Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Quebec's Nanny State Running out of Gas

In her  inaugural  speech as Premier of Quebec, Pauline Marois outlined her government's plan for the next legislative session and while the media focused on her agenda of fighting corruption and strengthening language legislation, buried among the more controversial themes was this bizarre statement that caused hardly a ripple in the press.
"A parliamentary commission will be created to study the relevance and impact of a law which would regulate book prices. The Government wishes to support authors, publishers and booksellers from Quebec who can not compete against the big box stores that offer discounts from 25% to 30% off the suggested retail price of bestsellers." Link{Fr}
Yikes!!!!
What Pauline has proposed is more interference by the government in the free market, something that nine times out of ten makes consumers big losers and which enriches special interest groups unfairly.

Of everything Pauline has said, this more than anything else defines the PQ's philosophy of governance, which is state intervention in just about every aspect of our life.

Because the sovereignty and language debate takes up practically all the political air, little or nothing is ever discussed on the issue of these government interventionist policies.

Of course we in Quebec are painfully aware that we are the most heavily taxed citizens in North America and that our salaries are not keeping pace with gains made in other parts of Canada.


As you can see in the chart above, Quebecers make less and pay proportionally more taxes than most other Canadians.
But that is only half the story.
Quebec families, already handicapped by less disposable income, face the double whammy of higher prices in the marketplace, attributed to the high consumer taxes imposed by a desperate government in search of revenues.
Consider just one element, Quebec's 9.5% sales tax as compared to Alberta's 0% tax. This one tax alone can remove an additional $3,000 from the average family wallet, something Albertans don't face at all.

But a third element, the paternalistic desire by government to protect local markets, is another costly element driving down disposable income in Quebec.

Let us start with the very subject Pauline brought up in her speech, French language books, wherein she proposes to protect small book stores from competition from the big box stores that typically sell new arrivals at 20-40% off list price.
For Pauline this 'unfair' competition puts local booksellers at risk, so she proposes that no retailer be allowed to discount these new arrivals for a certain period of time.
Sounds like a plan....

Now anybody who has ever purchased a French language book knows that the prices are very high compared to English versions, no doubt because of the limited printing runs.
Take for example, one of the hottest (no pun intended) bestsellers on the market, 50 Shades of Grey which sells in paperback for $9 at Amazon.com while the French version, Cinquante nuances de Grey, where no paperback is available, sells for $22.99.

Perhaps someone might remind Madame Marois that books are not gasoline, which must be purchased locally.
Unless she intends on telling Amazon.com in the United States that a product may not be sold to Quebecers because of protective pricing, her plan is doomed to failure.
And no, dear readers, she cannot enforce a floor price on Amazon, there is the little problem called NAFTA.

The larger issue is how in good conscience she can raise the price of books that are already astronomically expensive?

Quebec remains North American champion in imposing floor prices, sometimes with perverse effects.
In Quebec,  milk production and retail prices are controlled by the government. The consequence of course, is that consumers in Montreal pay in the neighbourhood of $1.50 per litre, while New Yorkers pay about 78¢, a whopping difference of over 90%!
You can see the minimum prices that the government sets for milk HERE

The same goes for cheese products and especially fresh butter which sells for about $5.75 a pound in Quebec, while in a Costco in the USA, it can be found for $2.00.
The sad part about all this is that Quebec dairy farmers don't really benefit, they've got to pay interest on heavy loans that they needed to take out in order to buy expensive milk production quota.

Read an interesting report written by the Montreal Economic Institute about the problem of supply management in the agricultural field. Download

Minimum prices can only be imposed on those things not easily purchased outside Quebec and so that is why gasoline remains so expensive. Even going across the border makes no sense when you've got to spend time and burn gas just to get it.
And so the Quebec government has always been comfortable charging huge taxes at the pump.

Recently, regular gasoline sold for about $1.25 in Montreal, 99¢ in Calgary and about 77¢ in Miami.
You can see the minimum prices that the government sets for each region HERE

The Quebec government is very protective of small gas stations, making sure they make a profit by ordering a minimum price that no retailer may sell for less, even if they wanted to. I once filled up at the Costco gas pump in St. Jerome and was surprised to see this letter attached to the pump;

Dear, Costco members,
The Regie d'energie of Quebec has recently imposed a 3¢ per litre increase on gasoline sold in St.Jerome.
We disagree with this artificial increase imposed on the citizens of St. Jerome for the benefit of gasoline retailers.
For this reason, we will be donating 3¢ per litre sold, to the Fondation de l'hopital regional de St. Jerome. 
Costco Wholesale will continue to supply members the very best quality/price value for all their purchases.
Incredibly minimum prices even apply to beer!  Link{fr}

Those who defend this 'Quebec model' always use the argument that Quebecers accept higher prices and higher taxes because the province is more socially responsible and provides citizens more entitlements than the rest of Canada.

The argument might hold water but for the fact that it is simply not true that through taxes, Quebecers themselves fund government programs such as seven dollar-a-day daycare, free prescription medicine, extended family leave, incredibly low tuition for higher education, etc. etc.
If Quebec ran a balanced budget and was not the beneficiary of so many billions in equalization payments, it might be a reasonable and fair societal choice.
But such is not the case, Quebec's nanny state has been largely funded by huge deficit spending and subsidies from other Canadians, something that the majority of Quebecer refuse to acknowledge.

Accepting free money from other Canadians to pay for Quebec entitlements may be one thing, but to ask future generations of Quebecers to pay for today's generation of entitlements is selfishly outrageous. 

 But it appears that this orgy of taxing and spending is drawing towards an ultimate day of reckoning.

In  spite of the spending cuts and tax increases announced by the PQ government in the last budget, there will be no balanced budget in the near future as government revenues aren't keeping pace with the rise in expenditures.

The problem of falling revenues can be attributed to the high taxes and crushing regulations imposed on Quebec's business community. With open borders, companies that are not geographically sensitive, can and will locate where they get the best deal.
Already Quebec is obliged to spend six times more than Ontario (per capita) on handouts to businesses in order to entice them to settle and remain in Quebec.

Recently American retailer TARGET, announced with great fanfare that the company was expanding to Quebec, buying out the failing Zellers chain.
What few in the media were willing to report is that the company set up its giant distribution centre just outside the Quebec border in Cornwall Ontario, in order to avoid Quebec taxes, regulations and yes, language legislation.
They aren't alone, Walmart also does its Quebec distribution through a giant facility in Cornwall.
These are the lost jobs that we see, but the greater tragedy is the tens of thousands of jobs that never were, as companies rule out Quebec as a potential base of operations.

It is these tiny cuts that add up. Here a few hundred jobs, there a few hundred jobs. A head office moves and poof!... perhaps five hundred or a thousand jobs are lost or never created.

And let us not forget the head office and corporate exodus that devastated Quebec in the seventies and eighties. The damage done was inestimable.
Take for example the most famous of these corporations who fled the province, Sun Life of Canada.  Today the 8,000 head office jobs in Ontario means an above-average paycheck supporting over 32,000 families and if we are to add those ancillary jobs created in other companies supporting the Sun Life concern, it amounts to well over 20,000 jobs, enough to support a city of 80,000 people in Quebec.
And in addition to all the money these Sun Life employees spend in their communities, consider all the taxes remitted to the government including income tax, sales tax, property tax, etc. etc.
And that is the story of but one company, the same story has played out a hundred times over.

In the end, we are where we are.
The nanny state that overtaxes and overburdens business with regulation, coupled with repressive language legislation has set Quebec on a course of permanent economic decline. With its high-handed and foolish decision not to offset these job losses by exploiting its fossil fuel wealth, the die is cast.

As Quebec becomes more and more inhospitable to wealth creation, it is inevitable that family income will rise more slowly than in other provinces.
Faced with decreasing salaries and decreasing taxes, the government increases tax rates and jacks up taxes on consumer goods to make up the difference, a disastrous scenario.

And remember, when defenders of the Quebec nanny state tell us that families have less personal resources than in other provinces because of choices about social issues, it is just plain not true. Debt and Canadian largess are to be factored in.

As Quebec reaches its debt and tax ceiling, taxpayers are going to be in for a shock if Ottawa cuts equalization payments significantly (which represents over 10% of the present budget) as is likely the case.

Looking forward to the gathering clouds of debt, overspending and diminished economic activity, it is painfully obvious that we are headed into our very own Perfect Economic Storm

145 comments:

  1. Editor - what happened to the last article re: govt appointments?

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  2. Don‘t worry Editor, when KKKebec inevitably hits the wall the PQunt has already selected its perfect scapegoat...

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    1. "Gee, J.J., whoever do you imply is the perfect scapegoat?" Mr. Sauga asked facetiously. Not to answer, J.J., for my question is obviously rhetorical.

      Personally, the whole of Canada is subject to these moronic marketing boards. The whole lot of them, from coast to coast to coast, should be scrapped. At least 4L of milk in those heavy duty plastic bags here in Ontario goes for about $1 more than 2L cartons. We also have milk sales occasionally. Generally, 4L in three heavy duty bags goes for about $4.50 regardless of whether it's skim, 1%, 2% or homo. Those fancy pure filter bags go for $5.60 to over $7.00 depending on the product, but I've bought it on sale for $3.88. I've bought 500g cheddar cheese bricks for as low as $3.88 recently, either Black Diamond or Cracker Barrel, depending on the sale.

      If I understand correctly, Quebec produces about 48% of the industrial milk for all of Canada, so separation would cause half that market to cease.

      As for lost jobs, keep 'em coming to Ontario. Cornwall is fine, so Target and Wal-Mart are quite fine sights. If you live in Coteau, take a hop over the border. About a 15-20 minute drive. Move to Cornwall, or Lancaster, or Curry Hill. That little change will cut taxes considerably. No language crap in Ontario!

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    2. There is also a huge warehouse/distribution centre for Jean Coutu pharmacies located in Hawkesbury, Ontario, just across the border - and Jean Coutu is a Quebec based company!

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    3. So is Céline Dion! Where is she paying her taxes now?

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    4. Au même endroit que Jim Carrey

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  3. What ideas will they come up with next? Shops that sell used clothing will be forced to sell their merchandise at equal or higher prices than their brand new equivalent? Video rentals will be made illegal because Quebeckers won't buy the film on video if they can rent it instead? A hot dog should cost the same as a filet-mignon steak at a fine restaurant because otherwise it promotes classism?

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  4. FROM ED BROWN
    On CTV news today it said that the Conservative government has a problem with the cost of payroll in that all 600,000 employees across Canada are costing $126,00 each per year. Even though 10 % hav ebeen laid off the total will be even higher next year because of payroll cost rising. If the same happens here they will be broke ina year. Ed

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    1. I wonder if the report included even managers and patronage appointments into the cost of each employee?

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    2. I have to laugh at this figure. I've been a public servant for going on 13 years and that is way more than double of what I make. In fact that figure is more than double of what everyone on my floor makes with perhaps the exception of the 3 managers.

      (And before anyone asks, I'm on my break.)

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  5. Hmmm... I am not even aware of this matter with books. Right off the bat, that plan is doomed for failure, at least from my point of view. It has been years that I not buying books from storefront book stores. I buy virtually every book in our household from Amazon. Can Marois regulate Amazon too?

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    1. And oh, I forgot. Nowadays I buy less and less physical books. Instead, I download them either to Kobo or to iPad. Try to regulate that.

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    2. Nous,ce qui nous intéresse,c'est la régulation des anglos sur notre territoire.

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    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    4. "Nous,ce qui nous intéresse,c'est la régulation des anglos sur notre territoire", I'm quite sure the nazis uttered the same words about the jews at one time. How truly sad.

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    5. AnecTOTE - The separatists keep calling it "their territory" which is the first and fatal error in their logic. The territory belongs to Canada and only Canada can decide how to portion it so that the seppies have a little piece to call their own and leave the rest of us alone. That is what must happen and soon before they all drag us down to their depths.

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    6. The most ironic thing is that our prolific pet troll moved here himself in order to indulge in his hatred of all things English and then he presumes to call our province the purposefully-ambiguous “notre” territory while in fact, my great-great-great-grandparents are buried here and if anything, it’s at least as much (if not much more) my territory than his. Such ghastly presumptuousness he has! It’s a good thing for him that we are such an open society that we allow people like him to move here.

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  6. Editor,

    One thing about the milk and possibly other agricultural products in the US. Dairy products are alot cheaper due to heavy agricultural subsidies offered by the government there. In Canada unlike the United States and Europe, instead of heavy farm subsidies we have supply management that regulates supply instead. Also Canadian milk is harmone free for the most part. So whenever I am in the US i have never been enticed to buy groceries in the US. That being said, in Ontario Milk is often sold for under 5 dollars for a 4 litre bag, even the pure filter ones are available for 3.99. While in Montreal its hard to find it under 6 dollars. I think Canada has to allow supply management to evolve a bit to lower prices for milk by increasing the Quota so that Milk become more affordable maybe 3.50 to 4.50 on average for a 4 litre bag. Large producers should be encouraged to buy out Quota from the smaller producers to create efficiencies through larger operations, while the smaller dairy farmers should be encouraged to change into other agricultural activity.

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    1. Jarry: Pure filter bags at $3.99 are a sale. I've never seen continuous prices on pure filter for that price. The usual price is closer to $6. Non pure filter milk in the discount grocery stores usually goes between $4.25-4.50. I think the price came down a bit from the peak I used to see of $4.47, and the discount stores compete very hard on basics like milk, eggs and bread. A dozen large eggs is going for about $2.85 for the store brand. I often get some extra butter when it goes on sale for about $3 per pound. I don't think such sales on any dairy products ever take place in Quebec.

      If the Quebec government starts to regulate the price of books, then computer programs, video games, etc. will be next because French versions usually cost more for the translation. I'd hate to be a grocer or bookshop owner in Gatineau or other border areas!

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    2. Ridiculous woman - again, tax and spend policy without a second thought to the businessman in this province. Her stupid idea to retroactively tax the booze that the bars sell was another bright innovative idea only the PQ could come up. Now those businessmen are fighting like hell also and who can blame them, taxing booze they have in inventory. Idiots again. The book work alone is prohibitively expensive.

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  7. Détroit: Faillite annoncée pour 2013.

    Encore la faute des Québécois.

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    1. SR - You know what SR..this could easily be Montreal in another 20 years or so at the current rate. You might think its funny but at some point more and more companies are going to pack up and leave Montreal and you will see even more a louer signs (hard to believe there could more of them). Quebec will need to find money from someone..its fine and dandy to always point the finger at companies and the rich but they are the ones that pay most of the taxes and create jobs. Otherwise it means borrowming more and more money from those evil bankers..what will it be?? The PQ and the Liberals are both a disaster in managing the economy..

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    2. Non,je trouve très drôle que les anglos ne puissent pas associer cette faillite monumentale américaine avec la mentalité des Québécois (francophones).J'imagine que c'est la faute des noirs...

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    3. Don't bother explaining economics to him Complicated - it's just wisdom out of the window. It's clear that with a mentality like his, he's broke and can't cover his rent on time and likely has 500+ empty bottles of wine where his car was parked before it got repo'd.

      But I do agree that Montreal is gradually headed to way of Detroit and that in the event of separation, it's GUARANTEED that Montreal will become Detroit Part Deux.

      And no S.R...you can't go blaming the blacks for what happened to Detroit. The authorities tried to regulate them and that's why Motown is crumbling.

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    4. "...it's GUARANTEED that Montreal will become Detroit Part Deux"

      Croyez-vous à la fin du monde pour le 21/12/12 ?

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    5. No, but I believe in the end of Quebec under separatist / leftist / union rule.

      See, part of the reason Detroit (and Michigan, in effect) is falling to pieces is because like Quebec...they put ALL their money one ONE horse.

      You're playing the sucker's bet, S.R...but what warms my heart is the knowledge that once the shit really hits the fan, people like you will be the ones suffering...just like your coutnerparts in Greece.

      That's who's really suffering in Greece right now - the Bougons class that refuses to do the fair share, refuses to work and expects the govy to buy them groceries.

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    6. À lire votre discours alarmiste,vous semblez faire partie de ce groupe.Dans le cas contraire, calmos amigos.

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    7. Perhaps you will recall this article published a couple months ago in The Gazette. It was written by a Detroit native who moved to Montreal after marrying her French Canadian husband. She summarizes the reasons for what happened to Detroit and warns us not to assume that what happened there couldn’t happen here.

      FROM: Opinion: Let Detroit's decline serve as a warning

      MONTREAL — If our new premier, Pauline Marois, wants to do a road trip outside of Quebec, I suggest she visit my hometown, Detroit, Michigan.

      She surely knows of Detroit, founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac whose original home in Old Montreal now serves Big Macs.

      Marois shouldn’t go to Europe; they’ve just started to fail there. Go see real failure; go see Detroit. It is one of the most jarring, jaw-dropping unimaginable sights in North America. In fact, she wouldn’t believe she’s still in North America. Once a great city, Detroit has experienced a complete economic and political meltdown. The media has begun to talk about Detroit’s renaissance, but their stories are overblown. At best, the recovery is only a sparrow rising from the ashes; it’s no phoenix.

      Those who don’t know the whole story claim that Detroit’s woes are the consequence of having been a one-industry town. That’s far too pedantic. Destruction of this magnitude has been the confluence of many factors. Certainly, The Big Three automakers were major culprits, starting with Henry Ford. Although his assembly line transformed production, the fault was in his wage structure. He promised far too much into the future, so he wouldn’t have to pay more cash up front. This created the unsustainable, modern-day legacy costs that helped drive the industry into the tank.

      Big Three design also became lazy, spitting out cars that few wanted, and opening the doors to foreign entry.

      Then, we had the race riots of 1967, a shameful and dark mark on our city’s history, after which whites moved from the city to the suburbs, generally north of Eminem’s “8 Mile” divide. After that came Coleman Young, revered mayor of Detroit, who practised what I term Evangelical Politics. Evangelical Politics, to me, was about promising the world and delivering nothing, while preying on the passion and fervour of the constituency. Years later, many black brethren who were able to move said, “To hell with this. We have the poorest schools, bare-bones police and fire services, and dangerous streets. We’re getting out of here, too.”

      Do you think that 50 years ago, Detroiters could have imagined the degree of devastation that lay ahead?

      As I look at Montreal and Quebec today, do you think I say, ‘It can’t happen here?’ Even my husband, a glass-half-full guy, a pure-laine francophone, is starting to re-think his assumptions. He has seen what lies over the bridge from Windsor in Detroit. Although we don’t have one-industry dependence in Montreal, we do have plenty of multinationals, medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs who find Quebec to be nirvana for both business and quality of life; and yet many of them, since the Sept. 4 election, have begun rethinking Quebec with its uncertain future.

      Do not assume it can’t happen.


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    8. What is completely misread here is the issue of taxes. Quebec is one of the most highly taxed jurisdictions in North America. Although the debate in the U.S. over taxes continues to rage, they still have room to manoeuvre south of the border. In Quebec, we are clearly at the threshold of too much, with too little to show for it in return. There will be corporate and personal departures as a result of egregious tax increases. Given the current path, with this new government in Quebec, Montreal is facing the prospect of a painful demise. It’s quite simple. Look at Detroit. When taxpayers started leaving, the city was left to rot.

      I am a Yankee/Canadian who moved to Quebec for one reason, love of my French Canadian husband whose ancestors arrived here in the 1600s. I moved to ensure that he would never lose his culture, his language, his traditions, his hockey league and most importantly, proximity to his francophone family and friends. I moved here so that our children, had there been any, would have been raised in French schools. The day may come, though, when we will leave. And if it does, this U.S.-born anglo will still be speaking French outside of Quebec, but with a huge hole in my heart on account of another treasured home of mine having been destroyed by the fools and the politicians while most just watched.

      By the way, if Madame Marois wants to save on expenses and take the bus to Detroit, she should be careful when she arrives and steps out. There won’t be any police on the streets to help her; in fact, there won’t be anyone there to help her.


      © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

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    9. Incidentally, just in case people feel tempted to pooh-pooh her, the author of the above piece is a retired institutional equity trader whose career took her to Chicago, New York as well as her current home of Montreal, so I think she has a good idea about what she is talking about.

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  8. The mentality of the population and it's governments in this province that think they're "special" and "distinct" from the rest of North America and it's economy, has to change, but until they're in the streets and legislated back to work, nothing will happen. The governments have subsidized and given preferred treatment to the population for votes for years, while filling their own pockets of course, and now that the crunch time is coming, whoever is in power (hopefully the PQ), is going to have to change course or face bankruptcy. The separatists were hoping that their wish for their own country came true before they had to face reality and before the rubber hit the road, are now in a bind and will have to get out of everyone's bedroom and get back to economics whether they like or not. Bring on the austerity measures and watch the fun!

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  9. This post my friends is why the PQ and the Liberals need to go. Both parties are leftist corrupt entities who let the unions and students run over them. If we want any hope of real change we need a party which swings much more to the right. The CAQ is the only party right now who is offering any hope of a move to the right.

    So once again you can whime all you want about high taxes and union control and corruption but if 95 percent of the angryphones are going to do the same thing and vote for the Liberals then ABSOLUTELY nothing will change. If you people cant honestly see the logic in that then you are a lost cause. You might as well just pack up and leave now..as Mr.Sauga says there are a lot of nice small towns just across the border with dirt cheap housing. It also seems that most of you are retired..even less reason to stay here..if you dont need to work why not leave.

    If the only argument you have is that Legault was a seperatist then please dont bother. Raymond Bachand was a seperatist and that doesnt seem to bother anyone..Bouchard was a seperatist and he is now come along to his senses and in fact brough in the toughest budget in history by any Quebec premier. I could care less if the new premier used to be a seperatist but if he can steer the Quebecistan economy more to the right and cut taxes, weaken the unions, reduce corruption then I will vote for him in a flash.

    The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result..

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    1. You are completely out of your mind if you think Legault or anyone else will take care of the unions.
      There will be a crackdown on the unions when Quebec crashes and burns like Greece, no earlier.
      By critisizing Liberal voters you show zero understanding of the situation. Most anglos and allos rejected the Caq because they didn‘t want to vote split and allow the PQ to get in with their 34% majority (its entirely possible). It had nothing to do with Legault personally. I don‘t think anyone believes he will turncoat and work for separation. Especially not with guys like Deltell and Duchesneau in his party.

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  10. Why don't you tell SR to move to France? That makes as much sense as telling us to move. We are entitled to live where we want and to live in the language and culture that we want - that is the basic right of any Canadian and I'm sick to death of people telling us to move. Why don't you move with SR? That is your right also.

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    1. Why dont you try and make some logical statements?? You tell me that you are fed up but all you offer is some partition dream that is so unlikely that we will all be dead before it has even a remote chance of happening?? Then you continue to blindly support the Liberals who have done nothing to solve all the problems you and everyone else chronically complain about here..if anything the Liberals created a lot of the problems we are now experiencing..their fiscal mismanagement has been in my opinion even worse than the PQ yet all the anglophones keep on voting for them because you are all so terrified of anyone who was associated with the PQ..even though no one complains when some Liberals used to be part of the PQ.
      Cutie - Your arguments are not based on logic..they are emotionally based in nature and franckly nothing will change here if you keep on with what clearly hasnt worked..

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    2. Why don't you move with SR?

      Le jour ou je ne serai plus heureux chez moi,je quitterai sans accuser les autres.

      Êtes-vous heureuse cutie?


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    3. Emotionally based or not they are as logical as the separatists in telling us to move. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I have a right to live and work in any place in Canada without being bullied by the likes of you or SR or YR or Michele. This is my home as much or more as it is SR's or anyone else dammit! It's people like you who won't fight for your rights that are making this situation untenable. Smarten up and realize that they have no right to steal your home, your land, your business with their political manipulation of the citizens of this province. You are part of the problem - not part of the solution to put a stop to these language bullies (bigots).

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    4. And partition is no more of a dream than taking the whole province with a 50+1 vote and 49+9 that don't want to go - that's when we will be in a situation of civil war in this country. There will again be troops on the streets of quebec - you can bet you're ass on that. If you think that this will be done without violence, you don't know much about history and just how people react to being pushed around. Turn on your TV and watch the news from all over the world and see where were headed without partition. You're the fool for not seeing that negotiation for land will take place whether you, SR, YR and Michele like it or not. All you think about is the economy not about the right to live as you please in this stinking province. Your priorities are screwed because without our rights this province is finished.

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    5. How does partition occur when the support for seperation is at 30 percent?? For partition to be an option then you need to have higher support for seperation. How many years will it take for seperation to move back to 50 percent..it may never happen or it may take 10-20 years..

      Then even if a referendum is called..lets be optimistic and say in 10 years..then how likely will it pass..and then if it does pass..how many years of negotiation would take place where perhaps partition would be discussed. How many more years would pass if partition has to be wrangled about in the legal courts..we will all be long gone by then. And for the rest of our lives we will be living in a province where french-english relations will be sky high..where there could very well be widespread violence..where real esstate values will plummet to depths not imagines..where unemployment and poverty will be high. Do you really think its worth it cutie..have you really thought this over.

      Again if thats all you are placing hope on then you will be so disappointed..what we have some hope on now is that a party like the CAQ which is composed of seperatists and federalists will move this province back to the right or at least the centre..will move us in a better direction. Thats the real concrete hope we have..otherwise it will be more of the same decline under the PQ or the Liberals.

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    6. What you don't seem to understand is what I would like is to see this place partitioned based on a referendum called by the real elected Federal Government of Canada and not at the whim of the separatists. The referendum issue is always hanging over our heads like a damn guillotine and has been for 40 years - it's time to put a stop to the threats and hold the separatist politicians responsible for the problems they continuously cause. Let's get a FINAL referendum, called by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and ensure that it's the very last one. Following a referendum, if there are areas of quebec that are 60% separatist and want their own country, let them go. Checkerboard or not, a final decision as to who belongs where will be made and those that vote to stay sign the constitution with Canada and we get where we need to go which is back to a normal life with our rights intact. Someone has to get this solved or it will go on for another 1000 years of politically manipulating the emotional miscreants that seem to come out every time their obsession with language takes over - They are either in or out. Get it over with or we will never have economic stability in the province. Even if the CAQ were in power, and they are basically separatist, economic stability will never happen until the damn threat of leaving Canada stops and they stop concentrating on driving out every vote except pur laine french - stupid idiots! If there is some law stopping the Federal Government from holding a referendum in Quebec, I sure don't know about it but should the ROC decide to kick us out we'll be in even greater problems than we are now and they are pretty fed up supporting the bum lifestyle of the separatists that encourage their voters with every policy they pass to make them believe it is a realistic lifestyle.

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  11. And by the way, Charest tried to stop the silly students from behaving like animals and, as usual, the PQ bent over and kissed their asses and cut Charest's throat by retracting the bill that he put into effect to stop them running the streets. Again, anything for votes in this province.

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    1. And then the PQunt turned around and screwed over the education system even more by slashing the budgets once the school year had already started. But I don‘t see the crotté rouge hitting the streets to protest that. Oh yeah, that‘s right, the student strike was just the unions and PQunt trying to push Charest out of power. It really had nothing to do with improving post secondary access and quality.

      Delete
    2. Charest was a corrupt crooked leader who had 9 years to change the way Quebec was run..he totally failed. He did nothing to weaken the unions strength on this province..nothing to reduce the debt burden..more corruption occurred under his watch than arguably any other premier in history. He fights tooth and nail for 2 years to not call a commission on the widespread corruption. When the commission is finally about to start he calls an election 2 weeks before..what an arrogant useless and corrupt leader he was. How much more dirt do we need to hear when Charest was in charge and you still support this man..it means you are utterly brainwashed Cutie..if you would rather have federalist criminals running the province than competent neutral politicans.

      Charest in his incredible arrogance completely ignored the students until the very last minute..he could have at least talked to them..but no..he was playing the tough guy role and then totally collapsed at the end by giving in to their demands.

      Delete
    3. James John - The PQ and the Liberals have mismanaged this province for decades..but again what are you and the anglophones here going to do about it..??? You are going to do the same thing you always do and vote for the Liberals..no more excuses..you all choose to elect the same bums over and over. The Liberals treat the anglophones like dirt..its incredibly insulting..they barely even pop by to talk to the english community except when there is a tight election race..they treat us with such disdain..its incredible to me that you all do the same thing over and over and keep expecting things to change.
      9 years the Liberals had..thats a long time..what did they accomplish..they increased the debt by another 60 billion dollars or so..oversaw the worst corruption scnadals in history involving many of their own..they did next to nothing for the anglo community. Its such an abusive relationship..its like an abusive marriage..the Liberals are the wife-beater and the anglos the wife..the wife feels like she has no choice but to stay.
      None of you can expect anything to change if you dont change your way of acting..

      Delete
    4. Charest‘s best move in 9 years was ignoring the student leaders. Tuition was frozen for 22 years, it was time for it to go up.
      He even added to the loans and bursary programs to help lower income students.
      Wtf, he was supposed to negotiate with pampered elitist 20 year olds and a student for life parasite over our tax money? No. For once he made the right move.

      Delete
    5. I don‘t know why you are blasting anglos, we are what? 8% and concentrated in a few ridings.
      I am no fan of the Liberals, they are just infinitely better than the PQunt. If my riding was up in the air between PQ or CAQ I would vote for the CAQ in a heartbeat. I actually convinced several people I know to do this. I actually wish both parties would form a coalition and throw out the PQunt. I wouldn‘t mind if the parties merged, especially in light of the hideous PQ/QS agreement on the horizon.
      The problem is not scared anglos, its a combination of 31.9% of voters who are racist, backward, leftist bougons and a flawed electoral system. If the PQunt didn‘t exist many anglos would vote for your precious Legault.

      Delete
    6. Many of the 31.9 percent voted for the PQ because they were disgusted with the corruption under the Liberal regime.
      There must be around 20 ridings that the Liberals won because of the anglo vote..thats a significant number of ridings.
      I am blasting the anglos because they come on this forum and whine and whine about the state of affairs in Quebecistan..about the high taxes..about the debt..about corruption..and what do they do about it???
      They vote en masse for the same Liberal government election after election. It drives me up the wall..how can anything change when people keep electing the same parties to power that have long proven they are incapable of running this province..

      Charest came across as incredibly arrogant and lets not forget the number of scandals his government was involved in at the time. Hence he had little credibility to begin with given the amount of money wasted uner his watch. He did a horrible job of explaining to Quebecers why tuition fees had to rise..he should have held a press conference much earlier explaining why we could not afford to keep tuition fees lower. Instead he ran and hide and let his incompetent education minister deal with it..
      then being the coward she is then quit..then Charest backed down and said they would spread it out over 7 years. That showed a sign of weakeness and then the students pounced on him.

      Delete
    7. Whom do you suggest Anglos vote for? The PQ who treat us as a pestilence that must be erradicated? The CAQ (PQ Lite) or Quebec Solidaire (PQ extra crazy featuring Amir Khadir)?

      The Liberals are simply the least bad option.

      Delete
    8. I would like to see a list of these 20 ridings where anglos could have swayed the vote had they voted for the CAQ. I never really knew we held so much power!
      Funny you rip non stop on anglos yet you are ok with those who voted PQ cause they were tired of the corruption of the Liberals. Why did they go for an overbearing, ethnocentric racist party when they had the neutral option of the CAQ? Could it be that Legault didn‘t engage in enough racist rhetoric or they felt his right of centre stance threatened their BS existence? Those people are a way bigger drag on Quebec then 8% scared anglos.
      And why stop at anglos? Allos also vote overwhelmingly for the Liberals, too.
      And the student “crisis“ was lose lose for Charest. Had he stepped in he would have been accused of being an overbearing, meddling dictator. As it is, his flawed stance was a million times better than Marois who got on her knees for them.

      Delete
    9. The only psrty that is talking about seriously reforming the Quebecistan reality is the CAQ..their policies are as far to the right as is humanly possible in Quebec. Hence if you want to see us move towards the right then there is only one choice otherwise stop whining.
      Add up the ridings in west Montreal..west of Montreal and in the Gatineau area..there are significant number of anglophones in about 20 ridings. Any riding which is majority anglo or allo votes overwhelmingly for the Liberals.
      Please tell me why the CAQ is PQ-lite..their policies are much more to the right of the PQ..they are more to the right than the Liberals..the only reason many anglos dont trust the CAQ is because Legault used to be in the PQ and that trumps everything else..it doesnt matter that his policies are closer to what most anglos want..that many of his candidates are federalists..that he was a successful businessman hence knows how to count unlike most lawyer dominated politicians..that he is alone in talking about taking on the unions.
      If Charest had used the media early on to get his message out on the debt situation in Quebec and how lucky students have it here compared to the rest of Canada..he never made the case in the public forum. He hid for much of his term..never heard much about him..he definitely hid during the student crisis until it was too late..then he suddenly extends the increase to 7 years and add more money for bursaries.

      Delete
    10. OMG - CAQ, CAQ, separatist except no referendum for 10 years. What the hell? So for sure we have a date with destiny in 10 years except we are not quite so bankrupt - so what? Same instability except we now have a date - solves nothing!

      Delete
    11. Il y a une contradiction dans votre discours cutie :D'une main,vous accusez le Québec d'être une honte pour le canada pour sa corruption et de l'autre main,vous êtes prête à remettre votre X sur le parti politique le plus corrompu que le Québec ai connu.

      Cherchez l'erreur.

      Delete
    12. JC complicated = They are all crooked - the libs no more than the PQ - don't you get it? Corruption is rampant here and everyone who earns over $40,000 a year is on the take. Provincial, municipal, does not matter - everyone has their hands dirty in one way or another.

      Delete
    13. Right on Bill - Nothings going to change my mind at the present time with the options we have.

      Delete
    14. Now, I'll admit that living in Ontario I don't have first hand experience, but from what I've read and heard, the Liberals weren't exactly falling over themselves to accomodate the anglos/allos. My impression was that they were going after some of the PQ vote by hiring extra language storm troopers and adopting other PQ-esque policies. In this case, voting for the Liberals seems like preferring the thug who beats you with the wooden club over the one that uses the steel bar. I'm inclined to agree with Complicated: if you know for sure two of the three apples are bad, why not take a chance on the third one? Really Cutie, if you think everyone who makes over $40k/year is corrupt, why would you want to stay there even if your beloved partition came to pass?

      Delete
    15. No - I agree - we picked the best of the worst as we don't have much of a choice in this place. Now that the corruption has been put to the public, perhaps people will have better ethical guidelines in their workplace.

      Delete
    16. François Legault was a hardcore péquiste and his 11 years with the PQ are his Achilles’ heel (or the albatross around his neck, if you prefer that metaphor). Suppose Jean Charest were now to renounce federalism and say “Let’s not talk about separation for 10 years”, do you actually believe seppies would be flocking to support his new party? Get real!

      When Legault (who was born in the West Island, which is one of the most anglophone areas of Quebec, and thus should know better) campaigned for the CAQ there, he didn’t even bother to utter one single word of English to his potential constituents. This is how he expects to make anglophones take a chance on his brand-new, untested party?!? Pfft! The CAQ might have had a better chance with anglos if Legault had chosen a less prominent role than that of party leader.

      Delete
    17. I would like to see just one man stand up and say that he will run for office and sign the constitution so quebec can progress - it will never happen in my lifetime but I would to see the reaction of the people. They would then have a REAL choice to make. This ongoing torture or vote to get back to the real world. Would be interesting to say the least.

      Delete
  12. What a mess this country has become.

    "We don’t want the party to end, the “free” trips, expense accounts…perks, gold plated pensions, free this, free that…Yes indeed, see we in government, are all entitled to our entitlements folks and we can’t stop that, at least not until we retire. Our unions say so, it’s ours and we want it now...$$” Nice eh? See what working for government has become? Go look at all the debt mounting. Governments all across Canada, the US… have been on a hiring binge, a spending spree for decades now. Government = police, fire, hospitals, teachers, lawyers…= high salaries, bonuses, pensions, perks… all out of control for decades now = More and more debt…making the connection yet?

    Remember-The liberals, NDP brought in a lot of this expensive nonsense, bilingualism ( code for forced French and government jobs for the french, only outside Quebec while Kebec bans our language and history, bills 22, 178, 101…), multiculturalism, the charter, phony rights this, rights that, phony green crap…all this big government, high taxes BS but the Conservatives have done nothing to repeal any of this crap federally or provincially.

    “Conservatives” have allowed all of these expensive, divisive liberal polices, and departments to remain. How come?

    Solution? Well only one folks - We need a new party, a new leader willing to deal with the facts, the truth for a change. We need a real fiscally conservative, common sense leader/party…. Things need to be cut, reduced and eliminated in all government. Government is too big, intrusive, and they are accumulating too much debt, year after year after year. That’s right let’s get cutting non essential services, expensive waste, bilingualism, multiculturalism, phony rights departments…the charter, CBC, all this green nonsense, bring in a government salary cap, a hiring freeze, reduce pensions… all sorts of big government BS. The future is at stake here and no one is willing to deal with this, how sad, how pathetic, all of you clowns in government and mainstream media.

    The real issue that no-one is talking about is the private sector versus government sector. Government hiring, spending and debt is out of control and has been for decades. This is the great divide in Canada and its getting worse yearly.

    "If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to do so."-Thomas Jefferson

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  13. FROM ED BROWN
    When a lie is told over and over it becomes reality in the minds of honest men. people say it must be true,
    I've heard it before. Unfortunately it is still a lie. Rumours are what Complicated thrives on. He calls
    Charest crooked even though the man has not even a charge against him. The one Liberal accused at the Corruption Commission has no connection to Jean Charest or the party. He was an outside money raiser hoping to buy favours. Charest remembers how the two gang busters that Drapeau imported from France and Enlgand ran
    home with their tails between their legs when they found out that they had no support since the police were corrupted and on the side of the Mafia. J.C. did not want to get himself or his family killed. He called an investigation when the turncoat Duscheneau came along but like any other politician Duscheneau turned on him. He now says the opposite to what he said back then about Charest.So washe lying then or now. It was rumour mongers like Ciomplicated that caused the Liberals to lose. People who knew nothing but rumours (Read lies) ebcouraged voting for the CAQ and thanks to these rumour mongers we have a PQ government. Complicated says "Charest was a corrupt crooked leader who did nothing for nine years"
    He kept the french office in their place. Most of the large companies we have employing tens of thousands came in because he exuded confidence. he kept the economy going forward. Thanks to Compllicated and his like,it is at a dead stop. He kept the PQ out of our hair until a bunch of Complicated expanded a lie to end his chances. At one point before the election Complicated said he was for the marchers in the streets if it would get Charest out of office. Well Complicated you got what you ask for, how didthat work out for you? Ed A RUMOUR IS A LIE UNTIL IT IS PROVEN. IF A MAN CONTINUES TO REPEAT A RUMOUR HE IS A LIAR.

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    1. Right on Ed - The only guy named so far was not connected to Charest. Wait and see before we condemn the man. Complicated is running for office for sure. AND BY THE WAY, YOU STOP WHINING AND BLAMING THE ANGLOPHONES FOR ALL THE SHIT GOING ON IN THE PROVINCE. Frankly, I'm sick to death of you blaming everyone except the separatists for this mess.

      Delete
    2. Ed - You are in such serious denial. If you arent convinced now that the Liberals were crroked after all the revelations via the Charbonnear commission and even before then you are one of those who really believes what he wants to believe. You have a powerful filter on that always makes the Liberals look like angels. And lets not even talk about the corruption within the Liberals..what about the amounts of corruption that happened within the city of Montreal and the construction industry while the Liberals were in power..they must have been living under a rock not to have noticed that. They presided over 9 years of probably the most rampant corruption in history within Quebec and did nothing or pretended that nothing was going on. How you can come on here with a straight face and deny all of this is beyond me. You have proven to be the typical stubborn anglo who would rather support criminals and/or incompetents running the province. Charest did nothing to keep the french in their place as you say..he expanded the office de la langue francaise..he was rarely seen in english parts of Quebec..he bent over backwards to appeal to the francophone vote as he knew the anglos would contine to vote for him no matter what. Do you like being treated like dirt Ed..do you like a party that takes you for granted..that does absolutely nothing to defend your community..that allows and participates in widespread corruption. If you cant seen how much corruption the Liberals were involved in then you truly are blind.
      You all come on here whining incressantly about high taxes, corruption, high debt, anti-business practices, powerful unions and what do most of you do...you vote for the same party that maintains these practices..that is called insanity..keep doing the same thing and you will get the same result..

      Delete
  14. And just on the news, poor poor Mr. Lisee, along with his $150,000 MNA salary, was collecting $8000.00 plus a month from a university and, although Ms. Pee says there is nothing wrong with that, he will give the university salary to charities in his riding. I hereby promise, if someone pays me $150,000, I will also give a fair share to charity. OK everyone? I'm looking for a job. Thank you. For my CV, please request by private e-mail. Thank you. Bunch of crooks.

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  15. You wish. The gov will fleece as deep as citizens permit it and I have not seen any concrete action to stop the abuse. Ever. Whinning does not count. French language is the racket by which wealth is transferred out of the pockets of importations (like me) and Anglos into the pocket of the fascists. They want everybody in Canada to pay them dearly for joual: jobs in the federal gov, jobs in the provincial gov, money for "culture", money for "teaching" us joual and so on. We are the suckers to pay for life for Boisclair and Lisee. And Anglos are needed in the province to backmail the federal to transfer those perequation money. I still maintain we need a party to get toghether the immigrant and Anglo vote and I see no other solution.

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    1. Sure would be nice Anonymous but so far haven't seen any potential for it. The separatists keep splitting inwardly and creating new parties but haven't seen the same for the fed party.

      Delete
  16. Let's not forget the biggest expense people have in their lives: HOUSING! Vancouver makes Quebec look cheap despite all these minimum prices and higher taxes. There's just no getting around paying hundreds of thousands more for a roof when the median income isn't even an extra $10,000/year from what Quebeckers earn.

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    1. Funny thing about the Canadian housing market, Carney (Mr. 0%) and Harper have blown a Canadian housing bubble after the American housing bubble burst. We now have something that is purportionately larger than Fannie May!

      Only three short years ago; Canada’s financial system was the envy of the entire world. Today its financial sector is just another bankers’ Ponzi-scheme. At precisely the same time that the U.S. is belatedly dismantling (fraud-ridden) Fannie Mae, Harper’s government has been rapidly building Canada’s own “Fannie Mae”: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

      The CMHC has been buying-up mortgages so fast that the Harper government has had to raise its legal borrowing limit twice just since the Conservatives took power, and will soon raise it a third time as it nears its new limit of $600 billion. In proportionate terms it is now larger than Fannie Mae (at its peak), and this occurs as a Euro Pacific Capital report reveals that, “Once small, Canada’s sub-prime mortgage industry is now booming.” It goes on to report that there are now $500 billion in “high-risk mortgages” in Canada’s housing market – nearly half of the entire mortgage market."


      Canadian Housing Bubble Nears Implosion

      DD

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    2. Mark my words here - Mark Carney will be a name to be loathed in 2-3 years. He presided over the easiest credit in Canadian history which created a huge housing bubble especially in Vancouver Toronto and Calgary..but all cities saw real estate go to crazy values even here in chronically depressed Montreal. The bubble is popping now and within 2 years prices will be 10 to 20 percent lower and there will be lots of people whining..people who were dumb enough to buy property with little money down and within the past few years. Carney did exactly what Allan Greenspan did..he kept interest rates artificially low which encouraged ramp speculation..Jim Flaherty was dumb enough to expand mortgages to 40 years which meant that practically anybody could afford to buy a 400,000 dollar house. The media has elevated Msrk Carney to rock star status which is such a perversion..all the guy dis was lower interest rates to near zero and keep them there..what vision..and then talk out of the other side of his mouth about the high debt levels in Canada being a problem. Hmmm...it seems Mr.Carney that your easy credit policies encouraged Canadians to take on more debt so how can you at the same time mention that debt levels are too high..what a hypocritical idiot. And now conveniently he is running off to England to screw up their system and escape the housing bubble here..

      Delete
    3. All of what you say, while true, is optimistic! The more important point in that article is :

      Why would the Conservative government take the world’s strongest, safest financial system and turn it into a U.S.-style, house-of-cards? Why would Canada’s “strong, safe” banks destroy themselves by amassing massive portfolios of Ponzi-mortgages? Because Stephen Harper and Canada’s Big Banks have now set themselves up for the same “too big to fail” Orgy of Mooching which took place in the U.S. in 2008.

      Wonder how Canadians feel about becoming a Banker Welfare state while government cuts programs? It's not like we don't already give the top 5 Canadian banks over $150 million a day in FREE money already!

      Are you smarter than a Canadian seventh grader?

      DD

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    4. Mark Carney is such a rock star in the world of finance and economics (Bachelor’s degree from Harvard, Master’s and Doctorate from Oxford, 13 years around the globe with Goldman Sachs, Governor of the Bank of Canada) that the (ever so gullible?) British finally succeeded in poaching him as their next Governor of the Bank of England, the first-ever foreigner to ever hold that post, by doubling the already-extraordinary salary of the incumbent.

      Meanwhile, Mr. complicated (who??) assures us that Carney’s name will be loathed in 2-3 years. Luckily for Mr. complicated, his comment will be completely forgotten in 2-3 weeks, never mind 2-3 years, so that he and his blog post commentary will never be held to account.

      Delete
    5. Sorry R.S, whatever you think of Complicated, in this he is correct! Carney, through fraudulent interest rates, also hurt Canadas' FIRE industry (financial, insurance, and real estate.

      How? Your pension fund, insurance company and many others depend on interest from AAA rated investments (required by law)to function! Our current fraudulent interest rate destroys their business model and your pension/savings.

      Why do I say this interest rate is fraudulent? At a time when governments have more debt than ever (maximum supply), we have the lowest rates on that debt (highest price). Basic law of supply and demand says this is:
      a)backwards
      b)fraud/manipulation

      All of the above doesn't include how he's trashed the purchasing power of the Canadian dollar - always close to the American dollar - never to appreciate.

      DD

      Delete
  17. The Editor wrote:

    And let us not forget the head office and corporate exodus that devastated Quebec in the seventies and eighties. The damage done was inestimable.
    Take for example the most famous of these corporations who fled the province, Sun Life of Canada. Today the 8,000 head office jobs in Ontario means an above-average paycheck supporting over 32,000 families and if we are to add those ancillary jobs created in other companies supporting the Sun Life concern, it amounts to well over 20,000 jobs, enough to support a city of 80,000 people in Quebec.
    And in addition to all the money these Sun Life employees spend in their communities, consider all the taxes remitted to the government including income tax, sales tax, property tax, etc. etc.
    And that is the story of but one company, the same story has played out a hundred times over.


    This is the story I like to tell those in Quebec who say that Bill 101 is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

    What is the tallest habitable building in Canada? The First Canadian Place in Toronto. Corner of Bay and King. Why is it called "First Canadian"? Because it houses the first bank established in Canada, the Bank of Montreal. It is the operational HQ of BMO. Compared the activities there with the legal HQ of BMO at Place d'Armes. True, building in Montreal is beautiful and historic, but how many jobs it provides and how much revenue it generates for its community?

    The same goes also to RBC, Bell, Air Canada, among others.

    A little bit of emphasis for the Editor's point. After moving out of Montreal, Sun Life Financial has been growing. The building in Toronto King St. is actually the global HQ. SLF Canada HQ is in Waterloo, ON. Imagine that. How much Quebec lost to Ontario. So much so that the SLF does not even fully occupy the historic Sun Life Building in Montreal Metcalfe St.

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  18. FROM ED BROWN
    Sun Life was one of the last to go but they were open and honest about it. They said the French language laws were forcing them out and the separatists blew thier top. Most of the other companies went quietly. Sun Life had to go because they were dealing mainly in group life. group policies are handled through the head offices, most of which were gone. The Sun Life building was a magnifecent structure and the tallest building in Canada for many years. It used to have the search light on top which we now see from Place Ville Marie. Ed

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  19. And in the ottawacitizen.com/opinion - Editorial this morning "Assault on Anglos". Now is the time to compose some e-mails and send them in for publication after you read the article. Start standing up for your freedom and let people know what is going on in this province. We need the politicians and the people to know we've had enough of this crap.

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    1. "Assault on Anglos"

      Wow!Nouveau comme phénomène.Pas de hockey,pas de chasse aux anglos?L'hiver va être looooong...

      Delete
    2. There's also an article in the Ottawa Sun about another potential mass exodus of people from Quebec, and this time it may include many young, wealthy and well-educated Francophones too.

      Jacques Villeneuve, the Formula One race car driver, has put both of his multi-million dollar homes up for sale and is planning to leave Quebec.

      http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/12/12/quebec-exodus-part-ii

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    3. Isn't it sad - we lose our young, our brightest, our richest all because of the separatist agenda and no one can do one damn thing about it except hope for better next election. Sickening - we have to let those areas go that want to go

      Delete
    4. That article has a link to the website quitterlequebec.com and among the several hundred testimonials that people have posted there, we can see that it is overwhelmingly francophones who are fed up with seppies and leaving Quebec these days.

      http://www.quitterlequebec.com/temoignages/


      Good job with your race to the bottom, language-obsessed pequistes!

      Delete
    5. Notre agenda fonctionne assez bien,les indésirables fédérastes prennent la 401...Le seul problème est que plusieurs reviennent après quelques années à l'extérieur.

      Delete
    6. Good at least one acknowledges joual laws are ethnic cleansing.

      Delete
    7. I wonder how many other Canadian provinces (or American states for that matter) (or, in fact, any place!) have managed by their policies to entice people to create a website dedicated to explain their reasons for leaving the said territory.

      Delete
  20. FROM ED BROWN
    DIOGENES, the Diogenes of old is said to have travelled through the country side with a lantern, searching for an honest man. I suggest you do the same. Before you tell us that Complicated is right read the posts by others on this site, almost everyone disagrees with him, but he chooses to spread untruths. You ask why not take the third party. We did, that's why we have the PQ. The Liberals walked a fine line trying to keep francophones happy and get their votes so they could stay in office. They did the best they could for anglos
    and when push came to shove they kept us in Canada. Jean Charest led the fight against the separation referendum that almost divided Canada while Lrgault was fanning the flames for the PQ. Thanks to Jean Charest and the LIberal Party we are still Canadians. The Liberals kept Quebec open for business, we are at a dead stop now. Under the Libs we did not have race rage. The CAQ will only split the anglo vote again. Ed

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    1. I agree Ed - the split for the anglo vote would let the crazy seppies in with a majority. If it had not been for the CAQ, we would probably have had a liberal majority and no new Bill 14 being put forward for vote to further limit and hurt the anglo community. There is no stopping these language bigots without voting for the liberals; whether we like it or not, they are our only option to stop the majority of PQ.

      Delete
    2. Ed - Thats a total lie. I have already pointed out to you that its the stubborn Liberal vote that gave the PQ the victory. I went and looked at the results from each riding and it was the CAQ that finished a close second to the PQ in more ridings than the Liberals did. What that means is that if some Liberals had supported the CAQ then by default the Liberals could have easily won the election..with the help of the CAQ. Its the CAQ that was much more competitive among the important francophone vote..if a few more Liberals had swung over to the CAQ in these important ridings then the CAQ could have easily taken 5-10 more seats and we would have ended up with the Liberals ironically winning with 50 the PQ in the upper 40s and the CAQ in the mid twenties. By the way our electoral system is totally perverted..if the seats actually reflected the will of the people we would have had about 40 seats for the PQ, 39 for the Libs, 34 for the CAQ and 11 between the QS and ON.
      Thanks to Jean Charest we added 60 billion dollars to the debt in 9 years, we still pay by far the highest taxes in Canada, he presided over the most corrupt regime in history, the unions continue to rule this province, our economy remains chronically weaker than the rest of the country, the mean income of quebecers is now almost in last place in canada, the anglos continued to be totally ignored taken for granted and disrespected. Thats the reality ED and you are the one spreading lies based on emotion not based on fact..

      Delete
    3. It is the regions that gave PQ the victory b/c their vote counts more than a riding here. Should have people voted CAQ instead of PLQ, then PQ would have been the same, CAQ would have had 50 or whatever seats and PLQ 19. Nothing would have changed in governance.

      Delete
    4. Ed - Since you are so stubborn here is a listing of all the ridings that the CAQ finished a close second and could have won if some Liberals had switched to their side..the vast majority were by only 2-3 thousand votes.

      Bertrand, Rousseau, Mirabel, Deux Montagnes (1000 votes), Ste.Rose, Terrebonne, Masson, Richelieu, Johnson (CAQ lost by 500 votes), St Hyacinthe, Borduras, Taillon, Vachon, Sanguinet, St.Jean, Iberville, Orford, Champlain


      On the Liberal side I found 4 ridings the Libs could have won with the help of CAQ voters..

      St.Francois, Laval des Rapides, Cremazie and Taschereau

      If you want to verify this then please go to the following link:

      http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/elections/riding-by-riding-results-quebec-election-2012/article4518488/

      Mouse over the ridings for the actual numbers.

      So there were four times as many ridings where the CAQ could have won with a bit more support from Liberal voters. And it was known before the election via websites such as tooclosetocall that the CAQ was polling second in many of these ridings. So another 10-20,000 votes for the CAQ would have ironically given the Liberals a victory. That is why I was pushing so hard for people to either vote for the strongest of the Liberal or CAQ candidate in their respective riding.

      Its the CAQ who are the most competitive with the important francophone vote not the Liberals. And its the CAQ that got ripped off the most with our first past the post system as they finished second in many many ridings.

      Delete
    5. A further note to the numbers in my previous post. The 18 ridings that the CAQ were second were ridings that the PQ won and the 4 where the Libs were second were also where the PQ won.
      Again my point is that the CAQ were the main challenger to the PQ in 4 times as many ridings and were often just 2-3000 voted away from winning.

      Delete
    6. Then why are you just blaming anglos? What about the francophone liberal voters or the 40% of francophone voters who went with the racist PQ instead of the Caq?
      And don‘t rant at me again about voting liberal, had the caq been the main challenger to the PQ in my riding I would have voted for them in a heartbeat. I actually convinced several people to go this way.

      Delete
    7. In my riding all I would have done was split the vote by going with the CAQ anyway so stop bitching at me about it also.

      Delete
    8. My point was against what Ed said. What he said was that it was the CAQ that split the vote which made the Liberals lose. This is completely false and I want people to understand that because thats a big myth. The reality is that it was the stubborn Liberal vote which cost many potential CAQ seats and ironically indirectly led to their own defeat..again look at the numbers if you dont believe me.

      I am blaming the anglos because they never change their ways..they come on here whining about the same issues day after day yet they continue to elect the Liberals over and over. At least the francophone vote has smartened up and is starting to realize that both the PQ and the Liberals are incompetent. I suspect this trend will continue..there will be a growing movement away from the two mainstream parties because both parties have proven over the past 50 years that they cant manage anything properly.

      Meanwhile the anglos continue to be stuck in some sort of time warp. I would love to live in a riding where the CAQ is competitive but its not even close where I live..its incredible the margins the Liberals win in west Montreal. You could run anybody in west Montreal as a Liberal and they would win.
      Wgat does that tell you about the mentality of most people..they are completely brainwashed..it doesnt matter how much the Liberals screw up or how corrupt they are or how indifferent they are to the anglos..they still get elected. Thats why I am venting so much..its incredibly frustrating to see such utter lack of reason from so many people. I personally am sick and tired of my vote counting for nothing because I happen to live in an area where everybody votes for the Liberals..my vcte becomes meaningless in our archaic first past the post system. And yes cutie I have supported fair vote canada for many years and written all sorts of people about changing our ridiculous electoral system. But of course this system works wonders for the mainsteam parties who have nothing to gain by implementing it.

      Delete
    9. Jeez Ed, someone must have peed on your cornflakes this morning. I rarely agree with Complicated, but that doesn't mean he's ALWAYS wrong. I don't see too many honest politicians of any stripe in Quebec and, after 9 years in power I doubt if Charest & co. were paragons of virtue. The Liberals take people like you and Cutie for granted and know that, short of lining anglos up against the wall and shooting them, they've got your vote. Your defense of them makes it sound like you're suffering from a mild case of Stockholm Syndrome.

      Delete
    10. I fail to see how the CAQ would be better for anglos. So far I have only seen Legault going around the West Island shaking hands and not being hateful. If they want anglos to switch over from the safe Liberals they will have to work for it. Do something like promise in no uncertain terms to repeal Bill 14. But does Legault have the balls to be labelled “pro anglo“ by the PQunt controlled media?
      Like it or not people vote Liberal to shield themselves from the disgusting PQ. And no, people don‘t understand how the voting system works, that‘s why they didn‘t vote Caq in those ridings.
      It seems like Quebec City is the only place that can consistently change their votes without falling into the hands of the racists.

      Delete
    11. Again, our only option in this province. Still have yet to see proof of who and what party is responsible for all the graft except municipal. When we have a true choice in this province, the liberals may not get all the assumed support - right now we have no one else that can provide any stability whatsoever.

      Delete
    12. Ok, so the Liberals know they can't lose your vote and the PQ knows they can't possibly get it. That doesn't give you guys much leverage does it? No wonder you get treated like crap by both.

      Delete
    13. I fully agree with your statement - enough to piss me off but there it is. Federalists are caught in this trap and have been for years and years. Not jumping to the CAQ unless they change their platform and become a federalist party. Fat chance of that.

      Delete
  21. Certains anglos n'ont vraiment pas de morale.

    ReplyDelete
  22. "Certains anglos n'ont vraiment pas de morale."

    Uh huh...--->

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-quebecoise/201212/12/01-4603245-maka-kotto-se-fait-rappeler-a-lordre.php

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On n'est loin de la corruption des "liberals".

      Delete
  23. FROM ED BROWN
    I don't answer Complicated it's like talking to a dead horse. Maybe someone else can help him see that if the CAQ actually got more votes in so many ridings they would be the Opposition party instead of the Liberals. This man would dig up a dead premier to question him about whether he is really dead and who did he vote for. Eighty percent of the blog today was wasted arguing with Complicated and still he maintains his position. He is a real troll wasting our time and space where we could be posting sensible items. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed I have given you the facts..the numbers. You cant dispute the numbers. Why dont you actually make a case based on factual results instead of just more empty rhetoric. Your statement about the Liberals losing because of the CAQ splitting the vote is completely false..its based on nothing but emotion and hot air. The facts are that the Liberal vote cost the CAQ between 5 and 15 seats..do the math ED..its not that hard..subtract 5 from the PQ numbers and add 5 to the CAQ..who would have won??

      The CAQ got royally screwed under our wonderful first past the post system which gave them 19 seats even though they got 27 percent of the vote..they should have around 34 seats if true democracy prevailed. I am not going to sit quietly while you spread false information around. I am sick and tired of hearing fallacies about the election concerning the splitting of the vote.

      Delete
    2. The electorate system is democratic. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the current administration, abolishing the parliamentary system and having governments being formed due to the number of votes alone is dangerous. It alienates farmers who can't compete with the population of cities, it alienates minority groups and it would all around have a negative affect on our quality of life. If it happened in, say, Manitoba, a candidate could say he would privatise all provincial roads outside of Winnipeg, close all hospitals and schools outside of Winnipeg, and could still have a chance of being elected because of Winnipeg's population relative to the rest of the province. The electoral system we have, while it may seem flawed to some, is much better than the alternatives.

      Delete
    3. EDM - True democracy is when all votes have equal weighting. We have a bastardized version of democracy in which some votes are worth much more than others. There is no justification at all for rural votes to count more than urban votes..that is totally unfair and anti-democratic. We have rural ridings in this country with 30 percent the population of some urban ridings..hence people in the rural riding have three times the clout..how can this be justified as a fair system??

      A much better system would be one in which we would rank our candidates in preference from one to five lets say. If one candidate does not get 50 percent of the votes from first choices then we add all the second choice until a candidate gets 50 percent of the vote. A much better reflection of what voters want.
      A huge reason why voter turnout is so low is because of our unfair electoral system. If everybody felt there vote was counted than many more people would vote. There are too many ridings across this country where peoples votes are totally wasted..west island Montreal, much of Alberta..its so one-sided in each riding that if one chooses another candidate it has zero impact and influence.
      I see nothing redeeming with the current system other than there is less of a chance of minority governments. But in the end I think minority governments are not so bad as it forces all the political parties to compromise..we dont have 4 years of effective dictatorship by one party.

      Delete
    4. If only Mr. complicated had followed this blog a little longer, he would have realized that this topic has already been discussed here again and again...

      Delete
  24. Pauline Marois vend le Plan Nord à New York

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-quebecoise/201212/13/01-4603588-pauline-marois-vend-le-plan-nord-a-new-york.php

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which Plan Nord? The one Charest set up? Hmmm....

      Delete
    2. S.R.,

      Below are the comments of your fellow Canadianson as posted on the CTV News website with respect to the article on Marois' trip. HA.Ha.

      Pere Noel
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:50 PM

      All Mme Marois, have you been a good politician so far in your three month mandate?! Oooh, je ne pense pas. Why do you come to New York USA? We are not interested in doing business with you where we have to spend lots of money to conform to your "norms". We do not wish to have OLF frapping sur la porte because we do not use french only, or have our world accepted signs changed. Now run along back north Mmme Marois and write "Je vais repenser mes idees et regles avant de decendre encore a New York" 1000 times and maybe, just maybe, you will have a english dictionary in your stocking.
      .


      Larry
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:44 PM

      I'm a french quebec citizen and I hate her! I'm so ashamed of her whenever she open hes mouth to speak french or english! Her old mentality is not the mentality of most of us. I hope that new yorker tell her to go home and stay there! Or they can trow her in jail for a few years, this will be better for all of us!
      .


      Mike Angloabused
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:42 PM

      What a useless government and leader we have right now in Quebec Yah sure she will travel the world to promote Quebec the new North American Dictatorship run by Language terroists!
      .


      Lady Doom
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:34 PM

      We're doomed. The New Yorkers are never going to come to Quebec. There goes our economy.... Thanks Mme Marois. Oh and just FYI... I work for a big company, and I still speak English.
      .


      jessica
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:30 PM

      how is she going to promote Quebec is she's the one that doesnt allow English to be in her town !?!?!?! tsk tsk
      .


      Brian.
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:28 PM

      If Any NY Company Comes To Do Business It Will Get Hit By The Quebec Language Police,Just Like Ben & Jerry's & So Many Others Have,This Woman Actually Thinks The World Doesn't Know About Her Racits Racical Political One Sided Apartheid Agenda.The Bottom Line Is Don't Trust Her Let Alone Be Part Or Support Any Of Her Separatits Goals. Come & Live a Few Years To Montreal Fellow New Yorkers You'll Get Your Wake-Up Call.
      .


      Karene
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:18 PM

      Pauline Marois reaching out to Anglo America is a little like Mel Gibson participating at a New York Synagogue in Chanukah festivities.
      .


      Tim
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:10 PM

      It is probably very good that Pauline takes another trip, as they say travel broadens the mind. Surely someone in Ny City will take her up on the International Bafffon image Parti Quebecois has and are busily augmenting each and every day!
      .


      Ozzie
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:01 PM

      Thought Homeland Security was supposed to be preventing any terrorists from getting in?
      .


      Mr John.
      Dec. 13, 2012
      2:01 PM

      Good one @Mike....But as you know she can make a fool of herself just by appearing anywhere outside Quebec. She was totally out of place with the other Premiers in Halifax recently...she really looked the stupid one.... I have a few contacts in France and they told me she was laughed at a lot about her VERY,VERY BAD gutter style French.The women is totally out of her realm when not in Quebec. Her and the whole gang are acting like this is a game....they do not have a clue on what they are doing... OMG the damage will be so hard to repair afterwards...IF at all.
      .


      Terry Cutler
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:56 PM

      I already do all of my shopping in Plattsburgh NY anyway, because I do not support a racist government who hires people to harass the business class. Did she tell the City of New York about how she hates the English? I think my little email to the NY will help open their eyes a little. Take that one as a personal attack on the PQ!
      .


      Delete
    3. Right on TS - Now Ms. Pee will claim it's her plan. Hope she tells the people of NY that the English have no freedom in quebec and they are not living under the Canadian Constitution. I hope New Yorkers realize that they have to learn french to invest here - only makes sense doesn't it? Funny, when they want money, they don't care that they knock Americans and English every day on this blog. Idiots again. Should send the blog address to the New York Times for publication and we'll see how many want to invest in this disaster of a province.

      Delete
    4. (2)

      aj from montreal
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:47 PM

      It seems that this new premier of quebec will HARDLY practice what she is preaching, protecting and promoting french while speaking ENGLISH in front of the int'l community like the U.S. If she wants to promote this corrupt province to the States, why then would the Americans feel obliged to do business with the anti-English francophones (I'm not saying ALL but some hard-liners who support the gov't)? Isn't that lunacy??

      (1)




      Tanya Papas
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:43 PM

      Oh she will pour on the charm and be so lovely and engaging with consilatory words. But face it talk is cheap especially with her and her crew as we are finding out and have always known. She will ensnare the gullible , trap them into coming to Quebec and then once settled hit them over the head with the hammer of PQ separatist crap once they are inside. Too late...didn't Jacques Parizeau coin it as "lobster in the pot"? That's what Quebec is ...a bunch of lobster stuck in a trap pot. Hell they've even went to the streets banging on pots all summer and didn't once take a hard look inside and see their own reflections in them!
      .


      Lemmonn
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:36 PM

      Probably just an excuse to do some Christmas shopping where the taxes are lower than in Quebec I'd like to know if she supports Quebec merchants or is she coming back with a private plane full of cargo.
      .


      Cynthia
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:34 PM

      She's not interested in CANADA and "Harper" as she says it but is turning to the States? Has she ever been out of her "Quebec bubble" to know that New York is ENGLISH?!
      .


      Millicent Wendy
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:33 PM

      LOL! Why didn't she just send Bonhomme the snowman since she was too "special and distinct" to speak on the Christmas special for "This Hour Has 22 minutes" like the other Premiers of Canada's provinces/territories did. Bonhomme just smiled and giggled since Pauline was too busy being a separtist. Americans don't want rogues messing within North America's boundaries. They won't like her - not especially since she and her ilk are threatening of all things American "Ben & Jerry" ice cream!
      .


      Marc77
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:25 PM

      Why would the US want to invest in Quebec, when they are treated like shit when they come down for a visit!! Get your people "quebecers" to respect and appreciate the English speaking people as we do the french language, and maybe they would consider investing then!! every time i go to the US i'm embarrassed to tell them where i'm from, because i know they hate us!! we had to change our quebec license plate in florida because our car kept being vandalized! since i changed it i never had a problem again!!! i hope the US makes a smart decision and stay away!! tell her to fix her useless problems and then come talk to us!!
      .

      Delete
    5. (3)

      Cynic
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:24 PM

      PSST - Pauli - They speak ENGLISH in New York - what ya gonna do? You tink just for you dey will get someone who can understand what you call French but, in reality, is a bastardization of the TRUE FRENCH which is a Beautiful language. I'm sure the business people there cannot wait to hear what you have to say - NOT!! OOPS, I almost forgot, gotta protect Franglaise at all costs even if it means that no outside business will want to relocate here if they must adhere to you inane guidelines!
      .


      Cyberdude
      Dec. 13, 2012
      1:08 PM

      Has she arranged for instantaneous translation for her audience, or will they just be handing out copies of le Petit Robert and hoping for the best. BTW - Saint-Lazare sends it's love. Thanks for killing the trickle of bilingualism we had.
      .


      john
      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:42 PM

      Hey Pauline , STAY THERE SVP



      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:42 PM

      Hey Pauline , STAY THERE SVP
      .


      g.romano
      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:34 PM

      how can she promote people to come to Quebec when we have problems with language here. wow good luck Mme.Marois.I hope she will address them in English.
      .


      Mike
      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:25 PM

      two face, pure and simple. If only one CEO could question her on her actions and make her look like a fool.
      .


      steve
      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:06 PM

      Maybe she can explain to the business community in New York that one of her language generals was recently in an american ice cream parlour here in montreal ( Ben and Jerry's ) and wanted them to change the name of their Cherry Garcia icecream to Cerises Garcia. Come on queen Pauline what do you have to be ashamed of.
      .


      Lula
      Dec. 13, 2012
      12:01 PM

      I read an article in the Gazette where it mentioned that Marois has "handlers" What does that mean exactly? I've never come across this term where humans are involved, only animals. Does this mean that she and her party are a "2 pony act"???The Americans won't be fooled....
      .


      marc
      Dec. 13, 2012
      11:48 AM

      I would love to see them not show up to the meeting... I wonder if they are going to have Poutines for snack.
      .


      Sarah
      Dec. 13, 2012
      11:03 AM

      hm...let's see,..."we would like you to come invest in our "nation", it does not take much, you'll only need to change your signs, logos and all your computers, copy machines to French and French only. Oh, and we do have higher than everywhere else's tax rate, but we might consider some working helmet for you just in case a falling brick falls on your head or if you got attacked by our STM workers. However, we'll not be responsible for our crumbling and infrastructures falling on your head, they are only decorative and your tax money will be used to pay for our language police." Now that's a good selling point!
      .


      Delete
    6. (4)

      Ivan
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:55 AM

      Wonder if she's demanding that all her meeting be held in french? NY, having such a huge French population and all - lol
      .


      lorjon
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:20 AM

      The U.S. business community is well aware that there is that faction in Quebec who want to separate and become a country. No matter how Pauline and JFL spin it in the most charming way in NY, they'll be dealing with top-level people who know how the game is played and who play it far, far better than these two ever will or can imagine.
      .


      tom91
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:16 AM

      Hypocrite!!!!
      .


      Jason
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:11 AM

      Is she going to let these potential investors from the US know that if they come to Quebec with their families, their children will have to go to French school?
      .


      Edweirdo
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:09 AM

      Someone should point out to her at this Foreign Policy meeting that if she is trying attract companies from the U.S. , the company will be under strict language regulation and that any children of prospective business owners will be forced to attend French school. Maybe a reporter from CTV could attend this meeting and bring this up.
      .


      Ron S
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:06 AM

      Will she be advising investors that the PQ still has it's sovereignty agenda and that their investments may not be all that safe after all ? Will she be asking for a quick Free Trade Agreement if she actually finds enough Quebecers to vote YES ? Will she inform them that her party places Sovereignty above Quebec's economic priorities ? Just what can she say to them in New York that will be positive for our economic priorities and will she be making the same statements there as she does here in Quebec ? Stay tuned; I feel another brainfart coming !!!
      .


      joe
      Dec. 13, 2012
      10:00 AM

      Jean francois lisee went along to hold poor pauline's hand.She doesn't speak english you know.
      .


      montrealer
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:58 AM

      I don't care what language Marois spoke when you visited the states, but if you are promoting Quebec over there, trying to attract business to Quebec, then please respect the Anglos' community here. What's the problem of speaking English here. You are doing contradicting things ALL THE TIME.
      .


      Coffeequeen
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:12 AM

      I just love how she picks and chooses when she speaks English....I'd bet money that she speaks it a heck of a lot better than she lets on.
      .


      steve
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:11 AM

      Is she going to let the americans know how she feels about the language they speak.
      .


      Sal
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:09 AM

      Does Pauline Marois think that New Yorkers will greet her in French? It's amazing how two faced this woman is... She'll tolerate English only when it's beneficial to Quebec... eh?? Very nasty woman !!
      .


      gene
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:08 AM

      pauline take note,new york has less government than quebec,lower taxes and if you want kids or go to university you have to pay.there are no language cops or 25 percent of the work force cashing government cheques.
      .


      Jerry
      Dec. 13, 2012
      9:05 AM

      Is she going to speak French to the Americans ? Maybe this will wake her up and let her know how the world operates. Millions of taxpayer dollars wasted on worrying about the french language. She needs English and so do all Quebecers if they decide to work or travel outside of Quebec. Quebec is in big troubles now and her plan will not help anything any time soon. She has no plan but to raise taxes. Jobs,education and healthcare are not even in the picture with this government. Things will get worse . Happy holidays
      .


      .




      Delete
    7. Good grief John..is there a point to the endless pages of rants from people who hate Pauline Marois?? I get it..a lot of mainly english speaking Quebecers dont like Pauline Marois..I think we all figured that out. Thanks for hitting us over the head with a 2000 pound brick..

      Delete
    8. Les amerlocs semblent très intéressés par nos ressources naturelles et comme notre puissance Hydro-électricité,nos richesses naturelles ne parlent qu'une langue : $

      Delete
    9. complicated,

      I can't help it if you lack a sense of humour and don't need any gratuitous advice from you. Why don't you spend your time trying to determine who was responsible for 9/11 which you said was a conspiracy instead of boring numerous readers of this blog with your endlessly repetitive attacks on the honesty of francophones? In fact, why don't you explain your lack of judgement in moving to Quebec which you appear to think is the worst place in the world?

      Delete
    10. Reflects how all federalists in the province feel about the separatists and their stupid, ignorant, racist, biased agenda. Everyone jump on this opportunity to let your feelings about our great separatist party be known. Write letters, your MNAs, the federal government, pressuring them to do something about the situation in quebec. Those areas that want to live like this have to be let go and the rest of us can live in a bilingual environment with our francophone friends. Elitist, miserable, anglo hating SOBs; they have to go!

      Delete
    11. The Indian's hydroelectric plants - their land, their property. And thank you John, I enjoyed reading the comments - never mind complicated - split personality there.

      Delete
    12. John - Didnt see much humor in your miles of rants..instead a lot of Marois-bashing from frustrated anglos. Maybe you find that hilarious..gets dull after awhile and seems pretty childish and petty.

      Oh now we are back to 9/11..since you brought it up why dont you actually take the time to look at some of the many scientific facts that totally contradict the official story. Here is a link full of scientific information..http://www.ae911truth.org/en/evidence.html

      Moving to Quebec was a poor decision..I do readily admit this. I was utterly naive to be honest..I thought Montreal and Quebec would be fairly similar to the rest of Canada but boy was I wrong. I learned the hard way..we all make mistakes and that was a big one by myself..you have me there. Now I can only try to make things better..


      Delete
    13. Where are you from originally, complicated? If you had grown up in Quebec during the good old days before Levesque, you would understand how great a province Quebec once was, and you would understand that anglophones and francophones used to live together and both feel welcome in the province on an equal level. You would feel angry that the separatists have ruined all that by brainwashing French Canadians into thinking their culture is at stake, when it never has been.

      Delete
    14. Atta boy!EDM je sais pas quelle âge vous avez mais oubliez les "belles" années d'ici comme celles d'ailleurs.Conduisez-vous toujours une de ces belles vieilles voitures solides du passé comme seuls les américains savaient les construire ?

      Delete
    15. Thank you John K, for sharing. What I’ve actually observed is that ‘They’ can’t stand the “Canadian Anglos”. Canadian Anglos still happen to be under the Crown who once upon a time gave them a serious a** whooping! A very bad reminder of past failures and unpleasant shortcomings they had to endure for centuries. But the American Anglos are different, they gave the Crown a serious a** whooping, so they are to be revered. They take great delight in speaking English to the Americans, and visiting Florida a million times a year and having no problem with all the English they hear down there. It is very subtle and not hypocritical at all. Again, it is all just emotional.

      Delete
    16. I've also observed that S.R. hangs on every word from Cutie, LOL. Cutie my dear, I do think someone has a crush on you! LOL

      Delete
    17. My dream man, no doubt. I will wait forever. Till we meet again my dear - lol

      Delete
    18. Le jour où vous ferez la rencontre d'un "French lover",cutie,vous oublierez vos projets de partition.

      Delete
    19. I grew up in western canada. Quite a different world than Montreal I can tell you. I guess it would depend who you talk to EDM..many francophones have told me different versions of what life was like before the PQ came in power..not generally as positive as your opinion.
      My main concern is not so much the never ending language battle..but the incredible corruption, dishonesty and incompetence that I see on a regular basis here in Montreal. Thats the real core issue..thats what really needs to change. We meed to break the back of this..via corrupt and overly powerful unions, an incredibly bloated and inefficient government at all levels, and a generally anti-business political climate. Hence we need a government that moves more to the right..hard to do in Quebec because so many people are dependant on the government machine.

      Delete
    20. Damn I'm good !! Cutie now that's an invite, if I've ever heard one !!LOL LOL

      Delete
    21. We have had relative peace here for the past 10 years when the liberals were in power. No incidents on buses, no refusal of service in restaurants, none of that trash until the last election was called and the witch decided she would, again, be polishing up Bill 101. That's when the shit hit the fan - the undercurrent has always been there with the likes of IF and SJBS but they were largely ignored. We heard of very few incidents with the language police even though we knew they were out there and on and on it goes. Homes were being built, people were buying homes and not flooding the market with "For Sale" signs that we see again now. That's why the liberals kept being elected - relative peace and no threats of referendums, no talk of leaving Canada if they didn't adhere to quebec's demands, none of that shit and we liked it! It felt "normal" for a change after years of the PQ. Dammit man, put the blame where it belongs - ON THE SEPARATISTS.

      Delete
    22. Cutie, maybe you can teach your #1 fan to do a few tricks… like sit, stay, heel, jump, roll over… then he would have something useful to do! héhé ;)

      Delete
    23. Do you think he would "stay" away if I learn the correct phrase? lol
      Geez AnecTOTE - Perhaps you missed your calling - you are good - Thanks for the thought - Aw fraid I'm busy

      Delete
  25. Montreal bylaw requires dogs understand commands in both official languages
    Listen to it here

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please tell me you know that is a satirical show that makes fun of gullible people...

      Delete
  26. "The Indian's hydroelectric plants"

    Les indiens ne savent même pas faire fonctionner une génératrice,que vont-ils faire avec nos installations Hydro-Électriques?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Try messing with the Indians at James Bay and the hydro-electric dams will become a bunch of rubble and the rivers will flow freely again.

      Delete
    2. Les indiens ont toujours eu des idées constructives :)

      Delete
  27. FROM ED BROWN
    DIOGENES, You say Complicated can't always be wrong. I'm not the onnly one that says he's wrong, many others here have told him. By the way if he keeps saying the same thing, which he does then he can always be wrong. If you say the wrong thing over and over that doesn't automatically make it right. The Editor has said that he has known Jean Charest intinately for many years and that he is an honest man. Can we not take the word of someone we trust who has been there. The Liberal member in Verdun is a wonderful man. In his 28 years as our member he has helped hundreds of people and is well loved by all Verdunites. Not everyone votes for the Premier or the party. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  28. UN GARS VRAIMENT BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE CALGARYThursday, December 13, 2012 at 9:41:00 PM EST

    SR a ecrit:
    "Les amerlocs semblent très intéressés par nos ressources naturelles".
    LOL.
    Je reviens d'un voyage avec mon employeur de Calgary; a Toulouse (vous vous douterez chez quelle compagnie...) afin de renouveller un contrat. Tout a bien ete, on a ete chez Emile, un excellent resto. Nos hotes francais et espagnols (c'est un consortium) nous ont avoues avoir ete tres impressionnes par le dynamisme albertain a maintes reprises, au plan international compare a d'autres firmes. Moi, un gradue quebecois du HEC, avec mon accent "canadien" un des francais m'a affirme comme quoi ses "cousins" quebecois avaient vraiment perdus beaucoup de credibilite aux yeux des financiers europeens depuis une dizaine d'annee et que la majorite visaient soi Toronto ou soi Calgary.
    Comme quoi le quebekistan a perdu du prestige...
    Quand je viens sur ce site, ou qu'apres 10 ans je revisite ma famille au quebec, ou de l'Alberta, je m'apercoit du declin de cette province, desormais minable au plan national ou global, j'en reste estomaque.

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    1. So am I… but péquistes are so absolutely obsessed with language that they prefer to ruin Quebec, come hell or high water. It’s a pity is that you have allowed them the slow, continual decline of Quebec by leaving (which, ironically, is what they want!).

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    2. "...avaient vraiment perdus beaucoup de credibilite aux yeux des financiers europeens"

      Que dire des espagnoles,sans la communauté européenne il seraient en totale faillite,ils sont présentement sous respirateur artificiel.La France est d'ailleurs un des principaux bailleurs de fonds,à grands coups de milliards d'Euros.

      Un peu surpris qu'ils connaissent l'alberta...Rien à part le combustible fossile.

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    3. Completely understandable, of course, but a pity nonetheless...

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    4. complicated,

      I looked at the link you provided with respect to the 9/11 conspiracy alleged by you. The names of several of the presenters appear in a column about 9/11 truthers by Jonathan Kay in the National Post. I came away from reading Kay's article feeling that there ia something dark and ugly about you , and I am saying that quite seriously. I am reproducing Kay's column below and I will let the readers of this blog come to their own conclusions.

      Jonathan Kay: Meet Joshua Blakeney, the Iran-sponsored ‘reporter’ spinning conspiracism about abducted aboriginals

      On Page 3 of today’s National Post, Tristan Hopper reports on the conspiracy theory, being promoted on Iran’s Press TV network, that Canadian “counterterrorism squads” are abducting First Nations children for sale to adoption agencies.

      Like just about everything on Press TV, the story is garbage. But the name of the Press TV “Calgary correspondent,” Joshua Blakeney,” jumped out at me.

      I’ve met Blakeney. And National Post readers might be surprised to know that his conspiracism is actually funded by the government of Alberta. Or at least it was as recently as two years ago.

      Here is what I wrote about Blakeney in 2010:


      As some readers may know, I’ve spent the last few years tracking the 9/11 Truth Movement — these being the conspiracy theorists who believe that the 9/11 terror attacks were staged by American neo-conservatives as a pretext to launch wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Truth movement is primarily an American phenomenon, but there are a few major Canadian “Truthers.” One of them is Anthony Hall, the founding coordinator or the Globalization Studies program at the University of Lethbridge.

      As I can report from my personal encounters with Hall at 9/11 Truth events in Montreal and Walkerton, Ont., the man is very passionate about his Trutherdom. But as long as he keeps it out of the classroom, he’s free to believe in whatever conspiracy theories he likes.

      Unfortunately, Hall seems to be using his post at Lethbridge as a training ground for 9/11 Trutherdom. His star pupil in this regard is British graduate student Joshua Blakeney, who can be seen in this 2009 video harassing a female CBC reporter with his dark theories about the CBC’s failure to investigate the 9/11 “cover-up.” Blakeney also wrote this charming article expressing delight that author Christopher Hitchens had been sickened with cancer.

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    5. On Wednesday afternoon, Hall proudly announced that the University of Lethbridge has awarded Blakeney a $7,714 Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship to pursue his research. (The scholarship is listed as being funded through the “ongoing financial commitment of the Province of Alberta.”) Blakeney’s first $3,857 cheque will be available for pick-up on Dec. 1.

      And what will Blakeney be researching? His M.A. research proposal/letter of intent was posted on his website as of Thursday afternoon: “Professor Hall and I have devoted particular attention to debates and controversies concerning the originating events of the GWOT [Global War On Terrorism]. In developing these interests we have been influenced especially by the scholarship of a number of academics including professors David Ray Griffin, John McMurtry, Michel Chossudovsky, Graeme MacQueen. Michael Keefer, Peter Dale Scott, Stephen Jones, Niels Harritt, and Nafeez Ahmed. From a wide array of academic perspectives, each of these specialists has presented evidence to call into question various facets of what Professor MacQueen has recently labelled the “government version” of the events that gave rise to the GWOT. My objective is to evaluate the content, quality and veracity of the body of literature that both supports and criticizes the government version of history used to justify the invasions and domestic transformations that make up the GWOT.”

      The names “David Ray Griffin, John McMurtry, Michel Chossudovsky, Graeme MacQueen. Michael Keefer, Peter Dale Scott, Stephen Jones, Niels Harritt, and Nafeez Ahmed” effectively constitute a who’s-who of the most influential Canadian, American and British 9/11 Truth conspiracy theorists. David Ray Griffin, in particular, is the author of The New Pearl Harbor, which more or less became the bible of the Truth movement when it came out in 2004.

      In other words, the University of Lethbridge — and, through the province of Alberta’s funding arrangements, the taxpayers of Alberta — are paying a British graduate student $7,714 to pursue his conspiracy theory that the 9/11 attacks were staged by Washington.

      Does anyone else see a problem with that?

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    6. The plot thickened in September, 2011, when I noticed that Blakeney was writing for an anti-Semitic web site called Veterans Today — which is presumably one of the credentials that makes him highly sought after by Press TV’s producers. Here’s an email I wrote about the incident to the University of Lethbridge:


      Hi. I’m an editor at the National Post newspaper. I got the following message from one of your students:

      > From: Josh Blakeney [josh.vivelarevolucion@gmail.com]
      > Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:36 AM
      > Subject: U of L congratulates me on my work with with Veterans Today in their grad school newsletter
      > http://lethbridgeschoolgraduatestudies.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/

      When I click on the link, I get a link to a web site that provides the latest U of L School of Graduate Studies newsletter. And under the “congratulations” section, it reads:

      “Josh Blakely was appointed as a staff writer at Veterans Today which is a quite popular media venue based in the US. He has also appeared on several media outlets in the U.S. and Canada discussing his research area. Congratulations Josh!”

      I assume this is a misspelled reference to Joshua Blakeney, a graduate student of Anthony Hall in the Dept. of Globalization Studies. Like Prof. Hall, Mr. Blakeney is a 9/11 conspiracy theorist who embraces a number of bizarre opinions. Those opinions may or may not concern you. But one thing you should know is that “Veterans Today,” while sounding like a respectable-sounding web site, is in fact infested with anti-semitism. As the Southern Poverty Law Center has determined, the site has become a major center for 9/11 conspiracism — with a strong focus on the sub-niche of 9/11 conspiracy theories that blame Israel (and specifically the Mossad) for the plot to blow up the World Trade Center. The Anti-Defamation League has investigated the anti-Semitism at Veterans Today, and their findings appear here: http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/911_conspiracy_theories_report.htm?Multi_page_sections=sHeading_3

      The site even verges into Holocaust denial. See, for instance, http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/05/11/jb-campbell-behind-the-holocaust/. That article contains lines like this: “The holy gas chamber is a fake. Which makes the entire Holocaust story a fake. You can study it for a day or for a lifetime and your conclusion will be the same. There was never a plan for exterminating Jews and there was never an instrument. As Professor Robert Faurisson has asked for years, ‘Show me a gas chamber. Draw for me a gas chamber.’ It can’t be done because there was never such a thing.” The author also tells us that “the main purpose of keeping alive the Holocaust is to protect Jewish banking practices.”

      So there you have it. I thought you would want to know that one of your students is now a staff writer at an anti-Semitic web site; and that you have (inadvertently, no doubt) “congratulated” him for it in your newsletter.

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  29. Aaah, yes, the good old Sun Life Insurance boogeyman…

    They left Québec, then they realized that 80% of their business was in Québec — when they lost it.

    Then they quietly tiptoed back into Québec…

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  30. I just got a check for $500.

    Sometimes people don't believe me when I tell them about how much you can make taking paid surveys online...

    So I show them a video of myself actually getting paid over $500 for taking paid surveys.

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