Malouf Wajsman Dhavernas Les héritiers de Montreal: time AnGLAID !?! ET SI for a new agenda Mgr Desranleau Page 3 Page 2 C’ÉTAIT FrenchSHIT ? Page 8

Ensemble et libres Together and free

28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 THE BILINGUAL JOURNAL OF REFLECTION, OPINION AND THE ARTS • LE JOURNAL BILINGUE DE RÉFLEXION, OPINIONS ET LES ARTS WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Is the $64 billion party over? Les femmes Alan Hustak trahies [email protected]

t’s been four years since Mayor Gérald Tremblay first sketched out Djemila Benhabib his ambitious $64-billion plan to transform the face of Montreal. I [email protected] Armed with flow charts, maps and architectural renderings of ‘‘dream schemes,” Tremblay spoke to the Montreal Real Estate Board about the “Tremendous potential ahead.’’ He was going to tear up the ortement épaulée par des représentantes du Bonaventure Expressway, reclaim the waterfront, and in a partnership Conseil islamique canadien et de Présence with private enterprise, develop 557,000 square metres of vacant lots Fmusulmane, la Fédération des femmes du Québec downtown. At the time, the city was running a $400-million surplus (FFQ) a adopté une résolution banalisant le port du voile and the Dominion Bond Rating Service assigned the city an A-Rating islamique dans les institutions publiques québécoises, for its “spending prudence.” lors d’une assemblée générale spéciale qui s’est déroulée That was then; this is now. à l’université Laval, le 9 mai dernier, et à laquelle j’ai The long list of mega projects that Tremblay envisioned four years assisté en qualité d’observatrice. Il y a des alliances et ago have now either been scaled back, cancelled or delayed. The most des prises de position qui minent les principes. spectacular, a billion dollar downtown casino and Cirque du Soleil La crédibilité de la FFQ est sérieusement entachée : complex never got beyond the hype. But because this is an election pour une poignée de militantes islamistes, la FFQ a year, proposals for a number of other grandiose building schemes sacrifié des millions de femmes musulmanes qui, ici continue to fly off the drawing boards. Public hearings are about to be comme ailleurs dans le monde, se battent au péril de leur held on a proposed 34-storey skyscraper for the corner of Mackay St. vie. Aujourd’hui, il n’y a qu’un verbe qui tourne en and Rene Levesque Blvd, and for another tower at the foot of Beaver boucle dans ma tête : j’accuse! Hall Hill that would soar high above St. Patrick’s Basilica. The public square at the heart of the district is nearing completion and J’accuse la FFQ de trahir la lutte historique des The 100-million Seville Theatre Project near the old Forum appears expected to be open for the Jazz festival. But that’s about it. Contracts femmes d’ici pour se débarrasser de l’hégémonie de to be a go, but the most visible construction activity is the $120-million still have to be signed for the long awaited $270-million Symphony l’Église catholique. overhaul of the entertainment district near Place des Arts, a Quartier Hall. French architect Paul Andreu, better known for designing J’accuse la FFQ de mettre un bâillon, (encore un !), des Spectacles being developed by Societe immobiliere du Quebec. Continued on page 7 sur la bouche de toutes celles qui, dans le monde, subissent dans leur chair la barbarie des régimes oppres- sifs musulmans qui les obligent à porter ce linceul de la mort qu’est le voile islamique. J’accuse la FFQ de compromission avec des The New Lilliputians — mouvements politiques les plus rétrogrades comme que le Conseil islamique canadien, qui a mené une campagne acharnée pour l’instauration des tribunaux islamiques en Ontario, ou encore Présence musulmane, qui fait la promotion des thèses de Tariq Ramadan, qui Prohibit now, discuss never prône un « moratoire » sur la lapidation des femmes adultères, un châtiment préconisé par la charia islamique. Un moratoire…?!? Freedom of speech—but at what point does it become slander? Le 28 février 1994, Katia Bengana, une jeune David T. Jones Freedom of the press—but what are the parameters of libel, let lycéenne de 17 ans, fut sauvagement assassinée par le alone “hate” when making such speech? Groupe islamique armée (GIA) qui avait imposé aux [email protected] Freedom of religion—but to practice polygamy, let alone human femmes de mon pays, l’Algérie, l’obligation de porter le sacrifice? voile islamique. Katia était de cette trempe de femmes ashington, DC - There are basic needs for human Every freedom comes with its own thorn hedge of rules, regula- qui ne courbent pas l’échine et c’était en connaissance beings: the obvious are food; shelter; sex. And then it tions, and restrictions. But what these also demonstrate is that de cause qu’elle était sortie de chez elle la tête nue. Ce Wbecomes complicated for societies where the basics are there is a human lust as great as that for food, shelter, or sex—and jour-là, j’ai compris qu’être femme avait un prix. J'avais “givens,” and needs become more abstract. Are the freedoms that is the lust to control others. The lust to tell others what to do 21 ans. Alors qu’à cet âge on rêve généralement à mille enumerated in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (and the U.S. and the power to assure that they do it. It used to be said about et une fantaisies, je ne rêvais pour ma part qu’à sauver Constitution) “freedoms”—or limitations on the actions that a U.S. Puritans that they lay awake at night angry that somewhere ma peau. Ce jour-là, j’ai compris aussi que le combat citizen might take otherwise? Continued on page 11 Suite à la page 5

KILGOUR: Principles needed in Canada-China engagement Page 10 COTLER: In Defence of Anti-Discrimination Laws Page 19 2 LETTRES - LETTERS THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10

WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Beryl Wajsman Editor & Publisher [email protected]

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Ensemble et Libres ~Together and Free Édifice Hermès, Tour A, Suite 155, 1470 rue Peel, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3A 1T1 Montreal: time for a new agenda Tel: 514-759-8541 Fax: 514-759-8544 e-mail: [email protected] hen we crawled out of the mists of the monies on pork barrel vote grabbing schemes, then jungles of history to create communities complain that they have to fine and tax more just to Rédacteur en chef et Éditeur W– villages, the origin of cities - it was not deal with the basics. An example of that at the Beryl P. Wajsman out of what today’s politically correct zeitgeist municipal level is some $13 million spent on Managing Editor and Deputy Publisher would consider a noble purpose. It was done out of skateboarding rinks in the west and east ends, and Anthony Philbin selfishness. As it happens, one of mankind’s more needless bike paths destroying commuter arteries Rédacteur-adjoint principal creative instincts if husbanded properly. and city streets downtown. Daniel Laprès We realized we could protect ourselves better The job of elected officials is not to engage in Creative Editor against the wolves of the forests if we acted social engineering. To impose fines for citizens Alan Hustak together. Defense was the primary motivation for doing what is the city’s work, or making choices Contributing Editor the organization of the community. The word for about personal risk is criminal. One of the latest Brigitte B. Garceau that organization in Greek is polis. The origin of our examples in nanny-statism are the fines levied at Coordonnateur, Affaires internationales modern day “politics” and “policing”. But it was storekeepers in town who don’t clean the public Leonard Dykler (Paris) not the sort of policing we have come to suffer Bela Kosoian sidewalks in front of their establishments. That Copy Editor through today. should not be their responsibility. Their taxes pay Ray Doucet It was not the imposition of some collective will me that she had come out of the former Soviet for the city to do that. Photojournaliste over individual conscience. Nor the brute force that Union to live free. That was in her thoughts all For municipal politicians to offset these responsi- Robert J. Galbraith demonizes citizens merely to collect money weekend. Bela had entered the Montmorency bilities on citizens is an admission that they can’t do Editorial Artwork through the enforcement of prohibition and nullifi- metro station in Laval. She was on the escalator their jobs. Roy Piperberg, Melissa K. Wheeler cation. It was organization – policing - so that when a transit guard told her to hold onto the Before the next municipal elections, perhaps we Ventes et Marketing through common defense we could have more time handrail. She replied that she didn’t have three should demand that those running for office outline Joseph Mardini, Genevieve Maclean for the fullest flowering of our individual possibili- hands as she was searching for something in her specific plans for rectifying the problems in the five IT Director ties. The fullest flowering of our individual passions handbag. The guard persisted. She asked to be left core areas we mentioned above. If they have no Valeri Prudnikov and poetries. alone. The guard called over a police officier. He ideas, then maybe they should be disqualified from Webmestre Though those first social contracts demanded asked her for identification. She refused. He running. Before we allow municipal leaders to François Charbonneau cessions of some our treasure for the provision of handcuffed her and took her to a holding room engage in harebrained schemes of bike paths and the service of defense, they did not demand where she was not allowed to call a lawyer. After tramways in a city with six months of winter, we Editorial staff abdication of our individual prerogatives. The twenty minutes she was released with a $100 ticket need to know that they can handle the basics. Alidor Aucoin, Daniel K. Bartlett, Michel-Wilbrod Bujold, village – the city – did not dictate our passions and for not holding the handrail and a $320 fine for Montreal didn’t need the cleanliness fines; or the Chris Bumbray, Dan Delmar, Guillaume Durou, poetries. It did not dictate our behavior insofar as it obstructing justice.Nothing we could add here garbage fines or the non-regulation ashtray fines. Vincent Geloso, Louise V. Labrecque, Pierre K. Malouf, Jessica Murphy, Isaac J. Olson, Robert Presser, Peter Sauvé, concerned our personal domains. It did not seek to would be a more eloquent indictment of the state of This city is about as clean as an urban centre can P.A. Sevigny, David Simard, Sharman Yarnell protect us from ourselves. City governance was ourcity than the bare facts. As Bela said, “Stalin get. The only reason that officials engage in about the provision of services. As simple as that. may be dead, but Stalinism lives on.” demonizing the public is that it deflects from their Editorial contributors Indeed, the city-state, the precursor to the nation- Montrealers are tired of this. Tired of students inability to get things right. And that inability stems Rouba Al-Fattal, Alain-Michel Ayache, Germain Belzile, state, may have been the highest and best form of being fined $500 for sitting with their feet on the not only from a lack of imagination but also from a Jean-Charles Chebat, Duff Conacher, Esther Delisle, social organization. Even today our personal lack of resolve guts in dealing with city employees Graham Dodds, Daniel Dufort, Robert Elman, Fred Eytan, wrong side of a concrete enclosure in Emilie- Patrick C. Gagnon, Julius Grey, Rudyard Griffiths, Nancy identity is most closely tied to the city we live in. Gamelin Park. Tired of garbage inspectors opening to get the kind of quality and quantity of work Hinton, George Jonas, David T. Jones, Barbara Kay, We are Montrealers or New Yorkers or our refuse bags to find our address to send a fine every big city needs. David Kilgour, Rémi Landry, Marc Lebuis, Lewis W. Mackenzie, Torontonians. From the time of the renaissance, it because we put them out too early. Tired of Perhaps it is time for all of us to demonstrate a bit Timothy Mak, Annette Paquot, John Parisella, Andrei was the liberal cauldron of the cities that produced merchants on Park Ave. being fined for not cutting of civil, and civic, disobedience. Perhaps it is time Piontkovsky, Daniel Romano, Michael Ross, David Solway, our greatest art, music, philosophy and literature. for a tax revolt. After all, it seems the more you pay Francis Tourigny, Thomas R. Velk, Hubert Villeneuve, weeds on city sidewalks as they are now obliged to Albert A. Zbily The spirit of man was forged in the crucible of the do. Tired of landlords being fined because their the more fines and extra rates are levied. So maybe cities. From ancient Athens and Rome, to the restaurant or bar tenants do not have “official” we should all stop paying until the pols get real. Strategic Counsel Florentine renaissance, to turn of the century ashtrays screwed in next to their entrances. Tired of And if they don’t, then as the saying goes “throw Charles S. Coffey Vienna to modern day New York, London and fines that criminalize the homeless. Tired of the bums out!” Paris. increases in parking rates at the same time that the And for those who think that all laws, even unjust Sadly today, our city, the jewel of the St. city is hiding record profits. Ca suffit! Enough ones, need to be obeyed. Reflect on what Gandhi Letters and Submissions Lawrence, has lost sight of all this. The power of its Alice in Wonderland! once said. “We are a society of laws and not of The Métropolitain encourages letters and submissions from our readers in both official languages. SVP officials is used as much for the oppression and Montrealers are already the highest taxed urban men. But when bad men make bad laws, and when envoyer vos textes à: impoverishment of its citizens as for the provision citizens in North America. unprincipled officials compromise good ones, then [email protected] of any services. And as Edward R. Murrow once Our taxes are supposed to go for the basics. citizens have a responsibility to protect their rights wrote, it’s always the small story that tells us so Garbage collection, snow removal, public security, and exercise responsible agitation to keep govern- Disclaimer much about the big picture. public transit and water. It should not be up to the ments from staggering drunkenly from wrong to All materials accepted for publication may be subject to editing. The Métropolitain aims to meet the need for Recently the story was about Bela Kosoian. Bela citizens to pay additional costs to manage what they wrong merely to preserve their own immortality.” original and unconventional thought and opinion on is a 38 year old mother of two studying interna- have already paid for. Words to build on if we care about the state of the local, national and international affairs. The opinions tional law at UQAM. In speaking with her she told Too many politicians today squander public city. and views expressed by the contributors to The Métropolitain are strictly their own and do not necessarily represent those of the ownership, its advisors, members or editors. The Métropolitain does not accept responsibility for the views expressed in any letter, article or comment that appears in these pages. It does accept responsibility for giving the these submissions the chance to appear. No reproduc- Maison Joseph Battat tion is permitted without prior written permission from metrontario the Publisher or Deputy Publisher. Any and all group reproductions must clearly credit the specific issue, article and author as they originally appeared in The Métropolitain. THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 LA PATRIE 3

Ex-dramaturge, romancier persévérant, essayiste et poète à ses heures, Pierre K. Malouf Pierre K. Malouf fréquente des fédéralistes et des indépendantistes, des gens de gauche et des gens de droite, des LA PATRIE jeunes et des vieux, des écrivains et des ingénieurs. Gentil comme tout, il ne dit pas toujours tout « Brasse-camarade » [email protected] ce qu’il pense, mais pense toujours ce qu’il écrit.

Les héritiers de Mgr Desranleau

mir Khadir et Françoise David préten- Obnubilés par les ratés du système financier, dent, après bien d’autres, nous faire Qui a dit ? : « C’est ce capitalisme passant sous silence les leçons du passé, ces Adépasser le capitalisme. Le dépasser bonnes âmes nieront vouloir en arriver aux pour aller nous écraser contre un platane ? mêmes résultats désastreux que provoquèrent Qu’appellent-ils « capitalisme » ? Les fautes il n’y a pas si longtemps les expériences reprochées au capitalisme, comme la pollution, [dénoncé par L’Osservatore Romano fascistes, socialistes, ou communistes. ne sont-elles pas présentes dans toutes les Grossière illusion : « Précisément parce qu’il sociétés industrielles, y compris les sociétés n’existe pas de société économique pure, toute socialistes ? Méfiant, je n’ai pas oublié que les comme aussi mauvais que les organisation scientifique de l’économie porte solutions proposées et pratiquées depuis un en soi l’affirmation d’une mystique — c’est-à- siècle par les ennemis du capitalisme ont toutes dire un credo d’État qui heurte aussi la vie échoué. péchés contre nature] qui est la intérieure, et de même que l’organisateur doit Curieux, je découvre dans la revue Argument éliminer toute hétérodoxie économique, de une définition tirée d’un ouvrage de Samuel même il devra éliminer toutes les hétérodoxies Bowles. Le régime capitaliste est « un régime cause de toutes nos misères. Nous intérieures. La société tout entière contrôlée où la forme prédominante de l’organisation économiquement et tout entière libre économique est l’entreprise, organisation dans spirituellement, est une contradiction (3). » laquelle les propriétaires privés de certains devons travailler contre, non pas Cette réflexion datée du 24 février 1940 moyens de production contractent avec les conserve toute sa valeur soixante-neuf ans propriétaires des autres intrants (y compris le après avoir été écrite. Aujourd’hui encore, la travail) pour produire des biens et services menace est réelle : Québec solidaire ne dans le but de les vendre avec profit, prennent pour le transformer, il est intransfor- propose-t-il pas que « le Québec s’engage dans la responsabilité pour les opérations, exercent la voie d’une redéfinition des rapports entre les leur droit à encaisser le profit ou à subir la êtres humains (4) » ? On a beau savoir que perte qui peut s’ensuivre.(1) » Capitalisme, mable Khadir et David sont les héritiers de l’inoffen- économie de marché, libéralisme économique, sif Mgr Desranleau, qu’ils n’ont absolument voire néolibéralisme, c’est la même chose et aucune chance d’exercer un jour le pouvoir, c’est ça qu’il faudrait dépasser. Impression de inspiré de l’Église a trouvé un terrain fertile la cause de toutes nos misères. Nous devons que leur manifeste est pur délire d’interpréta- déjà-vu. (2). » travailler contre, non pas pour le transformer, il tion débouchant sur quelques voeux pieux, Quel que soit le nom qu’on lui donne, ce Qui a écrit que « le communisme comme est intransformable ; non pas pour le corriger, voilà qui donne quand même froid dans le dos! n’est pas d’aujourd’hui que le capitalisme est formule de production économique et d’organ- il est incorrigeable [sic], mais pour le (À suivre...) dénoncé. À l’occasion du krach de la Bourse isation sociale, contient un élément de remplacer. » Réponse : Mgr Philippe-Servule (1) Gilles Paquet, « Le capitalisme : ni de New York et de ses suites « le libéralisme générosité qui manque au capitalisme » ? Je Desranleau, archevêque de Sherbrooke, devant fatalité, ni réalité... fata morgana peut-être ? », fut remis en question par des groupes qui vous le donne en mille : Gérard Filion, le 16 un auditoire syndical lors de la Fête du Travail Argument, Vol 11, No 2, printemps-été 2009, p. voyaient dans la crise économique la faillite du juillet 1949 dans Le Devoir. Gérard Filion, qui en 1949. Ne croirait-on pas entendre le 50. système capitaliste. Socialistes, communistes, deviendra plus tard directeur général de la tandem Khadir-David ? (2) Claude Couture, Le mythe de la moderni- fascistes fustigèrent tour à tour l’idéologie SGF ! M. Filion a de nombreux petits amis Les plaisantins qui annoncent, souhaitent ou sation du Québec, Montréal, Éditions du libérale. Au Québec en particulier, compte tenu chez Québec solidaire. préparent la sortie du « capitalisme », rejettent Méridien, 1991, p. 10-11. de la forte identification du libéralisme aux Qui a dit ? : « C’est ce capitalisme [dénoncé la pensée et la société libérales. Leurs tirades (3) Cesare Pavese, Le métier de vivre, Paris, anglophones qui contrôlaient une part par L’Osservatore Romano comme aussi contre l’individualisme dégagent d’ailleurs un Gallimard, 1958. importante de l’économie, le corporatisme mauvais que les péchés contre nature] qui est parfum délétère fleurant le totalitarisme. (4) Manifeste de Québec solidaire, p. 9.

...si le Gouvernement nous protège de tout, qui donc nous protège du gouvernement ?

Citoyens Anti Gouvernement Envahissant ...if the Government protects us from everything else, then who protects us from the government? CAG E Citizens Against Government Encroachment C-10 www.cagecanada.ca 4LA PATRIE THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 Jessica Murphy WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA [email protected]

Battle lines drawn on Turcot

he battle lines have been “You shouldn’t call it the community centres, residents have Yves Cartier stated in a press adversaries - successful highway drawn over the Turcot Ministry of Transport, you should raised a collective skeptical release last year that they felt the removal projects that have been TInterchange redevelopment call it the Ministry of Highways eyebrow and have begun sporting project didn’t take into account the implemented elsewhere. Replacing project between a government that and just be honest.” green felt patches marking their quality of life of the residents. highways with more human scale wants a new highway and Transport Quebec is selling its opposition. Pierre Frechette, also a Sud- boulevards has become a popular Montrealers who seek a cleaner, current proposal as ecological. It Mobilization Turcot - the core Ouest councilor but with Gerald alternative to repairing or rebuild- greener version of their city. says the new smaller structure will group of residents opposing the Tremblay’s MICU party - which ing existing expressways that Residents turning out for the be better integrated into the plan whose homes squat in the silently supports of the project - critics say cut swaths across cities Bureau d’audiences publiques sur environment, will free up land for structure’s shadow and who may has been even more outspoken, and decimate neighborhoods. It’s l’environnement hearings on the development, include pathways for face expropriation- organized a maligning the lack a sympathetic been attempted as close to home as Turcot Interchange redevelopment bicycles, pedestrians, and public 500-strong demonstration against ear at Transport Quebec and Toronto and as far away as Seoul plan. For the most part, they transit, and reduce noise and air the project and have garnered a Thierry St-Cyr, the Bloc and sold as a more ecological and agreed something must be done for pollution. number of political allies on the Quebecois MP for the riding, human scale alternative to the the decades-old structure Still, more nuanced information municipal, provincial and federal called the current proposal a status quo. crumbling under the weight of from BAPE suggests that the level, support from southwest mistake from the 1960s that was “(Cars) are a problem all over the hundreds of thousands of vehicles residents closest to the new community groups and environ- being repeated. world but they decided to look at each week. structure would see an increase in mental organizations who are “We can do better,” he said. different ways of dealing with it,” But they don’t believe a few trees air pollution, a fact brushed off sympathetic to their concerns. “Something focused on sustainable said St-Cyr. “We could have a make a project green. with the note: “These increases, in Councilors in the Sud-Ouest development. They’ll have to more ambitious, visionary project.” “They’re constantly dreaming in most cases, will be barely percepti- borough have also come out change it completely, not just stick It’s one alternative that has not, Technicolor. These guys are in the ble.” against the plan. up a few trees. It doesn’t publicly at least, been considered 50s,” said Avrom Shtern, director Since nearby buildings include Opposition councilors Line correspond to our era.” by Transport Quebec. They’ve put of the Green Coalition Montreal. schools, old age homes and Hamel, Ronald Bossy, and Jean- He cites - along with fellow forward only two proposals:contin- uing to repair the current structure as needed and the controversial plan to rebuild. It makes people question whether, for an estimated $1.5 billion, we’re getting our money’s worth. The reconstruction project of the Turcot Interchange will include work on the de la Verendrye, Angrignon and Montreal West exchanges and Highway 20. The PPP project is expected to be completed by 2015 and is so far on schedule. Work is slated to begin sometime this summer or fall. Still, the public consultation may be lengthy if opposition remains strong. The initial consultation period lasts six weeks and BAPE has up to four months to complete its report before handing it over to the ministry. Transport Quebec can’t begin the reconstruction work If we build it, they will come. until after the environmental assessment process is complete and government authorizations are Magil Construction prides itself on its reputation for excellence. received. Its expertise has been perfected on projects of every conceivable size and And so far, Montrealers are complexity. Delivering a project on-time and on-budget has been giving the project two thumbs fundamental to Magil's success. down. “We’ve been fixing Turcot for years,” commented Todd Spurrell Founded in 1953 by architect Louis B. Magil, the company specialized on the Spacing Montreal blog. “ in residential construction. It has since expanded into commercial, It’s beyond fixing and it’s ugly. industrial and institutional construction valued in billions of dollars. www.magil.com Tear it down and replace it with something sensible.” THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 LA PATRIE 5 WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Dan Delmar [email protected]

Citizen demonization continues Woman detained, fined for poor escalator etiquette aving spent her formative Kosoian told The Métropolitain can’t imagine that this would a police officer to tell me what years in the former Soviet that she was then asked to show happen in this country,” said happened. They told me nothing Hrepublic of Georgia, Bela identification, and unaware she had Kosoian. “People have to know that happened. Later that evening, my Kosoian knows what it’s like for broken any law, she refused and this is an abuse of power. Normally, wife came home with two tickets.” government to encroach on argued her point with the officer. police are there to protect citizens.” Well-versed in matters of law, personal liberties. The manner in She was then handcuffed, taken to a The treatment she received from Kosoian said she knows her rights which she says she was treated holding room inside the station and Laval police deeply upset her; she were violated and is anxiously inside a Laval Metro station would fined $420; $100 for disobeying said an officer stepped on her foot awaiting her day in court. A Laval make even the most hardened STM safety regulations and $320 and left abrasions on her arms. police spokesperson said the tickets Stalinist blush. for obstruction. After being taken to the small were justified because Kosoian did Two weeks ago, the Université du It is believed to be the first time holding room, she said she was not break a regulation and Québec à Montreal international that any STM client has been fined permitted to use her cell phone to subsequently yelled at officers, law student, a 38-year-old mother of for not holding on to a handrail on reach her husband or a lawyer. refusing to show identification. two, was making her way down to an escalator. Regulations state that Unable to get the full story from his Kosoian doesn’t deny being the platform of the Montmorency anyone who does not follow safety wife who was late for class, Richard argumentative but said her motiva- station and heading to an evening guidelines illustrated with Church only spoke to her briefly tion for not holding the rail had class. She was riding down the pictograms posted on the escalators and, hearing the panic in her voice, more to do with protecting her own escalator, rifling through her purse, is subject to a fine. Setting aside the worried that she was in distress. He health in an H1N1 era than taunting looking for fare, when she was merits of a banister-holding rule, called Laval police that evening and the long arm of the law. interrupted by a security officer. Kosoian said the pictogram wasn’t could not get an answer on what The rail was “filthy and disgust- She was asked to hold the handrail even clear and she thought it had transpired at the Montmorency ing,” she said. “People have the but declined because her hands applied only to women with station just after 5 p.m. right to protect themselves from were full at the time. The situation children, since that is what is “I was thinking, ‘what if she was sickness. What did I do wrong? I quickly degenerated as the officer depicted. kidnapped and it was a fake wanted to scream, but nobody was insisted she hold the rail. “My dignity was destroyed. I arrest,’” Church said. “I couldn’t get there.”

LES FEMMES TRAHIES par Djemila Benhabib suite de la page 1 pour la liberté et l’émancipation des femmes fond comme la portée et la signification du était l’un des plus périlleux qui puisse être. voile islamique, la laïcité, les droits et les Cependant, j’étais loin encore de m’imag- devoirs des commis de l’État et la situation iner que cet engagement, aussi ardu soit-il, des femmes dans le monde. À ce chapitre, allait devenir aussi solitaire. heureusement que trois femmes iraniennes Le 9 mai dernier, lorsque j’ai rappelé ont rappelé le cauchemar que vivent leurs devant l’assemblée de la FFQ l’assassinat de compatriotes depuis l’imposition du voile Katia et celui, à Toronto le 11 décembre islamique par Khomeiny et sa révolution 2007, de Aqsa Parvez, cette jeune fille de 16 islamique en 1979. Bien qu’il ait été ans assassinée par son père parce qu’elle beaucoup question des femmes arabo- refusait le port du voile islamique, on me musulmanes lors de cette rencontre, seule la signifia que mon combat était « émotif ». propagande des femmes islamistes dominait. Certaines participantes m’ont même accusée Quel bel exemple de diversité et de pluralité d’être venue m’y faire du capital politique. ! C’est à croire que la pensée unique est C’est bien étrange, mais personne ne fit la devenue la norme à la FFQ. Quelle même remarque à des participantes du NPD tristesse… et de Québec solidaire, qui avaient été Combien de Aqsa Parvez faudra-t-il candidates aux dernières élections. encore pour qu’enfin la FFQ comprenne que Personne ne trouva rien à redire quant à la la bataille pour la liberté se déroule aussi ici participation de Présence musulmane ni à même dans notre pays, au sein de celle du Congrès islamique canadien. Bref, nombreuses familles musulmanes ? Que personne n’était là pour des raisons vaut le sang de ces jeunes filles et de ces politiques…sauf moi ! femmes ? Pour la FFQ, certainement pas À ma grande surprise, très peu de temps a grand chose… été consacré durant cette même assemblée Djemila Benhabib est auteure de Ma vie à de la FFQ pour débattre de questions de contre-Coran, éditions VLB, 2009. 6LA PATRIE THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 Dan Delmar WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA [email protected]

SPVM denies ticket quotas Every traffic cop must write up 18 daily, Brotherhood says pset over budget cuts, the Montreal brought back by the Tremblay administration Police Brotherhood took a shot at the in 2006. In the last three years, they have USPVM recently by acknowledging the proven to be valuable to the city both in terms existence of daily traffic ticket quotas; a of added revenue and, Dauphin said, in system the department’s brass continues to helping to make streets safer. From 2007 to insist does not exist. 2008, recently-released SPVM statistics show Yves Francoeur, head of the Fraternité des there were 40 per cent less road injuries and policiers et des policières de Montréal 13 per cent fewer deaths. The data collected so (FPPM), told The Métropolitain that the most far this year purportedly paints an even rosier the SPVM will admit to is a daily “average,” picture. maybe even an objective – but not a fixed In light of the department’s recent successes, quota. He said they’re getting caught up in Francoeur is puzzled as to why nearly $14 semantics and aren’t being up front about the million must be slashed from their budget. quota system. That means fewer resources for expensive “It’s clear: In the traffic department, there’s a policing, like investigations, and potentially a quota of 18 tickets per day,” Francoeur said. “If greater emphasis on revenue-generating they’re out patrolling and doing their job, they deal directly with traffic squads told The per day.” operations like the traffic squad. The cuts are have to give 18 tickets.” Métropolitain that the department’s stance Dauphin said his information comes from once again creating friction between the union As head of the union representing Montreal continues to be that no quota systems exist. the office of SPVM Chief Yvan Delorme. and the city, just as pressure tactics, like the police officers, Francoeur said his information Claude Dauphin, the Montreal executive Dauphin’s role as an elected representative, he wearing of pastel-coloured camouflage pants comes from reliable sources. The commander committee member in charge of public explained, is to provide the department with by officers, were done away in the spirit of of one traffic division in the city told him that security, could not confirm Francoeur’s general guidelines and not to get involved in cooperation. In arbitration, the two sides the daily quota could reach as high as 28 statements about the quotas, nor could he day-to-day operational decisions. agreed to sign a collective agreement by year’s tickets. Officers who didn’t bring in the desired categorically deny their existence either. “It’s true that we’re issuing more tickets. If I end. take, the commander told Francoeur, would be “The information I have from the police said we weren’t, nobody would believe me,” “It will be absolutely impossible to give the at risk of being demoted. department is that there are no quotas,” Dauphin said. “It’s not a tax grab. It’s a way of same level of security,” Francoeur said. “We No senior SPVM officials were available for Dauphin said. “At the end of the year, they do improving public safety.” don’t want City Hall ordering the police comment, but one commander who does not an average and that average last year was 18 The traffic squad was abolished in 1997 and department to bring in more revenue.” THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 LA PATRIE 7 WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Alan Hustak [email protected]

GERALD TREMBLAY - THE 64 BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, continued from page 1

airports than cultural centres, was recruited to help design the major backing from SNS property finance of Holland. Devimco has as an investment with unlimited returns.” He also chastised the city’s entertainment district, but so far all he has produced is a disappoint- postponed the start of construction and is now “rejigging its plans” business community and its developers for not collectively support- ing maquette for a rather conventional building at the crossroads of for Griffintown and SNS Property is reconsidering its participation ing his vision. “We only or almost only hear from people who are the city. in the Viger Square endeavour. Monit Investment and Hilton Hotels against something. We rarely hear from those in favour,” he said. For A much talked about $30-million Jewish Cultural Museum have yet to break ground for a $200-million Waldorf Astoria tower its part, the administration has no intention of scaling back its proposed for the vacant lot at the St. Laurent Metro station has been below Sherbrooke St., but insist construction will begin “as soon as Drapeau-like ambitions. In an interview, Tremblay says his grand scrapped in favour of a four –to-six sceen cinema arthouse to be the economy turns.” Even as new towers are planned for Victoria scheme remains part of the city’s long term design for Montreal. built by the Angus Development Corporation. Similarly, the site of Square, we are still waiting for the 30-story Westcliff project which “Everything we said was going to happen is going to happen,” the Spectrum is now a gaping hole, and plans by Societe was announced ten years ago to get off the ground at the corner of Tremblay says. “Some projects have been delayed, some are Immobiliere SIDEV to develop that property appear to have stalled. Beaver Hall Hill and St. Antoine St. A new Planetarium is on the looking for lead tenants, but the plan is still intact. In spite of Since the economy tanked last year, there hasn’t been much action. drawing boards, but no one knows what’s going to happen to the old growing dissatisfaction with Tremblay, the most recent La Presse Nothing illustrates the problem better than what has happened to one. poll suggests the mayor still might win a third term this fall. But the the much ballyhooed Griffintown development. In November 2006, Even for developers who might still have a line of credit, the recession all but guarantees that most of the grand designs will never Devimco announced it would spend $1.3-billion to replace question is why they would want to invest in a city that is no longer see the light of day, and that we could be headed for a decade of warehoused and run down tenaments with condos, hotels and retail the economic engine that is driving Quebec. Quebec City has stagnation. What had been seen as spectacular mega-projects are malls. On the heels of that announcement came the news of a $400- replaced Montreal as the city that is breathing life into the flagging now regarded as piece meal, commonplace ventures. That, in fact million scheme to convert the Viger Station into a 250-room hotel economy. In a speech last week organized by the Montreal Board of might work to Tremblay’s advantage. Only 6 per cent of the respon- and two office towers would rise at the edge of Old Montreal, one Trade Tremblay went on the offensive. ‘‘I’m fed up with hearing that dents to the Angus Reid-La Presse poll consider creating new 17-storeys, the other 23. The development group included Homberg we’re doing nothing in Montreal,” he said. “Too many people look at projects an important priority. Investment of Halifax, Telemedia Enterprises Inc. of Montreal with the 64-billion dollar price tag as an expenditure instead of seeing it With files from Jessica Murphy 8LA PATRIE THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10

Sébastien Dhavernas est né à Montréal de parents immigrants Français. Il est comédien, metteur en scène, producteur et entrepreneur artistique de renom. Il a également été Sébastien Dhavernas président de l’Association des producteurs de théâtre privé du Québec, président de la Commission du Doublage de la Sodec, membre du conseil d’administration de l’Union des artistes , et président et chef de la direction du Tribunal Canadien des Relations Professionnelles Artistes Producteurs. Sébastien Dhavernas a fait son entrée en politique [email protected] active lors de l'élection fédérale de 2008, où il a été candidat libéral dans la circonscription d'Outremont. Il est présentement membre de la commission politique de l’aile québécoise du parti libéral du Canada.

AnGLAID !?! ET SI C'ÉTAIT FrenchSHIT ?

epuis quelques semaines, on a pu apercevoir comble, une publicité grand format sur une artère dans les rues de Montréal, et même sur le Cette discrimination à l'endroit des principale de la Ville Reine affiche en gros Dpont Jacques Cartier, des publicités qui caractères « FRENCHSHIT », comme c'est le cas attirent notre attention : « ANGLAID ». Cette public- avec le livre « ANGLAID » au pied du pont Jacques ité fait référence à un livre, récemment paru et écrit Anglo-Saxons se fait dans la plus Cartier. J’entends déjà l’immense tollé que cela par Michel Brûlé. La prémisse de ce livre est que la provoquerait ! structure de la langue anglaise aurait un lien direct Le passé anglo-saxon n’est certes pas sans avec les abus des peuples anglo-saxons. Ma critique grande indifférence, et parfois avec reproche, mais il en va de même du passé de tous ne porte pas sur le livre comme tel, ni sur les les peuples. C’est une culture riche et qui nous a événements du passé, mais plutôt sur la propagation apporté, entre autres, l'habeas corpus, la démocratie d'une intolérance banalisée et véhiculée par ces une certaine complaisance, sous moderne, le parlementarisme, le développement affiches, et que je tiens à dénoncer. économique et, par conséquent, tout ce qui en Nous, Québécois, voulons former une société de découle : la culture scientifique (Charles Darwin et tolérance, ouverte sur toutes les cultures du monde, et prétexte que « c'est moins grave la théorie de l’évolution pour ne citer que cela.), dans l'ensemble nous le sommes. Cependant il y a ainsi que l’artistique où les exemples abondent. une culture qu'on ne se gêne pas pour écorcher et Cette culture tant méprisée par ces affiches publici- attaquer : la culture anglo-saxonne. Les exemples ne parce qu'ils le méritent. » Imaginez taires nous a donc beaucoup donné à nous aussi. manquent pas et ce livre en est un de plus. Cet essai Au cours de mes quarante ans de militantisme insulte toute la culture anglo-saxonne (américaine, pour la protection et la promotion du français, j'ai britannique, canadienne, australienne, etc.) et, malgré que Michel Brûlé ait traité de la sorte acquis la certitude que la défense d'une langue et tout, ce message semble être toléré. d’une culture ne peut se faire par l'abaissement Cette discrimination à l'endroit des Anglo-Saxons se d'une autre langue ou culture. Depuis le début de fait dans la plus grande indifférence, et parfois avec la culture arabe, juive ou chinoise : notre histoire en Amérique du Nord, nous, une certaine complaisance, sous prétexte que « c'est francophones, luttons pour le respect. Mais nous ne moins grave parce qu'ils le méritent. » Imaginez que pourrons pas obtenir celui-ci sans respecter ceux Michel Brûlé ait traité de la sorte la culture arabe, quel scandale cela aurait fait, et avec qui nous entourent. juive ou chinoise : quel scandale cela aurait fait, et Or, faire comme si de rien n'était devant le avec raison. raison. massage d’intolérance véhiculé par ces affiches, Pire encore, imaginez qu'un Torontois publie un c'est manquer de respect non seulement envers les livre intitulé « FRENCHSHIT ». Et que, comble du anglophones, mais aussi envers nous-mêmes. THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 LA PATRIE 9

Mischa Popoff is a freelance Mischa Popoff political writer. [email protected]

The Dziekanski Taser Tragedy: Baseless finger-pointing

year and a half later and Robert Dziekanski’s calami- do so with minimal risk to themselves. tous death is still making headlines. There’s no such Missing from the The Tasering officer asks, “Can I Taser him?” Some in the Athing as too much coverage when someone dies media claim this demonstrates that the officer entered the tragically, but the notion being perpetuated that the officers who situation with a prejudice to Taser someone that night. But the responded to Dziekanski’s still unexplained fit of violence are in officer’s reaction upon entering the scene is better described as any way to blame for his death must be laid to rest. coverage of this story is quick thinking. Indeed, Canadians should feel reassured that our Some experts have testified at the Braidwood inquiry that RCMP don’t go off half-cocked, even in the heat of the Dziekanski was perfectly “coherent” and “responding moment. Instead they ask for permission to use force. normally” when he was “unjustly” Tasered by overzealous Dziekanski’s own role in The officer waits, many say not long enough, but he waits officers. The implication is that the RCMP is staffed with nonetheless, until Dziekanski tries to flee. Then the Taser is bullies who habitually set out to inflict harm on innocent deployed. people. Should the officer have waited for Dziekanski to throw Missing from the coverage of this story is Dziekanski’s own his demise. Even before something else, or to actually harm someone before using the role in his demise. Even before the oft-aired video came out my Taser? Let’s face it, some would have the officer wait until only thought was: “An international airport is a bad place to Dziekanski had a good head start down a hallway or out of the throw a hissy fit.” the oft-aired video building through an emergency exit. But hesitation simply has Evidently some of the “experts” testifying against the RCMP no place in effective law-enforcement. missed the first half of the video in which we see an enraged To imply that there are bullies, or worse, murderers, in the man wielding a wooden table which he tries to smash a plate- RCMP, is appalling. And raising it to the political level is glass window with. Dziekanski then grabs a computer which he came out my only disingenuous opportunism, plain and simple. smashes onto the floor. He yells and behaves in a threatening In fact, Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh’s surprise visit to the manner which causes onlookers to swear in disbelief. inquiry two weeks ago, and his accusation that lawyers defend- Too many in the media have stated inaccurately that thought was: “An ing the RCMP are not “acting in the public interest,” should’ve Dziekanski “dropped the computer,” as if he merely had a case been reported as political interference in a court case. Instead, of “butter fingers.” Please. He threw it, just as he had thrown the Dosanjh − the man who introduced the Taser in Canada − is table. And, whether or not the officers saw him do this, they portrayed in the media as a sort of hero of the little man. could plainly see the results strewn on the floor when they international airport is a God rest Dziekanski. Pray for his poor mother in her time of arrived. And that was Dziekanski’s first big mistake. mourning, but leave out the baseless finger-pointing. All of the After the vandalism, the video shows a man unwilling to officers involved deserve the best defence money can buy. communicate with officers of the law. How is it relevant that bad place to throw a If any of the officers did not follow procedures, if the Dziekanski didn’t speak English? If you were in a foreign land procedures for using a Taser need to be changed, or if the Taser and four policemen approached you, not with weapons drawn, itself is found to be a faulty piece of equipment, then the but holding out a hand with an obvious desire to communicate, appropriate action needs to be taken. But surely anyone who would you turn and flee? Well, Dziekanski did. He tried to hissy fit.” watches the video can see that Dziekanski made the drastic escape. Second big mistake. mistakes, not the officers, and that his death was an accident. It hardly matters that he was in a poor mental state. The The witch hunt against the officers and the RCMP is counter- RCMP’s job isn’t to discern the history of an event rapidly productive and meaningless. It ignores at least 50 per cent of the unfolding before them; their job is to protect the public, and to facts.

Ideas before identities. Justice before orthodoxy. 10 GLOBAL VILLAGE THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10

The Hon. David Kilgour is Canada’s former Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA GLOBAL VILLAGE for Central & Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He is a tireless international The Hon. David Kilgour human rights campaigner and has co-authored, with David Matas, the seminal [email protected] study on the tragedy of organ harvesting in China. He is the co-author with David T. Jones of Uneasy Neighbours.

Principles needed in Canada-China engagement

hile in Shanghai recently, Foreign Minister assembly lines to deadly working conditions on construction been a costly proposition for many. In the words of Phelim Lawrence Cannon correctly noted that Canada can sites. Kine who pinpointed the consequence of the unfree media: Wkeep its “principled position” on human dignity When Mao’s army took control of Tibet and forced its “The truths of corruption, public health scandals, environmen- while pursuing trade with China. Principles and reality, government into exile fifty years ago, tens of thousands of tal crises and abusive local authorities may be inconvenient...( however, should have kept him from saying that his hosts”had Tibetans were killed and even more imprisoned. Over 6,000 but to) smother the reporting of these truths has contributed made progress” on human rights. He ought to know that basic monasteries, nunneries and temples have been pillaged. measurably to other global debacles, including recall of rights for the most vulnerable among the Chinese people are Thousands more Tibetans were imprisoned over the past year. tainted food and toys.” worsening today. In early 2009, Beijing police abducted Gao Zhizheng, a Two Montreal residents, for example, Guizhi Chen and Lian A year after the Sichuan earthquake, Amnesty International Nobel Peace Prize-nominated human rights lawyer. Gao was Yao, recently described making a range of consumer products called on the government of China to stop harassing parents named one of China’s top ten lawyers until he defended Falun for export as forced labourers in China. This and other mourning children killed in the tragedy. Authorities arrested Gong practitioners. He has since been repeatedly arrested and violations of fair trading practices no doubt contributed to and detained relatives of some of the more than 5,000 child tortured. His family, including his four-year-old son and 14- Canada’s trade deficit rising from $3.9 billion in 1997 to $26.8 victims for trying to get answers about how they died. Even year-old daughter, were harassed and attacked by police until billion in 2006 in China’s favour, while costing many jobs an eight-year-old was detained. their escape recently to the United States. across Canada. In anticipation of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Such practices speak clearly about the party-state’s intransi- Forced labour as a consequence of human trafficking is all massacre, pressure is intensifying. “If anything, the gence against calls by the international community to improve too common today, but only the party-state of China defends crackdown on human rights activists is escalating as we its human rights. They are consistent with Beijing’s rejection the practice and has operated a vast network of labour camps approach the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Beijing pro- of the recommendations advanced by a number of govern- since the 1950s. In the estimated 340 camps across China as democracy protests,” said Roseann Rife, Amnesty ments, including Canada’s, in a recent Universal Periodic of 2005, up to 300,000 “workers” toil in inhuman conditions International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Director. “Most worrying Review by the UN Human Rights Commission. for up to sixteen hours daily without any pay, producing a is the complete disregard for national laws and the obstruc- Among the rejected recommendations: ending all forms of wide range of consumer products, mostly for export, in tions thrown in front of lawyers trying to do their jobs.” arbitrary detention, including labour camps; guaranteeing violation of World Trade Organization rules. Reporters without Borders says China is still the country freedom of belief and the right to worship in private; On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Beijing’s June 4 which jails the largest number of journalists, cyber-dissidents, implementing the recommendations of the UN Committee bloody crackdown of the student-led democratic movement, it Internet-users and freedom of expression advocates. With Against Torture, which included references to the persecution is obvious that there has been little progress on human rights. much of the world watching the Olympics last August, about of Falun Gong practitioners and organ pillaging from them; Mr. Cannon’s remarks are misguided at best and a serious one hundred Chinese journalists, Internet users and bloggers and ensuring that lawyers can defend their clients without fear departure from principles at worst. languished in prisons. Human Rights Watch reported that or harassment. The Canadian government should stand with the Chinese workers building the ‘Bird’s Nest’ and dozens of other Although trade is a vital part of Canada’s economy, people, not the party state, and call for human dignity and Olympic Games facilities were exploited, from child labour on commerce with China, where no freedom of media exists, has respect of all. THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 GLOBAL VILLAGE 11

WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA David Jones, co-author of Uneasy Neighbo(u)rs: Canada, the USA and the Dynamics of State, Industry and Culture, is a former U.S. diplomat who David T. Jones served in Ottawa. He now lives in Arlington, Virginia. [email protected]

THE NEW LILLAPUTIANS — PROHIBIT NOW, DISCUSS NEVER, continued from page 1

from owning a weapon of individ- school system for which you have David?); swat that obstreperous ual destruction. paid with taxes, you have closely child in public (or admit to doing In Canada and the United It snows (no surprise, it’s prescribed rules on what your child so in private); or let “puppy fat” Canada). Now you must clear your must learn. If your child is ill, you become societal defined obesity. sidewalk to specified dimensions must accept state prescribed No “nanny” state here; looks more States, we are unlikely to within a given period of time. Too treatment regimes—your religious like “Big Bertha” for parents physically restricted? Away for the prohibitions regarding such caught in her toils. winter? Tough on you. treatment be damned so far as the In Canada and the United States, And should you be state is concerned. And don’t we are unlikely to lose our liberties lose our liberties in one fell blessed/cursed with a child, restric- decorate your child’s body with in one fell swoop; rather be alert to tions are daunting. You must politically incorrect symbols (today the thousand spider-like strands swoop; rather be alert to the educate the child; if you choose the a swastika; tomorrow a star of that ensnared Gulliver. thousand spider-like strands that ensnared Gulliver.

someone might be having fun. But You are punished for the use of even more invidious have been the alcohol with heavy taxes. Any 20th century ideologies that demand operation of a motor vehicle after not just the adherence of your body, having consumed alcohol in any but the commitment of your mind significant amount can result in (and soul if you believe in such) to severe legal and financial penalties. the leader, the Party, the State. Your park your vehicle? Fortunately, we have escaped Labyrinthine hours in tow away entrapment in a society equivalent to zones leave you victim to predatory Mao Tse-tung’s “blue ants” or the tow trucks and gasp-inducing more topical North Korean society ransom fees. where regimentation has become an You decide to ride a bicycle instead art form. But perhaps while or driving? You must wear a helmet avoiding such gruesome societies to mitigate the damage from a where conformity is assured by prospective accident. state-sanctioned terror, we have You elect to walk and/or take substituted a Gulliver and the public transportation. Better traverse Lilliputians regime in which the street at cross walks, obeying the hundreds, if not thousands, of signals. And in the Metro hold onto restrictions tie you down “for your that handrail—and don’t “dis” the own good.” Or for the “good” of Metro policeman who chides you your children, your community, your for lacking a third hand to hold on country—imposed with or without when other two are occupied (it just your consent to this “good.” cost Ms Kosoian a pretty expensive Thus you are punished for the use penny for her insouciant manners.) of tobacco with heavy taxes. And You wish to own a firearm. As a punished further with increasing Canadian, you have no innate restrictions over where, when, and Second Amendment right to do so. how you can practice this expensive Consequently, by the time you have right. Having limited smoking in negotiated the complex and virtually every public place, you now expensive hoops and hurdles of are restricted from smoking privately permission forms, permits, (such as in an automobile) when training, waiting periods, and minors/children are present. You instruction for safely storing the cannot advertise the product—but firearm, an outside observer would must “advertise” various perils judge you to be an obsessed associated with its use on individual fanatic—and thus exactly the type packages. of person who should be prohibited 12 ECONOMY THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 ECONOMY Robert Presser WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA [email protected]

The Next Phase of the Banking Crisis Relaxing the mark-to-market rules means we will never know what the banks are really worth he Federal Reserve’s stress test results are in and to no more than $75 billion US – but we really don’t know how much interest rates that they can hardly afford. In a protracted one’s surprise, all the big US Bank Holding Corporations more. And therein lies the problem – the banks have now been recession, those troubled consumers still in their homes will T(BHCs) passed. Getting a passing grade in the stress test, allowed to subjectively value assets on their books for which attempt to negotiate write-offs on their consumer debt before more formally known as the Supervisory Capital Assessment there is no market, and they have every incentive to value them they stop paying the mortgage that assures their shelter. Even Program (SCAP) was a lot like getting a passing grade in gym as highly as possible, cross their fingers and hope for the best. while the US economy is showing signs of bottoming out, class – just because everyone gets by, this does not mean that all The result is that as investors, no one really knows what these unemployment continues to rise as large employers like GM and the subjects are equally capable and robust. The SCAP report banks are worth anymore! Chrysler slash plant employment and close thousands of dealer- indicates that 10 of the 19 largest US banks should collectively Zap, you’re frozen! No one sells, and no one gets hurt! ships that are critical economic motors in small communities raise an additional $75 billion USD in tier-one capital in order to This new policy of allowing the banks to subjectively value the across the country. The irony is that while statistically the bolster their reserves to face a protracted recession. The report troubled assets on their books goes directly against the Troubled economy will look better on paper in the second half of 2009, it outlines the various types of assets held by the banks, including Asset Relief Program (TARP) that US Treasury Secretary Tim will be accompanied by sustained consumer pain and manufac- toxic assets like securitized mortgages, commercial loans and Geithner announced in March. Under his plan, the US Treasury turing capacity contraction. mortgages originated in-house, consumer loans and revolving was going to provide funding and guarantees for private sector credit card debt. investment funds to purchase these assets from the banks and Figure 7 from the SCAP report shows that the average The $75 billion is a very low figure compared to the trillions of work them out slowly, to maximize their value. This was based potential loss on credit card loans is 22.3%, a very scary figure dollars of potential losses associated with the Troubled Assets on the assumption that these funds would be able to get a considering that some of the institutions on the list have no credit Relief Program (TARP) previously implemented by the Treasury substantial discount from the banks selling the assets to make Department. The ratio of required capital to be raised versus the this worthwhile, in order to earn a healthy return on investment. massive basket of troubled assets implies that the valuations Now because the mark-to-market rule has been relaxed, the associated with these assets are healthier than first expected. banks have little incentive to sell a troubled asset at a price below Indeed, the SCAP report highlights that the improvements in the what they are valuing it at, and the investment funds will not pay financial markets since April have seen share and asset prices too high a price. The result is that rather than re-creating a rise across the board and this has greatly improved the solidity of market for troubled assets as TARP had envisaged, the loosening the bank’s balance sheets. of mark-to-market impedes the creation of a new market, hurts But who prices the illiquid, troubled assets sitting on the bank’s liquidity and ultimately prolongs the financial crisis. books? These valuations used to be governed by the mark-to- The SCAP test covered the 19 largest banking groups in the market rule, which means that these assets had to be reduced in US, but in the background, smaller US banks continue to fail. price to reflect a true market price, i.e. what a third-party The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) has taken financial institution or other investor would be willing to pay for over 33 banks since the beginning of 2009, running at a rate them. There are two reasons why an asset may see its price approximately 50% ahead of 2008, which was almost double the reduced – it could be priced for a “quick sale” because the 2007 results. As FDIC auditors pour over the books of these vendor requires short-term liquidity, or because the asset is non- failed banks, they will be assigning values to the assets on their performing, either totally or partially, and should be books. Imagine that the FDIC decides to value a certain card business whatsoever. Couple these losses with two more marked-down to reflect a write-off of the portion of the asset that mortgage-backed security at 60 cents on the dollar at a failed upcoming waves of variable mortgage rate resets and a commer- is no longer viable. small regional bank, while the same asset on the books at the cial real-estate market that is only now starting to keel over and The current financial crisis was doubly painful for the banks Bank of America is showing at 90 cents on the dollar? This type one can conclude that pain for the banks is far from over and the because both of the above conditions were true – assets were of valuation discrepancy is what will ultimately cause the recent run-up in financial shares on all markets has gotten way non-performing AND institutions wanted to dump them quickly relaxation of the mark-to-market rules to collapse. Bank ahead of itself. to raise cash. The accounting requirement to mark down these analysts will have to pour over the financial disclosure filings of Canadian banks will be swept along with the US financial tide assets immediately is what created billions of dollars of losses on all the major banks and review the values assigned to their assets The Canadian banks also asked for a relaxation of the mark-to- the banks’ balance sheets and deepened the crisis since no one on a case-by-case basis and compare those values to any transac- market rule and were not given the same degree of latitude by had cash around to buy them up until the US federal government tions for similar assets that have occurred in the marketplace. Canadian Accounting Standards Board. Therefore, we can stepped in with the TARP program and the Treasury started Banks’ chief financial officers will be grilled by investors over expect that Canadian valuations of assets held by them and US intervening in the marketplace. discrepancies between self-determined and market-priced asset institutions to diverge, with Canadian banks demonstrating more The banks were pleading with regulators for some “wiggle valuations and a new round of confidence-killing revaluations conservative, realistic values. However, in the absence of a room” in valuing the assets for which there was no viable will ensue. In the long run, the fudging of mark-to-market rules healthy market for these securities, Canadian banks can be hit by market. At the end of March, the U.S. Financial Accounting undermines the transparency of the financial reporting system, a surprise if asset sales following an FDIC liquidation of a failed Standards Board (FASB) allowed the banks to hold off writing weakens investor confidence in the value of bank shares, and re- US bank do not match with the valuations on the books. The down assets that they do not intend to hold to maturity, which are enforces the illiquidity in financial markets that the TARP Canadian banks may be more prudent, but they are just as known as “trading assets” or assets available for sale. Previously, program was supposed to address. The score; Washington vulnerable to asset pricing surprises as the big US banks. a bank could only avoid writing down the value of a troubled lobbyists: billions, small investors: less than zero. As the markets rallied over the past two months, US and asset if it pledged to hold that asset to maturity, like a 25-year Consumer debt is the next implosion for the banks Canadian banks have been issuing new equity while their bank mortgage extended to an individual who was having trouble The SCAP broke down expected losses for the banks by asset share prices have recovered. This rush to market should be paying at the moment, considered a temporary impairment, but class, and the most troubling result was the expected losses on interpreted by investors as an opportune move on the banks’ part the ability to pay was expected to recover over time. outstanding credit card debt. As American consumers deal with that might not be such a good deal for investors in the medium This apparent relief measure for the banks also helped them massive layoffs, salary and benefit rollbacks and credit line term. If any retail investors have seen their portfolios recover pass the SCAP test – all of a sudden, assets on the books that reduction at their local branches, they are turning to their credit over the past two months, they should put on their contrarian hats were problematic, for which there were no buyers, could be cards to make up the difference. Revolving debt has always been and ask themselves if they should be selling some of their bank subjectively valued in the banks’ favor. Without this relief a credit and a curse for the US economy, sustaining consumer shares to the herd investors while the banks’ treasuries are busy measure, the banks would probably have been told to raise far spending while at the same time indebting families at high doing the same thing. Caveat emptor! THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 SOCIETÉ 13

WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Iro Cyr is a member of Citizens Against Iro Cyr SOCIETÉ Government Encroachment [email protected]

Another incomprehensible ban

It is beyond comprehension to see that Health Canada is cal industry and a viable alternative to those who wish to purchase and Health Canada has either authorized or is in the calling for a ban on the sale and distribution of electronic continue profiting from the benefits of nicotine. The use of the process of authorizing clinical trials of such nicotine products cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in this country. e-cigarette simulates the physical acts and sensations character- on pregnant women (5). Propylene glycol is approved as an This decision is totally counterproductive to the efforts of istic of smoking, including holding a cigarette-shaped device, additive for various foods, is used as a preservative substance to Health Canada, who have long been in the vanguard interna- inhaling nicotine vapor from it, and exhaling propylene glycol maintain moisture in products, and has been animal tested tionally in the reduction of tobacco consumption. While the vapor. This vapor is a relatively inert gas which is odorless and (including on simians, not just laboratory rats) as relatively results of Canada’s sustained efforts through educational does not linger in the air around the e-smoker. There is no harmless when inhaled. = campaigns have generally been positive in reducing smoking environmental smoke produced by e-cigarettes therefore there is The electronic cigarette is in essence a nicotine delivery prevalence right up to and including the year 2004, the decreas- no annoyance to by-standers. device in the same mould as pharmaceutical NRT products. ing trend has halted and smoking rates in Canada have The popularity of the e-cigarette has spread virally through What is it in the combination of nicotine and propylene glycol remained the same ever since draconian smoking bans were means such as word of mouth and internet forums. Large that has Health Canada thinking that e-cigarettes are more instituted in many provinces . As history has taught us, coercive numbers of people around the world claim that use of e- hazardous than tobacco and NRT products such as inhalers? methods have never yielded positive results. cigarettes has helped them quit or cut down on their smoking Surely e-cigarettes, which are neither tobacco products nor Apart from the public reacting negatively to coercion, another and that it provides a degree of comfort, satisfaction, and pharmaceutical products, should be permitted to be marketed likely reason why the remaining citizens who smoke may be convenience to those who do not wish to give up nicotine intake and distributed freely providing they are not advertized as reluctant to quit their habit is the lack of realistic alternatives to for various reasons. therapeutic devices. the act of smoking itself. Public health authorities tend to see In light of all of this, it is beyond disappointing to see that Unable to comprehend what motivated Health Canada to ban smoking as a function of addiction to nicotine, and pharmaceu- Health Canada is calling for a ban on the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes while keeping tobacco and pharmaceutical nicotine tical companies have cashed in on that perception by marketing electronic cigarettes in this country. It is absurd that Health replacement therapy as well as the dangerous drug Chantix various nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) devices. These Canada would keep it legal to smoke tobacco and ban the legal, I can only conclude that the only parties worthy of protec- products, in the form of variously flavored chewing gum in marketing of e-cigarettes, which offer an effective alternative tion from Health Canada are the pharmaceutical and tobacco colorful packaging, or lozenges, patches, or even inhalers, are and we are not alone to feel this way. industries whose profits are threatened with the advent of this advertised extensively in all media. No doubt NRT sales are Contrary to conventional cigarettes emissions, E-cigarette smart invention that had the potential of reestablishing harmony high and profitable, but the long term success rate of quitting vapor only contains two chemicals: nicotine and glycol between smoking and non-smoking citizens and bringing much smoking by use of NRT products as they are marketed now is a propylene. Nicotine is generally accepted as relatively harmless needed business back in our hospitality sector. dismal 1.6% . by authorities, and is an approved legal substance. After all, Health Canada should rethink its e-cigarette policy immedi- Electronic cigarettes are seen by many as a more attractive NRT products, some of which are inhaled nicotine, are allowed ately, in the interest of the people they represent as opposed to alternative to the NRT products available from the pharmaceuti- to be freely marketed over the counter with no legal age for the financial interests of powerful corporate lobbies. THE VOLUNTEER The riveting story of a Canadian who served as a senior officer in Israel’s legendary Mossad. For seven-and-a-half years, Ross worked as an undercover agent — a classic spy. In The Volunteer, he describes his role in missions to foil attempts by Syria, Libya, and Iran to acquire advanced weapons technology. He tells of his part in the capture of three senior al Qaeda operatives who mas- terminded the 1998 attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; a joint Mossad-FBI operation that uncovered a senior Hezbollah terrorist based in the United States; and a mission to South Africa in which he intercepted Iranian agents seeking to expand their country’s military arsenal; and two-and-a-half years as Mossad’s Counterterrorism Liaison Officer to the CIA and FBI. Many of the operations Ross describes have never before been revealed to the public. 14 SOCIETY THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 Teresa Seminara WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA [email protected]

What do Concordians have to say about staying in school?

As I was walking to school one History major. He also believes that well. being in school to attain personal an education is. On that note, I cannot Monday morning, from Guy- the recession is a motivator since the As I began making my way back to goals. Moreover, as I pondered about help but share one of BB King’s most Concordia metro station to the SGW job market is in decline thus generat- the Guy-Concordia metro that the correlation between recessions inspirational quotes, “The beautiful Campus, I could not help but wonder ing pressure among viable candidates. evening I came to the realization that and education I realized that although thing about learning is that no one can what students’ motivations are to be On the other hand, Francesca most of my interviewees admitted to a recession may not be bullet-proof, take it away from you.” in University and whether the Vardaro, 21, Language major, says recession plays a decisive factor in that the recession has not affected her their pursuit of earning a higher personally and that education remains education. Above all, the thought that a means of personal advancement. lingered in my mind as I passed my Nixie Kaufmann, 25, B.A in Political fellow Concordians was whether they Science, reveals that education is are in University because of what important for it can provide one with other people want or expect from the self-esteem required in the job- them or because they simply consider market. As for Emilie Salvi, 19, education an investment in English Literature major, “school is a themselves. stimulating and vitalizing place and a For many of us, the process of great venue to interact with other indoctrinating the importance of intellectuals.” She also mentions that education commenced from a very an education provides students with early age. It may have started with our the opportunity to develop new parents’ encouragement to go to innovations that can lead them to school and implied further by our explore the alternatives to our broken- teachers and academic counsellors as down system. we grew older. However, motivations My “love affair with school” is vary from person to person and my enthused by the desire of broadening curiosity has led me to go around my horizons and allowing myself to campus asking Concordia students to make sense of the world’s complexi- unravel what truly makes them stay in ties. The recession is a motivational school. factor for me to stay in school. After “An education is about enriching all, the job market has reached one’s self by pursuing areas of remarkable levels of competitiveness personal interest to greater depth, and in today’s society a higher networking, and to learn ways of education is critical for it not only improving future prospects” says increases one’s value as an individual, Christopher Kohan, 23, SCPA & but as an employee to a company as For many of us, the process of indoctrina- ting the importance of education commenced from a very early age. It may have started with our parents’ encourage- ment to go to school and implied further by our teachers and academic counsellors as we grew older. THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 COMMENT 15

WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA PIPERBERG’S WORLD

THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 SOCIETÉ 17 WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Alan Hustak [email protected]

The real, earnest life of Arnold Steinberg 18th Chancellor of McGill University

“Life is real, life is earnest, and the who went on to become Quebec’s grave is not the goal,” reads the Revenue Minister was one of his caption in the 1954 McGill teachers. “He was unusual in that he University Yearbook under Arnold was the only professor I had who Steinberg’s graduation photograph. had any business experience,” says Whatever life’s goal, as a commerce Steinberg. student at McGill five decades ago Being Jewish on the McGill Steinberg never imagined that one campus in the 1950s still carried a day he would become the univer- bit of a smudge, but Steinberg says sity’s 18th chancellor. he personally never encountered In Jewish culture, 18 is considered any anti-semitism. ‘‘It is part of a lucky number - representing as it McGill’s history, it has been well does the numeric value of the word, documented, and McGill has not Chai, which means Life and is also tried to hide the fact,” he points out. the 18th letter in the Hebrew “Clearly major changes have taken alphabet. The irony that he will be place over the years, I don’t recall in sworn in as McGill’s 18th chancellor anyway feeling any sense of in November is not lost on Mr. discrimination. Certainly, in Steinberg. “On the day of the medical school and in Engineering announcement I hadn’t even thought societies there were still some of it, to be perfectly honest,” he said restrictions in the 1950s, but by the in an interview. “Jews have figured time I went, there was a fairly high so prominently at McGill in the last percentage of Jewish students at the number of years, they almost go graduate level, and most of my unseen,’’ he says. “Obviously, it friends were Jewish, people like wasn’t done intentionally. The princi- Leonard Cohen and the Shapiro pal, the chair and the chancellor are brothers.” now all Jewish. But a number of Steinberg took his MBA at people have phoned to point out the Harvard, and went on to become the irony - and being number 18, I have chief financial officer of both the to say, is both humbling and gratify- grocery chain and its real-estate ing.” The senior partner of the division, Ivanhoe Inc. When the Clemen, Ludmer, Steinberg, an food stores were sold 20 years ago, investment holding company, Mr. he became senior officer of an Steinberg’s association with the investment holding company. He university is long and distinguished. has been a member of McGill’s He became involved with the board of governors and Chair of Montreal Children’s Hospital, and in Health Infoway an independent 1976 was one of the founders of organization established by the Canadians for Health Research and federal and provincial governments served as its Chairman for 19 years, to promote electronic health and over the years has made major information services. contributions to medical health Steinberg has a discriminating eye research, including the establishment for contemporary art and has of the McGill Medical Stimulation assembled one of the Canada’s Centre. largest private collections of “I’m a closet hypochondriac,” he modern art. He also enjoys chamber jokes. But. Steinberg’s in interest music and is involved with medical science began because one We felt we could advance both the great joy in supporting leading edge largest chain of grocery stores. He Marlborough College Concert of his children suffered from academic and clinical side of the science in that it was so different enrolled at McGill but wasn’t Society, which promotes the allergies and he discovered that the area,” he says. from anything I had been exposed to. interested in becoming an account- advancement of chamber music. Montreal Children’s Hospital wasn’t Steinberg then supported the It added a whole new dimension to ant. “I took the minimum number of He was recognized for his philan- doing significant research into program set up by Dr. Charles my life, and it never, ever ceases to courses,” he says, and was captain of thropy with an order of Canada in allergic reactions. Scriver, one of the Canada’s leading be fascinating.” the university’s water-polo team. He 1993. “It was a question of circum- geneticists, to have vitamin D added Steinberg’s grandmother, Ida, took a course in economic history His wife, Blema, teaches political stance. All of that sort of coalesced. to milk sold in Quebec. “There was founded what was once Quebec’s from Cyril James and Eric Kierans, science at McGill. One of North America's largest and most dependable suppliers of steel foundation products.

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www.pipe-piling.com THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 SOCIETÉ 19

WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Irwin Cotler is special counsel on human rights and international justice to the Liberal party and is the MP for Mount Royal. He is a former minister of The Hon. Irwin Cotler and David Grossman justice and attorney general of Canada and is a professor of law (on leave) at [email protected] McGill University. David Grossman is special assistant to Mr. Cotler.

In Defence of Anti-Discrimination Laws Tom Flanagan, the former Conservative may not be immediate, it will happen “over campaign manager and university professor, ...anti-discrimination laws are about more than time.” Our third point is that, even expressed as went on the offensive last week arguing that such – and we doubt most Canadians would anti-discrimination legislation should rightly embrace so modest an anti-discrimination target only government – but not private regulating the market. They are about people – policy – Mr. Flanagan’s theory is still far from individuals’ – action. This thesis is as provoca- convincing. tive as it is dangerous. Far from demonstrating victims – and the statement that our Canadian For one thing, it is far from clear that the uselessness of the law, Mr. Flanagan’s economics alone would necessarily force comments instead remind us of how vital a discriminators to change their ways. Targeted role it plays. society will not acquiesce in their suffering, even if and covert discrimination may not always lead The idea behind Mr. Flanagan’s suggestion – to failure, even “over time.” Is a restaurant- that the market is the proper regulator for such suffering could eventually be “corrected” by owner who quietly hires only white hands to moral as well as economic behaviour – is not a make his sandwiches really at so much of a new one. Long before our provincial (and later competitive disadvantage that his business federal) governments started prohibiting the market in the long run. becomes unviable? discrimination, the country’s courts were “broken contract commissions” or “negligence Which brings us to our second point: that Moreover, even if discrimination was always declaring that a business-owner was maître commissions”—discrimination against while the market may work things out in the “costly to the discriminator” in economic chez lui—that he had total freedom to decide individuals in our society scars our society long run, as John Maynard Keynes put it, “in terms, the idea that this cost outweighs its how to run his establishment. Mr. Flanagan itself, in ways that broken contracts and the long run, we are all dead.” benefits for the discriminator does not simply ignores the entire human rights revolu- negligence do not. In theory, the market could solve a lot of our necessarily follow. Discriminators are tion – and the law’s role in that revolution – And thus we decided to do more than problems. Manufacturers with lax safety motivated by many things, and chief among that followed. formally protect victims of discrimination in standards would, over the years, get a bad them has never been economic efficiency. The The simple reason for prohibiting discrimi- law. We decided that we had to take on the reputation from all the injuries and deaths they prototypical black man denied a room at a nation in private contracts and the like still responsibility of ensuring these disproportion- caused and, eventually, would be forced to go hotel was not always followed by a line-up of resonates today: Treating some members of ately poorer and less powerful members of out of business (or, more likely, continue white men willing to take his place and pay the society as sub-human is not just morally wrong society – with lesser means to access justice – business under a different name until caught same. We cannot count on discriminators and not just economically unwise—it is were able to fight back against those who again). But we are not willing to sacrifice our acting in an economically rational manner. contrary to the basic principles upon which we practice prejudice against them. children’s lives in the meantime for the market From a practical point of view, the market is want to govern our society. So the first point against Mr. Flanagan’s to engage in this weeding out process, and we bound to fail to address and redress discrimina- Accordingly, we chose not only to make thesis is that anti-discrimination laws are about should not be willing to sacrifice our minori- tion in a satisfactory manner. But from a moral discrimination illegal, but also to create human more than regulating the market. They are ties’ lives in the meantime while the market and social point of view, the idea of repealing rights commissions—both to help victims of about people – victims – and the statement that corrects discriminatory practices either. our anti-discrimination laws in the private discrimination seek compensation and to our Canadian society will not acquiesce in Indeed, Mr. Flanagan has stated his goals sphere is simply repugnant. Discrimination promote human rights and anti-discrimination their suffering, even if such suffering could very conservatively: that discrimination may must be seen as an open wound for all principles more generally. There is a reason eventually be “corrected” by the market in the not be “abolished” by markets, but at least Canadian society. And this wound cannot be why we made this choice rather than having long run. would be “eroded”; and that while this effect healed by an invisible hand.

Mutant Mad Cow Disease in Toronto. Murder in Palm Beach. The arcana of Bermuda offshore banking. Ex-CIA and Mossad men desperate to seize a weapon of mass destruction from Al-Qaeda, off the Caymans, on the morning of 9/11. Oh, and love. What more could you ask for in this hard-cover thriller by Robert Landori. Get it at Chapters/Indigo, or order an author-signed copy from the publisher.

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“It’s been fifteen years…” Michael Manning

s of two weeks ago, it’s been fifteen years since told it was too bad but he was going to kill her but he really Michael Manning heard his daughter Tara’s alarm didn’t want her to go to the police. “I’ve already killed Aclock go off while he was making an egg sandwich another girl,” he said, “…so as far as I’m concerned, it’s not a for breakfast. When nobody turned it off, he went to her room problem.” to wake her up for school. The girl bargained for her life and promised him she “I still remember how the cover was drawn up to her chin,” wouldn’t tell the cops because she was too scared of what he he said as the tears flowed down his face. “I still recall how I would do to her if she did go tell on him. Once he was gone, thought she was sleeping until I touched her….and when I she called the police to tell them about the rape and the boy pulled the cover off, that’s when I knew my baby was dead.” who threatened to kill her. His name was Gregory Bromby. During an exclusive interview, Manning told The Once police arrested Bromby, someone recalled how the Métropolitain how he often thinks Tara’s killer, Gregory Manning family provided the police with a list of everybody Bromby, took two lives after he raped and killed his daughter. who recently spent time in their house. Bromby’s name was on “It’s been fifteen years since that bastard killed my daughter the list. Police already had a sample of the killer’s DNA and it’s been fifteen years since I’ve had more than two to because he didn’t wear a condom when he raped Tara three hours of sleep per night.” Manning. Due to the fact he used a condom when he raped the While he still mourns Tara’s death as much as he did on the girl in the Mountain street apartment; police were forced to day she was buried, the National Parole Board recently ask Bromby to provide some DNA but the boy refused so informed him that Bromby was to be granted supervised day police authorities were forced to go to court for a warrant to parole and would soon be living in a half-way house located get their sample. After saliva and a few swabs were taken from in the Blainville suburb north of the city . the inside of his mouth, the Bromby’s DNA provided a perfect “It doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I’m here, he’s there and match with the killer’s sample. Now police knew Gregory Tara’s still in her grave.” Bromby was the man who raped and smothered Tara Manning Many believe Manning is wrong. It matters just as much as with her pillow after which he stabbed her 51 times in the it did in the few short weeks after his daughter was killed as it chest and upper body. does now and in every future Canadian murder investigation. Only weeks after Bromby was indicted, the crown informed Michael Manning is a Canadian hero. Michael Manning is Manning their case against him was in trouble. Under section the man who convinced Canada’s parliament to pass a law 7 and 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, giving police the right to test every suspect’s DNA upon police required the suspect’s consent before they could take a arrest for a capital crime. DNA sample. Without the DNA, there was little proof he “DNA tests changed homicide investigations forever,” said killed Tara and Bromby could use the loophole to walk away retired SPVM homicide detective Steve Roberts. “It’s the from the court a free man. biggest development since fingerprints.” This was too much for Manning. After local Liberal MP Police all over the country agree. Compulsory DNA tests Clifford Lincoln organized a meeting with Federal Justice helped police solve dozens of cold cases, get convictions in Minister Allen Rock, the minister told Manning he too had a dozens of recent cases and best of all, DNA tests often 10 year-old daughter so he didn’t need to be convinced about provide the innocent with their ‘Get out of jail free’ card. the justice of Manning’s case. After Tara was murdered, it’s difficult to imagine what life “Mister Manning, show me the Canadian people want this was like for the entire Manning family. Not only did sloppy law,” he said. police work lead the authorities to treat Manning, his son and Manning did just that. Friends and neighbors began to a family friend as their main suspects in the case but circulate a petition after which he met Micheline Bouchard, Manning also had to carry the additional guilt of knowing he one of Montreal’s better known business women Once was passed out on the sofa only a few feet from Tara’s Compulsory DNA tests helped Manning told Bouchard how Tara’s killer could be set free to bedroom door after having put away a few beers while kill again, it took her only a few days to put together an watching the evening’s hockey game. After voluntary DNA impressive support group to organize Michael Manning’s tests finally absolved the family from any suspicion, there police solve dozens of cold cases, project. Four of the best PR (Public Relations) firms in the were no breaks in the case until five weeks later when another city got to work on the project and within weeks, Michael girl was raped and told she would be killed if she went to the get convictions in dozens of recent Manning’s DNA project was front-page news across the police. Because she already knew him, she let the boy into country. Manning still recalls how one PR professional told her Mountain Street apartment after he told her he had no him “…it’s one vote per two pounds of paper in a petition but place to go for the night. Later, after going to bed, he woke cases and best of all, DNA tests it’s 500 votes for every personal letter you send to your federal her up, showed her his knife before pushing her back on her MP.” Manning’s petition was soon transformed into a letter bed. often provide the innocent with campaign after which every office in Parliament Hill was “I’m crazy, I’m nuts,” he said as he kept stabbing her flooded with letters demanding compulsory DNA tests for any mattress and pillow while raping her. After he finished, he their ‘Get out of jail free’ card. suspect accused of committing a capital crime. Preston THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 SOCIETÉ 21

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Manning’s Reform Party supported the initiative after which suspects. While Canada’s Hansard demonstrates how Rock law of the land. In the name of his family and of his murdered Lucien Bouchard personally asked to see Manning in his tried to evade the question, a second question asked the Justice daughter, Michael Manning thanked Parliament from the Ottawa office. Minister if he would personally assume the responsibility for visitors’ gallery. When the speaker rose to accept Manning’s “He was wonderful,” said Manning. “..very courteous and any more crimes committed by Bromby and others who would thanks, the speaker inferred Manning was recognized and as very polite. When I told him about Tara’s murder and the be free to walk the streets if the government refused to pass of that time, he is still the only visitor to Parliament to have possibility her killer could walk, he said he understood and the bill. Manning still has tears in his eyes when he describes ever been officially recognized by its Speaker. Following the would do everything he could to help push the law through in how Rock slowly stood up at his desk looked over at the Speaker’s cue, the rest of parliament rose to applaud the man time for the trial. He was still recovering from his illness and I opposition and clearly said the Liberals would support C-104 and his efforts. had to help him out of his chair. That’s when I knew this man if both the BQ and Reform agreed to support the bill. Fifteen years later, Michael Manning is living in a basement knows what it is to suffer.” “That was the day Allen Rock stood up,” said Manning. apartment in Montreal’s west-end. He is overweight, he On the final day before the session was lifted for summer “That was the day the man stood up and was counted.” smokes too much and he was visibly hung-over. While recess, reform MPs used the question period to ask Justice Only a few months after his 15 year-old daughter was looking at Tara’s picture, he lit another cigarette and told The Minister Allen Rock if the Liberals would consider joining the brutally raped and killed in her own bed, Canada’s Parliament Métropolitain he still regrets not kissing his daughter good BQ (Bloc Québecois) and the Reform to approve Bill C-104 unanimously accepted Bill C-104 after which compulsory night that night before she went to bed. which called for compulsory DNA tests for capital crime DNA tests for accused suspects in a capital crime became the “I miss her,” he said. “Dear God, I miss her so much.” 22 ARTS & STYLE THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAY 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 ARTS & STYLE Alan Hustak WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA [email protected]

ART DECO REVIVAL 10 WORLD CONGRESS opens in Montreal

ontreal isn’t the first city that Some of the best of examples of Art Deco city hall was rebuilt after the fire in 1922. comes to mind when you think of buildings in Montreal were built and designed The room was featured as 1930’s night club MArt Deco, so Peter Sheridan, wasn’t by Ernest Cormier, including the handsome in the recent movie, The Aviator. sure what to expect when he arrived Court of Appeal building on Notre Dame St. New York of course is considered the here from Australia for the 10th World and the Université de Montreal tower which capital of art deco. Polly Guerin, a member Congress on Art Deco. Sheridan, a Sydney, punctuates the city skyline like an exclama- of the Art Deco Society of New York, and Australia, dentist who collects art deco radios tion point. There is also the superb Aldred the host of Pollytalk from New York on the is one of about 200 enthusiasts from 30 Art Building on Place D’Armes that went up in Big Apple New Network, is among the Deco societies around the world attending the 1929 faced entirely in limestone except for delegates. Guerin grew up in Montreal and week-long convention that opened Sunday. decorative aluminum spandrels. It’s design remembers dining at Eaton’s 9 floor restau- The get together was organized by Sandra was influenced by New York’s zoning bylaws rant as a child. She has remained Cohen-Rose, who 15 years ago wrote a book which required the higher floors of a highrise enthusiastic about the style ever since. “It is on the subject, Northern Deco; Art Deco in to be set back from the street like a wedding a way of living, it is so advanced for its Montreal. ArtDeco refers to the elegant sleek cake. The finest and most important examples time,’ she says. “You can live with it today architectural design that surfaced in the 1920s of art deco in the city are the 9th floor restau- and feel like you are a modern person. It’s a which is distinguished by understated rant in the old Eaton department store, and minimalist kind of way of living with beauti- geometrical shapes and sophisticated, shiny former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott ful furnishings and surroundings.” decorative elements. Sheridan wasn’t Trudeau’s house on Pine Avenue. It was once Art Deco design preservationist, Matti disappointed with what he found here. Cormier’s home and is now owned by Herrera Bower, today the first Hispanic ‘‘Every city has some element of Art Deco, Trudeau’s son, Alexandre. Ironically, both mayor of Miami Beach, was the co-chair of but the interesting thing about Montreal is the are off limits to convention delegates. ‘’We the first Art-Deco Congress in 1991. The combination of the French and North would dearly have loved to get into both, but city has its own art deco district which was American influence,” he said. “The French unfortunately, we can’t get into either,” Said declared a historic site in 1979. She says the Art deco was for the artisan, who created Cohen Rose. “But there are so many other international meetings are designed to something unique for the individual, whereas outstanding examples to see in and around promote and preserve the style. “We have the American style was for the consumer, Montreal, I don’t think visitors will go away grown, and gone from place to place spread- created for a mass market. The style, however, disappointed.” ing the word, she said. ‘’All over the world is eternal. You can see elements of it in every The swank party with a retro vibe was they have this type of architecture, and we hotel, because what you get is an amazing appropriately held Sunday at City Hall in the should celebrate it, and bring the world functional style. It works for buildings, trains, Hall of Honour - the city’s first example of together to appreciate this universal form of automobiles, and domestic appliances.” an art deco interior which was added when art.” THE MÉTROPOLITAIN • 28 MAI 2009 • VOL. 2, NO 10 ARTS & STYLE 23 WWW.THEMETROPOLITAIN.CA Louise V. Labrecque [email protected]

Devenir mozartien, un art aussi simple que l’amour

Émile Ortenberg, De l’art de conçoit, comme si celui qui écoute instruit, informe et donne au lecteur le certains repères bibliographiques des devenir mozartien, Paris, éditions était obligé d’aller plus loin dans sa goût d’aller plus loin dans la recherche plus judicieux. La vie de Mozart est DDB Lethielleux, 176 p. perception, dans sa vision de la réalité. et l’étude mozartienne. Dans ce livre également passée au peigne fin, et Ainsi Émile Ortenberg, à partir de son dont le ton et l’élan n’ont absolument l’on se surprend à y découvrir des n vue de l’écriture de cet essai, vécu personnel, nous invite à dépasser rien de prétentieux ni de professoral, détails anecdotiques d’une richesse Émile Ortenberg semble le premier degré de l’écoute pour tout est bien assumé, dosé avec insoupçonnée, dont l’auteur rend En’avoir eu pour seule ambition entrer de plein pied dans l’émotion, justesse, et se divise en trois sections : compte par des passages qui se que de vivre un message de lumière. afin de toucher « la révélation » de ce l’écoute, l’expérience et l’analyse. Ce révèlent aussi doux, gracieux et On constate à sa lecture que son qu’il appelle un « message de travail rigoureux et fondé sur l’expéri- intenses que peut l’être la musique de propos se résume à merveille par cette lumière ». Cela dit, qu’on ne se ence, tout en étant d’une lecture Mozart elle-même. seule idée, car c’est bel et bien dans méprenne pas : nous avons ici affaire parfaitement accessible voire Il est impossible de ne pas tomber cette optique que l’auteur rend compte non pas à une espèce de divagation agréable, est non seulement une sous le charme de ce livre. Émile de la lucidité, de l’amour et du ésotérique à la con, mais plutôt à un preuve d’amour, mais aussi celle d’un Ortenberg, tout en humanité, livre le bonheur que comporte la musique ouvrage solide, qui invite à la fois à réel engagement que l’auteur a pris à bon combat, sourire en coin sans mozartienne, une musique à laquelle, l’émotion et à la raison, à la réflexion à l’égard de Mozart et de tous les doute, d’un ton qui est tout sauf d’ailleurs, de plus en plus de l’action, tout en alliant le pouvoir des mozartiens. C’est aussi le choix de moralisateur. Il est simplement mélomanes accordent un statut tout à mots à la concrétude des faits. l’exigence musicale et de la poésie. emballé par Mozart, tellement qu’il en fait spécial. Ainsi, la quête d’équilibre inhérente L’auteur fouille à fond la traversée arrive à faire vibrer l’espace, comme Avec Mozart, c’est en effet une autre à cet essai nous renvoie à la vie des siècles que les œuvres de Mozart les acteurs arrivent parfois à le faire, subtilité de sa démarche, l’auteur forme d’identification musicale qui se concrète, tout autant qu’elle touche, auront connue, en plus de nous fournir lors de l’entracte. De plus, par la ajoute une nouvelle couleur à la palette déjà riche de l’étude de la musique de Mozart. Une couleur assez chatoyante, une voix qu’on aime entendre parce que vraie, sans complaisance ni morgue prétendu- ment savante. Une voix qui ne parle pas pour rien dire, en quelque sorte. On a ici affaire à un auteur intègre, qui a écrit un livre sur Mozart tout simplement parce qu’il aime sa musique. D’ailleurs, à la fin de son ouvrage, l’auteur prend le temps de remercier ses lecteurs, en exprimant une ouverture au dialogue, voire au partage, qui est aussi rare que chaleureuse. En somme, il y a chez Émile Ortenberg une fierté que le vaniteux pourrait prendre pour de la préten- tion, de même qu’un bon sens que l’universitaire pourrait prendre pour de l’intelligence. Ce livre est tout simplement brillant, captivant, incontournable. On referme ces pages en se sentant tout simplement heureux d’avoir passé des moments de lecture agréables, tout en se retrouvant encore mieux aspiré vers la musique de Mozart, vers cette musique qui, comme le propos de son amoureux Émile Ortenberg, n’est jamais opaque, et dont les notes sont toujours transparentes, tout en exprimant une réelle force de vérité. C’est donc ainsi que l’on comprend que l’art de devenir mozartien se gagne, à n’en point douter, lorsqu’on se met, tout simplement mais avec l’attention requise à tout amour, à aimer Mozart ! ladieswear . menswear . footwear . accessories

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