Thursday, October 3, 2013

Parizeau Offers Charter Compromise, but does PQ Want One?

"Mother-in-law?
Yesterday, ex-Premier Jacques Parizeau waded into the Charter debate and most PQ hardliners expected another stab in the back as is the history of Parizeau interventions.
It's no accident that Parizeau has been nicknamed the 'Mother-in-law" for his unsolicited advice and criticism of the PQ and its leadership.

So it wasn't surprising that Parizeau announced a different position on the Charter then that proposed by the PQ, but in an elegantly and sympathetic piece written in le Journal de Montreal, he offered a compromise that seems to represent the popular position that has coalesced after the month long debate. Link{fr}

Now the English press is simply giddy because Parizeau supposedly came out against the Charter, some even claiming that his column was a sharp rebuke, the same line being pedaled by the Liberals, but it seems to this observer that Parizeau did nothing of the sort, rather offering a reasoned opinion on how the Charter should play out.

In offering an alternate view, Mr Parizeau has in no way put himself squarely against the Charter and to pretend that he is diametrically opposed is dishonest.

Mr. Drainville called for a serene and thoughtful debate in relation to the Charter and said that the government is open to changes.
That is all that Parizeau has done. For Peekists to complain that he is meddling once again as is his want, is disingenuous fantasy.
In fact, complaints about Parizeau's missive from the hardliners, belies the notion that they ever wanted a fair debate at all.

Maria Mourani (dumped from the Bloc Quebecois for her opposition to the Charter)  told reporters that this was exactly what Drainville told her in a private conversation. Drainville indicated to her that the PQ decided that it would serve the party's interest to polarize Quebecers around the issue and fight an election with the position that only with a  majority government could the PQ possibly deliver a reasonable and effective Charter.
When asked to comment on Mourani's statement, Drainville offered a stern 'No Comment.'

Now what Parizeau proposed is pretty much what is being widely accepted as a compromise.
  • Official Secularism
  • No face veils while receiving or giving government services.
  • No paid holidays outside official national holidays. (Unpaid time off, allowed)
  • No religious symbols to be worn by Officials in positions of power (judges, police, guards, etc.)
  • No unreasonable accommodations (whatever that is)
Gone is the interdiction of the wearing of religious symbols while in the employ of the government.

It seems to be a compromise that most can live with, well within in the range of honest give and take, Nobody goes away completely satisfied, but not empty-handed.
So secularists and the observant are both required to put a little water in their wine, but in the end it seems that there is an acceptable deal to be had.

That is what I now call the 'Parizeau Compromise

The Parizeau Compromise is one the Jews and the Sikhs will readily accept, but one that the Muslims may not because the only real question to be debated is whether daycare, primary and high school teachers are civil servants in a position of power, thus subject to the interdiction.
If so teachers wouldn't be allowed to wear religious symbols and this affects Muslim day care workers and teachers to a very high degree.

I will venture to guess that on this one issue, the Muslims are on the wrong side of the consensus and that the Parizeau Compromise will have all party support if the teachers are included.

It's an acceptable solution for all but the Muslims, but that is perhaps the point. We all know that the real purpose of the Charter was to put restrictions on Quebec's growing Muslim population and especially those who wear the hijab.
The one interdiction on the teachers will be seen as enough to make the point. 

So with a deal in sight, will the PQ balk, preferring to have the issue linger on into the next provincial election which pundits tell us could happen in December?

The only bugbear that I see, is that Marois can't really call an election on her own. Back in June all parties unanimously passed Bill 03 which created a fixed term for elections every four years, with the next scheduled in 2016. There is no provision for a government to resign and call an election, it can only happen if the government is defeated in a confidence vote.

There is also the possibility that if the Marois government does resign, Quebec's Lieutenant-Governor could entertain a request from the Liberals and the CAQ for a coalition government, this without ever going to an election;
If the Lieutenant-Governor agrees (it is not beyond the realm) the government would be tested in the National Assembly and by winning a confidence vote could dump the PQ without firing a shot.

But that is fanciful speculation, the question at hand is whether the PQ wants a charter deal, which more or less is on the table or an election issue to base a campaign upon.

Or as Howie Mandel used to ask us on his quiz show;
Deal  or no deal?


.............Late Breaking..............

I caught a radio interview today  with Jacques Parizeau who couldn't resist going back and discussing the 1995 referendum and his famous drunken quote, the one that intimated that the  referendum was lost because of ethnic votes and money. Listen in French

I guess at his age, he is trying to rehabilitate his reputation, but if that was the case, he didn't do a good job, not in the least.

He explained that his remarks were justified, because the Jewish, Italian and Greek community made common cause and voted massively against the referendum.
He went on to say that in several polling stations in Cote Saint Luc, (a prominently Jewish suburb of Montreal,) the NON side received nary a vote.
The facts are the facts.
What he said was actually true, except the 'money,' part which was ridiculous.

But what he said back then in 1995, to preface the statement, was also telling.
"It's true, it's true we were defeated in the end, but by what? By money and the ethnic vote essentially.
(C'est vrai, c'est vrai qu'on a été battus, au fond, par quoi? Par l'argent, puis des votes ethniques, essentiellement.)
To me this is the essential point. When push came to shove, Parizeau went to the go-to analogy of 'us versus them.' 

It's something he and others separatists will never understand, the almost 100% rejection of the sovereignty project.
 It is simply because the Jews, the Greeks and the Italians understand that they were considered outsiders and that the Francophone majority never considered them equals.

It is this 'Us versus Them' scenario, where if all the left-handers chose the left-handed side, can anyone really question why?

 *******************
Dear Friends,

I and my wife and I are off visit our grandchildren this weekend.
I hope to see the littlest one perhaps stand up, or the four year old to tell me what it is all about.

As we get older it is these little things that we care about.
I have a latent fear that my grandchildren will end up speaking  like Vinnie Barbarinno, but on my last trip my grandson said this,  when I took away his toy.
"Eh! Give it back!"

Oh my God!...
He actually said 'Eh'..a Canadianism that we all cherish!
...Happily, his parents actually rubbed off!

Why am I sharing?
Dunno, other than to say I am happy to visit my second favorite city and to see family that cherishes their Montreal roots.
Those who read this blog regularly know exactly where we are off to.

But to those who think I hate Quebec, you couldn't be more wrong.
When we approach the border on our return, our heart skips, a sense of happiness and well being overcomes us.
We are home!

Can I explain it?................Nope!

Because of my travels, I'll be post again on Tuesday or Wednesday, next week!
In the meantime;

Have a great weekend!
Bon fin de semaine!

260 comments:

  1. FROM ED
    The only thing I can think of about Parizeau ia that he was good with the economy. Ed

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    Replies
    1. Some of the things I remember about him, other than his drunken referendum speech, is how he always used "by jove" in his English mumblings, how he always called anglophones the best treated minority in the world, and how he was bad for the economy. Generally speaking in Quebec provincial governance, the PQ has been closer to a zero deficit than the Liberals, but much worse for the economy and jobs than the Liberals because of the chill their policies send throughout the business community.

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  2. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/no-thanks-ms-marois-ill-stick-with-canadas-brand-of-multiculturalism/article14376598/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Quick to change the subject from yesterday's debacle, I see.

    But let me be a pest for 2 more minutes. Yesterday, someone wrote: "The situation in Quebec is quite different, it's an imagined war zone and an invented one."

    What does she mean by "imagined"? Hasn't she heard of Louisiana, Ontario, Western Canada? Francophone migrants to New England who lost the French language and culture in one generation? What about Quebec today? Surrounded by 350 million English-speakers, with a 5th column of Anglos and Allos inside Quebec? I think there are legitimate grounds here for harsher measures to protect the heritage of the people who have been humiliated over and over throughout history.

    That QC Anglos choose to act anti-social by refusing to adapt to the rules of this society, and choose not escape by hopping on the 401, boggles the mind. Are the people dumb? As an immigrant of 21 years, I sided with them for so long because I took them for underdogs. But now I'm thinking that maybe they are just dumb people who decide to continue to live in a place where they are considered a threat, a reminder of humiliation dished out on the locals, and therefore not very welcome. Yet they prefer to put up than to pack up and hit the 401. What kind of dumb person does that?

    Equality Party 2.0? How about the Dumbass Party 1.0 instead?

    Editor, I want to thank you for your yesterday's piece. You know those moments in life when you look at something from another angle and you see things from a different perspective? Thanks for giving me that moment.

    Cheers.




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    Replies
    1. You sound very ticked off adski - I hope not. I enjoy your posts.

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    2. @adski

      “Quick to change the subject from yesterday's debacle, I see.

But let me be a pest for 2 more minutes. Yesterday, someone wrote: "The situation in Quebec is quite different, it's an imagined war zone and an invented one."

What does she mean by "imagined"? Hasn't she heard of Louisiana, Ontario, Western Canada? Francophone migrants to New England who lost the French language and culture in one generation? What about Quebec today? Surrounded by 350 million English-speakers, with a 5th column of Anglos and Allos inside Quebec? I think there are legitimate grounds here for harsher measures to protect the heritage of the people who have been humiliated over and over throughout history.”

      If there was a legitimate concern. it was addressed 40 years ago, ergo bill and law 101. We are now 40 years later, and French is no longer under threat the way it was 40 years ago and if you still continue to believe that it is AND to the same degree, then this is to admit that ALL legislative efforts (in regards) in 4 decades have been in vain. Do you want to admit that Quebec has been ineffective in this endeavor? That countless provincial governments, from Liberals to PQ have failed in this task? Let’s be honest. So, in my opinion, TODAY, it is ‘an imagined war’. As far as historically and your examples of Louisiana and-the-like, provisions were never even considered back then. Also, not sure if you are aware, but Bilingualism has taken off BIG TIME in Ontario! Many Municipalities have undertaken educational programs where they will be building bilingual schools for the next 5 years. Wouldn’t be surprised if in the next 20 years, Ontario becomes the most “bilingual” province of Canada.

      Please, can we get over this “people who have been humiliated over and over..throughout history” rhetoric? It’s getting old and tired and really keeping everyone back. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt…LET’S MOVE ON!

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    3. @adski

      “That QC Anglos choose to act anti-social by refusing to adapt to the rules of this society, and choose not escape by hopping on the 401, boggles the mind. Are the people dumb?”

      NO ONE has refused to adapt, Anglo and Allos are bilingual today, yes there are exceptions but the exceptions are hardly worth counting. EVERYONE has adapted, everyone is bilingual, as for refusing to hop on the 401, it is precisely for this reason, no one bothered fighting for anything in the past, fighting unjust laws, and preferred to move that we find ourselves, exactly where we are today. No one objected and everyone got on the 401. People are not dumb, People are principled! Those who refuse to leave today feel Quebec is their home TOO, and guess what, THEY TOO, ARE ENTITLED. IS that too much of a foreign concept for you?

      “As an immigrant of 21 years, I sided with them for so long because I took them for underdogs. But now I'm thinking that maybe they are just dumb people who decide to continue to live in a place where they are considered a threat, a reminder of humiliation dished out on the locals, and therefore not very welcome.”

      I was born and raised here, and I don’t give a rat’s ass if I’m considered a threat. I will continue to live here if I so wish. If and When I move away, it will have nothing to do with people perceiving me as a threat or not liking my existence and I say this sincerely. I really don’t give a cr*p what they think. I will move away, however, if economically and fiscally Quebec doesn’t get it together in this very slim window of opportunity it has. THAT is a different story. We all have interests to protect, and THAT’S what we’re all trying to do. Fighting for ‘Rights and Freedoms’ is the path to protecting those interests…Savvy??

      “Yet they prefer to put up than to pack up and hit the 401. What kind of dumb person does that?

Equality Party 2.0? How about the Dumbass Party 1.0 instead?”

      See response above.

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    4. "NO ONE has refused to adapt, Anglo and Allos are bilingual today"

      Et ils s'engueulent avec les agents du STM? ... Issshh

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    5. "Anglo and Allos are bilingual today,"

      We are, but we are also culturally different and politically belligerent. We just don't adapt to the rules which require more than just speaking the language, and we're dumb enough to stick around instead of hitting the 401.


      "Those who refuse to leave today feel Quebec is their home TOO."

      What do you mean our "home"? You're here every day complaining how it doesn't feel like "home".


      "I was born and raised here, and I don’t give a rat’s ass if I’m considered a threat."

      It's irrelevant that you were born here. People are born in places from which they are driven out.

      "I will continue to live here if I so wish."

      But isn't this dumb thing to do? I suggest you hit the 401, or I will have no choice but to consider you a fool.

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    6. “Editor, I want to thank you for your yesterday's piece. You know those moments in life when you look at something from another angle and you see things from a different perspective? Thanks for giving me that moment. 

Cheers.”

      Glad you’re growing!! So nice to see Progress!!

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

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    8. "This is NORTH AMERICA..no body drives anybody out. "

      What makes North America so special? And isn't driving out of other people is the foundation of the 2 North American countries. Haven't you heard of the Trail of Tears fro example? Or does your memory only go back to the 1970s, when it was your own people who were bullied to leave their homes in one Canadian province?


      "This is why people like you (who come from far away) choose to imigrate here..isn't it??"

      We choose to immigrate here to reap some of the benefits from the economy that you created by ripping off the rest of the world. Everything else is secondary.


      "Again..ACCORDING TO YOU. And AGAIN, I really don't give a rat's ass what you or anyone thinks"

      If you don't give a rat's ass, why are you screaming?

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    9. "We choose to immigrate here to reap some of the benefits from the economy that you created by ripping off the rest of the world. Everything else is secondary."

      I suppose you are now complicit in this endeavor of ripping off the rest of the world since you know what they say, Guilty by association! So you can knock off the self righteous indignation.

      "What makes North America so special?

      Gee ..I don't know but perhaps you can explain why YOU chose to come here rather than go to Australia or any other continent you could have gone to?

      Again...I am not yelling...I am trying to highlight, from where I am communicating there is isn't an ption to format txt, if I could I would opt to underline instead.

      Smiles!!

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    10. "Or does your memory only go back to the 1970s, when it was your own people who were bullied to leave their homes in one Canadian province?"

      We've evolved, and my memory goes back to the recent events of 9/11, when, objectively speaking, all the Islamic faithfuls, (because of what the Islamic terrorists had done), could have been gathered up and deported, by the US, had it chosen to go down that path, but it didn't. My comment stands with one additional word: Today.

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    11. "I think there are legitimate grounds here for harsher measures to protect the heritage of the people who have been humiliated over and over throughout history."

      Humiliated by not forcing them to integrate? By allowing them to keep their religion (something the "noble" French didn't do, if you weren't roman catholic you were not allowed into New France), keep their language, have more freedoms than under the seigneural system, by having a province with its own powers, having perks that no other province does, by instilling bilingualism across an entire country for one province? Come, come now, French Canadians weren't treated like kings but to even imply they have been humiliated over and over again, or have had it worse than most populations at the time is just nuts. Your entire though process can be broken down into:

      Francophones: Humiliated by legislation hundreds of years ago, don't need to get over the humiliation, should not have to integrate culturally, were perfectly justified in not moving.
      Quebec Anglophones: were humiliated by legislation 40 years ago, should have gotten over it already, should have to integrate culturally, are idiots for not moving.

      How you can reconcile both of those is beyond me.

      "QC Anglos choose to act anti-social by refusing to adapt to the rules of this society"
      What does that even mean? What rules?

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    12. I have to admit it does amaze me how many anglophones stay in Quebec. Listening to the comments here it just boggles my mind..must be a lot of dumb ass anglophones as adski says..but more likely its just a lot of very stubborn anglos who are going to keep hitting their head against a brick wall until they die.

      I see retired anglos all over the west island and I wonder why they stay here..I mean they dont need to stay for work..the price of housing has gone up a lot hence they could afford to live in many communities across Canada. Most of their children likely live in other provinces. Are they staying to spite the francophones?? Or because they are too stressed out to move somewhere else. I mean if conditions are so horrible here for anglos as many say why isnt there an exodus out of Quebec??

      Adski has a strong point..francophones have been wiped off the map in many parts of North America over the past few hundred years..from Louisiana to much of the rest of Canada. The french immersion schools in Canada are more symbolic than anything as the quality of french education from them is pretty pathetic. Hence Quebecois have a very valid concern to protect their language and unfortunately many anglos dont seem to get that. On the other hand its a shame that the language issue has become an obsession which has taken away from many more important issues such as the debt, taxes, the economy, corruption and infrastructure.

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    13. "have to admit it does amaze me how many anglophones stay in Quebec. Listening to the comments here it just boggles my mind..must be a lot of dumb ass anglophones as adski says..but more likely its just a lot of very stubborn anglos who are going to keep hitting their head against a brick wall until they die. "

      I think the dummies are those who simply read what they want to, and then conjure up there own conclusions. I live where I want to and my beef is the oppression of Rights and Freedoms, in that respect, I am not an Anglo or a Francophone or an Allophone for that matter.

      Moving away is not off the table, but it certainly wouldn't happen because of Language, it will happen because of the Economy, and the fear that every time I travel to go see my nephews off island, I have to content with the poor state of the bridges to south and fear ending up in the river.

      There...have we explained clearly enough for you, or do you need a picture to go with that?

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    14. There's just no pleasing you people is there? "
      "The french immersion schools in Canada are more symbolic than anything as the quality of french education from them is pretty pathetic."
      It's no damn wonder the ROC is getting so fed up with us.

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    15. FROM ED
      Adski, it was not the English who refused to assimilate it was the French. Numbers don't count. majority does not create assimilat ion. It happenes naturally.. Before Rene Levesque Quebec was using English predominantly. It was happening naturally the way it should. In London England in the 1600's there 16 different dialects of English (Anglo) and French (Saxon) over the years they all blended into one which is the English we use today. It
      happened naturally because no one was complaining. They didn't even notice it happening.
      The same was happening here before Rene told the French they were not happy. When Queen Victoria gave the Francophones permission to use their own Language and Religion, she said, "It will not last long." She didn't expect Rene Levesque to come along.
      “That QC Anglos choose to act anti-social by refusing to adapt to the rules of this society, and choose not escape by hopping on the 401, boggles the mind. Are the people dumb?”
      What fucking rules? Where the hell do you get off saying I should obey rules created by selfish idiots who think the world should adapt to their narrow mindedness and I'm dumb if I don't. I'd be an idiot if I do.
      Whaat you are doing here is pulling a 'Complicated' Your posts make no sense but you'll argue to the bitter end that your right. Ed

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    16. Before René Lévesque, Québec was not predominantly using english.

      "...before Rene told the French they were not happy."

      This is one of your contemptuous prejudices. The population is stupid and doesn't know better and one guy comes along and fills people's heads with silly ideas.

      Yes, francos were happy before René Lévesque, and l'Assemblée des Six Comtés was a family gathering and, later, FLQ members were so happy that there was litteraly explosions of joy in the streets of Montreal.

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    18. anectote - So you are waiting until the economy forces you away. The smart thing to do is to leave before the economy forces you out. If you wait until the economy crashes then you will be forced to sell any property you have at a steep discount to what its worth now as everyone flees at the same time. I guess if you are renting it doesnt matter.

      Is it not blindingly obvious that the economy is going to get much worse in Quebec?? I mean look at our debt situation, look at the tax situation, look at the widespread corruption everywhere, look at the constant priorities of the Lib and PQ governments on issues other than the economy. How manty more screaming signs does one need to figure out that the economy is going to weaken in a big way sometime soon???

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    19. I denote sarcastic undertones with your statement...mmm...gee Michel Patrice, are you implying then...that it was the dissatisfaction the FLQ felt was such that brought on "explosions of joy in the streets of Montreal"?

      So tell me, how should the Muslim women in hijabs display their dissatisfaction with being told off, and vilified today on the streets and on the buses of this province? Please advise. Lol

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    20. complicated, you keep complaining non stop, yet you are not only here, you moved here. How dumb can that be?

      Delete
    21. @complicated

      "Is it not blindingly obvious that the economy is going to get much worse in Quebec?? I mean look at our debt situation, look at the tax situation, look at the widespread corruption everywhere, look at the constant priorities of the Lib and PQ governments on issues other than the economy. How manty more screaming signs does one need to figure out that the economy is going to weaken in a big way sometime soon??? "

      You do paint a dire picture, wow, so when are you moving?

      Is this about the other day when I said you were everything BUT an amateur complainer? I said that because you do have a tendency to write posts the size of novels, so that hardly qualifies you as an amateur, you gotta admit.
      Listen, I like you, and I think, most of the time, you make intelligent posts, some of which, for me are renown, almost right up there with Apparrtchik, cra*p (I miss him/her)..okay maybe not Chik.cause she/he in a class by themselves
      But..I like reading you, I enjoy reading you!

      Pls stop being a girl...let's forge on...Deal?

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    22. @adski

      now you're talking. keep it up mate.

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    23. anectote - Well you do have me in that sense.,that yes moving to Quebec was probably one of the worst decisions of my life..no arguments from me there. I could never have imagined that this province could be so diametrically different in a negative way than the ROC but sadly it is. My plan is to try and get out of here before it all falls apart or at least position myself in a way that if I am here that I dont lose too much. I strongly urge the rest of you do the same..its just a matter of a few years or less before the economy really weakens..we are in the early stages of what happened in Europe.

      Having said that I think all of Canada is in for a rough time..I believe we have a big real estate bubble in this country comparable to the one that blew up in the USA 5 years ago and parts of Europe. Real estae is a huge driving force behind the economy..people think they are rich because their houses have doubled or tripled in value within 10 years. Hnece they spend more money on other items than they normally would..that will all change when real estate drops significantly. On any historical basis this is totally abnormal as its been drive entirely by adding debt fueled by incredibly easy credit policies.

      The supposed recovery in the USA is a false one as its entirely built upon the central bank of the USA..the federal reserve..printing 85 billion dollars per month out of thin air to buy US Treasuries and toxic mortgage backed securities. Even with this so called QE plan (fancy word for money printing) the US interest rates have shot up a fair bit this year which is not a good omen. I think that within the next 2-3 years interest rates are going to rise back to normal levels in the USA and also here in Canada. This will cause real estate to contract in a big way in Canada which will have a snowball effect on the economy. The US economy is going to weaken again which will have a negative effect on Canada. Quebec is in the weakest position of all the provinces due to its massive debt, high taxes, anti business policies hence will suffer worse in many ways. However I think people who have bought real estate, especially condos in Toronto and Vancouver will be hit especially hard also.

      So we have big problems on a continental level but here in Quebec it will be magnified because of the gross incompetence of decades of PQ and Liberal rule and our very weak financial position. Its in this situation that I fear a party like Quebec Solidaire could become quite popular..a time with rising unemployment..lots of economic uncertainty..people losing their homes. The fairy tales spun by Quebec Solidaire against a backdrop of the publics fatigue with the PQ and the Liberals will be hard to resist.

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    24. http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Hadekel+Marceau+offers+answers+Quebec+struggling+finances/8999003/story.html

      THIS is what we should be preoccupied with. But the incompetent government du-jour has decided to make it about a charter thar has no business taking the focus away from the real issues. When will we elect governments that look after the interest that matter. WAKE UP PEOPLE.....this is what we should be spending our time on, and we should keep the conversation around THIS, so that the incompetents in government understand we will not settle for anything less than Them doing the damned job.

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    25. I agree 100 percent..the debt issue is a ticking bomb waiting to go off. Unfortunately most citizens are oblivious to this and keep electing governments that not only will not solve the debt problem but have largely been responsible for it. In many ways we deserve the government we get as most people demand government does more and more for them even if it means pushing the government further and further into debt. There is no political will to tackle this problem because any government that tries will not be re-elected..thats the sad reality. The truth is that the Quebec government needs to slash its spending..meaning firing thousands of bureaucrats, cutting health care spending, cutting education, cutting business subsidies, adding user fees, and so on. All of these highly unpopular but thats what you have to do when you let your debt grow out of control..we have been living beyond our means for decades. Would most people actually support a government which implements massive cuts.. in Quebec people would flip out and likely shut Montreal down because they have become spoiled brats.

      This is an issue that is a problem in much of Europe and North America..its all about polticians buying people votes with all sorts of unrealistic election promises..its also about a populace who thinks that the government is there to save them from any trouble they get into..and its about to finally end.

      I cringe when I think what will happen to this province when it must slash spending and fire workers and hike taxes because it has no choice. Then you will really see riots on the streets and unfortunately I believe much of the anger will once again be directed at ottawa, the rest of canada, anglophones when it really should be directed at the provincial government and most Quebec citizens. I think there will also be increasing confrontations between generational groups as the youth realized that the older citzens have left an incredible debt burden on younger generations while benefiting from large government spending throughout much of their lives.








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    26. @Complicated

      It is dire, BUT...I do believe as you do, that putting the right measures in place and doing what is needed will at least put us on the right track, as difficult as those things are to do and accomplish. The problem is...that no one has the balls to do it and they cower away. How insulting to us all that we have to show up on Election Day and with the flick of a pencil on paper turn over our power to a bunch of people who then take it and run...and laugh in our faces. I agree with you on everything you have said about the PQ and Liberals, unlike you I do not believe the answer lies with the CAQ, however. I would love to see completely different faces who are authentic and sincere about their intentions regarding the real issues that plague us and addressing them concretely. The power-seekers are only interested in advancing their agendas, and never concerned about what is in the best interests of citizens. I often Imagine anyone here could do a better job than than what is being accomplished now...which is a big fat nothing. All we have to look forward to IS a snap election to get rid of the ineffective governance that is there presently. I want to know how much money so far we've flushed down the toilet just with this stupid bill 14 which went no where, and this charter, which will also never see the light of day. Money was spent unnecessarily, money we didn't have to begin with.

      Who will refund us for these wasteful expenses?

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    27. I think we are in the minority to be honest. If people knew how drastic cuts would need to be made then they would probably flip out. At some point the pain has to be taken..if we had taken the pain 10-15 years ago then it would have been much easier.
      The Libs and PQ missed a glorious chance to get our finances back in order since the late 1990s when the US and Canadian economies have been pretty strong. Now we are looking at chronic problems in the USA and I believe soon to be in Canada. It will be incredibly painful to implement austerity measures when the economy tanks and it will also weaken the economy..but there is no magic bullet. I guess the other option is to default on the debt..ultimately I think that many countries around the world will default on their massive debt as Iceland and Greece have.

      As I said before I am not expecting miracles from the CAQ but I believe they are the only realistic option of change at this point. If you can show me any other political party that has a chance of winning who will offer us any hope please let me know..we all know what the PQ and Liberals are all about it and it aint what we need.

      People may end up on the streets at some point when things get really bad but I think they are going to turn to even more radical left wing policies a la Quebec Solidaire. People are not going to embrace a right wing fiscally conservative party here in Quebec..there are just too many people whose livelihood depends on sucking off the provincial tit.

      Delete
    28. I listened to a bunch of financial experts on the radio the other day and they say there is no housing bubble here in Canada and we shouldn't worry about that. Don't know who to believe on this stuff anymore - everyone has their own opinion but I do know one thing: Quebec will learn nothing about economics until they are all standing in soup lines for their meals. You are correct about that complicated. They will not vote for any party that says that things are going badly and we have to tighten our belts. They honestly believe that the money train will never stop coming by and until that happens and they are made to face it, we're going to be stuck watching them all waste money and yes become more and more communist as each election goes by. As AnceTOTE calls them - a bunch of hicks that know nothing about economics and refuse to see their hand in front of their face. I hope the Salvation Army is stocking up!

      Delete
    29. Cutie - My experience over the years had led me to ignore the vast majority of so called financial experts in the mainstream media. Most of these people are cheerleaders who never have anything negative to say about the economy..they never forecast a recession until it has already happened..they are their to promote their own agenda. Economists are notoriously wrong about forecasting significant weakness in the economy..they have a clear bias towards spinning everything in a positive light.

      If you listened to the mainstream media right up to 2008 and even so called experts like the chairman of the federal reserve in the USA, Ben Bernanke, they were all saying..there is no housing bubble in the USA or we might have a small correction in housing but nothing worth noting. Even our own finance minister Mr.Flaherty right up to the crisis and even after was not concerned about us going into deficit mode and then within 3 months he was calling for a 50 billion dollar deficit. These people are utterly clueless and once again the same people who were wrong over and over are trotted out in the media to tell us how wonderful everything is. However there were a few people warning about a crisis years before it happened and they were proved totally correct.

      I listen to people like Marc Faber, William Fleckenstein, Jim Rogers, Jim Grant, Peter Grandich, Peter Schiff who have been consistently correct..albeit their timing is off at times. However you don't hear nearly as often from these people as all the other clowns on tv. Oh and if you want a good read of what is going on in canadian real estate..look at this blog
      www.greaterfool.ca

      Delete
    30. Complicated: "As I said before I am not expecting miracles from the CAQ but I believe they are the only realistic option of change at this point. If you can show me any other political party that has a chance of winning who will offer us any hope please let me know..we all know what the PQ and Liberals are all about it and it aint what we need. "

      Except that we agreed that we live in a province which wants us out and only the stubborn (and dumb) ones are still left behind. Why would we then care to elect a party that would fix this province (here, I am assuming for the sake of argument that the CAQ would be the saving force).

      On one hand, you are seconding a notion that we should overcome our dumbness and stubbornness and move already. On the other hand, you're imploring us to support solutions to fix the province. This is a very contradictory stance that assumes that we are not only dumb for sticking around, but that we are super idiots that want to help amend the place that robs us of the will to stick around.

      People driven out of places have one thing in common: when they look into the rear view mirror on their way out, they don't want to see prosperity. They want to see a bloody mess.

      Delete
    31. Yannick, there is a quality in Quebec Anglos that I always found really annoying. It's a mixture of contradictory stances of radicalism and conservatism. When it comes to Quebec and their rights, they can get very radical, pro change, pro justice, but this noble stance ends the minute you hit the Quebec border. For anything that's past the Quebec border, order is order and anyone challenging it is a fool. What goes with it is their cynical attitude to immigrants and allophones.

      I always stood, stand, and will stand against pequiste governments because I see them as a bunch of autocrats and authoritarians, but I have no illusions about the Anglos either.

      Delete
    32. "It is more difficult when standing up for these rights means that your own 'side' has to make compromises, or accept a certain kind of culpability."

      Decent, right-minded people don't have this issue.

      Either you're a closed-minded racist loon or you're not.

      C'est assez simple.

      Delete
    33. @sylvain raciste

      "Either you're a closed-minded racist loon or you're not."

      right on. i'm not. what about you sylvain?

      Delete
    34. adski,

      To ascribe the Editor's opinion to that of all other anglophones on the sole basis of us being anglophones is highly subject. Do you think all anglophones think alike? Surely not. Just as all francophones don't think alike and all minorities of different cultures don't think alike.

      I can see that the last blog post of his where he spoke about "Israel rules" as upsetting to you. I see you were making a point in which you linked this to "Quebec rules" in that we should just shut up and don't protest or make noise about laws we don't like if we agreed with "Israel rules". I agree with you about that and I guess when he remarked that these Canadians were stupid and should have known better, that's what you partically considered ill-thought out or in bad taste.

      Others tried to make the point that these were not people living in that society and that they were just visitors and because of this, they should be aware of those said rules and not be surprised if they run into any trouble. I can see this point as well. They make have considered these consequences and thought it was worth it. It is up to them to decide.

      I don't really think that the comments in regard the editor's blogpost about "stupid Canadians" showed that all anglophones believe you musn't challenge authority if there is an injustice.

      And I don't know what you mean by the cynical attitude to immigrants and allophones that Quebec anglos have.

      Delete
    35. Except that we agreed that we live in a province which wants us out and only the stubborn (and dumb) ones are still left behind. Why would we then care to elect a party that would fix this province (here, I am assuming for the sake of argument that the CAQ would be the saving force).

      The CAQ was and increasingly less so the only possible hope of things getting better. I havent totally given up hope but am pretty darn close. And I know if by some miracle the CAQ were to form a government and it fails miserably in its attempts to improve things in Quebec..well then thats it.

      And the two are not contradictory..the vast majority of anglos here have no intention of voting for the CAQ yet they whine incessantly about how awful things are here for them. So yes I do regard those people are somewhat pig-headed..they have an opportunity to help put in power a new party in which there is some hope of this province at least starting to move in the right direction. Yet they prefer instead to do what they have always done..day in and day out..vote for the Liberals who have proven over and over that they cannot manage this province. Is that not dumb and stubborn behaviour adski?? Why stay here if you are unwilling to change your actions and its clear that your actions have failed over and over??



      Delete
    36. "the vast majority of anglos here have no intention of voting for the CAQ yet they whine incessantly about how awful things are here for them. So yes I do regard those people are somewhat pig-headed"

      There is a big difference between whining about things not improving sand refusing to choose an option that would improve things, and whining about things not improving and voting for something called CAQ.

      Even if you assume that the CAQ would improve Quebec's economy, you hit a second wall: the benefits from any of these improvements would go to a different segment of the population due to the CAQ's economic nationalism (an ideology of improving the lot of a certain segment of the population of a certain province at the expense of everyone else in the country and province). So there wouldn't be any major trickling down of prosperity on account of CAQ's potential successes or economic improvements (which again I assume for the sake of argument only, for I don't believe in any improvements coming from CAQ).

      Not hitting the 401 might be pig headed, dumb, stubborn. But voting for options that practice economic nationalism from which one is excluded is plain stupid.

      Delete
    37. I think its incredibly dumb and pig headed to whine incessantly about how awful things in this province are for anglophones and yet the anglophones continue to do the same thing. Either they should leave which makes a lot of sense or they should try and change the direction of how we are governed. Please enlighten me on what other realistic solutions other than the CAQ that we have..I mean realistic. We have tried the Liberals and the PQ..neither is effective so there is one possible other option at the moment and if you like many here are not prepared to try that option then it makes little sense to stay here. And adski we dont have the luxury of time here..another 5-10 years of Liberal/PQ rule will pretty well put a nail in the coffin.

      Any improvement in the Quebec economy will trickle down to everyone here. Believe me if Quebec defaults on its debt we will all suffer..in fact I suspect the anglos will suffer the worst as they will be targeted. The CAQ is talking about cutting the debt, cutting waste, lowering taxes, taking on the unions - this does not sound like economic nationalism..its all about stopping the decline and laying the foundation for some real growth.

      And why such bitterness about how immigrants and allophones are treated..this comes up over and over with your responses. What do you mean..the cynical attitude..its never been a cakewalk being an immigrant here or in any country..honestly I think Canada and even Quebec typically bend over backwards trying to help immigrants when they come here. Many immigrants after a generation or so do very well as they often work their butts off. Maybe life has dealt you a raw hand but dont blame it on Canadians. Most of us are first to third generation..my grandparents were from Europe and life was very rough for them but they made a decent life for themselves and each generation after has done better.

      Delete
    38. You whine all the time too, so don't paint yourself as some anti-whine crusader.

      I don't trust the CAQ. You do. Let's leave it at that...or go ahead and pump out another paragraph about cutting debt taxes and waste. Knock yourself out.

      Delete
    39. But I am prepared to do something concrete about it..like backing a third political party. The rest of you from what I can see have no real plan other than complain.

      I cant wait for another paragraph from you lamenting the plight of immigrants and allophones..

      Delete
  4. That's a fair compromise.

    As for the money part of this famous "Drunken Speech"... Gommery Commission. I think we have all the answers right there.

    And, think about it, if the Newfies voted in favour of Meech or Charlottetown none of this bullshit would have happened...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "And, think about it, if the Newfies voted in favour of Meech or Charlottetown none of this bullshit would have happened..."

      Mmm...maybe.

      But think about it, if the situation had been reversed, would you have voted for special status for them? Objectively speaking.

      Delete
    2. It wouldn't have mattered if Meech or the Charlottetown Accord had been passed. Quebec would have come forward with even more demands. Appeasement doesn't work...Quebec will never be satisfied.

      Delete
    3. You are correct Durham. I work with someone, high up in the company who said to me...I am not a separatist, I am A Nationalist, I want the utmost powers for Quebec, that's it. and I want Canada to pay foe them. I asked him to leave my office and we have not discussed this since. Luckily, I report to head office in Toronto, he has to endure me, and I have to endure him.

      Delete
    4. Apologists will remain apologists.

      But hey, at least you extended the olive branch.

      Delete
    5. Mom was right, you only kiss babies while they sleep.

      Delete
    6. The idea that "the Newfies" (especially Clyde Wells) killed the Meech Lake Accord is a myth spun by Quebec separatists. This website has a very good timeline of the Meech Lake developments:
      http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/meech-lake-accord-history-overview#failure
      There seems to have been a longtime campaign by Brian Mulroney and the Quebec government to make Newfoundland the villain in all this, even though Frank McKenna of New Brunswick, Elijah Harper of Manitoba, and the usual Quebec government intransigence all played roles.

      Delete
    7. If Quebec wants other provinces like Newfoundland to help them when needed maybe they need to stop screwing the rest of the country at every opportunity.

      Quebec could have negotiated on the labrador power prices if it really wanted to.

      Quebec is a take province. Constantly with it's hand out. No matter what the other provinces or the federal govt does to help Quebec it will never be enough.

      It's impossible to satisfy the bottomless pit of insecurity that exists within Quebec.

      Really it would be better for Canada to kick Quebec out.

      "Sorry, we made a mistake years ago. Fuck off and stop asking for money for your scams (unions, politicians, construction companies)"

      Delete
    8. I see that there is quite a lot of animosity between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The border with Labrador, status of Labrador itself, Churchill Falls, transmission fees, underwater cables, Old Harry, to name a few. Too bad that it seems that the wind of fortune is blowing to Newfoundland and Labrador's side as there is a recent discovery of major oil reserve off the coast of St John's. I try to imagine the situation when Churchill Falls contract expired, NL built the underwater cable and their oil reserve is in production.

      Delete
    9. Way to go Newfoundland! I hope they prosper and shame the hell out of quebec. When quebec had the chance to make things right with Newfoundland, they decided to be selfish as usual so now it's payback - Go Newfoundland!

      Delete
    10. There was a German, an Italian and a newfie on death row...Bah...forget it.

      Delete
    11. Long term Newfoundland/Labrador will do better then Quebec in every category except francophone culture.

      They embrace jobs, development and have a common sense approach to problems.

      Everything Quebec isn;t.

      It's tied to brutally harsh weather and even then they will manage to get ahead.

      But that shows the real issue. It's the people.

      Newfoundland will have success as long as they don;t think like welfare PQ Quebecers.

      Delete
    12. @cebeuq

      "Long term Newfoundland/Labrador will do better then Quebec in every category..."

      that's false. when oil wells dry up they'll go back where they came from, unless they set up a fund like norway did.

      Delete
    13. @Yannipologist

      Danny Williams, former premier of the province showed the people the way by example, unlike the parasitic leeches leading Quebec now.

      Pauline Marois and her disgusting husband have achieved wealth by very nefarious means.

      So before you launch into anti-Newfie tirades, you might want to size up the measuring stick you;re using.

      Delete
  5. Editor,

    You left a rather important point of Parizeau's opinion, a point that I think will be very hard for PQ - and the hardliners - to swallow, and therefore making your statement below less than on-the-target.

    In offering an alternate view, Mr Parizeau has in no way put himself squarely against the Charter and to pretend that he is diametrically opposed is dishonest.

    Parizeau suggests that the crucifix in the National Assembly be removed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this whole thing is just another way to remove rights and freedom of choice from the "outsiders" that live here. As this slow erosion takes place, everyone is happy if it's only a "few" rights that are taken away after they start out with outrageous demands and therefore these sovereignists come out looking "reasonable" to their movement. More political games being played by ALL the separatists not just Miss Piggy and her PQ party. Getting down to basics, they are still removing rights from the Canadian Constitution slowly but surely with every one of these bills and charters they come up with. In the end, they get exactly what they want: A pur laine francophone majority population voting against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and declaring sovereignty without really leaving as yet.

      Delete
    2. De quels droits êtes-vous privée exactement?Pouvez-vous les nommer?

      Delete
    3. http://tinyurl.com/6njvbg

      ...

      Delete
  6. Charte: un message hostile aux immigrants, selon Paradis

    Le voile : Un message hostile envers la société d'accueil,selon moi

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Editor,

    I think I speak for many in the minority communities who will say that they will never have any respect or regard for this individual. Thing is, when he opened his big fat mouth that night and implicated..the Jewish, Italian and Greek communities who according to him "made common cause and voted massively against the referendum", he forgot about the Francophones in this province who also voted against him in the Referendum, didn't he? Surely the minority didn't singlehandedly accomplish this, the numbers wouldn't jive. He never alluded to that other fraction of the population, along with minorities, who was also instrumental in the NO side. But that's right...we only single out...who we hate...don't we?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      The thing is; he got more French to vote for the referendum than Levesque or anyone else could. the only other man that could bring in france votes like Parizeau was Jean charest. Unfortunately, because of false corruption allegations even the English voted against him. Ed

      Delete
  8. Isn't the Parizeau Compromise just what the CAQ have been floating or months? If they PQ was interested in compromise they would have made a deal a long while ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're exactly right, thatguy. Marois is using it as a wedge issue. She has been able to get alot of francophones riled up so that they attack and berate Muslims in the street and because of this division, the famous "us vs them" ideology that the PQ always promotes, she hopes to win the next election.

      (Nobody in the francophone media say how incompetent the government is now, unlike before Marois and the PQ made this PQ values charter an issue)

      Delete
  9. Anyone up for a good laugh?

    http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2013/10/04/la-meilleure-performance-de-lontario-ninquiete-pas-quebec

    I simply can't (and never will) grasp why the separatist movement is so utterly incapable of understanding the economy and how it works.

    http://bit.ly/1cdtLFw

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG - these people are delusional or smoking weed! After all the money and benefits that are given to quebec by the politicians from the ROC, they have the nerve to insinuate that Ontario is treated better! You are right = "a good laugh" .

      Delete
    2. @anonymous coward

      "I simply can't (and never will) grasp why the separatist movement..."

      never will? come on mate, don't give up so easily on yourself. i for one still have hope for you.

      Delete
    3. @student

      He's not the only one. Don't think any of us understand, but moreover, I don't think we want to. We'll just leave y'all to suffer, struggle and self-bullshit your way through your fake reality.

      Good luck.

      Delete
    4. @sylvain raciste

      who's us?!?

      so you don't want to undersatnd right? then you will remain a part of the problem i'm afraid.

      Delete
    5. @student

      Only a part of the problem you perceive.

      Nothing's wrong with Canada - that's why it's long been one of the top-rated countries in the world.

      But if you want to consider me part of your made-up, non-existent separatist problem, please go right ahead.

      Your movement has shown us it doesn't deserve to have its voice heard.

      Delete
    6. @sylvain raciste

      everything may be cool with canada, but it's not the case with quebec mate. as a proof let me refer you to this blog's history, whre the editor has been posting two times a week for years about the problem i am refering to. well if you don't want to understand your antagonist's point of view, you become the problem.

      "Your movement has shown us it doesn't deserve to have its voice heard."

      did it? how?

      Delete
    7. I'd like to thank you for being honest (for once) and admitting that Canada is cool.

      All arguments are now over and Federalism rocks while separatism sucks ass.

      Delete
    8. @sylvain raciste

      you always manage to find a cheap way to avoid having to be thoughful mate. fascinating stuff.

      Delete
  10. "It's no accident that Parizeau has been nicknamed the 'Mother-in-law" for his unsolicited advice and criticism of the PQ and its leadership."

    This whole charter compromise thing from Parizeau is more about party in-fighting, then anything else. In other words, more to spite the PQ, then benefit the debate.

    The PQ doesn't want a compromise, they're playing for broke at this point. On the surface it's about the charter, behind closed doors it's about dividing and conquering, see Drainville's admission to Mourani. Sad sad state of affairs.

    FIX THE ROADS AND FIX THE ECONOMY !
    (Now I'm yelling)

    ReplyDelete
  11. " We all know that the real purpose of the Charter was to put restrictions on Quebec's growing Muslim population and especially those who wear the hijab"

    Editor, are you naïve. Marois proposed the charter only to garner votes by appealing to base instincts of identity politics. She could not care less about secularization. By doing so she has obfuscated the issues. The real issue is stopping muslim immigration, but that was not her purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  12. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/10/03/pq_stung_by_jacques_parizeaus_rebuke_of_values_charter_hbert.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. "But to those who think I hate Quebec, you couldn't be more wrong.
    When we approach the border on our return, our heart skips, a sense of happiness and well being overcomes us."

    I understand. What most people on this blog don't know, is that I often find myself defending Quebec. It's like the younger sister who annoys me incessantly, and who I chastise and tell off, but low and behold anyone who attacks her. When I travel this country, for business, and there are Franco-Ontario colleagues around, I will uniquely speak French, every chance I get! I do this to make others aware of our existence, especially when I am with other staff from Alberta and BC, almost like insinuating, learn French and then you will know what am I saying.

    But, I will not let up on our society, AND YES...I WILL call them on their cr*p.

    You would worry when people like me don't give a cr*p anymore.

    The end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kind of like marriage - we're here for better or worse - right now is the worst - Let's hope it can't get more so.

      Delete
  14. Probably a lot of truth to this:
    http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10598611&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really it shouldn;t matter.

      The average PQ Quebecer isn;t smart enough to read the news and understand things like recession.

      Furthermore all this "high fallutin learning about the economy" seems like magic to them. They live in a world of limitless possibilities as drivers for the STM or as union cogs in the massive construction fraud that is the Quebec construction industry.

      Things like business and companies are not relevant to the PQ.

      All good things will be handed out by the collective (ie govt) to the workers.


      Delete
    2. What other province in Canada can brag about such things? It's like we are living with wolves - hear no evil, see no evil, unfortunately speak lots of evil. It is really sad that francophones are so cloistered. The Catholic Church kept them in the dark for hundreds of years and now their own politicians want to keep them stupid. Education is the only way out of this society for them but they fail to see that also. Still leaving school before 16 to take union jobs with their dads. What a place.

      Delete
    3. Nous ne sommes pas une province comme les autres mais presqu'un pays...Can't you see the difference?

      Delete
    4. Thanks S.R. I needed a good laugh. Almost a country what a joke. LOL!!

      Hey Cutie you must have gotten under his skin you got S.R. to type in English.

      Delete
    5. Nous ne sommes pas une province comme les autres mais presqu'un pays...Can't you see the difference?

      Strange.

      When I was in Montreal I was summoned to serve in a jury. The documentation from the Superior Court clearly read:

      CANADA
      PROVINCE DE QUÉBEC
      DISTRICT DE MONTRÉAL

      What do they know, right? Surely S.R knows much better than them, the Officers of the Court.

      Delete
    6. Can you imagine giving these incompetent buffoons an extra 50B to do with what they wish? They can't even manage the economy with what they have now and these sovereignist idiots want to give them even more power and control over more money! The whole thing is so stupid that it's beyond any reasonable person's capability to understand what the hell they are thinking! Their own country - Instead of a banana republic we can have a maple syrup republic! lol

      Delete
    7. PQ seppies have a thinking and motivation from "Tom Wu"

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Vu

      To be separate you have to act separate first.

      The PQ francophone are constantly butting up against reality. They think it's anglophones and immigrants denying them when in reality it's their stupid ideas and lack of knowledge of economics, international law, human rights in the face of the real world.

      Anything they dream up is a sustainable fantasy in their minds. Every country people with destructive people like the PQ that try to make it into politics.

      The difference in Quebec is the population supports these mental cases.

      They still don;t understand the difference between a democracy and democratic ideas.

      Delete
    8. @cutie003

      "They can't even manage the economy with what they have now..."

      would it be easier for you to manage your own private economy if you sent half your revenue to a separatist for him to spend it for you according to his perception of your needs? of course not. same for quebec. that's why your proposition here is ridiculous.

      Delete
    9. student,

      I am quite sure that Cutie003 can manage her private economy much easier if after sending half of her revenue to a separatist, the said separatist give her back money much more than what she gives out.

      Delete
    10. @troy

      of course she would in your bad analogy. but would she if the separatist didn't give her money, but stuff she doesn't need?

      Delete
    11. I can name thousands of things that the separatists use my money for and for which I have no "need" - language police, ads promoting sovereignty, graft, unions, phony embassies and travel and living expenses for people working at their "pseudo" embassies, commissions and studies about what Ottawa does with THEIR money, harassing citizens that don't have the correct size english lettering on their signs, travel expenses for them to go all over the world playing country, and I could go on but you get the picture Troy. I would like to keep MY money for MY travel and living expenses not someone else's that does not represent me in any WAY, SHAPE OR FORM! Right now Canada is one of the best countries in the world to live in and one of the most prosperous - would we be able to say the same thing as a resident of the new country of quebec? That alone is enough to break me up - lol

      Delete
    12. Add to that the daycare, and the low tuition fees.

      Delete
    13. student,

      of course she would in your bad analogy.

      MY bad analogy? Who started the analogy and wrote this?

      would it be easier for you to manage your own private economy if you sent half your revenue to a separatist for him to spend it for you according to his perception of your needs? of course not. same for quebec.

      So what exactly did you mean by that, in relation of Quebec?

      Delete
    14. "I can name thousands of things that the separatists use my money for and for which I have..."

      Combien de votre argent exactement?Vous n'avez aucun service en retour ...aunt peggy?

      Delete
    15. @cutie003

      all you list does not cost a lot of money cutie003. plus if you really could come up with many examples you wouldn't have to list the same items several times in the same paragraph.

      "Right now Canada is one of the best countries in the world to live in and one of the most prosperous..."

      it's not perfect. there's room for improvement.

      "would we be able to say the same thing as a resident of the new country of quebec?"

      in my opinion yes we would.

      @liam

      the two examples you add pay for themselves. they are not a burden.

      Delete
    16. @troy

      yes your bad analogy. i started it very well but you ruined it by comparing the service kit quebec receives from ottawa to a money wad a separatist would give to cutie003. services, especially ones you don't need, are not the same as monies.

      do you now understand why your contribution was not helpful troy?

      Delete
    17. student,

      Explain to me then, and show me the fallacy of my way, what exactly do you mean in your metaphor of Cutie003 sending half of her revenue to a separatist?

      Delete
    18. @troy

      cutie003 sending half her revenue to a separatist is akin to quebec sending half its collected taxes to ottawa.

      and cutie003 receiving more money from the separatist than she sent out (your contribution to my analogy) is not akin to quebec receiving more money from ottawa, because it doesn't. it receives services, programs and waste.

      i'm sorry troy if you don't get it i'm afraid i won't be able to explain better. i really tried my best here to help you understand why your bit wasn't good..

      Delete
    19. The exact same argument that student invokes can be made by every single other Canadian province, every single U.S. state, every single Australian state, every single Russian federal subject, every single Indian state and basically every single regional government in every single country of the world. Thus, it is a meaningless and utterly unconvincing argument. Not only that, but every single sub-region of every province, every state and every regional government could similarly also make the same useless argument.

      There’s no such thing as perfection, but Canada is among those who have come as close to it as has ever existed in the history of mankind. Witness all the people who wish (and indeed, are often desperate) to settle here.

      There is and will always be room for improvement. This is an example of what’s known as a tautology, something one would think even a UQAM student of logic like student would understand. Consequently, trying to argue this point is not only redundant but also dishonest, insincere, deceitful, misleading, underhanded and duplicitous. The day that there’s no more room for improvement will never arrive.

      It’s only mildly entertaining to bust student’s shit arguments, since it’s so easy to do.

      Delete
    20. @the cat

      "The exact same argument that student invokes can be made by every single other Canadian province, every single U.S. state,..."

      of course. and the earth runs around the sun. that the argument can be made by other entities doesn't make the argument "useless" mate.

      "Canada is among those who have come as close to it as has ever existed in the history of mankind."

      great. it will make a good starting point for quebec if it ever goes away.

      "Witness all the people who wish (and indeed, are often desperate) to settle here."

      i agree canada is a better place to live than third world countries. what's your point here mate?

      "There is and will always be room for improvement. This is an example of what’s known as a tautology..."

      whatever. cutie003's argument is quebec should shut up because canada ranks high on magazine lists. i don't think it's a good reason to stop working on improvements.

      "The day that there’s no more room for improvement will never arrive."

      exactly, so stop claiming quebec shouldn't try to improve because canada is the shit. or carry on contradicting yourself. you choose.

      Delete
    21. Welcome back, The Cat! Nice to hear from you again! Always good posts from you.

      Delete
    22. "and cutie003 receiving more money from the separatist than she sent out is not akin to quebec receiving more money from ottawa, because it doesn't. it receives services, programs and waste."

      That's false. Former Premier Jean Charest took equalization money from Ottawa and doled it out to Quebec residents in the form of a $700 million tax cut.

      Delete
  15. FROM ED
    I think we're all reading Parizeau wrong. He sees Marois going for an election and he's smart enough to know they would lose and it would be the end of the party he loves. For one thing, he can claim to be a past leader of the government. being a bigshot in a party that no longer exists doesn't have the same ring to it. At the moment it's most imp[ortant for him to keep the party in power. He must have close ties with the party hard liners who probably feel the same, they can't let her kill heir dream.
    I think marois with her money might not care any more. It's been a bad trip for her, finding out that she's not up to the job. Losing an election would just put her in the same position as other PQ greats who went down fighting.. She could see herself on the same plane as Parizeau and some of the other greats, even Rene. Parizeau is opposing her idea with an out for him so any failure can't be hung at his doorstep. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're way off as usual ed. parizeau has distanced himself from the pq in the last years. he recently showed up at option nationale events, not pq events. what he cares about is quebec's independance, not being a pq bigshot. if there is an agenda interlaced in his letter you need to check in that alternate direction. pq might focus on a majority government but he's concerned about steering the people towards a winning referendum.

      Delete
    2. I agree 100% with student on this one. Newer immigrants go to french school and because of that, more of them watch french tv than older immigrants, and because of this, many integrate into the separatist side of things. Parizeau would love for Quebec to be a separate country and does not want to lose votes from the allophones/immigrants because winning a referendum would be very difficult under those circumstances. They need all the votes they can get.

      Delete
    3. FROM ED
      you're right Rog, Parizeau wouyld love to see Quebec separate but with him somewhere in the big picture. The man has an inflatable ego. In fact if they want a winning situation bring him bck as leader and the Franco hearts would beat again. he was well liked by the French people.. I remember how sad they all were when he quit. Outwardly, he has a likeable personality and talks and acts like a statesman. he handled the economy well and French and English were still talking to each other. Under his reign there was no hatred. Tey were good times. I'm
      certain that a lot of French nationalists must get fed up with this "Don't talk English to them" I know a lot of French who are proud to be able to speak a second language and they enjoy doing it. Ed

      Delete
  16. FROM ED
    Forgot to mention that with their money Marois and her husband could sail off to some corner of the world where she would not have ro answer questions.Ed

    ReplyDelete
  17. Femme battue parce qu'elle ne porte pas le voile

    http://www.tagtele.com/videos/voir/7339/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Économie: Pauline Marois réplique au Parti libéral du Québec

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyhE4zIY5Hs&feature=youtube_gdata

    Bing bang ...Bong

    ReplyDelete
  19. FROM ED
    Just curious. Does anyone know what started the rumor that the Liberals were corrupt and cost us the election? Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. might have to do with tony tomassi. details here http://tinyurl.com/nnk5ug3

      it's funny how you can remember details from fifty years ago but not recent main events ed.

      Delete
    2. @Ed

      The Quebec Unions backed the student protestors and poured money into the movement and the protests so that the students could embarrass the Liberals. The more they got money the more they were able to march in the streets of
      Montreal. THEY cost the Liberals the election.

      Delete
    3. Totally correct. This should have been illegal. The Union clearly violated electoral spending law. It's illegal for a third party to spend money in a political campaign without registering with the Directeur General des Election.

      Delete
    4. @liam

      what spending are you refering to exactly? thanks.

      Delete
    5. FROM ED
      I'cve been doing a lot of digging and from what i can find, the accusations began with the Federal Liberals scandal that lost Liberals the election in Ottawa. It was a shamesince Paul Martin was the best Prime Minister we ever had.
      He had cut our debt 100 billion dollars and was bringing in balanced budgets. In other words he was making us rich. The scandal was caused by Jean Chretien and a handful of frenchmen from Quebec, all of them his friends. When the investigatiojn came along he clammed up like most French leaders go into hiding. A word fro him could have saved the government that ws serving us so well. Jean Charest oaid for this as well. Ed

      Delete
    6. @ed

      "The scandal was caused by Jean Chretien and a handful of frenchmen from Quebec, all of them his friends."

      right on. and one of them is trying to sneek in the montreal mayor spot. don't fall in the trap ed.

      Delete
  20. @cutie003, anectote and other anti-pq crusaders

    you still support state employees who want to wear religious outfits at work? you still think secularity is not a good value to promote? you still think freedom of religious expression is the mother of all freedoms?

    you probably have not read this then:

    http://tinyurl.com/p8wfgss

    please read it and confirm that it brought you to change your mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      Sorry I don't read French. No translation; no read. Ed

      Delete
    2. @ed

      well ed why don't you go back to school then? knowledge of french is kinda mandatory if you want to impose yourself as a keen opinionist on quebec matters.

      Delete
    3. @Student you article link is every bit as bad as your arguments.

      You don't understand why people on this blog are opposed to the charter of anti-values.

      You assume it's because they're

      1. Federalists
      2. Anglophones
      3. Immigrants
      4. Religious

      You completely overlooked the fifth element of opposition.

      With that being said, come back after you've embraced a more open-minded point of view and I'm sure you'll see why anyone supporting the charter is clearly wrong (including prehistoric Voir writers).

      Delete
    4. My personal favourite:
      10. Qu’est-ce que ça peut bien faire qu’une employée de la SAAQ porte un hidjab ou qu’un médecin porte une kippa? Ce n’est pas la bonne question à poser. La bonne question est: en quoi cela est-il nécessaire à son travail?

      Actually, Mr Baril, it's a very good question which you casually dismiss by replacing it with another question. I really would like to hear Mr Baril's answer to THAT question.

      "en quoi cela est-il nécessaire à son travail?" Well, this question applies very well to the religious symbols of smaller size.

      And slightly off-tangent - I have noticed this practice often when an uncomfortable question arises, it is replaced by a favourable one. Some contributors to this blog employ the same thing (1 point to whoever guesses who I am referring to).

      Maybe this is something taught in school here. Wonder if a math class goes something like this:
      Q: 3 plus 4 equals what?
      A: This is not the right question. The right question is: Why is it necessary to add 4 to 3?

      Delete
    5. Totally correct. The deflection of the Parti Quebecois can be stunning. Why didn't they answer the first question? They don't want les Quebecois to know it will not matter if a doctor wears a Kippah.

      Also when asking the second question, why is it necessary? The same could be said about the cross at the Assembly and a christmas both are much more visible than a kippah and turban.

      My personal favorite is # 4. L’interdiction de signes religieux ostentatoires ferme la porte de la fonction publique à certaines religions. Faux. Cela ferme la porte à ceux et celles qui choisissent une vie intensivement religieuse. This is totally untrue since the cross at the legislature is even more visible.

      Delete
    6. @sylvain raciste

      you forgot to include reasons why you think daniel baril is wrong. as a consequence your last reply is empty of relevant material.

      Delete
    7. You failed the test.

      Your presence on this blog has already been established, but now it's proven 20X over.

      If you'd like, I could recommend some places where you could study debate and not present shit arguments that fail to convince anyone.

      Would that help? :-)

      Delete
    8. @sylvain raciste

      still empty. try again.

      Delete
    9. @student

      I like this game.

      It's too easy to win.

      Aria T Loak asked you an (indirect question) - answer it or just leave. Failure to do so is a sign of forfeit (but it's what we expect from you anyway.)

      I also challenged you to identify the fifth reason everyone on this blog opposes the charter of racism. Come on mate, just try a little harder. This is why the separatist movement keeps failing. Y'all think you can start a country by eating hotdogs and Labatts 50 at the local Lafleur.

      It takes effort - I'm sure you can do it.

      Delete
    10. Daniel Baril - the author of that post - is obviously a quack as he does not even know what he was writing about. He wrote:

      Aucune religion n’oblige le port de signes ou de vêtements religieux.

      A simple search on Wikipedia shows that wearing a turban is indeed an obligation for a devout Sikh.

      Delete
    11. @troy

      i agree. let's propose an exception to the charter to let sikhs show up at work with their gear on http://tinyurl.com/qyaw3a6 . i'd love to see that.

      but seriously why do you think political opinions are less fundamental than religious opnions? why is it ok to ban the former from a government office but not the later in your humble opinion?

      Delete
  21. She is so going to call an election:
    http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/06/la-nouvelle-politique-economique-du-gouvernement-pequiste-sera-devoilee-lundi_n_4053830.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Remember Cutie, the Premier just past fixed election law. She can't call an election. Our she could have her backbencher vote against her economic policy which is a confidence vote. Not sure if Legault will continue to support her.

      Delete
    2. Nothing she does surprises me Liam including calling an election on her own - how many promises has she broken already? Too numerous to count and she really wants a majority to enable her to call for a referendum before her days in power are up. She would love to be the first female to say she started her own country! What a rush that would be for the crazy old coot. She has more than enough money to last the rest of her life so why not be queen of a new country. Power trippers, the lot of them.

      Delete
    3. @liam and cutie003

      "She can't call an election."

      by jove. you still miss a lot of basic knowledge before reaching the minimum required level to produce credible opinion on current affairs. the missing bit here is a minority government can call an election whenever it pleases. you're welcome.

      Delete
    4. Actually Student, Premier Marois passed an Fixed Election date law, Bill 3

      http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/pq-tables-bill-to-fix-elections-every-four-years-1.1028425

      Delete
    5. @liam

      maybe you should read the article you propose. or are you part of the 49% illiterate of this province? if you still don't see where it is mentioned that a minority government can call an election before four years tell me, i'll give you another clue.

      Delete
  22. Too much tax in Quebec

    http://www.iedm.org/node/45994

    "Finance Minister Marceau expected corporate income taxes to bring in 8.9% more revenue this year. Instead, they brought in 12.2% less. Our wise leaders were betting on a 6.1% increase in revenue from consumption taxes last March. The forecast has just been revised down... to -0.8%! Personal income taxes were supposed to bring in an extra 5.3%. Again, the calculation was off. The new figure is 4.8%."

    "Even the SAQ, the cash cow that's supposed to pay bigger and bigger dividends to the government, is running dry. Over the past nine months, the Crown corporation has seen its sales fall by 1.2 million bottles of wine."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's the solution, Minister Marceau? Increase tax? Raise students University fees? Well increase tax, of course! No those students can't pay more. The Plan Nord pour tous is dead because we charged higher minining rates than our neighbour, is this a bad thing? No of course not. Those mining companies are just stealing from le Gouvernment du Quebec. What should we do? Increase tax! Moratorium on gas exploitation on a deserted island, for sure. We can just tax the business and the banks. Did you say reducing red tapes? No for sure not, if business are speaking english, this is a threat for Quebec.Did I hear lowering corporate income tax to attract business? No this is totally dangerous, because those business are run by greedy capitalist who are only benefiting themselves.

      Delete
    2. The boycott on quebec products, including wine, is working Liam - people are shopping over the border in the US and/or any border town they can get to within a reasonable distance. Why spend extra money buying quebec wine because they over charge? People are starting to smarten up.

      Delete
  23. FROM ED
    I didn't say I can't read Frnch. I said, I DON'T read French I'm English if you have a mssage for me send it in Engliah or shove it where yu don't getb a suntan. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. right. so why don't you read french if you can? afraid of having to face the truth?

      by the way i get a suntan everywhere thanks to: http://tinyurl.com/n7ccgec .

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      For info for student and anyone else interested; - I speak french and I read and write french although much more slowly than writ6en English which I can speed read.. If I receive a message from someone who I know knows English I expect it to be in English. If I am sending a message to a French person I would do the same courtesy., I would write in French. it's a simple courtesy whicch you trolls don't understand. I never bother to look at S.R.'s work and I feel anyone that answers him when he writes in French is helpinhg him make a fool of us. This is an English blog and if we stand up it will remain that way. Ed

      Delete
    3. right. so why don't you read french articles then if you can? afraid that your shaky reality might buckle?

      Delete
  24. Sorry, forgot to post this article:

    McGill keeps sliding

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/McGill+continues+slide+Times+Higher+Education+World+University+Rankings/8988374/story.html

    "The University of Toronto managed to move up one spot to 20th place"

    "McGill University moved down one spot, to 35th."

    The problem: "its insistence on maintaining an egalitarian funding formula" Oh no, this is unacceptable to Premiere Pauline Marois.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Liam: McGill was essentially Montreal's LAST bit of prestige. Put a French separatist in charge of the school, throw away MCATs, et volia, it is now transformed into a second rate university no one gives a rats ass about. Toronto has now stolen Montreal's educational thunder. Restaurants are another area Montreal is slipping in compared to Toronto. Screw the bagels and smoked meat, it's all gone downhill, unless you're a stupid tourist who eats any crap...it won't be long before Toronto is known as Canada's food capital too.

    So what's Quebec good for now? Strip clubs, Poutine and cigarettes? Yeah, that sounds about right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Quebec is doomed

      Sorry to say, but Toronto is already there.

      Take the fact that Torontonians ARE NOT a bunch of racist xenophobes who can't accept those who aren't like them and don't impose restrictions on individual liberties and essential human rights - immigrants filter into the city in abundance and bring their home country's cuisine with them.

      Any separatist that's never visited Toronto's Kensington Market will never truly understand how awesome multiculturalism is and therefore will continue to chase their tails.

      Aside from the multicultural scene, I notice more and more Quebecois chefs ditching the Montreal scene in favor of Toronto given the larger potential for success, and the fact that Torontonians have more money to spend on restaurant fare.

      Seriously, next time any of you visit Toronto, take the time to explore Queen West, King West, Kensington and compare them to St. Laurent, St. Cats or micro-burgs like Beaubien Est and St. Viateur...514 just doesn't hold a candle.

      Delete
    2. @sylvain raciste

      "I notice more and more Quebecois chefs ditching the Montreal scene in favor of Toronto..."

      really? who?

      "next time any of you visit Toronto, take the time to explore Queen West, King West, Kensington and compare them to St. Laurent,..."

      i did. montreal's better.

      Delete
    3. You've never been to Toronto - so many separatists lie about this to make a point.

      Another reason I know this for a fact is because of a question you posed about Kensington Market, which proved the point.

      Now stop lying.

      You're Quebec-or-nothing all the way and we all know you've never been to Toronto.

      Delete
    4. Student is a liar like all separatist. This sign is for him.

      http://goo.gl/maps/OEagl

      Delete
    5. @sylvain raciste &liam

      no no i swear, i went to toronto. many times. montreal's better.

      Delete
    6. student,

      Name me one restaurant in Baldwin Village and its cuisine. Also, there is a small, yet famous, restaurant on the corner of Adelaide and John Streets. Give me the name, its specialty and what happens there every Monday. Last but not least, there is one local beer whose brewery is close to the home of the "Double Blues". What is that?

      Of course, the answers are available if you know where to look.

      Delete
    7. @student

      Proof.

      Oh...even with proof, your opinion of what is good food is arbitrary.

      Separatist hate anything that's isnt neo-French,

      Nice try though.

      KKKrab cakes a la Gaspesienne anyone?

      Delete
    8. student, how's montreal better than toronto - care to elaborate?

      Delete
    9. @troy

      the sushi at kuni is not the best in toronto, but the all you can eat thing is pretty cool. i also like the terrace of john's italian caffe. however it's far from being authenticaly italian and their menu is full of annoying language mistakes. on adelaide close to john you mean the corned beef house? every monday they have a stupid sandwich eating contest. i don't like this kinda waste. finally steam whistle brewery is close to the skydome. it's ok beer. boreale is much better.

      but your little quizz here is pointless. i could have looked it all up on the internet. tell me how my perfect score brings you anywhere forward in this discussion.

      Delete
    10. @p.darwinopterus

      well i just think the montreal food scene is more authentic. i'd say toronto's restaurants are too "americanized". therefore montreal wins.

      Delete
    11. student,

      I am glad that you have been to The Corned Beef House. My favorite restaurant. BTW, where are the washrooms located in that restaurant? That is if you feel your time is wasted for something you can find on the internet.

      Delete
    12. @troy

      downstairs. get over it mate. just assume i have been to toronto before will you?

      Delete
    13. I love the Corned Beef House! Also, I love to go to St Lawrence Market, rated in the top ten worldwide by CNN.

      http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/17/travel/worlds-best-fresh-markets/index.html?hpt=hp_bn10

      Delete
    14. @Troy

      Wouldn't bother questioning him - he's obviously just Googling his answers.

      We all know the truth anyway - he's an Anglo/Canada basher and anything that is non-Quebec is worthless to him.

      Bottom line: No point.

      Delete
    15. Montreal's food scene has already gone from world class to mediocre, or in some cases, just plain crap.

      I had my first Schwartz's smoked meat sandwich in the early 90's. Mouth watering, just absolutely amazing. I went back several times a few years ago.....now it's absolutely CRAP. Dry as sawdust, none of the zing I remember, not at all the same dish. Even their savory fries are now terrible, undercooked generic crap.

      Next Chalet BBQ in NDG (and their former Cote St. Luc/Snowdon location), I used to constantly crave their chicken. The smell alone could drive you wild. Now? Pretty much meh....I'd say 9 out of 10 times its dry, and average at best. Occasionally they'll have an on night, but it's becoming more and more rare. At least their fries and sauce are still great, but I'm still disappointed how much they've dropped in quality from years ago.

      Snowdon Deli is another case in point. Very rarely can you walk in and get a smoked meat sandwich as juicy and tasty as years ago. Much like Chalet BBQ, they're off more than they're on. Ben's deli was another causality, went way way down hill and then closed for good. Orange Julep, nothing like it was decades ago....just watered down crap. Can't even find a place that makes good fries anymore....LaFleurs was once amazing, now McDonald's makes better fries!!

      And if you're into old school Montreal Chinese food. Gone...all of them, gone. Yangtze, Dragon House, Tchang Kiang. Don't even get me started on the restaurant claiming to be Yangtze resurrected....bleah. Even some landmark restaurants are gone: Brown Derby, Pizza Tomaza, Mazurka.

      Sure, these are not gourmet eateries, but they were comfort food that's pretty much vanished from Montreal. I can't say there's many Montreal restaurants I still find worthy. Marathon (at least their Blue Bonnets location) is still good, and I really like The Keg, but it's a chain restaurant you can find in Ontario! Almost depressing how little good food places are left in this city.

      Delete
  26. @QID

    Arggggggg, why bother at this point? I think if we can get rid of the PQ ASAP we stand a bit of a chance. I will wait till we have an election and we boot them out, then I may consider undertaking renos. If we don't, then I will consider getting the hell outa here. I have worked to damn hard to stick around and watch the value of my assets plummet. At the end of the day, we all have to look out for no.1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @anectote

      if you're afraid of your home's value to go down if pq is re-elected, the savvy thing to do would be to sell now mate.

      Delete
    2. Totty is too chicken to do it.

      Delete
    3. I own a home and you own a cardboard that you share with s.r. LOL ! You are hardly in a position to give me advise. But think about it, PINSTRIPES, if I sell and leave, who will pay for your BS? Pretty stupid to chew off the hand that feeds you..savvy?

      Ohhhh....I forgot......you do Stupid for a living.

      Delete
    4. @anectote

      you're now too low for me mate. bye bye.

      Delete
    5. The only one too low for you ...is YOU, Pinstripes.

      Stop trolling cause getting high is a waste of time, ask any of your addict buddies. With friends like you, the seppies don't need enemies, you really aren't doing them any favors, LOL. As a matter of fact, every time you open your dumb mouth you help our side. There ...chew on that for a while ...bye bye.

      Delete
  27. So here I am, coming into the conversation over 100 respondents later. I find this necessary because nobody has pointed out what the obvious problem is, and has been for over a decade: Disproportionate electoral districts. Montreal, the island, with almost half the population, has just 22.4% of the electoral districts (i.e., 28 of Quebec's 125 districts). I imagine this was done to suppress the West Island and its overwhelmingly non-French-mother-tongued, non-Catholic population. Dividing those constituencies would slant the playing field with more non-French, non-Catholic constituencies. Right now there is a plenitude of lightly and sparsely populated pro-separatist constituencies consisting almost exclusively of the homogeneous white, Catholic, French mother-tongued Québécois pur laine empty-headed ignorant bumpkin hicks that support the Charter of Hate. John James Charest, Mr. Goldilocks himself, had three opportunities as premier of godforsaken Quebec to change the electoral map, but let the opportunity go by all three times.

    That oversight has led to what's happening now: A wedge issue appealing to the lowest common denominator who occupy those sparsely populated constituencies, a minuscule elite of lowlifes who have never seen a turban or a yarmulke and have listened to the racist and rabid anti-Semitic screeds of the likes of Abbé Lionel Groulx and others going back 80-odd years ago. This is all these swamp dwellers and chien-chaud-et-May West eaters know.

    Actually, for this and all that has happened since la Revolution Tranquille, I hope the PQ wins and wins big. This battle of stupidity that could result, after my witnessing this b.s. for the last forty years is too delicious to miss, esp. living outside Quebec. I know Howard Galganov would relish it as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lots of racist hate crap in there mate. you must be very sad.

      Delete
    2. I don't see the racism, and look who's responding...well...no surprise there, troll!

      Delete
    3. @ Mr. Sauga

      Glad to see you posting again. The only thing is that Montreal is no longer as big in relation to the rest of Quebec as it once was. Montreal has been stagnant for a long time and it is the areas around Montreal that are growing the most.

      The population of the island of Montreal is (2011 from Wikipedia): 1,886,481
      The pop of the province of Quebec is (2011 from Wikipedia): 7,903,001

      Montreal has1,886,481/7,903,001= 23.8% of the Quebec population

      If Montreal has 22.4% of the electoral districts, it is fairly represented in the National Assemby.

      There are, of course, ridings that are of vastly unequal populations, and that, of course, should be corrected. Montreal does basically have, however, the right proportion of seats in relation to its relative population within Quebec.

      In other important news, the line of Lars Eller, Galchenyuk, and Gallagher are lighting it up 2 games into the season! :)

      Delete
    4. @roger rabbit

      good job roger. it's important to rat out this dude's propaganda.

      Delete
    5. Like the old Certs commercial said, you're both (Mr. Sauga and Roger Rabbit) right.
      Montreal Island's population is about 1.9 million, which represents about 23% of Quebec's population. But the Montreal Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) has a population of 3.8 million (2011, Statistics Canada), which is about 48% of Quebec's population. That means Greater Montreal (including nearby off-island suburbs) should have about 60 of the legislature's 125 seats. I haven't done the research (and, unfortunately, do not have the time), but I'd be willing to bet that Greater Montreal's presence in the provincial assembly totals far fewer than 60 seats.

      Delete
    6. 'In other important news, the line of Lars Eller, Galchenyuk, and Gallagher are lighting it up 2 games into the season! :)'

      Sssshhhh...not to loud, they are not french...the language Nazis of Quebec may get mad....lollllllllll

      Delete
    7. Mr. Sauga, you are totally correct. Why isn't that region with low growth have kept as much seat. Rural and northern riding have too much influence. Something has to be done to fight those separatist, manipulating the system to their own advantage. What do we expect? Those separatist are liars and thieves.

      Delete
  28. Now this is the kind of thing we can look forward to. Thanks you separatist shitheads. Troublemakers all over the damn place:
    http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10597969&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rien de nouveau,le Québec ouvre encore une fois les yeux des canayens.

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      Cutie, I'll tell ya what we can look forward to. Thre will be an easing of feelings all around. A bus driver told me the other day that him and his friends are fed up with the no English shit but are afraid to be reported if they don't do it.
      He says if the PQ is gone you will see a big difference the next day.
      Also we can look forward new companies creating jobs and immigrants to buy houses. Quebec new housing starts are standing still. I'm dreaming about the day Dr. Couillard announces to the province that rights are equal. I'm sure he'll let them keep bill 101but the laws against store keepers won't stand up without the backing of the pasties. It'll be like Montreal is born again. Hooray Ed

      Delete
  29. Increase in school taxes - Pauline Marois is trying to manipulate Quebec

    http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommuniques.gouv.qc.ca%2Fgouvqc%2Fcommuniques%2FGPQF%2FSeptembre2013%2F16%2Fc7671.html

    "This is a staged from Ms. Marois to appear before the people playing the outraged. Quebecers are not stupid and they can see through the game of the Prime Minister. All this is pure comedy of her! I remind him that this was his Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Mrs. Marie Malavoy condone cuts. She also stated that she did not want the school boards and even worse, it encouraged them to increase school taxes. Today, Ms. Marois must bear the consequences of his bad decisions and stop manipulating Quebec taxpayers who deserve a public apology from him, "stated Ms. Charbonneau.

    Is the premier lying to Quebeckers? Yes. She has no clue what she is doing. Typical from Le Parti des Quebecois Raciste. No honesty, just lies and half truth. Marie Malavoy say she spoke to the Premier and Premier Pauline Marois said she didn't know about the hikes, who is at fault here? At least will the Minister responsible, resign? Will the Premier resign? No, no accountability can be expected from the PQ, just more half truth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. marois is doing this to force overweight school boards to downsize. don't you agree with this initiative liam?

      Delete
    2. What really gets me is that if you carefully examine the PQ's first year in power, they've committed EVERY wrong they accused the Liberals of committing and dogging them about.

      I think Charest is a douche, but he stuck to his guns when it came to the students. Marois rallied to their side only to stab them in the back upon election...no massive protests follow - gotta love that, huh?

      They also accused the Libs non-stop about cronyism, yet look at how many ex-Pequistes scored prime six-figure jobs via appointment, with one dust-snorter scoring a job for life (conditions-free, no less).

      This proves just how morally bankrupt the separatists are.

      They relished every second of pointing out where the Liberals were wrong and mismanaging their power...yet when the PQ does the EXACT same things as the Libs, hey - no problem, "there's an excuse for that" (that's your cue, Student...let us hear your lame excuses for blatant separatist corruption and lies, God knows you have about a million shit arguments up your sleeve.)

      Delete
    3. @student

      "marois is doing this to force overweight school boards to downsize. don't you agree with this initiative liam?"

      You're a total hypocrite mate, but it's ok - pretty much all separatists are.

      When Charest was doing this, you called him out.

      Proof of trollery on your part, you're making a shit point that you're just looking for a fight. [Sad Shit]

      Delete
    4. So true Sylvain - Charest was called everything in the book by these same people for exactly the same things. At least we had some kind of social peace when he was in power - and I know complicated - he didn't do a great job with the economy and I know Mr. Sauga that he hired even more language troopers but at least I could get to sleep at night and didn't worry every damn day about some new crazy zealot bigot law coming out in headlines in the newspapers. I even used to spend very little time on my computer! To go back to those days would give me a rest and I hope that the people of quebec see through the lousy manipulations of this PQ government and how bad they are for the province. Bring on an election and then we go from there - if they get a majority hopefully Miss Piggy will call for a referendum and those areas that vote to leave get the hell out of Canada! Long past time and I'm frankly out of patience with the lot of them!

      Delete
    5. @sylvain raciste

      "When Charest was doing this, you called him out."

      please quote me.

      @cutie003

      "... I'm frankly out of patience with the lot of them!"

      and what are you going to do about it? copy and paste your comment another time? move out? learn french?

      Delete
  30. FROM ED
    Thank you Mr. Sauga for your usually deep insight into quebec problems. How you can remember those figurtes is beyond me, but I see you are right. I'm sure the PQ will never change it so we're stuck with it.
    What kills me with the PQ is their treatment of the Jews. They have no idea what they are getting into. All the laws and norms we folow todat came frm the old testament which is basically Jewish history. God gave the ten commandments ( which we solemly live by) to the Jews who were in Exodus from Egypt. They are the exact basis of our laws. The Catholic Church worldwide but for the exception of a few zealots knew better than to Preach against Judaism. God said these are my chosen people. They have tried to hide he fact that Jesus was a Jew by things like covering his penis on pictures of the crucifix so people would not see that he was circumsized. But as Catholics, the majority have been taught the old testament in schools and Churches and know their place under God as Jesus commanded in the new testament..
    Separatists have placed theselves abve God, a place where anyone with brains would not try to be. They will get what's coming to them. Hesus said, " there are only two great ommandmnts on which I will judge you, first , 'Love the Lord Thy God and the second is love thy fellow man.." Separatists have showed no respect for God or the laws he gave everyone and they
    love us as much as a skunk in a flower shop.
    Keep on fighting old chum. Hopefully the words of experience from old duffers like us will be heard some day and actually listened to. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have to admit that it warms my heart that all three candidates of Montreal Mayor in tonight's debate on CTV unanimously denounced the PQ's Charter of Values.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. are you against it too troy? why?

      Delete
    2. @Troy: And basically all Montreal Island mayors currently in power are against it as well. Good to see these people in power standing up for what's right, as well as the 3 major candidates for the mayor of Montreal.

      Delete
  32. Troy, did you not love how all 3 candidates were talkin' OUR language?? They denounced the charter, they had to respond to a direct question about hiring bias at city hall till now and minorities not appropriately represented in staff numbers, AND...last but not least....Special Status for Montreal was mentioned, something that the PQ will have to contend with, unless they knock off the nonsense. Finally, anyone in the city (they officially recognized that this is a bilingual city) can obtain services in either English or French.

    Power to the 514!!!!! This island is the only shred of civility this province has.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "did you not love how all 3 candidates were talkin' OUR language??"

      it was on ctv and they spoke english? wow what a breakthrough. you must be so excited.

      Delete
    2. AnecTOTE,

      I will seek the internet Monday morning to see the reactions of the language hardliners - IF, SSJB, MQF - for this English-language debate and the topics that were discussed.

      Delete
  33. "It was on ctv and they spoke english? wow what a breakthrough. you must be so excited."

    That is a great word "breakthrough" lol, anytime you can get a politician in this province To OPENLY admit this officially a Bilingual city, is a MONUMENTAL Breakthrough!

    You seppies will have to eat crow over that one ll...so thanks for highlighting that Pinstripes lol

    Like I said...with friends like you lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My dear Troy...I will leave you to it...let's speak mañana.

      Delete
    2. sure. but why did you make a fuss about dudes speaking english on english tv?

      Delete
  34. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/stephane-dion/religious-symbols-in-quebec_b_4053502.html?ir=Canada

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "However, the Marois government has not proven that such infringement of freedom is in the public interest."

      Right On! The Marois Government is a typical racist, can't justify the act. We need to stand up to the racist policies of the government! I was on a francophone website and one commentator said , roughly translated : In Rome, do like the Romans" Excuse me! The romans persecuted member of the christians minority to be killed. Do you really want to associate your movement to a dictator? Is this really the model for "La Belle Province"? Should " La Pauvre Provinces".

      Delete
  35. De plus en plus de canadiens commencent à se ranger du côté du Québec concernant la charte des valeurs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTMonday, October 7, 2013 at 4:19:00 PM EDT

      utilises "canayens" ou "canadians"

      Delete
    2. Un compromis tiens...canayans

      Delete
  36. Where is she going to get 2B dollars? What a farce. The comments underneath the article say it all. Losers.
    http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/pq-creating-2-billion-job-stimulus-fund-1.1486666

    ReplyDelete