Jean Charest rolled the dice and won, but still lost the bet.
A political resurrection seems impossible.
He called the Bastarache commission in an effort to clear the air on the naming of judges. He knew that Marc Bellemare didn't have the goods, but Quebecers weren't about to believe their premier at the outset, and they don't now
Two-thirds of Quebecers still believe Bellemare.
Very few still have faith in Charest.
His refusal to hold an inquiry into the construction industry will dog him as long he remains in office.
But at least for now he can hold his head a little higher, and perhaps plan a more graceful exit, because that's all we got for $6,000,000.
Police admit what we've all known
Here's a surprise. Montreal police admit they have ticket quotas.
What took them so long? How many drivers have been unfairly targeted because the numbers weren't adding up? What happens to officers who don't make their quotas? What kind of pressure are they under? How many tickets a day are required? Will police give out tickets just to make their quotas even if they aren't justified? How many of us actually can afford to take the time to fight them in court?
Consider this. The number of tickets given out in Montreal jumped by 60,000 in 2010.
If you don't think this is a cash cow, revenues from tickets were up 26 per cent to $165,000,000.
It's something we knew all along.
It's refreshing that someone in the Montreal Police Department finally has the courage to admit it.
Now will the department have the courage now to do something about it? I have my doubts.
50 years of family
Wow. What a week it has been here.
Our 50th anniversary show was a voyage back in time.
Special thanks go out to Tania Krywiak and Melanie Porco and their great team for their exceptional work.
But without you, the folks looking in, we wouldn't be celebrating 50 years.
Remember back in the day when you had to get up to change the channel? When colour TV meant one with a brown cabinet? When there were four channels?
I ran home from school to watch Magic Tom and by some providential grace, I was a guest on his show not once but twice.
All these years later, I'm still here.
50 years and although the faces have changed, there has remained one constant.
It's all about family.
A big Channel 12, CFCF, CTV family. And you belong to it.
It is a privilege working here -- in the greatest city in the country too --and we know it.
So thank you for being with us.
Thank you for the wonderful birthday wishes.
Now if I could just figure out how Magic Tom made that magic candy.
