Ren Anglil's 'national' funeral 'over the top,' says Francine Pelletier

As flags flew at half-mast and thousands prepared to line up to pay their respects to Cline Dion's husband and manager, Ren Anglil, feminist commentator, writer and filmmaker Francine Pelletierraised a sensitive question in Quebec about the state-sponsored funeralfor the 73-year-old impresario.

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"One has to wonder why a businessman who has had a career and made a lot of money in the U.S. has to be honoured with a state funeral in Quebec?" Pelletier asked, in an interviewon CBC'sHomerun.

'National' vs. state funeral

Technically speaking, Anglil isnotgetting a state funeral: Those are reserved for former premiers such as Ren Lvesque, Robert Bourassa and Jacques Parizeau.

However, in recent years, Quebec has also begun a tradition of holding what are called"national" funerals for lesser politicians and for people who have made their mark on Quebec's cultural scene.

"These funerals are reserved for people who have really done great things for Quebec politically, socially culturally," Pelletier said. "Ren Anglil has done great things for Cline Dion in the United States, mostly. But interms of Quebec?

"I think it's really over the top."

Great Quebec women overlooked

Pelletier suggests the Quebec government decided Anglil warranted a "national" funeral because of the success his wife represents to Quebecers.

Cline Dion is perceived"asla petite fille de Charlemagnewho has made it big," Pelletier said. "People love her dearly and love her success."

"Perhaps we should wait until Cline Dion dies and give her a state funeral because we've given no women yet a state funeral. That's another thing that irks."

Pelletiersaid there is a long list of women Quebecers who might have qualified for such an honour: Quebec feminist, social reformer and Canadian senator,Thrse Casgrain,singer Pauline Julien, author Anne Hbert, not to mention social activists such as La Roback and Madeleine Parent.

All, she said, "have made a difference in this province and were overlooked."

Hockey heroes

Committed feminist though she is, Pelletier has no problem with "national" funerals being held for the likes of Maurice Richard and Jean Bliveau both hockey heroes who played for Montreal'sbelovedCanadiens.

"Hockey stars really represent something here in Quebec in terms of our identity," Pelletier said.

"But they were here. Ren Anglil was not here: He was in Las Vegas."