Comments on: Louise Harel: the English interviews

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:51:02 +0000

Those provisions would allow me to quote from it, or use excerpts, not republish the whole thing. And even if it could be interpreted as being legal, I won't do it without permission.

By: Joe Clark

Joe Clark — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:36:02 +0000

You don’t actually need their permission to post the interview in this context, as it is covered under review, commentary, and news-reporting provisions of fair dealing. Yes, you can post the whole thing.

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:34:41 +0000

There is no shame in ethnic voting. Are sheep ashamed of their condition? Certainly not. So why should the english be ashamed of voting for the same ones, no matter if they are rich or poor???

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:06:01 +0000

In dismissing Harel as unilingual, the schmucks in Anglo-media have given Tremblay a free-pass. For Shame!

By: Patrice

Patrice — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:59:13 +0000

just too be precise :) she used "deceived" because she probably meant "décevant" like in "disappointing". the fact that she's not bilingual wouldn't be a problem if she stays in Montreal. But when it's time to travel and represent the City of Montreal, it's mandatory. sorry for my average english, i'm french :)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:08:35 +0000

Is it just me or does the Global interview look like it was conducted in a storage room?

By: Karine

Karine — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:34:36 +0000

Funny I've just read a passage in a Kathy Reichs book, about how one's initial language seeps into the second language, especially when you don't have a perfect grasp of it, something I'm very familiar with especially in my written English. Sounds to me that Mrs Harel was using the word "deceived" with the same meaning as "déçu" ie disappointed. Maybe her handlers didn't catch it. As for me I've cast my votes. My complaints about the process: no wheelchair access to the voting room, try negotiating stairs with a stroller. Luckily my niece isn't heavy. My other: I was handed a whole whack of ballots on which each candidate was listed but not for what unless I looked at the back of each. Sorting out the city and burrough mayor candidates were easy. The counsellors? Not so much.

By: cheese

cheese — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:44:43 +0000

I don't think that the language thing is so important for Harel, as long as she can get by in English she can perform her duties. But since English is the current lingua franca it may mean that Montreal will be further hindered internationally. The real issue is that her party has no "vision", no plan, nothing compelling, just some rehashed dreams from a bygone era. Also she personally botched the municipal mergers, leaving Montreal in a tangled bureaucratic mess. I'm surprised she was even able to show her face and run for any office again, let alone mayor. The fact that separatists and the "pur laine" have championed her precisely for her lack of language skills is just depressing. Let's have some intelligent debate, some strong leadership in either language. Regardless of your views though, get out and vote today!

By: Olivier

Olivier — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:08:04 +0000

Quite frankly Gilles, I'm perfectly inclined to believe her on that point. I mean: what is the incentive of saying that she was deceived when she just spent the last two weeks saying "Labonté m'a déçue" in french?? She *knows* saying one thing in french and something else in english is a huge no-no. She *knows* if she does so it will be instantly picked up and held against her. Why in the name of jeebus would she do something like that? Seriously, she spent the last two months saying she freezes when she speaks english because she is afraid of making political mistakes. Saying deceived when she spent the last two weeks saying "disapointed" in french is such a mistake. Why would she do it *on purpose*?

By: Gilles

Gilles — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:02:47 +0000

I'm not sure if anyone picked up on this - but the word Louise Harel used - 'deceived'- to describe her relations with Benoit Labonte - was used in at least 2 of 3 interviews. In the CBC interview with Nancy Wood; Harel explains that the use of this word was mistakenly used instead of the word 'disappointed'. Hmmmm now let me calculate this. Louise Harel goes on Montreal English network television (no doubt coached or at least practiced on how to answer these questions in English) and specifically on how to best answer a question in English on the Benoit Labonte affair. Why wouldnt anyone coach her on the correct translation for the word dissapointed....???? Sounds to me like the potential mayor to be may be 'deceiving' the viewer in having mistakenly used the word 'deceived'. (-; Why does this not surprise me (coming from Louise Harel)? Now I am feeling very deceived... (translate that any way you want to)

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:21:56 +0000

It’s good to know I’m not the only one who sees language issues everywhere…

By: dan

dan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:26:14 +0000

This whole thing has been a huge distraction. I think having a mayor who doesn't speak the Queen's English is an asset. It makes Montreal seem a more distinct and truly international city.

/Still voting for Bergeron.

By: No Deli

No Deli — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:06:39 +0000

1870!

By: Olivier

Olivier — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:03:03 +0000

I'll repeat what I said when you first poked fun at here after the Lagacé-Dawson interview: she had nothing to loose doing it. And even tough she has nothing to show for her efforts right now (Bergeron is the one hitting on every side of the electorate), if she ends up mayoress, she's already established her willingness to reach out. At the end of the day, this isn't provincial or federal politics: she can't afford not to do this, even if she comes up empty-handed at first. She's crafty enough to understand that. Now, the election being the crapshoot it is, we'll see. But Michel David had a point in this morning's Devoir: Bergeron is the only of the three candidates commanding a certain base in the Anglo, Allo and Franco electorates.