public trust

Tuesday June 13, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday June 13, 2023

Trudeau and Poilievre’s Actions Undermine Democracy and Reputation

May 25, 2023

The resignation of David Johnston, Justin Trudeau’s special rapporteur on foreign interference in Canadian elections, is a testament to the erosion of trust in our democratic institutions. Rather than addressing the issue of foreign interference head-on, Trudeau’s decision to delegate the responsibility to Johnston and his subsequent shielding of himself from the decision-making process is a clear evasion of accountability.

It is disheartening to witness Pierre Poilievre, the Official Opposition Leader, launch unfounded and relentless attacks on Johnston’s credibility. Poilievre, who himself was appointed as a cabinet minister by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is now attempting to discredit a man who was deemed impartial enough to serve as governor general and swear Poilievre into his own cabinet. The hypocrisy is glaring, and these attacks have not only derailed the investigation but have also distracted us from more pressing matters at hand.

Opinion: Trudeau’s government wants opposition parties to create their own public inquiry? Good luck with that  

December 5, 2015

Let us consider the political affiliations of Johnston’s predecessors. Ray Hnatyshyn, who served as governor general, took orders from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney while serving in his Progressive Conservative government. Romeo Leblanc, another former governor general, engaged in the blood sport of politics as a minister for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau before rising above politics when recruited for the role. Yet, we question the credibility of Johnston, who has remained detached from partisan politics throughout his career. The facts are clear, but they seem to hold little weight in the face of baseless accusations.

Critics have defenestrated the report prepared by Johnston and Block, while the media, unfortunately, have largely defiled their work. The currency of impartiality, which is essential for a thriving democracy, has been debased by these unwarranted attacks. Instead of engaging in a constructive dialogue on foreign interference, the opposition and media have chosen to make a meal of our elders, tarnishing the reputation of distinguished individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service.

March 19, 2015

Johnston’s resignation highlights the highly partisan atmosphere surrounding his appointment and work. It is a somber reflection of how divisive politics can hinder the objective of building trust in our democratic institutions. Rather than embracing his expertise and recommendations, the opposition parties accused him of bias due to his personal ties to Trudeau. The focus should have been on addressing the issue of foreign interference, but instead, it became a platform for political mudslinging.

Trudeau’s association with Johnston and their personal ties have become the source of intense scrutiny. While it is crucial to ensure transparency and accountability in governance, it is unfair to taint the reputations of distinguished individuals based on mere associations. Members and directors of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation, a respected institution, have also faced undeserved negative attention due to their affiliation with Trudeau. This pattern extends to various other individuals who have been touched by their association with the Prime Minister, leading to unwarranted controversy and reputational damage.

Opinion: The David Johnston mess is Justin Trudeau’s responsibility  

March 17, 2023

In the case of Johnston’s resignation, it is regrettable that a capable and esteemed Canadian made the decision to accept a role that ultimately became embroiled in controversy. However, it is essential to recognize that the responsibility for this outcome lies with Trudeau and Poilievre, whose actions and attacks have undermined the credibility of our democratic institutions.

As Canadians, we must demand better. We must hold our leaders accountable for their actions and ensure that our democratic processes remain robust and untainted by political gamesmanship. It is only by upholding the principles of integrity, transparency, and impartiality that we can safeguard the trust and confidence of the people in our democracy. (AI)

 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 editorial cartooning a try:

 

Thursday May 25, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 25, 2023

Opposition Parties Reject Access to Classified Information in Inquiry Decision

May 5, 2023

On Wednesday, the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives aligned in their refusal to examine classified information that had led to a watchdog’s recommendation against a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference. Both party leaders expressed their reluctance to be bound by the obligation of secrecy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, urged his colleagues to prioritize facts over partisan interests, specifically calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. During an event in Winnipeg, Trudeau criticized Poilievre, stating, “Pierre Poilievre is deliberately choosing to remain uninformed.”

David Johnston, appointed by Trudeau as a special rapporteur in March to investigate the foreign interference allegations, presented his initial report on Tuesday. The report advised against initiating a public inquiry into the allegations of foreign interference during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. These allegations had been a contentious issue for the government following reports by Global News and the Globe and Mail, which referred to leaked national security documents and anonymous sources.

News: Poilievre calls on Singh to force a foreign interference inquiry  

March 24, 2023

In his report, Johnston also recommended that the government grant the necessary security clearances to other party leaders, allowing them access to the complete report, including a confidential annex of materials used to reach his conclusions. Despite calls from the NDP, Conservatives, and Bloc Québécois for a public inquiry, Johnston explained that due to national security concerns, the reviewed intelligence must remain classified. Consequently, a formal inquiry would largely be conducted behind closed doors. Instead, Johnston pledged to hold public hearings to discuss the broader issue of foreign interference, without delving into the specific allegations.

Johnston acknowledged the challenge of not being able to publicly disclose the reviewed information and emphasized the importance of future potential leaders of the country intentionally remaining unaware. He also recognized the opposition leaders’ desire not to be constrained by security laws that prohibit the sharing of such material.

March 9, 2023

Trudeau accepted Johnston’s findings and sent letters to Opposition leaders, inviting them to begin the process of obtaining the required security clearances. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his intention to do so. However, Poilievre rejected the offer, vowing to call for a public inquiry if the Conservatives formed the next government. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also supported him, describing the opportunity as “a misguided trap.”

Trudeau urged opposition leaders, including Poilievre, to review the substance of Johnston’s report, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. He singled out Poilievre, stating, “He is more interested in political arguments and personal attacks than in confronting the facts. Can we consider him a serious leader?”

Poilievre, speaking to reporters in Toronto on Wednesday, criticized Johnston as a “Trudeau insider,” highlighting the former governor general’s friendship with Prime Minister Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and his involvement in the foundation named after the former prime minister. In response, Johnston defended his work and his relationship with the current prime minister, stating that their families had gone skiing together decades ago.

Erin O’Toole: I met with David Johnston for his report – here’s what happened  

March 17, 2023

Poilievre suggested that an experienced judge in handling national security cases should be responsible for determining which information should remain classified and what could be made public if an inquiry were to be called. He asserted, “Justin Trudeau is concealing something.”

Although Poilievre declined the opportunity to closely examine the report himself, he stated that he would not hinder the review by Conservative MPs serving on the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. Johnston confirmed that these committee members would receive additional information and could challenge his conclusions if necessary.

On Wednesday, MPs from the NDP, Conservatives, and Bloc Québécois on the House of Commons procedure committee jointly signed a letter requesting Johnston’s presence before them to answer questions about his decision not to recommend a public inquiry. The letter, shared on social media by Conservative MP Michael Cooper, characterized Johnston’s decision as “a disregard for diaspora groups who face abuse and intimidation from hostile foreign governments.” (AI)

 

Wednesday March 31, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 31, 2021

We need a blueprint for the next pandemic

It’s a damning indictment. On Thursday, Canada’s auditor general released a report that finds Canada’s public health and border control authorities did a poor job at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 4, 2021

Systems didn’t work as planned. Updates and monitoring were not carried out in spite of ample warnings being given, particularly to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). There were recommended changes that were ignored, literally for decades. The country’s vaunted pandemic early-warning system didn’t work properly. There were shortcomings in how the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and PHAC responded, so border restrictions were not applied consistently, which hindered attempts to stop the virus from spreading.

Auditor general Karen Hogan pulled no punches as she assessed weaknesses in the government’s early responses to COVID in the first six months of the pandemic. 

January 7, 2021I 

None of this should come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. Canada’s federal public health bureaucracy was slow and inept to begin with, and didn’t find its feet until the pandemic was already well underway. To be fair, that was the case in many other countries around the world. Almost without exception, the ones that were better prepared fared better in terms.

Does the fact that Canada was in good company make a difference? Arguably, yes. Scientists have been warning the world about the next pandemic since the last pandemic. And collectively, the world paid lip service to the warnings, for the most part. 

August 15, 2008

For those who like to see heads roll and blame assigned, who should we be pointing at? Presumably, public health and border service leadership at the time. The buck always stops at the government, so the Trudeau Liberals get some of the blame, too. 

January 31, 2014

There is an election coming soon, and those who want to send a message can vote for a different party if that helps. But keep in mind that the most likely alternative, the Conservatives, were in power for much of the time the warnings were being sounded, and they did little or nothing, like the Liberal government before them.

March 30, 2021

The auditor general’s mission is not a witch hunt. Her criticism and observation are of critical importance, not so we can assign blame, but so we can make sure we do this a lot better the next time a pandemic comes knocking, as we know it will.

And there is another aspect of accountability and blame to consider. Governments don’t tend to do things in the face of overwhelming public opposition. Had there been tremendous pushback when the Mulroney government privatized Canada’s largest domestic vaccine manufacturing lab, or when cuts to research and development by the Harper government led to other pharmaceutical companies packing up and moving to friendlier climates, those things would not have happened. Those things were not big priorities to the average Canadian at the time, otherwise they would not have happened.

Now, with hindsight, we know how much better off Canada would have been had those things not happened. And now, if we want different outcomes, we can demand different things. We must have a domestic vaccine industry. We must have unfettered access to all sorts of PPE. We must have proactive policy and bureaucratic measures in place so all the things that went wrong this time don’t go wrong the next time.

It will not be cheap or easy. It will not work with a small government that wants the market to drive everything. Preparing for future pandemics demands government, industry and business buy-in and collaboration. We can have that if we want it, or we can take our chances. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

Octopus sketching is such a joy!