Two Quebec Provincial officials yesterday affirmed the loyalty of Quebec and its Jewish population to each other. Their declarations came against a background of increasing Jewish-French Canadian friction that has its roots in the strong nationalism of the separatist movement here.
Speaking at a Jewish fellowship dinner where he was given a “man of the year” award, Quebec Premier Jean-Jacques Bertrand said Jews will never be “second class citizens” of the Province. He expressed pleasure over the “steadily growing number of French-speaking Jews” in Quebec. M. Bertrand said, “the Jews will not blame French Canadians for being loyal to themselves because Jews know what it means to be a minority.” Dr. Victor Goldbloom a Liberal member of the Provincial Parliament, told participants in a Jewish-Christian dialogue at Loyola College, Catholic institution, that “Jews’ loyalty to Israel does not weaken their loyalty to Canada. The situation is somewhat similar to a Canadian Catholic and his relationship to the Vatican.” The dialogue was sponsored by Loyola, the United Church (Protestant) and the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League.
It was reported here that Hebrew is among the nine languages spoken at the new office of the Quebec Immigration Service opened here to assist newly arrived immigrants who have communications difficulties because of a language barrier.
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