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The Citizen, 1990-02-07, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990. Strange allies In the politics of intolerance there are some strange allies, even if those who are involved would never dream that they are helping a cause they would never approve of themselves. A terrorist’s bomblast in Egypt on the weekend that killed eight Israelis may have helped the Conservatives in Israel kill any peace talks with the Palestinians. And in our country, though they would shudder at helping spread separatism, the reactionary Ontario politicians who have declared their municipalities English-only are the greatest help toQuebec nationalists that has come along in years. Extremists on each side of an issue feed on the intolerance of the other side. We’ve seen that for years in Northern Ireland, in the Middle East and in Lebanon: one side carries out some injustice of atrocity which provokes the other side to retaliate which brings more retaliation and the vicious circle of mutual retribution escalates in a steady stream of ever-greater atrocities. At stake are the hearts and minds of the moderate majority, the people who themselves seek good will and understanding. Extremists try to provoke the other side into something so hideous, that normally-fair people, will join their side. In Canada, two centuries of being put down by Canadian business and government led many in Quebec to launch the Quiet Revolution in the 1960’s. The reaction for most fair Canadians was to seek to solve the problems French Canadians felt. Canadians should feel at home wherever they are, these moderates felt and so support for bi-lingualism ingovernmentwasstrong. There were those who hated the idea of bilingualism but they had little outlet forthat hate as long as the moderate majority supported understanding between the people of two languages. All that changed when Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, pressed by nationalists, overturned a Supreme Court ruling that said the prohibiting of English on store signs was unconstitutional. By declaring that only French could be used on store signs in the province, he ran roughshod over individual rights of English and Greek and Italian and Chinese-speaking Quebecers and even moderates outside the province were angered. That gave those who were against bilingualism their opening. In municipalities across Ontario like Sault Sainte Marie and Hasting County politicians were able to put forward resolutions that their municipality be English-only and find support they wouldn’t have found two years ago. Oh they’ll talk about saving money but they were not going to be forced to provide French street signs in the first place so it’s just a convenient excuse. No doubt many think they are sending a message toQuebec that they don’t approve of what has gone on in taking English rights away there. What they have done, however, is escalate the battle and given Quebec separtists new life. “See,” the separatists can tell the moderates who voted against separatism in the 1980 referendum, “they’re still the same as ever in Ontario. They are against fair treatment for the French.” The Quebec separatist don’t want understanding. They want to drive a wedge between the people in Quebec and the people in the rest of the country until their province is pried away. The anti-French people in the rest of Canada really want a return to the good old day s when the French knew their place and it looked like just a matter of time before French language and culture was swallowed up and became just a piece of “local colour” as it is in Louisiana. And so the two sides feed on each other, groups that would have nothing but contempt for each other. And as each escalates the fight they chip away at the foundation of goodwill that has made this country an example of how people can live together despite their differences in language, religion and culture. It will be a hollow victory for both sides. They may have won their battle but they will have signalled that it’s impossible for people to live together in mutual respect. Another link in danger? Does the government of Brian Mulroney have a secret agenda to kill the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation? It’s been known for years that many Progressive Conservatives dislike and distrust the CBC. There have been those who have suggested the government’s continuing slicing of the CBC budget over the last few years shows it wants to be rid of what is often a thorn in its side. All that cost cutting could just be put down to fiscal responsibility by the government however, until the suggestion by Marcel Masse, Communications Minister last week that he may ban the CBC from selling advertising which makes up about one quarter of its budget. If the CBC can’t pay more of its own way through ad sales and can’t get government money, how does it continue? Forall itsfaults, CBChasbeenatie that binds thiscountry together through the airwaves just as the railway once tied the country together in a more physical way. Canadians can’t afford to lose yet another factor that pulls the country together. Any move to further undermine the public network should be stopped right now. Walking in the sunshine Over production brings consumer bonanza BY RAYMOND CANON One of the things that I learned fairly early in my career as an economist is that, when the news is bad, people will not thank you one bit when you are right and they know you are right. For the past few years I have been routinely predicting that by the time that the 1990’s rolled around, we were going to be witnessing all the classic signs of a glut on the automobile market. I even recall writing about that a couple of years ago but the various editors who take my articles did not report any great upsurge of mail acclaiming me as a great prophet. The first automobile dealer that I talked to about it reminded me that economists had a reputation of being wrong far more frequently than they were right and my P.O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 I 2 (. 5 . U P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $19.00/yr ($40.00 Foreign). Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m - Blyth We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright prediction should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Well, here we are in the 1990’s and, in case you haven’t noticed it, we are also right in the middle of a bad case of overproduction on a world-wide scale. Everything was fine as long as the economies of the western industrialized nations were enjoying the peak phase of the business cycle but, as it has now come to an end, and consumers are refusing to live on credit buying as much as they did in the past; there Continued on page 8 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Production Manager, Jill Roulston Advertising Manager.,,Davevyillia>rns . - o. Bsva- a.'. SecondClass Mail-Registration No. 6968