throne

Friday January 20, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 20, 2023

Jacinda Ardern enjoys ‘good night’s sleep’ after decision to quit

August 30, 2022

Jacinda Ardern said today that she had no regrets about standing down as New Zealand’s prime minister, after an announcement that shocked both her supporters and critics.

A day after revealing she would not stand for re-election because she had no more “in the tank”, she said she was feeling a range of emotions from sadness to a “sense of relief”.

Ardern, who will leave office within weeks, said she would not openly back any of the likely candidates to replace her. Her governing Labour Party is trailing in the polls and predicted to lose the next election due in October.

Speaking outside an airport in the North Island city of Napier, where the Labour Party caucus had gathered for a retreat, Ardern, 42, said she had “slept well for the first time in a long time”.

In response to questions by reporters, she rejected suggestions by some commentators that experiences of misogyny had played a role in her decision.

June 28, 2021

Ardern said she had a “message for women in leadership and girls who are considering leadership in the future” that “you can have a family and be in these roles”, adding “you can lead in your own style”.

Ardern was the youngest female head of government when she became prime minister in 2017 at 37. She achieved a global profile as she led the country through its worst terrorist attack, a deadly volcanic eruption and the Covid-19 pandemic. She won a landslide second term in 2020 but her popularity waned as she battled declining trust in government, a worsening economic situation and a resurgent conservative opposition.

“You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges,” she said. “I no longer have enough in the tank to do the job justice.”

Trying to head off speculation about hidden motives for her decision, she added: “The only interesting angle you will find is that after going on six years of some big challenges, that I am human. Politicians are human. We give all that we can, for as long as we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.” (The Times) 

September 10, 2022

Meanwhile in a survey made public in Canada recently, fifty-four per cent of those polled said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should step down as the leader of the Liberal Party in 2023, though just 27 per cent said they believe he’ll do so. (Global News) 

 

Saturday September 10, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 10, 2022

Chrystia Freeland has a ‘legitimate shot’ at top NATO job, expert says

October 26, 2021

It’s the favourite parlour game of the parliamentary precinct — predicting which powerful figure is going where and why. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland finds herself at the centre of speculation now, as talk about her possible appointment to NATO’s top job ramps up.

The buzz was loud enough for a journalist to ask Freeland about it directly on Wednesday, as Liberal cabinet ministers gathered on the West Coast to plot strategy for the fall session of Parliament.

Predictably, the deputy prime minister didn’t bite and spoke about how she already has “two busy jobs” — a reference to her principal portfolio as finance minister.

At least four different sources — in Ottawa, Washington and Brussels, where NATO is headquartered — say Freeland’s name has been tossed around for several months in international defence and security circles as a potential successor to the current secretary general, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, who has been in the job since 2014.

The parlour game gets played in other capitals, too.

November 21, 2019

And while most of the speculation — first reported publicly by journalist Paul Wells in his online column — revolves around the domestic political effects of a possible Freeland candidacy, the chatter in international circles spins on a different axis.

“There are several very qualified women out there who would be very good candidates,” said a top NATO official who spoke to CBC News last month. (The source spoke to CBC News confidentially because they are not authorized to speak on the matter publicly.)

“It seems there is some momentum for a woman to be the next [secretary general].”

Stoltenberg’s term was supposed to end this month but NATO leaders — reeling in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine — extended that term to 2023.

October 20, 2016

Sources in Brussels said Freeland’s name surfaced last fall.

The question that didn’t quite get answered on Wednesday was whether Freeland might be interested in the job. 

As someone steeped in Eastern European politics and history, someone who can speak English, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, French, Spanish and Italian, Freeland likely would be considered a major asset at a time when the alliance is trying to hold itself together in the face of a major regional war. Her knowledge of Russia and the inner workings of the Kremlin would be another major plus.

But in order to secure her candidacy, both her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would have to work the international diplomatic circuit — likely behind the scenes — and expend political capital. (CBC) 

 

Saturday December 5, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday December 5, 2015 Throne speech: New tone, tax cut and a turning point for First Nations The Liberal government has promised a new tone for Parliament and set out an "ambitious" agenda that includes delivering tax cuts for the middle class, a renewed commitment to peacekeeping and a new health agreement with the provinces. Today's 15-minute speech from the throne, titled "Making Real Change Happen," was delivered in the Senate chamber by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. It presented in broad strokes the government's plans and priorities for the 42nd Parliament. As an "immediate priority," the government will deliver a tax cut "for the middle class." "This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada's economy," Johnston read from the speech. The address also promised a better future for Canada by being "smart and caring on a scale as never before." "The times we live in demand nothing less," Johnston read. The government is also promising to renew, nation-to-nation, the relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples, based on "recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership." To that end, the throne speech committed to improve education for First Nations children, to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and to implement recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The throne speech also promised to usher in a new tone for Parliament, which has been characterized by partisan bickering in recent years. "In this Parliament, all members will be honoured, respected and heard, wherever they sit," Johnston said. "For here, in these chambers, the voices of all Canadians matter." (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/throne-speech-liberal-trudeau-1.3350618?cmp=rss Canada, Parliament, Senate, Governor General, David Johnston, throne, speech, Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, conservative, Liberal

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday December 5, 2015

Throne speech: New tone, tax cut and a turning point for First Nations

The Liberal government has promised a new tone for Parliament and set out an “ambitious” agenda that includes delivering tax cuts for the middle class, a renewed commitment to peacekeeping and a new health agreement with the provinces.

Today’s 15-minute speech from the throne, titled “Making Real Change Happen,” was delivered in the Senate chamber by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. It presented in broad strokes the government’s plans and priorities for the 42nd Parliament.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 21, 2015 Justin Trudeau's turn to face the weight of expectations Stephen Harper is a goner, and humiliated, too, to the near-erotic ecstasy of Canada's chattering classes, who loathed him with such intensity it's hard to think of a comparison in modern politics. Well, maybe Dick Cheney, George W. Bush's Darth Vader. Suddenly, in Justin Trudeau we have a prime minister-designate who's banging on about hope and trust and inclusiveness and believing in yourself and being better and listening to everyone and diversity and all sorts of other happy thoughts. He even threw in tolerance for hijabs. Last week, Harper tried to say this wasn't about him, but it was. All those Conservative candidates he muzzled and controlled are probably wishing they'd grown some spine and stood up to those PMO staffers who've been ordering them around for years. The smile that spread across the lips of the Canadian elites during the last week of this election, when Harper was reduced to posing with Rob Ford and his brother in an attempt to shore up what amounts to the Canadian Tea Party vote, was almost wolfish. It won't be hard for Trudeau to keep his most prominent promise Ñ to run a deficit for a few years. Spending more than you earn is always easy. He may already be inheriting a deficit. But he's taking power at a time of tremendous transformation. A housing correction may be coming. Younger generations are struggling with debt. At the same time, entire cohorts of baby boomers are retiring. Try to trim their entitlements, which will almost certainly be necessary, and see what happens. Or try to force some competition into the Canadian banking sector. Or the almost closed-shop telecommunications sector. Or try to cut red tape at the border, and encourage true free trade with the Americans. Trudeau will need revenue to fulfill his agenda, but even Liberals won't be keen on restoring the taxes Ste

Wednesday October 21, 2015

As an “immediate priority,” the government will deliver a tax cut “for the middle class.”

“This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada’s economy,” Johnston read from the speech.

The address also promised a better future for Canada by being “smart and caring on a scale as never before.”

“The times we live in demand nothing less,” Johnston read.

The government is also promising to renew, nation-to-nation, the relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples, based on “recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.”

To that end, the throne speech committed to improve education for First Nations children, to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and to implement recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The throne speech also promised to usher in a new tone for Parliament, which has been characterized by partisan bickering in recent years.

“In this Parliament, all members will be honoured, respected and heard, wherever they sit,” Johnston said. “For here, in these chambers, the voices of all Canadians matter.” (Source: CBC News)

Today's cartoon from the Hamilton Spectator. #BBR

Posted by Engaged Democracy on Saturday, December 5, 2015

 

 

Wednesday June 4, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 4, 2008

Food summit delegates enjoy banquet dinner

After a day spent debating the world food crisis, the 40 heads of government taking part in the UN food summit were rewarded with a banquet at a palazzo designed by Raphael.

The leaders sat down to dinner in the frescoed halls of the Villa Madama, a sprawling palace on the lower slopes of Monte Mario in Rome.

Robert Mugabe was not invited to the banquet, which was hosted by Silvio Berlusconi and Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general.

The Zimbabwean leader brought his own cadre of chefs and waiters with him to Rome, and installed them in the kitchen of the five-star Hotel Ambasciatori Palace, where he has a suite.

A source at the hotel said the Zimbabwean delegation had brought “crates” of African food with them and were dining in their rooms.

Earlier, the heads of government sat down to a decidedly more modest lunch than the one served at the 2005 food summit in Rome.

Delegates were served vol au vents with sweetcorn and mozzarella, paté of crevettes and pumpkin, veal with cherry tomatoes, spinach and then a fruit salad. (Source: Telegraph) 

 

Friday February 8, 2008

February 8, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 8, 2008

McCain rallies Republican die-hards

Senator John McCain on Thursday fought for the backing of his foes in the Republican Party’s conservative base, hours after rival Mitt Romney quit the race, clearing his path to the White House.

Addressing the annual gathering of fervent Republican activists, McCain sought to shore up his conservative credentials and allay fears over his stand on some key issues, as he seeks the party’s presidential nomination.

“It is my sincere hope that even if you believe I have occasionally erred in my reasoning as a fellow conservative, you will still allow that I have, in many ways important to all of us, maintained the record of a conservative.”

With former Massachusetts governor Romney dropping out of the race on Thursday after a slew of poor Super Tuesday showings, McCain’s path to the Republican ticket is suddenly a lot clearer.

But recognizing the crucial support he needs from the party’s conservative base to win the nomination for the November elections, the Vietnam war veteran called for its backing in defeating the Democrats.

“I am acutely aware that I cannot succeed in that endeavor, nor can our party prevail over the challenge we will face … without the support of dedicated conservatives.” (Source: Sydney Morning Post)