#917

david.nicholson's

916 Montréal next Wed918

Peter Trent

Wednesday-Night.com
Salon Magazine vol 18

September 29, 1999

Wednesday Night #917

September 29, 1999

THE INVITATION

This Wednesday, September 29th has been declared a "Free-for-all" Wednesday. Topics are up to the guests. We might suggest a few, starting with:

• The rise in the price of gold and the effect on the Canadian dollar;;
• Steve Ballmer declares tech stock valuations "absurd", contributing to a $250 billion drop in value of US stocks .... "Wellness experts on the street are saying that the prognosis for the market is improved".
• The IMF debt relief plan - Paul Martin as Chair.
• Russia/Chechnya , a new conflict breaks out.
• Dan Quayle out of the running "A Bush in the hand is worth more than a quail..." forget it, don't go there.
• The ONEX/Air Canada/Canadian saga continues.
• Cotler in and unopposed for the nomination;
• Tax cut for the Maritimes, cut the handouts, encourage investment by high tech firms, eliminate brain drain... sounds familiar. What about us?
• The National Post Parliament debates the issues the federal parliament isn't in session to debate ... and doing a better job of it.
• Peter White buys back the Sherbrooke Record - with a little help from his friends
• And... the UN FAO's 13th session of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea is meeting in Ottawa.

  Bring your additions to these randomly chosen items and join us for Wednesday Night #917. David and Diana Nicholson

  Trust Ron Meisels

  There is an old Hungarian saying: A quail in the bush, but you can't make him drink.
  Another one is: A martin in the tree is worth two out of office.
  And: Don't count your cotlers before they ripen.
  And: A Balmer sea carries much wind.
  And: If it doesn't fit, onex it!
  
  

  ---

  
  

  917

  THE SALON

  Despite the suggestions put forward in this Wednesday's invitation, there was very little debate on new topics at the September 29th Wednesday Night Salon. Rather, previously considered issues were updated and discussed.

  AN INTRODUCTION

  Marie-Hélène brought a welcome new addition to the gathering - Jean-Louis Massé, Chief Actuary and Vice President of Standard Life, whose impressive credentials made him an excellent commentator on the topics of the evening.

  ONE ISLAND, ONE CITY, ONE?

  David Oliver & Peter F. Trent

  This topic was led off by a couple of eye-witness accounts of Mayor Trent's debate with Jean-Pierre Collin of the INRS and the Bédard Report. It was not a debate, but simply consisted in friendly presentations of two views. Nobody in the audience actually argued against our Mayor's position

  The debate on the amalgamation of Montreal Island communities has deteriorated into a well- funded campaign of slogans that appeal superficially, but it is clear that the general population does not grasp the more profound implications. A closer view of the campaign sees a poorly-run, debt-ridden, Montreal, replete with labour problems, attempting to annex the smaller, more efficient communities on the island.

  While it is clear that the status quo cannot be maintained, it is equally obvious to serious students of the issues that, apart from a fiscal problem which can easily be solved by fiscal solutions, the principal problems are more regional than island-wide and require regional co-operation rather than island-wide annexation. It is noteworthy that, according to Abe Limonchek, 46% of Montreal City Council members are opposed to Bourque's plan.

  Although some people who live East of St. Laurent may be deeply interested in what Westmount thinks, it was suggested that the Mayor of Westmount's opposition to amalgamation is not going to impress the general public. There is a need for slick slogans and spokespersons from a more populist milieu (a francophone labour leader would be nice). Above all, the positives of the current situation must be clearly and simply defined. Several slogans were suggested:

  • Une ile, une ville, un mess
  • Une ile, une ville … le chaos
  • Une ile, une ville, un bordelle
  (Editor's note: The next morning La Presse headlined the editorial: "Une ile, une ville, une poubelle")

  There was brief mention of the recent appointment of Guy Coulombe as City Manager. Feeling from those who know the two men is that this is not a marriage made in heaven. It is doubtful that he and Mayor Bourque will be able to work together for very long.

  REED SCOWEN'S BOOK AND THE CURRENT CONTEXT

  Reed Scowen

  WHAT is Reed doing? Reed is being Reed. He's being provocative. He's a bit of a leprechaun - or is that poltergeist? He has always been an iconoclast, enjoying "tweaking people's noses".

  "He may be the first step on the road to winning conditions". He plays on the feelings of helplessness that pervade the older Anglo community, not because he wants the Rest of Canada to agree with him, but because he wants others to act. Or, is he actually saying It's time to say hello? Is there a chance that this may provoke a completely other reaction in ROC?

  Le Devoir, of course, finds the book insulting to Québec. Bernard Landry has embraced it without reading it - calling it a "smashing" title. But in general the reaction of the media has been negative (although there has been a lot of reaction).

  Guy Stanley

  Most agree that this will revive the debate just when nobody wants to. His (Reed's) timing has always been a little bit off (Michel David subsequently made that point in the Gazette).

  Meanwhile, the political climate in Québec is not improving.
  The problem in Québec is that we need a supply-side revolution.
  Fundamentally politicians are judged by how ably they can run things, along with their Leadership.

  Réné Lévesque knew intuitively that if Quebeckers were going to vote yes, the PQ would have to show that they could run the province well. Lévesque did. Bouchard "couldn't run a lemonade stand". Bouchard believes in ideas The P.Q. today hasn't the same degree of purpose, direction, idealism that it did under Lévesque.

  Charest is interesting intellectually, but has yet to demonstrate that he can run the province well. First, he needs a vision. The role of a politician is to knit people together for a common cause. Lévesque did it; Bouchard did it; Charest hasn't shown any indication that he can.

  Warren Alldmand

  (Editor's Note: Charest spoke to McGill students on Tuesday; one guest who had been at that meeting said that he had found Charest to be less than spell-binding. The McGill Daily of September 30 headlined their generally balanced account of the appearance " Jean's Charade - Opposition leader brings Liberal rhetoric to McGill".)

  THE ECONOMY

  The reported move of Nova bus caused no alarm. It is normal for governments to insist on a certain percentage of local content. Also, there is a tendency in the United States for local investors to have the plant built in the United States. Of more concern are the interprovincial barriers within Canada.

  A recent survey of Québec small cap companies has indicated that they are less volatile than the [ chart]TSE 300 and have higher returns.

  Subsequent to the recent market correction, TSE stocks are cheap. It's time to buy. People are losing confidence in the market and returning to basics. The U.S. government is boasting of a fifteen billion dollar surplus. Canada has paid off twenty billion dollars of debt of which six billion has been paid off this year. In the light of this, corporate debt increase is a partial offset and causes no concern.

  Salaries are up four percent in the United States, two and a quarter percent in Canada. Both Consumer Confidence and business confidence are high.

  John Bowring

  The sudden unexpected rise in the price of gold was due to investors who had over-shorted gold. The sale of gold by the International Monetary Fund (to write off Third World debt) and central banks will ensure a stabilization of future gold prices. Gold is no longer an economic indicator, it has become a commodity.

  There will be a quarter percent increase in U.S. interest rates, because this is Greenspan's last opportunity to do so. Canada cannot follow suit because we are not creating sufficient jobs. - and this is a worry. Our unemployment remains high. The United States dollar has declined because of an increasing trade deficit, but this is chiefly in goods, there is a surplus in services. Canada is in a surplus trade position.

  China will avoid devaluation, because Asian countries are recovering. Real growth in China is the greatest in the world.

  QUOTES OF THE EVENING:

  • Bouchard "couldn't run a lemonade stand"
  • "He (Reed Scowen) may be the first step on the road to winning conditions".

  Diana Thébaud & Thaipan

  HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE in our medical file.
  
  
  916 Montréal next Wed918
  
  
  Notes by Herbert Bercovitz
  Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
  

  ---

  
  

  ---

  
  
  
  
  
  Thank you to Andrew de Courcy-Ireland page
  

  ---

  
  

  see Margaret Lefebvre-Walker RUN

  SEE our Y2k site

  We have found a 800k computer program to test/fix your computer which you can get FREE at our Y2k page One of the computers at Wednesday-Night.com is ok the other needs help. Remember all you need to do if all else fails is set your date to the year 1972. It is the same as 2000!
  
  

  Prof Tony Deutsch

  Report on a Virus

  You must go to Wednesday-night.com "Computers" page before bothering us with Hoax warning. These computer pages, as well as Virus Hoax Warnings, can answer many questions by leading us to best resource pages
  
  

  ---

  
  

  Reed Scowen

  
  
  Read about Reed Scowen's new book
  Time to Say Goodbye, Tommy Schnurmacher our Medical Web ..Super Hospital