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PORT PERRY.STAR - Tuesday, February 18,1992 - 19 "A Family Tradition for 125 Years" aan i Ny The food festival at the Cullen Gardens Restaurant continues for three more weeks. Au- Ri thentic cuisine from France (to Feb. 20), Germany (from Feb. 21-27) and Canada (from Feb. 28-March 5) will be featured. Preparing for the feast is Cullen Gardens Restaurant chef Kesta Ristevski and waitresses Anne Helmkay and Tracy Evans. Lethe rs to the editor English the bond that unites, says writer From Page 9 Canada while dictating a mean- spirited policy of Forced Official Bilingualism and Language Police. They concoct expensive commis- sions and conferences ad nauseum but only pretend to listen. Now, when Canada needs great statesmen and eloquence to unite us, we get pretenders and myth- peddling politicians acting like patronizing Napoleonic nannies -- floundering transient politicians who: * impose taxation without representation, then call Canadians cynical and cranky * waste billions, create a sick economy, then twirl in whining spin doctors. * are intolerant towards democracy and unaccountable to the people. * believe that their raison d'etre is raisin' the debt. * preach unity but double-speak, practice and vote division and stress diversity. * can't justify their voting record but call critics vile names. * would, by indefensible decree, chain Canada to a regime of bureaucratic unelected mandarins with suffocating official everything and democratic nothing. * without Canadians' permission, try to dictate Farced Official Bilingualism. * '"'consult" Canadians, ignore them, act dictatorial, and call that leadership. * spout the Orwellian spoof that some Canadians are more equal than others. * continue to deny Canadians referendums on nation-changing issues. * would say bi bi to Canadian language and culture. I've now had the pleasure of driv- ing across Canada. From the east coast fishermen to the Chinatown clerks in British Columbia, and all the other friendly folks in between, the strong bond that unites our great country is the English language. Canada's reality (98 per cent of daily newspapers in nine of 10 pro vinces are printed in English) does not diminish the beautiful French- Canadian language and culture that our province of Quebec has, understandably, chosen to retain, but it does underline the illogic of wasting billions of taxpayers' dollars pretending that Canada is bilingual. The divisive federal Bil- ingual Bill C-72 (The Official Language Act of 1988, based on Canada's bilingual myth) dictates that top federal managers must be bilingual. Civil servants can refuse to speak English on the job (work in the "language of their choice)." Language Police could aid and abet such a refusal. Bilingual people are enriched, for they can look at life through the eyes and heart of another language and culture. But if the state enforces wasteful divisive involuntary of- ficial Bilingualism against the will of Canadians? Is it democracy? After more than three years our federal elected 'representatives' have failed to list any advantages that would benefit all Canadians if C-72 is enforced. Why would anyone vote for a law they can't defend? It's time that Canadians had a referen- dum on Forced Official Bilingualism. Because of the many poignant let- ters and telephone calls I've receiv- ed from all across Canada, this is the only way I can afford the time and expense to say thank you for sharing your experiences, opinions, and love of Canada. You remain consistent; 98 per cent of Canadians heard from want a referendum on Forced Official Bilingualism. Thanks also to editors who don't sti- fle freedom of speech, but allow in- dividual's opinions and encourage vox pop, the voice of the people, pro and con. Democracy means "by the peo- ple" all the time, not just five minutes in a voting booth every four years trying to guess which citizens will represent us best and be our agents of democracy, not sheep of their party. Bad government is everyone's folly. Good government is everyone's business. Democracy is not easy but it's the best system we've got. If we don't use it we could lose it. Democracy-bashing by commis- sion or omission is politically cor- rect to some. Would they dismantle our country and squander billions more trying to fabricate a Canada on pillars of discrimination, elitism, and myth? I'm sending this letter to every federal and provincial politician via their respective leaders, asking them to distribute a copy to each of their members so they all will have the opportunity of expressing their non-partisan individual opinions of holding a referendum on Forced Of- ficial Bilingualism in Canada. This should tell whether they're listening, as advertised, or still clinging to "billionguali$m.""' I'm also sending this letter to over 400 newspapers and many radio and TV stations. If youread or hear my letter please send me an identified dated clipping and your opinion of holding a referendum on Forced Of- ficial Bilingualism. a TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THIS SPACE Please Call.........cccoouemureeeeee 985-7383 Sincerely, Jim Grant, 1112 Vansickle Rd., St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 273 CONTEST RULES: + One entry ballot for each regular classified ad placed. credit card in the Star office. + No phone, fax or mail orders accepted. + Maximum 4 minutes shopping or $400 value. + Tobacco and meat products excluded. » Shopping Spree may be held at Dowson's Valu-Mart or Port Perry IGA . advertising not eligible. + Time and date of Shopping Spree to be arranged. aA LL hb AAAS AL AAAS ALAR debt EAA AS The Mariposa Ladies group will be meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the home of Emily Le- mieux. Ladies are reminded to bring a dollar for the 50/50 draw, a mug for tea and to ar- rive around 7:45 p.m. The guest this month will be John Paxton who will be talking about travel plans, we hope for a good atten- dance for this interesting eve- ning. Feb. is Heart and Stroke month. Volunteers from the area will be out.canvassing door to door. Please welcome them when they arrive at your home as they are taking up their time for a very worthwhile cause. Please also welcome all the girls out selling Girl Guide cook- ies this month. I personally would like to say a big thank you to my fellowship sister. I know she knows who I am and she sure has me guess- ing who she is. She keeps giving me these hints, like English The Port Perry Star presents its During the months of March, April and May 1992 advertisers using the Port Perry Star Classifieds will be eligible to have their name entered in a Free Draw for a $400. - 4 minute Shopping Spree. d4 Minute + Ad must be paid for by cash or breakfast tea .. Irish tea a beau- tiful Avon product. I just want whoever you are to know ... you definitely have me stumped .. (for now any way, but thanks for making it such fun) .. I'll keep guessing though. Happy birthday this week to Tara Runcieman who will be 18 on the-18th.... now that's a spe- cial birthday! Ashleigh wishes you happy birthday Tara !!! Happy birthday also to Rebecca MacDonald, Betty Somerville, Melody-Anne Somerville and Martin Fisher. The Seagrave congregation enjoyed a violin selection by Ma- thew Somerville on Sunday. The Seagrave Sunday School is sponsoring a pancake brunch after church on Sunday, March 1. That's it for this week, please call Diane Cooke with your news items next week at 985- 3722. « Penny Pinchers §