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Saturday April 28, 2023

April 29, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 28, 2023

Poilievre’s Sour Taste Can’t Dim the Love between Ford and Trudeau on EV Battery Deal

May 4, 2022

The recent announcement of the new Volkswagen battery plant in Ontario is a milestone moment for Canada’s electric vehicle supply chain. It will create 3,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs and attract billions of dollars in investment. The federal government, along with the Ontario provincial government, has committed $1.2 billion in capital costs and production subsidies to make this happen. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford were beaming with pride at the launch, both claiming credit for securing this deal for Canada.

However, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was not happy with the announcement. Even before the exact size of the dollar figure was known, he criticized the deal, demanding to know how many jobs the government was buying. He took to Twitter to express his opposition, stating that “this money belongs to Canadians, not to a foreign corporation, not to Justin Trudeau.” His criticism drew a sharp response from Trudeau, who accused him of stoking anger among Canadians and of having no confidence, hard work, optimism, or willingness to invest in Canadians.

It’s not surprising that Poilievre is opposed to the deal. He has been a vocal critic of government subsidies, arguing that they are a waste of taxpayers’ money. However, he seems to be missing the bigger picture. The Volkswagen battery plant is a strategic investment in Canada’s future, and it will create much-needed jobs and economic growth. The government’s investment in the plant will be recouped in just five years, according to the federal government. This is a smart investment in Canada’s future that will benefit all Canadians, not just the ones who will be directly employed at the plant.

News: Poilievre asks PBO to analyze Ottawa’s commitment of $13-billion in subsidies for EV battery plant

April 15, 2023

The contrast between Poilievre’s sour taste and the love between Ford and Trudeau on the EV battery deal is striking. Ford and Trudeau were united in their enthusiasm for the project, both claiming credit for securing the deal for Canada. They were joined by a host of federal, provincial, and municipal politicians, all eager to get a piece of the good publicity. It was a moment of unity and optimism, a sign that Canada can compete in the global economy and attract investment.

Poilievre’s criticism is not constructive. It’s easy to criticize from the sidelines, but it’s much harder to come up with a better plan. The Volkswagen battery plant is a game-changer for Canada, and it shows that the government is serious about investing in the future. It’s time for Poilievre to get on board and support this project, rather than trying to tear it down. Canada needs more unity and optimism, not anger and cynicism. (AI)

Friday January 8, 2016

January 7, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 8, 2016

Ultra-low-cost carrier planning flights from Hamilton airport

Canada’s latest airline will unveil its plans for flights out of Hamilton airport on Wednesday.

That’s when Dean Dacko, chief commercial officer of NewLeaf Travel, the country’s new ultra-low-cost air carrier, will unveil the company’s plans for making Hamilton one of its hubs.

Details of the announcement remain a closely guarded secret, but in a news release airport officials promise “NewLeaf plans to revolutionize the Canadian travel market.”

NewLeaf’s bare-bones website promises its service will feature “No more extra costs for things you don’t want” and “You pay for your seat and the rest is up to you.”

Wednesday’s announcement will include details on non-stop routes, pricing and booking.

NewLeaf announced its interest in the city in June, saying it would make its headquarters in Winnipeg with bases in Hamilton and Kelowna.

2005

Ultra-low-cost carriers — also called no-frills or budget airlines — offer lower fares, making up for lower ticket prices by charging for extras such as food, priority boarding and baggage. The largest such operator is United States-based Southwest Airlines.

Aircraft and crews for the NewLeaf flights will be supplied by Kelowna-based Flair Airlines.

Ultra-low-cost carriers are new to Canada’s aviation industry and Hamilton airport executives have been keen to get at least one located here as a boost to their long-cherished dream of turning the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport into a passenger destination.

While they have long argued that 2 million people live within an hour’s drive of the airport, its passenger history has been one of soaring hopes followed by bitter disappointment as more than 20 airlines have come and gone through the facility.

2003

Passenger traffic peaked in 2003 at about 1 million when the airport was the eastern hub for WestJet, before the airline moved the hub to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport. In 2014 it handled 332,000 passengers.

The only year-round scheduled service from Hamilton now is a single daily WestJet return flight to Calgary. That’s in addition to seasonal service to vacation spots.

NewLeaf is headed by Jim Young, a former vice-president and chief marketing officer at Denver-based Frontier Airlines who also served for six months as president of upstart Canada Jetlines Ltd.(Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Published in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Saturday, January 9, 2016