Marois Abandons Corruption Platform and Plays the Race Card

It isn't often that the very first week of an election campaign proves monumental, but it seems that Pauline Marois and the Parti Quebecois have been badly battered by the entry of Jacques Duchesneau into the campaign on behalf of the CAQ.

At the time of this writing, I haven't seen the results of any new opinion polls, but if I am right,  you will soon see that the CAQ has benefited from a huge bump.

Of all the scenarios the PQ prepared for, the Duchesneau card was not one they anticipated, having shaped the campaign around an anti-corruption platform.

So terrified of Duchesneau is the party, that his very presence has convinced them to abandon their game plan, barely days into the campaign.

 It is utterly unbelievable!

Perhaps Pauline should take note of the oft repeated hockey metaphor, which tells us that after a team's confidence is shattered because of some early opposition goals, it  befalls upon an inspiring and resolute coach to restore confidence and calm upon the team, calling the players to order and reminding them not to panic or abandon the game plan.

Apparently Marois is  not made of such stern stuff, she seems to be doing the exact opposite, leading the Parti Quebecois in a collective panic attack that has led her team to abandon a very sound election strategy, because of some early setbacks.

Instead of taking a few days off to develop a new anti-Duchesneau strategy (trust me, the Liberals are doing so) the PQ gave up and whimpered off to the corner like a beaten dog, believing that they were whipped on the issue of corruption and needed a change in strategy.

The only conclusion that I can draw is that Marois and her PQ planners have decided that given the split vote, they can win the election, carrying only their separatist base, which hovers around 30-35%.
It's a risky strategy, but a plan just the same.

And so Marois dusted off and resurrected this failed strategy of the past, the one which frightens voters into believing that their francophone society is at risk from English and Ethnic barbarians, a horde that has breached the outer defences of the moat and who are in the process of banging down the castle entrance, all while the castle guards, led by Jean Charest, are asleep atop the parapets.

I've heard it all before and am not impressed.

It is a story that plays well to faithfully committed separatists, but has little or no chance in gaining traction with the majority of voters, who care more about bread and butter issues which trump language, something that each internal party pollster has told every political party in Quebec.
The independence issue and defence of the French language and culture as an issue cannot alone win an election in normal times.
But as the votes split, narrow constituencies become more important and it may become possible, but not likely, to achieve a victory on the narrow separatist/language issue alone.

Unfortunately, attempts to ramp up the message and energize the base is taking on a dangerous tone, veering away from the narrow issue of language and heading straight into the direction of intolerance, where talk of a 'Quebec Identity' in  mortal danger, is becoming Pauline's most important talking point.

And so, Marois and the PQ have pushed the identity issue farther down the pipe towards intolerance, telling voters that Jean Charest is letting those damn ethnics and Anglos destroy traditional francophone culture and this readers gives rise to my depiction of Madame Marois at the top of the page as a committed ethnic cleanser, sharing a philosophy with the scoundrels of the world that have used persecution of minorities as of political tool to gain power.

"The Liberals are a threat to Quebec's identity, believes Pauline Marois. "Absolutely, absolutely," she replied when asked. "It is unacceptable, what is happening. There are setbacks everywhere, everywhere, "she said.

She argues that French had "declined" in Quebec, particularly Montreal, since the Liberals came to power in 2003.

She  reiterated the PQ proposals: a charter of secularism, a Quebec constitution, a project of citizenship and a new Charter of the French Language (Bill 101). " Link{Fr}

A new Quebec constitution, a project of citizenship, and a revamped Bill 101, which collectively, I have dubbed derisively as the "Poutine Laws," measures designed to ram the French language and culture down the throat of all citizens, not only the newly arrived immigrants but the English minority, a founding nation of this province and country, with a Canadian culture of their own.

Before I go on, let me explain my inspiration for the term "Poutine Laws."
It comes from the old Bouchard-Taylor commission,  a public enquiry that ostensibly looked into those infamous 'reasonable accommodations' but which degenerated into nothing more than ethnic bashing, when the floor was thrown open to the average Joes, who wished to present their mostly racist opinions rather publicly.

The comment that stayed with me was made by an attractive and statuesque African woman, resplendent in native dress, who in perfect, but accented French, asked rhetorically whether she had to eat poutine and maple syrup, in order to be accepted as a Quebecoise. YouTube
Well-said!
That one statement summed up the true state of Quebec language and cultural affairs rather succinctly and like the boy who shouted that the emperor had no clothes, the simple truth is sometimes embarrassing to a public which embraces a mass delusion.

What will these Poutine Laws enact?

First, a revamped Bill 101 will restrict access to English cegeps.
Those who were not eligible under the terms of Bill 101 for primary and high school would be forced into a French cegep.

While this measure's effectiveness in promoting French may be dubious, what is certain is that it will serve to further isolate and ultimately sanitize the English community.

I previously wrote about one French militant claiming openly in a television interview that keeping ethnics out of English cegep is important because this is where they may find their life partner.

According to this 'expert'  an Anglo who partners with an ethnic will result in an anglophone couple, whilst the equally opposite effect takes place in a French cegep where a Francophone who partners with an ethnic is likely to raise their family in French.

Imagine a Dawson or Vanier college without ethnics, an utter aberration in a city as diverse as Montreal.
English students will continue to be deprived of socialization and contact with Montreal's large ethnic community by a provision of the law designed expressly to disconnect Ethnics from the English.

French language and culture militants will tell you with a straight face that the measure has everything to do with the preservation of French and nothing to do with the persecution of English.

Lost in all this, is the concept of 'Free Will,' something that has become an anathema in Quebec.

And let's be honest, how different is this policy than that of  prejudiced parents who forbid their child from dating someone who is not of the same religion, race, or who speaks the same language?'
While this type of behaviour by parents would be roundly rejected by right-thinking folks, when applied on a societal level in Quebec, it is somehow not only acceptable, but eminently justifiable!

The new Bill 101 would likely eliminate the so-called 'bridging schools' where about two or three hundred students, ineligible for English instruction, attend private English schools for a year or two, in order to win eligibility in the public system.
Because the Supreme Court has ruled that this is legal, the new PQ government would likely invoke the notorious 'Notwithstanding  Clause.'

There's no doubt that the 'bridging school' manoeuvre is a 'work around' by desperate parents, but the Charest government has created so many hoops and barriers that the number of students availing themselves of the ploy is severely restricted.

But for the PQ, this is not good enough, the very idea of bridging schools is too good an issue to pass up. Deemed offensive and insulting to the Francophone majority, it is the ideal  issue to fire the emotions of indignation.

Lost in all this is the realty that the 200-300 families taking advantage of the strategy is infinitesimal compared to the approximately 10,000 students who qualify for English school under Bill 101, yet voluntarily attend French school.

The Charest government's inelegant treatment of the 'problem' is actually rather clever, avoiding a constitutional issue, yet accomplishing the major goal of restricting access. (and no, I'm not congratulating him for the effort.)

Clearly, the PQ is seeking a manufactured issue to breed conflict across linguistic lines, something that they believe will be instrumental in fostering support for sovereignty.

Now to the proposed "Charter of Secularism" which is nothing more than a disguised device to rid the public and para-public service of observant Muslims.
The law will state that no ostentatious religious regalia can be worn by public employees, something on the surface that seems equal, but in practice is discriminatory.

Let us consider that this measure will bar these public employees from wearing a hijad, a niqab, a yarmuke, a turban or a great big crucifix around the neck, or any other ostentatious display of religion.

But let us be practical.
When was the last time you went to the license bureau and was served by a Hasid or a Sikh and how many Quebecers, other than Raelians wear humongous crucifixes around their necks?

This provision is designed to attack Muslims who wear a  simple scarf (Hijab) around their heads, an offence to French language militants because it denotes a person who is religiously observant, another anathema in the new Quebec.

But this Charter of Secularism will not trifle with the crucifix in the National Assembly, nor will it eliminate traditional statutory public holidays on Christian holy days like Christmas and Easter.

Militants will feed us the line that these holidays are not religious, rather part of a certain Quebec 'heritage.' Hmmm..
Readers, please understand that I'm not attacking the celebration of Christmas in Quebec, I'm just demanding a little truth in advertising.

French language militants remain defensive about their motives and freak out when they are described as ethnic-cleansers.
They uniformly hold that everything they do is meant to preserve the French language and culture and not specifically meant to hurt minorities.

Haven't we all heard and seen this before?

Kamal G. Lufti...  Kamal G. Lutfi

The newest wunderkind of this modern separatist philosophy,  Mathieu Bock-Coté, took great exception to a statement made by the now dumped CAQ candidate Kamal G. Lutfi, who described sovereigntists as racists. Link

By the way, regular readers of this blog know that spelling is not a criterion for criticism in our forum. 
That being said, when a newspaper with a distribution of hundreds of thousands of subscribers allows an attack column to misspell the name of the target, I will make an exception and call the newspaper and the columnist out for non-professionalism. Link{Fr}

To Mr. Back-Caté, a word of advice... before criticizing someone in such a public forum, please get the spelling of the name of the target right.

At any rate, it is decidedly a sore point with most sovereigntists, who cannot imagine that their defence of French and Quebec culture be construed in any way, shape or form as discriminatory.
The very idea is so alien, that the leader of the CAQ, removed the poor Mr. Lutfi from running for the party faster than you can say Jacques Frost.

But here is the interesting twist and remember that I promised to bring you aspects of the current election campaign that are largely ignored in the mainstream media.

It seems that describing Muslims as unworthy of being considered for Quebec immigration is perfectly okay by CAQ standards and the fact that these comments were made by an ex- CAQ member of the National Assembly seems to be of no import.

In a radio interview, Claude Roy went off on Muslims, calling the decision to give them priority in terms of immigration because they spoke French, a grave mistake. Link{Fr}

In that interview, the ex-MNA, advanced the notion that Muslims are bad members of Quebec society, lazy and prone to dishonesty and crime. He went on to say that Quebec would be better served by replacing them with Orientals, whom according to Mr Roy, are ideal immigrants.

True? False?.. it doesn't really matter.

Are these types of remarks acceptable, while Mr. Lutfi's are unacceptable.

No readers, these comments made not a blip in the mainstream media.

This is the Quebec reality and therein lies the problem.

So who is right? .... Readers will judge....

Despite Marois Bragging, PQ Slate Bereft of Talent

PQ candidates... a slate of losers and fantasists

In reacting to the announcement that the CAQ had scored Jacques Duchesneau as a star candidate, Pauline Marois was quick to point out that one man does not a political party make and that her Parti Quebecois team was more able and experienced.

That piqued my interest as is often the case when politicians make statements that the mainstream press don't challenge.

Is the Parti Quebecois team really deeper than the CAQ when it comes to talent or experience and are they really readier to lead effectively?

So for me, it was off to the keyboard for a little research session, yielding a result that frankly, stunned me.

In reviewing the sitting members and those likely to be elected, it is painfully obvious, just how bereft of talent the PQ really is.
If the Liberals are doubly talented, they still wouldn't be able to muster effective leadership and readers, such is sadly the case.

It's no wonder that the civil service really runs the province, with the government of the day a bothersome pest at best.

Anyways, back to Marois' vainglorious depiction of the PQ 'dream team.'

Most are political hacks, who have risen through the PQ ranks, working as political attachés, thus fulfilling the self-replication of mindless and clueless separatist drones.
Then there's the journalists, the artists, the two-bit lawyers, the teachers, the unionists, ex-mayors and councillors of hick towns, a ragtag collection if ever I saw one.
With outright idiots like Jean-François Lisée and Bernard Drainville, acting as the big guns, the PQ is one scary caucus.
Referendum or not, Heaven help Quebec if these clowns get into office.

In fact, of the whole PQ caucus, the only sitting members I respect are Martine Ouellet and Véronique Hivon.

There isn't anyone there who could run a depanneur and I say that with the deepest respect to depanneurs who are more attuned to the realities of running a real business where the idea is to make money efficiently, instead of spending money foolishly.

Now things may be better over at the Liberal Party, where the quality of the sitting members may be higher, but the caucus still yields few who could run any sort of enterprise in the real world.

Sitting as elected members are an ex-school bus driver, journalists, teachers and lawyers, etc., etc. In other words, the same gang of non-achievers as in the PQ, with the exception of just a few, including Clément Gignac, Raymond Bachand,  Henri-François Gautrin (who is a physicist AND a professor of mathematics!)
Then there's the highly educated Fatima Houda-Pepin, who has more degrees than I have Twitter followers and perhaps the only member of the Liberal caucus who knows what a business is and how to run one, Lise Thériault.

There is no doubt that in terms of quality, the Liberal party towers over the PQ in talent, but considering the bang-up job they've done running the province, that in and of itself is a scary thing.

The biggest disappointment in the Liberal caucus is the Anglo and ethnic component of the party, led by the most popular politician in terms of popular vote, but the most boring member in the National Assembly, Lawrence Bergman.
The half dozen are notorious lap dogs and never a cross word is heard or said in defence of our community.
 
As for the CAQ being of lesser quality than the PQ, as Marois stated, we need go no farther than Francois Legault, Dr. Gaétan Barrette (a heavyweight in every sense of the word!) and Jacques Duchesneau (Mr. Clean) to conclude that the CAQ outpaces the PQ in talent and capability.
Then there is the very passionate Sylvie Roy, who I respect immensely, ever since she got up and told the National Assembly that she'd vote to give up her sparsely populated riding, if it meant fairer distribution seats.

As for the rest of the CAQ candidates, I don't know much about them, but they certainly can be no worse than what the PQ is putting up.

One thing I can say, is that the CAQ is fielding the prettiest candidates of any party!

As for the PQ, well not so much....

It isn't really any wonder why the National Assembly attracts such poor candidates, the reality is that the pay is atrocious and the working conditions nasty.

The $87,000 salary is actually quite paltry and the requirement to remain in Quebec City for much of the week when the House is sitting, away from home, makes the whole experience unpalatable, especially for opposition members who just twiddle their thumbs.

Considering that the remuneration for high ranking civil servants, serving in less taxing jobs, is more than double what the backbenchers are making, it isn't any wonder we have the quality of politicians that we have.

It leads me to conclude, that the only decent politicians are those who have 'made it' in life and are cruising towards retirement in a second career.
Those who spend long years climbing the political ladder, regardless of party affiliation, are the most dangerous sorts, living in a political fantasy world that is divorced from realty.

At any rate, I promised to explore avenues where few in the mainstream press would venture, so here goes my first shot across the bow.

And if you think that I'd let friends in high places get off the hook, consider this....

How is it that Jacques Duchesneau's pension is not an issue?
He's collecting close to $100,000 as an ex-police chief of Montreal and has been double-dipping in various government jobs for the last decade.
If he's elected, will he give up his cop's pension?

I don't think so.
You'd think it would be a public issue, after all, fighting corruption while double-dipping may be legal, but is it ethical?
It's a fair question that nobody thinks or dares to ask.

....and then.

Next June, Jean Charest will start collecting his $100,000 parliamentary pension, for his service in Ottawa, even if he is re-elected.

And if you think Pauline Marois will complain about it, there's not a chance!

Considering all the cronies in the Bloc collecting their pensions, perhaps she'll let the matter slide.
Oh yes, then there's the little matter of her husband, Claude Blanchet, who is collecting an $80,000 provincial pension for life after working just five years to earn it!

Ah, Quebec... You've gotta love it!

Is Duchesneau a Game Changer?

First things first.

I'm not going to endorse anybody or any candidate in this election, because firstly, it isn't going to affect your vote and secondly, it would only alienate those whose who disagreed with my choice.
It would also colour how readers viewed future posts as perhaps tainted or prone to giving a boost to my preferred party.

I remember when Charlton Heston became president of the NRA (National Rifle Association) the chief lobby group in America, promoting guns.
I sort of felt betrayed by his activism and never viewed his movies the same way.

Truth be told, there isn't anyone who excites me and there isn't any party seemingly worthy of my vote. In that respect, I'm sure many readers agree with me.

And yes, readers know that I have a friendship with Jean Charest that precludes me blasting him in public when I disagree with his policies, as I do more often than not. Enough said.

But yesterday the shoe dropped on the Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti Quebecois in the name of Jacques Duchesneau, who despite Marois' and Charest's brave faces, may represent an election game changer.

For months if not years, Quebecers have been looking for a Messiah to deliver them from the evil clutches of cronyism and corruption.

I haven't seen any survey, but I'd bet that if Quebecers were polled as to which election issue is most important, corruption would be the number one answer ahead of the economy, sovereignty, environment or taxes.

In one fell swoop the CAQ has energized the campaign and become a legitimate contender, not only to take more seats, but actually win the election.

Despite the brave faces of Marois and Charest, there is gloom and doom in the back rooms of the Liberal and PQ headquarters.

In his introductory press conference, standing beside a beaming Francois Legault, Duchesneau was absolutely breathtaking as a candidate, both humble and confident while fielding reporters attempts to trip him up with aplomb and verve.
I'm not talking him up, he will be a spectacular campaigner, from what I saw.
He's grown a humble and self-deprecating aspect to his demeanour that Quebecers love in their politicans, the same quality that won René Lévesque the hearts and minds of most francophone Quebecers.

Am I a fan?

Yes. I've known Jacques from the time he worked as regional commander up in the Cremazie station in Montreal and have worked for him and alongside him in a variety of charitable endeavours.
Is he the real McCoy? Yes he is.
He is undoubtedly the very best man for the job of public security minister, honest brave and fearless.
You can take my word on that, I have nothing to gain.

Remember when he was accused of being a crook by the real villains, those who had much to lose by Duchesneau's leadership of the corruption investigation?
The guilty along with the collusion of unscrupulous journalists planted all sorts of false allegations in the Journal de Montreal, which to its shame, printed a front page story accusing Jacques of election fraud and placing his picture among a gallery of alleged crooks.
It was, in my opinion, the darkest hour of the tabloid.

I told you then, before any other blogger or journalist dared, that he'd be vindicated, because I know the man.

Read my post; The Assassination of Jacques Duchesneau -Mob Mentality Sweeps Quebec


Am I doing exactly what I said I wouldn't, that is endorse a candidate?
I'll make an exception for Jacques, the first and last time I'll do it, I promise.

By the way, this in no way, shape or form means that I endorse the CAQ, too many questions linger.

So it now seems that  Quebecers have a legitimate choice between the same old, same old, or Left, right and now, 'Mr. Clean.'

It just may be that Jacques will overpower Francois Legault in the media spotlight, and for the CAQ, that may be a good thing.

For Madame Marois and Mr. Charest it may be time to be afraid, it may be time to be very afraid.

Watch the polls, the CAQ may get up to a ten point jump within a week or two.
If they don't, Quebecers were never serious about their complaints about corruption.

On another note...

I had a chance to review the Quebec Solidare election platform and if you are interested in a good laugh, download and read it, unfortunately in French only. Download the Platform

My favourite provision is an automatic guaranteed income of $12,000 starting at the age of eighteen. Now teenagers won't even have to go through the motions of getting bursaries to go to cegep.
They can live at home and collect $250 a week, smoking pot and watching music videos.
FREE MONEY!!! Yippeee....


SPOTLIGHT CANDIDATE OF THE DAY

By the way, I'm just starting to review the candidates from all the parties to report on stuff that the mainstream media has no time for.

There,  right off the bat is my favourite nutbar BILL CLENNET who as you can see in his campaign poster got all dressed up for his photo shoot.

Mr. Clennet is an lifetime activist, who is best remembered for being the beneficiary of the famous Shawinigan Handshake, administered by one Jean Chretien when he got too close to the Prime Minister.

Watch a video of the incident here. YouTube

Clennet is an old-time activist, militating for the 'downtrodden'  who has about as much chance winning his Hull riding as does Howard Galganov.

Good Luck to another Poteau!

A personal Olympic note:

I haven't been a keen viewer of the Olympics, somehow it hasn't lit my fire.

But I wish to congratulate Canada's ex-pat Jamaican community based largely in Toronto and  Montreal on the superb Gold and Silver performance of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, in what is perhaps, the Olympics most important medal.

Jamaica is not a 'big' country, not a 'wealthy' but rich in culture heritage and pride.
Many Jamaicans came to Canada for economic opportunity, but retain an attachment to the old country that is 'sans pareil!'
For a country of just 3 million to win both gold and silver in the most prestigious race is an accomplishment without comparison.
Be very proud, we Canadians share you happiness!

So... Who are You Voting Against?

It strikes me that more than in any election before, voters are faced with choosing the best of a bad lot.
When it comes down to it, most of us will vote against somebody rather than vote for somebody, a rather cynical act in what should be celebrated as the most important element in our democratic process.

Of those of us who will be voting PQ, Libeal or CAQ, exactly how many of us have faith in the leader we are voting for?

Do federalists really want Jean Charest back as leader if they had their druthers?
Do sovereigntists really want it to be Pauline Marois leading them towards the promised land?
And who the heck knows what exactly François Legault really is?

So for many Anglos it's hold your nose and vote Liberal or take a shot with the CAQ.
That being said, simple demographics indicate most Anglo ridings will remain Liberal, with the rest of the province a two or three way fight.

The CAQ remains of course the wild card, its twenty percent support more important than one would expect, with a disproportionate base in Quebec City and up the Gaspe peninsula.
With Quebec Solidaire ripping support from the PQ, it's anyone's game to win or lose.

I wondered how long it would take one of the politicians to tell a whopper and of course it took less than an hour after the call of the election. Here it is;

Perhaps she will next seek an endorsement from the Editor of this blog or perhaps even bring in  Howard Galganov as an adviser, in a good will attempt to prove her inclusiveness!

WOMAN!!!! HAVE YOU NO SHAME!

Now for something I didn't expect.
This from the controversial Dr. Gaétan Barrette, the head of the Quebec Specialists Association. He's decided to run as a member of the CAQ, with an eye to becoming the Health Minister.

Is somebody telling the truth, or is it just another ploy?

And so Anglos for one month every four years seem to be treated as equals.
Mr. Charest is promising a new road in Anglo western Montreal. How generous.
Not even flowers?  Boy are we a cheap date!

Looks and feels remarkably like a booty call.

I expect  Mr Barrette will be just about the only candidate addressing French/Anglo from a sympathetic view of us.
We're certainly not gong to get anything of the sort from the anglo sheep in the Liberal party.

And so it seems Anglos for one month every four years at least, are treated with a modicum of respect.

Readers I'm not going to bore you with predictions, it's anyone's game to win or lose.
The likeliest scenario is that we'll end up with a PQ or Liberal minority, but there's no guarantee the Liberals or the PQ can't pull off a miracle.

Remember one thing, Charest has a big advantage because he is so much the better campaigner than his opponents.
When it comes to blowing smoke...well he is unparalleled! 

I promise not to bore you readers with idle chitchat during this campaign, truthfully I'm already bored and impatient for it to be over.

What will be will be.

Later on, I'm going to publish a list of those candidates whom I wish to see elected, from all political parties, people who actually try to remain as ethical as possible.

One last note.
There are some backroom rumours about Pierre Paradis, the sitting Liberal from  Brome-Missisquoi and whether he'll return under the Liberal banner.

Charest and Paradis hate each other with a passion and he's been kept out of the cabinet for this reason. He'll also remain a back bencher as long as Charest rules.
He might take his seat over to the CAQ or bide his time, waiting to take over the party in the event of a Liberal election debacle.....to be continued.

Don't look at the polls, they mean nothing. The Quebec electorate is volatile and can shift positions over a few days.

If I was an organizer again, I 'd start renting buses and planning to drive every committed voter to the polling station followed by a beer or a pizza party.

Yup, getting out the committed vote is what is going to make the difference in many a riding.
There's an old rule in organizing...
"It's ten times easier to drive a committed voter to the booth, than to convince an uncommitted voter to choose your candidate"

Preach to the converted and drive them to vote. That's all it takes. Anything else is a waste of a candidate's time.

A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS

SO OUR GREAT EXPERIMENT WITH JUST ALLOWING FOLLOWERS TO COMMENT FAILED, AS MANY WERE STILL BLOCKED.

TOO BAD.

I'VE OPENED UP THE COMMENTS BACK THE WAY THEY WERE BEFORE,  EXCEPT:

NOBODY CAN POST USING THE "ANONYMOUS" SCREEN NAME. 

(For the first few days I'll send reminders.)

YOU MAY USE JUST ONE SCREEN NAME, SO PLEASE DON'T FOOL AROUND BY PROVIDING VARIATIONS. (For the first few days I'll send reminders)

(This is of particular importance to OQLF/S.R./Anon who must choose one screen name alone. And yes I know your style.. ONE NAME! that's it)

YOUR SCREEN NAME CANNOT BE THAT OF ANOTHER PERSON'S NAME, DEAD OR ALIVE, OR SOMETHING CLOSE, IT CANNOT BE AT ALL CONFUSING, OR ATTEMPT TO CONVEY A FALSE FLAG.

BE CREATIVE.

ONE LINERS AND CRACKS BETTER BE FUNNY OR INTERESTING, OR THEY WON'T BE PUBLISHED.

CALLING SOMEONE STUPID, RACIST OR OTHERWISE INSULTING WITHOUT MORE TO THE STORY, WON'T BE PUBLISHED.

PLEASE, NO TEDIOUS QUOTES FROM SEPARTIST PERSONALITIES, TAKE IT TO VIGILE.NET.

READERS ARE ALLOWED TO POST IN FRENCH AS A COURTESY, BUT REMEMBER, THIS BLOG IS ABOUT THE ENGLISH EXPERIENCE IN QUEBEC. 
IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEBATE, EVEN IF IT GOES AGAINST GENERAL OPINIONS, YOU ARE WELCOME.

IF YOU ARE COMING TO DISRUPT OUR BLOG BY TROLLING, CONSIDER OTHER AVENUES TO VENT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.

SERIAL ABUSERS WILL HAVE THEIR COMMENTS REMOVED WITHOUT EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE EVER SENT.

PLEASE REREAD THE POSTS BEFORE SENDING THEM IN. 

REMEMBER.... THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE READ YOUR COMMENTS EACH DAY!


Remember readers, the theme of this piece is whether you are voting for a party or a leader, or are you voting against a party or a leader?

I'd like to hear your opinions on that question or a general critique of the three leaders, their strengths, weaknesses and suitability for premiership.

And by the way, tell the truth, if you are planning not to vote!

Olympic Team a Tribute to Bilingualism and Respect

I cannot explain how much I loathe the thoroughly detestable bee-atch, that is Pauline Marois.

Over the years I've learned to despise her and her opportunistic husband, a two-bit promoter who made millions on the back of Quebec taxpayers whilst Pauline was sitting as a cabinet minister in a PQ government.
Alas I'm sure there's no connection to her position and him scoring a dream job running a government agency....ahem...

After running up almost 750 million dollars in deficits at the Société générale de financement (SGF) the government investment agency he was running, he was finally dumped asked to resign, but not before negotiating a sweetheart deal.

Incidentally, during his disastrous tenure at the SGF, it was typical for the Board of Directors to vote themselves up to a 50% bonus on their base salaries, all the while the corporation was posting losses amounting to hundreds of millions!

When he was finally pushed out the door, the loathsome Claude Blanchet cashed in a golden parachute that would make a Concordia rector blush in shame. It included close to $300,000 in severance and wait for it..... an $80,000 pension for life!
This after just a few short years of disastrous leadership.

"Blanchet settlement is way out of line ---  JOSEE LEGAULT
The Montréal Gazette Friday, May 30, 2003

..." The fact is that after days of discussions with the new government regarding the conditions of his departure that he had negotiated with the previous Parti Québécois government, the 56-year-old Blanchet left a very, very happy man. The night before Landry spoke out, Blanchet gave an interview to TQS. He was wearing a huge smile and said that he had no worries whatsoever about his future. And here's why.

Blanchet will be receiving one full year of salary: $257,500, plus an $18,000 bonus and an annual lifelong pension of $80,000 - that's $33,000 more a year than the previous government had agreed to. In exchange for this increase, he forewent $234,000 that combined his three-month notice and another generous bonus that went with the cancellation of his contract." 

Read the sordid details here (in French) or a previous post of mine, but prepared to be ill.
 
So when the sanctimonious Marois complains about government overpaying public servants or that Jean Charest was dishonest in accepting a supplemental salary from the Quebec Liberal Party, it's a bit hard to swallow the hypocrisy. She reminds me of that disgraced City of Montreal politician Benoit Labonté, who ran on a policy of sweeping corruption out of City Hall, only to be outed as a liar who accepted over $100,000 in under the table contributions from the infamous Tony Accurso. Link{Fr}

Marois is a your typical rich bitch, a cynical manipulator, who has not an ounce of respect for the hoi-polloi.
I remember her offering a televised guided tour of the rather modest country shack she bought in Charlevoix (from where she is elected) to support the fiction that she and her hubby are just common folk.

What a lie!
At the time, her real home was a Jed Clampett type mansion in Laval, acquired on government land through dubious shenanigans.
Check out the pictures of where she really lived.
What a two-faced manipulator!

So pardon me for my cynicism, when it comes to giving lessons to Jean Charest about honesty or anyone else for that matter, Marois has the moral authority of a televangelist à la Jim Baker.

At any rate, all this comes around to the fact that I never thought I could think less of this nasty hypocritical political opportunist until last week when she went out of her way to wish Quebec Olympic athletes good luck, while pointedly ignoring Canadians and even francophones from outside Quebec.

An ugly display of narrow-minded exclusionism and small-mindedness, which I expect, represents the basis of her personal political philosophy.

Perhaps it is easier to understand her enmity towards the Canadian Olympic team, when one puts into context the machinations of the separatist mind.

A right thinking analyst might imagine that separatists like Marois would maintain an elevated level of hate towards what they perceive as Anglophone rednecks, Quebec bashers and the Conservatives and Harper supporters that treat Quebec and the French language with what they characterize as disdain and disrespect.
But you'd be wrong.

Truth be told, these foils serve her purpose rather neatly, they are enemies that she and other separatists can rail against, giving rise to public dis-satisfaction with Canada and fomenting support for the sovereigntist cause.

It's been the hallmark of the sovereigntist movement to build whatever momentum they have, based on the 'unfair' and 'disrespectful' treatment of Quebec and francophones at the hands of the evil federalists in the ROC.
Pissing, moaning and wallowing in eternal collective self-pity of the put-upon victim is the most essential element in the sovereigntist tool kit. They've refined the drama for over forty years and anything that offers proof to the contrary, represents a dangerous threat to the narrative.

And so, it is perhaps easy to understand that Canada's Olympic team is everything that Pauline Marois and her political clan fear about Canada.

Canada's Olympic team is without a doubt, a paragon of righteousness, a team dedicated to the proposition of bilingualism and inclusion.

If bilingualism and biculturalism has largely failed across Canada, it hasn't failed on the Canadian Olympic team, which not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

The Canadian Olympic Association has done an admirable job in making sure that all Canadian elements, especially Quebecers and francophones feel at home, respected and valued. The leadership of the organization is carefully crafted to include francophones and respect for the French language is a cornerstone of its credo.
Although athletes are chosen to the team based on merit alone, administrative and leadership roles are carefully balanced to reflect the Canadian realty.

It is this very scenario that scares the crap out of separatists like Marois.

For them, watching Quebec francophones proudly compete under the auspices of the red maple leaf, is as the old Ayatollah Khomeini said, "like drinking a cup of poison"

In fact, francophone Olympic athletes are the antithesis of separatists, they embrace excellence, personal responsibility, hard work, have a world view and understand the importance of learning and expressing themselves in English.
For Olympic athletes, who may be just about the most motivated people in the world, learning another language isn't a challenge, just another small hurdle to overcome.

Even Anglophone athletes, many who train in Montreal, make it their business to learn French, people like Clara Hughes and Jenifer Heil, even made Quebc their homes, unafraid of embracing a new culture and language.

Canada's first medalists, the beautifully bilingual Jenifer Abel and Émilie Heymans are typical of those francophones on the Olympic team who understood the importance of learning English.
Gushing in both English and French interviews, they instantly became heroes to all Canadians.

DING DING DING! Do I hear the endorsement caravan beating a path to their door? 

For winners like these, learning English or French isn't a bother, impediment or barrier, it is a necessity and more to the point a mark of pride.

No, I don't imagine there are many separatists on Canada's Olympic team, the athletes are too busy being successful, travelling the world representing our country, to worry about the pettiness of metro ticket takers refusing to service clients in English.

When our athletes marched into the Olympic stadium in those instantly recognizable Canadian uniforms, it didn't matter to us if they were francophone, anglophone, black, white, native or ethnic, nor was their respective religion of any consequence.
It was the scarlet uniform, emblazoned with the word CANADA across the chest that bound the athletes together, and bound them to us, no matter where we live and where they come from in this country.

But for some, like Pauline Marois, the Olympics is a sad reminder of reality.
For her and her frustrated militants, watching Quebecers march proudly as equal and valued teammates in the Canadian family mosaic, is a difficult pill to swallow.

When Quebecers win medals they proudly stand before the world under the Canadian flag and when on occasion, the Canadian anthem plays, the whole vigile.net community bite their lips and cower in rage.

Oh what sweet fun!