I didn't expect Mme David to stand for another term, but I'm rather surprised and disappointed that she didn't finish her term. Of course we don't know her reasons (health or others).
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/francoise-david-leaving-politics-...
This is the riding where I live; it is NDP federally, Projet Montréal on the municipal ald local council levels. Some speculate that student leader Gabrielle Nadeau-Dubois might be thinking of a candidacy.
Terrible news and a real blow to the progressive movement in Québec. I hope her successor is successful and committed to the cause as much as Ms. David has been since the 1970's. Unfortunately,I don't know much about Gabrielle Nadeau-Dubois apart from being a student activist.
I'm out of coffee this morning! Have my coat on to go buy some. That must be why I gave GABRIEL Nadeau-Dubois a sex change. 
Still trying to absorb this news. The first and only thing that went through my pessimistic-worst-case-scenario mind was "health", and I sincerely hope it's not that. Whatever her reasons, she richly deserves a long and happy retirement, and hopefully still available to mentor the young activists who will step up to continue the struggle.
As for GND, that could be quite the proverbial game-changer. Gabrielle even more so lol.
Andrés Fontecilla announced today that he will not seek another term as president and co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire when his current term ends in May - but he will fight all the harder to win Laurier-Dorion in the next election.
http://quebecsolidaire.net/nouvelle/avenir-politique-dandres-fontecilla-...
Nadeau-Dubois could give the party a real boost especially with youth. Losing David is shocking. I hope she will still be vocal on issues.
It was a health issue, but nothing life-threatening. Burnout and chronic fatigue.
I really hope we can win Laurier-Dorion this time; I'll probably work on the campaign in that riding. Due to the configuration of Laurier-Dorion vs Gouin (David's riding, where I live) the campaign local in L-D is likely to be closer to my house.
The Liberals really have a stranglehold on Parc-Extension, the western part of Laurier-Dorion.
GND will make his announcement at 10 am on Thursday. Radio-Canada and other media already say he'll be standing for QS, but we'll see...
Gouin is my riding. He lives in Laurier-Dorion, just north of here.
I really like him and hope he wins, but at the same time I do hope we can get more strong WOMEN candidates as we are supposed to be committed to parity.
I entirely agree about women candidates, lagatta. And it would be good to see some candidates of colour and Indigenous candidates, no? Especially given the stinking wind of reaction that is being whipped up by the media and others these days.
Meanwhile, what I would really really like to see is some WINNING candidates. And in that regard, I'm waiting for GND with bated breath. If he can't win, we've got a problem.
It depends on how you define colour - Amir isn't precisely "White". Andrés is the same hue as many Québécois de souche who have some Indigenous blood, and the Southern Cone countries aren't the most "foreign" or racialised here within the Americas. But we certainly need people who are decidedly of other backgrounds.
I'd be very shocked if GND DOESN'T win, given that the PQ arent't fielding a candidate in the Gouin by-election. If indeed he does announce his candidacy.
Lagatta, I agree with everything you said. I never said, nor did I intend, that there are NO candidates of colour, etc. Just that there aren't enough. And that a purposeful effort needs to be made in that direction.
Happy International Women's Day!!
Well, of course I heartily agree, and GND also spoke about the need for ethnic and racial diversity as he made his speech declaring his intent to vy to be a candidate for Québec solidaire in Gouin. The whole speech on video is at the Le Devoir website (and doubtless on Facebook), but I couldn't figure out how to copy it, as I'm not on my own computer or using my usual software.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois joins Québec solidaire and announces he'll seek position of co-spokesperson as well as nomination to run in Gouin:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gabriel-nadeau-dubois-quebec-soli...
[size=9]Damned "upgrade". Can't do urls properly, can't post photos, can't do quotes, has a useless "reply" function... Who is responsible for this utter mess?[/size]
Probably the same person who made complaints appear in two-point type. Well played, rabble, well played.
Probably the same person who made complaints appear in two-point type. Well played, rabble, well played.
[size=25]Complaint!!![/size]
On Radio-Canada today, I heard that 1000 new members have joined Québec solidaire (No, they can't vote in the Gouin nomination).
Best of luck! Hope that you are able to weave through the compromises and battles involved in building the bigger tent. It would a be shining example for the rest of us.
Except that the national question makes it soooo complicated... oh well, soldier on!
Very excited that Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois is throwing his hat in the ring. I may even go to the extreme of joining QS although it is less likely than joining the NDP. The "national" question is an issue but not an insurmountable one.
Look at it this way. The Quebec Liberals are federalist and vaguely anti-xenophobia but will always be right-wing on economics and social welfare issues. The PQ is sovereigntist and increasingly right-wing on everything else. The CAQ is hopelessly right-wing on non-constitutional issues and sort-0f-sovereigntist(in some ways it's the closest modern equivalent to the Union Nationale). The people who formed NPD-Quebec haven't done anything at all to establish their party as a significant force at the National Assembly level, and with elections due for that body within three years it doesn't look as though they will by then, so they aren't really an option. The Greens have never gained any purchase in Quebec. QS is nominally sovereigntist, but is the only party in Quebec politics that is both anti-xenophobia, pro-multiculturalism, and anti-austerity.
Quebec’s political class must be removed from power
Speech by
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois
Hello everyone,
I am here this morning to share with you the result of a long and deep reflection.
Today, I have made the choice to join a political party....
Thanks for the link epaulo. You are of course right Ken. Also, if QS won, I too would be sovereignist because it would mean that Quebec is far more progressive than the rest of Canada which would justify the upheaval of separation. Even if there were a Quebec NDP my own riding would likely stay QS and a Quebec NDP would not be as progressive as QS. I would still support the NDP if they had a better chance of winning but GND represents me better than any other politician in Canada.
I have now joined QS for 3 years and made a donation although I don't expect to be an active member. I may show up for rallies if I think the body count matters.
It's also possible that the the election of a QS government could produce a radical and creative approach that is neither strictly sovereigntist nor strictly federalist-and moving away from the sovereigntist/federalist polarity might be the only way to resolve the constitutional question to everyone's tolerance.
The key to that is recognising the fundamental issue of the sovereignty of Indigenous nations. This can't be used to deny the sovereignty of Québec (or any other nation, such as Acadia, or many would also say Newfoundland) but to look at the issue differently - there are examples from sociaists in the former Austro-Hungarian empire, for example. But we are a long way from those discussions now.
Good point as always, lagatta.
Québec would be better off without Canada. The 'national' question is not a deterrent for me. A progressive Nordic European country would be a place I'd be proud of. We have an abundance of resources,we can lead the way to clean energy like wind and solar electricity throughout Québec especially Northern Québec. I'd like Montréal to be North America's Amsterdam and Québec itself to be a socialist Germany. The best education,the best health care and the best technologies. A country committed to expanding health care,our social safety net and a change of attitudes on sexuality and vices and a country with very strong unions and at minimum a liveable wage,better policies for families,day cares,paid maternity and paternity leave and a guaranteed 6 weeks of paid vacation for all workers.
I don't think I'm asking for very much. After over 30 years of neoliberalism,it's time to tell the corporate world, 'Party's OVER'
BC would be better off without Canada. The 'national' question is not a deterrent for me. A progressive Nordic European country would be a place I'd be proud of. We have an abundance of resources, we can lead the way to clean energy like wind, solar, geothermal and tidal generated electricity throughout BC. I'd like Vancouver to be even more North America's Amsterdam and BC itself to be a socialist Sweden. The best education,the best health care and the best technologies. A country committed to expanding health care, our social safety net and a change of attitudes on sexuality and vices and a country with very strong unions and at minimum a liveable wage, better policies for families, day cares, paid maternity and paternity leave and a guaranteed 6 weeks of paid vacation for all workers.
I don't think I'm asking for very much. After over 30 years of neoliberalism, it's time to tell the corporate world, 'Party's OVER'
Asshole. BTW,this is a QUÉBEC thread. Save your garbage for a BC thread,fuckin' pissant.
I actually believe what I plagarized from you as much you do. Why does that make me an asshole?
Because it came across as condescending. If you feel the same for BC as I do for Québec,my apologies.
It is bad enough getting screwed by Central Canada but now we have a gang up on our territory and lifestyles by all the powers east of the Great Divide. We have a PM from Quebec telling us that it is in the "national" interest to ignore the wishes of First Nations and municipalities across the province.
I am proud of BC's long history of activism in the complete rainbow of people driven movements. I believe that Central Canada both Toronto and Montreal have always screwed us. Now the new norm in Canada is that Alberta gets to screw us as well.
The NDP elected 14 of 42 MP's from BC and 16 of 78 from Quebec and 8 of 121 in Ontario. The problem with holding Canada together as a nation is that Ontario is not very progressive.
Canada is greater than the sum of its parts. Ontario and Quebec have also suffered under neoliberalism. The truth is Canada is not governed for the people by any level of government anywhere in Canada. The problem is not that we are a country. I would like provinces that claim they would be better off as separate countries to prove it by handling provincial powers well and with minimal corruption.
Sovereignty is not at the top of the QS agenda. They support it in principle. They are not planning a referendum. GND is Trudeau * 100 only genuinely progressive and serious. He has the potential to become a Quebec star as famous as Rene Levesque. Not saying he will ever get there, but he does have the potential. He could definitely take Quebec to greater heights. If BC elects someone like that separation would be likely unless the entire country goes in that direction. QS is far more progressive than any other party with a seat anywhere in Canada as far as I know. Certainly if there are others they are rare. The NDP is right wing in comparison to QS.
I agree with alan smithee and kropotkin. It's a shame that what is underlying unity looks superficially like resentment - but I think we're gradually finding the unity. I also agree with Pondering and lagatta. So there's hope!
Southern BC already has Amsterdam weather. They did get more snow than usual this winter, but that happens in Amsterdam too - I've experienced quite heavy snow there, though of course it doesn't last as long as here in Montréal. We'd be more Copenhagen or even cycling cities farther north in Scandinavia, as Copenhagen and points north have chenillettes (little snowploughs) to clear the cycle paths as quickly as streets and sidewalks. Unfortunately we are still far behind. When the Beaubien métro station was renovated, the STM did NOT put in a lift, as they said there were ascenseurs at Jean-Talon and soon at Rosemont métro (one stop north, one south). However, there are TWO large public housing complexes for seniors (which also accommodate younger people with disabilities) on either side of Beaubien métro.
The new leadership of Projet Montréal has exciting plans for public transport here, if only they can win and secure some kind of funding from the Québec Fiberals...
The Nadeau-Dubois effect: Québec solidaire up five per cent in new poll
It’s been quite a week in Quebec politics. Last Thursday, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois announced his candidacy for co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire and for the party’s nomination in the riding of Gouin. Last Sunday he appeared on Quebec’s most popular talk show, Tout le monde en parle, and in the week following his announcement more than 5,000 people joined the party, increasing its membership by 50 per cent....
Indeed. Don't worry, instant members can't vote in the nomination election.
No surprise that the comments under Gazette stories about him are utterly hateful.
In another parallel universe, at wsws, GND is of course a treasonous right-winger.
That other world wouldn't possibly have a name that can be abbrieviated with the letters W, S, W, and S, would it?
Yes indeed. I just omitted the caps. They also insulted our student movement in 2012. Turns out they also have a history of insulting striking workers for not being revolutionary enough.
Yes(btw, I hadn't noticed you had mentioned the acronym in the post until just now). WSWS is basically the online versio of Monty Python's "People's Front of Judea", or the character "Rik" from The Young Ones. In twenty years, most of them will be screaming, frothing Thatcherites.
They get referenced all the time here.
What exactly does some derelict U.S. outfit have to do with an important topic under discussion here?
This is a complicated time for QS - lots of opportunities for gains and losses. And being driven by the base (by contrast with all other political parties) makes it even more complicated. Thankfully.
Yes, it is all very complicated. Which is not a bad thing. The real challenge is how to expand outside the core area (central-eastern Montréal) where QS has a serious base. There have been much larger votes than before off-island, in regions and in parts of the island where QS had little impact before, but a further boost is needed.
And unfortunately a lot of people reference that tiny and negative sect, which has an outsized media presence. Teacher friends of mine say that their students often do.
The elections have not yet been called as I write (at least not on 1 p.m. news on Radio-Canada or any media I've glanced at, but not only are rumours rife, the Liberal Party candidate's small posters are already up near me (which is illegal, though I doubt any complaints will be made). Jonathan Marleau is a young man of Haitian descent, at 25 a year younger than GND, and says he was involved in the carré rouges student struggle in 2012.
http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201704/...
The only logical question is WHYTF are you supporting the cesspool that is the Québec Liberal Party? If you are a federalist, you could get involved in the NDP or many other things...
I'll probably start a new thread very soon, as soon as the by-election is called.
Some of the Gazette's readers on the West Island will be wondering WTF is going on on the other side of Mt-Royal...
