By Zamboni
Did you know that back in 1885, there was an anti-smallpox-vaccine riot in Montreal? There was! And today, several thousand people marched (peacefully) on Rene Levesque Boulevard, protesting the provincial government's plan to issue vaccine passports so people can go to restaurants, bars and sporting venues. The alternative? Shutting them down again. No, thanks.
Better to flash the Quebec equivalent of New York's Excelsior pass and have everyone be safe, right? We understand that French-Canadians tend to distrust government (in 1885, it was the same story), and there were plenty of provincial flags flying at today's protest. We cats, back in Montreal for the first time in 17 months, gave them a wide berth.
Here are some other thoughts that are occupying our minds tonight.
Canada has announced mandatory COVID vaccines for air, train and cruise ship travelers by the end of October. And right on top of that, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is paying a visit tomorrow to Governor General Mary Simon to ask her to dissolve Parliament — which means a snap election next month. It's hard to imagine that the Liberal Party's high-single to double-digit lead over the other parties won't hold — the leaders of the Tories and the NDP are just so completely unappealing. (Although can we say once again that we wish Justin would grow his pandemic beard back?)
Fighting a war for 20 years seems a little excessive, and it's depressing how after all that time, and all the training we gave them, the Afghan army is collapsing like dominoes. President Biden is right: "One more year, or five more years, of US military presence would not have made a difference if the Afghan military cannot or will not hold its own country." (P.S. It would be nice if we would admit some refugees, like Canada is doing.)
With Afghanistan, the pandemic, climate change, the Haitian earthquake, and the demise of democracies around the world, Maureen Dowd still can't find anything more important to write about than Barack Obama's 60th birthday party. When will The New York Times wake up and give her the heave-ho?
How many children do Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott have to kill from COVID before people stop referring to the Republican Party as "pro-life"?
Finally, how refreshing to see our POTUS inspiring grins by posing with the Dude With Sign. So, all you need to get four million followers on Instagram is a piece of cardboard and a magic marker? How wonderfully retro! We cats PURR.
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