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Thursday, August 04, 2005
Is the new G-G a Quebec separatist?
The question is worth asking. I wondered as soon as I heard about her appointment and checked around. There's very little information.
But this morning Bourque was headlining "NEW GG HUBBY BEST KNOWN FOR PRO-SOVEREIGNTY FILM LA LIBERTE EN COLERE". Jean-Daniel Lafond's La Liberté en colère is a documentary about the men behind the FLQ crisis and is considered quite sympathetic to the separatist cause.
Then I saw this, written by a Quebec journalism student interning at Radio-Canada, Mme. Jean's (now-former) place of employment. He spoke to staffers who know her well:
Selon mes sources bien informées, qui tous une une très grande admiration pour Michaëlle, celle-ci aurait des opinions politiques très tranchées. Notamment, elle aurait souvent manifesté son nationalisme québécois, son penchant en faveur de la souveraineté du Québec et son opposition à cette institution vétuste qu'est la représentation de la Reine d'Angleterre au Canada.
Here's a rough translation (corrections/improvements welcome):
Acccording to my well-informed sources, all of whom greatly admire Michaëlle, she has some very open political opinions. Notably, she often made her Quebec nationalism known, her preference in favour of Quebec sovereignty and her opposition to the antiquated institution of the Queen of England's representative in Canada.
The post goes on to say that Mme. Jean took a long time to decide to accept Martin's offer, and, according to his sources, did so in the end because she saw it as a good way to advance the causes she cares about: child poverty, violence against women, and the situation in Haïti.
Now, it could be that Mme. Jean is just a Quebec nationalist. Not all nationalists are separatists, of course. But if she is in fact a "real" separatist, it would be a big-time political embarassment. Did the Martin people not do due diligence? Surely they must have?
And before anyone makes a snarky comment: no, Brian Mulroney's appointment of Lucien Bouchard as ambassador to Paris would not compare.
Posted by Adam Daifallah on August 4, 2005 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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No true separatist would represent the Queen in Canada.... Funny how if folks aren't speculating that Jean is a separatist, they're calling her a Liberal patronage appointment... It would have been really weird if the new G-G wasn't French-speaking a... [Read More]
Tracked on 2005-08-05 11:49:11 AM
Comments
If, as I say if, this is true, then she's hypocritical. If that turns out be the case, then I would have a problem with the new appointee as a person, rather than simply with the politics of the office.
Posted by: Tony | 2005-08-04 5:13:07 PM
Who knows? But aren't you just energised with the "frisson" (by the way, that's French) of writing additional screeds on Ms. Jean's less than acceptable nationalist credentials? I know I am; I think I'll start a blog on it.
It's like when the rest of the country accuses Ezra of being less than patriotric. It's shocking, hilarious and...boring...all at the same time.
Posted by: Ti-Guy | 2005-08-04 5:28:29 PM
One can only hope Jean is a seperatist (in itself a logical and honourable postion to hold). I find it hard to belive she's a monarchist. So there is probably duplicity in her accepting the appointment, but anything to get Quebec to leave is to be applauded.
Vive Quebec libre!
Posted by: Michael Shannon | 2005-08-04 6:21:48 PM
For the record, Ti-Guy, (1) I have been defending Ms. Jean's honour qua person from various rogues here & elsewhere. (2) I wrote "if" three times, that was not a screed. (3) I made a statement about the kind of character I'd like to see people in public office have. (4) I do not feel frisson when I'm worried about our government.
Posted by: Tony | 2005-08-04 6:28:16 PM
I was addressing the OP, Tony. Apologies for giving the impression that was directed towards you.
Posted by: Ti-Guy | 2005-08-04 9:06:43 PM
This Haitian girl must think that she has died and gone to heaven as she will be buying clothes clothes and more clothes, AAAAND for the whole family yet. As long as she remembers to put the sting in her mouth so the PM can pull on it when it is time for her to say anything important. Like prorogueing the Gov't thats a no no likewise dissolving Govt, ditto a no no, telling the Fuerer to tell him to do anything, let alone submit your own none confidence motion after he lost the first one, sorry that is the Fuehor's job to tell her to do that, but she does get to wear the phonie medals while the Fuheror gets to sign all the papers and figure out wnat next he will allow her to do, or what she can say. Martin must be proud that the RUSE of the GG's office is going over so well because he was given the power of the GG's office in 1930 and the hypnosis that Juneau and Trudeau performed on Kanadians is holding. Wen did she take out citizenship, anyone know, though there is talk on her Husband from France took his out, and why is she not using her married name, is she ashamed of it. OOOOOPS, sorry I forgot there for a minute, Pooicical Correctness and all who care about the morals of "family" anymore. The Fueher is our "Father", and the new "Queen" is our mother. Didn't the Fueher say today that she represents what Canadians are like?? Of coarse he left out "Seperatist French" Canadians. There must be millions and millions of Haitians living in Quebec if they are going to change the fortunes of the Librano$, it would take that many to change the tone of the ridings. Man the MSM are having a field day with this, this GG appointment is so full of holes, but a gold mine for the MSM. Her old man will be startled with his tax payer wardrobe, he will think that he has died and gone to heaven. What man has always envied another for being able to wear a five hundred dollar tie? And she will surely contact Oprey to get the inside on the trendy dresses. Ms Kanada dress up. but "Canadian" women need not apply let them "work" for their clothes.
Yeah I am ticked we waited for 85 years to have the right for a Canadian born as GG, finally we get the right in 1952 and just a few short years later the Fuerers Chretien and Martin took it away from us, pretty goddam galling I say. They gave the word ARROGANT new meaning.
Stephen Parksville BC ww 2 vet.
Posted by: stephenmichaud | 2005-08-05 6:27:24 PM
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