By Judi McLeod
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Every reporter worth his or her salt in Canada wishes they were Ezra Levant today.
That is if they are honest enough to admit it to themselves.
Within two days of the election of Stphane Dion as new leader of the Liberal Party, Levant delivered news completely missed by the mainstream media to unsuspecting Canadians: Stephane Dion the possible next prime minister of Canada is a citizen of France.
"Even Michael Ignatieff, the second-place finisher in the Liberal contest, never took U.S. citizenship despite 30 years living there. It was chutzpah that Ignatieff, a de facto american returned to Canada to lead us. But at least he had the sense to remain a Canadian, at least legally," Levant wrote in his Calgary Sun column.
"So what is Dion's excuse? The man wasn't born abroad, as was our other leading dual-citizen, Michaelle Jean. and at least Jean had the taste to renounce her French citizenship (after public outcry) upon acceding to the post of governor general. But Dion was born right here in Canada. Yet he is a dual citizen of France."
Levant, who is publisher of the Western Standard, home of the fabulous Shotgun, didn't say how he came up with the Canadian scoop of the year, but he no doubt knows his stuff.
Imagine all the backslapping and glad-handing of the Liberals, who distributed free Liberal logo-emblazoned condoms at their Montreal convention.
Journalists sharing cocktails in the hospitality rooms of `progressive' politicians could hardly hold their glee at bay. Canada's Natural Ruling Party would be rudderless no more, and would be back from the wilderness as soon as a successor for dithering Paul Martin was official.
School chums Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae were running neck and neck when the convention got underway. Who would ever have thought that kingmaker leadership contender Gerard Kennedy would step back, allowing Dion to slide up the middle?
"Perhaps in Quebec, French citizenship is a sign of cosmopolitan worldliness," Levant wrote. "More likely, it is a symbol of an inferiority complex, where French colonials demonstrate they are much bigger and broader-minded than mere North americans--they are part of the mighty French empire."
"Here's what Dion said about the matter, on a rare occasion that he was pressed: "Multiple identities should be seen as an asset, not a threat," he said.
There is nothing wrong with multiple identities. The hearts of people are big enough to accept different identities. Canadian citizenship will give me my rights. Identity is the way I feel about the country. No talk about loyalty or obligation, not talk of duties."
according to the savvy Levant, "Because Dion was never considered a serious challenger, his statements like this have escaped scrutiny by the media, and by the Conservatives. Now that this loyal citizen of France will be on the next ballot to lead Canada, expect many more clangers to see the light of day."
The debut of Stephane Dion, the French citizen as Liberal Party Leader may be more sinister than coincidental,
For decades, the power behind the throne in Canada has been the Montreal-based Power Corp.'s Desmarais family. Until his son andre, married to former Prime Minister Jean Chretien's daughter, France took over the reins, Paul Desmarais was the largest shareholder and director of TotalFinaElf--the largest corporation in France, which held tens of billions of dollars in contracts with the deposed regime of Saddam Hussein.
Desmarais made Former Prime Minister Paul Martin, who Dion succeeds, president of Canada Steamship Lines in 1974.
"In 1981, he made him spectacularly rich by selling the company to him and a partner for $180 million," wrote Financial Post columnist Diane Francis. "Mr. Martin's shipping company is estimated to be worth about $424 million--making him the 63rd richest person in Canada.
"I find it astonishing that a guy, in politics off and on all his life, could be such a genius at business and make so much money so quickly.
"It all begs a number of troublesome questions. Did Mr. Desmarais give away the company to Mr. Martin? Did Mr. Desmarais lend him the money or guarantee the loan? and what does this mean in terms of his allegiance or loyalty to Mr., Desmarais and his empire in Canada and France?"
This is what the Raspberry Xpress (in 2002) had to say about the powerful French connection in Canada: "Paul Desmarais is linked to the Privy Council, which influences the Prime Minister, the current (then) Liberal Prime Minister to Brian Mulroney, a former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister, the probable future Liberal Prime Minister and now a surge of interest to reinstate the former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister as Progressive Conservative leader. So who is controlling the federal government?"
and now thanks to Ezra Levant, Canadians at least know that the Liberals, who long to make a comeback as soon as time allows, covet handing the Prime Minister's Office over to a French citizen.
Meanwhile, the Canadian media may be asleep at the switch, but Western Standard pros are breaking the stories that matter.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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