My Fellow Quebecers, Harper loves Us! He Really Does! Really!

Boys ‘n’ girls, I bet you’re all waiting for the punchline now.  Stevie Spiteful has decided to throw Quebec a bone, so to speak, to kind of distract us from the hiring of Angie Perischilli, the non-French speaking Quebec basher as his new mouthpiece to replace Dimitri Soudas. 

Enter former Progressive-Conservative MP from Richmond-Arthabaska and soon to be former Ambassador to UNESCO,  the sort of  ‘nationalist’ Andre Bachand.  M. Bachand appears to have been appointed to Stevie Spiteful’s inner sanctum as a senior advisor of some stripe with a “focus on Quebec”.  Kady O’Malley has graciously printed a copy of Nigel Wright’s little memo.

The question is, will this be relationship from hell?  A few things to know about Andre Bachand. As a former Progressive-Conservative, he did not support a merger with Stevie Spiteful’s Canadian Alliance (that’s CRAP for those of us who know better).  Fast forward to federal Election 2004, after retiring from federal politics, he had even endorsed the Liberal candidate in his former riding of Richmond-Arthabaska over the Conservative candidate.

M. Bachand would change his tune come election 2008 when he decided to attempt a political comeback to Parliament.  He ran as a Harpercon in the riding of Sherbrooke, where he  would lose to Bloc Quebecois MP,  Serge Cardin. In fact, it wasn’t even close as he came in third.

Two years ago, Bachand was appointed by Stevie Harper, hisself,  to be ambassador to UNESCO. Now,  M. Bachand will return home like a prodigal son of sorts (Ok, perhaps somewhat of a black sheep son).

I am curious about his changing his tune regarding the merged Cons in 2008. 

Oh, and boys ‘n’ girls, M. Andre Bachand did vote against the Clarity Act when it was passed. This means that the next time a Harpercon chastises a young NDPer from Quebec regarding the Clarity Act, we can throw Andre Bachand’s appointment in his face. Or have the Harpercons changed their minds regarding the Clarity Act?

You can learn more about Andre Bachand here.

There is reason to be cynical about this appointment and Josee Legault, does point out in her column, among other misgivings she has regarding M. Bachand’s appointment,  that this in no way makes up for the appointment of ol’ Angie Perischilli, nor should it.

Avec ou sans M. Bachand, qu’une telle vision de la place des francophones au Canada, dont son propre parlement, trône à la direction des communications du bureau du premier ministre ne peut qu’être inquiétant.

 Loosely translated,  Mme Legault basically means that with or without Andre Bachand, the appointment of a Francophone bashing, non-French speaking communications director such as the likes of Angelo Perischilli could only be worrysome. To me, that goes without saying.

Speaking of which, I wonder how well Andre Bachand and Angie Perischilli will play in the same cage?

I would like to know how long this relationship will last between Stevie Spiteful and Andre Bachand.  There was some feuding not long ago around the old Progressive Conservative faction, which included Conservative riding associations in la Belle Province right around the Harpercon hootenanny last spring.  There appears to be peace now amongst the ranks, but the very fact that this rift came up again, years after the merger, leads me to believe that this family feud can come up again at any given time.  When and/or if it does, I wonder which side of the street M. Bachand will stand on?

It will remain to be seen to whom will Bachand be loyal to when push comes to shove? La belle province or Harperland?

So, boys ‘n’ girls,  how much does Stevie Spiteful really love us?