MONTREAL - There's a line in that great movie Syriana, a political thriller about power and oil and shady backroom deals: "Corruption is why we win."
They could have been talking about Quebec.
History indeed repeats itself.
In 1970 Robert Bourassa won an election on the theme "Quebec Au Travail."
By 1976, he was defeated. The Liberals were decimated, reduced to 26 seats, and that largely was because of the stench of corruption in the construction industry. Those were the days of the mega projects such as the Olympics and James Bay. We all know what happened in 1976 with the election of the Parti Quebecois and where that led.
Today, Jean Charest is much like the embattled Robert Bourassa from years ago.
He remains alone, ignoring all calls for an inquiry into the construction industry.
He is isolated and seems to be so out of touch with public opinion. Why is he so blind?
What is he so afraid of?
Many suspect an inquiry would be even worse for the Liberals because it could spiral out of control. But it must go further than just corruption.
Most corrupt province? Seems so.
Maclean's magazine may have been not far off the mark.
We have local mayors stepping aside in Terrebonne and Mascouche.
Calls for the mayor of St Jerome to step down after allegedly having city hired contractors to work on his house.
Even allegations of envelopes stuffed with cash from the mayor of Laval (although I truly wonder why it took 17 years for this bit of information to come out).
Serge Menard was a minister of justice for Pete's sake. Why didn't he say something sooner?
And don't forget Montreal and its water meters and lack of transparency in awarding contracts.
Quebec needs strong medicine
Bundle all of this together … and yes we need a far ranging inquiry into corruption at all levels.
What is the real relationship between organized crime and the construction industry?
How exactly are public contracts at all levels awarded? How often do they go to a mayor's brother-in-law? What about political party financing? How can parties be stopped from skirting the law?
What we don't need are silly online petitions. Sure two hundred thousand people can easily click that they want Charest to quit, just like they can click to vote for their favourite movie or their favourite colour. Perhaps if half of them bothered to vote, it might mean something.
What we need is some strong medicine in this province.
Because right now the credibility of our political process and our system has never been lower. Politicians at all levels are seen as crooks, and when the level of debate sinks to likening our premier to a mafia godfather, we all suffer.
In 1976, Robert Bourassa was chased out of office and didn't gain redemption until years later.
Mr. Premier, its time to listen, unless you desire the same fate.
Because in Quebec, corruption is not why we win.
It's why we all lose.
