Trudeau

Sunday March 10, 2024

Pierre Poilievre's confrontational stance towards the media, epitomized by viewing everyone as either a friend or foe, is critiqued in the context of growing selective media engagement among politicians, emphasizing the indispensable role of editorial cartoons in fostering democratic discourse and scrutinizing leaders.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Sunday March 10, 2024

Pierre Poilievre and the Crucial Role of Editorial Cartoons in Democratic Discourse

December 6, 2022

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party with a pretty good chance becoming Canada’s next Prime Minister, has consistently voiced his disdain for mainstream media. His call to defund the CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, has ignited a contentious debate. In a recent article, CBC journalist Anton Wherry courageously confronted Poilievre’s confrontational approach towards the media. One particularly striking observation in Wherry’s piece elicited a verbal “BINGO” from me as I read it: “Poilievre’s criticisms of and attacks on the media also can be viewed as an extension of a political style that sees everyone as either a friend or an enemy: for Poilievre, if you’re not with him, you must be against him.” Haven’t we seen this play out elsewhere on the North American continent?

Anton Wherry: What, if anything, should voters make of Pierre Poilievre’s attitude toward journalists? – No politician in recent memory has mocked and criticized reporters more than the Conservative leader  

The Online News Act in Canada, a groundbreaking legislative framework securing fair compensation for news outlets from tech giants like Google and Meta, contrasts with the hot air of opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, who remains skeptical and resistant, raising concerns about fair terms, media sustainability, and the effectiveness of government agreements in shaping the news ecosystem.

December 1, 2023

This astute observation resonated deeply, emphasizing the need for Poilievre to “suck it up, buttercup” and recognize the indispensable role of media scrutiny in a thriving democracy. Quit the whining and face the music! Wherry’s article raises concerns about the potential dismissal of critical coverage, turned into an art form by Donald Trump, and a trend not limited to him nor Poilievre but increasingly prevalent among politicians like Ontario Premier Doug Ford. On the federal level, Prime Minister Trudeau, while appearing to answer questions, is a master of dodging any direct answers to many of them, but at least shows a modicum of courtesy to journalists without snarling like his main opponent does. This selective media engagement prompts the question: do voters prefer leaders who control their messaging through sympathetic outlets, potentially fostering lazy leadership? How is this helpful?

As an editorial cartoonist advocating for the importance of visual commentary in a healthy democracy, I stress the vital role of editorial cartoons, especially during election seasons. They transcend partisan boundaries, demanding clear answers from politicians of all affiliations. The power of editorial cartoons lies in their ability to raise crucial questions and priorities, making them an indispensable part of democratic discourse.

“Journalism bought to you by Trudope’s red star party” – Oh, really?

Wherry’s article also touches on concerns about government-controlled journalism through subsidies and grants. While acknowledging the compromises to media independence, I strive to point out my autonomy as a cartoonist in critiquing politicians from all parties without influence from corporate overlords. If you don’t like how I treated your hero leader in today’s editorial cartoon, chances are you’re going to love my cartoon in days to follow when I go after the opponent of your beloved prince or princess.

Wherry’s piece further addresses the bias in mainstream media, which leans towards democratic values. As I have said, newspapers without editorial cartoons are likened to burgers without patties—incomplete. Editorial cartoons serve as essential commentary, evoking laughter, tears, or even discomfort. Satire should also be interpreted as free advice politicians and their handlers, adoring apologists, and sycophants should gladly accept for their own benefit. It serves to validate internal conflicts that partisan suck-ups may possess secretly in the deep recesses of the brain – in other words, did my hero just royally screw up? The satire that follows will confirm it before lengthy opinion pieces do!

A growing concern is the tribalism exacerbated by social media, where partisans perpetuate narrow-minded thinking as keyboard warriors and trolls. Social media has transformed political discourse into a chaotic frontier, with reasonable arguments drowned out by partisan cheerleading and buzzwords. Mainstream media, once a regulator of information, now contends with the power of likes and shares and membership sales that are earned registering their support through scrolling on smart phones, and influencing the rise of leaders like Poilievre, Ford, and let’s not leave out, Justin Trudeau, and his social media pile-on brigade.

October 20, 2022

In the face of Poilievre’s criticism of the media, it is crucial to uphold the role of journalists and editorial cartoonists who challenge the status quo and speak truth to power. As politicians increasingly shun legacy media for outlets aligning with their messaging, it is imperative to question whether this trend aligns with the desires of the average voter. Commentary, opinion pieces, and editorial cartoons, with their nuanced perspectives, remain pillars of democratic discourse. It’s high time politicians, including Poilievre, and their apologists recognize their role and embrace the scrutiny that comes with public office.

Pierre Poilievre, content with his disdain for a local reporter seems pretty proud of himself after this performance in this YouTube clip that it’s shared in its full glory on his fan channel. Here he is mawing on an apple while A&Qing in an Q&A interview. How charming. The tribal bubble of his fan base is on full display in the comments. But like all politicians in the modern age, they’ll all eventually be eating their words of devotion and revelry for him should he ever control the levers of power and falls out of favour. It happens to all of them, yet the useful idiots go on to endorse the next messianic snake-oil salesman.  

 

Wednesday December 2, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday December 3, 2015 Trudeau children's nannies being paid for by taxpayers Canadian taxpayers are paying the wages of two nannies hired to care for the children of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie GrŽgoire-Trudeau, according to cabinet orders posted online. The hirings were approved late last week, with cabinet authorizing the appointment of the two women under the Official Residences Act as "special assistants at the prime minister's residence." They will be paid between $15 and $20 an hour during the day and $11 to $13 an hour for night shifts effective Nov. 4 Ñ the day Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in. The disclosure comes after an election campaign where Trudeau repeatedly attacked the Conservatives' enhanced universal child care benefit, or UCCB, and income splitting for families, arguing rich families like his and former prime minister Stephen Harper's didn't need taxpayers' help. "In these times, Mr. Harper's top priority is to give wealthy families like his and mine $2,000," Trudeau said in reference to the Conservatives' income-splitting tax credit. "Let me tell you something: We don't need it. And Canada can't afford it." Trudeau is also entitled to collect annual UCCB payments of about $3,400 for his three children. He promised to give the money to charity. One of the women hired was with the Trudeaus this past week on the prime minister's foreign trip that wrapped up Monday at the UN climate change conference in Paris. She posted photos online of the couple's two children who came on the trip. There were also shots of her with the Trudeaus' youngest child on Facebook visiting museums and at the hotel where they stayed in Paris. The prime minister's director of communications, Kate Purchase, said in an email that the two women who have been hired are doing more than childcare. "Like all families of prime ministers, a small number of staff provide assi

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 2, 2015

Trudeau children’s nannies being paid for by taxpayers

Canadian taxpayers are paying the wages of two nannies hired to care for the children of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, according to cabinet orders posted online.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday January 12, 2007 Is Justin Trudeau set to run as MP? Justin Trudeau is about to enter federal politicsÑwell, according to everyone but him, that is. While the 35-year-old school teacher and academic is remaining coy about his intentions, a report published in MontrŽalÕs French-language daily La Presse on Tue, Jan 9, claims that the eldest son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau is planning on running as a Liberal candidate in the next federal election in Outremont, a riding located in the centre of the Island of MontrŽal that is home to wealthy Francophone families and a sizeable Jewish community. Outremont is considered to be an extremely ÒsafeÓ riding for the partyÑsince its creation in 1933, the Liberals have failed to win the seat only once, in 1988Ñand the areaÕs current MP, former Transport Minister Jean Lapierre, has indicated that he does not plan to run in the next election. Despite his denials and deflections (ÒI have no comment to make at this time,Ó Trudeau wrote in an email to the MontrŽal Gazette), the increasing likelihood of TrudeauÕs entrance into the House of Commons has set political pundits and journalists abuzz. A recent article in MacleanÕs magazine headlined ÒHis SecretÕs OutÓ claims that Trudeau hinted in an interview that he would make an announcement regarding his future in politics sometime after Christmas, while a close friend of the supposed star candidate reportedly told the magazine ÒOff the record, I think heÕs pretty much there.Ó (Source: Vue) editorial cartoon, 2007, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Trudeau, Colm Feore, politics, Outremont, trudeau

Friday January 12, 2007

The hirings were approved late last week, with cabinet authorizing the appointment of the two women under the Official Residences Act as “special assistants at the prime minister’s residence.”

They will be paid between $15 and $20 an hour during the day and $11 to $13 an hour for night shifts effective Nov. 4 — the day Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in.

The disclosure comes after an election campaign where Trudeau repeatedly attacked the Conservatives’ enhanced universal child care benefit, or UCCB, and income splitting for families, arguing rich families like his and former prime minister Stephen Harper’s didn’t need taxpayers’ help.

“In these times, Mr. Harper’s top priority is to give wealthy families like his and mine $2,000,” Trudeau said in reference to the Conservatives’ income-splitting tax credit. “Let me tell you something: We don’t need it. And Canada can’t afford it.”

Trudeau is also entitled to collect annual UCCB payments of about $3,400 for his three children.

He promised to give the money to charity.

April 25, 2012

One of the women hired was with the Trudeaus this past week on the prime minister’s foreign trip that wrapped up Monday at the UN climate change conference in Paris. She posted photos online of the couple’s two children who came on the trip.

There were also shots of her with the Trudeaus’ youngest child on Facebook visiting museums and at the hotel where they stayed in Paris.

The prime minister’s director of communications, Kate Purchase, said in an email that the two women who have been hired are doing more than childcare.

“Like all families of prime ministers, a small number of staff provide assistance. Given the nature of the prime minister’s responsibilities and his young family, the Trudeaus employ two household employees who, in addition to performing other duties around the house, act as secondary caregivers to the three children,” Purchase said. (Source: CBC News)

Social Media

Regina Leader-Post, December 3, 2015

Regina Leader-Post, December 3, 2015

Thursday August 29, 2013

 

Trudeau defends pot revelation

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has defended his recent admission about smoking marijuana in a speech before hundreds of local supporters at his party’s summer caucus in Prince Edward Island.

In a Wednesday evening speech, Trudeau acknowledged the controversy he set off last week. He disclosed in an interview that he smoked marijuana about three years ago, while he was an MP, at a dinner party he was hosting and that he’s done that about five or six times in his life.

Earlier in the summer, Trudeau said he wants to see pot legalized, not just decriminalized. The Liberal party voted for that position at its last policy convention.

Trudeau told the huge crowd at the outdoor party held at local Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay’s home that the debate he set off “blew my mind.”

“Only in Stephen Harper’s Canada could people actually argue that being honest was a calculated risk,” said Trudeau. He said he didn’t talk about his past marijuana use because he wants to disclose “every little last detail, the public sphere is not supposed to be Oprah,” but rather because of the position he backs when it comes to legalization.

“But I do believe that since I am taking a strong policy position on what is a mistake in our policy and in Stephen Harper’s Canada that criminalizes hundreds of thousands of people needlessly and costs us hundreds of millions of dollars every year, I think its time to be able to be forthright and honest about the kinds of changes we need to bring,” he said.

Meanwhile, the desk from the late Pierre E. Trudeau’s Montreal law office will be sold in an online auction by the Heffel Fine Art Auction House, with bids being accepted between Sept. 5 and Sept. 26.  (Source: CBC News)

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Friday January 12, 2007

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday January 12, 2007 Is Justin Trudeau set to run as MP? Justin Trudeau is about to enter federal politicsÑwell, according to everyone but him, that is. While the 35-year-old school teacher and academic is remaining coy about his intentions, a report published in MontrŽalÕs French-language daily La Presse on Tue, Jan 9, claims that the eldest son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau is planning on running as a Liberal candidate in the next federal election in Outremont, a riding located in the centre of the Island of MontrŽal that is home to wealthy Francophone families and a sizeable Jewish community. Outremont is considered to be an extremely ÒsafeÓ riding for the partyÑsince its creation in 1933, the Liberals have failed to win the seat only once, in 1988Ñand the areaÕs current MP, former Transport Minister Jean Lapierre, has indicated that he does not plan to run in the next election. Despite his denials and deflections (ÒI have no comment to make at this time,Ó Trudeau wrote in an email to the MontrŽal Gazette), the increasing likelihood of TrudeauÕs entrance into the House of Commons has set political pundits and journalists abuzz. A recent article in MacleanÕs magazine headlined ÒHis SecretÕs OutÓ claims that Trudeau hinted in an interview that he would make an announcement regarding his future in politics sometime after Christmas, while a close friend of the supposed star candidate reportedly told the magazine ÒOff the record, I think heÕs pretty much there.Ó (Source: Vue) editorial cartoon, 2007, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Trudeau, Colm Feore, politics, Outremont, trudeau

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 12, 2007

Is Justin Trudeau set to run as MP?

Justin Trudeau is about to enter federal politics—well, according to everyone but him, that is.

While the 35-year-old school teacher and academic is remaining coy about his intentions, a report published in Montréal’s French-language daily La Presse on Tue, Jan 9, claims that the eldest son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau is planning on running as a Liberal candidate in the next federal election in Outremont, a riding located in the centre of the Island of Montréal that is home to wealthy Francophone families and a sizeable Jewish community.

[slideshow_deploy id=’1982’]

Outremont is considered to be an extremely “safe” riding for the party—since its creation in 1933, the Liberals have failed to win the seat only once, in 1988—and the area’s current MP, former Transport Minister Jean Lapierre, has indicated that he does not plan to run in the next election.

JustinTrudeau-GalleryDespite his denials and deflections (“I have no comment to make at this time,” Trudeau wrote in an email to the Montréal Gazette), the increasing likelihood of Trudeau’s entrance into the House of Commons has set political pundits and journalists abuzz. A recent article in Maclean’s magazine headlined “His Secret’s Out” claims that Trudeau hinted in an interview that he would make an announcement regarding his future in politics sometime after Christmas, while a close friend of the supposed star candidate reportedly told the magazine “Off the record, I think he’s pretty much there.” (Source: Vue)