*
Little did I know….
Update – Showing keen political instincts right out of the gate….
He snapped when a reporter raised New Democrat MP Pat Martin’s opposing opinion on the matter: “He may keep his opinion to himself. I am proud of who I am, and I am fully loyal to my country. I think I have proven it, and no one will question it.
[…]
The issue appears to be an emotional one for Mr. Dion, who cut off further questions about the matter by repeating the phrase “end of the story” several times. During the media scrum yesterday, he told reporters to “move on” to other questions when it was repeatedly raised.
Well – that settles that! Bourque is all over this today.
No brainer for Dion. Give up the French citizenship. End of controversy.
Stephane Dion has both Canadian & French citizenship and says “I think it is part of who I am — my loyalty for Canada is 100%”.
Would you support a Prime Minister with dual citizenship?
Yes
12.3%
No
87.4%
Other (email mornings@cfra.com)
0.21%
Total Votes: 941
cfra.com (Ottawa)
I think it is excellent that Mr.Dion holds citizenship in another country, not because I support him, but by keeping his french passport he shows his true colors…(tricolors?) and becomes a bigger target in the forest. I hope this controversy holds to the next election.
Should a citizen of France be the next PM of Canada? of course not… and this is why Mr.Dion should hold onto his 2 passports… hey why not 3?
Mr.Dion is finished.
Even before he started.
Done…..
Who can stop Harper now?
Jacko?
nobody ….thanks Mr. Dion.
I hope Ezra and the rest of you question the loyalty of any future Jewish Prime Minister based on their right to return. I am surprised you haven’t questioned whether Catholic PMs are more loyal to Rome than to Ottawa.
It’s a little much to question the loyalty of a man who has been the clearest voice for a united Canada in the last 10 years because his mother is French. I sure hope this isn’t the best you guys have.
Catholic PMs are loyal to Quebec and Quebec only.
Trudeau, Chretain, Martin to name a few. Remember, Dion was elected 6 month after the referendum, and the liberals stole private members bill C341 and called it their own. This bill was given 1st reading in the House of Commons and blasted by JC. Had it been allowed to pass, there is the possibility there never would have been a que vote. Who authored C341-Manning and Harper. Check it out. It is in the records no matter how the public wants to believe Dion wrote it. The fact Dion and the liberals stole this will become common knowledge before the next election, and quebecers will know that again the liberals lied and stole for their vote.
So “Step On Schlong” wants to remain a citizen of Fwance and Canada at the same time. Great… what’s next Howard Dean being appointed Step On’s campaign manager?
The real issue here is not Dions dual citizenship to France and Canada (a point I personally do not agree with either), the real issue , as I see it, is the Stephan Dion was in the inner circle of both the Chretien and Martin administrations. That makes him culpable in all the lack of initiatives from both..lack of Kyoto initiatives…lack of child care plan…..lack of ethics….NO lack of plain envelopes stuffed with taxpayers cash….need I go on?
Let’s get this straightened out: Mr Dion DID NOT WRITE THE CLARITY ACT! HARPER AND MANNING DID – END OF STORY!
Mr Dion is a plagiarist – something the MSM should know a lot about – ask a few of them about it! I am sick and tired of the lies propagated on this issue – by the same MSM who do not seem to know how to get the “real story”. Mr Dion seems to have a temper tantrum when asked of his loyalty. If French citizenship was of “no importance” to him, then he (in the political sense) should renounce it, without any tears. His reaction tells me otherwise – and I certainly will NOT VOTE LIBERAL in the next election, or any others following, if he is still the leader of the Liberal party and maintaining his French citizenship. One has to appear to have no conflict of interest, to be sucessful in the position he aspires to. As a politician, he should know that. Conservatives should grind the Liberals into the dust on this issue. We don’t need any other appearances of a conflict of interest from the Liberals, we have suffered from their arrogance and sticky fingers for too danmed long. GET OVER IT LIBERALS – you are branded as CROOKS over ADSCAM. To continue along THAT vein after Gomery is pure, unadulterated stupidity – not even arrogance!
If Harper was a U.S. dual, the outcry from the MSM and the other political parties would be deafening…that is an obvious. However, I do agree with odie441 that the real issue is the horrendous record of the Libs for the previous 13 years. The rot, inaction and arrogance are so ingrained in this party and Dion will be the constant reminder.
Isn’t just amazing that Duceppe don’t have a problem with Dioons citizenship, He don’t give a royal about Canada so why would he care about that.
New liberal slogan should be:
Do as I say Not as I Do
What i also find amazing is that there are i believe 41 MP’s holding dual citizenship.
“the clearest voice for a united Canada”
That would be the one who is pledging to spread the French language throughout the nation…. but is silent on promoting English in Quebec.
This is far from trivial, as leftists on this thread are trying to make it seem.
The optics are glaring.
For Dion, the damage is already done. It wouldn’t even matter if he gave up his French citizenship at this point – it would simply draw more attention to it, as well as questions. ie. If it’s not such a big deal why didn’t you give it up before? Or, why did you so stubornly hold onto to it?
It’ll even draw more attention to his achilles heel – he can’t communicate in English very well.
And, of course his loyalty should be questioned, he’s attempting to become the CEO of Canada. To that end, everything should be questioned.
Look out Kate! Here comes the French language! Quelle horreur!
Can someone explain to me what is better evidence of loyalty to Canada: introducing the Clarity Act (even if Mr Harper rightly championed an earlier version of it) against the public outcries and private humiliations visited on Dion in Quebec or renouncing a birthright which he may not even be able to renounce? Standing up for Canada for 11 years or burning a passport he doesn’t have? Nothing would please you people, I think, because this isn’t about loyalty. It’s about a smear.
Second, can anyone tell me whether they think that a future Jewish PM should give up her right to return?
Third, where do you all stand on Vic Toews “dual allegiance”? What of Ted Morton’s?
Fourth, can someone explain to me how the Clarity Act is just a simple plagiarism of the Quebec Contingency Act of 1996 when it actually relies heavily on the Supreme Court reference of 1998?
Finally, am I the only one who finds it rich to listen to criticisms of Dion’s English from Anglophones whose grammar and spelling in English are worse than Dion’s?
Peter, si Ted Morton voulait aller bien au premier ministre du Canada, il devrait renoncer à son citoyenneté américaine. Un cowboy ne peut pas monter deux chevaux allant dans différentes directions.
Remember back when Ralph wrote a paper and it was discovered he plagerized it. What outrage across Canada. Well Dion and the liberals plagerized C341.
If Dion does renounce his french citizenship, he will be accused of caving. If he doesn’t he will be accused of not being loyal to canada. But, liberals have never been loyal to Canada, just to the liberal party. Step on, (like that) says he is 100% loyal to Canada first. Who is he loyal to second. He also says he is loyal to his country, what country. How did those smart liberals let this guy get this far, unless they thought the msm would cover for him. Too bad, they forgot the blogs. The blogs will kill the msm in the coming election. What bombshells will Zac drop before or after he is finished. Iggy choked when saying they would win votes in al—–ber—–ta. Dion will choke on saying Canada. The damage is done. When english is allowed in Que, and the language police disbanded, maybe I will start to respect that province and the people leading it.
“It’s about a smear.”
Than there is nothing to worry about Peter, don’t get your pantaloons all tres bunchie.
Just keep mumbling “end of the story” and dismissivly flick your hand all the way to the Priminister’s office.
Running a Quebec professor of socialism twice as french as any other candidate in the next election should be a great strategy.
Stick to your properly registered and legally stored guns.
If Canada’s election doesn’t work out so well for double dealing Dion, than there’s always his other country of origin.
Dion’s citizenship is an issue. The issue is why? We know how he came to have it, but we do not know why he continues to want to hold it. Why would one who aspires to be the Prime Minister of Canada want to hold the citizenship of any other country, let alone one that has in the past meddled, unhelpfully, in the national unity issue.
Dion has caved, he will allow a free vote of his caucus on SSM. I am fed up with all his press conferences being translated, and all questions are translated to french before he answers them. This will be his undoing in the majority of Canada. Sort of like those posting here in french, he will be ignored.
Citizens. Of three nations. In our PMO. Believe it.
Who was our Jewish PM. As for the others mentioned, they are not trying to become the Prime Minister of Canada. The leftist liberal kooks defending dion are beyond belief. Those who use wrong spelling and grammar in their posts are not speaking on national TV, trying to impress Cdns with how smart or capable they are. Soon, I hope, the msm reporterettes will tire of being insulted by him when they ask questions. It was said he had a bad temper, and in less than a week he has shown it. Eventually it will get the best of him and canadians will see what a poor choice he would be to lead canada. The best thing about all this is that it is showing the bias of the CBC and CTV and GLOBAL. Many of us remember the crap they said about Harper and Manning and their french skills. Even belittled that darling BS. We will continue to bring up every example of their bias, from Mannings geeky look, to ridiculing him when he had a makeover. Dion is walking in very dangerous shoes.
The important question is, Ow’s ee look ina vest ?
Harper dropped a bombshell in ? period, Zac has resigned and his resignation has been accepted. Liberal caught with questions re who knew what and when. Ask those questions of liberals re adscam. Who knew what and when. Maybe Zac will finally let the cat out of the bag.
Has Harper commented on this?
Levant::Bull’s-eye on our backs | December 6th, 2006
While the nation’s eyes were on AdScam, federal Environment Minister Stephane Dion quietly made an announcement about the Kyoto Protocol.
Quebec, he promised, will only have to bear 7% of Canada’s pain to implement the pact.
Quebec makes up 24% of Canada’s population, but it is guaranteed 33% of the seats on the Supreme Court. Quebec receives 45% of Canada’s equalization payments. Fully 62% of the Liberal MPs from Quebec are cabinet ministers or parliamentary secretaries. The Canadian prime minister has come from Quebec for 96% of the last 37 years and 100% of the last 12 years.
But when it comes to lifting the load, well that’s another story. That’s why Dion announced — in Quebec and in French of course — that Alberta and Saskatchewan would be picking up most of the tab on Kyoto.
[…]
H/T: “Frosty” (and there’s lots more)…
o Note: When I read something like this it makes me angry. It’s so unfair and it’s far past time to rectify the situation. My father years ago said “Let them go.” I disagreed then but I’m having second thoughts now, more along the lines of “Boot them out!” If indeed Dion said those words to Quebeckers he is far more dangerous that I ever imagined to my way of life and frankly, I wouldn’t miss Quebec. Would you?
…-
jack’s newswatch
Well Kate, this post has really brought out some low-wattage intellectual opinion. The kind of stuff that leaves us wide open to the moonbats.
Embarrassing.
I’m no big fan of either Dion or the Liberals but the comments I’ve been reading here do very little for the Conservative cause.
And the dual citizenship thing is truly a red herring; surely folks are not so thick as to honestly believe a Canadian who happens to have French citizenship will simply become some sort of high-placed stooge for the Palais de l’Élysée once he becomes PM? Pull my other leg.
Has it occurred to anyone that it does not really matter whether Dion is a French citizen?
What matters is that he’s a Canadian citizen – and as PM would thus be entirely subject to Canadian legal strictures in terms of loyalty and national security.
Oh, and “maryT’s” vituperative comment about Catholic PMs just left me gobsmacked. Come off it.
Maz2-no I would not miss quebec. I would not miss all those mps who don’t speak english. I would not miss no bilinugalism in Alberta. I would not miss most telemarketers calling in their french accent. I would especially not miss those idiots in que who spit Albertans in the face. Dion lost a lot of potential votes in the west today with his stmt re the CWB. To get a majority dion needs to pick up 51 seats plus hold all he has. Those 24 in AB and 14 in Sask would look nice to him. Him wanting to defend the CWB, when Trudeau said Why should I sell your wheat. We remember things like that. Wonder if farmers in que, ont and the maritimes would do if they were forced to become members of the canadian wheat board. Our farmers want the same rights as those farmers. After all, cupe union members have to get the same benefits all across canada. Would they accept 30% less because they work in AB or Sask.
Liz – interesting that some NDP MP’s are talking about it – haven’t heard anything from Liberal MP’s so do not know what you mean there (unless you refer to Stronach’s apparent comment that it will be an “issue”, which is not the same thing as condemning it and demanding he renounce his citizenship). Resounding silence from Harper and the conservatives though… Perhaps this is because several conservative MP’s hold dual citizenship.
Though there is a distinction between an MP and a PM, at the end of the day they both are sworn to represent the interests of Canadians, both at home and abroad. If you take this position with Dion, you must be consistent and at least agree that no MP with dual citizenship can sit in Cabinet, nor can they sit on any committee that deals, even remotely, with international issues. This will of course severly curtail the career aspirations of many MP’s, but we do need to be consistent and apply our standards equally.
You know, there are some real issues upon which the conservatives can attack Dion. Harper is a smart man – my guess is he will concentrate on those.
I think JJM and Gayle are Liberano$$$$$. You can tell by the way they write, plus the look of their noses.
Maybe Stephane is a closet islamist.
In that case, a french passport would come in mighty handy, eh? Save a bit of time in the long run, really.
Oh Peter – and here I was thinking it was our articulate and well reasoned posts that gave us away. I should have known it would have been the nose…:).
“Sort of like those posting here in french, he will be ignored.”
MaryT, here is what I wrote, in English:
“Peter, If Ted Morton wanted to become the Prime Minister of Canada, he would have to renounce his American citizenship. A cowboy can not ride two horses going in different directions.”
I wrote it in French because I’m a smartass.
Dion: French citizen hopes to be the first foreign Prime Minister of Canada.
Dion: Canadian citizen hopes to be the first foreign President of France (Napoleon, the Corsican Corporal, was Emperor).
As Dion has said: Impossible/Impossible.
…-
Dion’s insult — to France
National Post, Canada – 14 hours ago
Some will say, now that Stéphane Dion’s possession of dual Canadian-French citizenship has been brought up in such timely fashion, that Mr. Dion should …
But actually there is another party with an even more significant cause for concern and vexation: France itself. …
. But look at the matter from the perspective of France. If Canada really has 100% of Dion’s loyalty, how much is left for his other country? [France] The math is not difficult.
[It’s been done here at SDA: answer is zero/l’oeuf = 0%] …
It’s insulting and hypocritical for the opposition leader to insist upon his right to enter France, live and work there, partake of its public services, and seek the protection of its laws — but to directly imply, on the other hand, that he feels no special attachment to it, is not required to consider its interests, and will not defend it.
The sad fact is that it probably didn’t even occur to Mr. Dion that there was a contradiction here. …- (national post)
Hey Maz2:
Turner was a foreign citizen as well. Sorry.
Chop…chop…the axes fall….
Gumdrops
Heads are rolling this morning at Liberal Party headquarters. National Director Steve Mackinnon has resigned. It remains unclear whether Kim Doran, currently Director of Organization, or John Arnold, the Director of Finance, will also fall to the purge. Names on the short-list to replace Mackinnon include ex-PMO’er Brian Guest, Dion campaign manager Mark Marrissen, and former party director George Young. Benefits to the lucky appointee include the opportunity to bend elbows with Don Newman and Jane Taber in the martini bar at Hy’s. Developing. …-
Bourque
I’m just listening to Dion in QP this morning (afternoon). Boy it sure would be nice to have another Prime Minister that is impossible to understand. The only way to understand this guy is if he speaks in French and has a translator.
Also helpful would be a translator to go from Dion’s socialism to realism.
eg: “we will re-instate the CWB” = “we will not surrender the governments right to have a pool of jobs where we can appoint patronage positions and a pool of money that we can pull cash out of secretly”
Coyne to Dion: Choose your country;
Canada or France?
…-
What does ‘citizen’ mean?
Andrew Coyne, National Post
…..
But even in this country, we understand that it is necessary sometimes to choose. It is unlikely, as others have pointed out,
that Mr. Dion could have been elected leader of the Liberal party were he also a member of the NDP.
Can it be otherwise for the leader of the country,
that he should also be a citizen of another?
…-
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/columnists/
Let me get this straight. If Dion keeps his dual citizenship, he loses maz’s vote, and if he continues to be from Québec, he’s losing MaryT as well. This can’t be good.
crabgrass, dion never had my vote to lose.
Mary – I think that was the point.