Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04QUEBEC33, THE QUEBEC SPONSORSHIP SCANDAL AND ITS AFFECT ON NATIONAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04QUEBEC33.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04QUEBEC33 2004-02-20 15:33 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Quebec
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUEBEC 000033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
WHA/CAN FOR TERRY BREEZE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL CA
SUBJECT: THE QUEBEC SPONSORSHIP SCANDAL AND ITS AFFECT ON NATIONAL 
UNITY 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  The scandal involving misuse of public funds 
for shoring up federalism in Quebec has caused a strong drop in 
support for federal Liberals in Quebec and a concurrent surge in 
support for the Bloc Quebecois.  Quebecers are angry at what 
they perceive as "Quebec-bashing."  Jean Charest and the 
provincial Liberal party have so far remained above the fray and 
are distancing themselves from their federal counterparts, 
although there are indications that the scandal may get worse. 
Charest's vision of a new era of federalism is being sorely 
tested, but Quebec's initiative on forming a Council of the 
Federation will go on, with the next meeting taking place in 
Vancouver February 23-24.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Prime Minister Paul Martin passed through Quebec 
February 16 for damage control on the sponsorship scandal and to 
stop the hemorrhage of public support for the Liberals.  In a 
recent Leger Marketing poll, 75% percent of Quebec respondents 
thought that Martin knew about the subsidies, or at least, 
should have known.  A February 11-12 CROP poll showed a drop in 
support for federal Liberals in Quebec to 35%; the Bloc 
Quebecois showed 47% support.  President of the National 
Assembly Michel Bissonet (PLQ) admitted to CG Keogh February 20 
that the Bloc might gain around 20 seats in the next general 
election because of the scandal.  Note: February 17, Minister 
for Natural Resources Sam Hamad downplayed the depth of negative 
public reaction, telling CG the Bloc is an "empty" party, where 
voters temporarily park their votes when they are mad at the 
government. End Note. 
 
3.  (SBU) Bissonet said that Quebecers are angry and offended 
for having been implicated in a flag-waving campaign that went 
wrong, and that has set off the Canadian blame-game that is 
cynical about bending over backwards to placate Quebec 
separatists.  Politicians in Quebec wince over the image of a 
corrupt political culture in the province, with its invidious 
comparison to European politics.   They tend to dismiss the 
current outcry as "Quebec-bashing," although they acknowledge 
that political scandals relating to countering separatism have a 
long history in Quebec.   Certainly, the logic of heavy 
federalism behind the subsidies scandal has never gone down well 
with the provincial Liberals.  Jean Charest has been at pains to 
emphasize his loyalty to Quebec and determination to defend the 
province's interests.  He was not close to former PM Chretien. 
Embattled at home, Charest Liberals are now distancing 
themselves from Martin Liberals who have become a liability for 
the PLQ, and vice versa. 
 
4.  (SBU) In a February 17 editorial interview with Le Solely, 
Martin insisted heads would roll if they were implicated in 
impropriety.  Among provincial names mentioned prominently in 
the press in the scandal are Jean Pelletier, head of ViaRail and 
former Chief-of-Staff for Chretien, Andre Ouellet, head of 
Postes Canada, and Michel Vennat of the Banque du Developpement 
du Canada.   Local press have reported on criticism of Minister 
for Heritage Canada Helene Scherrer, who had dealings with one 
of the implicated companies, Groupaction, to manage a $250,000 
sponsorship for the World Junior Downhill Ski competition in the 
Quebec region (allegedly the firm was paid a $30,000 commission 
to show the Canadian flag in and around the site). 
 
5.  (SBU) Scherrer strongly denied any impropriety in a February 
18 conversation with CG.  "I was not even elected when involved 
in the ski event.  The program was there for people to use. If 
anyone had known about malfeasance, they would not have touched 
the money."  As for the Bloc Quebecois gaining from the scandal, 
Scherrer accused Bloc Chief Gilles Duceppe of encouraging groups 
in his riding to apply for federal funds - $1.9 million in 
FY2001-2, $2.3 million in FY2002-3  -"when he was supposed to 
know something fishy was going on." 
 
6.  (SBU) So far the provincial Liberal Party (PLQ) has escaped 
direct involvement in the scandal, and continues to promote its 
vision of Quebec finding a new place in Canada.  February 19, at 
a meeting of Consuls General in Quebec, Charest insisted: "this 
government has nothing to do with it."   He called the scandal 
"shocking" but said the storm would pass.  Norman MacMillan, 
President of the Liberal Caucus, insists that the PLQ, including 
Jean Charest and his entourage, had no knowledge of the 
accounting fraud. He noted the worst excesses took place in 1997 
after the failed sovereignty referendum.  At that time, Charest 
was head of the federal Conservative Party, in opposition to the 
Liberals.  Respected journalist Alain Dubuc (former chief 
editorialist of La Presse, now Editor of Le Soleil) concurs that 
Charest had no involvement in the federal sponsorship scam. 
 
7. (SBU) Of course, rumors abound.  One high-level government 
contact hinted to CG that the revelations so far are the tip of 
the iceberg and that the PLQ will eventually be implicated. 
While some commentators point out that Charest himself is 
relatively insulated from the scandal, others insinuate that the 
weak link is Groupe Everest, one of the companies involved in 
the scandal, which managed Charest's 1997 campaign.  MNA 
Bissonet believes the scandal will deeply undermine the Martin 
forces in the province and said the scandal could have a 
"Watergate" dimension. 
 
8.  (SBU) Until the recent scandal, political observers here 
have tended to characterize Quebec Liberals as a house divided: 
federalist Liberals, either in the Chretien or Martin camps, 
center-left Bourassa Liberals, conservative Charest Liberals. 
One result of the current scandal, however, has been public 
papering-over traditional divisions.  There is less evident 
partisanship.  Charest told the recent CG gathering that his 
three main priorities relate to the demographic problems of an 
aging population, "fiscal imbalance"/budget priorities, and 
promoting cultural diversity.   On the latter point, he noted 
the federal government has been the main supporter of cultural 
institutions in Quebec, e.g. Radio Canada, and that if federal 
monies dried up it would cause a lot of problems. 
 
9.  (SBU) Quebec's initiative on forming a Council of the 
Federation will go on, however.  Minister of Intergovernmental 
Affairs Benoit Pelletier told CG February 19 that all Provincial 
and territorial premiers (possibly with the exception of 
Nunavut) will be meeting February 23-24 in Vancouver.  This 5th 
reunion/first full meeting of the Council will create a 
Secretariat to be based in Ottawa, a body to handle fiscal 
 
SIPDIS 
imbalance, and will agree on a common agenda.   Asked if 
relations with Ottawa have been affected by the subsidies 
scandal, he confirmed it would complicate relations, in that 
Ottawa might not want to make any concessions to Quebec in the 
current environment.  Negotiations with Health Minister 
Pettigrew are not yet arranged.  "Everything is on hold because 
of the scandal," but Pelletier said he thought things would work 
better after the federal elections. 
 
10.  (SBU) Comment:  Charest is keen to propagate new relations 
with the rest of Canada's provinces and with Ottawa and to 
promote national unity, although not at Quebec's expense.  His 
vision of a new era of federalism is being tested by the 
sponsorship scandal; the widespread cynicism over political 
corruption that it has engendered is obviously a source of 
frustration as the Quebec Premier tries to establish a new place 
for Quebec within Canada and on the international scene. 
Charest does have the advantage - unlike PM Martin - of time. 
He knows where he wants to go.  With 4 years of his mandate 
still ahead of him, he is focused on mending fences with some of 
the civic groups he alienated through precipitous legislation at 
the end of 2003.  After the elections, if the Liberals regain 
power, and if Martin is the leader, he also hopes to renegotiate 
Quebec's place on the international scene.  Some of these larger 
visions may go on hold though if indeed the subsidies scandal 
continues to grow.  Quebecers are likely to insist on 
individuals being held accountable. 
 
 
 
KEOGH