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Monday, September 24, 2007
The most federalist premier in Quebec history, eh?
Jean Charest, premier of Quebec, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, and supposedly the lead federalist in the place, was given a heaven-sent gift, a by-election for the leader of the PQ - Pauline Marois - in Charlevoix (Note: the by-election is today). What with the PQ having been smacked into third place last March, and their BQ cousins dropping double-digits in federal by-elections, a Marois defeat could have been the last part of a deadly trifecta.
So one would expect Charest to do what he could to help kill off the PQ, especially since the ADQ was running a candidate in Charlevoix, right?
Wrong. Here's the story from the Montreal Gazette: "the (Liberal) party leadership . . . has made it clear they'd like to see Marois elected" (emphasis added).
Yes, I know, there is a supposed tradition of allowing party leaders to waltz into the legislature through by-elections, but I don't remember the federal Libs following that tradition during World War II when they sat out Tory leader Arthur Meighen's by-election, steered their votes to the CCF, engineered Meighen's defeat, and locked the Tories out of power for another decade and a half.
Then again, Charest is propping up Marois for the same reason Mackenzie-King sabotaged Meighen, to preserve Liberal power. Charest isn't worried about separatism anymore, he's worried about Mario Dumont taking his job. Suddenly, the PQ doesn't look so bad.
After decades as a federal Tory, Charest is finally getting the hang of being a Liberal: get power at all costs, keep power at all costs, and the country be damned - to the point of aiding the very separatists he had previously built his career fighting. Hopefully, voters will remember this when Charest and/or his federal cousins seek their suppport in upcoming elections.
Posted by D.J. McGuire on September 24, 2007 in Canadian Provincial Politics | Permalink
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Comments
I am not sure voters will like the idea of presenting a candidate in such a by-election.
Tradition plays a role here. If ADQ succeeds in preventing Pauline Marois to enter parliament, all the better.
If ADQ takes power on next election, Jean Charest career might come to an end.
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2007-09-24 7:57:29 AM
If Charest loses his job he should consider going into acting. He could start by portraying the life of Harpo Marx. He's a ringer for that role.
Posted by: John | 2007-09-24 8:55:50 AM
My point wasn't that the Grits should put up their own candidate; it's that it's calling on its supporters Charlevoix to back the PQ over the ADQ. Politically, it makes sense, but it exposes the Liberals as utter hypocrites on the unity issue.
Posted by: D.J. McGuire | 2007-09-24 9:20:58 AM
For the last generation or so it seems that Quebec politics has evolved to the point where the separatist card can be found in all party decks.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2007-09-24 9:37:13 AM
Rémi,
The provencial Libs had lost any support anyway.
They hold for 1/4 of the votes intentions and this, only in Mtl. Go figure...
The ADQ, opened to Harper's pandering, are playing the Cons way in recruiting local superstars like mayors and shit. Opposing their local superstar to a futur chief isnt very classy but hey, it's legal I guess. Nothing suprising from those opportunists anyway. And now, ladies and gentleman, there's a "campagne de salissage" going on against Marois 3 days before elections from, of course, the Mtl's Gazette - a very "francophone journal".
Plus ca change, plus c'est pareil.
When provincial parties are "merging" with the feds, we always look at cheap and undemocratic situations.
Separatists, like Mr. Chittick have said, are devised between the ADQ and PQ. Those who went for Mario Dumont are there because he jumped on the commission sur les accomodements raisonnables like if it was his creation. Quebecers are so fed up with this issue that they will vote for leaders who are publictly taking a stand on it.
It's all about culture in la belle province.
One thing you have to know - Péquistes or Adéquistes, Quebec separatisme wont go away and Mr chittick have put his finger on it.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 10:51:05 AM
Harper respects Quebec's jurisdictions under the BNA Act and it's pandering?
I believe human beings have the same basic needs and what language they speak is irrelevant.
That's why Duceppe went down 19% in the federal byelections.
He wants a federal election? Bring it on. Quebeckers have moved into a post-seperatist era since their place in the federation is being respected now, unlike under the divide-and-conquer Liberals.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 11:04:31 AM
Set,
I respect and took note of your opinion.
Celà dit, when your language in North America is English, you have no fear and never questioned yourself about your culture.
In Quebec mon ami, Quebecers feels very concern about their culture and, will always look to protect it. Harper is there for 4 more years max. He do not listen to it's population outside Alberta and will likely to lost if he continue this way. My point: the fact that Harper respect the BNA act dosent,in any ways, assure our Québécois future in this sea of aglos. Separatisme will always live in Quebec even if hurting you or beleiving it exists "against you".
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 11:24:49 AM
Marc:
Until you address the reasons for your fears, you will always live in fear.
My parents were not English, I did not learn English until I started elementary school.
There are many things I do not like about the ‘English' culture but since I am not English I will not defend it. Just happens to be a language most can understand and function with.
You are free to preserve your cultural heritage and you have the right to pay for that yourself.
Once again, it's not about language.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 11:57:44 AM
"There are many things I do not like about the ‘English' culture but since I am not English I will not defend it. Just happens to be a language most can understand and function with."
Your parents decided to move into English Canada and that's the only reason why you live in English today. If you ask me I say it's perfect like that.
"Until you address the reasons for your fears, you will always live in fear."
"You are free to preserve your cultural heritage..."
You mean like louisiana, New-B and places like that I guess ? Go tell the elders there it's not about language...
Use your best english, it will work better.
When a Country represent 90% of an Englsih population, it's a normal thing that the french minority fight for it's language and culture.
"...and you have the right to pay for that yourself."
Now we're talking the same language.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 12:30:22 PM
marc:
Any minority can function within a majority language.
All a person would have to do is learn the majority language as well as his own.
Just like I did.
BTW. Alberta led Canada in French immersion programs in the 1970's. That way Albertans have created an ability for themselves to function in any part of Canada.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 1:28:54 PM
Please explain this:
In Quebec, French is the majority.
Therefore, when Quebec act to ensure a continuation within Canada (take loi 101 for instance), we have the ROC to give us the "facists" tag.
Many are not able to make a sentence in French in Quebec. When you vote and don't understand the society you live in...how can you say you're helping it or participating in it...?
Most of them won't never learn French because they dont really have to: They live in that great Canada. One that bash at any effort from Quebecers to reinforce their language and culture provincially. Canada isnt and will never be a valuable option for Quebec specificities - Even if your hero respect the BNA act.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 1:58:06 PM
marc:
You can choose to be functionally literate in North America if you'd like.
Or, you can cower in fear of the wave sweeping over you.
Quite honestly, I really do not need to know one word of French to be a good human being.
Even in Europe, most schools teach the language of the country and English. Most Europeans I have run across have no problem attempting to converse in English.
How does that oppress Quebecois French?
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 2:36:32 PM
You would not have enough culture to understand French anyway, ebt.
Pig is what you're banging with down there.
Here, we are frogs.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 2:37:17 PM
Set,
"...the language of the Country".
Exactly my point.
You do not need to speak in French I cannot agree more. Thing is, you don't live and vote in Quebec mon ami.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 2:45:30 PM
ebt: Please don't call marc pig. That's unnecessary... and besides, we don't want to offend any jihadis that may be visiting.
Posted by: Markalta | 2007-09-24 4:11:58 PM
I thank you very much for your intervention, Markalta.
...but please don't in the future. He's enforcing my points each time he talks and my compatriotes reading.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 4:36:17 PM
For those Leftoids who whined how PM Harper treats the press (but not on how they treat HIM!), here's what their US hero did this week:
"Clinton campaign kills negative story"
Ben Smith - Politico.com.
Early this summer, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign for president learned that the men’s magazine GQ was working on a story the campaign was sure to hate: an account of infighting in Hillaryland.
So Clinton’s aides pulled a page from the book of Hollywood publicists and offered GQ a stark choice: Kill the piece, or lose access to planned celebrity coverboy Bill Clinton.
Despite internal protests, GQ editor Jim Nelson met the Clinton campaign’s demands, which had been delivered by Bill Clinton’s spokesman, Jay Carson, several sources familiar with the conversations said.
TALK ABOUT CONTROLLING the Press!
Posted by: obc | 2007-09-24 6:38:53 PM
"Quite honestly, I really do not need to know one word of French to be a good human being."
Set you free,
I'm so in shock since you gave me that last sentence. NEVER, I would ask from you to speak in French has a Canadian living in the ROC. NEVER I would be ok with things imposed upon you by our federal government and that makes no sense. Never I would feel supperior to you because I'm a francophone as long as you do the same.
Thing is, right now there's a commission regarding religious accomodations in Québec.
It's a thing that should really concerns every Canadians because it's the only place in the world who have a commission, live on the TV and it existence is to write the big lines of our policies of tomorow taking in consideration of our history (this with many respect for our religious past as a very christian society) and our culure Québécoise. This commission could be a great exemple for the west who are (for some) also having the same preoccupations regarding their own culture vs immigration. Our own immigrants participating in those forum are going further than the "pure wool" saying "when you go to rome, you live like the romans". They insists on the importance of immigrants to learn French as quick as possible to participate in Quebec's life and culture.
At the light of those forums, there's only one problem that Quebecers are fed up with: extremists (choose your religion).
It's on Radio-Canada (RDI). I beleive you can catch it but you wont, like probably everybody on your street. If you have any interest in it, you will have to wait until some translate it to you like if it's happening in China.
My point: stop telling me you and I are living in the same country.
*
By the way: Pauline won by 20% against the loved adéquiste mayor of town.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 7:10:46 PM
Marc:
You'll be happy to know I'm completely assimulated in Alberta culture.
With the passion you have for Quebecois culture, I'm sure that will never disappear either.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 9:13:14 PM
Sorry man..never I took you for an immigrant.
Aaaahhhh Alberta and Quebec, two beautifull countries. The feds knows it, only us don't.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-09-24 9:28:47 PM
What? Nothing about the Ontario election? Giant Douche versus Turd Sandwich doesn't excite anyone?
Posted by: Cynic | 2007-09-24 10:31:56 PM
Cynic:
Nope. Nothing that happens in that social backwater excites me.
Just let education funding follow the student, for gawds sake and move on to something that actually matter.
Understand Ontario finally allowed casinos, about a quarter-century after Alberta.
Still have a way to go to privatize liquor stores, though.
They're only 15 years behind on that one.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-09-24 10:43:12 PM
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