Pauline Marois is playing connect the dots.
And it is not right because the dots just don't connect.
Marois has been going after Premier Charest and her inference is that at best he is beholden to the construction lobby and at worst, that he is on the take.
This is politics at its worst and Madame Marois should be ashamed of herself.
Where is the proof? She is trying to draw a connection between extra salary Charest gets from the Liberals and construction corruption.
You think you would want that job? Most people couldn't do it at any price.
To go after the premier's integrity on this is wrong. Unless there is proof.
But the broader issue here is that that something in the construction industry is rotten and a public inquiry seems to be the best way to get some answers.
Premier Charest was wrong in not calling an inquiry. His poll numbers are in freefall.
Not much leadership these days in dealing with the health care crisis, or reasonable accommodation. Or the construction mess.
This is what happens to most governments who have been in power for a while. They get hit with inertia.
Charest has always been the comeback kid. This time, I'm not so sure.
Nothing but trouble
In a free and democratic society, the right to protest is sacred.
Someone said dissent indeed is the highest form of patriotism.
But I'm not sure that these malcontents who protest every March 15th have anything in mind but trouble.
It's officially the March against police brutality. For sure there are issues, and police aren't always angels.
But this should be renamed the annual March to Attack Police and Break Windows.
If these so-called protesters were serious, and could hold a peaceful demonstration, then maybe some dialogue would be possible.
But if they continue to carry weapons in their backpacks and refuse to take off their masks, then police are right to protect property and ensure the public peace.
Because at the end of the day….I'm not sure dialogue is what they are seeking.
Unavoidable tragedy?
It was an awful day last Sunday. Bonechilling in so many ways.
I feel so badly for the family and friends of Alex Hamelin. By all accounts, he was a great young man.
I also feel terrible for the organizers of the parade, who pour their hearts into it every year.
But this wasn't an accident.
And I'm not sure what can be done to prevent it from happening again. We aren't going to stop people from drinking. Nor are more police the answer.
Perhaps more security around floats would be a good idea.
But at the end of the day behaviour is all about personal responsibility.
And no one can ever legislate common sense.
