Political science prize judge quits over French flap
"Judging from the 18-year record of a prestigious prize for
Canadian writing on political theory, French-Canadians are not the
finest political theorists.
Since its creation in 1994, the C.B. Macpherson Prize awarded by the
Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA) has always gone to a work
in English, even though it celebrates “the best book published in
English or in French.”
But a judge for the 2012 prize has resigned this week, alleging the
award is so stacked against francophone writers that most do not bother
submitting their work any more." Read the rest of the storyNDP leadership candidates vow support for Quebec rights
"Seven of the eight NDP federal leadership candidates came to Montreal Sunday to express their unqualified support for the party’s declaration of French rights.
Yikes!
Quebecer up for Academy Award
Quebec's own Philippe Falardeau's 'Monsieur Lazhar' has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best foreign film. I haven't seen the film but from all accounts it's a poignant story about an Algerian immigrant, who is hired to replace an elementary school teacher who committed suicide. While the class goes through a long healing process, nobody in the school is aware of Bachir's painful former life. Montreal Gazette Alternate Link
I did see one of his other movies La Moitié gauche du frigo (The left-hand side of the fridge,) which I actually liked a lot, a story about the trials of an unemployed fellow who shares an apartment with a room-mate. By the way, if you're wondering about the title, it has to do with sharing the apartment refrigerator. The interesting thing is that Mr. Falardeau, a thirty-something Francophone from Montreal has outstanding English. In a television report from the Sundance festival, he related how busy his life has been promoting the film, from lecturing audiences and giving interview after interview to the American media. When he goes to the Academy Awards, his mastery of English will no doubt help raise his profile and propel his career.
To all the idiots who remind Quebecers that they don't really need English to succeed, meet another successful example of why it's just not true.
Important Conservative fed up with Harper's Quebec snub
“Peter White is about as conservative (and Conservative) as they come.
He worked at Brian Mulroney’s side throughout the former prime
minister’s nine-year tenure. In 2001, he turned his frustration with
Jean Chrétien’s seemingly perpetual hold on power into a book, Gritlock,
perhaps best described as a blueprint of how to neuter the
then-powerful Liberal brand. In his free time, the former Hollinger Inc.
executive has relentlessly pushed the Conservative brand in his native
Quebec, both as a riding president and party organizer. And he’s sick of
trying.
In a scathing open letter addressed to Canadians in general and the
Conservative party in particular, White roundly criticizes the
Conservative Party of Canada for ignoring Francophones in general and
Quebec in particular. “Today the voice of Quebec is virtually absent in
Ottawa’s halls of power, or if present, it is a voice grown mighty
small, and mighty easy to ignore,” White writes in the letter dated Jan.
12. “Since the election of May 2, 2011, many Quebec observers have
concluded that Mr. Harper has consciously decided to ignore Quebec, now
that he has convincingly demonstrated that he can win a majority without
it.” Read the rest of the story in Maclean's & see the letterPatrick Roy advises Canadiens to tank season
I wonder if Patrick Roy scuttled any chance of becoming head coach of the Montreal Canadiens by going public with his idea of tanking this lost season and aiming to finish as low as possible in order to secure a premier draft choice.
It is a concept that everybody thinks about, but nobody in a position of responsibility would ever dare say it out loud.
After all, losing a game on purpose is about the biggest crime one can commit in sports. Any coach or general manager who admits to doing so would certainly face a long suspension by the league if not an outright ban.
Is Patrick really that stupid? Link{Fr}
Conservatives rise in Quebec poll
These last months we've heard nothing but pissing and moaning from Quebec politicians and the entire French media over the fact that Stephen Harper is ignoring Quebec and shortchanging the province in every department.
You'd figure that the Conservatives polling numbers would take a dive, even from the horrific 16% level that they garnered in the last federal election.
But take a look at the latest numbers, which I pulled off of Mario Dumont's news magazine show, last night.
The Conservatives have increased their popularity by over 50% since last May!!!
My only explanation..........TOUGH LOVE!
Hydro-Quebec backs down on English
Last week I told you about an international scientific conference that Hydro-Quebec was hosting in Montreal that was to be held in English (as are all these scientific conferences.) After intense pressure from the usual suspects, the utility has now agreed to pay for simultaneous translation, which absolutely nobody will use. Original story{Fr}
In a letter to Le Devoir Professor Robert Emery Prud'homme, a chemistry professor at the University of Montreal, sets the record straight about science and French .
"Without making a thorough investigation, I can say at least 95% - and probably 99% - of scientific articles published by Quebec researchers working in francophone institutions in chemistry, physics and engineering, are in English. It's the same in France and Belgium.
...the question of the use of English in science and in scientific conferences, even in Quebec, has been settled for several years, scientists have de facto chosen English.".
If you read French, this article about the subject of French and English in science, is extremely interesting Link{Fr}
PQ updating independence plans
The Parti Quebecois has announced that it is updating 148 studies concerning the subject of sovereignty and independence. I'm not kidding.
Here's a hilarious quote from the article in La Presse. Link{Fr}
"When the PQ was in power in 2001, the government gave a mandate to Claude Corbo, at that time professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), to review these studies, sort and update them as needed.
"For Pauline Marois, the PQ leader, the purpose of the new "Committee to Study Sovereignty" is to support arguments in favor of sovereignty.
However, if we rely on the previous studies by Corbo, there is no indication that the data collected along the way will go in that direction at all.
This is why the party reserves the right to publish or not to publish the results of the work." Yikes!
At any rate, it's like thinking about what you'd do if you won the Lotto...
It's fun to daydream.... a yacht?.....a mansion?... sovereignty?
Leading up to next MONDAY'S POST entitled-'The Ignominious End of Gilles Duceppe,' here's a quick primer of the Gilles Duceppe scandal and it's possible outcome, meant for the reading impaired and those with a distinctly low attention span.
Further reading;
