PC Party

Wednesday February 19, 2025

The increasing control over political candidates' public engagements in Ontario raises concerns about transparency and democracy, reflecting a shift towards meticulous message management at the cost of open debate.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 19, 2025

The Training of the Seals

Doug Ford, "Captain Canada," charms Ontario voters despite pressing provincial issues, leading to strong poll numbers ahead of the election.

February 14, 2025

In our democracy, debates and open conversations are vital. They help ensure that politicians are accountable and transparent. However, in Ontario, there’s a worrying trend: Progressive Conservative (PC) candidates, including their leader Doug Ford, are avoiding public debates and media interactions. This behaviour raises concerns about the health of our democratic process.

Recently, it’s been noted that PC candidates in areas like London are skipping public forums, choosing instead to campaign door-to-door. This strategy denies voters the chance to hear from those who aim to represent them, effectively stifling the democratic process that thrives on public exchange and scrutiny.

Even Doug Ford himself has been absent from media engagements after debates, despite participating in media sessions during a trip to Washington, D.C. This absence is particularly troubling in an election where crucial issues like healthcare and climate policy are at the forefront.

News: Ontario election: PC Party candidates face heat for skipping London debates

November 9, 2021

The party’s decision to limit exposure and tightly control messaging may be an attempt to avoid missteps. However, it also suggests a lack of confidence in their candidates’ ability to speak freely and defend their positions. This control creates the impression that candidates are more like puppets, directed by unseen handlers rather than their own beliefs.

This approach is unfair to voters, who deserve representatives willing to engage openly and honestly. It undermines the core of democracy, which relies on diverse viewpoints and rigorous debate for informed decision-making.

News: Niagara Conservative Candidates on Mute

Without open engagement, voters are left with a watered-down version of political discourse, lacking the depth needed to address complex issues. This not only limits voters’ ability to make informed choices but also erodes trust in the political system.

As voters, we need to demand more from those who wish to lead. Politicians who avoid scrutiny and debate should face consequences at the polls. Our democratic process isn’t served by candidates who operate behind the scenes, guided by hidden forces.

It’s time for a change. We must insist on transparency, engagement, and accountability from our political leaders. Only then can democracy thrive, providing the insight and debate we need to tackle today’s challenges. As the election approaches, let’s remember the power of our voices and the importance of demanding a political arena where free thought and genuine engagement are the norm.

Will your vote go to the local candidate who doesn’t show up for anything?

It’s pretty disheartening to see so many local candidates skipping out on the all-candidates debates; it’s a clear indicator that the standards in our democratic process are slipping. What’s even more frustrating is that most of these candidates are from the ruling Progressive Conservative party. Ask yourselves: Do you really want someone who’s just toeing the party line representing your interests? It seems like candidates don’t even get the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to the local voters anymore. Add to that the lack of political flyers, no door-knocking from candidates or even volunteers, hidden election signs, and minimal media engagement, and it feels like we’re witnessing one of the most invisible election campaigns in Ontario’s history. Maybe this is part of Premier Doug Ford’s plan for the PCs, but it still doesn’t explain why the other parties are so quiet in the 2025 election. Honestly, from where I’m drawing, I haven’t seen much of anything.

Anyway, enjoy my making-of video for February 19, 2025. The Ontario election is just 9 days away…

– The Graeme Gallery

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Thursday August 24, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 24, 2023

Doug Ford’s Moves and the Integrity Knight’s Check”

August 10, 2023

In the intricate game of politics, every move is calculated, and every player seeks to secure their position on the board. The ongoing Greenbelt land swap controversy in Ontario can be seen as a high-stakes chess game, with Premier Doug Ford at the helm, making strategic decisions that impact the people of the province.

In this metaphorical chess match, the pieces have been set in motion. Premier Ford assumes the role of the King, commanding authority and influence. He’s joined by his “Queen,” Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, working in tandem to advance their agenda. Together, they represent the government’s power structure.

As the game unfolds, various government members take their positions. Cabinet ministers function as “Bishops,” offering advice and shaping policies that align with the leadership’s strategy. The Progressive Conservative caucus stands as the “Knights,” ready to gallop into action to support their leaders’ directives. The “Rooks” symbolize the PC Party, steadfastly backing their King’s moves with political strength and unity.

News: Ontario housing minister’s chief of staff resigns amid Greenbelt controversy  

August 6, 2022

However, no chess game is complete without unforeseen twists. The Integrity Commissioner plays the role of the “Integrity Knight,” serving as the embodiment of accountability and oversight. With a vigilant eye, the Integrity Knight scans the board for any unethical moves or breaches of public trust. Their primary goal is to ensure that the game is played fairly and that the rules are upheld.

Recently, a significant move occurred. Premier Ford orchestrated the departure of his “Pawn,” Ryan Amato, who had become a liability in the Greenbelt controversy. Amato’s resignation was akin to sacrificing a pawn to protect the King’s position. But the game is far from over; the “Integrity Knight” has stepped forward, ready to confront those who may have strayed from the path of transparency and ethical conduct.

The controversy itself can be likened to a crucial battleground on the chessboard. Protected lands were targeted, and “prominent developers” reaped substantial gains. As the pieces shift, questions arise: Who knew about the moves made on the board? Did the government’s actions align with the interests of the people they serve?

The calls for accountability have grown louder. Opposition leaders, such as Interim Liberal leader John Fraser and NDP Leader Marit Stiles, argue that more than a mere pawn was at play in this multimillion-dollar scheme. They contend that the actions taken were not those of an isolated individual but part of a broader strategy orchestrated by the government’s top ranks.

Opinion: Doug Ford’s Greenbelt scandal demands a bigger resignation than the one we got  

August 18, 2021

The unfolding scandal resembles a chess game where each move reverberates across the board. As the “Integrity Knight” investigates, the check on the King’s position becomes more apparent. The dominos are falling, and the pieces are being repositioned. The players anxiously await the outcome of the “Integrity Knight’s” investigation, uncertain of which pieces may be sacrificed next in this high-stakes political chess match.

August 24, 2023 *Revised to include Steve Clark

In this battle between strategic maneuvers and ethical obligations, the people of Ontario watch closely as the Greenbelt controversy unfolds. They demand transparency, accountability, and fair play from their government leaders. The question remains: Who will emerge victorious in this complex chess game? Will the “Integrity Knight” be the one to deliver the checkmate that holds power accountable? Only time will reveal the final moves and outcomes of this intricate political match on the chessboard of the Greenbelt controversy. (AI) Cartoon published in the Hamilton Spectator, and the Toronto Star.

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:

 

Wednesday May 9, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 9, 2018

Wynne, Horwath take aim at Ford in first debate ahead of Ontario election

Doug Ford was the main target in the first debate ahead of Ontario’s provincial election, with his rivals suggesting Monday that the Progressive Conservative leader, who is leading in the polls, would slash jobs and shrink services if elected premier.

Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath spent much of their time warning about what a Tory government would bring, while Ford hammered home his key messages of finding “efficiencies” and “respecting the taxpayers.”

The race officially begins Wednesday, but the debate set the stage for the campaign and provided the leaders of the three major parties an opportunity to test drive their slogans.

January 15, 2014

When both Horwath and Wynne used their questions during a leader-to-leader portion to ask Ford exactly what he would cut, the Tory leader repeated his key phrases.

“The other Conservative leaders, Mr. (Tim) Hudak, Mr. (Mike) Harris — they were very upfront about what their cuts are going to look like,” Horwath told Ford.

“Why don’t you have the guts to tell people what your cuts are going to look like? What is in store for the people of Ontario?”

Ford didn’t provide specifics, though he has promised to cut four per cent from the budget.

“I’m going to make sure we run a government that respects the taxpayers,” Ford said during his closing remarks. “You know me. I’m for the little guy.”

Horwath repeated that voters “don’t have to choose between bad and worse,” several times stepping back when Wynne and Ford began to spar, attempting to set herself apart from them.

Wynne said the election features “some pretty stark choices,” between what she calls her plan for care and Ford’s plan for cuts.(Source: CP24) 

 

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Thursday May 3, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 3, 2018

Ford reverses course on Greenbelt development, says he’ll maintain protected area

Public backlash prompted Doug Ford to backtrack Tuesday on an election promise to allow housing development in a protected green space around the Toronto region, with the Progressive Conservative leader saying he’s going to listen to those who want the area preserved.

A Tory government would maintain the Greenbelt in its entirety and enshrine that pledge in the party’s soon-to-be-released platform, Ford announced in a statement issued a day after saying he’d open the region to some construction to ease the housing crisis in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I looked at it as making sure we have more affordable housing,” Ford said of his initial position. “The people have spoken. I’m going to listen to them, they don’t want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won’t touch the Greenbelt.”

The Greenbelt — the world’s largest permanently protected green space –is a 7,200-square-kilometre area that borders the Greater Golden Horseshoe region around Lake Ontario. It was protected from urban development by legislation in 2005.

Ford’s flip-flop came less than a week before the official start of the provincial election campaign and hours after Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne called his Greenbelt-development pledge “wrongheaded”.

“If you open up the Greenbelt and make it into a Swiss cheese map you never get that back,” Wynne said earlier on Tuesday. “You never get that water protection back. You never get that agricultural land protection back.”

Wynne had acknowledged that some areas around the border of the Greenbelt have changed since it was established over a decade ago, but that was part of the original plan for the region, she said. (Source: CTV) 

 

Tuesday March 13, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 13, 2018

Christine Elliott concedes to Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford

Christine Elliott is conceding defeat to Doug Ford, congratulating the new Ontario Progressive Conservative leader and promising to run for the party in the June provincial election.

Her move brings to an end the extended drama of the party’s tumultuous leadership race, triggered six weeks ago by the sudden resignation of Patrick Brown amid allegations of sexual misconduct.  

Elliott initially disputed the results announced late Saturday, alleging “serious irregularities” in the voting. The party declared Ford the winner by a margin of just one percentage point.

But in a statement issued Sunday night, Elliott struck a conciliatory tone.

“Our team took the last twenty-four hours to review the results of an election that was incredibly close,” she said in the statement. “After completing my review, I am confident in the results. I extend my congratulations to Doug Ford on a hard-fought campaign.”

As CBC News reported first, Elliott initiated a meeting with Ford on Sunday afternoon. The pair met for “several hours,” according to a senior official on the Elliott campaign.

While the official said the campaign team believes they have a good case to dispute the result, the only recourse would be to go to court, and that is not something Elliott or her team want to do with the party facing an election on June 7.  

“Christine is choosing not to challenge this,” said the official. “Christine and the team were unanimous that this was the right way forward. The name of the game is unifying the party.”

“Ontario needs a Progressive Conservative government to finally defeat Kathleen Wynne,” Elliott said in her statement. “I look forward to running as a candidate.” (Source: CBC News)