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 Wed955Jones
#954 Jun 14, 2000
THE INVITATION
Josh Freed Night
A much anticipated event this week when our special guest will be Josh Freed, the articulate, thoughtful, and some times acerbic, observer of Life, particularly the Alice in Wonderland life as she is led in Montreal and Québec. This Wednesday he will, for the first time, observe our peculiar institution.
One wishes to be frightfully clever when designing the invitation for such an auspicious occasion, however the competition is overwhelming. Therefore we will be brief - come one and all and be observed!
We do hope you will join us,
http://www.Wednesday-Night.com/JoshFreed.htm this file not only includes many of his Gazette stories but books movies and fun adventures.. where does he find the time?
His travels take him to many countries but he loves Montreal.
THE SALON
Wednesday Night Salon # 954 Josh Freed
June 14, 2000
INTRODUCTION
Susan Eyton-Jones on the eve of her departure for Charlottesville Virginia and the Ash Lawn Festival, came to say a quick goodbye and thank you to her many Wednesday Night friends who had encouraged her and written letters of recommendation on her behalf.
Wednesday Night Salon # 954
PROLOGUE
The June 14, 2000 Salon at the Nicholsons' was very special, in no small part due to the first visit by Josh Freed whose quick wit and repartee enthralled the guests and whose depth of intelligence, scope of knowledge and wisdom perhaps embarrassed them. The main topics of the evening were the advantages and disadvantages of bigness and globalization, the obligatory speculation on the future of Canadian, North American and World economy and the narrowness of reporting in the bmedia.
INTRODUCTIONS
Two welcome new faces were introduced by their respective spouses: Stefi Wohnsigl, Robin's best friend and "the brightest lady in the world - she must be as she's not allowed to compete with the Québec work force", and Uta Hope, who has finally rejoined Marcus and is working with the Québec Telethon, raising funds for research into childrens' diseases. Carl Otto, returning after many years' absence, introduced his wife Michele, a lady of many talents, including music.
Carl Otto then introduced Josh Freed, explaining that when asked by David [the chair] what would bring him back to a Wednesday Night, he had said that Wednesday was the least painful day for his weekly trip to Toronto and only Josh Freed could interrupt that routine. He continued, saying that there are many things that we don't mind - or can forgive - about the current government in Québec, including incompetence, but the one unpardonable sin is the lack of sense of humour. Josh Freed single-handedly so ably compensates that he is the reason that many of us remain here.  movie
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - THE VIDEO
The chair led off with the inevitable video, this time, a tour of the Web site, but one with a difference as the sound track was the previous night's broadcast of Annie Richer's delightful piece on her visit to Wednesday Night. Good editing by David and a round of applause for Annie's skillful editing.
SYRIA
When asked about his recent trip to Syria, Josh pointed out that it had been truly a holiday and that he had chosen Syria in line with his theory that when traveling with a kid, you check the UNDP Index - highly developed countries are not kid-friendly. He recounted his amusing adventures in obtaining his visa, but quickly added that everywhere they went, people were incredibly hospitable and kind.
There was general speculation about the ultimate consequences of Assad's sudden death and the quick succession by his son (certainly preferable to the lurking uncle) and some comment about the new generation of rulers in the Middle East who are probably pre-disposed to effect changes, but may not have the personal power base to do so.My head rolled in Syria ..grave-robbers and jail threats, so let me tell you a story from my recent Middle East travels: the Tale of the Supposedly Stolen Syrian Statue. April 29, 2000
THE OVERHAUL OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Paul Martin's sweeping proposed changes to the regulation of financial services received mixed although mostly favourable reviews. Certainly merging of banking at the wholesale level is desirable, but mergers at the retail level without increasing competition may not work to the advantage of the consumer. The poor have become poorer since globalization.
Canadian banks, even merged, cannot hope to be major players on the global scene ("There's only one Royal Bank person left in Tokyo - and there's only one left in Montreal!"), but the rules governing foreign banks operating in Canada should be changed. The fifty or so foreign banks operating here under the current regulations have not been profitable and cannot provide the necessary competition without some changes in the game rules. Martin's proposals seem to address these concerns. It would not be unreasonable to expect a merger of Canadian banks as early as this autumn.
[The real solution: "LET FORIEGN BANKS IN to do the job needed" DTN agreed to by all]
AIR CANADA
Air Canada has been receiving lot of verbal flak since its emergence as the sole national airline. In truth, the major problem affecting air travellers is airports, their design, inadequate access, their lack of consideration for the travelling public and their insistence on levying additional "airport improvement" taxes for improvements of dubious value, rather than the airlines who make use of their facilities. Increased competition would work to the benefit of passengers, provided there is some assurance that unprofitable routes to relatively remote parts of the country are maintained. The optimum answer would be to permit cabotage, but only if it were a mutual arrangement between countries and the carriers operating within each. The probability of this happening appears remote at this point.
MUNICIPAL MERGERS
Oddly enough, many who fear the advent of mergers in the marketplace, embrace with enthusiasm, the proposals for municipal mergers, without considering the obvious disadvantages, notably the ability to influence policy through direct contact with elected representatives which is available in small-scale government. Economies of scale through municipal are a myth.
THE TECHNODOME PROJECT
The Port of Montréal has turned down the Reichmans' gigantic Technodome theme park proposal, much to the consternation of the government of Québec. There appear to be mysteries on several levels concerning this proposal. Why have federal authorities turned it down in both Toronto and Montréal? With a vast stretch of riverfront property, why are the Reichmans intent on building on land currently owned by the federal government. As containers are better handled down-port and although the development of the Technodome at Bickerdike pier, would probably cause an intolerable increase in traffic in an area already experiencing traffic problems, why did the Port of Montréal turn down the project? It should be interesting to see this scenario being played out.
[Editor's Note: Jay Bryan's excellent piece on the Gazette front page the next morning cast much light on the reasons behind the decision, as did Don Taddeo's explanation that waterfront property is not only valuable, but irreplaceable.]
Wed Jun 14 00 Port authorities in Montreal have shut the gates on a plan to build a billion dollar complex on the city's waterfront. ['we will need the space' and 'land value $40mm+ vs $14mm offer.. we agree with the Port! DTN]  audio And more Technodome's fate cloudy after Montreal land snub
THE CANADIAN ECONOMY
Bank of Canada strategy has worked in our favour, increasing exports, reducing unemployment and improving our balance of payments. On the negative side however, there has been little incentive to invest in productivity improvement. For years Canada has been covering its lack of improvement in productivity by devaluating its dollar. With automobile manufacturing jobs moving to Mexico and the continuing lag in productivity improvement, Canada faces a dilemma.
By slowly pushing our dollar down we scare away capital. With the Jean Chretien and Shela Copps we have had a steady decline of direct investment in new plant & equipment (faster than any other OECD country) P.T.T did no good with FIRA euther. We cover over our lack of productvity by systematicly devauling our money.
We are in control, of a desaster, would it not be better let some outside people put our people to work. Our instutions wont invest in us so let the forgin banks in. We need them to look after our big & little people.
Burnuda and the Caribien Islands use the US dollar ..at PAR ..so Honk Kong ... Keep the Queen but trade her at PAR with the US!
National Post
JEAN CHRETIEN, 1993-00: Dollar is lower than it has ever been in all of Canadian history.
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Saturday 3 June 2000 The Gazette
Much-maligned Mulroney No. 1: Brian Mulroney was the best leader
postwar Canada has had in terms of his management of the economy,
according to a statistical analysis by two McGill University professors.
Tom Velk and Al Riggs ranked current prime minister, Jean Chretien,
dead last, saying, "Under Chretien, the dollar is lower than it has ever
been in all Canadian history, our productivity relative to the Americans
is worse than at any other time in the past 35 years."
They also criticize Chretien in terms of the "misery index," pointing out
that low-income families and women have suffered after-tax loss of
income under the Chretien government. Canada's 1999 gross domestic
product is $19,110 (U.S.) per capita, compared with $32,484 in the
United States.
 REX MURPHY: The wonderful CBS show
"Survivor" featuring castaway yuppies trying to do
each other in for a million dollars continues to
absorb the deep attention of our neighbour to the
south.
They kicked the oldest woman in the group off, and it was like
watching a live kitten being used as a door stop. Underneath the
flabby pieties about grit and reliance. "Survivor" is a feastday for
sadistic voyeurs. Whether its Borneo or LA, TV civilization's only
standard is the quickest, most vulgar way to the ratings
Rex Murphy "Survivor" June 8, 2000
The recent slowdown in the U.S. economy has prompted a rethink of Federal Reserve rate increases. It now appears probable that on June 27 or June 28, the rate will remain unchanged or at most increased by ¼%, with the Bank of Canada following suit.
QUOTES OF THE EVENING
On Travel in Arab Nations
-
"Every conversation leads you to a carpet store."
On Reporting in the Media:
- "Everywhere you go, it's not like what you have seen (in the media)."
On Mergers:
- "Are we afraid of big?"
- "Like the fear of flying, fear of fusion has to be overcome."
- "If you get more competition, you will get poorer service or lower rates."
- "Why nationalize something when you can regulate it?"
- "We have all the talent, all the natural resources, all the grey matter. We don't have the incentive."
- "The boardroom is not democratic because it is not accountable. It will not necessarily act in the public interest."
- "We in Canada tend to disparage ourselves. We're too pessimistic about Canada. We can succeed with our own mixture of regulation and competition. The Canadian answer, in some ways is inefficient, but it has a curious way of working. It is a good place to live."
- "What distinguishes us is our social conscience. What you do is build around that social conscience."
- "Protect our social conscience rather than our industries!"
- "Entrepreneurship is a gladiator sport."
- "LET FORIEGN BANKS IN to do the job needed"
- "Keep the Queen but trade her at PAR with the US!
On Municipal Mergers:
- "In a country of thirty million, a city of one million is ungovernable. You have to decide who your clientele is and you have to be flexible. You can have a regional government to look after urban sprawl and regional transport without merging. The citizens are both the clients and shareholders of the city."
Notes by Herb Bercovitz
Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
Notes by
Herb Bercovitz Sculptor
and Jacques Clément
Edited by Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
Date: Tuesday, July 04, 2000 11:31 PM
Hi Dave: [bad call ..David please]
I shall return , eventually , but not tonight. Jazz tickets. However I did
enjoy the nite and the gang - and appreciate getting wednesdays menu, which
keeps you in my mind for spontaneous last minute wednesday nite decisions.
As for your site, it''s so full of local stuff its practically a second
newspaper -maybe you should get a canada council grant ,for promoting
montreal pride.
Best wishes to you and diana.
Josh
24 April 2000 Washington Post Montréal story "Springs Back From 30-Year Decline"
Wed951radio.htm
Wed955Jones
© 2000 by David T. Nicholson
 Please phone (514 934-0023
 or e-mail us your thoughts.
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