Mike Harris – mackaycartoons

Tuesday June 10, 2024

June 11, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday June 10, 2024

Government Oversight Should Not Take a Backseat to Efficiency

April 2, 2022

In a recent move that has sparked considerable debate, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government announced the cancellation of funding for the province’s comprehensive wastewater surveillance program. This decision, ostensibly made to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and avoid duplication with a modestly expanded federal program, raises significant concerns about public health preparedness. The irony of this situation becomes even more pronounced when we recall the Walkerton tragedy of 2000, a dark chapter in Ontario’s history that vividly illustrated the catastrophic consequences of prioritizing efficiency over essential government oversight.

In May 2000, the town of Walkerton experienced a devastating public health crisis when its water supply became contaminated with E. coli and Campylobacter bacteria. The contamination led to the deaths of seven people and caused severe illness in more than 2,000 residents. The root cause of this tragedy was found to be inadequate chlorination and monitoring of the water supply, compounded by heavy rainfall that washed manure from nearby farms into the water system.

News: Ontario pulls plug on COVID-19 wastewater surveillance

July 4, 2001

Crucially, this disaster occurred in the context of significant budget cuts and deregulation efforts spearheaded by the then Premier Mike Harris, father of the newly appointed Minister of Red Tape Reduction, Mike Harris Jr. These cuts included reductions in the Ministry of the Environment’s staff and the closure of government laboratories responsible for water testing. The Walkerton tragedy starkly highlighted the dangers of reducing government oversight in the name of efficiency.

Fast forward to 2024, and it appears that history may be poised to repeat itself. The Ford government’s decision to end funding for the provincial wastewater surveillance program is a troubling echo of past mistakes. Wastewater surveillance has proven to be an invaluable tool in the fight against COVID-19, providing early detection of outbreaks and enabling timely public health responses. It offers a non-invasive, cost-effective method to monitor community health and detect a wide range of pathogens, potentially preventing large-scale health crises.

July 21, 2023

Yet, the decision to dismantle this program is justified by a desire to streamline operations and reduce perceived redundancies. The federal government’s expanded wastewater surveillance network, which will have significantly fewer sites and less integration with provincial health infrastructure, is no match for the comprehensive system Ontario had in place. This move undermines the progress made in public health surveillance and leaves Ontario less prepared for future pandemics or public health emergencies.

The push for efficiency and reduced bureaucracy is understandable, particularly in a business context where excessive red tape can stifle innovation and growth. However, public health is not an area where corners can be cut without severe consequences. Effective regulation and oversight are critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of the population. The Walkerton tragedy is a poignant reminder of what can happen when these safeguards are neglected.

Governments must strike a balance between efficiency and the need to maintain robust public health protections. Cutting essential programs like wastewater surveillance in the name of efficiency is a false economy. The short-term financial savings are far outweighed by the potential long-term costs of undetected outbreaks and public health crises.

Editorial: Doug Ford is again ignoring the lessons of the past

October 15, 2021

The Ford government must reconsider its decision to end funding for the provincial wastewater surveillance program. Public health initiatives require sustained investment and commitment. Effective oversight and monitoring are not bureaucratic luxuries; they are essential components of a functioning society that prioritizes the health and safety of its citizens.

Moreover, this is not just about preserving a specific program but about recognizing the broader importance of government oversight in critical areas. Policymakers must learn from past mistakes, such as the Walkerton tragedy, and ensure that the pursuit of efficiency does not come at the expense of public health and safety.

March 10, 2022

As Ontario moves forward, it is crucial that we do not lose sight of the lessons of the past. The tragedy of Walkerton stands as a stark warning of the dangers of reducing government oversight in the name of efficiency. By dismantling the provincial wastewater surveillance program, the Ford government risks repeating these mistakes, compromising the health and safety of Ontarians. We must demand that public health oversight remains a priority, ensuring that efficiency does not take precedence over the well-being of the population. Only then can we truly be prepared for the challenges of the future. (AI)

Saturday June 8, 2024

June 8, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday June 8, 2024

*Animated version of this cartoon is here!

A Symphony of Hypocrisy, Cronyism, and Nepotism

January 17, 2019

In the grand opera of Ontario politics, Premier Doug Ford has orchestrated a performance that could rival even the most absurd of comedies. With 36 cabinet ministers, his government now boasts the largest ensemble in Ontario’s history, leaving little room for doubt: welcome aboard the gravy train, folks.

But amidst the standing room only spectacle, one appointment stands out as the crescendo of tone-deafness, cronyism, and nepotism: the anointment of Mike Harris’ son as Minister to Reduce Red Tape. It’s a move that not only ignores the lessons of the Walkerton tragedy but mocks them with a smirk.

News: Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffles cabinet

July 4, 2001

Let’s pause for a moment of reflection. Remember Walkerton? The catastrophic consequences of diminished government oversight? Well, now we have Harris Jr. tasked with the oxymoronic mission of Red Tape Reduction. One can’t help but wonder if he’ll follow in his father’s footsteps and stop water inspections altogether. After all, that worked out so well, didn’t it?

And if that weren’t enough, we have Doug’s own nephew, Michael Ford, joining the Cabinet, proving that nepotism knows no bounds in the Ford dynasty. But fear not, for he shall oversee Citizenship and Multiculturalism, a portfolio ripe for business meetings reminiscent of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s escapades in Grade 9.

June 27, 2019

But wait, there’s more! Doug’s solution to the overcrowded stage? Creating a slew of associate minister positions, ensuring that more of his MPPs can bask in the glory of inflated titles and padded paycheques. Because who needs efficiency when you can have bureaucracy masquerading as progress?

And what about that promise of small government? The rallying cry of conservatives everywhere? Well, Doug’s administration seems to have missed the memo, as they gleefully expand their executive council while crying foul at the mere mention of big government.

News: Insiders say Doug Ford’s cabinet shuffle reveals anger at surprise kaffiyeh ban, confidence he’ll be exonerated in RCMP Greenbelt probe

March 22, 2019

But fret not, dear Ontarians, for Doug Ford is here to navigate the ship of state. Or rather, rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. As the legislature takes an extended summer break, one can’t help but wonder: when will the real work begin? Or is cottage season simply too sacred to interrupt?

In the end, Doug Ford’s cabinet shuffle reads like a tragicomedy of errors, with hypocrisy, cronyism, and nepotism taking centre stage. But worry not, for the show must go on. And who knows? Perhaps one day we’ll look back on this spectacle with fondness, as the day the circus came to town. (AI)

Friday December 15, 2023

December 15, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday December 15, 2023

Ontario’s Boozy Awakening Just in Time for Christmas Cheer!

November 30, 2022

In a festive twist just shy of two weeks before Christmas, Premier Doug Ford has bestowed upon Ontario’s booze enthusiasts a gift as grand as old Ebenezer Scrooge’s change of heart. After a century of stringent liquor control, the provincial government is set to break free from the chains of the past, bringing a wave of merriment to beer and wine lovers across the land.

Ford, in his role as the newfound spirit of holiday cheer, unveiled plans to uncork additional choices for buyers of beer, wine, cider, hard seltzer, and premixed cocktails. The modernization of Ontario’s booze laws, set to be fully realized by “no later than Jan. 1, 2026,” promises a liberating experience for consumers. In an exuberant announcement at an Etobicoke variety store, one of the 8,500 new outlets destined to sell alcoholic delights, Ford joyfully declared the fulfillment of a 2018 promise to bring the spirit of celebration to convenience and grocery stores.

June 26, 2009

Opinion: Under the influence: Doug Ford and the strange history of Ontario’s liquor laws

Ontario, donning a festive cap, will join Quebec as the only provinces to embrace such widespread, liberalized corner shop sales, treating its citizens like responsible revellers. Premier Ford, a teetotaller with a heart full of goodwill, urged those who partake in libations to revel responsibly and avoid the pitfalls of inebriated sleigh rides.

The publicly owned LCBO will continue its monopoly on spirits but will now dance to the tune of “competitive pricing,” potentially offering a yuletide discount for consumers. Retailers, donning their holiday best, will be free to set their own prices, promoting a harmonious balance between merriment and social responsibility.

November 29, 2023

Amidst the jubilation, The Beer Store, adorned in festive spirits, will continue to control beer distribution until 2031, ensuring that the beer-loving citizens of Ontario have a frothy source of joy. The province will sweeten the deal by paying The Beer Store to continue its successful deposit and return system, diverting 97 percent of beer bottles and cans from landfill annually.

Archives: When beer and wine almost made it into Ontario corner stores

All across Ontario, supermarkets, big box stores, corner shops, and even gas stations selling snacks can now apply for licenses to become purveyors of liquid holiday cheer. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, acting as the guardian of the Christmas spirit, will ensure that underage revellers are kept at bay.

September 24, 2015

In a tale reminiscent of Scrooge’s awakening, the announcement marks the end of the 10-year “master framework agreement,” signed by former Premier Kathleen Wynne, allowing the Progressive Conservatives to keep their almost six-year-old campaign pledge of “beer in corner stores” just in time for the June 2026 election.

While some critics, akin to the ghosts of Christmas past, warned of potential consequences and international embarrassment, the Tories decided to let the master framework agreement run its course, heralding it as good news and a step towards a more spirited future.

News: Ontario unveils plans for beer and wine in corner stores

As a final touch to this holiday extravaganza, the Tories will eliminate a 6.1 percent tax at on-site winery retail stores, spreading joy among the Ontario wine industry. Despite uncertainties about how many Ontarians are clamuoring for more places to buy beer and wine, the government is convinced that this spirited initiative will be the toast of the next election.

Monday May 8, 2006

In this whimsical tale of policy changes and holiday revelry, it seems that even the most staunch defenders of the status quo, like the former Liberal Premier David Peterson, have embraced the spirit of change or, in his own words, “If people want changes, I’m OK with it. If they don’t, I’m OK with that too.” After all, in the grand tapestry of public policy, the expansion of beer and wine in corner stores may not be the most significant piece, but it surely adds a touch of festive sparkle to the political landscape. Cheers to a merrier and more spirited Ontario! (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

Tuesday August 10, 2021

August 17, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 10, 2021

Premier Bill Davis was the steady hand driving Ontario’s Big Blue Machine

William Grenville Davis, premier of Ontario for 14 years (1971 to 1985), was a baffling, contradictory figure – a shy, inscrutable man, who liked family and football yet spent his life absorbed by political issues, travelling up to 160,000 kilometres a year; a tradition-bound, non-intellectual with a passion for ideas and experimentation that gave birth to such intellectual playgrounds as the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

February 1, 2019

The press consistently panned the performances of Mr. Davis, reporting that he was bland and boring, but he charmed voters out of the trees. Right-wing conservatives described him as a left-wing socialist; left-wingers attacked him for pandering to the right.

“Bland works,” he once said. “The only time a politician gets in trouble is when he opens his mouth.”

He was renowned for his ability to appear prosperous, calm and confident, to say little, and to lead the province through dramatic, potentially unpopular changes.

Mr. Davis died on Sunday at the age of 92 surrounded by family in Brampton, Ont., a family statement said. He was the fifth consecutive Tory leader to occupy the premier’s office since 1943 and held the office longer than any other.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Mr. Davis’s death. “The former premier of Ontario leaves behind an incredible legacy of service – and I have no doubt that the impact of his work will be felt for generations to come,” Mr. Trudeau tweeted.

Premier Doug Ford said Mr. Davis served Ontario “with honour and distinction” and flags across the province will be lowered to half-mast in his honour.

September 12, 2000

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney said in a statement that “Canada has lost a great statesman today, and I have lost a great and true friend. Bill Davis devoted his life to Ontario, to Canada and to his family. The progress he made on many fronts as premier place him in the front ranks as one of Canada’s greatest premiers ever.”

Mr. Davis supported the controversial energy policies and constitutional endeavours of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals; under his premiership, the free-enterprise Tory government bought a 25-per-cent stake in Suncor, an oil company, and initiated tripartite industrial strategies advocated by the New Democratic Party. And as education minister, he reformed and vastly expanded the education system – all without upsetting too many of the people too much of the time.

Yet his skills as a politician failed to help his successor. Nearly 42 years of Conservative government ended 138 days after he stepped down as premier on Feb. 8, 1985. His successor, Frank Miller, called an election and failed to win a majority government in the May 2 election. Mr. Miller’s minority government lost a vote of confidence on June 18 and on June 26, he resigned. (Continued: Globe & Mail)

Friday February 1, 2019

February 8, 2019 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 1, 2019

1,000 Ontario hospital patients a day being treated in corridors: Report

Roughly 1,000 hospital patients in Ontario are getting medical attention in corridors instead of proper treatment spaces on “any given day,” Dr. Rueben Devlin says in his first report to Premier Doug Ford on improving health care and ending “hallway medicine.”

While the retired head of Humber River Hospital notes there is “much to be proud of” in the provincial health care system, his report found it is “too complicated” to navigate after hearing from more than 340 patients.

“People are waiting too long to receive care and too often are receiving care in the wrong place; as a result, our hospitals are crowded,” Devlin, an orthopaedic surgeon, wrote in the 32-page document titled “Hallway Health Care: A System Under Strain.”

“There needs to be more effective co-ordination at both the system level, and at the point-of-care. This could achieve better value (i.e. improved health outcomes) for taxpayer money spent,” he added. “As currently designed, the health care system does not always work efficiently.”

Animated!

One problem is people with mental health and addictions troubles often go to hospital emergency rooms when they could get better care from a family doctor or community agency, but wait too long and reach a “crisis point.”

According to one survey last year, 41 per cent of Ontarians who went to hospital emergency departments, and 93 per cent who went to walk-in clinics, were treated for conditions that could have been handled by a family physician or nurse practitioner in a primary care setting. This is often because hospitals are the only health care centre open 24 hours a day. (Toronto Star)