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Saturday February 15, 2025

February 15, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 15, 2025

A Call to Fly the Flag with Pride

As we approach the 60th anniversary of Flag Day, a moment of profound reflection and unity is upon us. The gesture by Canada’s living former prime ministers—Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper—urging Canadians to fly the country’s flag with pride comes at a time when national unity is both challenged and needed more than ever. This call to action is not merely symbolic; it is a powerful rallying cry for Canadians to stand together in the face of external pressures and internal reflections.

June 3, 2015

Canada finds itself navigating a complex political landscape, particularly with U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated taunts about making Canada the 51st state. Such remarks are more than just words; they are provocations that strike at the heart of Canadian sovereignty and identity. Even the most reserved Canadians must feel a surge of indignation at these bullying and ignorant assertions. In this context, flying the flag becomes an act of defiance and a statement of resilience, reminding us of our strength and independence.

News: Five former PMs urge Canadians to show national unity on Flag Day, in the face of Trump’s ‘threats and insults’

July 27, 2024

While waving the flag is a unifying gesture, it must be accompanied by concrete actions. Canada’s future prosperity and security depend on reducing inter-provincial trade barriers, bolstering defence capabilities, and forging new alliances beyond the United States. These actions will not only strengthen our economy and security but also affirm our sovereignty on the global stage.

November 9, 2018

The former prime ministers’ call to fly the flag also signifies a reclamation of this national symbol. In recent years, the Canadian flag has been a marker of national reflection, flown at half-mast to acknowledge past injustices against Indigenous communities. It was also co-opted by far-right movements, such as the Freedom Convoy, which espoused anti-science and anti-multilateralist views. By urging Canadians to display the flag with pride, these former leaders are reclaiming it as a symbol of unity, diversity, and shared values.

News: Patriotism, a big rally and, of course, new slogans: Inside Pierre Poilievre’s Trump-induced strategy shift

November 17, 2023

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our flag, let us heed the call of Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper. Let this day be a reminder of what it means to be Canadian—a nation strong in its diversity, proud of its heritage, and unwavering in its commitment to unity and progress. By flying our flag, we not only honour our past but also commit to a future where we stand together, resilient and proud, against any challenge that comes our way.

I’m really impressed by how our former Prime Ministers—Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Stephen Harper—are stepping up to reclaim the Canadian Flag on its big 60th anniversary. They’re doing a fantastic job of reminding us what the flag truly stands for: unity, pride, and resilience. I was nice to draw caricatures of them.

Shameless Plug: I sell Prime Minister merch here.

During the pandemic, our flag got hijacked by a bunch of far-right extremists waving Trump banners and spouting nonsense that had nothing to do with Canadian values. It’s about time we yanked it back from those folks who seemed more interested in conspiracy theories than community.

But let’s be real, the flag’s been through the wringer before. Prior to the Freedom Convoy, some left-wing activists took it to extremes, turning essential conversations about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples into a broader narrative of shame about Canada.

This all led to tearing down statues and renaming places tied to figures like Sir John A. Macdonald, who caught a lot of flak for things he did way back when. Meanwhile, other Prime Ministers, whose actions are also up for debate these days, still have their statues standing tall. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. The inconsistency extends to airports, hospitals, and schools still bearing names of other historical figures, making it all feel pretty selective.

It’d be great if the “Team Canada” Prime Ministers could push for a more balanced look at these historical symbols. Maybe bring back some statues and place names, recognizing our full history instead of cherry-picking what to remember. This could really complement their current efforts, helping us see the whole picture of our past and what our flag truly represents.

– The Graeme Gallery

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Wednesday September 18, 2024

September 18, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 18, 2024

Link to the animated version

Justin Trudeau’s Last Round: Will He Step Down Before a Liberal Wipeout?

June 26, 2024

In the wake of the latest by-election defeat in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, a long-held Liberal riding once represented by former Prime Minister Paul Martin Jr., questions surrounding Justin Trudeau’s leadership have intensified. This loss is a significant blow to a party already reeling from the unexpected defeat in Toronto-St. Paul’s earlier this year. Both ridings were once considered Liberal strongholds, and their loss hints at a broader dissatisfaction with the Trudeau government, which now faces the daunting possibility of electoral defeat in the next general election.

Justin Trudeau’s decision to cling to power, despite mounting evidence of declining support, appears increasingly like a stubborn refusal to acknowledge reality. His boxer instincts, honed during his youthful foray into the ring, have often been cited as the reason for his tenacious hold on power. Much like his father, Pierre Trudeau, who led the country for 16 years, Justin seems to view stepping down as a personal defeat. Yet, historical parallels suggest this approach could backfire. Pierre Trudeau’s final years in office were marked by increasing unpopularity, culminating in his eventual resignation in 1984. The Liberal Party then suffered one of its worst defeats in modern history, reduced to just 40 seats, while Brian Mulroney’s Conservatives swept to power.

News: Byelection results: Justin Trudeau handed his second byelection upset in recent months

This historical warning feels all the more relevant today. The downward trajectory of the Liberal Party’s vote share and seat count under Justin Trudeau since 2015 suggests that clinging to power could lead to another electoral wipeout, similar to his father’s near-fatal blow to the party in 1984. While his instincts may tell him to stay and fight, Trudeau faces a different political environment from his father.

September 16, 2023

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, represents a formidable opponent, one who has successfully galvanized discontented voters across Canada. Trudeau’s personal animosity toward Poilievre has been evident in their exchanges, which have become increasingly combative. While some supporters may relish the thought of a high-stakes electoral battle between Trudeau and Poilievre, the latest polling data suggests that Trudeau’s odds of winning are slim.

The Liberals’ waning popularity is not just a matter of leadership; it reflects broader dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of issues like inflation, foreign policy, and environmental promises, including the highly symbolic but unfulfilled electoral reform pledge that played a role in the by-election loss. As John Ibbitson of The Globe & Mail notes, the Bloc Québécois and NDP are now more than ever incentivized to push for an early election. Both parties sense the Liberals’ vulnerability and could be pivotal in triggering an election sooner rather than later.

The latest by-election loss, compounded by internal dissent within the party, including ministerial staffers protesting the government’s stance on Israel, makes it clear that Trudeau’s political capital is quickly dwindling. Continuing to lead the party into another election could tarnish his legacy, much like his father’s overstaying his welcome.

Opinion: With the Liberals losing once-safe seats, an election can’t be far off

June 28, 2024

Trudeau has always framed his political career as one of legacy—following in his father’s footsteps as a progressive leader. However, if he continues to ignore the warning signs, he risks not only losing the next election but also diminishing what accomplishments he has made. There is a growing consensus among both political analysts and some Liberal supporters that now may be the time for Trudeau to step aside gracefully, allowing the party to regroup under new leadership. Figures like Mark Carney are often mentioned as potential successors, someone who could refresh the party’s image and give it a fighting chance in the next election.

In summary, Justin Trudeau faces a critical decision. Will he heed the lessons of history and step down, or will his stubbornness lead the Liberals into a crushing defeat? Given the electoral shifts seen in both Montreal and Toronto, as well as the broader national dissatisfaction reflected in the polls, it may be time for Trudeau to reassess his position. Like his father, Trudeau has made significant contributions to Canadian politics, but staying too long could ensure his legacy is overshadowed by an avoidable electoral disaster. Ten years in power is already a significant tenure in modern politics, and Trudeau must now consider whether his continued leadership will strengthen or weaken his party’s future.

Wednesday November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 16, 2022

Has the Trudeau government finally got Beijing’s number?

An ancient Chinese proverb: To learn is to come face to face with one’s own ignorance.

December 5, 2017

Seven years ago, full of naive bravado, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government embarked on a quest for tighter ties with the People’s Republic of China. It assumed it was signing up for all sorts of cost-free economic and political rewards. Instead, it got an expensive education.

Another Chinese proverb: Strict teachers produce outstanding students. The Trudeau government has spent the past seven years getting schooled by one of the world’s most unreasonable tutors, the Xi Jinping regime. The lessons are paying off.

On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly gave a speech introducing her government’s new Indo-Pacific strategy. The full policy won’t be unveiled until next month, but the minister teased its key elements. The most important involves a new approach to China.

The government has evolved from dreaming of ever-closer economic integration with China, to trying to minimize conflict – the better to return to the quest for closer ties – to now, as a cum laude graduate of the Xi Jinping School of Experiential Education, recognizing that China, at least in its current form, is an adversary and a threat.

November 20, 2020

Ms. Joly says that Canada will of course continue to have extensive trade and economic ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Given how much of the world’s industrial capacity has moved there over the past two decades, there is no other option. But the government now recognizes that Beijing’s autocratic regime, its hostility to the rules-based international order, and its eagerness to impose its will on smaller states, is a challenge to Canada’s interests.

What’s more, Ms. Joly says that, to give Canada the heft to stand up to China, we have to bolster our traditional alliances with Washington and Europe, while creating new ones with countries such as Japan, South Korea and India.

It’s a long way from where the Trudeau government started.

In 2016, as we watched the Trudeau government “make like a pretzel while attempting to court the hard men of Beijing,” we asked whether “Canada [was] caving into China’s demands,” and whether the Trudeau government was “clueless as to the brutal nature of the regime it is dealing with.”

December 8, 2017

In 2017, as the government bid for a free-trade accord with China, and China started upping its demands, we wrote that Ottawa “did not appear to be sufficiently aware of the potential dangers and downsides.” And we asked, not for the first or last time: “Does the Trudeau government, and the Prime Minister in particular, appreciate who they are dealing with?”

A few months later, after Mr. Trudeau went to China seeking that free-trade deal but was snubbed by his hosts, we wrote that this failure would “come to be seen as less of an embarrassment, and more of a blessing.”

And that was before Canada arrested a Chinese executive on an American extradition warrant, and China retaliated by turning two Canadians into hostages. “The case of Meng Wanzhou has torpedoed the Trudeau government’s China policy,” we wrote in late 2018. “At the same time, it has also sunk China’s Canada policy. Call it a win-win.”

January 29, 2019

“It’s never pleasant to discover the gap between one’s wishes and objective reality, but it is the beginning of the path to wisdom. The Trudeau government is being forced to wise up about the nature of the People’s Republic of China.”

A year later, in December of 2019, with the Two Michaels still behind bars, we wrote that “Beijing has spent the last year giving Canada a special education in how it sees our not-at-all special relationship. We should be thankful for the lessons. The Trudeau government, and the entire political and business establishment, must study them carefully. It may allow this country to finally get over its China delusions.”

February 20, 2021

The Trudeau government has since made progress on getting over those delusions, and let us give thanks for that. But it’s still a few steps short of the end of its 12-step program.

This week brought news that, according to information obtained by Global News, the PM was given an intelligence report last January – that’s nearly a year ago – detailing extensive Chinese meddling in the 2019 Canadian election. There are also credible reports of Beijing meddling in the 2021 election, in particular targeting China-critical Conservatives. What has the Trudeau government done about that? So far, nothing. (The Globe & Mail)

Thursday May 26, 2016

May 25, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 26, 2016

Stephen Harper to bow out of federal politics before next fall

Stephen Harper will bow out of federal politics before Parliament resumes in the fall to pursue new business interests.

Harper, who served as prime minister for nearly a decade, is deciding his future as the Conservative Party prepares to meet for its national convention in Vancouver starting Thursday.

Harper has offers from multiple U.S. companies, including private equity giant KKR, sources tell CBC News. A spokesperson for KKR declined a request for comment.

The news of Harper’s pending departure was first reported by the Globe and Mail.

Conservatives will honour Harper with a tribute Thursday night before they look to chart a new course for the party he helped create. Harper is expected to deliver a short speech following the tribute.

But don’t expect Harper to discuss life after politics. Canada

“He will be speaking on Thursday, but he won’t be speaking about his future plans,” said Rachel Curran, one of Harper’s confidants and a former PMO policy director. “He will be talking about the last 10 years, and what work the party still has to do, that will be the focus.”

Until an official announcement is made, Harper’s colleagues are shying away from weighing in on the former prime minister’s next career move. A spokesperson for interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose declined comment. (Source: CBC News)

Tuesday August 25, 2015

August 24, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 25, 2015

The Growing Power of the PMO

In 2006, Stephen Harper rode into Ottawa with a mandate to clean up the ethical wreckage of the Liberal sponsorship scandal. The Conservative Party leader moved quickly as the prime minister of a minority government. He banned corporate and union donations, and lowered the individual donation limit to $1,000. He toughened federal lobbying rules, created the Parliamentary Budget Office and gave additional powers to the Ethics Commissioner.

His goal, he said over and over, was to return accountability to Ottawa. And he did that, to a degree. His reforms have helped bring the federal government up to date on important issues of political financing and budget oversight.

Not surprisingly, though, Mr. Harper failed to target the real source of Ottawa’s accountability crisis. As the trial of Mike Duffy has reminded us, the greatest threat to responsible government in Canada is none other than the Prime Minister’s Office.

Over the past 40 years, the PMO has morphed into a parasite on the body of Parliament that prospers by sucking the democracy out of its host. The court-documented efforts by Nigel Wright, the former chief of staff to Mr. Harper, to control the Senate from inside the PMO are outrageous only because they have been exposed by Mr. Duffy’s lawyer. The real scandal lies below the surface, where the PMO uses its toxic tentacles to neutralize every part of government that might compete with it for power, so that today we are ruled by an imperial prime minister, unaccountable to anyone or anything.

Do not blame Mr. Harper alone for this. The expansion of the PMO began under Pierre Trudeau, and every prime minister since then has been responsible for increasing its malignant grip on Parliament. Brian Mulroney was the first to name a “chief of staff” and elevate that person above the principal secretary who was, up till then, the highest unelected authority in the PMO. Jean Chrétien relied on the protective coating of the PMO to shield himself from direct responsibility for the sponsorship scandal, just as Mr. Harper is now doing in the Duffy affair. (Continued: Globe & Mail)