A2 - Wednesday, March 3, 1982 - North Shore News Slip of the ballpoint strictly personal by Bob Hunter A WHILE AGOI was accused of writing “a mean piece of francophobia”. course, ma racist. What am I going to do about this? I wondered. That's a pretty serious charge. Once you've been tagged with it, its hard to shake. Me, a racist? I decided to phone my Aunt Noella who lives out in Whiterock. She said: “Helio.” I said: ‘“‘Bonjour, m’aunte.” “Bonjour, Robert.”’ (Pronounced: Row-bear.) “Comment ca va?” she replied. And then we both laughed, as we always do, because she knows perfectly well I can hardly speak a word of French beyond that. We lapsed back into English. After inquiring about Uncle Jack, Cousin Denise, the baby, Uncle Art and Auntie Pat, and exchanging notes about Mom and Fred and Cousin Ricky, whose wife is expecting, I explained to Aunt Noella, who is like a second mother to me, that somebody had accused me of being prejudiced against French-Canadians. “You're joking,” she said. “Nope.” Then we both laughed. it was pretty funny, after all. Td have to be prejudiced against most of my own family, including Mom. By implication, of My grandfather on my father’s side came over from Ireland, but on my mother’s side, the family goes back a long way in Quebec's history. My mother’s maiden name, you see, was Gauvreau. She had four brothers and four sisters, all raised in St. Boniface, Manitoba, where I was born. A couple of years ago there was a Gauvreau family reunion that brought over 500 Gauvreaus together from all over North America, including B.C. They gathered at a place near Hull, called St. Cecile de Masham. That’s the place my mother’s grandparents came from. In the grounds of the Basilica in St. Boniface, my BSrandmother on the Gauvreau side of the family lies buried, along with her parents, that is, my great grandparents. They lived in the Provencher riding which elected Louis Riel to Parliament, and while I don't know precisely what their politics were, I do know, from my mother’s recollections, that they were very traditional Quebeckers who would have opposed anything the Orange Lodges of Ontario favored. As a matter of fact, the Gauvreau family up to my mother's generation in Manitoba lies buried in the same graveyard as Riel, who, like me, was _half- French. Francophobia? Come on, now. Having made this point, let me now add that I was also accused of an error in fact concerning a statement I made that Canada “is run by an almost totally French- Canadian cabinet”. Good grief. Of course, that’s not the case. If Id been talking aloud, that would have been a slip of the tongue. For that, I should throw myself on my ballpoint. What I meant to say, of course, was that Canada is run by an almost totally Central-Canadian cabinet. I was venting my spleen not against francophones — I could no more do that than bite my own nose off - but against the dictatorship of the centre which holds this country in the grip of a permanent state of force majeur. Let’s get this straight. The Ontario-Quebec political cartel that rules Canada affronts my sense of egalitarianism at every turn. But it’s not because anybody happens to be French-Canadian. FeIic¢c AR SEWING MACHINES Bead € FARE 9900 reg *799” INTRODUCTORY OFFER 389° ° 699" THREE REASONS TO CHOOSE GRac ¢c FARR _ QUALITY - check the warranties - 20) year Manulacturer $s Quarantee - 30 months free parts and labour” SNS SNE OEE SSE EEE SES ww. More PERFORMANCE . check the teatures electromc control and needle stop additional slide speed control dual belt dfive system smooth quiet industidl rotary hook world s smallest tree arm dual feed system easy operation and unhmited tree les sons assure trouble free sewing ECONOMY e- includes Many features lound only on machines costiag husdreds of dollars hberal trade in allowance N. Shore teachers rake public sector spending cuts TEACHERS in North and West Vancouver are among 12 LOwer Mainland teacher groups demanding with- drawal of the public sector ¢ spending curbs announced two weeks ago by Premier Bill Bennett. Bill Friesen, president of the North Van Teachers Association, and Paddy Boyle, president of the West Van Teachers Association, joined presidents of the 10 other teachers’ associations last week in calling on the provincial government to remove the proposed 10-12 per cent ceiling on cx- penditures. Handyman HOME RENOVATIONS turned up a grisly surprise for a North Vancouver man last Sunday - a human skull between the basement ceiling and the boards of the first floor. The skull was found by Warren Barber who was doing some carpentry work in the house at 221 West 24th Street, according to North Vancouver RCMP. It is now being analyzed at Lions Gate Hospital and appears to be that of an elderly person, an RCMP spokesman said. Ginny Putnam They warned it would have “severe effects” on the quality of education and other social services. The association estimates that the ceiling will mean layoffs of about 1,500 teachers in the coming fall — a level of teacher unem- ployment which, the presidents said, will only contribute , to B.C.’s economic problems. The presidents’ resolution, passed at an emergency meeting last Thursday, declares that the spending ceiling is ‘“‘counter- finds skull There is no suspicion of foul play, he added. many many more Trendsetters welcomes Ginny Putnam and Paul Erickson to their highly trained staff of international stylists. Both Ginny and Paul invite all their former and new clients to give them a call to assure the cut JUST RIGHT FOR YOU rent a video recorder includes a Free movie choose from Cannonball Run, Fort Apache The Bronx, Go Tel! the Spartans, Here It is - Burlesque, Atlantic City and North Shore Video Hut 1061 Marine Dr, W.Van. 9 ‘Trendsetters proudly announces productive and does nothing to pull the province out of its recession.” ROBERTS & CO. PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT e ACCOUNTING ¢ MANAGEMENT CONSULTING ePERSONAL AND CORPORATE TAXATION ePER DIEM ASSIGNMENTS Ph. 985-6583 for 24 hours Paul NEW AT TRENDSETTERS Ginny & Paul will be working from 1am 6pm Introductory Offer 30%" All cuts by Paul on presentation of this coupon Good untit Mar 12/82 15% financing On approved credit save $60 to $100 08 any RICCAK addthonal Home Show Spectal $50 tabric FREE PPDPPPDPI\PPLPPS DI BRE Cc FAR 8500 ag yout howe When Sed Gide Oren COCO reg VISA ae ALBEE’S SEWING CENTRES lrendsetters BURNABY. OPEN DAILY ~NORTH VAN Kingsway ab Willingen 9:30-6 P.M. Weevil ab Upper] ini i 65 L 430-2421 THURS, & FRI, TOO P.M, 986-1341 : Seatratt aang + : setetatetazate renee Dt ee Monday — Friday DESO NS EOE EES to accommodate The working person