Month: April 2020

Bambi just came across a thoughtful article published yesterday in the Journal de Montréal and signed by Mr. Mathieu Bock-Côté. Below is the original article followed by a quick translation:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/25/une-idee-stupide-stupide

“As the COVID-19 crisis intensifies and security measures are intended to be ever more ambitious to protect the population, we learned on Wednesday that Ottawa will once again authorize the crossing of the Canadian border by “irregular migrants”

Certainly, they will no longer go through Roxham Road, but through Lacolle. But they will pass. We are geographically moving the problem by pretending to better frame it.

Immigration

This is called laughing at people.

Let’s pay attention to the vocabulary used. The dominant discourse wants to force us to speak of “irregular migrants” and justifies it with superficial legal quibbles. It is a language manipulation.

Rather, if we were not afraid of words, we should speak of illegal or clandestine immigrants, who benefit from the transformation of the right of asylum, by definition exceptional, into a migratory route among others.

The humanitarian rhetoric taken up by activists in a borderless world is in fact aimed at making people feel guilty and demonizing those who simply want to uphold the law and fight its wide-ranging circumvention.

In the context of the pandemic, this explicit opening up to illegal immigration seems irrational.

However, it does not really surprise us. The Canadian government was clearly unable to permanently break out of the ideological parameters of globalism. It claims to be the global promoter.

Spending measures

More broadly, Ottawa is doing as it pleases, by multiplying the measures of mega-spending to place itself at the centre of the crisis and to recover from its early incompetence, even if it means setting up initiatives that contradict the strategy of the provinces in general, and Québec in particular.

Justin Trudeau, himself, is preaching and arrogant.

How can we not see in these pharaonic spending a crude attempt to buy the electorate with increasingly “generous” benefits and transform the crisis into an opportunity to centralize the federation?

Canada, for Québecers, is a crippling and costly burden”.

Caracalla is a famous Lebanese Dance theatre, that has performed worldwide (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracalla_Dance_Theatre), “from  the Osaka National Theatre, to the Carnegie Hall, Sadler’s Wells to the Kennedy Centre, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées to the Frankfurt Opera House, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo Opera Houses, Centre of the Arts Los Angeles to Places des Arts in Montreal, as well as numerous other festivals and venues…”. More recently, the group even performed in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever… on Valentine’s Day (which was forbidden before!).

Anyhow, below you can find a video from Caracalla to the confined Lebanese people and to the world, with a message of hope. Bambi would like to thank her dad for sharing it with her (je t’aime, papa!).

Sadly, almost at the same time she received this message of hope, she learned about the death of her friend’s uncle due to Covid-19. She would like to dedicate this video to “Henri”, if she may. Rita, please consider it as a sort of a tribute to him from his country of origin (via Bambi). May he rest in peace… May his memory be eternal whilst his soul flies with freedom… just like those dancers in the video.

The title of Ms. Bombardier’s article makes Bambi recall a conversation she had with a friend whilst visiting Lebanon in December, 2019. They were talking about Canadian politics. Her Canadian friend, who moved to Beirut a few years ago, described Mr. Trudeau in these terms: “I call him “Papa Noël” [Santa Claus, in English] because he is a dreamer”.

Well, our Santa is busy today with daily announcements. Ms. Bombardier has another good reason to call him Santa. You will see below… As usual, first the French original article published today in the Journal de Montréal. This is followed by a translation of her article:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/25/trudeau-pere-noel-de-la-pandemie

“Every day, Prime Minister Legault [this is how Premiers of Québec are called in French] announces the number of deaths in the past 24 hours since the National Assembly.

Ahead of him, Prime Minister Trudeau announces at noon outside of his residence, not from Parliament, billions of dollars for Canadians in precarious economic situations. Rarely does he address the issue of deaths from COVID-19, as if such contingencies would undermine his role as a distributor of hard cash.

To date, Justin Trudeau has provided nearly $140 billion in assistance to individuals and businesses. Certainly, it is the role of the government to ensure that the country’s economy does not collapse.

It is clear that no government can currently leave its citizens without employment income, a roof over their heads, and the money to support their families.

Generosity

What is problematic is this daily staging where Justin Trudeau appears as the generous distributor of the billions that will go to swell the public debt which will largely exceed the 200 billion; as our columnist Mario Dumont, a public finances and political analyst, so eloquently reminded us of yesterday [at the end of this post, you can read an earlier post about his article].

Justin Trudeau’s dramatization of his message can be summed up as follows. The bad news is transmitted by the provincial premiers while the good news remains the preserve [“chasse gardée”, in French] of the one who currently heads a minority government in Ottawa.

Fortunately, if one can put it this way in the circumstances, Ontario has high rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, because the barely contained irritability expressed by Justin Trudeau about how François Legault leading the fight against the pandemic would suggest that the situations experienced in Québec’s CHSLDs [long-term care centres] are proof of the endemic carelessness of Québec.

Like father

In 1970, we were treated to Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s War Measures Act [called Emergencies Act since 1988], which abolished civil liberties to subdue a handful of hotheads who played terrorists. Today, Trudeau Junior might wish to apply the Canada Health Act to CHSLDs and thus appear as a savior in the eyes of Québecers?

The $9 billion this week awarded to students by Justin Trudeau under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) seems to be a way for the minority Prime Minister to buy the votes of young people in the next election. Giving $5,000 to students not to finish a semester, but to spend the summer on vacation also testifies to the vision of a bohemian bourgeois accustomed in his youth to traveling around the world in dilettante.

It’s also a trip up [“croc-en-jambe”, in French] to François Legault, who called on young people to work in the fields offering them bonuses of an additional $100 to help Québec agricultural producers save their fruit and vegetable crops.

Who would have thought that Justin Trudeau, during this crisis, would try to weaken Québec?”.

Mr. Mario Dumont: “Slightly too direct deposits” [«Les dépôts un peu trop directs»]

Bambi heard this beautiful song on the internet radio she listens to whilst working. Not even twenty-four hours later, she got a link to it from Moncton (thanks Mary!) and from Beirut (merci Roula!). She is sharing it with you in this post.

The song is in Lebanese Arabic. The words are filled with simplicity and tenderness. The music (by Mr. Rayan Habre) is lovely to listen to. In addition to her talent, this young singer seems to be cute (check her expressions and see for yourself ?). As you can see, the musicians are skilled and the production is well done too.

Well, just for her own fun, Bambi translated the words for you into English (please see further below). Bravo and thank you Ms. Chantal Bitar et al.!

“How are you in your confinement? You are crossing my mind in confinement?

I think of writing to you and then I delete.

How are you to begin with? How are you spending your time? How is the prevention and how is the cleaning? (twice)

How many novels have you read? How many phone calls have you made?

Are you taking good care of yourself? Are you eating healthy?

You are crossing my mind in confinement.

Despite the physical distance, my mind is confined with you.

In these times of science fiction and in this wasted era. Even if the world will fall apart, you will remain here in my heart.

I know you are bored by yourself. For me, please make a sacrifice.

You are crossing my mind in confinement. I think of writing to you and then I delete.

Let me hear your words. Turn off the news. I promise, all this will end. One day will come (twice)

A day where we will dance, hand in hand, and you will carry me far… and your hand on my face will charm me and will awaken my eyes

You are crossing my mind in confinement. I think of writing to you and then I delete.

How are you to begin with. How are you spending your time?

How is the prevention and how is the cleaning? (twice)

How many novels have you read? How many phone calls have you made?

Are you taking good care? Are you eating healthy?

You are crossing my mind in confinement.”

Ramadan Mubarak

Alberta is home to many Albertans of Muslim faith, who are observing and celebrating the Holy month of Ramadan, a time for self-reflection and spiritual renewal through prayer, fasting and being mindful of doing good for others. It is a glorious and holy time, and reminds all of us of the importance of having empathy and compassion for all.I know Ramadan will be a bit different this year, but we hope you are still able to find joy in your faith and rejoice with those close to you. Our Caucus wishes all those who celebrate all the blessings of this holy month. Ramadan Mubarak.

Posted by Rachel Notley on Thursday, April 23, 2020

Above is a Ramadan greeting (2020) by a Canadian politician, called Ms. Rachel Notley (NDP). She was the Alberta Premier. Below is her Eid greeting from 2017.

How sad to see a Western woman of influence without any genuine regard for other women who may be forced to wear the hijab.

Bambi wonders how Muslim Canadian women perceive this? What about those who may be aspiring for freedom in an abusive family environment? Will they feel that the Government is going to support them?

This being said, “Ramadan Karim” to all Bambi’s friends and relatives!

First, here is Mr. Dumont’s article published today in the Journal de Montréal:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/24/les-depots-un-peu-trop-directs

Second, here is a quick English translation (food for thought, especially that Mr. Dumont usually chooses his words very judiciously):

“Our governments had to come to the rescue in the face of the economic cataclysm that COVID-19 caused. If the Trudeau government has been slow to close the borders, it can be said that it has been quick and efficient in putting money back into the pockets of the people.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was announced quickly. Even more impressive, the government was able to put in place an expeditious request processing system and make payments within a time frame that silenced skeptics.

No one will dispute the extreme necessity that existed at that time. Most of the economy was closed suddenly for health reasons. Many households were left without income to pay for the essentials. Government support at a critical time has prevented drama.

Trudeau says yes

The needs are great. However, a government cannot say yes to everything. This week, I came to wonder if the Trudeau government had succumbed to its natural inclination to throw money out the window.

The $ 9 billion announcement for students represents the drop (or cup?) of water that made the vase overflow.

Although real needs exist among students, such an expensive program seems to me unjustifiable. Offering all students substantial amounts to spend the summer on the living room sofa is a risk.

Who will want to work? Working hard to get a few dollars more than Uncle Justin’s offer? You’re full sick, man.

It must be taken into account that all of the new sums announced are made of borrowed money. With debt that will be well in excess of $ 200 billion, it seems to me that Canada has reached the stage of spending a little more sparingly.

Our young people will repay the debts of the year 2020 for a good part of their lives.

The value of work

The student benefit is so easy to get that it forces us to think about the work incentive that seems lost for a few months. CERB, for example, is paid unconditionally in terms of willingness to work. You lost your job because of COVID-19, so you are entitled to it. Period.

Even if your employer goes back to work and calls you back, you don’t have to go back to work. Even if your phone rings and you are offered work, it is okay to say no and prefer Justin Trudeau’s $ 2,000 check.

Killing the incentive to work is not without consequence. The Devoir newspaper informed us this week about nurses and attendants who had lost their jobs in March in non-essential sectors such as aesthetics. The health network calls for the services of these trained people to help in CHSLDs [long-term care centres]. Why give up CERB to go put yourself at risk?

I received testimonies this week from small entrepreneurs worried about finding workers this summer. “Difficult to compete with Justin!”, I heard”.

105 years ago… An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were massacred (along with other Ottoman genocides, including about 750 000 Assyrians and 950 000 Greeks: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/576278/pdf).

Today, Bambi pauses to highlight this sad day.

She does so with many people around the world, including her friends Nina, Rita, Diana… and acquaintances from Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, and Beirut:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide

https://news.am/eng/news/574388.html

As her close family and friends know, Bambi has a funny childhood nickname (well, it is still used, after all those years, by her sister Roula!). It consists of her real name with “ne” at the end (pronounced “nee”). We can even say it, also with “Bambi”, which becomes “Bambine”. It means: “I am Bambi”. You can add it to your own name and you would be introducing yourself in the beautiful Armenian language.

Anyhow, Bambi got her nickname in honour of her love of the Armenian heritage. She takes this honour so seriously that, a few years ago whilst in Toronto, she ended a professional email with this signature by mistake, instead of her first name. Well, she only realized this when her thoughtful colleague asked if that was her “real” name in her mother tongue ?.

More seriously now, below, you can hear a moving French song that Bambi would like to dedicate to all those who love Armenia. It is by Mr. Patrick Fiori (his mom is of Armenian origins). An English translation of the lyrics follow the video link further below.

May all the nations live in peace and dignity. May justice be served/honoured.

“It is a country that I do not know
It’s a soul that I carry
With each of my steps
Tastes, aromas
A ghost country, words, silences
My childhood songs
It has seeped into my veins
As much as my blood
Photos, shadows
Names and numbers
Between Russian and Persian
A taste of planet
So far from my island
Far from my days and yet
I know those mountains
And all the streets of Erevan
I was only in a dream
As the flame is passed
It is a country that I do not know
It’s a soul that I carry
With each of my steps
Traffic lights, games
Farewells, train stations
All our history
In every memory
In our house the brotherhood of exiles
Faithful names: Sevan, Isabelle

Crosses and angels
I don’t know anything about all that
But everything is familiar to me
I know those mountains
I have recorded Mount Aravat
It was just a dream, an image
A distant mirror
It is a country that I do not know
It’s a soul that I carry
With each of my steps
It is a country that I do not know
It’s a soul that I carry
With each of my steps
It’s a past that ties us there
One morning I will go for real
That will be with you
With you”

Mr. Trudeau should resign post-pandemic…

Not just because he is aligning Canada too naively to the Chinese axis.

Not just because China is making fun of the world, including (and especially) us.

Not just only because of his carelessness at the beginning of the pandemic with regards to our borders.

Not just because Canada did not stockpile enough personal protective equipment (PPE) AND sent our stockpile to China.

Not just because he did not respect his own confinement measures by visiting his family in another province and at a cottage… Not just because other citizens get fined but not him.

Not just because he refused to pay and organize a quarantine at hotels for much needed temporary foreign workers (like Lebanon has been doing!) whilst now doing it for asylum seekers. Mr. Beaudet (Bloc Québécois) is right on this one (https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1696700/trudeau-asile-refugies-blanchet-bloc-coronavirus). How strange this contradiction.

Not just because of all his deficits, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Imagine after!

Even if he occasionally takes sensible decisions: http://bambisafkar.ca/index.php/2020/04/21/mr-trudeau-is-right-to-say-that-companies-using-tax-havens-will-still-be-eligible-for-the-wage-subsidy-as-the-money-goes-to-payroll-and-workers/

Mr. Trudeau must perhaps consider resigning, at one point, because he has been incompetent before the pandemic: his management of the SNC Lavalin saga, losing two competent women: Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybold and Dr. Jane Philpott whom we badly need now, not allowing Ms. Petitpas Taylor enough time to be able to keep doing her job (replacing her by a more illuminated and less experienced Hajdu), the absurd railway crisis, the continuous accusations of “racism” or hiding behind “diversity”, when he has no wiser words to explain a point of view, etc..

Again today, he is showing us his immature and authoritarian side, by accusing the opposition of being racist:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pm-trudeau-condemns-covid-19-racism-as-tory-mp-calls-for-tam-to-be-fired-1.4908902

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-scheer-refuses-to-comment-on-conservative-mps-call-for-top-doctor-to/

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1696731/covid-19-derek-sloan-depute-conservateur-teresa-tam-chine

Mind you, Bambi is saying the above and herself is far from being a fan of Mr. Scheer (even is she is a daily milk drinker!). He is also a symptom of our increasingly mediocre society.

Without going as far as requiring the firing of a competent yet limited Dr. Tam, as a colleague of Mr. Scheer seems to have requested, we Canadians have all the rights of the world to be informed about Dr. Tam’s role within the WHO when it comes to China’s hegemony: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-who-has-a-big-china-problem-2020-04-22

https://www.who.int/about/who_reform/emergency-capacities/oversight-committee/theresa-tam/en/

https://www.who.int/about/who_reform/emergency-capacities/oversight-committee/en/

This has nothing to do with racism, Mr. Trudeau.

This has to do with transparency, accountability, competence, and reassurance of a worried population in pandemic times.