I’m confused.

After years of experiencing the slow, muddling governments of Ontario and the swashbuckling antics of British Columbia politicians, I’m baffled by the laissez-faire provincial ministrations in Quebec. Mind you, I’ve only lived here since 2001. I’m part of the first wave of a growing English migration moving into the province – for futures sake.

Let me say straight off, as a writer, that moving to Montreal has been one of the better decisions of my life. This is a truly wonderful, welcoming and creative city – with a brightening future. This despite being about two generations behind the rest of Canada in some ways – thanks to previous political upheavals.

As a new arrival in sexy Montreal, you are handed a medical card, drug card, a cheap rent apartment and access to numerous free access socialized services like swimming pools, skating rinks and libraries. And you don’t even have to speak French all that much any more. Certainly less than 2001. Though it sure helps if you want a real job.

The Quebecois voter, I’m learning, is a fickle one – both federally and provincially. And their political masters have some of the sharpest minds around. How else do you think they can keep pulling equalization money out of the rest of Canada? Or dominating the rolls of Canadian Prime Ministers.

Premier Jean Charest is perhaps the slickest Canadian politician that I have ever come across. And that includes the legendary John Reynolds of British Columbia. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to pin these Teflon-coated, Conservative big boys in a wrestling match. They’ll always get the last shot in on you.

It has served Mr. Charest well in winning three consecutive terms. Yet I sense trouble looming here in La Belle Province.

Which brings me back to the theme of this story – The Feudal Times. I’ve come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that there is a form of feudalism that exists here. Call it citizen complacency. Or Blinker Ville. Where we the working peasants of the Quebec society sit idly by enjoying la joie de vivre and let the politicians go about their work – or lack thereof. Until such time that their combined levels of inactivity, political largesse or ineptitude shock us out of our stupor. By then, it might be too late to stop the “Loud Revolution” that could be coming.

Just a few examples: Here in Quebec, there have been hundreds and hundreds of hospital deaths of ordinary Quebecers from hygiene-related C-Difficile. Compare that to the 44 Canadian SARS deaths and the explosive reaction. Here, nada. Meanwhile we wait for years for the much ballyhooed and long overdue new super hospital construction – one English and one French in a largely bilingual city. The reaction, nada. The massive Quebec Caisse pension fund is about to get rocked by one of the worst years in their history thanks in part to some disquieting investment strategies with the people’s money. The Toronto Globe and Mail ROB has been all over this story for months. Here, nada. The deteriorating public school system is rapidly driving more and more desperate parents to expensive private education – while their school taxes go up. The reaction: nada. Quebec tacks their 7.5% provincial tax firmly on top of the GST. Tax on tax. The reaction: nada. Despite their socialized approach to services, Quebec lags in their care of special needs persons: The reaction, nada. We pay a banana boatload of personal income tax: the reaction, nada. Developers clear-cut the few remaining suburban trees; the reaction, nada. The list goes on. Meanwhile, Habs Win! the reaction, who cares about nada?

Now one Pauline Marois has claimed a strong opposition party mandate: The reaction: bubbling franco-excitement at the rejuvenation of the separatist/ socialist/wooly bugger dream. DANGER. DANGER!!! This woman is smart and fully capable of marketing Quebec “nationalism” as adeptly as one Gilles Duceppe – minus the hair net. Plus, she lives in a virtual country castle! Peasants admire big castles – no matter how they are attained. And especially if they aren’t in Westmount.

Meanwhile, Quebecers soundly rejected Mario Dumont – the first real voice of political change in Quebec in years. Alas, in his youthful enthusiasm, he dared to hang out the dirty provincial laundry truth (see aforementioned nadas). Shame, shame!

So where is all this headed? A good old-fashioned French Revolution I think. Led by the angry hordes of pensioner peasants in the province. Unless Premier Charest and his legions of lawyers can finally start making the kinds of real changes that are needed to bring Quebec into the 21st century.

It’s time for us to stand on our own two feet within Canada. We have the population base, natural resources, energy, critical financial mass, manufacturing creativity and entrepreneurial ability to attract talent and investment – and lead the nation. That’s why I came here from B.C. All we need now is bold, proactive franco-Canadian leadership. Not medals, puffery and nationalistic bafflegab.

Can’t they hear the guillotine on the grindstone?

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Tags: canadian politics, government, jean charest, montreal, quebec

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Provincial Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.