Friday February 27, 2026

February 27, 2026 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 27, 2026

Canada’s Pragmatic Path Forward with India

April 26, 2025

In recent years, Canada’s relationship with India has faced challenges, exacerbated by the missteps of the Trudeau era. His visit, remembered for flashy costumes and misplaced gestures, did little to advance Canada’s interests, leaving a legacy of strained ties and missed opportunities.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is charting a new course focused on substance over style. This shift towards a transactional relationship with India is both pragmatic and necessary. With the United States under Donald Trump’s unpredictable and often hostile leadership, Canada’s reliance on its southern neighbour has become increasingly untenable.

News: Carney’s India trip is all business: An inside look at what the PM has planned

Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, marked by grand gestures towards Russia and North Korea, has isolated the U.S. while strengthening alternative global alliances.

September 3, 2025

India’s vast and growing economy offers a crucial partnership opportunity. Carney’s strategy involves securing meaningful trade agreements, such as a comprehensive economic partnership and energy deals. These agreements are about more than economic gain; they represent a strategic alignment that reduces dependence on an unreliable U.S. partner.

November 18, 2024

While economic engagement is a priority, Canada cannot ignore underlying challenges. Governance issues, human rights concerns, and sectarian tensions remain critical. Like China, India presents complexities, including political interference and domestic issues that aren’t particularly appealing. Carney’s administration must weigh these through the lens of recent history, reassessing who Canada can and should do business with, and recognizing those, like the U.S., who can no longer be relied upon.

Analysis: A new foot forward in India

September 20, 2023

The move toward a transactional relationship with India marks a departure from past superficial diplomacy. It’s about recognizing shared interests and forging resilient partnerships that withstand geopolitical shifts. Canada’s approach must be clear-eyed and pragmatic, ensuring strategic engagements do not compromise core principles.

In moving forward, Canada has the opportunity to redefine its global standing, blending economic ambition with a commitment to values, while mitigating the risks of U.S. hostility. This path, though complex, is essential for securing Canada’s place in an interconnected world.

Saturday April 26, 2025

April 26, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 26, 2025 (Published in the Toronto Star)

Canada’s Historic Moment Amidst Trump’s Global Disruptions

April 2, 2025

In the annals of modern history, few leaders have managed to cast as wide and as contentious a shadow as Donald Trump. His second term as President of the United States has proven to be an era of unprecedented upheaval, marked by a series of aggressive and unpredictable maneuvers that have sent shockwaves through global political and economic systems. As Canada stands on the brink of a pivotal federal election, Trump’s influence looms large, creating a historic moment that could redefine the nation’s role on the world stage.

From the outset, Trump’s presidency has been a whirlwind of controversy and disruption. His recent threats to annex Canada and impose punitive tariffs have not only strained bilateral relations but have also thrust Canadian politics into the international spotlight. Mark Carney, the Liberal leader and a former central banker, finds himself in a unique position. His expertise and calm demeanour in the face of Trump’s provocations have resonated with voters seeking stability in uncertain times. Inadvertently, Trump has become a significant factor in Canada’s electoral calculus, making this election one of the most consequential in recent memory.

The Guardian: Canada election is Carney’s to lose in contest turned on its head by Trump

March 21, 2025

The impact of Trump’s policies is not confined to North America. Across the globe, allies and partners are reassessing their relationships with the United States. The European Union, once a steadfast ally, now contemplates a future where it must forge stronger ties internally and with other global powers to counterbalance an unpredictable U.S. administration. Trump’s disregard for established international norms and his penchant for unilateral actions have left many nations grappling with the reality of a world order in flux.

For Canada, this moment presents both challenges and opportunities. Trump’s actions have underscored the vulnerabilities inherent in over-reliance on a single ally, prompting a reevaluation of Canada’s foreign policy and trade strategies. The positive international reception of Carney’s leadership during this crisis highlights Canada’s potential to lead in building multilateral relationships that transcend traditional alliances. This is Canada’s moment to assert itself as a resilient and adaptable nation, capable of navigating the complexities of a rapidly changing global landscape.

Opinion: Donald Trump can’t stop trash talking Canada. That may be the reminder we need

March 5, 2025

Yet, the path forward is fraught with uncertainty. Trump’s polarizing presence is both exhausting and dangerous, not only for the United States and Canada but for the world at large. His willingness to upend decades of diplomatic progress in favour of short-term gains and headline-grabbing antics threatens the stability of international systems built on cooperation and mutual respect. As nations scramble to adjust, the spectre of a fragmented global order looms large, with unpredictable consequences for economic and geopolitical stability.

In these historic times, Canada’s election serves as a microcosm of the broader global struggle to adapt to a new era of leadership defined by disruption and unpredictability. As Canadians head to the polls, they do so with the knowledge that their choice will resonate far beyond their borders, shaping not only their nation’s future but also its place within the international community.

Analysis: As the World Recoils, Canada Votes in the Shadow of a Rogue President

February 4, 2025

In the face of such challenges, it is imperative that Canada—and indeed the world—remains steadfast in its commitment to the principles of diplomacy, cooperation, and resilience. Only by embracing these values can we hope to navigate the turbulent waters of the present and chart a course toward a more stable and inclusive future.

Not Going Away

So, here’s the scoop: We’ve got this new guy in the neighbourhood, and let’s just say he’s quite the boor and buffoon. But unlike your typical troublesome neighbour, this guy isn’t just a headache for the folks nearby—oh no, he’s a well-known nuisance to everyone up and down the street, and even to the people across the block.

The kicker is the crew he’s got living under the same roof with him. You’ve got J.D. Vance, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr., Howard Lutnick, Kash Patel—the list keeps going. And then there are the friends who just can’t stay away, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lindsey Graham, and Ted Cruz, all adding to the chaos. It’s like a never-ending parade of drama and misery that these new folks are bringing to everyone around them.

Picture this: We used to have civilized people in that house. Now, it’s filled with nasty folks who can’t seem to get along with anyone, always tossing around insults. There’s no kindness, just this glaring sense of entitlement.

And then there’s Donald Trump, who loves to repeat his mantra—“We don’t need Canada” or “Canada would make a fine 51st state.” Seriously, it’s like he wants Canada but also claims the USA doesn’t need it. Who in their right mind thinks this is a way to win friends? It’s maddening, insulting, and downright bullying.

This is the backdrop as Canadian voters head to the polls next week. Why Trump gets a kick out of this is anyone’s guess, but it’s definitely something for the voters to think about as they cast their ballots.

Check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for April 26, 2025, below! If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I share weekly editorial cartoons every Saturday morning. Substack is a crucial platform for me amidst the uncertainties of being a staff cartoonist, especially given recent layoffs and newspaper closures affecting our field. As long as I hold my position, subscriptions will remain free. Thank you for your support! This “note” helps craft my weekly posts and showcases animated versions of my cartoons. Enjoy!

YouTube: The 2025 Federal Election Elephant https://youtu.be/tyRFNYSpHPc

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Friday November 29, 2024

November 29, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

October 12, 2016

Shotgun Divorce Wednesday October 12, 2016

When I drew a cartoon back in 2016 of Trump as a gun-wielding clown chasing the GOP’s elephant out of his circus tent, I couldn’t have imagined just how spot-on it would turn out to be. Back then, Trump was the outsider shaking up the Republican Party, and the party itself still seemed to have a pulse—full of leaders who at least tried to push back. But now, eight years later, it’s clear Trump wasn’t just running the circus; he was slowly turning it into his personal kingdom.

February 26, 2021

The old GOP—the one that talked about free markets, small government, and national defence—feels like ancient history. People like Mitt Romney, the Bush family, Liz Cheney, and John McCain represented a party with ideals (whether or not you agreed with them). They thought they could outlast Trump, that voters would tire of the chaos. Instead, the opposite happened: the base embraced him, and anyone who didn’t was shown the door. Now, loyalty to Trump isn’t just expected—it’s the whole game.

In Trump’s first term, there was still a mix of insiders, skeptics, and yes-men in his administration. But it didn’t take long for him to figure out who was “with him” and who wasn’t. By the time we reached 2024, Trump wasn’t making the same “mistakes.” His Cabinet picks and key appointments are all about loyalty, not experience. Some of these choices—like putting TV personalities or controversial figures into top positions, Dr Oz, and Pete Hegseth — have even Republicans raising their eyebrows. But guess what? Nobody dares to seriously challenge him. The ones who do, like Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger, are now on the outside looking in, while people like Tulsi Gabbard and Stephen Miller are riding high.

February 4, 2021

The GOP has been completely reworked in Trump’s image. It’s no longer about policies or platforms; it’s about fealty. If you’re not 100% behind Trump, you’re out. Even Nikki Haley, who’s tried every dance move possible to stay in Trump’s orbit without completely losing herself, has found herself sidelined again. Trump’s version of the party has no room for skeptics, no patience for dissent. Hello, RFK Jr.

This is the Republican Party now. It runs on loyalty oaths and culture wars. Fiscal conservatism, small government—those are relics. The GOP isn’t about ideas anymore; it’s about Trump and the grievances he taps into. For his supporters, that’s enough. They love the fight, the energy, the fact that Trump’s version of the party feels more connected to working-class anger and less like the old, buttoned-up establishment.

Looking back at that 2016 cartoon, it felt exaggerated at the time—a clown, a gun, the poor GOP elephant running for its life. But honestly, it doesn’t feel exaggerated anymore. The circus has turned into a monarchy, with Trump firmly on the throne. And for now, there’s no one left in the party brave—or foolish—enough to try and take it from him.

Tuesday November 18, 2024

November 19, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

November 18, 2024

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 18, 2024

When the U.S. Has Pneumonia, Canada Catches Something Worse

January 17, 2012

Pierre Trudeau’s metaphor of Canada as a mouse sleeping beside the American elephant has never felt more apt. But in today’s climate, it’s less about sleeping peacefully and more about catching something far nastier than a sneeze from our ailing neighbour. If the United States is stumbling with the long-term effects of its MAGA infection, Canada, always downstream, seems destined for something more chronic and debilitating.

In the United States, MAGA is no longer just a political slogan—it’s a systemic condition. Despite polarizing effects on the electorate, Trumpism has reshaped American politics, culture, and international relations. Rising discontent and populism, once confined to the U.S., are spreading northward like a contagious illness. With Trump’s resurgence in American politics, Canada’s immunity is faltering. Polls show that support for Trump has risen here, particularly among young men and Conservative voters, reflecting the restlessness and dissatisfaction that MAGA thrives upon.

News: Canadian support for Donald Trump higher than in last U.S. presidential election, poll finds

November 8, 2024

Canada’s political and economic systems are deeply intertwined with those of the U.S., making any American turmoil impossible to ignore. Yet, our susceptibility to its influence often leaves us worse off. Take healthcare: Ontario faces an impending crisis, with chronic illness rates set to double by 2040. Strains on the system are compounded by recent spikes in walking pneumonia—a disease with mild origins but serious implications if left unchecked.

Similarly, MAGA ideology in Canada could exacerbate existing political fractures, intensifying polarization and undermining collaborative governance.

The metaphor writes itself: the U.S. is sick with pneumonia, and Canada, with its smaller size and weaker defences, risks developing a life-threatening condition.

Historically, Canada’s socio-political structure has relied on collective resilience, but MAGA thrives on division. Our rising health and social challenges mirror the vulnerabilities that MAGA-style populism exploits. With increasing chronic illnesses and strains on public services, there’s fertile ground for frustration and blame-shifting. This echoes Andrew Parkin’s observation that support for Trump in Canada is less about MAGA loyalty and more an expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo. Unfortunately, such dissatisfaction could be weaponized here in ways even more destructive than in the U.S.

News: Ontario’s reached a turning point’: Adults living with major illness in the province to double by 2040, study warns

November 12, 2018

Like walking pneumonia, MAGA’s influence is persistent but preventable. Strengthening Canadian democratic norms, fostering civic engagement, and investing in healthcare and social equity are vital steps. Much like vaccines for physical illnesses, proactive measures can build immunity against political contagion. But as Ontario’s health report warns, waiting too long to act can lead to overwhelming consequences.

If the U.S. has pneumonia, Canada must recognize its own vulnerabilities and act decisively. Without vigilance, the mouse may find itself not just jostled by the elephant but crushed under its weight.

Ah, the old adage: “When the U.S. sneezes, Canada catches pneumonia.” It’s a saying that’s practically folklore, illustrating how closely our fortunes are tied to our big southern neighbour. Pierre Trudeau once famously said Canada was like a mouse sleeping beside an elephant—vulnerable to every twitch, sneeze, or roll of its bedmate. But in my latest cartoon, the stakes have risen. The elephant isn’t just sneezing; it’s bedridden with a MAGA infection. And the poor mouse? Well, the prognosis isn’t looking great.

It’s November—peak infection season—and the metaphor couldn’t be timelier. America’s internal struggles, now turbocharged by MAGA populism, are spilling over into Canada. Trump’s influence, rising Conservative enthusiasm for him, and a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo are all symptoms of our neighbour’s turmoil that could infect us too. And like the respiratory viruses spiking in Ontario, this imported strain might hit Canada harder due to our smaller size and heightened vulnerabilities.

Speaking of “snoozing,” and in the spirit of not letting an online chat with someone who has decided to hibernate go to waste, here’s a gem from my Facebook feed.

“Snoozing this page among others, as I’m sick and tired of hearing his voice, seeing his face, and hearing Canadian media speak incessantly about this persimmon potentate.”

To which I responded: I get it. The Trump media deluge can be overwhelming. But ignoring it won’t make it go away. Canadians can’t afford to snooze through this moment, given the challenges looming on our side of the border. Whether it’s economic upheaval, strained social systems, or adapting to live beside a climate-change denier, the fallout is very real. Sure, take a break for some cat videos—but beware the perils of pressing snooze for too long.

Take a look at the cartoon, share your thoughts, and let me know: is Canada the mouse who’ll roar, or just about to come down with a really really bad cold? Volume up on this please:

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Saturday January 14, 2023

January 14, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 14, 2023

How the Trump, Biden classified documents cases compare

The revelation that classified materials were discovered at think tank offices formerly used by President Joe Biden, as well as at the president’s Delaware home, has prompted questions on how the circumstances compare with the seizure last year of hundreds of documents marked as classified from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of former President Donald Trump.

May 27, 2020

A side-by-side look at the similarities and differences between the two situations:

How many classified documents are we talking about?

BIDEN: It’s unclear precisely how many classified materials have been obtained from Biden’s office and home. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, said Monday that “a small number of documents with classified markings” were discovered on Nov. 2, 2022, in a locked closet at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a think tank in Washington, as Biden’s personal attorneys were clearing out the offices.

Biden kept an office at the Penn Center after he left the vice presidency in 2017 until shortly before he launched his 2020 presidential campaign. It was affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania and continued to operate independently of the Biden administration.

On Thursday, Sauber said a second batch of documents with classified markings — a “small number,” he said — had been found in a storage space in Biden’s garage in Wilmington, Delaware, with one document being located in Biden’s personal library in his home.

TRUMP: Roughly 300 documents with classification markings — including some at the top secret level — have been recovered from Trump since he left office in January 2021.

Wednesday August 10, 2022

In January 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration retrieved 15 boxes of documents, telling Justice Department officials they contained “a lot” of classified material. In August, FBI agents took about 33 boxes and containers of 11,000 documents from Mar-a-Lago, including roughly 100 with classification markings found in a storage room and an office.

How quickly were the classified documents turned over?

BIDEN: After the materials were discovered at the think tank, Biden’s personal attorneys immediately alerted the White House counsel’s office, which notified NARA, which took custody of the documents the next day, Sauber said.

“Since that discovery, the President’s personal attorneys have cooperated with the Archives and the Department of Justice in a process to ensure that any Obama-Biden Administration records are appropriately in the possession of the Archives,” Sauber said in a statement.

Part of that cooperation, Sauber said this week, included Biden’s personal lawyers examining other locations where records might have been shipped after Biden left the vice presidency in 2017. That search concluded Wednesday night, Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday, though he did not say when the second batch of documents was found.

Sauber said the Justice Department was “immediately notified” after the documents were found at Biden’s home and that department lawyers took custody of the records.

February 11, 2021

The revelation that additional classified documents were uncovered by Biden’s attorneys came hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged questions about Biden’s handling of classified information and the West Wing’s management of the discovery. She said the White House was committed to handling the matter in the “right way,” pointing to Biden’s personal attorneys’ immediate notification of the National Archives.

TRUMP: A Trump representative told NARA in December 2021 that presidential records had been found at Mar-a-Lago, nearly a year after Trump left office. Fifteen boxes of records containing some classified material were transferred from Mar-Lago to NARA in January.

A few months later, investigators from the Justice Department and FBI visited Mar-a-Lago to get more information about classified materials taken to Florida. Federal officials also served a subpoena for some documents believed to be at the estate.

In August 2022, FBI agents conducting a search retrieved 33 boxes from Mar-a-Lago. The search came after lawyers for Trump provided a sworn certification that all government records had been returned. (Continued: PBS)