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Thursday November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 21, 2024

Iran’s Meddling, Trump’s Rise and The Irwin Cotler Case

April 6, 2024

Irwin Cotler, a former Justice Minister and a globally respected champion for human rights, has spent decades challenging authoritarian regimes, particularly Iran. His relentless advocacy has made him a target of harassment, exemplifying Tehran’s disturbing ability to extend its oppressive reach beyond its borders. Cotler’s experience highlights a glaring vulnerability in Canada’s approach to foreign interference—a vulnerability that must be addressed as Iran escalates its meddling internationally.

News: MPs unanimously condemn alleged Iranian plot to kill Irwin Cotler

Donald Trump’s return to power and his administration’s renewed focus on Iran present a moment of paradox for Canada. While Trump’s policies often draw progressive ire, his aggressive stance on Tehran could inadvertently create a reprieve from Iran’s interference, including its targeting of Canadian critics like Cotler. Yet, this should not lead to complacency. Trump’s erraticism cannot substitute for a coherent Canadian strategy to protect its sovereignty. Cotler’s case illustrates that Tehran’s interference threatens individuals and the fabric of Canada’s democracy. Canada cannot continue to rely on reactionary policies; it must develop proactive measures to shield human rights defenders, counter disinformation, and expose foreign influence operations.

Opinion: Get ready for “Maximum Pressure 2.0” on Iran

December 18, 2020

The stakes are high. Tehran has demonstrated its ability to manipulate democratic spaces while silencing dissent and undermining international norms. For Canada, this is a moment to step up—not merely to protect individuals like Cotler but to safeguard the principles he has fought for throughout his career. Trump’s policies may pressure Iran, but Canada must seize the opportunity to define its own path in standing against Tehran’s destabilizing activities. In doing so, it can honour Cotler’s legacy and reaffirm its commitment to defending democracy and human rights at home and abroad.

Canadians love to tell the world how polite we are. Peacekeepers, they say. Travellers with a maple leaf proudly stitched on our backpacks, the “nice ones” of the English-speaking world. Maybe that was true once, back when our actions matched the stereotype—when we stood tall in WWII, fighting for freedom on the world stage. But today? The world’s shifting, and that image feels more like nostalgia.

We’re under attack from foreign meddlers. Think of the Two Michaels—Spavor and Kovrig—held hostage in China for years as pawns in a geopolitical chess match. Or Michael Chong, the MP who discovered his family was targeted by Beijing in retaliation for his criticism of China’s human rights abuses. Let’s not forget the meddling in Canada’s Parliament, where China sought to influence elections, or Russia’s efforts to spread disinformation online to divide us and undermine democracy. And now, the case of Irwin Cotler—one of Canada’s most celebrated human rights advocates—threatened for standing up to the Iranian regime.

Sure, Trump’s got a missile in his hand and is ready to give Tehran a good scare. But can we really count on the U.S. to save us? The Irwin Cotler case is a loud reminder: Canada can’t afford to just lean on politeness and the hope of external protection. The threats to Canadian sovereignty are real, and they’re growing. It’s time we step up, protect our own, and defend the values we claim to champion. Cotler’s fight is our fight, and it’s about time we acted like it.

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– The Graeme Gallery

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Tuesday July 23, 2024

July 23, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday July 23, 2024

Kamala Harris: The New Hope for Democrats in the 2024 Election

June 29, 2024

As President Joe Biden steps down from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, the political landscape has shifted dramatically. This momentous decision injects new energy into the Democratic campaign, positioning Harris as the frontrunner to take on Donald Trump in what promises to be an intense and historic election.

Kamala Harris brings a fresh and dynamic presence to the Democratic ticket. At 59, she inverts the age argument that has plagued Biden’s candidacy, effectively neutralizing one of Trump’s key lines of attack. Unlike the 81-year-old Biden, Harris’s relative youth and vigour offer a stark contrast to Trump, who will turn 80 while in office if re-elected.

Harris’s prosecutorial background is another significant asset. Her sharp, incisive questioning during her time on the Senate Judiciary Committee and her memorable performance in the 2019 Democratic debates showcased her ability to prosecute the case against Trump. Now, with Trump facing multiple felony convictions, Harris is uniquely positioned to highlight his legal troubles, adding a potent weapon to her campaign arsenal.

Opinion: If Harris Is the Nominee, It Still Won’t Be Easy to Beat Trump

March 20, 2021

Moreover, Harris has the potential to re-energize core Democratic constituencies that felt alienated in recent years. Her historic candidacy as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated for the presidency is expected to galvanize voters, particularly among Black and younger demographics. This surge of enthusiasm is already evident, with Democrats contributing over $60 million online in a single day following Biden’s exit.

However, Harris’s candidacy is not without its challenges. Her favourability ratings have been consistently lower than Biden’s and Trump’s, posing a significant hurdle. Many voters still view her unfavourably, and she trails Trump in several national and battleground state polls. This necessitates a strategic reintroduction to the American public, focusing on her strengths and vision for the future.

Opinion: Kamala Harris’s early momentum shows there’s a path for Democratic recovery

August 8, 2003

Harris must also overcome the perception of being a “California liberal,” a label that could alienate moderate and swing voters. Her political origins in one of the most liberal states and her positions to the left of Biden during the 2020 primaries could be used against her. To counter this, Harris needs to emphasize a centrist, inclusive agenda that appeals to the broad electorate, much like Biden did in 2020.

To succeed, Harris must articulate a clear, optimistic vision for America. She needs to go beyond merely positioning herself as the anti-Trump candidate. Voters are looking for positive change and practical solutions to pressing issues such as healthcare, economic inequality, and reproductive rights. By focusing on policies that resonate with a majority of Americans, like paid maternity leave, government-funded childcare, and universal healthcare, Harris can build a compelling case for her presidency.

February 11, 2020

Additionally, embracing a competitive primary process could strengthen her candidacy. As some readers of Nate Cohn’s article suggested, facing challengers like governors Whitmer and Shapiro could force Harris to prove her mettle and earn the nomination, ultimately enhancing her electability.

Kamala Harris’s candidacy represents a new chapter for the Democratic Party and the nation. Her combination of youth, prosecutorial skill, and historic significance offers a promising alternative to the divisiveness and chaos of the Trump era. By leveraging her strengths and addressing her challenges head-on, Harris can position herself as a beacon of hope and progress.

Analysis: The Promise, and Risks, in Turning to Kamala Harris

March 7, 2024

In a political climate where voters are weary of hate, bigotry, and inequality, Harris’s message of compassion, inclusivity, and forward-thinking policies could resonate deeply. The road ahead is undoubtedly challenging, but with a strategic campaign and a clear vision, Kamala Harris has the potential to not only defeat Donald Trump but also lead America towards a brighter, more hopeful future.

As Bill Maher quipped back in March, many were ready to vote for Biden’s “head in a jar of blue liquid” over Trump. Now, with Harris at the forefront, Democrats have an even more compelling candidate who can energize the base, appeal to swing voters, and ultimately win the 2024 election. The stakes are high, but the opportunity for transformative change is within reach. (AI)

Tuesday December 14, 2021

December 15, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 14, 2021

Canada threatens U.S. with tariffs, partial suspension of CUSMA over electric vehicle tax credit

November 18, 2021

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has written to top U.S. senators threatening to suspend parts of the CUSMA trade agreement and impose tariffs on American goods unless U.S. officials back away from a proposed tax credit for American-built electric vehicles.

“We are deeply concerned that certain provisions of the electric vehicle tax credits as proposed in the Build Back Better Act violate the United States’ obligations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” Freeland and International Trade Minister Mary Ng say in the letter.

“The proposal is equivalent to a 34 per cent tariff on Canadian-assembled electric vehicles,” the letter says. “The proposal is a significant threat to the Canadian automotive industry and is a de facto abrogation of the USMCA.”

November 19, 2019

The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the United States.

Congress is proposing sizeable tax credits worth up to $12,500 US to buyers of new electric vehicles — as long as those cars are manufactured by union workers in the U.S.

Experts agree the tax measure would deal a major blow to the Canadian automotive sector, which is trying to attract new investment as the industry transitions away from internal combustion engines.

Freeland and Ng also say in the letter that they will “consider the possible suspension of USMCA concessions of importance to the U.S.” They specifically mention the possible suspension of “USMCA dairy tariff-rate quotas” and the possibility of delaying implementation of CUSMA copyright changes.

December 11, 2019

“To be clear, we do not wish to go down a path of confrontation,” the letter says. “That has not been the history of the relationship between our two countries – nor should it be the future.

“There is an opportunity to work together to resolve this issue by ensuring Canadian-assembled vehicles and batteries are eligible for the same credit as U.S.-assembled vehicles and batteries.”

Ng said the letter is Canada’s way of indicating that it’s prepared to play hardball on the trade file, although she would prefer to come to a compromise that avoids trade actions. (CBC)

Saturday April 10, 2021

April 17, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 10, 2021

Prince Philip loved Canada, and knew this country in good times and bad

Prince Philip, in personal encounters, had a special ability to put you immediately at ease at the same time as he kept you on edge. It was his style: he loved to demystify the monarchy so you didn’t sound like a blithering idiot when you were addressed by a member of the family. But at the same time, he also brought to conversation a degree of forthright questioning that sometimes could turn you into … well, a blithering idiot.

October 3, 2002

He loved Canada and probably visited this country more than any other on the planet, both officially with the Queen he served so dutifully and lovingly all those years, and privately on many more occasions, especially in connection with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards or the World Wildlife Fund.

In a life spread throughout most of the 20th century and well into the 21st, he met thousands of people and graced hundreds of institutions. When he made one of several visits to Massey College in the University of Toronto during the Golden Jubilee Year (2002) to become the college’s first Honorary Senior Fellow he was asked — inevitably — to unveil a plaque honouring the visit. The college flag was draped somewhat ornately over the plaque and he went up to it with a certain degree of familiarity:

June 11, 2016

“You about to see the handiwork of a master unveiler of plaques,“ he said with a wry smile. Then he took one corner of the flag and with a few twists of the wrist made it twirl in the air which made everyone laugh.

He wrote later that he had “a soft spot” for Massey College. He had laid its cornerstone in a previous visit in 1962 and he was a particular friend of the college’s founder, Vincent Massey, the first Canadian-born governor general. It was part of a much larger soft spot for Canada as a whole.

January 23, 2021

And he knew the country in good times and bad. Famously, during the troubled visit of 1964 during the height of the Quiet Revolution Quebeckers backs were turned on him and the Queen as their official car headed for the provincial legislature. Later at a press reception, he pointed out that if Canada was tired of being a monarchy perhaps we could try to end it with a bit of civility. “We don’t come here for our health,” he pointed out. “We can think of other ways of spending our time.”

Although a deeply intelligent and inherently kind man with an extraordinary sense of duty, it was his testiness that was a big part of his appeal, and also what got him into trouble. Depending on your views of the monarchy, his off-the-cuff quips were either a sign of the blatant ridiculousness of the Crown or proof of its enduring power. It was usually a matter of perspective.

April 9, 2002

He certainly understood the often murky deal between the Crown and the media that both sides played. On the one hand, there was deep resentment within the Royal Family and those officials who served them at the brutal way the media could often push into their lives during troubled periods. At the same time, the media has for some time now been the leading handmaiden in securing the Crown’s hold over people’s imagination, to the equal irritation for their own reasons of republicans and royalists alike.

He was a man marked for life by his earliest experience of being poor but royal, impoverished but often in the presence of vast wealth, alone in the world but determined to survive and make his mark. And it was all done with a sense of duty that has few parallels in our own time. (National Post)

Friday March 19, 2021

March 26, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 19, 2021

A big deal threatens bigger cellphone fees

There are two things you can bet on when it comes to this week’s $20.4-billion bid by Rogers Communications to snap up rival Shaw Communications.

First, the deal would be very good for both of these telecommunications giants, and not least members of the Shaw family who would personally pocket $920 million in cash for their troubles.

Second, the current takeover plan threatens to be very bad for Canadian consumers, and that probably means people like you.

Think your monthly cellphone fees are sky-high today? They could blast into the stratosphere if this deal goes through as is. Because if one of Canada’s four biggest telecom companies is bought up by one of the others, there will be even less of the competition so urgently needed to keep some kind of a lid on prices.

Let’s hope Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is watching this one closely. Let’s hope even more that he’s ready to stand up for the interests of ordinary Canadians. The fact is, cellphone users in this country are already saddled with some of the most bloated cellular fees in the industrialized world. On average, Canadians spend 20 per cent more than Americans and an eye-watering 120 per cent more than Australians for cellphone plans that offer comparable service.

Canada’s “Big 3” telecom companies — Rogers, Telus and Bell — defend the high prices as the cost of providing a first-rate service in a vast land, though the U.S. and Australia are also pretty big places where bills are a lot lower than here. It’s also worth noting that a review by Canada’s Competition Bureau found that those Big 3 telecom companies, however they excuse their pricing, were racking up far stronger profits than their Group-of-Seven or Australian counterparts.

One of the problems industry analysts consistently point to is the lack of competition for providing wireless services in Canada. Today, Rogers, Telus and Bell control nearly 90 per cent of the market. If Rogers is allowed to gobble up Shaw, the Big 3’s market share will rise to 95 per cent.

Federal government after federal government has agreed more, not less, competition is what this sector needs. And they were all correct. Freedom Mobile, which was started by Shaw in 2016, has been credited with driving wireless plan prices down to at least some degree in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

So what happens if big-fish Rogers swallows up smaller-fish Shaw and takes over not just Shaw’s cable and internet operations in western Canada but its Freedom mobile business? Rogers has tried to silence concerns about its takeover plans by promising not to raise cellphone fees for three years. However sincere that offer is, it would do nothing to stop a whopping fee hike on Day 1 of Year 4.

While Trudeau knows that telecommunications companies need to earn enough money to underwrite expensive investments in internet and wireless networks, he and his party declared they would lower cellphone fees by 25 per cent by the end of 2021.

Given that both the Competition Bureau and the Canadians Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will now take a year or more to review this deal, Trudeau has time to think this one out carefully. But at the end of the day he should be willing to intervene strongly on behalf of consumers. One option among many would be to approve the deal — if Rogers agrees to sell Shaw’s Freedom Mobile business to a company such as Cogeco, which is interested in expanding into the cellphone business.

Such a deal between Rogers and Shaw might not be as big. Almost certainly, neither would the cellphone bills be in this country. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)