So a politician, a contractor and a mobster walk into a bar...
There is a joke here somewhere, but the thing is not too many people were laughing this week after the Charbonneau Commission hit Quebec like a cross-fire hurricane.
In just a couple of months look at what has happened: the mayors of Montreal and Laval have resigned and civil servants with the guarantees of immunity have sung their hearts out.
Hopefully in the new year we will get to the top of the food chain and hear from the people really in charge. An appearance by Vito Rizzuto will be must-watch TV, better than the Sopranos.
Now back to the bar, or in this case, Club 357C, the meeting place of Quebec Inc.
The Charbonneau Commission released a list of politicians and others who were invited to the club.
There is no evidence that there was any wrongdoing but questions remain, especially when Quebec cabinet ministers were involved. You have to wonder who picked up the tab.
The problem is when releasing such a long list there may be guilt by association and that is not right, as it was not right to release the list then shut the operation down for two months.
It’s an early and unwelcome Christmas present for people whose only crime may have been to have lunch in a swanky club.
There are also growing questions around the MUHC hospital project.
One of the former stars of Quebec’s business world was arrested this week by the anti-corruption squad.
Pierre Duhaime used to run SNC-Lavalin.
Police say he plotted with others in defrauding the MUHC. We will find out how this contract was awarded and who are the others involved.
The veil is slowly being lifted on corruption and collusion in Quebec, and the best is yet to come because in 2013 as they say in French "attachez vos tuques."
Breton almost beyond belief
It’s almost beyond belief that Daniel Breton would be named Environment Minister.
He owes $8000 in back rent.
His driver’s permit was suspending for speeding at 275 kilometres an hour, and he has conviction for unemployment insurance fraud.
Still, Madame Marois says she doesn't regret naming him to her cabinet.
I’m not sure what's worse, Breton’s obvious shortcomings or our premier’s judgement.
New language law not needed
A new study this week from the language office shows there is absolutely no need to strengthen Bill 101 as the PQ is promising to do, not that the government or hard-liners will agree with me.
The report finds 89 percent of people use French at work most of the time and that bilingualism is increasing on the job.
That, in my view, is a good thing.
The government of course will twist and torque this study to try to justify stronger measures including perhaps trying to extend bill 101 to companies with fewer than 50 employees.
Don't fix what ain’t broke.
The message the government should be sending out is bilingualism is a good thing for everyone not just for those who can afford it.
