The Berlusconi of Quebec announces his retirement from politics

Sorry we never even got to know you, PKP.

I don't know if PKP would ever have got round to doing any important things, but there is no doubt he was on the cusp of interesting things.

Actually, it was interesting enough that he got himself elected as top dog in the PQ, the Quebec separatist party. That was interesting on multiple fronts. PKP's history of anti-labour activism throughout his vast media empire, while nabbing the PQ leadership, the most pro-labour party in Quebec, was just one example.

But it was a stunning example. We really and truly believed PKP was following in the footsteps of Berlusconi.

Apparently not.

Would an independent Quebec be a police state?

It was hilarity all round as Montreal Police busted the annual anti-police-brutality march within three minutes of its start. Normally they like to let it get off to a good head-start before chasing down the n'ere-do-wells and beating some sense into them!

Quebec has the best developed anti-establishment culture in all of Canada, as evidenced by this annual march and the red square protests among other things. Unfortunately for them, a PQ future means a future under the thumb of the reprobate anti-worker "star" PQ candidate Pierre Peladeau.

It's gonna be tough to square that circle.