Posted on 11/24/2013 1:32:26 AM PST by jocon307
Toronto’s crack-smoking Mayor Rob Ford is the most famous Canadian in the world. The Charlie Sheen of politics opens his mouth simply to change feet.
He’s certainly worked over the Canadian brand, which isn’t all bad.
Americans think that Canadians are boring, nice and polite folks who apologize to machinery. In a way, it’s gratifying to be noticed for something other than the weather.
But if Americans think Ford is an anomaly, they’re giving Canada way too much credit. In truth, the country is awash in scandal.
Most unnerving is Quebec, Canada’s Tammany Hall. Since 2011, a government commission has been investigating the awarding and management of public contracts. Its findings have led to the resignation in 2012 of the mayor of Canada’s second-largest city, Montreal; the arrest in 2013 of his replacement; the arrest in 2013 of nearby Laval’s mayor for “gangsterism” and criminal charges against two more small-town mayors.
In addition, Quebec’s anti-corruption squad has arrested 49 people and laid criminal charges against 13 companies.
“Acts of collusion and corruption exist everywhere in Quebec — in every region. Our investigations are proving this to us,” said Robert Lafreniere, head of the squad.
There are 20 more ongoing investigations outside the construction industry, he added, involving contracts for computer technology and work related to an ambitious scheme to develop mining, tourism and infrastructure in the province’s far north.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Our gentle author tells of several more stories/allegations of corruption in Canadian national and provincial govt.
Quebec. In other words French Canada, not proper Canada.
That’s only her first example, she’s got others elsewhere, sadly.
19% of those polled said they would like to see Ford as prime minister of Canada, a goal he mentioned in a television interview this week.
What would be strange “IS” if Canada WASn”T totally corrupt..
Which it is.. not only in Quebec..
HOW could it NOT BE?...
How can they have time for scandal if they’re running around between doctor’s appointments getting all that free healthcare?
Imagine that. Canadian journalists actually cover corruption stories when it concerns politicians. They only seem to do that here when it is a Republican.
A few people I have spoken with lately actually like Rob Ford. They think the guy has guts, and they say better a nutso conservative than a lefty.
Our lefty politicians have much more scandal, but do you think the media go after them? Not a chance, other than Sun News, often referred to as Fox North.
I find it high praise of Canada that they make a strong attempt to enforce the law, not that miscreants exist in Canada. They exist everywhere. We worship Obama, God of the Marketplace. At least our smarter little brother *tries*—
Truly yucky!
Yes, I’ve heard he’s done a pretty good job. But maybe he needs to realize he’s got a problem and do something about it.
But like I said, I really haven’t followed that story too closely. I read this piece because I too have that naive idea that Canadians are all freakily nice people.
I remember hubby watching some show about an outlaw biker gang from back in the day - I was amazed when I realized the whole story was about Canada!
I follow one of the local Montreal stations (English lang. CJAD) and it seems every day there is a Montreal area mayor or politician either resigning, forcibly removed, or jailed for corruption. The author is spot on with Montreal’s corrupt politicians
Last time in Montreal I just missed the student riots by minutes near Concordia/McGill Univs. You thought it was USSR with all the cops and para-military around.
Toronto’s crack smoking mayor is huge because Toronto is quite mellow compared to crazy Montreal
Quebec has always been a cesspool of corruption - always.
But that still doesn’t explain why an American newspaper has to come all the way up here to find scandals - if that’s what the Post wants, just look at the Obama White House - Fast & Furious, Benghazi, campaign financing, the manipulation of unemployment data just before last fall’s election, etc. etc. - a virtual smorgasbord for any truly curious reporter!
Back in the days Jean Chretien as prime minister, friends of the ruling Liberal Party in business were benefiting greatly at taxpayer expense.
The problem for the voters is quite simple…. Toronto Council is absolutely stacked with far left wackos and the previous mayor (Miller) was a totally out of control tax and speed liberal of the highest order. On a financial level, Mayor Ford has at least made a respectable start to bringing some financial sanity and order to the city. So…. if you are voter, what do you do? Accept Ford with all his personal flaws which extends well beyond drugs and alcohol and gets into his entire family life and the fact that he has a history of hanging around with some pretty shady people (it’s no secret that the cops have had to go to his house many times in the past on numerous occasions)? Or do the voters bring back another far left liberal such as Miller who will take them down the path of financial ruin? I would be wonderful if a decent conservative would step up to the plate but unfortunately, the city repeatedly makes it hard for voters on election day to not either 1. Formally refuse the ballot or 2. Destroy the ballot by putting a note on it that “none of these candidates are suitable to represent me”.
It wasn’t really a news story, more of an op ed. I don’t know if you clicked through but the woman who wrote it also wrote a book about how (she thinks) Canada and the US should merge.
Of course after reading this piece it doesn’t look like such a great idea.
Diane Francis is a pretty good writer who is not afraid to take on matters that others wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole. However, she didn’t mention one serious matter in this article that occurred during one of the most important sagas of recent Canadian politics that she has written about previously…..perhaps she wanted to stick with more current events in this article. Prior to going to Iraq, various countries were considering whether to join forces with them or not. Canada under Prime Minister Chretien chose to not join the Americans and I still remember his speech concerning this in the House of Commons. What Chretien did not reveal was that his family (through the marriage of his daughter to the son of Paul Desmerais AND the fact that Chretien himself had sat on the board of directors of Desmerais’s company called Power Corporation) had a serious financial stake in keeping Hussein in power. They were all at the trough in the oil for food scandal through the stake that Power Corp had in TotalFinaElf and millions were at stake if Hussein was deposed. Nary a word about Chretien’s personal stake in the decision has ever been mentioned other than by Diane Francis and Mark Steyn.
Tabernac Pingue!
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