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Tuesday September 11, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 11, 2018

Ford plans to invoke notwithstanding clause for first time in province’s history

Premier Doug Ford is taking an unprecedented step, invoking the province’s powers and using the “notwithstanding” clause to override a court decision that shut down his plans to cut the size of Toronto’s city council.

July 28, 2018

For the first time in the province’s history, Ford says he plans to use a rarely reached-for tool in the Charter to allow the cut to 25 wards from 47 for the upcoming election to continue — and warned he will use it more than once if he has to.

He said his government is also appealing a court decision released Monday morning and will resume the legislature this week to reintroduce the bill that forced changes to Toronto’s ongoing election.

“I believe the judge’s decision is deeply concerning and the result is unacceptable to the people of Ontario,” Ford said.

Ford made the announcement at a news conference Monday afternoon just hours after a bombshell ruling that shut down his government’s plans to align city council wards with provincial and federal ridings.

“I was elected,” Ford told reporters, while saying the judge “was appointed.”

The actions of the Ford government were harshly criticized in the ruling by Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba, who said the province’s Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, infringed Charter rights and deemed it unconstitutional.

The judge called that move “unprecedented” and ruled it “substantially interfered with both the candidate’s and the voter’s right to freedom of expression” guaranteed by the Charter.

In doing so, he ordered an election continue on the basis of 47 wards, returning the campaign to a state before Bill 5 was tabled at Queen’s Park. (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

Saturday February 18, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 18, 2017

Ontario’s auditor general is not satisfied after an expert panel sided with the Liberal government in a $10.7-billion accounting dispute.

The auditor and the government disagree over whether a $10.7-billion surplus in two jointly sponsored pension plans should appear as an asset on the government’s books.

December 11, 2014

Auditor general Bonnie Lysyk says that because the government doesn’t have the right to unilaterally access that surplus, it shouldn’t count as an asset.

But an expert panel this week said that it is an asset because it has a future economic benefit, since the government could reduce contributions and would therefore have additional funds to spend elsewhere.

But Lysyk says in order for her to issue a clean audit opinion, she wants to see a letter from the unions representing workers covered by the plans saying the province can use that money.

The government says joint pension agreements already spell out how surpluses are to be handled and no additional letter is needed. (Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Tuesday August 11, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday August 11, 2015 Stephen Harper defends travel ban to terror zones Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is defending his proposal to ban travel to parts of the world controlled by terrorists, saying itÕs not a Òhuman rightÓ that such travel is allowed. ÒThis is limited to only those areas that are clearly under the control of terrorist organizations. WeÕre talking about a few, small number of areas in the world,Ó Harper said Monday morning during a campaign stop in Markham. ÒObviously parts of Iraq and Syria would be the kinds of areas that weÕre talking about,Ó he said. On Sunday, Harper said a newly-elected Conservative government would introduce a legal crackdown on so-called terror tourism and go after Canadians who travel to such areas. Harper said that the government advises against such travel and anyone who does go to these hotspots is Òtaking their life into their hands.Ó ÒFrankly, these are not areas where families go. These are areas where we know why people are really going. They are going to terrorist training,Ó Harper said Monday. ÒThere is no human right to travel and visit ISIS. That is not a human right in this country,Ó he said. At an early-morning event in Montreal, Trudeau dismissed the travel ban idea as little more than a distraction from the Conservatives' dismal economic record. (Source: Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/08/10/stephen-harper-defends-travel-ban-to-terror-zones.html Canada, terror, C-51, anti-Terrorism, Mike Duffy, Nigel Wright, election 2015, court, Senate Expenses, Queen Elizabeth, judge

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 11, 2015

Stephen Harper defends travel ban to terror zones

After several weeks on break, the Mike Duffy trial resumes this week.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is defending his proposal to ban travel to parts of the world controlled by terrorists, saying it’s not a “human right” that such travel is allowed.

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“This is limited to only those areas that are clearly under the control of terrorist organizations. We’re talking about a few, small number of areas in the world,” Harper said Monday morning during a campaign stop in Markham.

“Obviously parts of Iraq and Syria would be the kinds of areas that we’re talking about,” he said.

On Sunday, Harper said a newly-elected Conservative government would introduce a legal crackdown on so-called terror tourism and go after Canadians who travel to such areas.

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Harper said that the government advises against such travel and anyone who does go to these hotspots is “taking their life into their hands.”

“Frankly, these are not areas where families go. These are areas where we know why people are really going. They are going to terrorist training,” Harper said Monday.

“There is no human right to travel and visit ISIS. That is not a human right in this country,” he said.

At an early-morning event in Montreal, Trudeau dismissed the travel ban idea as little more than a distraction from the Conservatives’ dismal economic record. (Source: Toronto Star)

2015-08-11tearsheet

Wednesday September 12, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday September 12, 2012

3,100 citizenships ordered revoked for immigration fraud

The federal government has started the process of revoking the citizenship of 3,100 people suspected of lying to become Canadians.

Speaking at a news conference on Ottawa Monday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the federal government is “applying the full strength of Canadian law” to crack down on individuals suspected of obtaining citizenship fraudulently or falsifying information required for permanent residency.

“Canadian citizenship is not for sale,” Kenney told reporters. “We are taking action to strip citizenship and permanent residence status from people who don’t play by the rules and who lie or cheat to become a Canadian citizen.”

CBC News has learned cabinet has revoked the citizenship of 19 out of the 3,100 people using cabinet orders so far. The orders in council do not include the names of the individuals and the government will not release the names.

To date, letters have been sent to at least 500 of the 3,100 or so citizens suspected of fraud. Individuals may appeal to the Federal Court to stop the process.

If they don’t respond to their letters, requests to revoke citizenship go to cabinet. The entire process is expected to take months.

This crackdown on fraudulent citizenships is part of an investigation into some 11,000 people who may be lying to apply for citizenship or maintain permanent resident status.

Kenney’s department is working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian offices abroad to track down suspicious cases. (Source: CBC News)