Canadian Press has Walt LOL today, with a report of yet another blunder by the advisors (fart-catchers? ed.) to Canadian Prime Minister "Call Me Steve" Harper.
Mr. Harpoon has set out on a grand tour of Canada's three northern territories (pop quiz: name them!) to "reassert Canada's soverignty over the Arctic". Exactly how that will be done remains a mystery, but anyway...
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) sent out a news release yesterday, with details of Mr. Harpoon's itinerary. The release repeatedly spelled the capital of Nunavut as "Iqualuit". As any fule no, the correct spelling is actually "Iqaluit".
The PMO staffer who wrote the release must have a face as red as his neck, because the extra "u" makes a world of difference in Inuktitut. "Iqaluit" means "many fish". (You know the one about how a Newfie counts fish?) But according to the Nunavut language commissioner's office, "Iqualuit" translates as "people with unwiped bums".
Today, a new news release from the PMO spells "Iqaluit" correctly.
It has also been announced that sometime during his visit to the Great White North, the PM will eat seal. Whether he will eat it raw, as did Governor-General Michaelle Jean, remains to be seen. Walt just hopes that he doesn't put it in his pocket to be consumed later.
Showing posts with label prime minister. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prime minister. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Chrétien a gagné ses épaulettes
For the first time in decades, a Canadian Prime Minister (retired) has been honoured by the Canadian head of state, Her Majesty the Queen. Jean Chrétien is to be named to the British Order of Merit, an honour restricted to 24 living members, only a few of whom have been foreigners.
M. Chrétien joins some pretty illustrious company, including Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer and Nelson Mandela. The Queen's website calls the Order of Merit, founded in 1902 by King Edward VII, a "gift from the sovereign." It is given to people "of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service."
The "little guy from Shawinigan" gets a nice "gong" -- an eight-pointed cross of red-and-blue enamel with the imperial crown in the centre, and the words "For Merit" in gold surrounded by a laurel wreath. He could pin it on his golf shirt, or maybe his toque.
But seriously... There were those (even in the Liberal Party) who reviled M. Chretien while he was in office. But compared with those who followed him, especially Steve Harpoon, le ti-gars d'Shawinigan looks pretty good, eh! Congratulations from Walt!
M. Chrétien joins some pretty illustrious company, including Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer and Nelson Mandela. The Queen's website calls the Order of Merit, founded in 1902 by King Edward VII, a "gift from the sovereign." It is given to people "of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service."
The "little guy from Shawinigan" gets a nice "gong" -- an eight-pointed cross of red-and-blue enamel with the imperial crown in the centre, and the words "For Merit" in gold surrounded by a laurel wreath. He could pin it on his golf shirt, or maybe his toque.
But seriously... There were those (even in the Liberal Party) who reviled M. Chretien while he was in office. But compared with those who followed him, especially Steve Harpoon, le ti-gars d'Shawinigan looks pretty good, eh! Congratulations from Walt!
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