Friday, November 1, 2013

Quebec Finance Minister Marceau...Now You See it, Now You Don't...

Abracadabra!
 It's always hilarious to see the various finance ministers put on a brave face and paint some pretty awful budget figures in the most favourable light that they can.

Of particular interest is the latest from Quebec finance minister Nicolas Marceau, whose description of Quebec's current financial situation borders between fantasy and prevarication.

You'll recall that when the Parti Quebecois came to power, they immediately announced that the finances of the province were in much worse condition than anticipated.
This is standard operating procedure for all newly elected governments, who get a free shot at the outgoing party, telling voters that they can't live up to election promises because of the undisclosed financial train wreck that the previous government left behind.

And so, the PQ was able to back off on the promise of abolishing the Liberal party imposed health tax which they campaigned against and also shrugging off the idea of freezing or rolling back tuition in Quebec universities with impunity.
Blame Charest!

All this was to be expected and had the Liberals overturned the PQ they would have done the same thing.
And so Nicolas Marceau told us that it would be impossible to balance the budget in the first year of the PQ mandate, but promised a zero deficit in the second year.

In November last, Mr. Marceau predicted a deficit of $1.5 billion and yesterday confirmed that the deficit would be just about hundred million more than the predicted, at $1.6 billion. He seemed very proud that his prediction was more or less on target!
But was it really?

Mr Marceau claimed that the government had done a masterful job of keeping the increase in budget spending to just 1.2% by controlling expenses. In the last year of the Charest government, the increase was 2.5%

J-de-M..Deficit smaller than Anticipated?...R U kidding me!
But what Marceau failed to mention is that spending was kept artificially low by cutting over $200 million in subventions to Quebec school boards, who then turned around and taxed back the money via school taxes.
A neat accounting trick!
It's a gambit called 'getting a dog off the books' and dishonest companies use the strategy to appear less in debt by creating a subsidiary and downloading it with company losses, losses which while remain the responsibility of the parent company, but which are removed from the parent company's balance sheet.

And let us not forget the $700 million, one-shot payment that Quebec received this year from Ottawa for harmonizing sales tax, which was never put in the calculations because it wasn't a sure thing.

Let us also remember the $1.9 Billion one-time charge that the government is taking in relation to the PQ's decision to close the Gentilly 2 nuclear plant, bringing the real deficit up to about $3.5 billion. Link

And things are going from bad to worse on the revenue front with sales tax and income tax bringing in almost $2 billion less than last year, with no respite in sight.

It isn't any shock that Mr. Marceau and the PQ have abandoned the zero-deficit promise they made during the election campaign, it is an impossibility given the fixed overhead and the catastrophic drop in revenue.

As I told you in the last post, Marceau is keeping his cards close to his vest, refusing to divulge what is really going on, vis-a-vis revenues and next year's budget. He has already announced that the health tax will not be repealed again, but other than talking about controlling expenses and expenditures, he isn't saying much about a balanced budget, because it is an impossibility.
And readers, let me remind you that I told you this was the future many months ago, not because I am prescient, but because I can do sums.

The opposition smells a rat and have been demanding the financial information for over a month, met by stoic silence and stonewalling by the minister.
They were so furious at being ignored that they sent a bailiff to Marceau's office and served him a subpoena to appear before a Parliamentary finance committee, where he will be forced to cough up the numbers!

With resource projects collapsing, Hydro revenue receding, consumer spending on the decline and the unemployment rate on the rise, it doesn't auger well for the financially strapped province.
The only private investments Quebec seems able to muster are those attached to large government subsidies and in reality they are in the grand scheme, but a pittance.

Without massive tax increases, the financial ship of state cannot be righted, because the shortfall in revenue is just too great and the growth of current economic activity has not kept pace with increasing government expenditures.
Until the government cuts back its expensive entitlement programs or increases revenue, deficits will pile up.
But increasing taxes isn't the panacea one would expect, because the amounts raised, are offset by decreases in consumer spending and decreased economic activity.
We are finally seeing the effects of hitting the "T" point on the Laffer curve. Explanation
As the government increases taxes, revenues actually decrease!

I am anxious to see if Marceau will reinstate the decrease in the exemption for capital gains income, (which he cancelled after the investment community rose in protest)  the effect which will have Quebecers taxed at a substantially higher rate for investment income than other Canadians.
Retirees (like myself) who live on their investments will just pack up and move, rather than see the taxes owing on investment income rise by up to 50%, only in Quebec.
Again, such a move will never raise the taxes contemplated. We are fast approaching a revenue wall, not because Quebecers don't have the ability to pay more and accept a reduced lifestyle, but rather because enough can just pick and leave. Companies, as well.

Alternate to increasing revenues through higher taxes, the government could try to improve the investment outlook for resource based companies, instead of threatening them with higher taxes and royalties.
Resources are the one area that Quebec badly under-exploits.
Until the PQ understands that they can't tax their way into solvency, we are bound for a Greek tragedy.

If you really want to understand the investment climate in Quebec, read this;
Investors ‘more comfortable’ putting money into gas projects in Iraq than Quebec: banker

And so the PQ has two choices, either cut expenses drastically or make Quebec more hospitable to resource development.

Which will it be?

I going with door Number #3....none of the above.

If you fundamentally don't understand or accept what the problem is, you can't really come up with a fix.

But wait a second...we actually are in a FIX, but not the good kind!

168 comments:

  1. FROM ED
    It's timeds like these that I'm glad my pension comes from Ottawa. ASt least most of it does. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED AGAIN
      Actually, I can't believe the party has not ousted her. What are they waiting for? I'm sure there are private companies would offer to open up the natural resouces. Is it that she thinks if we sink low enough the English will all leave and then she will save the privince for the pur laying.? Ed

      Delete
    2. Ed, WAKE UP! You get the QPP, not the CPP. If Quebec tanks, so does your government pension! The Caisse de dépot already blew big bucks a few years ago. You live by the sword, you die by the sword!

      Too, don't forget the equalization formula is due for review sometime in 2014. Harper doesn't owe Quebec any favours, and I hope he takes it out on Quebec for their own negligence. Living outside Quebec, I am one of millions of taxpayers who is getting increasingly fed up of a Quebec that doesn't play nice with Canada.

      Delete
    3. @ED AGAIN : I'm also tired of having Poline Marios as a president. I'm hoping she'll leave soon.

      Delete
    4. Where is Contra when you need him

      "You want to make a country outa this?"

      Delete
    5. I'm sure Ed's referring to his Old Age Pension Mr. Sauga. I too am relieved that that comes from Canada and is not in the hands of these incompetent twits.

      Delete
    6. @Sauga

      Certainly, if anyone will deal with Quebec and serve it its just medicine, it will be Harper. Of all the PM's to date, he's the only one with the b.... to do it. He's not guilt-ridden or even gives a crap about this province like those who have preceded him, so certainly, if he is feeling in a spiteful mood, he will throw everything he has at QC. I am actually surprised to see, considering his great dislike for La Belle Province, that he has held his breath for so long. But let's first see how he fares with the challenges at hand. Namely, how far his tenticles reach within this senate scandal business. It is true the next election is a way's away and you can't count on people's memory, I guess only time will tell.

      In the meantime, the big ?, for us lil folk livin' here is figuring out how long to wait before striking. I have said and repeated (as far as I'm concerned), that it will never be language issues (or even this silly charter) to drive me away. But I'll be damned if I'm paying taxes through my nose for the deadbeats who are the epitome of STUPID. Not happening.

      Delete
    7. FROM ED
      Anectote, I too am adamant about being pushed out. It will never happen I would die in battle here before I will be driven from my home by worthless cowards. Remember what I said in an older post about a line in the Anthem
      Land Of Hope And Glory "The blood a hero's sire has spent, still nerves a hero's son." A.Benson
      What my Grandfather lived and fought for, I will too. Ed

      Delete
    8. @Ed,

      It's no longer about being pushed out. There is an economic crisis here, and clearly a financial tsunami WILL hit. It's about saving our hides basically, as quickly and as...'inexpensively' as possible. It's not that I would leave to make more space for seppies because that is what they'd like. It's about not going down with "The Titanic- Chapter II". Sorry but it it that dire at this point.

      In any event, I wish you well if this is what you're determined to do.

      Delete
    9. @AnecTOTE

      Clearly agree with you.

      While the inbreeding specialists on this blog might rejoice over another Anglo leaving Montreal, they have no idea that they're doing their victory dance on the deck of a sinking ship.

      Quebec will not be able to recover from another mass exodus.

      Cebeuq once said that it would take about 40 years to repair the province and he's right...but only if it remains in Canada. It would easily take as much as 60 years for a sovereign Quebec to start gaining a semblance of stability.

      Why?

      Because the best of the best (we're talking Anglos/Allos/Francos) are already leaving en masse. With a winning OUI vote, Quebec will be right back where it was after being defeated by the British...

      ...a sub-nation populated by the bottom-of-the-barrrel scrapings who were abandoned by the French elite who retired back to France after the war.

      Let's say Quebec separated today and over the next 365 days, nature took it's course...

      Mr. and Mrs. Tremblay/Dorion/Goulet will have fled to Ontario/Alberta/Saskatchewan to preserve the $25K investment they poured into their education...to preserve the future of their children.

      S.R and Student will remain behind calling Mr. and Mrs. Tremblay/Dorion/Goulet "des crisse de vendus" and race-traitors and all that old shit. Meanwhile, they'll deliver the worst performance to their employers and contribute to the increase in the new country's skyrocketing addiction rates.

      To leave now isn't declaring defeat...it's a way of saying, "let's see what you really got you fucking rats."

      My only point of contention is this - we have to keep Montreal. Laval and Longueuil are invited, but after we get to keep Montreal, Student, S.R - I'm on your side I'll gladly vote OUI.

      Delete
    10. The same here in the Outaouais - they'll get a resounding Yes vote from us when the ROC holds its referendum to kick quebec out. I too will quote "I have a dream"!

      Delete
    11. AnecTOTE: Re: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 8:23:00 AM EDT

      The only way you can escape the inevitable financial helter skelter that's coming your way is to leave Quebec. OK, you have no probs with language and race charters, but watch the Francophones leave as well over the taxes; that is, those who can, and THAT, far and away, will be the most delicious irony of all. The only worry is that if Canada ends up with one Prime Minister Trudeau too many (well...two, really), then watch him suck the rest of us for all we're worth to save his home base. Mulcair won't win...thankfully.

      Actually, read this. There are two segments that summarize daddy and son Trudeau very eloquently.

      Delete
  2. I'm assuming the decrease in SAQ revenues aren't helping things either, which is always a weird spot for a government to be in. On the one hand the decreased in revenues hurts the government on the other hand on the whole it's a good thing citizens are consuming less alcohol due to the health/safety effects. It's very bizarre to see the ramp up in SAQ ads running on CBC at the moment, encouraging people to drink, at say, the rate of 2 every 30-60 minutes? Government loto companies here and elsewhere do the same encouraging gambling so the inevitable question of whether it's moral for a government run industry/company to encourage an activity that can lead to addiction, and health or financial difficulties. Compare this to Hydro Quebec that encourages consumers to limit their consumption by doing things that limit consumption, regardless of that hurts their bottom line (course they can just increase their rates and we have to pay for them anyway), interesting difference nevertheless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, come now! Quebec never had a moral compass. It had the tyranny of the Roman Catholic church!

      Delete
  3. One of the main problems with Quebec politics is that there's rampant corruption in all aspects of political life. The taxes are fairly high in Quebec, and yet we have bad roads, bad governmental services, a mediocre health system and underfunded school boards. Once the corruption is eliminated, the money received from taxes can go into much needed public services. Unfortunately, the constant identity conflict has hurt Quebec dramatically and is a major impediment for businesses to work here. The fact is that Quebec is an oppressor nation and only people who have their heads in the sand would disagree with me on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oppressor? what does it do to oppress anyone mate?

      Delete
    2. @Moist Rebel,

      The ink from what you wrote wasn't even dry yet...LOL...and look at your first response...lol..case-in-point...Exhibit A...lol hahahahhaha.

      No doubt you have stated the obvious, and thank you for doing that, I don't think any of us state it enough.

      ps...NEW RULE

      We need to stop referring to quebec as a nation. All things considered, there isn't even a notion that it is a nation. lol

      Does it have its own currency: No
      Does it have its own military: No

      But I suppose in the space between my ears, I, too, can be the Queen of England!

      Delete
    3. @ToTo

      Nous avons une armée,le problème c'est qu'elle est contrôlée par attawa.Il est évident que si nous en avions le contrôle,il n'y aurait plus beaucoup d'anglos chez-nous.

      Delete
    4. You do not have an army. You have personnel, and that's about it. Remember what happened in the days before the '95 referendum.

      Delete
    5. "Il est évident que si nous en avions le contrôle,il n'y aurait plus beaucoup d'anglos chez-nous."

      Meaning what exactly? You shoot them all?? ..Mmmm...I don't know but that sounds like a damn THREAT to me.

      @Editor... I move to expel SR from this blog immediately. If that isn't .."une menace", I don't know what is.

      Delete
    6. Les anglos ont peur d'une charte...Imaginez une armée,Loll

      Delete
    7. you couldn't scare the fly that still lives in my shed with your silly army, I really doubt you can scare anybody, EVEN an Anglo...so shut-the-you-know-what-up.

      I don't care what kind of spin you want to put on it, that was a Threat and my motion stands.

      Delete
    8. FROM ED
      I can't believe it took you so long to figure that out. We have all been saying those things for a year now. Ed

      Delete
    9. Ed,

      It didn't take me so long "to figure that out", I am not objecting to his trolling, which I still could care less about. I am objecting because that was a threat and it should be delt with.

      Delete
    10. Allez ToTo!Laissez sortir votre "angrytude"...C'est bénéfique pour votre CoCo :)

      Delete
    11. "Je soupçonne ToTo d'avoir une très mauvaise semaine..."You know what i mean wink wink"

      No, I don't know what you mean and with any luck you'll have a bad year !

      Delete
    12. "...with any luck you'll have a bad year"

      Oufff...J'ai cru un instant que vous alliez souhaiter la victoire des mafieux pelquistes.

      Delete
    13. Yes yes SR, what is that, your go-to-Line?..."angrytude"..."angryphobe"..and any other dull cheap witt you rely on to make yourselves feel better.

      Nobody's angry chump...we're past angry...and we're pretty much done with being pissed off too. We're just settling for being entertained at this point...shitts and giggles...ya know?...That's about it...in terms of expections right now. And nothing will be funnier than watching a monumental train wreck, like in those action moves..(smirk)...Yes...Good Times !!! I'm just hoping they will serve popcorn during the show...LOL

      Delete
    14. "Oufff...J'ai cru un instant que vous alliez souhaiter la victoire des mafieux pelquistes."

      EXACTLYYYYYYY...bravooooooo...at least you ain't slow...AND that is what I was referring to. But it's poor form however, to use that ...5 letter word...ya know? Ça ne se fait pas.....wink wink....AND YOU SHOULD STILL BE EXPELLED.

      Delete
    15. "Nobody's angry chump"

      Ha!Désolé...Vous cachez bien votre côté zen alors.

      Delete
    16. SR routinely breaks the "Troy rule" by calling AnecTOTE ToTo, all of the posts in which he does so should be deleted.

      Delete
    17. Nous sommes en pleine thérapie...Veuillez ne pas intervenir TA.Merci

      Delete
    18. "Remember what happened in the days before the '95 referendum."

      Des autobus et des avions remplies de canayens venus démontrer leur affection pour le Québec et le tout inclu payé de la poche des contribuables?

      Delete
    19. You wouldn't get two people to come to this province today to support quebec staying in confederation. That was before they totally destroyed what goodwill there was between the two factions. There is no goodwill any longer; the ROC sees them for what they truly are.

      Delete
    20. Yes, my son's friend was a nurse in the army, lived down the street from us and received a letter in mail asking that he join the quebec armed forces following a yes victory in the 1995 referendum. After we picked him up off the floor where he had fallen as he laughed himself sick, he immediately took the letter to the commanding officer to make them aware that the stupid separatists were trying to "steal" CANADIAN ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL from Canada! What a bunch of do-do birds - they would steal Canada blind if not stopped and it's time Harper put a stop to this outright robbery of our fellow Canadian citizens for the benefit of these traitors and their ilk. That 20B belongs to we Canadians that will use it when we vacate our homes and possessions here as leave the day of declaration of independence. Are you watching Mr. Harper? Be aware that we want and need that money for Canadian citizens.

      Delete
    21. "Nous avons une armée,le problème c'est qu'elle est contrôlée par attawa.Il est évident que si nous en avions le contrôle,il n'y aurait plus beaucoup d'anglos chez-nous."

      @S.R

      [NOTE TO EDITOR] Before zapping my comment, please regard that I am stating my actions would take place in the event of a mutually agreed war, where killing is legal. TY
      This is why I pray for a war. I'll be the first to enlist and you can be sure that once that war begins, you'll be the first seppie I put a bullet in.

      Sweet dreams SR! :-)

      Delete
    22. "This is why I pray for a war."

      Je vois...Vous n'êtes pas ami FB avec le dalaï-lama.

      Delete
    23. "Nous sommes en pleine thérapie...Veuillez ne pas intervenir TA.Merci"

      Yeah...that reminds me...Get up off my couch already, you still haven't paid for your last session.

      Call me when the BS check comes in, until then GET THE F.....OUT !

      Delete
    24. Le clan Panneton offre d'incroyables rabais sur les déménagements inter-provinciaux en cette période,n'attendez pas la fête du canada,tous les camions sont déjà réservés.

      Delete
    25. @S.R - feel free to take your own advice! I'm sure they have specials for uniligual seppies who should move to St. Pierre/Miquelon islands.

      Delete
    26. "feel free to take your own advice! "

      Soyez assuré que je le ferais sans hésitation si j'étais aussi malheureux que vous et votre bande d'angryphones,semblez l'être.

      Delete
    27. Yes, I'm sure your constant trolling comes from a happy place, and not deep sadness about the whole separation thing being a pipe dream, lol. Unfortunately for France he'd be trying to partition the Miquelon islands within a week.

      Delete
    28. Je commence à croire que c'est vous le troll twatguy.

      Delete
    29. Well add it to the list of all your other delusional and misinformed ideas, it'll have plenty of company. ;)

      Delete
    30. FROM ED
      Anectote, when I said iit took youa year to figure that out I wasn't referring to you, I was answering Maoist Rabble.
      Sorry it took me so long to explain but because of the trolls I had to come down here to find a reply spot. Ed

      Delete
    31. @TROLL ALERT:

      Look at 6:26 to see what he's now calling "thatguy" for an obscenity.

      Delete
    32. @student: Quebec is proposing the Charter of Values, which violates freedom of religion and has laws that restrict the rights of its minority English speakers. That's all the PQ seems to be about nowadays--restricting the rights of minorities, rather than promoting the well being of the French speaking majority.

      @anectode: Nation and state are not the same thing. The simplest definition of a state is a legal entity (namely a government) that claims the legal right to use of force in a given chunk of territory. A nation, however, comprises of a group of people with a shared heritage, language, culture, religion, ancestors and territory. 95% of all French speaking Canadians share this heritage, so Quebec meets all the criteria of the dictionary definition of a nation.

      Delete
    33. Never mind! Haha Quebec army or SR wet dream. We know too well those Frenchies. They bark much lounder than bite. If there is a war, I don't think you have a chance to do anything with SR. Even Nazi couldn't do anything to French because they surrendered too fast!

      Delete
    34. @maoist rebel

      how does the proposed charter of values violates freedom of religion?

      and what rights of the english speaking minority is restricted by bill 101, if this is the law you are refering to?

      "That's all the PQ seems to be about nowadays..."

      oh, you missed all the anouncements they did in the last month then. where have you been?

      Delete
    35. "how does the proposed charter of values violates freedom of religion?"

      They wouldn't be allowed to wear religious symbols at work. The claim is that by allowing them to wear religious clothing, the government is somehow sending a religious message. The only message it would be sending is that everyone is welcome to work for the government, regardless of your religious affiliations and that you shouldn't be afraid to display it.

      "and what rights of the english speaking minority is restricted by bill 101, if this is the law you are refering to?"

      Basic freedom of expression (sign laws) and education rights. No immigrant from outside Canada is allowed to attend an English language public school, which undermines the existence of the English language public system. Without this system, there is no minority culture.

      "oh, you missed all the anouncements they did in the last month then. where have you been?"

      What announcement did they make?

      Delete
  4. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTFriday, November 1, 2013 at 6:02:00 AM EDT

    This post offers absolutely nothing new. I fail to see the "so what?" here.
    quebekistan is dead broke. No surprises.
    quebec will only exploit its natural resources after it secedes... It's part of a long awaiting plan. Pauline said it before as well. Suck all you can out of Ottawa in the meanwhile. Here in Germany, many business circles - this is the German financial powerhouse Frankfurt - refuse to even consider quebec as an investment destination as it is well known that unions and high taxes defeat any efforts. Impressive. Talk to any German/European executive and when they think Canada they all think Alberta. Not even Ontario.
    ----------------------
    The best posters can do here is to bash quebec and stay put. I guess words speak louder than actions for you clowns...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes...moving has clearly made you get over the whole thing and you no longer bash Quebec, you're priceless.
      "I guess words speak louder than actions for you clowns"
      Clearly not when it comes to you, or we'd have believed you when you said you'd leave this blog in peace from your boorish trolling.

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      When it comes to Une Ars the only thing to do is ignore him. When you complain about his post being annoying, that's exactly what he wants. Don't give him the sayisfaction. Cutie use your own advice to me, don't read him and he wil get tired of not getting the recognition he so badly needs. Ed

      Delete
    3. "Une Ars"

      LOL Ed, I don`t know if that was a typo, done purposefully, perhaps it was just a Freudian slip, but it gave me a good laugh!

      He sure can be an arse sometimes!

      Delete
    4. lol - didn't even notice it Laurie - Freudian slip for sure!

      Delete
    5. FROM ED
      Geez Cutie, please stop replying for me. No laurie it was not a freudian slip. He is an arse. Ed

      Delete
    6. I wasn't replying for you Ed - simply pointing out to Laurie that I didn't even notice it!

      Delete
    7. FROM ED
      That's Ok Cutie, I was laughing when I wrote that. I said Cutie can't help being Cutie.
      The word arse is used more in Britain,
      like the diner asked the waitress was was on the menu.
      She ansered "rrrrigatoni, rrrrrravioli and rrrrice"
      He said, " Lady you sure do roll your R's"
      . She said, "it must be the high heels I'm wearing. " ed

      Delete
  5. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTFriday, November 1, 2013 at 6:08:00 AM EDT

    This is no sick joke:
    "Investors ‘more comfortable’ putting money into gas projects in Iraq than Quebec: banker"

    http://business.financialpost.com/2013/10/28/investors-more-comfortable-putting-money-into-gas-projects-in-iraq-than-quebec-banker/?__lsa=a731-ba8d

    This validates my previous...... Don't take my word for it as I am a troll. Better head crazy "cutie's" useless and swear filled rants. She has insight you can all trust.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blame it on the Goose got me feelin' looseFriday, November 1, 2013 at 6:33:00 AM EDT

      That's an awful photoshop job. I'm sure I can do better even if I'm a bit tipsy.

      Delete
    2. TROLL ALERT AGAIN FROM UN GARS - Insulting everyone all the time - I respectfully request that his comments be deleted yet again Editor

      Delete
    3. I thought he said he was leaving??? lol

      Delete
    4. So annoying - Hopefully the Editor will delete all his stupid comments - worse than SR and that's saying a lot. And yes, he keeps insulting us, says he's leaving, and then comes back to insult us some more. Doesn't even live here and has no idea what he's talking about - just a royal pain in the a$$

      Delete
    5. @Cutie,

      In a previous post this week, you mentioned you're still in touch with Res Evil, if you still hear from him, please give him my regards, and please tell him that "Target Practice" just hasn't been the same without him..lol wink

      As for Apparatchik being greatly missed on this blog, no one misses Chik more than I. Chik was like coming home to a savory glass of Merlot after a long hard day. Having the power to calm and disarm you at the same time. Imagine having that kind of effect on people just with mere words. Well, I will look forward to the day when he/she graces us with his/her presence once again, in the meantime, I look forward to reading all of our valued contributors (minus the useless trolls), And Editor of course. Another remarkable post Sir...well done. I loved the picture, you did an amazing job, even though all the doves in the sky wouldn't help him pull off the biggest magic trick in the world..mmm...hahhahaha. Hope that picture circulates...it's a damn good one !!

      Delete
    6. I will for sure AnecTOTE - Haven't communicated in awhile but I will pass the word along if we do. I miss him targeting the trolls also - very bright and humourous personality. I hope he is doing really well in his business ventures.

      Delete
    7. wouldn't** should be couldn't. lol ...But I'm sure if asked, they wouldn't either LOL

      Delete
    8. "So annoying - Hopefully the Editor will delete all his stupid comments - worse than SR and that's saying a lot."

      SR is detestable, but he isn't diabolical, that's his 'achilles heel' I'm afraid...lol.

      Delete
    9. "Hope that picture circulates...it's a damn good one !!"

      http://www.photoshopdisasters.com/

      Delete
    10. Blame it on the Goose got me feelin' looseFriday, November 1, 2013 at 2:27:00 PM EDT

      @Anectote : Why do you think they left?

      There is already enough negativity in this world! They clearly don't need to see you and Cutie go apeshit on trolls everyday.

      Delete
    11. Fine words for someone who apparently left...right Blame it..??? Logically, you're either one of the ones who "Claims" to have left, OR your an Troll ally...either way, if you are bothered by what Cutie and I post, scroll past us.
      Seems simple enough to me. Then again, the troll brain is a dead brain, so the point is pretty much..moot.

      Delete
    12. "There is already enough negativity in this world!" - OMG everyone - let me point out that this blog is supposed to be for discussion among AMONG ANGLOPHONES that live in quebec - hence the name Nodogsoranglophones. If you are looking for a blog that is "positive" rather than "negative" may I suggest that you go to a francophone blog that is expressively for those living in Ontario? I can guarantee that it will be a hell of a lot more upbeat and "positive" than this one. No other province in the country has the problems we have and we have nothing, let me repeat, NOTHING to be "positive" about. If anyone can tell me any positive news out of quebec in the past 12 (excluding trolls) I would be more than happy to hear it!

      Delete
    13. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTFriday, November 1, 2013 at 5:07:00 PM EDT

      "cutie" wrote:
      " I respectfully request that his comments be deleted yet again Editor"
      Get a life already. Can you play "How many carloads will it take to move my sorry ass across the Outaouais river?"

      Off to Geneva tomorrow:)

      Delete
    14. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  6. Surprise:
    http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Hadekel+Quebec+culture+subsidies+empowers+Alcoa/9109098/story.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have an abundance of power with nowhere to sell it anymore.

      We have a job problem and these are her voters.

      Quebec has no leverage. They will give everything Alcoa wants. That place closing is not a risk at all.

      If it were located in the West Island the PQ would tell them they don;t want to subsidize an AMerican company and they must pay the same rate as everybody else.

      IE they will want them to leave so the WI has fewer jobs and therefore more anglos and immigrants that will leave to look for work.

      They don;t want to invest in public transit that people will actually use like metro's to the airport and west island.

      Every policy plank the PQ has is somehow tied to destroying non PQ voters way of life.

      That is the unifying force between the PQ left and the PQ right (as if there are more then 2).

      Delete
  7. Lived here my whole life and actually is the first time I'm contemplating moving. Those that have left have all done better for themselves, without exception. Hearing many other discussing the same thing, combo not feeling wanted & economy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's very tempting for sure - and for far too many reasons that are totally unnecessary but with a separatist government in power we have no choice but to put up with these divisive and nasty policies that are causing civil strife and economic hardship for all of us.

      Delete
    2. I cant see how we are not going to see another mass exodus within the next 2-3 years. I think at some point we are all going to have to accept taking some sort of a hit financially to leave..ie selling our house for a much lower price than we expect. In the end it may be worth it to just live somewhere where there is some sanity.
      What really surprise me is how many retired elderly anglos still live in the west island..in most cases there children live elsewhere..they dont need to stay here for work..I dont understand why they dont move close to their kids..why put up with all the nonstop crap here. I can understand when you have a good job here and/or close family but otherwise it seems odd. My neighbor who was in her nineties moved to Ontario last year where her son lives..her timing was impeccable for selling the house..right at the top of the market.

      Delete
    3. @Complicated,

      It has already begun. If we were ever in a hole before, now we're just free-falling in merciless gravity. In any event, I suppose hope is the last to die, I know it is in my case. But I'm in a much better place today; whereas in the past I wouldn't EVER even contemplate a move, today I do. Again not because of language issues, the twits can yell and complain all they want, it's become noice to me. or even because of this silly charter, but I have come to realize just how much money they drain from me AND how much more they will, if Harper turns off the tap. This for me will be the point of no return. Any place can be home at the end of the day. I no longer have this morbid attachment to this province like I use to, not for a while now...anyway. I don't HAVE to live here and the minute I no longer want to, I'm gone.

      Delete
    4. AnecTOTE - You can't leave us! We need people like you:)

      Delete
    5. By the way, was e-mailing Resident and gave him your best. He says he is just fine and working hard - asked him to drop by the blog once in awhile to say hi and that we missed him. Will let you know if I hear anything further.

      Delete
    6. Thank you Cutie, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  8. The federal government should take any unexploited natural resources into account when calculating equalization payments.

    This would keep it fair, and it would still serve the same purpose. Provinces that want to consider themselves more "responsible" than others would have to deal with the implications themselves, rather than having everyone else foot the bill.

    Our minister of natural resources Martine Ouellette is against exploiting forests, mines, gas, and oil. Being a hippie is fine, but why should other people have to pay for our choices?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      I don't understand either. This business of 'not in my backyard' has to go. The land belongs to everyone and the work today is done with ecology in mind. Ed

      Delete
    2. Couldn't agree more Ed - again, the only reason they do not take advantage of our natural resources as they should, is because they are planning on leaving Canada and do not want to share any of the profits with the rest of the provinces. Unfortunately they have a lot of their "green" conscious supporters believing that they are doing it because of the ecology. So devious and underhanded - they will rake every cent they can off Canada and will only start work on these things if they separate. I wish their voters would see them for what they are: bloodsuckers and thieves, selfish to the core.

      Delete
  9. Un autre tour de magie?

    Perquisitions au PLQ annulées sous l'ère de Jean Charest

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201311/01/01-4706144-perquisitions-au-plq-annulees-sous-lere-de-jean-charest.php

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They probably had trouble getting the warrant signed due to lack of evidence, which considering they found pretty much nothing and all that happened was 5 doners were issued fines, would make sense.

      Delete
    2. @thatguy

      "They probably had trouble getting the warrant signed due to lack of evidence..."

      haha. sure. probably that's what happened.

      "...considering they found pretty much nothing and all that happened was 5 doners were issued fines..."

      total crap. nothing at all came out of these raids. yet. who are these 5 doners thing you're refering to? whatever it is, it has nothing to do with the operations mentioned in s.r's article. please up your game.

      Delete
    3. "haha. sure. probably that's what happened."

      Then please enlighten us on a more likely scenario, I highlight more likely, which does not included UPAC being completely corrupt.

      "total crap. nothing at all came out of these raids. yet. who are these 5 doners thing you're refering to? whatever it is, it has nothing to do with the operations mentioned in s.r's article. please up your game."

      http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/court-documents-outline-police-probe-of-quebec-liberal-party-fundraising/article15219433/
      "The documents stem from a July, 2013, raid conducted on Liberal headquarters while most of the province’s media were focused on the explosion and fire of a train in Lac Mégantic, Que.

      Media reports say those heavily censored documents show the provincial police anti-corruption squad was mainly interested in a fundraiser in a Quebec City restaurant that featured former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau on Oct. 9, 2008."

      "Earlier this month, Quebec’s director-general of elections announced it had issued eight fines for five people stemming from the event with Ms. Normandeau, a case involving engineering firms and people who posed as legitimate private donors."

      They went after Ms. Normandeau's fundraiser with the raid and only found enough evidence for the fines to be laid. Please start doing some research before calling everything BS it makes you look exceedingly ignorant and lazy.

      Delete
  10. Can you imagine if equalization payments were curtailed tomorrow. The deficit in Quebec would be 8 to 10 billion dollars higher than stated in the article. That would mean an immediate tax increase of 15% across the board to mitigate. That would surely cause an exodus out of Quebec to the ROC by anyone or any company with any appreciable revenue. I doubt very much that it would be cut totally but certainly in 2014 the equalization formulae is to be reviewed. The ROC and especially the contributors to equalization (Read AB, SK, BC and NF) are fully aware of the gold plated social programs in Quebec that they themselves are not recipients even though they pay the load. Could be that Harper owing to his problems obtaining seats in Quebec (Read French Kiss by Chantal Herbert) will use wedge politics in the next election singling out Quebec as a province which is getting a free ride on the backs of the ROC, in order to garner more support for the Conservatives. (has nothing to lose in Quebec...that ship sailed long ago). Will be very interesting how things transpire over the next couple of years. One thing seems to be obvious....the economic indicators and social unrest do not bode well for La Belle Province.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yannick,

      You making your own argument.

      Quebec has not cut taxes to any significant effect and still has maintained the social programs. Read deficit budget. It's obvious to me that Quebec receives between 8 and 10 billion, (plus the majority of agricultural subsidies). Without this payment they would either have to cut programs or increase taxes. I think this should be fairly obvious.

      Delete
    2. Quebec is like the irresponsible friend that comes to you at the end of the month and asks if you can give them a bit of money because they don't have enough to pay off his credit card bill, then when you give it to him he takes it and goes and buys smokes instead of using it to pay for his expenses. You can't claim you paid for all your friend's products and services he has, but you certainly don't feel like giving him any more money when he takes it and instead of using it to pay off his fixed expenses he uses it to buy things he can't afford and still goes into debt.

      Delete
  11. http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/11/01/william-johnson-a-return-to-meech-lakes-constitutional-fairy-tales/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

    ""On Saturday, in concluding a party meeting, Couillard promised: “A [Quebec] government that I lead would not participate in a conference dealing with Senate reform until that agenda contains explicitly the recognition and the discussion of the five historic conditions of Quebec.”"

    "" backing the unanimous October 23 National Assembly resolution denouncing the federal government for attacking Bill 99, Quebec’s claim to the right to secede unilaterally on 50%+1 of the vote in a referendum where it sets all the rules.""

    Same old same old.

    Every party in quebec gets scared and has to run back to the same old crap we've had here for decades. The CAQ lost resolve, the Liberals have the track record.

    Eventually they all go back to trying to blackmail Canada and fall over themselves to be the defenders of Quebec when the only thing attacking and killing Quebec is INSIDE the province.

    The reality is we need the chicken lady (google it) out so badly we need to vote for these idiots when the time comes.

    The Liberals and the CAQ now need to start talking more and more like the PQ so they can distract some of their voters from the base.

    The easiest way of course the the standard strategy of us and them. Montreal vs Quebec state. anglo's/immigrants vs francophones. Quebecers vs Canada etc.

    The most acceptable line to go after is Canada.

    It's amazing the shit over Rob Ford. It's taking up front page space all over. We won;t even get to the drug comsuption habits of the hundreds that will go through Charbonneau. That is "right to privacy".

    Really, after what we see daily what would a little drug use matter? One line in the million pages coming out of Charbonneau.

    Charbonneau should be front page every day for years across the country is we are going to use the Rob Ford scandal scale.

    It's like senate. You have hundred overpaid doing nothing but pontificating senators in Ottawa with fuck all to do. It's a bloody miracle that only 3 of them were caught screwing with their expenses.

    Let's not forget the recently retired senator from Quebec that was responsible for lobbying Arthur Porter into CSIS and the MUC hospital debacle. I'm so glad he was on payroll and had access to "facilitate" that.

    You'd think these people would be happy to be paid that kind of money to be figureheads and keep their heads down and their actions clean.

    Again 2% of senators fudging things is nothing compared to Quebec.

    The labour arm of the PQ, the FTQ mgmt was like 80% corrupt?

    The 3 of these people need to be FIRED just like any other normal person would in a job or other position. What is all this nonsense about they need their "healthcare plan" etc. This is Canada with socialized medicine. What kind of fucking excuse is that?

    After the 3 get fired, get rid of senate. Rooms and offices can be used by people that might work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @cebeuq

      No one agrees with you more than I how frustrating it is that all parties seem to pussy-out on the nationalist question.

      What would I do if I were leading a political party?

      The exact same thing as Couillard, with one caveat: I'd be trojan-horsing it.

      I toe the nationalist line to a majority, and then, with four years on my side, I'd go apeshit.

      I'd do everything in my power to hobble the FTQ, I'd then (GASP) render Bill 101 nul and void...

      And when I'm not busy raising tuition by 60%, I'd be visiting my fellow premiers in the ROC and having them help me found and finance the Montreal Provincial Party - a separatist party whose sole agenda is to break the 514 away from Quebec, thereby permanently averting a threat to this crown jewel in another referendum.

      Just look at all the colossal fails the PQ accomplished in just one year of power...now imagine if you could do the reverse of that in one year...and multiply it by four.

      "I have a dream!"

      Delete
    2. Anon, I agree with you. A politician can never do this. After spending dozens of years on their knees making "compromises" they don;t know what they believe themselves anymore.

      Everything becomes relative.

      Pocking between giving a contract to a friends company or to the mob. That's the choice that Quebec politicians think is acceptable. Their ethics and morals having become totally warped from years of lying to the public and manipulating.

      The *ONLY* thing and new provincial govt should focus on is redoing the electoral boundaries.

      The lack of democracy and the fact that idiots from the hinterland with no teeth control the province even though they are the minority of the population, inbred, racist and ignorant.

      The most important thing is to fix the democracy dececit in this place.

      Until this is fixed, a minority of mentally ill francophones from the hinterland that support a tribal destructive party called the PQ will continue to dominate the culture and politics of Quebec and decimate our economy and jobs.

      Delete
    3. This has nothing to do with being a federalist, it just the plain truth and it's Worth repeating:

      "Until this is fixed, a minority of mentally ill francophones from the hinterland that support a tribal destructive party called the PQ will continue to dominate the culture and politics of Quebec and decimate our economy and jobs."

      Delete
  12. FROM ED
    "The ROC and especially the contributors to equalization (Read AB, SK, BC and NF) are fully aware of the gold plated social programs in Quebec that they themselves are not recipients even though they pay the load. "
    Westerner. I don't understand why they don't have the social programs. Could they not find a way to pay for them and send less to Ottawa? Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed,

      Doesn't work that way under the current formulas. Yes, Alberta, for instance could institute more social programs but they don't as they don't feel it is fiscally possible or prudent. Likely why they don't have a huge debt. In other words they don't feel they can afford them. Quebec through slight of hand (as does Manitoba) keeps hydro income low as to not be included as profit in the equalization formulae. If it was, Quebec would not receive nearly the amount of equalization they receive and nor would Manitoba. Putting things in perspective on debt. SK has a consolidated debt with crown corporations of about 3.2 Billion. If you multiply that by 8 times to equate to the population of Quebec it would be about 28 billion on par. Quebec has a debt of over 248 Billion at this time or roughly X10 that of SK when adjusted. That's a lot of debt!!!! Currently about 15% of Quebec Provincial Revenues are obtained from Ottawa ( and the other provinces).

      Delete
    2. Here is one for you Ed....a bit dated but still relevant today.

      http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=fa618fd4-2cf3-4b64-acce-580827cd5c23

      Have a read what is being repeated in a lot of articles West of the Quebec border.

      Delete
    3. Thank you for the article - hate to admit it's all true but there it is. We are as ticked off with the attitude of the separatists as you are. Please keep that in mind. There are millions of us that are at their mercy at the present time and don't agree with them at all on just about anything they do. It is our fervent wish to get rid of them as much as the ROC so we can breath and live again in what was once a great place to reside.

      Delete
    4. FROM ED
      Westerner, I wAS going to thank you for the link but I see Cutie already did it for me. Ed

      Delete
    5. Was thanking him for me only Ed - wasn't trying to cut in on your reading material - I just wanted to read it to see what is being said outside this place. Always interesting to see that the ROC is not asleep at the switch.

      Delete
    6. Westerner, great article.

      ""In 2009, Albertans paid $40.46 billion in income, corporate and other taxes to the federal government and received back just $19.35 billion in services and goods from the feds. That means the rest of Canada got $21.1 billion from Albertans or $5,742 for each and every Alberta man, woman and child.""

      How shocking is that number. Somebody needs to run a billboard in Calgary with that on it. Increase the pressure in the rest of Canada to stop the federal govt buying off Quebec.

      Part of the issue is cultural tho. Canadians by and large except for the hole of Quebec realize they need to work. In Quebec they think the y govt will provide endlessly. Yet they fail to understand that the govt itself must have capable members and a workable size if it is to succeed.

      If there is one thing we have seen over generations of human history it's that govt beyond a certain size doesn;t function anymore. It's like a company that's just gotten too big. You need to refocus on the mission of running a country and jettison some of the garbage that's taking up "bandwidth" IE time,money and media.

      Look at Obama web site debacle. A group of teens in a garage in silicon valley can do what CGI from Montreal came up with an outdated billion dollar website that doesn;t even work.

      The difference is cultural, size and competence. In 20 years after the teens sell the company with 10 000 employee's it will probably make the same CGI website.

      Anyway Quebec has packed it's civil service with useless corrupt garbage. This is the same group that Quebec society that cannot help themselves should turn to at all times.

      In the rest of Canada, people are taught to depend on themselves. They realize the govt is just a collection of different human beings and the entire discussion is just a shifting of responsibility from yourself onto "others".

      In the rest of Canada, the people drives the companies that pay the taxes that pay the govt that works for the people.

      In Quebec, the govt hands out money to the people and select companies. The people compete for the attention of the state to get the free money it offers. Value isn;t being created at the level of the public and being accumulated in the govt. In quebec it's backwards.

      There is a constant net cash flow from the gov to the people in Quebec. The entire relationship between people and the govt changes. We need to SATISFY the govt of Quebec to keep the money flowing into our pockets.

      Out west the people PAY the govt. The govt needs to keep more on it's toes.

      In Quebec govt isn;t there to support the citizens, the citizens are there to support the govt.

      To people like SR and the petit jeanettes this logic is culturally unassailable. The main function of a citizen is to be a good little seppie. They teach it in school.

      Delete
    7. By the way Ed, most people read the links that are published and have their own opinions about them. Each will have their say as they see fit - that's what blogs do - share information and opinions from contributors. There is nothing personal in that.

      Delete
    8. FROM ED
      I realize that cutie but when something is addressed to a certain person that person should have a chance to answer it . That's only politeness. Ed

      Delete
    9. That's why you should answer it Ed but that does not mean that other people can't answer either. That's why I said; it's not personal - this is a blog and there is nothing personal on it. Everyone has the chance to comment on what you and/or others are posting and/or linking and comments made come only from the person responding not from the person being addressed necessarily. That is being polite - thousands can read and/or make their own comments on the matter at hand - nothing wrong with that at all.

      Delete
  13. Open Letter From Grandmama Landry:

    Dès la présentation de la Charte des valeurs québécoises, mon premier commentaire a été de féliciter notre gouvernement pour son courage et sa lucidité. Il a assumé un devoir dont aurait dû s’acquitter son prédécesseur après la publication du rapport Bouchard-Taylor. Il est clair, à la suite des épisodes erratiques d’accommodements, souvent déraisonnables et non balisés, vécus par notre nation qui accueille 55 000 immigrants par année - le taux le plus élevé au monde - qu’elle a l’obligation dans son intérêt comme dans celui des arrivants, d’établir des règles dont l’absence ne conduirait qu’à l’injustice et aux entraves à l’intégration. Comme nous avons le devoir de les accueillir, les arrivants ont celui de l’intégration.

    Le gouvernement a eu tellement raison qu’un vaste débat profond et démocratique, l’un des grands de notre histoire contemporaine, et presque sans dérapage, est toujours en cours pour nous conduire à l’ultime version du projet que nous ne connaissons pas encore, mais que toutes ces discussions devraient amener au plus haut niveau de confiance rassembleuse.

    Deux de mes prédécesseurs se sont soigneusement acquittés de leur devoir de contribuer à ce débat vital pour notre nation par des textes de qualité dont j’ai verbalement salué la pertinence sans par ailleurs jamais les avaliser totalement comme certains l’ont erronément laissé entendre. Je me sens aujourd’hui obligé d’écrire à mon tour dans l’espoir de contribuer de façon positive avec mes suggestions et mes réserves à la meilleure charte possible. C’est mon devoir comme c’était celui de Parizeau et Bouchard. Je ne comprends pas ceux qui leur reprochent de s’être exprimés.

    Avant même de prendre position sur la Charte, j’ai martelé depuis des années que « lorsqu’on change de pays, on change de pays ». J’ai dit et redit que le Québec, multiethnique depuis sa naissance, n’est pas et ne doit pas être multiculturel. Le multiculturalisme est une doctrine perverse qu’Ottawa nous a grossièrement imposée. Le Canada est le seul pays à avoir constitutionnalisé cette aberration. Ceux qui la pratiquent sont en repentance même la Grande-Bretagne et le Canada à bien des égards commencent à regretter leur erreur. La Charte a même un étonnant support dans l’opinion ontarienne. Pour ces raisons, j’ai globalement défendu et défends toujours le projet du gouvernement et ses fondements incontestables.

    J’ai par ailleurs effectivement, comme tant d’autres, quelques réticences à ce que l’on connait du projet gouvernemental. Dès le début par exemple, je n’ai pas trouvé adéquat le nom proposé. Les valeurs québécoises vont bien au-delà du projet qui, essentiellement, touche la laïcité qui devrait donner son titre à ce document. Nos valeurs couvrent aussi, entre autres, la solidarité sociale, la répartition de la richesse, le soutien exemplaire à la vie familiale, le rôle des femmes dans la société pour lequel nous faisons mieux ici qu’à peu près partout ailleurs.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Grandmaman Landry II:

    J’ai aussi des réserves sérieuses quant à l’opinion de mes deux prédécesseurs qui ont accepté notamment une liste des personnes en autorité qui devaient s’abstenir de porter des symboles ostentatoires : la liste Bouchard-Taylor. Or, selon moi, elle est trop courte. Il faut y inclure d’autres personnes en autorité rémunérées par l’État particulièrement les enseignants et les enseignantes. L’éducation est mon métier et l’on sait qu’il implique diverses formes d’autorité : intellectuelle, morale voire disciplinaire et arbitrale pour les notes d’examen par exemple.

    Ceux et celles qui choisissent cette noble vocation devraient s’abstenir d’afficher dans les classes les signes de leur croyance religieuse ou politique. De la maternelle à l’université, les jeunes que l’on éduque ne doivent pas directement ou indirectement être influencés par le choix des professeurs dans le domaine crucial de la liberté de religion en particulier. La religion des uns ne doit conditionner d’aucune manière la vie des autres dans le service public et la vie civique en général.

    Il me semble aussi que sur un point le débat doit être clos - et il l’est pratiquement – c’est la fameuse question du crucifix à l’Assemblée nationale du Québec. Le lieu même où est proclamée la laïcité se doit d’être exemplaire à ce titre. Quand les évêques et les « femen » convergent, il est clair que la question est réglée!

    Je ne crois pas non plus que les exemptions institutionnelles ou géographiques, évoquées par certains ministres, soient pertinentes. Le Québec doit être rassembleur de Ville Saguenay à Ville Mont-Royal. Nos valeurs doivent nous unir et non nous diviser. Hélas, nous ne sommes pas encore en république, mais nos voisins américains et nos cousins français qui le sont pourraient sur ce point nous inspirer à certains des égards.

    J’espère que cette contribution écrite, que j’aurais pu faire avant, sera utile à notre gouvernement en qui j’ai confiance pour mener à bien cette évolution nationale qu’il a vaillamment amorcée. Tout le monde aura compris que pour des raisons autres que personnelles, même si j’en aurais, la thèse courageuse et lucide des Janettes me séduit plus que n’importe quelle autre.

    Bernard Landry

    Ancien premier ministre

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It boggles the mind that they are worried that what a teacher wears in class, yet Quebec High schools have a compulsory religion class where you have the choice of Catholic, Protestant or Moral education, but that's acceptable. Again, the hypocrisy is strong with this one.

      Delete
    2. @thatguy

      "...yet Quebec High schools have a compulsory religion class where you have the choice of Catholic, Protestant or Moral education..."

      that's false. no compulsory religion in quebec public schools.

      Delete
    3. Prior to to 2008 Quebec public schools had a mandatory religion course wherein you could select the catholic, protestant or "moral" versions of the class. The government decided in 2005 it would no longer keep using the notwithstanding clause to override the charter of rights and freedoms like previous governments did in order to keep mandating these religion courses be taught to children. Post 2008 Quebec high public schools have a mandatory Religion-ethics course part of whose mandate is

      Religious culture

      Your child will:
      learn about the important place of Catholicism and Protestantism in Québec's religious heritage
      discover the contributions of Judaism and Native spiritualities of this religious heritage
      learn about elements of other religious traditions more recently found in Québec society

      So yes, Quebec public high schools do have a mandatory religion course. I guess they're more interested in going after religious people in school, rather than religion in school.

      Delete
    4. @thatguy

      dude religious culture class is a proper multiculturalism endoctrination class. you should totally support this if you were coherent. but if you wanna discard it i'm with you.

      Delete
    5. Hmm you see awfully familiar with it considering it didn't exist a few hours ago. I can't rightly say I see why I'd have to support a multi-religious class in schools to be consistent, especially when I never stated my position on the subject at all, simply noted how the PQ has missed the point entirely.

      Delete
    6. @thatguy

      it's a class on all religions. the cultural point of view. it's not incoherent at all with secularity as it doesn't say god created the universe, it says christians believe god created the earth. big difference. even you should be able to see it.

      you should support this if you're a multiculturalism fan, as it's designed with this ideology as a backbone. and i had understood that you liked multiculturalism.

      Delete
    7. A class on religions that look at their tenants and beliefs is a religion class. Ah so it's fine if religion is present in school so long as no one is making the claim to the children that there is a god and he created the Universe. Yet here we are with people pushing for the banning of teachers wearing hijabs. The irony in all of it is in a PQ charter future a Muslim teacher would not be allowed to wear her hijab but would have to teach students about Islam and hijabs. Talk about focusing on the wrong things, it's completely possible to have a neutral state without taking away peoples rights, yet the government is content to do so and on top of this in an uneven-way.

      While I am a proponent of the richness of multiculturalism brings, as restricting yourself to only your own culture's language, cuisine, celebrations and entertainment makes for a rather boring life, I do not advocate social engineering coming from either side of the debate and enforced by the government, as it's wholly needlessly restrictive.

      Delete
    8. @thatguy

      "The irony in all of it is in a PQ charter future a Muslim teacher would not be allowed to wear her hijab but would have to teach students about Islam and hijabs."

      exactly. but it's not any more ironic than a political science teacher that teaches about politics without wearing his parti québécois cap. in other words it makes perfect sense.

      Delete
    9. @thatguy

      you don't have to reply right away mate. take the time to think it through before you do so.

      Delete
    10. The wearing of religious items is an integral part of certain religions, the wearing of a PQ cap is just an exceedingly lazy inept comparison, there is no requirement to wear a cap to hold the belief in the PQ ideals, which means the teacher is doing it for the express reason of propagating their opinion, there is no such necessary volition on the religious part regardless of those who paranoidly assume so, who must be rather self centered to believe someone dresses they way they do for their sake, rather than the religious person's own.

      On top of that the kicker is, a closer but still irrelevant comparison would be if the PQ only had buttons and the PLQ only had hats and the PQ passed a law saying teachers can only wear political buttons, it's targeted hypocrisy. The charter is actually completely un-secular because it makes exceptions for some religious items but not others, the state is actually choosing which religions it more readily supports, by way of completely arbitrary dress code rules.

      Perhaps if you think it is ironic for political science teachers to not be able to wear clothing in support of their political parties you should be out supporting their right to do so, instead of trying to justify further censorship by the government for a wholly unnecessary cause? Two wrongs don't make a right.

      Delete
    11. Hmm guess student ran out of pointless questions and lazy arguments she saw other other PQ-ers make.

      Delete
  15. Our poor elderly veteran passed away today. I hope that separatist cuts his throat when shaving. Making a poor old man suffer because of politics - I can't think of anything lower.

    http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Veteran+centre+Gatineau+hospital+language+controvery+dies/9113760/story.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I can't think of anything lower."

      Pas de miroir à la maison?

      Delete
    2. Such a sad story, some people are just so full of anger and sadness in their lives that they'll go out of their way and use energy to insult or belittle others for absolutely no reason, other than to make them feel better about their own inadequacies and insecurities.

      Hopefully the orderly is fired after the review, no one who has so little empathy for the sick and dying should be allowed to work around people who already have enough hardship on their plates that they don't have to deal with harassment from those who are employed to help them as well.

      Delete
    3. Yes I really feel dreadful about the whole thing - his family is not going to let this go - they are fighting back like hell and they have a lot of support. The thing about it is the family is francophone but totally bilingual.

      Delete
    4. You know this is due to bill 101 and having the PQ in power. Franco separatists at their finest.

      Delete
    5. It's cases like this where the lack of goodwill and humanity towards others of PQ francophones and it's supporters is on full display.

      All the talk about Quebec being "socially just" etc. What nonsense.

      No culture that is "just" or has empathy for other individuals refuses cancer ridden children english language schooling exceptions or unilingual cancer patients to speak to them in english.

      This is full on display of the real ethics and culture of Quebec.

      Mean and nasty to anybody not "just like them".

      Quebec thinks it's all grown up but really it's still a childish selfish culture.

      Delete
    6. "...selfish culture"

      Hahahaha!

      Delete
    7. More slag just got added to the melting pot of your culture.

      Delete
    8. This is why laugh out loud every time I hear that retard Emmanuel Bilodeau preach that Quebec has reached the maturity it needs to be an independent nation.

      Really?

      Just take a look at S.R. as the posterchild for window-licking separatists who are completely inept when it comes to understanding the most basic points of reason.

      Sorry Emmanuel, you failed the test and so did all your little happy tree friends.

      Delete
  16. FROM ED
    Editor, I have a complaint about the words we have to type in in order to publish, they are impossible to pronounce. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like when the photos don't even have the numbers in the shot, those are really helpful! Unfortunately I doubt the editor has any control over the system.

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      Thatguy, I don't bother with the numbers. My colour blindness makes reading them impossible. I just type the word and it works. Thankfully we don't have to read them into a mike. How do you pronounce qqakac. You'd have to be a stuttering duck. Ed

      Delete
    3. Well the thing about the numbers not being requires explains a lot, I thought i was just really good at guessing numbers when the picture didn't show them :P.

      Delete
  17. http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Analysis+Stench+corruption+clings+mayoral+race/9109910/story.html

    Do you ever get the feeling we're all in a really bad movie?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah we're in a good movie! Specifically the Untouchables...unfortunately the Untouchables were removed from the script for this version.

      Delete
    2. Country's go in' to hell in a hand basket and the guy in charge is singin' "the good ole hockey game"...you gotta admit it has all the semblance of a bad movie. On the upside, he doesn't have a terrible voice, LOLOLOLOLOL

      Delete
  18. We have popo and Toronto has Rob Ford...mmm I suppose misery loves company. Lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah..and we all have Harper...LOLOLOLOLOL...Good times!

      Delete
    2. And the Americans have Barack Obama! Woohoo!

      Delete
    3. @RR

      Yea..he's turned out to be a bit of a....disappointment..hasn't he? However, I do imagine the strings tugging at him behind the scenes have a lot to do with it. Also, he hasn't done a damn thing to ingratiate himself to the other side which has a lot of power. A president has to be liked on the floor of the house, and he doesn't get that. What people see is this refined and sophisticated public persona and admire him. But to get things done and accomplished on capital hill you have to be, first and foremost, liked enough to get people to want to work with you. I suppose powerful people have Egos and will put em' before service to the people. The result is you end up with total chaos in a country that is suppose to rule the world.

      So Barack...how's that workin' for ya?

      Delete
    4. FROM ED
      Obama is wal;king a tightrope. he doesn't have the people behind him that he needs as a presiden Also, he was orced to accept a number of blacks in his cabinet to satisfy the black people that put him in office. His cabinet. is not up to the job. A goof example is Eric Holden. As Legal Adviser to the president he lacks the international knowledge needed in this world of turmoil. He may be an experienced Jurist in the U.S. but not all countries have the same laws and dealing with the U.N. needs crisis techknowledgy.
      He will never make friends with the other side of the house. The Republicans are a negro hating redneck party, furious that a black man is president. They hate him and will never agree to anything his says. Ed

      Delete
  19. Vidéo embarrassante pour Denis Coderre: il promet son «amitié» aux Hassidim

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxfE3rcInuI

    Quel gros tordu!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTSaturday, November 2, 2013 at 9:21:00 AM EDT

      T'as raison SR Coderre est vraiment trop gros. Le Rob Ford de Montreal? He he....

      Delete
    2. Deux gros décadents sans scrupules.

      Delete
  20. Le PLQ plongé dans l’embarras
    L’UPAC enquête sur un système de financement occulte du parti en échange de contrats publics

    http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/391643/le-plq-plonge-dans-l-embarras

    Le chef du PLQ, Philippe Couillard, était introuvable vendredi pour commenter ces révélations. (hahahahaha!)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Denis Coderre – What a piece of work this parasite is. This guy has had his head in the public trough for decades. He is NOT fluently bilingual. He supports and French only Quebec…he said it on TV. He was involved in Chretien’s adscam which funnelled millions into Quebec…sat in the most crooked, corrupt government this country has ever seen along with Trudeaus…and you people are thinking of voting for this scum bag??? Wow, give your head a shake!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      James Wolfe, has any polotician ever met your standards of respectability. Denis Coderre is french, raised in French and worked in the Federal govenment ofr decades. Of course he's bilingual. You can call trudeau anything you like but you can't call him crooked. Trudeau was a straight from the shoulder guy and so is Denis Coderre. I say this even though I believe Cote is the best man with his record on ecomomics which is whart we need right now. Melanie Joly makes me wonder why a woman with an Oxford education in law could only get a job as a newscaster. Ed
      Denis Coderre has experience which would help him choose the right people for the job.
      Richaed Bergeon has been criticized for saying Geopge Bush had a hand in bringing about 911. He's right. The first thing Bush did after getting elected was to visit Israel for three days and never once looked over his shoulder at Palestine. Some say wherever he stood he kept his back toward Paestine. If that isn't a slap in the face to the Arabs, what is? I firmly believe it had something to do with suddenly attacking America with such force. Ed

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      Sorry, forgot to mention in my lst post, Denis Coderre was not involved in Adscam with Chretien. He didn;t get elected in
      1993. Adscam happend in 1995. Ed

      Delete
    3. @ed

      "Trudeau was a straight from the shoulder guy and so is Denis Coderre."

      yeah right. http://tinyurl.com/nm42pbd

      "Adscam happend in 1995."

      false. The program ran from 1996 until 2004. it was a reaction to the 1995 referendum. coderre was in it big time.

      do you make up all this stuff or are you the poor victim of a disinformation scam ed?

      Delete
  22. The separatist opponents who come to this blog to call us Angryphones who are just blowing off steam might be well served with a blast from the past: http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/lawdemo/docs/sed1804.htm

    Sandy McTire, if you're reading this, you are our resident legal expert.

    Could you please tell us what chances we have of seeing a valid anti-sedition bill passed in modern-day Canada?

    Thank you in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alas, sedition laws like the 1804 Upper Canada version have fallen out of favour since those good old days. But so have public executions, drawing and quartering, stoning adulterers (especially female offenders - at least in Canada) and thought crime in general. Perhaps there is something to be said for progress. And you will recall that in 1804 the Napoleonic terror was washing across Europe and Upper Canada was a British colony.

      So I would say ...chances are poor. In these kinder, gentler days we just have to put up with a lot of wacky ideas being preached at us by second rate people who think they have a right to tell us how to behave - including what kind of headgear we are allowed to wear. Our only remedy is the ballot box. But it works reasonably well. Quebec, for example is still part of Canada and there is no sign whatsoever that will change. That tiresome rant about sovereigntists being traitors who should be jailed is very shortsighted. Nothing is more effective than beating the poor misguided souls with the ballot. And it seems cruel to jail people for stupidity.

      Even though I like this blog I have to say, as a fellow who strives for objectivity, there may be some truth to that accusation that some posts have a slight whiff of angryphones blowing off steam. Just a whiff, of course. But on the other hand...there is often quite a bit to be angry about, even in advanced democracies. And on balance I prefer the quiet tap tap made by blowing off steam on a keyboard to the sound of small arms fire on Ste.Catherine Street.

      Delete
    2. Sandy, thank you for taking the time to answer that question - it's appreciated.

      I agree with you that it could indeed be extreme to jail people based on their opinions, however it is remarkably frustrating to see their opinions results in transgressions against fundamental rights.

      Take that orderly who recently chastised a dying war hero - now that is a proponent of the sovereignist movement that should require some form of jail time.

      I also feel that since some of the commentors here have actually justified and defended the violence of the FLQ, that they should face jail time on the grounds of attempting to incite violence.

      As for your take on the ballot box, I'm afraid I'm very cynical about that.

      Couillard doesn't inspire me as a leader who'll raise his fists against the separatists - he'll still be a nationalist lackey.

      Oh well.

      Delete
    3. FROM ED
      Pardom me interupting but Couillard doesn't have to raise his fists against the seppies. That's up to us, the people. Once we elect him he will be free to straighten out the mess the PQ will leave behind. Ed

      Delete
    4. @anonymous coward

      ",,,it could indeed be extreme to jail people based on their opinions,..."

      why the conditional? you hesitate? are you a fascist like anectote who a few days ago shared his positive bias about a big brother police state?

      Delete
    5. @Anon C.

      I on the other hand do think stupidity is a crime and jailing stupid people is no more extreme than the charter of no values which seeks to legislate head accessories. This charter has also provided stupid people with the permission to express their utter stupidity and target a group of people, namely Muslim women, who are presently being overtly and shamelessly abused on city buses...BY THEM (the stupid people). AND such deplorable behavior is being excused by the dumb stupid trolls on this blog, who feel it is inconsequential because, after all, it was happening before, so No BIG.

      To add insult to injury, no Apology, NONE, has been forthcoming by the stupid troll student, to Muslim women everywhere for the bigoted abuse they have been subjected to by the stupid racist xenophobic jerks in this province, such as student.

      It is time to put an end to stupidity, since its excess, here, has become a veritable menace to our well-being.

      Slam them all in jail, as they are not worthy to live among us civilized people.

      Delete
    6. @anectote

      haha you are funny mister and always there to feed freakshow enthusiasts.

      Delete
    7. "Until this is fixed, a minority of mentally ill francophones from the hinterland that support a tribal destructive party called the PQ will continue to dominate the culture and politics of Quebec and decimate our economy and jobs." cebeuq

      Thank you cebeuq

      Delete
  23. FROM ED
    Looking at the rundown on the Montreal Candidates in the gazette this morning., it's onvious that on the economy Cote stands head and shoulders above the others.. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  24. Exemple de pauvre angryphone mal traitée par les nazis :

    "I am as mad as hell. It was a perfect day. Friday the weekend is here. I went to the Canadian tire in Kirkland west island to make a payment. The first thing that I noticed is that they have removed all the English signs. They used to have at least the store policies in both languages. NOT ANYMORE. When I went to make the payment it said purchase. I politely asked the young girl at the cash why it showed as a purchase. She couldn't answer me. I then asked to see the manager which she immediately called. Entrance the manger. She approached me with oui bonjour. I asked if she spoke English which she replied pas besoin. I told her that I do not speak French. She started to speak to the young girl who was now explaining the problem. Not so polite I said excuse me I am not invisible and if she could not talk to me directly than please get another manager who can. As she continued to ignore me while she was still having her conversation I got a little more pissed off. Now demanding to speak to anther manager who can speak to me on English. Another women walked over to service me. I asked what her position was. Promptly she replied supervisor of human resources. I thought that I hit the jack pot. I asked her to please explain to me why at Canadian tire in the west island the store manger could not speak any English. Her reply was this is Quebec and it is policy that they do not enforce their employees to speak in English. I thought to myself before I make a scene just make the payment and leave. I did tell miss human resources that this would be posted to face book. She looked at me and replied Bon journee Madame.
    This is why I am done fighting and will get the hell out of here.

    Robyne Goldberg"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. let's just hope quebec survives without our mate robyne.

      Delete
    2. I hope so student,i hope so...

      Delete
    3. JF
      Just like the "Fat" Lady in Eaton's story but reverse. When's the next revolution?

      Delete
    4. Non,l'inverse impliquerait que cette scène se soit passée...au canada anglais.

      Delete
    5. @s.r

      obviously jf does not bother too much about rigour.

      Delete
    6. Good for you Robyne Goldberg, get the hell out of the racist province, the sooner the better.They do not deserve you and i will also let Canadian Tire know how i feel about this.

      Delete
    7. FROM ED
      I find it strange that the pesonnel in Verdun's anadian Tire store all speak perfect English and speak it willingly Ed.

      Delete
    8. There are still some anglos who don't speak French. There are still some Italian and Chinese immigrants who speak neither French nor English. Many, many franco Quebecers don't speak English. So what ? And when you combine that with a "the customer is always right" attitude - sparks will fly. But for every nutty anglo there are 6 franco quebecois who will react in the same way in an analogous situation. A statistical probability. And anecdotally, there is lots of evidence of that ratio. Just check out the anglophobia and righteous indignation that is on display every day on the Vigile.net blog. When was the last time you heard about an anglo bus passenger verbally accosting a francophone bus passenger for speaking French on the bus, or on the street, or in a mall ? Or an anglo criticizing a muslim woman because she is wearing a hijab ?

      Canadian Tire in Kirkland is a small example of the garden variety contact between the two solitudes. Personally, I make a point of speaking French in stores because I like to speak French and I love an opportunity to exercise my vocabulary. But not everyone is the same. Its a free country and some people, anglo and franco, are ignorant, or discourteous - or both - and they like a little confrontation in their otherwise boring lives. I don't give a damn about any of them.

      I can also tell you from 35 years of experience that when a unilingual anglo entrepreneur or businessman from Ontario, the USA or Montreal finds him or herself in a predominantly French speaking law firm, in Montreal, or Quebec City, or Drummondville trying to get advice on a problem or cut a deal with a unilingual francophone businessman or businesswoman English will be spoken or translated as necessary. The objective is clear communication. No one gets up on a nationalist horse and calls people "Nazis". We do the deal and then we go out for a convivial lunch - in both official languages. That's how we have been doing business together for the last 250 years. Buying a roll of duct tape and then yelling at the cashier because they don't speak English is hardly a good example of doing business in Quebec. And hardly a reason to leave the province. Please, dismount your high horses and try and rejoin the real world.

      Delete
    9. Guys, get real. The store manager at the Canadian Tire in Kirkland speaks English. This is probably some bullshit story posted to feed the language freaks. I have lived in Quebec my while life (40 years) and have yet to meet someone who does not speak at least a functional level of French. I attended elementary, secondary, CEGEP and University - all in English and all in Quebec, so I have met plenty of Quebec Anglos. Be careful of what you read.

      Delete
  25. FROM ED
    Mtl 1973 hit the nail on the head. S.R. wrote this story himself. What angry complaining would start by complimenting the weather. "Who can speak to mr ON English." What retail outlet has a Supervisor of Human Resources, also an Anglo would have capitalized that phrase.
    To S.R. I give you credit, it was a smart idea and your written English was amost perfect. Ed

    ReplyDelete