Why Carey Won't Speak French...

For unilingual francophone hockey fans in Quebec, the hiring last year of unilingually English Randy Cunneyworth, as coach of the Montreal Canadiens, was a painfully traumatic experience.
The underlining message, that French had crossed a tipping point and was no longer relevant in the NHL and more to the point, in Quebec, was a frightening development for those who can't speak English who had been promised by their leadership that they need not make the effort.

The issue of French and the Montreal Canadiens is particularly sensitive to French language militants because it strikes at the heart of their argument that learning English is not a necessity for the majority of Quebecers who work and live their lives exclusively in French.
But if hockey fans, of which there are a considerable amount among Quebecers, cannot directly understand what an English coach or player is saying, it becomes a powerful argument for learning English, an anathema to French language militants, and so the exaggerated reaction.

So panicked are these defenders of the French-only principle, that even if the Montreal Canadiens were forced to field an inferior team to satisfy the desire for players and coaches who speak French, it's a tradeoff that they are willing to make.
 One can only shudder if this rule is transmitted to general society, which unfortunately, methinks it is.
Just today, I read another tedious article, complaining that the wildly successful, Quebec Summer Festival is showcasing too many English artists. It's a rehash of the same old, same old, so I won't even offer a link.

Limiting the choice of a coach to those who speak French, eliminates 80-90% of candidates available and in the end quality must suffer.
That's how the Habs ended up with the universally panned and mediocre Michel Therrien as coach, culled from decidedly slim pickings.

But militants don't see it that way and continue to whine that players aren't making an effort to learn French once they alight in Montreal, just another reason for free-agents to strike Montreal from the list of possibilities.
As it is, Montreal is the city where the highest taxes are taken out of a player's paycheck. In fact, a player making $2 million gets the privilege of paying $200,000 more in taxes than that of a player toiling in sunny Florida! Salary Table

For French language militants, it's really just a case of wishful thinking, the idea that hockey players making millions of dollars will learn a foreign language in order to give a few interviews, for the few years they play hockey in Montreal.

For blowhard sports commentators like Rejean Tremblay, the old chestnut of 'Respect' is trotted out every time he demands that players on the Canadiens learn French, reminding his readers that it is the public that pays the players salaries.

Tremblay was particularly critical and scornful of Saku Koivu for playing twelve years in Montreal and never learning French, as if learning French was part of the job description.

He and other French language militants, remind we Anglophones, on a daily basis, that we owe the Francophone majority 'respect' purely based on our minority status.

What utter balderdash.

First things first, 'respect' is never owed, it is earned.

When a father whips out his belt and decides to teach his son some 'respect' with a few disciplinary whacks, one can hardly call what the child is learning 'respect'. Some might call it 'obedience,' some might call it 'fear,' but nobody should ever confuse it with 'respect.'

Pardon me if I don't believe that we Quebec Anglophones owe the Quebec Francophone majority any more respect than the Canadian Francophone minority owes to the Canadian Anglophone majority. (That was a mouthful!)

As for the idea that hockey players owe respect to their fans, because it is they who ultimately pay their salary, it's just another convoluted argument made to justify the demand that they learn French.
Try reminding the cop who pulls you over for speeding, that you pay his salary.

Hockey is a business, nothing else. The players are employees, nothing more.
They are paid to play hockey for a team and a league that operates in English alone.

Players come to Montreal, but few if any make it a home. Like contract oil workers sent to the middle east, most live in an English ghetto where nary a word of French is ever heard. Almost all go home when they're done with hockey.

When players do make Montreal their home, people like Hal Gill, who moved his American family here, embraced the city, his children learning French in school and his wife involved in charity work, they aren't given bonus points or preferential treatment by the fans or the Canadiens organization itself.
Gill was dumped rather unceremoniously for almost nothing in return and without any consideration for him or his family and his effort to integrate.

Hockey is cruel.
Players are expendable and exchangeable, to be bartered, traded and used up for what they are worth during their short career.
I'm no expert, but what is the average career of a player donning a Montreal Canadiens uniform? Two, three years?

As for players on the Canadiens learning to speak French, I'm afraid it's a fantasy driven by an unreasonable dream of what hockey is and what hockey players are. Link{Fr}

Today, players make too much money to be bothered shilling for car dealerships on the weekend and so learning French, a difficult process that takes years to achieve, solely for the purpose of giving out a few interviews seems hardly worth the bother

When Carey Price is done with Montreal, he'll go back home to BC.

While he is here, he'll live and work in English and remain part of the Anglo community in Montreal.
It is this fact that so peeves the likes of Mr. Tremblay and his ilk, that hockey players embrace the anglophone community, instead of the francophone majority.
But really, what would you expect?

Carey Price isn't going to learn French, just as those fans in the boonies aren't going to learn English
Such is reality.

As for Saku Koivu being a bad citizen for not learning French, I beg to differ.
He was a marvelous member of the Anglo community and helped raise money for a diagnostic unit in the Montreal General Hospital.
As for 'respect,' he too was dumped rather cruely and shipped off to Anaheim for a pittance, with zero consideration for anything else but business.

That's hockey, a business, an English business.

As for Mr. Tremblay, who makes a living covering sports, doing so means speaking English, which he does rather well.
Telling fans that players are showing bad faith by not learning French does a disservice to everyone, fans, players and the team.

Telling Carey Price to learn a third language, and newly drafted Alex Galchenyuk to learn a fourth, because fans cannot be bothered to learn a second, seems a bit cheeky.

It isn't going to happen just because people want it to happen. That is life.

There is a price (pardon the pun) to be paid for remaining unilingually French, despite what French language militants tell Quebecers, even for those who don't venture outside the friendly environs of Quebec.

Pretending that Quebec can be kept English-free is a pipe dream that can only be realized in a country like North Korea, but truth be told, it's something that the bilingual Mr.Tremblay already understands.

Weak Justice System Contributes to Quebec Corruption

For years and years, successive Quebec governments, both sovereigntist and federalist have pursued a course that could only be described as 'soft on crime.'

Our current justice minister Jean-Marc Fournier, was so furious at the Prime Minister for toughening up the law in Bill C-10, whereby punishments and jail times were beefed up for serious crime, that he raced off to Ottawa to demand that the law be softened, his supplications falling on deaf ears.

For many Quebecers it is a source of pride, giving rise to a smug, snobby, sense of superiority that Quebec treats criminals more 'compassionately' than do other provinces in Canada.

That Quebec has a slightly lower crime rate as compared to the ROC has many Quebecers proudly crowing that their penal system which encourages short, or non-existent sentences and which focuses on rehabilitation is the reason.

This of course is poppycock.

One of the principal reasons for the difference, is the fact that Quebec is home to less than 8% of Canada's aboriginals, this in a province with 24% of the national population.

Sadly, Aboriginals represent 20% of Canada's prison population, five times what we'd expect demographically.
Since Quebec has statistically fewer natives, (by a factor of 66%) there's enough of an impact to account for the small statistical difference in the crime rate between Quebec and the ROC.
I'm not putting the knock on natives, but it is what it is.

Now every time somebody raises the specter of more severe punishment for criminals, the leftist intelligentsia mounts a ferocious attack on proponents, describing them as a bunch of Cro-Magnons, out of touch with modern criminal rehabilitation practices.
They invariably trot the argument, that while the United States incarcerates sevens times as many people (per capita) as Canada, there are no tangible benefits as pertaining to the crime rate or recidivism.

There is a legitimate question as to whether tougher sentences have effects on violent or career criminals, the best example is the death penalty, the scariest of all sentences that seems to have no deterrent effect on those contemplating murder.

But today's blog piece is not about those hardened career criminals, but rather the white collar types, the businessmen who cheat the government out of millions by way of rigged tendering, over-billing, under-delivering and phoney-invoice schemes that fraud not only the contracting authority, but the tax department as well.

Here, I contend, that a vigorous enforcement coupled with meaningful jail time for offenders would make a significant contribution to lessening the stain of corruption and fraud.

Unfortunately, our justice system has failed us miserably, it is simply not up to the task of meting out real and effective punishment that would have a real and signifigant deterrent effect.

While it may be true that a gang member from Montreal North has no fear of jail, it being an occupational hazard, such is not the case for businessmen, who can still make a good living without resorting to fraud.

Lax enforcement and insignificant punishment lead otherwise honest citizens to consider 'crossing the line.'
Let us take for example those 'honest' citizens who cross the border and make dishonest custom declarations.
It's a risk they take based on the slim chance they will be caught and the assessment that in the remote eventuality that they are caught, the punishment will be nothing more than a fine.

For most of us, just the humiliation of getting caught is enough to keep us honest, but for those who are adventuresome, the risk to reward is worth it.

But what if border agents started putting people in jail for smuggling, even if it is just for that one gorgeous pair of $1,000 shoes. What if the punishment would be a weekend in jail or some community service?
Simply put, the harsher the penalty, the higher the chance that honest law abiding  citizens will be discouraged from cheating.
But the government in its wisdom, deems this type of border enforcement to be a waste of resources and so a higher level of smuggling is the acceptable by-product.

I repeat what I said earlier, for hardened criminals, increased jail sentences aren't much of a deterrent, crime is their life and jail an occupational hazard.
But for otherwise genereally honest citizens, heightened penalties and the real possibility of incarceration would be a serious deterrent and this Mr Harper and everyone else in authority fails to understand.

Increased penalties for white collar crime would definitely have a significant dampening effect.
Unlike career criminals, these people think very carefully about the consequences of being caught. Generally they have homes, families, savings, and reputations that they care about. If they do cheat, it's because like the border under-declarers, it is just too easy and the punishment just too lenient.

Recently, through fits and starts, our province has arrived at a place and time when we are finally prepared to confront corruption and fraud in the public service and the construction industry.

Though we are lurching forward, with two steps forward and one step back, progress is being made, arrests are happening and even a cyncal public has to be impressed at the forward momentum we are witnessing in uncovering malfeasance, with quite a few impressive headline-grabbing arrests of late.

My fear however is, that our justice system is woefully unprepared to do its part.
If things go on as before, cases will drag on for years and in the end, prosecutors will give sweetheart deals to the defendants because they are outgunned by topnotch defense lawyers who can grind down crown prosecutors who are working on a timetable and a budget.

If the anti-crime units do their part, and they seem to be doing just that, it is on the justice system to punish cheaters and crooks in a signifigant manner.

First, Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec must clean up their act and re-orient their goals.
Up to now, both agencies concentrate on recovering as much money as it can from cheaters, foregoing criminal prosecution in the process.
In other words criminals who cheat the tax deparatment, sometimes out of millions can buy their way out of jail.

"...Construction magnate Antonio Accurso personally signed cheques at the heart of a tax-evasion scheme and used part of the funds for luxurious home renovations and fancy clothes, a court document alleges. The Canada Revenue Agency agreed to a deal last year in which two companies administered by Mr. Accurso - but not the construction magnate himself - pleaded guilty to $4-million in tax evasion and paid an equivalent fine.
By agreeing to the plea deal, Simard-Beaudry Construction Inc. and Louisbourg Construction Ltd. were affected in their ability to obtain government contracts. However, there was no direct consequence for Mr. Accurso." Link

The practice of buying ones way out of a tax fraud must be eliminated, with jail time the priority for those who organize schemes to defraud the government.
At a certain point, the money is secondary and examples must be made.
It's also time to raise the ante and if fines are to be levied instead of jail time, they should be enormous, say ten times the amount of the fraud!
It's time to take off the gloves and teach cheaters that when caught, they will have Hell to pay.

By the way, the Canada Revenue Agency needs to clean up its own act as well and finally put to bed the nasty corruption scandal that rocked the Montreal office. Link

Fighting this type of crime also means that the government must react quickly to shifting circumstances.
We are now seeing another phenomena, whereby those facing lifetime bans in relation to bidding for government contracts, are transferring their companies and assets to family members who are acting as 'innocent' fronts.

This ploy should be attacked on all angles and perhaps the government can use the new definition of a criminal enterprise as defined by the Supreme Court last week, to define families and even companies as criminal enterprises.
Let the crooks involved who object to being banned have the onus to prove their innocence. Good luck.

In the town of Mascouche, site of the arrest of the mayor and a construction king, Normand Trudel, for fraud, it seems that business is as usual.
Mr. Trudel's old company, Transport et Excavation Mascouche, at the center of the controversy, has been re-launched under his son's ownership and under a new name.
Nothing has really changed, the person who answered the telephone before, is still answering the phone now!

Tony Accurso is alleged to have installed his daughter as titular head of many of his enterprises to avoid problems in the event of he himself being blacklisted, a likely scenario, the way things are going

Mayor Richard Marcotte, at the center of the corruption scandal in Mascouche is refusing to stand down as mayor and made an appearance at a town council meeting for five minutes this week, in order to preserve his position as mayor. Had he been absent for three months consecutively, he'd have been put out on his rear end.
To the boos and hisses of townspeople who crowded city hall to demand his resignation, Marcotte made a mockery of them all, the arrogant bastard thumbing his nose at the justice system and maintaining his $100,000 salary, doing nothing for the money!

All these types of shenanigans must be recognized and stamped out. Laws need to be enacted in reaction and all that's required is a desire for justice and a burning resolve to rid our public spaces of these white collar scoundrals and thieves.

Finally, resources must be poured into the system to speed up trials, so that cases involving high profile fraud cases be completed within a year, at the most.
Right now, this is a pipe dream as cases can linger for five years, all to the defendants advantage.

A special corruption court needs to be established with priority given to those high profile trials of politicians, civil servants, consultants, engineering firms and construction magnates.

Convictions must include jail time for those at the top of the heap, sentencing guidelines must be established so that paying a fine, no matter how big, is not an option.

Without the cooperation of the justice department and the courts, all the good police work and arrests will go for naught.

It remains to be seen who will win the war, the crooks or the good guys.

Right now, its too early to tell, but I am confident that good things can happen, as long as the justice system doesn't let us down.

Let's cross our fingers!

Should English Canada Subsidize Separatist Radio Canada?

The latest story involving a Radio-Canada journalist quitting his job to join the separatist Parti Quebecois as a featured candidate in the next provincial election, should give rise to a debate relating to the number of separatists populating the national broadcaster.

The storm surrounding Pierre Duchesne centers on the fact that he was Radio-Canada's point man covering the National Assembly and is accused of covering the political beat while negotiating his potential candidacy with the Parti Quebec, a clear conflict of interest.

His story that he left Radio-Canada in June of his own volition, never having discussed the issue of his candidacy with the PQ while on the a job, had analysts laughing at the absurdity.

“MONTREAL—Less than a month ago, Radio-Canada journalist Pierre Duchesne was on television rating the performance of Quebec’s provincial leaders on the heels of an uncommonly hot pre-election season.
On Friday, he confirmed that he plans to run in a plum Parti Québécois riding in that election.
In between, Duchesne resigned his position as bureau chief for Radio-Canada at the National Assembly. At the time, he dismissed the already rampant rumours of an impending jump to partisan politics.
In hindsight, it seems he was the last person to find out about the PQ’s designs on his own future.
According to La Presse, Carole Lavallée — a former Bloc Québécois MP with solid connections to the PQ network — was told three months ago that she should not set her sights on the vacant riding of Borduas as it was set aside for “a star candidate from Radio-Canada.”

"....Still, a fair-minded person could question whether Duchesne lived up to the exacting ethical standards that he imposed on the ministers he so recently assessed. On that score, one can only wonder how he — as a journalist — would have commented on the optics of his own actions. " Chantal Hebert, Toronto Sun

Apparently, the PQ has shown itself to be as deceitful as the Liberals.
In the news conference held by Mr. Duchesne, he was hardly convincing denying that he spoke to the PQ while on the political beat at Radio-Canada.
Mr. Duchesne was a bit nasty and indignant, making himself appear guiltier and guiltier.
"Methinks the journalist doth protest too much"

And so the Liberals have made a complaint to the Quebec Press Council, headed by none other than the infamous John Gomery, the judge who headed the Sponsorhip Scandal Inquiry.
If the complaint goes forward, it'll be interesting to see whether those involved stick to the ludicrous story that they are pedaling today.
By the way, on Mario Dumont's political show the host recalled that when he was leader of the ADQ, he considered Duchesne hostile, a reporter who tried to sabotage the ADQ campaign every which way.

All that being said, the attack by the Liberals is just another political ploy to discredit an opponent. Even if everything they say proves true, it is no biggie.
Journalists joining political parties isn't such a big deal, I don't recall any national stink when Mike Duffy, who covered Canada's Parliament, left his job to be appointed to Canada's Senate, representing the Conservative party.

Don't tell me Duffy didn't have discussions about the appointment while serving as host for a CTV's afternoon political interview show, 'Mike Duffy Live' and as a journalist, he was every bit as partisan as Mr. Duschene and was even reprimanded by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council for undue partisanship.

Then the case of Peter Kent, now in the federal cabinet, another journo turned Conservative.

At any rate, this isn't the gist of today's blog piece, just a bit of background concerning the steady stream of separatists having careers at Radio-Canada, which includes the likes of Bernard Drainville and Jean-François Lisée and yes, even René Levesque.

That separatist journalists leave Radio-Canada to become PQ militants doesn't bother me at all, but the fact that so many militant separatists are working in Radio-Canada certainly does!

Let us remember that the Radio Canada, the CBC, the National Film Board (Office National du Film) are all subsidized organizations created by Ottawa to foster a national identity and to promote national unity.

It seems a bit disingenuous to employ separatists when the mission of the organization is to promote Canada.

I know you can't exactly vet people over political preferences, but let's be honest, Radio-Canada employs a heckova lot more separatists than federalists, something that should be unacceptable to those who pay the bills.

My separatist friends will argue that they too are taxpayers and as such, deserve representation where their tax dollars help pay the freight.
Now I don't particularly agree with this point of view, that Ottawa should spend federal tax dollars to promote sovereignty,  but even if we accept the separatist argument of equal representation, it still doesn't make any sense.

Radio-Canada doesn't just have proportional number of separatists, they make up the vast majority of the on-air news staff and back room reporters!

Quebec's most watched political/entertainment talk-show, Tout le Monde en Parle is hosted by an openly militant sovereigntist, bringing us that certain anti-Canada slant to the issues at hand, each Sunday.

Could you imagine a universe where any Quebec government, either separatist or federalist, would underwrite a prime-time talk-show hosted by Howard Galganov?

I'm not putting forth anything new in stating that Radio-Canada is a hotbed of separatists, it's common knowledge, a fact repeated by bigger and better journalists and bloggers than I.

The most recent manifestation of this love affair with separatists was the decision to hire Gilles Duceppe as a political commentator, immediately after his defeat as Bloc Quebecois leader.
Only a firestorm of criticism had the head honchos at RadCan ducking for cover and ultimately backing down, but the temerity to hire a radical separatist on the Canadian dime, showed how comfortable the powers to be at RadCan are with promoting sovereignty.

Radio-Canada's love affiar with sovereignty goes back all the way to the beginning of the Quebec independence movement itself, Aislin, the Montreal Gazette's award winning political cartoonist took a shot at the issue way back in 1977.

"Me a separatist at Radio-Canada? It's not true, otherwise they'd have given me the job they promised in October!

And as for separatist tax dollars, let me tell you who really pays for Radio-Canada.
Here's a chart showing the expenditure for both the CBC and its French equivalent Radio-Canada.

For the 22% of the French population across Canada, Radio Canada's budget for radio and television is $566 million dollars or 38% of the combined CBC/Radio Canada English and French budget.
That represents a 55% premium over what demographics dictate.
It means that over $200 million dollars is taken out of the English CBC to subsidize Radio Canada and out of that $200 million dollars, about $130 million is paid for by Canadian federalists, with about $16 million paid for by separatist taxpayers and about $54 million by advertisers.
So much for fair representation of separatist tax dollars, how about fair representation for federalist tax dollars?

That's right, Jane from Orillia, Robert from Saskatoon, Eric from Smith Falls and the other 32 million federalists in Canada, give a financial premium to Radio-Canada, all so that it can promote sovereignty!

In Canada, its hard to get people politically motivated and so the separatist shenanigans over at Radio Canada are not only tolerated by federalists, but also subsidized!

Here's an example of Radio-Canada promoting sovereignty. On Friday last, viewers of Radio-Canada's news channel, RDI, were treated to a whole hour of Louise Beaudoin shilling for sovereignty.
This wasn't a news story, it was nothing less than an hour long infomercial for sovereignty.

Here's a brief clip, where Beaudoin makes her sovereigntist pitch, after being lobbed a softball by the moderator.

Not to nitpick, but Beaudoin actually misspeaks twice in that short clip.

First she tells viewers that the number of Francophones in Canada is diminishing from census to census, which of course is not true. It is the percentage of francophones which is diminishing.

Second, she states that the number of anglophones outside Quebec who are bilingual is 6%. Again not true.
What she should have said, is the number of Anglophones who speak French is 6%.

At any rate, this is what Radio-Canada has become, an organization chock full of separatists, using  Canadian tax money to provide separatists with hundreds and hundreds of hours of air time a year, all to promote the destruction of Canada.

If this is what Radio-Canada's has become, it is time to change things or get rid of the broadcaster altogether.

If separatists want to promote sovereignty over the airways, let them start their own network or buy time on commercial networks.

The recent budget cuts at CBC and Radio-Canada are a fine start, both networks are a waste of taxpayer dollars, but in Radio-Canada's case, we have created an ugly separatist monster and like Frankenstein, it is running amok.

French versus English Volume 57

La Francophoney-baloney....blah... blah...blah

"The French Language World Forum, going on until Friday in historic Quebec City, is expected to draw more than 1,000 artists, speakers, business people, youth and representatives from civil society.

Events and discussions will focus on four major themes: the economy, the cultural industry, the place of French in the digital world and the coexistence of languages." Read the story

Abdou Diouf, secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie told the audience that by 2050, French language speakers will rise from the 220 million speakers today, to over 700 million.
He then told the audience that French was nonetheless in mortal danger....Hmmmm?

I think he'd make a perfect Quebec politician, who are consummate experts at sucking and blowing at the same time!

Let me summarize the content of those meetings, for those of you not inclined to read the story.

Speaker #1-  French is wonderful but threatened.
Speaker #2-  English threatens the linguistic diversity of the world
Speaker #3-  French is wonderful and English is evil
Speaker #4-  Legislation is needed to promote French artists and culture and restrict English
Speaker #5-  French usage is growing but needs defending.
Speaker #6-  See speaker #1
Speaker #7-  See speaker #2
Speaker #8-  See speaker #3
Speaker #9-  See speaker #4
Speaker #10-See speaker #5
Speaker 11-99......Rinse, repeat...

All together now !!!!!

English = DARTH VADER.......French = LUKE SKYWALKER!!!!!

H U R R A Y ! !  O U P P I ! !

All weekend long....yawn, snore...!

Thomas Mulcair treads lightly at separatist parade

It seems that Thomas Mulcair is showing a little bit more reserve and is avoiding being photographed hobnobbing around with separatists, now that he's become leader of the official opposition. 

Two years ago I re-published a picture of him marching alongside a gaggle of separatist big shots in the line of honour bringing up the rear of the parade. The picture was picked up by many blogs and there was plenty of internal fallout within the party for Mulcair and Layton at the time.

The next year (last year) Mulcair judiciously skipped the parade altogether, but made a return appearance this year, but avoided the "Blue Line of Honour" populated by ultra-separatists.

This year's 'Blue Line of Honour" included the usual suspects with the added presence of radical student leaders.

Line of 'Honour' 2012

Marching ahead of the 'Line of Honour' was Thomas Mulcair, insulated from the separatists by his personal posse of Amazon girls, à la Khaddafi!

But still, Mulcair couldn't resist building alliances and was candidly caught sharing a comradely laugh with none other than his very good friend, ex-Parti-Quebecois Premier, Bernard Landry.

C'mon Uncle Thom, give him a big hug. You know you want to!

If you want to know why federal politicians stay away from the parade, it's because of its separatist political bent. For Mulcair and the Ndp, pandering to separatists is part of a strategy to whore themselves out for votes.

Thanks for your support "Uncle Thom!"

Journal de Quebec complains about an 'anglophone' billboard

The Journal de Quebec is hot and bothered over a billboard that recently popped up in Quebec City. A European watch company erected the billboard complete with its international catchphrase, "Big in Oversized Watches"
The headline of the article about the billboard was a bit strange;
 "100 % anglophone à Québec,"

I doubt that an inanimate object such as a billboard can actually be classified as anglophone!

When asked to translate the catchphrase into French, the company declined, telling a reporter that;

"TW Steel doesn't have this problem anywhere else. The same advertising slogan is used elsewhere in the world. It should be Canada that adapts."

It seems that the reporter squealed to the OQLF, which refused to offer an opinion, saying that it needs to study the file, something that typically takes up to six months.
Since the billboard is scheduled to be up for just two months, hardliners are plum out of luck.
Hmm.....
I wonder what French language militants think of Volkswagen's catchphrase "DAS AUTO"?


Perhaps the OQLF will rule that it too is verboten!

Vigile.net's financial woes

 It seems that a certain Vincent Chiara is causing much grief over at vigile.net, suing them for defamation over a story presented on vigile.net, which intimated if not directly, but indirectly, that the powerful Mr. Chiara was a mafiosi.

The article in question was removed from the website, but that wasn't enough for Mr. Chiara who seems out to punish Bernard Frappier, the owner and editor of the website as well as the author of the article in question, Richard Le Hir.

Although the article was removed from vigile.net, it lives on, proving again that when one publishes something on the internet, it's almost impossible to put the genie back in the bottle.

Read the original article here. Les-Tentacules-de-la-mafia-2

Defending itself from the $500,000 lawsuit has proved painful, costing the website $15,000 to date and the fun hasn't really even started.
An anonymous donation of $20,000 has eased the pain, but the case could cost north of a $100,000 to defend, something that could cripple the website.

DO I FEEL bad for vigile.net?
Not one bit.
I'm all for free speech, including defending Mr. Frappier's right to advocate for the murderous Syrian regime and his right to attack Israel more often than the United Nations.
But it is his outright antisemitism, visceral hatred of Anglophones and as of late, articles denigrating Protestants, that has me cheering for Mr. Chiarra.

In the past I've written about the horribly antisemitic articles published on his website and today he continues to give a forum to hate.

His latest screed is so disgustingly racist that it disappeared from the website just a few days after being published, but I've tracked it down for you.
I told you, that when it comes to the internet,  you can't erase your footprint.

In this article, the author tells readers that France, under newly elected president  Francois Hollande, has fallen under the diabolical control of Protestant/Jewish interests.

Read:
The Jewish-Masonic* (*read-Protestant) power that be have taken over power in France

(Le pouvoir judéo-maçonnique a définitivement mis la main sur la France.)

"...Bacteriological weapons were found during the Libyan war and the instructions for their use were in Hebrew, proving that Gaddafi had made a pact with Israel, this tiny precarious state, as if the Rothschilds, Soros, Golman Sach, JP Morgan, Koch brothers, Bernanke, Greenspan, Murdoch, Speilberg, etc.. would have no influence in the world.(*spelling errors are original-ed.)

Ah, then there's Mr. Assad of Syria, who is also in bed with Israel.

For such a small country, it has a lot of influence."  Link{Fr}

What incredible drivel!

Israel supplying Libya with chemical weapons and in bed with Assad?

Is Bernard Frappier really so ignorant that he believes the above can possibly be true, or is he knowingly publishing falsehoods in order to falsely tarnish the reputation of Israel and the Jewish people?

This is an ongoing campaign, with countless other articles slagging not only Israel, but Jews in general, still populating the website.
Read this, another odious article posted on vigile.net, that depicts Jews as rats. LINK
For Mr. Frapper, I couldn't be happier that he's getting a taste of humble pie. I hope this lawsuit drains the life force out of vigile.net and if not, at least delivers Mr. Frappier a certain dose of pain.

Mr. Racist, have a nice day...

Language hysteria dogs Habs

In all the years I've watched hockey, I don't think I've ever seen a sports commentator take this type of liberty with a player to his face.
If I was the agent Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick, Alex Galchenyuk, I would straighten out this reporter pronto, telling him to keep his militant politics to himself, or face a future of no interviews.

By the way, completely off topic, but somewhat related is this interview with overall first draft pick Nail Yakupov who absolutely butchers the English language in this interview.
I suppose I shouldn't make fun, he's really trying, but is this what the above reporter wants from Galchenyuk? Watch the YouTube video.

Quebec finances re-opening of Asbestos mine

You'd have to forgive Albertans for shaking their heads in utter disbelief at the hypocrisy of the Quebec government, in slagging Alberta's oil sands as an environmental disaster, while loaning money to reopen an asbestos mine in Quebec.

"The news that the Jeffrey Mine will reopen may warm some hearts in the Eastern Townships. Nevertheless, the Quebec government’s decision to provide a $58-million loan to Canada’s last asbestos mine is a shameful thing." Read the rest of the story

Poll indicates that RoC indifferent to Quebec separation

“...Has there ever been a time when Canadians outside Quebec have ever been more ambivalent about the possibility of the province separating? Unlikely, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll released Thursday, which suggests almost half (49%) of Canadians living outside Quebec agree they “don’t really care if Quebec separates.”

“The edge has come off it,” said Darrell Bricker, chief executive of Ipsos Reid. “It’s not seen as a 21st century debate.”

The same poll indicates that despite all the talk of support for sovereignty growing in the face of the perceived anti-Quebec attitude by Stephen Harper, hard support remains at 31% of Quebecers.

When the undecided are factored in, support for independence stands at about 38%, not an encouraging number for separatists who have seen the numbers decline ever since the 1995 referendum.

Read the other interesting aspects to this poll HERE

Ontario court rules against Galgonov and friends in forced bilingual sign case

"Verdict just in from Ontario Court of Appeal concerning Galganov/Brisson vs Russell township's bilingual sign bylaw. The court ruled UNANIMOUSLY in favour of RUSSELL TOWNSHIP. 1. That the township had the right to pass this law, although language is supposed to be provincial, not municipal. 2. That even though the law INFRINGED ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE, there was reason to pass the law to promote/protect the French language. Howard Galganov and Jean-Serge Brisson have been fighting the 2008 Russell Township bylaw that enforces both French and English signage on businesses in the four small towns of the municipality." Read the rest of the story

Tales of the RED SQUARE

Three girls walk into a Quebec city bar and are told they cannot enter unless they remove  the red square they are wearing in support of the student strike against tuition hikes.
"No way!" they say, "We have the right to go in as is, and you cannot stop us!"
"Sorry, you're not crossing this line!" said the bouncer and with that, barred their entrance.
"Then we will complain to the Human rights commission, you've got no right to impede our movement!"

Anybody see the irony in this true story? Link{Fr}

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In other student leader news, just in case Léo Bureau-Blouin, president of the somewhat less radical student association, the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ), expresses an interest in running for the PQ in the next provincial election in Trois-Rivières, he needn't bother apply.
The local riding association has announced that he wouldn't be a 'good fit' Link{fr}

  ******************

Newly-elected student leader of the radical CL(ASSÉ) student association, Camille Robert,  found out pretty early in her tenure as president, that politics is a rough sport and that amateurs can get eaten up rather quickly.

Responding to a charge by noted Quebec journalist Éric Duhaime that she's an ex-communist and extremely radical, she offered the following Twitter response;

"Contrary to what Éric Duhaime says, I never was a communist, Don't believe what you read in hateful and dishonest blogs"

Unfortunately for her, the evidence to the contrary was gathered rather quickly, the internet being what it is, and she was outed as a liar.
In her own statement promoting her candidacy for president, she proudly admitted to working for the Union Communiste Libertaire.

To read the complete story{Fr} and to see the documents that prove the opposite of what she says, go over HERE

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Political expediency wins out again as Pauline Marois, sensing that she'll be supporting a losing position in the next provincial election by supporting the students, did a quick about face, dumping the little red square.

 "A decision by Pauline Marois to quit wearing the red square symbol of the student protest movement was met with a shrug at the nightly anti-tuition increase demonstration in Montreal Wednesday night.

Some marchers who sported the small felt square on their clothes felt that the Parti Quebecois leader had embraced the symbol out of political expediency and was shelving it for the same reasons.

"It doesn't surprise me that Pauline Marois decided to stop wearing the red square because it wasn't real support for the students," said Francis Piche, a junior college student. "The only reason she was opposing the tuition fee increase was because the Liberals were doing it but a Pequiste government wanted to do it too."  Link

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By the way, with the folding of 'Le Voir," Josée Legault, the separatist journalist, is out of a job with no prospects, so far.
Does she still write for the Montreal Gazette?

I remain an adament defender of free speech and don't take any particular pleasure in her departure.
She was a fine example of separatist opinion...vapid and unrealistic. 
A faux intellectual, like her confrére Jean-François Lisée who in a recent interview proposes that citizens who can't speak French, shouldn't be allowed to vote in Quebec.... 
Watch the whole tedious interview or skip to 13:25 of the  video, to watch his intemperate remark.

By the way, Mr. Lisée is returning to politics and will present himself in the next provincial election, in the shoe-in seat of Rosemont.
Louise Beaudoin, the previous holder of the seat  has judiciously decided to retire after her failed putsch against Marois.
It's like changing four quarters for a Loonie....

******************

 
As we head into one of the rare glorious Canadian summer weekends, let me finish on a humorous note.

Question...What is it in our human nature that makes us laugh when someone trips?

Watch THIS VIDEO and then come back and tell me you didn't laugh, or at least chuckle.

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

What makes English so hard to learn?

Have a great weekend!!


MONDAY- Should English Canada subsidize Separatist Radio Canada?

McGill University Medical School Decline was Inevitable

Almost a year ago, I wrote about McGill University Medical school lowering its standards in order to attract more francophone students. It seems that this decision has led the chickens to come home to roost. 
Back then I wrote;

"In one fell swoop McGill has destroyed its reputation. It is in the process of turning itself from an elite program into a run of the mill secondary medical school.

It's sad.....
All of you over at the University of Toronto medical school.... STOP LAUGHING!!!!!  McGill Caves in to Language Pressure- Affirmative action Arrives

Sadly my prediction has come true, McGill's medical school's world ranking has plummeted and it likely has to do with that dreadful decision to cave in to language extremists.

The university has been under fire for several years by French language militants who complained bitterly that over half of the McGill medical graduates end up leaving the province to pursue a career in greener pastures. According to these militants, it's unfair to subsidize doctors leaving to work elsewhere.
By the way, these are the same people who I imagine, believe it's just dandy to poach doctors from third world countries to work in Quebec, but I digress....

Instead of defending itself against the scurrilous charges that intimates that it is somehow the fault of the Anglo doctors, instead of the facts on the ground, McGill decided to capitulate and set out to accept more francophone students into the program to help stem the tide.

It was a classic cave-in that has contributed to McGill losing its place as the premier medical school in Canada.
According to QS World University Rankings® McGill remains Canada's best university but is losing ground fast.

In 2009 McGill was the 10th highest rated medical school in the world, but has slipped to 24th in the two years following.

The University of Toronto's medical school which now ranks 16th in the world, takes over from McGill as Canada's best medical school.

Small consolation is the fact that according to the report, Montreal remains the best student city in Canada ranking 10th in the world, while Toronto remains 26th.
A few more student demonstrations and intemperate acts of depravity and that can change too.

The precipitous fall is likely attributed to the decision to drop the critically important MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) exam, a decision made by panicked administrators.

"Dr. Saleem Razack, assistant dean of admissions for medicine says McGill would have kept the MCAT requirement if there was a French equivalent. “But we want to make sure there’s no barrier for a major segment of our population.”  Link

The exam is a standardized test (like the LSAT for lawyers) and is the principle tool that just about all medical schools in the United States and most in Canada, use to evaluate candidates.
While schools like McMaster and University of Ottawa don't require MCATs, elite programs most certainly do.
In the United States, the MCAT score is typically given as much weight as GPA.
The MCAT is a formidable test and requires months and months of study. It is available in English only and taking the test in a second language, regardless of the student's dedication and proficiency, is enough of a handicap to hurt outcomes.
As I said, the MCAT is dastardly difficult.

And so the decision was made to flood the medical school with francophones, throwing standards out the window in the process.
Congratulations....

On a certain level I can understand McGill's decision to add the francophone element.
As it stands now, under the new admissions policy, anglophones represent about 91 out of the 810 medical school slots across Quebec, a reasonable demographic representation, to be fair.

It is just sad that in order to even things up, standards had to be slashed and a world-class reputation sacrificed.

As for the knock that McGill graduates leave the province, who is really to blame for that?
 
One of the principle reasons that so many McGill graduates leave is that there are just no jobs available. McGill turns out a great deal of specialists, something that the Quebec government has deemed to be in oversupply.
In Quebec, a doctor needs a government issued license (PREM) to practice and without a PREM, there's little chance to practice.

Even in family medicine, PREMS for anglos in the Montreal area are few and far between.
The reaction of the health minister is to tell anglos that there are jobs available, if they are willing to move to Chibougamau or Val D'Or, or some other godforsaken backwoods hick-town, something not entirely appetizing to an Anglo Montrealer.
The government's rationale in all this, is that while Montreal lacks family doctors, the need is greater in the hinterland and until the gap is narrowed...it's no soup for you, young doctor!

Read this excellent explanation of the ridiculous situation;
Making sense of Montreal’s family doctor shortage 

This in a province where 25% of the people don't have a family physician.

And so there is a steady stream of highly-trained young doctors leaving Quebec, taking their Quebec paid education with them to practice, mostly in the United States, many not by choice.

I know of one New York City hospital that has three McGill grads on staff, each chased out of Quebec because of a lack of jobs.
This last month a young thoracic surgeon that I know of, left after seven years of residency, because no Quebec job was forthcoming. Thirty years of education and training frittered away by this province.

For young francophone doctors, its more difficult to leave, most are a prisoner of culture and language.
Most doctors on the francophone side take the fast-tracked, pre-med cegep route to medical school, where English as a second language is largely ignored.
For them, moving out of Quebec is not an option and so like teachers and other unilingual professionals, they are forced to accept an incredibly steep  'home team discount'

For Anglo doctors, the combination of nonexistent or decidedly poor prospects, makes the decision to leave easy, but nonetheless, very painful.

Most graduating anglo doctors want nothing more than to serve their community in their own home town and its more than a little bit sad for them and for us that they leave.

Trust me readers.... on this, I know.