taxpayers

Wednesday January 29, 2025

Doug Ford's early election call in Ontario is likely driven by domestic political and economic challenges rather than the threat of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 29, 2025 and The Toronto Star

An Election Call Not Just Because of Trump

Doug Ford's call for a mandate to address potential U.S. tariffs distracts from his government's pressing domestic issues and highlights the necessity for Canada to diversify trade relations and reduce interprovincial barriers.

January 24, 2025

As Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls for an early election, the official narrative centres around seeking a “new mandate” to tackle potential tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. However, a closer examination reveals that this reasoning may be little more than a diversion from pressing issues at home.

A Convenient Distraction: The notion that Ford needs a new mandate to confront Trump’s tariff threats seems implausible. With a solid majority government and ample time left in his term, Ford already possesses the authority to advocate for Ontario’s interests. The urgency of an early election appears more aligned with domestic concerns, including his administration’s own fiscal missteps and political controversies.

Economic Mismanagement: Ford’s tenure has been marked by decisions that have strained Ontario’s finances. The cancellation of green energy projects, which cost taxpayers an estimated $231 million, is a glaring example of wasteful spending. The abrupt termination of these initiatives not only incurred financial losses but also stalled progress toward sustainable energy solutions.

Further compounding this issue is Ford’s elimination of revenue streams, such as the license plate renewal fees, and his distribution of $200 payouts to Ontarians. These actions, perceived as short-term voter appeasement, have left significant gaps in the province’s budget.

October 16, 2020

The EV Battery Gamble: In a bid to position Ontario as a leader in the electric vehicle supply chain, Ford has invested heavily in EV battery production. While this move aligns with global trends towards renewable energy, it faces potential risks from Trump’s opposition to green energy. The looming threat of tariffs on EV batteries could render these investments unprofitable, leaving Ontario with costly “white elephants.”

Political Vulnerabilities: Ford’s administration is not without its controversies. The RCMP’s ongoing investigation into the Greenbelt development decision, along with other allegations of favouritism and mismanagement, casts a long shadow over his leadership. By calling an early election, Ford may be attempting to secure another term before these issues reach a critical point.

A Strategic Move: With the Progressive Conservatives enjoying a sizable lead in the polls, Ford’s decision to call an early election is strategically sound. Capitalizing on the opposition’s relative obscurity and avoiding the potential fallout from economic and political challenges, Ford seeks to consolidate his power.

Doug Ford's evolution from a controversial provincial leader to a national unifier fills a leadership void left not just by Justin Trudeau, but also Pierre Poilievre, as Canada faces economic challenges similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, while dealing with his lingering past controversies.

January 15, 2025

Trump’s tariffs provides a convenient narrative for Ford’s early election call, the underlying motives appear rooted in domestic concerns. The Premier’s track record of fiscal mismanagement and political controversies suggests a desire to divert attention and solidify his position before facing the consequences of his actions. Ontario voters must critically assess these motives as they head to the polls, ensuring that leadership is accountable and transparent in addressing the province’s challenges.

Opinion: Here are the actual reasons Doug Ford is calling an early election in Ontario

Doug Ford calling an early election might seem like it’s all about taking on the big, bad Trump and his tariff threats. But let’s be real—it’s probably more about avoiding pesky RCMP reports into Greenbelt corruption, and dodging messes he’s made with Ontario’s taxpayer money.

Ford’s been busy billing the people hefty fees for breaking booze and beer contracts, green energy projects, then coming up with his own green schemes; he’s been cutting off revenue streams, and throwing cash around like it grows on trees. Now, he’s trying to shift the spotlight onto Trump, who’s acting like Canada’s potential 51st state is just around the corner and throwing around tariff threats. All the while health care, affordable housing and Colleges are in crisis begging for attention.

Meanwhile, Canada’s federal government is caught up in its own drama, with the Liberals scrambling to replace an unpopular leader and planning their own election.

But back to Ontario. Ford’s election timing is pretty slick. The opposition isn’t exactly roaring right now. The Liberals, usually the main challengers, are stuck in third place with a new leader, Bonnie Crombie, who hasn’t had much time to flex her political muscles. Then there’s Marit Stiles, who’s also fresh to the scene. So, unless Ford trips over his shoelaces in a big way, he’s likely to keep his seat come election day on February 27.

Voter turnout wasn’t great last time, and it’s hard to see what’s going to get people more excited this year. Still, there’s a slice of the electorate that’s miffed about Ford’s spending habits and might see this whole Trump tariff thing as a smokescreen. Those voters want to see some accountability.

In the end, Ford might lose a few seats, but he’s probably not sweating a minority government. If he pulls this off, he’s got a runway till 2029 to keep doing his thing—whatever that might mean for Ontario’s wallet and future.

Please enjoy the January 28, 2024 making-of animated editorial cartoon below.  Posts come out every Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons. If you like my editorial cartoons and animations, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. A lot of work goes into these cartoons and commentary — Best of all, it’s free!

– The Graeme Gallery

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Tuesday November 2, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 2, 2021

Justin Trudeau just rolled the dice on reconciliation

June 2, 2021

Justin Trudeau has made a dangerous bet he can right a long-standing wrong against Indigenous children without instead setting back the cause of reconciliation for years. Canadians can only hope he wins this wager.

On Friday, his government bitterly disappointed people across the country when it launched a last-minute court appeal against a ruling requiring it to pay billions of dollars to Indigenous youngsters who were discriminated against in the child welfare system.

The PM and his Liberals don’t deny responsibility for this wrongdoing. Nor do they reject their obligation to come through with significant compensation. Even so, they ignored the pleadings of Indigenous groups as well as the opposition Conservatives and New Democrats by appealing orders from both the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the Federal Court to pay up.

June 1, 2021

If that had been the extent of this government’s action last week, it would deserve the universal condemnation of Canadians today. But the government’s response was more complex and nuanced. And herein lies the nub of the prime minister’s risky gamble.

On Monday, his government began negotiating with the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society to settle the dispute out of court — by the start of December, no less. Until then, it has put on hold its appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. That means if the talks result in a mutually agreeable deal, there will be no appeal and everyone can go home happy.

In addition to this, the government will not appeal a second Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order that would result in Indigenous children receiving access to government services without delays caused by jurisdictional disputes.

February 29, 2020

There is cause for guarded optimism but, even more, deep concern in what the government has done. In rejecting the most direct route to a just settlement, it has opted for a winding, rock-strewn path that may take it over a cliff. It’s hard not to agree with Indigenous leaders who point out that this battle for compensation began 14 years ago and the Trudeau Liberals have had ample time to work out a fair settlement.

But they didn’t. And in 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal declared the government had “wilfully and recklessly” discriminated against First Nations children living on reserves by underfunding child and family services. As a result, children were taken from their communities and put into government-run programs.

July 13, 2017

Because of the undisputed harm this caused, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to pay $40,000 each to as many as 54,000 Indigenous children who were removed from their homes after 2006, as well as their relatives. The Federal Court upheld this decision on Sept. 29.

The government insists the Federal Court erred when it concluded the tribunal had acted reasonably in ordering compensation for First Nations parents and grandparents as well as children. In so doing, the government might argue it’s trying to defend the best interests of taxpayers as well as those of the Indigenous people being compensated.

January 15, 2014

But Trudeau is walking a fine line. He has long proclaimed there is no more important relationship for his government than the one it has with Indigenous peoples. If he is seen as merely trying to save money in this case, he’ll further alienate Indigenous people while doing a disservice to all Canadians. And if his government can’t secure a deal this month, it will only make things worse by dragging things out with a Supreme Court appeal.

What comes next can’t be brinkmanship designed to force a settlement. Canadians have to see good-faith, productive negotiations. For this country’s sake, the government’s goal can’t be the cheapest deal but rather the one that’s fairest for every Indigenous victim. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 29, 2017

Not ‘a slam dunk’: Mike Duffy faces uphill battle for $8M in damages, experts say

Sen. Mike Duffy is hoping to extract a lofty sum from the Senate and the RCMP, arguing they unfairly subjected him to a witch hunt that resulted in gross Charter violations and salary loss that now demand some form of compensation.

But legal experts well-versed on civil lawsuits of this sort say it could be a tough slog for the P.E.I. Senator.

At the heart of Duffy’s $8-million lawsuit is a claim that the Red Chamber and the Mounties ran roughshod over his rights in their dogged pursuit of a scapegoat for public outrage over questionable expenses.

Duffy claims he was “threatened, cajoled, arm-twisted and rebuked” by former prime minister Stephen Harper’s office to publicly admit wrongdoing even though he maintained all expenses were above board.

The Conservative-controlled Senate was then the “government’s servant” and booted him from the upper house to serve a political agenda when things went awry. The RCMP, in turn, hastily assembled a criminal case that unfairly subjected Duffy to humiliation among other ills.

In his statement of claim, filed Thursday, Duffy said his Charter rights under section 7 (the right to life, liberty and the security of person), section 11(d) (the right to be presumed innocence) and section 12 (freedom from cruel and unusual punishment) were ignored throughout this scandal by both the Senate and the police.

“The system makes it really hard to allege a violation of the Charter based simply on a suspension from a position, loss of pay and the mere fact you were charged for a crime; it’s hard to argue that leads to a Charter violation when you’re ultimately acquitted and your job is reinstated,” Carissima Mathen, an associate professor of constitutional law at the University of Ottawa, said in an interview.

“The government enjoys a significant level of immunity.” (Continued: CBC News) 

Mike Duffy Comedy Gallery

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Saturday July 29, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 29, 2017

Waterfront Trust owes City of Hamilton $325,000 in taxes

The Hamilton Waterfront Trust owes the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes.

The arms-length agency — whose mandate is helping Hamiltonians connect with their waterfront — has unpaid arrears of $325,000 from 2016 and 2017, city tax director Maria Di Santo confirmed Tuesday.

The money owed stems from two properties — $280,000 for 57 Discovery Dr., the home of waterfront restaurant Sarcoa; and $45,000 for 17-47 Discovery Dr., which includes Williams Fresh Café.

According to the city’s property inquiry tool, 2017 taxes for 57 Discovery Dr. are $176,790; and $20,670 for 17-147 Discovery Dr.

In May 2017, the trust owed an additional $164,665 in taxes and interest on 57 Discovery Dr. from 2015. That was paid by July, according to a tax certificate.

HWT executive director Werner Plessl declined comment and referred all questions to board member and Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr.

Farr said the board directed a tax payment be made of about $175,000 about six weeks ago.

“This wouldn’t even be an issue if certain people paid their rent,” he said Tuesday.

He said the board is trying to manage its priorities, which include legal fees, maintaining their services and paying taxes.

“We are not ignoring any of them,” he said. “As a responsible councillor and board member, I feel we are living up to our fiduciary responsibility.”

The trust has racked up “many, many thousands of dollars” in “unaccounted for” legal fees, Farr said.

HWT has been locked in a $15-million legal battle that waterfront eatery Sarcoa launched against the trust and the city in late 2015 for preventing it from throwing patio parties with amplified music.

The trust began its life with a $6.3-million endowment to settle a lawsuit by the City of Hamilton that contended it hadn’t been properly compensated by the former Hamilton Harbour Commission for its share of port profits dating back decades.

But the seed money has run out and the trust’s revenues now come from capital project funding from other levels of government and sales from the various businesses that the trust operates around the western end of the harbour front.

In the past, the trust has struggled to stay out of the red. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Tuesday September 10, 2013

Tuesday September 10, 2013

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 10, 2013

Peter Shurman fired as Tory finance critic over housing allowance

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has fired his finance critic, Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, for taking a $20,719 housing allowance from taxpayers last year.

Shurman, a former talk radio host who represents a suburban riding bordering Toronto’s Steeles Ave., but moved to a $660,000 home in Niagara-on-the-Lake and claimed the allowance for an apartment near Queen’s Park where he stays while working at the legislature.

Hudak said in a statement Sunday night that controversy over the payout — which was not strictly against regulations — was becoming a distraction for his party and its message of respect for taxpayer dollars.

A source said Hudak’s meeting with Shurman to discuss the allowance Sunday turned into “a very heated exchange” with the leader asking his MPP to repay the housing allowance, which Shurman refused.

The source said Hudak was aware Shurman was moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake but did not know the Thornhill MPP was claiming the housing allowance.

Shurman declined to comment when asked about repayment.

The Conservatives — and in particular, Shurman, as finance critic — have been slamming the Liberal government for its $11.7-billion deficit and for spending $585 million to scrap power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election.

“While the current rules were followed, it is clear taxpayers hold elected officials to a higher standard and those rules need to be changed,” Hudak said Sunday after meeting with Shurman. (Source: Toronto Star)