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:
“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?”.
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?
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.
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!
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:
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”
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.
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:
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
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?
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):
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 ?:
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:
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 toujoursrien
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 thecountry….”
«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 ».
“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. “
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”.
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):
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:
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.
