hypnosis

Saturday February 8, 2025

The Ontario snap election should focus on Doug Ford's track record and governance rather than external distractions like Donald Trump.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 8, 2025

Accountability over Distraction in Ontario’s Snap Election

Canada's leaders at all levels must seize the opportunity to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers, strengthening the economy and ensuring resilience against global trade uncertainties.

February 6, 2025

As Ontario faces challenges from international pressures like those from Donald Trump, Premier Doug Ford has positioned himself as a leader ready to tackle these issues. While his efforts are notable, it’s important to remember that dealing with international trade is mainly a federal responsibility. This raises questions about the timing and focus of the snap election Ford has called.

Elections are a chance to discuss all the issues facing the province. Doug Ford should be held accountable for his record and answer the concerns of Ontarians directly, rather than shifting the focus to figures like Donald Trump.

Ford’s time in office has seen promises to improve housing, infrastructure, healthcare, and affordability. However, many of these promises remain unfulfilled. The ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes has not been met, and significant infrastructure projects like highways are delayed.

Healthcare is still a major concern, with issues like emergency room closures and doctor shortages continuing, despite promises to increase staffing.

News: With Trump’s tariffs now on hold, will Ontario’s election campaign shift gears?

The RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt scandal underscores criticism that Doug Ford's government prioritizes developer interests over public participation and transparency, raising doubts about its commitment to addressing Ontario's affordable housing crisis while maintaining public trust and democratic values.

August 15, 2024

Additionally, Ford’s decisions, such as changes to the Greenbelt and spending on projects like Ontario Place, have led to public dissatisfaction, with many feeling that these actions benefit the wealthy more than the average Ontarian.

Feedback from readers reflects frustration with Ford’s approach to healthcare, education, and cost of living. People feel there’s a lack of understanding and empathy from the Premier.

As voters prepare to vote, it’s crucial to evaluate Doug Ford based on what he has done, not just what he says. The election is a chance for Ford to address these issues directly and offer real solutions, rather than diverting attention to other matters.

Let’s focus on Doug Ford’s track record, hold him accountable for his promises, and demand the action that Ontarians deserve.

By week’s end, TDS had set in, with every cartoon this week fixated on Trump. I know it sounds hypocritical for me, seemingly obsessed with Trump, but I’m a cartoonist, not the Premier. I’m aware of my boundaries, but Doug Ford seems ignorant of the responsibilities he holds within his jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Ontario’s provincial election quietly began, overshadowed by distractions. It’s as if Ford, like a cartoon hypnotist, swings a pendulum with Trump’s head, putting voters under a spell while pressing issues pile up behind him. Polls show it’s going to work.

As Ontario heads into week two of this election, it’s vital for voters to focus on Ford’s actual governance record, addressing housing, healthcare, and infrastructure challenges, among many other issue. Instead of being swayed by distractions, lets demand real solutions from Ford. I’m hopeful that next week allows for a clearer focus on pressing matters amidst the temporary reprieve from Trump’s theatrics.

Please check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for February 8, 2025, below! If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I release my post every Saturday morning summarizing the week through my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading here is a “note,” designed to help craft my weekly posts and display the animated versions of my daily cartoons. Enjoy!

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

 

Monday March 5, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday March 5, 2012 If robo-calls were meant to keep voters away, they failed miserably Tales of voter suppression in the last federal election have emerged across the country. But while ridings alleged to have been targeted byÊthese tactics were won by smaller margins than those not implicated, an analysis of these ridings indicates voter turnout was higher, notÊlower, than elsewhere in Canada. n almost 70 ridings from every region of the country, allegations have been made that voters were falsely directed to polling stations byÊÒrobo-callsÓ or were harassed at all hours of the night by rude live callers posing as representatives of the Liberal Party. The oppositionÊparties have blamed the Conservatives for these calls, and indeed Elections Canada has found some indication of a link between callsÊmade in the Ontario riding of Guelph and the local Tory campaign there. But an analysis of these ridings shows turnout averaged 61.6 per cent, slightly higher than the 60.9 per cent average turnout in ridingsÊwhere no allegations of impropriety have been reported. If we only focus on the ridings in which allegations of misleading robo-calls haveÊbeen made, the turnout averaged 62 per cent. Compared to 2008, turnout increased by 4.7 per cent in these ridings. It increased by only 3.9 per cent in ridings that have not beenÊimplicated in the scandal. Turnout in neighbouring untainted ridings does not seem to have been significantly different. If these allegationsÊof voter suppression tactics are indeed true, they do not appear to have been very successful. Nevertheless, there is a clear difference between ridings in which misleading or harassing phone calls are alleged to have been made andÊridings in which there have been no allegations of under-handed tactics. (Source: Globe & Mail) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/if-robo-calls-were-meant-to-keep-voters-away-they-failed-miserably/article2358726/?utm_medium=Feeds

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday March 5, 2012

If robo-calls were meant to keep voters away, they failed miserably

Tales of voter suppression in the last federal election have emerged across the country. But while ridings alleged to have been targeted by these tactics were won by smaller margins than those not implicated, an analysis of these ridings indicates voter turnout was higher, not lower, than elsewhere in Canada.

n almost 70 ridings from every region of the country, allegations have been made that voters were falsely directed to polling stations by “robo-calls” or were harassed at all hours of the night by rude live callers posing as representatives of the Liberal Party. The opposition parties have blamed the Conservatives for these calls, and indeed Elections Canada has found some indication of a link between calls made in the Ontario riding of Guelph and the local Tory campaign there.

But an analysis of these ridings shows turnout averaged 61.6 per cent, slightly higher than the 60.9 per cent average turnout in ridings where no allegations of impropriety have been reported. If we only focus on the ridings in which allegations of misleading robo-calls have been made, the turnout averaged 62 per cent.

Compared to 2008, turnout increased by 4.7 per cent in these ridings. It increased by only 3.9 per cent in ridings that have not been implicated in the scandal. Turnout in neighbouring untainted ridings does not seem to have been significantly different. If these allegations of voter suppression tactics are indeed true, they do not appear to have been very successful.

Nevertheless, there is a clear difference between ridings in which misleading or harassing phone calls are alleged to have been made and ridings in which there have been no allegations of under-handed tactics. (Source: Globe & Mail)