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CBC
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
1 in 4 Quebec NDP candidates have little presence just days before election
Jérémie Juneau's candidate page on the NDP website is just an orange square, with no photo, no biography and no link. And voters in the northwestern Quebec riding of Abitibi-Témiscamingue where he is running might not have much luck learning about him, as he campaigns on a part-time basis without election signs, a campaign director or volunteers. "I'm literally alone," the 29-year-old Amos, Que., resident said in an interview Wednesday. "There's a song about it," he added a moment later, humming a few notes of Eric Carmen's All By Myself over a spotty Wi-Fi connection. Juneau isn't the only one. Days before the April 28 vote, there was no photo or biographical information on the NDP website for more than 20 of its 78 candidates running in Quebec, in what two political scientists describe as another sign of distress for a party fighting to keep a presence in the province. WATCH | How the NDP is attacking the final days of the campaign: With NDP facing oblivion, Singh kicks into high gear 19 hours ago Duration 2:09 All parties have "paper" candidates who help parties fill out their slates, but have little chance of winning and often a limited presence in the field. In Quebec, they are known as candidats poteaux, or "pole candidates," seen only in election signs on utility poles. It's a title Juneau doesn't fully reject. While he lives in the riding — unlike many paper candidates — he also works two construction-related jobs, including one that requires seven-day shifts. He says he doesn't mind campaigning by himself, but his work schedule means he's unable to meet as many voters as he'd like. After the 'Orange Wave' In 2011, the NDP swept to power in Juneau's riding, as part of the "Orange Wave" that saw the party win 59 Quebec seats. But 14 years later, the riding is held by the Bloc Québécois, the NDP riding association is dormant and party members are few and far between. "It's as if the party doesn't exist in the riding," Juneau said. Tari Ajadi, an assistant professor of political science at McGill University, sees the number of NDP paper candidates as a "marker of distress" for a party that "aims to be a national party, but doesn't have the resources or the capacity to really leverage that national party status." He said the disorganization is notable because it was guaranteed there would be an election in 2025: "If you don't have your candidates in place or at least a riding association, some momentum, some kind of connection to the grassroots, that's a real challenge." The NDP appears to be focusing most of its resources in Quebec on a handful of ridings, mostly in Montreal, where the party is most competitive. The party's only Quebec MP is Alexandre Boulerice, who holds a riding in the city. Thierry Giasson, a political science professor at Université Laval, says the NDP had little choice but to narrow its focus, given its limited number of volunteers and financial resources, which are generated by riding associations. "They have to make choices," he said in a phone interview. As a result, while posters abound for NDP candidates such as Craig Sauvé, who is running again after finishing a close third in a byelection last fall in Montreal's LaSalle-Emard-Verdun riding, you won't see any for 78-year-old Suzanne Dufresne, who is running in the downtown riding next door. 'I'm being an example' However, Dufresne said she has received support from the party, who sent people to help her collect the last few dozen signatures she needed to confirm her candidacy. "It's a pleasure for me to represent the NDP as a candidate, even if my adventure ends here," the retired rail employee said ahead of a candidates' debate at a Montreal community centre. While she has little chance of defeating Liberal MP Marc Miller, who has been in office for a decade, Dufresne has other goals. "I consider that the arrival of women in politics is very important," she said. "I'm being an example, encouraging other women." While Giasson and Ajadi agree the NDP had to target its limited resources, they say there is a political price to pay for running paper candidates. Ajadi points out that failing to support long-shot candidates will mean a lower share of the popular vote, and it deprives new candidates of proper campaign experience. Giasson notes that when a candidate is largely absent, "it's ideas that aren't circulating, it's the chance of getting people involved, in getting donations, too." Running paper candidates doesn't always finish badly, he noted. The 2011 Orange Wave saw several elected, including Ruth Ellen Brosseau, a campus bar manager in Ottawa who had never set foot in her rural Quebec riding before becoming its MP. Brosseau became a success, winning re-election in 2015 and becoming the party's agriculture critic before narrowly losing in 2019 and 2021. This year, she's running again in the riding, as one of the NDP's best-known faces. Back in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Juneau has no illusions about winning — at least this time. Instead, he's looking to rebuild the grassroots support his party needs to succeed in the future, whether or not it's him on the ballot.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Number of ‘phantom' NDP candidates in Quebec a sign of party's distress: experts
MONTREAL – Jérémie Juneau's candidate page on the NDP website is just on orange square, with no photo, no biography and no link to a social media page. And voters in the northwestern Quebec riding of Abitibi-Témiscamingue where he is running might not have much luck learning about him, as he campaigns on a part-time basis without election signs, a campaign director or volunteers. 'I'm literally alone,' the 29-year-old Amos, Que., resident said in an interview Wednesday. 'There's a song about it,' he added a moment later, humming a few notes of Eric Carmen's 'All By Myself' over a spotty Wi-Fi connection. Juneau isn't the only one. Days before the April 28 vote, there was no photo or biographical information on the NDP website for more than 20 of its 78 candidates running in Quebec, in what two political scientists describe as another sign of distress for a party fighting to remain a presence in the province. All parties have so-called paper candidates who help parties fill out their slates but have little chance of winning and often a limited presence in the field. In Quebec, they are known as 'candidats poteaux,' or 'pole candidates,' seen only in election signs on utility poles. It's a title Juneau doesn't fully reject. While he lives in the riding — unlike many paper candidates — he also works two construction-related jobs, including one that requires seven-day shifts. He says he doesn't mind campaigning by himself, but his work schedule means he's unable to meet as many voters as he'd like. In 2011, the NDP swept to power in Juneau's riding, as part of the 'orange wave' that saw the party win 59 Quebec seats. But 14 years later, the riding is held by the Bloc Québécois, the NDP riding association is dormant and party members are few and far between. 'It's as if the party doesn't exist in the riding,' Juneau said. Tari Ajadi, an assistant professor of political science at McGill University, sees the number of NDP paper candidates as a 'marker of distress' for a party that 'aims to be a national party, but doesn't have the resources or the capacity to really leverage that national party status.' He said the disorganization is notable because it was guaranteed there would be an election in 2025: 'If you don't have your candidates in place or at least a riding association, some momentum, some kind of connection to the grassroots, that's a real challenge.' The NDP appears to be focusing most of its resources in Quebec on a handful of ridings, mostly in Montreal, where the party is most competitive. The party's only Quebec MP is Alexandre Boulerice, who holds a riding in the city. Thierry Giasson, a political science professor at Université Laval, says the NDP had little choice but to narrow its focus, given its limited numbers of volunteers and financial resources, which are generated by riding associations. 'They have to make choices,' he said in a phone interview. As a result, while posters abound for NDP candidates such as Craig Sauvé, who is running again after finishing a close third in a byelection last fall in Montreal's LaSalle—Émard—Verdun riding, you won't see any for 78-year-old Suzanne Dufresne, who is running in the downtown riding next door. However, Dufresne said she has received support from the party, who sent people to help her collect the last few dozen signatures she needed to confirm her candidacy. 'It's a pleasure for me to represent the NDP as a candidate, even if my adventure ends here,' the retired rail employee said ahead of a candidates' debate at a Montreal community centre. While she has little chance of defeating longtime Liberal cabinet minister Marc Miller, she has other goals. 'I consider that the arrival of women in politics is very important,' she said. 'I'm being an example, encouraging other women.' While Giasson and Ajadi agree the NDP had to target its limited resources, they say there is a political price to pay for running paper candidates. Ajadi points out that failing to support longshot candidates will mean a lower share of the popular vote, and it deprives new candidates of proper campaigning experience. Giasson notes that when a candidate is largely absent, 'it's ideas that aren't circulating, it's the chance of getting people involved, in getting donations too.' During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Running 'phantom' candidates doesn't always finish badly, he noted. The 2011 orange wave saw several elected, including Ruth Ellen Brosseau, a campus-bar manager in Ottawa who had never set foot in her rural Quebec riding before becoming its MP. Brosseau became a success, winning re-election in 2015 and becoming the party's agriculture critic before narrowly losing in 2019 and 2021. This year, she's running again in the riding, as one of the NDP's best-known faces. Back in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Juneau has no illusions about winning — at least this time. Instead, he's looking to rebuild the grassroots support his party needs to succeed in the future, whether or not it's him on the ballot. 'I didn't know the situation of the party in the (riding),' he said. 'But now that I know, I'll go forward for the next four years to build something back, so we can come back stronger and more prepared.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Céline Dion Celebrates Golf Course Win with Sons by Playing Air Guitar in Video — Watch!
Céline Dion's impressive tee-off and celebration is relatable to any golfer. In a video shared on Thursday, March 20, the Queen of Power Ballads showed off her golf skills, hitting a drive-off a tee during an outing with her sons René-Charles, Nelson and Eddy. "You like that one?" Dion, 56, shouted to them from the tee. She then used the driver as a guitar, performing an air guitar solo and triumphantly grooved back to the cart. Dion shouted, "Hey!" raising her club before boarding the cart. "That one was so good," one of her sons agreed. "I had a beautiful day with my boys out on the course…. Getting back into the swing of things!!♥️," she wrote on Instagram, signing off with "Celine xx…" Fans were excited to see her golf skills and energy. "Your ball will go on and on 😂❤️," one wrote. "Seeing your smile and energy is pure joy! This moment with your children is so heartwarming. And that Freddie Mercury impression? Iconic 😍," another chimed in. "Getting back into the swing of things again and killing it! This makes me so happy to see! 💜," a third said. Related: Céline Dion Calls Out AI-Generated Music Claiming to Feature the Iconic Singer Without Her Permission "This is exactly how it feels to rip a shot right off the tee❤️🔥😍," actress Kathryn Newton wrote. The PGA Tour Instagram responded as well. "Great swing, even better dance moves 🎶🏌️♀️," the account commented. Dion is a golf enthusiast. In 2000, she famously participated in the 2000 Nabisco Golf Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and even waded into the water to shake hands with golfers Dottie Pepper and Karrie Webb at one point. Weeks before her mother-and-sons outing in mid-March, she and her 14-year-old twin sons Nelson and Eddy attended the TGL Match on March 4 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Dion also gave an impromptu performance during an interview with ESPN's Marty Smith. When asked "Which song from your catalogue best represents your golf game?" the "All By Myself" singer had the perfect response. "Okay, the one that comes to — oh, some people have suggestions," she said, as fans shouted during the interview. "I would say," she continued before belting out the chorus to the 1997 hit "My Heart Will Go On." "Near, far, where — come on!" Dion encouraged Smith to sing along to the Titanic theme. "Wherever you are, I believe that my ball will go on," she sang. Related: Céline Dion Embraces Her Gray Roots During Casual Outing with Her Sons and Tiger Woods The five-time Grammy winner revealed in late 2022 that she was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause debilitating muscle spasms. "Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life," Dion said when sharing the news. "Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to." She took a step back from performing and rescheduled upcoming tour dates. She made an incredible comeback last year, performing at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Dion thanked fans for their support in a New Year's Instagram post. "Your love and energy inspire me every day. I wish you all a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones," she said in January. "Here's to endless possibilities in the coming year. Wishing you a safe holiday and a fabulous New Year!" Read the original article on People
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Renee Zellweger became Bridget Jones and the actors who missed out
It now seems absurd to imagine that anybody but Renee Zellweger could play the role of Bridget Jones on the big screen. She is due to portray the relatable diarist once again in this year's Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — 24 years after the first film had us all belting out All By Myself in our pyjamas — and we wouldn't have anybody else in the role. But it's easy to forget, in that respect, how divisive Zellweger's casting was back at the turn of the millennium. When the news was first unveiled, the concept of this archetypal Londoner being played by an American — Zellweger was born and raised in Texas — seemed truly bizarre. As it turns out, there were some very famous names in the frame and on the shortlist for the role of Bridget, with Zellweger far from the only American considered. So let's have a little look at how Bridget stumbled from the pages of a British newspaper on to the red carpets of Hollywood. Helen Fielding created Bridget Jones for a column in The Independent in 1995 and her pieces became so popular that the first Bridget Jones novel arrived in 1996. Working Title Films snapped up the movie rights sharpish, before the book truly became a bestseller. Read more: Renée Zellweger Makes Very Honest Admission About The Future Of Bridget Jones (HuffPost, 2 min read) This started the ball rolling on the extensive hunt for who could possibly play the all-important lead role of Bridget. In a 2001 piece over at the LA Times, director Sharon Maguire revealed that she had discussions with several stars before Zellweger's name even entered contention. There were British names including Emily Watson, Kate Winslet — fresh off smashing box office records with Titanic — and Helena Bonham Carter in the frame. Cameron Diaz was one of the few Americans suggested at this time. Rachel Weisz's name also came up but, according to reports at the time, she was considered "too beautiful" to be Bridget. Winslet, meanwhile, was reportedly thought to be too young. She was just 24 when filming began — six years younger than Zellweger. Australian star Cate Blanchett was also considered at this time, just a few years after she won a Bafta with another British role as Queen Elizabeth I in the movie Elizabeth. She was right in the thick of work on her role as Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, so it's entirely possible that scheduling may have played a part in the decision to move away from her as an option. Read more: Hugh Grant Says the New 'Bridget Jones 'Sequel 'Made Me Cry': 'It's Got a Huge Amount of Heart' (People, 2 min read) Blanchett wasn't even the only Aussie in the frame. Toni Collette said no to the role because she was on Broadway, performing the lead in Michael John LaChiusa's musical The Wild Party. In the end, that sliding doors moment also led to Collette missing out on another part — also to Zellweger — in Rob Marshall's eventual Oscar-winner Chicago. "While I was doing Wild Party, I turned down Bridget Jones's Diary, because I didn't know when Wild Party was going to close," Collette told the Miami Herald in 2006. "And that movie was a huge success for Renee Zellweger, and Harvey Weinstein was producing Chicago, and he was keen for her to do it. And that's the way it went." Eventually, all roads led to Zellweger. "Renee was completely charming but miles apart from the specifics of Bridget Jones," Maguire said in that LA Times piece. She explained that they were both acutely aware of how bad the response could be if this went wrong, saying that Zellweger told her: "If we don't get the accent right, the pair of us — you as the first-time director, me as a Texan — we're going to be so busted." Zellweger threw herself into the accent work, spending time with the dialect coach Gwyneth Paltrow had used for Shakespeare in Love. She spoke in the accent for weeks at a time while living in LA, then moved to London for several months to immerse herself in UK culture while also gaining weight for the role. Read more: Jim Broadbent knew Renee Zellweger was 'special' from first Bridget Jones film (PA Media, 3 min read) None of that meticulous preparation stopped the British press from hitting out at the decision to choose Zellweger ahead of the British actors who had been involved in the process. Empire Magazine, for example, wrote that "yet another British role falls prey to US star power". Hugh Grant, Zellweger's co-star, defended her in Entertainment Weekly, saying: "She's very funny, and she's been living in England a long time now, mastering the accent. It'll be a triumph. I know it will." Thankfully, Zellweger mostly escaped the extent of the backlash. "I thought it was just a tiny little thing. I didn't realize just how widespread this controversy was,' she told Yahoo. While preparing for the character, she spent time working in the offices of publisher Picador to get a look into Bridget's world, which also put her unfortunately close to the backlash. Read more: Renée Zellweger thinks she has a lot in common with Bridget Jones (Yahoo Entertainment, 2 min read) Zellweger said: "There were a couple things that I picked up closer to the time we filmed because part of my job — or 'work experience' as they said — at the publishers was to clip any clippings in the media that had to do with the authors that Picador-Macmillan represent. And they represent Helen Fielding. So every now and then something would pop up and I would see 'Crap American Comedian Playing English Icon,' and I'd have to cut it out and go put it in the file." Thankfully for all involved, Zellweger more than delivered and became an unforgettable Bridget. She won a SAG Award for her performance in that first film and also got nominations at the Golden Globes, Baftas, and Oscars. The franchise has also been an enormous box office success, with the three films to date earning a combined $756m (£608m) worldwide. That brings us to Mad About the Boy — the fourth and probably final Bridget Jones adventure. Over a quarter of a century, we've come a long way from being sceptical about a Texan star to being completely and utterly in love with one of cinema's most delightfully flawed female protagonists. Even if someone could spot a little bit of a deep-fried twang creeping into that accent now, they wouldn't even care. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is in UK cinemas from 13 February.
