pipeline – mackaycartoons

Wednesday June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 4, 2025

From Santa Carney to the Provinces: Canada’s New Unity

December 18, 2024

The recent premiers’ meeting in Saskatoon has ushered in a refreshing wave of optimism and collaboration that Canada hasn’t experienced in over a decade. With the transition from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney as Prime Minister, there’s been a noticeable shift in the dynamics between federal and provincial leaders. Ontario Premier Doug Ford captured the positive spirit of the gathering by likening Carney to Santa Claus, with a sled full of possibilities, ready to consider options that could benefit the entire nation.

News: Premiers express optimism after pitching major projects to Carney

May 13 2025

Under Trudeau, the relationship between the federal government and provincial leaders, especially those from the Western provinces, was often fraught with tension. The interim period following his resignation only added to the uncertainty and lack of direction. However, Carney’s approach seems to have brought a new sense of unity and hope, with a focus on “nation-building projects” that aim to foster economic growth and national cohesion.

The meeting was marked by a commitment from Carney to fast-track approvals for projects deemed in the national interest, while keeping the door open for new ideas and initiatives. Key discussions covered areas such as trade, energy infrastructure, and critical minerals, laying the groundwork for potential progress.

News: ’Love is in the air’: Cautious optimism as premiers pitch major projects to Carney

September 28, 2019

Yet, challenges remain on the horizon. The proposal to build a pipeline through northern B.C. remains a contentious issue, as regional priorities differ. Alberta is pushing for new pipelines as part of its energy strategy, while B.C. emphasizes shovel-ready projects that are immediately actionable. Additionally, First Nations have expressed concerns about potential rights violations in the forthcoming “one Canadian economy” legislation, highlighting the need for meaningful engagement and dialogue.

Ford’s analogy serves as a reminder that while Carney can guide and support these initiatives, the real work lies with the premiers. They must collaborate and address the regulatory and infrastructure barriers that currently impede progress. Removing interprovincial trade barriers and boosting the economy will require technical expertise, political will, and cooperation across all levels of government.

Opinion: It’s easy to announce the end of internal trade barriers. Eliminating them is harder

May 13 2025

This meeting in Saskatoon marks a hopeful shift in the relationship between the federal and provincial governments. While the federal government under Carney provides a vision and framework, it’s evident that the provinces will play a crucial role in executing these plans. The path forward will involve navigating challenges and differences, but the foundation for future cooperation seems more promising than it has in years. Both federal and provincial leaders have an opportunity to work together towards meaningful progress, making the potential for a stronger and more cohesive Canada more attainable than it has been in a long time.

Premiers in Portrait

Wednesday June 4, 2025 – The recent premiers’ meeting in Saskatoon marks a hopeful shift in federal-provincial relations, with renewed collaboration and shared goals under Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The premiers’ gathering in Saskatoon has brought a fresh sense of hope and teamwork to Canadian politics, a welcome change from the tensions of the Trudeau era. With Mark Carney leading, federal and provincial leaders talked about big projects to boost the economy and unite the country. While challenges like pipeline disagreements and Indigenous rights remain, the meeting set a positive tone for cooperation. With everyone on board, real progress finally seems possible.

Let’s hope this isn’t just the usual burst of optimism that comes with a new government. We’ve been here before, where initial excitement fades and things return to normal. The real test will be whether Carney and his team can turn this positive energy into real actions and lasting change. Fingers crossed that this time, the momentum leads to real progress.

There’s some talk of the Premiers building up Carney as a kind of folk hero, ready to work wonders. Doug Ford’s comparison of the PM to Santa Claus plays into this idea and is the focus of today’s editorial cartoon.

Speaking of editorial cartoons, here’s how I approach drawing the Premiers. When I started as a cartoonist, I learned quickly that respect in this field means getting good at drawing group caricatures. As a kid, I drew funny classroom portraits, which made me popular and even helped me stand up to bullies. Drawing caricatures gave me a unique advantage.

As I got older and became interested in the news, I naturally gravitated toward satire. The patience I learned from those classroom scenes paid off when I saw professional cartoonists create group caricatures. These weren’t the usual amusement park portraits; they captured powerful people from all angles. I studied these cartoons closely and kept clippings in a journal. One of my favourites is by Tony Jenkins from the Globe & Mail, who cleverly mixed the 20th anniversary of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” with a meeting of Canadian Premiers. Jenkins turned unrelated news into a timeless classic, and he’s still a great cartoonist and friend.

Jenkins and others taught me early on that to succeed in editorial cartooning here, you must be able to draw the Premiers. I see it as a personal challenge to sketch a group shot of them occasionally, keeping my skills sharp. Here’s a look back at some of my past Premier group portraits:

Sketch studies of premiers (c1995) Pat Binns, Russell MacLellen, Frank McKenna, Glen Clark, Brian Tobin, Lucien Bouchard, Mike Harris, Ralph Klein.

Fathers of Confederation – illustrated in 1995. I’ve drawn various renditions of the premiers cast in this classic portrait, here in 2006, and here in 2014.

Friday October 14, 2005 – The Alberta government announced a $10 million plan to distribute $400 cheques to residents as part of a $1.4-billion “resource rebate” initiative, funded by the province’s surplus from oil and natural-gas royalties.

Sunday June 17, 2007 – On occasion of Father’s Day, Prime Minister Harper’s aggressive tactics in the past federal-provincial dispute over the Atlantic Accord and equalization payments overshadowed the facts, with Nova Scotia’s demands to remove the fiscal capacity cap being seen as unreasonable and unfair.

Thursday November 22, 2012 – Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and other premiers criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for not attending a meeting to collaborate on a national economic strategy, viewing it as a missed opportunity to build on past federal-provincial cooperation during economic challenges. McGuinty had recently announced his departure from public life.

Wednesday October 12, 2016 – the federal government under Justin Trudeau announced a carbon pricing plan starting at $10 per tonne in 2018, rising to $50 by 2022, to reduce emissions and meet climate commitments, which provoked backlash from several provinces.

Thursday, July 25, 2013 – Kathleen Wynne chaired a historic Council of the Federation conference in July 2013, where women led the majority of Canada’s largest provinces, marking a shift from the traditional male-dominated leadership and focusing on collaborative discussions on national issues. In this cartoon I simply had to imagine what a carriage load of first husbands looked like.

Tuesday November 24, 2015 – Ahead of the Paris climate talks, Justin Trudeau and premiers aim to unify Canada’s climate message, balancing existing provincial leadership and economic growth with national climate commitments.

Tuesday February 7, 2023 – Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were struggling to regain momentum and hoped a health care deal would help them reset their agenda and address Canadians’ concerns.

This has been posted to Substack, which you can subscribe to. Substack is a great platform for me as a cartoonist. I’m mindful of the layoffs hitting many talented people, but I’m keeping a positive outlook. Take a look at the animation of my June 4, 2025, cartoon, and thanks for your support!

Tuesday January 26, 2021

February 2, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

January 26, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 26, 2021

Keystone pipeline decision was Joe Biden’s to make

No question, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a gut punch to Alberta, and to a lesser extent Saskatchewan, when he used his executive authority to kill the previous president’s executive order allowing construction of the Keystone pipeline, which would have shipped oil from Alberta’s tarsands to refineries south of the border.

In the immediate aftermath, 1,000 construction workers were laid off, and the Calgary-based energy company that had unfronted much of the cost will now have to eat that expenditure.

It’s about the last thing Alberta’s staggered economy and workforce needs, and regardless of what we think about fossil fuels and the tarsands, we should feel some empathy for average Albertans if not their hyperbolic government.

January 8, 2014

But let’s talk about what the decision is not. First and foremost, it is not a surprise. Keystone has a tortured history. When he was president, Barack Obama was firmly against the controversial project, which was also opposed by climate change activists, environmentalists and Indigenous groups.

Then along came Donald Trump, who promptly reversed that decision and allowed construction to begin. And then along came Biden, who has promised all along to stop the pipeline. He was opposed as Obama’s VP, he was opposed as a Democratic leadership contender, and he ran in the presidential election with his opposition front and centre.

Reacting to Biden’s order, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney blew several gaskets. In a blustery response he lashed out at Biden, the U.S. and at Ottawa, demanding Ottawa impose sanctions in retaliation.

April 20, 2019

It was an embarrassing display, but under the circumstances not surprising. Kenney has been having a rough ride, having dropped the ball on Alberta’s pandemic response. He had a minister and several MLAs take off for sunny vacations while his government was urging Albertans to stay at home. He wants to reopen coal mining in an environmentally sensitive part of the province and is facing massive opposition. Oh, and he invested $1.5 billion into the pipeline, along with $6 billion more in loan guarantees.

He did that, knowing that Biden was leading in polling and predicted to defeat Trump. In effect, Kenney and his government were betting on a second term for Trump. Not smart.

Not surprisingly, Kenney’s approval ratings have taken a beating, and deservedly so. His bellicose demands for trade sanctions and threats of legal action are empty. Anyone who thinks this action alone will prompt the federal government to start off the new president’s term with sour relations probably also bet on Trump.

May 14, 2016

The financial impact of the decision is real, and no one should be surprised if some sort of legal action ensues to try and recover some of money lost. But no one can credibly argue Biden acted in bad faith. He didn’t. If Americans voted for Biden knowing his stance on the pipeline and green economics, that means they support the decisions that go along with that change. It’s not up to Canada to tell Americans what they should or should not do with energy projects on sovereign U.S. territory. We couldn’t do that with Trump, and we certainly can’t do it with a new president who has a strong mandate. Can you imagine how Canada would react if the U.S. tried to strong-arm energy policy over our sovereign interests? We wouldn’t stand for it.

Here is the bottom line Kenney doesn’t want to talk about. Even before the pandemic, the world was turning its back on fossil fuel consumption and production. The pandemic just accelerated that reality, and the trend is not likely to change regardless of Kenney’s ranting and raving. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

Thursday February 13, 2020

February 20, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 13, 2020

Rule of law must prevail in gas pipeline dispute

A common misconception about the blockades and protests disrupting business and travel across Canada this week is that they are taking place with the support of the majority of Indigenous people. Obviously, some people — Indigenous and non-Indigenous — support Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in their efforts to stop the construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline.

February 6, 2020

But to suggest that the chiefs, or their supporters across the country, speak on behalf of Indigenous people in general is misguided.

Consider the situation among members of the Witset First Nation in the area of the pipeline.

All 20 elected band councils along the pipeline route have signed benefit agreements with Coastal GasLink and support the pipeline. Some of the communities held referendums that showed majority support. But, the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who oppose the pipeline say those councils were established by the Indian Act and only have authority over reserve lands.

CBC’s “As It Happens” interviewed Wet’suwet’en resident Bonnie George who said, in part: “There’s quite a bit of support for this project. But people are afraid to speak up because, in the past few years, people that (have) spoken up were either ostracized … ridiculed, bullied, harassed, threatened, and being called a traitor — a sellout … People are afraid to speak up.”

April 23, 2006

Another resident, Philip Tait, told Global News: “Right now, this is probably got to be one of the biggest job creations in the province here, and we want to be part of it,” he said. “The hereditary chiefs’ office, they don’t speak for the whole clan.”

And yet, here we are. The chiefs’ protest has become a cause celebre across the country, with supporters blockading roads and railways, disrupting service. Some of the consequences are merely inconveniences, but others have serious economic impact. The lack of propane delivery, for example, threatens agricultural businesses that rely on it to heat barns during winter.

The pipeline project has met all environmental requirements. It has all the requisite approvals. It has the official support of Indigenous communities along the route.

And it has the potential to serve an important purpose, aside from the obvious one that it moves liquid natural gas from point A (Dawson Creek) to Point B (Kitimat).

Pipeline cartoons

The natural gas moved through the pipeline will end up at a huge complex in Kitimat. From there, LNG will be moved by ship to markets around the world. Some of those markets will include large nations like China and India that still produce a great deal of their needed energy by burning coal. LNG, while not perfect, is much less harmful to the environment as coal energy. So the LNG that comes from the $6-billion, 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline has the potential to make a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

But for that to work, the gas has to get from its source to market. And the best, safest, way to do that is by pipeline.

Given that construction has all official approvals to proceed, governments were left with little choice but to issue injunctions demanding protesters leave the area. When they refused, RCMP removed and arrested some. RCMP were operating under the rule of law, just as police in other jurisdictions, including Ontario, are doing by following legal direction to remove blockades on rail lines, ports and roadways.

Negotiations with the chiefs are continuing, as they should. But the rule of law must be observed, across Canada. That’s of paramount national importance. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

Thursday February 6, 2020

February 13, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 6, 2020

One step forward, another one back: What the Trans Mountain ruling means for Trudeau

In sports, you win some and you lose some. In politics, it’s possible to win and lose at the same time.

Pipeline cartoons

Take, for example, yesterday’s Federal Court of Appeal ruling on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

The court ruled unanimously that the federal government had fulfilled its duty to consult meaningfully with a handful of First Nations opposed to the project, clearing a major hurdle in the drawn-out battle to build a second line to carry bitumen from Alberta’s oilsands to Burnaby on the B.C. coast.

The federal and Alberta governments immediately claimed victory, putting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Jason Kenney on the same side for once.

“This project is in the public interest,” federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan told reporters shortly after the decision was released.

“We also know that this is a project that can deliver significant economic benefit to Alberta, to Canadians across the country,” added Finance Minister Bill Morneau. “And more importantly, we are going to put that economic benefit back into the environment.”

Their sense of relief was palpable. Ottawa spent around $4.5 billion in 2018 to buy TMX — a last-ditch effort to ensure the pipeline would be built after its owner, Kinder Morgan, announced plans to step away.

That price, hefty as it is, doesn’t include construction costs or any overruns the project has incurred because of the various stop-work orders that have put construction well behind schedule.

But with the victory comes a major setback in relations with those Indigenous groups who continue to oppose the $7.4-billion project, and will no doubt seek to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

“Reconciliation stopped today,” said Rueben George, of the Tsleil-Waututh, his voice cracking with emotion.

The band was one of four Indigenous groups behind the court challenge. It argued that the second, court-ordered round of consultations also failed to respond adequately to their concerns about the impact the project would have on marine life.

“This government is incapable of making sound decisions for our future generations,” George said. “So we will — even for their children — we will take those steps to make sure Canada stays the way it is.” (CBC)

Saturday September 28, 2019

October 5, 2019 by Graeme MacKay

September 28, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 28, 2019

Greta Thunberg meets Trudeau, tells him he’s not doing enough to fight climate change

September 24, 2019

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg told Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau today he’s not doing enough to protect the environment from the threat of runaway climate change.

Trudeau met the teenage activist ahead of Friday’s mass climate rally in Montreal in his capacity as prime minister. The pair spoke in private for about 15 minutes, shortly before Trudeau joined the rally marching through the city’s downtown.

After the meeting, Thunberg was asked if she had a message for Trudeau. She said that Trudeau is not doing enough — but added that she says the same thing to every political leader she meets.

“My message to all the politicians around the world is the same: just listen and act on the current, best available united science,” she said.

“I try not to focus on the individuals and rather focus on the whole picture because … of course it’s easier to just blame someone and of course he has a lot of responsibility … and he, of course, is not doing enough.

September 20, 2016

“But we need to, because this is such a huge problem. This is a system that is wrong. So my message to all the politicians is the same — to just listen to the science and act on the science.”

In a news conference announcing a proposal to plant trees to combat climate change, Trudeau called Thunberg a “remarkable” young person who is driving the conversation forward.

“She is the voice of a generation of young people who are calling on their leaders to do more and to do better, and I’m listening,” he said.

Trudeau was asked about a June 19 tweet from Thunberg in which she questioned Canada’s decision to declare a climate emergency one day and say yes to expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline the next.

April 11, 2018

“This is shameful. But of course this is not only in Canada, we can unfortunately see the same pattern everywhere,” she said.

Trudeau defended his government’s actions.

“We have a national climate plan that will reduce our emissions and hit our 2030 targets in a way that also includes getting a better price for our oil resources that allows us to put the profits directly into the fight against climate change,” he said.

Trudeau had a large security detail surrounding him and his family as they joined the crowds on the streets of Montreal for the climate rally. Some in the crowd chanted slogans attacking Trudeau’s embrace of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. (CBC)

Justin meets Greta from r/worldpoliticalhumour