Monday, January 20, 2014

Liberals Should Let Charter of Values Pass

Philippe Coullard..What to do, what to do?
(Note to readers;
This post was written over the weekend before the poll indicating that the PQ is now ahead of the Liberals in the polls. That fact actually reinforces the importance of Liberals charting a new course in regards to the Charter of Values.)
Have you got the feeling lately that Bernard Drainville and the PQ have seized the momentum in regards to the debate over the Charter Of Value, because I certainly have.

There's a clear scenario being played out in front of us, one in which the PQ is engineering an election based on the Charter of Values, where the issue which has so engrossed and dominated our attention of late, will render such an election, a one-issue affair.

What that result would be is up in the air, but in my estimation, it would be a PQ majority government or perhaps a repeat of the status quo, a PQ minority, so badly has Philippe Couillard handled the issue that the Liberals have lost the momentum they had built up before the Charter became a significant issue..

Perhaps it's time for the Liberals to switch strategies and admit that fighting the Charter is a losing battle, at least in consideration of francophone voters who traditionally sit on the fence and switch their votes between the PQ and Liberals based on issues other than sovereignty.

That is the dangerous position in which the Liberals find themselves today and the longer the committee hearings over the Charter continue, the more support will build for the Charter.

Why will support build?
Because for most francophones, even non-separatists, watching the English and Ethnic community squirm and howl over the Charter  is a delicious cocktail of payback and revenge.

Threats of future turmoil and social upheaval are considered by most as nothing more than the desperate machinations of a community on the losing end of a shoving match and the threats as desperate a ploy as the famous 'Brinks Coup', the well-publicized movement of securities out of Quebec on nine Brink's armoured cars on the eve of the 1970 provincial election, meant to frighten Quebecers into voting Liberal. {Link{fr}

Quebecers are on guard against any repetition of the invocation of another  Bonhomme sept heures, so predictions of gloom and doom at the committee hearings by minorities are  counter-productive, actually boosting support for the Charter.

The passage of the charter is also a perceived affirmation that francophones rule this province absolutely and represents a concrete lesson to the Anglos and Ethnics that they are not in charge, not even in the least.

So what can Philippe Couillard and the Liberals do, they are clearly on the losing side of the issue as far as francophones are concerned, and even though the majority of Francophones supporting the charter is not overwhelming, it is enough to give the PQ an election win if those voters base their vote on the one issue.

No doubt, it is a difficult issue to manage and Couillard hasn't done a particularly good job at defining where the Liberals should be. His perceived weakness has hurt the party and its standing, the label of Phillipe-flop  seriously undermining his credibility as a strong leader.

It has become clear that it is well nigh impossible for the Liberals to develop a coherent policy against the Charter, because taking a strong stand against it, is a recipe for disaster, a water-downed stance is viewed as weak and unseemly.
Given the choice between two bad options, sometimes it is better to choose neither. 

Let me propose another strategy....letting the Charter pass unopposed, even though the idea sounds heretical.

Here's my plan....
Philippe Couillard and the Liberals should keep a low profile during the debate, and let the PQ go on with the Gong Show, because any interference in the debate with nothing to offer but lily-livered solutions, will only serve as a detraction to the Liberal brand.

And so the Liberals should lull the PQ into a false sense of security, letting them play out their election stratagem by appearing unsure of what to do and how to react.

After the committee hearings end, and the day the legislation is tabled, Couillard should boldly announce that the Liberals will abstain and allow the legislation to pass, because more important issues are at hand, the budget and the faltering economy in particular and where as the debate on the Charter has distracted Quebecers and stolen their attention from the real issues that matter.

This will send the PQ reeling and dash any hope of a quickie election call or a welcome defeat of the Bill in the Assembly, triggering a new election.

The PQ will have no choice but to pass their Charter and live with the consequences.
The sun will rise the next day, the debate will be over and the harsh realities of  the negative consequences of the newly enacted Charter will begin to manifest rather quickly.
And so the leaders of the Charter lynch mob led by Drainville and championed in the media by Richard Martineau and Mathieu Bock-Cote will suddenly become rebels without a cause.

When doctors start resigning, teachers walk out of classes and day cares, in wildcat actions, when health workers tell residents in government old-age homes to stuff it, reality will set in.

When opponents of the Charter mobilize, it won't be pretty and the PQ will not be able to react.

Now polls showing support for the Charter among francophones also show that two-thirds of them don't want anyone to lose their job over non-compliance, so how will the PQ react when push comes to shove?
What will be the reaction of Drainville,and Pauline when workers perturb the workplace or go out on sick-outs in large numbers.
Students on strike hurt nobody but themselves, but doctors closing their practices, nurses and support workers not showing up to work, or teachers closing down schools forcing parents to miss work and take care of the kids is a situation that can crush society and very quickly.

I've said it before, be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

Coupled with this social unrest, the PQ will also have a budget to table, one that will be nothing less than a disaster, With falling revenues, rising unemployment and increasing expenses, I wouldn't want to be in Nicholas Marceau's shoes, having to deliver a bad news budget extraordinaire.

I can't think of a better scenario for the Liberals.

An election under these circumstances will sweep the Liberals into power with a majority government, free to undo the harsher components of the Charter and creating one that is kinder and gentler, exactly what the Liberals were willing to accept under a proposed Charter compromise offered by the CAQ.
Allowing the PQ chickens to come home to roost, will have the added benefit of thoroughly discrediting Pauline as a leader, hurting the separatist movement for years to come and returning the province to a less toxic government.

Is this scenario far-fetched?
I don't think so, it can all happen within a few short months.

There's an old saying about letting your enemies hang themselves through their own self-destructive actions.
It may be time for Couillard and the Liberals to step back and give Pauline, Drainville and the PQ enough rope to do exactly that.

234 comments:

  1. This is Montreal's last stand. If the PQ gets a majority, the city's fate will be sealed. The city can only take so many body blows before it spirals downward permanently. The ROQ and Montreal are two separate planets as far as I'm concerned. Time for those francophones that still believe in Canada to stand up and fight.

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    1. I agree with you, LD.

      The very essence of Montreal is its cosmopolitan nature.

      Cultural hotbeds such as the Plateau and Latin Quarter, which had long been great places for everyone of every background to hang out in together have been in steady decline for years now.

      While some see the whole conflict these days as Francos vs. Anglos, I'm one to see it as Montreal vs. the ROQ.

      All of my French-raised friends are pro-multiculturalism and support an open, plural society...which goes to show that it really is an ideological war we're fighting, not a linguistic one.

      If the PQ and the Herouxville vote succeeds, everything that ever made Montreal the special gem that songs, books and movies have romanced will be gone.

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    2. from the dread

      which is why Montreal would be better off on it's own than being with the ROQ

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  2. If the Libs do go for such a strategy, and lets assume they get a majority (eventually). The question is: Would they remove/un-do Bill 60..or at the very least, as you say, make it a kinder more gentler Bill. I could be wrong, but the Libs have never done this in the past.

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  3. It is too bad that Philippe Couillard has turned out to be an ineffective weak-minded leader of the PLQ.

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    1. He's been wasting his time in the hinterland trying to rebuild his party. While that makes sense because elections are won and lost in the sticks it also created a vacuum in Quebec City that Marois happily filled. Now it would appear she has the momentum and the Good Dr is still lost in the woods. You cannot show any hesitation in politics or else your opponents will pounce. Recall what happened to Prime Minister Paul Martin. He was branded as a Mr Dithers, unable to make a decision and was handily defeated. In politics, any whiff of weakness will and should be exploited by your adversaries.

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  4. The LIEberals were free to undo Bill 101 as well, yet they have only ever STRENGTHENED it !! (Notwithstanding clause ring any bells ? Even Charest as one of his last acts hired MORE language inspectors for the OQLF.) Minorities and Canadians living in Quebec have NO reason to put ANY faith in the LIEberal party, provincially or federally.

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    1. You are right The QLP are really PQ in the closet which are worst than the PQ them selves they bleed us when we are not looking.

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    2. FROM ED
      EDITOR, please notice that an ANONYMOUS is answeing himself here using up space and proving he is a separatist troll.. Ed

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    3. Ed,
      Being Anonymous or not, I totally agree with him and commented the very same thing on a previous post: the Libs are not much different from PQ. They never reverted they would argue is incorrect PLUS they contributed to this.

      So my question remains (and maybe is a topic for a new post): Who will save this province?

      Sorry but don't trust anyone out there.

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  5. Most curious to see if support for the Charter will remain firm after 3 months of testimony like this from the past week:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhFfkxTrkbw

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    1. Les pineaut-Caron ont pluôt l'air équilibrés après avoir vu cette vidéo:

      http://www.buzzmoica.fr/video/l-imam-hysterique-29024

      Non?

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    2. Well at least he looks happy doing...whatever he wass doing lol.

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  6. New poll puts wind in PQ sails

    69% of francophones support Charter of Values

    http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/01/20/new-poll-puts-wind-in-pq-sails?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

    Wow!

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    1. The ROQ is the Pineault-Caron clan. Products of the Québécois education system. Another reason you shouldn't let your kids near a French school.

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    2. Merci Joe,votre Québec "bashing" porte fruits :)

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    3. Bring on the Quebec bashing..lets elect a PQ majority so this province can collapse sooner rather than later. Its time to give the peasants what they want..a french third world country. Lets see them stand on their own two feet without the ROC supporting them.

      I bet the whole environmental movement will quickly get shown the door under an independant Quebec..I bet the government quickly develops the oil and gas deposits as they scramble to keep the economy from imploding. Even then doubt it will be enough.

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    4. 69% do not support the charter, 69% support the head wear ban, only 48% say they support the charter (9% said they don't know). The poll results are a bit confusing in that way, one would think those numbers would be closer considering the headwear ban is the most controversial part of the charter.

      http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/poll-shows-increased-support-for-parti-quebecois-government-1.1646878

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    5. "69% do not support the charter, 69% support the head wear ban"

      100% of these 69% support their a right to order a 7 up in French on a flight from Red Deer AB to Kelowna BC. Number of French speakers in that geographical area: small to negligible.

      State-enforced multiculturalism is ok after all, but only as long as they are the beneficiaries of it.

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    6. I Love Couillard with is tchador I hopefully wish he will not change his mind! Lovely Couillard!

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    7. By AnecTOTE

      @thatguy

      On the subject of polls...Romney's people were telling him he was way ahead in the polls ...he believed the myth..and he was toast. I also have very little Faith in the credibility of polls here...anyway...if it is meant to go for a PQ majority win over ONE ISSUE...(pretty sad this charter-thing leads Francophones by their noses this way), rather than these same people voting with some formidable perspective and Logic, pretty sad. But leave it to the deadbeats of this province to vote for a party, who apparently has veteran politicians, with decades of experience (lol) but who when they step up to the plate, immediately strike out with their incompetence by introducing petty and divisive politics and shenanigans rather than attacking the huge problems that truly plague this sorry province: A MONUMENTAL Debt, a tanking economy and indecent Heath care. Rather than creating jobs to enrich the economy, these same bribe companies to stay put, and naturally it is the taxpayers who pay...always pay for the idiocy of supposedly experienced politicians. What a joke they are ...but the bigger joke are the cool-aid drinking junkies.

      On the upside, Montreal City-State can't wait to rid itself from the shackles of the RoQ ...it can't happen too soon.

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  7. "When doctors start resigning, teachers walk out of classes and day cares, in wildcat actions, when health workers tell residents in government old-age homes to stuff it, reality will set in."

    This will never happen. First of all, there is a lot of people complaining about the charter who will comply to it when it passes. Only a few of them are really willing to leave their job. We have to remember that Quebec inhabitants have one of the highest household debt per capita. Many doctors, teachers and health workers are living from paycheck to paycheck and can't afford to be unemployed for several weeks or even to move.

    Secondly, let's say they all do quit and leave... so what? Thousands of people left after Bill 101 has passed, thousands left after 1980 referendum, thousands more left after 1995 refrendum...I don't recall any apocalyptic consequences.

    I didn't know the editor was a fan of fear propaganda techniques...

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    1. "I don't recall any apocalyptic consequences."
      Since Bill 101 and the exodus of Anglo and Ethnic Quebecers, the province has gone from one of the richest to one of the poorest, living off the largess of richer provinces. The debt has increased by about 200 billion. Because the attrition is slow, it isn't noticed by you and like-minded who believe that Quebec is unaffected,
      You and others who live in the moment cannot fathom these 'apocalyptic consequences, but they are there.

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    2. I agree..what a moronic statement by thirdkind. Perhaps Montreal is not post-apocalyptic but the effects of Bill 101 have been devastating to Montreal.

      Montreal was the premier city in Canada and now is one of the poorest, most rundown, economically weak cities around. How many more pieces of concrete need to fall on cars or people, or potholes swallowing vehicles, or rivers of water flowing down streets from antiqauted water mainss before you might admit that Montreal is a crumbling mess. How many a louer signs do I see every day all over this city..empty buildings everywhere..how many head offices have fled this city over the past 40 years with thousands and thousands of high paying jobs.

      Do you really think the 200 billion dollar debt will just go away..what will happen when interest rates move back to normal levels like 5-7 percent..its kaboom with the debt..within 2-3 years. Then the government will be forced to make massive cuts and of course they will blame the rest of canada for their total incompetence.

      And on top of this the federal government pumps 10-15 billion dollars extra in this province every year and even so they cant balance the budget and keep the infrastructure from falling apart.

      Yes Quebec has been able to avoid a real crisis so far..but the numbers dont lie..the debt is a huge problem and it wll mean big cuts coming up. More PQ will make things even worse. Go talk to some people in Spain or Greece about how great life is there now. Yet only 3-4 years ago everyone there thought that good times would last forever even though the numbers clearly said otherwise. There are too many people like you who dont understand the dire implications of too much debt. Its coming soon..

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    3. Talking about moronic statements...

      "How many more pieces of concrete need to fall on cars or people..." This has nothing to do with the econimical condition of Montreal itself. Everyone knows that it is "le Ministere des Transports" who takes care of infrastructures. Need I remind you that the majority was held by the PLQ in the last decade.

      "How many a louer signs do I see every day all over this city." This has to do with the increase of rents' cost on the Island. Who resides on the island? Immigrants. Who are the poorest? Immigrants.

      "what will happen when interest rates move back to normal levels like 5-7 percent". These kind of rates are applicable to population only. States don't borrow money at these kind of rates. Have you ever heard of preferential rates? Obviously not.

      "And on top of this the federal government pumps 10-15 billion dollars extra in this province". Ottawa is simply sending back the taxes we pay to them, taxes we could keep for us if we were independant.

      Please, make sure you understand (maybe it's too "complicated")what you're talking about before calling someone a moron.

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    4. Thirdkind..
      Crumbling infrastructure has EVERYTHING to do with the economy. If we had a strong economy the government would have more money to FIX the infrastructure. If the PQ in particular didnt focus all its time and energy on language then also more resources could be put towards infrastructure.

      I am talking about "a louer| signs for commercial real estate. They are all over the place and have been a staple of Montreal for at least 20 years. I suggested they rename the city " alouerville". There are empty buildings everywhere because so many companies abandoned Montreal over the past 30-40 years. You do not see this anywhere else in Canada. The economy is weak here because of the constant focus on language and the mismanagement of the economy,.

      Again you obviously do not know what you are talking about when it comes to interest rates. Do you know what triggered the criss in Greece, Spain and Italy..it was interest rates spiking..they jumped to something like 20 percent or more in Greece and 7-8 percent in Spain. This caused a massive increase in th debt, We have had record low interest rates for the past 5-10 years..do you honestly believe they will never go up..if so then you really are moronic. They have already started rising in the USA and within 1-2 years will rise here. A couple more blown budgets from Pauline Marois and you can kiss the 3 percent interest rate goodbye for Quebec.

      Ottawa in 2010 took 40 billion from Quebec and 58 billion was sent back to Quebec. My math places that at a 18 billion dollar advantage for Quebec. Stop believing the total bs from Pauline Marois..she loves to tell people about the money sent to Ottawa but always forgets to mention how much comes back..typical PQ lies and I guess you are dumb enough to fall for it.

      People like you deserve to live through an implosion in the Quebec economy as you obviously feel that somehow Quebec is different than any other place in the world. The real joke is thinking that independance will actually make Quebec richer. How can Quebec be richer if it loses 15-20 billion per year from Canada..loses perhaps up to 1 million people who will leave for work and other reasons (mostly those with cash). Please inspire me with more fairy tales thhirdkind.

      I am voting for seperation so I can see idiots like youself squirm in an economic wasteland country of Quebec.

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    5. @complicated,
      well said. If I can, will vote for separation. BTW, if I could, would vote for the PQ in the next election to win a majority in the next election and completely destroy this province so that the referendum comes earlier.

      Just note that I dont have neither family nor a morgage in here. So, easier 4 me to say.

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  8. Editor, in your writing "Because for most francophones, even non-separatists, watching the English and Ethnic community squirm and howl over the Charter is a delicious cocktail of payback and revenge."

    This proves my point all along and Quebec should get the separation it deserves. Québécois de vieille souche are sadistic bastards and would deserve the fallout. I'm more than willing to throw caution into the wind and let the chips fall where they may. A separate Quebec means a better Canada. No more bilingualism (although I wouldn't push for elimination of French, the numbership and backlash of most of the population will mean exactly that), Quebec will not be part of NAFTA since Canada will be able to veto any application by Quebec to join NAFTA, and partition of Quebec is likely. This will rock Quebec's world, not Canada's.

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    1. "Quebec will not be part of NAFTA since Canada will be able to veto any application by Quebec to join NAFTA"

      Il serait ironique que cela se produise puisque c'est grâce aux Québécois qu'il y a eu un premier accord de libre-échange avec les États-Unis. Les Rest-of-Canadians ne voulaient absolument pas signer une telle entente commerciale parce qu'ils avaient trop peur de s'intégrer économiquement avec leurs grands frères américains, qui sont pourtant leur chair et leur sang.

      P.-S. Devant une quelconque intolérance du Rest-of-Canada face au Québec lorsqu'on sera enfin séparés, on pourra bloquer l'accès à la voie maritime du St-Laurent, qui est vitale pour l'économie ontarienne. héhé!

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    2. YL - Good luck blocking the St Lawrence seaway. The US military will quickly remove the blockade whether Quebec likes it or not. Remember that many of these ships are heading to USA destinations so it has a big impact on the USA.
      I am sure that Quebec military will be somethinig to behold..we are all shaking in our boots at the thought..

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    3. lol and ha ha. The St. Lawrence, which the US owns part of, will like hell let the rebel country of quebec control piss all of any of it. The troops will be here so fast that the seppies heads will swim. The US will have a lot to say about this province disrupting the peace and tranquility that we have enjoyed for hundreds of years without 4M or so people thinking they can walk off with what they want - 4M out of 300M people are going to control anything? I hardly think so. This is where these crazy people will get exactly what they deserve; pancakes and maple syrup - get used to it seppies. Will be your new diet.

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    4. "The US military will quickly..."

      Si ça continue il vont bientôt manquer d'effectifs.L'armée américaine n'est plus ce qu'elle a déjà été.

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    5. complicated et cutie, mea culpa. J'avais oublié qu'il y beaucoup d'anglos de descendance irlandaise sur ce blogue et qu'ils ne comprennent pas nécessairement tout ce qui s'y écrit.

      Je précise donc ma pensée: il sera possible de bloquer les navires en direction du Rest-of-Canada et de laisser passer ceux en route vers les États-Unis.

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    6. SR - LOL..dont worry SR the US military budget is still more than the next 10 countries combined..about 30 times the military budget of canada..so it would probably be about 100 times more than the budget for the Quebec military..good luck SR..I am sure they are really terrified..maybe you can attack them with flying poutine..

      YL - Yeah..well I am not too worried..I suspect the canadian military will have no problem with the Quebecois military..if you really want to go that route. Will Quebec even have a military..again we are terrified..the french have never fared well historically in battles with anglophones..

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    7. A Quebec military? Pish-posh! They'd all cry conscription stating it's Canada's war to worry about. Even if enough of those lily white Francocatholics decided to create an army, they'd then have to unionize forming a plenitude of grievance committes and do nothing until the grievances were resolved. By then America will have long ended the war à la their invasion in Grenada in 1983. Quebec's defense would be flattened not to mention the number of people who would have fled Quebec for more peaceful climes...like Ontario! Good luck without a tax base and no equalization payments.

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    8. Many Quebecois hid in the woods to avoid being drafted during both world wars and I doubt their descendants are any braver. The American or Canadian militaries would steamroll over them.

      The Quebecois can't even handle uprisings by the Natives - as was the case with the Mohawks during the Oka Crisis. I'm sure the James Bay Cree could kick their asses too.



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    9. Pish-posh exactly Mr. Sauga. Last referendum they were trying to poach from the Canadian Armed Forces and if they think there will be one piece of Canadian equipment left in quebec when it comes time for another referendum, they are again dreaming in technicolour. Mr. Harper is not stupid - they may be able to recruit some of the military to work for them but pancakes and maple syrup make terrible weapons. Every military person that lives in the province will be required to leave their guns, etc. at work before they go home probably about a week before any referendum and everything will be confiscated. I'm sure there are plans for this in the works as we write about it. They read polls also and know that tension is rising in this stupid rebellious province.

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    10. À quand remonte la dernière victoire de l'armée américaine déjà ?

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    11. @sauga

      "Québécois de vieille souche are sadistic bastards..."

      that's a racist comment. in your young age you weren't a racist but now you are a racist. what happened mate?

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    12. @student

      L'effet galganov mate

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    13. Dans vos mains, mes compatriones mécontentes, et pas dans la mienne c'est la question capitale de la guerre civile. Le Gouvernement ne vas pas vous attaquer. Vous ne pouvez pas avoir un conflt sans vous devenir les agresseurs. Vous avez pas de serment enregistré dans le ciel de détruire le Gouvernement, pendant que j'ai la plus solennelle 'de préserver, protéger et défendre.'

      ---Abraham LIncoln

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    14. Mr. Cunningham,

      I do not believe Abraham Lincoln ever said that. I believe this is what he said in his First Inaugural Address:

      In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it".

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    15. @Troy

      I apologize for my poor translation. Considering that people in this thread were discussing actions by Quebec (seizing the St. Lawrence Seaway for example) that might lead to military action not only by Canada but also the United States, I thought it was appropriate.

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    16. Of course, the troll is calling the kettle black.

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  9. Editor,

    I wrote this before, I write it again for effect. The best course for the province right now is to let PQ get the overwhelming majority. And I mean in the sense of Reagan majority against Mondale. Let them run the province with all their nonsense and pie-in-the sky programs. That of course include the independence. As studied after studies, analysis after analysis and even historical data show that independence is not a viable option for the province, let them do exactly that.

    After the independence, and whatever happens after that, the prediction is that Quebec will fall off the cliff into economic abyss. Let the new country burn. After that, the population will realize that the dream of independence is a false one, and they can start rebuilding the country, hopefully this time with better relationship with Canada. Take the examples of post-WWII Germany and Japan. Only after being crushed can they reemerge and become the world power that we know now.

    Or, the predictions may be wrong, however improbable that is, new country may otherwise be fine and prosper. Then it is a win-win situation. Therefore, my comment to you, English Quebecers. Are you ready to support and vote for the PQ? As I still have my property there, I might as well do that in the Spring Election.

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    1. Way to go, Troy. As I wrote above, throw caution into the wind. I've lived with these tensions since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, both inside and now outside Quebec, so let the PQ win, with any luck they'll separate this time and we'll be rid of these xenophobes forever. Eventually they will prosper, much like Russia has, but first they'll go through the abyss of displacement and all the other horrible consequences that Greece is now going through sans the Euro to prop them up.

      As I've written before, they can use our currency if they wish, but that would be completely foolhardy because what sense would that make. They're trying to break away from Canada and then they're going to let Canada dictate their monetary policy? Good-bye, good luck, good riddance!!!

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    2. A P.S. to the above: Ed, this is your Liberal savior at work!

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    3. +1: vote for PQ and prepare to leave the boat! It would be an interesting freak-show to watch

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  10. I agree with the editor..the PQ are on their way to a majority. My big disappointment is the reluctance of Quebecers to embrace real change..a new party. Disapointed at how low the CAQ is polling..the weaker they are the more likely the PQ wins a majority. It was the CAQ that gave the PQ a run for their money in many important francophone ridings..most of those votes will swing back to the PQ.

    Couillard appears weak and indecisive..shocked at how poor he had handled this issue.

    Thethirdkind..
    Maybe apocalyptic is too strong a word but there is no question that Montreal was devastated. Is it not obvious to you by looking around?? Crumbling everything..a louer signs all over the place..a skyline that looks about the same as it did in the 1970s wheras every other major city in North America has seen theirs change dramatically..the loss of so many major corporations and head offices.

    Montreal is an embarassment..it doesnt even come close to Toronto now in so many standards. Oh by the way the debt has ballooned, taxes are sky high..etc. You are being incredibly naive if you dont see trouble coming..many people in Greece and Spain were probably cocky like you too a few years ago..go talk with them now about how great life is.

    The great irony is that the real path to independance would be to make Montreal and Quebec an economic powerhouse. However the PQ has done the total opposite..if seperation does happen it will be a very weak country which will somehow need to replace billions and billions of dollars it gets from Canada..how exactly are they going to do that??

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    1. "Montreal is an embarassment..it doesnt even come close to Toronto now in so many standards."

      Damn straight you are, c! I truly find it a pity that this has happened believe it or not, but I had time to see how the minority population would react. It didn't react strongly enough, so I left the day after my university convocation. I haven't looked back. Too bad really as Montreal prior to the Quiet Revolution was thee place to be. Then again, look what has happened to Zimbabwe over the last third of a century. Zimbabwe got what it deserved, and Quebec is next. Sad, but I'm happy where I stand. Had a nice smoked meat sandwich in the Toronto 'burbs last night thanks to the ex-Montreal couple who came here to open one (back in 1988). Too bad Céline Dion and her golddigger husband ended up buying Schwartz's because I hoped it would have a chance of coming down the 401 where it should now be.

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    2. I don't expect you to answer such a personal question, but do you have family connections to Zimbabwe/Rhodesia, Mr Sauga? I've read you mentioning them in your comments before and I'm just curious. It's a shame that a ruthless dictator like Mugabe has been able to ruin what could have become a great country.

      Delete
  11. Troy -

    I am moving around towards your thinking also. I think I would vote yes for independance because enough is enough wirth this bs blackmail. If they really want independance then lets have serious discussion and negotiations about it..no more of this constant threat and no action. There is part of me that would just love to see the PQ run this place on their own with no money or help from the rest of Canada..if their past record is any indication they would run this place right into the ground. I think Harper should put everything on the table including partition..all federal government offices moved out asap..no co-operation on anything including the military..Quebec leaves and deals with everything on its own..no EU system. Canada does not need Quebec..Quebec takes its share of the federal debt.

    If that means I lose 50 percent of the value of my house then so be it..I think it would be worth it just to see Quebec try and stand on its own two feet. But staying here would mean living in a place that could eventually look like Detroit..not sure that will be fun.

    But Troy is right and I have said this many times..thingss need to get a lot worse before there is any hope of them getting better. Quebec will need to see for itself that independance is not the paradise many people thought it would be. I feel sorry for the younger unilingual francophones who will be sold out by their elders..especially the elites running the PQ. The older elites will make sure they dont suffer but the younger francophones will be unemployed have little prospects..will see their taxes and services slashed and ironically many will have to leave to find work..most likely in the rest of Canada where they will be forced to speak in english.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "most likely in the rest of Canada where they will be forced to speak in english."

      Moi qui croyait que c'était déjà la triste réalité.

      Delete
    2. SR -

      You have problems reading obviously. I said when Quebec seperates the economy is going to go into a crisis meaning way more unemployment. Hence many more people will be forced to leave Quebec to work elsewhere..and as you noted they will have to speak english..is that not ironic SR?

      An independant Quebec = mass uneemployment = Quebecers leaving the country to find work elsewhere and where might that be..Oh Canada.

      Bring on the seperation SR..we will see what happens to your welfare cheque..

      Delete
    3. "An independant Quebec = mass uneemployment = Quebecers leaving the country to find work elsewhere and where might that be..Oh Canada."

      Hopefully if Quebec separates the rest of Canada will find a way to make it extremely difficult for Quebecois to immigrate and work there.

      Delete
    4. Durham -
      I agree..but somehow I think they may manage to keep their canadian passports. In any case they are going to have to live in an english only environment which will be daunting. But thats what happens when your government runs amok. It happens all over the world..25 percent of french university students are planning to leave France for work..Spanish and Portugese people are moving to North Africa of all places because there is more work there.
      Quebecers have been lulled into a false sense of comfort because of the massive infusion of money from the rest of Canada..without it reality would have smacked them in the face years ago..there would be no cheap tuition..no cheap daycare..no union jobs for life. I am looking forward to the day when the real world arrives here..the sooner Quebec moves towards seperation the sooner it will happen..lets get on with it.

      Delete
    5. Now you sound like the separatists complicated - why the hell should they be allowed to keep Canadian Passports? I hope Canada cuts these idiots off without one benefit and that includes our passports - And I know I'm speaking about me also but there is no reason on God's earth for one bit of consideration to be give to these rebels. Partition and cut them off entirely - that's it that's all folks as Bugs would say. Freeze the bastards out entirely after they have managed to kill our economy for God only knows how long! Punish them with everything we have and that is a lot!

      Delete
    6. Thanks Troy and comp. I knew some of you would come around and see things my way...and Howard Galganov's as well. The revised and refreshed Canada will be a smaller, but better off country, esp. if partition takes place and we take hold of the resources in the ground. Leave Quebec with a shell of land. Over half its dairy industry will be wiped out while the RoC's will fill the void and flourish. Maybe I'll buy a wheel of Oka cheese here and there for old time's sake. I said 'maybe'!

      Delete
  12. After 40 years of hanging in the wind with these crazy people running the province, I too will probably vote for separation and let the chips fall where they may. Perhaps this move will put an end to this on-going blackmail and the population will get exactly what they deserve - to be cut loose from the umbilical cord that is the ROC. Negotiations for partition can then begin and some of us will be happy to end this misery of a life under these franco supremacists. They have not yet learned a lesson and that is living side by side with others. Montreal will surely start a strong movement to leave the ROQ and the other areas along the St. Lawrence will also be consulted as to where they will reside. It will end bad for some but better for a lot of us.

    If Dr. Couillard is as weak as he appears to be, there is no hope for this province anyway - I was hoping for a strong leader, one that was willing to stand up for what's right and just, but so far there is no hint that he comes anywhere near the leader we need or want. He should have explained why the Charter was terrible from the get go, but he let the opportunity go by and he didn't say anything - all he had to do was say that full face covering was the only thing he would agree with and the rest is completely unnecessary. The rest of the francophone population would have understood the rest but his silence has let the whole matter go unchecked and out of control. I don't think he will ever be able to correct that mistake now so the Editor is probably right - try another tactic. And he had better pick up his socks if he ever intends to run this province or he will not last long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Finally Couillard is doing what he should have done weeks ago - make it clear where he stands on this damn charter and kick the lady out if she doesn't like it. He'd better hope it's not too late to make these statements.

      http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Houda+Pepin+must+line+charter+Couillard/9408135/story.html

      Delete
    2. "...make it clear where he stands on this damn charter..."

      so where is it that he "clearly stands" mate? the article you propose doesn't say.

      "...kick the lady out if she doesn't like it."

      right, kicking out the only muslim in the national assembly. because she thinks a muslim woman should remove her tchador before her shift as mna. he's crazy folks. you need a new horse.

      Delete
    3. FROM ED
      Cutie, stay tough, I sense a big change coming . As I've tried to explain before Dr C is walking a fine line. He wants the Pq to think he's dead banana. Sorry he doesn't have time to explain to you what you want to know but if he was stupid enough to do so we wouldn't want him as Premier. Ed

      Delete
    4. @ed

      "He wants the Pq to think he's dead banana."

      ok this part of the plan works perfectly ed. now what?

      Delete
  13. I support the charter as long as the cross stays in the National Assembly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you support a charter whose preported goal is the separation of church and state, yet only support it if a giant religious symbol is hanging in the government legislative?

      Delete
  14. I know this piece of information does not matter in the bigger scheme of things, but let me just point it out.

    One of the things that the proponents of the Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and the equality between women and men, and providing a framework for accommodation requests bring up is that someone in the position (police(wo)men, judges, teachers) are not suppose to wear religious symbols while dealing with public. Whatever the argument is, surely there is a fear that the situation brings disruption to the order of the society.

    Let us look to the West. In the wealthiest province of Alberta, the biggest city is Calgary. That city is led by a Muslim. It certainly needless to say that Calgary is more prosperous than Montreal, be it from gross product, economic growth or average income points of view. And then they also have this man. That is supposedly a bad thing, is it not? But wait, Calgary is actually safer than Montreal. So where is the disruption in social cohesion and order in Calgary like what the PQ brass sells to the population? Or is the Quebec society is so distinct that it is distinctly not mature enough?

    ReplyDelete
  15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opuEIAVcWEk

    The perfect Québécois...the real ones

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was saving this for Friday's F vs.E, but I've added ENG subs.
      http://youtu.be/5kIEsIBTSuo?a

      Delete
    2. Wow, that is actually painful to watch. Just as Charles Darwin wrote:

      ...but ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.

      Delete
    3. "...but ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

      Votre compatriote Daniel Seniw va approuver cette affirmation :)

      Delete
    4. Madame Genevieve Caron's crude Joual would have been easier to understand in the video if she had remembered to wear her false teeth....

      Delete
    5. Ce ne sont pas ses dents le problème mais bien les piles de votre appareil auditif.

      Vous avez quel âge Durham?60,70?

      Delete
    6. Dan was using a "metaphor" to say there will be trouble - that's it, that's all. He didn't "threaten" anyone - BS charge - notice none of the seppies have been charged with anything even though they insult and taunt the federalists all the time. Been the same for years but nothing is ever done to them. Some justice in quebec - like everything else in this province - tinged with hate and bitterness over nothing.

      Delete
    7. Si il comprend maintenant les limites à ne pas franchir,ses prochaines métaphores n'associeront pas Ak-47 et Assemblée Nationale.

      Delete
    8. @cutie003

      "Dan was using a "metaphor" to say there will be trouble..."

      right. the dude's a poet. haha. you should stop defending machine gun enthusiasts mate. you would enjoy an instant boost in credibility. from none to close to none.

      Delete
    9. S.R,

      It's rather ironic that you would focus on Daniel Seniw's statement when you have made some thinly veiled threats on this blog in the past. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you have a criminal record and are on the radar of CSIS or the RCMP.

      Delete
    10. "veiled threats"

      Impossible car je suis un pro-charte,de plus, je maîtrise assez bien l'art de la métaphore.

      Delete
    11. @ editor

      This is what pisses me off...Don't you think it's a shame you have to add English subtitles to a video taped in French? In a country where bilinguilism is valued. Why is it that I was able to learn Shakespeare language and you anglos can't properly learn French? (I know it's not your case editor...) Am I way more intelligent than Canadian anglos so I can learn both( I don't think so)? Why must we always comply when we are getting laughed at our face? All you anglos complain about our will to sperate while in fact, it would please you if we left. You don't know us, you don't want to know us, you don't even want to have anything to do with us. I'm sorry, to ROC we're like Canadian niggas. Well guess what, Americans got know black people, got to embrace their culture and finally make their community part of the country. STOP LANGUAGE RACISM!

      Delete
    12. "Don't you think it's a shame you have to add English subtitles to a video taped in French? In a country where bilinguilism is valued."

      Would you then expect all English media that is dubbed into French for people in Quebec to enjoy to just suck it up and watch it in English?

      "Why must we always comply when we are getting laughed at our face?"
      Comply to what? No one made you watch the subtitled version.

      "You don't know us, you don't want to know us, you don't even want to have anything to do with us. I'm sorry, to ROC we're like Canadian niggas. "

      I wouldn't conflate apathy with racial hate, I doubt you care much what the people of the Northwest territories are up to or their regional culture, why? Because you don't live there. People have busy lives they're not all interested in what's happening in another province, to people they don't see on a daily basis. Perhaps trying to bring ones culture to the rest of the country, rather than yelling at everyone about not being loved and how you hate this place and want to leave like a petulant teenager, would yield better results? Though to say the rest of Canada hasn't embraced things from Quebec would be extremely disingenuous, people love poutine, toques, cirque de soliel, Just for laughs, Celine Dion (for some reason), lots of videogames that come out of the province, and skidoos all across the country.

      "you anglos can't properly learn French?" "STOP LANGUAGE RACISM!"

      I agree.

      Delete
    13. @ thatguy

      "I doubt you care much what the people of the Northwest territories are up to or their regional culture..."
      Exactly my point. You DOUBT I care because you don't know me. I've visited all provinces and territories beside NL and I embrace every culture differences Canada has to offer. So stop interpreting what you think you know about me and keep your prejudices for yourself.

      Delete
    14. You literally just made sweeping generalizations about the ROC, as well as anglos and now you have a problem with assumptions? Sorry but to assume someone is more interested in local news and culture, rather than the news and culture in some far off place on a daily basis is not a prejudice, it's part of being human. We know and are more invested in the things around us, globalization and the internet have expanded our scopes a bit, but it still holds true. To get upset that the rest of the country doesn't consume Quebec culture at a high enough level is very strange. I'm still confused as to what you want? You want everyone in the ROC to get to know you personally? Or are you assuming everyone in Quebec is like you and you're personally offended that the ROC, just isn't into Quebec enough? If you think everyone in the country and in Quebec are as fortunate enough to be able to have travelled around the country or speak two languages fluently in such a geographically large country it just isn't a reality for a lot of people. Would it be nice if everyone was bi or tri-lingual? Sure, but the fact that there are some anglos don't speak French and some Francophones don't speak English, and other people don't speak either, doesn't really necessitate a random scree against the rest of the country for not thinking that Quebec is the centre of the universe.

      Delete
    15. "Don't you think it's a shame you have to add English subtitles to a video taped in French?"

      TheThirdKind should keep in mind that this blog is not only read by Anglo Canadians but by people in the U.S. and other countries around the world, where English is the lingua franca. The translation is a courtesy to them if they don't understand French.

      Delete
  16. Bixi Bites the dust...
    Bixi files for protection
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bixi-owes-50m-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-1.2503974

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTMonday, January 20, 2014 at 5:58:00 PM EST

      How can a bunch of bicycles produce this full fledge nightmare? Free enterprise would have never, ever initiated this "feel good" socialist scheme.

      Delete
    2. I don't even want to think about the total amount government invested into that boon doogle, would have been cheaper and more effective to give a tax rebate on a new bike purchase on island.

      Delete
    3. I'm an avid cyclist (I ride my own bike, thank you), but I would love nothing more than to see this Bixi mess self-destruct and disappear from the cityscape for good! I hope it isn't saved and picked up by any organization, like say the Separatist Terror Militia, it just needs to die and go away.

      What a colossal waste of money and resources. So many parking spaces removed, so many dangerous inexperienced riders cluttering bike paths, so overpriced, so poorly managed and run. Just yet another black hole to throw tax dollars down. Again, I cycle most of the year round, but I don't see the appeal of Bixi or why anyone would use it. Or at least the Montreal model of public bike rentals, which like most things run in this city and province, is a complete failure.

      Delete
    4. @apple iigs

      "Or at least the Montreal model of public bike rentals, which like most things run in this city and province, is a complete failure."

      that line is pure uncalled for quebec bashing. why do you put yourself in this pitiful category mate?

      Delete
    5. Ah student, student, student.... I'm actually proud to be labeled a "Quebec basher". Why thank you!

      As a matter of fact, any society that openly persecutes minorities, passes laws that violate human rights, forbids basic religious freedoms, has little or no regard for the protection of animal welfare, including being the largest offender of torture and mistreatment of animals, exports lethal asbestos to third world nations (i.e. murder for profit), festers in corruption, has a complete disregard of safety by cutting corners and neglecting infrastructure, has the highest number of smokers, highest number of suicides, highest number of school dropouts, lowest contributors to charities and an overwhelming percentage population that are racist bigots...... and I'm barely scratching the surface here, I could just keep going on and on for pages...... then yes, I'd bash that society too.

      Indeed, Quebec IS a distinct society for those reasons alone! And until it changes even half those things, bash it I will! So will the rest of the world.

      Delete
    6. If Bixi's going under, I expect the Quebec government will confiscate the bikes, throw some extra chrome on them and rebrand them as "armoured personnel carriers" for the new military force that will blockade the St. Lawrence Seaway after the PQ wins a referendum on the question "Do you agree that the Charter of Values should become the constitution of the independent republic of Quebec?"

      Delete
    7. On a more serious note, does this really mark the end of the Bixi?

      There was mention they're planning to open and operate it for the 2014-15 season this spring. Personally I think it should just be shutdown and ended immediately, before they lose any more money. Though you know Montreal, throwing money into failing or failed projects is always the way to go....Olympic stadium roof, Mirabel Airport, Quebec city hockey arena, etc....

      Delete
    8. Bixi is just another employment/purchasing scam in montreal. Lots of companies got rich off making the bikes. They didn;t care in the least that it wasn;t sustainable to rent bikes that cost $15K

      Environmentalists and the sentimental feel drawn to it.

      For the money they spent they could have given every family that asked a free bike from China.

      A standard bike in bulk is like $100.

      $14900 in extra value?

      Trucks that move the bixi around at night because they are so heavy nobody wants to go uphill.

      Any bike company would have fallen all over themselves to make a mtl color version in massive qty for under $100 each.

      Delete
  17. Editor:
    Last years bullshit budget was proof that people in this province couldn't care less. What makes you think that anything will be different this year?
    Even the people with no job would rather go out and protest for more unemployment benefits or more B.S. than admit this province has serious financial problems.

    So tell me, what is going to change?
    I already know the answer: absolutely nothing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the dread

      is the pq headed for a majority???Gosh if it's the case, then the whole province, including francophone, are fucked!!!!

      Delete
    2. PQ or Liberals, this whole province is kaput anyways. We've passed the point of no return quite some time ago, nothing will turn this province around and back on its feet (and even if by some miracle something DID come along, which trust me it won't, it would take several decades to undo the damage the separatist have caused since the early 70's).

      At least a PQ majority would guarantee a third referendum in the near future. A referendum which I would vote 'Yes' in order to kick Quebec out of Canadian federation, and then promptly leave myself. Well, if I'm not out of here before then, but I think it would be worthwhile to stick around just long enough just to do my part to help other fellow Canadians.

      Delete
    3. @apple iigs

      "Well, if I'm not out of here before then, but I think it would be worthwhile to stick around..."

      mate you only have one life, you should leave now, you'll be much happier in a society that is down to your standards.

      Delete
    4. "mate you only have one life, you should leave now, you'll be much happier in a society that is down to your standards.

      Down to my standards? Oh, you mean like equality, openness, accepting of all other human beings regardless of color, race, language or beliefs? Being kind, warm, generous and helpful to other follow citizens? I know....those are offensive words to a Quebecois, particularly because they are (gasp!) CANADIAN values. Quebec values of course are divisiveness, closed mindedness, rejecting of anyone who is not white, Catholic and French by not only language, but blood. Intolerant of anything different. Rude, cold, petty and not caring for anyone but your own self.

      Ah, and finally, are part of Quebec "standards" to mistreat and abuse animals? Seems harming and ill towards defenseless animals is taken to a mastery level in Quebec. THE cherry on top when it comes to judging a society, and actually the one thing that I will never forgive this province for.

      Delete
  18. Mr. Berlach,

    Some time ago you wrote a piece about comparison between Montreal and Toronto. It that piece you gave scores to a number of lifestyle aspects and the conclusion was that Montreal was a better place to live than Toronto.

    Just for shits and giggles, should you write that piece again today, with the knowledge that you have about Montreal, Toronto and the environment around those cities, what conclusion would you probably come up to?

    ReplyDelete
  19. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTMonday, January 20, 2014 at 5:56:00 PM EST

    Bad news for 99% of the folks on here: The "rest of Canada" or ROC seem to fully support S.R. & his buddies.
    More here: http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/01/20140120-071110.html
    The comments are totally pro-separatist!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm odd that a new story called "Quebec separatists have risen into majority territory: poll" does not mention anyway that one of the finding of the poll they're reporting on was that support for separation is low at only 37 percent. Who owns Sun Media again?

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      Yes THATGUY! That's the beauty of Couillards plan. The PQ think because they have a 3 point majority it will whisk them into the driver' seat with an DUI cleaned away driver's licence. Election issues won't be just about the charter. The main issue will be the economy and they won't be able to hide the facts. The French pres will have to report what has been said to the francophones as well as to others. Please keep telling it like it is for the good of everybody. Ed

      Delete
    3. @ed

      "The main issue will be the economy and they won't be able to hide the facts."

      facts like the one about the liberals not being able to straithen things after nine years at the helm?

      Delete
    4. Can't say ol' Pauline is doing much better on that front, but can't really blame either of them, the economic problems stem from a lot of Quebec's golden cows that no party in Quebec seems willing to take care of. At this point Quebec just has to hope shale oil prices shoot through the roof so we can start selling hydro again (or start oil exploration), because buying jobs with tax money in order to get tax money, isn't going to cut it unfortunately.

      Delete
  20. Quand les angryphones de Montréal comptent sur les américains pour les soutenir...Hmm ça va mal

    ReplyDelete
  21. FROM ED
    Thankflly everything is going just right. According to the news tonight the PQ is getting up the courage to call an election thanks to Dr.Couillards seeming ineptitude. He's done a great job to achieve just what we want, an election. It was hard for him to ignore the taunts from jounalists, editorial letters anf bloggers but it worked and we're right where w want to be.
    Couillard does not care about the charter. He has a much larger target, to get his party elected.
    When the election is announced, he will make sure that the issues will be the economy, the division and the need for business investment By the time they are dragged through explaining to the voters why these things have happened the PQ will not be feeling so good.. they are three points ahead and they know this will never happen again. They have to move know or die a slow agonizing death.
    We will have much to debate now so please don't involve the trolls. This is more important than just talk. It may be our last stand. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please, Ed. No more "Remember the Alamo" and Custer's Last stand clichés...PUH-LEEZE! I'm sure Dr. Couillard won't fail to disappoint, so maybe he should just stick to his stethoscope.

      Delete
    2. FROM ED'
      Sauga, shove your fucking bullshit up your ass. Your like a vulture hoping for us to go down so people like you can
      get your hands on Canadian money. We are Canadians too and we are not going to let Quebec separate. I be;ieve you would sell your mother for the right price. That's all it is with you, money. The payments. If Quebec wasn't getting the money you want forn Ontario, you would not even bother posting here. You've made that clear many times. So
      swallow your hatred you greedy glommer. We don't need your farts of jubilation at our expense. Ed

      Delete
    3. Ed - If I may step in, Mr. Sauga is just telling things AS THEY ARE, and might I say (apart from small occasional jabs at poking fun, like the one above) has assessed and summed up the situation in Quebec far more intelligently, logically, clearly and coherently than anyone else I've seen on this blog site. Or most news editorials for that matter!

      It is you, unfortunately, that is lost in denial. Understandable when the place you've likely lived a big chunk of your life (if not all?) has been hijacked by separatist thugs, and your own country and government has essentially abandoned you. It is not easy to give up, uproot your life, and go live elsewhere....particularly if you're not young. I'm sure settling down is on your mind, not starting over again from scratch. You have every right to be angry, and I know I am, but there comes a point where you have to face facts and see no matter what, things are not going to change here. I lived in that false dream myself for a number of years, hoping someone or something would come along and change Quebec. The Liberals are NOT our saviors, in fact they're more our tormentors. The lines between the PQ and Liberal have blurred so much it's just no longer there...they're just another nationalist party that just see us as two groups: Les Quebecois and Les Autres, and only one groups is deserving of rights and freedoms.

      I'm still here but I'm planning my departure. Little or nothing left in this province for me. My father (who was as rooted to Quebec as you) recently passed away, our family house of 40 years was sold and now gone....coincidentally maybe only a block or two from Mr. Sauga's old house in Chomedey. Most of my family and friends have left this province years ago. All sad losses, but at least from a positive perspective, I'm no longer weighted down and have more incentive to leave. The final push for me will likely be a PQ majority (or even re-elected minority) with a third referendum call.

      Delete
  22. FROM ED
    A word on Dr. Couillard. Phillipe is a brilliant man. Dummies don't operate on brain cells. He has saved mant lives.
    I have met him once and I felt an excitement that gave me hope for our future.. I recall a lione about Jack Kennedy when he was runnig for the swenatorship of Mass. The author said, "We arrived late and were held up for a while in the porchbut we could tell by the fervor of the cowd that the candidate had already arrived, " I got that feeling with the good Dr. He is dynamic which made it hard for him to not show any exubrance lately. When the elction is announced you will see a big change.
    We must all become alive and get behind him. Forget separation it is notbgoing to happen. Think freedom. We will be wrking against the PQ and CAQ. Good Luck. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gimme a c, c ,c gimme a o, o, o, gimmi a u, u, u. couillard couillard. you're pathetic ed dude.

      Delete
    2. Couillard n'a aucun flair politique,trop "by the book".

      Delete
    3. Couillard is capable of performing delicate brain surgery.

      Marois has difficulty banging pot lids.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upv1q3laGI8

      Delete
    4. Couillard est un médecin et Madame Marois une politicienne...chacun son domaine.

      Delete
    5. By AnecTOTE

      "Madame Marois une politicienne..."

      A very poor one s.r....a Monumentally poor one....LOL....but..good luck with that!!!

      Delete
    6. @hands off myhijab

      "a monumentally poor" politician doesn't last forty years, becomes premier and then leads in polls for re-election mate. are you so stingy that you won't even give her that?!?

      Delete
    7. FROM ED
      APPLE, You've got me wrong. I am not the least but angry at the separatists. I no more hate them than I did the enemy I killed in Korea. I am totally pragmatic about what is going on and I have lived my whole life that way. Nothing has changed for me because of age. The people that do make me angry peopele like you and Cutie who will allow no hopw for the future and disbelieve it at evry turn before it's allowed to even happen.
      The Liberal party that hopefully will soon run tour homeland is not yet tested but somwhow you guys see it as a disaster. I have been on the inside of politics all my life and close to the Liberals and I've seen what they have done for Quebec. To begin, if it wasn't for the Libs the Catholic charge would still be running our lives. Life under them was always peaceful. There was no hate arrising from language even with OQLF in place to please the French MAJORITY> Liberak spending was natural. Everyone was going into deficits at the time with leaders likeTrudeau/Chretien and George Bush. Every province including Alberta was using borrowed money. Jean Charest was critisized by the French for speaking in English more than he did French. He worked closely with the English business community bedcause he knerw that's where he could get things done. It was not the fault of the Liberals that the R.C. Church had kept Franks so untrained that millions ere forced to go on welfare and the Federal government program's (Employment was Federal then) did not help. We are still paying for te church's doings. It upsets me when I see people like you, Cuties and Cebeuq predicting Quebec's demise. We are not going to have another refereendum or separation or division. A simple election will solve our problems if you would all get behind it and stop being derogatory about the party that can save us. Ed.

      Delete
  23. Below is the link to Kenan Malik's excellent essay on the dangers of identity politics. It mentions Quebec too, and not as a victim of multiculturalism (as Quebec claims to be while trying to "defend" itself from religious and other multiculturalism) but as a beneficiary of it. I'm glad that the Left is finally beginning to realize that embracing identity politics in the 1960s was not the right move. (Malik is a British left wing intellectual)

    http://www.kenanmalik.com/essays/butterflies_identity.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "One expression of such equal treatment is the growing tendency in some Western nations for religious law - such as the Jewish halakha and the Islamic sharia - to take precedence over national secular law in civil, and occasionally criminal, cases. Another expression can be found in Australia, where the courts increasingly accept that Aborigines should have the right to be treated according to their own customs rather than be judged by 'whitefella law'. According to Colin McDonald, a Darwin barrister and expert in customary law, 'Human rights are essentially a creation of the last hundred years. These people have been carrying out their law for thousands of years'. Some multiculturalists go further, requiring the state to ensure the survival of cultures not just in the present but in perpetuity. Charles Taylor, for instance, suggests that the Canadian and Quebec governments should take steps to ensure the survival of the French language in Quebec 'through indefinite future generations'.

      The demand that because a cultural practice has existed for a long time, so it should be preserved - or, in Charles Taylor's version, the demand that because I am doing X so my descendants, through 'indefinite future generations', must also do X - is a modern version of the naturalistic fallacy, the belief that ought derives from is. For nineteenth century social Darwinists, morality - how we ought to behave - derived from the facts of nature - how humans are. This became an argument to justify capitalist exploitation, colonial oppression, racial savagery and even genocide. Today, virtually everyone recognises the falsity of this argument. Yet, when talking of culture rather than of nature, many multiculturalists continue to insist that is defines ought.

      ...

      Delete
    2. In any case, there is something deeply inauthentic about the contemporary demand for authenticity. The kind of cultures that the Enlightenment philosophes wanted to consign to history were, in an important sense, different from the cultures that today's multiculturalists wish to preserve. In the premodern world there was no sense of cultural integrity or authenticity. There were no alternatives to the ways of life that people followed. Cultures were traditional but in an unselfconscious fashion. Those who lived in such cultures were not aware of their difference, let alone that they should value it or claim it as a right. A French peasant attended Church, an American Indian warrior painted his face not because they thought 'This is my culture, I must preserve it' but for pragmatic reasons. As the political philosopher Brian Barry suggests, in the absence of some compelling reason for doing things differently, people went on doing them in the same way as they had in the past. Cultural inertia, in other words, preserved traditional ways because it was the easiest way to organise collective life.

      Multiculturalists, on the other hand, exhibit a self-conscious desire to preserve cultures. Such 'self-consciousness traditionalism', as Barry calls it, is a peculiarly modern, post-Enlightenment phenomenon. In the modern view, traditions are to be preserved not for pragmatic reasons but because such preservation is a social, political and moral good. Maintaining the integrity of a culture binds societies together, lessens social dislocation and allows the individuals who belong to that culture to flourish. Such individuals can thrive only if they stay true to their culture - in other words, only if both the individual and the culture remains authentic.

      Modern multiculturalism seeks self-consciously to yoke people to their identity for their own good, the good of that culture and the good of society. A clear example is the attempt by the Quebecois authorities to protect French culture. The Quebec government has passed laws which forbids French speakers and immigrants from sending their children to English-language schools; compel businesses with more than fifty employees to be run in French; and bans English commercial signs. So, if your ancestors were French you, too, must by government fiat speak French whatever your personal wishes may be. Charles Taylor regards this as acceptable because the flourishing and survival of French culture is a good. 'It is not just a matter of having the French language available for those who might choose it', he argues. Quebec is 'making sure that there is a community of people here in the future that will want to avail itself of the opportunity to use the French language'. Its policies 'actively seek to create members of the community... assuring that future generations continue to identify as French-speakers'."

      ....

      Delete
    3. ...

      "Part of the problem is a constant slippage in multiculturalism talk between the idea of humans as culture-bearing creatures with the idea that humans have to bear a particular culture. Clearly no human can live outside of culture. But then no human does. 'It's not easy to imagine a person, or people, bereft of culture', observes Kwame Appiah. 'The problem with grand claims for the necessity of culture', he adds, 'is that we can't readily imagine an alternative. It's like form: you can't not have it.' Culture, in other words, is like oxygen: no living human can do without it, but no living human does.

      To say that no human can live outside of culture is not to say they have to live inside a particular one. Nor is it to say that particular cultures must be fixed or eternal. To view humans as culture-bearing is to view them as social beings, and hence as transformative beings. It suggests that humans have the capacity for change, for progress, and for the creation of universal moral and political forms through reason and dialogue. To view humans as having to bear specific cultures is, on the contrary, to deny such a capacity for transformation. It suggests that every human being is so shaped by a particular culture that to change or undermine that culture would be to undermine the very dignity of that individual. It suggests that the biological fact of, say, Jewish or Bangladeshi ancestry somehow make a human being incapable of living well except as a participant of Jewish or Bangladeshi culture. This would only make sense if Jews or Bangladeshis were biologically distinct - in other words if cultural identity was really about racial difference."

      Delete
    4. Lotta interesting stuff there, adski. I simply remember from my Grade 7 history, primarily on the history of mankind, we were taught that everybody had/has a culture, but not necessarily a civilization. Culture can be peculiar or familiar, simple or complicated, but everybody has one.

      Perhaps we have rapid means of transportation/mobility as well as several ways to communicate instantaneously in this Third Millennium, the world truly is a much smaller place, the likelihood of peoples being mixed is greater than ever, and there is nothing in sight to reverse the trend.

      Over a decade ago, the late Claude Ryan wrote an exposé or manifesto or whatever you want to call it about Liberal values in a contemporary Quebec. From what I got out of it, Ryan expressed how in Quebec collective rights outweigh individual rights. This goes against the importance of the individual in Canadian values (the rest of Canada, that is). Ireland too is notorious for a tyrannous majority, and blatantly points out a downside to democracy. Quebec is showing its tyrannous downside in interpreting its own form of democracy, and simply put, it doesn't fit the RoC's definition thus, ergo and therefore, who needs Quebec anymore?

      The fact Quebec is "different" is not the reason for discarding them, it's the fact they're quite deliberately contravening RoC's values with a thirst for revenge against all those not of their ilk that Quebec should be discarded from Canada. Without all that federal money rolling in for their ingratitude, what're they going to do when droves of people and the tax base they carry are taken to other more welcoming places.

      Doesn't the fact that only one in 800,000 Francophones in Quebec are billionaires while one in 15,000 are Jewish? Now the Quebec government has to pay the ethnics money (much to Jacques Parasite's chagrin) to keep jobs in Quebec. With separation, nine of those 17 billionaires will surely move their riches elsewhere. 80% of their population is French speaking, yet only 45% of the Quebec billionaires are French, and far less than the 23% of Canada's population contains a lower proportion of billionaires.

      Quebec should be a sovereign state because it will get exactly what it deserves!

      Good-bye, good luck, good riddance!

      Delete
  24. State of Michigan politician Erika Geiss says: "Given Quebec's anti-anglophone and discriminatory polices, should we be doing business with them?"

    https://twitter.com/emsgeiss

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Theo,

      Too bad that Erika Geiss is nobody relevant. Otherwise one should retweet that.

      Delete
    2. Even Texas will be able to laugh at Quebec. You name the person or place.

      Anyone that understands the digging of holes must stop is able to laugh at Quebec and more enlightened.

      Delete
    3. Erika Geiss was actually reacting to a state address by the Michigan governor. She explains herself on Facebook:

      Mr. Paquette, Thanks for your commentary. Thank you too, Put Canadian Flag Back In the Assembly for picking up my tweet. Traction/publicity was not my intent...my tweet was an honest reaction as a Michigan citizen listening to the governor give the annual state of the state address.

      The issue of the U.S. as a country doing business with the Middle East is a federal issue, not a state issue, and I happen to be running for a state legislative office, not a federal one. Do I believe that one should consider the policies of another entity when it comes to considering doing business with them, absolutely. I also recall how it took *people* to insist on divesting from South Africa during apartheid in order for the world to actually start paying attention and not making it a "oh that's their problem, not ours" issue.

      I don't think it was entirely fair of you Mr. Paquette to say "Point being this politician clearly has an agenda and an ulterior motive for saying that. It doesn't bother her as a woman how many women in the middle east are treated, but the way Anglo's are treated by Quebec does matter?" when you neither know me nor my "motives."

      Delete
    4. Quand les angryphones de Montréal comptent sur les américains pour les soutenir...Hmm ça va mal

      Delete
    5. By AnecTOTE

      @Troy

      Erika G. May be irrelevant ..but I was wondering....how about...a bunch of NHL Hockey teams..(if not the entire League) rallying together to collectively boycott the local hockey team here...mmm...that would put some legitimate pressure on the powers that be to have some regard for people's a Rights and Freedoms wouldn't it? And all it takes...is for one or two to start...lol...mmmmm let's see ....who'd love to stick it to these guys? Lol

      Delete
    6. https://www.facebook.com/electgeiss

      Stephanie Jill McDonald: I too would like to thank you for your tweet. I am an American that lived in Quebec for many years. I felt discriminated against on a regular basis, and moved back to the US (Missouri) recently bc it had become so bad there. You are a very, very popular person amongst many Quebec Anglo groups. Your tweet has been published and shared many times over. Thank you so much for your support and recognition. We have felt that we were basically alone in our struggle to maintain our basic freedoms.

      Delete
    7. We need to expose what is going on in Quebec and Canada...people rally have no idea what the french are up to...please post the clips below anywhere you would like. They just point out the facts...thanks.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW33xkVB-oI

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhPcV0gtFR0

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abOWJkf-Vh8

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iGZE6zxoKQ



      Enjoy the latest videos exposing this bilingual scam…and if care please pass it on.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZz61S3sTA8

      These bigots are all over the country folks…you think its bad in Quebec (bills 22, 178, 101…) …mmm, enjoy the latest video below (click it back to the start when it opens) and spread the word…people really have no idea what these bigots are really up to...

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmQsPnhRA-c&feature=youtu.be&t=5m53s



      Delete
  25. FROM ED
    Adski, you make it perfectly clear why Quebec Franco[hones think and vote en masse et en bloc. We need your intelligence' Any ideas which direction we should take now? So nice to have you back. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  26. FROM ED
    EDITOR,
    What wonderful blog today.I diagree with a lot you say but you have given us both sides of a profitable debate..If e can keep troll and one line bullshit out of our hair we will open somw thinking about what will be best for our future.
    Adski is with us today and great to read him. Le's hope Jarry Street and Apparatchik will joinin. Sandy McTire where are you. Speak out folks we are listening. Ed Brown

    ReplyDelete
  27. Houda-Pepin se dit «exclue» du caucus libéral

    La charte de la laïcité fait une victime au Parti libéral. Fatima Houda-Pepin a refusé de se rallier à la position du parti. Au nom de la tolérance et du respect des libertés individuelles, le chef Philippe Couillard dit ne plus pouvoir garder dans son caucus la seule députée musulmane de l'Assemblée nationale.

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201401/20/01-4730566-houda-pepin-se-dit-exclue-du-caucus-liberal.php

    Très mauvaise stratégie de la part des "liberals"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If someone can't abide by the rules and regulations of the party they represent they should not be allowed to remain part of the party. Couillard represents his WHOLE party not one person in the party - so call it as you will, you are simply wrong to think she can make this decision to change a whole Charter of Rights and Freedoms of a country and a province because she doesn't like it. I'm glad she left on her own - if not she would have had to be fired - just like the Bloc did to their one female member.

      Delete
    2. @cutie003

      "If someone can't abide by the rules and regulations of the party they represent they should not be allowed to remain part of the party."

      you have a perverted view of democracy mate. mna's represent their constituents, not their party. and what "rules and regulations" are you refering to in this case? the rule to repeat the dear leader's call like a parrot? and you support this? you'd fit better in a dictatorship mate. no wonder your political opinions are bad.

      p.s. what's your average thinking time before writing a comment here?

      Delete
  28. The Most Discriminatory Laws in Canadian History

    http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rachel-decoste/most-discriminatory-canadian-laws_b_3932297.html

    Hmm...Très enrichissant ce petit historique sur le multiculturalisme canadien.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Canada (including Quebec) sure did make some terrible mistakes in the past in how they treated minorities, good thing Canada isn't moving backwards and going back to minority discrimination.

      Delete
    2. This is a good reminder that while Canada keeps learning from history, progressing and always moving forward, minority Quebec separatists keep wallowing in history, something which they have never digested, and are mired in the past, which not only keeps them stuck there, determined to restrict everyone else’s rights for a sense of validation, but also compelled to slavishly imitate the failed policies of its former colonial master, France.

      Delete
    3. They don't wallow in the bit of history that says they are essentially occupying stolen property.

      Delete
    4. FROM ED
      The huffington post article is a bad spin on Canadian history that says nothing. People enacted laws they thought was best for the majotity. If others were left out tgh luck. Remember they did not have the information available that we do now. Also history does not always tell the whole story. The internment of Japanese was necessarry in the eyes of the law makers at the time. Pearl Harbour opened our eyes to the venemous hatred of the Jap government. Japanese immigrants were asked to swear allegience to the KIng. They refused saying they would not turn their backs on the Emporer Hirohito. This meant we had literally a fifth column living amongst us and the government of Canada had to act for the security of the country. The history books don't mention this.
      There'san old saying, "If you want tknow the situation of a country read the history books. If you want to know how people lived and why they acted so at the time, read fiction. "
      History tells us who the rulers were and what action they took in 1765. If you want to know howit affected the people read
      Dickens. In 'Oliver Twist' he describes the living conditions and the gap between the rich andthe poor.
      In 'Tale Of Two Cities' he describes poverty in France and the hopelessnes ofthe population. To take a lotof old laws without looking at the situation of the people at the time is misinforming.These people did not act out of hatred but more likely out of fear of others that they don't understand. Ed
      Ed

      Delete
  29. Une anglophone qui a tout mon respect

    "Tracy Cheryl Townson

    Already left in 2013 to Ottawa. Life is too short to put up with being treated like second class citizens and tax gouged. Ridiculous to say stay and fight. Nobody fights they just complain."

    Way to go TCT

    ReplyDelete
  30. Les Quebecois 1%

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/tony-accurso-and-jean-lavall%C3%A9e-photo-of-union-boss-magnate-makes-splash-1.2504298

    Beached whales.

    """When asked by commissioner Renaud Lachance if he felt uncomfortable going on the luxury boat, Lavallée shrugged it off, saying it was a common practice at one time.

    """

    There's that Quebec culture coming through again. That excuse went out 100 years ago. Is this really the best he can do?

    It's never been acceptable to take this kind of thing. It's only acceptable to give such stupid answers in Quebec.

    It's just one scammer after another claiming they didn;t understand or "practices have changed".

    Stealing and lying have always been wrong.

    It's the great excuse in Quebec. Steal, cheat, lie and then claim you didn;t understand that it was wrong.

    Failure in the Quebecois cultural morals or failure of the education system, but it's a massive failure.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Gold at Todays Charbonneau

    """
    FTQ boss Michel Arsenault on the wiretap: "I'll talk to Pauline."

    """

    Oh no. The witch will go ballistic. Imagine the threats and contracts she's going to make behind the scenes to get everybody back into line.

    Will be a flurry of new road construction announced soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - for sure - just like last time when a PQ was mentioned by the commission - she requested that it be kept quiet and it was - we never heard any more about it! Miss Piggy must be on the phone after kissing the asses of the Brits. What a disgusting province. The only good thing we've heard for more than a year is the young lady playing tennis in Australia!

      Delete
    2. ""Arsenault is heard invoking a “deal with (Claude) Blanchet” – the husband of Quebec Premier Pauline Marois. The bottom line, Arsenault said, is that “the PQ won’t touch” the debate surrounding a possible inquiry.""

      All the deals are done through him for Pauline and the PQ. Would he really be a successful rich Quebec businessman if he didn;t know Tony Accurso?

      Remember it's not corruption. It's Quebec culture.

      The PQ do it, the Liberals do it.

      It's Quebec govt just a revolving door of petty criminals and thieves.

      It doesn;t matter what party is elected. The underlying problem is the same.

      Quebec's society values are all fucked up.

      A Quebec politician can no more be honest then a leopard can change it's spots. In their minds they are already honest. That's the problem. Their culture taught them a distorted view of honesty.

      Delete
  32. And more bad economic news for us - guess we have given enough money to Bombardier as yet:

    http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/01/21/1700-layoffs-at-bombardier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cutie, it's called a "loan guarantee" not a "giving money".

      That way in 10 years when it's not paid off and we "lend" them more nobody remembers.

      Montreal economy is so screwed.

      Even the companies the govt is shoveling money at are closing.

      Delete
    2. lol - the window dressing is all the same cebeuq - this province is so f---ed up - I don't know how they will ever recover from the disaster they have (are) creating with their division and hate. Bombardier was one of the best employers in the whole province and they can't even keep it up and running on all cylinders. The bottom gets closer every minute.

      Delete
    3. Bombardier is a corporate welfare recipient. Federal programs exist that help aerospace companies through subsidies, training grants and other financing. Work is cyclical so they fire people then re-hire people. I suppose that aerospace money from the feds will disappear in an independent Quebec, eh?

      Delete
    4. An independant Quebec won;t be able to have an airplane company.

      It's basically an english industry. English manuals. English support.

      Once Quebec seperates there won;t be enough people left behind that have university degree's in something except Art History and poly sci to have a company that builds airplanes.

      FTQ members can;t assemble anything except lego.

      Delete
    5. Yep - you're absolutely right. Except a lot of these people (highly trained) will bug off now and won't be there next time they bribe some company to give them a contract. When I worked in procurement in the federal government, Bombardier was always given "special" treatment because they are a quebec based company and it always pissed me off no end. Anyway, when they become independent, they will leave quebec behind so fast you won't see their ass end leave the door - same as most companies that have an ounce of brains.

      Delete
    6. Bombardier, CAE, Bell Helicopter, etc. are aerospace firms that have exemptions from language laws. The English built the Quebec aerospace industry and the English control it.

      http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/language-law-exemptions-enjoyed-by-54-quebec-companies-1.1246721

      http://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/francisation/entreprises/ententes.html

      Delete
    7. On the hiring side, new Ericsson jobs, announced June 2013:
      - $30 million subsidy from Quebec government
      - discount on Hydro-Quebec rate
      - 10 years without income tax
      - scheduled to open new facility in Vaudreuil in 2015
      - new facility will employ 100 people

      Good value for taxpayer money, right?

      Delete
  33. http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Bombardier+laying+1700+from+aerospace+division+mostly/9412339/story.html

    More jobs go bye-bye

    1700 lost this time.

    Mostly technical people and engineers, designers etc. Won;t be many PQ voters in that crowd. Educated workers and all. The PQ loves the FTQ uneducated goons that don;t understand "conflict of interest".

    The artist collectives and anti-development environmental consultants need to ramp up the hiring.

    Montreal won;t be supporting the rest of Quebec soon. Urban decline, here we come!

    Remember if the seppies want to destroy all ethnic and anglo institutions, what's good for the gander is good for the geese.

    Montreal should be a wasteland by the time they finish separation and partition are voted on.

    That's ok. Anglo's/ethnic can run to Canada after Quebec is trashed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Before we even have a chance to take in the loss of 800 jobs at Sears, plus 220 jobs lost at Benjamin News (and process the consequences and damage this will bring!).... BOOM, another 1,000 jobs lost! And undoubtedly there are more to follow.

      Don't forget there was also the Old Dutch potato chip factory that closed in September, another 216 lost jobs, and 1,300 jobs lost when Electrolux finally closed its Montreal plant in 2013, and moved it to the States.

      I still chuckle about Mayor Bourque's "Montreal, You Are My Future!" campaign back in 1996, complete with TV ads and musical jingle. Anyone remember it?

      Delete
    2. @apple iigs

      if you are honest you will also post the list of new hirings that occured in the same time period as these layoffs. but do it only if you are honest.

      Delete
    3. student - You mean the at the Office Québécois de la Langue Française? I bet job hiring there is up! Plus they'll soon need to open a new branch to help enforce Bill 60. Called "Office Quebecois de Protection contre les Juifs, les Arabes, les musulmans, les hindous et les kippa dangereux".

      Oh, and in other news, YET ANOTHER major hotel closure announced in Montreal. The Holiday Inn on Sherbrooke Street west has apparently been sold, and will be turned into low cost student housing (just like the Delta on University St). Several hundred more lay-offs will be announced in the spring....

      http://www.prlog.org/12270501-holiday-inn-montreal-midtown-vendu-20-janvier-2014-holiday-inn-montreal-midtown-sold.html

      Editor, you should post a blog entry on all these recent job loses, I can't keep up!

      Delete
    4. @apple iigs

      "You mean the at the Office Québécois de la Langue Française?"

      of course, but not only those. thanks for proving, with the remainder of your last comment, that you are not honest.

      Delete
    5. student - Honestly, the only new job announcement I can think of would be Aldo shoes expanding in St. Laurent. And it's hardly worth boasting about as the provincial government had to pay for those jobs, via a large loan and cash hand out.

      Well, feel free to share what new jobs have been created in Quebec recently, preferably companies that have set up shop in Quebec without the tax or loan incentives. Even if you can think of some, likely on the fingers of one hand, it's the ratio of jobs created verus jobs lost is what counts in the end.

      Delete
    6. By AnecTOTE

      Apples, ...promise that after you move you'll still hang out on this blog......you kill me.

      Delete
    7. @ Apple IIGS - Ericsson is hiring, I posted details in a previous comment. There is Cinesite plus some other gaming or film industry company, can't remember the name.

      Delete
  34. And more on the Miss Piggy connection to organized crime:

    http://www.leaderpost.com/news/montreal/Charbonneau+Commission+executives+wiretapped+saying+they/9412393/story.html

    lol - couldn't have happened to a nicer party, leader, and at the perfect time. What you say now seppies? Only the liberals?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Cutie,

    As "Les Quebecois" see it. Policing fellow citizens stealing is something they arn;t expected to do.

    Policing and harasing fellow citizens for language infractions. Now yes of course. that is important. All citizens must be involved in the project.

    So fucked up. Everybody at Charbonneau says "it wasn;t their job" "they didn;t realize" etc. Yet the same people are supposed to harass and make complaints about the language their fellow citizens speak.

    Racist plain and simple.

    Citizens can;t be expected to notice or discover fraud, scams or theft, yet they are empored to tattle on fellow citizens about language and cultural "offenses".

    Makes total sense. WHEN YOU ARE QUEBECOIS!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that's a racist comment. you're abusing your freedom of speech mate. hence preventing healthy debate.

      Delete
    2. @student
      please explain how cebeuq is abusing his freedom of speech.

      Delete
  36. Out of topic, not language-related, not politics-related, not hockey-related, not Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and the equality between women and men, and providing a framework for accommodation requests-related. I hope Mr. Berlach does not mind.

    One of the greatest football players - if not the greatest - in Canada, Anthony Calvillo, retired today. He was a big part in bringing Montreal relevant in Canada's football map. A great man, will be greatly missed, even though it is indeed time for him to move along.

    I do hope that the Alouette organization is ready with the plan to make his departure is not missed too much or too long. Otherwise, the city will fade even further into obscurity.

    ReplyDelete
  37. ‘We’ll talk to Pauline,’ FTQ executive Michel Arsenault says in wiretap evidence at Charbonneau inquiry

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/touch/story.html?id=9412393

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today`s Charbonneau Commission bombshell is going to wipe that smirk off her face for pretty fast. So much for yesterday's poll.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfRfwZw-zjQ

      Delete
    2. Funny how our resident trolls have disappeared over the last couple of hours. Can't take the heat, stay the hell out of the kitchen? Misinformed, stupid people have all but ruined quebec and if it takes outing the whole damn lot of them to clean this province up, so be it! There is not one of them so far that have been interviewed that seem to know anything about ethics or honesty and the PQ are part and parcel of the bunch. Why are they all as rich as they are? On a paid yearly salary like the rest of us? I think not. I hope Charbonneau brings the whole damn mess to the surface so this province can be cleaned up and we can get back to some normalcy if ever possible! Take a good look in the mirror you racist bigots and see what you have let yourselves become!

      As a side note Editor - thank you for changing to numbers rather than letters for encoding. Much easier to make out.

      Delete
    3. Marois and the blog trolls are hiding behind Drainville's wall of integrity.

      Delete
  38. Uuuuhhhhh...

    Where did the seppie brigade go?

    S.R, Student, YL, Michel Patrice et al...we have something for you here:

    1 -- http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/dossiers/commission-charbonneau/201401/21/01-4730772-michel-arsenault-et-jean-lavallee-avaient-leurs-amis-du-pq.php

    2 -- http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Charbonneau+Commission+executives+wiretapped+saying+they/9412393/story.html

    3 -- http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2014/01/21/jean-lavallee-a-michel-arsenault-on-va-parler-a-pauline

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i'm here mate. do you have a question?

      Delete
    2. Maritime Union

      G'day mate.

      Delete
    3. I haven't been around much, I read the latest Editor's post and I quickly browse through the comment section once every few days.

      Since I haven't been here regularly, have I mist James Wolfe's explanation of what is wrong with being métis?

      Delete
  39. And a video from Sun News about the incident at the Laval Hospital:

    http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/3081833903001#.Ut6y5cjSNXM.facebook

    ReplyDelete
  40. I see nothing wrong with your scenario except the blindingly obvious: the Liberals are too stupid to ever go for it.

    The Liberals are a party that, lest we forget, don't much like the anglos and ethnics either, but they know that as long as they don't go too far they have a big chunk of captive voters.

    -Kevin

    ReplyDelete
  41. Boivin: no to Charter of Values and baseball investment

    Businessman Pierre Boivin - former president of the Montreal Canadiens - says the Parti Quebecois government's proposed Charter of Values would hurt Quebec's economy. Speaking Monday to the Canadian Club in Montreal , Boivin described Quebec as heavily indebted and said it is pulling in less in the way of international investment than provinces such as Alberta and Ontario. Boivin, now president of the investment firm Claridge, says international firms consider a region's social climate before deciding to invest and favour an open and tolerant society. He says the debate about Bill 60 may discourage investment. On another issue, Boivin said Claridge would probably not be interested in investing in the return of Major League Baseball to Montreal. Claridge is the Bronfman family's investment arm. It and a number of other parties helped the Chamber of Commerce finance a $400,000 feasibility study on bringing baseball back to Montreal. Boivin says Stephen Bronfman may be a big baseball fan but there is a significant difference between investing in a feasibility study and acquiring an interest in a baseball team. He says there are no plans at this time for Claridge to put money into a baseball franchise for Montreal.

    http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/01/21/boivin-no-to-charter-of-values-and-baseball-investment

    ReplyDelete
  42. AMT: des matériaux détournés pour rénover la maison de Suzanne Bibeau

    L'Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) croit que des entrepreneurs auraient détourné les matériaux d'un important chantier de l'Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) pour rénover la maison de Suzanne Bibeau, soeur du grand argentier du Parti libéral du Québec, Marc Bibeau.

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-affaires-criminelles/affaires-criminelles/201401/21/01-4730905-amt-des-materiaux-detournes-pour-renover-la-maison-de-suzanne-bibeau.php

    Héhé!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Here is a video of the Pineault testimony before the Charter hearings to which I added English subs
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIEsIBTSuo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If these people ever left this province before, you can't tell from that video. What the hell did they expect? They should have went to Rome for heaven's sake - there they would have seen only what they are used to - Catholics all over the place there! It's sad that this type of testimony is allowed at any kind of enquiry anywhere in a modern society. What does this say about quebec and/or any of us that reside here? No wonder I never admit I come from quebec when I travel!

      Delete
    2. Que dire des nord américains qui exigent d'être servi en globish partout sur la planète?

      Delete
    3. @cutie003

      " It's sad that this type of testimony is allowed at any kind of enquiry anywhere..."

      i thought you were a defendant of rights and democracy. that was bullshit too then was it mate?

      Delete
    4. @S.R.

      We English rule the planet therefore we expect to served in our language.

      @student

      The only bullshit here is you mate!

      Delete
    5. @fall of louisbourg 1758

      "The only bullshit here is you mate!"

      are you saying you reckon s.r is cool?

      Delete
    6. "We English rule the planet"

      Faux,ce sont les Chinois.

      Delete
  44. Signes religieux : le PLQ dit non au tchador

    http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/21/signes-religieux--le-plq-dit-non-au-tchador_n_4638701.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-quebec

    Bande de racistes xénophobes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Erf, now the PLQ's position is as hypocritical as the PQ's position, what is with political parties in this province?

      Delete
    2. @thatguy

      what's hypocritical about the pq position?

      Delete
    3. God it's so simple - No FULL face coverings - that's it, that's all again! We need to see the face; the rest is BS and very subjective as to what's acceptable to some and not acceptable to others. We don't need any other restraints - are we going after ear rings that have a skull and crossbones next? What about the kids that into Goth? Are to arrest everyone for their personal taste? I would arrest them before I arrested someone wearing a scarf on their head. Good grief everyone, get a grip!

      Delete
    4. @student
      (sigh) student we've been over this at least 10 times already, I'm starting to get worried that you may have anterograde amnesia. If you still don't know go back and read the comments section in any of the charter posts, I'll give you a hint, it's about the uneven and pointless way some aspects of the charter are being enforced.

      Delete
  45. New Video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Drunk, Swearing in Jamaican Patois? Bumbaclot

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXpwflzSF4M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who the hell cares? We live in our own nightmare and I don't have time for anyone else's. Don't bother posting this shit on this blog - none of us are interested.

      Delete
    2. @cutie003

      the editor made a piece the other day about toronto, as troy recalled earlier. many comments followed. you'll have to understand one day that the world doesn't revolve around your navel cutie003. that is if you care to attain relevancy level one. otherwise you can stay put.

      Delete
  46. Another news from the world of sports. Eugenie Bouchard (without accent) goes to the semi final of the Australian Open. She becomes the first Canadian that reaches the semi final of a Grand Slam tournament in decades. Now will the Quebec francophones come out and claim Bouchard's accomplishments as one of their own?

    When one watches her interviews on TSN and on RDS, it is obvious that while she is fluently bilingual, her English is much better than her French.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She attended private bilingual The Study school in Westmount, as well as public English Westmount High School.

      Delete
    2. I've never followed tennis, but this is big news. Good for her! I feel proud to be a Canadian on days like today.

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