What is the right number? Is it 3, 5, 10. Or make it an even dozen?
How many times can someone get arrested for drunk driving in this country before we collectively agree that he has lost his right to be a member of our society?
59-year-old Daniel Gaudreault was arrested in Chicoutimi this week for drunk driving… his10th arrest.
He doesn't have a licence. But that really doesn't matter. You would be surprised by the number of people on the roads without permits.
Gaudreault has been in and out of jail. But every time he gets out and promises to behave, he slips up. It's only by some miracle that this guy hasn't killed anyone.
Every time idiots like this get behind the wheel they become dangerous weapons. Someone will eventually get hurt.
So what do you do? You lock them up where they can't kill decent people and decimate families. And you don't ever let them out.
So pick a number and let's hope our leaders have the guts to do what is right.
Racial Profiling
It's no secret that a black guy driving a nice car is an easy target. We hear countless stories in Montreal about blacks being hauled over for no crime except they might look suspicious driving cars most cops couldn't afford.
Joel De Bellefeuille was stopped four times in one week. A Longueuil cop reported one of reasons he pulled him over was because the driver, De Bellefeuille was a black guy with a Quebecois name. There you go; the car must have been stolen.
Mr. De Bellefeuille is going to the human rights commission - as well he should. And let's hope it makes more cops realize that in our society, driving while black is not a crime. No matter how sweet the ride.
Happy City
Hey, we're number two.
According to a top 10 list, Montreal is the second happiest place in the world. Lists like this aren't worth the paper they are written on but they are fun. According to Lonely Planet, Montreal is clean, welcoming and refreshingly multicultural.
Yes – despite having a dysfunctional city hall, tumbling concrete, failing infrastructure, high taxes and a winter that some years goes on forever – there is something very special about Montreal.
I have always found the worst Montreal-bashers are some of those Anglos who moved away. You probably know one or two. A real disaffected lot. Those who probably never bothered to learn at least a little French or tried to embrace the most vibrant culture in North America. Their loss.
I'm so glad I stayed. No one really cares if you are miserable, so you might as well be happy. And I'm happy I'm here. Hope you are happy here too.
