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Thursday June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 22, 2023

Ford’s Tentacled Reach

May 12, 2023

The Ontario government is moving forward with its plan to expand the powers of mayors in more municipalities, allowing them to exert greater control over local affairs. However, critics remain skeptical of Premier Doug Ford’s intentions, comparing his influence to that of a Cthulhu-like monster with multiple arms controlling puppet mayors. These enhanced powers, already implemented in Toronto and Ottawa, grant mayors the authority to pass bylaws related to the province’s housing initiatives, even with just a third of their local councils in support.

Additionally, these stronger powers give mayors the ability to veto budget amendments unless they receive a two-thirds majority vote from the council. Mayors also gain the authority to hire senior bureaucrats and establish new departments within their municipalities. While many cities in the United States, such as Chicago and New York, grant their mayors substantial influence, critics argue that the provision allowing the passing of bylaws with only a third of the votes undermines the principles of democracy, labeling it as “minority rule.”

News: Doug Ford gives ‘strong mayor’ powers to 26 more Ontario cities  

January 28, 2023

The provincial government has defined specific regulations designating these priorities as contributing to their ambitious target of constructing 1.5 million homes and providing housing-related infrastructure, including roads and sewer pipes, by 2031. Ontario’s Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, Steve Clark, made the announcement alongside mayors from Guelph, Burlington, and London, who will soon possess these expanded powers. The decision was reached after a meeting at Queen’s Park between Clark, other cabinet ministers, and the mayors of the province’s largest cities.

Effective July 1, the new powers will be implemented through regulations and will be granted to municipalities with a population exceeding 100,000 or projected to reach that threshold by 2031. Additionally, these municipalities must have signed a “housing pledge” to support Ontario’s target for new homes. The list of municipalities receiving these powers includes Barrie, Niagara Falls, Windsor, Hamilton, Mississauga, and Markham. Notably, Newmarket, located north of Toronto, is excluded from the list due to the local government’s failure to sign the housing pledge.

Mayor John Taylor of Newmarket cited the town’s insufficient sewer capacity as the reason for not signing the pledge. He attributes this problem to the province’s decision to block the construction of a planned regional sewage plant and instead build pipes to an existing facility in Durham Region, a process that may take up to eight years. Mayor Taylor also stated that, regardless of the powers granted, he would not utilize them.

News: These 26 Ontario cities are getting strong-mayor powers. Is yours?  

August 21, 2019

Patrick Brown, the former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party who now serves as the mayor of Brampton, disagrees with the notion that these powers are antidemocratic, claiming that people already assume mayors possess such authority. Brown believes that Premier Doug Ford, who spent time at Toronto City Hall, understands the inconsistency between public perception and the actual powers held by mayors.

It is worth noting that Premier Ford’s late brother, Rob Ford, served as the mayor of Toronto, but his powers were significantly reduced by the city council in 2013 following his erratic behavior and struggles with substance abuse. In Ottawa, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has pledged not to use the “minority rule” power to pass bylaws. Interestingly, it was former Toronto mayor John Tory who initially requested this additional measure from Premier Ford, even after the province had already announced plans to strengthen mayoral control over budgets and bureaucracy.

As the by-election is currently underway due to Mr. Tory’s resignation and admission of an affair with a subordinate, frontrunner Olivia Chow and other candidates, including Josh Matlow, Ana Bailão, and Mitzie Hunter, have already expressed their disinterest in utilizing the “minority rule” bylaw power if elected. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

https://mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-0622-ONT.mp4

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2023-11, Ajax, Burlington, Caledon, Doug Ford, Guelph, housing, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Municipality, Niagara Falls, octopus, Ontario, Oshawa, procreate, puppet, St. Catharines, Strong mayor, tentacles, Vaghan, Waterloo, windsor

Saturday May 19, 2018

May 18, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 19, 2018

Why Prince Harry is giving the British press the cold shoulder

In many ways, Prince Harry’s raucous relationship with the media has been leading up to this.

August 23, 2012

His upcoming wedding to Meghan Markle signals the culmination of a lifelong tug of war over access to him and his family. And by allowing nearly no journalists into St. George’s Chapel on May 19, Harry may be indicating he finally has the upper hand.

“The Prince Harry that I know doesn’t like the press,” said Duncan Larcombe, a former tabloid reporter who wrote the book Prince Harry: The Inside Story.

British Monarchy Merch

While 28 reporters and 17 still photographers were allowed into Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, only one reporter and two photographers will be welcome this time — a reflection, perhaps, of Harry’s antagonism.

“William allowed the press in,” Larcombe said. “Harry is basically shutting the door.”

Larcombe concedes the chapel in Windsor can only hold a fraction of the 1,900 guests invited to Westminster Abbey for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s nuptials.

But, he said, “hiding behind the excuse that this is a private wedding is pretty nonsensical.”

Longtime royal photographer Arthur Edwards describes Harry as genuine and warm in private. But he acknowledges the prince’s relationship with the press has “been a little bit difficult recently.” (Source: CBC News) 

 

Posted in: International Tagged: castle, dragon, Great Britain, Journalism, media, Meghan Markle, press, Prince Harry, Royal, tabloid, UK, United Kingdom, wedding, windsor

Thursday October 11, 2012

October 11, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday October 11, 2012

Give Hamilton time for casino referendum

Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath is calling on the provincial government to hit the pause button on its massive modernization of gaming in Hamilton to allow cities to hold referendums.

“It’s time for government to stop talking down to people an open up its ears and listen to people for a change,” Horwath said at a press conference at City Hall Wednesday morning. “It’s time to listen to local voices here in Hamilton and in communities across the province, as well as the voices of the people in the horseracing industry.”

Horwath filed a motion at the Ontario Legislature last week asking the Dalton McGuinty Liberals to postpone the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s modernization “in order to allow those municipalities who wish to undertake a referendum on the issue of being a host site for a casino in a cost-effective way on the municipal ballot.”

The motion has yet to be debated in the house.

“It does give us a great deal of credibility moving forward,” said Councillor Sam Merulla, who hosted Wednesday’s press conference along with Horwath. “I’m just pleased that there’s a possibility still, from a political perspective as a result of Andrea’s leadership, that it can become a reality.”

The massive modernization, announced earlier this year, includes plans for a single casino in the Hamilton/Burlington area. It’s still not clear whether that means Flamboro Downs will stay open – council’s preference – or whether a new facility will be built downtown, on the waterfront, or in another location. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: alcohol, Brantford, casino, Gambling, Gaming, Hamilton, Lottery, niagara, OLG, Ontario, Paul Godfrey, windsor

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Please note…

This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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