Louise Harel, who is one of the two major candidates in the November 1st Montreal mayoralty election, the other being two time mayor Gérald Tremblay, has decided that she is not comfortable enough in the language of 12 per cent of the population of Montreal, English, and the language preferred by the 20 per cent of the city that are cheerfully referred to as allophones, English, so she will not debate Mayor Tremblay on CTV Montreal.
The Montreal Gazette rolls with that news on its front page this morning informing all that the half-hour debate would have taken place Oct. 25, a week before the Nov. 1 vote, and Ms. Harel, a former Parti Quebecois minister, had been offered any combination of simultaneous translation. Not good enough.
Ms. Harel was the minister of municipal affairs who forced amalgamation in communities like Hull/Aylmer/Gatineau and in Montreal and and her track record indicates that she doesn't listen to others' opinions unless they agree with her.
She has selected out the 12 per cent anglo vote and the 20 per cent allophone vote but is crushing the incumbent among the 68 per cent of Montrealers who are francophones.
WFDS
Showing posts with label Montreal Gazette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montreal Gazette. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
878...Habs Win
Summer is not even over and the happy words above are the front page of this morning's Montreal Gazette.
The Bell Centre was rocking Thursday night as the hockey version of the New Kids on the Block led the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers in the team's first exhibition game.
I missed the RDS broadcast; what did Senator Jacques Demers have to say? Did he pimp both the Habs and his new boss Stephen Harper? Or, was he Senatorial and did not show up for work. Just asking.
WFDS
WFDS
Monday, September 14, 2009
850...As I Was Saying In Post 849
Kevin Dougherty of the Montreal Gazette writes this morning that "The Bloc Québécois could support the Harper government this Friday on its Ways and Means Motion."
If Prime Minister Stephen Harper proposes a motion to adopt his government's home renovation program, "We'll support it," Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said.
Plus Mr. Duceppe has 16 Members on the pension bubble. That is 1/3 of his caucus.
These things matter.
WFDS
If Prime Minister Stephen Harper proposes a motion to adopt his government's home renovation program, "We'll support it," Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said.
Plus Mr. Duceppe has 16 Members on the pension bubble. That is 1/3 of his caucus.
These things matter.
WFDS
Friday, September 11, 2009
831...Lead On Anniversary Of 911 Montreal Gazette
Has nothing to do with 911.
Of course not.
There is a Stanley Cup to be won, er, won in the proper fashion and the headline says it all.
Ah, Montreal, gotta love it.
WFDS
Of course not.
There is a Stanley Cup to be won, er, won in the proper fashion and the headline says it all.
Do Habs have enough Quebec players?
Ah, Montreal, gotta love it.
WFDS
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
813...This Sunday Is Momentous
Momentous for two reasons.
First off, it is the opening day of the full schedule of the NFL.
More importantly it is the 250th anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, a battle that changed the face of the North American continent and the world in a matter of minutes.
To review, before the battle, the French were a major colonizer in the New World. After the battle, not so much. Fifty years after the fight the French presence in North America was pretty much spent.
In celebration of the anniversary a 24 hour event Moulin a paroles [word mill] will start at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon reading key passages from the history of Quebec such as the song lyrics, information about the 1837-38 rebellion, the 1755 Acadian deportation and most controversially the Front de Liberation du Quebec's 1970 manifesto.
The FLQ were the small group of terrorists who kidnapped James Cross, a British diplomat and Pierre Laporte, a Quebec cabinet minister, in October of 1970, sending Canada into a state of emergency.
The reading of this manifesto is sure to cause controversy but, as reported by Kevin Dougherty in today's Montreal Gazette, Gilles Duceppe, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, supports the reading on the basis of its historical value. He states that not reading it would be censorship, that those who are against it being read are pro censorship and he is right on the money there.
WFDS
First off, it is the opening day of the full schedule of the NFL.
More importantly it is the 250th anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, a battle that changed the face of the North American continent and the world in a matter of minutes.
To review, before the battle, the French were a major colonizer in the New World. After the battle, not so much. Fifty years after the fight the French presence in North America was pretty much spent.
In celebration of the anniversary a 24 hour event Moulin a paroles [word mill] will start at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon reading key passages from the history of Quebec such as the song lyrics, information about the 1837-38 rebellion, the 1755 Acadian deportation and most controversially the Front de Liberation du Quebec's 1970 manifesto.
The FLQ were the small group of terrorists who kidnapped James Cross, a British diplomat and Pierre Laporte, a Quebec cabinet minister, in October of 1970, sending Canada into a state of emergency.
The reading of this manifesto is sure to cause controversy but, as reported by Kevin Dougherty in today's Montreal Gazette, Gilles Duceppe, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, supports the reading on the basis of its historical value. He states that not reading it would be censorship, that those who are against it being read are pro censorship and he is right on the money there.
WFDS
Monday, September 7, 2009
799...War Is Declared!
Says so on the front page of the Montreal Gazette:
Off to YouTube it is!
WFDS
Liberals wage YouTube war on Harper
Off to YouTube it is!
WFDS
Sunday, September 6, 2009
795...Maudit Anglais
Hostie.
Muhammed Ahmad Munir, a student visiting from Pakistan, was kicked off the No. 66 bus Friday morning for having the audacity, you know how immigrants are, the audacity to ask the bus driver a question in e n g l i s h. In Montreal.
This incident, reported in the Montreal Gazette, happened in Notre Dame de Grace, an area of Montreal that has more than a few of the dreaded maudit anglais along with a large proportion of les autres and even juifs.
The Société de transport de Montréal [STM] bus driver was so taken with the boldness of Muhammed Ahmad Munir's cheekiness that she proceeded to call police, saying she had an aggressive passenger, and she kicked the rest of the passengers off the bus as well.
Let's face it, if you are going to be an ass, go all the way.
WFDS
Muhammed Ahmad Munir, a student visiting from Pakistan, was kicked off the No. 66 bus Friday morning for having the audacity, you know how immigrants are, the audacity to ask the bus driver a question in e n g l i s h. In Montreal.
This incident, reported in the Montreal Gazette, happened in Notre Dame de Grace, an area of Montreal that has more than a few of the dreaded maudit anglais along with a large proportion of les autres and even juifs.
The Société de transport de Montréal [STM] bus driver was so taken with the boldness of Muhammed Ahmad Munir's cheekiness that she proceeded to call police, saying she had an aggressive passenger, and she kicked the rest of the passengers off the bus as well.
Let's face it, if you are going to be an ass, go all the way.
WFDS
Friday, September 4, 2009
784...Can You Say Slap On The Wrist?
I know you can.
That is what happened to Belinda Stronach's ex boyfriend yesterday.
The Montreal Gazette reports that her ex was fined 200 dollars by the federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson for failing to disclose that he was a director of a company that could have benefitted from federal forestry grants.
The company, Beaver Lumber, was and is owned by the ex's dad, Elmer McKay, who, like the ex, is a long time Conservative insider.
WFDS
That is what happened to Belinda Stronach's ex boyfriend yesterday.
The Montreal Gazette reports that her ex was fined 200 dollars by the federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson for failing to disclose that he was a director of a company that could have benefitted from federal forestry grants.
The company, Beaver Lumber, was and is owned by the ex's dad, Elmer McKay, who, like the ex, is a long time Conservative insider.
WFDS
Monday, August 24, 2009
726...Not All Headlines Are Bad For Canada
The Montreal Gazette doesn't lead with a story about our failing economy, the war that no one understands or the polls showing that Canadians seem to really, really, really like Stephen Harper.
Of course they don't.
They lead with "Who will captain the Habs?"
If it is August and it is Canada it must be hockey.
I love this country.
WFDS
Of course they don't.
They lead with "Who will captain the Habs?"
If it is August and it is Canada it must be hockey.
I love this country.
WFDS
Sunday, August 23, 2009
720...Wasted Summer Days And Nights
At least that is what L. Ian MacDonald [and, no, there is nothing pretentious about putting your first initial in front of your name] writes in the morning Montreal Gazette.
The former confidant of the United States' greatest Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, Mr. MacDonald slags the Liberals and Canada's next Prime Minister, Michael Ignatieff, for being lazy and incompetent.
Mr. MacDonald makes one valid point:
The former confidant of the United States' greatest Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, Mr. MacDonald slags the Liberals and Canada's next Prime Minister, Michael Ignatieff, for being lazy and incompetent.
Mr. MacDonald makes one valid point:
Here's something else for the Liberals to consider:
With a new leader taking advantage of the worst economic downturn in decades,
they should be running 10 to 15 points ahead in the polls,
easily leading every region of the country except the West.
Instead, they're running no better than even with
the Conservatives, given polls' margin of error,
with both parties in the mid-30-per-cents.
With a new leader taking advantage of the worst economic downturn in decades,
they should be running 10 to 15 points ahead in the polls,
easily leading every region of the country except the West.
Instead, they're running no better than even with
the Conservatives, given polls' margin of error,
with both parties in the mid-30-per-cents.
As much as I want to believe that Mikey I. will be the next PM and that Stephen Harper will become the greatest real estate agent Calgary has ever seen, Mr. Tory Mouthpiece makes a valid point.
That is pretty much all that is in Sunday's Gazette. I just saved you a dollar, more if you live off the Island.
Thank me.
WFDS
That is pretty much all that is in Sunday's Gazette. I just saved you a dollar, more if you live off the Island.
Thank me.
WFDS
Thursday, August 20, 2009
702...Toronto And Montreal Rivalry Redux
You know how those two cities are.
Toronto gets a subway; Montreal gets a subway.
Montreal gets a baseball team; Toronto gets a baseball team.
Toronto's blue collar workers go on strike; Montreal's blue collar workers go on strike.
This is taking it a bit too far. The headline on the front of the Gazette this morning is that the blue collar workers on the Island of Montreal are poised to walk.
Stay tuned for more deets.
WFDS
Toronto gets a subway; Montreal gets a subway.
Montreal gets a baseball team; Toronto gets a baseball team.
Toronto's blue collar workers go on strike; Montreal's blue collar workers go on strike.
This is taking it a bit too far. The headline on the front of the Gazette this morning is that the blue collar workers on the Island of Montreal are poised to walk.
Stay tuned for more deets.
WFDS
Friday, August 14, 2009
673...Checking In Fro' The 'Peg, Steven Fletcher
The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State [Democratic Reform] has been a busy man writing letter after letter to the papers that matter.
Check it out:
Montreal Gazette
Bloc not targetted [sic]
Fri Aug 14 2009
Page: A12
Section: Editorial / Op-Ed
Source: The Gazette
Re: "Duceppe: I am not a quitter" (Gazette, Aug. 13).
While others have advocated ending the per-vote subsidy only for the Bloc Québécois, that is not the position of our Conservative government.
We believe that no party should have its operations supported by this taxpayer subsidy and that all parties should be primarily funded by their supporters. In fact, the Conservative Party would lose the most money should the per-vote subsidy be ended.
To suggest, as your story does, that the government would target a specific party is wrong and a misrepresentation of our view.
Steven Fletcher
Minister of State
(Democratic Reform)
Ottawa
End taxpayer subsidy of parties
The Toronto Star
Fri Aug 14 2009
Page: A24
Section: Editorial
Rewriting the rules won't make Bloc
Go away, Column, Aug. 11
While some have advocated ending the per-vote subsidy only for the Bloc Quebecois, that is not the position of our Conservative government. We believe that no party should have its operations supported by this taxpayer subsidy and that all parties should be primarily funded by their supporters.
Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), Ottawa
This, of course, is some serious bullsh't.
WFDS
Thursday, August 13, 2009
667...Gays And B'nai Brith Knock Heads
It is Pride Week in Montreal [don't get me started] and the big parade is this Sunday.
Headline in today's Montreal Gazette emphatically states Anti-Israel agitators trying to 'hijack' Gay Parade: B'Nai Brith.
Here is the sitch. The Q-Team is marching in the Pride Montreal parade and their message is Israeli apartheid has to end. Ever the champion of free speech, Frank Dimant, the VP in charge of being pissed off at stuff for B'nai Brith says that the parade is no place for politics stating that the days of politicized marches are a thing of the past.
Q-Team spokesperson Leila Pourtvas, a Canadian of Iranian ancestry, replies that being queer is political in and of itself and that bringing a political issue to the table is not meant to hijack a parade but merely to increase awareness.
There was a similar fuss at this year's Toronto Pride, funded in part by the benevolence of Stephen Harper's Conservatives, but Queers Against Israeli Apartheid were allowed to march despite the demands by B'nai Brith that they not be allowed to do so.
WFDS
Headline in today's Montreal Gazette emphatically states Anti-Israel agitators trying to 'hijack' Gay Parade: B'Nai Brith.
Here is the sitch. The Q-Team is marching in the Pride Montreal parade and their message is Israeli apartheid has to end. Ever the champion of free speech, Frank Dimant, the VP in charge of being pissed off at stuff for B'nai Brith says that the parade is no place for politics stating that the days of politicized marches are a thing of the past.
Q-Team spokesperson Leila Pourtvas, a Canadian of Iranian ancestry, replies that being queer is political in and of itself and that bringing a political issue to the table is not meant to hijack a parade but merely to increase awareness.
There was a similar fuss at this year's Toronto Pride, funded in part by the benevolence of Stephen Harper's Conservatives, but Queers Against Israeli Apartheid were allowed to march despite the demands by B'nai Brith that they not be allowed to do so.
WFDS
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
654...Morgentaler's First Abortion Clinic May Close
Bill 34, passed earlier in the year by the National Assembly of Quebec, threatens to shut Dr. Henry Morgentaler's first clinic, opened illegally over 40 years ago.
The front page story in the Montreal Gazette states that the threat of closing is not coming from anti-abortion protesters, who have targeted the clinic for 30 years, but from a Quebec law that will govern how special medical clinics, offering specialized services, provide such.
It is not the end of abortion per se in Montreal; although the Morgentaler Clinic and two others like it are slated to close in September if they do not comply with Bill 34, Montreal and area hospitals should be able to pick up the slack.
WFDS
The front page story in the Montreal Gazette states that the threat of closing is not coming from anti-abortion protesters, who have targeted the clinic for 30 years, but from a Quebec law that will govern how special medical clinics, offering specialized services, provide such.
It is not the end of abortion per se in Montreal; although the Morgentaler Clinic and two others like it are slated to close in September if they do not comply with Bill 34, Montreal and area hospitals should be able to pick up the slack.
WFDS
Friday, July 31, 2009
604...To Have An Election Or Not Have An Election
That, Bill Shakespeare, is the question.
In the Montreal Gazette this morning there are a couple of stories that indicate Stephen Harper, the current Prime Minister, does not want to go, wants to wait until the economy gets rosier, the Olympics give him and his people lots of photo opportunities, the war thing gets straightened out.
The next PM, Michael Ignatieff, told CTV that "...it is getting tougher and tougher..." to work with the government. His hawkishness is a clear departure from his actions of a couple of months ago when he choose not to topple the Tory government.
See you in September.
WFDS
In the Montreal Gazette this morning there are a couple of stories that indicate Stephen Harper, the current Prime Minister, does not want to go, wants to wait until the economy gets rosier, the Olympics give him and his people lots of photo opportunities, the war thing gets straightened out.
The next PM, Michael Ignatieff, told CTV that "...it is getting tougher and tougher..." to work with the government. His hawkishness is a clear departure from his actions of a couple of months ago when he choose not to topple the Tory government.
See you in September.
WFDS
Saturday, July 25, 2009
578...Hedy Fry/Montreal Gazette/Cut And Paste
Conservative irony
Montreal Gazette
Sat Jul 25 2009
Page: B6
Section: Editorial / Op-Ed
Source: The Gazette
Reading your July 23 article "Federal Tories reject Divers/Cité funding bid," I couldn't miss the opportunity to point out the irony of the whole situation.
The Harper government, having derided the Liberal government's sponsorship fund, sets up its own, under a different guise.
Having accused the Liberal minister in charge at the time, of politicizing the sponsorship fund, Conservative ministers now can't seem to resist manipulating their own version, the Marquee Tourism Events Program. The Ablonczy affair confirms that.
*Hedy Fry*
Montreal Gazette
Sat Jul 25 2009
Page: B6
Section: Editorial / Op-Ed
Source: The Gazette
Reading your July 23 article "Federal Tories reject Divers/Cité funding bid," I couldn't miss the opportunity to point out the irony of the whole situation.
The Harper government, having derided the Liberal government's sponsorship fund, sets up its own, under a different guise.
Having accused the Liberal minister in charge at the time, of politicizing the sponsorship fund, Conservative ministers now can't seem to resist manipulating their own version, the Marquee Tourism Events Program. The Ablonczy affair confirms that.
*Hedy Fry*
Liberal MP
WFDS
Friday, July 3, 2009
431...Animal News
In news that will make Lowell Green and the CFRA Nation happy, Tiffany Crawford and Peter O'Neil report in this morning's Montreal Gazette that the World Wildlife Federation ranks Canada eighth out of the eight countries that make up the G8 in terms of reacting to climate change.
"Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last among the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change," said foundation spokesman Keith Stewart.
The big bugaboo is the ongoing work in northern Alberta on exploiting the tarsands which has dire consequences for the environment according to the 2009 Climate Scorecard.
May be the Green Shift wasn't such a bad idea, eh?
WFDS
"Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last among the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change," said foundation spokesman Keith Stewart.
The big bugaboo is the ongoing work in northern Alberta on exploiting the tarsands which has dire consequences for the environment according to the 2009 Climate Scorecard.
May be the Green Shift wasn't such a bad idea, eh?
WFDS
Sunday, June 21, 2009
343...I Lied
Again.
More Hockey.
Front page of The Gazette, Montreal's Anglo newspaper, trumpets the sale of the Montreal Canadiens to the Molson family.
The brewers of Export and other fine ales, the Molson's have owned the Habs off and on since 1957 and are now back in the game paying 550 million, give or take, to George Gillett for an operation that he bought from them for 275 for at the turn of the century.
Would some one please forward this to Gary Bettman with the note that, Mr. B., franchises in towns that enjoy hockey, like Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, appreciate. Towns like, oh say Phoenix, not so much on the appreciation.
WFDS
More Hockey.
Front page of The Gazette, Montreal's Anglo newspaper, trumpets the sale of the Montreal Canadiens to the Molson family.
The brewers of Export and other fine ales, the Molson's have owned the Habs off and on since 1957 and are now back in the game paying 550 million, give or take, to George Gillett for an operation that he bought from them for 275 for at the turn of the century.
Would some one please forward this to Gary Bettman with the note that, Mr. B., franchises in towns that enjoy hockey, like Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, appreciate. Towns like, oh say Phoenix, not so much on the appreciation.
WFDS
Friday, June 19, 2009
331...Speaking Of Montreal
Crescent Street is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.
There was a great story in the Montreal Gazette yesterday about how this summer marks the 50th summer of partying on Crescent. For those of you not familiar with Montreal, Crescent is in the west end of the city, and when referring to Crescent Street it is generally assumed that one means Crescent between Maisonneuve and St. Catherine's.
Truly an interesting part of the world. I would posit that on a summer night, like tonight, if one stands at the corner of St. Catherine and Crescent you will see a plethora of beautiful [as in cover of Vogue] women and [GQesque] men parade by. The most beautiful.
Spectacular.
WFDS
There was a great story in the Montreal Gazette yesterday about how this summer marks the 50th summer of partying on Crescent. For those of you not familiar with Montreal, Crescent is in the west end of the city, and when referring to Crescent Street it is generally assumed that one means Crescent between Maisonneuve and St. Catherine's.
Truly an interesting part of the world. I would posit that on a summer night, like tonight, if one stands at the corner of St. Catherine and Crescent you will see a plethora of beautiful [as in cover of Vogue] women and [GQesque] men parade by. The most beautiful.
Spectacular.
WFDS
Saturday, June 6, 2009
224...The Next Prime Minister Picking Up Steam
The Next Prime Minister, Michael Ignatieff, is picking up huge amounts of steam and proof thereof is this lovely headline on today's Op-Ed page of the Montreal Gazette:
Ignatieff: the man they love to misquote; Both the Conservatives and Bloc are taking shots at the Liberal leader
They be scared.
WFDS
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