Maxime Bernier

Friday May 19, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 19, 2017

What Maxime Bernier’s Canada would look like

The libertarian former cabinet minister is leading the Conservative leadership race, heading into the final stretch.

April 27, 2017

Maxime Bernier has a dramatically different idea about how Canada should work.

Bernier would get the federal government out of health care, transferring the full responsibility to provinces and paving the way for more private delivery.

Bernier would tie Canada’s foreign aid to “morality,” and believes billions of it should be spent instead on tax cut and healing the poor at home.

Bernier would end federal “welfare” for Canadian businesses, and axe popular tax credits for things like kid’s hockey gear and teachers’ classroom supplies in favour of across-the-board tax cuts.

And Bernier wants to do it all in a four-year term, should he become Conservative leader at the end of the month, and should he defeat Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in 2019.

May 28, 2008

In many ways, Bernier’s approach would be a significant break from the Stephen Harper era. Harper took a slow and steady course, favouring incremental change and reassuring moderate Canadians there was no Conservative “hidden agenda.”

Bernier is proposing dramatic change quickly — and his agenda certainly can’t be accused of being hidden.

“They’re conservative ideas, they’re conservative values,” Bernier said this week, discussing his libertarian-leaning platform.

While popular with a good chunk of the Conservative base, there is some concern within the party about how the greater population will receive Bernier’s libertarian policies — and how well he can bring together the Conservative family after a divisive leadership campaign. (Continued: Toronto Star)

 

Thursday February 16, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 16, 2017

Liberal MP’s anti-Islamophobia motion set for debate on Wednesday

Members of Parliament will debate a motion to condemn Islamophobia and track incidents of hate crime against Muslims in the House of Commons next week.

Motion 103 was tabled by Mississauga, Ont., Liberal backbencher Iqra Khalid last fall, but will be discussed in the  aftermath of last month’s mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque. It calls on government to “condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.”

The text of the motion also asks the government to:

  • Recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear.
  • Request the heritage committee study how the government could develop a government-wide approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination, including Islamophobia.
  • Collect data to contextualize hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities and present findings within 240 calendar days.

The motion, scheduled for one hour of debate on Wednesday, has generated a backlash online, with petitions garnering thousands of signatures opposing the motion.

January 31, 2017

Some critics have mischaracterized M-103 as a “bill” or a “law” rather than an non-binding motion.

Some have warned that Canada is moving towards criminalizing Islamophobia or even to the implementation of Islamic law, called Shariah, in Canada.

Barbara Kay, a columnist for the National Post and contributor to The Rebel Media, said she worries about M-103’s potential impact on freedom of expression and special protections for a single religious group.

“There are a lot of countries in Europe where criticism of Islam, even if not entrenched in law as a hate crime, are being interpreted by police and law enforcement, social workers — the whole spectrum of the state apparatus. They have been internalized by those within the public service as wrong, and if not criminal then absolutely morally wrong, and therefore Muslims are a group that must be protected from this very offensive speech,” she said in an interview with CBC.

Kay said anti-hate speech laws have traditionally targeted human beings, not ideas. She questioned the need to single out Islamophobia, and argued there are more hate crimes against Jews than Muslims in Canada. (Source: CBC News) 

Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Thursday July 14, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday July 14, 2016 Conservative MP Tony Clement launched his campaign Tuesday evening to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Clement made the announcement surrounded by supporters in Mississauga, Ont., promising he is the "leader, who represents the experience, and the innovation, who can win back the trust of Canadians in suburban and urban communities alike across the land.Ó Clement said he was "tested, and ready today, to earn back the confidence of families, of millennials, of moms and dads, of urban and rural Canadians, and of small business leaders, and seniors who want government to be an empowering force for good.Ó Clement is something of a social media maven who has been critical of the party's campaign in the last election. Drawing attention to his well-known Twitter presence, Clement said he would use social media more effectively to reach out to all Canadians and engage them. He joked that the first draft of his campaign launch speech was only 140 characters long Ñ the maximum length of a tweet. A former minister in Stephen Harper's cabinet, Clement spoke at length about his roots as an immigrant from the United Kingdom who was brought up on strong family values. The longtime politician joins three other Conservative leadership hopefuls, all of whom are his fellow House caucus colleagues. Maxime Bernier, Michael Chong and Kellie Leitch launched their campaigns earlier this year after the Tory leadership process formally began. Milton MP Lisa Raitt is another possible contender. Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose has vowed not to run despite being the subject of a "Draft Rona" campaign by some committed supporters. ÊThis is Clement's second run at the party's leadership. In 2004 he placed third against Harper and auto parts mogul Belinda Stronach. The Parry Sound-Muskoka MP has altered his appearance in recent months ahead of his foray into the politic

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday July 14, 2016

Tony Clement launches campaign to become next Conservative federal leader

Conservative MP Tony Clement launched his campaign Tuesday evening to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday, April 14, 2016 Scrap the Saudi arms deal, says Clement Foreign Affairs Minister StŽphane Dion says he is prepared to cancel the export permits for a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia if there is any evidence the armored vehicles made in Canada are used in human rights violations. ÒAs with all export permits, the minister of foreign affairs retains the power to revoke at any time the permit should the assessment change,Ó said Dion, pointing out that there is no indication that Canadian-made armored vehicles sold to Saudi Arabia in the past have been used to violate human rights. ÒShould I become aware of credible information of violations related to this equipment, I will suspend or revoke the permits. We are watching this closely and will continue to do so.Ó Speaking to reporters on his way into Question Period where the government came under fire for the deal, Dion defended the $15 billion sale, saying CanadaÕs credibility would be harmed if it didnÕt honor the contract negotiated in 2014. DionÕs comments come following the revelation by the Globe and Mail that while the Conservative government initially endorsed the deal to sell $15 billion worth of armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia Ð one of the biggest arms sales in Canadian history Ð it was Dion who signed the expert permits on Friday, a crucial step in the sale that many had thought had already taken place. When they came to power, TrudeauÕs Liberals indicated the sale was a done deal and their hands were tied. Without the export permits, however, the sale would have been stalled. Global Affairs Department documents stamped secret and released by the Justice Department this week in response to a court challenge to the sale, indica

April 14, 2016

Clement made the announcement surrounded by supporters in Mississauga, Ont., promising he is the “leader, who represents the experience, and the innovation, who can win back the trust of Canadians in suburban and urban communities alike across the land.”

Clement said he was “tested, and ready today, to earn back the confidence of families, of millennials, of moms and dads, of urban and rural Canadians, and of small business leaders, and seniors who want government to be an empowering force for good.”

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday May 24, 2011 Clement won't rule out program cuts: reports Treasury Board head Tony Clement said he would consider shutting entire programs and shrinking the public service to help produce a balanced budget by 2014-2015, according to reports. Clement was named Treasury Board president on Wednesday, taking over from Stockwell Day, and is tasked with finding savings in other government departments to reduce the deficit, which is projected this year to be $29.6 billion. On Wednesday, Clement acknowledged that a preferred option for saving money would be through attrition, or cutting public service jobs when people leave or retire. But on Thursday, he elaborated, telling the Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen newspapers that cuts could mean entire programs are shuttered. Programs that might have been important 30 years ago may no longer be the best way to spend public money today, he said. Patty Ducharme, the national executive vice-president for the Public Sector Alliance of Canada, the largest public sector union, said she was not surprised by the news. Ever since the government first talked about reducing staff through attrition, public service unions have said such a plan was not possible or practical. "I'm dismayed though, given the fact that what this government has been saying leading up to the election was that there would be job reductions, but those reductions would come through attrition and nothing more than attrition," Ducharme said. "One day into the job and now he's telling the truth. Thanks Tony." Ducharme said she was at a loss as to which government programs might be targeted. (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/clement-won-t-rule-out-program-cuts-reports-1.1036385 Canada, Conservative,Tony Clement, Muskoka, G8, Summit, gazebo, spending, cuts, austerity, executioner, guillotine

May 24, 2011

Clement is something of a social media maven who has been critical of the party’s campaign in the last election.

Drawing attention to his well-known Twitter presence, Clement said he would use social media more effectively to reach out to all Canadians and engage them. He joked that the first draft of his campaign launch speech was only 140 characters long — the maximum length of a tweet.

A former minister in Stephen Harper’s cabinet, Clement spoke at length about his roots as an immigrant from the United Kingdom who was brought up on strong family values.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday June 18, 2010 G8 funds flood Clement's riding: Liberals The Opposition Liberals are accusing the Conservative governmentÊof blowing $50 million of G8 summit-related spending in IndustryÊMinister Tony Clement's riding in an attempt to boost his chances ofÊre-election. Industry Minister Tony Clement has been under fire for weeks in theÊHouse of Commons over federal spending in his central OntarioÊriding of Muskoka-Parry Sound ahead of the G8 summit inÊHuntsville. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)Liberal MPs Mark HollandÊand Marcel Proulx presented a slideshow at a news conference onÊWednesday showing G8 legacy project sites in Clement's OntarioÊriding of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Dubbing the presentation the "Tour de Pork," the MPs said most ofÊthe money has been spent on projects that are nowhere near delegatesÊduring the one-day G8 summit and that will not be completed in timeÊfor the event. The sites flaunted by the Liberals include a $2-million streetÊimprovement project for Port Severn, 135 kilometres away from theÊsummit site in Huntsville, as well as a $700,000 main street andÊbridge improvement project in the small town of Kearney, 42Êkilometres from the summit site The minister, Holland said, needs to justify how he can say theÊprojects have anything to do with the G8, when most of them willÊnever be seen by delegates. "What has happened here is under the guise of G8," Holland toldÊreporters. "It has nothing to do with G8. They're blowing $50 millionÊto boost the electoral prospects of a minister, and we think that that isÊentirely inappropriate."Ê(Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/g8-funds-flood-clement-s-riding-liberals-1.961407#ixzz0rD9YVzRj Canada, Conservative, Tony Clement, Muskoka, G8, Summit, Brazil, Rio, Jesus, statue, spending

June 18, 2010

The longtime politician joins three other Conservative leadership hopefuls, all of whom are his fellow House caucus colleagues.

Maxime Bernier, Michael Chong and Kellie Leitch launched their campaigns earlier this year after the Tory leadership process formally began. Milton MP Lisa Raitt is another possible contender. Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose has vowed not to run despite being the subject of a “Draft Rona” campaign by some committed supporters.

 

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday January 8, 2004 Three months of municipal budget misery Auto parts magnate Frank Stronach thinks it would be a great idea if his daughter Belinda ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party. "I said: 'Look Belinda, you're a privileged lady. I think it's the greatest honour if you could serve your country,'." Mr. Stronach, who founded the auto parts company that his daughter now heads, said yesterday.Ê If she throws her hat into the ring, as she is expected to do later this week or perhaps early next week, Belinda Stronach will be following in the political and business footsteps of her father, who was a Liberal candidate in a Toronto-area riding in the 1988 federal election.Ê But she's different, Mr. Stronach said in a telephone interview yesterday from Baltimore.Ê "I maybe was a bit more aggressive. I shot a little more out of the hip. She is very thoughtful."Ê Supporters of former Ontario health minister Tony Clement held conference calls to discuss his candidacy for leadership of the party. (Source: Globe & Mail)Êhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/stronach-supports-daughters-foray-into-politics/article1125402/ Canada, Conservative, Belinda Stronach, Tony Clement, leadership, politics, fan, young, infatuation

January 8, 2004

This is Clement’s second run at the party’s leadership. In 2004 he placed third against Harper and auto parts mogul Belinda Stronach.

The Parry Sound-Muskoka MP has altered his appearance in recent months ahead of his foray into the political spotlight, purchasing new glasses and trimming his hair. (Source: CBC News)

 

Tuesday May 31, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday May 31, 2016 'Freedom and respect': Conservatives strike marriage definition from party policy Conservative delegates at the party's policy convention in Vancouver have voted to strike the definition of marriage in the party's official policy document. In a 1,036-462 vote, delegates from all provinces except Saskatchewan cast majority votes in favour of no longer defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. "I think our party got a little more Canadian today," Calgary MP Michelle Rempel said after the vote. "It's a milestone and it's not just a milestone for our party, it's a milestone for all Canadians.Ó "Yes, it took us 10 years to get to this point, but I think this is something that is a beacon for people around the world who are looking at equality rights. Canada is a place where we celebrate equality.Ó The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party's official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral. Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued. "What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?" he said, drawing applause. The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party's official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral. Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued. "What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full parti

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 31, 2016

‘Freedom and respect’: Conservatives strike marriage definition from party policy

Conservative delegates at the party’s policy convention in Vancouver have voted to strike the definition of marriage in the party’s official policy document.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday May 19, 2016 Some Conservatives now ready to support bill on transgender rights When C-279, the private member's bill that would have added gender identity to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, came before the House of Commons for a vote in 2013, Conservative MPs Rona Ambrose and Tony Clement voted against it. This time around, Ambrose and Clement say they will be voting in favour when the Liberal government's bill to add gender identity to the human rights act and the code, C-16, comes before the House for a vote. Neither vote is likely to be crucial to the bill's success: with Liberal and NDP support, the bill should pass the House of Commons comfortably. But they could mark a change of opinion that might still be significant. Clement pointed to the influence he takes from his three children. "I have three children, ages 24, 22 and 18. They span the political spectrum but in their generation this is a foregone issue," he said. "They don't even understand why this would be debated.Ó He also says it makes sense that transgender Canadians should be included among those who have their rights acknowledged. While Liberals, New Democrats and 18 Conservatives supported the bill tabled by NDP Randall Garrison, Conservatives accounted for all of the 137 votes opposed. Clement says that in 2013, the advice to Conservatives from the Justice Department was that the bill was unnecessary because gender identity was already covered by the law. Ambrose and Clement follow Conservative MP David Tilson who told CBC News on Monday that his view had changed since voting against C-279 in 2013. That change of opinion is not unanimous. Conservative Senator Don Plett, who opposed C-279 and moved amendments that excluded areas such as bathrooms from the bill's provisions, told reporters on Tuesday that his position has not changed. "You know my feeling on transgender rights," he said. "They hav

May 19, 2016

In a 1,036-462 vote, delegates from all provinces except Saskatchewan cast majority votes in favour of no longer defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

“I think our party got a little more Canadian today,” Calgary MP Michelle Rempel said after the vote. “It’s a milestone and it’s not just a milestone for our party, it’s a milestone for all Canadians.”

“Yes, it took us 10 years to get to this point, but I think this is something that is a beacon for people around the world who are looking at equality rights. Canada is a place where we celebrate equality.”

January 13, 2012

The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party’s official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral.

Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued.

“What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?” he said, drawing applause.

December 8, 2006

The result followed a heated debate and prompted some high-fives and cheers across the hall. It shifts the party’s official position on same-sex marriage from being against the unions to neutral.

Eric Lorenzen, from an Eastern Ontario riding, said during the debate that as a gay Conservative, he found it troubling that his party told him his relationship with his partner was not valued.

“What other group does our party have a negative policy towards? A policy of restricting civil rights and restricting full participation in society?” he said, drawing applause. (Source: CBC News)

 

Wednesday May 28, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 28, 2008

Foreign press coverage of Bernier an eyeful

Like the “gorgeous woman” on his arm when he was sworn in as foreign minister, Maxime Bernier’s resignation didn’t go unnoticed in foreign news outlets, which seem to gleefully throw his former girlfriend into their coverage.

While the breaking news of the resignation came too late for overseas publications, some did spice up their wire service headlines on websites by playing up the woman behind the fallen cabinet minister.

“Good night and very bad luck,” titled Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald over a story from the Reuters News Agency, while Britain’s Daily Telegraph went with “The minister, the classified papers and a lover linked to Hells Angels.”

Few websites didn’t run with a photo of the former so-called ministerial couple, including the BBC website which, like many outlets, pointed out that Bernier was under pressure to resign following previous slip-ups such as his suggestion the “Afghan President Hamid Karzai replace the governor of Kandahar province, where Canada has 2,500 troops stationed.” Chinese News Agency Xinhua noted Bernier “has been under fire recently for his former girlfriend’s links with an organized crime group.”

“A calamitous moral affair” put an end to his career, wrote France’s Le Figaro – under the banner “A Canadian minister forgets his files at his lover’s home” – which added “pretty” to international descriptions of Couillard, which ranged from “gorgeous” and “glamorous” to the “provocatively dressed,” used in a widely run Associated Press piece. (Source: Canwest)