The next time the Gala Artis rolls around, I humbly submit that the award winner for best dramatic performance in television in Quebec be Julie Snyder, the vedette, producer and soon-to-be wife of Pierre Karl Peladeau.

Julie gave a stirring performance this week announcing she is dropping out of television production because her company could no longer take advantage of your tax dollars.

Just days before the last election then-premier Pauline Marois changed the system of tax credits for independent TV production, against the advice of her own bureaucrats.

Un petit cadeau à Julie.

It allowed taxpayers to subsidize the shows she sold to TVA and TVA alone; shows such as La Voix and Star Academie which in all fairness are pretty, with excellent production values.

But really, if they are that popular, they certainly don’t need handouts.

The Liberals changed this in the last budget to the way it used to before La Marois changed the rules for Julie.

Independent producers can no longer sell more than 50 percent of their product to one network and receive no credits if the producer is related to the broadcaster. For Julie Snyder: Guilty on both counts

Snyder calls this a great injustice, despite her and her partners millions.

She just doesn’t get it because she obviously lives in a culture of entitlement.

The tax credits are designed to help true independent producers who face financial challenges, not to help mega producers in bed with Quebec’s largest TV network, literally and figuratively.

Her fiancé PKP has jumped into the mess, calling the Liberals’ treatment of his bride mean and petty.

Once again we see what happens when the man who wants to run Quebec is also Quebec’s wealthiest and most influential broadcaster; it’s messy, it’s rife with conflict and it’s not right.

This week PKP has shown just how low a politician can go.

On his Facebook page he mocked the death of Arthur Porter by offering condolences to Premier Coulliard who once had business dealings with him.

The leader of the parti Quebecor clumsily attempted to make politics out of Porter’s death. 

Money can buy many things but it cannot buy class.

Hail to the old chief

Leave it to the small-mindedness of the Bloc Quebecois to hold a meeting to ratify Gilles Duceppe as leader on Canada Day.

Quebecers sent the Bloc packing in the last federal election and this attempt by the comeback kid to regain his crown is almost pathetic.

It was like a reunion of the used-to-bes and never-weres. Time moves on. Happy Canada Day Gilles.

Fashion police desperately needed

Finally this week. I think cop fashion in Montreal has reached a new pinnacle.

A Montreal police officer

Spotted this week at the corner of Papineau and de Maisonneuve: a member of Montreal’s finest appearing wearing what appears to be a game of Twister.

And these guys want respect? 

Sometimes you have to laugh even though it’s so sad--but it’s finally summer.

I will see you after the holidays.