Tory Turmoil Over Tobacco Bill

Rothmans, Benson & Hedges is threatening to close a tobacco factory near Quebec City over Bill C-32, which is an amendment to the tobacco act that would prohibit the sale of flavoured cigarette products in Canada. The legislation is an attempt to ban those candy flavoured cigarillos that tobacco companies market to children. But the problem is that--so R,B&H allege--the same flavours are used in certain brands of cigarette targeted to adults, and banning them would in effect ban the manufacture of these cigarettes.

Since Quebec City counts as the CPoC's base in that province, a number of Tory MPs have spoken out against Bill C-32 in its present form, including Julie Coulliard's ex Maxime Bernier (and in fact the entire Quebec CPoC Caucus).

What's interesting is the cognitive dissonance between Bernier and Co. and those Torys still in support of C-32. On the one hand, Bernier blames Health Canada for (deliberately?) writing the law too broadly:

...as drafted by Health Canada bureaucrats, the text of the bill has a reach that is so broad that it would also forbid the use of hundreds of other ingredients, in particular those used in the production of American blended cigarettes. This blend contains among other things Burley tobacco, and the ingredients added to it are only used to modify in an imperceptible way the bitter taste of this type of tobacco without giving it a specific aroma like that of fruits or candy.

On the other hand, Conservative supporters of the Bill are implying that they approved the current language for a purpose:

"The goal of Bill C-32 is to make tobacco products less affordable, less accessible and less appealing to the most vulnerable segment of our population -- young people," wrote Josee Bellemare, press secretary to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq in an email to the National Post yesterday.

Assistant deputy minister Paul Glover conceded before the Senate committee that he realizes additives to American blend cigarettes "are not meant to be a distinguishing flavour." But, they make bitter tobacco smoother. And "a product that is easier to smoke and less harsh is easier for youth to start." Any attempt to exempt American cigarettes would create a "loophole," he argued, through which child-luring tobacco peddlers might slink.

Any bets on which way this one will settle? I'm going with the "blame the faceless bureaucrats" line winning out.

Maxime Bernier Strikes Back

From his blog today, a presser:

Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, September 3, 2009 - The daily paper Le Devoir published a tendentious and sensationalist report this morning about the nature of the documents left by former Foreign Affairs minister Maxime Bernier in a private residence more than a year ago.

Gawd she's hot. That is all.

M. Bernier's Latest Blog Post!

Actually its just about some stupid golf tourney, but I bet I made you look.

Or Maybe Nobody Will Care

Chantal Hebert outlines the political upside for Harper in picking a brawl with the provinces over setting up a national securities regulator. I, on the other hand, see only a slappy fight amongst the four pundits who worry about such things. I see Andrew Coyne whipping out his spread-sheet, and demonstrating why people call him "the journalist guy that knows math". As for the rest of us, the indifference is palpable.

C'mon, Chantal, its cold out. Bring back Julie Couillard.

Don't Mention Kyrgyzstan!

Julie Coullliard's book has been released to a couple of journalists. Verdict: Maxine Bernier really is a moron.

[He] frequently had problems giving speeches in English and asked Foreign Affairs to replace complicated words in his address to the United Nations...

Sorry for the short, relatively content-free posts. Today is my last day in the jury pool, so things should get better. I will try to take down a Tory cabinet minister by the weekend.

Separated At Birth: Avengers Edition

Run for something, Julie, and I will vote for you. I don't care if you advocate kicking dogs. I'll vote for you anyway.

H/T Kinsella.

Couillard Stripped, Ran Bordello?

Here's The Babelfish Translation:

A former adviser in immigration made disconcerting revelations on the past of Julie Couillard, affirming that the former boyfriend of Maxime Bernier would have been tenancière of brothel.

Marie-Claude Montpetit explained in interview with the 98.5FM that Julie Couillard would have held two houses of vice in Montreal, one on the street St-Denis and the other on the street Bishop. The young girls who worked there were the immigrant ones coldly arrived.

Mrs. Montpetit also affirmed that Julie Couillard had been naked dancer in an establishment of the downtown area, and that it is not by chance that it met Maxime Bernier.

Here is the original French.

Tenancière translates as "Madam".

Frankly, I may have to revise my opinion of the Liberals as the sexxxiest political party.

Also, does this mean there's pictures out there... somewhere? Its going to be hard to do any work today. Finally, I am not impressed by the capabilities of Babelfish. For example, the correct spelling is "nekkid". As in: "She's Nekkid! Nekkid! Hee hee hee!"

Update: Welcome NN readers. Turns out the "immigration consultant" that made the above claims has credibility issues of his own.

Her Cheques Bounce Too

Julie Couillard bags another Tory.

The tangled web involving former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier's ex-girlfriend has ensnared another federal cabinet member.

Public Works Minister Michael Fortier dismissed senior Quebec adviser Bernard Côté yesterday after it emerged Côté had a romantic relationship with Julie Couillard last year.

Given the dates involved, it sounds as if there might have been some overlap between L'affaire Bernier and L'affaire Cote.

In any case, is Public Works Minister Michael Fortier the next domino to fall?

Last April, La Presse reported, Couillard attended a fundraising cocktail party in Châteauguay-Saint-Constant, a riding on Montreal's south shore, making a $1,000 contribution to the party.

Le Devoir reported yesterday that Fortier was at the party.

The event's organizer told the paper that Couillard handed him a Kevlar business card at the cocktail party, but that he remembered her mostly because the $1,000 cheque bounced.

She stiffed the CPoC for $1,000 and nobody cared!

Rally In Ottawa For Net Neutrality, And Will Bernier's Resignation Stall Copyright Reform?

Today, on Parliament Hill, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Speakers include Charlie Angus - NDP MP, and Mauril Bélanger - Liberal MP.

I know I haven't done much about this issue, but back in the early days of Napster I used to occasionally write for these guys.

And interestingly enough, they are reporting that:

Late tonight comes reports that Maxime Bernier, now former minister of international affairs and the minister who previously took charge in the copyright reform bill has now resigned. The political fallout may put copyright reform on hold while the governing party swings into further damage control.
[...]
If the Conservative party hoped for an opportunity to slip copyright reform into government in the future, it is unlikely that the moment is now.

Not an unlikely theory, and I certainly hope its true. Thanks Julie!