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Wednesday September 13, 2017

September 12, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 13, 2017

Jagmeet Singh praised for ‘calm and positive’ reaction to anti-Muslim heckler

Federal NDP leadership hopeful Jagmeet Singh is garnering praise for the way he reacted to a woman who accused him last week of supporting Islamic extremism, because he chose to come out against “all forms of hate” instead of emphasizing that he is Sikh rather than Muslim.

August 3, 2017

The Ontario MPP was interrupted by an angry heckler at a meet and greet last Wednesday in Brampton, Ont. The woman stood in front of the candidate and shouted as aides tried to usher her aside in an incident that was caught on video and shared widely on social media well beyond Canada’s borders.

The woman accused Singh of wanting to impose Shariah law, an Islamic legal code based on the Qur’an, and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, an 89-year-old religious and political group. The exchange was caught on video and lasted more than four minutes.

“Many people have commented that I could have just said I’m not Muslim. In fact, many have clarified that I’m actually Sikh,” Singh explained in a statement.

“While I’m proud of who I am, I purposely didn’t go down that road because it suggests their hate would be OK if I was Muslim.”

A political science professor told CBC News on Monday that Singh took the right approach.

“It suggests the fact that he is not Muslim is irrelevant,” said Erin Tolley, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

“You can just imagine for example a white politician standing in front of a room and heard something racist being said. The exact wrong reaction is to say, ‘Well, I’m white, I’m not a person of colour, so this isn’t important to me.’”

Singh wanted to defuse the situation, she said, highlighting that hate of all forms is wrong, whether it’s directed at your community or not.

His response also signals that Singh, who wears a turban, has experience dealing with direct threats because of his outwardly religious appearance. (Source: CBC News)

This cartoon received an unusual amount of criticism through the mackaycartoons Facebook Page:

Republished in a number of publications. Below the Edmonton Journal and the Western Star, Corner Brook, Newfoundland:

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

October 30, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Horwath kicks heckler to back row

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek New Democrat MPP Paul Miller has been booted to the back row at Queen’s Park by leader Andrea Horwath for what opponents made an issue out of in the 2011 election — his loud heckling.
Miller said he was called Sunday by NDP House leader Gilles Bisson and told he was being moved from sitting behind Horwath to “a new seat.” It follows a dispute he had with Horwath about toning it down.

The dispute last Thursday in the legislature was not picked up by Hansard, the official legislature record.

Miller said Monday that he would not discuss “internal conflicts” with the press, but said he was “caught off guard, and a little surprised” by the action.

“I said, ‘OK, whatever,'” Miller said, adding that Horwath and Bisson will have to explain their reasons for moving him.

He wouldn’t say if he believes this might hurt him with his constituents in the next election, which could come in the spring.

“I’m not going to make predictions on that,” said Miller. “I have no idea. You’d have to ask Andrea about it. The bottom line is it was, it is, and the results will talk for themselves.”

In the 2011 campaign, the Liberals, PCs and Green party all made an issue of Miller’s behaviour in the legislature, with Liberal cabinet minister Sophia Aggelonitis calling his heckling and behaviour “just so awful.” Miller offered no regrets and said that he was passionate about voicing strong opinions for his constituents.

“I’m Paul and that’s what the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek voted for,” he said Monday.

Asked if there is a rift between him and Horwath, Miller had no comment — or on his conversation with Horwath last week. “I get along with her, usually,” he added.

Horwath and Miller have not been the best of friends over the years. She supported city councillor Sam Merulla against Miller for the riding nomination in July 2007. Miller won.

He backed MPP Michael Prue over the Hamilton Centre MPP for the leadership in March 2009.

Miller did not lose any of his shadow cabinet posts (Tourism, Culture and Sport) in the dispute. And the charges against him in 2011 didn’t wash with voters. He was re-elected with 51.7 per cent of the vote. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)