#liberal party of quebec

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Godbout Plans To Reform Quebec Prison System," Montreal Star. January 18, 1940. Page 3. ---- Premier Plans Legislation To Separate Hardened Criminals From Offenders Against Game and Liquor Laws ---- COMPLETE reorganization of the provincial prison system, with classification of prisoners, according to their records and the possibility of helping them to return to freedom as useful citizens, was forecast this morning by Premier Adelard Godbout, when interviewed at the Windsor Hotel.

Mr. Godbout said that he had always been of opinion that the existing prison system did not offer a guarantee of humanity and proper chance for the moral and material rehabilitation of the prisoners. He said that the system of keeping under the same roof hardened criminals with those whose May Head Prisons only crime had been to violate the fish and game laws, or the regulations of the Quebec Liquor Commission, had always appeared to him unfair and even inhuman.

OLD PROJECT RECALLED Some years ago, the then Premier, Hon. L. A. Taschereau, at his request, had initiated a law authorizing the Government to place released prisoners on farms so that they might familiarize themselves gradually with civil life. Mr. Godbout said that he aimed higher.

There was no reason, he said, why delinquents under the fish and game laws, or whose crime was the selling of liquor without license, who are otherwise, honest citizens, should be imprisoned with thieves and murderers.

This could be prevented by a better classification of prisons and prisoners and their administration by a superintendent or commissioner. His Government had under study a plan for the above reform that would come before the House at the coming session, in legislation form.

When asked who had been considered for the new post, the Premier said the present commissioner of provincial police, Lt. Col. P. A. Piuze, would probably be the choice of the Government. Mr. Godbout expressed the opinion that Colonel Pluze because of his experience, would be well qualified to carry on the work.

LAW TO BE REVAMPED Though Mr. Godbout was not very definite as to this point, it is Inferred from what he said this morning that the old Taschereau law, mentioned above, would be altered to meet the Government's Ideas about the prison system of the Province.

Prisoners would be classified so as to prevent the contamination by hardened criminals and by the establishment of special colonies liberated prisoners would be helped towards rehabilitation in society. When questioned as to the successor of Commissioner Piuze, of the provincial police, Mr. Godbout said that no appointment had yet been decided upon. Among the candidates to the succession persistently mentioned. Is Marcel Gaboury. K.C., one of the Crown Attorneys of the district of Montreal. As deputy commissioner, the appointment of Louis Jargaille, former chief of detectives of the province, is considered certain.

Col. P. A. Piuze Premier Godbout intimated this morning that Colonel Piuze, now head of the Provincial Police would be superintendent of prisons under the reform plan to be brought before the Legislature this year.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Also tonight.

[northlandnews]

Nathalie Normandeau: A Political Journey of Triumphs and Controversies

Nathalie Normandeau, a name that resonates strongly in Canadian politics, embodies a story of ambition, influence, and scandal. From her beginnings in Gaspésie to her rise as Deputy Premier of Quebec, Normandeau's career is a compelling narrative of political acumen, personal relationships, and legal disputes. Her trajectory is a case study in navigating the complex waters of governance and public scrutiny. Her life, career, and legacy, offering a comprehensive exploration of the factors that shaped her political journey.

Early Life and Education

Born and raised in Maria, Gaspésie, Nathalie Normandeau’s upbringing was steeped in a deep connection to her community. Her early exposure to regional development issues laid the groundwork for her future political ambitions. She pursued higher education at Université Laval, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate in African Studies. During her university years, she entered public service as a public relations officer and secretary to the Premier of Quebec, roles that provided her with invaluable insights into governance.

The Dawn of a Political Career

Municipal Beginnings

At just 24 years old, Normandeau made her political debut as the mayor of her hometown, Maria, in 1992. Her tenure as one of the youngest mayors in Quebec highlighted her leadership capabilities and commitment to addressing regional issues.

Transition to Provincial Politics

In 1998, Normandeau entered provincial politics as the Liberal Party candidate for Bonaventure, winning her seat in the National Assembly. Her early assignments as opposition critic for natural resources, fisheries, and regions set the stage for her rapid ascent in Quebec's political landscape.

Rise to Prominence

Ministerial Roles

The 2003 provincial election marked a turning point in Normandeau’s career, with the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest, securing victory. Re-elected with ease, she was appointed Minister for Regional Development and Tourism and Minister responsible for Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Her influence expanded further in 2005 when she became Minister of Municipal Affairs, where she played a pivotal role in shaping municipal policies.

Deputy Premier

Following her re-election in 2007, Normandeau was promoted to Deputy Premier while retaining her role as Minister of Municipal Affairs. This period solidified her reputation as a key figure in the Liberal government, adept at navigating Quebec’s intricate political landscape.

Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife

In 2009, Normandeau assumed one of her most challenging roles as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife. This position demanded balancing economic and environmental priorities, particularly in energy and natural resource management. Her tenure in this role underscored her ability to handle complex portfolios, though it also exposed her to increased scrutiny.

Personal Life and Public Perception

Normandeau’s personal relationships occasionally made headlines, intertwining with her political career. Her romantic involvement with François Bonnardel, a member of an opposition party, and later with former Montreal Police Chief Yvan Delorme, attracted media attention. Additionally, her alleged ties to influential figures in Quebec’s construction industry fueled speculation and controversy.

Resignation and Legal Troubles

In 2011, Normandeau resigned from politics, citing personal reasons. However, her departure marked the beginning of a turbulent chapter in her life.

Scandal and Investigation: In 2012, a Radio-Canada investigation accused her of inappropriate ties to a construction industry executive. By 2014, Quebec’s anti-corruption unit (UPAC) implicated her in an inquiry into illegal campaign financing.

Arrest and Charges: In 2016, Normandeau was arrested on charges of corruption, fraud, and bribery. Despite the severity of these accusations, the case faced significant delays, leading to the charges being dismissed in 2020 due to unreasonable prosecution delays.

Legacy

Normandeau’s legacy is a complex interplay of achievements and controversies.

Achievements

Strengthened municipal infrastructure and governance in Quebec as Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Advocated for economic development and tourism in Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Played a crucial role in shaping energy and natural resource policies as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife.

Controversies

Her legal troubles cast a shadow over her career, raising questions about political accountability and ethical governance in Quebec. Despite being legally exonerated, the allegations left an indelible mark on her public image.

Public Perception of Accountability

Normandeau’s career has significantly influenced public discourse on political accountability in Quebec. Her accomplishments underscore the potential of effective leadership, while her legal battles highlight the necessity for transparency and ethical conduct in politics. This duality serves as a reminder of the importance of trust and integrity in public service.

Conclusion

Nathalie Normandeau journey through the corridors of power is both inspiring and cautionary. Her contributions to Quebec’s political landscape are undeniable, yet her career’s controversial aspects underscore the challenges of maintaining public trust. As we reflect on her legacy, it becomes clear that her story is not just about individual ambition but also about the broader implications of leadership and accountability in modern governance.

[ghost-hawk]

Canadian politics being what they are, I support the bloc Quebecois in it's decision to ask for justin Trudeau to stand down from office, however I ask that bloc Quebecois to take into consideration that the NDP has been taking steps to improving the relations with the indigenous communities more than past elected officials.

If the elections are to continue without Justin Trudeau I hope that all parties continue towards a future recognizing the needs of all Canadians including the native American indigenous.

While I voted for Justin Trudeau into office, I can understand if other Canadians are unhappy with him.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The "religious liberty" angle for overturning the overturning of Dobbs

Frank Wilhoit’s definition of “conservativism” remains a classic:

There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.

https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/liberals-against-progressives/#comment-729288

Conservativism is, in other words, the opposite of the rule of law, which is the idea that the law applies equally to all. Many of America’s most predictably weird moments live in the tension between the rule of law and the conservative’s demand to be protected — but not bound — by the law.

Think of the Republican women of Florida whose full-throated support for the perfomatively cruel and bigoted policies of Ron Desantis turned to howls of outrage when the governor signed a law “overhauling alimony” (for “overhauling,” read “eliminating”):

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/this-is-a-death-sentence-for-me-florida-republican-women-say-they-will-switch-parties-after-desantis-approves-alimony-law-34563230

This is real leopards-eating-people’s-faces-party stuff, and it’s the only source of mirth in an otherwise grim situation.

But out of the culture-war bullshit backfires, none is so sweet and delicious as the religious liberty self-own. You see, under the rule of law, if some special consideration is owed to a group due to religious liberty, that means all religions. Of course, Wilhoit-drunk conservatives imagine that “religious liberty” is a synonym for Christian liberty, and that other groups will never demand the same carve outs.

Remember when Louisiana decided spend tax dollars to fund “religious” schools under a charter school program, only to discover — to their Islamaphobic horror — that this would allow Muslim schools to get public subsidies, too?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/louisiana_n_1593995

(They could have tried the Quebec gambit, where hijabs and yarmulkes are classed as “religious” and therefore banned for public servants and publicly owned premises, while crosses are treated as “cultural” and therefore exempted — that’s some primo Wilhoitism right there)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-francois-legault-crucifix-religious-symbols-1.4858757

The Satanic Temple has perfected the art of hoisting religious liberty on its own petard. Are you a state lawmaker hoping to put a giant Ten Commandments on the statehouse lawn? Go ahead, have some religious liberty — just don’t be surprised when the Satanic Temple shows up to put a giant statue of Baphomet next to it:

https://www.npr.org/2018/08/17/639726472/satanic-temple-protests-ten-commandments-monument-with-goat-headed-statue

Wanna put a Christmas tree in the state capitol building? Sure, but there’s gonna be a Satanic winter festival display right next to it:

https://katv.com/news/offbeat/satanic-temple-display-installed-at-illinois-capitol-next-to-nativity-scene-menorah-decorations-snake-serpent-satanic-temple-springfield-christmas-tree

And now we come to Dobbs, and the cowardly, illegitimate Supreme Court’s cowardly, illegitimate overturning of Roe v Wade, a move that was immediately followed by “red” states implementing total, or near-total bans on abortion:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers

These same states are hotbeds of “religious liberty” nonsense. In about a dozen of these states, Jews, Christians, and Satanists are filing “religious liberty” challenges to the abortion ban. In Indiana, the Hoosier Jews For Choice have joined with other religious groups in a class action, to argue that the “religious freedom” law that Mike Pence signed as governor protects their right to an abortion:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/21/legal-strategy-that-could-topple-abortion-bans-00102468

Their case builds on precedents from the covid lockdowns, like decisions that said that if secular exceptions to lockdown rules or vaccine mandates existed, then states had to also allow religious exemptions. That opens the door for religious exemptions to abortion bans — if there’s a secular rule that permits abortion in the instance of incest or rape, then faith-based exceptions must be permitted, too.

Some of the challenges to abortion rules seek to carve out religious exemptions, but others seek to overturn the abortion rules altogether, because the lawmakers who passed them explicitly justified them in the name of fusing Christian “values” with secular law, a First Amendment no-no.

As Rabbi James Bennett told Politico’s Alice Ollstein: “They’re entitled to their interpretation of when life begins, but they’re not entitled to have the exclusive one.”

In Florida, a group of Jewish, Buddhist, Episcopalian, Universalists and United Church clerics are challenging the “aiding and abetting” law because it restricts the things they can say from the pulpit — a classic religious liberty gambit.

Kentucky’s challenge comes from three Jewish women whose faith holds that life begins “with the first breath.” Lead plaintiff Lisa Sobel described how Kentucky’s law bars her from seeking IVF treatment, because she could face criminal charges for “discarding non-viable embryos” created during the process.

Then there’s the Satanic Temple, in court in Texas, Idaho and Indiana. The Satanists say that abortion is a religious ritual, and argue that the state can’t limit their access to it.

These challenges all rest on state religious liberty laws. What will happen when some or all of these reach the Supreme Court? It’s a risky gambit. This is the court that upheld Trump’s Muslim ban and the right of a Christian baker to refuse to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. It’s a court that loves Wilhoit’s “in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”

It’s a court that’s so Wilhoit-drunk, it’s willing to grant religious liberty to bigots who worry about imaginary same-sex couples:

https://newrepublic.com/article/173987/mysterious-case-fake-gay-marriage-website-real-straight-man-supreme-court

But in the meantime, the bigots and religious maniacs who want to preserve “religious liberty” while banning abortion are walking a fine line. The Becket Fund, which funded the Hobby Lobby case (establishing that religious maniacs can deny health care to their employees if their imaginary friends object), has filed a brief in one case arguing that the religious convictions of people arguing for a right to abortion aren’t really sincere in their beliefs:

https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20230118184008/Individual-Members-v.-Anonymous-Planitiff-Amicus-Brief.pdf

This is quite a line for Becket to have crossed — religious liberty trufans hate it when courts demand that people seeking religious exemptions prove that their beliefs are sincerely held.

Not only is Becket throwing its opposition to “sincerely held belief” tests under the bus, they’re doing so for nothing. Jewish religious texts clearly state that life begins at the first breath, and that the life of a pregnant person takes precedence over the life of the fetus in their uterus.

The kicker in Ollstein’s great article comes in the last paragraph, delivered by Columbia Law’s Elizabeth Reiner Platt, who runs the Law, Rights, and Religion Project:

The idea of reproductive rights as a religious liberty issue is absolutely not something that came from lawyers. It’s how faith communities themselves have been talking about their approach to reproductive rights for literally decades.

The Clarion Science Fiction Writers’ Workshop (I’m a grad, instructor and board member) is having its fundraiser auction to help defray tuition. I’ve donated a “Tuckerization” — the right to name a character in a future novel:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/clarion-sf-fantasy-writers-workshop-23-campaign/#/

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/11/wilhoitism/#hoosier-jews

[Image ID: Moses parting the Red Sea. On the seabed is revealed a Planned Parenthood clinic.]

Image: Nina Paley (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moses-Splits-Sea_by_Nina_Paley.jpg

CC0 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en

 — 

Kristina D.C. Hoeppner (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/4nitsirk/40406966752/

CC BY-SA 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[reasonsforhope]

"In short: Nine million Canadian women of reproductive age will have the full cost of their contraception covered as part of a major health care reform, the government says.

The reform includes the most widely used contraceptive methods, such as IUDs, contraceptive pills, hormonal implants and the day after pill.

What's next? The government must still win the approval of Canada's provinces, which administer health care."

"Canada will cover the full cost of contraception for women, the government says as it highlights the first part of a major health care reform.

The government will pay for the most widely used contraceptive methods, such as IUDs, contraceptive pills, hormonal implants or the day after pill, for the nine million Canadian women of reproductive age, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Sunday at a press conference in a pharmacy in Toronto.

"Women should be free to choose the contraceptives they need without cost getting in the way. So, we're making contraceptives free," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X, formerly Twitter.

The announcement fleshes out the first part of a bill unveiled in February that, once completed, would mark the biggest expansion of Canada's publicly funded health care system in decades.

This new regime will also cover the cost of diabetes medication for some 3.7 million Canadians.

The cost of the new system and timing of the launch have not been announced...

The government must now win the approval of Canada's provinces, which actually administer health care, for this new system. Alberta and Quebec have already said they would opt out.

The pharmacare plan — as it is called locally — follows protracted negotiations between Mr Trudeau's Liberal minority government and a small leftist faction in parliament.

The New Democratic Party agreed to prop up the Liberals until the fall of 2025, on the condition that the government immediately launch the drug program."

-via ABC News Australia, March 31, 2024

[coochiequeens]

Canada, WTF? Part I

By Reduxx Team November 13, 2024

The trial of a man charged with murdering his wife and two young sons has begun this week, with the accused now claiming to identify as transgender. Mohamad Al Ballouz, 38, is charged with the second-degree murder of his wife, Synthia Bussières, and the first-degree murders of their two sons, aged just 5 and 2 years old. Ballouz has now adopted the name Levana Ballouz, and has been referred to as a “woman” by Canadian press.

In September of 2022, firefighters attended Ballouz’ 12th floor condo in Brossard, Quebec in response to an apparent house fire. Inside, they found Synthia Bussières, her body riddled with stab wounds, laying on a bed next to her two children. Ballouz had lodged himself between Bussiéres and the children, and a small bonfire of household items had been lit next to the mattress.

Synthia Bussières and her two children.

All four were rushed to the hospital, but Bussières and her children died. Ballouz, who was also injured, had reportedly consumed dishwashing liquid in an apparent suicide attempt, but he was placed under arrest after being treated. Ballouz has no previous criminal history.

While the details of the case, including any potential motive, are still unclear, Bussières’ mother has come forward to reveal that her daughter appeared increasingly troubled in the two years leading up to the murder.

“She had been with this man for 12 years, but in the last two years, she had changed. I didn’t recognize her anymore,” Sylvie Guertin told Les 2 Rives in September of 2023. She also said that she had seen Bussières in the weeks before her death, and had observed that her daughter looked frail.

“In August [of 2022], I saw that something was wrong, but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to look like the mother who gets involved in something that doesn’t concern her,” Guertin said. “I thought she had lost weight.”

Ballouz’s trial began on Monday, but during the proceedings it was learned that he now identifies as a “woman” named Levana Ballouz. During his hearings, he appeared in court wearing a blonde, curly wig and nail polish. He is reportedly representing himself after firing his two criminal defense lawyers, both of whom were considered to be among the best in Quebec.

According to CBC, the prosecution had to “warn” the jury that several witnesses would refer to Ballouz as a man to preempt any concerns about “disrespect.” Prior to the start of the trial, no previous news coverage had documented that Ballouz was expressing a change in his self-perceived “gender identity,” suggesting his claim of being transgender was extremely recent.

Canadian media outlets are respecting Ballouz’ new identity, with multiple articles covering the trial referring to Ballouz as a “woman” or by using feminine pronouns.

While the trial is expected to last at least 10 more weeks, if Ballouz is found guilty and criminally responsible, he would be entitled to request housing in a women’s prison.

Largely due to the efforts of the governing Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau, the category of “gender identity” was made a protected characteristic after it was added to the Canadian Human Rights Act via a controversial piece of legislation known as Bill C-16. The amendments granted men access to single-sex female spaces like washrooms, changing rooms, prisons, and rape shelters on the basis of their identity.

While the Canadian government claimed the bill had been assessed for its impact on women prior to approval, it has refused to release any details of the assessment’s findings. In 2020, a copy of the assessment was given to journalist Anna Slatz via an Access To Information Request but was 96% redacted.

Since Bill C-16 was enacted in 2017, a number of violent and sexually depraved male inmates have been transferred to women’s prisons across Canada.

As previously reported by Reduxx, one egregious example includes a trans-identified male who raped an infant before being transferred to a women’s prison.

Tara Desousa, also known as Adam Laboucan, sexually assaulted a three-month-old baby boy in Quesnel, British Columbia in 1997. The infant was so brutally injured by the attack that he had to be flown to Vancouver, 410 miles away, to undergo reconstructive surgery. After declaring a transgender status, Desousa was transferred to the Fraser Valley Institution for Women, where he is one of multiple trans-identified males with a history of sexual violence at the facility. Desousa is designated a “dangerous offender” and is considered such a risk to public safety that he is serving an indeterminate prison sentence.

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

waves, you’re the only Canadian I know. What the heck is going on with Justin Trudeau? I read a couple articles but still didn’t quite grasp why he resigned and what will happen next. What’re your thoughts on it?? I trust your social commentary

First of all, you should never trust me for anything 😂 I am far from a reliable source. I'm just some girl on the internet.

The TL;DR is that there has been a lot of internal strife within his political party and cabinet for the last couple of years, and the voices got louder and louder until they basically all made it clear they would no longer support him and/or resign if he didn't do it first.

Canada's parliamentary system is a constitutional monarchy, more similar to the UK system than the US' governing-wise. So the governing party is the one who has the most amount of seats in the House of Commons. In theory, constituents vote for the party, not the leader, in federal elections, although in practice it obviously comes down to the leader's popularity. In theory, Canada is a multi-party system, although in practice, it's almost entirely governed swapped back and forth between the Liberal Party* and the Conservative Party. There are a handful of other national parties that have debatable influence depending on the era, sometimes representing regional or special interests. Also, Canada doesn't have set election dates like in the US; in theory the Prime Minister can call elections at anytime within their mandate.

(*In Canada, Liberal does not mean the same thing as small-l liberal. It's not a social outlook, it's descended from the UK tradition. Same for how historically the Conservative Party did not mean the same thing as small-c conservative a la in the US, although now they are effectively the same thing due to the influence of the Tea Party and shit from the US. The Liberals are more centrist, the Conservatives are centre-right but quickly heading more right each passing year.)

When Trudeau was first elected in 2015, he won a majority, which means his party, the Liberal Party, held more than half the seats in the House, and could effectively enact their platform. In 2019, the Liberals won with a minority, which meant that they needed the help of other minority parties to pass legislation. In 2021, Trudeau tried to capitalize off some post-pandemic goodwill and called an early election in an effort to try to win back his majority, but it was an incredibly unpopular decision as people did not want to head into another election season AND I think he underestimated the discontent about pandemic mitigating measures and the state of the economy, and instead he kind of shot himself in the foot and he squeaked through with another minority. This forced his party to enter into a coalition with two other minority parties (the New Democrats, which is more left-of-centre, and the Bloc Quebecois, which represents the interests of Quebec) in order to keep a tentative majority and fend off the Conservative Party, who are the official opposition with the second-most number of seats. In theory, this meant that the minority parties could exert some sort of influence to get their policies moving. (For instance, the NDP pushed public dental care on their agenda, which did in fact eventually get passed in some fashion.) In practice, it was more like a holding pattern.

I'm not especially well-versed in what's happening in politics to that degree, but essentially, particularly since 2021, Trudeau has lost a lot of his former allies in his party. There could be many reasons, but the most often one cited is that his team has become more insular and less likely to listen to advisers and other Members of Parliament (MPs = the members who represent ridings, e.g. like US congresspeople/senators) and had become more out of touch than he'd been before. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party is beating the battle drum and want to push for a vote of non-confidence, which means they could bring a motion to the table in the House and if a majority of members vote in favour, would mean government would dissolve and trigger an election. This was just noise when the coalition was in place, but in recent months, the other parties indicated they would no longer support Trudeau's government if a vote were to come to pass.

So it was just a matter of time until an election was called, but then the internal infighting of the Liberal Party sealed the deal. Trudeau attempted a cabinet shuffle before the holidays, which was kind of a last-ditch effort to stop the bleeding by moving ministers around to different portfolios. But one of the people he tried to shuffle was Chrystia Freeland, who was one of his most ardent supporters from the start, is Deputy Prime Minister and was the Finance Minister, which is one of the plumb roles in his cabinet. So before he had a chance to do that, she publicly resigned, which was a death blow to his cabinet, and afterwards many other MPs publicly voiced their lack of confidence in the PM and called for his resignation. There's also been a lot of concern over his handling of Trump's re-election and posturing about making Canada the 51st state and enforcing tariffs and all the usual shit. Trudeau had no choice but to step down because if he hadn't, his party would have forced his hand; he was supposed to have a caucus meeting on Wednesday and all reports were saying it was going to be a knives-out scenario for him. He's leaving before he gets left, basically.

Now, Trudeau is resigning, which means the Liberal party will be heading into a leadership race for an interim leader. He also prorogued parliament, which effectively means the House won't sit until March. When they come back, it is also almost assuredly in name only, because the Conservatives will call for a vote of non confidence on their first item of business and it will pass and the House will fall, meaning Trudeau's elected government will dissolve and an election is called. There's some debate as to whether it was fair of him to ask the Governor General (the King's representative in Canada -- basically an honourary role that rubber stamps things) to prorogue parliament as it's basically like calling a time out so that the Liberals can get their shit together and find a new leader before the election. But cynically I know the Conservatives would have done the same thing so they can stop their yapping imo. So basically, our legislative body is on hiatus until March. The mechanisms of government (e.g. the actual services) aren't, it's still business as usual. And then we're heading to the polls.

My thoughts are, I am far more left-leaning than the Liberal Party, so I have long been disenchanted with Trudeau's performance and politics. At the same time, I think he vastly underestimated how worried Canadians are about the economy (even if what they're worried about doesn't always apply to their own lives), and how much people are struggling. (Canada in some ways is far more expensive to live in than, say, the US. Inflation and price gouging is a huge concern in some areas.) The Conservative Party terrifies me because they are going to cause real harm to Canadians, like the Republican Party does in the US, but they're the party that is going to win and win a majority handily. There's a whole faction of their party that's infiltrated by MAGA-like doctrine. But they're the only challengers to the House and they've been leading in the polls for the last year or whatever, so it's a guarantee that they're going to win, especially with the mess the Liberals now find themselves in. Our minority parties like the NDP don't stand a chance of forming government because they don't have enough grassroots support. Also, our system is first-past-the-post, which means the first party to win the most number of seats wins, which essentially means whoever can win the most amount of seats in Ontario (the most populous province) and to a lesser degree Quebec (second-most, although there are regional factors at play there too but that's another topic) wins the House. (One of Trudeau's 2015 promises was electoral reform, and then he abandoned it once he was elected.) So I am very, very worried for our country and I think we're about to enter into our own dark period.

I have probably very poorly explained this, so I encourage you to look at other legitimate sources of info! This is just my layperson's read on the situation. It's not completely dissimilar to what happened to Joe Biden this summer in the presidential race, if you're looking for something to compare it to, in very broad strokes.

[whencyclopedia]

Embattled Nation: Canada's Wartime Election of 1917

In the midst of one of the most turbulent periods in Canada’s history, Patrice Dutil and David Mackenzie delve into what they deem as the most significant and tumultuous elections since confederation. Their work, 'Embattled Nation: Canada’s Wartime Election of 1917 ', meticulously explores the 1917 election between Conservative leader Sir Robert Borden and the Liberal opposition of Sir Wilfred Laurier.  

Patrice Dutil and David MacKenzie provide a detailed and well-researched account of Canada's political and social landscape during World War I, focusing on the 1917 election and the issue of conscription. The book is commendable for its extensive use of evidence and meticulous documentation of events, offering readers a thorough understanding of the period's complexities. Their use of diary entries and personal accounts from Borden, Laurier, and those around them gives a sense of authenticity to the events being described. The book also provides a thorough context for the period with extensive maps, statistics, election information, and statistics of the war effort that effectively paint the scene of 1917. Finally, this book helpfully contextualizes the existing linguistic and cultural divides between French and English Canada which would aid readers greatly in future discussions.

However, despite its solid evidentiary foundation, the book falls short in convincingly arguing that the 1917 election was the most contentious in Canadian history and that it nearly saw the collapse of the confederation. The authors emphasize the deep divisions between English and French Canadians and describe how conscription became a central and divisive issue. Yet, they also acknowledge that there was majority support for the Union government and conscription, which complicates their argument about the election nearly breaking up the country.

Portraying the election as a moment that almost led to the dissolution of Canada seems somewhat overstated. While the authors provide ample evidence of French-Canadian opposition and the resulting social unrest, they do not fully reconcile this with the broader national support for the Union government and the conscription policy. This oversight weakens their central thesis about the election's unparalleled contentiousness. While it is true that perhaps this election did deepen the divide between French and English Canada, it did not do so to the extent to which one could say that the country was near collapse, at least not with the way this book presented its evidence.

While it is true, by the provided evidence, that much of French Canada vehemently opposed conscription, they did not oppose the country as a whole, with a referendum to succeed, having only marginal support and never actually making it to a vote on the Quebec parliamentary floor. There were indeed protests and riots during the time. Still, they were fed by feelings of alienation and betrayal by the Borden government, not the Confederation, with Laurie receiving much support from French Canada. It is accurate to say that both the Liberal and Conservative governments were almost torn apart, yet, in the end, both parties survived relatively unscathed under the united leadership of Laurier and Borden, respectively.

Patrice Dutil is a Professor in Toronto Metropolitan University's Politics and Public Administration Department while David Mackenzie is a Professor in the university's History Department. Overall, Embattled Nation is a valuable resource for understanding the political dynamics of wartime Canada and the cultural rift between English and French Canadians. It provides an often unexplored context to the First World War in Canada, giving insight into the French-English divide, one of Canada's most prevailing conflicts. To understand the impacts of the First World War on Canada, one must first understand how the war impacted the home front. However, its assertion that the 1917 election was the most divisive in Canadian history could have been more convincingly articulated, given the authors' admissions of widespread support for the Union government and conscription from a majority part of the Country. Perhaps refining the thesis to focus more on the French-English connection rather than the election itself with an increased focus on the protests and riots would make for an overall more convincing argument. Meanwhile, it is accurate to say that the 1917 election was pushed by issues surrounding conscription; the election itself was fairly unanimous thanks to the political maneuvering by the Borden government. With more focus on those aspects and a closer examination of the reactions to said maneuverings, the argument that this period in Canadian history was the most tumultuous becomes more evident and more convincing.

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[st-just]

hi I like your blog. I have a question that may be too personal so no hard feelings if you don't answer but could you talk a little bit about more about what you like/don't like about Halifax? im considering Dalhousie for grad school but have never been! and would like to have as much information about where I might spend the next 2 years of my life. thank you!

Oh sure! Though like, it depends on where you're coming from? Everything here is very relative. And also I'm absolutely certain I will forget numemrous vital things, do ask followup questions.

Most important thing is that the housing market is horrifying - the city's population started booming during COVID and the zoning and construction is only really starting to catch up now. Especially within walking distance of Dal getting a place to live at anything approaching affordable is going to be vicious. (This has unsurprisingly coincided with a large uptick in homelessness. Unremarkable to walk by a tent in a corner of some public park now).

Relatedly, the bus system is like - okay I'm not sure it's notably bad for a mid-sized-ish north american city, but it's damn sure not any better. You can get by bussing around on the peninsula, anywhere beyond 20 minute drives turn into 40-60 minute rides.

You will not have a family doctor, figure out the nearest walk-in clinic you can use for anything non-emergency.

The city's economy runs on some combination of students, tourists, sailors and soldiers. There are as many bars as you might expect (had the most per capita in the country for a while, don't know if we still do). Some of them are actually very good!

Relatedly, weed and liquor are both only legally sold by the crown corporation monopoly and a few weird specialty places.

None of them are massive, but there is a very nice amount of parkland and green space scattered throughout the city. The public (botanical) gardens are really beautiful in the spring-summer, and most are well-maintained (they just renovated and expanded the outdoor pool on the city Commons last year, even).

The waterfront has been thoroughly gentrified for the cruise ships over the course of my lifetime, but it's all still open to the public and grabbing one of the armchairs or hammocks to read in during the summer is lovely.

Provincially the government is the most thoroughly domesticated/red tory party in the country (they fairly literally ran to the left of the liberals). Full of corrupt backslapping, constantly getting into pissing matches with the municipal government, will probably govern for the next decade.

For reasons that I assume are downstream of all the students and having the closest thing to a regional theater scene east of Quebec, the whole city is IME very queer-friendly. For reasons I absolutely not understand, pride is in August here.

The public library system is basically the only part of the municipal government I think anyone involved should be unequivocally proud of, but it is great.

I don't really know the crime stats offhand but like, I left my apartment door unlocked probably 7 times in 10 through all of undergrad and it never bit me in the ass?

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"L'hon. Oscar Drouin chez les femmes libérales," Le Soleil. May 3, 1943. Page 3. ---- L'hon. OSCAR DROUIN, ministre des Affaires municipales, du Commerce et de l'Industrie, a rendu visite, hier soir, à l'Association des Femmes libérales de Québec-Est qui tenait une réunion spéciale à Habitant Inn. (Photo du "Soleil")

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Marwah Rizqy, the Liberal MNA for Saint-Laurent, called for police protection on Tuesday, saying she feared for her and her family’s safety. “Right now, at home … my husband, my two children, but my mother too … I won't hide that we're hypervigilant,” she told journalists. Rizqy was recently the target of insults after vigorously denouncing the toxic climate imposed by 11 teachers at Bedford School in Montreal. The teachers' licences were suspended. On Monday, Quebecor media broadcast a speech by Muslim preacher Adil Charkaoui, who suggested that Rizqy was exaggerating the situation at the school and called her a “token Moroccan.”

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Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[nokingsonlyfooles]

Sometimes, it's the little nonsensical annoyances...

There are definitely more important things than this going on, and I'm not going to do much good by pointing it out, but I might as well express the thoughts so I can try to lay them to rest.

This:

...is absurd. Some Taiwanese venture capitalist asshole was annoyed that some white business assholes in Quebec are remixing boba tea, which he loves, and is his culture, and cannot be improved without due deference to its originators. To address his grievance, perhaps he'd like to fund some more authentic boba tea, made by the folks in the image above.

Depending on their personal behaviour and business practices, which I am not aware of, I wish all the boba tea makers the best. I love boba tea and NO, MORE BOBA TEA PLACES WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE THAN I HAVE FINGERS IS NOT ENOUGH. I NEED MORE!

Fuck, I want boba tea.

But I digress. To experience offence in this particular fashion over this particular item, you need to stop learning and switch off your brain at the point where Taiwan invented the boba tea. Where did the tea and tapioca, and milk and sugar come from? Don't worry about it. We gotta stop right here, or this story will get real complex, and I'm not comfortable with that level of complexity, so let's pass our judgment and say no more about it. Boba tea belongs to Taiwan!

Chat, ya gotta realize, mainland China was not interested in diluting its tea with so much milk and sugar that it doesn't taste like tea anymore. That would've been kookie-dooks. The British Empire had to steal it and fuck it up. Then Taiwan stole it back and fucked it up more (according to Wikipedia, via the Dutch in the 17th century). And tapioca is a staple starch from the Americas. "Refined into a juice, gelled into cute little pearls, and served with tea and sugar" is not an Indigenous American serving suggestion. I don't see Taiwan adding a label to every boba tea giving due deference to cassava-loving Americans, nor expressing humility about their use of it not being an improvement.

It's not that I need Taiwan to do this. I just want to see this train of thought followed to its logical conclusion. If you're saying these assholes in Quebec shouldn't be fucking with Taiwan's boba tea, you're also saying those assholes in Taiwan shouldn't have fucked with America's tapioca - and that's terrible. Of COURSE they should've fucked with the tapioca, it is delicious! And if it turns out it's more delicious with fizzies or liquor in it, we're gonna drink that, too, no matter who came up with it. This is how food works. Copying the good ideas off a nearby culture is not evil, not in and of itself. Butter-chicken pizza is not evil, it is spectacular.

I want my boba tea. I don't need a label specifying that it resulted from an intersection of five separate colonizing empires (China, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Japan), the colonization of Taiwan, mass political imprisonments and executions, and the genocide of the Americas. It's very interesting to know that, but mentioning it right when I'm about to slork up my tea would make me choke - pointlessly, I think. Everything is like that. The machine I'm using to write this is like that, the clothes I wear are like that, the language I speak is like that. Nothing is without sin. It can't be put back the way it was, all we can do is try to mitigate it as best we can.

Is refusing to fund some guys with new tea additives because they wounded your nationalist pride (which seems to exist in somewhat of a context-free void) anything more than Neo-liberal capitalist wanking behaviour? Maybe the Chinese-American company will do better and the Quebecois one won't, but that's not justice for any of the injured parties, that's just marketing. Buying shit is not an effective means of reparations or political speech. There is no ethical boba tea under capitalism. I don't have the spoons to research and consume the Least Problematic Beverage, and if you do, I think they'd be better spent on literally anything else.

Mr. Dragon's Den, I have a brick you can use. Go damage property like a real protester or just sit down and drink your tea. Feel free to appropriate whatever cultures you prefer for your toppings.

[hanasnx]

canadian here - canada's pretty okay. if you wanna move somewhere progressive stick with the big cities and not to dunk on the other provinces but BC and Ontario are probably the best in that sense (and ofc the most expensive sorry). Alberta is only semi jokingly known as the Texas of Canada so do with that what you will. Never been but from what I've heard you do need to speak French to get by in Quebec so unless you do or want to learn I wouldn't super recommend it.

as a Vancouverite I gotta rep my city- it's super diverse and really queer friendly, and in those regards feels really safe. plus the Pacific northwest is fantastic - so so much nature, loads of beaches, ski resorts, islands, lakes, trails, forests, and the temp goes from about -3 to 30 degrees Celsius, so not too extreme. Not sure what you've been told about Canadian wildlife but it's really not that bad - you only get bears in the suburbs and outwards and as long as you keep alert and keep your head on you it's fine. same with the coyotes.

downsides of Vancouver: job market is TOUGH atm, especially for entry level jobs. cost of living and housing especially is also really bad, and there is a fairly significant homelessness/drug/mental health problem that makes certain parts of the city not super safe

politically we are coming to a crossroads - Justin Trudeau, the current PM & with the Liberal Party, is near universally hated at this point, mostly for economic reasons, and the NDP party is never gonna win, so unless Trudeau gets his wakeup call and steps down, at our next election we might be looking at a Conservative government, which would not be ideal. not trump-levels of devastating but not ideal.

anyways you should come to Canada indy!! it's definitely not perfect but we'd love to have you <3

i do know the area im going to be moving to already but this was super informative about the surroundings thank you so much for being thorough i really appreciate it. and for explaining the political landscape too! super helpful

right now my worries lie in the work visa and it’s stipulations because i know i can’t apply for PR or citizenship for a couple years at least. updating my passport and applying for a visa is my next move, and then i know the canadian gov has to let me know if i’m approved and then give me the info on where i’m allowed to work and how long.

i’m guessing since my record was expunged there shouldn’t be a problem with that at least. what i am worried about is my history with keeping a job is not super good, and i’m worried that if i obtain a visa to work a specific place, and then fuck it up, then i’ll be shit outta luck

my other problem is the cost of living and how i’ll basically be forced to work to keep up with the visa and to afford actually eating and being alive.

if you don’t mind me picking your brain a bit more, healthcare is a big thing for me right now. does it differ from province to province and does it cover mental health services and issues? would therapy be on the table or is that an out of pocket cost or would i need better insurance etc

if you don’t know that’s cool! i’m just gathering as much info i can on the subject before i dive in, as i often do

[tomorrowusa]

While the US House of Representatives ousts its weakest Speaker in modern history, , Canada gets its first black Speaker of the House of Commons.

Canada’s House of Commons has elected Liberal MP Greg Fergus as speaker — the first time a Black Canadian will hold the role. Fergus, who represents a Quebec riding across the river from Ottawa, bested six other candidates: Chris d’Entremont, Carol Hughes, Alexandra Mendès, Peter Schiefke, Sean Casey and Elizabeth May. Fergus takes on the task of presiding over a fractious House. “What motivates me, and what I vow to work night and day to promote and advance, can be summed up in one word, respect,” Fergus said during a short speech before polling stations opened in the chamber. He promised to be “firm, thoughtful, collaborative, consistent and certainly fair.”

🍁 But that's not the only political first in Canada this week. 🍁

The province of Manitoba held elections on Tuesday which swept the left of center New Democratic Party (NDP) into power defeating the incumbent Progressive Conservative Party (PC). The Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) placed a poor third in the election.

The leader of the Manitoba NDP is Wab Kinew who will become Canada's first indigenous provincial premier.

Manitoba NDP to form majority government in historic win for First Nations premier

Wab Kinew, who is to become Canada's first First Nations provincial premier, spoke to young Indigenous people and those from all backgrounds in his victory speech Tuesday after the NDP won a majority in the Manitoba election. "I was given a second chance in life," Kinew said to a cheering crowd. "And I would like to think that I have made good on that opportunity. And you can do the same." Kinew's late father was not allowed to vote as a young man under Canadian law at the time. His mother's birthday was election night, and he brought her on stage to celebrate the historic win along with his wife and three sons.

The NDP will end up with 34 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba – up from 18. The PC will have 22 – down from 35. And the MLP will have 1 – down from 3. There was one vacant seat prior to the election.

29 seats are required for a majority government.