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Work harder, Bouchard tells Quebeckers

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 1:37 PM EST 17/10/06

Former premier questions work ethic in province ...Read the full article

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  1. West Coast Guy from Canada writes: turns out the sky is blue, too
  2. Proud Canadian from United States writes: That's what happens to a group of people whom recieve money for doing nothing, e.g., Federal Transfer payments. Time to stop giving people in Quebec a hand out and start giving them a hand up, might help them in the sefl respect department.
  3. Derrick Zimmerman from Kingston, Canada writes: Having dealt with a unionized business in Quebec on a regular basis, it was apparent that the Union was running the plant and not the owners. High wages, low productivity were the norm there. Talking with collegues throughout the province of Quebec, the story remained the same; organized labour is killing the economy of Quebec just as it is killing the North American Auto industry. Unions had their place some years ago, but now they are now just a haven for people with the work ethic that Mr Bouchard referred to. Incidentally, this is probably the most logical thing I have heard Mr Bouchard say in quite some time. Now with this fact on the table, how pray tell does Quebec think, that with this trend they could even be remotely self sufficient? Makes you wonder.....
  4. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes: They have the best social programs ( 7$ day care as an example) huge debt, but they don't care. Walk along Crescent or St.Denis street on a beautiful Friday afternoon and listen to the laughing and watch the party progress- a lot more fun than being stuck on the 401 .......life isn't just about money-it's about the party! Anyway, Quebec well knows all it has to do is sabre-rattle separation and any Federal government will throw all kinds of money their way to pay for whatever it wishes. Anyway, all that doesn't matter because the real rulers in Quebec are those darling unions!
  5. G S from Newfoundland, United States writes: I don't think Quebecers themselves lack a desire to work, but rather the province's patchwork of generous social programs, level of unionizing and the size of the public sector (relative to US and r.o.C.) cause such worker apathy.
  6. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Why work harder? In Canada, the better you do, the less equalization payments you get. In fact, you should do less work. Work isn't fun, and you end up with the same amount of money either way. Let Ontario and Alberta pay all the bills. Hooray for Equalization!
  7. A Canadian from Canada writes: Quality of life, in the US they don't even know what that means. Corporate profits are all that matter. I have worked inthe states for a number of years, yes the people work longer hours, less time off (2 weeks is the norm) but don't have a clue to what quality of life means. I've never worked in Quebec, but I have worked in France. The people also work hard but they work so they can live. Unfortunately, too many companies in the US want you to live only so that you can work. With this global economy, companies are now able to put one group against the other. If you don't work enough they will move the jobs to another country where the people will work more. It is a sad fact but true.
  8. M G from Calgary, Canada writes: This is not insulting – it is true! I know some people who work very hard there, but they are a minority. Actually, if he had said that when I lived in QC, I might have stayed and voted for him. My work experience in QC, for 7 years, was that everybody watched the clock, leave for a break 5 minutes before break time, return 5 minutes late and absolutely uses the words: “No, I will not help you because it’s not my job”. (I am talking about helping someone in a busy restaurant!) Unions are too many and too strong and I love the fact that he said it. I live and work in Calgary now, some QC acquaintances say that I am ”lucky” to make the money I make. I work twice as long and twice as hard as they do. But no, that doesn’t count…..I heard people BRAGGING that they feel asleep at work in QC. The multinational I work for was delayed on projects in QC because our contractors: “had to have their break now, we have worked for 4 straight hours”….. Can you imagine how lazy you must be to even say that out loud? We’re not talking hard labour either…. We’re talking setting up computers!! Pull your socks up QC, get to work.
  9. Michael Peters from Canada writes: What's the incentive to work harder when you can just take from the 'have' provinces?
  10. Mike Mike from Calgary, writes: True indeed. One only needs to walk though some of the neigbourhoods in Montreal to see that half the city does not work. The other half is unionized so they don't work either. Why work, if the feds keep on channeling money to this province?
  11. Trevor Russell from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Monsieur Bouchard, As a former polititian you should know that speaking the truth is unacceptable! Please return to telling the people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Merci Bien!
  12. JM Work from Canada writes: Life can be great in Quebec. I lived in montreal for many years. People do enjoy the finer things in life... dining out, fine foods, high fashion, entertainment, etc, etc. There is also a culture of entitlement; $7/day daycare, low tuition rates which have been frozen for years, and many generous social programs. Unions and organized labour rule the workforce. Productivity is low, taxes are high as is the cost of running a business in the province. Its clear that Quebec has fallen behind provinces like Ontario, BC and now Alberta in terms of economic development. Its great to have a lot of time off, work shorter days, and receive higher wages; but at what expense? This is not sustainable. Quebecs debt is growing faster and faster. Quebec - you now are part of a global economy' go0d luck trying to compete when unions mandate short work days, high wages, expensive benefits, etc. Add the governments high tax rates to fund social programs for those who refuse to work and youve got a recipe for economic disaster.

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