Does Tony Blair Speak Better French Than You?
Blair addressed the French people in an acceptable version of Molière's language. Interesting to note that Blair never graduated from university or, for that matter, community college. What is your excuse for being so unilingual?
Although in your defence, as far as I know, Blair doesn't speak any Gaelic, a language that is spoken by 538,000 of his countrymen.
By the way, is it just me or is Blair's Youtube page a tad creapy à la 1984?
In any event, the French use Daily Motion. Using Youtube to address the French was a bit gauche.
By the way, before you die hard Gerard Kennedy fans get too excited, although Blair didn't graduate, just like Canada's Robert Borden, he studied law and worked as a barrister. And as if it needed to be mentioned, Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, speaks better French than Gerard Kennedy.
Showing posts with label Liberal Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberal Party. Show all posts
2007-05-05
Trudeau Will Never Be Elected, Ever
Trudeau proclaimed to a bunch of teachers in New Brunswick that "Quebec will never seperate, ever." Then he suggests that having a French language education system in Quebec is a waist of money and "affixing labels".
Good grief. The state of French is New Brunswick is bad enough the way it is, not sure how sending French kids in Southern New Brunswick to English schools is going to improve it.
Back to separation. Justin Trudeau says Quebec will never separate because "Separatism is a mythology that has been created." According to the Toronto Star , he "compared Quebec separatists to school children, accusing them of "whining and complaining to get more attention." (Hat Tip to Impolitical )
Countries that had smaller populations than Quebec currently has when they seperated:
-Canada
-Australia
-New Zealand
-Ireland
-Norway
-Sweden
-Israel
-Every country in Spanish Speeking South America, south of Mexico.
-Many, but not all, of the countries in Africa.
-Slovenia
-Croatia
-Boznia Herzegovina
-Albania
-Montenegro
-Slovakia
-Estonia
-Latvia
-Lithuania
-Moldova
-Georgia
-Armenia
-Azerbaijan
-Turkmenistan
-Tajikistan
-Kyrgyzstan
-Mongolia
-Lebanon
-Jordan
-Syria
-Bhutan
-Laos
-Singapore
-Brunei
-East Timor
-Papua New Guinea
-Bulgaria
-Austria
-Hungary
And, not that long ago, thanks to the end of the Roman Empire:
-England
-France
-Spain
-Portugal
And many, many others...
Good grief. The state of French is New Brunswick is bad enough the way it is, not sure how sending French kids in Southern New Brunswick to English schools is going to improve it.
Back to separation. Justin Trudeau says Quebec will never separate because "Separatism is a mythology that has been created." According to the Toronto Star , he "compared Quebec separatists to school children, accusing them of "whining and complaining to get more attention." (Hat Tip to Impolitical )
Countries that had smaller populations than Quebec currently has when they seperated:
-Canada
-Australia
-New Zealand
-Ireland
-Norway
-Sweden
-Israel
-Every country in Spanish Speeking South America, south of Mexico.
-Many, but not all, of the countries in Africa.
-Slovenia
-Croatia
-Boznia Herzegovina
-Albania
-Montenegro
-Slovakia
-Estonia
-Latvia
-Lithuania
-Moldova
-Georgia
-Armenia
-Azerbaijan
-Turkmenistan
-Tajikistan
-Kyrgyzstan
-Mongolia
-Lebanon
-Jordan
-Syria
-Bhutan
-Laos
-Singapore
-Brunei
-East Timor
-Papua New Guinea
-Bulgaria
-Austria
-Hungary
And, not that long ago, thanks to the end of the Roman Empire:
-England
-France
-Spain
-Portugal
And many, many others...
2006-12-15
Idea Spam and Abuse of Power
Jason Cherniak, self appointed president and administrator of the Liblogs blog aggregator/ blogroll, uses his position to idea spam.
He has a "successfull" blog, why spam?
From Jason Cherniak (Thu, 14 Dec 2006 23:43:25):
Note to Cherniak, Liblogs isn't a cult! You are not our leader.
To add insult to injury, my blog was removed from Liblogs over a month ago (Cherniak decided I was lying about my location). He is just to damn lazy to take me off his mailing list!
He has a "successfull" blog, why spam?
From Jason Cherniak (Thu, 14 Dec 2006 23:43:25):
Hi all,
In his final press conference of the year, Harper referred to "so
called
greenhouse gasses". I don't know about you, but I believe that this is
a
big screw up on his part.
If you agree, please mention it. It is the sort of thing that the MSM
should be forced to pick up.
Blogger Support Services: a non-profit corporation operating as
<http://www.liblogs.ca/> Liblogs
per: Jason R. Cherniak
President
< http://jasoncherniak.com/> http://jasoncherniak.com
Note to Cherniak, Liblogs isn't a cult! You are not our leader.
To add insult to injury, my blog was removed from Liblogs over a month ago (Cherniak decided I was lying about my location). He is just to damn lazy to take me off his mailing list!
2006-12-04
Stephane Dion is a Former Separatist!
As a leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, I guess it is better to be a former separatist than being a former federalist. But still.
As a youth, Stéphane Dion campaigned for the Parti Québécois!
According to tonight's Téléjournal on Radion-Canada, Dion was in favour of the Meech Lake Accord and, get this, he is in favour of Quebec's Charte de la langue française (aka Bill 101, bill 178, the sign law)!
I wonder how long Kennedy's support for Dion will last.
As a youth, Stéphane Dion campaigned for the Parti Québécois!
According to tonight's Téléjournal on Radion-Canada, Dion was in favour of the Meech Lake Accord and, get this, he is in favour of Quebec's Charte de la langue française (aka Bill 101, bill 178, the sign law)!
I wonder how long Kennedy's support for Dion will last.
Gerard Kennedy Will Make a Great Minister of Youth and Sports
That is all that Kennedy can aspire to in a Dion government.
-The Kennedy Echo Chamber ;
-Leader Académie débute présentement.
-The Kennedy Echo Chamber ;
-Leader Académie débute présentement.
2006-12-02
Prediction: Dion wins, Quebec leaves Canada
This is my prediction (14:38 AT, December 2, 2006). This isn't necessarily my wish or anything, just my prediction.
-Dion will win the Liberal leadership (seems obvious).
-The BQ will win Quebec in a landslide.
-The PQ will win Quebec.
-The PQ will go into a referendum on Quebec Independence
This time next year, Quebec will be negotiating the details of Quebec's Independence from Canada.
-Dion will win the Liberal leadership (seems obvious).
-The BQ will win Quebec in a landslide.
-The PQ will win Quebec.
-The PQ will go into a referendum on Quebec Independence
This time next year, Quebec will be negotiating the details of Quebec's Independence from Canada.
Liberals Forget Canada is Bilingual
When you give a political speech in the Quebec nation, don't forget to speak French! At least 50% of the speech should be in French and you should start in French.
Tip to Canadian politicians: when you give a "bilingual speech" to a unilingual audience, use Brian Mulruney's trick and pepper your French with "amour", "respect", "democratie", "Canada" and other French words that even Albertans can understand.
What you don't want to do is forget to speak French. Bob Rae spoke "without a net" last night and it showed. He only talked in French when talking about Quebec. And he didn't talk much about Quebec.
And get this, from the Liberal Party web site:
When you give a speech in Montreal, you start off in French. Ignatieff didn't do this. He spoke French about 25% of the time. Not enough. Rae was the worst offender. He was at least half way through the speech before he spoke a few words in French. Then he quickly reverted back to English.
Gerard Kennedy's French is still horrible, so I wont complain about the lack of quantity. How he can still make grammatical errors while reading his speech (that I assume he rehearsed) is a mystery. He is the only top 4 candidate for whom I didn't flick between the French station and the English stations. I was glad there was a translator to figure out what he was saying. Oh, and parts of Gerard Kennedy's French web site are still under construction! And the "dans la médias" error is still there.
Stephane Dion's English is less than perfect, even when read. You'd think a guy with a Canadian PHD in political science would speak better English. He reminds me of the Political Science teacher I had in college who kept using obscure Belgium examples but couldn't answer the simplest question about the USA. Did you know in Belgium they do exams orally? It was cool that my teacher imported the concept as that was the only course in which I didn't lose 10% for bad spelling.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Quebeckers are not fluent in English. Heck, the majority of Quebec university graduates are not fluent in English. So when you give a speech to people who don't have simultaneous translation, keep it simple. Not Gerard Kennedy simple, but simple enough to be understood by people in their second language.
The speech should be about 50% in English and 50% in French. By that standard, all the candidates failed.
If you read French: Julie Bélanger
Tip to Canadian politicians: when you give a "bilingual speech" to a unilingual audience, use Brian Mulruney's trick and pepper your French with "amour", "respect", "democratie", "Canada" and other French words that even Albertans can understand.
What you don't want to do is forget to speak French. Bob Rae spoke "without a net" last night and it showed. He only talked in French when talking about Quebec. And he didn't talk much about Quebec.
And get this, from the Liberal Party web site:
Notice, December 1, 2006
Montreal - The Liberal Party of Canada inadvertently played
an English-only version of a video produced by the campaign of Mr. Scott Brison,
rather than the bilingual version supplied by his campaign. The Party
unreservedly apologies to the Brison Campaign and all delegates for this error.
When you give a speech in Montreal, you start off in French. Ignatieff didn't do this. He spoke French about 25% of the time. Not enough. Rae was the worst offender. He was at least half way through the speech before he spoke a few words in French. Then he quickly reverted back to English.
Gerard Kennedy's French is still horrible, so I wont complain about the lack of quantity. How he can still make grammatical errors while reading his speech (that I assume he rehearsed) is a mystery. He is the only top 4 candidate for whom I didn't flick between the French station and the English stations. I was glad there was a translator to figure out what he was saying. Oh, and parts of Gerard Kennedy's French web site are still under construction! And the "dans la médias" error is still there.
Stephane Dion's English is less than perfect, even when read. You'd think a guy with a Canadian PHD in political science would speak better English. He reminds me of the Political Science teacher I had in college who kept using obscure Belgium examples but couldn't answer the simplest question about the USA. Did you know in Belgium they do exams orally? It was cool that my teacher imported the concept as that was the only course in which I didn't lose 10% for bad spelling.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Quebeckers are not fluent in English. Heck, the majority of Quebec university graduates are not fluent in English. So when you give a speech to people who don't have simultaneous translation, keep it simple. Not Gerard Kennedy simple, but simple enough to be understood by people in their second language.
The speech should be about 50% in English and 50% in French. By that standard, all the candidates failed.
If you read French: Julie Bélanger
2006-11-25
Oh, the irony: Adscam and Rae Blogger
Disclaimer: I am unemployed and have not and will not receive direct compensation or promise of employment for writing this blog. However, I do get a few dollars from advertisements on this blog, including regular Adsense ads from the Gerard Kennedy campaign.
The following is from the Google Cache of dissension-delivered.blogspot.com. The author, "Skip", was outed today by the Globe and Mail.
[link added by me]
-Complaint by Shoshana Berman;
-Crazy people and blogs;
-Banned from Liblogs for living in Toronto. ;
-The CRTC Should Regulate the Internet: Gerard Kennedy ;
-Gerard Kennedy and "la grande seduction"
-I Still Support Michael Ignatieff ;
-New Liberalism in the First International Country of the 21st Century. Werner Patels and Gerard Kennedy Make Me Laugh. ;
-From the Teleprompter of Gerard Kennedy ;
-Canadian PMs and Part of the Former Ottoman Empire ;
-Reasons 6 to 9 of 995 Not to Vote for Gerard Kennedy ;
-I Am Not Anti-Israel, I Even Sleep With a Jew ;
-Gerard Kennedy Avoiding Francophone Media ;
-Gerard Kennedy Campaigned Against the Federal Liberals ;
-Gerard Kennedy is Advertising on Blogs! ;
-Gerard Kennedy Campaigned Against the Federal Liberals ;
-The Government is reading this blog ;
-Rona Ambrose Does Not Exist ;
-MySpace may be worth $15 billion .
LINKS-LIENS
The following is from the Google Cache of dissension-delivered.blogspot.com. The author, "Skip", was outed today by the Globe and Mail.
[link added by me]
Michael Ignatieff's Calamity of Errors...When the Globe and Mail somehow links your blog to Adscam, I'd guess you have a "communication" problem. Skip's solution was to delete his blog. Even more ironic, both the Globe and Mail and "Skip" (author of dissension-delivered.blogspot.com.) quoted Shoshana Berman!
"Oops, I did it again." A fellow blogger once used this famous Brittany Spears line to describe Ignatieff's communications strategy. I am increasingly in agreement. I mean, this guy can't seem to help himself - not even with all eight of his communications assistants working their buns off.Which brings me to the latest reason for discussing Mr. Ignatieff's ability (or lack thereof) to communicate with the media.
-Complaint by Shoshana Berman;
-Crazy people and blogs;
-Banned from Liblogs for living in Toronto. ;
-The CRTC Should Regulate the Internet: Gerard Kennedy ;
-Gerard Kennedy and "la grande seduction"
-I Still Support Michael Ignatieff ;
-New Liberalism in the First International Country of the 21st Century. Werner Patels and Gerard Kennedy Make Me Laugh. ;
-From the Teleprompter of Gerard Kennedy ;
-Canadian PMs and Part of the Former Ottoman Empire ;
-Reasons 6 to 9 of 995 Not to Vote for Gerard Kennedy ;
-I Am Not Anti-Israel, I Even Sleep With a Jew ;
-Gerard Kennedy Avoiding Francophone Media ;
-Gerard Kennedy Campaigned Against the Federal Liberals ;
-Gerard Kennedy is Advertising on Blogs! ;
-Gerard Kennedy Campaigned Against the Federal Liberals ;
-The Government is reading this blog ;
-Rona Ambrose Does Not Exist ;
-MySpace may be worth $15 billion .
LINKS-LIENS
2006-11-23
I'm Feeling Lucky with Gerard Kennedy
I've been pretty critical of Gerard Kennedy, but I feel he deserves it. Still, the following may be a tad unjust:
Go to Google.ca in English or Google.com, write "horrible French" with or without the quotations and click on "I'm Feeling Lucky".
Try it! It lands you on one of this blog's pages complaining about Gerard Kennedy's horrible French. To my surprise, there are only 9,120 "horrible French" on the Internet. Seems rather low.
--------------
Update (2006-11-24): No longer works as "horrible French" in Google now puts my site in 11th place.
--------------
To my surprise, the French version of Gerard Kennedy's web site has been updated. No, the "dans la médias" template error has not been corrected, but now there is more "content" on the "ressources" page. Now, under Matériel graphique pour blogueurs is "En construction"! That's better than the heading for "Trousse de communication": Share the message Kit (sic, in English!).
Some times, I think the Kennedy camp should have done like Martha Hall Finlay and pretended francophone Canadians don't exist (her website is in English only).
Go to Google.ca in English or Google.com, write "horrible French" with or without the quotations and click on "I'm Feeling Lucky".
Try it! It lands you on one of this blog's pages complaining about Gerard Kennedy's horrible French. To my surprise, there are only 9,120 "horrible French" on the Internet. Seems rather low.
--------------
Update (2006-11-24): No longer works as "horrible French" in Google now puts my site in 11th place.
--------------
To my surprise, the French version of Gerard Kennedy's web site has been updated. No, the "dans la médias" template error has not been corrected, but now there is more "content" on the "ressources" page. Now, under Matériel graphique pour blogueurs is "En construction"! That's better than the heading for "Trousse de communication": Share the message Kit (sic, in English!).
Some times, I think the Kennedy camp should have done like Martha Hall Finlay and pretended francophone Canadians don't exist (her website is in English only).
2006-11-12
National Defence Should be a Provincial Jurisdiction
To most people, myself included, the idea of downloading Canadian defence responsibilities to the provinces is absurd. However, it isn't that outrageous. After all, the United States have "national guards" that fall under the responsibility of their respective States. And those national guards aren't ceremonial, many members are currently serving in Iraq.
Still, I think some responsibilites are better left to the national government. Education is not one of them. Education has always been a provincial jurisdiction, and it should stay that way. Gerard Kennedy has not convinced me, not that he tried very hard. Towns, cities, water, sewars, sidewalks, none of them should have anything to do with the federal government.
Other Blogs:
We Need Dion More Than Ever
Oh Jason, How Naïve is Thee?
Still, I think some responsibilites are better left to the national government. Education is not one of them. Education has always been a provincial jurisdiction, and it should stay that way. Gerard Kennedy has not convinced me, not that he tried very hard. Towns, cities, water, sewars, sidewalks, none of them should have anything to do with the federal government.
Other Blogs:
We Need Dion More Than Ever
Oh Jason, How Naïve is Thee?
2006-11-08
Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy Needs Your Money!
Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy, Gerard Kennedy's spouse, needs your money to attend the Montreal Liberal leadership convention. No joke, check out the web site !
From site:
-Francoise , Carrier Gobeil : CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
-Jean-Philippe , Ayotte CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
-Guillaume , Dubreuil : CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
- Reta , Parent : Saint Jean (in the Montérégie region, east of Montreal)
- Jacques , Faille : Pierrefonds-Dollard
- Richard , Plante : Wetaskiwin
-Maurice , Foster : Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
- Gerard , Kennedy : AMOUNT TO RAISE : $995 RAISED TO DATE : 0 RIDING : Parkdale-High Park
-Julien , Arsenault : Egmont (PEI).
-Leonce , Bernard : Egmont (PEI)
- Anne , Bertrand : Fredericton (Capital of New Brunswick. No, it is not Moncton)
-Jean Pierre , Cadieux : Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
- Jean Marc , Lalonde : Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
- Jean-Guy , Richard : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
-Claude , Tétrault : Winnipeg North
Quebeckers (language unknown):
-Joseph W. , Allen : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Diane , Martin : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Mary , Samborsky : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Hannah , Cowen : Westmount-Ville-Marie (the subway isn't free you know)
Possible francophones:
-Joel , Attis : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
-Armand , Brun : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
- Justin , Cormier : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
- Betty , Lavigne : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
From site:
Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy
AMOUNT TO RAISE : $995
RAISED TO DATE : 0RIDING : York South-Weston
I am excited to let you know that I've recently been elected as a Gerard Kennedy delegate for the upcoming Liberal Leadership convention in Montreal, Nov.27th - Dec.2nd, 2006.
Attending the convention, however, is an expensive proposition. The overall cost of the trip will vary, but at a minimum it will include: a $995 convention fee <$495 if a youth>; transportation to Montreal; and accommodation for the week of the convention.
According to campaign rules the maximum donation to delegates must not exceed $5,400, no matter how many delegates you choose to support.
Donations made towards the $995 convention fees are tax deductible in accordance to political tax rules.
To help me pay my delegate fees please donate via credit card below.
I found her by looking for francophones.
Below are some that I found. Clearly, my prediction that there would be less than 6 Francophone Gerard Kennedy delegates was off by at least 13. I am shocked. Using the names, I have no way of knowing for sure if they are French-Speaking or not. But most probably they do speak French as a first language learned and still understood (Statistics Canada's definition of a francophone).
What I really wanted to find out were the names of the Quebec delegates. I'm missing the ones in Chicoutimi-Le-Fjord and Roberval-Lac-Saint-Jean. The 9 others are accounted for.
Ottawa-Orléans:
-Maurice , Lamontagne : Ottawa-Orléans
- Suzanne , Blanchard : Ottawa Orléans (OWLC)
-Suzanne , Dupuis : Ottawa-Orléans
-Jean , Hébert : Ottawa-Orléans
-Rollande , Chénier : Ottawa-Orléans
-Alexandre , Maheu : Ottawa-Orléans
-Francoise , Carrier Gobeil : CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
-Jean-Philippe , Ayotte CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
-Guillaume , Dubreuil : CLUB LIBERAL UNIVERSITE DE CHICOUTIMI
- Reta , Parent : Saint Jean (in the Montérégie region, east of Montreal)
- Jacques , Faille : Pierrefonds-Dollard
- Richard , Plante : Wetaskiwin
-Maurice , Foster : Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
- Gerard , Kennedy : AMOUNT TO RAISE : $995 RAISED TO DATE : 0 RIDING : Parkdale-High Park
-Julien , Arsenault : Egmont (PEI).
-Leonce , Bernard : Egmont (PEI)
- Anne , Bertrand : Fredericton (Capital of New Brunswick. No, it is not Moncton)
-Jean Pierre , Cadieux : Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
- Jean Marc , Lalonde : Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
- Jean-Guy , Richard : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
-Claude , Tétrault : Winnipeg North
Quebeckers (language unknown):
-Joseph W. , Allen : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Diane , Martin : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Mary , Samborsky : Pierrefonds-Dollard
-Hannah , Cowen : Westmount-Ville-Marie (the subway isn't free you know)
Possible francophones:
-Joel , Attis : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
-Armand , Brun : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
- Justin , Cormier : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
- Betty , Lavigne : Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
2006-11-07
Toronto Debate Question (in French): Should the federal government regulate the content offered on the Internet? Gerard Kennedy (in French): Yes.
1:11:00 into the debate. (Google the error message if you can't open it).
The YouTube link I posted earlier missed the best part (the question):
In French (my translation):
Question: Should the federal government continue to regulate the contents of the electronic press? Should the federal government regulate the content offered on the Internet? Should foreign ownership rules continue to apply?
Gerard Kennedy: Yes. The short answer is yes. A federal government presence is necessary to regulate the contents of the Internet and new forms of communication. Switched to English (see English version).
Original quote:
La réponse simple est oui. Il est necessaire d'avoir une presence du gouvernement fédéral, de réglementer le contenu de l'Internet et des nouvelles technologies.
Earlier post: The CRTC Should Regulate the Internet: Gerard Kennedy
The YouTube link I posted earlier missed the best part (the question):
In French (my translation):
Question: Should the federal government continue to regulate the contents of the electronic press? Should the federal government regulate the content offered on the Internet? Should foreign ownership rules continue to apply?
Gerard Kennedy: Yes. The short answer is yes. A federal government presence is necessary to regulate the contents of the Internet and new forms of communication. Switched to English (see English version).
Original quote:
La réponse simple est oui. Il est necessaire d'avoir une presence du gouvernement fédéral, de réglementer le contenu de l'Internet et des nouvelles technologies.
Earlier post: The CRTC Should Regulate the Internet: Gerard Kennedy
The CRTC Should Regulate the Internet: Gerard Kennedy
When I listened to this the first time, I'd didn't catch it. But I'm pretty sure Gerard Kennedy said he thinks the CRTC should regulate the Internet!
He also wants to give LESS funding to the CBC and MORE funding to others (perhaps on the Internet).
Will this blog one day be sponsored by the federal government? Hey, regional voices are important. Kennedy said so. I feel my New Brunswick voice is being buried under all that Toronto Internet content. Gerard Kennedy to the rescue!
I still can't believe Kennedy said the Internet should be regulated by the CRTC for Canadian content.
***************
Update: I'm pretty sure that Kennedy didn't say, in French: "Yes, the government should rule the Internet". I think that is a case of Kennedy's mediocre French being misunderstood by the translator. Also, I'm no longer sure what Kennedy's position on the CBC is.
"There should be a box that people can access". That part has me confused.
****************
Update II (2006-11-07, 23:12 Atlantic)
Well, I stand corrected. Accurate translation. Just in case there was any possible confusion, to the question "should the contents of the Internet be regulated", Gerard Kennedy said "the short answer is yes".
Details:
1:11:00 into the debate. (Google the error message if you can't open it).
Question: Should the federal government continue to regulate the contents of the electronic press? Should the federal government regulate the content offered on the Internet? Should foreign ownership rules continue to apply?
Gerard Kennedy: Yes. The short answer is yes. A federal government presence is necessary, to regulate the contents of the Internet and new forms of communication. Switched to English.
La réponse simple est oui. Il est necessaire d'avoir une presence du gouvernement fédéral, de réglementer le contenu de l'Internet et des nouvelles technologies.
He also wants to give LESS funding to the CBC and MORE funding to others (perhaps on the Internet).
Will this blog one day be sponsored by the federal government? Hey, regional voices are important. Kennedy said so. I feel my New Brunswick voice is being buried under all that Toronto Internet content. Gerard Kennedy to the rescue!
I still can't believe Kennedy said the Internet should be regulated by the CRTC for Canadian content.
***************
Update: I'm pretty sure that Kennedy didn't say, in French: "Yes, the government should rule the Internet". I think that is a case of Kennedy's mediocre French being misunderstood by the translator. Also, I'm no longer sure what Kennedy's position on the CBC is.
"There should be a box that people can access". That part has me confused.
****************
Update II (2006-11-07, 23:12 Atlantic)
Well, I stand corrected. Accurate translation. Just in case there was any possible confusion, to the question "should the contents of the Internet be regulated", Gerard Kennedy said "the short answer is yes".
Details:
1:11:00 into the debate. (Google the error message if you can't open it).
Question: Should the federal government continue to regulate the contents of the electronic press? Should the federal government regulate the content offered on the Internet? Should foreign ownership rules continue to apply?
Gerard Kennedy: Yes. The short answer is yes. A federal government presence is necessary, to regulate the contents of the Internet and new forms of communication. Switched to English.
La réponse simple est oui. Il est necessaire d'avoir une presence du gouvernement fédéral, de réglementer le contenu de l'Internet et des nouvelles technologies.
2006-11-06
"Gerard Kennedy's French Not Good Enough" LeSoleil
Quebec City's newspaper LeSoleil interviewed Gerard Kennedy last week (Kennedy's first newspaper interview in the province!) and called Gerard Kennedy's French "acceptable one on one, but the quality was not good enough for a debate or a TV interview":
Gerard Kennedy was referred to in the article as "Mr. 1 percent" because of his performance in the delegate selection in Quebec where he finished in sixth place.
Kennedy says he "remains unknown" [in Quebec] but gave no signs of being discouraged.
As far as I know, this is only the second in depth interview Gerard Kennedy has given in French in the entire campaign! So if he remains unknown in Quebec, he has nobody to blame but himself.
The gist of the article is that Kennedy says that English Canadians are not ready for Quebec to be recognised as a nation but that there should be some kind of recognition of Quebec. "We need to find the right expression".
Gerard Kennedy had called Quebec a nation in the last Montreal debate but then briefly explained to a CP reporter a couple of days later that "Quebec was a nation only in French".
M. Kennedy s'exprime dans un français acceptable dans un tête-à-tête. Mais malgré un séjour d'immersion d'un mois au Québec cet été, la qualité de sa langue ne franchit pas encore la rampe dans un débat public ou une entrevue télévisée.
Gerard Kennedy was referred to in the article as "Mr. 1 percent" because of his performance in the delegate selection in Quebec where he finished in sixth place.
Kennedy says he "remains unknown" [in Quebec] but gave no signs of being discouraged.
As far as I know, this is only the second in depth interview Gerard Kennedy has given in French in the entire campaign! So if he remains unknown in Quebec, he has nobody to blame but himself.
The gist of the article is that Kennedy says that English Canadians are not ready for Quebec to be recognised as a nation but that there should be some kind of recognition of Quebec. "We need to find the right expression".
Gerard Kennedy had called Quebec a nation in the last Montreal debate but then briefly explained to a CP reporter a couple of days later that "Quebec was a nation only in French".
- Gerard Kennedy and "la grande seduction"
- "Gerard Kennedy Does Not Speak French" (La Presse).
- According to Gerard Kennedy, Quebec is a Nation Only in French!
- Gerard Kennedy Calls Quebec a Nation
- Gerard Kennedy Avoiding Francophone Media
- Gerard Kennedy on RDI: Horrible French.
- Gerard Kennedy est trop peureux pour Tout le monde en parle!
- Gerard Kennedy a/in Gatineau: je parle le French tres beaucoup
2006-11-05
Does Gerard Kennedy Support NATO?
Questioning Canada's participation in NATO would be quite legitimate. Canada is the only oil rich member. Being part of NATO means that Canada has to occasionally defend members who get into conflict over oil. Oil is why the USA supports Saudi Arabia. American support of the Saudi Arabian regime is why Al-Queda attacked the USA.
Canada doesn't need the Suez canal and it certainly doesn't need Saudi Arabian oil. Of course, Canada does need the USA. If the USA's economy tanks, so will Canada's. But the USA's addiction to oil is more related to lifestyle transportation choices than to economic fundamentals. So the long term advantages of defending the USA's addiction are questionable.
Back to Gerard Kennedy. He advocates leaving Afghanistan. NATO is a military alliance. We don't get to opt out of conflicts because we are not satisfied with members' diplomacy and foreign aid efforts. Canada can certainly increase both in Afghanistan. But we shouldn't cut and run.
Other related blogs:
-Why Gerard Kennedy Should Be Leader: Number Four
-NATO Commander Supports Kennedy
-Gerard Kennedy, man of ideas
-GERARD KENNEDY, THE LEADER I am supporting Gerard
-WHY I ENDORSE GERARD KENNEDY In selecting Gerard
-Kennedy is not my style
-I applaud Gerard Kennedy on Afghanistan
-You say 'cut and run' like it's a BAD thing
Canada doesn't need the Suez canal and it certainly doesn't need Saudi Arabian oil. Of course, Canada does need the USA. If the USA's economy tanks, so will Canada's. But the USA's addiction to oil is more related to lifestyle transportation choices than to economic fundamentals. So the long term advantages of defending the USA's addiction are questionable.
Back to Gerard Kennedy. He advocates leaving Afghanistan. NATO is a military alliance. We don't get to opt out of conflicts because we are not satisfied with members' diplomacy and foreign aid efforts. Canada can certainly increase both in Afghanistan. But we shouldn't cut and run.
Other related blogs:
-Why Gerard Kennedy Should Be Leader: Number Four
-NATO Commander Supports Kennedy
-Gerard Kennedy, man of ideas
-GERARD KENNEDY, THE LEADER I am supporting Gerard
-WHY I ENDORSE GERARD KENNEDY In selecting Gerard
-Kennedy is not my style
-I applaud Gerard Kennedy on Afghanistan
-You say 'cut and run' like it's a BAD thing
Ontario Government Fixes Gerard Kennedy Mistake
Gerard Kennedy, as Minister of Education, tried to link dropping out of school with a driving license. I don't know if this was his idea or not, but he certainly defended it.
Eleven months later, the Ontario Government has admitted it was a bad idea.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that piece of legislation was one of the few that came out of Kennedy's office. The only other thing Kennedy did in his 2 and a half years in office was put his nose where it didn't belong in negotiations between school boards and unions.
-Sixth Place in Quebec University Dropout Gerard Kennedy Losing at PR
Eleven months later, the Ontario Government has admitted it was a bad idea.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that piece of legislation was one of the few that came out of Kennedy's office. The only other thing Kennedy did in his 2 and a half years in office was put his nose where it didn't belong in negotiations between school boards and unions.
-Sixth Place in Quebec University Dropout Gerard Kennedy Losing at PR
2006-11-02
Gerard Kennedy in Favour of Income Trust Tax Loophole
From the Gerard Kennedy website:
The transition period is four years! How much longer did he want? "Relief for capital losses" ?
Buying shares of companies or income trusts is risky. Some people near retirement age may have some money invested into trusts as part of a diversified portfolio, but let's not exaggerate the impact. The government isn't going to compensate investors every time they change the tax rules! Some times investors win, sometimes they lose.
Kennedy Rejects Harper's Income Trust Announcement: The Harper government's income trust cure falls disproportionately and unfairly on fixed income Canadians. Today, thousands of individuals suffered a large, permanent loss in their hard-earned savings as a reward for following the rules of the day and after a commitment from the Conservatives that no changes would be made.
(...)
Any changes should have included a longer transition period and specific relief for capital losses incurred by individual Canadians.
The transition period is four years! How much longer did he want? "Relief for capital losses" ?
Buying shares of companies or income trusts is risky. Some people near retirement age may have some money invested into trusts as part of a diversified portfolio, but let's not exaggerate the impact. The government isn't going to compensate investors every time they change the tax rules! Some times investors win, sometimes they lose.
2006-11-01
Gerard Kennedy and "la grande seduction"
The Gerard Kennedy campaign has clearly given up on seducing francophones. The "dans la medias" template error that I reported back on October 6th is back. Now a bilingual web site is a pain, no doubt about it. My posts in French have gone down dramatically, and I can't think of a logical justification.
But Gerard sixth-place-in-Quebec Kennedy is trying to win the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Get your wife to proof read the web site for goodness sakes!
I checked the Gerard Kennedy web site because I was hoping there would now be "resources" in the French version. But no, nothing.
I have to say that the "I am Kennedyan" logo that we see on many blogs is quite clever. But unfortunately, it is also quite ironic. You see, the I Am Canadian marketing campaign, and indeed the " Canadian" brand of beer, do not exist in Quebec, not even in English. I'm told the beer is available in some dépanneurs on the West Island of Montreal, but that may be an urban legend.
But that's fine, not everything needs to be an exact translation. But come up with something in French! Think of the Kennedy supporters at the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi (UQAC) who elected 3 delegates (27% of the 11 Kennedy delegates in Quebec). Surely they use the Internet. If they are brave enough to be members of a Liberal club on that sovereignist campus, surely they would be willing to show their Kennedy colours.
My other beef with the Kennedy campaign in French is the total lack of advertising. The Gerard Kennedy campaign is a regular advertiser on this blog. However, only in English. As far as I can tell, the Kennedy campaign does not have an Adsence campaign in French. Once again, marketing doesn't have to be an exact translation, but what are they doing in French?
http://www.gerardkennedy.ca , http://stephanedion.ca/ , http://www.michaelignatieff.ca/ , http://www.bobrae.ca/
But Gerard sixth-place-in-Quebec Kennedy is trying to win the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Get your wife to proof read the web site for goodness sakes!
I checked the Gerard Kennedy web site because I was hoping there would now be "resources" in the French version. But no, nothing.
I have to say that the "I am Kennedyan" logo that we see on many blogs is quite clever. But unfortunately, it is also quite ironic. You see, the I Am Canadian marketing campaign, and indeed the " Canadian" brand of beer, do not exist in Quebec, not even in English. I'm told the beer is available in some dépanneurs on the West Island of Montreal, but that may be an urban legend.
But that's fine, not everything needs to be an exact translation. But come up with something in French! Think of the Kennedy supporters at the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi (UQAC) who elected 3 delegates (27% of the 11 Kennedy delegates in Quebec). Surely they use the Internet. If they are brave enough to be members of a Liberal club on that sovereignist campus, surely they would be willing to show their Kennedy colours.
My other beef with the Kennedy campaign in French is the total lack of advertising. The Gerard Kennedy campaign is a regular advertiser on this blog. However, only in English. As far as I can tell, the Kennedy campaign does not have an Adsence campaign in French. Once again, marketing doesn't have to be an exact translation, but what are they doing in French?
http://www.gerardkennedy.ca , http://stephanedion.ca/ , http://www.michaelignatieff.ca/ , http://www.bobrae.ca/
2006-10-31
Dion Makes Kennedy Sound Coherent
Man, I miss Israel. This whole "nation" business is crazy. Gerard Kennedy has the audacity to say that he is in favour of calling Quebec a nation, but only in French.
Then Dion says that "I am proud to belong to the Quebec nation within Canada. The constitutional recognition of such a fact, although desirable, is not necessary because nothing prevents us Quebecers from participating and succeeding in this great endeavour that is Canada, a country we have contributed so much to building."
It is desirable so we should be against it. If it is desirable, shouldn't we be in favour of it?
Then Dion says that "I am proud to belong to the Quebec nation within Canada. The constitutional recognition of such a fact, although desirable, is not necessary because nothing prevents us Quebecers from participating and succeeding in this great endeavour that is Canada, a country we have contributed so much to building."
It is desirable so we should be against it. If it is desirable, shouldn't we be in favour of it?
Gerard Kennedy is the Only Top 4 Candidate Against Quebec Being Called a Nation
Figuring out Gerard Kennedy's position wasn't easy, but I've reached the conclusion that he is against calling Quebec a nation in the Constitution, at least in the English version.
Dion has called it desirable but not necessary. Rae says now is not the time. Ignatieff says it is necessary and we must do it at some time in the future.
So if you are against Quebec being called a nation in the constitution, vote for sixth place in Quebec Gerard Kennedy.
So what is Kennedy's position on Quebec? I don't know. Would he be in favour of the Meech Lake Accord? The Charlottetown Accord? He want's change, but what kind of change? He want's a third way that includes national education standards. That we know.
Dion has called it desirable but not necessary. Rae says now is not the time. Ignatieff says it is necessary and we must do it at some time in the future.
So if you are against Quebec being called a nation in the constitution, vote for sixth place in Quebec Gerard Kennedy.
So what is Kennedy's position on Quebec? I don't know. Would he be in favour of the Meech Lake Accord? The Charlottetown Accord? He want's change, but what kind of change? He want's a third way that includes national education standards. That we know.
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