Three Stooges

Friday July 20, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday July 20, 2018

Premier Doug Ford says he’ll join Saskatchewan’s lawsuit challenging carbon tax

July 18, 2014

Ontario will join Saskatchewan’s court case challenging the federal government’s right to impose a carbon tax on provinces.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Thursday alongside Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe at the Council of the Federation meeting of all 13 provincial and territorial leaders.

After a one-on-one meeting with Moe Wednesday night, Ford said the two premiers are on “exactly the same page.” He said Ontario will use “every tool at our disposal” to support Saskatchewan in its appeal of Ottawa’s carbon plan.

“Our provinces are strongest when we stand together and this will show unity and will send a clear message to the federal government,” said Ford, whose Progressive Conservative government has budgeted $30 million for the legal fight.

Amid growing discontent with the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on provinces that do not come up with a carbon-pricing system it approves of, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet the premiers later this year to discuss the issue, sources told the Star.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said Ontario is “willing to spend $30 million of taxpayer money on fighting climate leadership.

“The minister is disappointed to see the new government in Ontario has no plan to help families, schools and businesses reduce emissions, save money and create good jobs. Climate change doesn’t stop with a change in government,” said Caroline Thériault. (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

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Saturday April 14, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday April 14, 2012

F-35 Stooges

Directed by brothers Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, the 20th Century Fox movie brings back the beloved trio, this time starring Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso and Sean Hayes in the roles of Moe, Curly and Larry respectively.

In the comedy, the brothers are trying to save their childhood orphanage and inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality TV show. The cast also includes Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson and Larry David.

The Three Stooges is projected to do well at the box office; it’s estimated that the film will earn $15 million on opening weekend. At the moment, the movie is averaging a 43 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Source: Hollywood Reporter) 

Meanwhile the F-35 controversy continues with a couple key figures: Defence Minister Peter MacKay — Canada’s defence minister since 2007, MacKay has positioned himself as a strong supporter of the military. MacKay announced the government’s plans to purchase 65 F-35s to much fanfare in July 2010, and he has continued to point out that the F-35 is the only stealth fighter available to Canada even after other ministers began softening their support for the plane. The project was taken out of his hands and given to Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino last May as cost overruns and delays mounted. Opposition parties have been demanding his resignation.

Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino — Prime Minister Stephen Harper charged Fantino with overseeing all military procurement following the federal election last May. After initially refusing to publicly admit concerns with the F-35’s development, Fantino admitted last month that the government had not closed the door on the possibility Canada will walk away from the stealth fighter. Internal documents show he has been quietly raising concerns about the project with Lockheed Martin and other partner nations. (Source: Vancouver Sun)