Thank you for this article. I served as a political advisor to Mr. Leitão for close to 4 years and he is a remarkable man who deserves to have his story told and shared. His tenure as finance minister under Couillard is probably the best in the history of Quebec.
It's such a weird preoccupation of Liberals to not allow doctors to set their own billing practises. I guess they know Canadians are cheap and would rather suffer mediocre health care than, God forbid, be asked to pay for part of a service they are consuming from a private practitioner.
Thank you a great piece of long form journalism that I loved to read. Illuminated a career in politics that deserves greater attention and one I was totally unaware of. Well worth the time and I appreciated your article on this most interesting politician and that is definitely not a pejorative here!
Having followed Québec politics from afar this, article is very interesting to a western canadian. Funny thing is that at that time I thought Dr Philpott was doing a great job of her ministry. I guess it's hard to please Québec about anything. Centralising everything around Ottawa under Trudeau has not been proven very successful, no wonder the great divide.
I am very happy to see and read Mr Wells as an independant. I often wondered about what he really thought when anchored to a legacy outlet. I hope he will still be invited by Radio Canada and CBC for a good reality check.
I always liked Leitão, in part because he never looked comfortable with the political BS that came with his job. Guys like him, and (Ray) Bachand, and, currently, Girard, we should just let them do their jobs and exempt them from doing PR dance-offs. The economy would be better off, in my opinion.
"....nobody in politics ever has all the answers. It’s an irreducibly human pursuit. Which is why it’s always been so fascinating to cover." As you've described it here, I understand why our politics is so slow. Not a good thing during climate change. Does it have to continue irreducibly human until the end of time?
I see commentary about west vs Quebec experiences/perspectives on centralization vs decentralization in response to this article. My interest in this article is less that issue, and more the insights that can be gleaned from longer and in-depth accounts of the varied perspectives of the decision-makers we don’t get to hear much about in the mainstream/mail line media. With luck, Paul will have access to similar discussions with other “nameless” decision-makers who have been involved in some of the major challenges and changes in the fabric of the nation in recent years.
Excellent and informative article as usual from Paul. Top notch journalists like him always find a way to help readers have a better understanding of a topic. Re the Quebec issue of the wearing of Islamic niqabs, I agree with what you wrote in the linked article re the variations of religious symbolism from a legal perspective. As much as I don't like niqabs, and long beards (religious or not), it is interesting how we're not as offended by a Sikh turban or the bald head and garb of a Buddhist monk.
The man who counted
Thank you for this article. I served as a political advisor to Mr. Leitão for close to 4 years and he is a remarkable man who deserves to have his story told and shared. His tenure as finance minister under Couillard is probably the best in the history of Quebec.
It's such a weird preoccupation of Liberals to not allow doctors to set their own billing practises. I guess they know Canadians are cheap and would rather suffer mediocre health care than, God forbid, be asked to pay for part of a service they are consuming from a private practitioner.
Thank you a great piece of long form journalism that I loved to read. Illuminated a career in politics that deserves greater attention and one I was totally unaware of. Well worth the time and I appreciated your article on this most interesting politician and that is definitely not a pejorative here!
Having followed Québec politics from afar this, article is very interesting to a western canadian. Funny thing is that at that time I thought Dr Philpott was doing a great job of her ministry. I guess it's hard to please Québec about anything. Centralising everything around Ottawa under Trudeau has not been proven very successful, no wonder the great divide.
I am very happy to see and read Mr Wells as an independant. I often wondered about what he really thought when anchored to a legacy outlet. I hope he will still be invited by Radio Canada and CBC for a good reality check.
I always liked Leitão, in part because he never looked comfortable with the political BS that came with his job. Guys like him, and (Ray) Bachand, and, currently, Girard, we should just let them do their jobs and exempt them from doing PR dance-offs. The economy would be better off, in my opinion.
Just subscribed. I want a thoughtful discussion on real needs for this country
"....nobody in politics ever has all the answers. It’s an irreducibly human pursuit. Which is why it’s always been so fascinating to cover." As you've described it here, I understand why our politics is so slow. Not a good thing during climate change. Does it have to continue irreducibly human until the end of time?
How can I reach you directly about a story lead?
I see commentary about west vs Quebec experiences/perspectives on centralization vs decentralization in response to this article. My interest in this article is less that issue, and more the insights that can be gleaned from longer and in-depth accounts of the varied perspectives of the decision-makers we don’t get to hear much about in the mainstream/mail line media. With luck, Paul will have access to similar discussions with other “nameless” decision-makers who have been involved in some of the major challenges and changes in the fabric of the nation in recent years.
A pleasure to read ... Leitao's back story I never knew and his candour for a sitting MNA is so refreshing. Bravo.
Excellent and informative article as usual from Paul. Top notch journalists like him always find a way to help readers have a better understanding of a topic. Re the Quebec issue of the wearing of Islamic niqabs, I agree with what you wrote in the linked article re the variations of religious symbolism from a legal perspective. As much as I don't like niqabs, and long beards (religious or not), it is interesting how we're not as offended by a Sikh turban or the bald head and garb of a Buddhist monk.
A great article that is interesting to Quebecers but not so much for those in other Provinces.