The election and beyond
The sad thing with this election campaign is that there is a lot of the same. Since the 1970s, we have had to endure campaigns from both sides that have been based primarily on fear.
I agree with Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard’s position that enough is enough with the fear, but what about our debt load?
Several bond rating agencies, as well as the Fraser Institute, have come forth recently stating that Quebec is on the verge of bankruptcy. But where are the politicians on this issue?
It is time to take a good hard look at such things as: Reducing parental leave. Getting out of the daycare business.
Selling the SAQ and casinos.
Lifting Sunday shopping restrictions. Reducing the sales tax. A government should be able to provide government services, not babysitting or selling booze.
» Government employees in these industries would have their jobs guaranteed for a 10-year period following the sale.
Lifting Sunday shopping restrictions would create jobs. Let stores decide their own hours, based on consumer demand. And finally, lowering the provincial sales tax would do more to stimulate the economy than the short-sightedness of raising it. Any shortterm loss in revenue would be offset by growing interest ■ in consumer spending, as well in improved corporate growth due to a lower sales tax.
If Quebec is going to save itself from a fiscal black hole, the days of the nanny state need to start coming to an end.
Barry Christensen
Pointe-Claire
Re: “Couillard’s plan to help seniors is welcome” (Editorial, March 19)
It is heartening that Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard plans to give top prior- ity to helping seniors. He is promising to encourage seniors to remain in their own homes by pledging financial aid. I think the concrete and positive way to help is to exempt seniors from property taxes. It will give them some relief and improve their quality of life. They will feel more financially secure staying in the comfort of their homes, instead of contemplating downsizing or looking for expensive nursing homes.
I am also fairly certain that tax breaks on membership fees for health and recreational activities would also help.
Chand Mehta
Dollard-des-Ormeaux
It is truly amazing to see the PQ recently accuse students from Ontario and the rest of Canada (no mention of students from France, though) of trying to steal the April 7 election by trying to register to vote. Just 18 months ago, PQ leaders were marching arm in arm with students, saying it was their right to protest unfair university tuition increases. Not only did the PQ not deliver on its promises to the students, it is now taking students to task for exercising their democratic right to vote.
Surely, if there are issues with respect to the lack of clarity over who is eligible and not eligible to vote, the chief electoral officer is going to have to introduce clearer guidelines that can be applied in the future. But to blame the students for wanting to get on the voters’ list, and to suggest they are trying to rig the election, is insulting to the democratic process we have in Quebec. Shame on the PQ for politicking on this issue in the way it has done.
Malcolm Campbell
Baie d’Urfé
Enough is enough. On voting day April 7, there is really only one question that has to be asked.
Do you want to separate from Canada?
If you do, then vote for Pauline Marois. She wants to keep the Canadian dollar, have no borders, and I’m sure she expects the new Champlain Bridge will be built with federal money.
Several issues at this very moment are far more critical than separation: improving the health-care system, hoping to travel to and from work without concrete falling down on us, and job creation.
Everybody is fed up with the political strife in Quebec. I don’t care what language you speak or what nationality you are. On April 7, get out and vote. And if you don’t vote, don’t complain.
Nancy Bowman
Kirkland
I believe the PQ pattern in this campaign has been clear: Make an audacious statement and then, within 24 to 48 hours, retract it, or backtrack from it. For example: supposed student voter fraud; the use of Justice France Charbonneau’s image in an attack ad; guilt-by-association charges against Philippe Couillard for his connection to Arthur Porter; loose talk about the use of the Canadian dollar, a seat in the Bank of Canada and no borders after separation. Despite the retracing and backtracking, the seed has been planted and it influences voters.
David Bernstein
Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Re: “Businesses free to ban symbols: Marois” (Gazette, March 18)
So Pauline Marois has given her blessing to private companies who might want to follow the “spirit” of the PQ’s proposed Charter of Quebec Values.
Were I a business owner, could I, hypothetically, ask job applicants if they were Muslim or Jewish? Since they tend to wear the most “ostentatious” religious apparel, would I be justified avoiding the potential for them to show up one day dressed “inappropriately?”
Would I be justified in just screening out applications from people with Muslim-sounding or Jewish-sounding names, since Muslims and Jews care about their religion and could provoke hesitation among prospective clients of mine?
Would all that be OK under a majority PQ government?
In these tough economic times, I shouldn’t be criticized for implementing such a policy that suits my needs, to maintain my hypothetical company’s profitability.
Jeff Alexander
Deux-Montagnes