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Thursday June 29, 2023

June 29, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 29, 2023

Canadians Deserve a Swift Resolution, Not a Lengthy Inquiry on Foreign Interference

August 2, 2019

As summer arrives in Canada, the prospect of a costly and protracted public inquiry into foreign interference is unlikely to be met with enthusiasm. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that the federal government will not proceed with any further steps to investigate this issue until there is full agreement from opposition parties. This cautious approach aims to prevent a repeat of the previous inquiry led by David Johnston, which was marred by a highly partisan atmosphere.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been engaged in negotiations with opposition parties to chart a path forward. Momentum seemed to be building towards an imminent announcement, potentially involving a public inquiry or an alternative process, before the summer break. However, since then, there has been silence regarding the nature of the investigation, its leadership, and its timeline.

June 13, 2023

Earlier this week, Johnston submitted his final report to the prime minister, officially concluding his work. While the report remains confidential, opposition party leaders have been offered access to it, provided they obtain the necessary security clearance. Trudeau emphasized that responsible leadership and a serious approach are required to address foreign interference. He pointed to the excessive partisanship and toxicity that marred Johnston’s tenure, making it impossible for him to continue his work effectively.

News: David Johnston files his final report on foreign interference, but it won’t be made public

While Trudeau seeks consensus among all parties on a new approach to tackle foreign interference, opposition parties insist on a public inquiry as a prerequisite. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet hinted at an imminent announcement, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed cautious optimism but demanded a clear commitment from the government regarding a comprehensive public inquiry with full powers. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, has called for an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act, with his party ready to propose potential leaders and terms of reference.

May 27, 2023

Concerns have been raised that opposition parties may prefer chaos over a solution, as former Liberal and Conservative staffers fear. However, former NDP staffer Cam Holmstrom believes that announcing the inquiry at the beginning of July would be crucial in reshaping public opinion and setting the stage for the fall and the upcoming election.

Following Johnston’s resignation, Minister LeBlanc expressed his intention to consult opposition parties promptly to determine the investigation process and potential leaders of a public inquiry. However, nearly three weeks later, no agreement has been reached, and both the government and opposition parties offer little more than optimism about the ongoing negotiations.

Former Conservative staffer Fred DeLorey, who played a significant role in the 2021 federal election campaign, expresses his disappointment with the lack of serious attention to the issue of foreign interference. He suspects that some opposition parties may intentionally prolong the chaos by making unreasonable demands. DeLorey urges all parties to prioritize addressing the vulnerabilities they face in the next election instead of engaging in political gamesmanship.

News: Government hints news about a possible public inquiry into foreign interference coming soon

April 15, 2023

Former Liberal Party staffer Greg MacEachern observes a decrease in the intensity of the debate following Johnston’s resignation, as the responsibility to find a way forward now lies with the opposition parties. He challenges them to take action and determine the next steps rather than merely criticizing the government.

Canadians deserve a swift resolution to the issue of foreign interference, one that focuses on strengthening the integrity of our elections. While it is essential to ensure broad consensus among all parties, this should not become an excuse for inaction or prolonged delays. As the summer progresses, Canadians hope that their leaders will prioritize the security of our democracy over partisan interests and deliver a comprehensive plan to safeguard our elections. (AI) | Also printed in the Toronto Star.

Saturday August 20, 2022

August 21, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 20, 2022

Ambulance use in Ontario has grown far faster than population, study finds

A new study finds ambulance use in Ontario increased significantly in the years leading up to the pandemic, outpacing the growth in both population and hospital emergency room visits by other means.

September 15, 2021

The study was led by researchers at Hamilton’s McMaster University and it looked at the yearly numbers of patients transported by ambulance paramedics to hospital emergency rooms across Ontario from 2010 to 2019.

It found a 38.3 per cent increase in the number of ambulance patient transports to ERs over the decade, an increase four times larger than the province’s 9.6 per cent population growth over the same period.

“What our work points to is that this current model of [emergency department] transports is likely unsustainable for the province,” said Ryan Strum, the lead researcher for the paper and a PhD student at McMaster who also works as a paramedic.

Tuesday May 26, 2020

June 2, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 26, 2020

There will be ‘lessons learned’ from situation at Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto mayor says

Toronto Mayor John Tory says there will be “lessons learned” from the incident that unfolded on Saturday at Trinity Bellwoods Park, where he says “out of control” crowds gathered to party and enjoy the sunshine.

May 9, 2020

Toronto police estimated that as many as 10,000 people were at the downtown park on Saturday afternoon, where many gathered in large groups and drank alcohol as police and bylaw officers looked on.

Police Chief Mark Saunders said Sunday that while several tickets were issued to people who urinated and defecated in the driveways and backyards of nearby homes, very few tickets were issued to the large swath of people ignoring physical distancing laws.

Mayor John Tory, who visited the park on Saturday night to educate those not following the rules, also came under fire after a photo surfaced of him wearing a mask incorrectly while standing too close to a group at the park.

“Lessons will be learned, including by me, and we will move forward and hopefully do better,” Tory said during an interview with CP24 on Monday morning.

While many have been critical of the Toronto Police Service’s response to the situation, the mayor said officers have a difficult “balancing act” when it comes to enforcement.

“There is criticism, you’ve heard it, long and loud… about excessive ticketing and excessive law enforcement and the heavy hand of the authorities in the circumstances versus a more laissez faire kind of approach,” Tory said.

He noted that had police and bylaw officers known this type of crowd would gather there on Saturday, they likely would have provided more resources to the area.

May 6, 2020

“People are saying it was all predictable. I think a crowded park at Trinity Bellwoods is predictable on a nice, sunny day. This is a massive crowd the likes I have never seen and the quantity of alcohol that was there was extraordinary,” he said.

“But you do get to a point where as that crowd pours in with no fences around the perimeter of the park… it becomes a very difficult task for them to enforce the law in a safe manner.”

Tory added that the city is looking at various solutions to prevent this type of crowding in the future.

“In some parks… they draw big circles on the ground that sort of say that if you are going to have a group of people that are going to be properly social distanced, then you have to sit in these circles,” Tory said.

“The problem becomes how do you enforce that when you put limits on every park? We have 1,500 parks in Toronto…. There has to be a degree of personal responsibility.”

Living in a Pandemic

The mayor was quick to point out that the situation at Trinity Bellwoods Park this weekend is not indicative of what went on across the city.

“There were parks that had lots of people in them, spaced out properly, and it wasn’t a problem. There was a particular problem at this one park,” he said.

“It is the nature of that neighbourhood in terms of the highrises and what not. And we are going to have to take another look at that, hopefully without restricting the ability of people being able to use that wonderful park because those people don’t have a backyard in many cases.”

Tory said that he would self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, advice Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa has recommended. However, Tory added that he would not get tested for the virus noting that there is a documented incubation period to develop symptoms and testing too early could result in a false negative. (CTV)

Wednesday May 23, 2018

May 22, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 23, 2018

York police probe Highway 407 data breach that led PC candidate to quit

York Regional Police’s fraud unit is investigating the “internal theft” of customer data from 407 ETR, the company that oversees Highway 407, CBC News has learned.

September 21, 2017

On Wednesday, the former Progressive Conservative candidate in Brampton East, Simmer Sandhu, resigned over allegations of his involvement in the data breach. Sandhu called the allegations “totally baseless” and said he would work to clear his name.

His resignation came hours after 407 ETR announced it was informing some 60,000 customers that their names, mailing addresses and in some cases their phone numbers were stolen from the company’s office in the past year.

Sandhu worked at the company for nine years, until he left about two months ago.

December 18, 2015

A spokesperson for York police said the investigation is in its earliest stages and few details were immediately available on Friday. The

spokesperson did not say whether or not the investigation will include allegations of links between the data breach and Sandhu.

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath both called for police to probe the circumstances of the stolen data while campaigning this week.

On the campaign trail Friday, Ford told reporters that police had not contacted him nor his campaign team to discuss the stolen data.

He then reiterated the Tories parted ways with Sandu “as soon we found out about it.”

Ford added that, to his knowledge, no other candidates or ridings have been linked in any way to the data breach. (Source: CBC)

Monday March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday March 28, 2016

Bayfront is not just a beach, but a symbol

Don’t swim in Hamilton Harbour. That’s hardly new advice, nor has it been particularly shocking for the better part of a century.

Hamilton has been as hard on its precious waterfront as any major metropolis in the developed world, perhaps more so.

But recent news that the City of Hamilton has closed the small beach this year at Bayfront Park is still a cause for concern.

A consultant will deliver a report on water quality there by the end of the summer, at which time council will decide what the long-term future holds for the ill-fated beach, and whether the closure should become permanent.

The challenge is that poor water quality already forces the city and health officials to close the beach more days than not each summer. Turns out it’s closed 78 per cent of days during summer. The water can make people sick.

Farm run-off is often a problem for water quality at beaches across Ontario, as is municipal waste following big storms.

Bayfront’s beach is additionally burdened by its human-made geography, which traps water in the tiny bay that protects the beach, as well as by excrement from geese and gulls. High E. coli counts and toxic algae have plagued the area in recent years.

The consultants will look at ways to improve water quality, but the report may well recommend “another feature that is sustainable” for the site.

In other words: no beach, no swimming.

Council should weigh the latter option carefully. Whatever the challenges, it is far too early to give up on this gem in downtown Hamilton.

It’s not merely a nostalgic notion. To be sure, swimming is hardly a big part of this unique leisure and recreation area, but it is symbolic of a healthy environment and a city that cares about itself.

A clean beach is a tourist attraction and landmark for which we can all be proud. A polluted beach is a reminder of the mistakes we have made in the past and our inability to deal with it in the present. The fact is we must do better when it comes to the environment if we are to continue to enjoy it, profit from it, and remain healthy because of it. Closing the beach is an admission of defeat.

Meanwhile, Bayfront Park is well used by Hamiltonians and visitors, but it is destined to see much greater use in the future as the area grows in population and popularity. We don’t know how this downtown jewel will be used in the future, but we should remember that the possibilities are endless, and that swimming, and fun on the beach, should remain one of them if at all possible. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)