December 1, 2008

This fall which was very
turbulent on the political
scene, and henceforth buried
in snow, resulted in some
political maneuvers which
bordered what is acceptable
in a democratic society.

First, the federal political
scene recently provided
a perfect example of corruption
in democratic institutions
for partisan purposes. Indeed,
Mr. Stephen Harper and the
Conservative Party of Canada
lost the confidence of the
House, which is nevertheless
the basis of legitimacy
for a government within
a parliamentary system like
ours. A premature prorogue
of the parliamentary session
while the country and the
planet are plunging headfirst
into the worst economic
crisis since the Great Depression
borders on irresponsibility.
Doing it solely for partisan
interests and ideologies
is absolutely scandalous.

Secondly, Jean Charest and
the Quebec Liberal Party
also did their part in the
manipulation of democratic
institutions. Wanting to
take advantage of a favorable
context and the precarious
financial situation of the
opposition parties, the
Quebec government called
a very unpopular election
without any real issues
at stake, in an economical
situation that everyone
knew about. The PLQ didn’t
fool anyone with the pretext
that it was necessary to
have a majority government
in a time of crisis. If
Jean Charest obtained the
majority he so coveted,
to no one’s surprise,
it wasn’t with more
support than in 2007, but
rather with one of the lowest
voter turnout rate in the
history of Quebec elections. 

The Federation hopes that
he is aware of it and that
the FIQ intends to work
with the same energy to
remind him of the promises
made for working conditions
and salaries of care professionals
even if these are far from
being adequate for the problems
faced in the field. Consequently,
the new government must
make this a priority for
2009, or else the FIQ will
be on its doorstep.

Until then, we must recharge
our batteries, because if
the year that is coming
to an end was difficult,
2009 promises not to be
one of rest, with the period
of changing union allegiance
and the start of the negotiations
of the Quebec collective
agreement with the SISP-N.
To do this, what could be
better than the holiday
period to recharge the batteries,
be close to loved ones and
have a good time! I wish
everyone a very merry Christmas
and a 2009 full of small
and large victories which
will help make this world
a little better, thanks
to you!

In solidarity,