Document V3dxmmeXbMN46pR9K91V1XL9w

. .. i. *, . 4 2. L-` Uk iBffl 'Y QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING AT THE SEIGNIORY CLUB MONTE.I;LO, QUEBEC OCTOBER 7-10, 1969 10rf V. U*MI QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION Ptol A. FiHm Gml I V LMSiliy I lllll t O c \ ~ . ' ... . ..... . r ................. ... X TABLE Or CONTENTS -1. List of Officers end Directors ' 2. Standing Committees 3. List of Members and Guests 4. Agenda 5. Minutes of Meeting of July 31st, 1969 . 6. Technical Committee Report 0 7. Uniform Classification and Grading Committee Report 8. Industrial Relations Committee Report 9. Traffic Committee Report 10. Legislation and Taxation Committee Report 11. Public Relations Committee Report 12. Environmental Control Committee Report ` 13. Miscellaneous Association Activities 14. Submission to the Commission of Inquiry on the Status of the french Language and on the Linguistic Rights in Quebec. O cc f -1. LIST or OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 4 c CORRECTION 9. - The preceding document(s) has been refilmed to assure legibility and its image appears immediately hereafter. c. o iKxi QUE3EC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 1969 Mr. K.V. Llndell Mr. R. J. Merrill Mr. k.c. Carpenter Mr. R.S. -Coleman Mr. M.J. Messel mr. U.U. Oughtred Wr. F.P, Smith Mr. Ivan Sabourin Mr. George Robinson Mr. Paul -A. Filteau - President Vice President Director Director Director Director Director General Counsel Treasurer General Manager & Secretary C O c cc O u QUEBEC AS6CST0S MININC ASSOCIATION STANDING COMMITTEE5 1969 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Chairman Members - R. Oodds-Hebron G.F.A. Brink, J. Giansante, M.C. Pharo, W.H. Smith, li/.P. Archer, V. , Lindsay, J.J. Sztuke, J.G. Blais, R. Lefebvre, R. Gale, ffl. Cossette. UNIFORM CLASSiriCATION AND GRADING COMMITTEE Chairman Members - ' ttl.H. Foster R.J. Merrill, J.G. Eby,J.P Wiser, D. Poirier, R. Dodds-Hebron R.S. Coleman, G. Brink. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE Chairman Members - I.C. Campbell R.S. Coleman, Y.Couture, R . Merrill, L.C. Piuze. TRAFFIC COMMITTEE Chairman Members - I.C. Campbell it/. J.lt/. Smith, L.J. Webster D. Poirier* L.R. Delaney, C.R. Biron, i Roy, D. M. Akers. ,../2 cc C INDUSTRIAL RELATI DNS COMMITTEE Chairman - J.O. Eby members H. Gagnon, J.L. Gartshore, W.H. Bonneville, N. La Couvde, J.G. Mooney, J. Camirs, ' D. Poirier, Y. Bolduc, R. Fillion. legislation and taxation committee Chairman - Michael J. Vessel Members - G. McCammon, 0. Rousseau, G. Vaillancourt, G. Moad , R.S. Coleman, A1 Dennis, D. Poirier OCCUPATIONAL AND environmental HEALTH COMMITTEE Chairman - Karl V. Linbeil members - W.W. Qughtreti, F.P. Smith, M.J. Messel ENV/I RQNKENTAL CONTROL COMMITTEE Chairman - J.R.M. Hutcheson Members - W.H. Foster, L.C. Piuze, ft. Prus. V O XJ_ ,i ,f / 'S ' *** c r) :< dU 3~ LIST or MEMBERS AND GUESTS / c . QUEBEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FALL MEETING - SETCNIORY CLUB - MONTEBELLO. ,P.Q. MEMBERS AND GUESTS "" I ' - --- Asbestos Corporation Limited; ' Mr. UI.UI. Oughtred Mr. J.A Sargent Mr. I.C. Campbell Mr. lil.H. Foster Mr. m.P. Carson Dr. Paul Cartier Or. John Me Cann ;{ :! i Bell Asbestos Mines Limited: Canadian Johns-Manville Company Ltd Carey-Canadian Mines Limited: Flintkote Mines Limited: Lake Asbestos of Quebec limited: National Asbestos Mines Limitsd: Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (OAfllA): ; / Quebec Asbestos Mining Association; Mr. F.P, Smith Mr. R. Oodds-Hebron Mr. C.B. Burnett Mr. D.T. Colton Mr. H.M. Ball Mr. 0. Poutiatine Mr. K.v. Lindeli Mr. J.O. Eby Mr. N.HI. Hendry Mr. J.R.In. Hutchesof Mr. Y. Couture Mr. A.R. Dennis Mr. R.J. Merrill Mr. A. H. Baoenstose Mr. M. Prus Mr. J,A. Main Mr. M.c. Carpenter Mr. A. R. Hooker ' Mr. D. Poirier Mr. R.L. Hennebach Mr. M.J. Messel Mr. L.C. Piuze Mr. R.P. Gagnon Mr. E.UI. 'Jones Mr. R.S. Coleman i Or. G.W. Wright Or. J.C. McDonald Mr. George Robinson Mr. Ivan Sabourin Mr. Paul -A. Filteeu .X / c > o c. w' ^ . 4. AGENDA V'M :-S /I ''"N i i o' .i SPECIAL MEETING Or THE - gUESEC ASBESTOS WINING ASSOCIATION TO BE HELD OCTOBER 8th & 9th, 1959, IN THE EAST ROOM Of THE SEIGNIORY CLUB, MONTEBELLO, QUEBEC AGENDA OCTOBER ath, 1969 1G.00 a.m. . 1. Occupational and Environmental Health Committee: a) Preliminary report on Survey of Quebec Asbestos Mine Workers by Dr, J.C. McDonald. . b) Remarks by Chairman of Scientific Committee, Dr. G.W. Wright. c) Other Business. 2, Adjournment. OCTOBER 9th, 1969 a.m. 1. Minute? of the Meeting of July 31st, 1965. 2. Committee Reports: a) -Technical . b) Uniform Classification and Grading c) Industrial Relations d) Traffic e) Legislation and Taxation f) Public Relations g) Environmental Control 3, New Business. 4, Comments on General Business Conditions, 5, Adjournment, cc I ,. I[ !I f: ..V }: \' j 5. WTMUTrs OF MEETING OF JULY 31st. 1969 | i i t \. I o MINUTES OF THE 111th MEETING OF THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 31st, 1969, AT ASBESTOS, P.Q. i Presents Messrs. K.V. Lindell R.S. Coleman J.A. Main R.J. Merrill M.J. Messel Ul.ljJ. Gughtred F.P. Smith Y. Couture J.C. Lby IU. H. Foster J.R.M. Hutcheson Geo. Robinson I. Sabourin Paul-A. Filteau r\ The President, Mr. K.V. Lindell, was in the chair. It was moved and seconded that the minutes of the 110th meeting of the Association held cn June 9, 1969, he adopted as submitted by the Secretary. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CARRIED. / The Chairmen being indisposed could not attend the meeting. How ' ever, information was conveyeo to the meeting that there was nothing special to report on the activities of the various sub-committees. i The General Manager requested from the meeting a direction as to the handling of requests for plans and specifications of the Q.S. Testing Machine by people other than Association members. This o .../2 \ nrmfcai c f 2. task was assigned to the Technical Committee for recommendation to the Board of Directors. UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND GRADING COMMITTEE: A meeting of the Committee uias held on June 26tn. (Hatters of interest to the Directors, as reported by the Chairman, uieret 1. Fibre Length & Diameter - The program using the "Zeiss Analyzer" and the "Image Shearing" is making good progress. This program should be completed by January, and the results will be given to each member company for study, and also a group statistical study will be made in an effort to relate the findings on length-diameter to present tests such as JHcNett, Dyckerhoff, Strength-Unit, stc. 2. In future, in performing the Q.S. test on 7 Group fibres for Random Q.S., and fcr yearly Exchange Samples, the 10 mesh box will be dropped 6", three times, to knock down 1C mesh fibre that is not truly 10 mesh. This is for internal Q.'A.ffl.A, use only, and is not intended to be part of the Q.S. Standard procedure. 3. The Fibre Inspector, when testing Member Company color testers, (a) will send the results of tests only to the company concerned; (b) and will conduct-such tests every 2 months, or so, at the 4. In June the tab. Director attended a 4-day course at Laurentian University (Sudbury) on "Microscopic .Methods of Particle Size Ana lysis". A report will be issued to Uniform Classification 4 Grading members. .../3 c r \ w*.rn. j i o INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE )J : }: it 4. There has been no meeting of the Committee since the June meeting of the Association. The Chairman reported that the various mem ber-companies were adjusting their labour agreements to meet the recently signed contract with the Syndicate. The strike at Advocate Wines has been terminated and a new con tract signed. ' Views on bills 49 and 50, recently tabled in the National Assem bly for first reading, were expressed by the Chairman of the Com mittee, Counsel, and the General manager. Counsel pointed to the likely slowness of the proposed labour courts, a condition which is also inherent "in the Bar Association. An attempt should be made to have an industry representative or spokeman officially appointed to the Boerd. This should also be pursupd u/ith the Workmen's Com pensation Board. The General Manager was asked to contact the Pulp and Paper Association, C.M.A., and Q.M.M.A. in order to ascertain their views on this problem. Resolution re Transfer of Mine Rescue Ecuipmsnt and Buildings to the Provincial Department of Natural Resources - It was moved and seconded, THAT the ownership of ail eauipment and building*, (located on Lot No. 25-95 on the official cadastral plan and in the Book of Reference for the Township of Thetford in the Sixth Range), known as the Thetford Mines Rescue Station belonging to the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association, be transferred to the Department of Natural Re sources for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar (81.00). ADOPTED. --4 /5, cc n. w ./ ' 5. . And it was further resolved, THAT the total annual budget of the Wine Rescue Training Plan be approved by the Quebec Metal Mining Association and the Que bec Asbestos Mining Association and that the Department of Natural Resources appoint the members of an advisory committee on Mine Res cue, which members will be chosen from the Quebec Metal Mining As sociation and the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association; THAT copy of this resolution be sent to the Deputy Mi nister of Natural Resources and the Chief Inspector of Mines of the Province of Quebec, ADOPTED. To complete the deed of sale of ground to Department of Natural Resources, A.C.L^is awaiting exact dimensions and cadaster of plot of land to be occupied by Mine Rescue Station. This information to be prepared by local Mine Rescue Station superintendent. TRAFFIC COMMITTEE - On behalf of the Chairman, the meeting uias informed that the Eastern railroads have agreed to the Q.A.M.A, proposal to establish rates to Mexico to compete with those which exist from Vancouver. LEGISLATION AND TAXATION COMMITTEE Postponement of Federal Whlt9 Paor on Taxation - Finance department officials are working hard to finish the government proposals for tax ation reform so they can be published in an official White Paper this fall. Latest indication is that it will be ready to be made public \j in September or Sunday, October 4, 4 v *>. cc i ttr. Chairman, and Commissioners, 1. The Quebec Asbestos flining Association is pleases to be able to submit for your consideration its views on the Frencf 'language and on linguistic rights in Quebec. We are grateful to you for the opportunity to do so. 2. As the foremost producer of asbestos fibre for export around the world, the asbestos-mining industry provides di rect employment for 6,000 workers as well as for thousands of othc: in associated occupations and ancillar/ services. The industry's geographical area of influence encompasses a region with a total population of over 50,000. 3. Inside mining companies, French is the language most used, to an extent of 90 per cent. However, because asbestos mining is essentially an exporting industry, knowledge of English is a mandatory requirement in the advancement of management per 9 sonnel. Of the asbestos fibre produced in Quebec 93 per cent is shipped outside the Province. To deal with foreign countries and to sell on the North American and overseas serkets, knowledge of English is essential since it is the common language of interna- V tional trade.4 4, Our member-companies have long appreciated the duaiistic nature of their 2sbestos-nining environment and have made every effort to foster ats development. Cver the past 25 cr Vi "* 1 i -; : : . ' -- - - ^2* years a marked improvement in the careful use of the French larvgunge- both by individual". end by the industry has taken place. This is the result cf honest collaboration and sincere effort. 5. In light of the foregoing, the asbestos industry suggests that a formula be devised wheoeby certain regions and cer tain economic activities may operate on a bilingual basis regard less of other sectors of the economy which may practise a language policy best suited to their aspirations. 6. The industry is convinced that such a policy would stimulate- the use of French in business and would therefore \ encourage the economic and cultural] development of Quebec. 7. - The industry believes that the pre-eminent pbsi tion of French in this Province would be further enhanced by intro ducing compulsory and intensified French instruction throughout the existing English school systems. This'would provida all Quebec ' school-children with a working knowledge of-the oral end written language by the time they leave High School. Respectfully submitted. THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS PUNINC ASS0CIAT1C Quebec, October 1969. `V c V c pace: i 3 5 9 cc Plr. J. Denis Cendrcn, Chairmen, and of the Ccm;>iiosion, 1. The members of the Quebec Asbestos fHininig Asso ciation are pleased to submit for your consideration their comments and opinions cn the status of the Trench language and linguistic rights in Quebec. We wish to take the opportunity to outline the position of the French language in our industry which, with its 90 years of continuous production, has achieved an operational his tory rarely seen in the mining industry, while providing during this period c steady contribution to both the regional and pro vincial economies. 2. The Quebec Asbestos lining Association comprises some seven members whose mining operations are situated in the Eastern Tov.'nships^jjf the Province. As well as fostering a spirit of cooperation between its members and encouraging joint technical research and economic studies, the principal reason for the Asso ciation's existence is to ensure the general well-being of its ^ employees by supporting the efforts of organizations directed to ward the educational, scientific and cultural development of the population. In this regard, we have the keenest interest in the mandate of your Commission and the inquiry that you are conducting throughout the Province. 3^ The use of asbestos fibre throughout industry and in our daily lives is so wide-spread that it is today difficult to imagine how we could survive without it. However, asbestos rarely makos the headlines in the manner of other Canadian natural re sources, even though our country is the world's leading exporter of the mineral. .../2 c V i t C2* 4. i \ * 2. The events leading to the establishment cf this great industry began in 1675, in the earliest days of Con federation. To boy, LusbKc produces ;opro,<i!-i: Is! y 4f. ok: crt of the world's total asbestos supply. Historically, however, the origins of asbestos-mining are to be found in Italy. . r 5. Even though Canada has three major competitors - ii the U. S.5.R., Rhodesia and the Union of South Africa - Quebec's asbestos mines are still the best-known in the world. In 1S68, Canadian production totalled 1,580,026 short tons of which 1,371, 836 short tons, valued at over $15C,00C,Q00. were produced in Quebec, The richest asbestos ore deposits are to be found in south eastern Quebec in an area stretching from Tring Junction, in Beau- ce County, through Thetford hints, Black Lake and Coleraine to Asbestos, in Richmond County. .6 Sy virtue of being the world's principal supplier of asbestos fibre", the Quebec asbestos mining industry has given the world a set of rigid quality standards. This qualification system is generally known as the "Quebec Standard". The companies engaged in asbestos mining operations in Quebec are however, subsidiaries'of foreign corporations of which six (6) are American and one British. International in scope, Quebec's asbestos mining industry would not long survive without exporting, since the domestic market ab sorbs less than five per cent of the total annual production. V * ft 7. The asbestos mines in Quebec, their 6,500 em ployees and the thousands of other men and women engaged in sub sidiary occupations are thus dependent upon the demand from foreign markets. The world is their market place. In fact, if such were not the case, the industries would dsclir.s and their job; ceres to exist. .../3 N.B. a further 500 employees in Asbestos are engaged in the manu facture of asbestos products. V . Thanks to the existence of ample. reserves and modern recovery techniques, indicr.tior-? that asbestos uriil continue to be mined in Ciuebuc well into the 2ist Century. But asbestos miners are realists. They know that, some day, certain mines presently in operation will disappear, and their places will be taken by the discovery and development of new ore-bodies. To meet competition on world markets, mining and processing methods must become even more efficient and econosical. nine and mill workers will change and their training and technical abilities will steadily improve from year to year. This is the way in which the economic and cultural standards in the mining communities steadily improve with each generation of aine-workers. Industry support given thus far to education, recreational and other orga nizations is already bearing fruit. All this stems froe a conti nuous research effort directed towards the development of an ever- increasing range of applications for asbestos fibre to satisfy the needs of mankinsir-' * Denooraohic Structure of the Asbestos Industry In Quebec's asbestos country, there are no **com pany towns". The principal mining communities, whose overall pros perity is based directly or indirectly on the asbestos mining in dustry, have a total population of over 5C,00Q persons. Of this population, 94 per cent is French-speaking. The unrivalled sta bility of the population and the industry's workforce is quite ex ceptional for mining communities. For instance, employees with over a half century of service are to be found in several mines and processing plants. Many of them have sons and grand-sons iiOrK^n^ Uk oame w.eo. , tn.w --.to-- vi3 industry has evolved with time and that it remains an attractive and secure source of employment for young people entering the labor market. cc 4. The asbestos industry in the Eastern Townships cf the Province has at present 6,30G employees. Gf this number, ?5.V per cent are frcr.ch-sp'-.'axir.g, tne rer.air.ing 4.1 por ceni. being English-speaking. The proportion cf unilingual FrenchCanadian3 is 67 per cent; the percentage of bilingual Frenchor English-Canadians is 30.7 per cent, while that of unilingual English-Canedians is only 2.3 per cent. ,11 The following table breaks down hourly-rated and salaried personnel by percentage and language. Emolovees Haurlv-rated Salaried mi % *% French 95.9 99.9 6G.0 r English 4.1 - . o.i 20.0 TOTAL % 100.OC 63.5 16.5 j -.1 12. The hourly-paid worforce is thus recruited ex clusively from French-Canadians who also represent some 60 per cent of salaried personnel. The linguistic climate in the mines and mills thus enhances the use and development of French in everyday inter-employee comeunications. This means there is no requirement for a French-Canadian blue-collar worker to know English in order to be hired or, indeed, to spend his entire working life with a mining company. However, ignorance of English would be a serious handicap for any person aiming for a career in supervision or man agement with an industry so international in character as asbestos mining. Sy the 3are token, English-languaco blue-cclior workers ujujt hove 5ft oCCSpiaule i\fiuu;xeuye uf i IcHCh 2-Pi Order to be hired since it is impossible for them to work solely in English. 9 .../5 f* 5. 13. - Sscr.use of the sr.all number of mining speciai- i rlc u'i'j jrciccst* fro-. rc 1 : >.u:ic::- ur ivcrsi vh:" vei: , technical personnel are also recruited front universities in other provinces. Graduates front french-language universities dc not necessarily require a good knowledge of English when they are hired, but, in order to be promoted, their knowledge of that language oust improve, free courses are provided to assist then to acquire art acceptable knowledge of English. Because of the industry's world wide markets, it is impossible for a university graduate to attain the upper echelons of a company unless he has an adequate command of English. ' The- Working Lancusos ittthin the mining companies, French is the lan guage cost in use, and to the extent of 90 per cent. At the man agement level, whether in communications with head office, in the sales area - and 95 per cent of sales are to foreigri countries - or in dealings with U.S. or British technical organizations, English is the language employed. ' 15. As far as written communications are concerned, French is largely used at worker and foreman level. In communica tions between management and blue-collar workers, both languages are generally.^employed, depending on circumstances. 16. This practice results in notices, posters, ins truction manuals, etc. being prepared in both languages, and when only one language is employed, French is predominant. Job des criptions are provided in both languages. In this context, both versions are considered of equal importance. V . ../6 V cc ^C-V* 6. 17. . Labor-manage-.en!; negotiations t.ro customarily c./nd-jcti-d ir- ".vc:1-, and >!,= zzil-.cii-.-,: r or;?. c:r? >.;;bl5 shod in tne two languages, witn both version?. oeir.g ccnsicsred ao of ficial. 18. For quite some years now a French-language employee has been able to submit a grievance in French and have th? arbitration tribunal hear it ir his own language. 19. . The same policy applies to documents dealing iairh employee benefits, or job application forms, instruction man uals, etc. They are available in French or English, depending on the language of the employes. The Association*s employee newspaper is 100 per cent bilingual and much care is given to providing the exact rendering of technical and commercial terms the two lan guages. The purpose here is to provide an opportunity for readers to get tc know anit-to use exact terminology in either language. . 2Q, Cenerally, the eanagsments of our member-companies communicate with government authorities in English or in French, depending on the language used by the person to whom the communica tion is addressed. This is also the case with verbal communications between management representatives and government employees. How ever, in agreements and contracts, even if a french version is pro vided, the original texts are generally prepared in English since V they are retained in the head-office records of the companies con cerned. Because of the very nature cf asbestos mining, essentially an exporting industry, knowledge of English is a man datory requirement in the advancement of management personnel- fvo less than 90 per cent of the asbestos produced in Quebec is shipped . ../7 fflteiP^rn c r` c c. out of the Province while 95 ppr cent of it leaves the country. Cnslier : i- fch;. i c.Q'Jc n' ?' i ; e r .i.\ ` icr.ci u-.-v-. /5,, .i; essential to master that language in vies; of the continual need to communicate with organizations outside of the Province. By virtue of this, french unilingualism on the part of the management of our companies would be a real handicap sinply because their operations extend beyond Quebec and necessitate communications with- business people living outside Quebec. This is so particu larly true for asbestos marketing and sales operations that our member-companies would be obliged to consider the possibility of locating their sales offices and associated functions outside of Quebec,- were French unilinoualism ever tc be made a priority. When it is considered that of the 1,372,COG tons shipped by Quebec's asbestos mines in I960, 775,000 tons were absorbed by English-speak c ing countries and a further 290,000 tons'went to European, Scandi navian, Asian and African countries where English is the second language, it is silf-evident that English is - and doubtless will remain for some time to come - the working language of the asbestos fibre sales and purchasing functions the world over. 22. u Moreover, in the present industrial context, a person who is anxious to rise in the management of mining operations must possess or acquire the degree of mobility that will enable him to relocate and thereby secure necessary professional experience. Without adequate bilingualism, this requirement is hard to meet. Furthermore, as earlier mentioned, the fact that in Quebec',s as bestos industry the parent-company head-offices are all situated in the United States or Britain means that rscorts and other com munications between then nrd the subsidiary companies ar-a inevi tably in English. However, it should also be emphasized that En glish unilingualism is a handicap in Quebec to any person wiic^s .../8 iv a^r.aarf - c V r M :} 6.- job entails constant communication with^French-Canadians possess ing litvle or r.i CroUch vncotj!nry. Ir- cthr: vjrrdc, i" u;:;-hcr, bilirv^uolism is l pssitivt una voiuaule. asset for I'rencn and English speakers alike. . Furthermore, our member-companies have long recognized the oualistic nature of this situation and have made unremitting efforts to support and encourage it. French language courses are provided for English-speaking management personnel and knowledge of French is often a decisive factor in promotions at management level. Today, as so often in the past, employees are urged and encouraged by senior management representatives to per fect their knowledge both of french|sr.d of English. Community leaders in the various asbestos-mining centres will tell you that, more ofthen than not, the impetus for cultural development proj ects springs from the mining company managers themselves. 24. ' ` Security, reception and telephone switchboard personnel must necessarily be bilingual. However, training of these employees is always in French. This is equally true of mine railroad workers, since English is the recognized working language of the rail transportation industry throughout* North America. Quality of French 25. # Unfortunately, it must be conceded that a high proportion of both hourly-rated and salaried personnel working for the asbestos mining companies make somewhat careless use of.French particularly with regard to technical terminology. Th&ro has been a marked improvement, however, over the past 20 or 25 years. This gradual change for the better is in large part due to th,, premotion .../9I I 'Hni cc 9. of good french .speaking habits and to efforts in this direction tc*.h school and, voluntarily* at hire*, foe its p:.ri, the in dustry is growing increasingly concerned with the importance for employees to use their language carefully and well. For this rea son, French courses are offered at no charge to employees seeking to better their knowledge of the language. This is a long-term effort, and progress will only be achieved where there is honest collaboration and sincere effort by individuals. These two con ditions are essential if interest in and motivation towards im proved mastery of the language are to be maintained. Conclusion 26. if the Province of Ouebec seeks to promote the development of new industries and the expansion of already existing enterprises and thereby accelerate and consolidate its economic ,progress, it eust-'permit mining, manufacturing and service compa nies to have at their command the means to communicate with the outside worlc and to sell on the North American continent surround ing us as well as on international markets. Trying to negotiate 1 in French in these major world markets is an exercise in futility. All evidence points to the inescapable fact that English is the language of foreign trade. 27. Accordingly, a formula must be devised to enable # certain regions and certain economic activities to operate normally on a bilingual basis, regardless of what other centres and*other sectors of the economy may pursue by way of a language policy in keeping with their own aspirations and cultural objectives. 22. There is absolutely no reason for fea. that the adoption of such a policy would cause the use of French to dioap- cc 1C. psar. In fact,grounds fcr this approhsnsicn vanished some years ago. tor. bf-lir-ve, on tht c-^rtrarv, th'f : ^onpitutlu sccic-ivt'.c-i cnvirorv-.or.t and a frei. ssii;ic~i would indeed result in the increased use cf French and, in so doing, would leave a dynam ic imprint on the Suedec community at large that should prove high ly beneficial to the economic development cf our various regions. The reverse would swiftly reduce us to a discriminatory and per nicious isolationism that would lead, sooner or later, to an even greater lag in the economic advance and the cultural development of the people of "La Belle Province". _ -- - ~* i 29. As a fundamental prerequisite to any improve ment in the pre-eminent position cf the French language in the Province of Quebec,compulsory and intensified French instruction should be without delay introduced within the existing English school systems. Such a step would provide all Quebec school children, irrespective of ethnic background, with a working % knowledge cf French, both oral and written, by the time they- have graduated from High School. Respectfully submitted, THE QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION' Pf*r: Kail V. Linds.ll, D.Sc.,L.ft. President. October,-1969 Paul-A. Filteau, General Manager and Secretary.