Election end days
Re: “True confessions of a diehard anglo leftie” (Gazette, April 3)
Matthew Hays’s championship of ordinary, hardworking Quebecers of any language or ethnicity is at odds with his statement “surrounding yourself with babbling seniors.” To dismiss a large segment of society (seniors) because of a foolish statement by one senior, Janette Bertrand, is blanket ageism. Someone who champions equality and human rights should understand this, and rethink his lack of inclusiveness. Anne Howard Pointe Claire
In response to Matthew Hays and his shock and surprise regarding the PQ and its identity politics, I say: Mr. Hays, this is nothing new. You either ignored it in the past or else you did not believe what you saw and heard for the last 20-plus years in Quebec. What every anglo (except you) knew was that speaking French was never going to be enough to be included in the “family.” There are many wonderful welcoming old-stock Quebecers, but the reality is that many businesses and the civil service are afraid to be seen as having an anglo face. Jay Gotteiner Hampstead
As we watch the mudslinging among the major parties, flying under the political radar these days is Fatima Houda-Pepin, the independent Liberal representing La Pinière. I sit here with my jaw on the floor reading her pamphlet. She commits to “introducing a bill on employment equity for minorities.” Wasn’t Houda-Pepin for the Charter of Values? Is this bill of hers a solution to the PQ’s plan to fire people who don’t comply with the charter? My head is spinning. I need two Aspirins. Thank you, Philippe Couillard, for doing what you had to do.
Steven Stamm Brossard
Re: “We might never be ready for a referendum: Marois” (Gazette, April 3)
Has Pauline Marois finally come to her senses and realized the truth? There are so many unanswered questions and only vague and unsupported proclamations about what would happen after a “winning” referendum that it’s no wonder that the population is suspicious and uninterested.
Robert Anstee Montreal
Pauline Marois embarrassed Quebec by finally admitting people would lose their jobs because of her discriminatory charter. In this election, the Liberal Party is the only one of the four main political parties that appreciates the contributions (and sacrifices) of Quebec’s minority communities. Respect for multiculturalism is, in fact, a Quebec value, and one that I would place at the top of the list of any just society. Brian Boyer Pointe Claire
How thoughtful of Pauline Marois to promise to find hijab-, turban- and kippah-wearing fired public-service employees new jobs in the private sector. I would venture to say that there would be many private sector employers more than willing to find Marois a job after April 7. Alex Hrycay Brossard
Pauline Marois admits that people who violate the charter would lose their jobs, but says there would be a plan in place to help them find work in the private sector. Where in the private sector would there be jobs for doctors, nurses, teachers and daycare workers? Those are all government jobs. Has she fallen headfirst into the shallow end of her friend Janette Bertrand’s swimming pool and hurt her skull? Carol Woods Brossard
Re: The media coverage has been as stupid as the campaign rhetoric” (Opinion, April 2)
It is always reassuring to read opinions such as those of Peter Blaikie, regarding media coverage of the campaign and the failure of Quebec in so many ways.
Unfortunately, space probably did not allow him to quantify our shortcomings. Consider as a starting point lost capital investment, income, sales and payroll taxes, fees, licences, etc. Just imagine how all that unrealized potential could have been used! Thanks, Peter, for your insights. Trevor Caron Westmount
Re: “Noah Sidel makes move from Alouettes office to CAQ candidate” (April 1)
I was surprised by Herb Zurkowsky’s half-page article on Noah Sidel in the sports section of The Gazette. It appears that his only sports accomplishment was as a very minor official in the Alouettes’ front office — and yet this accomplishment warranted a large and handsome notice in your newspaper.
Are you offering free advertising to the other three parties in the election? Eric Heddle Montreal
Although the campaign is not over and the final results have yet to be tallied, assuming that the Parti Québécois loses on April 7, I feel that Pauline Marois’s best option would be to move to Colorado. Why Colorado, you ask? That is where “Marois-Na” is embraced, and legal. Sheldon Miller Montreal