Dangerous divisions

A chilling spectre haunts Canada. The 44 cities which have declared themselves
“English-only” express a deep and dangerous bigotry fueled by distortions and outright
lies.

In a neo-conservative climate, where survival-of-the-fittest rules, ‘and everything is
weighed against the ledger sheet, arguments about the cost of providing French language
services are excuses, not reasons.

None of the cities which saw fit to codify its intolerance provides language services to
their Francophone citizens, nor does any legislation, federal or provincial, require munici-
palities to implement such services.

The same voices which tise toa hysterical frenzy when they perceive that the privileges of
English-speaking Quebeckers are threatened, have only one message to:the Francophone
minorities of their own communities — assimilate.

Their mouthpieces are found in elected officials, including Gary Filmon, who rose to the
premiership in Manitoba on a wave of anti-French sentiment, and Bill Vander Zalm and
Grant Devine who harbour hopes that the “French card” will work for them in their
re-election bid. ;

They also have their extreme-right populists in the Confederation of Regions Party and
the Alliance for the Preservation of English In Canada (APEC), both which have organic
links to the establishment.

The claim expressed in the very name of groups like APEC is absurd. The English
language is in no danger. It is unshakably supported by a powerful dominant culture, state,
educational system and media.

But Francophones, whose roots in every region of Canada go back to the days of the
coureur de bois, have every reason to feel besieged. Only under intense pressure do
governments grudgingly deliver the most minimal of services. Their children often pass
through angry mobs mouthing obscenities at the opening of French-language schools. And

a media which gives free reign to the demagoguery of hate mongers seems unable to finda -

single Francophone spokesperson.

To deny the existence of the French-Canadian nation is a grave injustice which ignores
history. The Mulroney government bears liability for perpetrating this travesty. .

Rising ‘unemployment, escalating costs and attacks on democratic rights and social
programs have left Canadians feeling vulnerable and insecure. Sexism, racism and national
chauvinism are fostered to deflect anger from the architects of the crisis.

The Meech Lake Accord is a perfect tool. Rarely has an edict been so successful at
inflaming divisions and separating Canadians along national, ethnic, sex and regional lines.

The current rise in tensions is not accidental. It’s Mulroney’s hidden card. While not
openly abandoning the accord, Ottawa is re-examining its usefulness and is quite prepared
to see it fail. To this end it has given free reign to its provincial cousins and extremists
supporters to kindle hostilities and provide the needed excuse to back away.

In the absence of strong voices in English Canada who, while rejecting Meech Lake, also
argue for a democratic alternative to the national question by supporting the full recogni-
tion cusesbeaand the rights of the Francophone minority in the rest of Canada, the field
has been abandoned to the right wing. :

It will be a chilling day if the only reason the government abandons Meech Lake is
because of the pressure of English-Canadian chauvinism. It’s time for Left and democratic
opinion on this question to be heard.

Progressives outside Quebec have a particularly responsibility. Our silence is damaging
the unity built among the pro-Canada forces. If we don’t act decisively to defend the rights
to French in Quebec and in Francophone communities across Canada, we risk even more
division — and the threat of another Tory majority at the polls.

MANDELA

a ee
APARTHEID Ss WALL’ G
pos ae :

FIRIBUON.

EDITOR
Sean Griffin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dan Keeton

BUSINESS & CIRCULATION MANAGER
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Ithough he had completed his seventh

decade, having logged several years
as a committed trade unionist, the death
Feb. 13 of George North was still sudden
and shocking. But for the cancer that
struck less than one year ago, George, 70
at the time of his death, would undoubt-
edly have had many more years of active
involvement.

The recently retired head of the B.C.
Teachers Federation bargaining division
had been with the federation since 1975.
But he was also a respected labour and
progressive journalist fora period stretch-
ing back to the Thirties.

George, born in Burnaby, was in turn
editor of the newspaper for Lodge 756 of
the International Association of Machi-
nists, the Native Voice and The Fisherman,
the publication of the United Fishermen
and Allied Workers Union, which he
joined in 1945. He held that position for 22
years.

George and his paper became causes
celebre in B.C. labour circles when in 1959 |
he wrote an editorial entitled “Injunctions
Won’t Build Bridges Nor Catch Fish.” It
criticized an ex-parte injunction forcing
striking Ironworkers back on the job con-
structing the Second Narrows bridge,
which landed the paper a $3,000 fine and
George 30 days in jail.

Upon his release, George was borne on

Ks

his jailing for contempt in 1959.
In 1953, during the dark days of

the shoulders of trade unionists rallying
outside Oakalla prison’s gates and carry-
ing placards declaring, “Injunctions STILL
won't catch fish or build bridges.”

McCarthyism, George wrote an editorial
criticizing moves by the Trades and
Labour Congress to set up a parallel union
after failing to force Outside Workers

George North is welcomed by supporters as he is released from Oakalla following

Union local leaders Don Guise and Jack
Phillips from office in an anti-Communist
purge. It was used by the TLC leaders to
expel the UFA. WU from the congress. In his
1987 remembrance article, George re-

marked: “My views on raiding haven't
changed.”

In the late Sixties George took up teach-
ing in Prince George where he became
active in the local teachers association. He
became a BCTF staff member in 1975 and
head of bargaining in 1982.

In a release BCTF president Ken Nova-
kowski praised George “tas a principled
individual, a dedicated professional, an
active trade unionist.”

Late last year George received the
Labour Historian of the Year award from
the Pacific North West Labour History
Association, whose president travelled up
from Seattle to present it to him in his
hospital bed.

Delegates to last weeks BCTF bargain-
ing training conference honoured George
at a special plenary session. A memorial
service was set for the Maritime Labour
Centre, 111 Victoria Dr. in Vancouver for
2 p.m. on Feb. 24.

* ok ES

red Wilson, B.C. provincial leader of

the Communist Party, will address an
open meeting on changes in Eastern
Europe and the challenges facing the
Communist Party of Canada and the
socialist left in a special lecture Sunday,
March 4, 1 p.m. at the Centre for Socialist

Education, 1726 East Hastings St. in Van-

couver. Also included is a report on the
party’s recent Central Committee meet-
ing. This meeting is open to any one wish-
ing to attend.

4 Pacific Tribune, February 26, 1990