parody

Friday March 8, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 8, 2019

Tories won’t rule out another friend of Premier Doug Ford as OPP head

An unrepentant Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones is refusing to rule out hiring another pal of Premier Doug Ford as head of the Ontario Provincial Police despite the controversy that derailed the Ron Taverner appointment.

March 6, 2019

Her comments came Thursday as the lawyer for former deputy OPP commissioner Brad Blair — who was fired after blowing the whistle over possible conflicts in the Taverner appointment and a customized van sought by Ford — threatened to sue the province for wrongful dismissal.

An unrepentant Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones is refusing to rule out hiring another pal of Premier Doug Ford as head of the Ontario Provincial Police despite the controversy that derailed the Ron Taverner appointment.

February 28, 2019

Her comments came Thursday as the lawyer for former deputy OPP commissioner Brad Blair — who was fired after blowing the whistle over possible conflicts in the Taverner appointment and a customized van sought by Ford — threatened to sue the province for wrongful dismissal.

“If the government hasn’t learned that yet then we are in big trouble. That’s why a public inquiry is necessary,” Horwath said of her push for Wake to broaden his probe, which has seen Ford and others interviewed privately.

Wake’s report is due in the “near future” and will be posted on the integrity commissioner’s website, said spokeswoman Cathryn Motherwell.

December 5, 2018

Ford, who showed up in the legislature’s question period for the first time this week, has been “tone deaf” to the concerns about police independence, charged Green Leader Mike Schreiner.

“Twenty seven people applied for the job,” Schreiner said. “Surely we can find an OPP commissioner who’s qualified to do the job who’s not friends with the premier, creating an unacceptable conflict of interest.” (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

Tuesday December 18, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 18, 2018

Ford government cuts funding to Ontario Arts Council, impacting Indigenous Culture Fund

The Ontario government has slashed base funding to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) by $5 million, as well as more than $2 million to the Indigenous Culture Fund.

December 11, 2018

The agency that gives grants and services to Ontario-based artists and arts organizations said base funding for 2018-19 will drop from $69.9 million to the 2017-18 level of $64.9 million.

Ontario NDP culture critic Jill Andrew said the cuts include suspending the Indigenous Culture Fund at a cost of $2.25 million, an initiative set up a year ago to support cultural activities and programming in Indigenous communities.

“The government’s cut of $2.25 million to the Indigenous Culture Fund at the Ontario Arts Council is a disturbing step back from the TRC’s Calls to Action,” Andrew said in a tweet.

“This and the $5 million cut to @ONArtsCouncil’s base funding is an alarming attack on arts and culture.”

The Indigenous Culture Fund was set up by the previous Liberal government in 2017 with an investment of $5 million annually.

The fund was part of the province’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).

“Doug Ford’s cuts will cause the layoff of Indigenous staff, immediate cuts to granting budgets, and a significant cut to arts and cultural programming,” Andrew said in a media release on Friday. (Source: Global News) 

 

Wednesday February 21, 2018


Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 21, 2018

Patrick Brown’s PC leadership bid could lead to ‘political fratricide,’ experts say

January 26, 2018

Patrick Brown’s entry into the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership race could lead to ruthless infighting, leaving the party at a disadvantage, experts say.

“This is a time when the party should be taking all its resources and throwing them at Kathleen Wynne,” Jim Warren, a political strategist who has worked with the Ontario Liberals, said this week.

“Instead, they’ve got the guns pointed at each other and are about to have a ‘shootout at the OK Corral.’ You will see this real insider fighting — political fratricide, if you will — of the leaders turning on each other.”  

January 30, 2018

Brown entered the race on Friday, just weeks after he resigned in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct made by two women and first reported by CTV.

The other four leadership candidates, preparing for opponents with roughly similar political advantages, will now have to revise their game plan to focus on Brown. The former leader already has a base of support and extensive political experience.

“He’s been the leader for the last two years. He has sold a lot of the memberships to the members now. Are they PC members or Patrick Brown members?” Warren said.

Patrick Brown Retrospective

Either way, Brown’s entry into the leadership race is a gift to the Ontario Liberals, according to Jaime Watt, executive chair of the public relations company Navigator and a long-time Conservative strategist.

“I think it harms all the candidates at an important time in Ontario’s history,” Watt said.

“If I were (Kathleen Wynne) I’d be running to the convenience store to buy a lottery ticket.” (Source: CBC News) 

 

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Tuesday April 19, 2016


 

2016-04-19Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 19, 2016

Hydro rates going up this summer, Ontario Energy Board says

Wednesday April 15, 2015Hydro rates are going up this summer, the Ontario Energy Board announced Thursday, a move that will add about $3 a month to the average household bill.

Time-of-use electricity rates have to go up because Ontarians used less power than expected during the milder winter, the OEB said.

The total monthly bill will rise 2.5 per cent for households that consume 750 kilowatt hours per month, the agency said.

  • Time-of-use prices will got up a half cent to 18 cents per kilowatt hour for the peak period, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
  • The off-peak rate, which is in effect between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and all day on weekends and holidays, is going up to 8.7 cents a kwh.

The changes go into effect on May 1.

“Ontarians consumed less electricity than expected over the recent milder winter,” said a statement from the OEB.

Thursday December 11, 2014“As a result of lower usage, Regulated Price Plan (RPP) prices did not recover the full cost of serving RPP customers. One of the main reasons prices are increasing in May is to recover this shortfall.”

Time-of-use prices vary based on when electricity is used during the day. They encourage consumers to use power when electricity market prices are lower.

The OEB reviews electricity prices twice each year based on updated cost forecasts, and prices are designed to recover the actual cost of electricity over the forecast period. (Source: CBC News)

 

Tuesday November 10, 2015


By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 10, 2015 New film raises bothersome questions about city hall culture A new documentary film raises troubling questions about corporate culture at Hamilton City Hall. "The Push" analyzes a controversial 2014 incident in which Coun. Lloyd Ferguson pushed independent journalist Joey Coleman during a heated exchange in the lobby outside council chambers. The film was publicly screened for the first time at The Zoetic Theatre on Concession Street Sunday as part of the Hamilton Film Festival. Coleman alleged actions against him by city staff following the incident were nothing more than an attempt to silence him. "This is an effort to end independent journalism at city hall," he said. In the incident, Coleman said he was standing in the foyer outside council chambers holding his video camera and waiting for the start of a news conference. Ferguson, Coun. Brad Clark and city staffer Mike Kirkopoulos were standing nearby in a huddle. Ferguson, thinking Coleman was eavesdropping on their conversation, physically moved him away. "He took a very tight grip on my arm; we were going to the floor," Coleman said. "Everyone else was frozen with shock and I thought he was going to punch me in the face." Bystanders separated the two and the next day Ferguson apologized to Coleman personally and to city council, backing his words with a self-imposed $1,000 donation to an Ancaster charity. Coleman accepted the apology and said he considered the matter closed. It was revived, however, by complaints to the city's integrity commissioner. The incident was also investigated by provincial police and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. (Ferguson was, and remains, chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board.) The city commissioner found Ferguson did violate Hamilton's anti-violence policy but no sanctions were recommended. The other investigations also concluded there were no grounds for other c

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 10, 2015

New film raises bothersome questions about city hall culture

For SaleA new documentary film raises troubling questions about corporate culture at Hamilton City Hall.

“The Push” analyzes a controversial 2014 incident in which Coun. Lloyd Ferguson pushed independent journalist Joey Coleman during a heated exchange in the lobby outside council chambers.

The film was publicly screened for the first time at The Zoetic Theatre on Concession Street Sunday as part of the Hamilton Film Festival.

Coleman alleged actions against him by city staff following the incident were nothing more than an attempt to silence him.

“This is an effort to end independent journalism at city hall,” he said.

Tuesday March 3, 2015In the incident, Coleman said he was standing in the foyer outside council chambers holding his video camera and waiting for the start of a news conference.

Ferguson, Coun. Brad Clark and city staffer Mike Kirkopoulos were standing nearby in a huddle.

Ferguson, thinking Coleman was eavesdropping on their conversation, physically moved him away.

“He took a very tight grip on my arm; we were going to the floor,” Coleman said. “Everyone else was frozen with shock and I thought he was going to punch me in the face.”

Bystanders separated the two and the next day Ferguson apologized to Coleman personally and to city council, backing his words with a self-imposed $1,000 donation to an Ancaster charity.

Coleman accepted the apology and said he considered the matter closed. It was revived, however, by complaints to the city’s integrity commissioner. The incident was also investigated by provincial police and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. (Ferguson was, and remains, chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board.)

The city commissioner found Ferguson did violate Hamilton’s anti-violence policy but no sanctions were recommended. The other investigations also concluded there were no grounds for other charges or actions.

In the two-hour film Coleman and others argue the incident and its aftermath illustrate a culture of fear at city hall in which employees are held to a policy dictating “zero tolerance” for violence while a veteran councillor can manhandle a citizen with impunity. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)