film – mackaycartoons

Saturday July 22, 2023

July 22, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 22, 2023

“Justieheimre”: A Summer Showdown of Political Blockbusters!

In this mesmerizing summer of Canadian leadership unfolding on the big screen, “Barbenheimer” brings together a collision of contrasting styles that mirrors the nation’s political landscape. The moviegoers, draped in pink and stoic enthusiasts alike, have found themselves captivated by the drama playing out before them.

September 1, 2018

Justin Trudeau’s portrayal of “Barbie” as Canada’s Prime Minister embodies the sunny and inclusive facade that marked his entrance into politics. His charm, good looks, and progressive policies won over the hearts of voters, promising a bright and diverse future for the nation. But as with any fairytale, challenges arose. Opposition to his policies revealed the cracks in his inclusive agenda, turning the once-bright political honeymoon into a stormy reality.

September 13, 2022

Opposing “Barbie,” Pierre Poilievre stepped into the shoes of “Poliheimre” as the Leader of the Opposition. His style, akin to Oppenheimer’s role in creating the atomic bomb, was relentless and divisive. Characterized by attack politics, his strategy seemed to be about tearing down rather than building up. This approach, coupled with a disconnect from the modern world, further added to the political spectacle.

May 27, 2023

In the midst of this clash, Jagmeet Singh portrayed “Indiana Singh: Dial of Destiny.” Attempting to play a role similar to Indiana Jones, he propped up the Liberal government in a de facto coalition but struggled to gain the blockbuster status needed to reshape the political landscape.

The film showcases the significance of leadership styles in shaping the nation’s future. Each leader presents their strengths and weaknesses, leaving the audience to wonder who will leave a lasting impact on Canada’s political scene. Will it be “Justie” with his progressive ideals and hope for a better future, “Poliheimre” with his attack politics and divisive strategies, or will “Indiana Singh: Dial of Destiny” emerge as an unexpected hero?

August 2, 2019

As the audience munches on popcorn and shares political memes, they witness this captivating summer of Canadian leadership, waiting to see how the narrative unfolds. The fate of the nation’s political landscape lies in the hands of these leaders, as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

In this blockbuster summer spectacle, Canada finds itself at a crucial crossroads. The collision of these starkly contrasting leaders echoes the clash of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on the silver screen. As the credits roll and the drama continues to unfold, the nation holds its breath, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this gripping political saga. (AI)

Saturday February 5, 2022

February 5, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 5, 2022

Doug Ford makes statement ahead of Toronto convoy protest

Young Doug Ford: The Series

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he has full confidence Toronto police will be able to handle Saturday’s convoy protest and there will be “zero tolerance” for any potential acts of violence.

Ford made the comments during a virtual news conference with Canada’s premiers on Friday.

“Any harassment or acts of hatred or acts of violence will have zero tolerance,” Ford said.

Ford said he has been in contact with Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ottawa Major Jim Watson to offer whatever resources are necessary.

Protesters are expected to arrive in Toronto on Saturday and will gather at Queen’s Park.

Part of University Avenue has been closed in preparation for the protest, in order to ensure emergencies services have access to Hospital Row.

January 26, 2022

Residents have been warned to expect a large police presence in the downtown core during the protests.

Meanwhile, in Ottawa, protesters have gathered for nearly a week and have said they won’t leave until Canada removes COVID-19-related mandates.

“What is happening in Ottawa, in my opinion, is unacceptable,” Ford said. “Regarding Ottawa, the occupations, it’s not a protest anymore, it’s become an occupation.”

Ford said the protesters are hurting local businesses in a “big way” and believes it’s time for the situation to “come to and end.”

“You think we like lockdowns or pubic health measures? We don’t,” Ford said, adding he believes “They were necessary.”

Ford said the situation in Ontario hospitals is improving day-by-day and the province is “so close to getting back to normal.”

“We have to be united as Ontarians, as Canadians,” Ford said. (CTV News)

Saturday May 2, 2020

May 9, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 2, 2020

Tiff Macklem to lead the Bank of Canada

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has appointed Tiff Macklem, the former senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, to take over the top job at the central bank as it navigates the uncertainty of a pandemic-driven recession.

February 11, 2009

Macklem is currently the dean of the Rotman School of Management in Toronto, but had spent decades with the Bank of Canada before starting that appointment.

Macklem began his career at the bank in 1984. He was widely expected to win the contest for bank governor in 2013, but was beaten out by Stephen Poloz, who was then CEO of Export Development Canada.

Poloz’s term ends June 2.

The transition to new leadership comes as millions of Canadians have signed up for government aid and companies big and small are relying on federally backed wage subsidies to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

During Friday’s announcement, Morneau said he’s confident Macklem’s expertise in financial markets will help the central bank navigate an economic crisis never before seen in Canada.

Coronavirus cartoons

“The bank has to be humble about what it doesn’t know. There’s a lot we don’t know about this disease. There’s a lot that medical experts don’t know about this disease,” Macklem said during his unveiling in Ottawa.

“But the Bank of Canada has tremendous analytic economic financial capacity to analyze what’s going on in the economy, and the important role for the Bank of Canada is to provide Canadians with as much information as it can honestly provide as to what is happening and what the recovery could look like, recognizing that we’re probably going to have to look at more than one scenario.”

In the past months, Poloz and Morneau have appeared at several joint news conferences to show a co-ordinated approach on monetary and fiscal policy to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic and global oil shocks.

Morneau has announced more than $250 billion in direct financial aid, credit support and tax deferrals to help offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (CBC)

Wednesday January 10, 2018

January 9, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 10, 2018

Some questions for Mr. Trudeau

Later Wednesday morning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau drops by McMaster University for the second in a series of town hall meetings. It’s the sort of thing Trudeau is good at. His charisma, empathy and accessible style stand him in good stead.

The Liberals under Trudeau continue to enjoy strong support. The latest Nanos Research has the Liberals at 40.9 per cent, the Conservatives at 30.7, the NDP at 19.5 and the Greens at 4.8. Even more impressive is that 45.6 per cent of respondents prefer Trudeau as PM, compared to Conservative Andrew Scheer (20.3 per cent) and Jagmeet Singh (9 per cent). Even after the Aga Khan holiday scandal, Bill Morneau’s travails and numerous broken promises, Trudeau enjoys a level of support most politicians would envy.

Journalists don’t get to ask questions of the PM at today’s event. But here are some we’d like to see him answer. Feel free to borrow.

Entitlement: Trudeau, and his Finance Minister Bill Morneau, are seen by a growing number of Canadians as elitist and privileged. They owe no apologies for their accidents of birth. But even though measures like the child tax credit are unquestionably helping middle class families, there is a sense that Trudeau, especially, is more of a tourist in the lives of working class Canadians. How can the PM assure working Canadians that he is truly in their corner when he doesn’t have the life experience?

Pensions: Stories, many of them heartbreaking, continue to pour in about the hardships being experienced by Sears Canada retirees who have seen incomes cut and benefits lost. U.S. Steel retirees are still in limbo and at risk. Why won’t Trudeau commit to rewriting obsolete bankruptcy protection legislation to give pensioners more clout?

Democratic reform: Trudeau promised electoral reform but broke that promise and now says he thinks a proportional representation system would be “damaging to our stability, to our electoral system.” How can that be? How did reform go from being needed to being a threat? And are we stuck with the status quo forever?

Poverty: The government deserves credit for its $40 billion national housing strategy. But why does the investment not kick in until after the next election? Even more seriously, where is the government’s promised plan to fight poverty, promised in 2016? In his mandate letter, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos was given this direction: ‘Lead the development of a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy that would set targets to reduce poverty and measure and publicly report on our progress, in collaboration with the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. Our strategy will align with and support existing provincial and municipal poverty reduction strategies.’ Nice words, but where’s the action to back them up?

If Trudeau could give credible answers to even two of these four questions, he’d offer assurance to the growing number of Canadians who fear his leadership is long on style and charisma, but short on substance. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

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Tuesday March 1 2016

February 29, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 1 2016

Clergy victims doubt “Spotlight” Oscar win will bring change

Victims of clergy sexual abuse are reveling in the Oscar won by “Spotlight” — the story of The Boston Globe’s investigation into the scandal — but say they don’t hold out much hope that the elevated status from the film’s Best Picture award will prompt changes at the highest levels of the Roman Catholic church.

“Spotlight,” starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, covers the Globe’s work to uncover how dozens of priests in the Archdiocese of Boston had molested and raped children for decades while church higher-ups covered it up and shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish.

February 19, 2016

The film was released in November to accolades from victims who said it gave them a sense of validation after years of struggling in silence. Even Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley — appointed to replace Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned in disgrace — called “Spotlight” a “very powerful and important film.”

But victims say they have little hope that the film’s new status as an Oscar winner will lead to some of the things they’ve called for over the years, including complete transparency by the church and the criminal prosecution of church leaders who knew about the abuse but didn’t report the perpetrators to police.

“I don’t think the Vatican or the archdiocese will necessarily do more,” said Robert Costello, 54, who was sexually abused by a Boston priest from the late 1960s through 1976.

“I think what (the film) is going to do is educate the general public as to what their response or lack of response has been,” said Costello, who agreed to a civil settlement with the archdiocese.

The Globe series was followed by revelations of sex abuse in dioceses around the world. The series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2003. (Source: AP)

Published in the Western Star, Corner Brook, Newfoundland