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Wednesday October 22, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 22, 2015 Justin Trudeau owes Kathleen Wynne after election win Endorse early, endorse often. ThatÕs how Kathleen Wynne turned the old political joke (ÒVote early, vote oftenÓ) on its head. Except she wasnÕt fooling around. Long before Canadians settled on Justin Trudeau, well before any prime ministerial honeymoon, OntarioÕs premier was an early adopter. And an enthusiastic endorser. She showed him political love when he was running last, and showered him with praise when he was pulling ahead. Wynne went out on a limb by placing a big bet on the Liberal leader when few others saw his growth potential. Wynne cheered him on, early on, at a Regent Park rally with a passion that seemed unseemly to critics. And she badmouthed NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in an un-premier-like way when he was still well-placed to win the election. The investment was not only personal but political Ñ Wynne didnÕt just stick out her own neck, she loaned out much of her provincial electoral machine: The vast majority of campaign managers for federal Liberal candidates emanated from the partyÕs provincial wing. Now, the gamble has paid off. Wynne is the bearer of a monumental IOU. So too are the Ontarians who voted massively for Trudeau at her behest. They are counting on her to collect in full on their behalf, and fully expecting his new government to deliver. How big is that political debt? About $11 billion big, if you count the amount that Ottawa collects annually from Ontario taxpayers for distribution everywhere else through equalization and other social transfers for health and education. But that fiscal imbalance, long an irritant at QueenÕs Park, wonÕt evaporate overnight. Ontarians have swung massively behind the federal Liberals in the past, only to be taken for granted when it came time for Ottawa to give the countryÕs biggest province its due. Former prime minister Jean ChrŽtien won virtua

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 22, 2015

Justin Trudeau owes Kathleen Wynne after election win

Endorse early, endorse often.

That’s how Kathleen Wynne turned the old political joke (“Vote early, vote often”) on its head. Except she wasn’t fooling around.

Long before Canadians settled on Justin Trudeau, well before any prime ministerial honeymoon, Ontario’s premier was an early adopter. And an enthusiastic endorser.

JustinTrudeau-GalleryShe showed him political love when he was running last, and showered him with praise when he was pulling ahead. Wynne went out on a limb by placing a big bet on the Liberal leader when few others saw his growth potential.

Wynne cheered him on, early on, at a Regent Park rally with a passion that seemed unseemly to critics. And she badmouthed NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in an un-premier-like way when he was still well-placed to win the election.

The investment was not only personal but political — Wynne didn’t just stick out her own neck, she loaned out much of her provincial electoral machine: The vast majority of campaign managers for federal Liberal candidates emanated from the party’s provincial wing.

Now, the gamble has paid off. Wynne is the bearer of a monumental IOU.

So too are the Ontarians who voted massively for Trudeau at her behest. They are counting on her to collect in full on their behalf, and fully expecting his new government to deliver.

How big is that political debt? About $11 billion big, if you count the amount that Ottawa collects annually from Ontario taxpayers for distribution everywhere else through equalization and other social transfers for health and education.

But that fiscal imbalance, long an irritant at Queen’s Park, won’t evaporate overnight.

Ontarians have swung massively behind the federal Liberals in the past, only to be taken for granted when it came time for Ottawa to give the country’s biggest province its due. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien won virtually every seat in Ontario yet cheerfully shortchanged the province in the aftermath, because in Canadian politics the squeaky wheel gets the grease — and the squawky provinces get the regional largesse.

Wynne’s wish list for federal leadership is long: Pension reform, infrastructure investments, global warming, fiscal fairness, child care and pharmacare. (Continued: Toronto Star)

 

Wednesday August 12, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday August 12, 2015 Justin Trudeau and the pregnant candidate: Too hands-on? Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is known for his family name, his youth and his well-coiffed hair, but he may have cemented his reputation Monday as a touchy-feely politician when he touched the pregnant belly of one of his candidates at a Montreal campaign event. The mom-to-be in this case, Liberal candidate Christine Poirier, said she had no problem with TrudeauÕs friendly gesture, one that occurs several times a day with strangers as she canvasses her Montreal riding for votes. ÒIt was a perfectly natural, normal gesture and I really donÕt mind having my belly touched,Ó she said. The news that Poirier will be delivering her second child just seven weeks ahead of the Oct. 19 election day is something that no candidate can prepare for. But the 35-year-old has learned there can be a strategic advantage in her growing belly. ÒIt doesnÕt make me any more approachable. But it certainly makes a nice subject of conversation and it allows me to introduce the party policies on child benefits and makes me talk about it and makes me sound more genuine,Ó she said. The entrepreneur and breastfeeding advocate, who co-founded a clothing line for new mothers, is running against Bloc QuŽbŽcois Leader Gilles Duceppe in the riding of LaurierÑSainte-Marie, currently held by the NDPÕs HŽlne Laverdire. While the competition is tough, itÕs nothing compared to the personal circumstances the Liberal candidate is managing with a campaign team that handles phone calls and posting signs as well as child-care duties when the need arises. ÒOne of the volunteering opportunities that I give to my volunteers is to babysit my 8-year-old daughter,Ó she said. ÒSo during the campaign, my mom is going to be my main volunteer, following me around everywhere (with the newborn) and helping me out.Ó (Source: Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/canad

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 12, 2015

Justin Trudeau and the pregnant candidate: Too hands-on?

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is known for his family name, his youth and his well-coiffed hair, but he may have cemented his reputation Monday as a touchy-feely politician when he touched the pregnant belly of one of his candidates at a Montreal campaign event.

The mom-to-be in this case, Liberal candidate Christine Poirier, said she had no problem with Trudeau’s friendly gesture, one that occurs several times a day with strangers as she canvasses her Montreal riding for votes.

Justin Trudeau places his hand on pregnant candidate Christine Poirier's belly as he arrives at a Liberal campaign event in Montreal on Monday. RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Justin Trudeau places his hand on pregnant candidate Christine Poirier’s belly as he arrives at a Liberal campaign event in Montreal on Monday. RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESS

“It was a perfectly natural, normal gesture and I really don’t mind having my belly touched,” she said.

The news that Poirier will be delivering her second child just seven weeks ahead of the Oct. 19 election day is something that no candidate can prepare for. But the 35-year-old has learned there can be a strategic advantage in her growing belly.

“It doesn’t make me any more approachable. But it certainly makes a nice subject of conversation and it allows me to introduce the party policies on child benefits and makes me talk about it and makes me sound more genuine,” she said.

The entrepreneur and breastfeeding advocate, who co-founded a clothing line for new mothers, is running against Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe in the riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie, currently held by the NDP’s Hélène Laverdière.

While the competition is tough, it’s nothing compared to the personal circumstances the Liberal candidate is managing with a campaign team that handles phone calls and posting signs as well as child-care duties when the need arises.

“One of the volunteering opportunities that I give to my volunteers is to babysit my 8-year-old daughter,” she said. “So during the campaign, my mom is going to be my main volunteer, following me around everywhere (with the newborn) and helping me out.” (Source: Toronto Star)

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