Can’t Canadian politicians be “inclusive” without being sycophantic?


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!

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

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”.

The Armenian genocide happened 105 years ago

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 is right. Dr. Tam should not be fired. He should resign instead… perhaps post-pandemic?

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.

Mmm, can we send M Trudeau et al. to… Sweden?

As per the two articles below, English followed by French, whilst a pandemic is underway (people dying, economy suffering, etc.), Canada is re-opening its borders to asylum seekers. Is this the national top priority now, Mr. Trudeau?

English article (Canoe):

French article (Radio-Canada):

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1696351/refugies-canada-trudeau-quebec-asile-coronavirus

As a reminder, the Swedish health authorities’ epidemiologist said ‘Closing borders is ridiculous’:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01098-x

After reading these articles, Bambi could not help not to think of the media publishing survey results after results, all showing us the increasing popularity of Mr. Trudeau. Here some examples (two in English, one in French):

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/trudeau-approval-rating-coronavirus-angus-reid

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/22/la-popularite-de-trudeau-atteint-des-sommets

OK, those survey findings seem a bit surprising to Bambi, especially that even Mr. Trudeau’s socks are no longer amusing to world leaders and to some journalists ?:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/21/lex-premier-ministre-australien-ecorche-justin-trudeau

And even since 2019 (Mr. Norman Lester, Journal de Montréal):

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/08/28/les-chaussettes-de-justin–symbole-de-son-insignifiance

Anyhow, following this quick tour of the media, just for fun, Bambi decided to read the readers’ comments to the Radio-Canada (French CBC)’s article on our borders cited above. Below, she will share some of them with you. Mind you, she has always enjoyed reading readers’ comments to articles, even more so than articles sometimes (OK, this when our newspapers still allow such platform). For her, readers’ comments seem like a “barometer” of citizen satisfaction. Indeed, people’s own words may sometimes reveal more interesting information than a professional article.

Interestingly, she found that almost all the comments in question seem to go in the same direction. As you can see below, some words were more sarcastic than the title of this post ?.

Oh…One final sarcastic yet worrisome comment before concluding this post: Luckily, Canadian citizens are (still?) able to express their concerns, contrary to the UK where we can be arrested “over ‘disgusting’ racist Covid-19 stickers”, it seems:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52314222

OK, enough of Bambi’s blahblahblah, as promised, below you can find a selection of readers’ comments: an English bold translation is followed by the original French (in Italic but not bolded):

Luc Guilmain:

“Trudeau often does things wrong. He will still draw the wrath of the Canadians”.

«Trudeau fait souvent les choses de travers. Il va encore s’attirer les foudres des Canadiens».

Jackie Cheung:

“An incompetent and irresponsible government that wants to accept new arrivals when it still cannot control the pandemic”.

«Un gouvernement incompétent et irresponsable qui veut accepter les nouveaux arrivés quand il n’arrive pas encore à contrôler la pandémie dans le pays».

Jezni Pozansky (1):

“Québec is asking for help from the army to regain control of housing for seniors”. Premier of Ontario Calls On Federal Government To Send Canadian Armed Forces To Respond To COVID-19 Crisis”. At the same time, we open borders with the obligation of confinement by renting rooms in a hotel … Several in CHSLD were unlucky for 14 days of confinement”.

«Le Québec réclame l’aide de l’armée pour reprendre le contrôle des habitations pour aînés” . ”Le premier ministre de l’Ontario, demande au gouvernement fédéral d’envoyer les Forces armées canadiennes pour répondre à la crise de la COVID-19”
En même temps on ouvre les frontières avec l’obligation de confinement en louant des chambres dans un hôtel… Plusieurs dans CHSLD n’avait pas de chance pour 14 jours de confinement».

Jerzy Posnasky (2):

Canada takes seriously its international commitments regarding the treatment of refugees.” (Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister, April 22, 2020). Today Canada’s only serious commitment is to look after the safety and health of its citizens.”

«Le Canada prend au sérieux ses engagements internationaux concernant le traitement des réfugiés.” (Chrystia Freeland, vice-première ministre, le 22 avril 2020). Aujourd’hui le seul engagement sérieux de part du Canada est de s’occuper de la sécurité et de la santé de ses citoyens».

Yvon Viau:

“Justin Trudeau who once again displays his incompetence!”

«Justin Trudeau qui affiche une fois de plus son incompétence!»

Yves Allard

“I listened to the federal press briefing daily and saw that it was almost useless; a good walk is preferable”.

«J’écoutais le point de presse fédéral quotidiennement et constate que celui-ci est [a] peu [pres] inutile; une bonne marche est préférable».

Pierre Goudreau:

“The Prime Minister of Canada’s spectacle continues. Two CHINA planes completely empty, we lack medical equipment in the country, Mr. Legault continues for his part the confinement of our society, Montreal invaded by COVID-19, more than Ontario and meanwhile, we OPEN borders again …. Is there really an emergency at this point where Mr. Trudeau still doesn’t understand”.

Le spectacle du premier ministre du Canada se poursuit. Deux avions de la CHINE complètement vide, nous manquons d’équipements médicaux au pays, M.Legault poursuit de son côté le confinement de notre société, Montréal envahi par le COVID-19, plus que l’Ontario et pendant ce temps, on OUVRE à nouveau les frontières …. Est-ce qu’il y a véritablement urgence à ce point où M. Trudeau ne comprends toujours rien à la pandémie?

Pascal-René Grabriel:

“One word bravo 🙂 Trudeau can do whatever he wants. it is still popular in Canada and Québec. A politician who blunders and blunders. Meanwhile, our journalists are talking about Trump, Trump and Trump”

«Un seul mot bravo 🙂 Trudeau peut faire ce qu’il veut. il est toujours aussi populaire au Canada et au Québec. Un politicien qui fait des gaffes et des gaffes. Pendant ce temps, nos journalistes parlent de Trump, de Trump et de Trump».

Isabelle Dallaire:

“As if everything is under control in Canada, you have to do it…”

«Comme si tout est sous contrôle au Canada, faut le faire…»

Dominique Brayard

“Between Trudeau and Trump, which is worse? Hard to say”.

 «Entre Trudeau et Trump, lequel est le pire? Difficile à dire».

Serge A. Clément:

“We stopped everything, everything! So what is the rush to reopen this file? What is the emergency? “

«Nous on a tout arrêté, tout! Alors quel est la presse de réouvrir ce dossier? C’est quoi l’urgence?»

Mario Séguin

“So the first industry to reopen is the immigration industry (Future vote, must prepare for the next election). It is to reunite the families that they tell us, it is reassuring … the only family that still reunites is that of Mr. Trudeau at Lake Harrington, the rest we are confined. Any sense!!!”

«Donc la première industrie a ré-ouvrir est l’industrie de l’immigration (Future vote, faut préparer les prochaines élections). C’est pour réunir les familles qu’ils nous disent, c’est rassurant… la seule famille qui se réunit toujours est celle de Mr Trudeau au lac Harrington, le reste nous sommes confinés. Aucun sens!!!»

Jean Guy Rivet

“We must consolidate the red wave of Montreal and its suburbs”.

«Il faut bien consolider la rougeur de Montréal et [ses banlieus]».

Michelle Légaré

“It is totally unacceptable, even irresponsible. We are told that the border is closed but in fact it is not at all. If this is not laughing at us, what is it that we are fighting against COVID-19, that the economy is going to take a hit and that a lot of people will be looking for jobs soon, Trudeau is still playing God knows what. Charity is beautiful, but well-ordered charity begins with yourself. The elections will not come soon enough”.

«C’est totalement inacceptable [voire] irresponsable. On nous dit que la frontière est fermée mais dans les faits elle ne l’est pas du tout. Si ce n’est pas rire de nous, c’est quoi alors qu’on se bat contre la COVID, que l’économie va en prendre un coup et que plein de monde vont se chercher un emploi sous peu, Trudeau joue encore à Dieu sait quoi. C’est beau la charité mais charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même. Les élections ne viendront pas assez vite».

René Géguerre

“Perhaps it would be better to solve our COVID-19 problems before importing other possibly contaminated people who have just crossed the state of New York, the most contaminated of all the states … but in the end it does not there is no point in talking about it …. the image of a country welcoming anyone is politically profitable in the eyes of the world …. or is at least more important than people’s safety. from the country….”

«Vaudrait peut-être mieux régler nos problèmes de covid avant d’importer d’autres personnes possiblement contaminées qui viennent de traverser l’état de New-York, le plus contaminé de tous les Etats… mais en bout de compte il ne sert à rien d’en parler…. l’image d’un pays accueillant n’importe qui est politiquement rentable aux yeux du monde…. ou est tout au moins plus importante que la sécurité des gens. du pays….»

Nathan Villemure:

“Read the article: “… stating that a 14-day quarantine is imposed on asylum seekers. To achieve this containment, the federal government has rented rooms in a hotel in Lacolle, said Jean-Pierre Fortin, the president of the Customs and Immigration Union, citing the possibility of housing between 80 and 100 asylum seekers. “

« Faut lire l’article: « …en précisant qu’une mise en quarantaine de 14 jours est imposée aux demandeurs d’asile. Pour réaliser ce confinement, le gouvernement fédéral a loué des chambres dans un hôtel de Lacolle, précise Jean-Pierre Fortin, le président du Syndicat des douanes et de l’immigration, en évoquant la possibilité de loger entre 80 et 100 demandeurs d’asile ».

Sébastien Morin:

“I’m discouraged, what more can I say?”

«Je suis découragé, Que dire de plus?»

Mr. Mario Dumont: “Dying with indignity” [“Mourir dans l’indignité”]

Thanks to Mr. Mario Dumont for his heartfelt appeal.

First, here is his French article published today in the Journal de Montréal:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/22/mourir-dans-lindignite

Second, here is an English translation:

How can we explain the tragedy that strikes our elders? A society must have invested so much effort to offer the possibility of “Dying in dignity” to see so many of its elders experiencing the exact opposite.

A extreme example of a crisis environment is the Herron residence. There, as in several other CHSLDs [long-term care centres], elderly men and women experienced an almost inconceivable end of life. The arrival of COVID-19 having forced a large part of the staff to quarantine, some centres found themselves below the minimum.

How is it that so many of our elders die in unworthiness? First, it must be recognized that our system has failed to protect them. Our public health experts had carefully planned the containment of society and the preparation of the hospital system. But not seniors’ residences. These already fragile environments were quickly struck down by the virus.

Deficient care

In overwhelmed centres, we have seen seniors die in a period when nothing seemed guaranteed. The level of care is falling sharply, to the point of no longer being able to meet needs as basic as thirst and hunger. Yes, to the point of having to postpone the moment of changing the incontinence briefs. We don’t even talk about other normal hygiene care anymore.

Die dirty and die alone. It’s still the saddest of the sad. In this period when visits to seniors’ residences are prohibited, contact with families is also lacking. Some people knew all the news at the last minute: their loved one had COVID-19 and … had a few hours to live. Consequence: some seniors had an end of life that took place in a pathetic solitude.

The whole promise of the Dying in Dignity Commission seems to evaporate in several cases of death caused by the pandemic. The possibility of not dying in suffering and of living the last hours being surrounded by loved ones, all of this slips through our fingers.

To die alone

The government has made an exception for visits to people at the end of their lives. The crisis, which reigns in several establishments, limits the possibilities to a strict minimum. Could we do better? I would be curious to hear from the palliative care specialists.

To make mourning even more difficult for those close to the deceased, the recovery of the bodies and the other stages of the usual funeral process are disrupted. Due to the ban on assemblies, it is not possible to organize a funeral. It is not even legal for the children of a deceased elder to come together in order to cry or comfort one another.

When asked about the death of her father by a colleague from TVA Nouvelles, a disillusioned and resigned woman said: “He will be part of the COVID-19 statistics. “

France 24: “first virus case in Lebanon palestinian refugee camp- UN” and “Lebanese protesters back on the streets… in their cars”

A first Covid-19 woman from a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon is now hospitalized at the public Rafic Hariri hospital in Beirut.

In collaboration with the UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), the Lebanese Ministry of Health sent a team of medical experts to carry tests.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, “the testing will focus on the woman’s relatives and people she has interacted with, as well as 50 others chosen arbitrarily inside the camp and its surroundings”.

Best wishes!

Here is the first France24 article in English:

https://www.france24.com/en/20200422-first-virus-case-in-lebanon-palestinian-refugee-camp-un

According to the UNRWA website (https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon): There are “47,075 registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (as of January 1, 2019), 12 refugee camps, 65 schools, with 36,960 students, including 5,254 Palestinian refugees from Syria, one Vocational and Technical Training Centre with about 900 students on two campuses, and 27 health centers”.

Lebanon also hosts over 1 million Syrian refugees, half of them are children.

Of note, Syrian children go to school in the Lebanese public system in the afternoon (Lebanese students leave school to go home at 2 PM):

http://webdoc.france24.com/lebanon-syria-war-displaced-children-school/

Obviously, everyone is confined now. Indeed, Lebanon has asked nurseries, schools, and universities to close since February 29, 2020.

Did Bambi use the word “everyone”? Not really… Now Lebanese protesters are back to streets…. But in car convoys. The pandemic occurred in the middle of a revolt, as a reminder.

Here is the second English France24 article on this topic:

https://www.france24.com/en/20200421-lebanese-protesters-back-on-the-streets-in-their-cars

People are gathering in cars, requested to ideally be with two passengers, wearing gloves and masks. In addition, people have been instructed not to leave their cars and to respect all the protective health measures, as per the Lebanese Ministry of Heath. For example, some of the measures include curfews after certain evening hours, curfews on Sundays, and driving cars according to odd/even license plates (one day odd numbers, the second day even numbers).

Of course, the corruption theme remains central in this pacific and respectful movement. Sadly and not surprisingly, the economic crisis, already dramatic before the pandemic, has worsened (some experts are even reporting that the unemployment rate has reached 50% ☹).

Luckily, the Lebanese army has been distributing free food to confined people in need. This is a very appreciated initiative! As well, like before the pandemic, private organizations and individuals have been as generous as ever. Actually, many volunteers have been infected with the coronavirus.

Regardless of all the solidarity, the sad reality is that the situation is unbearable. Indeed, one of the protesters, a retired man from the army, mentioned that his actual salary is equivalent to US$100… per month. This is just one citizen. One example.

Tragically, for many Lebanese citizens already living in extreme poverty, the question is as simple as follows: What is worst to die from, the coronavirus or hunger?

With this question, Bambi will stop here… Below are some recent (yesterday night) and slightly older (last week?) pictures from Lebanon.

Taken from Reuters
Taken from Reuters
Taken from Reuters
Taken from The 961
Taken from The 961

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”

As usual, Mr. Trudeau’s first reaction was to avoid answering the question of a journalist (in French). The latter insisted by telling him:  You did not answer my question, Mr. Trudeau, so I will repeat it again. Well, Mr. Trudeau surprised Bambi by providing a direct answer at the end of his second reply. He said: “Companies using tax havens will still be eligible for the wage subsidy, as the money goes to payroll and workers”.

Bambi agrees with Mr. Trudeau on this issue for the following reasons:

First, how would we know who is paying taxes or not for sure?

Second, why should we punish the employees if their bosses use tax havens or reduces their taxes in different ways?

Third, isn’t it too much to endorse the words of the TV Italian famous broadcaster, Mr. Fabio Fazio (https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-companies-tax-havens-banned-denmark-poland-bailout-2020-4?utmSource=twitter&utmContent=referral&utmTerm=topbar&referrer=twitter): “It has become evident that those who do not pay their taxes are not only guilty of a crime, but of murder: if the beds and the respirators are not there they are partly to blame”?

Of note, Pope Francis applauded Mr. Fazio for the above statement: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pope/pope-says-italy-tax-dodgers-bear-partial-blame-for-virus-health-care-crisis-idUSKBN21524R

Well, on this one, Bambi thinks that Mr. Trudeau is right. Pope Francis is wrong.

Two clever articles about China-Trudeau, one written in Shakespeare’s (Mr. Lilley) and the other in Molière’s (Mr. Facal) language

To begin with, here is Mr. Brian Lilley’s article published today in the Toronto Sun entitled “Trudeau gives China a pass then targets gun owners”:

Mmm… with such an article, we can perhaps guess that Mr. Lilley or his newspaper are not counting on bailout from the federal government ?.

Ok, more seriously, this article is a sharp analysis of what happened yesterday.

Mr. Trudeau has the art of using dramatic language and tone.

Yesterday, our PM spoke about the tragedy in Nova Scotia and expressed kind and compassionate words to everyone affected by this senseless tragedy. He also reassured our NS neighbours that they will not be forgotten, getting the needed help. For this, thank you and bravo.

However, what Mr. Lilley is focusing on is how Mr. Trudeau used “the present moment” to move a political agenda, namely his wish to pass a legislation that would affect legal (or licensed) firearms owners. This would be about 2 million Canadians, as reported by Mr. Lilley.

Ironically, Bambi can suspect that many of these affected licensed people would be from Nova Scotia itself (farmers, hunters, trappers, perhaps recreational users, etc.). Will targeting them effectively target future criminals? Can’t people use a car or a knife to commit crimes, as it has been done in Toronto and in Montreal?

Anyhow, this is not the topic here and it is not her expertise (although she has an opinion about guns, for having experienced civil war). The topic of this post is China or rather Mr. Trudeau’s attitude toward it.

Anyhow, to come back to Mr. Lilley’s article, his points are relevant: Is this the time to talk about this, Mr. Trudeau, when we are still in the immediate after-shock of the carnage? Indeed, the grieving RCMP did not complete its investigation yet. So, why are you in a rush to build a political momentum with our tragedy?

Plus, most importantly here, as Mr. Lilley sarcastically wrote, what a contrast with your attitude toward China, whose carelessness has caused the death of so many people in Canada and around the world.

How sad that you keep dismissing the journalists’ questions about China. When you do reply, you say that it is not the time for finger-pointing; we will assess different countries’ responses to the pandemic later, etc.

Besides gun issues, Bambi had wished you would have at least also addressed mental health issues, especially in times of massive job losses, collective grief and fear, increased domestic tensions/violence, etc.

Anyhow, let’s move now to Mr. Facal’s article. It is sarcastic in a different way ?:

First, here is his French article published today in the Journal de Montréal, to begin with. It is entitled “Erectile dysfunction” [“Dysfonction erectile”]

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/21/dysfonction-erectile

Second, here is an English translation:

“Rest assured, gentlemen, I’m not saying that one of the consequences of COVID-19, if you catch it, is that you will be flaccid forever.

Let’s review China’s behaviour for a moment.

China first silenced the whistleblowers and denied the onset of the virus, then downplayed its severity, wasting precious time that the world could have spent preparing for.

China then lied about its death toll, argued that everything would have been worse for the planet if it had not been so fabulous, and then suggested that the virus may have been a foreign plot.

Tragicomic

There remains dessert.

China is now pointing at the slightest criticism, continues to conceal, lectures the world saying that it is necessary to rise above petty politics … and reopens the public market from which the disaster started.

Shall I continue or stop? A digestif after dessert?

However, in this tragedy, I see comic, or rather tragicomic, dawn.

The tragicomic is the reaction of Western leaders. Angry, they say they are going to hold China to account, that it will not be the same.

Trump says of the pandemic, “It could have been stopped in China and it was not.” “And now the whole world is suffering because of this.”

Macron says that we must no longer be “naive”.

France foreign minister said, “We want to be respected as China wants to be respected.”

Other leaders have toughened the tone. We roll up our sleeves to show our biceps to Beijing.

Our cute or handsome Justin [in French Canadian, “beau Justin”] says that his fear is the increase in discrimination against Chinese Canadians.

Don’t tell me you didn’t see it coming, this one …

All of this is pathetic.

China is restraining itself from laughing at our leaders.

For China, Trump is a clown with the psychology of a spoiled child, fascinated by dictatorships, convinced that he can solve everything with a telephone conversation.

For China, the European Union is a “thing”, which cannot be discredited any more since it no longer has any credibility left.

For China, Macron is a beautiful suave talker, whose natural inclination is to flee conflicts.

For China, Trudeau is a Macron with two differences.

Macron speaks French, while Justin speaks bilingual, and Macron has read more than two books in his life.

Local

Today we are paying the price for having, in the name of limitless capitalism, ceded to China all our leverage to increase our profits or save a few pennies.

We should, if we can afford it, buy as much local products as possible.

Our leaders let this collective dispossession take place.

They are toughening the tone now, but what will they do for real when the time comes to draw conclusions against China?

My prediction? Re-read the title of the column.”

Thankfully, there is Viagra… but let’s hope not sold to us by China. Hopefully also, not below standard or defective like Chinese masks (OK, Bambi’s sarcasm for today ?!)