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Wednesday February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 12, 2025 (also, The Toronto Star.)

Doug Ford’s Abysmal Healthcare Performance in Ontario

September 26, 2024

Healthcare in Ontario has been a hot topic for years, and under Doug Ford’s leadership, the debate has only heated up. As election promises flood in from all parties, each claiming to fix the family doctor shortage and other issues, it’s important to examine what the current government has done—and hasn’t done—about healthcare.

Doug Ford’s time in office has seen plenty of criticism for how healthcare has been handled. Emergency rooms are closing more often, especially in rural areas, leaving people with fewer options when they need urgent care. The problem of finding family doctors has only grown, with millions more Ontarians expected to lose their family doctor soon. For people like Louise Lee and her family, this means a constant struggle to find basic medical care.

Analysis: 2024 worst year for Ontario ER closures, CBC analysis finds

May 19, 2023

Instead of focusing on these urgent healthcare needs, Ford’s government has been accused of chasing short-term, flashy policies. Expanding beer sales in convenience stores seemed to take priority over real healthcare reform, raising questions about what truly matters to this administration.

Privatization efforts have also worried many. By shifting funding towards private providers, there’s a risk that healthcare could become less accessible and affordable, potentially leading to a system where only those who can pay get the best care.
Promises to end hallway medicine have yet to materialize, with overcrowded hospitals still a common issue. This failure to deliver on key promises is part of a larger pattern of unmet commitments.

March 1, 2023

While appointing Dr. Jane Philpott to oversee primary care access was a positive step, it doesn’t address the bigger issues without a full strategy in place.

As the election approaches, political parties are offering solutions to Ontario’s healthcare problems. Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals want to bring in 3,100 family doctors by 2029, spending $3.1 billion. Doug Ford’s Conservatives plan to create 305 new primary care teams to help two million more Ontarians, with $1.8 billion in funding. Marit Stiles and the NDP promise to recruit 3,500 new doctors, spending $4.05 billion—the boldest plan of all.

These promises are supported by additional federal funding, with Justin Trudeau’s government committing $11.4 billion over 10 years to Ontario’s healthcare. This money aims to support team-based care models, which could make the system more efficient.

Analysis: Ontario parties are promising family doctors for all

August 19, 2022

But there’s plenty of doubt. How will these parties find all the new doctors they promise? Can they really fix the problems that have been around for decades?

The truth is, Ontario’s healthcare system has been declining for years, and it’s not just Ford’s fault. Long-standing issues like underfunding, an aging population, and workforce challenges have all played a part. Our healthcare system struggles to keep up with modern demands.

Election promises alone won’t bring the big changes needed. We need a long-term plan, backed by solid policies and cooperation across political lines, to truly improve Ontario’s healthcare. This plan must focus on fair access, updated infrastructure, and fixing systemic problems.

January 27, 2021

As voters prepare to make their choice, it’s important to look closely at what all parties are promising. Doug Ford’s record on healthcare shows many challenges, and while some new proposals give hope, they need to be realistic and impactful. Ontario’s healthcare system needs more than quick fixes or campaign talk; it requires a real commitment to lasting improvement. Only then can we hope to turn things around and build a healthcare system that works for everyone in Ontario.

Ontario’s Election – Continued: Ford Focus

I don’t think you have to be from Ontario to understand it. Public health care is undergoing significant challenges not just in this province, but across Canada and around the world where universal healthcare is crumbling. The struggles with doctor and nursing shortages, long wait times for procedures, and overcrowded emergency rooms are issues that many regions are grappling with, not just Doug Ford’s Ontario.

And let’s be real, if politicians want to brand themselves as superheroes, editorial cartoonists are definitely going to play along! I keep saying it, but we are facing an unnecessary election in Ontario right now. Just like President Trump has a knack for drawing attention to himself, Doug Ford seems to be trying to distract voters from his own record by shifting focus to Trump. Honestly, leave the Trump distractions to the Feds, Doug, and focus on defending your own record!

This piece took me back to those classic Superman episodes, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. And if you’re a voter in Ontario, don’t be part of the apathetic 57% who didn’t bother to cast a ballot last time! It’s so important to get informed and make your voice heard. Mark your calendars—election day is on February 27, 2025. Let’s make sure we all step up and participate in shaping the future of our province!

Please enjoy the February 12, 2024 making-of animated editorial cartoon below. Posts come out every Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons. If you like my editorial cartoons and animations, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. A lot of work goes into these cartoons and commentary — Best of all, it’s free!

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Thursday February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 22, 2024

Doug Ford’s ‘Get It Done’ Act: A Distraction from Real Issues

January 23, 2024

As Premier Doug Ford proudly presents his “Get It Done Act” to the Ontario legislature, it becomes increasingly clear that this omnibus bill is more of a political maneuver than a genuine effort to address the pressing problems facing the province.

The legislation, borrowing its title from Ford’s 2022 election slogan, aims to streamline infrastructure projects, eliminate fees, and impose restrictions on future carbon taxes and tolls. However, the opposition parties have dismissed it as performative, with good reason.

News: Doug Ford hopes to finally ‘Get It Done’ when legislature resumes Tuesday

One glaring issue is the misalignment between Ford’s proclaimed priorities and the actual challenges plaguing Ontario. While the Premier is busy pushing for expedited construction and cost-of-living concerns, the real crises in healthcare and housing continue to be overlooked.

October 22, 2022

The proposed urban boundary changes, although claimed to be in response to municipal requests, raise questions about the government’s commitment to effective and consultative policymaking. It appears that reversals and policy U-turns have become the norm, showcasing a lack of strategic planning.

The headline-grabbing elements of the bill, such as the carbon pricing referendum and the ban on new tolls, appear more as political tactics than practical solutions. Opposition leaders rightly point out the performative nature of these measures, emphasizing their potential to be easily undone by a future government.

The skepticism is further fuelled by Ford’s selective memory. While he adamantly opposes carbon taxes now, he conveniently forgets that Ontarians were exempt from the federal levy until his government canceled the cap-and-trade alliance, costing the provincial treasury $2 billion annually.

November 12, 2021

The focus on a carbon pricing referendum and toll bans seems more like a desperate attempt to divert attention from ongoing controversies, such as the Greenbelt land swap scandal and the $8.28-billion Greenbelt debacle under RCMP investigation.

What’s truly disheartening is the disregard for critical issues like healthcare. The shortage of family doctors, overcrowded hospitals, and the burnout of healthcare workers should be at the forefront of any government’s agenda. Yet, Ford’s “Get It Done Act” seems to turn a blind eye to the real needs of Ontarians.

News: Meet some of the 6 million Canadians who don’t have a family doctor

As the Premier tries to deflect attention with performative policies, it’s essential for Ontarians to see through the political posturing and demand real solutions to the problems that affect their daily lives. The “Get It Done Act” may sound promising, but actions speak louder than slogans, and it’s time for the government to prioritize substance over optics.

Saturday February 3, 2024

February 3, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 3, 2024

Alberta’s Urgent Issues Overshadowed by Premier Smith’s Controversial Policies

In the vast landscape of pressing challenges faced by Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith’s recent unveiling of sweeping changes to the province’s policies, particularly those related to transgender youth, has sparked a divisive debate. While the issue at hand deserves attention and discussion, it is crucial to recognize that this might be a calculated distraction from more critical and urgent issues that demand the government’s immediate focus.

December 2, 2022

Alberta is grappling with a multifaceted crisis that includes a strained healthcare system, an opioid epidemic, a severe shortage of doctors, and a growing crisis of homelessness and housing. These challenges directly impact the well-being of Albertans on a daily basis and require comprehensive and immediate solutions. Yet, Premier Smith’s policy changes, while significant, seem to divert attention from these urgent matters.

In shaping herself as the northern version of American anti-“woke” governors, such as Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Premier Smith appears to be strategically appealing to her far-right conservative base. By focusing on controversial issues related to gender identity and sports, she risks sidelining the broader concerns that affect the entire population.

News: Danielle Smith unveils sweeping changes to Alberta’s student gender identity, sports and surgery policies

October 14, 2022

The policies, as announced, have faced criticism for going further than those in other provinces like Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Critics argue that these changes not only interfere ideologically in the provision of necessary healthcare for trans and gender-diverse young people but also pose a risk of forcing vulnerable individuals back into the closet or even homelessness.

While the transgender youth policy is indeed important, it must be viewed in the context of the more immediate crises confronting the province. The hospital emergency room crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic, demands urgent attention and resources to ensure the well-being of all Albertans. The opioid crisis continues to claim lives, necessitating a comprehensive strategy for addiction treatment and harm reduction.

Moreover, the severe shortage of doctors is a systemic issue that requires proactive measures to attract and retain healthcare professionals in the province. Addressing homelessness and the housing crisis is paramount to ensuring the basic dignity and security of Alberta’s citizens.

May 31, 2023

Groups supporting transgender rights, including Skipping Stone Foundation and Egale Canada, have condemned Smith’s policies, calling them a direct and unprecedented attack on 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians and trans and gender-diverse youth. Legal battles are looming, with promises to challenge the constitutionality of the measures in court.

Moreover, the proposed restrictions have drawn international concern, with Canada’s health minister labeling them “extremely dangerous.” The potential impact on children’s lives has sparked strong condemnations from Liberal ministers, emphasizing that issues surrounding kids’ reproductive health should not be turned into political stunts.

Doctors in the province have criticized Premier Smith for making medically “false” statements about transgender youth care and gender reassignment surgery. The lack of consultation with medical professionals raises questions about the evidence behind these policies and whether they are based on ideology rather than scientific literature.

News: Alberta premier’s policy changes around trans youth could be harmful: doctors

November 15, 2022

As Alberta’s healthcare professionals express concerns about the potential harm these policies may inflict on vulnerable youth, it becomes evident that the government should prioritize a broader and more inclusive dialogue. In a province facing numerous urgent crises, it is vital to ensure that policies are rooted in evidence, consultation, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of all citizens.

While the issue of transgender youth and related policies deserves thoughtful consideration, Premier Smith’s approach risks overshadowing the more immediate and critical challenges faced by the people of Alberta. It is time for a nuanced, evidence-based approach that addresses urgent issues without sacrificing the well-being of any segment of the population for political gain. (AI)

Saturday August 27, 2022

August 27, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 27, 2022

Not the new and improved Doug Ford …

August 19, 2022

At minimum, the provincial government has a massive optics and communication problem around its new initiative to try and free up badly needed acute care beds.

By now we all know the health-care crisis is real. And a significant part of the situation is a result of people who need alternate levels of care occupying acute care beds. Give Doug Ford and friends credit for finally trying to do something about it.

But is what they’re doing the right thing?

January 27, 2021

New legislation would allow hospital patients to be transferred to a temporary long-term care home without their consent while they await a bed in their preferred facility. The interim LTC facility would not necessarily be in their community. The law will not physically force patients to move, but it’s not at all clear what will happen if they don’t.

LTC Minister Paul Calandra says people should “absolutely” be charged a fee if they won’t move, but he won’t say how much. It could be $62 per day, or it could be much more. How much more? How far away might people be moved? The government either doesn’t know or isn’t saying, and it is not allowing debate or public input into the new law. This is not the new and consultation-friendly Doug Ford people thought they were voting for. (Hamilton Spectator editorial)

Friday May 7, 2021

May 14, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 7, 2021

The Political Blame Game

February 6, 2021

For months now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has blamed everyone for Canada’s trickle of COVID-19 vaccines but himself.

Trudeau and his ministers have gone so far as to blame former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney — who was prime minister from 1984 to 1993 — for the privatization, or “the selling off“, of Connaught Laboratories. What he fails to mention is that Connaught Labs didn’t go anywhere. It’s now part of Sanofi Pasteur, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines. The Connaught Campus in Toronto accounts for one-fifth of the company’s global vaccine sales.

Experts in Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry — as opposed to the generic pharmaceutical industry — say Trudeau’s attempt to pin the blame on Mulroney or a more recent Conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, is ironic, because were it not for Mulroney, the innovative industry likely wouldn’t exist here at all.

March 9, 2016

Paul Lucas, who was president and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline Canada from 1994 to 2012, started speaking out and wrote an opinion piece in the Financial Post after he heard federal Liberal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc being interviewed on CTV’s Power Play with Evan Solomon, saying that GlaxoSmithKline had closed its manufacturing facility for vaccines during Harper’s Conservative government, which is false.

“This facility didn’t close, it’s still producing most of the flu vaccine for Canada on an annual basis,” Lucas said during a recent telephone interview.

“I’ve been very concerned and frankly upset about the lies that are coming from the federal government about this whole (COVID vaccine) file,” says Lucas, who was integral to the production and distribution of the Canadian vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. All of the vaccine for that outbreak was produced in the GSK factory in Quebec City.

“Trudeau has badly botched Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement,” states Lucas.

“First, he blamed Harper for his own failings. Then he blamed Mulroney and then he blamed the provinces. Then he actually turned on his own vaccine task force. He blamed them for about a day or two. Then he blamed the companies — Pfizer for delaying the delivery of its vaccines in January,” explains Lucas. (Calgary Herald)

November 19, 2020

Meanwhile, Ontario Minister of Long-term Care Merrilee Fullerton faced a call from the Opposition to resign her cabinet post on Tuesday, in the wake of two reports that reviewed her ministry’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent days, Fullerton has been pressed to explicitly acknowledge whether she feels she shares any responsibility for the more than 3,700 deaths of long-term care residents with COVID-19 in Ontario.

During question period Tuesday, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath asked when Fullerton was made aware that some residents had died of dehydration or basic neglect, which led a tense exchange between the two.

“The premise of your question is bordering on obscene,” Fullerton said. “And the reason why is because all of the ministry, public health, medical officers of health, thousands of people have been working to shore up these homes and they were no match for COVID-19.”

Fullerton said that some long-term care homes became “warzones” within days of the first confirmed cases among residents and staff.

“What we were doing 24 hours a day was trying to get support to those homes, with an unknown virus that wasn’t fully understood and a shortage of supplies globally,” she added.

May 4, 2021

Fullerton then said the NDP had failed to pressure the previous Liberal government into fixing Ontario’s beleaguered long-term care sector.

“Look at your failure. I was left to pick up the pieces from a devastating 15 years of neglect,” she said. “I will not be spoken to that way by the leader of the opposition that neglected this sector.”

Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk and the Ontario Long-term Care COVID-19 Commission both released their respective reports last week. While the probes examined different aspects of COVID-19’s impact on the long-term care sector, they reached similar conclusions: the ministry was not prepared for a pandemic, in part due to years of inaction to prevent a crisis. (CBC)