The specter of so many dead and the images of utter destruction makes for a summer blockbuster that even Hollywood is hard up to provide.
And so the media gears up, I mean it really gears up, rushing multiple reporters and equipment to the scene, with all hands mustered to fish for any scrap of information to advance the story and where failing real developments, idle speculation and willful manipulation are the order of the day, to keep the pot boiling.
This is what the media lives for. If you think I'm exaggerating, ask yourself who is really watching television news channels on a beautiful summer day with temperature approaching 30 degrees and the sun glaring down.
The first casualty in any such newsworthy disaster is journalistic integrity, as the story is fitted along the lines that the public is most in tune with.
It was no surprise that the chairman of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway was made out to be a modern version of Simon Legree. He was practically cast for the part as the local media crafted a narrative of evil greed and malfeasance, before any real facts could be established.
And so the media weaved a story of an accident caused by willful neglect, callous cost-cutting and abject indifference and dereliction of duty. It was of course what the public wanted to hear, a story that best suited the enraged emotions, the need to hate and the need to blame.
What glorious fun it was for the media to pounce on the unfortunate Ed Burkhardt a media-challenged yutz, who didn't understand the importance in appearing humble, contrite and deferential.
Instead the idiot offered some injudicious opinions better left unsaid, galvanizing his position as an unrepentant money-grubber, indifferent to the suffering of the locals, intent on saving his own skin and wallet.
How much wiser it would have been to leave it to the spin-masters to bob and weave in his staid, saying all the right things, but nothing really at all.
And then there are the language fanatics, who could not resist demanding that the American company adopt a French demeanor and where every French grammatical error was elevated to a deliberate slap to the face of the francophone collective.
And this not only in the fringe press, with "Speak White' echoing through the pages of the Journal de Montreal, as journo after journo took language potshots at the hapless Burkhardt.
Then there were the shameful politicians seeking to make political points on the backs of the dead and the attached media spotlight, the egregious Thomas Mulcair leading the way, blaming the entire fiasco on his political opponent as if Stephan Harper ordered the train to crash.
Stand back gentle readers, and look at the idiots, the fools, the greedy manipulators, be it railroad apologists, conservationists, separatists and the pipeline proponents all trying to spin the disaster to best further their interests.
And now, it is the turn of the shysters to have their go. Already an Ontario lawyer has announced a class-action lawsuit against the company, its president and the hapless train conductor, all without a shred of evidence.
But no matter, the evidence will come later, after the clients have been bagged and tagged.
And so the media continues to paint a fantastical picture, partly true, partly what we wish it to be and partly make-believe.
Even the stately Montreal Gazette couldn't resist with this sappy editorial, one with absolutely no basis in fact.
"This outpouring of support for those afflicted by a disaster such as this can be explained in part by the culture of solidarity and strong sense of collectivity prevalent in Quebec society."
'Culture of Solidarity?'....... Arrgghhh..... what a crock!
When it comes to charity, Quebecers have always been the least generous of Canadians, whether it be with their money or their donated time and this disaster underlines that fact better than ever.
So far the Red Cross has collected a paltry $3.5 million dollars towards the disaster, and this from across Canada.
But even if we considered that all the money came from Quebecers (which it didn't) it would amount to less than 50¢ per person, not exactly a Herculean effort.
As for corporate donations, how is it that companies based outside of Quebec are infinitely more generous than Quebec based companies?
So far as I can see, here is a list of corporate donations so far. I'm sure it's not complete, but you get the picture..
Companies based outside Quebec
RBC....................$50,000
Bell......................$25,000
CAW...................$25,000
Manulife.............$50,000
Sun Life..............$50,000
CIBC..................$50,000
Standard Life.....$50,000
Hudson's Bay.....$50,000
TD Bank ..........$50,000
Tim Hortons.......$100,000
Intact Insurance..$100,000
Target..................$25,000
Total Canada..............$675,000
Desjardin....................$100,000
Industrielle Alliance...$50,000
Promutue....................$50,000
National Bank.............$25,000
Laurentan Bank..........$25,000
CGI.............................$100,000
Total Quebec.................$350,000
Once, again is the ROC carrying the freight? (Apologies, that was an extremely bad pun.)
And let us not forget the most generous contribution of Quebec's very own Celine Dion who made sure her $100,000 contribution was splashed all over the media.
But consider this, after a deduction for taxes the donation represented no more than 50K, this from someone worth $400 million.
It's equivalent to someone worth $250,000 donating $62 and receiving a $20- $30 tax discount.
Not particularly impressive.
And how about those mandatory benefit concerts put on to show solidarity with the victims and raise money and awareness.
Not one real headliner has signed on to the scheduled event at the 'Lac-Megantic relief at Le Monument National'' as yet, but hey, it's the summer and people have plans... (more solidarity?)
(Maybe Celine donated the cash so she wouldn't have to show?) Link
At any rate, I remain thoroughly disgusted with events surrounding the Lac Megantic nightmare.
While the media portrays the public reaction as something heroic, I see it as the theater of the absurd, where most everyone involved is seeking something for themselves.
By the way, I can't resist publishing this news report aired by an important Los Angeles television station eager to 'scoop' everyone with the names of the pilots of the Korean Asiana airliner that went down in San Francisco.
The names of the pilots had been withheld by authorities, but with the information in hand, the station couldn't resist beating the competition to the story. It just shows how crazy the media becomes around these disasters.
I hope they are good and embarrassed.
LOL ya Sum Ting Wong with these people! Ho Lee Fuk can't get their facts straight! Thanks for the accurate reporting!
ReplyDeleteMaking jokes about a tragedy....You are a disgusting person.
DeleteFROM ED
ReplyDeleteEDITOR, I must take umbrance when you and others say the train was bedded down wrong. We don't know this. I believe that someone tampered with the equipment. Possibly teenagers who thought the train would roll through the town and out the other side safely or ecologists that are trying to make a point. Some ecology groups have been getting very hostile for not getting the response they expected. Who ever it was they are shitting their pants now having seen what they've caused and the story will come out soon. Someone will squeal to protect themselves. Ed
Editor,
ReplyDeleteSome people may want to classify Bell, RBC and Standard Life as Quebec-based companies.
FROM ED
DeleteWhy not, they were born here.? Ed
There have been reports of eco-terrorists that have targeted trains in the year...
Delete@un gars bs de frankfort
Deleteshow the reports, mate. or remain irrelevant.
ugBSdf s'informe sur Sun news
Delete@s.r
Deletei don't think you used the right verb, mate.
*se masturbe sur sun news
Delete"As for corporate donations, how is it that companies based outside of Quebec are infinitely more generous than Quebec based companies?"
ReplyDeleteROC's GDP 1050 billions
Canada's donation 675,000
This is 650$ per billion of GDP.
Québec's GDP 250 billions
Québec's donation 350,000
This is 1400$ per billion of GDP.
If we follow your simplistic logic, Québec gave more (more than twice more) according to the size of its economy.
But still, your logic is flawed. Tim Horton, RBC, Bell and co also operate in Québec, also have clients in Québec and also many quebeckers work for these companies in Québec.
The Tim Horton next to where where I live is a franchise owned by a quebecker, all employees are quebeckers and, if we forget the occasionnal tourist, all customers are quebeckers. My guess is that there are a couple of Tim Horton franchise owners who suggested that Tim Horton gave some money. That money, or at least a part of it, came from franchises in Québec. So, in your generosity contest, you should credit a part this money to Québec.
So Québec seems to have been more generous in this instance (normal, this is a disaster in Québec). But don't worry, you can always spin it another way. You could say that companies give money and they are making sure that their donations are publicised, that they are basicaly trying to buy sympathy capital on the back of Mégantic victims. And of course, only Québec could lead in this cynical and shameless game.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteLike most separatist trolls you make up figures and think we're stupid enough to believe them.
According to statistics Canada website, the Quebec GDP is not 250 billion but 345 million. Canada's GDP is 1 billion 762 million not 1050 billion as you say.
You would mak a great publicity minister for Marois but she already has Lisee to spin her lies.
What you don't understand about this blog is that we are English Federalists who tell it like it is. Ed
Quebec GDP in 2011 is: 345 842 000 000 = 345 billion dollars
DeleteCanadian GDP in 2011 is: 1 762 432 000 000 = 1.76 trillion dollars
Source: Stats Can
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm
Ed,
DeleteMy figures were :
Canada GDP = 1300
Québec GDP = 250
I wrote ROC's GDP = 1050 billions. This is not the GDP of Canada, but the GDP of Canada minus Québec's GDP (1300-250). If I had used the GDP of whole Canada, the comparision of donation vs GDP would have been unfair to Canada since its GDP would have been higher (by including Québec's GDP).
You will note that I underestimated both Canad's and Québec's GDP. Using my figures or yours, Québec's GDP is both cases one fifth of Canada's GDP. And, in this instance, it is the relative proportions of both GDP that is relevant to compare donations to GDP.
FROM ED
DeleteMichel, it desn't matter how you spin it, you are trying to show that Quebec is more generous per capita than the ROC. It won't work Stud the figures show over and over that the opposite is true. Quebecers gave generously to the Church when it was giving to them through welfare and phony income tax exemptions, etc., but when they're not forced to, they don't give. Ed
Michel has a good point though..many of these so-called roc companies make a lot of money here in quebec. Just because the head office is not in quebec does not mean the company has no operations or interest or profits from quebec. Also comparing the size of national bank to rbc and cibc..national bank was far more generous..national bank is many times smaller than the big five banks. Desjardins or Laurentian are much much smaller companies than the big banks or Bell. A more fair calculation would base the donation amount on the annual profits or revenue of the company..doing so we see that what the roc companies gave is really miniscule. So the editor is playing with numbers to support his viewpoint.
DeleteM. Patrice,
DeleteRather than be involved in a pointless debate with Mr. Brown, why do you not post a piece of evidence that shows that Quebecers are as generous - or even more generous - than other Canadians outside of Quebec? I would also like to see evidence that French Quebecers are also more generous than English Quebecers, proportionally, when it comes to charity. Would you please come up with the evidence?
Troy - There is nothing pointless about this debate. There is a clear point..the point is that the editors numbers are misleading..they dont tell the whole story and michel and I are trying to correct this. If you are going to throw numbers around and then make grand statements about what they mean then you better be damn sure the numbers are fair and representative. Having said that I do know from other statistics that Quebecers in general are less charitable than other provinces..I am not disputing that..but then again Quebec has a much more generous social safety net than other provinces hence people may feel there is less need to donate. I know certain right wing people love to brag about how generous americans are with charitable donations as compared to canadians yet again the social safety net in the usa is much weaker than here so even with this extra charity there is a lot more real poverty in the usa than there is in canada. And most americans especially the rich pay far less taxes than they do here in canada so they can easily afford to donate more money.
Delete"But still, your logic is flawed. Tim Horton, RBC, Bell and co also operate in Québec, also have clients in Québec and also many quebeckers work for these companies in Québec.
Delete"
But the decision to donate is made in Toronto...
So how much have Quebec-based companies donated to Albert flood relief?
Many of these Quebec companies have clients in Alberta.
Your logic is specious and a somewhat desperate attempt to disporive the obvious.
Quebecers don't give to themselves, nor to anyone else.
Of all the provinces and territories the concept of charity and 'entraide' is weakest in Quebec...point final!
True.
DeleteDavid Ouellet (antagoniste.net) has some pretty good stats on charity and other "compassions" from quebec. Since it is reasonable to state that the average quebecois was brought up to believe in the "etat providence", this seems to translate into a culture of entitlement for them. "I receive, I do not give".
@ed
Delete"Michel, it desn't matter how you spin it, you are trying to show that Quebec is more generous per capita than the ROC."
false. michel is trying to show that it's impossible to conclude that roc is more generous than quebec from a few absolute numbers about donations from corporations. and he's right because taken relatively to population or gdp, they suggest the opposite. use your brain, mate.
"why do you not post a piece of evidence that shows that Quebecers are as generous - or even more generous - than other Canadians outside of Quebec?"
DeleteBecause it seems that, according to different statistics, quebeckers do not give as much to charities as other canadians do.
"Your logic is specious and a somewhat desperate attempt to disporive the obvious.
Quebecers don't give to themselves, nor to anyone else."
So you will have no difficulties to find relevant figures. My point was that the figures that you provided were irrelevant for obvious reasons that I have pointed out.
But don't worry, it doesn't matter. The figures that you provided do not show that Québec gives less to charities, you just have to find a better angle.
You could say that Québec only gives when a disaster hits home. It shows how tribal Québec is self-centered.
Or better yet, you could say that Québec do not give when a disaster hits in another place because, due to its handicaping language barrier, Québec is just not aware of what happens outside of its borders. Or you could blame it on the PQ who wants the people to speak french only to keep them from knowing about the outside world.
Ed could blame it on the catholic church.
Je crois bien que je voulais surtout avec mon commentaire initial souligner la petitesse de profiter de la tragédie de Mégantic pour chier sur le Québec et ce en utilisant bêtement les premiers chiffres du bord sans même faire l'effort de réfléchir puisque, au fond, tout le monde se fout bien des chiffres; l'idée, c'est de chier sur le Québec.
D'autant plus ironique et lamentable que vous écrivez ce billet après vous être drapé du manteau de la vertue pour dénoncer les politiciens qui ont fait de la petite politique autour de la tragédie de Mégantic.
I'd be curious to know who much Editor gave to the Red Cross?
DeleteAnd it continues today. I just had a look on the Radio-Canada website and there are demandes to do this or that from everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAnd we still don't know exactly what happened.
I'm an engineer working for a company that builds trains and I do follow some news related to the crash out of professionnal curiosity.
I want to know what happenes but I want facts, not speculations.
FROM ED
DeletePaul, speculating leads to answers. The police are guarding the Megantic site as a crime scene. They are searching for clues that will solve what happened so it won't happen again somewhere else. Ecological groups have been doing uncivil acts and they are increasing. (Google the word 'ECOTAGE')
I remember a group of country boys at Weir Quebec when I was a boy trying to move two empty freight cars left on a siding. Sidings are built on flat turf by the way. They removed the brakes using the wheels but with all their strength could not move the cars one inch. After they left, I climbed up on top and reset the brakes. I asked my Father why the cars were left on that siding instead of the siding by the station where people could watch them. He told me the siding at the station was only for trains to pass but idle cars ere always left on a level siding.
The train at Megantic was probably on the level and would need at least a forklift to push it and get it moving. If it was not level, I'm sure the crew locked it down.
Some one has knowledge that will come out. The guilt and fear will work on them. Ed
I totally agree with the editor with respect to the mainstream media. I try not to watch the media anymore..its just too painful and frustrating. They are literally salivating at these disasters. I was in USA last week and could not believe the coverage of the plane crash..it was non stop..they were talking about it in the morning..the afternoon..the evening..the next day..it was non bloody stop! They kept showing the video of the plane descent over and over and over ad nauseum. It was all about speculation about what happened..we all know they wont know the real cause for months but that doesnt stop the bloody hungry media wolves from turning what should be a 10 minute report into a 24 hour non stop event. And in the end 3 people died..many car accidents kill more people but of course a plane crash is so much more dramatic. Please explain to me why we need round the clock coverage of a plane crash. Lac Megantic I could see for a day but more than a day nonstop starts to get nauseating. Its voyeurism at its worst..journalism has really become sensationalism and voyeurism all rolled into one and the saddest thing of all is that the public watches it.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for the internet where there are countless alternative media sources which dont go into hyperdrive on every disaster and who report stories that are important which the mainstream media ignores because its not sexy enough.
I cringe to think what the seperatists will do with the Lac Megantic story..my thinkning is it will be used to further demonize rich anglos and anglo companies and more oil bashing. In the end we are all responsible..we all use large amounts of oil and gas..it has to come from somewhere. It has to be transported and we all whine about the high cost of energy but if we end up with more regulations then we will all pay more which may not be a bad thing. But it seems that in the end most people want everything as cheap as possible but then when a disaster hits then they start whining about the lack of regulation..you cant have it both ways. Tighter regulation will result in higher prices for energy and other goods as railway companies pass on the cost.
you start by fustigating mainstream media for speculating and you conclude with a huge speculation about what the separatists will do.
Deletei don't mind your speculations. but are you the only one allowed to make some?
Every time a disaster happens, the clowns step forward into the spotlight. The true heroes, and people with integrity and no personal agenda, work behind the scenes quietly, humbly and compassionately.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very tragic event for Lac Megantic, but while one can raise areas of concern, its far too premature for anyone to draw hard conclusions about the cause or causes.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to damages and financial assistance, it appears that as the accident is related to railways, a federal jurisdiction, that it is appropriate for the federal government to oversee the investigation and to assist the community to recover from the disaster, working with the provincial and municipal authorities. This ought to be a time when all work together, and is not a time for cheap partisanship or politics from anyone, be they federal or provincial politicians or others. No one can turn the clock back but lets hope the investigation draws appropriate conclusions that prevent future similar accidents.
"its far too premature for anyone to draw hard conclusions about the cause or causes."
Deletei don't think it's premature to blame profit maximization. nobody on site, shitty tracks, old wagons, huge convoy... i already know all of them raised the risk and therefore caused this crash or the next one. and they are all decisions taken with one single thing luring: more money. i think when people start dying we should agree it went too far. don't you jp?
Today, Student learned that corporations exist only to make money. Congratulations.
DeleteSo tell me, "Student", what is your solution to this problem? Surely this problem of corporations trying to maximize profits isn't unique to Quebec. Are you going to change the whole world? It sure would be nice if you did, but you better stop wasting your time on this blog and get to work!
@quebecker of tree stump
Delete"...what is your solution to this problem?"
can't you figure this one out, mate? very easy: tighter regulations. if the federal government had obliged mma to maintain its tracks, update its wagons, limit the lenght of the convoy and have a dude on the train overnight, it wouldn't have happened. don't you agree?
"Are you going to change the whole world?"
i'd like to, but i'll need your help, mate.
Yes Quebecker - thank you for enlightening me also. I had no idea that corporations existed to make money. Pray tell me more - guess student will report back when he changes that - hopefully we won't have to hear from him until that happens. What a ditz.
Delete@cutie003
Deleteare you so whack as to think a corporation's race to top profits shouldn't be slowed down when it starts threatening people's existence?!? hum... maybe you are.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteMy post earliewr that some one, ecologists or youth tampered with the train is supported by the fact that the police are considering the site a criminal in vestigation. Apparently, they too, consider foul play. Ed
yes and the sun will rise tomorrow.
Deletestop posting obvious things ed. you're wasting prime blog space with this.
why don't you tell us about the good old times when the tracks were top quality english engineering tracks?
"Pipelines are a hyper-regulated industry but rail transport isn’t": WSJ
ReplyDelete"When it comes to the question of how best to transport oil, environmentalists tend to act like rabbis being asked for advice on how best to roast a pig: The thing should not be done in the first place. So opposition to Keystone XL becomes an assertion of virtue, indifferent to such lesser considerations as efficiency (or succulence).
But the pig will be roasted. The oil will be pumped. What happens then?
Like water, business has a way of tracing a course of least resistance. Pipelines are a hyper-regulated industry but rail transport isn’t, so that’s how we now move oil. As the Wall Street Journal’s Tom Fowler reported in March, in 2008 the U.S. rail system moved 9,500 carloads of oil. In 2012, the figure surged to 233,811. During the same period, the total number of spills went from eight to 69. In March, a derailed train spilled 714 barrels of oil in western Minnesota.
Predictable, you would think. And ameliorable: Pipelines account for about half as much spillage as railways on a gallon-per-mile basis. Pipelines also tend not to go straight through exposed population centers like Lac-Mégantic. Nobody suggests that pipelines are perfectly reliable or safe, but what is? To think is to weigh alternatives. The habit of too many environmentalists is to evade them."
Sounds like pipelines are the way to go...
Drogué au bitume: la face cachée de la prospérité albertaine
ReplyDeletehttp://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/gabriel-nadeaudubois/alberta-sables-bitumineux-revers-medaille_b_3575767.html
Gabriel Nadeau Dubois has never worked a single day in his life. He lives in a fantasy world where mommy, daddy and the government take care of his every need and desire. He's essentially an idealistic 15 year old who never grew up.
DeleteIt must be easy to criticize everything around you when you have no responsibilities, and everyone else is paying.
The guy's probably a separatist hero, what a great role model for them to follow: go directly from living off publicly funded schooling, to a nice, useless, well paid government job. What more could a separatist ask for? Not a minute of hard work required, and someone else is paying!
If QC had the same capacity and resources as AB, it'd be doing what AB is doing. This whole thing about QB being environment-friendly is a myth.
DeleteNadeau Dubois may be right about some things, but he is also being used as a pawn by one provincial government trying to undermine another provincial government.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteJust ask M. Nadeau-Dubois how he would fly to Edmonton and be driven to Fort McMurray without petroleum products. And why he never objects the fact that Alberta receives no equalization payment because of its oil resources and Quebec does, despite the fact that Quebec is abundant with hydro power?
Delete@troy
Delete"Just ask M. Nadeau-Dubois how he would fly to Edmonton and be driven to Fort McMurray without petroleum products."
i can't see, in the article proposed by s.r, where nadeau-dubois claims that all petroleum products should be banned overnight. but you still have him say this. why?
"why he never objects the fact that Alberta receives no equalization payment because of its oil resources and Quebec does..."
do you think nadeau-dubois is a separatist? i guess you do. if it's the case i can confirm he thinks quebec should stop receiving equalization from alberta and other oil provinces.
"...despite the fact that Quebec is abundant with hydro power?"
please share your calculated comparison between the fiscal potential of hydro quebec versus fiscal potential of the albertan economy. after all that is what equalization is all about. or maybe you weren't aware of this and just felt like blurting randomly troy?
@quebecker of tree stump
Deletecool rant, mate. but about the article?
@ Troy
DeleteHe studies history (i.e. separatist propaganda) at UQAM. I don't think he understands numbers or the economy. He just thinks he understands FEELINGS. He, like alot of separatists, just want to live off their FEELINGS. Not logic or industry. JUST FEELINGS.
Poésie – Fabien Cloutier
ReplyDeleteLettre à Maxime Bernier
Heille Bernier !
T’es où ?
Quesse tu fais ?
Y a 100 000 litres de pétrole qui coulent dans la Rivière Chaudière
Pis t’as pas un mot à dire ?
T’es pas un peu en crisse ?
Les beaucerons lèvent leur manches
Pour aller puiser l’eau dans d’autres sources
Pis toi
Ça te fait quoi ?
T’es pas le député de la Beauce ?
Me semble que ça serait bien que tu parles
Anyway
Tu vas dire quoi ?
Tu vas prendre le parti des beaucerons
Ou tu vas faire le poisson mort?
Hein ?
Toi
L’apôtre Libertarien
Qui trouve donc que y a trop de législations pour les entreprises
Toi
Le petit prince bandé devant les sables bitumineux de l’Alberta
Tu vas défendre ceux qui vivent su l’bord d’la Chaudière
Pis qui y puisent leur eau potable
Ou tu vas continuer à licher les graines conservatrices
Au service d’une entreprise comme la MMA
Qui insulte criminellement
La mémoire des victimes de Lac-Mégantic ?
Hein Bernier ?
LOL @ Poetry
DeleteJoual Poetry, héhé
Delete"What glorious fun it was for the media to pounce on the unfortunate Ed Burkhardt a media-challenged yutz, who didn't understand the importance in appearing humble, contrite and deferential."
ReplyDeleteMedia is sensationalistic. It doesn't mean that anyone they go after is a victim, or innocent, or "unfortunate".
Btw, I didn't see this guy as someone who "didn't understand the importance in appearing humble, contrite and deferential". I saw him as completely unable to feel empathy, which is not so atypical of people like him.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad the Huffington Post doesn't have an English translation. I'd be interested to know the view point of some writers but I find it takes too long too read. Ed
Hi Ed,
DeleteTrust me, you didn't miss much. Consider who posted the link and then consider who wrote the article for the Huffington Post, for which he (Dubois)probably wasn't paid.
I will give you a quick synopsis, though. Basically he says that Alberta is too dependant on oil, they have too many SUV's, and at the souvenir shops at the airport, they sell "Got oil?" T-shirts that they sell with a sense of pride.
Then you mentions how a nurse tells him about all the accidents on the highway because of the money the young men are making and how they have a higher rate of AIDS, symphillus, etc.
Although he didn't mention it, his point probably is that Quebec is better.
See what I told you. You didn't miss much.
FROM ED
DeleteThanks Roger. Ed
Let's see if Nadeau Dubois can now produce a piece denouncing Landry for a remark that Quebec should become "une puissance pétrolière".
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2ISV7gDq0
You can't ask the separatist teenager to be consistant in his thinking. He has not really experienced life at all and he took his little trip to Alberta with 15 like minded Quebeckers with pre-conceived notions. So, he left Alberta, glib in his "knowledge" that Quebec is better than Alberta. Like most Quebeckers, he would approve oil exploration here while being against Alberta oil.
DeleteHere is a Jean Marc Leger talking to Mario Dumont about a poll on exploration of Quebec oil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuBYbmAYxuY
I still remember when news broke out that the little Nadeau-Dubois Marxist was 3 months behind on his rent... All the while being a fraud in public; a true leftie militant. What an hypocrite.
DeleteLes "liberals" ont fait bien pire M.Saucisse
Delete@ Un Gars
DeleteYup, the Nadeau-Dubois marxist did not pay his rent for 3 months even though he had government support. His parents payed his private high school, which was more than his university education. He incited other students to violence. He went on TV and sounded like a complete moron, never answering questions, just like the union activists from the 60's who try to bully their way around because of their lack of intelligence. Then, of course, the construction unions (we know how honest they are, right? I just need two words for thir honesty: Charbonneau Commission) support him morally and financially in his court case. He is nothing but a parasite that Marxists appreciate, as that is what they are, as well.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteA NOTE TO MY FRIENDS
I get people calling me to say, "Have you seen what this troll said to you, why don't you answer him.?"
I do not answer trolls. I do not read trolls. When I see from S.R. or student I skip past like it's not there. In my mind it's not. I read Michel Patrice when he sticks to the EDITOR'S BLOG and posts in English. if he is trying to make sense I will answer him. Complicated I do not have the time to read, the only man I ever knew that could say nothing and use four hundred words to do it.
Le Gars du Frankfort is doing well. He ha stopped enticing the trolls and his posts are now bvery informative. Particularly now, since he has worked in the oil business and knows what he is talking about. Ed
If people get offended so easily by their comments, why not skip over them and not read them in the first place? It has to be one of the easiest things in the world to do.
DeleteFROM ED
DeleteExactly EDM, If you think some one's words are flawed or intended to waste time and space skip past them. We should never be offended by anything trolls say because like Don Rickles they are just doing their job, which is to make people hate separatism. They do it so well. Ed
To save money, MM&A is laying off a quarter of its workforce in Quebec.
ReplyDeletehttp://montreal.ctvnews.ca/railway-involved-in-lac-megantic-disaster-lays-off-quarter-of-quebec-staff-1.1370885
This tragedy leaves communities along the railroad an unenviable dilemma. On one hand, they become fearful and paranoid with the rail industry, but on the other hand many of the communities exist because of the railroad. Many communities do not like MM&AR (and its competitors) anymore, but there is little they can do since their livelihood depends on the railroad.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thesuburban.com/article.php?id=1771&title=OQLF-Finds-No-Faults-In-Spoongate-Investigation
ReplyDeleteFools
"Quebec is being pushed out of Canada by their simple knowledge of what’s going on. The more they know about the decision-making processes, the less they want to stay in Canada. Secession has already occurred. Physically it may or may not happen, but psychically, secession has already taken place. They’re dropouts, absolutely. You can’t put them back in by legalisms, there’s no technology to enforce it." - Marshall McLuhan
ReplyDelete"You can’t put them back in by legalisms, there’s no technology to enforce it"
DeleteAnd yet, 30 years after McLuhan uttered these words, Quebec is still in, with no signs of "winning conditions" on the horizon. The great philosopher has erred.
Legalisms might indeed be useless, but money and lack of better options do well to keep Quebec in.
FROM ED
DeleteAdski, you're right. McLuhan is trying to say that in the minds of Quebecers they have already seperated. Unfortunately, he forgot the fact that less than thirty percent think that way. Ed
Or, in other words, over 70% of Quebecers are perfectly happy and lucky to be Canadians, thank you very much.
Delete@r.s
Deletethat's the most naive interpretation i've ever read. you're very cute.
Expériences sur les autochtones: l'APN veut qu'Ottawa en fasse davantage
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-canadienne/201307/17/01-4671757-experiences-sur-les-autochtones-lapn-veut-quottawa-en-fasse-davantage.php
Les "canadians" auraient utilisé des enfants autochtones pour des expériences nutritionnelles...Quel beau pays.
Quebec is going nowhere.
ReplyDeleteReality: Quebec debt in excess of 250 billion. Debt service about 10 Billion per year.
Equalization payments and other benefits of about 19 Billion per year from the ROC.
If Quebec were to separate their tax rate would increase about 20%. You think anyone or business, making any money, would stay in Quebec...NOT...further eroding the tax base.
Separation is nothing more than a threat without consequences. If you will. a barking dog with only rubber teeth.
Essentially Quebec is f'ked without the economic shoulder of the ROC.
Of course, staying in Canada, they are f'ked anyways and bound for assimilation into the ROC culture. (Maybe not such a bad thing)
You are bang on except about the 19 billion, the number is much higher...much, much higher...equalization, the hydro scam, the heath transfer scam, the immigration money scam...the tuition scam...
DeleteSince the beginning of equalization, Quebec has received more then 50% of all the money handed out…just sick. Since Trudeau and his gang of anti-English language bigots arrived in Ottawa they have been robbing the country blind and no one will even talk about it other then Danny Williams...if the people only knew the 100’s of billions really funneled into Quebec, if they only knew the truth...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhPcV0gtFR0
Partition the damn place and let those areas go that want to leave. Other than that, it is going to get worse and worse. We need a partition party devoted to strictly that - nothing else! Get them out of Canada.
DeleteLe nom Loblaws disparaîtra du Québec
ReplyDeletehttp://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/commerce-de-detail/201307/18/01-4671839-le-nom-loblaws-disparaitra-du-quebec.php
Pollution visuelle oblige
*That’s* all it takes to pacify you? Really? Having a phoney French-sounding banner will make you send your money to Ontario headquarters?!? Provigo already *is* Loblaws and has been since 1998, but Loblaws operates under a multitude of banners to provide the illusion of choice.
DeleteLoblaws/Provigo operates as “Atlantic Superstore” and “SaveEasy” in the Maritimes, “The Real Canadian Superstore” in the Yukon/Western Canada/Ontario, “Maxi/Maxi & Cie” in Quebec, “Zehrs” in Kitchener-Waterloo/London/Windsor and the rest of southwestern Ontario, “T&T Supermarket” (apparently an Asian-sounding name) in B.C., Alberta and Ontario, “No Frills” nationally except for Manitoba, Quebec and the Territories, in addition to many other banners, all depending on local preferences. Who cares what the banner name is, as long as the money keeps on flowing to Ontario…
What a sad, sad life you lead. I’m so glad I’m not you. Luckily, though, I am being kept apprised as to the depths of foolishness that it is possible for separatists to attain in this province...
Langues officielles : la nouvelle ministre ne tient pas au bilinguisme à la Cour suprême
ReplyDeletehttp://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2013/07/18/003-bilinguisme-cour-supreme-glover.shtml
Tout va bien...
Exiger du bilinguisme des autres lorsque l'on refuse soi-meme?
ReplyDeleteZing...!!
DeleteBilingualism for most Canada is a waste of time and more importantly money. The official languages act should be repealed. Then, there would be no need for further bilingual BS in the federal government. French in Quebec as they have it now and English in the ROC. What is wrong with that. You want to be bilingual, no issues, but do it on your own dime.
ReplyDeleteI agree, its nothing but a government jobs scam for the "french",a hiring quota for the 'french'.
DeleteHow about a few quotes from these bigots , here you go.
.” ….Given these facts, should French-speaking people concentrate their efforts on Quebec or take the whole of Canada as their base? In my opinion, they should do both; and for the purpose they could find no better instrument than federalism”, Pierre Trudeau,.
"There is no way two ethnic groups in one country can be made equal before the law....and to say it is possible is to sow the seeds of destruction”. Pierre Trudeau,
"I cannot swear it but I think we were thinking to ourselves,... we are a small group, Trudeau, Pelletier, Marchand, Lalonde, Chrétien, myself and a few people in the civil service, say 50 all told…we were bringing off a revolution. We held the key posts. We were making the civil service bilingual (French), kicking and screaming all the time". Jean-Luc Pepin, Minister of Industry, 1970.
So while Quebec bans the English language (bill 22, bill 178, bill 101…), wipes out its real BNA, UEL history, while ethnic language cleansing is going on in Quebec, the rest of the country is forced to fund whatever the French (metis) demand. This is going on in every province. Go check.
“First Quebec, then we take over the rest of the country, one step at a time…through bilingualism…” PT, “How to take over a country through bilingualism…” SD. How ? First comes the right to communicate with gov't in a minority language (ie French),then comes bilingualism, then comes the right to work in the language of choice(ie French), then comes a bilingual boss,(ie French) then comes a exclusively French department and on it goes until its all French. Its happening all over the country, Ontario, New Brunswick…That’s what’s really going on.
“My roll as Secretary of State of Canada is first and foremost to ensure that my French compatriots in Canada feel with deep conviction, as I do, that this is their country and that it reflects their image”. “I too had some difficult years as a politician; I’m still having them, in fact, because everything we undertake and everything we are doing to make Canada a French state is part of a venture I have shared for many years with a number of people”. “You know the idea, the challenge, the ambition of making Canada a French country both inside and outside Quebec — an idea some people consider a bit crazy, is something a little beyond the ordinary imagination”. – Serge Joyal, Secretary of State – Page 2 ‘ENOUGH’ by J.V. Andrew. – Serge Joyal – Now in the Senate.
"The Canadian government is engaged in a task of spreading the French
language across the length and breadth of the country". Jules Leger,
l968
How much more proof do you need? Open your eyes folks, its happening all over the country.
@westerner.
DeleteI 110% agree. Bilingualism never worked. Well it worked for all those federal jobs that quebecois landed for two generations now. That's it. canada is - like it or not - an artificial country. There's quebec then there's the ROC.n Problem is, quebec has no spine and won't leave. They're talkers, not doers.
Know what time this is? It's Czechoslovakia 1993 time. It's Canada's time to carry out a peaceful dissolution of the whole country. quebec on its on, the ROC on its own. Let's figure our the debt sharing, and some other administrative aspects such as borders, customs, free trade (or not) and deal done.
As a quebecois, I am concerned that the new republic would experience some huge obstacles but...
@james wolfe
Delete"How much more proof do you need?"
only one proof would be enough, mate.
quebec's future????
ReplyDelete"Detroit on Thursday became the largest city in U.S. history to file for bankruptcy, as the state-appointed emergency manager filed for Chapter 9 protection.
A number of factors — most notably declining population and tax base falls — have been blamed on Detroit's tumble toward insolvency."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/07/18/detroit-bankruptcy.html
Perhaps you will recall this article published in The Gazette following the last provincial election. 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.
DeleteFROM: Opinion: Let Detroit's decline serve as a warning [article now archived]
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.
[1/2]
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.
DeleteI 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
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.
[2/2]
Moncton needs more French street names, says councillor
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/07/17/nb-moncton-street-names.html
Normal
“English street signs are a fascinating window into Montreal’s history”
Deletehttp://spacing.ca/montreal/2007/09/20/english-street-signs/
Normal.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteJames Wolfe, how many moretimes are you going to roll out those meaningless electioneering words said by a bunch of would be Philosophers who thought they were bigger than their britches.
Une Gars, I think we're pretty sure by now that separation will never happen. There has to be someone to demand it. The PQ never will they know they're done for. I think we should bait the hardliners into demanding Marois call a referendum The vote would finish them and they would be forced to call an election. Ed
a third referendum? now that's a good idea. just as i thought how hopeless you were ed you come up with this great idea. but no cheating this time ok ed?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThat’s right, Ed. Separatists will not be able to steal our votes again, in the unlikely event of a third referendum on the same topic.
DeleteThere was an abnormally high number of rejected ballots observed in certain heavily "No"-voting electoral divisions, namely Chomedey (11.6%), Marguerite-Bourgeoys (5.5%) and Laurier-Dorion (3.6%), far above the usual 1-2% rate observed in elections and referenda since 1970. As a result, there was reason to wonder if some electors suffered prejudice in the exercise of their right to vote.
After the vote, at each polling station, a scrutineer counted the ballots while a secretary recorded the result of the count. According to the referendum legislation, the scrutineer was appointed by the "Yes" committee, while the secretary was appointed by the "No" committee.[21] When the counting was completed, approximately 86,000 ballots were rejected by scrutineers as "spoiled ballots", meaning that they had not been marked properly by the voter. Controversy arose over whether the scrutineers of the Chomedey, Marguerite-Bourgeois and Laurier-Dorion ridings had rejected numerous ballots without valid reasons, mostly by being overly strict on what marks voters could use to indicate their choices (for instance, rejecting ballots with check-marks or "X"s that were crooked, too large, made with a pen instead of a pencil, etc.). In the riding of Chomedey, an average of 1 of every 9 ballots were rejected.[24] Thomas Mulcair, member of the Quebec National Assembly for Chomedey, told reporters after the vote that there was "an orchestrated attempt to steal the vote" in his riding. [link]
Is that the same Mulcair that now wants 50+1 to stand as a "fair" vote to leave Canada? What a joke. Half the people polled after that referendum didn't even realize that crazy Parizeau intended to pull quebec out of Canada the day after. They didn't even realize that the convoluted question meant separation from Canada. The troll separatists on this blog have the nerve to say the "No" side cheated and yet it has been proven that the "Yes" side cheated. Next time a damn clear question including the fact that borders are negotiable has to be followed. Do you want to leave Canada and form your own country knowing that borders within quebec may change should you vote "Yes" or something to that effect. These separatists have absolutely no right to Native territory nor areas that want to remain Canadian and they had best be made aware of it quickly. A$$holes think they can steal anything they want including military equipment from the Canadian people and it's time to play hardball with these pricks. No more playing games with our lives and our livelihood! Out with the bastards that want to leave - far past time!
DeleteCall a referendum anytime now - suits me just fine. Let's get rid of the separatists. The areas that vote to leave go on their way. Referendum tomorrow following Clarity Act Rules and we can get back to a reasonably normal life without this weight continuously dragging us down with them!
DeleteGood article! In 1996, 10 or so days after the Saguenay deluge the Red Cross announced their $2.3 million goal. I sent off a fax to the late Pierre Peladeau and asked him to donate the $2.3 million. Among other barbs I told Pierre; "The Quebecois are very good with their hands stretched out palm up, but they are not very good at reaching into their pockets and finding anything to give." Pierre called the next day, advised that he was giving $1 million and said; "I am going to send off letters of that nature to others who can contribute $1 million as well." Nobody else gave $1 million. As far as the goal of the Red Cross well over $20 million was raised. The Red Cross would not give me a breakdown of where the donations came from, in spite of my offer to pay for the less than a dz key strokes to find out! While on the topic, the Grande Guignollee des Medias resulted from my activism. While I asked Sun Youth, Societe St V de P and Moisson Montreal for their assistance, none of them came through. Now in the Montreal region they are the beneficiaries of what I did. Its been 13 yrs and I still await a thank you, from them (though Sun Youth acknowledged what I did brought the result). Donations in QC have for decades been less than in the provinces poorer than QC. Voluntarism is also significantly less in QC than compared to the ROC. Unfortunately the Quebecois have no tradition of giving. They are not worse than other people, they simply do not know the joy of giving.
ReplyDeleteFROM ED
ReplyDeleteNot only that R.S. they would have to ask a proper question, such as, " Do you want to separate from Canada and have our own country answerable only to the voters of Quebec and supported entirely by ourselves." Ed