Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The House of Commons is profoundly sad at Maclean's

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 7:56pm - 0 Comments

This evening the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion censuring expressing its profound sadness at this magazine. The following is the submitted text of that motion.

That this House, while recognizing the importance of vigorous debate on subjects of public interest, expresses its profound sadness at the prejudice displayed and the stereotypes employed by Maclean’s Magazine to denigrate the Quebec nation, its history and its institutions.

Independent MP Andre Arthur reportedly objected to the motion, then left the chamber, allowing the motion to be re-introduced and passed.

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  • Giles WILDERMAN

    Congrats Macleans – for telling – reporting, like it is. I've contracted in every province and territory in Canada, and PQ outclasses all in graft and corruption. Maybe a few more articles like this will wake Ottawa and Quebec up, if they complain I consider them tremendously ill-informed.

  • Hal Martin

    Nothing wrong with what MacLeans expressed about Quebec (I have always called it exagerated patronage). The clarity is refreshing to me.

    My comments to the people that were offended—-travel a bit, look around and compare Quebec to any or all of the other environments.

    —-you will find that you have been unaware of the cessation that you consider normal and healthy.

  • Memi

    Why is it that since Stevie Harper came to town, Civility and even superficial tolerance have gone out the window? Even Alan Fotheringham wrote this in the National Post four years ago lamenting the downward spiral of Parliamentary procedure and manners….

    Harper has singlehandedly demolished what remained of Civility and Parliamentary democratic debate. Shame on this Bushian carbon copy who should feel far more at home in Crawford Ranch than anywhere else!

    It will be a bright day for Canadians when Cowboy Steve climbs down the Hill!

    I pray for that day! Before he dismantles what remains of Canadian pride and national identity–and I dodn't mean buying $16 Billion of fighter jets or wasting $2 billion of our tax dollars on fake lakes and trashing Toronto!

    • Ariadne

      Ignatieff, is that you?

    • Baagheecha

      I visited Parliament when I was in Grade 12 (1971!) and was at THAT time already shocked and ashamed of the civility in Parliament. It's nothing new, kiddo.

  • Mike

    Hey, now there's the next great cover story… "who's the most gutless politician on parliament hill?" Maclean's would have a field day.

  • Bert Massiah

    Having lived, worked and gone to University in Quebec I really understand appreciate the column by Macleans and strongly encourage them to keep up the good work. How about looking at some of our other provincial systems.

  • Raymond

    Darn right! Unfortunately they embarass the taxpayers most of the time. And yes, it was shameful. Last i heard we had free speech in this great country of ours and the Commons did not rise as one man to defend it.

  • Blacktop

    The next thing you know Parliament will be censuring this thread!

    • Ariadne

      Because you commented in Maclean's on such controversial issue concerning Quebec, consider yourself censured too. It does look like a Canadian version of Islamic Fatwah eh?

  • Alexander Jenkins

    What can you expect from a bunch of pampered, overpaid and gutless wonders that fall over themselves to feed the corruption with money from other provinces every day,

  • Kenneth Stephen

    To put it more clearly: a sovereign state is a political entity with law-making power, exclusive borders, etc. A NATION is a race of people with a clear racial, linguistic, cultural (etc.) identity all their own. By any reasonable interpretation of the terms, the francophone society of Quebec is clearly a nation. However, any LEGAL recognition of that reality is bound to bring up all sorts of other inconvenient issues. And alas, many of the people who comment on these boards are not reasonable people, as indicated by their furious, intemperate, or just downright rude language.

  • Ariadne

    Thanks for the correction – from BC Nation. To the politicians of the Sovereign state of Canada – Grow a Back Bone! It is getting so attractive in considering a one term political system. It made think that recycling is only good for the environment but poison for politics.

  • John E

    I wonder if they would have been " profoundly sad" if the article and comments were made about Alberta

    • Ariadne

      Nahh, they only cared on your continued financial support.

    • baagheecha

      No, I'm guessing.

  • Ariadne

    Because you commented in Maclean's on such controversial issue concerning Quebec, consider yourself censured too. It does look like a Canadian version of Islamic Fatwah eh?

  • lgeubank

    Boo-hoo! I’ll tell my mama on you,
    The little game that you played, has made
    Her baby oh so blue

    Boo-hoo! That’s why I’m crying for you
    Some day you’ll feel like I do, and you,
    Will boo-hoo-hoo-hoo too.
    — House of Commons , to Macleans

  • Yvan Morin

    IT IS NOT MACLEAN'S it is Andrew Coyne.The magasine has changed so much since that guy is there .It used to be refreshing to read and appreciate english Canada throught that magazine,not so any more. When mr Coyne was at the NNational Post his attitude toward Quebec and his writing had the same smell as today.

  • EJR

    What a pathetic move on the part of the house! What's next – censoring of every media outlet that dares to write the truth about
    the reality of what happens in Quebec? I've read the article and like
    another reader I thought there was more to come.

  • Jonathan Gage

    I'm embarrassed that Parliament would waste their time on this. What a sad bunch of politically correct and cowed mps.

  • Chuck M.

    Any of us who have ever worked in Quebec know that the closest thing to a straight line there is a corkscrew. But dont just look at government.

  • Ludwig

    Maclean's failed to match the right name with the word corrupt. The real problem of Quebec province is homing the new Atlantis island: Montreal.
    Because of Montreal, any magazines from other countries could try to be provocative with a title like "Canada the most corrupt country".
    But in the past, Maclean's succeed to pinpoint the Quebec province's problem:
    "November 9, 2009: Montreal is a corrupt, crumbling, mob-ridden disgrace"

  • sue

    This is indicative of the decline in quality journalism of Maclean's Magazine, which is a shadow of its past standing and reputation.

  • rhon

    As an individual merely existing in Quebec I must commend Macleans-not Rogers- for being extremely gentle in its revelations of corruption in Quebec. In fact, many here would say they just scratched the surface. This explains the rabid denounciations from the usual suspects including our parliamentarians who have let the Quebec tail wag the Canadian dog for years now ,hoping that no one else will carry this issue further." Watch out the tribe's gonna getcha if you make trouble!"
    Why doesn't Parliament censure the Quebec government for disenfranchising English speakers,or for promoting collective rights rather than individual rights? Why don't they censure Loblaws for refusing to mention Canada Day in any of their Quebec advertising prior to July 1?
    Why when it comes to domestic policies does our parliament not stand on guard for Canada as it does on the international stage(sometimes)? Why are some Canadians more equal than others?………I think we all know.

  • Briansz

    The Macleans's report on corruption didn't go far enough, it should have included a study of all politicians across Canada. Sorry House of commons, the Canadian people simply don't trust politicians according to the recent Léger poll. I wonder why?

  • rhon

    Maybe our spineless parliamentarians can express their profound "happiness" that in the latest chapter of democratic tollerence the Quebec language police has coerced(by law ) English School boards to purchase French keyboards for their employees at a cost of thousands of dollars and that photo copiers must have French labels affixed over the offensive English keys. If that doesn't do the trick then perhaps they can commend the Quebec government for passing a law that removes the tendering process to re-equip the Montreal Metro system with new cars and allow Bombardier and Allston to automatically get the contract at a much higher cost to tax payers than other companies that had been involved in the process. …..when will this ever end….?

  • moondog99

    Well done Macleans. You reported it as it was. Quebec can only deal with the facts that they see benefits them, anything else and I mean anything, becomes anti-Quebec. Continue the honest reporting . John

  • nklippenstein

    I think the important question here is what about the article was true, what about it was false. That we (or different groups) may like or dislike what was said is secondary. The old adage: "Don't shoot the messenger may apply."

  • FatBar

    Guess it's time to replace the red maple leaf on the Canucki flag with a red star. Or a black swastika.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Ottawa_Centrist Ottawa_Centrist

    Regardless of the opinion of the House, it's a conversation worth having.

  • maddinosaur

    Those organizations that denigrate or hate Christians, whites, anglos, farmers, stay at home moms, red necks etc presumably deserve more funding for tax spenders from tax payers I’ve yet to hear the HOC censure one.

    When did anyone care about the decades of stereo types of me?

    Never,

    Can we censure the endophobic bigots at the CBC? or at the Winnipeg Free Press, Toronto Star, CUPE, etc. Nope they are progressive bigots so their actions are always acceptable.
    http://marginalizedactiondinosaur.wordpress.com/2…

  • Jan

    Sigh, they did not vote to take away Macleans right to free speech. Could you get the facts straight, before you hit the outrage button.

  • maddinosaur

    They aren't taking it away yet just telling them saying that is bad.

    Disingenuous, comment at best, I do have the facts straight. these guys have little if any commitment to free speech.

    They voted to say that they don't like what Macleans was saying.

    Censure by the House of Commons IS an infringement on free speech. Why don't they censure the bigoted Walrus Magazine?

    What right do our representatives have to censure we the tiny people? There are thousands of groups or individuals saying worse than Macleans but because they are politically correct it's ok to hate Jews Christians etc etc..

    Some who not only promote hate, but out and out call for genocide but out spineless masters are silent because it offends their white guilt. they will never censure a muslim group for calling for the death of Molly Norris.

    The Government of Canada does not, of course, observe International Free Press Day but it does celebrate Islamic Heritage Month

    http://www.steynonline.com/component/option,com_f…

    Meanwhile lets all support honour killings.

    The only reason Macleans would deserve anything approaching censure is if they lied and the motion doesn't even hint at that.

    The pansies in the house just don't like what they said. tough its supposed to be a free country.

  • rgm

    Now that the house of commons has confirmed Quebec as a "nation" when will then be leaving us?

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