the blog quebecois

There's a story about a funeral in England where the cleric delivered a moving, if brief, eulogy:

"We are gathered here to celebrate the memory of Mr. X -- but if the truth be told, he was a rather unpleasant fellow, and he shan't be missed."

The papers will be brimming tomorrow with effusive praise of Svend Robinson, the socialist MP from Burnaby, B.C., who blubbered his way through a press conference this afternoon announcing his temporary -- possibly permanent -- departure from politics. Seems Svend swiped some jewelry from a show last Friday, citing severe personal stress. He's sought out medical care, and announced that he won't run for Parliament until after possible criminal charges are sorted out.

He'll be lauded as a "dedicated," "passionate, "courageous, "committed," "humanitarian," "fiery civil rights advocate," secular saint.

In a word: Bollocks.

Robinson, Canada's first openly-homosexual MP, is a nasty, vituperative man who routinely slanders opponents as "bigots" and "homophobes." When Opposition Leader Stephen Harper made a mild joke at his expense, Robinson called him a "scumbag."

And how can we forget his charming antics, from heckling Ronald Reagan during a speech to Parliament, to engaging in a shoving match with Israeli soldiers when they wouldn't let him through to visit his hero, Yassir Arafat, to egging on the Brownshirt anti-globalization thugs as they rioted in Quebec City a couple of years ago.

It's ironic that Robinson is departing the scene on the eve of his biggest legislative triumph, Bill C-250, which should pass the Senate and become law next week.

This is a Private Member's Bill (which hardly ever are successful, even when sponsored by a Government backbencher) that got whisked through the Commons and Senate with Robinson pulling every procedural lever he could find (and with the Government running full-tilt interference for him).

Briefly, C-250 adds to Canada's hate crime laws the category of "sexual orientation."

Which means . . . you fill in the blank.

Never mind, the courts will do it for you.

John Leo discusses some of the ramifications here.

It will be used to hammer social and religious conservatives, make no mistake.

Thanks for the parting gift, you creepy little fascist.

I doubt that we've seen the last of him, failing a wooden stake through his heart, but if we have, let me be the first to say:

Buh-bye, Svend. You will not be missed.