Christos Kalantzis’ Blog

American Republicans, criticize Canadian Socialized medical system, calling it inefficient and slow.  As a Canadian living in the U.S.A., I can confirm that this is not true!

As an employed computer professional in Silicon Valley, I am fully insured with one of the best rated HMOs in the state of California.  So I figured, its about time I go visit the doctor. I chose from the list of approved doctors of my HMO.  When I called earlier this week, I was told the next available appointment was in November, 5 months away!

In Canada, I can visit ANY doctor I want, and can get an appointment for a physical within a couple of weeks.  This begs the question; Why do Americans keep on knocking Canadian Socialized medicine?

The answer is simple.  HMOs have the politicians in their pockets, and health care is a multi-billion dollar industry, which won’t go away easy.

I miss Canada. Until winter rolls around, then not so much.

My trip to the US has enlightened me to the fact that Americans pay less for the same goods. OK, I already knew this, however I never knew to what extent. Stuff in the US cost on average 15% less than in Canada.  Of course this has traditionally been the case because of the strength of the American Dollar.  However, lately the American dollar isn’t doing so hot.  In fact for the last few weeks the Canadian dollar has been more powerful than its American counterpart.

So why are we paying more today for the same goods?  Retailers are saying that its because the goods were purchased months ago when the dollar was low.  That too sounds logical.  I learned in business school that orders are placed months before products are placed on the shelves.  However, I also learned that purchase orders are paid months after the products are received and assuming that the PO is in US dollars, its paid in Canadian dollars at the current market price.  So that explanation doesn’t hold water.

Canadians too do not accept this explanation, so they have taken matters into their own hands.  Cross-border shopping has risen in the past few weeks, and doesn’t look to be slowing down.  Internet purchases have risen as well, since the only tax that has to be paid is the GST.

Its has become quite the topic, even in  Parliament. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty plans to meet with private retailers next week to urge them to reduce prices as the dollar soars in value.

It will be interesting to see what develops.  Is this just retailers trying to get away with a little extra profit while the Canadian dollar is high or do retailers simply don’t know how to convert money?

On September 17th, there will be by-elections in the federal riding of Outremont. The NDP is running Thomas Mulcair as a “Star Candidate”.

Thomas Mulcair was the MNA for the Distrinct of Chomedey, in Laval, between 1994 and 2007, where in my opinion he served his district very well. After a falling out between him and the leader of his party, the Quebec Libarals, he left provincial politics and was eventually seduced to join the NDP and run for a federal seat.

So far so good right? Everyone has the right to run for office so that they may represent the area they live in and know very well. Wait a minute! How well does he know Outremont? How long has he lived there that makes him such an expert of the area that he can better represent that area than any other Outremont citizen?

OK so my problem isn’t with Thomas Mulcair. Just the opposite, I like the guy and what he stands for. I have a problem with the the Canadian political process which allows candidates to run for any seat, even if they haven’t lived there for a long time…or ever!

Even my political party is guilty of this (I am a card carrying member of the Conservative party of Canada). Your favorite blogger tried to seek the Conservative party nomination for Laval (where I have lived for 27 years), however was not even allowed to enter my name since they wanted to run a “Star Candidate”.

So what is this rant all about? I believe elections reform should include living in the area you are going to represent, for at least 2 years. After all, isn’t an MP’s first duty to his constituents? How can you know your constituency unless you live there for a while?

Maybe I am just a little bitter.

I watched Sicko last night, and must say it was an eye opener and a movie that confirmed many things I already knew, or thought I knew.

What was an eye opener wasn’t the fact that Moore accuses the US HMO’s of being profiteering companies that exist mainly to raise their stock price and secondly, if it so pleases them, to actually help their customers. What is surprising is that Americans need Moore to tell them that.

Movies like this one, are a win-win for Moore and the American public. He makes tons of money for stating the obvious. What sets him apart is that he presents these statements in an entertaining way. Why is it that Americans will only listen to an important message if its entertaining? Moore has figured that out, and so he goes forth, making entertaining-informative movies, which is the only way to grab the american audience’s attention. I do not fault him for this. Just the opposite, this capitalist salutes him!

What this movie confirmed to me was that Canada’s social medicine program, for all the faults that Canadians can find with it, is much better than our neighbor’s to the south’s way of distributing medicine.

American’s believe we have no choice in doctors, and that we have to wait months to see specialists. That is simply not true. I can see a doctor of my choosing any day I want and a specialist within a week and, god forbid, I even need a bypass, it will be done within a week as well. For the grand total of $0. Sure we pay more in taxes. However, I can live without upgrading to a new iPod every 6 months to a year, if it means I can get top-notch health care for FREE!

Micheal Moore’s Sicko is a very interesting movie. There is some controversy surrounding him of late about his “facts”. However, I see his movies less about stating facts and more about getting people to open their eyes and at least begin to ask questions.

Go watch it!

Second referendum was close…but not close enough
The second referendum in 1995 saw the whole country rally behind Québec. Jean Charest was revered as the man who saved the “No” side and saved Canada. This pushed him into provincial politics and eventually Premier of Quebec.

However just how close the “yes” side got has already been forgotten. What is remembered however, is Jacques Parizeau’s speech about “Money” and “Ethnics”.

Secret #2
Parizeau might have been write about the money that came from Ottawa, however, he was wrong about the Ethnic vote.

All the PQ had to prove was that an independent Quebec was economically better off than a Quebec within Canada. Since this was not done, the status quo is always preferable. Especially to an Ethnic with money.

The Winning Formula
I will now give the steps necessary for the PQ to achieve independence. Why am I doing this? Well I believe you will agree with me that they simply cannot fulfill the requirements of the steps…but here goes anyways:

-An Exit Plan
A lot has been said about independence, however, what happens on the day after a yes referendum? A referendum is not legally binding, that is what a plebiscite is for. A clear plan is needed to describe the steps to independence.

-A Constitution
A constitution of this new Country named Quebec is necessary. Will it be a republic, federation dictatorship? A clear constitution explaining the rights of all citizens is necessary and that guarantees all citizens the same rights, essentially ending the Anglophones’ fears of becoming second class citizens.

-Economic Analysis
Independent analysis of the economic viability of an independent Quebec is necessary. What is the point of achieving independence, when you will bankrupt the new country? This would settle the Money’s nerves.

-Military
Sovereignty is not just given, it also has to be protected. I don’t believe that Canada will just hand over billions of dollars of equipment to the new Quebec.

-Respect Democracy
One of the PQ’s main arguments for referendums is that it is a democratic process and should be respected if the majority wills a certain result. Well using that logic, then a new independent Quebec will have to respect the will of certain “prefectures” that might want to separate from this new Quebec. I believe Montreal might be a good example of an area that would certainly like to use the same PQ logic in holding their own referendum and possibly declaring independence or repatriation to Canada. Certainly an independent Quebec created out of democracy will respect the democratic will of its people, even if that will is to separate from it.

Well…Where is it?
The PQ has been around for 30 years, and the previous questions have never been addressed. How can they even expect anyone to strive for something that they don’t even know how to implement?

If they do know, why haven’t they shared it? Have they shared it with the folks in Lac St-Jean? They keep on voting for the PQ and is considered a “sovereignist” area. I can only hope they vote yes, because they have been given those facts, and not letting their emotions get the better of them.

I Want to vote OUI!
I want the “yes” vote to win, if it deserves to. More importantly the Ethnics and the Money want it to win too, if it can prove that they will be better off.

It is on you, leaders of the PQ. Prove to us we will be better off in an independent Quebec and tell us how it will be achieved. Please leave the sentiments at the door and just give us the facts.

I hope the PQ and the BQ are paying attention. This multi-part post is intended to inform them how to achieve independence.

Why am I doing this? I am certain they will never follow these steps to independence, since it probably goes against what hard-line separatists believe in. I would even vote for independence if they followed the following steps that will guarantee Ethnics and Money will vote for them. Well here goes….

The Blame Game
After the 1995 referendum, the PQ blamed Ethnics and “Money” for the reason why the referendum turned the way it did (>50% No). Parizeau’s speech was deemed racist and in poor taste and folded to pressure to step down as leader of the PQ.

Unfortunately, he was absolutely correct. As we see now after the Canadian Sponsorship Scandal, money was funneled into the No Campaign, but I will not cover this in this posting.

Furthermore, his comment about Ethnics (Anglophones included) was absolutely correct as well. Ethnics will always vote No to the separation question, because of a fear in becoming second-class citizens, and having the little services offered in english taken away.

How can Ethnics Minds be Changed?
When my parents moved to Canada from Greece, it wasn’t because of a love for Montreal or for Quebec nor for Canada. It was out of necessity. Their country’s economy was horrible and since they were young, full of energy and wide eyed optimism, they ventured to the West to find their fortunes.

My folks succeeded. Many did as well. Some did not. However, this lifestyle became familiar to them, and they made roots here, bought homes, property and businesses.

During this whole process, almost all (my parents and other immigrants) have suffered some form of verbal abuse form the Quebec “pure-laine”. Being proud, they shrugged it off and kept the course. They had kids. They educated them or in some cases passed on their businesses to them.

Enter Quebec Separatism
A new party comes into power, and a new idea is put forth: Quebec Separation. Many immigrants fled countries where a coup-d’etat just happened. They saw this as a similar sort of affair, and feared for all they worked hard for.

In their case the status-quo seemed a lot better than something new that could possibly affect their new found wealth.

Secret #1
One thing the PQ hasn’t understood is that, unlike the Anglophones of Quebec, Ethnics don’t care about the language debate. They came here for a better life, in a language that was obviously going to be different from the one they spoke in their home countries. So whether this was going to be achieved in french or english is irrelevant to them. Lets continue….

First referendum was a dud
The first referendum in 1980 failed to produce the result the PQ wanted. This gave Ethnics the feeling that the idea was dead, since it failed and they continued working hard and accumulating more wealth, and pushing their roots deeper into Quebec, having more kids and in some cases grand-children.

All seemed right with the world, however the language debate continued and the idea of separation didn’t die. The Meech Lake Accord failed and the second referendum was fueled.

to be continued…

Canada’s House of Commons today held a vote and upheld the gay marriage law put in place by the previous Liberal government.

And the Winner is….Stephen Harper!

Why you may ask? Stephen Harper made an election promise to have a vote to reopen the discussion. He did and the vote happened. Promise kept! Furthermore, I believe that deep down inside Stephen Harper did not want it to be overturned. He kept his promise, and now he can quietly sweep it under the rug and move on to what he considers more important issues.

I am sure that Liberals and NDP members will see this as a victory, however it is a battle that was already won and not even hard fought by the Conservatives. Mr. Harper didn’t even look heart broken.

My Take
For the sake of full disclosure, I voted Conservative in the last election, and am a member of the party. However, I don’t believe this vote should have happened. Nor do I believe that homosexuals’ or heterosexuals’ marriages should be recognized by any government.

Marriage, in my opinion, is a religious concept, and as long as straights or gays can find a church to marry them…great! However, the government should simply recognize the civil union and enforce the rights and responsibilities of both partners. This whole exercise has been a waste of time and money.

Remember the first movie or live show at the Rialto on Robert Bourassa Avenue?  Of course you don’t cause the Rialto is on Parc Ave not Robert Bourassa Ave.  However ,that might just change by next week.

So the Tremblay administration has decided to rename a street.  Its a good thing they consulted us, and we gave the administration the green light.  Wait a minute!  Did we do that?  Sarcasm aside, Once again one of our levels of government used it’s infinite wisdom (OK maybe I didn’t put the sarcasm aside) to make a decision that will affect our daily lives without consulting us.

What’s in a name?  Aside from the nostalgia factor, this name change will inconvenience residents, as well as cost businesses real money.  Letterhead, business cards and anything related to displaying a hard copy of your address will have to be changed.  Will the city of Montreal pick up the costs to businesses?

Furthermore, in a city where the constant message is that money has to be saved and invested in infrastructure and helping the needy, seems that the money that will be used to make this name change happen, could have been better spent.

Now Robert Bourassa was a great Québec premier and deserves to be honored.  How about when the 30 is finally completed, it can be called the Robert Bourassa Beltway.  Or maybe when the high-speed train linking Montreal to the Pierre-Eliot Trudeau airport is completed it could be called the Robert Bourassa Express.  But that means an administration has to actually make a long term commitment, which isn’t today’s style of politics.

Parc Ave is a historical street and has great meaning to people who lived there.  It would be a shame to let it go.  Its a travesty that the city’s administration never bothered to consult the citizens and businesses on the Parc Ave.