Foster parents of Pontiac name 1976 executive: Laurent Lamadeleine was re-elected president of the organization of foster parents in Pontiac County called “La famille d’acceuil du Pontiac”. On the executive are Maurice Jobin of Norway Bay, Patrice Larose of Quyon, Mrs. Laura Godin of Calumet Island who is Vice President, Huguette Jobin who is Treasurer, and Lucile Lamadeleine of Shawville, secretary. This organization meets once every two months to discuss mutual problems and share experiences. At their last meeting they learned about some new regional regulations relating to foster parents.

CBC brings PLATFORM to Pontiac: It was announced that someone here approached the CBC about this program. Actually the CBC approached us, and it was with some misgivings that we consented to set up a panel and proceed with the program because this County’s experience with CBC television has not in the past been very positive. However, this time the CBC came through with flying colors.

The topic was supposed to be Bill 22 and some of those who came to the microphones kept to the topic. Some, however, used the opportunity to air their feelings on various other matters.

Several people tried to get across the message that relations between the English speaking and the French speaking people of Pontiac had always been good until the recent polarization brought about by such measures as Bill 22. Others took the microphones to demonstrate the present linguistic climate, climaxed by the young Quebec Welfare officer who stated that he would not lower himself to speak English!

This last remark did not come over the air on the program because it was shouted out after the show was over but before anyone had left the auditorium, so viewers across Canada did not get the message but everyone here did.

Other discordent outbursts, also missed by the actual program, came at the outset while the television crew was trying hard to get things started. These were led by the recently arrived Quebec health inspector who stood up and shouted at the moderator, Brian Smyth, in an effort to make him translate everything that was being said into French. This was impossible because the program was part of a national network in the English language. Mr. Coté finally sat down although he was far from satisfied in his attempt to disrupt the program.

Theo Dufault who said that until recently a French speaking person could not rent a house in Shawville and that he had lived in Fort Coulonge all his life and there had always been anger between the French and English people. “We grew up with that mentality” he stated, and furthermore if you spoke French at the Pontiac Community Hospital you couldn’t be understood, he said.

Mrs Marion Marks, who replied that about half the staff at the hospital could speak French and that although the signs there were still English they had a lot of literature in French only.

Jacques Mousseau, who said it would be hard to get married in Shawville because there was no Catholic Church and that he felt his children who attended Pontiac Protestant High School were discriminated against by panelist Phoebe McCord.

Revel Robinson, who prayed that the people of this area would not be torn apart by the divisiveness of the Bill.

Frank Andai, who also spoke to the cause of co-operation among the two language groups.

After Brian Smyth had ably wound up the discussion there were still a few people with something to say so they took to the microphones although the show was over.

Earl Potvin stated that three of the five doctors at the hospital were French speaking. Heather Smiley stated that she could not understand French although she had studied it throughout high school.

The meeting was intended to provide a platform for sharing of opinions. It succeeded.