The Solitudes Are Back On

From today's G&M...

OTTAWA -- Heritage Minister Liza Frulla says she disagrees with Governor-General Michaëlle Jean's comment that the era of two solitudes in Canada is over, pointing out that another vote on Quebec independence could be held within a few years.

"If you ask me, Liza, is it finished? I'll say 'no,' " Ms. Frulla said on CTV's Question Period. If it was finished, "we wouldn't talk actually about a referendum in 2008," she said.

When she was sworn in last week as Canada's 27th Governor-General, Ms. Jean said the era of two solitudes -- francophone and anglophone -- doesn't reflect today's reality.

"The time of the two solitudes that for too long described the character of this country is past," she said. "The narrow notion of every person for himself does not belong in today's world, which demands that we learn to see beyond our wounds, beyond our differences for the good of all.

"Quite the contrary: We must eliminate the spectre of all the solitudes and promote solidarity among all the citizens who make up the Canada of today."

But Ms. Frulla, one of Prime Minister Paul Martin's key ministers in Quebec, also said she agrees with Ms. Jean in that it's time for Canadians "to stop quibbling" and work more closely together.

ik - If you read Jean's text carefully, you'll see that she was not saying that the solitudes no longer existed, but that we had to begin to look beyond them. Hence her personal motto "briser les solitudes." (which, to really briser les solitudes, should have also been written in English on her arms. But oh well.) But I know what Frulla is trying to do. And she's still the sexiest member of Martin's cabinet (not that there is a lot of competition).