Ignatieff Taps Garneau as Quebec Lieutenant

[Keepitsimple]

It's difficult to figure out what Ignatieff is actually doing with the Quebec Lieutenant position. At first he said there is no need for one.....that he would handle it personally....and many in the Liberal caucus are opposed to having a "lieutenant" in Quebec. Now he says he has to have one because it's "in the Liberal Constitution". Does this mean that he's only paying lip service to the position and it will now be strongly "advised" by Ignatieff's Toronto Circle. Who really knows what this man thinks - or doesn't think.

Mark Garneau now has the pleasure of filling the role....a newcomer to politics....good luck to him.

Mr. Garneau, 60, the rookie Liberal MP from Montreal's Westmount who this week celebrated his 25th anniversary of going up in space, takes over the role of the Quebec chief from Denis Coderre.

He originally said there would be no Quebec lieutenant but announced his change of plans while addressing the provincial wing of the party at its convention last Sunday.

The Liberal Party's constitution requires a “leader's representative” in Quebec; Mr. Ignatieff said he had initially overlooked that detail.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politi...article1315205/

[M.Dancer]

I would think being tagged the Lieutentant would be a demotion for the Capt.

[Topaz]

I think Iggy would be a giant hit in Quebec is he could get the Tories to pay Quebec their share to the HST tax. Quebec is owed millions and the Tories are stalking!

[M.Dancer]

They are stalking?

[jdobbin]

Mark Garneau now has the pleasure of filling the role....a newcomer to politics....good luck to him.

I like Garneau. Since the position has to be filled, it is better by someone who has never struck me as being divisive. It will be a good opportunity for him to show if he can organize and help the party estblish themselves with ridings outside Montreal.

[madmax]

I like Garneau.

Experience working in freefall may come in handy

[Wild Bill]

Experience working in freefall may come in handy

:lol:

[fellowtraveller]

Experience working in freefall may come in handy

Oh yeah, that is funny and accurate.

Wiil Justin Trudeau be miffed that he has been overlooked, or smart enough to know now is not the time?

I vote 'miffed'.

[M.Dancer]

Oh yeah, that is funny and accurate.

Wiil Justin Trudeau be miffed that he has been overlooked, or smart enough to know now is not the time?

I vote 'miffed'.

Miffed

[Topaz]

They are stalking?

Sorry, made in China keyboard is acting up again, need to buy another. the word should have been "stalling"

[M.Dancer]

Sorry, made in China keyboard is acting up again, need to buy another. the word should have been "stalling"

No worries....typos happen.

I'm curious though, given that Quebec collects it's own sales tax and provincial income tax, what could Ottawa be stalling on?

[Mr.Canada]

I think Iggy would be a giant hit in Quebec is he could get the Tories to pay Quebec their share to the HST tax. Quebec is owed millions and the Tories are stalking!

Uhm, it was the Liberals who drew up the original contract years ago. The Tories have been renegotiating it for a while now. Ducepee knows this but is trying to make political hay.

[jdobbin]

Experience working in freefall may come in handy

He has experience in take-off as well.

[capricorn]

Hooey! I didn't know Garneau represented Westmount, where 51% claim English as their mother tongue and 21% claim French as their mother tongue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmount,_Quebec#Demographics

And Garneau will be Ignatieff's point man in Quebec. He'd better do extensive traveling in La Belle Province in order to advise Ignatieff on the concerns of the Francophone segment. He sure as heck won't get it in his riding.

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has tapped former astronaut Marc Garneau to be his new top man in Quebec.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/07/...is-coderre.html

Perhaps Ignatieff should have selected an MP from a riding with a higher representation of Francophones, you know, to counter balance the claim that les Anglais from TO run Quebec Liberal affairs. It's always about les Anglais and there are plenty of them in Westmount.

[jdobbin]

Hooey! I didn't know Garneau represented Westmount, where 51% claim English as their mother tongue and 21% claim French as their mother tongue.

The riding is different:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmount%E2%80%94Ville-Marie

Languages: 37.8% English, 29.6% French, 29.3% Others, 3.2% Multiple responses

And Garneau will be Ignatieff's point man in Quebec. He'd better do extensive traveling in La Belle Province in order to advise Ignatieff on the concerns of the Francophone segment. He sure as heck won't get it in his riding.

The allophones are often neglected as well. Seems like a varied mix in his riding.

Perhaps Ignatieff should have selected an MP from a riding with a higher representation of Francophones, you know, to counter balance the claim that les Anglais from TO run Quebec Liberal affairs. It's always about les Anglais and there are plenty of them in Westmount.

Perhaps you will have a demographic from the actual riding next time.

[M.Dancer]

Allophones skew towards non separtist parties.

There is no safer seat for a liberal in Quebec.