and he might succeed

It could have been a sarcastic illustration that positive discrimination is a bad concept. But no, it’s the new governement of Quebec. Clearly, the goal of Charest was not to bring up the best governement possible but win next elections. By contrasting with ADQ’s all-men club and stealing women votes from PQ. Showing PLQ is gentle. Showing it cares.

And bringing an unexperienced immigrant woman as immigration minister spoils the good idea it could have been.

it’s over

This picture killed her campaign to become the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 election. But she will probably try anyway.

we won

We abstainers won the Quebec election.

1. Abstainers 1 617 327
2. PLQ 1 313 780
3. ADQ 1 223 477
4. PQ 1 125 078
5. PVQ 154 367
6. QS 145 051

I don’t know if I should add the 41 252 rejected ballots to the abstainers. As we don’t know how many of these voters really tried to vote.

As the abstainers won, elected politicians should abstain from lying and stealing. At least for a few days. Please.

poetry against politics

Today is election day. I have diarrhea. I won’t call it a coincidence. And I don’t think they would let me vote that way.

I finally decided to abstain. The decisive argument has been that no party achieved to reach me.

I thought it would be interesting on the next elections to hold a poetry reading to condemn the political void of corruption and demagogy we are stuck in.

Or even to create a political party that would be a poetic lobby.

prediction for monday election

PQ: 42

PLQ: 41

ADQ: 41

QS: 1 (Françoise David)

can she make it ?

 

Can Nathalie Richard win the election in Gouin district ?

In 2003, the PQ obtained 53% in Gouin (with André Boisclair), the PLQ 30% the ADQ 8%, the UFP almost 5%, the PVQ 2% and the Bloc Pot less than 2%.

This year, Nicolas Girard (outgoing) from the PQ, Françoise David (half of the head of Québec Solidaire), some guy from the ADQ, some guy from the PVQ, Hugô St-Onge (leader of Bloc Pot) and some independent candidate try to win the district.

We can assume that a consequent amount of votes will go from the PQ to Québec Solidaire as another amount will go from the PLQ (and maybe also from the PQ) to the ADQ. The PVQ should obtain more votes even if many Greens might vote for Françoise David instead.

This may be the most interesting district to watch March 26 and not only because of the handsome Nathalie Richard but because it might be &(*$*?%*?/ tight. The winner may obtain less than 30%, maybe around 25%. Unless there is a very strong wave for Françoise David. Hard to say.

But if I was Nicolas Girard I’d totally soil my pants right now…

a look at quebec solidaire

Even if Quebec Solidaire might end 5^th in the next Quebec’s elections, I think this party has better chances than the Green Party to elect one or some candidates.

But what do they want exactly ?

Changing transportation and reaching Kyoto Objectives

Québec solidaire will invest massively in public transit and in energy efficiency programs with the goal of effectively combating climate change and surpassing the objectives set out in the Kyoto Protocol. QS will also promote the use of renewable energy over fossil fuels.

They consider 225$ divided in 3 years as a massive investment in public transit. I don’t think it would make a significant difference on Quebec’s transit habits.

Increasing government revenue and introducing tax reforms

Lower RRSP investment ceilings

Restraining people from saving money ??? What the hell is that ???

Founding Pharma-Québec

Québec solidaire will found Pharma-Québec, a public body that will manage pharmaceutical acquisition, research, and production in order to control rising healthcare costs, advance Québec’s scientific potential, and innovate in the field of medications.

They expect to earn 1 Billion with that ! While investing 150 millions in research. Great plan to make EVERY pharmaceutical enterprise run away from Quebec.

Reinforce the Act to Combat Poverty and Exclusion

Progressively increase minimum wage to $10 per hour, annually indexing it to the cost of living. Appropriate support will be provided to independent small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), not-for-profit organizations, and cooperatives to implement this measure

What’s the estimated cost of that very aggressive measure ? 65 millions. 65 millions !?!?!?!? Is it me or this doesn’t make any $(*/&%&*( sense ???

Promoting a Québec-wide campaign to redress violence against women

5 millions.

Implementing a policy against homophobia

10 millions.

Is it me or those two numbers don’t balance ?

the most moronic candidate

So far, I never experienced a city as densely moronic as St.Jerome. The former ADQ candidate from there comforts my opinion about the place.

Christian Raymond from ADQ has been fired for xenophobic comments a few days ago. He want his 14 000$ for signs back. But he wants his money back for other expenses:

Ils m’avaient demandé de m’acheter un habit et de passer chez le coiffeur à toutes les semaines pour la durée de la campagne électorale.

Money back for haircuts and a nice suit ? This is hilarious…

the greatest moment of democracy I ever seen

An angry blue collar telling the PM he did an afwul job. This has been the the greatest moment of democracy I ever seen.

English article but the French one is better.

But, sadly, a lot of angry workers screwed by Charest  might vote for Dumont and its crazy program about bulldozing everything everywhere.

Scary enough to make me reconsider not voting. But voting defensive - again - is so depressing. Even more knowing I didn’t make a difference keeping Charest from government.

the 15 best looking candidates

 

I wanted to pick up the best looking candidates of Quebec’s electoral campaign. As only PQ and PLQ has a page with multiples pictures of their candidates (instead of clicking on a name to get one picture), I only selected candidates from those two parties. Too bad for the others.

Women:

1. Nathalie Rivard

2. Elsie Lefebvre

3. Louisanne Chevrier

4. Yolande James

5. Line Beauchamp

6. Sophie Fréchette

7. Zhao Xin Wu

8. Lyne Boisvert

 

Men:

1. Pierre Curzi

2. Paul Sarrazin

3. Nicolas Girard

4. Norman MacMillan

5. Philippe Couillard

6. Laurent Boissonneault (for the chubby lovers)

7. Karl Blackburn

quebec’s electoral debate

Charest won.

Boisclair didn’t lose.

Dumont achieved to beat himself.

partition of Quebec

“I don’t believe Quebec would be indivisible,” Charest said in a comment some interpreted as support for partition.

Strangely, most separatists refuse the idea of any region leaving Quebec if Quebec leaves Canada. What ? Never heard of reciprocity ? If half of Montreal wants to split from Quebec to get back in Canada, holds a referendum and wins it, how the president of the republic of Quebec could state he can’t acknowledge the result ? And if Amerindians does the same ?

In theory, Amerindians territories are under the responsibility of Ottawa, not the concerned provinces. If they don’t agree to join an eventual republic of Quebec, I assume those territories remain Canadian.

And what about St.Lawrence River ? Also under the responsibility of Ottawa…

I don’t know if a denial strategy will be good enough for separatists…

none of the above

Should voting be obligatory ? If so, should “none of the above” be on the ballot ?

As Quebec is now on electoral campaign since Wednesday until March 26 and our land spoiled with those ugly signs everywhere, I don’t know if I’ll vote.

So far, as the participation rate should be around 70%, “not going voting” may win the election. How can a government can be legitimate when there is more people not voting than people voting for him ? If Charest gets 35% of the people voting, it will only represent around 25% of the potential voters. What about the other 75% ? And if we add the people who can’t vote because of their age or citizenship status…

In 2003, 1 754 348 persons voted for Charest. In 2003, we were 7 487 169 Quebecers. So even if 45,92% of people who voted picked Charest, only 23.43% of the Quebec voted for Charest. As the upcoming election results might be way tighter, the legitimateness of the next government will be pretty questionable.

If voting ever gets obligatory and “none of the above” wins, what should happen ? Start the campaign again ? Or same but with other party leaders ? Or the campaign starts only in six months, to give parties time to come up with something more interesting ?

How many politician would agree (or dare…) to compete against “none of the above” ?

good work, stephen

 

The way Stephen Harper handled the Lebanon question so far is a shame. I’m curious to see if it will affect the next election or if the opposition will use this situation to vote a blame motion against the government. My hypothesis so far: no and no.

Canadians, in time, will give a high five to the Conservative party, providing a majority to keep up the good work.

Canadians seems to admire Harper for his strong determination. So were thinking Hitler fans.

electronic voting machines

 

 

Electronic voting machines… Who votes: the one using the machine or the one owning it ?

An electronic voting machine combines the confidentiality of each vote with the complexity of a computer. Whatever the results are, you have no way to check if they are accurate. The only thing you see is what the machine has been programmed to show.

Any politician would love a voting machine giving him 5% of the votes of his opponent.

That’s the modern way to buy votes.