Angry in the Great White North

Here is a capture of the Liberal Party homepage promoting their plan for a strong and united Canada:

Maybe I didn't get the memo, but since when was a strong and united Canada symbolized by the Quebec fleur-de-lis?

To be fair, the news release makes it a bit clearer:

The Liberal vision for a strong and united Canada will help Quebecers to achieve their potential and meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st century, Liberal Opposition Leader Stephane Dion said today.

Still, that image on the front page shows an incredible level of insensitivity. Canadians outside of Quebec have for years felt like their interests have always taken second place to what played well in Quebec. In some ways, this hasn't entirely changed with this government, but Stephen Harper has done much more than any other prime minister in living memory to address that imbalance (I'm thinking in particular Stephen Harper's resistance to Quebec lobbying for over 60% of the Boeing transport aircraft spending).

But Stephane Dion and the Liberals show that for them, time stands still. Canada's strength and unity is all about Quebec. If Quebec is happy (or at least quiescent), then their job is done. Canada is saved. Other unsophisticated Canadians can fly the maple leaf or whatever, because the Liberal Party of Canada is all about Quebec.

And Liberals wonder why Canadians think Stephen Harper is a strong national leader, while Stephane Dion trails far behind? They might not agree with Stephen Harper, but Canadians outside of Quebec believe that Stephen Harper thinks about them. Stephane Dion is all about Quebec, because for him, Quebec is Canada.

For most Canadians, there is only one symbol of a strong and united Canada:

Maybe that's why Stephane Dion has never bothered to improve his English the way Stephen Harper has improved his French.