Dimitri Soudas' Mandatory Farewell Party

Question: How do you get 200 high-ranking government officials to attend your farewell party?

Answer: Advise all government ministries that a "special meeting" is being called regarding communications of the Federal government. Tell them that all top officials are expected to attend and for the love of God, do not, I repeat, DO NOT tell them that Dimitri Soudas will be there or that this meeting has anything to do with him.

Admiral Ackbar wasn't present to
warn officials of the impending trap

And so it was in August, according to Le Devoir, when Dimitri Soudas was being wished a fond farewell after 5 years of serving as a terrible press secretary. In all, 188 attended this meeting and the near totality of them didn't have a clue that it had anything to do with Dimitri Soudas.

When everyone showed up, they were treated to a presentation of the general communications officer of the Privy Council, Jonathan Massey-Smith. According to one of the officials present, the speech was totally useless because it was so general, while another pro-government conservative, has described it as "drawn out". It was about the renewal of the government's website and the media monitoring service.

Clearly the Transport Department wasn't too interested in its content unless that speech it suggested that the government begin advertising Turkish escorts.

Halfway through the meeting, Mr Massey-Smith and his assistant, Anne Marie Smart, took over the floor to make a long eulogy of Dimitri Soudas and offer him a gift: a framed photo of him in front of parliament. Soudas also made a long speech.

Were officials allowed to leave early from the meeting if they did not wish to partake in the celebration of Dimitri Soudas' career as press secretary and as the "Real Boss of Quebec"? "No, it was part of the event," says Raymond Rivest, spokesman of the Privy Council.

So what did Dimitri Soudas say his farewell speech? He explained that at the beginning of the Conservative mandate, he did not have a high regard for civil servants, but he changed his mind over time. He imagined that federal employees were beholden to the Liberal Party and would not cooperate with the new Conservative government. Some officials found the speech inappropriate.

That's right. Dimitri Soudas was able to take a commonplace government meeting and turn it into a political affair. All of this occurring under a false pretext and giving everyone the impression that Tories are overreaching their authority to force people to participate in something that nobody wants to be part of.

This also describes every single piece of legislation that the Conservatives have passed and their attempts to get the provinces to implement them.

Le Devoir reports that some of the officials wanted to leave, but didn't dare to do so. Probably for the best, I think. The doors were no doubt locked from the outside.

This video of Dimitri Soudas' birthday party reenactment gives us context.

François Legault Will Bring No Change In Quebec Politics

The last few months in Quebec politics have been even more tumultuous than usual. An Orange Wave swept the province in the Federal election, Jean Charest finds new ways to be despised and the PQ hits the political self-destruct button. From this shake-up emerges former PQ minister François Legault whose newly-formed Coalition pour l'avenir du Québec (CAQ) party is currently leading polls in Quebec with 39% of voter intentions.

So how do Quebecers account for the gap between overwhelming support for the left-wing, pro-union NDP federally and the right-wing, government slashing CAQ provincially?

Not the change
Quebecers have in mind

In a word: change.

Unfortunately, François Legault's party will bring little of that. The catalyst for the declining fortunes of the PQ was the advent of the new Quebec City arena legislation. Just under 60% of the Quebec residents hate the prospect of funding this new arena with either provincial or federal money.

But lo and behold, who should speak positively of the project? None other than Legault who suggests that the $200 million that the Charest government will spend in the amphitheater of Quebec will attract tourists and investors. "Companies like to settle in cities where there is a buzz," he said.

You would think it possible to create a buzz in Quebec City without resorting to a $200 million disbursement to the largest media company in the province, wouldn't you? Also, would it create as big a buzz as the one created by the "KFC Yum! Center" in Louisville, Kentucky? Because employment-wise, any buzz that might have come from the construction of that arena has now devolved into a hangover for its municipal government as it keeps having to cut social benefits in order to pay the tab on the arena.

More than likely however, you've never heard of the KFC Yum! Center and its construction created no buzz outside the town of Louisville. And while it may shock readers in Winnipeg, the new MTS Iceplex in your fair city does not compel me any more or less to visit The Peg nor does it create an urge for investors to setup shop over there.

And yet here is François Legault, a man who promises to handle the province's purse strings diligently has no reservations regarding a $200 million hand-out to Quebecor. The same company that uses its news division to peddle its smartphones as well as push its right-wing agenda as detailed in SRC's investigative report on "Enquête".

Therefore, in 2012, I'll listen to all the candidates - even François Legault - although I doubt I'll be very excited about this CAQ Party. His support was growing ever larger until he opened his mouth and suggested that Quebec CEGEPs be abolished. Ever since then, the swelling of support for his CAQ seems to have shrivelled up and as a result, he's been less inclined to speak off the cuff for fear to diminish Quebec's passion for the CAQ. I suspect that Quebecers only like the idea of this new CAQ but once it has penetrated the body politic, I expect revulsion will soon follow only to end with all parties feeling a deep sense of shame and regret.

But the only options for desirable change are Amir Khadir's Québec Solidaire and Jean-Martin Aussant's Option Nationale. While they currently aren't enjoying popular support, the same was true of the NDP in Quebec 2 months prior to the election. Khadir was the loudest dissenting voice regarding the Quebec City arena legislation and Aussant's call for sovereignty is smart and compelling.

It's one thing to talk about change, it's another to come up with ideas that will deliver on that promise.