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Tuesday January 27, 2025

January 28, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 27, 2025

Canada’s Political Landscape Amidst Foreign Meddling and Economic Pressures

June 12, 2024

In recent years, the investigation into foreign meddling in Canada has been a critical endeavour, aimed at safeguarding our democracy from covert influences by nations such as China, Russia, Iran, India, and Pakistan. This comprehensive inquiry, culminating in a final report, has uncovered a series of alarming activities that threaten the integrity of Canada’s political system.

China has been implicated in sophisticated espionage operations, employing cyber tactics to infiltrate Canadian political institutions. Allegations of interference in elections, along with harassment of Chinese-Canadian communities, underscore the pervasive nature of their influence.

News: Hogue inquiry final report to propose measures against election interference and disinformation

September 10, 2024

Russia’s notorious disinformation campaigns have aimed to destabilize Western democracies, including Canada. Efforts to support specific political candidates and sow division through social media manipulation illustrate their broader strategy of influence. The presence of Russian double agents within Canadian institutions further complicates our security landscape.

Iran’s activities include targeted cyber attacks and harassment of Iranian-Canadian activists and politicians. These actions reflect the Iranian regime’s broader attempt to silence opposition voices abroad, extending their reach into Canada.

India faces accusations related to its handling of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, with allegations of surveillance and intimidation against those advocating for Sikh independence. Such actions have strained Canada-India relations, challenging Canada’s diplomatic balance.

Pakistan has been linked to efforts to influence Canadian politics through diaspora networks and espionage activities, highlighting the challenges of managing bilateral relations while safeguarding national security.

November 21, 2024

These activities are not merely abstract threats; they have tangible impacts on Canada’s political fabric. The presence of double agents, some of whom have held or currently hold positions within Canada’s Parliament, illustrates the potential for compromised decision-making at the highest levels. Incidents of harassment and assassination plots against politicians and activists add to the gravity of the situation.

However, just as we were poised to digest these findings, an overt foreign influence from an unexpected source has emerged, overshadowing this vital investigation. Since Donald Trump’s re-election victory in November 2024, Canada has faced an unprecedented challenge from our southern neighbour. His aggressive economic policies, particularly the imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods, have turned our political agenda on its head.

January 30, 2024

This shift in focus is most evident in the recent resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His departure has left a leadership vacuum at the federal level, triggering a Liberal leadership contest at a time when cohesive national strategy is desperately needed. With Trudeau’s absence, the federal government has struggled to maintain its previous commitments, including the abandonment of key initiatives like carbon pricing, as it scrambles to address the looming economic threat.

The gravity of the situation is underscored by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to call a snap election. Ford’s move, aimed at securing a mandate to counteract Trump’s tariffs, reflects the urgency with which provincial leaders are responding to these external pressures. The economic stakes are high, particularly for Ontario’s vital automotive sector, which stands to suffer significantly from U.S. policies.

News: NDP MP Angus calls for investigation into Elon Musk over potential election interference

October 26, 2024

Adding to the complexity of the geopolitical landscape, Canadian MP Charlie Angus has raised concerns about Elon Musk’s influence on social media platforms, particularly in relation to the spread of misinformation and its potential impact on Canadian democracy. Angus argues that Musk’s control over these digital spaces could further complicate efforts to maintain the integrity of Canada’s political discourse.

This convergence of events raises pressing questions about Canada’s ability to navigate both covert and overt foreign influences. While the findings of the foreign meddling investigation remain essential for long-term democratic resilience, the immediate economic threats from the U.S. require swift and decisive action.

As we stand at this crossroads, it is imperative for Canadian leaders to balance these dual challenges. Strengthening our defences against covert interference must go hand-in-hand with robust economic strategies to protect our national interests. Only by addressing both dimensions can Canada ensure its sovereignty and stability in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

Grab your popcorn and settle in because the drama unfolding on Parliament Hill is nothing short of a monster movie extravaganza. Picture this: towering over our iconic Canadian Parliament buildings, two colossal beasts are wreaking havoc, and they’ve got everyone in a frenzy.

First off, meet “Trumpzilla.” With the body of Godzilla and the unmistakable head of Donald Trump, he’s spewing fiery tariffs and trade threats that are setting the very ground around the Centre Block ablaze. You can almost hear the panicked cries of politicians scrambling to deal with the chaos—it’s a sight to behold, and not in a good way.

In the backdrop, swinging from the Peace Tower, is “King Elon.” Think King Kong but with Elon Musk’s head, casually disrupting social media and technology like it’s just another day at the office. He’s the wildcard in this tale, adding another layer of complexity to this already tumultuous scene.

Now, you might be thinking, “What about the serious stuff?” Indeed, there’s a crucial investigation into foreign meddling by bad actor nations like China, Russia, Iran, India, and Pakistan. This report has been years in the making, uncovering alarming activities such as assassinations, harassment of politicians, and double agents who’ve infiltrated our Parliament. It’s a big deal, no doubt about it.

But here’s the kicker: while our focus should be on these covert threats, Trumpzilla has barged in, flipping our democracy on its head. Since his election win in November, he’s dominated our domestic agenda, creating a leadership vacuum with Justin Trudeau’s resignation and a Liberal leadership contest. Carbon pricing? Abandoned. The spotlight is now on handling the impending Trump tariffs, which promise to send shockwaves through our economy, potentially leading to a recession.

Even Doug Ford has jumped into the fray, calling an early provincial snap election in Ontario to secure a mandate to fight these tariffs. It’s a scene straight out of a political thriller, with politicians running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

So there you have it—a spectacle of monstrous proportions. While the final report on foreign interference is crucial, the immediate threat from our southern neighbour has taken centre stage, leaving us to ponder the lasting effects on our jobs, businesses, and overall economic stability.

Please enjoy the January 27, 2024 making-of animated editorial cartoon below. Posts come out every Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons. If you like my editorial cartoons and animations, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. A lot of work goes into these cartoons and commentary — Best of all, it’s free!

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Friday November 29, 2019

December 7, 2019 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 29, 2019

‘We can’t take that back’: Eisenberger on keeping Hamilton sewage spill details secret

March 28, 2009

Mayor Fred Eisenberger is standing by Hamilton city council’s decision not to disclose publicly the full magnitude of a massive sewage spill for nearly a year.

“The incident happened already,” Eisenberger said Tuesday. “The material, whatever was there, had already gone into the system. We couldn’t get it back.”

The mayor spoke to The Spectator for the first time about the estimated 24-billion-litre sewage leak into Chedoke Creek, which flows into Cootes Paradise, after returning home from an economic development trip in India.

Last week, The Spectator reported that city officials had kept secret not only the volume of the raw sewage spill, but also its four-and-a-half-year duration.

July 16, 2014

Leaked confidential reports from January and September show the spill was attributed to a holding tank gate left partly open from January 2014 to July 2018. The reports also pointed to a second gate failure on the same tank.

Outside legal advice recommended city officials keep the information secret due to potential regulatory fines amid a provincial investigation.

On Tuesday, Eisenberger, who noted his plane landed at 5:30 a.m., defended the approach, saying public health informed residents of a sewage spill at Chedoke Creek in July 2018.

February 21, 2007

Floatable material was sucked up, warning signs were posted, and E. coli levels eventually returned to what they were before the sewage leak, he said.

But the volume of the contamination and duration of the leak weren’t shared with the public, Eisenberger acknowledged.

“Because it was still under investigation. The legal advice that we received at the time was, ‘Do not disclose the full amount; there are potential legal issues that come out of that; there are potential other claims that could be made.’”

Public works spokesperson Jasmine Graham said Tuesday the city has paid environmental lawyer Rosalind Cooper $67,393.55 for her services as of October.

September 19, 2018

Eisenberger said the advice of the Toronto-based lawyer, who has many years of experience in the field, is still worth following.

“I’m not prepared to second guess it,” he said. “I understand the furor that’s out there. I get it. There’s always that tug between full disclosure and legal ramifications, and we have that happen in many instances that we deal with.”

Though the city conducted an initial surface water cleanup in July 2018 — at a cost of about $56,000 — material would have sunk to the bottom. The confidential reports noted dredging could cost $2 million. (Hamilton Spectator)

Friday March 11, 2016

March 10, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 11, 2016

Justin Trudeau, ‘the anti-Trump’

Justin Trudeau and his entourage arrived in Washington to the warm applause of the American media. Vanity Fair, Vogue, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post and others have cloaked him in the rapture of an international celebrity.

This is unusual — even unprecedented — for a prime minister of Canada, the northern neighbor that Americans know as friendly, reliable, cold and dull. But no prime minister has looked and sounded like this one in a generation — certainly not since his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, ran the country.

When President Barack Obama hosts him at a state dinner Thursday at the White House — the first for a Canadian leader since 1998 — it will be a prime opportunity for Justin Trudeau to show the new face of Canada, the second most diverse country in the world, as progressive, moderate and tolerant.

In a sense, everything that the United States is not in this election season.

Wednesday March 9, 2016

It’s a theme Trudeau has embraced since the surprising election of his Liberal Party on October 19, ending almost 10 years of the divisive government of Conservative Stephen Harper. More striking, Trudeau’s image contrasts with the stern face that the United States has shown the world in its winter of Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton — old, gray, loud and scowling.

What is interesting about Trudeau — who has been called “the anti-Trump” — is how he, his politics, and his country are diverging dramatically from the United States. It helps explain the fascination in Trudeau beyond his looks (6 feet 2 inches), his youth (44), his elegant wife and his patrician pedigree.

In fact, amid the demagoguery and vulgarity of the presidential race, Trudeau personifies something entirely different: youth, idealism, warmth and hope.

It is not accidental that his delegation to Washington includes two senior women ministers, underscoring the fact that his Cabinet is half female. When asked in November why he insisted on gender parity, he answered, “Because it’s 2015!”

Friday December 11, 2015

He is accompanied as well by the minister of national defense and the minister of economic development, both Sikhs who wear turbans. And his foreign minister, a Francophone from Quebec. There are also many parliamentarians who are visible minorities.

The point: Canada is about diversity. Since the Liberals took office, Canada has admitted 25,000 Syrian refugees; Trudeau greeted the first planeload personally in Toronto.

They are among the 300,000 immigrants Canada will accept this year, the highest in some time.

After a government that dismissed global warming, Canada has embraced an activist policy on climate change. In the international mission against ISIS, Trudeau has withdrawn Canada’s bombers, preferring instead to train troops on the ground.

In other ways, Trudeau leads a country that believes in government: recommitting funding to universal health care and public broadcasting, pledging to run budgetary deficits to pay infrastructure and supporting the expansion of free trade, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership (which Trump and Sanders oppose.)

Friday March 4, 2016

All of this has led some Americans to light up social media with talk of moving to Canada. Americans don’t actually move, but they see Canada as an insurance policy.

Canada is no utopia. It has fat people, bad trains, high airfares and some ugly urban architecture. It has racial profiling and income equity and an ambition deficit.

But to those dreaming of an America and a leader such as Barack Obama in 2008, Canada restricts guns, limits money in politics and separates church and state.

And in an America in the teeth of a nasty election campaign, it is led by a tribune of hope who talks of “sunny ways.” (Source: CNN)

Posted to Warren Kinsella’s blog.