Heads Will Roll Over Foolish Macleans Article

We've all seen the movie where the editor of a newspaper or magazine comes under undue pressure from a big client who demands that the newspaper kill an unfavourable or unflattering story or else face the prospect of losing a big advertiser.

It's more than an urban myth, it's a reality that the media faces when it reports on its own advertisers.

Now Maclean's magazine doesn't seem to have a lot to lose in writing a completely unflattering article accusing Quebec of being the most corrupt province. There aren't a lot of subscribers here and not a lot of advertisers that could be affected, or so it seems.

Whether the story is actually true or not, is entirely beside the point. Foolishly, the magazine never really considered the consequences of printing such an inflammatory piece, or worse, using outrageously inappropriate and insulting cover art.

Quebeckers are seething.

To be honest, most can't even read English, but seeing the image of Bonhomme Carnaval being abused in such a way, was enough to send them into a justified fury.
It isn't a great leap to conclude that given the trash treatment of Bonhomme, the article would likely be as unfair.

While Maclean's defenders tells us to look past the title of the article and cover artwork and instead concentrate on the gist of the article, they are badly out of touch with reality.

I don't know what Maclean's was thinking. Apparently nobody overseeing the magazine had the good sense to anticipate the reaction. In that respect, they are rank amateurs.

Let me be the first (to my knowledge) to predict that heads will roll in consequence. It won't take long for the link between the magazine and it's parent corporation, ROGERS, to be made.

And Rogers has a lot to lose in Quebec. Any sort of boycott, or even a talk of a boycott would be devastating and don't think it isn't coming.

Right now, somewhere in Toronto the midnight oil is burning at Rogers headquarters and the damage control consultants have been summoned and are in full battle mode. A plan is brewing.

Someone is going to be thrown under the bus. Someone will pay.
It's coming, just you wait and see.

Just ask Jan Wong, whose career nosedived after writing an article claiming that the Dawson shooting could be blamed on Bill 101. Link

"Jan Wong, it seems recently freed of any restrictions on speaking about matters surrounding her departure of the Globe, confided in the large group of student journalists that she was fired while on leave for depression."  Link 

There's a lot of nervous editors over at Maclean's, you can bet on it. They deserve to be.

P..S
I was going to write a piece myself denouncing the Maclean's article for various reasons, but there's enough being said by better writers than myself.

For the very best piece on the subject read what Carole Beaulieu, the editor of L'Acualité, a French sister publication of Maclean's, had to say; LINK

BOMBSHELL! Statistics Canada Discovers Many More Anglos in Quebec!

I've always maintained that the language and demographic statistics bandied about by Quebec nationalists are subject to the most fanciful of interpretation, reflecting outright misrepresentation, more often than not.

Statistics Canada has released a bombshell study that discredits the conventional perception that Anglos make up about 8.5% of the Quebec population.
This figure has been so widely circulated by language nationalists that it has passed into the separatist narrative woven by organizations like the Societé Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

".... the criterion of the first official language spoken (FOLS) offers a more inclusive definition of the Anglophone population. The English FOLS population’s relative share is 11.9% (885,000) excluding those having French and English as a double first official language, and 13.4% (995,000) when half the population with both French and English as FOLS is included. This is a sizable difference, in comparison with the 607,000 persons who have English as their mother tongue." -Statistics Canada

 DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT HERE

The dark blue bar indicates what has been traditionally defined as anglophones, while the light blue line is more inclusive.
It takes into consideration immigrant stock that have assimilated into the Anglophone community over the years and share English as their first language as opposed to French. Second and third generation Greeks, Italians, Chinese, Portuguese, Jews etc. are now considered bone fide anglophones if they speak English at home and if their children attend English schools legally. Makes sense.
Also, previous calculations considered Anglo/French families as francophone, instead considering 50% of them being English.

Interestingly, it jives rather neatly with what nationalist Mario Bealieu of the SSJB complains about, when he says that 12% of children attend primary and high school in English. These children (except a handful of gatecrashers) all require proper documentation to get into English school and must have a mother, father, sister or brother who attended English school before them.

And so incredibly, there are now 50% more Anglos living in Quebec than yesterday!

In one fell swoop, Anglo ranks have increased from 8.5% to 13.4%, to just under 1 million citizens!

Another interesting statistic is one that Anglo-Quebeckers understand intuitively, that they don't particularly feel like a minority, because they live in communities that have huge Anglo representation.

 The numbers would be adjusted much, much higher if the survey would  discount the eastern part of the island of Montreal, where very few Anglos live.

The study is chock full of interesting tidbits which the intrepid reader can peruse by downloading the file. I'll write more about the study in a further post, but now,  I don't want to be accused of information overload.

Now I'm sure that the report will be widely ignored in nationalist circles, after all it doesn't fit in with their agenda.
What surprises me is why the Anglo press isn't jumping on this story.

In Defence of Bonhomme Carnaval

I wonder how English Canada would react to a Maclean's cover depicting Queen Elizabeth in a less than flattering pose?
Especially considering that she has nothing to do with the pseudo cover story about the expanding waistline of Canadians, nor is she particularly obese herself.

The problem that I have with Maclean's cover of October 4, is that the depiction of Bonhomme Carnaval is gratuitous and uncalled for.

Maclean's has always used provocative covers to grab magazine buyers' attention. It's a tough market out there for the print media, especially magazines, so pushing the envelope is one way to create some buzz and interest..

No one can deny that this week's cover certainly grabbed national attention. but was it ethical?

I don't think so, not at all.

There have been Maclean's covers in the past depicting George Bush dressed up as Saddam Hussein, but the ex-president was fair game. Bonhomme is not.


Bonhomme Carnival doesn't deserve to be portrayed as a 'bag man,' just because the mascot is a famous and familiar Quebec symbol.

It reminds me of those vulgar portrayals of the Simpsons characters, cast in various lewd and sexual positions, floating around the Internet.
Not something that a mainstream news magazine should be involved with, under any circumstances.

Now Maclean's claims to have gotten permission to use the iconic symbol, but it's clear that they either lied to the rights holder about their intentions or made an egregious sin of omission, both cases equally unpardonable.

Grossly dishonest.

If I was the Quebec Carnival organizers, I wouldn't hesitate to sue. There may be a case to be made that the magazine engaged deception. There is  no way that the Carnival would knowingly allow their beloved mascot be bastardized this way.

If Maclean's fooled them, let them admit it in court.
It is a case of journalistic misrepresentation bordering on fraud.

In the end, the magazine did itself a disservice, allowing the articles to be framed by the offensive cover and altering the debate from corruption in Quebec to Quebec-bashing.

If you haven't read to two articles related to the cover, here they are.

Quebec: The most corrupt province.

What lies beneath Quebec’s scandals?


Before I comment on the actual stories and the reaction in Quebec, I'm going to do something different.
I going to let readers comment before me.

My question to all is this.

WAS THE MACLEAN'S ARTICLE AND THE RELATED COVER, A CASE OF QUEBEC-BASHING, OR NOT? 

Fire away!

French versus English Volume 15

TV commentator calls Anglos & Immigrants -"Abnormal"

In the unremitting hateful world of Quebec nationalists, anglophones and immigrants continue to represent an 'abnormality' because they won't vote for the Parti Quebecois. 
Imagine that!
For ex-MP and panel regular on RDI (CBC French news channel,) Jean-Pierre Charbonneau that's exactly what he said on air. Complaining that ethnics act too "anglo.'

"For many immigrants the constitutional question remains a sticking point, which hinders them from acting like normal citizens. In the end they act just like anglophones, who have an allergy towards the PQ even if it isn't about a referendum " Hear the Comment (French)

I guess voting for the PQ is what nationalists mean when they say they want immigrants to assimilate.

After viewers bombarded the station with complaints over the remarks, Mr. Charbonneau apologized telling the audience that at first he didn't even believe that he had made the offending remark and that he had to go to the tape for confirmation. Must have been a Freudian slip. And so Mr. Charbonneau told the audience in a mea culpa that he has nothing but the greatest respect for immigrants.  As for the anglos, not so much.... Ahemm.....
See him grovel here.. starting at 1:45sec. of the video

Militant Receives Absolute discharge 

After admitting harassing an anglophone candidate running for a city council position, Jean-Roch Villemaire was found guilty in a Gatineau courtroom. Link(French)

"As of late, I've sent several emails to West Quebeckers and Barbara Charlebois demanding that they stop anglicizing Quebec. I also wrote "Français", "Québec libre" and "FLQ" on two windows and the West Quebecers sign. I removed  about a dozen of Ms. Charlebois' election signs. I didn't commit any act of violence, nor did I make any calls to violence either.  - Jean-Roch Villemaire

 Read my post about the incident
After receiving a very generous 'absolute discharge' in court, Mr Villemaire seemed to have mellowed somewhat, perhaps wiser with his brush with the legal system. Or maybe he was just keeping up appearances until sentencing. As I predicted in that blog piece, he has remained off the militant grid ever since being charged. It remains to be seen whether he returns to his past ways, now that he is a 'free' man.
The only condition imposed upon him by the court was that he repay the Regional Association of West Quebecers, $500 for the trouble he caused, a sweet irony.

Talk-Show Host- Albertans are 'illiterate Hillbillies'

Decrying western Canadians opposition to the gun registry, afternoon talk-show host and noted anglo-basher Benoît Dutrizac called Albertans "a band of illiterate hillbillies' because according to  him, they are unable to fill out the necessary forms.

Taking the blowhard to task is blogger 'David' writing on the conservative web site- Republique de Bananes.
Apparently Mr. Dutrizac should check his figures before mouthing off. It seems that Alberta has the lowest rate of illiteracy in Canada and Quebec has the the highest and this by a wide margin! Over half of Quebeckers are either illiterate or functionally illiterate!
Touché!

Future Francophone teachers cheat on French Test

Exasperated by a French test that future francophone teacher must pass to be licensed and which they deem too difficult, someone has created a Facebook page where they disclose several of the test's  questions. The site has over 1,100 members where they 'discuss' aspects of the test. See the Facebook page HERE
Here's a sample of the type of stuff being posted;

 "For the September 12 2010, Here's what I remember of the vocabulary section;

Paradoxe, Tacite, Exubérant,
...Prendre le taureau par les cornes,
Marcher sur des oeufs,
le suffixe "ite" comme dans "cellulite" et "bronchite",
le suffixe "èdre" comme dans "polyèdre" ou "hexaèdre"   Link(French)

It's good to know that the future guardians of the educational system are nothing more than a band of cheaters, spelt "T-R-I-C-H-E-U-R-S."

Who earns more, Francophones or Anglophones?

The current war over the question of who earns more, francophones or anglophones, between Jack Jebwab on the anglo side and Charles Castonguay on the francophone side,  is proof positive that depending on your point of view, it's possible to make statistics say just about anything.
It started with an article by Jebwad, claiming that francophones make more than anglophones. This was countered by Castonguay, an retired professor of mathematics, who 'proved' that the opposite was true. Now Jebwab is swinging back.
In a well written and perhaps unintentionally hilarious piece, Marian Scott of the Montreal Gazette describes the ongoing saga. 
Whether you're French or English you're going to enjoy seeing those statistics dance according to the 'caller.'
For added pleasure, read the article while listening to a recording of "Duelling Banjos," it'll set the perfect tone! 

Montreal becoming more "like them, less like us"

Writing from the cosy environs of the lily white, Catholic, Quebec City region, Réjean Labrie  decries the fact that immigrants are literally changing the face of Montreal.

"Little by little, Quebec is de-nationalizing, losing the elements of its own identity like a tree losing its leaves, becoming less like us and more like them.  Link (French)

I wouldn't have posted this run of the mill story except for a rather poignant allegorical photo that was included in the piece, a picture of a pure and bewildered Quebecoise, surrounded ignored and overwhelmed by 'les autres.'

 

Macleans dropping another bomb on Quebec

An email  from "Frank P." directed me over to Patrick Lagacé's blog where he advised readers that Macleans magazine is dropping another one of those Quebec-bashing bombshells in it's issue that drops today. Read some portions online, this week-end.

 As Frank P. wrote;

"Best we hold on to our "toques" as this one is going to create a wof "Ad nauseam Lamentata" (sic) by the usual nationalistic pseudo-victims zealots."

I've no doubt.....

 SEE ALSO:
 French versus English Volume 14

Quebec Nordiques & New Colisée Can be Successful

Yesterday I reported that, as best as I can figure, a proposed new arena in Quebec City would cost in the neighbourhood of $20-$25 million dollars a year to operate, or about $7 per Quebec taxpayer per year,  were they to pick up the tab.
It's not an outrageous price, probably worth it, but it's a figure that can be knocked down to almost zero with a little creativity and entrepreneurship.
That sum assumes that the entire cost of the arena will be mortgaged and no direct government subsidy be involved in the construction. It also assumes that the building would generate revenues solely by renting itself out for NHL hockey, concerts, shows etc. etc.

But if the building operated as a business instead of a venue, it could easily boost revenues and seriously cut into that figure, quite possibly breaking even or making a profit.

Finding an owner that would contribute to the arena's profitability, instead of an owner who looked to take money out of the building is probably the first key to success.

In this regard I can't think of anyone better suited to own and operate the Nordiques and the arena than Loto-Quebec...

Yup......Loto-Quebec.
The Quebec casino and lottery agency is a natural fit.

Folding the Nordiques and the arena into it's operations would provide the team a vast marketing juggernaut and most importantly, financial stability. Unlike a 'private' owner, making a large profit  is not necessary, a goal of break-even for the publicly owned corporation would be perfectly satisfactory. 

It would be up to the Loto-Quebec to assume the mortgage and operations of the building and it would be their responsibility to 'find' this $20-$25 million in additional revenue required to make the project break even.
This can be accomplished through team operations and other revenue devices, most likely, a mini casino, to be added to the Colisee.
 
Gary Bettman has already given his blessing to casino gambling associating with an NHL franchise. The Pittsburgh Penguins have opted for this route in the partial financing of it's new arena, Consul Energy Center. The Penguins have licensed those rights for a $7.5 million yearly payment.

"Although professional sports generally try to avoid any association with gambling, the NHL has given its blessing for the Penguins to pursue a slots license. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that league would have no problem with a team owning and operating a parlor, even if it were part of the arena."LINK

Now you might say that casino profits are just another form of tax, but at least it's a voluntary tax, one that is assumed by those wishing to gamble. I myself never go to the Montreal casino, it's too cumbersome to get there and I'm not a big gambler to begin with. That being said, if the casino was located in the Bell Centre, I certainly would be enticed to go to the game early or stay late, to complete an evening out.

Additionally, Loto-Quebec can promote the Nordiques through ticket give-aways that would replace some cash prizes.
Win a set of season tickets, a night in a loge for you and your friends, thousands of tickets instead of cash prizes etc.etc. Like I said, Loto-Quebec is a marketing juggernaut.

Arguably, all this is just a shifting of disposable income, but unlike a restaurant meal or a movie, there is a side benefit to a lot of fans who will enjoy having a team without actually paying for it directly it.

The major other aspect to financing the arena is of course, ownership of the NHL franchise, the Quebec Nordiques.

Although the Nordiques can't compete with the Montreal Canadiens who spin off an estimated $40 million dollars in profit, the Nordiques do have some advantages that even the mighty Canadiens don't.

For one thing the arena wouldn't have to pay municipal taxes which now costs the Canadiens over $7 million a year. This tax forgiveness would be in lieu of the arena forgoing the $50 million promise Mayor Lebaume made to the arena project. Also there's a lot of parking revenue to be made because of the large plot of land that the old Colisée sits on. The Montreal Canadiens don't get any parking revenue at all, due to it's confined downtown location. Combined this would add over $10 million in revenue that the Canadiens don't get.

To top it off, broadcast rights for the Nordiques are worth a fortune, more than the Canadiens and possibly second only in the league to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's right.

Although Pierre-Karl Péladeau has been playing the reluctant hero, he is absolutely desperate to get his clutches into the Nordiques. Without being overly dramatic, the broadcast rights to the Nordiques represent a key element in the battle of media giants, Videotron and Bell.

If you haven't heard, Bell recently bought out CTV and thus are now 100% owners of RDS, the sports network that own the Montreal broadcast rights. If they out-bid TVA sports(Quebecor/Videotron/Péladeau)  for the broadcast rights for the Nordiques, they can put a terrible squeeze on the whole Péladeau media empire.
Remember Péladeau, has recently launched a wireless service to compete with Bell Wireless and Bell has launched FIBE, a high speed cable service to compete with Videotron cable.

If Péladeau gets the broadcast rights to the Nordiques, the two giants will have to live with each other and broadcast each others products, the Canadiens and the Nordiques, both on Bell and Videotron.

If Bell gets the Nordiques, Videotron is screwed.
Once the FIBE network is developed and Bell has enough penetration between that and it's satellite service, imagine the damage they could inflict by removing RDS from Videotron.
Ouch! Remember that both giants offer telephone/TV/Internet packages. If the Videotron package doesn't include the Nordiques/Canadiens, it isn't hard to imagine the competitive advantage of Bell.

And so like the auction where two rich buyers try to out-bid each other, I expect the Nordiques to win the second largest broadcast deal in the NHL, making the team highly profitable.

By combining all these revenue streams, it seems to me that the whole arena/Nordiques can be done without direct public financing and Loto-Quebec can probably turn a small profit on the whole affair.

My plan may not be pretty, but it's a plan. At least it's a call for those involved to look for answers outside the taxation route.

French or English, all Canadiens benefit from more Canadian teams in the NHL. It would be wonderful to add Winnipeg and another team in southern Ontario to the fold.

Now this post is non-political, it is about HOCKEY, so no anti-Quebec or anti-Canada comments please.

Can you make my plan better?
The idea is to get Quebec City and more Canadian teams in the NHL. If you are against that notion than post somewhere else.

That being said, fair criticism is always welcomed. Fire away.