Glengarry-Prescott-Russell voters have
Quick quiz : What do syrup, the Bloc
been represented by Opposition members
Québécois and contempt of Parliament
at both the federal and provincial levels.
have in common?
And, the sun kept rising, the cows kept
If you replied, “Some of the latest
giving milk, and the sap continued to run.
examples of people trying to spin public
In Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, one of the
opinion,” go to the head of the class or
burning issues at the start of the campaign
give yourself a high-five or scream,
has been what the main issue should be. Of
“Awesome.” Sap and politics are a natural
course, incumbent Conservative MP is
mix, so it makes sense that during a spring
saying the Liberals are a gang of meanies
federal election campaign, both sticky
Sap and politics
because they are against the new budget
topics would be high on the agenda.
which promised a batch of benefits for
As consumers and voters, we are
known that this natural sweetener is great.
sweet liquid. And the boiling process requires
everyone. Liberal Julie Bourgeois,
constantly being fed a steady diet of claims
However, the new study affords more
lots of time and energy.
countering the Liberals’ platform is way
by the “spin doctors,” propaganda experts
insight into this fabulous fluid, and gives us
A by-product is the moisture from the
better than the Conservatives’ budget,
who are trying to put a positive spin on
the chance to discuss phenolic compounds
cloying steam which is beneficial for
asserts that Lemieux is just trying to distract
their products and platforms. Unlike
and polyphenols, topics that are too often
moisture-starved people and homes. If you
voters from the fact that Harper’s bunch
politics, however, syrup is something we
overlooked when we draw up the weekly
are serious, you may want to get a gauge,
was found guilty of contempt of Parliament.
can always get excited about, because it is
grocery list.
such as a Brix Scale, to check the quality of
Indeed, this was a history-making
good and good for you. Which brings us
You have no doubt read that scientists at
your final product. If you are a few Brix
condemnation — no other country has ever
to the latest line from the maple syrup
the University of Rhode Island reason that
short, it doesn’t matter if you are making the
been slapped with such a reprimand. Only
industry. “Superfood” is the newest label
polyphenols in syrup may help regulate
stuff for your own consumption.
in Canada, you say? Yes, that’s a pity. But
attached to that fabulous elixir which all
blood sugar levels. These findings could
Of course, different standards must be
does anybody care?
of us love. You are no doubt aware that
lead to the development of new drugs to
applied when the mass market is targeted.
Lemieux remains popular and “ethics”
researchers have identified compounds
fight other diseases.
We shift from boiling to boilerplate, and
does not seem to be a burning issue among
in maple syrup that have anti-
You can read all about it when you pick
another federal election campaign.
voters. However, as they say, anything can
inflammatory or anti-oxidant properties
up a future copy of the Journal of Functional
(Apologies to those who hate politics. But
happen. It all boils down to what spin has,
that can also be found in blueberries, green
Foods, a serious publication that routinely
the politicians are out there; they cannot be
as they say, the most traction.
tea and red wine.
probes fields such as epigenetics and
avoided; ignoring them will not make them
Some of these wonderful compounds
nutrigenomics.
go away.)
may help to fight cancer and diabetes.
Anyway, many are no doubt a tad
One who does not want to exit the political
A total of 54 beneficial compounds
flumuxed by the thought that diabetic-
scene anytime soon is veteran Argenteuil-
were identified by the researchers in pure
friendly compounds can be found in a
Papineau-Mirabel Bloc Québécois MP Mario
maple syrup from Québec, including five
sweetener.
Laframboise, an affable sort, who although
of which have never been seen in nature.
But, as they say, not all sweeteners are the
he supports Québec independence, does not
Among the new compounds is quebecol , a
same, and moderation is the best policy.
breathe fire, at least not in full public view.
novel phenolic compound, named after
One of the down sides of the arrival of
He represents a party that can never form
the province which is a world leader in
warmer temperatures is the end of the maple
a government and is dedicated to breaking
maple syrup production.
season. Once the buds appear on the trees,
up our country. But like other BQers, he
The study was funded by the
we know that the sap-tapping time is on the
insists that an MP does not necessarily have
Federation of Québec Maple Syrup
wane.
to be a member of the government to be of
Sharing The Political Turf
Producers and Agriculture and Agri-Food
While production is best left to
use to his constituents. It is an effective spin,
On some lawns in Hawkesbury, different
Canada.
professionals, most of us who live in the
apparently, because Laframboise keeps
political leanings are on display. Supporters
So, a study funded partly by maple
boonies and own some trees have at, at least
getting elected, and is considered to be the
of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Liberal
syrup makers concludes that this product
once, attempted to make our own syrup.
front-runner in the campaign leading up to
candidate Julie Bourgeois and Conservative
is extraordinaire. That is no big surprise.
We soon learn that you can’t make syrup
the May 2 vote.
MP Pierre Lemieux are sharing this piece
But does this colour our perception of the
and be in a hurry. Even when the flow is at
The useful outsider concept has,
of political turf as the candidates seek votes
findings?
its peak, the trees are in no rush to yield their
obviously, worked in the past. Over the years,
in the May 2 election.
Of course not, because we have always
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