacourt. In a stunning display of Trudeau’s exceptional grasp of reality, he assured us that he comprehends the deep-seated grumpiness of Canadians – as if he’s the empathetic therapist of the nation.
Susan Delacourt: Mad at Justin Trudeau? Tuning him out? The prime minister says he hears you — and he gets it
In this riveting exchange, Trudeau skillfully evaded any discussion about the plummeting poll numbers and the rising star of Pierre Poilievre. Why bother addressing the elephant in the room when you can just pat yourself on the back for running a country “in a really, really complex time”? Bravo, Mr. Trudeau, for your unparalleled ability to state the obvious.
Septemebr 30, 2023
Trudeau’s response to tough times? “Define ‘tough times’ because that sounds like Monday to me.” Ah, yes, just another Monday in the glamorous life of our dear prime minister, juggling scandals, protests, and a general sense of public resentment. How relatable.
Delacourt seems content to let Trudeau ramble on about the intricacies of immigration and the challenges of governance without bothering to challenge him on the real issue – his staying power. It’s almost like watching a magician perform, distracting the audience with sleight of hand while the real trick is happening behind the scenes.
Trudeau’s musings on the challenges faced by a “centre-left party” are truly enlightening. Apparently, being in the middle is tough because you can’t fire up the fringes. Newsflash, Trudeau: maybe it’s not about being in the middle; perhaps it’s about the lack of innovative leadership and fresh ideas.
January 20, 2023
Oh, but let’s not forget Trudeau’s profound analysis of opinion-as-identity politics. Yes, because the real problem is that people have opinions, and these opinions form their identities. It’s almost as if that’s how democracy works. But fear not, for Trudeau, the defender of institutions, expertise, and authority, will guide us through these tumultuous times with his unparalleled wisdom.
And, of course, Trudeau casually dismisses his unpopularity with a wave of the hand, attributing it to the collective grumpiness of the nation. How magnanimous of him to take responsibility for everything, even if it’s just to say, “It’s gotta be the prime minister’s fault.” Bravo, Trudeau, for your unwavering commitment to self-awareness.
In the grand tradition of Marie Antoinette, Trudeau seems blissfully unaware of the growing resentment and disillusionment among Canadians. But hey, who needs a leader with a fresh perspective when you can have a prime minister who’s mastered the art of brushing aside criticism and deflecting blame? The Trudeau magic show continues, and we’re all invited to marvel at the spectacle of a leader who’s impervious to the woes of his own making.
Duncan Macpherson, a Toronto Star editorial cartoonist, gained notoriety for his sharp and pointed cartoons in the post-Second World War era, particularly taking aim at Canadian political figures. One of his most celebrated cartoons featured former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker during the 1959 Avro Arrow crisis. In this cartoon, Macpherson depicted Diefenbaker as a toothy and bejeweled Marie Antoinette, famously exclaiming, “Let ’em eat cake.”
The cartoon satirized Diefenbaker’s decision to cancel the Avro Arrow project, resulting in the loss of 14,000 jobs. Macpherson’s illustration was a commentary on the perceived callousness of the prime minister towards the economic consequences of his actions. The cartoon is often credited with marking the beginning of the country’s disillusionment with the Diefenbaker government, as it highlighted the impact of political decisions on the livelihoods of ordinary Canadians.
Pierre Berton, a historian, noted that Macpherson’s portrayal of Diefenbaker as Marie Antoinette played a significant role in diminishing the prime minister’s revered status up to that point. The cartoon, by bringing attention to the Avro Arrow crisis and its consequences, is considered by some as a factor contributing to Diefenbaker’s decline in political popularity.
Armchair Editorial Cartoonists
After sharing the Macpherson editorial cartoon on Facebook, it was disheartening to see that many people either didn’t know or were pretending not to know about what is arguably Canada’s most celebrated editorial cartoon. Whether it was a genuine lack of familiarity or a deliberate choice to ignore any criticism of their admired Prime Minister, the outcome was disappointing.
As a side note to this frustration, there were plenty of hyper-critical comments from individuals with clear partisan biases, which isn’t a new thing for us editorial cartoonists. However, when they take it upon themselves to snipe and lecture an editorial cartoonist with their wrongheaded notions of what satire actually is, questioning with snarky quips like “where’s the joke,” “not funny,” and insisting that editorial cartoons are supposed to be funny. While the often nauseating right-wing quip, “the left can’t meme,” didn’t appear under this particular cartoon, it likely would’ve had it been Poilievre or Trump portrayed as Marie Antoinette. Surprisingly, there were no, “now draw Poilievre”, or “now draw Trump”, or, “now draw ______,” banalities by partisan trolls chirping under commentary they don’t approve of. It is all a never-ending cycle of tediousness on social media, which leaves one to wonder why even bother posting when it’ll just be fodder for mindless banter. 
Kate Beaton’s cartoon, here, accurately reflects much of thought that goes into a the progress of any editorial cartoon. The irony of this being many out there likely ignorant of the cartoon being parodied! I tried this parody out in 2008 only to face the same sort of rejection from my own editor.
Moving on, while some might recognize renowned cartoonists like Honore Daumier, Thomas Nast, or Ralph Steadman from other countries, there seems to be a lack of awareness about Duncan Macpherson, who could be considered Canada’s greatest editorial cartoonist. It’s a sad reflection on Canadian culture that satire doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Even with numerous Orders of Canada awarded to editorial cartoonists in the past 50 years, the majority of people can only name two—Aislin and Donato* (oddly, Donato does not have an OC). Sadly, even that knowledge is fading, with only a few remembering cartoonists like Len Norris in Vancouver, Yardley Jones in Edmonton, Blaine in Hamilton, or Bob Chambers in Halifax.
The great editorial cartoonists of Canada are left to be remembered by a small group of enthusiasts and present-day cartoonists. The fact that Duncan Macpherson is slipping from collective memory is disheartening. Figures like John Wilson Bengough, Arch Dale, and Albéric Bourgeois, and their contributions to Canadian democracy, are now just footnotes in history textbooks. It’s a failure of Canadian education and culture, as if the only way to gain attention and respect in Canadian society was to play hockey on the rink rather than sketch with pens and ink. (Graeme MacKay)
