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Wednesday August 2, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 2, 2017

Saudi Arabia reportedly using Canadian military trucks against its own civilians

The Canadian government is investigating reports that Saudi Arabia is using armoured vehicles made in Canada against its own civilians – allegations that have prompted renewed scrutiny over Ottawa’s recent decision to sign off on a billion-dollar arms deal with the kingdom.

October 23, 2015

Videos and photos posted on social media in recent days allegedly show Riyadh using Canadian equipment in a violent crackdown on minority Shia dissidents in eastern Saudi Arabia. Last week at least five people were killed as security forces flushed out suspected militants in the town of Awamiya.

Several sources told the Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail that the vehicles being used appeared to be Gurkha RPVs made in Ontario by Terradyne Armoured Vehicles.

Canadian officials said they were deeply concerned by the reports. “We are looking at these claims very seriously … and have immediately launched a review,” Justin Trudeau told reporters.

June 13, 2017

In 2016, Saudi Arabia ranked among the largest importers of Canada-made military goods, purchasing more than C$142m worth of goods – nearly 20% of all Canadian military exports that year.

The ministry of global affairs said it was concerned over the escalating violence in eastern Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued last week, it highlighted the causalities among civilians and security forces and urged Riyadh to confront its security challenges in “a manner that abides by international human rights law”.

Days later, the ministry said the government was actively seeking more information about the reports of civilian casualties and claims that Canadian-made vehicles were involved. “If it is found that Canadian exports have been used to commit serious violations of human rights, the minister will take action,” a spokesperson for department told the Guardian. He did not answer questions around what kinds of actions this could entail.

Terradyne Armoured Vehicles did not respond to a request for comment. (Source: The Guardian) 

 

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Thursday, April 14, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday, April 14, 2016 Scrap the Saudi arms deal, says Clement Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion says he is prepared to cancel the export permits for a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia if there is any evidence the armored vehicles made in Canada are used in human rights violations. ÒAs with all export permits, the minister of foreign affairs retains the power to revoke at any time the permit should the assessment change,Ó said Dion, pointing out that there is no indication that Canadian-made armored vehicles sold to Saudi Arabia in the past have been used to violate human rights. ÒShould I become aware of credible information of violations related to this equipment, I will suspend or revoke the permits. We are watching this closely and will continue to do so.Ó Speaking to reporters on his way into Question Period where the government came under fire for the deal, Dion defended the $15 billion sale, saying CanadaÕs credibility would be harmed if it didnÕt honor the contract negotiated in 2014. DionÕs comments come following the revelation by the Globe and Mail that while the Conservative government initially endorsed the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia Ð one of the biggest arms sales in Canadian history Ð it was Dion who signed the expert permits on Friday, a crucial step in the sale that many had thought had already taken place. When they came to power, TrudeauÕs Liberals indicated the sale was a done deal and their hands were tied. Without the export permits, however, the sale would have been stalled. Global Affairs Department documents stamped secret and released by the Justice Department this week in response to a court challenge to the sale, indica

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, April 14, 2016

Scrap the Saudi arms deal, says Clement

Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion says he is prepared to cancel the export permits for a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia if there is any evidence the armored vehicles made in Canada are used in human rights violations.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday March 31, 2016 Cancelling Saudi arms deal would have no effect on human rights: Dion Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion is defending a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia by saying cancelling it would be a futile gesture because another country would simply supply the combat vehicles to Riyadh instead. ÒIt would not have an effect on human rights in Saudi Arabia,Ó Mr. Dion predicted, if the Liberals were to scrap a 14-year lucrative contract to build fighting machines that will be equipped with machine guns or anti-tank weapons. International censure of Saudi Arabia is on the increase as rights groups decry an erosion of human rights under the current leadership there. Only two weeks ago, the Dutch parliament voted to stop arms shipments to Saudi Arabia, and in February, the European Parliament passed a motion calling for the suspension of weapons sales to Riyadh. Mr. Dion used a Monday speech on the LiberalsÕ foreign policy to mount a hard-nosed defence of what is CanadaÕs largest-ever manufacturing contract Ð a transaction that was brokered by Ottawa under the former Conservative government and will benefit defence contractor General DynamicsÕ London, Ont., plant until 2028. ÒRiyadh does not care if the equipment comes from a factory in Lima, Ohio or Sterling Heights, Mich., rather than one in London, Ont.,Ó Mr. Dion said, naming American cities where military suppliers such as General Dynamics have a presence. More than 2,000 workers in Canada would lose their jobs if the government cancelled the deal, the minister predicted. Louise Arbour, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who once sat on the Supreme Court of Canada, was in the audience for Mr. DionÕs speech, and she said the contention that some other country would just take over the contract is Òthe weakest argumentÓ that could be made. ÒThis argument that if we donÕt do it somebody els

March 31, 2016

“As with all export permits, the minister of foreign affairs retains the power to revoke at any time the permit should the assessment change,” said Dion, pointing out that there is no indication that Canadian-made armored vehicles sold to Saudi Arabia in the past have been used to violate human rights.

“Should I become aware of credible information of violations related to this equipment, I will suspend or revoke the permits. We are watching this closely and will continue to do so.”

Speaking to reporters on his way into Question Period where the government came under fire for the deal, Dion defended the $15 billion sale, saying Canada’s credibility would be harmed if it didn’t honor the contract negotiated in 2014.

Dion’s comments come following the revelation by the Globe and Mail that while the Conservative government initially endorsed the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia – one of the biggest arms sales in Canadian history – it was Dion who signed the expert permits on Friday, a crucial step in the sale that many had thought had already taken place.

May 24, 2011

When they came to power, Trudeau’s Liberals indicated the sale was a done deal and their hands were tied. Without the export permits, however, the sale would have been stalled.

Global Affairs Department documents stamped secret and released by the Justice Department this week in response to a court challenge to the sale, indicate the department recommended the deal because it could help Saudi Arabia in its conflict with neighboring Yemen.

January 8, 2004

However, Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Tony Clement said there was no understanding the vehicles could be used in Yemen when the Conservative government first endorsed the contract. He is concerned that changes in the region since then mean that the armored vehicles could be used against civilians.

“The hinge on the deal in the first place was it was not going to be used to facilitate human rights abuses, it was going to be used in the fight against terrorism. If that is no longer the case then I have no hesitation in saying the deal should be torn up.”

Clement was also sharply critical of Dion, saying he secretly signed the export permits necessary for the massive arms sale. (Source: ipolitics)

 

Thursday July 23, 2015

Thursday July 23, 2015Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday July 23, 2015

Randle Reef construction starting in spring

After years of delay, the harbour toxic blob will be encapsulated at a cost of almost $140M

The Hamilton company that will take on the first phase of the long awaited Randle Reef Remediation Project won’t be starting construction until the spring of 2016.

Environment Canada says it’s too late this year to begin work encapsulating the giant toxic blob in Hamilton Harbour. As well, it will take several months for steel to be made for the containment walls.

The $138.9-million project to deal with the worst coal tar contaminated site in Canada had been snarled for years in delays, technical studies, funding disputes, and legalities. Then in February 2014 a call for bidders was issued with expectations of construction beginning that summer.

But that was dashed when all the bids came in over budget and government officials had to go back to the drawing board. A second request for proposals was issued in the spring of 2015, with hopes of construction beginning this summer.

But now—with the awarding of the contract to McNally Construction of Hamilton taking until last week – actual construction has been put off again.

“I had a feeling this would happen,” said Lynda Lukasik, of Environment Hamilton. “It is par for the course. We have been waiting a long time.”

But she said she is pleased the project has reached a point that a contract has been awarded for the first of three phases.

Jonathan Gee, of Environment Canada, said one aspect of the project will move ahead in September. In a separate contract with a different construction company, work will begin on reconstructing a harbour wall along the shoreline.

The entire remediation project is slated for completion in 2022. “Two years to build the box, two years to fill the box, and three years to put a lid on the box,” said Gee. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Friday, October 24 2014

Friday, October 24 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 24 2014

Naheed Nenshi Comes to Hamilton to Bedazzle Progressives & Pluck Brains

Plainspoken and outspoken Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi will be the keynote speaker for the second Ambitious City event Oct. 23, hosted by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

“He is, as far as I’m concerned, the second-most popular politician in Canada, right up there with Justin Trudeau,” said chamber president Keanin Loomis, who worked for a year to bring Nenshi, a charismatic, yet self-described nerdy leader, to town. “He will bring a positive, progressive, urbanist message to Hamilton. He knows that quality of life contributes to economic development.”

Thursday, December 5, 2013City of Toronto chief planner and Hamilton native Jennifer Keesmat will moderate a Q&A with Nenshi at the event. She was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Ambitious City. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

In addition, he hopes to take some of McMaster’s best and brightest home with him.

Nenshi will be making a pit stop at the university on Thursday to speak with students about job opportunities out west. Calgary Economic Development staff will set up a pop-up career fair with more than 60 organizations represented. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

OTHER MEDIA

This cartoon was reposted on Yahoo News Canada, and was printed in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Wednesday, January 15, 2014Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Hudak says PC plan would create 1 million jobs in Ontario

For SaleProgressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says Ontario must take steps to make itself “open for business,” to generate new jobs and create a more prosperous economy.

“We need a jobs plan and we need it now,” Hudak said Monday, when announcing the details of a private member’s bill that he believes will help generate 1 million jobs over an eight-year-period.

The Official Opposition leader pointed to the province losing some 39,000 jobs last month as a sign that urgent changes are needed.
Hudak wants to slash the provincial business tax rate from 11.5 per cent down to 10 per cent, so that it matches the lowest in Canada — a move he said will help spur job creation.

“I just believe that if you lower taxes in our province, then businesses are going to invest,” Hudak said. “They’ll put out a new product, they’ll add a new machine, they’re going to hire men and women.”

The PC leader also wants to reduce the provincial debt and establish energy rates that will encourage hiring, so that businesses can thrive. He also wants to “lower the regulatory burden” that businesses must deal with.

Hudak also seeks for the province to boost trade with its neighbours and to be training more skilled workers in Ontario.

Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid said he believed that Hudak’s proposed changes would not have the desired effect, just like the PC leader’s previously stated support for making Ontario a so-called right-to-work province.

“Mr. Hudak’s plan is going to impact the stability of our labour environment … which is an important part of investment decisions by companies,” said Duguid. “His right-to-work for less approach to the economy is not going to help middle and lower income workers. It’s going to hurt them. It’s going to lower their wages.” (Source: CBC News)

SOCIAL MEDIA

This was the cartoon is featured in gallery at Yahoo News Canada.