Back in the spring of this year I heard about changes that town council had made to the law of entry act in Midland. I was incensed. Storming around threatening to write a letter to the editor, it occurred to me - "Hey man- your an Artist - do an editorial cartoon instead !" So I did. I phoned the editor of the Midland Mirror and asked if I could submit an editorial cartoon protesting what I felt was a violation of our constitutional rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We spoke and after seeing the piece, he agreed to run it. Cool. I asked him if he thought the citizenry of Midland would like submissions by a local artist on local matters, instead of the obligatory hand me down from their parent paper. We agreed to a small run to see how things would go. Well, they went great !!! The first cartoon stirred a lot of interest. As did the following pieces I submitted. They addressed issues that I felt were / are important in the context of the towns life. Surprisingly some of the other pieces drew even harsher criticisms. People mistook parody as condemnation. Exaggeration as judgment and opinion as slander. I don't know ? Anyhow - in all of this stink, people sending in flaming mad letters to the editor saying I was slamming Midland, accusing me of some form of dissent, and of course angry town councilors demanding my phone number and email from the Editor, so they could chastise me for exercising my right to freedom of speech ( I know - how dare I ? ) Led to CBC Radio One, contacting me for an on air radio interview, that took place on May 5th 2010. It went well and I voiced my opinions. I don't know if anybody on town council heard it ? If they did - their not saying. So you see - the pen IS mightier than the sword !!! Ha ha !!! ( but I still really like swords ) Really.
# 1 - Bylaw.
Essentially I wanted to get the point across, that - unless your invited - IT'S TRESPASSING !!! I find it hilarious that ANY TOWN EMPLOYEE ( dog catcher, meter reader etc ... ) is entitled to free access of your property, at any time. With no fore warning or announcement. They have to ask to enter your dwelling, and if refused, they return with a search warrant, and if refused again - a nice $ 100,000.00 fine for you. Oh that's great, just g- r- e- a- t !!! Good going people - Freedom it up - YEAH !!!
# 2 - Heavy Garbage.
Yeah - way to go guys !!!!!! Cancel heavy garbage pick up day. Genius? Or not. Maybe the elderly and lower income families don't think it's so great as say, the councilors do ? Oh yeah - the councilors can most likely AFFORD to have their clutter trucked away.Why do we keep repeating the past ? Let them eat cake - again, and tragically - again.
# 3 - Parking.
O.K. Instead of encouraging people to come to the down town core by throwing an incentive out there, like - ummmm - free parking ? They decide to raise it. Great !!! Just what everyone needs. More costing. People shat their pants over this one. how dare I depict the Easter Bunny - of all things, smoking and drinking. Ahhhhhhhhhh - what next ???( I find it funny people were more offended by the depiction of a FICTITIOUS character, than by the rape of their freedoms { piece #1 } or their wallets ? )
Should I laugh or cry ?
# 4 - Busses and Cabs.
Another charmer that filled the air with the buzzing of angry insects. All I was trying to say was, "Hey - if you settle down on the fare hikes and metering the cabs ( in Midland they have a flat cab rate around town - $ 5 - anywhere !!! ) maybe you might entice more traffic in the down town business core ?" Seems logical to me. But somehow people misconstrued this as a giant slander against the business owners of down town Midland. I don't know - I thought I was fighting for them ? "Come on down and buy something nice, oh you cant - you spent all your money on just getting here. Oh well, have some cake !!!" 
# 5 - V.E. Day.
Not much to say about this one except, I respect all military personnel past and present. I deeply enjoy the PRIVILEGE of living in a free and democratic society. And I believe it's our duty to protect this freedom.
# 6 - Elections.
Well, it's pretty obvious how I feel about the circus we call politics. Oh no - watch out - Bozo might squirt you with his flower. Wait a second - oh yeah, just don't vote them in again !!!
# 7 - Messy Elections.
This quaint sketch depicts the Mayor, Jim Downer, putting Gord McKay, a fellow town councilor, and newly declared Mayoral competitor, through the 'grinder' for 'speaking up' at council meetings and public debates. The Mayor has been known to be 'temperamental' and a little 'emotional' with his remarks and responses. Especially towards his fellow councilors. Or those that oppose him. He also used to be a butcher. I found this funny along with some - others did not. Well, you cant please them all.
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