Fortier to Public Works? Huh?

[August1991]

Mr. Fortier has been involved in politics for many years. He was president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in the 1990s, and ran for the leadership of the Party in 1988. He was a candidate in Laval West, Quebec, in 2000. Mr. Fortier was co-chair of Mr. Harper’s leadership campaign for the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2003, and during the last election, he was co-chair of the national campaign.

Public Works Official Web Site

And this guy is Public Works minister? Through the Senate? (And what is this about Leadership of the party in 1988?)

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I fear Stephen Harper is following too much Brian Mulroney's advice about Quebec. The advice would be: "Take the right decision, long term. But don't get blind-sided." Harper has interpreted this as Fortier to Public Works and get 'representation' from Montreal.

In 1976, Rene Levesque brought in a computer to hand out government contracts. Harper should have followed his own instinct and named a computer to Public Works too.

Mr. Harper, what you have just done sends out all the wrong signals. The job of the Bank of Canada, the job of the government, is to send out good, credible signals.

I'm in wait-and-see mode for the next few signals.

[August1991]

Well, I'll take back that hint of innuendo. Michael Fortier is no Roch Lasalle.

Fils d'un voyageur de commerce de Québec, Michael Fortier a fait son droit à l'Université Laval. Il est devenu conservateur "à cause de Trudeau. Cet homme a été malhonnête intellectuellement. Il a rapatrié la constitution sans le Québec, juste parce qu'il voulait laisser un héritage. Cela a révolté mon ADN de démocrate".

Selon lui, des gens qui ne sont pas souverainistes, mais qui sont déçus des libéraux parce qu'ils ne respectent pas les compétences des provinces, il y en a une multitude au Québec. Et il faut aller les chercher.

"Les péquistes m'ont enlevé mon drapeau - le fleurdelisé, qui est devenu un symbole souverainiste - et les libéraux m'ont enlevé mon drapeau, devenu un symbole de scandale. En devenant conservateur, je récupère les deux", dit-il.

Les Affaires

English Translation

[NDLR: This piece was published on 2 February, before the swearing-in ceremony.]

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Fortier couldn't be a candidate and manage a serious campaign in Quebec. I suspect this was a nomination Harper had decided before the 23 January. Indeed, Harper was probably grateful that he only had recourse to one Senate nomination to get someone into cabinet. (Clark did the same with Robert de Cotret.)

Harper also needed someone from Quebec he absolutely trusts in Public Works. Fortier fits the bill.

Something that impresses me is that Harper does not have a Quebec lieutenant but rather he clearly consults with a range of people.

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At present there are 23 Quebec Senators (and 1 vacancy). In addition, Harper could name up to 8 additional senators from any province over the normal Senate size.

Harper has said he wants to introduce a fixed term for general elections, and hold Senate elections at the same time. There is no need for a constitutional amendment to have an elected senate although it might be wise to prevent a future Liberal government from doing as Chretien and ignoring the result of an election.

[geoffrey]

Well, I'll take back that hint of innuendo. Michael Fortier is no Roch Lasalle.

Fils d'un voyageur de commerce de Québec, Michael Fortier a fait son droit à l'Université Laval. Il est devenu conservateur "à cause de Trudeau. Cet homme a été malhonnête intellectuellement. Il a rapatrié la constitution sans le Québec, juste parce qu'il voulait laisser un héritage. Cela a révolté mon ADN de démocrate".

Selon lui, des gens qui ne sont pas souverainistes, mais qui sont déçus des libéraux parce qu'ils ne respectent pas les compétences des provinces, il y en a une multitude au Québec. Et il faut aller les chercher.

"Les péquistes m'ont enlevé mon drapeau - le fleurdelisé, qui est devenu un symbole souverainiste - et les libéraux m'ont enlevé mon drapeau, devenu un symbole de scandale. En devenant conservateur, je récupère les deux", dit-il.

Les Affaires

English Translation

[NDLR: This piece was published on 2 February, before the swearing-in ceremony.]

----

Fortier couldn't be a candidate and manage a serious campaign in Quebec. I suspect this was a nomination Harper had decided before the 23 January. Indeed, Harper was probably grateful that he only had recourse to one Senate nomination to get someone into cabinet. (Clark did the same with Robert de Cotret.)

Harper also needed someone from Quebec he absolutely trusts in Public Works. Fortier fits the bill.

Something that impresses me is that Harper does not have a Quebec lieutenant but rather he clearly consults with a range of people.

----

At present there are 23 Quebec Senators (and 1 vacancy). In addition, Harper could name up to 8 additional senators from any province over the normal Senate size.

Harper has said he wants to introduce a fixed term for general elections, and hold Senate elections at the same time. There is no need for a constitutional amendment to have an elected senate although it might be wise to prevent a future Liberal government from doing as Chretien and ignoring the result of an election.

Why not have it in our constituion that we elect our senators, it would be a nice safeguard from decisions like Harper made, and decisions that Chretien and Martin made to ignore Alberta Senate elections.

[Riverwind]

Why not have it in our constituion that we elect our senators, it would be a nice safeguard from decisions like Harper made, and decisions that Chretien and Martin made to ignore Alberta Senate elections.

One step at a time. Originally US senators were appointed by governors. Oregon decided to start electing them and eventually all other states followed. If Harper starts the ball rolling with elections it will eventually become impossible to reverse - constitutional admendment or not.

[uOttawaMan]

Why not have it in our constituion that we elect our senators, it would be a nice safeguard from decisions like Harper made, and decisions that Chretien and Martin made to ignore Alberta Senate elections.

One step at a time. Originally US senators were appointed by governors. Oregon decided to start electing them and eventually all other states followed. If Harper starts the ball rolling with elections it will eventually become impossible to reverse - constitutional admendment or not.

And once that happens, there will be an effective higher chamber than Parliament, resulting in a complete change of our government, hell why dont we just hold a presidential election and get it over with.

[shoop]

Oh, no. Wouldn't want to stop majority governments from having absolute power. Perish the thought.

Good straw man though. "I don't like it so I will appeal to knee-jerk anti-Americanism."

Good work uOttawaMan. You clearly have a future in the Liberal Party of Canada. If it survives the next election.

And once that happens, there will be an effective higher chamber than Parliament, resulting in a complete change of our government, hell why dont we just hold a presidential election and get it over with.

[geoffrey]

Why not have it in our constituion that we elect our senators, it would be a nice safeguard from decisions like Harper made, and decisions that Chretien and Martin made to ignore Alberta Senate elections.

One step at a time. Originally US senators were appointed by governors. Oregon decided to start electing them and eventually all other states followed. If Harper starts the ball rolling with elections it will eventually become impossible to reverse - constitutional admendment or not.

And once that happens, there will be an effective higher chamber than Parliament, resulting in a complete change of our government, hell why dont we just hold a presidential election and get it over with.

The Senate is a part of parliment, its not higher than it, its a part of it. What do they teach at U Ottawa?

(nothing like a little rivalry)