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Ralph Klein

January 16, 2007

January 16, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

Again I find myself the only cartoonist who felt it necessary to draw on something that has been completely ignored by everyone else: the Premier’s trade mission to India. The 17 day trip began last week and includes a 100-member Ontario government delegation with hopes of cashing in on the country’s lucrative film industry and becoming a self-styled “Bollywood North,” as Dalton McGuinty himself described it. To me it smells an awful lot like the old Chretien days, when the old Prime Minister would gladhand his way through countries like China and India with high hopes of bringing foreign investment to Canada. It’s debateable how effective these junkets are. For now let Dalton be the star of his own cheesy show.

Here’s some photos from the trip thus far. I’d love to see some cartoonist out there draw something on this rather comical journey by Ontario’s Premier.


By the Numbers

I was curious to find out how frequently Dalton McGuinty appears in cartoons so I did a little tabulation of cartoons I’ve drawn of him over the past 12 months. Through a simple defined search of my syndicate I discovered I drew 16 cartoons of him in 2006. Sue Dewar of the Ottawa Sun actually beat me by drawing 20. This led me to wonder which politician was drawn the most last year among all the artists represented through Artizans. Here’s the ranking:

  1. Stephen Harper — 422
  2. Ralph Klein — 89
  3. Paul Martin — 87
  4. Dalton McGuinty — 48
  5. Jack Layton — 45
  6. Michael Ignatieff — 42
  7. Rodney MacDonald — 35
  8. Peter MacKay — 34
  9. Stephane Dion — 34
  10. David Emerson — 32
  11. Belinda Stronach –28
  12. Rona Ambrose — 27
  13. Bob Rae — 23
  14. Gordon Campbell — 23
  15. Gilles Duceppe — 20
  16. Jim Flaherty — 17
  17. Jean Chretien — 15
  18. Scott Brison — 14
  19. Bill Graham — 9
  20. Frank McKenna — 9
  21. Joe Volpe — 9
  22. Ken Dryden — 7
  23. Ed Stelmach
  24. Hedy Fry — 6
  25. Gerard Kennedy — 4
  26. Jean Charest — 4
  27. Vic Toews — 4
  28. John Baird — 2
  29. Gary Doer — 1
  30. Lorne Calvert, Martha Hall Findlay, Danny Williams — 0

Posted in: Cartooning Tagged: Bollywood, commentary, Dalton McGuinty, David Emerson, India, Jean Chretien, Jim Flaherty, Ken Dryden, Michael Ignatieff, Ralph Klein, Stephane Dion, Stephen Harper, Sue Dewar, Trade, trade mission

December 12, 2007

December 12, 2007 by Graeme MacKay

Look who’s strutting around and putting down successors and criticizing governments now debating and putting together new agreements on Climate Change and Global Warming… Jean Chretien. The former Prime Minister conveys how proud he is to call his signing on to the Kyoto Protocol as a defining chapter of his Legacy despite the lack of action which followed. It’s all in this article:

TORONTO – What was intended as a feel-good gathering of prominent Liberals celebrating the legacy of one of their most illustrious leaders took a divisive turn Tuesday as Jean Chretien again took aim at his successor Paul Martin’s track record as prime minister, this time for failing to meet Canada’s obligations to stop climate change. The duelling former prime ministers, whose bitter leadership rift seems to have spilled over into their retirement years, were among the Liberal heavyweights headlining the conference lauding Lester B. Pearson’s contributions to global peace, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize 50 years ago. Chretien’s speech to the conference, hosted by Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae, included harsh words for the Conservatives’ stance on the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions. “I am not very pleased today to read what people are saying about Canada in Bali at this moment about the environment,” he told the conference. “I think it is an urgent problem and we should have been at the forefront. When we signed Kyoto, we knew very well when I was there what we were doing, and it should have been implemented. But now we will not meet the target because we lost four years.” But outside the hall, Chretien was quick to point the finger at Martin’s government for dropping the ball on Kyoto after he left office. “I don’t know what happened, I was not there,” he said. “I know that I was negotiating with the oil industry, and the oil industry pulled back from the table.” When asked why it took so long for Canada to get somewhere on Kyoto, Chretien replied, “Sometimes, when you lose four years, you lose four years. There’s nothing I can do about it.” But Chretien said he doesn’t blame current Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who was environment minister under Martin, for the failure to meet Canada’s obligations under Kyoto, an international treaty that Chretien’s government signed 10 years ago. Dion had to cancel his scheduled appearance at the conference to attend an international climate change summit in Bali, Indonesia. Martin, who delivered his speech two hours after Chretien left the building, defended his record on climate change, saying his government’s policy was regarded as “the most comprehensive attack on climate change that we’ve ever seen in Canada.”

Ten years ago papers were hammering Jean Chretien for having contributed nothing to help solve environmental issues. Here’s an example:

Global warming: action or inertia?
Hamilton Spectator Editorial
October, 02 1997
 

Bill Clinton is demonstrating environmental leadership as he tries to rally American public opinion behind a global treaty cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The American president’s willingness to put his prestige on the line stands in contrast to the political inertia shown by the Chretien government on the problem so far. If the Liberals are to achieve their stated goals in reducing the pollutants that are believed to produce artificial global warming, they must give the problem a much higher profile. Clinton can’t be accused of sleepwalking on the difficult, but urgent, greenhouse gas issue. He raised the stakes yesterday by gathering 100 weather forecasters on the White House lawn in support of stronger action to reduce the buildup of fumes and smoke in the Earth’s fragile natural environment. Cynics dismissed the event as a public relations gimmick. But Clinton deserves marks for taking a stand that will almost certainly involve some lifestyle changes for American consumers and economic adjustment. The president faces stiff opposition from powerful politicians, industrialists and union leaders, who are reluctant to act even though the U.S. is a major polluter. America lags behind other countries in pledging itself to targets for carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The U.S. Senate has said it will reject specific greenhouse gas cuts unless they’re matched by targets for developing countries. The U.S. can do much better than that. So can Canada, which has the second-highest per capita greenhouse emission rate among industrialized countries. The Chretien government should be front and centre with a strategy in advance of international negotiations on a treaty in Japan in December. Instead, it’s making no visible attempt to focus attention on the problem, and how to implement realistic, achievable and cost-effective solutions. The government has relied on a voluntary emissions reduction program that hasn’t done the job. The outlook isn’t likely to improve if the debate, such as it is, is dominated by the likes of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. He maintains that binding emission reduction targets will penalize his province unfairly. Klein appears to oppose even modest reductions. He should be more open to compromise. A failure by all industrial nations to take effective action now runs the major risk of precipitating an future environmental crisis that would require drastic economic and lifestyle changes. Critics of controls cite potential job losses in moving to a more sustainable economy, but they often overlook the potential employment from improving energy efficiency in offices and homes; developing super-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars and trucks; and investing in renewable energy projects. It’s time for the Chretien government to follow Clinton’s lead and come out of the closet with a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Few problems are as pressing as the need to better protect the planet from choking in man-made gases.

Chretien was in his fifth year of office as Prime Minister by time the above editorial was written. It was my first year as a cartoonist when I drew the (rather crude)cartoon below for the October 2, 1997 edition of the paper, for which I chose to draw on the environment, an issue that Chretien was completely unconcerned with at the time:

Posted in: Canada Tagged: climate change, commentary, environment, global warming, Jean Chretien, Kyoto Accord, Ralph Klein

Friday May 26, 2006

May 26, 2006 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday May 26, 2006 Klein threatens to abandon equalization Alberta would pull out of the federal equalization program rather than see the other provinces benefit from its oil and natural gas resources, Premier Ralph Klein said. Klein said on Wednesday he's ready to fight with the eastern provinces to keep Alberta's resource revenues out of the equalization program, which sends federal money to poorer provinces so they can provide services such as health care. At a meeting next month, other premiers are expected to suggest that Alberta's oil revenues can be included in the calculations that determine how much cash each province gets from Ottawa. "This is political showdown," Klein said. "This is also a constitutional issue. Alberta has control and authorization and authority over its resources." And he said he's willing to walk away from the program altogether. But University of Alberta political scientist Steve Patten suggests Klein can't really do that, and his bluster won't go far among the premiers, even if it works to whip up long-standing anti-eastern sentiment among Albertans. Equalization payments come from federal government revenues, such as federal income tax, not from Alberta's bank accounts, Patten said. Pulling out, he said, would have no effect on the program.Ê(Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/klein-threatens-to-abandon-equalization-1.591424 Canada, Alberta, Ralph Klein, Equalization, federalism, Confederation, panhandlers, finance, transfer, payments

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 26, 2006

Klein threatens to abandon equalization

Alberta would pull out of the federal equalization program rather than see the other provinces benefit from its oil and natural gas resources, Premier Ralph Klein said.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday October 14, 2005 Alberta to spend $10-million to hand out cheques It is no longer called the "prosperity bonus," but Albertans finally learned yesterday how the provincial government plans to dole out at least $1.4-billion in dividend cheques. Many have been eagerly awaiting the details since Premier Ralph Klein announced in September that a plan was in the works to give all residents, including the homeless, a small slice of the province's ballooning unbudgeted surplus. Fuelled by oil and natural-gas royalties, the surplus could be as high as $8.8-billion this year, Mr. Klein said recently.Ê But the one-time dividend, which government officials now call a "resource rebate," has not been free of controversy. There has been criticism that the money could be better spent -- for example, on eliminating health-care premiums -- and that the $400 cheques may promote national envy of the province's wealth. "I don't know where that comes from," Finance Minister Shirley McClellan told reporters yesterday. The program is expected to cost $10-million to administer. (Source: Globe & Mail)Êhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-to-spend-10-million-to-hand-out-cheques/article18249998/ Canada, Premiers, first ministers, federalism, oil, resource, wealth, Ralph Klein, Alberta

October 14, 2005

Klein said on Wednesday he’s ready to fight with the eastern provinces to keep Alberta’s resource revenues out of the equalization program, which sends federal money to poorer provinces so they can provide services such as health care.

At a meeting next month, other premiers are expected to suggest that Alberta’s oil revenues can be included in the calculations that determine how much cash each province gets from Ottawa.

“This is political showdown,” Klein said. “This is also a constitutional issue. Alberta has control and authorization and authority over its resources.”

And he said he’s willing to walk away from the program altogether.

But University of Alberta political scientist Steve Patten suggests Klein can’t really do that, and his bluster won’t go far among the premiers, even if it works to whip up long-standing anti-eastern sentiment among Albertans.

Equalization payments come from federal government revenues, such as federal income tax, not from Alberta’s bank accounts, Patten said. Pulling out, he said, would have no effect on the program. (Source: CBC News)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: Alberta, Canada, Confederation, equalization, federalism, Finance, panhandlers, payments, Ralph Klein, transfer

Friday March 10, 2006

March 10, 2006 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday March 10, 2006 Dawn of a new era? Quebec and Ottawa are close to an agreement that will allow the province to have a voice at UNESCO, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday in emphasizing his government's "open federalism" policy toward Quebec. For the first time in 22 years, a Canadian prime minister met with a Quebec premier at the National Assembly in what Premier Jean Charest dubbed the beginning of a new era of federal-provincial co-operation. It was the third face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Harper's government was sworn in. An agreement on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization carries great symbolic meaning for the Quebec government in its bid to prove that Mr. Harper's proposals for renewing federalism can work in the province's favour. "Mr. Charest and I have agreed to task our respective ministers to move forward on ensuring that Quebec's voice be heard at UNESCO," Mr. Harper said at the conclusion of a two-hour meeting. "There are a couple of proposals on the table. And as I say, we are flexible and very optimistic we are going to reach a solution sooner rather than later." (Source: Globe & Mail) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/dawn-of-a-new-era/article18158001/ Canada, Quebec, Stephen Harper, Jean Charest, Brokeback Mountain, federalism, Dalton McGuinty, Ralph Klein

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 10, 2006

Dawn of a new era?

Quebec and Ottawa are close to an agreement that will allow the province to have a voice at UNESCO, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday in emphasizing his government’s “open federalism” policy toward Quebec.

For the first time in 22 years, a Canadian prime minister met with a Quebec premier at the National Assembly in what Premier Jean Charest dubbed the beginning of a new era of federal-provincial co-operation. It was the third face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Harper’s government was sworn in.

An agreement on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization carries great symbolic meaning for the Quebec government in its bid to prove that Mr. Harper’s proposals for renewing federalism can work in the province’s favour.

“Mr. Charest and I have agreed to task our respective ministers to move forward on ensuring that Quebec’s voice be heard at UNESCO,” Mr. Harper said at the conclusion of a two-hour meeting. “There are a couple of proposals on the table. And as I say, we are flexible and very optimistic we are going to reach a solution sooner rather than later.” (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

Posted in: Canada, Quebec Tagged: Brokeback Mountain, Canada, Dalton McGuinty, federalism, Jean Charest, Quebec, Ralph Klein, Stephen Harper

Friday October 14, 2005

October 14, 2005 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday October 14, 2005 Alberta to spend $10-million to hand out cheques It is no longer called the "prosperity bonus," but Albertans finally learned yesterday how the provincial government plans to dole out at least $1.4-billion in dividend cheques. Many have been eagerly awaiting the details since Premier Ralph Klein announced in September that a plan was in the works to give all residents, including the homeless, a small slice of the province's ballooning unbudgeted surplus. Fuelled by oil and natural-gas royalties, the surplus could be as high as $8.8-billion this year, Mr. Klein said recently.Ê But the one-time dividend, which government officials now call a "resource rebate," has not been free of controversy. There has been criticism that the money could be better spent -- for example, on eliminating health-care premiums -- and that the $400 cheques may promote national envy of the province's wealth. "I don't know where that comes from," Finance Minister Shirley McClellan told reporters yesterday. The program is expected to cost $10-million to administer. (Source: Globe & Mail)Êhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-to-spend-10-million-to-hand-out-cheques/article18249998/ Canada, Premiers, first ministers, federalism, oil, resource, wealth, Ralph Klein, Alberta

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 14, 2005

Alberta to spend $10-million to hand out cheques

It is no longer called the “prosperity bonus,” but Albertans finally learned yesterday how the provincial government plans to dole out at least $1.4-billion in dividend cheques.

Many have been eagerly awaiting the details since Premier Ralph Klein announced in September that a plan was in the works to give all residents, including the homeless, a small slice of the province’s ballooning unbudgeted surplus.

Fuelled by oil and natural-gas royalties, the surplus could be as high as $8.8-billion this year, Mr. Klein said recently.

But the one-time dividend, which government officials now call a “resource rebate,” has not been free of controversy.

There has been criticism that the money could be better spent — for example, on eliminating health-care premiums — and that the $400 cheques may promote national envy of the province’s wealth.

“I don’t know where that comes from,” Finance Minister Shirley McClellan told reporters yesterday.

The program is expected to cost $10-million to administer. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: Alberta, Canada, federalism, First Ministers, oil, Premiers, Ralph Klein, resource, wealth
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