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    Vol.60/No.4           January 29, 1996 
 
 
Workers Discuss Bookstore Threat, Quebec Rights  

BY BRIGITTE GROUIX

MONTREAL - A January 8 threat to deface the Pathfinder bookstore here has received widespread radio and television coverage. That day, a message was written on the front door saying, "101. Warning. Remove the word bookstore from your sign or we will do it for you. (Signed) Law 101." The message was written in French except for the word "bookstore" in English. The store's sign features the name "Pathfinder" above the word "bookstore" in French, English, and Spanish.

The French-language daily La Presse ran a lengthy article and a large picture in its January 10 edition. The English-language daily The Gazette also ran a big article on the same day. Accompanied by a picture of bookstore spokesperson Michel Prairie standing in front of the scrawled threat, the article was headlined, "Sign vandals strike again - But target is sovereignists' bookstore."

The Gazette reported that Prairie "supports the promotion of French on signs and in the workplace. But he disapproves of legislation that forbids languages other than French" - a reference to Quebec's Law 101.

Law 101 is an affirmative action measure enacted in 1977 after years of massive struggles by Quebecois against various aspects of the institutionalized discrimination they have faced for decades because they speak French. Law 101 requires that all public signs in Quebec be in French, but prohibits the presence of any other languages. After years of protests, this undemocratic restriction was modified. Bookstores are now exempted because they sell "cultural products."

The media coverage reflects the fact that widespread discussions are taking place among working people and youth on the fight for Quebec independence.

"Pathfinder, yes I heard about it all day yesterday on the news," one unionized worker at the MacMillan Bathurst cardboard box factory told his co-worker Roger Annis, a bookstore volunteer. Others heard about it after Annis brought photos showing the front of the bookstore, including the trilingual sign and a close-up of the threatening message.

"Look," said one worker at the cafeteria table, "you can see French on the sign, it's very clear. There's nothing wrong with it."

At the Canadair aerospace plant, volunteer Vicky Mercier said two English-speaking co-workers asked her why she was a volunteer in a pro-independence bookstore. Both said they were against the independence of Quebec and engaged in an animated debate with Mercier.

Annette Kouri, another bookstore volunteer, showed the La Presse article to co-workers at Standard Paper Box. One said it was a serious threat and that since there is French on the sign other languages are fine. But she added that she doesn't like it when there is no French at all.

 
 
 
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