I have been so offended by the recently proposed legislation in Quebec that I felt compelled, despite a long silence, to speak up, if only for reasons of catharsis. First of all let me say at the outset that I believe that this legislation, supposedly intended to establish so-called Quebec
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Scott's DiaTribes: The makings of Trudeau policy and what he stands for
In my own humble (and admittedly partisan) opinion, I think Justin Trudeau has had a good week. First, he strongly criticized the PQ intention of banning religious headgear from Quebec government institutions etc, calling that going against Canadian values and rights (right in step with how his father would have
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Stephen Harper Visits Lac Megantic
Mourning the senseless tragedy. Today I was very impressed when Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, broke with his almost long-held position of not visiting Lac Megantic. While he and his wife took the opportunity to participate in staged political photo ops helping out with the Calgary floods, he has
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: The Harper Government Must Be Right On Track #cdnpoli
This morning, I dealt with indignant HarperCons on Twitter, while they didn’t take my advice about the validity of claims by a certain tweeter not shy of bending the truth a lot to fluff his dear leader. Sorry for what you’re about to see, because if you drill down a
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Harper’s “Public Event” “photo opportunity” (Cameras and photographers only) #cdnpoli
Where is this event you ask? Lac-Mégantic, Québec 3:15 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will participate in a photo opportunity. Why is Harper there? You could say that Harper’s PMO has all the tact of a runaway train. – Hat tip to Daniel J.
Continue readingThe Liberal Scarf: Former Conservative candidate and "shadow MP" on your tax dollars arrested in Quebec corruption probe
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Saulie+Zajdel+arrest+UPAC+surprise+Conservatives/8536640/story.html “He was known as the “shadow MP” of the federal Mont-Royal riding, hovering and thinking about making another run at the job after losing in 2011….Saulie Zajdel’s stunning arrest Monday on five charges including breach of trust, corruption and fraud sent a shock wave through the ranks of the
Continue readingMusings on Canadian Politics: Quebec at forefront of right-to-die movement
The Quebec National Assembly introduced a bill on Wednesday that will allow health professionals to use medical procedures to end the lives of patients near death who are suffering and want to end their lives. The legislation “is intended for people at the end of their life to die with
Continue readingPolygonic: Of babies and bathwater: how Harper might be undermining the monarchy
The Constitution? Unborn Queens? Fascinating stuff (do not insert a “said no one, ever” after that please). The scene unfolds thusly: Parliament recently approved a gender equity bill as regards which unelected English aristocrat may reign over us (such progressive times in which we live), that met little controversy or
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: PEF Events in Montreal
As Erin alludes to in an earlier post, the PEF organized events at this year’s Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association (CEA) in Montreal (May 30 – June 2). All told, the PEF organized (or co-organized) eight panels/sessions, in addition to holding its annual general meeting, announcing the winners
Continue readingCanadian Psephos: Quebec 1867
I originally did this article in May 2013. I may update it at a later date. The province of Québec held its first general election as a part of the newly formed Dominion of Canada between August 8th, 1867, and an unknown date in early or mid-September 1867. 64 of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Thousands demand Lone Pine drop its NAFTA lawsuit
By: Council of Canadians | Press Release OTTAWA – Two weeks after the launch of a public petition, organizers have received over 3,000 signatures demanding that energy company Lone Pine Resources drop its $250 million NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) lawsuit against Canada for Québec’s moratorium on fracking. The petition
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: PEF Keynote: Neoliberalism in Quebec
The PEF marked our 15th anniversary at last weekend’s Canadian Economics Association conference in Montreal. Guillaume Hébert from the Institut de Recherche et d’Informations Socio-économiques (IRIS) delivered the following keynote address. Thanks very much to Mathieu Dufour for translating it into English. **** Thank you very much for inviting me
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Earnings Up, But Employment Down
Today’s payroll figures indicate that, while average weekly earnings rose, the number of employees on Canadian payrolls declined by 22,100 in March. This decline was concentrated in Quebec, where payroll employment fell by 20,900. Ontario also suffered a decline of 9,200, which was partly offset by gains of 3,300 in
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The Mulcair Envelope: Questions that will haunt the NDP Leader
The Mulcair envelope issues Ottawa is aswirl with rumours about breaches of ethical rules by our esteemed senators, and a subcurrent is now starting, egged on by a desperate Conservative Party that wishes to change the channel and/or deflect criticism. Three interesting articles by journalists deal with the possible cash
Continue readingCanadian Dimension Feed: Québec Solidaire congress reaffirms the party’s independence from the neoliberal parties
I had to balance my agenda this past weekend (May 3-5) between two events: the congress of the Canadian Association for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, held here in Ottawa; and the Ninth Congress of Québec Solidaire, held at the University of Quebec in Montréal (UQAM). The following are some
Continue readingCanadian Dimension Feed: Québec Solidaire congress reaffirms the party’s independence from the neoliberal parties
I had to balance my agenda this past weekend (May 3-5) between two events: the congress of the Canadian Association for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, held here in Ottawa; and the Ninth Congress of Québec Solidaire, held at the University of Quebec in Montréal (UQAM). The following are some
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Montreal Police Violated Protesters’ Rights During Student Protests, Says Report
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Montreal Police violated the rights of protesters during the 2012 student protests, says a new 47-page report based on 384 witness accounts. The report, called ”Testimonies of the Student Strike: Repression And Discrimination,” was compiled by ASSÉ, Quebec’s largest student federation, in association with the Quebec Human Rights
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Liberals’ Renaissance in Quebec.
Quebec’s federal and provincial Liberals appear to be enjoying something of a renaissance. The Toronto Star’s Chantal Hebert figures the Trudeau Libs now give Mulcair’s New Dems’ Quebec-centric power base a serious challenge. In an ever-expanding forest of positive polls for the Liberals, the latest CROP snapshot of Quebec public
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: BC NDP candidate resigns over racist comments against First Nations
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Dayleen Van Ryswyk, the BC NDP candidate for Kelowna-Mission, has resigned after the racist comments she made online against Canada’s First Nations surfaced earlier today. She also denigrated French Canadians. Called them bigots. This sad episode will not slow down the New Democrats‘ march to a
Continue readingArt Threat: Temps Libre: an album filled with hope, inspired by the printemps érable
Something happened last spring: a whole generation of Montrealers was mobilized, politicized, made aware that they had a voice. Finally opening their windows onto spring mornings as the snow melted into the grass, people converged outside, en masse, where the air was filled with promise. They filled their lungs with
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