Once again the PM missed attending the party of the year;
Hundreds of thousands flock to TO Pride Parade
Instead he was feted in Quebec, as he feted Quebec Nationalism.
Huge parade, concerts and fun mark Quebec's Fete nationale holidayHuge papier mâché statues of the great builders of Quebec were among the flags and marching bands in a boisterous parade yesterday that marked Quebec's Fête Nationale provincial holiday. An image of former premier René Lévesque was featured along with that of explorer Samuel de Champlain in the march.
The links between Levesque, a sovereigntist icon, and the celebration of the Fete nationale were obvious to Yvon Trudel, who marched in the parade with the nationalist Mouvement Quebec Francais.
"It represents the future - the future country that we want," he said when asked what the day meant to him.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Roberval, Que., where he praised the contribution of Quebecers to building Canada."The first people in this country to call themselves Canadians were the French-speaking settlers who built their first community on the banks of the St. Lawrence then followed our rivers to places like Lac St-Jean and then across our land envisioning a country from sea to sea," he said.
And my how times have changed .
It was a far cry from the days when riots plagued Fete nationale. in 1968, Pierre Trudeau won a majority government the day after he stared down rioters at a St-Jean Baptiste Day parade in Montreal.For Harper Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Transgendered Canada is more of a threat than Quebec Separatism.
Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal have been named Canada's five top gay-friendly tourist destinations by an American magazine.
One challenges his machismo the other embraces it.
SEE:
Harpers Legacy
Avoiding The Issue
Some Same Sex Marriage Ok Say Tories
Harper Gaffe #2: SSMIntolerant Blogging Tories
Mortons Homophobia Rebuked
Harper
SSM
Same Sex Marriage
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