It was straight from the heart, and Mitch Garber’s speech this week to the Canadian Club certainly got people talking.
Garber is a huge success story, a Montreal kid who left to make his fortune and then returned because despite high taxes and everything else he thinks this is a pretty good place to live. And I agree.
Garber is right on so many points.
Yes, Quebec’s country-leading dropout rates are a disgrace.
Yes, the politicization of business is so damaging. When politics trumps business, he says it’s the tail wagging the dog.
I agree our schools should be teaching our children about money and how to balance a chequebook.
Garber wants to tear down linguistic solitudes which he calls paralyzing.
He is right but I’m not sure he has his finger on the pulse of the English-speaking community in 2016.
“The resistance by members of my own Jewish and anglo communities to learn, live and speak French is shortsighted and embarrassing. We are poorer for not knowing Martin Matte or Robert Charlebois,” said Garber.
Maxime Landry on the left, Marie-Mai on the right
Just because I don’t go to see Martin Matte or Marie-Mai, doesn’t mean anything.
The francophone culture is rich and dynamic but there is no obligation for me to sign on to be a good citizen.
I do not consider myself a Quebecois. The term has become way too politicized for my liking.
I love this city because it is unique and much of that has to do with the French fact, but it doesn’t mean I need to live in French.
Our community has made huge gains in becoming bilingual.
English-speaking Quebecers are now more bilingual than Francophones and by a huge margin.
Despite the inherent anti-English aim of Bill 101, despite a policy of negligence towards our public school system, despite the lack of opportunities if you don’t have the right last name, we continue to call this place home.
Garber is spot on with many of his observations, but Quebec anglos have done their part and more en anglais et surtout en francais.
PQ leadership race getting mean and nasty
The PQ leadership race, if anyone is paying attention, is becoming a joke. A nasty joke.
It’s a tense situation.
Jean-Francois Lisée tweeted that Alexandre Cloutier was supported by controversial imam Adil Charkaoui.
Cloutier need to call in extra security after that.
Martine Ouellet didn’t get her face on a PQ video. She claimed the establishment was out to get her.
Then Lisée went after her in a closed door caucus meeting, telling her once he is elected, he would not tolerate her erratic behavior so it was time to get on board. Ouch.
This really does feel like a race to the bottom.
Somehow though I’m not sure it’s going to matter much.
A study this week by two Montreal researchers, one from McGill the other from l’Université de Montreal, predicts the PQ will be finished as a party within 20 years.
They are the party of the boomers and time is not on their side.
What a bunch of airheads
Finally, Montreal has decided to spend $3.8 million on a giant inflatable tunnel.
The tunnel will supposedly protect pedestrians from upcoming work on Ste. Catherine St.
I can’t imagine the store owners loving this.
There are just so many things that could go wrong, but who knows?
With our main street being torn up for four years we will be in need of some laughs because for road construction in Montreal, the worst is yet to come.
