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Tuesday August 21, 2018

August 20, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 21, 2018

Provincial government’s assault on democracy deserves jeers not cheers

You’ve got to hand it to Premier Doug Ford, and even if you don’t, he’ll provide the hand — as in a round of applause — himself.

April 1, 2017

Not content with arbitrarily slashing the size of Toronto council and cancelling regional chair elections already underway in York, Peel, Niagara and Muskoka, Ford recently took another broadside against democracy by limiting the number of questions he and his ministers will take during Queen’s Park news conferences to five and drowning out any additional media queries with loud clapping from dozens of government staffers.

At Ford’s announcement of $25 million to help Toronto combat gun violence on Aug. 9, journalists present noted that 50 provincial employees milled about for an hour or so until it was time to provide the premier and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney with an unhindered exit.

For some reporters it may have felt like déjà vu as similar shenanigans had been employed a week prior when Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod announced plans to end the province’s Basic Income Pilot program.

According to Cynthia Mulligan of CityNews, after Ford and Mulroney left following the Aug. 9 news conference, most of the staffers scurried away themselves and showed little interest in answering questions about their reasons for being there. One of them did, however, let slip they were there on the taxpayer’s dime, which raises all sorts of questions, chief among them: how does permitting 50 government employees to stand around for an hour to clap like trained seals on cue fit with the pledge to reduce waste and make life more affordable for Ontarians?

While we’re at it, how does employing a “journalist” to rhyme off a collection of government-approved highlights in a series of taxpayer-funded videos via the Ontario News Now online channel square with the election promise of greater accountability and to be “the government for the people”?

Although both the Ontario News Now and “clap out” tactics began during the election, the fact the government seems intent on keeping them — and using our money to fund them — is deeply disappointing. Even Deputy Premier Christine Elliott seemed vexed by the clap out, and said she’d discuss it with Ford.

Someone should and remind him democracy isn’t a nuisance that rears its head every few years when the election writ drops. Democracy is about being accountable to the citizenry, and part of that entails answering questions from journalists who are there as proxies for the voting public.

Here’s hoping the government hits the “pause button” it’s so fond of on the clap out and other similar strategies. After all, open and transparent government is something we can all cheer for. (Source: Newmarket Era) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: Doug Ford, fake news, government, news, Ontario, propaganda, spin

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

November 12, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Would someone please plug Justin Trudeau back in?

Next time, try Norway
Postmedia’s Michael Den Tandt thinks the cringeworthy promotion for Justin Trudeau’s “Justin Unplugged” event, and his bizarrely appreciative comments about China’s political system at that event, however they might have been intended, represent “the worst kind of unforced, bone-headed error — the equivalent of Stephen Harper kicking a chair in public, or Tom Mulcair bellowing ‘Viva Che Guevara!’ on the steps of the Centre Block,” in that they speak directly to people’s doubts and misgivings about the politician in question. In Trudeau’s case, it suggests he’s not very substantial and not very smart.

The Sun Media editorialists make another good point: That Liberal women would put together such a ridiculous promo for this event suggests that even “Trudeau’s own team doesn’t take him that seriously.”

In the Montreal Gazette, Celine Cooper — who enjoys “getting into my pyjamas on a Friday night and snuggling in on the couch with my best girlfriends, a glass of Chablis and a bowl of microwave popcorn to watch reruns of Sex and the City” — agrees with Conservative MP Michelle Rempel that the “biggest problem facing women” is “crap” like the condescending, stereotype-enforcing invitation.

Terry Glavin, writing in the Ottawa Citizen, transcribes Trudeau’s impromptu attempt to explain himself in the aftermath of his China comments: “Ah, in this world we are competing with countries that have the capacity to react to big issues quickly and completely. We need to make sure that even though we have to compete with them, ah, we can get things done completely, and that means that not, that not falling back on our, ah, not weakening on our human rights, making sure that we are still protecting all of the things we know. But we do need to get together to support people.” Glavin suggests “a Miss Teen USA contestant wouldn’t get away with saying something like that,” but he doesn’t think Trudeau is actually an ill-intentioned commie-hugger. He just thinks the Liberals are “a shambles,” and that Trudeau is “a ridiculous, morally illiterate and fathomlessly unserious person.”

CBC’s Terry Milewski not very usefully tries to compare the nice things Trudeau said about China to some nice things Stephen Harper has said about China, none of which he said after being asked about a government he admires.

In the Journal de Montréal, Richard Martineau reminds us of Trudeau père‘s willingness to publicly admire dictatorial regimes and their leaders, and to say things about them that in hindsight — albeit years later, as opposed to seconds — look very silly. He also reminds us of the astonishing hagiography of Fidel Castro that Trudeau frère Alexandre penned for the Toronto Star some years back. Maybe the Trudeaus need a new family rule: If communism comes up, just run away. (Source: National Post)

Posted in: Canada Tagged: China, Editorial Cartoon, Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party of Canada, meat grinder, mincing, PR, spin

Thursday August 16, 2012

August 16, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday August 16, 2012

There have been secret talks about local casino

City staff say there’s “interest” brewing about building a casino in Hamilton — but not even council is allowed to know who’s behind it.

Tim McCabe, the city’s director of economic development and planning, said he has had “absolutely confidential” discussions about a new gambling facility in the city.

“I have had some discussions through a third party, and there is some interest in Hamilton,” McCabe said.

McCabe’s comments came about after Councillor Sam Merulla put forward a motion asking for a moratorium on any new gaming facility in the city until the public can vote in a referendum on the issue during the 2014 municipal election.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation announced a massive “modernization” earlier this year that includes plans for one casino in the Hamilton/Burlington area. It’s still not clear whether that means Flamboro Downs will remain open — council’s preference — or whether a new facility will be built.

Though Merulla’s argued that locating a new casino in the city would be as contentious as the Pan Am stadium debate, McCabe warned councillors that passing Merulla’s motion could potentially cut the city off from millions of dollars’ worth of investment. Councillors were divided about whether or not to approve the referendum.

Councillor Judi Partridge said the city’s role is “not to roll over or chase an elusive carrot” and criticized the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, arguing the city has “a chance to say no, and to be in the driver’s seat.”

Mayor Bob Bratina argued that the city should be open to all possibilities.(Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: anchor, Bob Bratina, carnival, casino, charity, Copps, crown, Gambling, Gore, Hamilton, innovation, Lister, spin, wheel

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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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