Friday, January 31, 2014

French versus English Volume 102

Annual Report on Prosperity rips Quebec

Montreal's prestigious HEC (business school) of the University of Montreal  has released the 2013 version of its PRODUCTIVITY AND PROSPERITY IN QUEBEC report which paints a pretty bleak picture of the Quebec economy.

The report has politicians buzzing in Quebec City with the
apologists out in force, counteracting the report's main finding that Quebec is living above its means and lags in just about every important economic indicator.

Here are just a few extracts;
"With per capita GDP of $44,428, Quebec trails most of the 20 OECD countries in our sample. More
specifically, the province falls below both the Canadian average ($52,177 per capita) and the average of the
selected OECD countries ($50,588 per capita). In fact, Quebec surpasses only Japan, Italy, New
Zealand, Spain and South Korea in this ranking. The United States, with per capita GDP of $63,414, has a standard of living 43% higher than in Quebec, meaning $18,986"

Now, if we compare the standard of living in Quebec with that in Canada as a whole, we can see that the gap between the province and the country has gradually widened over the past three decades. This can be explained by the slightly higher rate of growth in the standard of living in Canada (1.30% on average per year). Quebec’s shortfall of $5,096 per capita in 1981 worsened further, to $7,749 per capita in 2012.
In relative terms, however, Canada now has a standard of living 17% higher than Quebec, or about the same difference as in 1981.
Lastly, our analysis shows that the average standard of living in the 20 selected OECD countries was similar to that in Quebec in 1981. Over the past 30 years, however, the rate of growth in the standard of living in these countries, on average 1.73% per year, has been much higher than in Quebec. As a result, the average standard of living in these countries was 1.14 times greater than in Quebec in 2012. From a difference of just $154 per capita in Quebec’s favour in 1981, the standard of living gap stood at $6,159 in 2012, but this time to Quebec’s disadvantage.
In light of this analysis, we can see that Quebec’s poorer standard of living performance, in comparison with the average of all Canadian provinces and of the selected OECD countries, stems from a shortfall observed as far back as the early 1980s, combined with slower growth over the past 30 years (with the exception of Ontario).





Read the entire report, it is fascinating and easy to understand, everything is explained for the layman.
 IN ENGLISH    EN FRANCAIS

Cops behaving badly

Former Sûreté du Quebec chief arrested for fraud
Who knows where the Quebec corruption bug will finally end?
Maybe we'll soon find out that public day cares are accepting payoffs for preferential enrolment or perhaps Quebec driving schools are giving passing grades for a fee or perhaps parking meter attendants are swiping tons of quarters out of the meters or doctors are taking thousands of dollars to jump the waiting line for an operation or pharmacists are taking payoffs from big pharma to push certain drugs.

Oh wait...all that really did happen!
But no matter, it's no big deal, after all, we Quebecers are now immune when it comes to  revelations over corruption.
It would probably be big news elsewhere to have the ex-director of the province's  provincial police force indicted for theft, along with three other highly placed cronies.
But not in Quebec, it hardly raises a commotion.
"Quebec provincial police have formally charged their own former director and three other ex-bosses with fraud, theft and breach of trust. Steven Chabot, Alfred Tremblay, Jean Audette and former top cop Richard Deschesnes are accused of siphoning money from a secret police fund to pay a bonus and illegal consulting fees.
The case has given the public a rare look into the internal workings of the police force, known as the SQ.
Deschesnes ran the SQ from June 2008 until October 2012, when the Parti Quebecois reassigned him shortly after it took power.
His co-accused, Chabot, who retired in 2010, was the SQ's assistant director in charge of criminal investigations. Audette was Chabot's successor.
Tremblay, the fourth man charged this week, was once a chief inspector at the SQ.
All four men were to be fingerprinted and photographed Wednesday at a Montreal police precinct.
The former officers are scheduled to appear at the Montreal courthouse on Feb. 13." Link
And the hits keep coming;
"A detective-sergeant in the organized crime division of the Montreal police department is the subject of an internal police investigation.
He is suspected of using his position to pass information on to the wrong people.
The investigation began last spring,  after the RCMP tipped off the Montreal police department
."
Link
and...
The investigation comes on the heels of the discovery of a high ranking mole on the force two years ago.
Ian Davidson, was a just retired detective-sergeant who had been accused of selling information on police informants to members of the underworld.
Link
Let's not forget;
"One of the country's former top biker cops, now accused of selling information to the Hells Angels, says he will "not go down alone," in a telephone conversation obtained by a joint CBC and Radio-Canada investigation.
Benoit Roberge, a former sergeant-detective with the Montreal police, was arrested in October, and is now facing two charges of gangsterism, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of breach of trust. His case will be back in court on Thursday." Link

Believe it or Not- Quebec version

I don't know what to make of this, but the owner of the seniors' residence in L’Isle-Verte where 32 seniors perished in a fire was given A STANDING OVATION at the memorial service held in Church.
I'm not kidding.
HERO??????
"Speaking to a throng of reporters outside the church in L’Isle-Verte, Roch Bernier said it was not the right time to say whether he would rebuild the residence.
He said the mass, attended by more than 1,000 people, was a day for the victims, the missing and residents of the town.
Bernier received a standing ovation as he stood up to speak at the mass.
“What you’re living inside, we are living it inside as well,” he told the gathering, which included Premier Pauline Marois and Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard. Link
REBUILD THE RESIDENCE???:?
Is he kidding?
Who's going to live in it, they're mostly all dead!!!!

How come poor Ed Burkhardt didn't get the same standing O in Lac Megantic?
3 Cheers for Ed Burkhardt.. Hip Hip Hooray!!
"The railway executive behind the company whose train smashed into Lac-Mégantic wants people to know he's been suffering, too.
Looking back at the year as it comes to a close, Ed Burkhardt said he's still troubled by the Quebec derailment and has thought about it every day since the July 6 catastrophe killed 47 people and destroyed part of the town.
The chairman of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway Ltd. also told The Canadian Press in a recent interview that he's sustained significant personal financial losses since the disaster." Link
hmmm....

PQ minister lampooned for poor English

Gone are the days of Quebec PQ politicians like Réne Levesque and Jacques Parizeau whose command of the English language was quite remarkable.
Today's PQ politicians are products of a different era, one where English is practically non-existent.
I can think of only three or four PQ ministers who are actually bilingual and can provide answers to English questions without leaning over to aides for a translation.

Here's is Agnès Maltais humiliating herself, much to the derision of the media which had great fun with it. Link{fr}
By the way, her reference to 'giklers' is from French 'gicleurs' (sprinklers)





Not everyone saw the humour in it all, the insufferable Mathieu-Bock Coté rose to her defence telling readers that only the 'colonized' need to speak English flawlessly.
"Flawlessly?
"Those who scoff at Agnès Maltais' English are sending  a clear message that one cannot reach the heights of society without being "perfectly bilingual", that is to say, to speak English as if we were native English speakers."  Link{fr}
Is he joking?
How about just making a little sense in English, nobody is asking for flawless.

At any rate, Madame Maltais is in good company, her cabinet colleagues regularly make idiots of themselves in English, notably Pauline Marois who in a BBC interview meant to tell the Scottish they had a strong identity, but accidentally said that they were weird: "Scotland is a people with a strange identity," she said.

Just for fun the Journal de Montreal did a fun story on some of the gaffes made in English by some noted Quebec politicians. 

For those who read French here is a good laugh.



Loose translation:
Pauline Marois meant to tell a Scottish reporter that she would share referendum information, but instead said " We will split, we'll partage our information.'

Jean Chretien meant to tell a reporter in English that he kissed the Pope's ring, but instead told them he 'kissed the Pope's bag' a completely alternate meaning, by inserting the French word 'bague' for ring.

Then there was Robert Bourassa who told reporters that he 'exposed himself to to Ms. Carstairs for more than an hour' much to the amusement of reporters. Mr. Bourassa then demanded to know what the reporters found so funny. Read the Story{fr}

More Bixi Follies

"Managers at BIXI are defending their decision to hand out hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses — just weeks before the company filed for bankruptcy protection.
BIXI paid a total of $232,000 to 39 permanent employees in December, including $14,000 to acting CEO Michel Philibert." Link

In its French-only press release defending its actions, Bixi called the payments an adjustment meant to bring salaries in line with the median Montreal salary. WHATEVER THAT MEANS!
"La mise au point octroyée aux employés de la Société est faite dans le cadre du Régime d’intéressement à court terme (RICT). Ce régime a pour objectif de rapprocher les échelles salariales des employés à la médiane du marché montréalais. Il s’agit d’un programme approuvé de manière récurrente depuis la création de SVLS par le conseil d’administration." Link
So what exactly is a Régime d’intéressement à court terme (RICT). 
Actually it translates as "Short-term Incentive Plan"
And what exactly does that mean?
I had to look it up......
Short-Term Incentive Plans
Short-term incentives, also often referred to as annual incentives, are intended to compensate executives for achieving the company’s short-term business strategy based on achievement of goals by the board compensation committee.
Bixi managers justified the bonus' because they were written into the contracts of the 39 employees.
But exactly why ordinary employees have contracts is a question that should be answered as well as what exactly was the criterion for earning the bonus.

Photo of the week


Here is a recent photo of the border between Quebec and Ontario up in Abitibi where Quebec Highway117 meets Ontario's Highway 66.
Can you guess which side is Quebec and which is Ontario? HaHa!!

An article in the Journal de Montreal compares the ineffective snow removal of Quebec's roads department with that of Ontario's. Link{fr}
I've driven this road a couple of times between Rouyn/Noranda and Kirkland Lake and was always amazed at the difference in the quality of the road surface between Ontario and Quebec, with the Quebec road qualitatively inferior.
What made the situation all the more absurd is that the speed limit on the Ontario side is 80 kph while in Quebec it is 90 kph!

Charter Committee hears ZOMBIE fears



Journal de Montreal Comment of the Week


How about a little more nonsense

Pauline Marois and the PQ are giving a $350 million loan to build a cement plant in Port-Daniel, in the Gaspé.
The Canadian Association of Cement makers is 'disappointed and shocked' considering that their Quebec members are operating at 60% capacity. Link{fr}

and some further reading....

Very interesting article from Mashable;
Quebec's Preoccupation With French Is Limiting Its Startup Scene


Bombardier awarded francization certificate 
Bombardier laying off 1,700 workers from aerospace division, mostly in Montreal area

Quebec Government Accused Of Trying To Limit English Schooling For Children of Quebec-based Military Families

There's something a bit indecent in trying to make Poutine a Gourmet food. Link
Me, the only thing I demand is that the cheese is not served cold and the fries not too thin.
La Belle Province.....call me old fashioned!

Super Bowl Weekend

Since we won't be watching those famous Super Bowl commercials up here in Canada, let me provide you with a preview of one of the best.


Have a great Superbowl Weekend

Bonne fin de Semaine du Superbowl

223 comments:

  1. If you want to see a bizarre, alternate universe entirely English Montreal, have a look at the English version of 19-2 on Bravo. It's really too bad no English Canadian TV show is ever set in Montreal with characters that reflect the multiculturalism of the city. Maybe a bilingual show set in Ottawa....

    And more Bixi - when will we start to look at where they purchased all those bicycles....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      There is a new police show starring the Montreal Police beginning soon on TV. It will be filmed entirely in Montreal and star Canadian actors/. I'll get back with more details. Ed

      Delete
    2. @ed

      we needed someone for the tv schedule. thanks for volunteering ed. i hope you'll still have time to count my comments though.

      Delete
    3. @student, do you mean tally your comments? Because none of them really count.

      Delete
    4. yes i meant tally. good one mate, you are a cunning contributor.

      Delete
    5. No TV, but there have been movies. Mambo Italiano, The Trotsky and Funkytown (mixed) are good ones I've seen recently. What are some other English language films set here worth seeing?

      Delete
    6. @ Confused in Que.: You might check out The Score (2001), with Robert de Niro, Angela Bassett (she's fine, IMHO), Edward Norton and Marlon Brando. It's a decent little caper movie that's set in Montreal; the city doesn't "stand in" for Paris, for example.

      Delete
  2. Like I wrote before, I guess it is nice to be a separatist. It is nicer yet if one is holding a high-rank position. You see, being a separatist means that one can say whatever one wants, can form any opinion, can formulate any idea without considering reality, evidence and fact. In this blog, this behavior is shown over and over again by the resident trolls who keep on spouting false or baseless comments and keep on doing so even after being shown the fact being otherwise.

    On a higher scope, we find Bernard Drainville making this comment:

    "When Bill 101 happened, the Conseil du Patronat came out very strongly against it... They used the same argument that they are using today. They said it would harm the economy. Well, is there anyone who can really claim that Bill 101 harmed the economy?"

    And this comment is made in the face of the HEC study that finds that Quebec economy has been on a steady decline, a decline that started on the early 1980s, strangely following the passing of Bill 101 in 1977.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Well, is there anyone who can really claim that Bill 101 harmed the economy?"

      Drainville failed to mention how any potential economic setback is being offset by transfer payments.

      It's also true that being a separatist means that one can say whatever one wants. The political power that Quebec separatism brought to Quebec within the context of the federation is astounding. Today, being a "separatist" is as much about realizing the power of the threat as being someone who actually wants Quebec to separate. And I suspect that many of the vocal separatists would never vote Yes.

      Delete
    2. An independent Quebec would no longer be the poorest place in Canada!

      Delete
    3. Letter: Yes, Bill 101 has hurt the economy
      THE GAZETTE JANUARY 31, 2014

      Bernard Drainville claimed, “Can anyone really say, 40 years later, that Bill 101 hurt the economy? Come on.” He thus fulfils my personal definition of a fanatic: somebody who believes his own propaganda.

      The short answer to Drainville’s question is “yes.”

      The slightly longer answer is: Hundreds of thousands of people, tens of thousands of jobs, and billions of dollars left Quebec because of Bill 101. Only a Péquiste who is wilfully ignorant of simple arithmetic would deny that. Today, all that money would come in handy for Quebec’s roads, schools, and hospitals. But Toronto thanks him for the gift.

      But in the end, the real question is: On what planet has Drainville spent the last 40 years? It certainly can’t be ours.

      Delete
    4. As my late father used to say about people the likes of Drainedbrain: "You tell them it's day they'll say it's night; you tell them it's night they'll say it's day."

      Delete
  3. Troy -

    There was another idiot on here a couple weeks ago saying that nothing catastrophic happened to Montreal economic wise after Bill 101. The fact that Montreal went from being the premiere city in the country to one of the most dilapidated I guess is not catastrophic. The fact that there are more head offices by far in Calgary than Montreal with a third the population I guess is not a bid deal. The fact that the infrastructure in Montreal is by far in the worst shape of any major city in Canada has nothing to do with Bill 101. The fact that Quebec has by far the highest debt per capita and the highest taxes in Canada has nothing to do with Bill 101. The fact that the average income in Montreal and Quebec is among the lowest in Canada has nothing to do with Bill 101. The fact that there are empty commerical buildings all over Montreal with a louer signs all over the place has nothing to do with Bill 101. And all these indicators started more or less since the PQ were elected in 1976. The skyline of Montreal looks pretty much the same since then wheras every other city on the continent has seen big changes.

    I think to the pur laine all they really care about is getting a good government or union protected job for life and not having to speak a word of english. In this respect I think Quebec has succeeded quite well. But much to their shock one day in the near future the Quebec government will run out of money and many of these cushy jobs will have to be cut. Look at Greece and Spain and Portugal..a lot of peopkle there thought things were great a few years ago..the economy can turn on a dime and it will. I predict by 2015 that the unemployment rate will be much higher in Quebec..housing prices will be at least 10 percent lower..the real estate markets decline will result in the loss of thousands of jobs..the government will have a 5 billion dollar deficit and growing..they weill be blaming Ottawa for all their economic problems..and a new exodus of anglos will have begun..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bang on...get ready for the mess that's coming...it will be bad, really bad...housing prices will plummet...the writing is on the wall...

      Delete
    2. Seems you and the seps have all forgotten about the real estate market in the 90s, especially until near the end of the millennium. There were people stuck with their properties because they wouldn't move on the market. Prices were absolutely stagnant and probably went down, esp. if the sellers were very motivated to sell!

      We went through a tough recession in 90-91. Toronto was hit damn hard by it, but Montreal was even worse. The housing market in Toronto softened, but prices held up. In Montreal, the market virtually froze in its tracks. The nail in the coffin back then was the PQ winning the 94 election with the second referendum on the horizon. The PLQ election win in 2003 saved the housing market.

      From what I'm hearing from those who still live in Montreal, the housing market is freezing again.

      Delete
  4. TVA: Étranglée mortellement par son hijab
    tvanouvelles.ca/lcn/infos/faitsdivers/archives/2014/01/20140130-101033.html

    LaPresse: Étranglée par son foulard au métro Fabre
    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-affaires-criminelles/faits-divers/201401/30/01-4733960-etranglee-par-son-foulard-au-metro-fabre.php


    TVA, WTF!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So depressing to see how much we are surrounded by ignorance and hate. That such views are perceived as acceptable for public discourse.

      http://lerecherchistemasque.tumblr.com/post/75105100369/histoire-de-foulard

      Delete
    2. This is the "new" country of quebec and it's values. Life of anybody but their own pur laine society means absolutely nothing and they wonder why we want to let them go. I know I can live quite well without these horrible people in close contact with myself and my grandchildren. They look at themselves differently than others see them - There is not one comment that I have found from an anglophone or allophone on FB pages that is anything but sympathetic for the lady and her family. Our values are totally different from those horrible misguided racist bigots.

      Delete
    3. Josef, you totally uncovered what is a very hideous side to the separatist movement.

      I've seen a lot of BS come from these programmed borgs, but that is unbelievably callous.

      Hang your heads in shame, seppies, there is no excuse on Earth that can justify that.

      And don't ever let us hear you whine about "not being respected" or "getting bashed."

      You seriously deserve your black-eyed image.

      Delete
  5. From Ann
    I love that Superbowl commercial..and it is so appropriate for Quebec. If a dog and a horse can be friends, why can't Quebecers of different cultures be tolerant and accepting of each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And a golden retriever puppy at that Ann - the most wonderful loving personality of any breed. Unfortunately he is an "appeaser" - I have owned them for years and they are nothing but warm, gentle beasts without no backbone I'm afraid - lol - accepting is the biggest part of their personality and the franco supremacists could learn from them that's for sure.

      Delete
    2. @cutie003

      you could take a leesson from your dog too i guess. unless you consider yourself warm, gentle and accepting? if you do get ready i can quickly fetch a counter-example.

      Delete
  6. Hello,

    There's a great article on Mashable about Quebec's language policies and the video game and tech sector in Quebec. I thought that the author wrote a great article. Already, a bunch of French nationalists are jumping on the author and stating that some her facts are misleading such as 'Pastagate' by saying that she didn't report the incident fairly and that it wasn't really a big deal and the owner didn't really get fined very much etc. Already, the author's editor at the site is defending what she wrote and I agree that her article was fair and yet she's already being attacked in the comments.section. There's a few rational commenters who are expressing their viewpoint by working in the industry but most are French nationalists trying to express to the author and to outsiders how bill 101 is supposedly good for the Montreal tech sector.

    http://mashable.com/2014/01/30/montreal-tech-industry/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this article is almost good. the author seems knowledgeable enough as she conveys that bill 101 does not affect negatively any business she's acquainted with. and she also conveys that french culture is what's great about montreal. her main point though is that bill 101 may contribute to a bad image when the time comes to attract foreign money in quebec's tech startups. and she stops there. but let's carry on, if bill 101 has no negative effect on business, and if somehow foreign money have a negative feeling about the thing, who's to blame? you got that right chris: anglo canadian media of course. who else?

      Delete
    2. Knowledgeable article comment from someone who is not always lying:

      I keep on seeing the same rhetoric from the sovereigntists who've come here today... "Why would investors/entrepreneurs be afraid of Bill 101 and how could it affect their businesses?"

      See, the real trouble here is that everyone defending Bill 101 here is the nationalist mentality. The nationalist mentality is the POLAR opposite of the entrepreneurial mindset.

      Entrepreneurs are driven by a need to succeed and, most of all, achieve freedom by creating their own opportunities. They are visionaries. Nationalists, on the other hand seek the comfort of the state and will stop at nothing to protect the hands that feeds them for their unquestioning devotion.

      Delete
    3. @sinope

      you picked the worst comment of them all. how could there be nationalist entrepreneurs then? laying down nationalism and entrepreneurship as "polar opposites" is just ridiculous.

      no here's a better one from clément garnier:

      "Now that you recognize Bill 101 doesn't technically harm startups, how do you still defend your point about investments? Why would foreign investors be afraid of Bill 101 if it doesn't affect their potential businesses?

      The only reason why investors would be reluctant to come to Quebec is because of the biased press coverage making people think that Quebec is intolerant to English… and your article is clearly part of it."

      facts rather than rants. better.

      Delete
    4. @sinope

      have you checked tan abbott's facebook page? he's your worst angryphone! all, and i mean all, his status updates are low blows to separatists and pq! you can't expect anything from such a fanatic.

      Delete
    5. @ chris I.

      The topic of the comments after the Mashable article shows exactly what the Montreal problem is - endless squabbling about language. That can't be attractive to outsiders.

      Delete
    6. By AnecTOTE

      "See, the real trouble here is that everyone defending Bill 101 here is the nationalist mentality. The nationalist mentality is the POLAR opposite of the entrepreneurial mindset."= Anti-Intellectuals? Lol

      Delete
    7. @neglected quebec economy

      you got that right. that quote is a very good example of an anti-intellectual rant. good one neglected quebec economy.

      Delete
    8. By AnecTOTE

      Go energizer bunny, keep defending that quebec brand, the Anti-Intellectuals need you!

      Delete
  7. Thank you for that link, Chris.

    Mashable is a very big deal and for those nationalist nutjobs to show up there is tantamount to self-crucifixion.

    Makes me happy to see the global startup community to go plant it's flag anywhere but Quebec.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. though luck mate, the author says montreal is a tech startup top spot along california and japan. i'm so sorry for you.

      Delete
    2. Imagine an Italian or Swedish techonology startup that doesn’t do business in English. It’s preposterous. It doesn’t mean that Italian and Swedish aren’t beautiful and sturdy languages. It simply means that, just like French, Italian and Swedish are not international languages of business and that franco-Quebecers are handicapping themselves if they think that technology startups can succeed by operating in French only.

      This obvious fact is demonstrated by the lovely turd written directly above by someone who needs to lie about the article and quote Pauline Marois instead (referring to Quebec’s excessively-subsidized video gaming companies, which mostly operate in English). It’s pathetic that someone so obviously insecure needs to lash out at everybody else like this.

      Then again, lashing out by writing juvenile caca does appear to be the specialty of separatists.

      Delete
    3. @sinope

      "Imagine an Italian or Swedish techonology startup that doesn’t do business in English. It’s preposterous."

      of course it is, therefore it's great that bill 101 doesn't prevent any quebec business of conducting business in english when they need to. i wonder why you think your analogy is good though. another preposterous proposal would be that a business sets up shop in italy thinking they shouldn't have to function in italian. the benefit of my analogy over yours is that mine is relevant.

      Delete
    4. @student - just shut up before you make yourself look any worse than you already do.

      You a ridiculous child and you don't have a clue how the real world works.

      Listen to this little girl, you might actually see how the world works the way adults do:
      http://quebec.radiox.com/emission/maurais_live

      Delete
    5. @sylvain raciste

      mauvais live? haha. you mean douchebag adults right? this radio host is the worst. king of contradiction. he needs to watch his back though cause eric duhaime and you are closing in.

      but why did you change the subject? is it because i was right and you didn't have anything to oppose?

      Delete
  8. Québécoises et mariées de force

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/national/201401/31/01-4734248-quebecoises-et-mariees-de-force.php

    Incroyable!

    C'est vendredi...Un peu d'humour : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTMigu5ubj8

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Editor - thought you'd like to take a look at the PQ's amusing slideshow on what Quebec is like, 18 years after the last referendum:

    http://pq.org/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what's amusing about it anonymous coward?

      Delete
    2. Very amusing indeed! It is evidently meant to appeal to the PQ-voting, Charter-supporting kind of people who cheered the death of a woman yesterday.

      Delete
    3. @anonymous coward & @sinope

      apart from your usual irrelevant dodges, are there any figures of the slideshow that you want to prove wrong? or do you prefer to carry on being an ordinary basher?

      Delete
    4. Using Czechoslovakia split as an example for independence is kind of stupid. In that case both new countries, Czech and Slovakia agree to split. So my question is : why 1993 is labeled as year of independence?
      Manipulation at the best.

      If there is an example to follow is Catalonia ( Spain). Their dream about independence hit a wall when European Union declared that Catalonia will not be member of EU by default.

      Delete
    5. Selective comparisons by the PQ to Czechoslovakia fail to mention that unlike Quebec and Canada, with their long-term intertwined history, the Czech Republic (formerly known as Bohemia) and Slovakia only had 75 years of common history (41 of them under the yoke of Communism) and 1000 years of separate history before that, with little to nothing in common. Prior to the union of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Czechs were closer to Austria and the Slovaks were closer to Hungary. So, it took only 3 years after the Velvet Revolution for the dissolution of Czechoslovakia to occur, something which was opposed by President Václav Havel, who chose to resign rather preside over the dissolution. Now that equalization payments from the richer Czech Republic to the poorer Slovakia have ended, tourists flock to Prague but to Bratislava, not so much.

      Delete
    6. Anyone know which countries have become independent in recent times, like in this millennium?

      Delete
    7. The last one was South Sudan, following a referendum that passed with 98.83% of the vote (rather higher than the 50%+1 goal self-identified threshold that Quebec separatists have never managed to attain).

      Delete
  10. Paradoxically, I'm commenting first about the Ontario-Quebec border differences of the road maintenance. I used to remember how everybody, but everybody used to make jokes that you didn't need a border marker to know when you left Highway 401 for the 20. You'd hear the thumpety-thumpety-thump on the Quebec side as soon as you crossed over.

    Obviously the Transport Department caught on to that one, so now at about the 5km mark on the Quebec side is where you hear the thumpety-thumpety-thump instead. Maybe the roads dept should salt the first five km of that road heading eastbound!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      I remember the fifties when driver's licenses were obtainable without proof of age or driving test. In 1955 i took my family to The Skyline Drive on the Shenandoah mountains in Virginia for summer vacation. A beauriful two weeks until we returned to Quebec when I came over a hil and found a car coming at me on my side of the two way road.. Fortunately I assumed he was out of it so I went left instead of right, and passed with an inch to spare.. Ed

      Delete
    2. Corruption in construction goes back to Expo '67. Shoddy work has been the norm for a long time.

      http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Rizzuto+construction+links+traced+Montreal/9450396/story.html

      Delete
    3. In fact, corruption in construction dates back well over a century.

      1909 Royal Commission: Montreal “Saturated with Corruption”
      http://spacing.ca/montreal/2013/03/25/1909-montreal-saturated-with-corruption/

      “[Corruption] inquiries in 1864, 1877, 1894, 1902 and 1905 had been attempted, ignored, abandoned, aborted, and hushed up, respectively. […] Judge Lawrence Cannon, who headed the inquiry, concluded that city hall was “saturated with corruption,” with no less than 25% of the city’s revenues making their way into the pockets of elected aldermen’s friends and family. For instance, construction contracts were sub-divided to bypass calls for tender, then handed over to firms in the aldermen’s inner circles. Furthermore, dozens of liquor-license infractions had been ignored when business owners contributed to election coffers, and a position in the police, detective or fire department could be negotiated for about $25.”

      Delete
    4. By AnecTOTE

      Wow...even back then! Well I suppose when it is in your DNA, it's in your DNA.

      Delete
    5. @neglected quebec economy

      who's dna are you refering to mate?

      Delete
    6. “The citizens’ committee that had launched the inquiry ran their own candidates and won the 1910 election by a landslide. But with new faces in office, the inquiry was quickly forgotten: none of those convicted in the report faced civil or criminal prosecution.”

      The more things change, …

      Delete
  11. Lol Zombies.. Hey guys, listen, maybe she is right!!! "Zombies don't recognize orders!", don't you know?
    (http://www.uproxx.com/gammasquad/2013/02/canada-house-of-commons-zombies/)

    "Quebec’s public security department said it will be using a hypothetical zombie attack against the province as a preparation exercise during a symposium on civil security next week.”
    (http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/13/canada-will-never-be-a-safe-haven-for-zombies-foreign-minister-john-baird-tells-house-of-commons/)


    Oh! and dont't forget that "a zombie invasion in the United States can easily turn into a continent-wide pandemic if it is not contained,”

    loloolol


    Yes, put that in the charter too! I'm soooo affraid!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for the laughing cue mate. it was useful. but is the last line also funny? it's not obvious without the loloolol.

      Delete
  12. Mathieu-Bock Coté: "Chose certaine, ceux qui se moquent d’Agnès Maltais et de son anglais envoient un message clair : il ne sera plus permis d’arriver aux sommets de la société sans être «parfaitement bilingue», c’est-à-dire, de parler anglais comme si nous étions des anglophones de naissance."

    The pressure that someone who gets to the top anywhere in the world should speak English well is there, but it comes from globalization more than from those who mock Agnès Maltais. Bock Cote is a supporter of economic libre-echange as is the whole PQ. Yet he chooses to obfuscate the fact that he supports the very force driving anglicisation. He either does not see this contradiction, or clings to a hope that that for Quebec alone exceptions can be made that are not made for anyone else in the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Adski - actually Bock Coté belongs to a fringe group of separatists who believe in economic libre-echange with the hope of making Spanish the defacto language of the world.

      I'm not bullshitting - this is for real.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous Coward,

      Your statement that Bock-Cote believe in making Spanish the language of the world is spectacularly bizarre, if true. Therefore I have to call you out on that. Do you have any link to corroborate that statement?

      Delete
    3. Another essentially right-wing laisser-faire globalist who just wants one "small" tweak: to replace English with Spanish, is Michel Brûlé, the author of Anglaid (which I went through the pain of reading). And I suspect most of the pequistes are essentially like that, from Levesque, on through Parizeau (an avid admirer of Clinton's NAFTA), to Marois ("on n'est pas protectionist, on est libre-echangist"). As Michel Gratton wrote in his book "French Canadians", though the PQ has a left-wing base, the top echelons are ideological supporters of free enterprise with one objection to it: the language in which it runs.

      There is so much to oppose about globalization but here's a bunch of guys who basically accept it with all its attendant injustices, except for one irrelevant detail: the language in which it is conducted. All because of their cultural conditioning regarding this language.

      Delete
    4. @Troy - Adski just beat me to it.

      Delete
    5. FROM ED
      Let's hope Globalization doesn't make it easier for people to cross borders. We would have a flood of illegals in no time. Ed

      Delete
    6. @ed

      it's telling how you confuse immigrants and illegals. probably your racist prejudices surfacing.

      Delete
    7. While adski does not provide any corroboration as well, I would take the information from both of you. But then, my question will be: "WHY?"

      What is the point for francophone Quebecers to replace English as a global language to Spanish? What is in it for them? Would those francophones not just go up to arms again, this time against the "hispanomanie"?

      Delete
    8. @Troy

      It is very simple, the shear hatred of English. Give them any other language except English. It is totally emotional and rather psychotic...but that is what hated does. Look at the worst troll in here of all, who writes in English and has total disregard for the language, never using caps, it's her way of sticking it to the Language and disrespecting it. The irony is she has to come in here and function in English. This language still dominates and dictates to her, it's sweet delicious justice....all I can say is...burn baby burn.

      Delete
    9. Student at Clown College is an example of a high-conflict individual, a characteristic of narcissists. S.R. Separatist Retard is a different piece of work.

      Delete
    10. By AnecTOTE

      It is symptomatic of all seppies, reared to hate anything different from them and programmed not to think. I personally think they've been lobotomized, there is really no other explanation. The problem is that the sheer air between their ears is having a dentrimental imapact. I listened to that little recording of Maltais, how could she be totally oblivious to the fact that she can't speak. SHE CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH. Why not simply say, I can't speak English, and be done with it. She had to embarrass herself and this entire province, ...just humiliating. How can anyone own up to being from quebec? This is why for a while now...I have begun to say I'm from Montreal...and actually of late, I'm from Montreal City-State.

      Delete
    11. @anectote

      "Why not simply say, I can't speak English..."

      i prefer someone who tries. don't you? don't you value effort mate?

      "...and actually of late, I'm from Montreal City-State."

      weren't you the one claming separatists live in an alternate reality earlier?

      Delete
    12. By AnecTOTE

      Try in private, when you can make mistakes and be corrected, privately. You don't "try" while all the eyes of the world are on you and you represent a so-called "nation", making a complete ass of yourself. She embarrassed the 1/3 of the dummy population who elected her and the rest to office 1 1/2 years ago. This is how she makes you look: Foolish and dumb..DUMB.

      Montreal city-state is not an alternate reality, but yes, seppies live in an alternate reality, just watch the videos Editor posted. It is scary to think these people almost live in the same place we do...Zombies?? Really??
      (Anti-intellectuals, take that to bed tonight and sleep on it,)..,NLAT

      Delete
    13. The Case for an Independent Montreal

      http://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/5370
      http://www.montrealcitystate.ca/index_en.html

      Delete
  13. A rare publication calling on Drainville to step up to the plate and start condemning some of the very hatred he is promoting:

    http://www.buzzbonin.com/message-bernard-drainville/2014/01/2173

    ReplyDelete
  14. Regarding the startup scene: not only the language affair but also the fact that most quebekers won't mind enrolling in an engineering course because (1) they have (afff) cegeps and (2) construction pays more.

    Ah, not to mention ridiculous provincial laws that ban programming competitions such as: Google Code Jam - where bright programmers were revealed. Once again, Quebec is put beside North Korea and Syria.

    Not a surprise for me:
    "The Contest is void in Cuba, North Korea, Quebec, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Syria and where prohibited by law."
    https://code.google.com/codejam/terms.html



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quebec has venture capital money available but there are not enough start-ups taking advantage of it. I suspect they take the easy route - work for the government or work in a trade protected by a powerful union. It takes brains and effort to be innovative and entrepreneurial - maybe the French just don't have that. Why take a risk and stick your neck out when there is an easier route.

      Delete
    2. @theo

      suggesting french don't have brains or don't do efforts is a racist slur. you're going down quickly mate.

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      @Theo

      It is slapped in their faces with that prosperity report, they are going nowhere fast. Their Economy is on life-support and their preoccupied with items if clothing and inviting people to validate who are "provincial", no wait excuse me, Farmers happen to be more emancipated that these cave people, and Smegma has its shorts in a knot cause it thinks it's being attacked with slurs.

      Watching Bill Maher tonight they coined this term "Anti-intellectual". They were mentioning how men of value from the past, like Jefferson, B. Franklin, who accomplished things, envisioned something greater wouldn't get caught dead today having tea with the likes of Sarah Palin. I have a sneaking suspicion they wouldn't get caught dead having tea with the Maltais's and marois's of the world.

      If a statement was ever true, this one certainly is: The separatist movement is an Anti-intellectual movement.. point-à-la-ligne.

      Delete
    4. @anectote

      "...I have a sneaking suspicion they (jefferson and franklin) wouldn't get caught dead having tea with the Maltais's and marois's of the world."

      on the contrary i think jefferson and franklin would have much to discuss with marois and the pq as they have the same idea: independance from the brits.

      why do you say quebec's independance movement is anti-intellectual? it sounds profoundly idiotic. is it only an impression or do you have meat to serve with that surprising slogan? and by meat i mean proper cattle not your usual spam.

      Delete
    5. by AnecTOTE

      I can see it now, Jefferson, who championed forward-thinking, insight, knowledge and was fluent in six languages, sitting down for tea with the Maltais (Anti-Intellectual)'s of the world who can barely speak one and never bothered to learn the most important other language in the world, (the one everyone conducts business in..ENGLISH), because she never thought it mattered or gave a crap about doing so. After about 30 seconds, Jefferson, (with a raised brow), would get up, excuse himself and look for the first available exit sign, while she thinks he's just stepped away to the men's room.

      You are Anti-Intellectuals because you have kept this province back the past 40 years with Language Legislation nonsense. Both the nationalists and seppies have run it into the ground economically.

      But 'le-coup-de-grâce", is that in light of the published HEC (no) Productivity and (no) Prosperity Report on quebec, the bozo who is running the show at the hearings right now, asked the question: “Can anyone really say, 40 years later, that Bill 101 hurt the economy? Come on.”. Classic of a Anti-Intellectual. He's the 3000 lbs elefant in the room asking everyone if he's fat.

      Please do keep attacking my posts in your vain attempt to save quebec brand. It will be a pleasure for me to seize the opportunity and pulverize you with the truth, not to mention, remind everyone of the sad state of (fiscal) affairs in this province. (Something to think about everytime you reach out for that keyboard).

      Delete
    6. Maltais and "George" Jefferson, that would be doable.

      Delete
    7. By AnecTOTE

      Not sure, he'd look for the first visible exit sign too. Lol

      Delete
  15. There is an interesting comment on Bernard Drainville story in the national Post:

    SQQ

    hes not entirely wrong.

    back then Montreal was the financial capital of Canada. but thanks to Bill 101, everyone brought their business to Toronto.

    Bill 101 probably created more jobs in Toronto than any premier had done in Ontario.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. why is a re-hashed cliche falsity you can read trice a day here "interesting" troy?

      Delete
    2. By AnecTOTE

      Because it's F......ING TRUE!!!!!! But seppies have no regard for Truth. Will love to see how they explain away having NO PROSPERITY. But no worries people, it's about alternate realities here, and they only have "hick" families to impress anyway....Lolololol

      Delete
  16. Is it just me or do you guys also notice that seppies are being even more persistent about going in on the defensive on sites like Mashable: http://mashable.com/2014/01/30/montreal-tech-industry/#_=_

    Also happened with a CNN article a a while ago, they just simply cannot accept any criticism for their actions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seppies think that they are superior so no criticism is justified. It's a mental disorder that they don't realize they have.

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

      Delete
    2. "Is it just me or do you guys also notice that seppies are being even..."

      it is just you mate.

      Delete
    3. @ Anonymous Coward

      Yes, you are correct.

      http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/01/31/montreal-startups-react-to-mashables-quebec-critique

      Delete
  17. Est-ce que quelqu'un sur ce blogue pourrait me founir un lien contenant une liste fiable et complète des écoles anglaises (toujours ouvertes) sur le territoire Québécois? Références sérieuses seulement.

    C'est pour une recherche personnelle et éventuellement pour publication.

    Merci à l'avance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome S.R. I just picked up a case of molsons. come on over for a beer.

      Delete
    2. If you find the list of English schools still open maybe you could also find a list of the schools that have closed.

      Most of the schools I went to like LaSalle Protestant High School are no longer open or no longer English schools. Losing schools always seems like a bad thing.

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      When the introduced bill 101 forty yrs ago, I'm sure they saw well into the future, that state in which we find English schools today. I will venture a guess that this was a long term objective, the complete extinction of English Language school. I'll venture another guess that they are no entirely satisfied with their progress and feel they are a little behind, hence the introduction recently of bill 14. Evidently they want to get to where English schools are completely non-existent, c'mon we know this. The few schools that are left in the west island are rather decrepid, the can't even get funding fir basic facelifts, pretty sad. These schools are't even entirely 100% English, they are binigual. I'll tell you something else, if there is no intervention whatsoever or push-back, in 40 yrs, there will be no vestige of it at all, no English tv, newspapers, radio, etc. as someone I know likes to remind me all the time "Politics is a dangerous sport at the best of times, but in quebec, it's like skiing Everest with no poles.

      Delete
    4. @neglected quebec economy

      "These schools are't even entirely 100% English, they are binigual."

      so? you're on daily about the blessing that bilingualism is. what's wrong with it now? it's good for the french, but not for the english, in a province that's 80% francophone?!? you forgot to make sense here mate. pull yourself together.

      Delete
    5. By AnecTOTE

      What an absolute Hypocrite you are.

      If quebec were 100% French only, you would be like those hick families at the Hearings today, making complete spectacles of themselves world-wide. You'd hardly be capable of expressing yourself so eloquently in English on this blog or even keep up with the conversation, now could you?

      But no worries, at this rate, for a sneak-peak into the future of your descendants, just look in the general direction of those illiterate hillbillies that are presently testifying. Not scary enough? Do you want me to replay the Maltais recording? Mmmm....Yea...I didn't think so.

      Chalk one up for the Anti-Intelectuals.

      Delete
    6. Brad est cultivé

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLjEnlSwD5w

      Delete
  18. World Hijab Day comes to Montreal

    http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/01/31/world-hijab-day-comes-to-montreal

    ReplyDelete
  19. semaine de la poutine de Motréal 2014

    http://www.mtlblog.com/2014/01/montreal-poutine-week-2014/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just this one time, I have to say that S.R has greatly contributed to the blog. That looks so F'N delicious!

      Delete
    2. @ Anonymous Coward

      Poutine Week is run by Na'eem Adam and Thierry Rassam. Arabs, maybe, with hijab wearing family members?

      http://lapoutineweek.com/about-us

      Delete
    3. YES YES!!!! DEEEEELIOUS!!!
      I can feel my arteries hardening!
      That looks like the perfect poutine!

      Delete
    4. By the Way.....
      I've travelled a lot but have never come across a good poutine outside Canada. There are excellent Poutines in Ottawa & TO that are true to form that I've tasted.
      Anybody care to comment about a decent Poutine outside Canada?

      Delete
    5. Come to think of it....
      I had a poutine at the Hollywood flea market in Florida and it was made by genuine Quebecois.
      But it wasn't any good.

      Delete
    6. @theo

      "...maybe, with hijab wearing family members?"

      indeed. so what?

      Delete
    7. Editor,

      I've travelled a lot but have never come across a good poutine outside Canada.

      I have travelled a lot but I have never come across a good poutine. The only one that came close was the one at Au Pied de Cochon, but because that one was with foie gras, and I am a sucker for foie gras.

      Delete
    8. @Editor Next time you are in NYC you might wish to check out M. Wells. The chef is Hugue Dufour ex sous-chef of Au Pied de Cochon.

      Delete
    9. FROM ED
      I always have to straighten you guys out and get your thinking straight. POUTINE IS THE DESECRATION OF A GOOD FRENCH FRY. You must show respect for the golden brown manna that has sustained us over the years. Ed

      Delete
  20. I'm no great supporter of the PQ, but I don't think any of the figures in the HEC report justify your derogatory comments about Quebec's economy. If you look at the figures in the report, you'll notice that the growth of Quebec's economy is more or less in sync with that of Ontario--which makes sense, given that the two provinces have a similar economic base. The more rapid growth of other provinces is explicable in terms of natural resources: oil in the case of Alberta and Newfoundland, and potash in the case of Saskatchewan. If oil deposits were suddenly discovered in the Saguenay, it's likely that Quebec would also have the rapid growth that these other provinces have enjoyed.

    And as far as a doomsday economic scenario involving the flight of anglophones from the province... let's not forget that anglophones are now poorer than francophones in the province, with a median income that is a couple of thousand dollars lower than that of the rest of the population. Poverty rates are also considerably higher among anglos. So an exodus might just be a way of flushing out an impoverished population out of Quebec.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since the PQ came into power, has the economy improved or gotten worse?

      Delete
    2. From Ann
      @anonymous...actually, the anglophones and francophones who are leaving are the well-educated ones, not the ones who are poor. If you are poor, it is difficult to move because moving to another province because moving is very expensive.

      Delete
    3. Here is an interview with Robert Gagné, the author of the HEC report. He speaks of the explosion of healthcare costs in Quebec, our crappy productivity, our desperate need for immigrants and the exodus of quality people including the anglophone exodus and the resulting shock to our economy. There is NO MORE denying how things are in Quebec, and there is NO MORE denying that Quebec has made some really shitty choices, stop making excuses and twisting things around to suit your fantasies.

      The interview is in French.

      http://quebec.radiox.com/emission/maurais_live

      Delete
    4. @laurie

      "There is NO MORE denying how things are in Quebec, and there is NO MORE denying that Quebec has made some really shitty choices..."

      you got that right. the choice it made in 1980 and 1995 were really shitty. time for some real change, isn't it?

      Delete
    5. @laurie

      by the way i really dig your name. it's a shame you're an angryphone.

      Delete
    6. @theo

      "Since the PQ came into power, has the economy improved or gotten worse?"

      it looks like it's steady, but i think the bases are being set for a much healthier economy than what we got in the last ten year stint. you probably missed this one http://tinyurl.com/ped7m2p check it out.

      Delete
    7. @ann

      "the anglophones and francophones who are leaving are the well-educated ones, not the ones who are poor. If you are poor, it is difficult to move..."

      right, so in your humble opinion people would want to move out to avoid economic hard times but in the end they wouldn't move because it would be too expensive. plain contradictory mate. please try again.

      Delete
    8. @student: "plain contradictory mate". Put out the bong, open the window, wait an hour and read it again. Everyone has something they'd like to do but can't do because it's not affordable. Her meaning seems pretty clear to me.

      Delete
    9. @diogenes

      poor people move from africa to canada in the hope of a better economical situation. and now ann is telling us a poor anglo won't move from ddo to ontario because it would cost too much? if the cost of moving fucks up the profitability of the endeavour it means that it ain't so bad in quebec. what ann is proving is the situation in quebec, in her humble opinion, is pretty good. was that her intent? probably not, hence the contradicton. do you understand now diogenes?

      Delete
    10. @Diogenes No need to waste time here.

      There's a good reason all the hoopla was made about posters like Student suffering from a very severe narcissism complex.

      "poor people move from africa to canada in the hope of a better economical situation."

      Just pure narcissism from someone who is so obsessed with themselves they can't be bothered to actually put thought or research before making statements.

      But as we see here (daily) and more recently, on site like Mashable, the separatist camp is losing sympathy ever faster from the global community.

      Delete
    11. FROM ED
      Anonumous, where do you getb your ideas that Anglo are poorer than Francos. You will never find anything to back that up. The truth is that the French have been on welfare for decades while rents and other costs have risen the welfare has not. Are you trying to say that a man with a job is poorer than someone on welfare. Ed

      Delete
    12. @anonymous coward

      don't you agree than ann's "reasoning" is contradictory? if it's so much better in ontario the cost of moving a few hundred kilometers away should not be an obstacle right? if it is, it has to be because the difference over time is less than a few thousand dollars. nothing really. so why would anyone move out then for such a minuscule upgrade, if any?

      Delete
    13. Yeah Anonymous Coward, you're right. It's pretty sad to see her time and again hoping/pleading for someone, anyone to agree with what she's written. Sort of saying "Please. won't someone agree with what I said thus validating me and my ideas because I really need that".

      Delete
    14. Where do I get my ideas that anglos are poorer than francos? The latest Canadian census (2011), which indicates that the median income for anglophone Quebecers was $27,213, compared with $29,432 for Quebecers whose mother tongue is French. It also indicated that less than 15 per cent of Quebec francophones live on low incomes, compared with 18 per cent of anglophones and 27 per cent of allophones.

      Delete
  21. I stumbled upon the blog from October 2010.

    http://nodogsoranglophones.blogspot.ca/2010/10/quebec-in-2020-veritable-paradise.html

    There is a prediction that in 2016, the Bloc will have 63 seats and the PQ-coalition will have 85 seats, and will declare independence. I'm speechless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an interesting contrast it is to see when opposing comments were still respectful. It’s a pity that the Editor chased away thoughtful commenters such as Apparatchik. Now, with all the disrespect and lowbrow attempts to hijack or deflect the conversation that are tolerated, hardly anyone really bothers to discuss the Editor’s topics anymore. It’s sad to see such an opportunity being squandered.

      Delete
    2. 'There is a prediction that in 2016, the Bloc will have 63 seats and the PQ-coalition will have 85 seats, and will declare independence.' I hope so...get lost bigots ASAP...lollllllllllllllllll

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      @Anon

      Not sure if I agree with what you are saying. We have spent countless weeks in here talking about one subject,and one subject alone. We managed to change the conversation finally, by addressing the one thing we should all be focused on, and that's the poor state affairs of the quebec economy. There have been very insightful and enlightening contributions and u are welcome to do the same rather than continue to be melancholy about how things were in here. Incidentally, when you make comments like u just did, besides dissin' the Editor, you're boosting the trolls. Please refrain from doing that, it is really counterproduvpctive. Chik is welcome to come back any time and so are all the others, I do not speak for Editor, but being who he is, I doubt he'd have anything to say about it, and I doubt I am wrong.

      We need to put our egos aside and focus on what is important and at hand. Nothing should supersede 'The Cause" or the message. This province is in disarray, we are unsatisfied with how thing are being handled, it is our job to point the finger at it and call it out, cause lord knows, the French media especially will never do so, (when they do, they do so reluctantly). Editor Is (in my opinion) the Bill Maher of this province and we need him. Please stop reproaching him about silly things like hurting people's egos. Let's behave like grown-ups and actively work to make a difference. Let's not squander the opportunity that's been extended by sh*ting all over the extended hand. (C'mon now, you get this)

      Delete
    4. Anyone see parallels between disrespect on this blog and disrespect for others in Quebec? The seppies created a toxic environment.

      Delete
    5. Vous devriez visiter Fort McMurray...Hé!Vous ne participez pas à la journée du hijab?

      Delete
    6. By AnecTOTE

      Another reason to support the blog is that it provides pertinent information, not usually made public in mainstream media, and this is undeniable. We dont't know who to trust for objective unbiased news anymore in this province. Specifically French media, always cushioning and massaging the bad news of how really dire things are, instead of telling the plain Truth. It certainly cannot be counted on for credible information, and the English media threads a fine line playing the politically correct game always so they don't rock the boat.

      At least the Editor offers edgy blog posts and calls everyone out on their BS, just like Bill Maher, who after contributing $1million dollars to the Obama campaign both times spent a whole show on how the democrats failed to do their jobs on implementing a functioning healthcare web-site that people could go to, to register. That's what a credible political pundit does and as far as I'm concerned telling the truth makes him Legitimate. So please let's stop punching this blog in the face. It may be the opinion of some that, it isn't perfect, but it makes an invaluable contribution, by exposing both lies and truth in a media-driven world which is more and more reluctant to do either.

      By the way, the flaws with this blog (if any) are exhibited mostly in the comments section. We, the contributors, own the imperfections. Let's all work together to be better and improve.

      Lastly, this is not meant to start an entire thread of the blame game so let's please abstain from that. Thank you.

      Delete
    7. @negelcted quebec economy

      "We, the contributors, own the imperfections."

      you got that right.

      Delete
    8. By AnecTOTE

      Indeed.

      We OWN YOU, and we'll do our best to lose you.

      Delete
    9. FROM ED
      Anonymous, what an ungrateful know nothing bastard you are.How dare you blame the EDITOR for the downturn on this blog. Aopparatchik lleft because you and others post inanities and fuck aroiund with the trolls wasting space, time and common sense. EDITOR tried to stop it. He begged everyone to knock it off but selfish pricks like you go on and have the nerve to blame him for it. Who the hell do you think yourare. EDITORS posts are some of the best I"ve read in my 77 years on Earth. His pipeline brings news often days before the press get wind of it and the columnists often pirate his knowledge.. To think the one making these unethical comments is a coward who doesn't have the balls to take a name for himself but would rather snipe from hiding. Ed

      Delete
    10. @neglected quebec economy

      if you can't lose me you don't own me mate. busted by logics again. aren't you fed up?

      Delete
    11. And another classy comment from Ed. Stay classy, Ed!

      Your own jabbering certainly has *nothing* to do with the downturn in quality here. How about you tell us some more childhood memories about your experiences with dirty penises? Everybody loves to hear you prattling on about penises! Your stories are WAY more interesting than that big baddie Apparatchik’s highfalutin comments. You didn’t like the way he used all those big words that were hard for you to understand, you said. So do tell us some more penis stories! And make sure to include some of your trademark swearing too. Please, Ed?

      Delete
  22. Saw this on Twitter and thought I'd share it for anyone who would like to know where the good money is in Canada (and I'm not talking about Toronto, Alberta or southern Saskatchewan):

    http://careers.hr.gov.nt.ca/en/search/job

    Very intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. just great, more over paid union government jobs, more debt, more greed...what a society Canada has become...just sick

      Delete
    2. @anonymous coward

      that's not a bad idea at all. you could move to yellowknife mate, that would be great!

      Delete
    3. Personally, I don't see why some Quebecois wouldn't make a jump over to the NWTs.

      Those who have no objection to the terse cold stand to make out with huge gains.

      Example, compare the sizes of the QC & NWT populations and match them up to the Per Capita GDP scores.

      At that rate, it really does come down to the ability of the individual to tolerate the cold.

      Delete
    4. @anonymous coward

      but you're a tough chap aren't you? you can handle a little freeze. go. you'll be rich. then you can buy many things. you'll finally be happy. go to yellowknife anonymous coward.

      Delete
  23. "E Damián Londynsk

    We got the ball rolling in Western Québec for the partition of Québec... Is anybody interested in a political movement with, among others, the following interim short term goals: public information, gathering support, political pressure, political presence and a referendum on partition. We should first start by creating a Manifesto and a communiqué and distribute in the social media and newspapers (...) Enough is enough... We will not accept being discriminated upon or being treated like second class citizens anymore... We want Partition NOW!.... BUT WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!"

    ---------- cricket sound --------------

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      Damien, where have you been. What you are suggesting has ben tried again and again. The equality party and the Unity party. howard Galganov tried. The only support you'll get is the Anglos in west Island. No body wants partition but them. Most are happy to wait for an election and rebuild the province starting fron scratch. These are the ones who wiill be the first to leave if the PQ won but by starting parties that split the vote they are also the ones who would cause it to happen. Be patient it's all coming to an end soon. Ed

      Delete
    2. "Don't talk to trolls - stop talking to trolls - ignore trolls - don't answer trolls" - how many times have you repeated the same thing and now you are answering the troll. He copied that information Ed and the guy is talking about our area of quebec not the West Island! He does not think that an election will change piss all and is garnering support for yet another "Partition Movement" not a political party! Partition Quebec NOW is on FB for anyone that is interested and does not believe that an election will change anything.

      Delete
    3. FROM ED
      I was answerijng the words of E. Damien Landynsk.I don't care who posted it, I was not ansering the troll. I did not noticve that S.R. had purt it up there until you pointed it out.Partition is interesting to people in your area because theynknow if itbeverhappened your area would certainly be attached ton Canada. The restb of Quebec may not be so lucky and therefre are not interested in partition. Furthermore you can't achieve partition without a referendum born of a political party.Good luck to your group, I hope it doesn't get in the way during the election. Ed

      Delete
    4. And that's exactly why a lot of people are talking about voting for the PQ and therefore a referendum - to get on with the partition of this province before it sinks further into the sewer and bankruptcy. If you read the social medium on line Ed you will find there are many, many thousands of people in Montreal that want out of quebec because it's killing the city. Not just AnecTOTE that is talking about it and not just our area. The voting system in quebec offers nothing of substance to the federalists any longer so it's time to give the ROQ the boot. Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds.

      Delete
    5. @cutie003

      "The voting system in quebec offers nothing of substance to the federalists..."

      haha. you can't get a political party going and the quebec system is responsible. you are a bad faith extremist. the quebec system is british by the way. separatists are working towards changing that. maybe you should join them if you don't like how london set you up.

      Delete
  24. @AnecTOTE In my opinion the editor will not appreciate your comment * Editor Is (in my opinion) the Bill Maher of this province…*.
    I am a fan of Bill Maher and Noam Chomsky(Chomsky according to the editor is a self hating Jew).

    ReplyDelete
  25. By AnecTOTE

    Bill M. isn't a self hating Jew. He has no use for organized religion and he is an atheist, this is mentions often enough.

    I never brought up Chomsky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ AnecTOTE You are right, you did not mention Chomsky but you did refer to the editor. I was pointing out the jersey, the editor wears. The editor would not say anything contrary to any of Israel’s policies. Mind you I could be wrong.
      Someone on this blog said that the message is important not the messenger. Well I like to have a look at the messenger.
      I did not write that Bill Mahar is a self hating Jew.
      Google *is Bill Mahar a self hating Jew* then come to your own conclusion.
      In my opinion you are reaching, comparing an apple to an orange (bill Mahar to the editor).

      Delete
  26. I am watching the Scotties Tournament of Hearts live from Montreal right now. I think it is rather pitiful that NONE of the players playing from all 12 teams is francophone. Even team Quebec consists of anglophones from the West Island who obviously speak English with each other.

    The situation becomes even sorrier when we compare the coverage between TSN and RDS. On TSN we can listen to all the conversation that the players do so we understand what they are up to. On RDS, the commentators completely speak over the players and give us a bit of translation but mainly summary of what the players are saying, a summary of which in many times off the marks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. on the contrary i am quite happy that two anglophones get to represent quebec for once. i'm not so sure why you think this is "pitiful" troy.

      i also don't quite understand what's wrong with rds proposing a french coverage of the thing. you should just watch tsn and let unilingual francophones cope with the limits of live translations. they can learn english tomorrow if they're not happy with what they got. it looks like you want to create an issue out of thin air troy.

      Delete
    2. "...two"?
      "...for once"?

      Can we just assume here that student does not really know what it is writing about? Upthread I wrote:

      ...being a separatist means that one can say whatever one wants, can form any opinion, can formulate any idea without considering reality, evidence and fact.

      And this, ladies and gentlemen of this blog, is my prima facie evidence.

      And I want to state it that I think RDS sports coverage is indeed pathetic, especially compared to TSN. With the exception of Canadien games, Alouette and Impact home games, RDS seldom sends its commentators to the events. Instead, the reporters just stay in the studio and making comments off TV coverage, the same thing that viewers at home watch. Worse yet, majority of its live programs are taken from English broadcasters. Therefore, commentators have double duty to translate what is on screen. That is true even for events like French Open and Belgian and Monaco Grand Prix.

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      They're too poor to get themselves to the events probably.

      Delete
  27. Congratulations to the Editor on his 'Zombie' video which is now featured on Montreal's CTV station website.
    http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/ban-zombie-walks-pleads-charter-hearings-participant-1.1665429

    60,000 hits in 2 days!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oubliez les zombies un instant :

      D'où vient le financement des mosquées du Québec?

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJzzLQ_R3M

      Delete
    2. Good to see that this blog is getting more and more famous!

      Delete
    3. Probablement à cause des page FB d'angryphones qui sont de moins en moins populaires.Certains semblent craindre la S.Q depuis l'arrestation de Seniw mais ce n'est qu'une supposition M.Panic.

      Delete
    4. The famous blogs also tend to attract detractors, while irrelevant blogs (oh hi, Michel Patrice!) carry on in a near-vacuum.

      Delete
  28. http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2014/01/29/quebec-government-accused-of-trying-to-limit-english-schooling-for-children-of-quebec-based-military-families/

    ReplyDelete
  29. And yet another waste of our tax money - $350M that could have gone for oh so many other things:

    http://argent.canoe.ca/nouvelles/ciment-mcinnis-quebec-ignore-un-rapport-externe-31012014#.Uu19Z0tRZ2A.twitter

    This is the worst government ever in the history of our country and must be put out of their (and our) misery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://blogues.journaldemontreal.com/francoisbugingo/monde/maman-est-morte-et-ils-parlent-de-son-foulard/

      Delete
    2. The Journal de Montreal backpedaled on it's reporting. Their initial online coverage said she definitely was strangled by her hijab and they had many confirmed sources. The article was edited down to 2 sources and the hijab was the cause became a probability or hypothesis. The police even said they reviewed the video but they still couldn't determine exactly what happened. The English media had proper coverage while the French media had biased reporting, throwing in their prejudice and hate for Muslims. The Journal de Montreal is clearly for the hillbillies in the regions as well as for the urban hillbillies.

      Delete
    3. What was most disgusting was the fact that they even had to bring up whether it was a hijab and whether she was muslim or not should not have mattered in that it was a terrible accident that could have happened to anyone wearing a scarf in this cold winter we've been having. Nothing racist would have been said if it had happened to a white person with an ordinary scarf - it was the hate and discrimination against the poor woman for being a muslim even though she was a good mother, a nice person and had as much right to her life as anyone else. I hope those pigs take a good long look at themselves and their oh so obvious discrimination and hateful way of treating everyone that are not their clones. And the journalists are just as bad for making a huge point of the whole matter of whether or not it was a hijab!

      Delete
    4. FROM ED
      I see nothing wrong with mentioning the hijab if it's the truth. It might give a warning to other Islam women to not wear the scarf long enough to put them in danger. Ed

      Delete
    5. It appears that her long winter scarf got stuck in the escalator stairs and brought her down. While lying on the floor at the end of the escalator (either because she was choking or she hit her head) the escalator ripped up her hijab and then ripped out her hair.

      Delete
    6. Combien de foulards de laine,de mitaines et de tuques ont défilé dans le métro de Montréal en 48 ans?

      Des millions et des millions.

      Delete
    7. "mentioning" the hijab was not the problem for heaven's sake. It was blaming the hijab before they even knew what happened and even then the insulting and hateful comments were flying long before any facts were known. Things like "another terrorist dead" lol - hurtful horrible comments from a bunch of racist pigs about a woman they didn't know from Adam. That's what's wrong with this new quebec "culture" that they consider "superior"!

      Delete
    8. @cutie003

      "That's what's wrong with this new quebec "culture" that they consider "superior"!

      who considers quebec culture to be superior? and superior to what? my guess is you have no clue, but you thought it sounded nasty enough to keep your average low. do i win?

      Delete
  30. The Gaspe hillbillies might like the jobs but this is pre-election vote-buying.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Here are some photos to make you puke in your Cheerios. It's from an older piece showing Premier Demented Bitch in her Ile Bizard castle with her husband and 4 kids.

    http://www.dariamarchenkophotos.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Pauline_Marois_by_Daria_Marchenko.pdf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Théo avale des "cheerios" pour déjeuner...Nul besoin de d'approfondir.

      Delete
    2. We do have problems with wealthy people living off money from other provinces, mate

      Delete
    3. Et vous vivez au Québec Anon?Et le "we" représente quel groupe exactement?

      Delete
    4. Hmmm... I remember Marois taking a cheap shot at Gaétan Barrette's weight during last elections. Maybe she should have looked at Catherine and Felix first before opening her pie hole. Just sayin'.

      Delete
    5. @p. darwinopterus

      "I remember Marois taking a cheap shot at Gaétan Barrette's weight..."

      really? what did she say exactly? if you don't find out your comment will remain an unsubstantiated cheap shot. ironic isn't it?

      Delete
    6. http://ici.radio-canada.ca/sujet/elections-quebec-2012/2012/08/11/013-marois-sante-caq.shtml

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

      Delete
    8. Un ministre de la santé et de surcroît médecin,affichant 300 Lbs bien sonnées de bacon canadien sur une (pauvre) balance, me semble plutôt paradoxal.

      Delete
    9. @anonymous

      a journalist asked her if a health minister should set a good example. she said yes he should. it's obvious p. darwinopterus's interpretation is a fraud. thanks anonymous for the official source.

      @p. darwinopterus

      back to my question, isn't ironic that you accuse marois of a cheap shot that wasn't with a real cheap shot?

      Delete
  32. Quebec Ayatollah Death March Alert!:

    I just got word of something that will be coming to market very soon.

    Remember how those caricatures and movies lampooning Allah triggered riots in the Muslim world?

    I expect to see much the same reaction from separatists.

    Personally, I can't wait.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vous avalez quoi pour déjeuner Cowy?Des Muslix ?Quand même mieux que les cheerios de Théo.
      Quoi qu'en cette journée de super bowl,quoi de mieux qu'un baril de "chicken wings" accompagné d'un d'un 2L de Pepsi ?

      Delete
    2. At least Cowy has something intelligent to say.

      Delete
    3. @anonymous

      please quote the "intelligent" bit. it's not obvious.

      Delete
    4. Je crois que mon commentaire s'approche plus de la réalité.

      Delete
    5. @anonymous

      you insult quebec wins. keep that in mind.

      Delete
    6. J'aimerais bien savoir avec quel Anonymous nous échageaons des inepties.

      Mettez au moins 1,2 ou 3 comme suffixe,celà aiderait à la "conversation".

      Delete
  33. Marois in a mud bath plus other lovely pictures of her obese daughter. (Click on photo for larger version.)

    http://doomshow.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/la-famille-blanchet-marois/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unexplained Variance of Obesity Levels Across Canada

      http://www.drsharma.ca/unexplained-variance-of-obesity-levels-across-canada.html

      Enjoy!

      Delete
  34. Another rich business man speaking out about the harm this charter will due to the quebec economy but will the racist bigots listen?

    http://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/quebec/201401/28/01-4733286-la-charte-des-valeurs-menace-leconomie-du-quebec-selon-le-pdg-de-cogeco.php?fb_action_ids=10202468337944015&fb_action_types=og.recommends

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People that want the government to outlaw zombies don't have any understanding of the economy.

      Delete
    2. @cutie003

      of course this rich businessman's opinion is not good. he says the charter will lower the number of ultra-religious immigrants. what he doesn't say is that it will attract immigrants that seek to escape from ultra-religious societies. and what's better for quebec. ultra-religious or non ultra-religious? exactly, try to think about the quality of arguments cutie003 instead of just checking if a dude is for or against the pq. your bias is screaming and it's not healthy for our discussion.

      Delete
  35. And hot off the news: two SNC Lavelin executives charged with fraud. Will these stupid voters EVER smarten up and realize their whole system, from top to bottom, is rotten through and through! Everyday we see more people charged, from the cops to people that are in charge of private engineering firms. The whole damn system is corrupt - everybody, everywhere down to the municipal level. It's unbelievable how so many of the quebec "culture" have no ethics, principles or honesty - if this was any other country people would be out in hoards on the streets but the stupid separatists seem to think this is just fine - being robbed so blatantly and without a word being spoken against the very people that are robbing all of us blind!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "...if this was any other country people would be out in hoards on the streets but the stupid separatists seem to think this is just fine..."

      you're wrong. the protests in the spring of 2012 ended up being exactly what you call for here. there was a regime change since then and a public enquiry is underway. there would be some matter for a protest if the snc dudes were not charged with fraud, but they are, so what do you want exactly? whine? ah ok it all makes sense now. sorry.

      Delete
  36. Corruption in politics, unions, police and private industry. The Frenchies are so proud!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're turning the comment's section into a racist bonanza. it was saner before you showed up. why do you do that? are you a separatist that wants to undermine this free speech zone? if you are you should just do like me and bust all the shit arguments you can. it's quite easy and much more noble than your sneaky strategy of pretending to be a level zero angryphone.

      Delete
    2. Noble? Is that how you see yourself? Riding about the countryside on your white charger, busting all the "shit arguments you can", a regular Don Quixbecois. Keep writing, you are so entertaining.

      Delete
  37. La France va expulser plusieurs imams radicaux

    http://www.7sur7.be/7s7/fr/1505/Monde/article/detail/1570476/2013/01/29/La-France-va-expulser-plusieurs-imams-radicaux.dhtml

    Pas trop tôt

    ReplyDelete
  38. SCORE ONE FOR THE HABS' FANS!

    Actually, it shouldn't be the first time I declare this because it has happened before.

    The organist started playing O Canada and the fans finished singing a cappella, in both languages. It was refreshing to hear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pour ma part ce à quoi cela me fait penser est que les Canadiens-anglais forment une vraie race de voleurs d'identité. En effet, l'Ô Canada est à l'origine le chant patriotique des Canadiens (français), il est donc normal qu'ils le chantent encore de nos jours.

      Les Canadiens-anglais sont vraiment uniques: tout en s'appropriant les symboles d'identité nationale d'un autre peuple (nom de ce peuple, son hymne national, ses symboles d'identité comme la feuille d'érable et le castor), ils sont aussi la pâle copie d'un autre peuple. Sans compter qu'ils se définissent comme étant une nation multiculturelle.

      Loin de moi l'idée d'affirmer que les Canadiens-anglais forment un peuple bâtard, mais si l'on doit déterminer les caractéristiques d'un tel peuple, il est raisonnable de croire qu'on a un bon début avec le cas canadien-anglais.

      Delete
    2. Canadians should have retained the Red Ensign as our national flag and "God Save the Queen" as our anthem, instead of trying to placate Francophones by adopting some of their symbols. No amount of accommodation will ever satisfy the ingrate Quebecois. They don't appreciate the huge sums of money being poured into their sh*thole province by hard working Canadians either.

      The Quebecois are a mongrel people themselves. They have a large amount of Aboriginal and Irish blood mixed in with their French blood, though lately they haven't had much of an influx of new DNA and they're becoming rather inbred, especially in the outlying regions.

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      Gents, they are just trying to get a rise outa ya'. Let's just say YL is the poster child for the "hick" families of this province and leave it at that. The Anti-Intelectuals have their work cut out for them.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 3:33:00 PM EST

      "That would explain the facial features of Marois, especially when speaking English (mongrel-like). Typical quebecois retard who shit there pants at the sight of their anglo masters."

      Not sure if anyone noticed, but 'anonymous' is clearly a stupid separatist trying to incite animosity. Funny how Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum are playing right into it.

      Delete
  39. This came as a surprise: http://www.upworthy.com/the-nfl-would-never-let-this-ad-air-on-the-super-bowl-so-were-gonna-show-you-it-its-important

    ReplyDelete