The Dion Honeymoon Never Got Started

At least as far as Ezra is concerned.....

Graceless under fire
Dion's grudging reaction deeply disturbing
By Ezra Levant

Last week, I wrote about the little-known fact new Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is a loyal citizen of France.

Loyal in that Dion's French citizenship is not an accident of birth. He was born in Quebec, but sought out his citizenship based on his legal entitlement -- his mom was French.

And he used that citizenship, travelling to France for his studies.

Dion has also admitted he was once a member of the separatist Parti Quebecois -- so the fact he held French citizenship while supporting a party that opposes Canadian citizenship indicates there is more here than someone who merely had some citizenship papers forgotten in some dusty, old shoebox.

Dion swore an oath of loyalty to France while supporting a party that was disloyal to Canada.

It is clear Dion has no time for Quebec separatism today. He was the author of the Clarity Act that has become an obstacle to Quebec separatism. And he engaged in a debate of public letters with Quebec separatist leaders. The man has reformed himself. But that does not mean his past is not beyond examination. Imagine if Stephen Harper had been an active member of the Western Canada Concept party -- one doubts the CBC would be so forgiving of that youthful indiscretion. It goes without saying they would be apoplectic if Harper was a dual U.S. citizen.

The parliamentary press gallery scrummed Dion on the subject last week, but he was curt and demanded reporters "move on."

Sorry, that doesn't cut it from the man who would be PM. Dion said he would never renounce his French citizenship. He was not about to lose face on his first week on the job.

By the end of the week, though, talk shows were abuzz with the story, and people were reminded of the precedent set by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean: She was a French citizen, too, who renounced her citizenship when she was appointed.

Dion was trapped between his earlier, prideful refusal and a growing grassroots rebellion that threatened to swamp his own attempts to identify himself. So Dion caved.

But he did so in a most ungracious manner.

He did not express understanding for Canadians who were offended or worried.

He was haughty, implying there was nothing wrong with being a foreign citizen, but if small-minded Canadians couldn't understand, he'd grudgingly comply, just to get their votes.

As he told the CBC, "if it's a problem for a significant number of Canadians and if it's a liability that may keep Mr. Harper in power, then I will do this sad thing then to renounce my French citizenship."

He still believes in being a French citizen. But he's exhausted with trying to educate us rubes. So he'll concede the point to get our votes. He does have that legendary Parisian arrogance.

Renouncing his French citizenship is "sad" he says -- though he maintains he's 100% loyal to Canada. So what is sad about it, then?

Dion got a pass on this scandal from most of the mainstream media, because they are sympathetic to the Liberal party and believe that undivided loyalty is an archaic quality.

But for millions of Canadians, his foreign citizenship, his indignation at being asked about it, and his graceless climb-down are deeply disturbing.