Joe Clark – mackaycartoons

Saturday February 15, 2025

February 15, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 15, 2025

A Call to Fly the Flag with Pride

As we approach the 60th anniversary of Flag Day, a moment of profound reflection and unity is upon us. The gesture by Canada’s living former prime ministers—Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper—urging Canadians to fly the country’s flag with pride comes at a time when national unity is both challenged and needed more than ever. This call to action is not merely symbolic; it is a powerful rallying cry for Canadians to stand together in the face of external pressures and internal reflections.

June 3, 2015

Canada finds itself navigating a complex political landscape, particularly with U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated taunts about making Canada the 51st state. Such remarks are more than just words; they are provocations that strike at the heart of Canadian sovereignty and identity. Even the most reserved Canadians must feel a surge of indignation at these bullying and ignorant assertions. In this context, flying the flag becomes an act of defiance and a statement of resilience, reminding us of our strength and independence.

News: Five former PMs urge Canadians to show national unity on Flag Day, in the face of Trump’s ‘threats and insults’

July 27, 2024

While waving the flag is a unifying gesture, it must be accompanied by concrete actions. Canada’s future prosperity and security depend on reducing inter-provincial trade barriers, bolstering defence capabilities, and forging new alliances beyond the United States. These actions will not only strengthen our economy and security but also affirm our sovereignty on the global stage.

November 9, 2018

The former prime ministers’ call to fly the flag also signifies a reclamation of this national symbol. In recent years, the Canadian flag has been a marker of national reflection, flown at half-mast to acknowledge past injustices against Indigenous communities. It was also co-opted by far-right movements, such as the Freedom Convoy, which espoused anti-science and anti-multilateralist views. By urging Canadians to display the flag with pride, these former leaders are reclaiming it as a symbol of unity, diversity, and shared values.

News: Patriotism, a big rally and, of course, new slogans: Inside Pierre Poilievre’s Trump-induced strategy shift

November 17, 2023

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our flag, let us heed the call of Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper. Let this day be a reminder of what it means to be Canadian—a nation strong in its diversity, proud of its heritage, and unwavering in its commitment to unity and progress. By flying our flag, we not only honour our past but also commit to a future where we stand together, resilient and proud, against any challenge that comes our way.

I’m really impressed by how our former Prime Ministers—Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper—are stepping up to reclaim the Canadian Flag on its big 60th anniversary. They’re doing a fantastic job of reminding us what the flag truly stands for: unity, pride, and resilience. I was nice to draw caricatures of them.

Shameless Plug: I sell Prime Minister merch here.

I’m really impressed by how our former Prime Ministers—Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper—are stepping up to reclaim the Canadian Flag on its big 60th anniversary. They’re doing a fantastic job of reminding us what the flag truly stands for: unity, pride, and resilience. It was fun to draw caricatures of each of them. Shameless plug: I sell Prime Minister merch here.

During the pandemic, our flag got hijacked by a bunch of far-right extremists waving Trump banners and spouting nonsense that had nothing to do with Canadian values. It’s about time we yanked it back from those folks who seemed more interested in conspiracy theories than community.

But let’s be real, the flag’s been through the wringer before. Prior to the Freedom Convoy, some left-wing activists took it to extremes, turning essential conversations about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples into a broader narrative of shame about Canada.

This all led to tearing down statues and renaming places tied to figures like Sir John A. Macdonald, who caught a lot of flak for things he did way back when. Meanwhile, other Prime Ministers, whose actions are also up for debate these days, still have their statues standing tall. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. The inconsistency extends to airports, hospitals, and schools still bearing names of other historical figures, making it all feel pretty selective.

It’d be great if the “Team Canada” Prime Ministers could push for a more balanced look at these historical symbols. Maybe bring back some statues and place names, recognizing our full history instead of cherry-picking what to remember. This could really complement their current efforts, helping us see the whole picture of our past and what our flag truly represents.

– The Graeme Gallery

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Wednesday March 4, 2020

March 11, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 4, 2020

Ex-PM Joe Clark campaigns for Security Council seat in Africa, Persian Gulf

Former prime minister and foreign minister Joe Clark faces a tough slog during his travels to the Persian Gulf and Africa to campaign for Canada’s bid for the United Nations Security Council, analysts said Monday.

Joe Clark

Clark began a one-week trip Monday as “special envoy” to Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt to campaign for Canada’s bid for a temporary two-year seat on the UN’s most powerful body.

If elected, the Trudeau government says Canada will continue to work to strengthen multilateralism, foster peace, address climate change, promote economic security and advance gender equality.

Bessma Momani, an expert in Middle East affairs at the University of Waterloo, says Clark may not get a very receptive audience to Canada’s push for women’s rights among some of the government representatives he will be meeting.

“The people certainly hold Canada in high regard, regardless of what the governments may think,” Momani said. “People are still queuing to immigrate here so clearly we are still doing something right.”

“Certainly our recent emphasis on human rights and women’s rights is probably not received that favourably in that part of the world, which tends to have more conservative values and are part of the global autocratic turn.”

February 8, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ethiopia and Senegal in February as part of his government’s campaign for the council seat. Several cabinet ministers have also been visiting countries across Africa in recent months.

The secret ballot at the UN General Assembly takes place in June for a two-year term starting next year.

Africa, with its 54 voting countries, is a key voting bloc in the tough fight that pits Canada against Norway and Ireland for two available seats. Both countries spend more per capita than Canada on foreign aid, which is seen by many analysts as an impediment to Canada’s chances to winning the competition.

December 10, 2003

Clark is an appropriate choice to campaign in the region, but he will have his work cut out for him, said Fen Hampson, a Carleton University expert who wrote a recent book on the foreign policy of the ex-prime minister Brian Mulroney. Clark served as Mulroney’s minister of external affairs.

“African leaders with long memories will recall the important role Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney played in the Commonwealth in helping to bring an end to apartheid in South Africa and also stepping up to the plate in the Ethiopian famine crisis,” said Hampson. (CTV News)

Thursday May 26, 2016

May 25, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 26, 2016

Stephen Harper to bow out of federal politics before next fall

Stephen Harper will bow out of federal politics before Parliament resumes in the fall to pursue new business interests.

Harper, who served as prime minister for nearly a decade, is deciding his future as the Conservative Party prepares to meet for its national convention in Vancouver starting Thursday.

Harper has offers from multiple U.S. companies, including private equity giant KKR, sources tell CBC News. A spokesperson for KKR declined a request for comment.

The news of Harper’s pending departure was first reported by the Globe and Mail.

Conservatives will honour Harper with a tribute Thursday night before they look to chart a new course for the party he helped create. Harper is expected to deliver a short speech following the tribute.

But don’t expect Harper to discuss life after politics. Canada

“He will be speaking on Thursday, but he won’t be speaking about his future plans,” said Rachel Curran, one of Harper’s confidants and a former PMO policy director. “He will be talking about the last 10 years, and what work the party still has to do, that will be the focus.”

Until an official announcement is made, Harper’s colleagues are shying away from weighing in on the former prime minister’s next career move. A spokesperson for interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose declined comment. (Source: CBC News)

Thursday December 3, 2015

December 2, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 3, 2015

Rona Ambrose reaches out to former Tory prime ministers for advice on leadership race

Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose has been seeking advice from former Tory prime ministers, who told her the party should be making sure Progressive Conservatives feel welcome.

Wednesday November 4, 2015

In the past few weeks, Ambrose has spoken to Brian Mulroney, Joe Clark and Kim Campbell, and to former Reform Party leader Preston Manning. All agreed that the party shouldn’t rush a leadership race, she said in an interview.

The party’s governing body is on the verge of forming a leadership committee, and making initial decisions about the time frame for the race. An internal consensus has emerged that the vote not happen for some time – 18 months from now or longer, Ambrose said.

“It’s been a decade of the Conservative Party of Canada but we have a long legacy of conservatism in our conservative movement, and we’re moving forward for the first time in a decade into a leadership race,” she said.

“We want to get it right, and I’ve sought their advice on how to make sure we do that. The consensus was very clear, that we should take our time…”

She said Mulroney and Clark in particular emphasized that the party should signal that it is open to all types of conservatives – a direct reference to Progressive Conservatives who might have felt alienated in recent years.

Former leader Stephen Harper had a mercurial relationship with Mulroney, and little contact with Clark, who had opposed the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties.

” 1/8 The advice 3/8 was, ‘Make sure that you open up the welcome, or open up your arms to those who may have felt that they weren’t part of the party in the past, or felt they were on the sidelines, but feel that they’re conservative and want to be a part of the party and want to be back in the middle of things,”‘ said Ambrose.

Ambrose added that she and Campbell spoke at length about the experience of being a woman at the helm of the party. She chatted with Mulroney about relations with caucus members. Mulroney was well known for remembering and marking important moments in the lives of his MPs and friends. (CTV News)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

December 10, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Prime ministers on a plane: Harper, predecessors together for Mandela tribute

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his predecessors — Jean Chrétien, Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell — sat in close quarters as they winged their way to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

ABOARD ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE 001—Even after his death, Nelson Mandela has done what no one else seemingly could — bring Canada’s past-and-present political leadership together, in one space, for a single cause — if only for a few hours.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and three of his predecessors — Jean Chrétien, Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell — sat in close quarters as they winged their way to South Africa late Sunday in the elaborate front cabin of a government Airbus.

But not just any aircraft. The leaders were headed to pay their respects to Mandela comfortably seated in what Chrétien once non-affectionately dubbed the “Taj Mahal,” a reference to the front stateroom with which the plane was retrofitted when Mulroney bought a fleet of the jetliners during his time in office.

Now, however, the animosity of the past was gone, at least on the surface.

“I’m not a grumpy politician anymore,” Mulroney said with a smile as he spoke of the significance of being in such close proximity with his former rivals.

“I’m a statesman now,” he laughed.

As he took one of his trademark strolls to the back of the plane, Chrétien openly lamented that he never used this particular aircraft during his three terms in office, expressly because of the fleecing he gave Mulroney to paint him as a free spending politician with a taste for Gucci style.

Chrétien also expressed his disappointment that Canada doesn’t put its former prime ministers to work for the country’s betterment and to promote international relations after they leave office.

“It’s not our tradition,” Chrétien told the three reporters accompanying the prime ministers, former governors general, premiers and other dignitaries on the journey to Johannesburg.

“And it’s too bad,” he said.

It was a less-than-subtle point that highlighted the tug-of-war style of Canadian politics as the two former PMs reflected on Mandela’s unique consensus-building abilities.

When Mandela was released from custody after 27 years in prison, many a pundit has noted that he could have launched his country into civil war.

Instead, he chose the path of peace, and eventually saw South Africa’s apartheid regime crumble.

As the Canadian delegation flew over the Atlantic Ocean, just prior to refuelling in Cape Verde, Harper spoke briefly of Canada’s role in ensuring Mandela’s release from prison.

“It really tells you about the long and leading history of Canada from the days of Mr. (John) Diefenbaker on, and the struggle that defined Nelson Mandela’s life — the struggle against apartheid and the transition of South Africa to a modern, non-racial state,” Harper said, flanked by Chrétien to his right and Mulroney and Campbell sitting across from him at the stateroom’s wood grain table.

“It’s something we should all be very proud of and I’m greatly honoured to be joined by Mr. Mulroney, Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Chrétien as well as Mr. (Joe) Clark who will join us when we reach South Africa.” (Source: The Toronto Star)