Stephen Harper’s costly French kiss-off Add to ...

[CHIMO]

In the 2004 federal election, Stephen Harper, as the newly minted Conservative Party leader, won zero seats in Quebec. In 2006, he won 10 seats there, and he did that again in 2008. In 2011, he won only five seats. Since that election, the Prime Minister’s standing in Quebec has gone from bad to worse.

Far from wooing the Québécois by campaigning personally in the province, using Quebec media to explain and defend his policies directly, and engaging in good old-fashioned retail politics, Mr. Harper seems to be further alienating most Quebeckers in an almost calculated way.

As all Quebeckers know only too well, in 2011, Mr. Harper won his coveted majority elsewhere. And with 30 new seats to be added to the House of Commons before the next election, he will have even less electoral need for Quebec than ever.

This is a dream scenario to delight the hearts of Quebec separatists.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/stephen-harpers-costly-french-kiss-off/article11714708/

His smirk just says I brought back the Royal, I brought back her face in Our foreign places, I will bring back the Ensign, I will bring back her anthem. The problem now is Ontario has moved on. They will now go with Quebec.

[DonCoquixote]

1. what happened is

Steve is a product of the part of Canada that hates Quebec. Just like W. played to Texans, Steve is playing to Alberta, who would probably love to scrape Quebec off.

[Dawson Leery]

2. +1

[PDJane]

3. That's part of it.

He's also very religious, a bit of a bigot, and not very fond of women.

[DonCoquixote]

4. nods

and while Toronto might be hot for prince Justin, there are many, on both sides, that do not want him, Steve knows this.

[Bannakaffalatta]

5. The attack ads started

the day after Trudeau was chosen: the Harpoons must have had them ready. Which means they were scared. Which is good. Nobody sane can win back Alberta; it's already sunk into the tar-pit. But Saskatchewan is redeemable and Ontario may yet pull its head out of....
...eh, maybe not.

[MAD Dave]

6. I sincerely hope Sk is redeemable.

I personally do not believe that SK is Conservative at its heart. Our history suggests that we look out for our neighbours and make sure the poor are taken care of.

I believe the tide is turning in SK. With the redrawing of the electoral boundaries and the creation of several urban only ridings there is hope that we may be heading in the right direction.

Also, the Idle No More protests highlighted the feelings of First Nations peoples in Canada. They too are fed up with the Harpercons. If they mobilize and vote Harper is done.

[Bannakaffalatta]

7. What about MB?

I don't know what's going on in my own country anymore, because all the news i get comes through internet forums and the Daily Show.