vanity – mackaycartoons

Saturday July 11, 2026

July 11, 2026 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 11, 2026

Ford’s Fantasy: Pipelines and Tunnels to Nowhere

March 28, 2026

In the grand tradition of political theatre, Premier Doug Ford’s latest pipeline proposal seems more about optics than outcomes. As critiques mount, it becomes clear that this endeavour may be more of an expensive vanity project than a genuine solution to Canada’s energy needs.

Ford’s pipeline rhetoric is ambitious, but the practical challenges are formidable. With no private sector backing and vague cost estimates, the proposal raises questions about its economic viability. As Andrew Coyne noted in The Globe and Mail, the shift from obstructing to underwriting pipelines lacks a clear market test, suggesting the project is more performative than practical.

News: Doug Ford’s pipeline dream faces immediate headwinds

October 2, 2024

Pushing new fossil fuel infrastructure directly conflicts with Canada’s climate goals. The environmental risks and climate impacts have been starkly highlighted by critics like Amy Janzwood in The Toronto Star. Investing in long-term oil infrastructure contradicts the global shift towards renewable energy, casting doubt on Ford’s commitment to a sustainable future.

With approval ratings wavering, Ford’s pipeline proposal appears as a strategic move to project leadership. Yet, the absence of detailed feasibility and private investment underscores its nature as a political stunt. Instead of focusing on genuine economic necessities, Ford seems intent on boosting his political standing through grand but hollow gestures.

Opinion: It’s good that we’re building pipelines, but not so good that we’re paying for them

August 9, 2022

The future of oil demand is uncertain, with projections indicating a decline as the world shifts towards renewables. Building a massive pipeline without considering these trends risks creating a stranded asset. As discussed, the long payback periods for such projects make this proposal economically precarious.

Adding to Ford’s portfolio of expensive ventures is the idea of boring a tunnel under the 401 highway. This high-cost, high-risk project mirrors the pipeline in its grandiosity and lack of clear necessity. While infrastructure improvements are vital, such extravagant proposals seem more about making headlines than making sense.

Doug Ford’s pipeline project seems more like an exercise in political vanity than a well-considered policy. Canadians deserve leadership that offers real solutions, not costly distractions masquerading as nation-building.

Friday April 24, 2026

April 24, 2026 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 24, 2026

Also printed in The Toronto Star. Published in The Week.

Arch of Discord: Trump’s Legacy Overshadows Priorities

October 23 2025

As the world grapples with pressing issues like the Ukraine conflict, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and a global cost-of-living surge, President Donald Trump remains fixated on his legacy. His latest endeavour—a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C.—has drawn widespread criticism for its scale and symbolism.

News: Donnyland’? Ukraine Proposes Naming Part of the Donbas in Trump’s Honor.

The proposed arch, intended to surpass Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, has faced backlash from preservationists and the public. Critics argue that it disrupts the visual harmony of the capital’s historic landscape, overshadowing monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The project, perceived as a personal monument to Trump’s ego, raises questions about its appropriateness and alignment with American values.

Despite nearly unanimous public opposition, the Commission of Fine Arts, filled with Trump loyalists, seems poised to approve the project. This highlights a troubling trend of sidelining public discourse in favour of personal agendas. Trump’s focus on grandiose projects like this arch and a new White House ballroom reflects a prioritization of personal legacy over pressing national and international challenges.

Analysis: A Landscape Architect Reviews Trump’s Proposed Triumphal Arch

In a time when leadership should be focused on diplomacy and resolving crises, this arch stands as a testament to misplaced priorities. It risks setting a precedent where monumental decisions are driven by vanity rather than the collective values and needs of the nation. As Trump pushes forward, the question remains: Is this the legacy future generations should inherit?

Source: Wikipedia.

Dare to Ignore the Past…

All this talk of Donald Trump and his arch that has stirred laughter and mockery had me thinking of another arch from a bygone era that provoked controversy, one I doubt the incurious President or his ill informed yes men would know about. Designed by Decimus Burton as a triumphal gateway commemorating Britain’s Napoleonic victories and as a grand ceremonial entrance to the royal parks, it was built between 1826 and 1830 at Hyde Park Corner and was known simply as the triumphal arch. The name shifted to the Duke of Wellington’s Arch as public and press association with Wellington’s Napoleonic leadership attached his name and political symbolism to it.

Despite some of his faults, including a notorious temper, political obstinacy and an autocratic manner, a glorious archway bearing the Duke’s name seemed warranted. In 1846, however, Matthew Cotes Wyatt’s gigantic equestrian statue of Wellington was perched atop the arch and that excess exposed how glorification can go too far: critics attacked its scale and poor fit with Burton’s design, Queen Victoria complained it blocked the view of Buckingham Palace and cartoonists mocked it in Punch.

The Duke died in 1852, and despite criticism it remained on the arch until 1882 because of public attachment, political sensitivity about slighting the duke, bureaucratic delays, and the cost and difficulty of removal. The unpopular Wyatt statue was removed from Hyde Park Corner and re‑erected at Aldershot in 1885. The move defused royal and public complaints, found an Army sponsor, and eased disposal costs. The Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, backed and helped secure the relocation. After the move to Aldershot the bronze suffered neglect, weathering and some vandal damage. It was later cleaned, repaired and treated by specialists to stabilize and protect it.

Photo Credit: Tripadvisor; Friends of Aldershot; Equestrian Statues

Wellington’s Arch caused quite a stir back in the day, and it’s a good lesson for us now. The new arch planned for the 250th anniversary looks more like a monument to Donald Trump’s ego than a celebration of independence. While he might see himself as a great leader like Wellington or Napoleon, his actions, especially ignoring environmental issues and stirring up global tensions, don’t really deserve a hero’s welcome. Just like the fuss over Wellington’s statue, this new plan should be checked out carefully to make sure it brings people together instead of just pumping up one person’s image.

Monday November 25, 2024

November 25, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Continuing this week’s theme of revisiting Donald Trump through the lens of editorial cartoons, I’m struck by the inescapable sense of déjà vu. As we wade deeper into the Trump 2.0 era, it’s unsettling how many motifs from his initial presidency—and even his 2016 transition—are reappearing with eerie precision.

Saturday November 12, 2016

The cartoon that comes to mind today is The Taming of the Donald, published on November 12, 2016. It depicts a freshly minted President-elect Trump standing alongside Justin Trudeau. Despite the stark contrast in their political ideologies, Trudeau’s public embrace of Trump was both practical and emblematic of Canada’s eternal dance with its outsized southern neighbour. Remarkably, when Trump resurfaced earlier this month as a presumptive leader on the global stage, Trudeau extended a similar diplomatic hand, echoing his 2016 overture despite the years of tension and divergence that followed.

Looking back, both figures shared an extraordinary rise to power, with Trudeau securing his victory in Canada’s 2015 federal election and Trump clinching the U.S. presidency a year later. Their respective ascents were defined by soaring popularity and, ironically, memorable hair. Remember those Conservative Party attack ads on Trudeau? “Nice hair, though” became a lasting jab—and a visual parallel that editorial cartoonists couldn’t resist exploiting, even years later, and in the above case, a caricature of Trudeau styled in Trump’s unmistakable mane.

On July 22, 2015, the date of the lead cartoon, months before their respective wins, both leaders were seen as improbable contenders by many. Trudeau’s Liberals were struggling at 25% in the polls behind both the NDP and Conservatives. Across the border, Trump’s campaign faced significant backlash after his infamous comments about John McCain’s military service. Yet, both leaders found ways to defy expectations. Trudeau surged ahead in Canada’s federal election by October, and Trump’s brashness seemed to fortify his momentum, propelling him to the top of national Republican polls by the same time.

Fast forward to 2024, and how the tables have turned. Trump’s support appears more robust than ever, while Trudeau faces what many view as the twilight of his political career. His approval ratings have plummeted, and his once-unassailable position in Canadian politics now feels like a relic of the past. Ironically, Trudeau’s political survival in 2015—when he was widely underestimated—might serve as a faint glimmer of hope for his supporters. But the landscape today feels far less forgiving.

Tuesday September 4, 2024

BTW this gag showing Trudeau getting made up to look like Trump, was repeated this year when the big mo was going for Kamala Harris this past Summer.

Even as their trajectories diverge, the uncanny intersections between Trudeau and Trump continue to offer fertile ground for commentary and reflection. In both men, we see leaders who became symbols—whether of hope, disruption, or controversy—and who now find themselves, for better or worse, etched in the political histories of their nations.

Please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. Posts come out every Friday 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. Subscriptions will always be free – as long as my position remains as a staff editorial cartoonist. Thanks.

Wednesday July 22, 2015

July 21, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 22, 2015

Desperate Times for Justin

While Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau spent Tuesday afternoon at Laval’s Cosmodome looking up to the stars, new poll numbers show his party much closer to earth.

A Leger poll that came out on Monday showed in Quebec, the NDP currently has 37 per cent support, ahead of the Conservatives’ 23 per cent and Bloc Quebecois at 19 per cent. The Liberals came in fourth with just 18 per cent.

Nationally, the news isn’t any better, with the NDP and Tories tied at 32 per cent and 25 per cent for the Liberals. (Source: CTV News)

Meanwhile, the controversy over Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s remarks on John McCain’s war record has caused a firestorm among the Republican establishment, but recent data suggests that it may not hurt him with voters.

The first poll partially conducted after Trump’s Saturday statement in Ames, Iowa, that John McCain was “not a hero” showed no impact on the former Celebrity Apprentice host’s support. In a poll of 452 Iowans likely to attend the Republican caucuses, Monmouth University found no “significant change in support for Trump in interviews conducted after his comments about John McCain’s military service”.

The Monmouth poll showed Trump in second place in Iowa with the support of 13% of likely caucus-goers. While the real estate mogul was firmly behind Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who stood at 22% in that poll, he was well ahead of his nearest competitor, the neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who polled at 8%. But what was most remarkable about Trump in that poll wasn’t his support – the real estate mogul is currently polling in first place nationally – but that voters were now viewing him in a far more favorable light. (Source: The Guardian)

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Thursday February 16, 2012

February 16, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 16, 2012

Trudeau remark reveals underlying narcissism

Justin Trudeau betrays his political immaturity and narcissism in suggesting that his commitment to a united Canada is dependent on whether the Conservative government validates his personal values, say prominent political analysts.

“This guy is clearly self-indulgent; he really does think everything is about him and his feelings,” Barry Cooper, a political theorist at the University of Calgary, said Tuesday in commenting on statements Trudeau made in a recent French-language interview. “That’s a measure of his lightweight status in the firmament of deep-thinking Liberals.”

On Sunday, Trudeau, a Montreal MP, told his Radio-Canada host: “I always say, if at a certain point, I believe that Canada was really the Canada of Stephen Harper — that we were going against abortion, and we were going against gay marriage, and we were going backwards in 10,000 different ways — maybe I would think about making Quebec a country.”

The remarks have generated a furor this week. The blogosphere and the twitterverse went into hyperdrive, with commentators stunned that the 40-year-old son of Pierre Trudeau could so readily offend his father’s federalist vision. The politicians weren’t far behind. Not surprisingly, the Bloc Quebecois interpreted Trudeau’s remarks as an endorsement for their own opposition to the Conservative government.

A Tory MP, Merv Tweed, taunted Trudeau, saying “while our Conservative government is committed to keeping Canada strong, united and free, the member opposite is contemplating reasons for Quebec to separate from Canada.” (Source: Canada.com)