Voici une article que j'ai publié dans le Sherbrooke Record d'aujourd'hui, dans la langue de publication.
What am I thinking!?!?
As we roll on towards an election campaign, I wanted to the opportunity NOT to speak about the reasons for the campaign, or why one party is better than another. Rather, I want to speak about WHAT a candidate is feeling at this very moment. Here are some of the emotions that I’ll be dealing with over the next 40 or so days:
Stress: You know that feeling, where you’ve got a knot about the size of a baseball in your stomach? That’s what I’ve been dealing with for the past week. I hope it doesn’t cause permanent damage, or add to my grey hairs…
Anxiety: Do I have enough volunteers? Do I have enough posters? Do I have enough money (a campaign needs money to succeed, and, frankly, there’s not much out there)? Will voters listen to me? Will they listen to the leader? Will they read the platform? Does it connect????
Expectation: The writ has dropped and the election has started! Race around, find the best telephone pole to put your poster on, find the best location for your office, send out the press releases, and prepare for your debates! All in the same, oh, 10 minutes!
Excitement: Hey, I just convinced someone to change their vote! I met someone who stands out as a community leader! I’ve spoken about a policy we’re offering and someone realises that, yes, it can make a difference! I made a witty remark in the debate, one point for me!
Pride: Yes, you folks have seen me in the paper often over the past three years. An election campaign is the culminating point of that process – and a candidate who has been present, active and engaged in their community will feel pride through bringing it all together.
Anticipation: Will the weather be good voting day? How will the leaders do in their debate (you know, 80% of voters vote based on the leader or the platform, and NOT me…!)? Is voter turnout good? Is it good in the right places?
Relief: When all is said and done, after a campaign is over, one can only feel a sense of relief, after putting in thousands of kilometres on the poor car, shaking thousands of hands, and speaking to thousands of people. I can go back to spending more time with the kids, enjoying spring, and getting ready for summer.
That is, unless I get elected…
If you want to help out by contributing to my campaign, make your donation here:
https://action.liberal.ca/en/donate/Riding/24017
Si vous voulez donner un coup de main en contribuant à ma campagne, vous pouvez faire votre don ici:
https://action.liberal.ca/fr/donate/Riding/24017
vendredi 25 mars 2011
samedi 12 février 2011
Tory Hate
Looking at the language choices made by the editorialist, I think of that quote from Ernest Lapointe, Mackenzie King's Lieutenant from the 1920s to 1940s: "A Tory is a Tory because he hates somebody or something..."
dimanche 6 février 2011
Liberals Launch "Pucapab" Campaign
Today we have launched "Pucapab" (Fed up! in English...), a Facebook and Video campaign to help unseat Stephen Harper. Not a bad little diddy if I may say so. Campaign is focused in French Quebec, so in French only.
Spread the word! Passez le mot!
facebook.com/pucapab
Spread the word! Passez le mot!
facebook.com/pucapab
mardi 30 novembre 2010
"Signs" of a Bloc-Conservative Coalition?
Check the slogans...
Conservatives 2010:
Bloc 2008:
There's your real coalitions partners. Immitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say...
Conservatives 2010:
Bloc 2008:
There's your real coalitions partners. Immitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say...
vendredi 19 novembre 2010
RIP Pat Burns
Pat Burns est décédé
For those who followed Burns the coach, as I did, 1993 was my year - Leafs battle through the playoffs, Dougie and Felix and the rest raising those oft low hopes of Leafs fans, this is a big loss.
If anyone is interested in remember Pat in a special way, you can support the Pat Burns Arena in Stanstead Quebec here. It's a worthy cause, one that Pat was and will remain very proud of.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
vendredi 22 octobre 2010
Go Tony!
All the best to Tony Genco, our candidate for the upcoming bi-election in Vaughn, and his organisation.
jeudi 14 octobre 2010
Questions on Harper's Reaction to UN Smack-down
"As I've said before, our engagement internationally is based on the principles that this country holds dear. It is not based on popularity."
So does this mean that it is the opposite at home?
"Our values...are the things we're pursuing, and that does not change regardless of what the outcome of secret votes is."
So does that mean that you are against secret votes if they threaten your values?
Does that make you anti-democratic?
Why attack secret votes at the UN? Did you want, maybe, to know WHO voted against you? In order to get a little pay-back maybe? A little cut to foreign aid here, a little less trade there, maybe a few less flights to Canada for a foreign carrier from an unfaithful voter at the UN?
We have noted Harper's vengeful, spiteful politics over the past four years at home. If you don't support his policies, shut the f*** up or you'll pay for it. Is he now going to use that abroad, say against China? India? The EU? Washington.....?
So does this mean that it is the opposite at home?
"Our values...are the things we're pursuing, and that does not change regardless of what the outcome of secret votes is."
So does that mean that you are against secret votes if they threaten your values?
Does that make you anti-democratic?
Why attack secret votes at the UN? Did you want, maybe, to know WHO voted against you? In order to get a little pay-back maybe? A little cut to foreign aid here, a little less trade there, maybe a few less flights to Canada for a foreign carrier from an unfaithful voter at the UN?
We have noted Harper's vengeful, spiteful politics over the past four years at home. If you don't support his policies, shut the f*** up or you'll pay for it. Is he now going to use that abroad, say against China? India? The EU? Washington.....?
mercredi 13 octobre 2010
vendredi 1 octobre 2010
My Bloc opponent is "in the dark."
So I had the luck of getting a question asked in the House on Monday by John McCallum on financing for a local project (the Pat Burns arena in Stanstead).
When the local media approached my Bloc opponent (France Bonsant), and asked her what she was doing to help the project, she replied the following:
"elle est prête à plaider la cause de la Ville de Stanstead à condition que ses dirigeants la contactent. ‘Je ne suis pas au courant ou ils sont rendus. En ayant de l’information de leur part, je pourrais faire avancer le dossier.’" (The actual quote is only on the paid part of the article - trust me, it's there)
Quick translation:
"I'll only help people if they come to me! How dare they think I would reach out to them - the horrors! Even if the issue has been reported on in all the local media, French and English, it still hasn't registered with me as something I should be concerned about. As for this major project, both in federal, provincial and municipal/private money terms, and in symbolism of remembering a local hockey hero, I have no clue what is going on. If they send me the information, I might be able to figure it out, someday. But I hope they don't. I would hate to have to take on responsibilities that I can't deal with."
Ouais...
When the local media approached my Bloc opponent (France Bonsant), and asked her what she was doing to help the project, she replied the following:
"elle est prête à plaider la cause de la Ville de Stanstead à condition que ses dirigeants la contactent. ‘Je ne suis pas au courant ou ils sont rendus. En ayant de l’information de leur part, je pourrais faire avancer le dossier.’" (The actual quote is only on the paid part of the article - trust me, it's there)
Quick translation:
"I'll only help people if they come to me! How dare they think I would reach out to them - the horrors! Even if the issue has been reported on in all the local media, French and English, it still hasn't registered with me as something I should be concerned about. As for this major project, both in federal, provincial and municipal/private money terms, and in symbolism of remembering a local hockey hero, I have no clue what is going on. If they send me the information, I might be able to figure it out, someday. But I hope they don't. I would hate to have to take on responsibilities that I can't deal with."
Ouais...
vendredi 24 septembre 2010
vendredi 17 septembre 2010
mercredi 15 septembre 2010
Right-wing media in crisis?
jeudi 9 septembre 2010
jeudi 2 septembre 2010
Slapping down!
As in "yes we will fund planned parenting" Oda got slapped down by her boss, big time!
mercredi 1 septembre 2010
mardi 31 août 2010
A View from the Back Roads
By Mike McDevitt
Editor
Sherbrooke Record
August 30th, 2010
Last weekend, Liberal party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff and his highly-charged retinue swept through the eastern Townships as part of a summer long national tour dubbed "The Liberal Express." In many ways, it was a throwback to whistle-stop politicking from an earlier era, if one could ignore the high-tech bus and the incessant cacophony of Blackberries, cell phones and printers.
Ignatieff made great pains to emphasize the particular nature of his visit here, emphasizing his family’s Richmond-area Canadian roots where his immigrant family “was accepted’ by both French and English-speaking Townshippers. It was here, he claimed passionately, that his vision of a ‘tolerant, open-minded society was hatched.
Reminding Townshippers how special they are never hurts a politician in this region, as even René Lévesque understood as he uttered his famous “Ils sont tellement cute les Cantons de l’Est,” referring to the Townships historical inability to fit into the linguist stereotypes so popular at the time. A history of rural people cooperating across religious and linguistic lines is a hard reality for many professional nationalists to swallow, but it has nevertheless shaped and coloured the ‘Quebec question,’ in this region for decades.
But as special as we are, Townshippers must still cohabitate with dull Canadian normals and face the reality of the country’s political slide into farce as the Stephen Harper dog and pony show continuers to encourage Canadians to believe that everything this country has stood for over the last half-century can be discarded at the whim of a male Sarah Palin in a blazer.
Mr. Ignatieff came out swinging against the Regressive Conservatives, bemoaning the demise of the “progressive’ moniker that for so long contributed to the Tories playing a constructive role in this country’s development. One suspects a progressive conservative party might have been a comfortable fit.
But the disguise is off now, and Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he believes he can form a meaningful government with only the support of one-issue rednecks (guns) and corporate profiteers (money). Since he has eliminated the ability of Statistics Canada to paint an accurate portrait of the country, he has also ensured that his delusional reveries won’t be interrupted by any unpleasant ‘facts.’
It is clear from Mr. Ignatieff’s statements over the weekend that he has come around to understanding the importance of progressivism in this country - regardless of which party it plays out, but whether the Liberal Party can carry the mantle itself remains to be seen. With the NDP steadily sliding into irrelevance and the Bloc picking its issues from its collective navel, those of us who are seeing this country devolve into a poor, country cousin of the political disgrace to the south may find ourselves hoping against hope that a reinvigorated Liberal Party might be able to snap enough of us back to our senses in time to stop Mr. Harper from completing his mission of handing the country over completely to the shameless, the muddle-headed and the afraid.
Is leadership really too much to ask?
NB: Mr. McDevitt rode the Express with us from Magog to Hatley last Friday...
Editor
Sherbrooke Record
August 30th, 2010
Last weekend, Liberal party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff and his highly-charged retinue swept through the eastern Townships as part of a summer long national tour dubbed "The Liberal Express." In many ways, it was a throwback to whistle-stop politicking from an earlier era, if one could ignore the high-tech bus and the incessant cacophony of Blackberries, cell phones and printers.
Ignatieff made great pains to emphasize the particular nature of his visit here, emphasizing his family’s Richmond-area Canadian roots where his immigrant family “was accepted’ by both French and English-speaking Townshippers. It was here, he claimed passionately, that his vision of a ‘tolerant, open-minded society was hatched.
Reminding Townshippers how special they are never hurts a politician in this region, as even René Lévesque understood as he uttered his famous “Ils sont tellement cute les Cantons de l’Est,” referring to the Townships historical inability to fit into the linguist stereotypes so popular at the time. A history of rural people cooperating across religious and linguistic lines is a hard reality for many professional nationalists to swallow, but it has nevertheless shaped and coloured the ‘Quebec question,’ in this region for decades.
But as special as we are, Townshippers must still cohabitate with dull Canadian normals and face the reality of the country’s political slide into farce as the Stephen Harper dog and pony show continuers to encourage Canadians to believe that everything this country has stood for over the last half-century can be discarded at the whim of a male Sarah Palin in a blazer.
Mr. Ignatieff came out swinging against the Regressive Conservatives, bemoaning the demise of the “progressive’ moniker that for so long contributed to the Tories playing a constructive role in this country’s development. One suspects a progressive conservative party might have been a comfortable fit.
But the disguise is off now, and Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he believes he can form a meaningful government with only the support of one-issue rednecks (guns) and corporate profiteers (money). Since he has eliminated the ability of Statistics Canada to paint an accurate portrait of the country, he has also ensured that his delusional reveries won’t be interrupted by any unpleasant ‘facts.’
It is clear from Mr. Ignatieff’s statements over the weekend that he has come around to understanding the importance of progressivism in this country - regardless of which party it plays out, but whether the Liberal Party can carry the mantle itself remains to be seen. With the NDP steadily sliding into irrelevance and the Bloc picking its issues from its collective navel, those of us who are seeing this country devolve into a poor, country cousin of the political disgrace to the south may find ourselves hoping against hope that a reinvigorated Liberal Party might be able to snap enough of us back to our senses in time to stop Mr. Harper from completing his mission of handing the country over completely to the shameless, the muddle-headed and the afraid.
Is leadership really too much to ask?
NB: Mr. McDevitt rode the Express with us from Magog to Hatley last Friday...
lundi 30 août 2010
Express!!!
Voici quelques photos des évènements avec Michael dans Compton-Stanstead.
Could not have asked for better weather for the event - 21 degrees, beautiful late summer sunset.
About 100 supporters came out for the funder.
8 maires, 3 conseillers, président de l'UPA, former candidates, MPs.
Great speech. As one doubting attendee said, and for my own protection I will not name names, Michael said everything he wanted to hear, and tipped his hat to him. And he is a doubter, a "chialeux" en bon français.
Good food from local producers on the menu...
After we went and opened the Ayer's Cliff Fair, THE end of summer event in my riding!
Could not have asked for better weather for the event - 21 degrees, beautiful late summer sunset.
About 100 supporters came out for the funder.
8 maires, 3 conseillers, président de l'UPA, former candidates, MPs.
Great speech. As one doubting attendee said, and for my own protection I will not name names, Michael said everything he wanted to hear, and tipped his hat to him. And he is a doubter, a "chialeux" en bon français.
Good food from local producers on the menu...
After we went and opened the Ayer's Cliff Fair, THE end of summer event in my riding!
jeudi 26 août 2010
L'Express demain!/Express tomorrow!
(English message follows)
Avis aux médias
Pour distribution immédiate
Horaire de l’Express libéral dans Compton-Stanstead
Hatley, mercredi le 25 août 2010. William Hogg, candidat libéral dans Compton-Stanstead, a annoncé aujourd’hui l’horaire de l’Express libéral dans Compton-Stanstead.
Vendredi le 27 août, 2010
17h00 à 18h30 Village de Hatley
Salle St. James
98 rue Main
Hatley
M. Ignatieff, M. Hogg et l’Express seront disponibles pour les photos lors d’une dégustation de produits locaux de 17h00 à 18h00. Ensuite, M. Hogg et M. Ignatieff feront des discours, suivis par une disponibilité aux médias de 18h15 à 18h30.
19h00 à 20h30 L’exposition d’Ayer’s Cliff
1082 rue Main
Ayer’s Cliff
M. Ignatieff fera le discours d’ouverture lors des cérémonies d’ouverture, qui débutent vers 19h15. Après le discours, M. Ignatieff et M. Hogg feront une tournée des exposants jusque vers 20h30.
-30-
***
Media Advisory
For Immediate Distribution
Schedule for the Liberal Express in Compton-Stanstead
Hatley, Wednesday, August 25th, 2010. William Hogg, Liberal candidate in Compton-Stanstead, announced today the scheduled stops for the Liberal Express in Compton-Stanstead.
Friday, August 27th, 2010
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Hatley Village
St. James Hall
98 Main Street
Hatley
Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Hogg will be available for photos during a tasting of local producers from 5 pm to 6 pm. From 6 pm to 6:15 pm Mr. Ignatieff will give a short speech, followed by media availability from 6:15 pm to 6:30 pm.
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Ayer’s Cliff Fair
1082 Main Street
Ayer’s Cliff Fair
Mr. Ignatieff will give the opening speech for the fair at 7:15 pm. Mr. Hogg and Mr. Ignatieff will then do a tour of the site until roughly 8:30 pm.
-30-
Avis aux médias
Pour distribution immédiate
Horaire de l’Express libéral dans Compton-Stanstead
Hatley, mercredi le 25 août 2010. William Hogg, candidat libéral dans Compton-Stanstead, a annoncé aujourd’hui l’horaire de l’Express libéral dans Compton-Stanstead.
Vendredi le 27 août, 2010
17h00 à 18h30 Village de Hatley
Salle St. James
98 rue Main
Hatley
M. Ignatieff, M. Hogg et l’Express seront disponibles pour les photos lors d’une dégustation de produits locaux de 17h00 à 18h00. Ensuite, M. Hogg et M. Ignatieff feront des discours, suivis par une disponibilité aux médias de 18h15 à 18h30.
19h00 à 20h30 L’exposition d’Ayer’s Cliff
1082 rue Main
Ayer’s Cliff
M. Ignatieff fera le discours d’ouverture lors des cérémonies d’ouverture, qui débutent vers 19h15. Après le discours, M. Ignatieff et M. Hogg feront une tournée des exposants jusque vers 20h30.
-30-
***
Media Advisory
For Immediate Distribution
Schedule for the Liberal Express in Compton-Stanstead
Hatley, Wednesday, August 25th, 2010. William Hogg, Liberal candidate in Compton-Stanstead, announced today the scheduled stops for the Liberal Express in Compton-Stanstead.
Friday, August 27th, 2010
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Hatley Village
St. James Hall
98 Main Street
Hatley
Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Hogg will be available for photos during a tasting of local producers from 5 pm to 6 pm. From 6 pm to 6:15 pm Mr. Ignatieff will give a short speech, followed by media availability from 6:15 pm to 6:30 pm.
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Ayer’s Cliff Fair
1082 Main Street
Ayer’s Cliff Fair
Mr. Ignatieff will give the opening speech for the fair at 7:15 pm. Mr. Hogg and Mr. Ignatieff will then do a tour of the site until roughly 8:30 pm.
-30-
mardi 27 juillet 2010
"A Liberal is a Liberal because he likes something or somebody;"
"a Tory is a Tory because he hates somebody or something." Ernest Lapointe, 1919.
Love Michael Bliss's Right-Honourable Men
Love Michael Bliss's Right-Honourable Men
dimanche 25 juillet 2010
Clement and water
I read with interest the piece on Clement's act of heroism. I have swam that river as a kid, and know it as a challenge. Bravo for doing the right thing at the right time!
It does lead me to ask a couple of questions though.
Clement is a Minister of the Crown, non?
Ministers of the Crown are provided with security details, no?
Aren't the security details supposed to be on guard 24/7?
Wouldn't they have been better positioned (ie. outside guarding the premises) to intervene to help out those in distress?
Aren't they there to disuade the Minister from putting his or her life in danger?
Now, I may be wrong in the sense that our Ministers of the Crown are not protected 24/7, but I don't think so...
So then, where were they?
It does lead me to ask a couple of questions though.
Clement is a Minister of the Crown, non?
Ministers of the Crown are provided with security details, no?
Aren't the security details supposed to be on guard 24/7?
Wouldn't they have been better positioned (ie. outside guarding the premises) to intervene to help out those in distress?
Aren't they there to disuade the Minister from putting his or her life in danger?
Now, I may be wrong in the sense that our Ministers of the Crown are not protected 24/7, but I don't think so...
So then, where were they?
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