Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Marois Embarrasses Canada Abroad

You'd think that with her government reeling after just a few short weeks in power, Pauline Marois would be hard at work behind her desk in Quebec, trying to figure out how to get things back on track, this while minister after minster continues to make a mockery of the concept of competence.

But to Pauline, driving around Paris in a fancy limousine, decorated with a little Quebec flag flapping about in the wind and being received by the President of France with all the trappings of a head of state, is her definition of success, a personal dream come true.

Notwithstanding, it is a fantasy, no different than Joe Sixpack going to fantasy baseball camp, donning the uniform of his favourite baseball team and pretending for just a few days that he is, what clearly he is not, a big leaguer.

Perhaps one should pardon her enthusiasm, like a trip to fantasy baseball camp it is usually a once in a lifetime affair and the way things are going, it is likely that this was her one golden opportunity, certainly not something to be passed up.
After this, there is no where else to to go, nowhere else to visit where she will be received as a head of state with all the related pomp and circumstance.

And so it was now or never for Pauline, an opportunity to trash talk Canada internationally and even though the speech was an embarrassment for all professional diplomats, for Pauline and her supporters at home, it was supremely delicious and like hitting a home run off a forty year-old pot-bellied accountant at fantasy camp, she can pretend it mattered.
 
For those who are unaware, and I assume it is most of you (the story was just that important) Pauline gave a speech in France where she took pot shots at Canada's foreign policy;
"Pauline Marois continued her first official visit to France Tuesday as Quebec premier, criticizing the direction Canada’s diplomacy has taken under the Harper government....
...The present foreign policy of Canada does not correspond to our values or our interests,” Marois said, citing differences between Quebec and Canada on climate change....." Link
 Once again, YGRECK, Quebec's Canada's most talented political cartoonist, has hit the nail on the head with a satirical, biting and so on the point cartoon, mocking Pauline and French president François Hollande;

Marois meets Hollande... "We've got so much in common.
So good for Pauline!
She has crossed the number two and number three items off her bucket list, and considering that with zero likelihood that her number one goal, that of being president of an independent Quebec can ever be achieved, she has done pretty well, on a personal level, at least.

As for the rest of  Quebecers, I can't say we are doing so well and so it is hard to match Pauline's enthusiasm.
Back at home, far away from Pauline's fantasy world, Quebecers have been rocked by more devastating testimony at the Charbonneau inquiry, which if the allegations are to be believed, confirms that ;
  • The PQ, the ADQ,  as well as the Liberaals all took illegal campaign contributions.
  • The mayor of the provinces second largest city Laval, Gilles Vaillancourt was getting a two and a half percent kickback on construction projects within his city
  • Another half a dozen towns were named as corrupt, including Mascouche, Boisbriand and St. Jerome.
  • An investigator from the DGE (the office that is in charge of enforcing campaign financing laws) advised Lino Zambito to rewrite his deposition because he was implicating himself in election financing fraud. Link
  • That almost all the consulting-engineering firms, charged with the responsibility to monitor construction projects on behalf of the government, were they themselves corrupt and served as the go-between between construction companies and the political parties who were being funneled illegal contributions..
All this in a couple of days of testimony!

If we are to believe Mr, Zambito, just about  every level of Quebec society that deals with public finances is  corrupt and almost all Quebecers, regardless of political stripe are convinced this to be true.
Who can blame us, we've been subject to the most distressing stories of public corruption for over three years.

The only saving grace for the Liberal party is that everyone else is being tarred with the same dirty brush, but it is cold comfort to taxpayers who now understand the depth of the betrayal..

As Pauline gallivants around Europe on her Cinderella trip, she is in for a rude awakening.
Her clock is about to strike twelve and she is about to turn back into the sad sack she was before she left.

The Press is waiting for her and like sharks smelling blood in the water, they are about to take a serious bite out of her.

On Friday readers, I will be telling you a few things about the corruption inquiry that haven't been mentioned in the press and I promise it will be interesting...

114 comments:

  1. Quebec separatism=naked land grab by scumbag opportunistic Quebecois politicians who want to be Kings and Queens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly - That's always been the case - Never mind the language issue - Power, control and fame - these politicians have made a fortune out of this and will vacate Quebec as soon as there are problems of any kind that they can't handle and to hell with the rest of us that are stuck here. You can bet that their bank accounts are full and their children are in English school to learn to live elsewhere when they get into problems here. Too bad the seppies don't see the truth in this.

      Delete
  2. FROM ED BROWN
    It looks like the PQ will be looking for a new leader soon. The party doesn't like leaders who embarrass them. Make a fool of yourself but don't show the truth about us. When the press gets through with her, she will find herself very alone. My guess is Lisee and Malavoy will be vying for her job. We can see the buzzards starting to circle. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All PQ leaders get eaten by their flock, sooner or later. Imagine, though, Queen Pauline doesn't want to interfere in the separation aspirations of other countries [esp. the Catalina area of Spain].

      The Scots would be fools to separate from the U.K. They'd be absolutely broke and economically miserable in the end. Looks like they're going to match the 1980 Quebec Referendum result: About 60-40 against, if that high.

      Delete
    2. The Scots know it, too. Add on the fact that they speak the same language and there was no campaign of hate a-la Ireland or Quebec and their movement will fizzle out. Popular opinion seems to be that a sep gov't was elected and felt the need to make a lasting impression before they were voted out.

      Delete
    3. The only celebrity of any magnitude that wholeheartedly supports Scottish separatism is Sean Connery. Scotland has very high unemployment and besides, the economic engine of the U.K. is the South of England. Ireland leveraged its future back several years ago and they're in dire trouble now. The Scots would be just as foolhardy to vote for separation, just like Quebec would.

      On the other hand, I really don't care anymore if Quebec separates as it would cut federal costs a good $10 billion and go a long way at cutting our deficits! As Sun TV News indicated in a poll, 88% of Canadians outside Quebec surveyed (i.e., 7 out of 8 respondents) feel every province should be treated equally even at the risk of separation. I, for one, am now in favour of separation. I was born and grew up in Quebec and after witnessing this crap for the lion's share of my lifetime, I'm fed up with what Quebec is costing the rest of us despite having moved out more than half my life ago.

      Trouble is, the leaders since Quebec have been eaten by their flock either as being too weak on sovereignty or saying/doing stupid things. Now they have the biggest dumbass of all at the helm and the prospects for better thus far are non-existent.

      Delete
    4. Ugh! I meant to write "leaders since Lévesque". Quebec and Lévesque rhyme.

      Delete
    5. The sooner Scotland leaves, the better, but then, this is also what Downing Street wants: getting rid of 60-something constituencies who will unanimously vote Labour at the next General Election. Expect London to start picking pointless confrontations with Edinburgh just to fool the alcoholics of East Glasgow into voting for independence. After all, the Scots kept Gordon Brown in Parliament for decades... and two of the three bailed out banks are based in Scotland: Downing Street could sell them off without concerns for the economic repercussions if they go under.

      Delete
    6. QP: Why so vindictive against Scotland?

      Delete
    7. @MR Sauga,

      Interesting poll results. THE NDP go out of their way to hide their bending over for Quebec policies. If the media focuses on the NDP wanting to not treat the provinces equally and sell out their principles to win seats in Quebec, I could see the NDP collapse in the next election. It wouldn't be in either the Conservatives or NDPs interest for the media to focus on the NDPs two face platform, one inside Quebec and one outside.

      Delete
  3. The point being made by the cartoon is that France and Quebec both have regrets about having elected their current leaders. Both of them pandered to their base by making promises and speeches against austerity in order to get elected, all the while promising the world to the unions and claiming that they will sort everything out without resorting to any belt-tightening measures nor any tax increases. Now that they are in power, everyone sees that this is not possible.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am very surprised at how candid Mr.Zampito has been with regards to his admissions. Why would someone like him be so willing to spill the beans on so many people? I am starting to wonder if he is protecting some other shady characters and he is trying to divert attention onto any and all politicians. I am not saying he is lying but it seems odd that he is so relaxed about these sordid details and his criminal activities. However yesterday he suddenly seemed to be suffering from amnesia when asked about who took the money from him to pass on to certain politicians..so I dont think we are quite getting the truth with him.
    Having said that I think we all know Montreal is about as corrupt a city as there is on this continent. Is this commission really going to change anything in the end? There is such an ingrained culture of dishonesty and corruption that not sure it will ever really go away unless we have a major crisis or a political party with real backbone gets elected. I suspect there will be a financial crisis at some point where the city and province go broke and then things will change..they wont change as long as they can keep inreasing taxes and borrowing money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having said that I think we all know Montreal is about as corrupt a city as there is on this continent.

      Using North America as a reference area (since you bring it up), all I can wonder is whether at all you're acquainted with Chicago.

      Even a serious crisis isn't likely to wake us out of our cultural and linguistic pork barrel politics just yet.

      Delete
  5. To be honest I don't really feel that Marois is embarrassing us. Do the French remotely give a shit about Marois and her little groupe de Péquistes ? Perhaps les souverainistes sentent some sort of emotional tie to France, but while they criticize the RoC for having theirs with Britain's, it's hard to take 'em seriously.

    I wonder what the average français feels about this. Do they even know who this little woman is? I doubt they care about Qc in the least (bled perdu that it is as far as the rest of the world is concerned) but I really don't see much of a point in maintaining any sort of connection with France, unless it's the same sort of symbolic ties that the francosupremacists/nationalists criticize the RoC for. In that case, tu quoque, hypocrites.

    All in all I feel that she's more embarrassing herself and her idea of un Québec indépendant more than anything else. I mean, really, a premier criticizes the Federal gov't? Wow, that's never happened before. I think Hollande is just indulging Québec by letting it feel important from time to time.

    Va t'asseoir, matante, laisse les adultes se parler entre eux.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I generally agree that this tango of nuances that France has been dancing regarding the Quebec/Canada thing for the last fifty years often verges on the absurd. It's pretty clear that our provincial elected officials like to play international diplomats on our hard-earned (and highly-taxed) dime. My only true regret is that France thinks it needs to play to the separatist bullshit. As much as Sarkozy might rightly be criticized for several aspects of his policy, at least he had no problem calling a spade a spade on this particular topic.

      I mean, really, a premier criticizes the Federal gov't? Wow, that's never happened before.

      Gotta disagree with you here. Remember Charest at Copenhagen trashing Harper? How soon we forget.

      Two complementary levels of government need not be complimentary to one another. A collaborative middle ground someplace between "lapdog" and "uncooperative" seems about right to me.

      Delete
    2. I was being sarcastic about the premier bit, Apparatchik. My bad, I forgot to use [sarcasm][/sarcasm] tags.

      Anywho, totally agree with the way your described France's treating of Quebec politicians. It really makes me sick, the way you pat a retarded child on the head when he manages to keep his drool in the little dish attached to his chin. Marois is debasing herself while thinking she's looking big an important in the eyes of Quebecers. "Look, I'm representing our country! Yaaaay!"

      How can someone label us as "un peuple a genoux" one moment, and get down on her own the next? I swear, she looked ready to slobber all over Hollande.

      Delete
    3. "play international diplomats on our hard-earned (and highly-taxed) dime"

      Comment la majorité des Québécois se sentent quand ils voient Harper payer allégrement des voyages tout compris aux clowns britanniques?

      Delete
    4. I think the discussion that took place on this blog a few posts ago (which I believe featured some excellent input from adski and several others) summed it right up rather eloquently.

      The separatists have successfully created an industry that expertly isolates and targets specific items in a news cycle that plays right into ethnic French-Canadians' traditional insecurities. A veritable army of ideologically sympathetic cegep-level humanities professors, "journalists", columnists, and other pundits (mainstream and not) are usually called upon to make self-serving, divisive, and sweeping generalizations. Most often, they seize upon deliberate ambiguity if not outright misinformation to remind us that we are perpetually "in danger" (guess who from) while manifesting what appears to be justification if not outright pride in our "self-assertion" (guess toward whom).

      By creating this cycle of degenerate lunacy, a significantly large chunk of the electorate can be said to be first programmed and then spoken for by various actors of the movement. But the purveyors of the propaganda are absolutely right in that they must impress upon their target audience the purported contempt/disrespect and related impending urgency/fear to "mobilize", otherwise their efforts are for naught.

      I agree with your last paragraph, Foremost. However, it seems that determining whether or not we're on our knees is the sole prerogative of separatist dogmatists and no one else. Further, the havoc they've wrought -- economically, socially, and politically -- must be deflected toward the perennial enemies of the state -- anglos and federalist ethnics.

      And then we're surprised at how the rest of Canada is rapidly losing its patience with us...

      And then we look at raging islamists around the world and have the gall to think we're better than they are...

      Delete
    5. [...]ils voient Harper payer allégrement des voyages tout compris aux clowns britanniques?

      Harper paye des voyages à des britanniques?!

      Delete
    6. En direct de Londres,kate et william,du people de "front page" de journaux à potins.

      Delete
    7. Un voyage de Kate et William.

      Plus nombreux encore les voyages et autres coups et dépenses partisanes des clowns séparatistes que nous avons dû endurer pendant maintenant un demi-siècle.

      Dis bonjour au futur chef d'état et tais-toi.

      Delete
    8. I wonder what the 2/3 majority of Quebecers feels about how much it cost us to send a gaggle of ingratiating seppie clowns on an all-expenses-paid junket to the colonial motherland that had abandoned them for centuries, on bended knee no less, seeking benediction from Paris (and then promptly hectoring the French on how they really ought be more French!).

      It might have had some minuscule value if at least some tabloids outside Quebec had even deigned to notice it.

      Delete
    9. +1 R.S

      Note to S.R: "the colonial motherland that had abandoned them for centuries" it's a historical fact that the French noble class left the bumpkins behind for the British to deal with.

      And look what happened...the evil British let the bumpkins have their own distinct province despite defeating them in the war.

      Delete
    10. There's a saying where I come from, which loosely translates to:

      "Whoever you don't let die, he won't let you live".

      Delete
    11. Have we got daddy issues or what?

      Delete
    12. Apparatchik,

      "And then we look at raging islamists around the world and have the gall to think we're better than they are.."

      What an absurd non sequitur.

      Delete
  6. Even more Marois mishaps:

    Taking credit for something she repeatedly opposed in the past:

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-quebecoise/201210/17/01-4584220-pauline-marois-vend-un-plan-nord-modifie-aux-patrons-francais.php

    Having an education minister that opposes private schools...unless it's the one her son attended:

    http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/10/16/incoherence-pequiste

    Now if only that self-righteous, pompous blowhard Bernard Drainville would finally be caught in a scandal...I actually despise him worse than Marois.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The article mentions:

      "En fait, la pratique est répandue chez les péquistes. Selon le FM93, sur les dix ministres du gouvernement Marois qui ont des enfants d’âge scolaire, sept ont choisi le privé."

      Some good comments on the article from readers:

      "Message typique des démagogues; faites ce que je dis, pas ce que je fais."

      "en union sovietique les membres du partis ne fesais pas la file pour du pain."

      " Ce qui est incohérent c'est ausi que Pierre Duchesne et Bernard Drainville ont tous deux eu une brillante carrière à radio-Canada, payés par les contribuable canadiens coast to coast, avec une généreuse pension en bout de ligne.

      Faire le saut dans un parti souvrainiste après avoir travaillé pour une telle institution fédérale payée par tous les canadiens, on est loin de l'intégrité de Biz qui refuse d'être en lice pour un prix du gouverneur général.

      Quand t'as travaillé chez Coke toute ta vie et en sortant tu prétends que le Pepsi c'est meilleur, c'est un manque d'intégrité professionnel."

      "
      Le Québec investit une fortune avec sa délégation francaise, ses cocktails, ses partys, ses expositions On y exporte un milliard par année.
      Pas de délégation du Québec au Vermont: on y exporte 2 milliards de biens par année.

      le Québec a le sens des affaires!"

      "Dans les années 60 dans mon village, monsieur le curé avait dit aux jeunes qu'il fallait pas rencontrer les juifs ou des anglais si on allait visiter la grande ville; nous perdrions alors notre religion et notre langue.
      Version moderne, les curés du PQ sont encore un peu dans ce style."

      "La faiblesse de ce gouvernement est pathétique. C'est probablement le gouvernement le plus incompétent qu'on a jamais eu et dire que Pauline est supposée avoir plein d'expérience. De voir Pauline presqu'à genoux devant le président français m'a donné le goût de vomir. On a l'air d'une vraie gang de colons."

      "Les babines doivent suivre les bottines. Les ministres et députés péquistes doivent retirer leurs enfants des écoles privées et ce immédiatement car le privé va corrompre l'avenir de ces enfants et leur inculquer le dépassement et la réussite. De plus, ils doivent s'engager à ne jamais utiliser le privé dans la santé et d'aller attendre 18 heures `l'urgence. Si un membre de la famille doit attendre 5 mois pour un scan suite à diagnostic d'un médecin; il faut interdire d'aller dans une clinique de radiologie privée. Ils doivent interdire à leurs enfants de suivre des cours d'anglais et les obliger à demeurer au Québec pour le maintien de la langue française. De cette façon les enfants de ministres et députés n'iront pas étudier dans les universités anglophones internationales. En terminant; ces chers élus disent: faites ce que je dis et non ce que je fais."



      Delete
    2. The PQ is doing a great job so far in helping itself not getting elected in another election. I can't believe the damage they are doing so fast in the term. If the continue this way there will be quite alot of anti Liberal votes going to the CAQ.

      Delete
    3. Meh; if the current spate of incompetence continues, the PQ might just be getting ready to leap head first into the dustbin of Canadian political history.

      I most heartily bid them and their movement godspeed in the endeavor.

      Delete
    4. Actually, app, it's already started: http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/10/17/pas-de-lune-de-miel-pour-marois

      Delete
    5. LOL! After only 45 days of governance, already 56% of "nous" are dissatisfied with the PQ government! Shortest. Honeymoon. Ever. :)

      Delete
  7. The only thing that I have not seen pointed out is that France was politically incorrect to receive Marois with the ceremony of a title that she does not hold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hollande is regarded as an idiot by pretty much everyone at this point. No one is going to care that he met with some hick from Quebec.

      Delete
    2. Throw Lisée or Drainville into the mix and you'd have a picture of the Three Francophony Stooges.

      Delete
    3. Nyuk nyuk nyuk and +1 Sauga.

      Delete
  8. I found this comment funny.
    coco189

    Quand tu ne sais pas compter, lire des états financiers et ne lis que le cahier des sports, c`est plus facile de te convaincre que le Québec ferait un grand pays. Regardez les données démographiques des comtés péquiste à Montréal...on est loin de la crème!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just heard on CTV News Montreal that all immigrant children will have to go to french daycare - amendment to Bill 101. Another way to put anglophones out of business and push more parents rights aside. The opposition parties are going to have to put the screws to the PQ to get them to stop removing the rights of citizens in this province or no one will ever, ever move to this Godforsaken place again. This brazen bunch is going to cause this province to become a ghost town. Saw on the news today that the businesses in this province pay the highest taxes in North America also. So, no new big business nor any small business will come here either. Just f------ wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes for business going there is a bad sceen. When the province is the biggest social assistance drawer of all of Canada .. that is not good either. It would be a combination of no jobs in province happening and the breeding generations of " I really don't want to work " in families. If comes down to separation, maybe France will cut the cheques to provide the " support ". Pauline Marois maybe can cut a deal as the rest of Canada cuts thier support.

      Delete
    2. Let's wait and see how the vote goes down in the National Assembly.

      Delete
    3. L'ère des BS Bougons ! Échangeons un gouvernemaman pour un autre ! Allez, hop !

      Delete
    4. Tout à fait normal que ces enfants soient mis en contact le plus tôt possible avec la langue de la Nation qu'ils habitent,non?

      Delete
    5. D'après cette même logique, il est tout aussi normal que les enfants francophones soient eux aussi mis en contact avec la langue de la majorité du pays qu'ils habitent.

      Les Québécois peuvent former une nation (définition aussi floue que flexible), je veux bien, mais ils sont entourés de Canadiens anglophones et le seront toujours. Jamais trop tôt pour apprendre l'autre langue officielle non plus.

      Peut-être ces enfants-là n'hériteraient-ils pas du réflexe pathétique et quasi pavlovien qu'ont certains francophones au Québec, lorsqu'ils se trouvent dans un milieu anglophone, de s'en vouloir (tout bas) pour ne pas avoir appris à bien parler l'anglais tout en hurlant (tout haut), frustrés, "en français!"

      Mais bon, propagez-donc votre intolérance. On sait de quoi il s'agit. Et l'issue de la tentative en dira long sur notre députation provinciale.

      Tellement triste de voir aller ces séparatistes. Comme ils ne se reproduisent pas assez vite, ils vampirisent les enfants d'immigrants pour faire leur propre sale boulot de propagande et de grossir leurs rangs. Beau travail (sarcasme).

      Delete
    6. Please also e-mail your MNA if you are represented by any other party than the PQ and tell them you expect them to deny support of any changes to Bill 101 and that it is bad enough as it stands now. If you have a PQ MNA, then e-mail your Liberal rep - at least they can pass the message along to the other Liberal MNAs that have been elected to tell them you are against any changes to Bill 101. If enough of us do this, they will at least recognize that the federalists in the province DO NOT SUPPORT THE PQ IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER in proposed changes to Bill 101. My MNA is Liberal and I'm sending her an e-mail today. Imagine, I went almost a full day yesterday without one remark from SR - I was actually hopeful that he had went to hibernate under the bridge but saw this morning that he was back. Damn, it would be nice to have at least one wish fulfilled.

      Delete
    7. For once SR is right - children should be placed in English daycare right from birth because English is the language of their nation (Canada) - right on JR!

      Delete
  10. "The opposition parties are going to have to put the screws to the PQ..."

    Bonne chance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, thanks you for your touching concern.

      Delete
    2. R.S,

      Officiellement : Sa Majesté Elizabeth Deux, par la grâce de Dieu Reine du Royaume-Uni, du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi.

      Delete
    3. J'ai l'impression d'être le sujet maléfique d'une séance d'exorcisme.

      Delete
    4. His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus, Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle does wish to thank Troy for his kindness in relaying such information, although he does wish to inform him that it had also been used a couple weeks ago.

      Delete
    5. J'ai l'impression d'être le sujet maléfique d'une séance d'exorcisme.

      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!
      Le pouvoir du Christ t'oblige!

      Delete
    6. Apparatchik, you are on a roll tonight.

      Delete
    7. I don't know why S.R. is so joyful, when it is obvious the opposition will seek another election as soon as they they have the doe.

      More than half of Qubecers are not happy with Marois as of right now. And her ministers constantly have to run fr cover after their lol Fournier was ripping De Soucy this week.

      Delete
  11. I for one, am immensely pleased with the reactions that the PQ is getting from the francophone population.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Le parti Québécois doit protéger les Québécois contre eux-mêmes.Sans ce mouvement,nous serions tous des anglos,sans exception.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Malheureusement,c'est le cas de plusieurs,oui.

      Delete
    2. Sérieusement... faites un peu confiance au Québécois.

      S'ils décidaient tous de devenir des unilingues francophones vous en seriez ravis.
      S'ils décidaient tous de devenir des unilingues anglophones vous feriez une crise d'apoplexie.

      ...dans un cas comme dans l'autre, à eux de choisir. Vos prophéties de malheur démasquent davantage votre propre insécurité que celle de l'ensemble des Québécois. Pour eux -- pour nous -- vos sonnettes d'alarme sonnent de plus en plus creux.

      Delete
    3. Vraiment, le PQ s'en fou des Quebecois et de leur opinions. Puis ils savent pas compter en plus. Le pouvoir est la seule chose qui les interesse.

      Delete
  13. @No luck needed champ - it's already started.

    Phil Couillard looks like the heir apparent for the Liberal leadership.

    Unlike Marois he's allergic to ass-kissing and therefore won't come off looking like a little puppet.

    Just remember this S.R - the PQ got in on 32% of the ballot. Translation = totally fucking weak.

    Oh, and be sure you don't forget that only 28% of Quebec shares your view of sovereignty...just a little over 1/4.

    Once againt totally f'n weak.

    don't wish us luck, we already bagged it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, that`s exactly what I replied to SR above before reading your comment.

      Delete
  14. "Le parti Québécois doit protéger les Québécois contre eux-mêmes."

    Translation: Our people are hopelessly stupid and don't possess the required faculties to make their own decisions.

    Is that really what you think of Francos S.R? That they're so stupid they need to be mothered by the state?

    This is exactly why the sovereignist movement is doomed - the Quebecois believe in true liberty...they really don't like being told what to do - they thrive on being autonomous.

    As much as some may lean towards the sovereignist option, I forsee them turning against a sovereignist movement that dictates their way of life.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Philippe Couillard,l'homme des conflits d'intérêts?Pas une très bonne réputation.Les "liberals" sont vraiment mal foutus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Que celui qui n'a pas péché lui jette la première pierre.

      Montrez-moi un politicien chevronné qui n'a connu aucun conflit d'intérêt.

      Delete
    2. Le problème est que la moitié du personnel de ce parti a déjà été pris la main dans le sac.La commission d'enquêtes n'est pas encore terminée et ça éclabousse de partout...Une vraie honte!

      Delete
    3. Tu veux parler de honte?

      Que dire de Pauline, dont le gouvernement nous sert des gaffes spectaculaires depuis son assermentation il y a un mois? C'est devenu tellement burlesque voire cacophonique leur free-for-all que je n'en crois plus mes oreilles.

      Si c'est ça l'avant-goût de la "gouvernance souverainiste" qui nous attend advenant un OUI, on serait tous (fédéralistes et séparatistes) mieux de devenir des partitionnistes au plus sacrant.

      Delete
  16. Marois embarrasses Quebec by bending knee to France

    Fresh from attending a summit of French-speaking nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Quebec Premier Pauline Marois headed off to Paris for the official laying-on of hands by French president Francois Hollande.

    Ms. Marois, her aides confided, was hoping the president would reverse the policy of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, who had little time for Quebec’s independence ambitions and made little effort to hide the fact. The Parti Quebecois leader was seeking a return to the policy of “non-interference” and “non-indifference” that held sway for some years before Mr. Sarkozy came along.[…]

    Consider, now, the reaction that followed news that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird had agreed that Canada and Great Britain would share office space in some overseas diplomatic locations, in order to cut costs. […] It was pointed out that Canada has also been returning portraits of the Queen to diplomatic walls. The term “Royal” had been returned to the navy and air force. Columnists wondered where this weird anglophilia came from – you’d almost think Canada had some historic link to England or something. It was also noted with deep suspicion that the British Foreign Minister, William Hague, was on hand for the real estate announcement. Now that‘s significant. Must be a sign of Britain’s increasing dominance over Canada’s foreign affairs.

    Can you spot the disconnect here? Ottawa makes a few harmless displays of friendship with Britain and the Conservatives are accused of selling out the country’s birthright. But the premier of Quebec can travel to Paris and openly seek approval for her separatist agenda, and no one thinks it’s odd.

    But it certainly is. Why would a proud, independent nation, which is how Ms. Marois wants the world to view Quebec, need to humble itself before the leader of a foreign country in search of his official approval? If Quebec is a unique, vibrant culture, as we’re regularly assured, why does it need France to pat it on the head and give its blessing? Marois’ actions seem more those of a supplicant, bending knee to a real grown-up political power. Look, France treats us just like other mature nations. So maybe we really are one.

    Not really. If anything, the apparent need for PQ leaders to gain a pleasant word from the mother country emphasizes the ongoing insecurity of its leadership, the same self-doubt that fuels its obsessive defence of a language that isn’t in danger, and its warnings of impending doom for a culture that isn’t under threat.

    The French position Ms. Marois so earnestly pursued consists largely of neutrality. “Yes we’re interested, but no, we won’t do anything about it.” You could say the same about the U.S. position: if Quebec were to break away, Washington would certainly notice, but wouldn’t consider the situation any of its business. It’s an embarrassment, which separatists would do well to recognize and Canadians would do well to understand. Real nations don’t need the approval of former colonial masters, or the cachet the Pequistes evidently feel they get from an extra ten minutes at the Elysee. Mr. Harper knows that, Ms. Marois evidently doesn’t.

    Marois is heading off to France to look for support for independence, which she probably won’t get, just like previous PQ leaders didn’t get it. Why do they feel the need for this little exercise? If Quebec is a vibrant international nation, why does it need France to pat it on the head and give its approval? Harper agrees to share some real estate with British consulates and the weenies go crazy; but Quebec’s premier can toddle over to Paris seeking official approval and nobody blinks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To R. S: Excellent post!

      Delete
    2. Thanks but just to make it perfectly clear, it's not "my" post but a copy/paste of an opinion piece published in the NP that I linked to in bold at the top (in case the link ever dies).

      Delete
  17. FROM ED BROWN
    Right Res Evil , the French thrive on being autonomous while their government pushes monotonous.
    Scotland will not separate. It's a hard country, people have made fun of Scots calling them cheap. The truth is they have had to be frugal. From coast practically to coast you're living in unkind mountains. There's an old saying that Scots prefer sheep to cows because their pointy noses can eat the grass between the rocks. They have had to use everything including the sheep's stomach lining to make Hagus. Scots are thrifty and too smart to cut of the nose (income) to spite the face (England). Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. French love fascism.

      Delete
    2. I find it ridiculous, though, how political movements that have been clearly shown to only be supported by a minority of the population cease to die after all these years. Two referenda on separation, apparently that's not enough. Internationally, he Australian republicans won't let their little movement go either, even after the 1999 referendum which voted to retain the monarchy.
      As far as the Scots wanting to separate, it is something I would consider laughable. What possible social or economic benefit would come out of an independent Scotland? Also, are they not aware that the first simultaneous king of England and Scotland was a Scot himself? Scotland was not forcibly unionised through colonisation by the English, they were unionised through a mutually beneficial alliance between the kingdoms. There is no such thing as a (King or) "Queen of England" anymore. I think nearly all separatist movements are irrational, except cases where democratic rights for the population are being threatened as a result of their lack of autonomy.

      Delete
    3. I think nearly all separatist movements are irrational, except cases where democratic rights for the population are being threatened as a result of their lack of autonomy.

      You're in good company; organizations greater than you and me have essentially said as much. If every "nation" in the world demanded and obtained its own complete independence, there'd be hundreds more countries on the map the size of your fingernail.

      Something to ponder. Right along with why we need "national" boundaries in the first place.

      Delete
    4. There would be not only hundreds but THOUSANDS more countries, if every nation in the world claimed to "stand up" and become sovereign. There are 3000-5000 nations in the world, depending on how you wish to define the very loose, almost meaningless term "nation".

      Delete
    5. Not sure why that would be a bad thing. For all its current troubles, the European Union was most successful at fostering peace when it was only a trading area. The proverbial hit the fan only when they started trying to make it coalesce into something bigger.

      Delete
  18. +FROM ED BROWN
    Here's a thought for every one. We often complain that when Howard Galganov was championing our cause we did not support him, well we've been given another chance. The six corporations fighting for rights to some English are helping our cause. Are we going to sit back and let them do it alone. We can send emails to them telling them we support them. We can write to the press with support. We can write to the
    OQLF and the OELF. I f the six know that at least some support and will keep on purchasing it will give them determination. History is repeating itself will we let it slide by. If we can't do this much we might as well shut down this site and forget English altogether. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Won't those six companies see it in their bottom line?

      Even if they notice sales are down a few percentage points because of various franco-supremacist groups' organized boycotts, wouldn't their existing sales figures in Quebec constitute a tacit yet powerful endorsement of the support they continue to enjoy?

      Delete
    2. "Won't those six companies see it in their bottom line?

      French language militants can't raise 150 people to a demonstration, do you honestly think that a boycott will affect these companies' sales?
      As we've discussed in a recent post, Quebecer, both English and French, are too busy living the good life to get involved.
      When you need toilet paper, Costco is the place...what can I say.
      How many people do you honestly believe will actually boycott?
      Me, I say less than 100.

      Delete
    3. Ditto. That's the gist of my point.

      Delete
  19. FROM ED BROWN
    What are you saying Apparatchik? Do nothing! Let them do it for us. Don't get involved. What's your point? Ed+

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm saying that if a boycott is all about voting with your feet to go elsewhere, by extension, those who vote with their feet and continue frequenting the six establishments in question have essentially shown anything from neutrality/indifference to actual endorsement for those companies' actions.

      Also, one must expect that these companies also have considerable legal departments to litigate this sort of thing, n'est-ce pas?

      I just question your expectations regarding all of us "getting involved" with something so paltry as a company's name. If anything, the citizen involvement should be in favor of encouraging collaborative bilingualism in this province, something that even most corporations are wont to do.

      I just think you're going at it from the wrong angle. That's all.

      Delete
  20. FROM ED BROWN
    Where the hell did you get boycott from? I never mentioned boycott. I am asking you get on the bandwagon. Tell English and French Quebecers to back them. Tell the OEL that you agree. Let them know they are not alone. As usual some people are all talk. When it comes time to act, the apologists and the 'it probably won't work' gang comes out in force.
    EDITOR I have never suggested boycott. I'm talking about what your site is all about. Hopefully promoting English. Apparatchik misconstrues my post, digs boycott out of thin air and then rattles on to tell us it won't work. If we listen to people like this we are wasting our time here. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The boycott idea was one that was implicitly stated by me and explicitly stated by Editor.

      I am questioning the point of (even sympathetic) consumers rallying around a bunch of corporate lawyers taking the OQLF to court by sending encouraging emails to their PR department and to newspapers. The outcome is going to be decided judicially rather than politically (and certainly not via that other megaphonic source of sactimonious drivel, social media).

      Those of us who are sympathetic to those six corporations, for instance, will (continue to) support them by continuing to shop there. Those of us who really can't stand the affront to our language sensitivities will make a political statement and quit shopping there or otherwise boycott these six merchants (most likely for a few months until the whole thing blows over).

      My point is not to dig boycott out of thin air but to push your idea to it inescapable conclusion. My underlying suggestion is that if I keep shopping at Best Buy, for example, it must be because on some level I implicitly support Best Buy (including, for example, its stance on its own name). Perhaps those who absolutely want that merchant to change its name, for example, to "Meilleur Achat" might stop going there (for a while). But my guess is that those of us who will shop or continue to shop at stores so named are going to do so because they're either indifferent or otherwise implicitly supportive.

      As a result, I don't think your accusing me of misconstruing your post is altogether justified. Quite the opposite, in my humble opinion.

      Businesses care about their bottom line more than anything else. And the bottom line is a dollar amount. Am I not (not-so-tacitly) endorsing a business just by shopping (or continuing to shop) there? Far more than by any time-consuming letter-writing campaign, however encouraging?

      I'd probably be much more likely to support the whole "writing your senator" thing when it has to do with a or a specific action you require the legislative/executive branch of government to do something. Writing my favorite clothes store over an issue to ultimately be decided by the judiciary seems to me to be fruitless at best and a willfully misdirected waste of resources at worst.

      Delete
  21. Ed is right - We can e-mail these companies with letters of support and let the Quebec Office of the English Language know that we back them also. This can do no harm but perhaps bring some hope to them that they are not alone in this province and that some of us do care. Again, e-mail everyone you can think of to show your support. I'm going to do that today.

    ReplyDelete
  22. All companies should ask themselves: will this be the last concession on my part? Will it be the last demand? Am I going to be left alone after this, or will there be something else? If the answer is "no" or "not likely", then you might as well put your foot down right there.

    The specifics of the demand are important, but the nature of the demand is important as well. Is it a one-off type of thing? Or is it a process in which the specifics play secondary role?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wasn't Bill 101 supposed to be the last demand? A lot of us thought it was and look where we are now. I just wrote an e-mail to my MNA c.c. Steven Harper, asking that the liberals vote against any changes to Bill 101 and support our rights and freedoms as Canadian citizens. Hopefully, all liberals will vote against anything to change the Bill as written. Please, everyone write to whomever will listen and voice your objections to any changes to Bill 101!

    ReplyDelete
  24. FROM D BROWN
    Nice post Adski, what's you're point. Are you for taking advantage of this issue to promote our cause or not. I'm asking everyone do you feel it's an opportunity? We've all been talking, is that all we want to do? Ed

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TO ED BROWN
      I removed your post because you published your address and telephone number and honestly, I tyhink readers will agree, that is a bad idea. If you want people to get in touch with you how about an email address.
      There really is no purpose for your address, who is going to visit except someone with bad intentions?
      Secondly, you talked about a letter, but you didn't include it and we would like to see it.

      If you insist on publishing your address, I will publish it if you post again, but please reconsider.
      But please, post the letter...

      Delete
    2. Ed, please heed the editor's advice - giving your opponents a way of finding you is very dangerous. All it takes is for you to publish one missive against the sovereignist movement and next thing you know, members of the Jeunes Patriotes will be kicking down your door.

      Please be careful.

      Delete
    3. Yes, Ed please be careful - we don't know what some of these extremists are capable of. I worry about that myself in that I think perhaps they will take their anger out on my grandchild and/or my doggy. We just don't know - remember the FLQ - they didn't even care that they killed one of their own French kin without a second thought. I am even careful which newspaper I send correspondence to because a lot of them won't publish under "Anonymous" and I'm afraid to put my name. Anyway, keep it in mind when posting here.

      Delete
  26. Leger marketing, run by the brother of long time PQunt mna and Marois loyalist Nicole Leger, just published a poll that had the PQunt at 32% and the Liberals at 30%. Take into account that ballot box bonus the PLQ gets everytime and I think that puts them in the lead, no? Even after 9 years of mediocrity and corruption, not to mention the Charbonneau commission, they can‘t kill this leaderless party.
    It speaks to the fact that a good percentage of the province just cannot take the racism and incompetence of the PQunt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The PQ will loose the next election by a huge loss in number of seats. The Quebec Liberals would probably win enough seats to get an absolute majority maybe even 2/3s. I could see most of the PQ seats becoming CAQ and even Quebec Solidaire.

      Delete
  27. The following is the letter I sent to my Liberal MNA:
    Dear Madam:
    I am requesting that all Liberal MNAS vote against any changes to Bill 101 that are put forward by the PQ Government during their tenure as government in power.
    These separatists are ruining our province and making fatal errors in dealing with priorities. They are promoting hate and distrust among their own citizens with their continued removal of rights from Canadians on a daily basis. As a consequence, you can see in our own area of the Pontiac, there are many "for sale" signs that have gone up since the election call but no "sold" signs because of their continual harassment on the Anglophone and Allophone population. These people must be stopped from destroying our economy any further. I, as a federalist, am sick and tired of these people bullying and pushing their agenda of bigotry upon all the residents of this province. I am one of many in this area that expect that you and your fellow members of the National Assembly will halt the total destruction of our economy any further by this racist government. Please keep in mind that those of us that voted for you, expect that you will do all you can to keep these horrible people in their place and stand up for our rights as Canadians by supporting our rights and freedoms to the best of your ability.
    Thank you.

    Anyone that would like to write their MNA or the opposition candidate in your area, is more than welcome to copy the letter. I hope ALL of you participate in our efforts to stop these people.

    ReplyDelete
  28. FROM ED BROWN
    Editor, Thank you for protecting me. I don't fear them because my life, like my bank account doesn't have any double digits involved anyway. However, should think of my Grandson who lives with me. They could get to me through him. In my zeal to post the letter I forgot my personal info was there. Here is the letter unaccompanied. We'll see if they print it. It might encourage others.
    The six multinational corporations fighting the office of French language for their right to use the name that they use all over the world are doing what they have to do. The are recognized on stock markets around the globe by these IDs.
    For those of us who believe we should have some right to at least keep our names in English we should speak up and be heard. Write letters to the QOLF, your MNA and newspapers.
    Don't do what we did when Howard Galganov needeed our support, show some gumption. Act now.

    ReplyDelete
  29. More and more we need a new Pro-Canadian Provincial Party in this province that is not tainted, extols the virtues of being Canadian, puts together a budget that will work and not be continuously supporting the outrageous demands of the unions in this province, one that is willing to sign the Canadian Constitution in order to benefit from being part of the Canadian landscape and promotes that Quebec become a bilingual province to ensure that the language and rights of all Canadians residing here are protected and ensured. That would be a move in the right direction.

    ReplyDelete
  30. FROM ED BROWN
    EDITOR You must see that this a rare opportunity. If the leaders of these corporations see people saying they are right they will know they are doing it for us as well as them. Also, when we write we use them as an opening and diversify to other points
    where English is being abused. This could be a post on it's own with people publishing here the emails they have sent.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Ed - Having problems finding e-mail address for Costco and Guess - were you able to get them? Plse provide. Did send one to Best Buy, Gap (which includes Old Navy) and WalMart. Also CBC has an item about the requirement to send the children to French daycare only - tried to comment but they seem to be having technical difficulties right now - probably so many responses the site crashed. So far only 4 comments but all against. Everyone should write comments to the post and help end this bigotry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PQunt has already backtracked on it.

      Delete
    2. "Everyone should write comments to the post and help end this bigotry."

      Bonne chance!

      Delete
    3. Is anyone keeping track of all this flip-flopping...?

      Delete
  32. FROM ED BROWN How to create a simple letter
    letters@montrealgazette.com
    On the subject of the six corporations facing the Quebec Office of French Language. These companies have the same identity in stock markets and business communities all over the world. They can't change just for Quebec. They might be able to force elementary school children to believe their stories but
    the men and women leading these companies are away above them in power, money and brains.
    name
    address
    phone

    ReplyDelete
  33. Je crois que cutie est une révoltée passive.Nous,nos militants du troisième âge manifestent sur le terrain avec des pancartes et des slogans,pas à grands coups de emails inutiles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is what your "militants" of the younger age are all about: http://www.ledevoir.com/images_galerie/d_10921_42068/image.jpg

      Delete
    2. FROM ED BROWN
      Ha Ha Nice to see young pequistes making love, but they shouldn't be doing it in public. Ed

      Delete
  34. Haha moment regarding the PQ's backtracking on imposing 101 to daycare centers:

    "Moi je suis pour l'application de la loi 101 dans les banques de spermes,ainsi on pourra controler a partir du donneur." - from JDM

    ReplyDelete
  35. New Léger Marketing Poll: 56% of Quebecers not satisfied with Pauline Marois. And I think it's about to get worse. ( I wonder why JdM didn't want to make this article public)

    http://lesnews.ca/politique/27957-sondage-une-majorite-de-quebecois-insatisfaite-de-pauline-marois/

    ReplyDelete
  36. As for your article, dear editor, this is the first time I am not pleased to read your take on reality.

    You know I do not like the PQ. But is she not allowed to criticize Canada's foreign policy? (Which is actually intermittently following UK and USA). I don't like their messianic, interventionist, violent approach either. Hence why I prefer to live here in QC.


    And as far as corruption goes, why not mention Rob Ford, who is hanging in by a thread? Do you truly think Ontario doesn't use the 'Italian Quebec services'?

    ReplyDelete
  37. FROM ED BROWN
    My God Apparatchik! You are so wrapped up in your own words you can't read someone elses post.
    The outcome of the six companies has nothing to do with my point, but it is the subject that's getting newspaper space right now and the press are looking for opinions on it. It's an opening. I printed a letter here to show how to use this to bring up other points to the general public. I am amassing a list of phone numbers that can be used to call the companies, the press and
    politicos. If I can get the Gazette to print it,
    it could go a long way to mushrooming support for
    English and decent government. When you say you are trying to 'bring my point to an inescapable conclusion' I translate that as 'I am trying to squelch your idea without even understanding it. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  38. After checking out a handful of the blog articles on your site,
    I honestly appreciate your way of writing a blog.
    I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be
    checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and
    let me know your opinion.

    my web site :: san antonio hair salon

    ReplyDelete