Renouvellement de la Politique Québécoise (this takes guts and makes sense)

I am sure most of Canada looked at Quebec after the federal election and scratched their heads. What was all that about? They threw out most of the Bloc, continued to punish the Liberals, and yes continued to find Harper too un-Canadian. They elected a group of youngsters, university and college kids under the NDP banner. They left some incumbents standing to make sure Quebec's interests were covered by most parties.

Canada and its media looked on and tried to figure out - how did that happen? Was it Jack Layton? Well - yes it was - in some part - as Jack is a native son and is progressive regarding social policy. Jack is also now the leader of the official opposition.

So Quebec now dominates the caucus of the official opposition which in some part counters the ownership of Government by Ontario. Quebec has sent a message to all politicians in that province - do not get too comfortable - you are replaceable. Quebec has looked to the future and said - let's bring in the rookies - the youth; let's take advantage of the vote mob and bring fresh new ideas to the table.

Let's engage the future generations of Quebec and involve them in the protection and service to Quebec - change that is required to move ahead and not stagnate.

The pundits - the critics were out in full force - essentially making fun of absentee candidates and those who were not bilingual, too young, not established, and most importantly not yet owned. That's exactly the point - Quebec rejected the establishment, the worn, the politically corrupt, and traditional voting patterns.

I look at the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador - my home province - and am jealous of the Quebec political renewal. I look at the bourgeois population of the peoples House and am tired and bored. I know the new kids on the bloc representing Quebec in Ottawa - despite being rank amateurs in the politics of politics - are far more inspiring than the entitled MHA's we are subjects of.

Look at the nodding heads sitting behind Ms. Dunderdale or other Cabinet Ministers; do they inspire you? Do you get a sense of independent thought from any of them? Do you experience chills as they stand up and make predictable Members Statements? Their hands are "rubbed raw" from clinging to Danny's shredding coattails. They speak on important matters such as the Lower Churchill with passion only seen in the dead eyes of a drowned cod.

Quebec said no to; Crosbie begets Crosbie - Ottenheimer begets Ottenheimer - PC begets Kevin O'Brien - High School Principal begets yet another nodding head - all waiting to jump to their feet and cheer if the Premier says something - anything sounding similar to an insult to Jones or Michael.

Quebec demonstrated one very important philosophy - Democracy.

This is not about getting rid of the sovereignty debate - that is still alive and very healthy at the provincial level. It is about renewal. It is about Quebec. It is about a lively and unpredictable voting population that will keep politicians under their employ; as long as they say.

I would be willing to throw the whole works out for a bunch of new people - un"established" in the partisan sense of the word. I would love to see all MHA's replaced with students, fishers, miners, small business owners, and single parents - diverse and new. People who are truly representative of people and have the ability to have thoughts and ideas unencumbered by intrusive life-long senior bureaucrats still pushing failed and unwelcome policies.

In Quebec - this summer will be about the culture, the language, the pride, and the aspirations of a country - their own. In Newfoundland and Labrador we can look forward to unseasonably tanned politicians dragging themselves from funeral to BBQ without missing a beat and expect the people they come close to standing beside rush to get the camera to capture the moment they came close to shaking the hand of our legislative elite.

You feel comfortable with the Lower Churchill development? Why? I know Stephen Harper will be delighted to take away that cheap, renewable, reliable power and watch as Newfoundland and Labrador pays an enormous price - both short and long-term. I know Stephen and Peter will be happy to deliver to Nova Scotia and perhaps even Ontario. Stephen Harper enjoyed making a promise he will actually keep to our people - as it will represent something that diminishes our future.

You think it's time for a renewal in Newfoundland and Labrador?