Post-PQ …
Re PQ Crushed (April 8): Napoleon met his Waterloo and Marois met her Péladeau.
Graham Howe, Elora, Ont.
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Pardon the blur, my head is spinning from cognitive dissonance post-PQ.
So many experts, so little time.
On Feb. 19, veteran columnist Lysiane Gagnon wrote that "all the indicators point to a resounding victory for the PQ" (The PQ Has Reason To Be Confident). This despite a similar upset of surefire winners in the 2013 B.C. elections. No matter.
Then, McGill political science professor Antonia Maioni assured Globe readers the PQ was headed to victory (How Marois's Laser-Guided Focus On Identity Tilted The PQ Toward A Majority – March 6).
Next, Globe columnist Konrad Yakabuski proclaimed that Pierre-Karl Péladeau might be a charismatic new "Lucien Bouchard" figure (How Péladeau's PQ Bombshell Will Lead To Aftershocks In Ottawa – March 10). He went on to tell us that PKP's "emergence as a superstar Parti Québécois candidate represents a seismic shock not only for Quebec politics. The millionaire media mogul's decision to actively promote sovereignty threatens to rock Stephen Harper's government and possibly the entire country."
Then again, maybe not.
Fie on the experts. Only voters know what is going on.
David Winch, Montreal
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I am deeply appreciative of those who accept and view women who wear the hijab by choice as people, and who see Muslims for what we are on the inside and not for appearances.
There is no bigger testimony to the nature and character of Canadians as a people than the acceptance of something foreign. So for Quebec to have voted out the PQ is both a direct and indirect affirmation of being Canadian.
No to sovereignty. No to the charter of values. Yes to being Canadian, politically and morally.
Waqas Khurshid, Vaughan, Ont.
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Your front-page PQ CRUSHED headline smacks of a tabloid. It is unCanadian, scornful and narrow-minded.
Zina Maher, Unionville, Ont.
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On the eve of the election, Pauline Marois said her little finger had told her the PQ would win. It appears she would have been better advised to consult the middle finger of the Quebec electorate.
Randy Johnson, Toronto
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I have enjoyed the photography in The Globe during the Quebec election. Three pictures neatly encapsulate the entire drama. I suggest they be republished, side by side, in sequence: Mme Marois applauding as M. Péladeau raises his fist; Mme Marois pushing M. Péladeau away from the podium; Mme Marois, crestfallen, raising her hands to concede defeat.
Ron Beram, White Rock, B.C.
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Quebec is just going to continue to be a drain on the ROC – $9.3-billion in equalization payments this year. Until la belle province stops overspending at our expense, what's to celebrate?
Karen Rogers, Edmonton
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On Monday, we spoke to our children about the election taking place that night. Our 7-year-old daughter asked, "How does it work? Do they have to sing before you vote for them?"
Given the three-ring circus that can take place in this province, maybe that's not such a bad idea?
Valerie Cherneski, Montreal
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Chutzpa? $3.1-billion
Re It's Their Money. How Did You Spend It? (editorial, April 8): You have to admire the chutzpa of a government that, according to a 2013 Auditor-General's report, simply loses track of $3.1-billion, never offers any explanation or apology, then legislates financial transparency for unions and impoverished First Nations.
Jason Kunin, Toronto
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Dial in to CBC cuts
Re CBC Staff Brace For Budget Cuts Expected Thursday (April 8): CBC president Hubert LaCroix prepares staff to suck it up yet again. Why doesn't he suck up some courage and use the CBC/SRC's broadcast facilities to take the issue directly to the public?
Who is he afraid of? The PMO? Patrons of our public broadcaster (taxpayers) have a right to know.
Ron Devion, a former head of CBC Sports, Brentwood Bay, B.C.
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Bricks and mortar
Trudeau-era health minister Monique Bégin once described Canada as a demonstration-project society, and the Housing First study suggests that this remains true (Study Concludes 'Housing First' Works – April 8). We are good at investigating the effectiveness of programs, but bad at implementing them beyond the demonstration-project stage.
It is useful that workers will be trained and that the federal government has shifted budgeted expenditures to an effective model of support. It is disappointing that increasing the very constrained supply of low-rent housing through a national housing policy hasn't been highlighted. Support can't substitute for bricks and mortar, and without an increase in supply those lucky enough to be Housing First clients will just displace other homeless people in the housing market.
Sid Frankel, associate professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba
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Both: who, where
Re Electoral Contrasts (letters, April 8): Like so many professional pundits and the unbelievable Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre, a letter writer frames vouching as a question of proof of identity, when it is really a question of proof of residence.
Many students, for example, have ID proving who they are, but no documentation showing where they live, and need someone to vouch for their residence in that polling district.
Elizabeth Woods, Victoria
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After-hours mayor
Re Mayor Ford's After-Hours Behaviour Attracts More Attention (April 8): I don't know what is more disturbing: The fact that after a year of working with a dysfunctional mayor, Frank Di Giorgio is only now becoming "very leery" of Rob Ford's efforts to change his behaviour – or the fact that our budget chair is Frank Di Giorgio?
William O'Meara, Toronto
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Fools for love
Margaret Wente hit the nail on the head with the Dimitri Soudas-Eve Adams soap opera (Dimitri And Eve, Fools For Love – April 8). But what is it about right-wing political parties that attracts ex-beauty queens?
Along with Hungarian pageant queen Ms. Adams, the Conservative Party can boast of Peter MacKay's wife Nazanin Afshin-Jam (Miss World Canada 2003 and first runner-up Miss World 2003), and former MP Helena Guergis (Miss Huronia 1992).
South of the border, Republicans had would-be VP Sarah Palin (Miss Wasilla 1984 and third runner-up Miss Alaska 1984). Could it be that the men in these parties are so bland they need help?
Jerry Amernic, Toronto