# The Canadope Café, 2014 Edition: In 3-D! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612 "2014-01-01T05:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/641 "2014-03-11T01:10:09Z")
So, George Stroumboulopoulos is to host Rogers [version](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cbcs-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada/article17394956/) of Hockey Night in Canada next season. The tradition of HNIC on CBC is one of our national anchors, or treasures even. I’m torn about this. On one hand, free enterprise should be alive and well, and bidders should win contracts based on the ability to deliver a quality product at a competitive price: but George Stroumboulopoulos? I dunno. I disliked it when CBC fired Dave Hodge, and the young whippersnapper who they brought in to replace him (Ron MacLean) worked out just fine. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/642 "2014-03-11T05:34:06Z")
George is a pretty talented guy; I think he might be able to pull it off. As it mentions in the article, he was a sports guy before he was anything else. I’ve always enjoyed his interviews - he does his homework, and is quite personable. Time will indeed tell. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/643 "2014-03-11T06:16:45Z")
“The best reporters come out of the sports pages.” Peter Gzowski. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/644 "2014-03-11T13:20:07Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I dunno. I disliked it when CBC fired Dave Hodge, and the young whippersnapper who they brought in to replace him (Ron MacLean) worked out just fine. Time will tell. Plus ce change, plus ce meme chose. I love Ron MacLean. I don’t like George Stromboulopoulos. Maybe he will win my affection. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/645 "2014-03-12T13:21:21Z")
Saskatchewan de-taxer off to jail for tax evasion: [Sask. man who evaded $58K in taxes gets jail time](http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Sask+evaded+nearly+100K+taxes+gets+jail+time/9601994/story.html) > [@](#): > > REGINA — While he evaded paying taxes and encouraged others to do the same, a Moosomin “detaxer” couldn’t dodge a prison term. > > Gerald Wilfred Joseph Blerot, 60, was sentenced Monday in a Yorkton courtroom to a total of three years and nine months in prison. Credited for the time he’s already spent behind bars, the remaining term is reduced by two months. > > Blerot was convicted of income tax evasion and counselling others not to pay the Taxman, for a total of five Income Tax Act and Criminal Code offences. He claimed immunity from the tax laws as a “natural person.” > > Declining to actively participate in his trial, he similarly took no position on his sentencing. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/646 "2014-03-12T14:28:47Z")
I wonder if he will try to get early parole by teaching people in prison? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/647 "2014-03-12T15:46:06Z")
So, [Olivia Chow to run for Toronto Mayor.](http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/toronto2014election/2014/03/11/toronto_election_olivia_chow_to_resign_as_mp_launch_toronto_mayoral_bid_on_thursday.html) (Former NDP leader Jack Layton’s widow, for anyone who has been living under a rock for the last five years. 🙂 ) Very interesting! Any idea if she’ll be able to oust Rob Ford, anyone? (As an aside, in case you’re wondering like I was after watching her speak, she had a viral infection that has temporarily paralyzed the left side of her face.) ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/648 "2014-03-12T16:23:54Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > (As an aside, in case you’re wondering like I was after watching her speak, she had a viral infection that has temporarily paralyzed the left side of her face.) Let’s hope that John Tory can manage to refrain from running a campaign mocking her for it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/649 "2014-03-12T16:26:27Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Let’s hope that John Tory can manage to refrain from running a campaign mocking her for it. :smack: Ah, yes. The old “Is this the face of a Prime Minister?” attack ads. We all saw how well that worked out for the federal PCs. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/650 "2014-03-13T16:08:02Z")
It never fails to amaze me how much of the separatist pitch to Quebecers hinges on pretending that separation will involve not really separating. “Gosh no, we won’t change currency. In fact, we’ll have a say in the Bank of Canada! And no passports, no tariffs!” I cannot believe people believe such absurdities. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/651 "2014-03-13T17:43:00Z")
Sovereignty association - the ghost of dissemblings past ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/652 "2014-03-13T22:44:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It never fails to amaze me how much of the separatist pitch to Quebecers hinges on pretending that separation will involve not really separating. “Gosh no, we won’t change currency. In fact, we’ll have a say in the Bank of Canada! And no passports, no tariffs!” I cannot believe people believe such absurdities. I get the impression that they don’t realize that when they separate they’ll give up every iota of leverage that they have when negotiating with the federal government as a province. But why would they want to use the Loonie anyways? With Quebec gone the Loonie is even more of a petrobuck, which will result in currency valuations unfavourable to them. Unless they really think they’ll have a meaningful say in monetary policy, which is utter lunacy. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/653 "2014-03-14T00:06:36Z")
I don’t think it benefits the rest of Canada to get drawn into the hypothetical question of our negotiating position. It is already asserted by separatists that the rejection of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords means that the rest of Canada doesn’t want Québec to stay. In the event of a majority ‘Yes’ vote in a third referendum, we will sit down and negotiate a new relationship. There is nothing that I’ve heard the separatists say that I would agree to. But if I go saying “No, you’ll have to get your own passports and your own embassies. No, you aren’t automatically in NAFTA. No, any interprovincial agreements are automatically null and void - you can start paying Newfoundland and Labrador market value for the Hydro-electric power generated by Churchill Falls, or they can cut the lines to Québec.”, I will be viewed as a fear-monger. Threatening a group of people into staying never works out. That being said, I find it baffling that the Québécois have lived with Anglo culture for some 254 years, and they’ve never encountered what happens when an Anglo’s pride is insulted. I think it would be the least helpful thing I could possibly do, and yet, I just feel like screaming at Pauline Marois “Don’t tell me what I’m going to do, because I don’t even know what I would do if that happened. If you’re asking what I feel like doing, I’ll tear up the highways, the railroads and blockade the St. Lawrence river! If you want to break it off, you’re going to Goddamn well feel broken by the time we’re through with you! Remember the Faulklands?” Like I say, I don’t think that would be helpful, but FUCK! Do you not know us, you daftie? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/654 "2014-03-14T00:46:44Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > \ > Like I say, I don’t think that would be helpful, but FUCK! Do you not know us, you daftie? But they do know us - they demand, we capitulate. Why would they expect a Separation agreement to be any different? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/655 "2014-03-14T01:25:46Z")
We’ve capitulated because we want them to stay. Once they decide to leave, every concession we’ve ever made to Québec will have been in vain. I know I wouldn’t be in a conciliatory mood (see some of Spoons’ and Muffin’s remarks about divorce cases). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/656 "2014-03-14T01:31:05Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > We’ve capitulated because we want them to stay. Once they decide to leave, every concession we’ve ever made to Québec will have been in vain. I know I wouldn’t be in a conciliatory mood (see some of Spoons’ and Muffin’s remarks about divorce cases). _We_ know that, but what have we done but give them the idea that the ROC will always just roll over for them? It’s human nature to expect that things will always be as they have always been. I should say that I’m not excusing it in any way - I’m just giving my perspective on how I can see a group coming to that way of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/657 "2014-03-14T04:27:43Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > But they do know us - they demand, we capitulate. Why would they expect a Separation agreement to be any different? Because separation would require a constitutional amendment. Our constitution does not currently have provisions for the secession of a province, so it would have to be amended to allow for secession. And a constitutional amendment would require the consent of Canada, and either the 7/50 formula, or the consent of all ten provinces. I’m unsure which, as we’ve never travelled this path before, but it boils down to this: if Quebec wants to secede, it will have to get most, if not all, of the other provinces on-board with the idea. This means that Quebec can no longer demand, expecting Canada to capitulate. Oh, it can demand, of course, but if it expects to get Canada _and the provinces_ on-board, it is going to have to realize that it is not going to get all that it demands, and that it will have to make some concessions. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/658 "2014-03-14T05:13:12Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Because separation would require a constitutional amendment. Our constitution does not currently have provisions for the secession of a province, so it would have to be amended to allow for secession. > > And a constitutional amendment would require the consent of Canada, and either the 7/50 formula, or the consent of all ten provinces. I’m unsure which, as we’ve never travelled this path before, but it boils down to this: if Quebec wants to secede, it will have to get most, if not all, of the other provinces on-board with the idea. > > This means that Quebec can no longer demand, expecting Canada to capitulate. Oh, it can demand, of course, but if it expects to get Canada _and the provinces_ on-board, it is going to have to realize that it is not going to get all that it demands, and that it will have to make some concessions. I don’t doubt that the decision-makers in Quebec know this, but I doubt very much that the rural Francophones who vote to secede from Canada do. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/659 "2014-03-14T12:59:35Z")
If Canada was a car, Quebec would be that one wiper that even though when you stopped at the intersection and reached your hand out the window and grabbed it as it swung near then let it go to slam the build-up off it, it keeps fucking up and making a smeary mess of the windshield so you can’t see for shit. Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612/660 "2014-03-14T15:22:48Z")
I honestly have no idea how anyone in Quebec could think that, after fighting for and gaining sovereignty, that we would let them be anything less than sovereign. If you want to use Canadian currency go ahead but why would you expect Canada to foot the bill for any sovereign responsibility held by Quebec anymore than you would expect us to do the same for Spain, the U.K., or the USA? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadope-cafe-2014-edition-in-3-d/677612.md?page=34)