Tag Archives: Quebec politics

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Caisse de retraite

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Caisse de retraite: Literally translating to “retirement case,” this is the French term for a pension fund.

As seen in: « Le maire Régis Labeaume ne s’est pas montré très impressionné, mercredi, par l’entente conclue entre la Ville de Saguenay et ses employés pour régler le dossier des caisses de retraite. »

(Translation: “Mayor Régis Labeaume didn’t seem too impressed Wednesday with the agreement reached between the City of Saguenay and its employees to resolve its pension-fund dispute.”)

http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/quebec/2013/05/16/002-saguenay-retraite-labeaume.shtml

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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Arrondissement

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Arrondissement: An administrative subdivision of a large city.  These are commonly seen in France (ie Paris) as well as in Montreal.

As seen in: « La Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) propose un nouveau modèle de gouvernance pour la Ville de Montréal, qui comprendrait moins d’arrondissements et réduirait de près de la moitié le nombre de conseillers municipaux. »

(Translation: “The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) is proposing a new model of governance for the City of Montreal, which would include fewer subdivisions and would reduce the number of municipal councilors almost by half.”)

http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2013/05/13/002-caq-montreal-proposition-gouvernance-legault.shtml

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Ordonnance

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Ordonnance: This word can refer to a decision made by a judge (ie court order), a prescription made by a doctor or a ruling made by a sovereign or government body.

As seen in: « Une ordonnance de non-publication provisoire a été ordonnée jeudi sur la divulgation de la preuve au premier jour de l’enquête préliminaire de Richard Henry Bain, accusé de meurtre prémédité dans l’attentat du Métropolis, le soir des élections. »

(Translation: “A court-ordered provisionary publication ban was declared Thursday on the unveiling of evidence at the first day of the preliminary hearing of Richard Henry Bain, accused of premeditated murder in the Metropolis attack on election night.”)

http://www.quebechebdo.com/Actualites/Justice/2013-05-02/article-3232472/Richard-Henry-Bain-%3A-une-ordonnance-de-non-publication-provisoire-est-emise/1

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Battre en retraite

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Battre en retraite: Literally to fight while retreating, this expression refers to the process of gradually making concessions in a negotiation.

As seen in: « Le gouvernement Marois a battu en retraite devant les centres de la petite enfance (CPE) avec la principale mesure de compressions qu’il avait prévue. »

(Translation: “The Marois government gradually conceded to the childcare centres on the principal measure of planned budget cuts.”)

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/societe/201304/11/01-4640131-reduction-des-budgets-des-cpe-le-pq-recule.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Mettre au rancart

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Mettre au rancart: To set aside, to get rid of or to throw something away.

As seen in: « La ministre de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, Agnès Maltais, n’a pas l’intention de mettre au rancart le projet de règlement qui rendrait certains prestataires de l’aide sociale inadmissibles à une allocation pour contrainte temporaire à l’emploi. »

(Translation: “The Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, Agnès Maltais, doesn’t intend to set aside the proposed project that would make certain welfare recipients ineligible for a temporary barrier-to-employment allocation.”)

http://lesnews.ca/politique/41788-aide-sociale-agnes-maltais-annonce-des-modifications-mais-nabandonne-pas-sa-reforme/

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: À la va-vite

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À la va-vite: Describes something done rapidly, hastily or in a negligent fashion, ie in haste.

As seen in: «Rédigé à la va-vite et jouant avec les droits démocratiques» des citoyens, selon Projet Montréal, le règlement P-6 pourrait être renvoyé aux oubliettes le 22 avril prochain.

(Translation: “Written in haste and playing loose with the democratic rights of citizens, as per Project Montreal, Rule P-6 could be sent to pasture on April 22nd.”)

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/regional/montreal/201304/08/01-4638700-projet-montreal-veut-abroger-le-reglement-p-6.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Prête-nom

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Prête-nom: Directly translating to name-lender, this term describes a person or an organization that allows its name to be used on a contract in place of the real benefactor, thereby assuming any risk.  Similar English terms would be straw-man, figurehead, nominee, etc.

As seen in: « Près de 13 millions $ ont été versés en cinq ans aux partis politiques provinciaux et municipaux par des employés de firmes comptables, d’avocats, d’ingénieurs et de construction, constate le Directeur général des élections (DGE), qui suspecte un stratagème de prête-noms. »

(Translation: “Almost $13-million was given over five years to provincial and municipal political parties by employees of accounting, law, engineering and construction firms, according to the Chief Electoral Officer [of Quebec], who suspects a name-lending scheme.”)

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/politique/201304/03/01-4637325-dons-aux-partis-13-millions-dargent-suspect-constate-le-dge.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Mettre la pédale douce

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Mettre la pédale douce: To display moderation or restraint; to go easy.  Literally means to pedal softly; this expression is derived not from cycling or gas pedals, but the pedals of a piano, ie soft-pedal.

As seen in:  « Le ministre des Transports, Sylvain Gaudreault, met la pédale douce dans les investissements routiers même si Québec injectera 5,6 milliards de dollars pour la période 2013-2015 $. »

(Translation: “Transport Minister Sylvain Gaudreault has restrained road construction spending, although Quebec will still invest 5.6 billion dollars in that domain from 2013-2015.”)

http://www.lhebdodustmaurice.com/Actualites/2013-03-28/article-3209527/Routes%3A-Quebec-met-la-pedale-douce/1

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Corvée

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Corvée: A difficult task or chore; also refers to unpaid labour.

As seen in: « François Legault veut lancer «une grande corvée nationale» pour décontaminer au cours de la prochaine décennie les terrains pollués sur les rives du fleuve St-Laurent. »

(Translation: “François Legault wants to launch ‘a large national chore’ to decontaminate polluted land on the banks of the St. Lawrence River over the next decade.”)

http://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/280616/legault-propose-une-corvee-nationale/

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Détricoter

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Détricoter: To unravel or undo.  Literally refers to sewing or knitting, but can be used figuratively, ie to back out of or deconstruct.

As seen in: « Après que le gouvernement fédéral se soit acharné (et persiste) à détricoter le filet social qu’est l’assurance-emploi, voilà que le gouvernement provincial cisèle l’aide de dernier recours: l’aide sociale. »

(Translation: “After the federal government’s persistence to unravel the social safety net that is employment insurance, here the provincial government is chiseling away at the last resort: welfare.”)

http://www.lapresse.ca/debats/votre-opinion/201303/04/01-4627695-le-filet-social-detricote.php