Jonquiere-Tadoussac Creates Orders of Merit

L'Unité - The federal government today unveiled a scheme of honours to be bestowed upon citizens for extraordinary accomplishments. Known as Orders of Merit, these will take the form of awards to worthy citizens and non-citizens who have played a major role in Jontadain society.

"Previously, there had been the granting of royal titles available to recognize citizens for their deeds," explains Consul Lise Garimaou, chairperson of the committee that created the system. "The Consular Council felt this was no longer appropriate, as the character of the country has changed dramatically since that system was implemented. Rather, a system of honours bestowed by the government as all the citizens is better related to our current political situation."

The committee decided on five types of awards to be bestowed by the government: the Order of the High Consul, the Order of Jonquiere-Tadoussac, the Jontadain Democratic Medal, the Order of Unity, and Seal and Medal of Valour. Each of these is to have four levels, "Honourable", "Distinguished", "First Class", and "Exemplary", to mark the degree of importance of the award. Each level of award will also include a second part, whether a cash award, the granting of a title, or military promotion.

The Order of the High Consul will be granted by the High Consul for lifetime contributions to the country. It is largely intended for civil servants, though it can be given to others, as well, and will be granted at the retirement age. It is to include a pension stipend, which will be awarded over several years. This is the only award that cannot be granted to non-residents of the country.

The Order of Jonquiere-Tadoussac is bestowed upon those who have made significant contributions to the culture and way of life of Jonquiere-Tadoussac. This normally includes artists, writers and designers, but may also include architects, scientists and engineers. It recognizes a significant impact upon the people of Jonquiere-Tadoussac and their definition of themselves, their neighbours and their country. It will include a cash award.

The Jontadain Democratic Order is bestowed upon all current and former members of federal and provincial governments in Jonquiere-Tadoussac. It will also be granted retroactively to members of the old royal governments, as well as heads of state of other countries in the International Democratic Union. It includes the right to use the level of award granted as a title.

The Order of Unity recognizes a conspicuous deed on the part of a person or government to safeguard peace or unity in Jonquiere-Tadoussac. This includes efforts to prevent war, encourage unity of the provinces, or improve the situations of minorities in the country. It is the highest honour the government can bestow upon one of its citizens. The Order of Unity is an exception among the Orders of Merit, in that any of its levels may be bestowed upon a non-citizen. This is to recognize that the strongest efforts to defuse situations and prevent conflict can come from abroad, with neutral mediators. It is accompanied by a cash award.

The Seal of Valour and Medal of Valour are awarded for acts of conspicuous bravery and gallantry during times of war or civil unrest. They are awarded in wars both on Jontadain soil and abroad, though they are only bestowed for actions that directly impact the war effort. The Seal of Valour is bestowed upon civilians, and is seen as a mark of character. The Medal of Valour is bestowed upon military and civil security personnel (police, fire, etc.), and is the highest honour that can be awarded. It is accompanied by a cash award for civilians and a promotion for military personnel.

Granting of these orders will be done through committees for each, which will both select individuals and review nominations for their chosen award. Should a person be selected for the award, they will receive it from the High Consul during the yearly ceremony.

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Île Québec to Pursue UN Membership

Lévis, Île Québec - Only weeks after taking office, the government of Île Québec has given their approval to a campaign proposal to apply for UN membership. The ruling Indépendence Île Québec party had promised the move as part of the platform in the recent colonial elections, and this move had been seen as central in their stunning victory over the opposing parties.

Passed through the Colonial Council on early Monday afternoon, the plan would see Île Québec making a request to the UN for recognition as a sovereign state, followed quickly by an application for full UN membership. "It's time Île Québec took its proper place in the world," said government spokesperson Jacques Huébert. "If the UN will grant us recognition as a sovereign power, the federal government will have no choice but to confirm us as such, and thereby grant us full independence." The decision has been popular with party supporters, who see the IÎQ as fulfilling the mandate they were given by the people. Approval has risen from 41 percent during the election to 51 percent almost overnight.

Notwithstanding its popularity in some corners, the decision has sparked widespread controversy about the nature of Île Québec and its place in the Consular Confederation. While hardline sovereigntists stand by the plan, moderates decry the move as illegal and dangerous, threatening the status of Île Québec. Camille Tremblay, leader of the oppostion Parti Social Démocratique d'Île Québec, stated, "This type of move only encourages the federal government to revoke the special status recently afforded our island, and instead move it back to an authoritarian government." In L'Unité, High Consul Katryne Roland said in a statement, "We do not and cannot support the actions of Île Québec. Not only do these show a complete disregard for the legal position of Île Québec in the Confederation, but they are also a grave insult to every Jontadain."

Observers see the move as calculated to gain attention for the Colonial Council and their goals, but say it is not expected to succeed. "The United Nations understands Île Québec as a territory of Jonquiere-Tadoussac, one of its members," notes political scientist Gérard Dumont. "To accord it status as an idependent power, or to grant it full membership, would not only challenge the sovereignty of JT, but also would open the door for tens of thousands of regions in thousands of member states to attempt the same trick. The IÎQ want international press and attention, which this bid is sure to bring. They cannot rationally expect it to succeed."

According to the plan, a formal request for UN recognition will be submitted on April 21, with an application for full membership to be made on April 28, regardless of the success of the first request.

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L'Unité Facing Housing Crunch

L'Unité - Government officials are scrambling to find places to live and work as the city of L'Unité is overrun by bureaucrats and administrators. The city, chosen as the new federal capital of Jonquiere-Tadoussac in 2006, has experienced a massive population boom as a corollary of its new status.

The humble city of 100 000 nearly doubled in size during the Jontadain Civil War, when it was the headquarters of the Démocratiques faction. It has since more than doubled again since January, to nearly 545 000. The relocation of the federal government, along with most of its archives, personnel, and departments, is mostly blamed for the sudden explosion, though increasing numbers of service and construction sector jobs are pushing population numbers ever higher.

The situation has led to a near 0 percent vacancy rate, with housing prices jumping nearly 100 percent between January and April. This situation is mirrored in every town and village within a fifty-kilometre radius, as government employees snap up every available property and housing unit. Homelessness is as high as 10 percent, as rental properties raise their rent by as much as 200 percent, and previous tenants are unable to pay the new rates.

The federal and municipal governments are both taking steps to remedy the problem. The federal government is offering tax subsidies to construction companies working in the area, as well as bringing in temporary housing units for some of its employees. The municipal government, meanwhile, has converted several community centres and schools into mass dormatories, and is rezoning large amounts of land to be converted from low to high-density residential property.

The problem is duplicated in commercial space, as the federal government appropriates all available office space for its various departments. Still, offices are crowded, and only the highest ranking officials can expect to have any office to themselves. Several defunct properties are being converted into office towers for the bureaucracy, but that project is unfortunately years from completion.

Projections put the population of the city leveling off at around 600 000 towards the end of August. Adequate housing, on the other hand, isn't predicted to be available for all until the summer of 2008, and office space for all the government's various departments isn't expected until the winter of 2011.

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Arvida, Île Québec Swept By Regional Parties

Mont Vidé, Arvida - Regional parties dominated in the recent local elections for both Arvida and Île Québec, winning as much as 60 percent of the popular vote in each. The votes come as each of the two regions sets up their first autonomous governments and attempts to take control over local matters. Both of the two areas received partial independence from Jonquiere-Tadoussac in the aftermath of the Jontadain Civil War, ending their status as royal territories.

In Arvida, the centrist Action Démoratique Arvidain, a local chapter of the Action Démocratique Jontadain, won a majority government over the protectorate's parilamentary governing system, taking 25 of the parliament's 65 seats. "I am very happy with our election results," said party leader Prime Minister Yves Daignault. "The people of Arvida have shown they are ready to continue with the progressive steps we've taken over the past few years, and that they aren't rushing into any rash decisions." The ADA ran on a platform of continued devolution of powers for the protectorate from Jonquiere-Tadoussac, as well as ensuring the economic welfare of Arvidains.

The statements of Prime Minister Daignault may be coming early, though, as the party only won 35 percent of the popular vote. Their closest competitor, with 32 percent, is the Arvida Integrale party, which took 20 seats. Based in the region, the party's platform advocated reintegration of the protectorate as a full province of Jonquiere-Tadoussac, largely undoing what changes had been made in previous years. "Arvidains are no different than other Jontadains, and the current system does not recognize that," stated party leader Orion Corbeau. "Instead, we are forced to create our own system, our own government services, and our own infrastructure, with no help from the federal government. It's ludicrous, and it's high time we stop this 'devolution' nonsense."

Early prospects put the ADA as securing a hold on power, being able to form a coalition with the Parti conservateur économique on its local economy support stance. With the PCÉ's 12 seats, this would put the coalition at 37 of the parliament's 65 seats; enough to form a stable majority. Also winning seats in the election was the Parti social démocratique du Jonquiere-Tadoussac, with the remaining 8 representatives.

Île Québec Awash With Sovereigntists
Electoral Results in Île Québec were not so friendly to the Jontadain federal government. Though early polls put the local SDJT chapter in the lead, the sovereigntist Indépendence Île Québec won an absolute majority in the Colonial Council at the end of the night. Pushing for full, rapid independence from Jonquiere-Tadoussac, the IÎQ was seen as a fringe party that might win a few seats in the Council. Instead, they are sending 29 consuls out of the 45 constituencies. The island also elects 25 seats by proportional representation, 10 of which were won by the IÎQ with 41 percent of the vote. Under the Consular system, the council elected Gabrielle Duroi as Colonial Consul, the head of government for the island. "This victory marks a turning point in the Québécois struggle for freedom," Duroi said in a statement. "The island stood up and demanded change from the government."

The IÎQ garnered some controversy during their campaign through their promise that, if elected, they would seek UN membership and recognition of Île Québec as an independent state. Though this was widely criticized as unrealistic, destabilizing, and illegal, it is believed to have gained some last minute support for the party, both from hardline nationalists and those who believe such a stunt is necessary for increased autonomy for the island.

In opposition is the regional arm of the SDJT, the Parti Social Démocratique d'Île Québec. The STÎQ finished with only 19 seats out of the total 60, a great disappointment to its supporters. "I had hoped the island would vote for progressive change," lamented party leader Camille Tremblay. "Instead, we will have to wait through several IÎQ blunders, such as a failed UN stunt, before they realize which party truly represents their interests."

Rounding out the Colonial Council is the Action Démocratique Québécois, with the remaining two consular positions, both allocated through proportional representation. Though some point to this as an example of fringe parties winning seats without the necessary credibility, most are cheering it as an example of the success of proportional representation. "The system works; those who voted for the minority are represented. That goes far towards solving any form of democratic deficit in my view," notes political scientist Dr. Fernand Desriches.

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