While we're sitting and we talk and talk and we talk some more
Someone's loved one's heart stops beating in a street somewhere
So it would seem we've still got a long long way to go, I know
I've heard all I wanna hear today.
One might have though listening to him sing, he was actually watching the 2014 Provincial Election Campaign here in Quebec. I believe many of us feel the same sentiments as those expressed by Collins. As we have quickly jumped ahead as a technological society we have left behind the true issues of our humanity. The key words of this campaign have been; Corruption, Sovereignty, Charters, Bigotry, Intolerance, Assimilation. Few words have been spoken about what really matters; Debt, Education, Jobs, Economy, Health Care,Seniors care or the Environment. When they have been, they were simply drowned out and lost in the sea of noise and attention being given to the key words. Yes it seems we talk and talk and talk some more but not about the things that should really matter right now and most importantly to the future. If your in doubt consider how much you have heard about the following subjects and the amount of attention they have received;
* Relative to the size of its economy, Quebec is the most indebted province in Canada by a wide margin. Quebec's net direct debt is $175.5 billion in 2012-13. That amounts to $21,708 per person. The highest in Canada. Interest payments alone on the debt equaled $9.8 billion in 2012-13 which is more then 11% of the governments revenues. Quebec's debt is 49% of its GDP. It is the highest of all the Provinces. In comparison Ontario's is 37.4%. If the trends continue, by 2022-23 the debt could reach a staggering 57% of Quebec GDP. The $9.8 billion spend yearly on interest deprives funds for other social services including Education, Health care and so on. The most pressing problem however is that our elected officials continue to add to this debt yearly as they are unable to create balanced budgets. This continued ''building of debt'' has become the equivalent of the the Three Mile Island Nuclear accident...we are polluting the future of our children, their children and generations to come. Yet we talk, and talk and talk about Charters of Values.
* In 2009 there were 5.1 people working for every person over 65 years old in Quebec. In 20 years (or in 2029) there will be 2.5 people working for every person over 65. Can you see where this is going? Well if you can, perhaps the politicians could also. Or maybe not. The rate of Quebec teenagers graduating from High School is alarmingly low. Quebec ranks 9th in the Provinces for the number of teenagers leaving high school with a diploma. The good news is those who do actually graduate are performing very well in relation to OECD statistics. The sobering reality however is that in the 16 administrative regions of Quebec the percentage of teenagers graduating High School is as low as 40% ( North of Quebec) and ranges to 69% in Montreal to as high as 76-77% in Quebec City region and in Chaudière Appalaches. The overall drop out rate ranges from as high as 51.% for boys (francophone) and 37 % for girls (francophone). On average up to 31% of all teenagers (Franco-Anglo) will drop out of High School before graduating. This phenomenon should have every Politicians attention. The inability to secure good paying jobs will have a significant effect on not only our ability to support the Province economically but will also limit the economic development of the Province; as Companies and employers go elsewhere to where the manpower is better suited to its needs. In 2008 former Premier of Quebec M. Parizeau wrote an article which appeared in the newspaper speaking to exactly this issue. Very little has changed. Yet we talk and talk and talk about Separation.
Looking for a job? A stable job? A full time well paying job? Well if you are you might be looking in the wrong place in Quebec. During the early years (2008) of the recession the Quebec economy held its ground. In fact it grew during a time where most other Provinces and regions were facing a decline. Over the last 3 years the situation has taken a down turn. The most pressing or serious issue is not so much in the amount of jobs lost or created but where the jobs are actually being lost or gained. The two sectors of employment in Quebec; Public and Private has always been a source of debate as it relates to the overall health of the Job market and the economy. The government here is a major player in the economic sustainability. A large portion of the jobs available are related directly to government i.e. Infrastructure, Roads, Hospitals, Electric production, Government agencies, etc. The Private sector has filled the rest of the market. According to a recent analysis performed by Desjardins Economic Studies, there are 874,000 public sector employees working in Quebec. This number also includes municipal and federal workers who live in the province. By comparison there are 2,626,200 employees working in the Quebec private sector. In 2013 21.5% of employees worked in the public sector. In Ontario the rate is 19.6% of the workforce. If Quebec hopes to sustain and grow its economic base and job opportunities the focus will have to be on the private sector. Given the size of the Quebec debt and the need to balance the budget increasing pressure will come to reduce the cost burden as a result of public sector jobs. The focus on economic growth has to have emphasis on attracting new businesses or growing existing ones. To do this significant stability in the political environment as well as specifically designed manpower training and stimulus will be required. The ability for Quebec to grow and prosper is directly attached to a progressive and aggressive economic and job plan. Yet we talk and talk and talk about Corruption.
There is no doubt that these are but a few of the subjects which should be attracting enormous attention in this campaign along with; Health care, Senior care, etc... The reality though is something completely different. There are so many serious issues facing Quebecer's. Issues that if not dealt with now will be the Achilles heal to future generations. The loss of focus or the distractions of trivial matters cannot and will not promote a better life. It seems we have all become accomplices in the failure to move forward on concrete and substantial issues. The media strives for ''knockout'' moments to increase ratings, viewership or subscription. Focus is on sensationalism, issues so far detracted from the real ones. On social media the Political Parties radical militants spend countless hours promoting or defending ridiculous issues. Trying to, ''one up'' the other with the latest accusation of corruption or collusion or political wrong doings. The real issues (horses) sprung out of the gate long before the race ever started. Everyone was so focused on the horses named ''Corruption'', ''Charte'', ''Bigotry'', ''Separation'' stuck in the gate that we never realize the real horses named ''Debt', Economy'', ''Jobs'', ''Health Care'' ''Education'', ''Seniors'' were three quarters of the way around the track. In fact those horses have been running endlessly around the track for years and we have simply been focused on the ones stuck in the gate. We are all to blame for this. None of us gets a pass. We knew what was happening and is happening but chose to ignore it. The discussions and debates have degenerated into a laughable sitcom comedy of ''trying to buy a million dollar house with $3,67 cents in the bank account''. The most disturbing of all, is that few people see how ludicrous this whole thing has become.
In a rapidly expanding global economy, those sitting on their hands will be doomed to a future as a ''have not'' Society. This hand sitting has been going on in Quebec for far to long. It is the fundamental role of Government to ensure that it is pulling society along towards a better more prosperous future. It is the responsibility of the citizens to oblige the government to do so. To do anything less is to simply talk and talk and talk....About Nothing!
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