Thursday November 5, 2015

November 4, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 5, 2015

No more selfies, but way more drama

(James Mennie column) When you consider we’ve just come through a federal election campaign where the selfie proved itself a legitimate and highly effective political tool, it wasn’t surprising this weekend to see Justin Trudeau, the undisputed winner of that campaign, proving once again he is the most photogenic prime minister designate in recent Canadian history.

If you missed it, the Trudeau family’s trick or treat theme on Saturday night was rather eclectic, Mom and Dad going with a generic Star Wars look while the two older children opted for your standard Disney princess and sword toting bird ensemble while the youngest (the choice presumably made for him) was led from door to camera-crew-surrounded door as a Ninja Turtle.

Given that Trudeau had already tweeted a Happy Halloween message and family portrait to his 932,000 followers, the images flooded social media and the comments seemed for the most part to be positive, many of them expressing delight at the country’s being led by so down to earth and happy looking a family. And when you consider that even the crustiest, most hard bitten political analysts have acknowledged that Trudeau’s message of hope and positiveness pretty much cut Stephen Harper’s campaign to ribbons, it’s a pretty safe bet the optimistic glow engendered by the Liberal victory on Oct. 19 will continue beyond the swearing-in ceremony for Trudeau and his first cabinet scheduled for Wednesday.

That said, I’m not entirely sure that glow will still be around by, say, Christmas. And the reason I suspect Trudeau’s national honeymoon won’t survive 2015 is that the selfie taking, Star Wars loving, YouTube dancing, drama teaching, musketeer mustachioed candidate- the guy who actually won this thing – will, by sheer political necessity, cease to exist once the words “So help me God” have left his lips on Wednesday.

The transformation won’t be due to pressure from any opposition in the House of Commons. The Tories are far too busy trying to figure out how to re-invent themselves and disinfect their party of the political agenda they spent 11 weeks defending during the campaign to effectively hound the new government any time soon. And the NDP is (I suspect) still preoccupied doing a slow burn over how they managed to let a principled stand on a wedge politics issue like the niqab sink their shot at governing while the same stand had no effect whatsoever on the Trudeau Liberals.

No, in the end, I think that Trudeau the prime minister will say good-bye to Justin the candidate because, just like anyone else who’s trained in drama, Trudeau knows when it’s time to change roles. And it’s becoming clear that the role of Justin the candidate has served its purpose. (Continued: Montreal Gazette)

Letter to the Editor

Spec’s Trudeau endorsement seems suspect

RE: Editorial cartoon (Nov. 5)

I find this cartoon disrespectful and lacking in humour. Especially two days before our new government is sworn in.

Considerable effort is already underway to live up to the promise of getting 25,000 refugees in by the end of the year. Numerous groups across Canada are hard at work, our armed forces are looking at ways to implement the plan and other initiatives are under evaluation.

It might be mentioned that the actual number of Syrian refugees taken into Canada, after a few years, is shockingly less than 5,000.

We did not honour our initial promise to take in 1,300 by the end of 2014.

Just another reminder that the Spectator’s endorsement of Justin Trudeau continuous to seem suspect.

Richard Ring, Grimsby

Thursday, March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, March 14, 2013

Marc Garneau is dropping out of the race to lead the federal Liberal Party and will support his MP colleague Justin Trudeau, saying a Trudeau win is certain.

On Tuesday, Garneau supported Trudeau’s plea to the Liberal Party to extend the registration deadline for voters in the leadership race, and sources have told CBC News that the deadline will be moved to give more time for supporters who are registering by mail, rather than by email.

The former astronaut’s support for the registration date change was a sign perhaps that he intended to get behind Trudeau.

Wednesday at a news conference in Ottawa, Garneau said, “It’s a fait accompli,” about the likelihood of Trudeau winning the race.

“I cannot see the numbers changing because he has an overwhelming lead,” the MP for the Montreal riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie said.

The odds were long but not impossible when he entered the race, Garneau said. He pointed to internal polling showing he is running second, although others have said he is in third or fourth place.

Garneau said his poll, or survey, conducted last week, contacted 40,000 supporters or party members who intend to vote in the race. Six thousand replied and of those, he said, Trudeau had 72 per cent support, he had 15 per cent, Joyce Murray had 7.4 percent and Martha Hall Findlay had 5.2 percent. (Source: CBC News)

Saturday, February 16, 2013

February 16, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday, February 16, 2013

Marc Garneau challenges Justin Trudeau to take a stand. Any stand.

In The Bourne Identity, the first of the films on the Robert Ludlum novels, Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is hauled from the sea and dumped onto the deck by a group of fishermen who assume he’s dead. Then his arm moves and they leap back: It’s alive!

Something similar has happened to the Liberal leadership race. Two debates into the contest, and with just two months to go before the choice is made, Mark Garneau has openly criticized Justin Trudeau, the perceived frontrunner.

“Federal Liberal Leadership frontrunner Justin Trudeau has a responsibility to tell Canadians where he stands and where he intends to lead now, not after the leadership race is over,” Garneau says in a press release headed “Garneau calls on Trudeau to take a stand.”

As Liberals, we cannot wait until after the leadership race is over to find out what we signed up for,” Garneau said in a prepared statement. “That is like asking Canadians to buy a new car without first test-driving it.”

It takes a shot at Trudeau’s fundraising talents, thanking him “for his contribution to the party’s coffers”, but suggests that leadership is about more than raising money.

“Garneau said he has made his leadership vision clear and has outlined his plan on the knowledge economy, trade, telecommunications, Western Canada, electoral reform, and student debt and youth employment. He added he will continue to do so for the duration of the campaign.

“This is not the case with Justin. He has told Canadians that we need a “bold” plan and a “clear vision” without defining either. On Justin’s two clear priorities, the middle class and youth engagement, he has said nothing,” said Garneau. “Therein lies the fundamental difference between Justin Trudeau and myself.” (Source: National Post)

Thursday November 29, 2012

November 29, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday November 29, 2012

Garneau campaign officially blasts off

A confidential report says Former astronaut and Montreal MP Marc Garneau launched his Liberal leadership bid Wednesday, joining an already crowded field of those hoping to win the party’s top job. Garneau made the announcement Wednesday morning in his riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie. Alternating between French and English, a fiery Garneau said it’s time for the Liberal party to set aside issues that divide and focus on those that unite.

“As leader, I will focus on the issues that matter to Quebecers and indeed to all Canadians. I will do this by making the economy my number one priority because I have to say it, how we propose as Liberals to deal with the economy will be crucial not only to our fortunes but to our country,” Garneau said.

The former Canadian Space Agency chief said Canada has become “angry, divisive and intolerant” under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and it’s “time for change.”

“I’m talking serious change to my party and my country. My goal is to restore integrity and principled leadership to Canadian politics,” Garneau said.

Earlier in the week, B.C. MP Joyce Murray also announced her intention to compete for the leadership position. As part of her bid, she said she would, as leader, enter talks with the New Democrats and Greens before considering fielding a single candidate in tightly-contested ridings during the next federal election.

Garneau said he wasn’t open to such a measure, saying he would field a Liberal candidate in every riding in Canada if elected leader. However, he conceded there is a sense among many Liberals that the party is being squeezed on the right by the Conservatives and on the left by the New Democrats. (Source: CTV News)

Friday September 28, 2012

September 28, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday September 28, 2012

Justinmania raises prospect others will drop out

Federal Liberals are facing the prospect of a short list of candidates for their upcoming leadership race following confirmation Wednesday that Justin Trudeau will throw his hat in the ring.

Many Liberals have been practically giddy over the dream of Trudeau’s name being on the leadership ballot — a dream that will become reality when the 40-year-old MP officially announces his candidacy at an event in Montreal next Tuesday.

But it is also no secret a number of other prospective contenders have been waiting for him to lay his cards on the table before deciding whether they would pony up the $75,000 entry fee and challenge him for the job.

The question now is how many will opt to save their money and quietly fade out of the leadership conversation rather than face the celebrity star power that threatens to unleash a second iteration of Trudeaumania.

Trudeau, clearly enjoying the attention and excitement revelations of his pending candidacy had generated, refused to confirm the upcoming announcement when confronted by a horde of waiting journalists Wednesday morning.

“Thank you very much for all your interest,” he said at one point as he left a weekly meeting of Liberal MPs and senators.

“I’m pleased to hear all the buzz and all the interest in the Liberal Party’s fortunes, but I have nothing to announce today. I will let you know when I have something to announce.”

Fellow Liberal MP Denis Coderre, who will announce whether he will run for the leadership on Nov. 9, said he welcomed Trudeau’s entrance into the race. (Source: National Post)