# The great, ongoing Canadian current events and politics thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/582059 "2011-05-16T03:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 79
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/582059/79 "2011-06-09T14:59:31Z")
Charest has decided not to include the provisions of bill 204 (the Labeaume-Péladeau bill) inside an omnibus law, at least not until this fall. Given that it’s certainly not out of any sympathy for Marois that he’s taking this decision, I assume that there was also dissension inside his party regarding the bill. As for Marois, she’s invited three of her four former members to rejoin the caucus, but not Lisette Lapointe. Also, François Legault has been awoken from his lethargy by these recent events, and is apparently now fully intent on forming a new political party, in time for the next provincial elections, even if they are held this fall (although otherwise he’ll wait until next year). I read about it in _Le Devoir_, but apparently Legault’s also been interviewed by the _National Post_ on this subject if you’re interested. I also want to share a post from another thread, which I think illustrates what I was going on about the somewhat shammy nature of Canadian multiculturalism [post=13877223]here[/post] (and many times before). From [thread=610941]this thread[/thread]: > [@Do tall U.S. Buildings Not Have 13th Floor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-tall-u-s-buildings-not-have-13th-floor/584119/22): > > The condo building I used to live in (in Toronto) was built in 2003 and had no 4th, 13th or 14th floor, nor did it have units #4, #13 or #14 on each floor; it just skipped from 3 to 5 and from 12 to 15. So I ostensibly lived in unit 2016, but on the actual deed it was listed as unit 1713. > > (The number “4” is unlucky in some areas of Asia since it sounds similar to the word for “death”. I guess “14” was unlucky because it had a 4 in it?) I said it’s an “illustration”, not “proof”, but I can just hear what that building designer was thinking. “See, here in Toronto we’re so open to all cultures that make up this great country, that not only do we not have a 13th floor in our buildings because 13 is unlucky in Western cultures, but we also do not have a 4th floor, because 4 is unlucky in Asian cultures! (And we even exclude 4, 13 and 14 from all floors for good measure.) Because, as you know, there are a lot of Asians here in Toronto, and we want them to feel totally at home in our great country while still following their ancestral culture which is worth so much to us. Ha! Here’s something you wouldn’t see Euros, Quebecers and Americans do! We’re open-minded and multicultural, dammit! Don’t you see? Why won’t you see!? Just look at the building!” 😛 The thing with this is that I believe it fosters tokenism and a very superficial understanding and “appreciation” of other cultures. I wouldn’t say it’s “wrong”, but I think it’s not the amazing development that some Canadians seem to believe. (Even **Spoons** in his post which precipited mine.) --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-canadian-current-events-and-politics-thread/582059)._