Question Of The Day

Even I questioned what appeared to be another obvious catering to Quebec funding report but then we got a logical explanation...............

Question of the Day

Could someone please explain why Quebec City's 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in Canada gets $110 million from the federal government while Cupids, Newfoundland's 400th anniversary of the first English language settlement in Canada gets $3.14 million?

UPDATE - The very knowledgeable Steve Outhouse, aide to Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, points out that today's announcement by the prime minister is actually the third announcement of cash for Cupids to help them celebrate their 400th in true Newfoundland style. If you add all the announcements together, the good folks of Cupids will be getting $5.2 million in federal money to fete their founding.

Moreover, it turns out that the discrepancy between the funding for Quebec City's celebration and Cupids had not escaped the notice of Newfoundland scribes and it was the first question the prime minister was asked. Here, is a transcript of Mr. Harper's answer.(h/t again to Steve Outhouse)

Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper: Well I know the celebrations have such vast differences in funding. There was a large amount spent in Quebec city by the previous government on infrastructure as opposed to on the festivities. And it was matched by the provincial government. You have to remember the provincial government itself put about I think it was $100 million into the Quebec city celebration and obviously it's different here. I think actually on a per capita basis we're spending a lot more here, but look, I think this is critical event in our history. Obviously, you know, Quebec city was a special moment. It's the founding of the first permanent European establishment by our first governor. And first capital city of the country. You know this is also an interesting historical anniversary in that it's the first permanent English, English settlement.

Per capita spending. Let's see.

Quebec City, census metropolitan area population 715,515, is getting $110 million. That's $153 per resident, $223 per resident if you count just the city of Quebec.

Cupids, population 790, is getting $5.2 million. That's $6,582 per resident.

Better not tell the Bloc Québécois or it will demand parity and threaten to separate if Montreal gets a penny less than $10 billion to celebrate its 400th.