The record, 2 février 2012, jeudi 2 février 2012

Groundhog Day THE uncilfo rfsidentia The voice of the Eastern Townships since 189 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040007682 Thursday, February 2, 2012 Purple players share colours against cancer fc* l J J i 0P5lS*PS BISHOPS !L Man sought for hockey bag theft Sherbrooke police are currently looking for a man who stole a hockey bag from the Eugène Lalonde Arena last month.On Jan.6, the suspect walked into one of the players’ rooms at the arena and walked out with a large red and blue hockey bag.The theft occurred between 1 p.m.and 2:20 p.m.while a young team was on the ice practicing.The room in question had been left unlocked.Police have valued the hockey equipment stolen at around $5,000.The suspect in question is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 17 years old, with dark brown hair.At the time of the crime he was wearing a black jacket, beige pants, white sneakers and a red baseball cap.Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime is being asked to contact detective Christine Moreau at the Sherbrooke Police Service’s criminal investigation division, at 819-821-5544 ext.4411.By Corrinna Pole J ust before game time last Friday, the Bishop’s College School senior girls’ basketball tournament was given an tra splash of purple pride when the Bishop’s University's Lady Gaiters joined the private school’s players in a play against breast cancer.Inspired by the Lady Gaiters Shoot For the Cure event that took place last fall, the private school decided to use the tournament with teams from nearly a dozen other schools, to show their support and help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research, according to BCS athletics director Jeff Bray.With Lady Gaiters head coach Alex Perno, the university players demonstrated some warm-ups and few short drills before lending their pink uniforms to the BCS senior girls’ team for their first two games.“Lucky for us the name Bishop’s worked two ways,” Bray said.“To add to courtesy of bishop's coixece scikxh the excitement, BU team player Jesse Roy is presently doing a teaching stage here at Bishop’s College School, so many students got to see her in action on the court instead of the classroom.” The event generated an extra $152.28 collected from a donation booth and the sales of reusable water bottles, donated by Reebok.The amount has been added to the more than $3,000 raised by the Lady ConTd on page 3 Ross Murray gets more house words Page? j\ews;'Qom@sbçrbJFPpkni.-.l ht'.R-cxcird Page 2 Thursday, Fhbruary 2, 20L2 The Record e-edition There for you 24-hours-a-day 7-days-a-week Wherever you are Access the full edition of The Sherbrooke Record as well as special editions and archives.Add an online subscription to your print subscription for less than $2 a month, or purchase the online edition only for $55.Record e-subscription rates 1 year print: $120.plus tax 1 year print and web: $140.plus tax 6 month print: $63.plus tax 6 month print & web: $75.plus tax 3 month print: $32.plus tax 3 month print & web: $40.plus tax 12 month web only: $55.plus tax 1 month web only: $4.99 plus tax Web subscribers have access to the daily Record as well as archives and special editions.Subscribing is as easy as 1,2,3 when you go to www.awsom.ca Click Subscribe.Choose newspaper.Complete form and wait for an email activating your online subscription.Weather ”4-" TODAY: MAINLY CLOUDY HIGH OF -4 LOW OF-9 J J / FRIDAY: ^ ’W' CLOUDY * *— WITH SUNNY 7 \ BREAKS y \ HIGH OF-5 t J LOW OF-1 SATURDAY: FLURRIES HIGH OF-7 LOW OF-13 YÏ SUNDAY: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS HIGH OF-4 LOW OF-15 MONDAY: SUNNY WITH CLOUDY BREAKS HIGH OF-1 LOW OF-8 RRHS Mechanics Class Gets Free Motors COURTESY RRHS mechanics students Colt Mastine (l-r), Casey Smith, Andrew Rutherford and Jason Boissoneault unload some of the motorized windfall the school recently received.Laurie Hannan Tony Taylor is a member of the Richmond community who has been donating his time to the Richmond Regional High School (RRHS) mechanics class for many years.Seven years ago, he contacted Briggs and Stratton representative, Jay Blake, and was given 28 lawnmower motors as a donation for students to work with in their mechanics class.These motors are now overused and nonfunctional, hence Mr.Taylor again asked Jay Blake for motors and got a mother load.The Briggs and Stratton company has a program that supplies 1 motor per school, but RRHS received 287 motors.These 287 motors will be dispersed among 12 schools including RRHS.Motors will go to 4 Tech schools that have DEP programs, 3 schools with mechanics classes (RRHS is one of them), and 5 other schools that requested some of the donated motors.COURTESY l One of the Briggs and Stratton go-kart motors donated to Richmond Regional’s mechanics class with the help of local resident Tony Taylor.When the motors were delivered, Mr.Taylor had quite a problem, since they couldn't unload all the boxes into the mechanics class.Therefore, community member Paul Boerson offered to have the motors unloaded in his warehouse.Then other community members, Chris Wilkins and Paul Taylor, took a tractor, flatbed trailer, and truck to load and deliver the boxes of motors to RRHS.Mr.Taylor said that without these helpers, the boxes could never have been unloaded and then reshipped.They would have had to be unloaded one motor at a time, then reboxed Tor shipment.According to Mr.Taylor these motors are more advanced than the ones shipped to RRHS last time.They have a crankshaft on the side, they sit easily on a table for students to work on, and the engines themselves are more advanced than the previous lawnmower motors.Mr.Taylor said, "We have developed the mechanics program from scratch over the last 7 years, and this shipment will be great for students to assemble and disassemble.It will keep the students interested in class and in staying in school.They now have something to work with in a hands-on way." Mechanics student Philip Vincent is happy with the new shipment."It is great having new engines.The old ones were broken or missing pieces.It's good to have new engines that are not lawnmower engines.These are go kart engines, and I want to build a go kart to race." RRHS used to have soap box races on the last day of school in June, and Philip would like to see this race replaced by go kart races.Louis Logan, another mechanics class student, stated: "It is really fun to have extra motors to build and unbuild.It is good to see how they work.We didn't have any good ones, since the old motors were trashed.These ones are also simpler to work on than the old ones." This donation from Briggs and Stratton will definitely aid the RRHS mechanics program, and it has many students quite excited to begin their new projects.-Laurie Hannan is an author and teacher at Centennial Richmond Regional High School Centennial recognized SONIA PATENAUDE : ,ir Centennial Theatre Director Luce Couture displays the Opus Award she accepted on behalf of Centennial Theatre on Sunday.Centennial becomes the first multidisciplinary presenter to have received two Opus Awards.Ben by Daniel Shelton 1 *> c 3 I 5ft YOU'RE GOING EORTiW REALISTIC EEFECLy r'Wwv'V /VMKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M GOING FASTER a Saw Thursday, February 2, 2012 Page 3 The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com ^ocal News “The question that seems to be the biggest obstacle for elected officials is the cost of such a project It was thus necessary to think of a real solution with little money.” Goguen to present pilot project to reduce speed limit By Evan LePage On Feb.7, city councillor Nathalie Goguen will be introducing a bill in the city’s public safety committee to try and reduce the speed limit in residential areas across Sherbrooke.Goguen will be proposing that Beckett, the district she represents in the Jacques-Cartier borough, become a pilot project for the entire city in terms of lowering the speed limit and addressing the issue she says is raised by citizens who contact her each week.“Street by street, sector by sector, we looked at all the problems of traffic.The needs of children, the elderly, cyclists, walkers and motorists,” Goguen wrote in a post on her blog.“It is clear that there are many obstacles to effective security on the streets, but they are not insurmountable.A good overall analysis, and an active and objective underetanding allows us to have a well planned vision.” The bill that Goguen will introduce includes a variety of measures that she believes will slow drivers and increase pedestrian safety in the district.Among them are the reduction of the speed limit to 40 km/h on certain streets, paths, trails and pedestrian school roots being clearly identified on existing poles, more visible crosswalks, a traffic light that slows the flow of traffic, and “a better identified police presence in strategic locations, not only Lionel-Groulx or Port- land,” which the councillor believes is now feasible with the new police brigade.The battle for a reduction in speed limits is by no means a new one in Sherbrooke.It has only been just over a year since the public safety committee rejected, a plan to reduce speed limits to 40 km/h, citing the visual pollution and costs of placing new speed limit signs in all the affected areas.Since that time the issue has been raised again in multiple city, and borough council meetings.Lennoxville’s borough president David Price, who himself sits on the public safety committee, told The Record in August that he had requested that three school zones in the city, on Academy, Church and Speid streets, be lowered to 30 km/h, but that a majority of his fellow safety committee members were reluctant to do so."They refuse to do it anywhere in the City of Sherbrooke, which we don't agree with," Price stated."They say it's automatically a school zone; they put the school zone signs there and (the public is) supposed to be careful and slow down but we're not accepting that.” Security Committee president Pierre Boisvert admitted at the time that they indeed had no interest in reducing the speed limit, but that the reasons behind it were well tested."The problem we have on streets is not the 50km/h, it's the respect for 50 km/h," Boisvert said.In its decisions not to reduce speed lim- its, the City of Sherbrooke has frequently cited various studies, including one that showed that having big panels, one of which was placed in at least one school zone in Lennoxville, in these speeding zones was the most effective method of deterrence towards speeding.A pilot project in Gatineau similar to that being proposed by Goguen resulted in an average reduction in speed of only 1.1 km/h, but the Beckett councillor says she is not going to allow this project to justify the refusal of hers, especially since she said she made an effort to avoid the mistakes they made.“The improvement of a living environment that focuses on security, sustainable mobility, neighborhood life, the feeling of safety, living together and citizen participation (.) should not be rejected on a single study in another city,” she wrote.Goguen does not think the financial aspect of the project should be a problem either.“The question that seems to be the biggest obstacle for elected officials is the cost of such a project.It was thus necessary to think of a real solution with little money,” she wrote on her blog, adding “However, in the words of most of the people who worked on this project, ‘can we decide what we do with our taxes and follow our priorities?’” Beckett admitted that some of the proposal’s elements would cost money, like sidewalks and a street light, but wrote that they were “not greedy.” IVAN LEPAGE Beckett District councillor Nathalie Goguen believes speed limits in residential areas should be reduced across the city.She is offering her district as the scene of a pilot project to that end.Ultimately, Goguen said her decision to continue on and push this pilot project was based on the incessant willingness of the citizens in her district to push the issue.“My persistence to enact a better quality of life is based on the many emails, letters, telephones and complaints from people in my community,” she wrote.“This is not a political choice, it’s a citizen choice." Pet licence gives fuzzy friends ticket home Gaiters By Corrinna Pole y I the Estrie Society for the Pro- j tection of Animals (Estrie A.SPA) is reminding cat and dog owners that time is running out to renew their pet licences.Bylaws dictate that pet owners must register their pet, whether it lives indoors or outdoors, or face fines that vary depending on the municipality from $50 to $100 plus administration fees.Even if tags weren’t legally required, Estrie SPA spokesperson Cathy Bergeron says it’s a responsible and logical step for pet owners to get one.“The ID tag has a serial number, if a pet comes in [to the shelter] with a tag we can find the owner right away on a database,” she explained.“It takes just a few seconds to call them and let them know we found their pet and get them on their way home, or if a pet is found by someone in the community, sometimes the reunions take place outside the shelter.” A citizen who finds a lost animal with a tag just has to contact the shelter with the code and shelter personnel will track down the owner and coordinate a re- union.Bergeron says the tags can mean life or death for injured animals since veterinarians often won’t treat a pet without the owner’s authorization.“An identification tag just makes it quicker to help the pet and the owner,” said Bergeron.“Tags have a direct impact on the number of pets we receive here that don’t go home.Of the more than 7,000 cats and dogs that come into the shelter each year from the 26 municipalities it serves, Bergeron estimates that only half of those have tags but those tags lead to a 99 per cent reunion rate.Without the tags the shelter has a harder time tracking down an owner.In fact only 15 per cent of unidentified pets that come into the shelter find their way back home.If an unidentified pet can't be reunited with its owner, it’s put up for adoption and euthanasia is the last step if a new home isn’t found.Money from the identification tags - which cost $30 for cats and $40 for dogs, or $10 less for sterilized pets - supports the nonprofit SPA’s animal control, rescue and shelter services in the f§ ÆTf Jt/ COURTESY As they near the end of their annual identification tag renewal drive, the Estrie Society for the Protection of Animals is reminding pet owners that the tags provide security insurance for cats and dogs to find their way home.Townships.The tag renewal drive runs from Jan.15 to Feb 15.But pet owners can register their pets at any time.To register visit the shelter in person or call them at 819 821-4727, option 4, from Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m.and 5 p.m.A registration form can be downloaded from the shelter’s website at www.spaestrie.qc.ca and mailed in.Cont’d from page 1 Gaiters bringing them closer to the $4,000 goal they hope to reach by the end of season.The funds are passed on to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.Although the event aimed its focus on cancer research, it also helped to strengthen the connection between the two institutions.“Being the first tournament of this type, we hope that this becomes a tradition for both our schools to follow in the years to come,” said Bray who, along with BCS, wished to thank everyone for their support including Papeterie Lennoxville who helped supply a banner.Cancelled Concert Singer Amanda Martinez, scheduled to appear at Centennial Theatre in Lennoxville this Friday has cancelled her concerts in Quebec this weekend due to complications arising from her pregnancy.Ticket holders can contact the Centennial Theatre Box Office 819-822-9692 to be reimbursed or exchange their tickets for a performance of equal value Michel Puval Advertising Consultant Serving the entire Eastern Townships with three publications RECORD Townships Outlet llrnmt' County NEWS One number 819 569-9525 mduval@sherbrookerecond.com Page 4 Thursday, February 2, 2012 nevvsroom@shcrbrookcrecord.com The Record Youth Forum to fund youth community projects Young Townshippers are being invited to submit social engagement projects for the improvement of their community to the Estrie Youth Forum, for a chance to be awarded either $1,000 or $500 to make their ideas a reality.The Youth Forum will be giving out a total of $11,500 to young people from the region, as part of the “Passe à GO!” fund, in order to support any projects that will allow “youth to help youth.” “In addition to stimulating the participation of young people 12 to 21 years, “Passe à GO!” is a fund which aims primarily to finance their ef: forts,” said Youth Forum Coordinator Caroline Falcâo in a statement.“During the first call (for projects), a variety of projects were funded, including many performing arts, sports and extracurricular activities.” Falcâo also noted that the funding requests themselves were simplified to better fit the reality of these youths.This is the second call for projects under the “Passe à GO!” fund.This time around funds are available for youth in Memphremagog, Coaticook, Haut-Saint-François, du Val-Saint-François and des Sources.Any young people interested in submitting a project must be sponsored by an organization.Their projects need to have as a goal the improvement of their environment, and the press release noted that the areas of healthy living, encouraging entrepreneurship, citizen participation and persistence in studies are favoured.More information on how to submit a project can be found at www.forum-jeunesseestrie.qc.ca/passeago.People can also phone the Youth Forum’s citizen participation representative Djamila Ousmane at 819-563-1911, ext.232, or by e-mail at do@creestrie.qc.ca.The deadline for submissions is March 1 at noon.The “Passe à GO!” financing falls under the frame of the Citizen Participation Initiative Fund.UdeS could train 8,500 social workers, therapists Anew deal struck between the Université de Sherbrooke and the Order of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists of Quebec (OTSTCFQ) will see 8,500 members of the order trained at the Sherbrooke institution over ttie next three years.The members of the order are encouraged to do at least 15 hours of continuing education per year.In addition to meeting this need, the training at UdeS will also help prepare the members of the OTSTCFQ for an increased work demand that is expected to accompany the Law on the modernization of professional practices in mental health and human relations that will take effect this year, according to a statement from the school.“This transformation of the conditions of the practice is major,” said Roch Hurtubise, director of the department of social work at the Université, said in the statement.“It is now necessary to enrich the initial training and continuing education to better prepare professionals and enable them to develop new skills.” Under the law in question, certain activities will be reserved for social workers and marriage and family therapists, including the exclusive ability to do psychosocial assessments of individuals in need of protection in case of incapacity, among other things.Your emergency medical information on call a^/T SB m CD Medic Alert ALWAYS O INI CALL www.medicalert,ca For more information 1-SDa-66B-150V Magog takes action to make Snow Festival eco-friendly PHOTO FROM THE MAGOG SNOW FESTIVAL WEB PAGE \ Organizers of the Magog Snow Festival want to reduce the amount of waste at the event as much as possible.The City of Magog is putting in the extra effort this year to make the Snow Festival more eco-friendly by making snow on site and encouraging food producers to use compostable utensils and containers, among other measures.According to a press release from the city, measures will be taken to try and eventually get a certification that they’ve met the “responsible management of events” norm.“The eco-friendliness of the event is evaluated based on five criteria: the selection of suppliers, the management of materials, sources of energy and water, waste management, and food and transportation,” the release explains.“These elements are quantified and the level of certification is established by the Bureau de normalization du Québec according to the accumulated points.” Consequently, the city’s environment division, coordinated by Elise Menard, is making every effort to try and reduce the negative impacts of the event, like the quantity of garbage, greenhouse gas emissions and the use of natural resources, while increasing the positive repercussions of the event.One of the specific decisions being made in light of these goals is to make snow on site.“For the second straight year municipal employees are producing artificial Multiple sclerosis never hits just one person.It affects the entire family.Multiple Sclerosis ______ 4# Society of Canada 1-800-268-7582 www mssoclety ca snow on site rather than bringing it to the site by truck, which contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” the release states.Also, food providers will be asked by organizers to not only use compostable utensils and containers, but to try and use as many products and foods from the region as possible, part of a larger effort to encourage local and fair trade commerce.Finally, waste bins separated into three sections, compostable materials, recyclable materials, and garbage, will be installed at “strategic” locations at the Pointe Merry.Eventually these materials will be the subject of a “quantitative review with the aim of improving the performance of recovery at each new event.” The city noted that in 2011 the Lake Memphremagog Crossing generated 2.6 tons of waste, of which 68 per cent avoided the landfills, while the city’s Harvest Festival produced 6.8 tons of waste, 87 per cent of which was recycled or composted.The success of these measures is not only up to the organizers and involved organizations, but the citizens as well, according to mayor Vicki May Hamm.“The success of these steps depend a lot on the collaboration of all those who have the chance to participate in the Snow Festival or in any other festival on our territory,” she said in the release.“It’s easy, all it requires is for you to waste the least possible, to put your waste in the right containers, to arrived on-site by foot or share a car with your family or friends.As we often repeat, each small action counts.” 1HF Subscribe RECORD The Record The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 _ _ , „ Name: Address: Phone: 115 and counting Bu^rrar8Ubseription X JL tJ taxes included Cheque Visa: The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Thursday, February 2, 2012 Page 5 Drivers reminded to yield for school buses By Corrinna Pole Keeping the half a million school children that ride buses each day safe is a tough job but one that everyone plays a part in.That’s one of the message the Association des transport écolier du Quebec’s annual School Bus Safety campaign, which kicked off Monday, aims to stress.For Eastern Townships School Board director of transportation Randy Maclean, the 24th safety campaign is one of the “most exciting time of the year” next to the first day of school.Working in collaboration with community partners like the SAAQ vehicle registry agency and local police, the board's fleet of 93 drivers along with the private drivers in the western sector will participate in activities publicizing the campaign’s “do you see me” slogan.Although they regularly take part in the campaign, which runs until Feb.10, Maclean says safety in and around school busses is a year round priority for the ETSB’s fleet of drivers.So far they have an excellent safety record which they’ve achieved through training and experience.“We’ve been lucky but only part of it is luck,” said Maclean.“Of all others on the road, the school bus is the safest place for people to be.All of our drivers are professional drivers.They are all licensed and they go though safety training every two years.” ETSB drivers, who make roughly 70 runs a day with students from kindergarten age to 18 years, work to keep their riders safe but their biggest challenge is what happens when kids are outside the bus.Some of the biggest hazards have ¦ been impatient or inattentive drivers ignoring the flashing red lights and extended STOP arm.The ETSB was one of the first to implement an eight-light system, with four amber flashing lights warning drivers that the bus is slowing to stop.Once buses have come to a complete stop, four red flashing lights and a stop sign tell drivers in both directions that they must also come to a complete stop.The ETSB’s drivers don’t hold back from schooling other adults in safety by pointing at or reporting road users who don’t heed the signs or signal lights.“I can’t say it enough that our drivers do a great job, they have been, real advocates for safety in the community,” Maclean said.“We work with community partners to make sure that everyone is respecting regulations and our drivers have contacted police about hot spots or if they get the license plate number of someone who runs the lights.We get a lot of support from public safety partners like the police.” Accord to Maclean, a vast majority of other motorists do exercise caution around school buses and in school zones but it’s that small percentage who are not sensitive that the province-wide safety campaign aims to reach with pins, posters and other materials.Maclean reminded all lights and extended arm and respect them by coming to a full stop at least five meters from the bus.Drivers are only allowed to continue driving after the bus begins to move again.Along with keeping a watchful eye, Maclean urged drivers to reduce their speed and pay attention to signs and signals in and around school zones but also anywhere a child may be crossing to decrease the risk of accidents.While reminding parents to review bus safety rules with their children, the RECORD ARCHIVES Memphremagog Police warned motorists that patrollers will be keeping a watchful eye around Townships school buses.Drivers who fail to stop or pass by a school bus that is flashing its lights risk losing nine demerit points and paying a $200 to $300 fine.For more campaign information and activities visit the ATEQ’s French language website at www.ateq.qc.ca or the SAAQ’s at www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca (found under Accident Prevention).mo- torists to watch for the buses’ flashing Second squirrel sighting SANDRA GILLAM Since The Record featured a picture on its Tuesday cover of an extremely rare white squirrel taken by Lennoxville resident Vi Derby, the nutty nibbler has been spotted by another local.Sandra Gillam digitally captured the borough’s extraordinary visitor contentedly noshing away in a tree in front of her Speid St.home.The Townships are home to both grey and red squirrels.Although the grey species is more common locally, white squirrels are known to only inhabit a few small pockets of the country, mostly in Ontario.This particularly extraordinary tree dweller has reportedly been seen since last summer but, until recently, he’s been relatively camera shy.If you catch a shot of the rare squirrel feel free to post it at The Record’s website at www.sherbrookerecord.com or email it to reporter Corrinna Pole at CPole@SherbrookeRecord.com.ANIMAL HEALTH STARTS ON THE FARM Animal disease outbreaks can be devastating.How prepared is your farm?Reduce the risk of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by practising sound biosecurity on your farm.• Have a biosecurity plan in place and review it regularly.• Observe your animals for signs of disease.• Call your veterinarian if you think one or more of your animals might be sick.Talk to your veterinarian about biosecurity measures and how they can be applied to your farm.They're the best investment you can make to help keep your animals and your business healthy.For more information call 1-800-442-2342 visit www.inspection.gc.ca/biosecurity follow us on Twitter: @CFIA Animals 1*1 Canadian Food Agence canadienne Inspection Agency d inspection des aliments Canada Page 6 Thursday, February 2, 2012 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Edit We should bê grateful to the excitable senator.In his guileless way he has revealed beyond a doubt that what the Conservatives want is not justice, but vengeance.v;.J Give ‘em enough rope.Mike McDevitt Just in case Canadians felt that they were immune h orn the kind of lunacy pervading the Republican Party's presidential primaries contest, a home-grown Canadian senator has reminded us that insanity knows no borders.In speaking to reporters, Wednesday, local victims’ rights activist and Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu elucidated hi belief that the most 'heinous' and unredeemable convicts be issued “a rope in his cell and make a decision about his or her life.” In other words, Mr.Boisvenu thinks that at least some of our convicted criminals should be given the opportunity to do the right thing - to take their own lives.He has since apologized.Apparently, Mr.Boisvenu assumes that a hardened criminal, deemed incapable of rehabilitation, will choose to off himself if given a rope rather than strangle a guard or another prisoner.It is, perhaps, this kind of deep understanding of the criminal mind that is guiding the senator’s party and its choirmaster as they go about imposing their ‘tough on crime’ package throughout the land.That the Conservatives’ omnibus crime bill will create a crueller, harsher and less effective justice system in this country has been demonstrated beyond a doubt by every scientific study and historical experience.It will impose huge financial burdens on the provinces, increase the marginalization of disadvantaged groups, most notably Native Canadians, and more than likely overwhelm the judicial system as defendants facing mandatory sentences will choose to fight their cases rather than accept minimum prison terms.In addition, it will do nothing to reduce crime or crime victimization, the rate of which is already lower than it has ever been.We should be grateful to the excitable senator.In his guileless way he has revealed beyond a doubt that what the Conservatives want is not justice, but vengeance.Realizing that their Lord has been rather reticent in wielding his ‘terrible swift sword,’ Misters Harper, Boisvenu et al.have decided that the Royal Canadian Harper Government should take the lead in inflicting His wrath.To be fair, Boisvenu’s colleague.Senator Bob Runciman, pointed out that Boisvenu’s comments were taken out of context (although he didn’t expand on what the context actually was) and that “(y)ou have to understand the experiences of Sen.Boisvenu and his family.You have to understand where he's coming from.'' Senator Boisvenu rose to prominence following the brutal rape and murder of his daughter Julie in Sherbrooke in the summer of2007.The man convicted of the crime was a repeat offender and these circumstances led Mr.Boisvenu to found and direct an activist ‘Victims Rights’ organization that gained him the attention of a Stephen Harper desperate to find a Quebecer who shared his views on anything.As a vocal, perpetually grieving and angry father, Boisvenu fit the bill.Mr.Boisvenu is the best example of those who fight for the concept of‘victims rights,’ although what these rights are supposed to be in practice has never been made clear.Already victims of crime can submit to the court a Victim’s Impact statement that can help the judge understand fully the seriousness of the crime for which he must hand down sentence.It is a recognition of the feet that crimes that are identical under the criminal code do not always have the same effect on others.Mandatory sentencing, of course, recognizes none of that.Mr.Boisvenu's concerns for the rights of victims of crime are laudable.His desire to turn his own grievous pain against a perpetrator is not.Victims should have a say in the legal processes that handle their case.They should not have tire deciding say.They have that under Sharia law; is that what we want, too?RECORD P.0.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 5[b or 1195 Galt H, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax for Nfwsroom only: 819-569-3945 e-mail: newsn>om(W06CA'Y?1 riF/A CLRTAIK GROUT\l>WCX^^t WWT UOWt TWCT PUTTWe’ i r-r,N\c«.rNiTlNrui n Q- W' ijD cn v* - iilifiii o c -s ^ J .«« a i j nifi ir *|§1|21$ £52Si=s^ 111i11 Jlôf^ ^•jCloS 0-0 w -üQ.^.rv.Eoi^a =SE«ssgl S sIflll3 g “a a ' s Æ -g ïS*“Î5lë is ifstg | “ SE ÎSgî-S § i g-g’T'.ssg 2oSa: 3 lï I ««fd-sslsl «, s « * 1 f.s ! 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