ministers

Tuesday October 26, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 26, 2021

Freeland positioning herself to take over as Liberal leader

August 24, 2021

A breathless account of Chrystia Freeland’s heroics in Ukraine published over the weekend must’ve put a smile on the face of our Deputy Prime Minister.

According to the American university professor who wrote the glowing article, she was so darn good at what she did that she had the grudging admiration of the KGB, that couldn’t keep up with her! The stuff of real-life Marvel heroes…

Let’s face it, Chrystia Freeland is positioning herself to take over as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and this type of publicity is tailor-made to help her achieve that ambition.

April 21, 2021

Much like Michael Ignatieff, Chrystia Freeland became almost famous south of the border with her writings and media savvy.

Unlike Ignatieff, she’s actually got some experience in government having ably run key ministries and, most admirably, outfoxed Donald Trump during the renegotiation of NAFTA.

If she succeeds, she’ll be taking over from one of the world’s major media figures, Justin Trudeau. A little bit of profile doesn’t hurt.

November 3, 2015

Trudeau’s inexplicable decision to disappear for a vacation on the very day he’d set aside to commemorate truth and reconciliation was more than just a heartless move. It was so hurtful to his brand that many are wondering if it isn’t also a sign that he’s had the biscuit.

We’ll no doubt have an avalanche of “progressive” promises as Trudeau swears in his new Cabinet and hands out mandate letters to the chosen few. It won’t really matter. Canadians have seen and heard enough.

From purchasing a pipeline, to continuing to subsidize oil and gas companies, to skipping out of town on a new national holiday, to complacency with sexual misconduct in the military, the lecturing and moralizing tone of Trudeau simply doesn’t carry much weight anymore. Key progressive issues such as climate change, reconciliation and women’s rights will need a new champion, one without the credibility issues that Trudeau now drags with him.

July 7, 2021

In fact, it’s Freeland’s presence during the worst of Trudeau, like the sacking of Jody Wilson-Raybould, that risks holding her back. She wasn’t content to just back Trudeau. When Wilson-Raybould resisted PMO interference in the prosecution of SNC Lavalin, Freeland attacked her for not being a team player

Freeland won’t get the top job without an examination of her role as Trudeau’s proxy and without a fight. There will be other contenders. (CTV) 

 

Tuesday November 24, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 24, 2015 Justin Trudeau, premiers seek to unify Canada's message on climate change With a first ministers meeting set to take place in Ottawa today just one week before the start of the Paris climate talks, a number of premiers are reminding Justin Trudeau he's not swooping in at the 11th hour to save the day. In fact, some are voicing concern the new prime minister may "fiddle around" with plans already in place. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna reiterated a key Liberal campaign pledge on Friday: "We promise to provide national leadership to take action on climate change, put a price on carbon and reduce carbon pollution," she told attendees of the Canada 2020 conference on Friday. Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard reminded journalists at the same conference that the provinces have been showing leadership on this file for years. "I am very happy to be working with the federal government and colleagues around the table, but let's resist the temptation to start from scratch." Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been among those most resistant to putting a price on carbon for his province, expressing concern that the harm to the economy would outweigh environmental benefits. That said, he is expected to unveil a plan later on Monday to have his province get at least half of its electricity supplied by renewable resources. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says he also intends to make sure economic considerations remain front and centre at the meeting. "We are all very much focused on creating jobs and growing the economy so we have to have these subjects come up in the same conversation to make sure we are growing the economy in a sustainable way," he said Saturday.(Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-premiers-climate-change-meeting-1.3330284 Canada, Justin Trudeau, Kathleen Wynne, Rachel Notley, Philippe Couillard. Stephen McNe

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 24, 2015

Justin Trudeau, premiers seek to unify Canada’s message on climate change

With a first ministers meeting set to take place in Ottawa today just one week before the start of the Paris climate talks, a number of premiers are reminding Justin Trudeau he’s not swooping in at the 11th hour to save the day.

In fact, some are voicing concern the new prime minister may “fiddle around” with plans already in place.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna reiterated a key Liberal campaign pledge on Friday: “We promise to provide national leadership to take action on climate change, put a price on carbon and reduce carbon pollution,” she told attendees of the Canada 2020 conference on Friday.

Throwback to 2014

Throwback to 2014

Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard reminded journalists at the same conference that the provinces have been showing leadership on this file for years.

“I am very happy to be working with the federal government and colleagues around the table, but let’s resist the temptation to start from scratch.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been among those most resistant to putting a price on carbon for his province, expressing concern that the harm to the economy would outweigh environmental benefits.

That said, he is expected to unveil a plan later on Monday to have his province get at least half of its electricity supplied by renewable resources.

New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says he also intends to make sure economic considerations remain front and centre at the meeting.

“We are all very much focused on creating jobs and growing the economy so we have to have these subjects come up in the same conversation to make sure we are growing the economy in a sustainable way,” he said Saturday.(Source: CBC News)

Published in the Regina Leader-Post, Wednesday November 25, 2015

Published in the Regina Leader-Post, Wednesday November 25, 2015

 

Tuesday November 3, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 3, 2015 Memo to Liberal MPs: If youÕre still waiting for Justin Trudeau to call and offer you a cabinet post, you can stop the wait. ThatÕs because Trudeau has already selected his new cabinet and made his last telephone calls to the lucky incoming ministers several days ago. All of the ministers now know their new portfolio and all have been sworn to the utmost secrecy until Nov. 4 when Trudeau is formally sworn in as prime minister and unveils the full cabinet. And despite all the post-election speculation about how difficult it would be for Trudeau to pick the cabinet from the Òabundance of richesÓ that he was handed when the Liberals won a majority government and 184 seats in the Oct. 19 election, the job turned out to be surprisingly easy. When Trudeau got down to work on the cabinet in the days immediately after the LiberalsÕ victory celebrations, he made his choices based on several key factors, according to Liberal insiders familiar with the selection process. These factors include the size of the cabinet, gender equality, ethnic diversity, regional distribution and a balance of new and veteran MPs, but leaning to young and new versus old and experienced. Some critics have suggested Trudeau is putting gender and regional concerns ahead of talent as the top priority in selecting the ministers. In reality, though, any cabinet, regardless of whether it is Liberal or Conservative, Òis never a pure and simple meritocracy,Ó says a key Trudeau adviser. ÒObviously there are expectations if you are elected, such as every province gets a cabinet minister, and you look at regional balance, gender, and diversity as well as competence.Ó On size, the new cabinet is expected to have 28 members. Trudeau wanted to keep the number below 30 to show he intended to run a leaner, more efficient cabinet team than did Stephen Harper. The last Conservative cabinet had 39 ministers, including 2

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 3, 2015

How Justin Trudeau picked his new cabinet

Memo to Liberal MPs: If you’re still waiting for Justin Trudeau to call and offer you a cabinet post, you can stop the wait.

That’s because Trudeau has already selected his new cabinet and made his last telephone calls to the lucky incoming ministers several days ago.

All of the ministers now know their new portfolio and all have been sworn to the utmost secrecy until Nov. 4 when Trudeau is formally sworn in as prime minister and unveils the full cabinet.

JustinTrudeau-GalleryAnd despite all the post-election speculation about how difficult it would be for Trudeau to pick the cabinet from the “abundance of riches” that he was handed when the Liberals won a majority government and 184 seats in the Oct. 19 election, the job turned out to be surprisingly easy.

When Trudeau got down to work on the cabinet in the days immediately after the Liberals’ victory celebrations, he made his choices based on several key factors, according to Liberal insiders familiar with the selection process.

These factors include the size of the cabinet, gender equality, ethnic diversity, regional distribution and a balance of new and veteran MPs, but leaning to young and new versus old and experienced.

Some critics have suggested Trudeau is putting gender and regional concerns ahead of talent as the top priority in selecting the ministers.

In reality, though, any cabinet, regardless of whether it is Liberal or Conservative, “is never a pure and simple meritocracy,” says a key Trudeau adviser. “Obviously there are expectations if you are elected, such as every province gets a cabinet minister, and you look at regional balance, gender, and diversity as well as competence.”

On size, the new cabinet is expected to have 28 members. Trudeau wanted to keep the number below 30 to show he intended to run a leaner, more efficient cabinet team than did Stephen Harper. The last Conservative cabinet had 39 ministers, including 26 senior ministers and 12 junior ministers of state for such areas as sports, seniors and multiculturalism.

On gender, the new cabinet will be evenly split, with 14 women and 14 men, including Trudeau. A total of 50 Liberal women were elected on Oct. 19. (Continued: Toronto Star)

Published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 4, 2015

Published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 4, 2015