A Week of Political Shifts and Emerging Unity
Saturday January 11, 2025 | Substack edition 9
This past week in Canada has been nothing short of historic, marked by significant political changes and unexpected moments of reflection. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, the political landscape transformed, setting the stage for new leadership and a potential shift in direction for the Liberal Party. Amidst this turbulence, external pressures, particularly from Donald Trump, have prompted Canadians to consider unity in the face of common challenges. This week’s buffet of editorial cartoons tries to capture the essence of these events, highlighting the intertwining themes of leadership transitions, and a hopeful, growing call for solidarity.
Monday January 6, 2025: End of an Era
The week began with a press conference outside Rideau Cottage, where Justin Trudeau revealed his intention to resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister. This moment marked a significant turning point in Canadian politics. As we brace ourselves for the upcoming leadership contest, the implications of Trudeau’s departure loom large. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s provocative comments regarding tariffs and Canada’s status only added to the political tension.
Justin Trudeau Editorial Cartoon Gallery 2007 to the Present
January 6, 2022
I use Mondays and the days leading up to them on my social media channels to share re-runs of classic cartoons. January 6, a day that should be remembered for its infamy, was marked this year by the peaceful certification of the 2024 Presidential vote by Congress. Ironically, the very same President whose supporters disrupted Congress’s certification in 2020 was making a return four years later. For my Thursday January 6, 2022 editorial cartoon I drew a rather corny commemorative coin advertisement (like this classic World Trade Center medal,) celebrating that dark moment in U.S. history, featured a MAGA supporter confidently telling his grandson that his messianic idol “will rise again.” And indeed, he did.
Tuesday January 7, 2025: Reflecting on Trudeau’s Legacy
Back to domestic news, on Tuesday, my cartoon captured the bittersweet feelings surrounding Trudeau’s resignation announced and drawn on the day before. I reflected on my two-decade journey chronicling his career and chose to blend a bit of respect as he rode off to sunnier pastures but with a mess from much of what he created behind him. He made it known he was leaving because he didn’t have the support of caucus so off he goes leaving a stormy landscape for the hopeful glow of post-political life. Trudeau’s departure elicited mixed emotions, prompting discussions about the dangers of blind loyalty in politics. The summary of my commentary alongside this cartoon emphasized the need for critical engagement with leadership, especially as the Liberal Party navigates the challenges posed by Pierre Poilievre’s rising Conservatives and the spectre of Trump’s presidency.
Wednesday January 8, 2025: The Political Landscape and Global Concerns
As the week progressed, Canada’s political scene felt increasingly cartoonish—a rickety bus stalled, waiting for a new driver. We learned mid week that we’ll be stuck on the bus until March 9, when a new leader is announced. With Trudeau’s approval ratings at an all-time low and the opposition poised to strike, the need for strong leadership became evident. My Wednesday writings highlighted the pressing issues of national debt, productivity, and the growing concerns surrounding climate change, while my cartoon illustrated the disconnect between trivial political squabbles and the urgent challenges facing Canadians.
Thursday January 9, 2025: Honouring a Legacy While Contemplating the Future
Thursday provided a moment of reflection amid the ceremonies honouring Jimmy Carter. My cartoon contrasted the humanitarian legacy of Carter with the impending reality of Trump’s presidency. This juxtaposition prompted deeper thoughts about the qualities we seek in our leaders and the direction of American democracy. The passing of Carter and the attention surrounding his legacy reminded us of the importance of cooperation (as in the Canadian caper covert operation to rescue American hostages held by Islamists in Iran) and respect in international partnerships, especially as we consider the potential impact of Trump’s divisive rhetoric on Canada.
Friday January 10, 2025: The Conservative Workout
As the week came to a close, my Friday cartoon depicted Pierre Poilievre engaged in a “Conservative workout,” where he relentlessly attacked easy targets like carbon taxes while conveniently overlooking more pressing issues. Poilievre’s slogan “Axe the Tax” has evidently resonated with many, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s starting to lose its impact, especially with the looming threat of 25% tariffs. For some, climate policies seem to take a backseat during tough economic times, and I understand that sentiment. However, the way Poilievre frames the tax issue as the great boogeyman of our times overlooks the fact that it functions more as a rebate scheme than a burden on taxpayers.
With the political landscape shifting, I underscored the need for meaningful discourse and the challenge Poilievre faces in adapting his strategy amidst external pressures, particularly from the U.S. To him, the carbon tax appears to be a greater concern than Donald Trump, overshadowing even the need to address Trump directly or formulate a plan for tackling climate change.
Speaking of Trump, who promised to end wars on his first day in office, it’s hard to reconcile that pledge with his ongoing back-and-forth negotiations aimed at bringing Ukraine and Russia to the peace table, or convincing Hamas to release hostages while satisfying Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Instead, he seems preoccupied with appointing questionable individuals to key cabinet positions, all while stirring tensions with Canada, Greenland, and Panama.
Yet, who knows? Maybe he’ll manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat and surprise us all. After all, we were once drawn in by his promise to magically build a wall on the southern U.S. border and make Mexico pay for it. We know how that went.
Saturday January 11, 2025: Unity in the Face of Adversity
Looking ahead, the theme of unity emerged as a potential response to Trump’s rhetoric. Inspired by the theory of continental drift, to end the week I depicted the USA drifting away from Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world, becoming an isolated island in the Pacific—something I imagine would please Donald Trump. Canada has faced significant events this week, including Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation and Trump’s remarks about possibly annexing Canada. Surprisingly, these challenges have ignited a newfound sense of national unity among Canadians, bringing us together in defense of our sovereignty. Our collective response to the wildfires in Southern California highlights our commitment to neighbourly support, reminding us of the core values of unity and cooperation that define our Canadian identity.
In wrapping up, I’m sharing this re-run, modified from my June 21, 2024 cartoon to illustrate on last Summer’s heat dome, to reflect on another tumultuous week in our recent times. Unfortunately, it highlights yet another climate change-driven disaster, resulting in death and destruction around Los Angeles. The town of Pacific Palisades, much like Hinton, BC before it, has been completely obliterated. In this situation, intense rainfall created lush vegetation in a semi-arid region, only to be followed by nine months of drought. This combination set the stage for the catastrophic wildfires that ensued. The sad reality is this cartoon can be modified and reused for the next disaster to happen due to happen somewhere and sometime in the near future… then repeated again, and again.
Returning closer to home it’s pretty clear that Canadian politics is at a crossroads. You can sense it in the air. The resignation of Justin Trudeau has opened the door for new leadership, while external pressures from figures like Donald Trump challenge us to stand united. Through humour and satire, I hope my editorial cartoons provoke thought and discussion about the values we cherish in our leaders and the direction we wish to take as a nation. As Canadians, we have an opportunity to embrace unity, resilience, and a commitment to cooperation as we navigate the uncertain waters ahead.