Plante: Is This Cartoon Objectionable?
Are you insulted or do you feel abused because of this cartoon?
Well, your city council was and it accepted the integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd’s report on Rideau-Vanier Councillor Stephanie Plante actions that included this as evidence. However, council did not fine the councillor.
Your agent has run this cartoon a number of times and cannot see how this can be questionable.
Is this cartoon odd? Yes. Is its meaning obscure out of context or in-context for that matter? Of course.
Does it constitute abuse? Not a chance.
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
Nope. But it may make slight fun of the he-man wanna be type. Regardless – not a hanging offence.
Okay let’s do a test. Let’s make a caricature of a woman who is ugly and fat and use the same words but substitute woman for man. Would a male councillor who did that not be vilified? All right let’s make this more interesting and put someone queer there and choose a member of the pride community dressed up looking ugly and freaky and use the same words but substitute appropriate words for man. You’d be vilified as pride phobic And there’s a good chance you’d be charged for a hate crime.
My point is It’s not only the comic, but the context. Suggesting that because the person is a man (for a woman or a trans) that they shouldn’t have a voice and not their voice should not be respected.
I do feel what the councillor did was to ridicule not only a person of a gender but that entire gender.
It certainly wasn’t appropriate and she should be sanctioned
The cartoon may be tasteless but not worthy of making this a Code of Conduct offence.
Context matters. In this case the context in which this cartoon was posted by Councillor Plante was in response to a message posted by a man. The target of this cartoon interpreted it as mocking his statement, which equates to mocking him. He took it for what it was – a cheap shot.
It must be kept in mind that council sets its own standard of conduct. The objective of that standard is to lead by example. To stay above the muck and slime that is found in so much on-line social media. To promote open, accountable discussion. Cheap shots may fall within the general parameters of free speech, but this is not about free speech. It is about meeting the standards set by council. That is why the Integrity Commissioner found Plante’s overall rhetoric offside. Because it was below the general standard expected by council.
Ken. I am the last person who cares about political correctness because I have difficulty remembering what term is incorrect today even though it was correct yesterday. But my comments don’t reach as big an audience as Stephanie Plante’s. And, if someone is offended by my comments I try to understand why and apologize if necessary. However, Stephanie Plante is a politician and as such she should be aware of what is politically correct and what is not, it’s part of her job description. As you’re aware, Canadians are no longer the people who say “Eh?”. That has been replaced by “Sorry”. But many Canadians dig in their heels and will not apologize when they should. All these articles about Plante could have been avoided if she had simply said “My intent was not to offend anyone, sorry if I have.” Simple, end of issue. Jeesh.
Alex:
It is interesting to see two intelligent people such as Ron and yourself politely disagree on a topic of great importance.
cheers and thx
kgray
I don’t feel insulted or abused but I don’t get the cartoon either … to each his own. The cartoon is hardly worth what all the fuss is about.
Nothing to see here folks .. move along.
As a victim of harassment myself, I will not have an opinion on the cartoons effect. Only the victim is able to articulate the impact, which was formally done.
Sisco:
I believe the correct term is not Jeesh but Yeesh. Jeesh sound vaguely politically incorrect.
cheers and thx
kgray
It really boggles the mind how some people can make such a large mountain out of such a small molehill. Time to get back to the really serious issues facing the city!
Waba:
I’m sorry you are a victim of harassment.
kgray
The complaint was about much more than just a cartoon or an emoji. Read the news article and go to the 36:45 point of today’s council meeting and listen to the tone of voice — just an example of the disturbing tone/attitude/dismissal that residents repeatedly face when they appear at committee meetings. This is not what anyone should have to deal with when they respond to the City’s call to ‘engage’ on issues that are important to them.
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further!
Will the Bulldog still allow sarcasm?
Kosmo:
Maybe just a bit.
cheers
k