Substack3

Sketching Chaos on Both Sides of the Border

Friday November 22, 2024 | Substack, edition 3

Welcome to another weekly edition of my Substack, where I reflect on the political landscape through the lens of editorial cartoons. This marks my third post since launching during the tumultuous U.S. election week. The notes around these posts help me organize my thoughts for the weekly wrap-up—a task made all the more challenging by the endless tide of opinions (my God, on this very platform) since November. As a concerned Canadian, I often feel like a spectator peering over the fence at the chaos in our neighbour’s yard, wondering what it’s all going to mean for us.

The week began with a cartoon that captured my struggle to articulate the unsettling changes brought by Trump 2.0 following the recent presidential election. I’m still grappling with the shock, and the Trump fatigue I mentioned in my last post hasn’t eased. As the week ends, I find myself needing a mental break to clear my head—more on that later.

Creating five editorial cartoons a week often starts with broad theme Monday, helping me reflect on topics likely to dominate the news and allowing me to focus more in the weeds. But the unpredictability of current events means news cycles are often shaped by forces beyond our control, leaving behind a lingering sense of frustration when important subjects wither on limbs before the plucking.

Tuesday:
The old saying goes, “When the U.S. sneezes, Canada catches pneumonia.” This adage reflects the deep connections between our fates and those of our larger neighbour. Pierre Trudeau once compared Canada to a mouse sleeping beside an elephant—vulnerable to every twitch of its massive companion. In my latest cartoon, the stakes have risen; the elephant isn’t just sneezing—it’s bedridden with a MAGA infection, and the outlook for the mouse is grim.

With November’s peak “infection season,” the metaphor feels all too real. America’s internal conflicts, fuelled by MAGA populism, are spilling into Canada. Rising enthusiasm for Trump among Canadian conservatives, paired with growing dissatisfaction here, could have serious consequences. Like the respiratory viruses surging in Ontario, this imported political strain may hit us harder due to our smaller size and unique vulnerabilities.

Amid the gloom, I saw a comment on Facebook that gave me a chuckle: “Snoozing this page for now. I’m so sick of his voice, his face, and Canadian media’s obsession with this persimmon potentate.” I sympathized—the endless Trump news is exhausting. But ignoring it won’t make the issues vanish. Canadians can’t afford to tune out, especially with challenges like economic instability and climate-change denial on the horizon. By all means, take a breather, but don’t hit snooze for too long.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’ll be travelling to Ohio to celebrate with my wife’s American family—a tradition of parade-watching and cheering for the Buckeyes. This year, I plan to take a break from cartooning and savour the moment. I hope this Thanksgiving feels joyful, unlike the future gatherings I fear may be overshadowed by sadness and political strife.

Wednesday:
This week marked the 1,000th day of Russia’s war on Ukraine—a grim milestone. President Joe Biden, in his final weeks in office, has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made long range missiles to strike military targets within Russia, a move Trump’s allies have criticized as reckless. The decision is meant to bolster Ukraine’s position in future negotiations, which Trump has vowed to lead if he returns to power. However, Trump’s history with Putin raises concerns about the outcome for Ukraine.

Putin’s response—adjusting Russia’s nuclear doctrine to lower the threshold for a strike—heightens global tensions. The next 100 days are critical not only for Ukraine but for the global defence of democracy. Ukraine’s conflict with Russia spans centuries, and while casualties may temporarily decline, the notion that Trump’s diplomacy will end Putin’s ambitions is naive. As America retreats from its role as a global leader, the world watches with growing unease.

Thursday:
Irwin Cotler’s human rights advocacy has made him a target of Iranian harassment, exposing Canada’s vulnerability to foreign interference. While Trump’s potential return might temporarily suppress Tehran’s meddling, Canada cannot rely on external forces to solve this problem. Cotler’s situation is a wake-up call for Canada to proactively protect its sovereignty and defend human rights.

Canadians like to see ourselves as polite peacekeepers, the “nice ones” of the English-speaking world. But this image feels outdated. From the Two Michaels in China to Michael Chong’s targeting by Beijing, foreign interference is a growing threat. Cotler’s ordeal reminds us that Canada must step up to protect the values we hold dear.

Unfortunately, my latest cartoon on this topic didn’t seem to resonate much with readers, reflecting a broader apathy toward stories of foreign meddling. Despite years of interference in Canadian politics, there’s a collective wish to ignore the issue rather than confront it.

Regional politics stayed on my mind as I sketched Doug Ford morphing into Donald Trump over his call to exclude Mexico from future USMCA negotiations. While Ford supports EV investments and Trump opposes them, their shared populist rhetoric raises the stakes. Trump’s appointment of Pete Hoekstra as U.S. ambassador to Canada signals tough times ahead, especially with Hoekstra’s disdain for EV subsidies.

Friday:
This week’s cartoon shows Trump introducing Pete Hoekstra as his new ambassador, with Pierre Poilievre and Doug Ford kneeling in homage, Ford’s suit emblazoned with “Stellantis,” “Volkswagen,” and “EV Batteries.” Ontario’s electric vehicle sector—spanning critical mineral mining to battery production—is at risk under Trump’s likely rollback of EV incentives from the Biden era.

As the week closes, several stories have slipped under the radar. I’ve focused less on scandals like federal cabinet ministers’ missteps, even as topics like Randy Boissonnault’s behaviour raise questions. Meanwhile, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, and Doug Ford’s controversial bike lane bill faces scrutiny. For Saturday’s wrap-up cartoon of the week, I plan to address the Trudeau government’s desperate GST tax break, which seems like a last-ditch effort to appease the middle class amid rising inflation. If there is anything Justin Trudeau may have gained from watching the outcome of the U.S. election it’s probably to take heed of what middle income voters have been telling you for months about the cost of living. Don’t shrug and tut-tut like the Democrats, do something.

After a week of Trump-heavy news, I’m ready for a break. It’s time to step back, recharge, and regain perspective before diving back into the chaos.

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