Quebec Students Draw A Blueprint On How To Lose Popular Support

With the support of the people and this pickaxe, we cannot fail.

On a day that saw widespread vandalism and violence in which windows were shattered, paint was splashed to deface property, rocks were thrown at police and even included a pickaxe-wielding zealot, it seems for many in the Quebec media, the comments of Premier Jean Charest is the most galling of all these events.

"The 'Plan Nord' that we will open today, which is already very popular - people are running from everywhere to come - is an opportunity, especially for job seekers. So to those who knocked at our door this morning, we can offer them a job... in the North as much as possible." -Jean Charest

Cue the politicians with the manufactured outrage...

"Charest is unfit to be Prime Minister. There are wounded and he is joking around" -Bernard Drainville, PQ
"Police and violence are used to intimidate students for electoral purposes. A shame. Mr. Charest get lost" -Amir Khadir, Quebec Solidaire
"Jean Charest laughs at the protest. I have never been so ashamed of the Premier of Quebec." -Jean-Martin Aussant, Option Nationale
"I think we find ourselves in a situation not seen often in the world. Do you know a lot of leaders who make jokes when there's a riot outside?" -François Legault, CAQ

A few facts: it wasn't a full blown riot when Charest made the comments so he wasn't aware of anyone being wounded. Khadir's statement is downright ridiculous if he suggests that police should not have been used to quell the protest. Aussant has a short memory as there are tons of more embarrassing moments that have marked Jean Charest's term in office.

Maybe the joke was in questionable taste but for the people that work in downtown Montreal, there is only great annoyance with the student "protesters". This isn't the first hint of violence. L'Ordre du Carré Rouge has been appropriating the grievances of the students to cause vandalism all over Montreal as well as manhandled staff in some businesses. In other cases, a smoke bomb paralyzed the metro system earlier in the week. I have the personal misfortune of working near McGill University and my building has been targeted by vandals because there's a CIBC branch at the ground floor and... proximity?

Now, I'm no fan of the Quebec Liberals and have every plan to vote them out of office in this year's upcoming election but reminding citizens of shameful hockey riots is not the way to win hearts and minds. If the student association CLASSE (Coalition large de l'Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante) cannot figure out whether or not to denounce acts of violence associated with the student protests, how is it in any way a legitimate voice for democracy? The other 2 student groups should distance themselves from it and insist that negotiations take place without them.

Blaming Jean Charest for the violence is a great feat of rationalization that only mediocre university undergraduates are capable of.

That being said, the Quebec Liberals have handled this extremely poorly. When about 200,000 striking students walked the streets of downtown Montreal, it should have been a clear indication that they collectively rejected the tuition hikes ($1,625 increase after 5 years at a rate of $325 per year ). They didn't pay attention when the movement was united and peaceful. Once the movement splintered, they openly complained about the various disturbances that some of the students were causing across the province. If they're willing to ignore so many and pay attention to so few, the Liberals sent out a terrible message.

Regardless of whether you agree with the tuition increase or disagree with it, you can't argue that businesses should suffer property damage because students feel like taking their anger out on them. It's impossible to justify the violence committed by the protesters on bystanders.

Four days ago, prior to many of the acts of violence and property damage, the population's support of the students already started to wane.  Only 45% now approve of their demand to freeze tuition costs.

So negotiate with students? Sure. But if the person you're negotiating with brings a pickaxe, any semblance of reasonableness is out the window.

Student movements always fracture, always fall apart and never really are fully representative of the students they should represent. Of course, this year is an provincial election year in Quebec. Maybe they can engage in the political process we call elections this time around...

Take The "Guess The Auditor General Report" Quiz: Chinook Helicopter or F-35?

Peter MacKay: Why does Rona get everything? Rona, Rona, Rona!

Between the Harper Government's complete ignorance of the desolate living conditions found in the First Nation reserve of Attawapiskat, the suspected widespread election fraud that points to the Conservatives and their misleading of Canadians of the estimated costs of the F-35 fighter jets to the tune of $10 billion, Canadian politics have certainly seemed rather dour these last few months.

Sure, you could get upset and disconsolate about the state of our democracy... or you can make a game of it! Turn that frown upside down, I say!

With that in mind, it's time to take the Guess The Auditor General Report Quiz!

In the Fall of 2010, the Auditor General released a report criticizing the bidding process and the underestimation of the costs of a military procurement. Sounds familiar? It should! A new Auditor General report is criticizing the government for the exact same things but at a much steeper cost.

Can you tell your Chinook / Cyclone helicopters from your F-35 fighter jets? Find out! (Answers are at the bottom but don't cheat like a Conservative would by looking at the answers beforehand!)

1) "The manner in which Public Works and Government Services Canada used the advance contract award notice did not comply with the letter or intent of the applicable regulations and policies and, consequently, the contract award process was not fair, open, and transparent."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

2) Which Auditor General Report criticized the Department of National Defence for not presenting full life-cycle costs to Parliament?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Both

3) Which military procurement has suffered from schedule delays and cost increases?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Both

4) "National Defence did not provide complete information in a timely manner. For example, briefing materials prepared for decision makers did not explain the basis for and limitations of projections of industrial benefits to Canadian companies, and the risks of relying on the projections for decision making."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

5) Associate Stephen Harper's talking points that he used during Question Period to the appropriate Auditor General Report:

1 - "Mr. Speaker, the government is reviewing and will implement recommendations by the Auditor General. [...] We are going to buy the best equipment for the Canadian Forces. We already have work going to the aviation sector across the country..."

2 - "Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has been very clear on responsibility for this in the report and the government is taking the responsibility to act on his recommendations. We will re-examine, as the Auditor General has suggested, the cost estimates before proceeding. We will ensure there is a more independent process to verify the accuracy of those estimates."

A) Chinook / Cyclone
B) F-35

6) Which of these Ministers were in charge of a responsible ministry for both these purchases when the reports were released? (Defence, Public Works, Industry or Treasury Board)

a) Rona Ambrose, Peter MacKay, Tony Clement
b) Julian Fantino, Peter MacKay, Vic Toews
c) Rob Anders, Pierre Poilievre and Dean Del Mastro
d) Stephen Harper

7) "We found that National Defence engaged Public Works and Government Services Canada late in the decision-making process and hampered Public Works and Government Services Canada's ability to carry out its responsibilities as contracting authority to ensure the integrity of the procurement process."

a) Chinook / Cyclone Report
b) F-35 Report

8) The "Joint Strike Fighter Program" - to which Canada has already spent $335 million and is committed to pay a total of $710 million - is associated with what expenditure?

a) Chinook / Cyclone
b) F-35
c) Peter MacKay Fishing Getaway


Congratulations on completing the quiz! Scroll down to get the answers. Now challenge your friends and compare results!

Results
7-8 correct answers: You win the Philippe Lagassé Trophy!
5-6 correct answers: You are immune to Conservative Talking Points
3-4 correct answers: RMG will call you shortly about a donation to the Conservatives
1-2 correct answers: A Senate appointment is a distinct possibility
0 correct answers: You win the Chris Alexander Trophy!

Answers:
1) -A- 2) -C- 3) -C- 4) -B- 5) 1&A, 2&B
6) -A- (although D is correct in practice) 7) -B- 8) -B-