IS QUEBEC A NATION?

This question is front and centre again.  Surely there is no doubt that in a sociological sense Quebec is a nation within Canada.  It has its own territory, its own language, its own culture, its own customs, theroots of its own religion and its own political institutions such as a national assembly and a national flag.  No one wouldargue that Prince Edward Island is a nation. But Quebec? Surely.  « Quebec is my nation, Canadian is my country. »  Pointe finale

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY GOOD FILMS LATELY?

If not, grab your hat, clear your schedule and rush right out to see The Queen.  We all know Hellen Mirren is a superlative actess but in this stunning portrayal of Elizabeth VI she outdoes herself.  From an initial indifference to Diana’s death, Mirrenn deftly develops an empathy for Elizabeth, this old-fashioned woman perched so precariously at the top of her not so honoured throne.

       In magic that is beyond magic Mirren convinces us that Elizabeth’s impassivity and insensitivity arises largely from an entrenched belief that her ceremonial duty must be discharged untainted by partiality and unclouded by emotion.  Yet the death of a magnificent stag  unlocks the floodgates and brings her to true grief.

        Rush out an see The Queen.  Better still, take a friend

SHOULD AN AMERICAN SEX OFFENDER DO HIS TIME IN CANADA?

An American judge has sentenced a 35 year old man who had sex with a 15 year old girl in the United States to serve his probation in Canada if Canadian immigration authorities agree to let h im into Canada on a daily basis.  Should they?

QUEBEC PLNS TO SHUT DOWN EVANGELICAL SCHOOLS WHO REFUSE TO TEACH DARWINISM.

Many inedpendent schools in other provinces are free to teach what they like – evolution, creationism or both.  Quebec Education Minister Fournier says schools must have a permit and those that have a permit must follow the curriculum which includes theteachingof the Darwinian theory of evolution. »  Does this position respect either freedom of religion or freedom of speech?

SHOULD MACKAY APOLOGIZE TO STRONACH?

Peter MacKay was once Belinda Stronach’s boy friend.

Then Stronach dumped MacKay for a Liberal cabinet post.

MacKay then took refuge with his dog.

A liberal critic kidded MacKay about his dog.

MacKay replied the Liberals already had his dog. i.e. Belendia

Belinda demands  an apology from MacKay for calling her a dog.  Should he apologize?

SHOULD MADONNA ADOPT AN AFRICAN BABY?

A young Malawi farmer named Banda placed his baby son in an orphanage because he could not afford to take care of him and the boy’s mother had died.  Mr. Banda planned to remarry and get his son back from the orphanage when the boy was in better health.

     Then Madonna swooped in, cut through the red tape and took the baby back to England.   Why didn’t she give Mr. Banda the money necessary to look after his son at home? Or could she not have found a baby whose parents were deceased?

      What right does a fading multi-millionaire celebrity have to snatch a baby from its family and its culture?

SHOULD PARK BECOME BOURASSA?

Without warning or any public consultation, Mayor Tremblay has announced that Park Avenue (the name is associated with Mount Royal Park and goes back more than a century to 1883) will be no more to be replaced by Bourassa in honour of the former premier.

       Should this cause any upset?  After all, Dorchester was rubbed out in favour of another premier, Rene Levesque.   No fuss, no muss.  So why not Bourassa Avenue?  It will cost a piddling $16,000 to change the street signs.  In a relatively short time, we’ll all hail a taxi to take us to a Bourassa address.   I knew Robert Bourassa reasonably well.   I think he deserves a commemoration.   Bourassa for Park seems like a reasonable exchange.  

ARE QUEBECERS LAZY?

Former premier Lucien Bouchard says Quebecers don’t work as hard as Ontarians or Americans: « We need to work more.  We don’t work enough. »

Most business leaders agree.  Figures show Quebecers work 200 hours less annually than other North American workers.

Union leaders and social workers agree Quebecers do work less but this means they spend more quality time with their families.  This is their deliberate choice and it is the right one. Do you agree?

WILL THE PRIEST SEXUAL SCANDAL EVER STOP?

Last week in Chatham, Ontario, a priest in his eighties was sentenced to three years in penitentiary for sexual offenses against young girls.

Today the lawyer for disgraced Congressman Foley said that his client would presently reveal the name of the priest who molested him as an altar boy to the Archdiocese of Miami.

Just when you think this scandal is over it pops up again.  Is the priest pedophile crisis a bottomless pit?

SHOULD CANADA SEND MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN?

Two more Canadian soldiers are dead, two more wounded. That brings the fatalities to more than 40.  Some of these deaths occurred as Canadian troops were trying to help Afghans (who suffered many casualties) build a road.

     If Afghans are being killed under our protection should we send more troops to beef up our mission.  On the other hand, we are also killing the Taliban.  But are we just following the American model in Iraq – for every one of the enemy we kill, we breed double that many terrorists. 

     Is it time Canada sent more soldiers to Afghanistan or is it time to stand back and review the reasons we went there in the first place?