Finally someone is speaking common sense about Quebec's English speaking community.

Graham Fraser, our commissioner of official languages, hit the nail on the head this week before a Senate Committee.

He said Quebec Anglos need help; that we are often ignored by our governments.

Fraser specifically demanded more federal support for English cultural institutions and the networks that are the glue that hold us together.

"The challenge lies in ensuring the continuity and vitality of the English-speaking community in Quebec and its institutions," said Fraser.

He also pointed out that English-speaking Quebecers earn significantly less than Francophones, and maybe surprisingly, we have higher rates of poverty.

In fact, StatsCan says 23% of Anglophone Quebecers are living below the poverty line, compared with 16 percent of Francophones.

How many Anglos work in public sector jobs in Quebec? The answer is not many.

So yes, we need funding. We need support because we have a right to be here, and a right to thrive.

It's not a zero sum game. Support for the English-speaking community does not mean taking anything away from anybody else.

Thank you Graham Fraser for saying what needed to be said.

Let's hope someone is listening, because I for one am sick and tired about hearing of Montreal high school reunions taking place in Toronto or Calgary.

Quebec: closed for business

Jean Charest doesn't want others to play in his sandbox

It's almost beyond belief that Charest is awarding the billion-dollar metro car contract without tenders.

If Quebec was indeed open for business. Charest has just put up a closed sign, and that message will be heard far and wide.

The long term damage may be considerable; protectionism has its costs.

What this will mean is that the metro cars will cost us (meaning me and you) hundreds of millions of dollars more, and without the transparency of competitive bidding who knows how much more.

One estimate puts it at perhaps half a million dollars more per metro car. Metro cars that will never travel west of Decarie.

So why is this happening?

Well it's worth about 700 jobs in a little town on the St. Lawrence called La Pocatiere, in a riding called Kamouraska-Temiscouata, where there will soon be a by-election to replace the late minister Claude Bechard.

Charest wants to win that by-election.

Our international reputation, sound public finances and fair play are once again taking a backseat.

Indeed, Quebec est fermé.