The record, 13 mars 2003, jeudi 13 mars 2003

CLASSIFIEDS 13191 MS THE The voice of the Eastern townships since 1897 SINCE 1048 203 Railroad.Stanstead (819) 876-2785 ¦flaaiwarawaHawp* 70 CENTS WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Thursday, March 13, 2003 Charest team ready for election April 14 Liberals to campaign on health, education and PQ’s record By Rita Legault Sherbrooke The worst kept secret in Quebec was let out of the bag yesterday as Premier Bernard Landry called a provincial election for April 14.With the obligation to call an election by the fall, and the Parti Québécois back at the top of the polls, the premier decided it was the best time to launch his reelection bid.Once the anticipated announcement was made, the leaders of the three main parties wasted no time in hitting the election trail as Jean Charest headed back to Sherbrooke for a rally in his hometown riding as Landry headed to Montreal while Mario Dumont headed to his home riding in Rivière du Loup.The PQ which is campaigning mainly on its record in office, held a preelection extravaganza on Monday with a budget speech by Finance Minister Pauline Marois.The budget, which contained a lot of goodies for taxpayers, was not debated or adopted because the National Assembly was dissolved with the election call.If the PQis not reelected it will go down the tubes with the party.Here in the Townships for his first rally of the campaign, Liberal leader Jean Charest said he is ready for the election with an electoral program that was released six months ago in September.In a speech to a few hundred supporters crowded into La Toque Rouge on Belvédère Street, Charest asked for the support of local voters so he can keep his job as the MNA from Sherbrooke and become Premier of Quebec.“Are you ready?” he asked the cheering crowd.“Are you ready for a Liberal government.We are ready.” Charest vowed to invest in health care and education and freeze all other spending so he can cut taxes by some $15 billion a year over the next five years.He also vowed to take care of Quebec’s beleaguered regions which he accused the PQof ignoring.But aside from the Liberal promise to bring the government back to its four essential missions of health, education, prosperity and safety of Quebecers, he also plans to attack the PQ’s record in office.Charest accused the Landry government of overseeing the squandering of Quebecers’ pension fund with its support of the money-losing Caisse de Depot which recently announced it lost some $13 billion in the last two years.“Thirteen billion is more than the entire education budget.It’s almost as much as our health care budget.It’s about $1,885 per Quebec resident.It’s the salary of 26,000 nurses during 10 years in Quebec.” “Those are the results of Bernard Landry,” Charest said, adding that while Please see Election Page 5 Quebec Liberal leader accompanied by wife Michèle Dionne met with supporters and fellow MNAs at a rally in Sherbrooke last night.Sports Marcel Langlois Hunting • Fishing • Clothes ¦¦Vv! SALES, SERVICE + RENTAL II I S 1159 GALT WEST, SHERBROOKE (819) 566-8424 "Feel at home in our store" i I * ! Spring Bike Tune-up 7 pt. —^—¦¦ ' " ———————— ¦¦¦THEm ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦—— i ¦——ü^————^"^— ¦ ¦"———— page 2 Thursday, March 13, 2003 Record Open house at T’shippers’ Cowansville office jj The Place to Be” is the theme of an open house/networking event at the Cowansville office of Townshippers’ Association, 203 Principale, on Friday, March 21, from 12 to 2 p.m.It is organized in collaboration with the Emmanuel United Church, which houses the Townshippers’ Cowansville office.A light buffet will be served.The public is cordially invited.This is the place to be for a fruitful and enjoyable networking opportunity.Also, information about the Association’s endeavours will be on display.The open house also will highlight the developing plans for Townshippers’ Day - the Town-shippers’ Day Committee will launch the T-Day Raffle, with prizes totaling $2,750 in gift certificates from Cowans-ville’s finest venues.Directions to 203 Principale from Highway 10: Take “Exit 74, Cowansville”.Take Pierre Laporte to Cowansville.Turn right at Brome-Missisquoi Perkins Hospital onto Rue Principale.Go 3 kms to Emmanuel United Church, on the right (just before shopping centre).We appreciate the contributions of our friends who helped make this open house possible: Connie Sharman and Linda Gagnon (caterers), Restaurant La Station, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser, and Paul Marcoux of Giant Tiger.It’s a date: March 21! We’ll be looking forward to seeing you.World Youth volunteers: ahoy This is the season to sign up for an experience of a lifetime as a volunteer in the third World Youth Athletics Championships slated for July 9-13 in Sherbrooke.Volunteers aged 16 to 116 are welcome, especially the English-speaking kind.Want details?The World Youth games mascot, Podi, will be there to provide them.Where?At the Champlain Cougars hockey game in the Bishop’s University arena, Friday at 7:30 p.m.Just look for Townshippers’ vice president, Heather Bowman, who will be at Podi’s side, her hands full of volunteer application forms.First-come, first-choice among all the various volunteer options - you’ll be glad you registered early.Outstanding Townshippers Nominations Did you miss the call for nomina- tions of potential Outstanding Town-shippers Award recipients?The March 31st deadline is almost upon us.Don’t delay if you know someone - young, middle-aged or old - who had made an outstanding volunteer contribution to the community.You can help give them the recognition they so richly deserve.For information, just contact one of our offices 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., Mon-day-Friday.In Lennoxville, visit 257 Queen or phone 566-5717 (toll free 1-866-566-5717).In Cowansville, visit 203 Principale or phone 263H422 (toll free 1-866-263-4422).Email ta@township-pers.qc.ca.Members renewal date: March 31 And finally, don’t forget that the current membership year ends March 31st.If your Crossroads label was highlighted in yellow, now' is the time to renew.If you didn’t renew yet and you didn’t receive a call yet in yesterday’s phone-a-thon, feel free to give us a call instead.We’re sorry to have missed talking to you, and we’d enjoy hearing from you.Keeping In Touch Townshippers’ Association Pets seek new home Pistache Who will give her a chance?Pistache is a beautiful 10-month old female dog, mix Pointer and Braque Allemand.She has been with us in a cage for a very long time already.She really needs a nice family to play, walk, and to be happy for the rest of her life.Pistache is active and playful but very obedient and kind.She will need an obedience course and a patient master to give her a lot of love and affection.But don’t worry, she has a lot to give in exchange! Come and see the joy she could give you.Tigrou Tigrou is a very pleasant male cat of three years.He is here because his family had a new baby and they didn’t want to take a chance with having a cat.Tigrou is calm, affectionate and playful.He is waiting for a nice family where he could be happy and of course, where he could have a lot of caresses.P.S.All animals at the SPA Estrie have been neutered.Visit SPA de l’Estrie at 1139 boul.Queen N., Sherbrooke or call (819)821-4727 Corrections No church service March 30 It was reported in Brome County News on March 12 that there would be no Sunday Services in March at St.Paul’s United Church in Waterloo when in fact it should have read that there will be be no Sunday Service on March 30 only.Waterloo Legion breakfast is March 16 Also, in the March 12 edition of Brome County News, it was stated that Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #77, Waterloo Country Breakfast would be held on Thursday, March 13 when in fact it will be held on Sunday, March 16.Sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.Weather Today: Sunny with cloudy periods.High near minus 6.Friday: Variable cloudiness.Low near minus 20.High near minus 7.Saturday: variable cloudiness.Low near minus 16.High near zero.Sunday: Sunny.Low near minus 6.High near minus 7.Ben by Daniel Shelton BARN.' I I WHAT'S ' .WRONG?_ —i 1JUSTREALIZEP I CANT WEAR THIS PRESS-I WORE IT THE LAST TIME I HAP COFFEE WITH WEAR YOUR PLUE OUTFIT THEN WELL, SHE'S GONNA UE THERE TONIGHT/ CAN'T- -THAT'S WHAT I WORE WHEN PETER ANP ANN HAP PINNER HERE.THEY'RE ALSO GONNA PE THERE.I NEEP NEW CLOTHES/ WE NEEP NEW FRIENDS/ 1 É THE i ¦ Thursday, March 13, 2003 page 3 Racine man surprises burglars, saves belongings St-Joachim man has house emptied By Maurice Crossfield A Racine man was fortunate in his misfortune Tuesday, surprising burglars before they could haul off his belongings, while a St-Joachim man was much less fortunate the day before.At about 1 p.m.the man was returning to his Grand Ligne Road home when he spotted a red pickup truck and three men at the house, with the front door open.He immediately pulled in and blocked the driveway to prevent their escape.Caught in the act, the men jumped into their truck and forced their way out of the yard, smashing into the man’s vehicle.The burglars were last seen headed towards Bonsecours.“His possessions were piled up next to the door, ready to be loaded,” said Sûreté du Québec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel.The owner was unhurt in the crash.Despite the close call he was unable to give police a good description of the thieves.The Haut St-François detachment of the SQ.is handling the investigation.On Monday a St-Joachim-de-Shef-ford man wasn’t as lucky.He returned home at the end of the day to find his house on Brosseau Road had been mostly emptied of its contents.Probably more than one burglar made off with most of his furniture, all of his household appliances (fridge, stove, washer and dryer), home electronics and a home theatre system.Only a few things were left behind, probably because the burglars couldn’t carry them.In fact some items fell off the truck as it drove away, leading police to believe the getaway vehicle was an open pickup truck, possibly towing a trailer.This is the second round of bad luck for owner Denis Cimon, whose home in Granby was completely destroyed by fire last year.Just a few days ago he let his insurance policy lapse.Similarities While the Haute-Yamaska detachment of the SQis continuing its investigation there, they will also be conferring with their counterparts in Brome-Missisquoi, where at least three burglaries of the same type have taken place in recent weeks.“There are important similarities with the break and enter in St-Joachim,” Ruel said.“But at this moment a link has not yet been established.” “We know that contrary to popular belief, most burglaries are committed in the daytime, when people are at work,” Ruel said.“Not at night when people are home and they can be caught.” Ruel said burglars will often cruise through a neighborhood for days, watching the habits of local residents.Once they establish when a house is empty, they know when to strike.“If you see a suspicious vehicle you should call the police,” he said.He said that can lead to catching burglars, or at least discouraging them from working in a certain area.Houses in isolated areas are even better targets, because the neighbors won’t see anything.“The further people are from their neighbors, the more we recommend they have an alarm system connected to a central office,” Ruel said.“An alarm is a good means to protect yourself when you can’t count on your neighbors.” Ruel said the arrival of spring often brings more reports of burglaries in chalets, as the owners return after a long absence only to discover they’ve been burglarized.Burglars made off with pet cockatiel Reward offered for Cutie McGee By Maurice Crossfield West Brome burglary victim Pierre Beulac is offering a reward for the safe return of cockatiel Cutie McGee.“If they’re keeping it and it’s upset, their neighbours will definitely hear it," said Beulac.“Maybe that can lead us to the thieves.” On the afternoon of Friday, March 7 between 1 and 3 p.m.one or more burglars broke into Beulac’s home.At the time, Cutie McGee, a rare white-faced cockatiel, was flying freely in the house.The burglars made off with a variety of goods, ranging from old television sets and items of furniture to a relatively new Apple computer.They also snatched Cutie McGee.“As low as it is to break into someone’s house and steal their belongings, it is truly cruel and despicable to take away an innocent and defenceless family pet in the process,” Beulac said.Blood Donor Clinic Thursday, March 20, 2003 Drummondville CJDM 92.1 Les Promenades Drummondville 755 René-Lévesque Blvd.10:00 a.m.to 8:00 p.m.Objective: 475 donors OISEAU PERDU PERRUCHE CALOPSITE A TETE BLANCHE TRÈS APPRIVOISE, PORTANT UN BRACELET D'IDENTITÉ MAUVE RÉCOMPENSE OFFERTE LOST BIRD WHITE FACED COCKATIEL VERY TAME, WEARING A PURPLE I.D.BRACELET (450) 263-7053, (450) 263-6902 When burglars broke into Pierre Beulac’s house in West Brome last week, they took more off with the usual household items and Cutie McGee, a whitefaced cockatiel.Cutie McGee speaks some words, including his own name.But when he is Subscribe to The Record today.Call us at 569-9528 under stress or lonely he can get agitated, and will emit a loud and piercing squawk — a squawk the thieves’ neighbours would likely hear.Beulac noted that many of the items stolen were of little value, with the exception of his wife’s engagement and wedding rings which came from her grandmother.The important thing is the safe return of Cutie McGee.“Everybody loves this bird,” he said.“When you have a pet that talks to you, you get very attached to it.” Cutie McGee has a white face and a grey body, with a bit of white on his wings.He also wears a purple I.D.bracelet.If anyone has seen Cutie McGee or knows of his whereabouts since March 7, they are asked to call Beulac at 450-263-7053 or 263-6902.A reward is being offered for Cutie’s safe return.50th Anniversa,y The A.N.A.F.Unit 318 "THE HUT” 300 St.Francis Street Lennoxville Saturday, March 15th Celebrate St.Patrick's Day with family S friends 11:00 a.m.Irish Coffee Music 2 p.m.til 1 a.m.Food, fun & live music, door prizes, "kick up your heels" all day long! If you are a musician and would like to play a few tunes, come join the party.EVERYONE WELCOME! I Centre d’Art de Richmond Irish Nits in collaboration with the St.Patrick’s Society of Richmond Saturday, March 15, 2003 s at 8:00 p.m.Tickets $15.each Belfast Andi & New Blarneys with Andriu MacGabhann (Belfast Andi) As the name says, a singer/composer from Belfast, Ireland.Paul Legrand: from Rouen, Normandy Violin player, the Irish way! Allan Jones: from Wales, collector of Bagpipers, excellent flute player, master of Irish Bagpiper.Call today to reserve 1010 Principale St.North, Richmond (819) 826-2488 PTele 1^1 Patnmoine ilM Quebec B^B canadien Québec mu UWNM page 4 Thursday, March 13, 2003 Record Youths debate election issues at U of S prS.i % ¦-¦¦'¦J ¦'pH* î^8teçjS) Marketing the message Pedophile attempts suicide while hospitalized By Rita Legault Sherbrooke A pedophile with a past record of abusing young children was arrested in the psychiatric wing of the Hotel Dieu Tuesday afternoon after he tried to commit suicide.Jean Laplante, 49, of East August, was on parole for a previous conviction of abusing young children at the time of his arrest, said Sherbrooke police spokesman Marc Bérubé, noting the accused has a record for past assault that goes back to 1980.Laplante appeared at the Sherbrooke courthouse Wednesday morning where he was charged with the sexual assault of two young Fleurimont boys.He was remanded back into custody and will be held till a bail hearing.Bérubé said Laplante befriended the parents of the two young boys.The attacks occurred when he was babysitting.The parents complained to police after their sons told them they had been abused by Laplante.The alleged attacks, which apparently began in February of 2002, include allegations that he fondled, masturbated, sodomized and had oral sex with the young boys who were aged between 7 and 11 years old.Bérubé said this week’s attempted suicide was the second time Laplante tried to take his own life.DAVID ANDERSON/SPECIAL Friperie V Oiseau on Waterloo’s Taylor street has created a window display to express the management’s concerns about present rumors of war.With military helmets, and fatigues from past wars,beside skeleton props that can be easily seen by pedestrians at street level, these merchants are doing their best to spread the message of peace.adequate training for those jobs, so now is not the time to stand in the way of education.” Lavallée said the UFP, a party created last June and dedicated to defending the rights of society’s less fortunate, favoured the concept of free education to students of all ages and levels.Kyoto Veillette emphasized the Liberals, unlike the ADQ or the PQ are making the environment, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to meet Kyoto protocol targets, and health the main issues of the campaign, provincially and regionally.He reminded the crowd that if elected the Liberals intend, among other things, to create the post of environment and durable development Commissioner and institute a parliamentary commission to study the forestry industry.Taillon said decisions involving Quebec’s natural resources must be made By Nelson Afonso Sherbrooke The possibility of rising tuition and free trade were among the key election issues discussed Wednesday at a debate featuring representatives from the youth wings of four provincial parties.“The history of Quebec has shown us that young people have always been at the forefront of ideas and innovation.Today’s generation is no different,” University of Sherbrooke Students Association (FEUS) president and debate organizer Mathieu Jeanneau told a lunchtime crowd of about 150 people, which included the two candidates who are challenging Sherbrooke MNA and Leader of the Opposition Jean Charest, Marie Malavoy of the Parti Québécois and the Action Démocratique du Québec’s Peter Downey.The provincial election will be held on April 14.PQyouth wing president Patrick Taillon was joined at the University of Sherbrooke by Liberal youth wing executive David Veillette, ADQ youth wing president Simon Gosselin and Union des Forces progressistes (UFP) regional member Alexandre Lavallée.Tuition After listening to the four participants introduce their party’s platform, students in attendance were eager to get the parties’ stance on tuition fees.Both the Liberals and the PQ denied they favoured a tuition hike, while the ADQ intends to increase tuition slightly while eliminating other unnecessary costs.“Access to education is a PQpriority,” Taillon said, reassuring everyone that the government promises to extend the present freeze on tuition fees for another mandate.“There are hundreds of thousands of jobs that need to be filled in the near future.People need to get Quebec’s role in a globalized world where countries favour free trade zones was also a preoccupation for the students assembled in a University of Sherbrooke auditorium.Although the sovereignist UFP called for Quebec to withdraw from the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA), saying it would only benefit wealthy countries and companies, the three other youth wing members agreed Quebec must emphasize its own needs and concerns when final negotiations on the terms of the agreement come up.While Veillette repeated the Liberals’ position that Quebec is a nation within the Canadian federation and should defend its rights through the many social and economic delegations it sends abroad, Taillon said that only independence will bring Quebec respect in the international community.It must be free to make its own decision, concluded Taillon.The ADQ’s Gosselin, who said the province needs to have a stance on the free trade question but should work with the federal government, said his party would not hold a referendum during its first mandate if elected.xxx ADQyouth wing president Simon Gosselin, PQyouth wing president Patrick Taillon, Liberal youth wing executive David Veillette and Union des Forces progressistes (UFP) regional member Alexandre Lavallée.by a sovereign Quebec, and that his government has made considerable strides to protect the environment in the last nine years.The ADQ and the UFP are also in favour of the Kyoto accord but stressed that reaching those targets must be done as soon as possible.Free trade DU) de rUninersifé ils Sherbrooke Thursday, March 13, 2003 page 5 April 14, 2003 Quebec Election Election:— CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 some 100,000 Quebecers have been on waiting lists for years, the PQ found some money to reduce the lists 50 days before the election.“The Liberal government would resolve the problem for the next five years and for five years after that,” he vowed.Charest said the PQ’s first priority is sovereignty, which is Article 1 of the Parti Québécois program.“Our first priority is health care,” Charest said.“A Liberal government will repair the health care system.We will take care of the sick.” Charest, was introduced by former Liberal premier Daniel Johnson whom he replaced as Liberal Party leader in 1998.Johnson, who said Claude Ryan also wanted to be on hand but could not for health reasons, said he had confidence in Jean Charest and a Liberal victory.“It is not blind faith, but confidence in the Liberal Party program that is PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL ADQ leader Mario Dumont said he was proud of his party’s work over the last few months in recruiting a solid team.%¦< PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Liberal supporters gave Charest an enthusiastic welcome.based on the needs of Quebecers and confidence in the quality of the Liberal team,” he said.At the rally emceed by former city councillor Lise-Drouin Paquette and former Sherbrooke Liberal MNA André J.Hamel, Charest was also surrounded by past, and he hopes future, Townships MNAs.The Liberal’s election team is already in place.It includes longtime party stalwarts St-François MNA Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Brome-Missisquoi MNA Pierre Paradis, Shefford MNA Bernard Brodeur and Richmond MNA Yvon Vallières, who is now the most senior MNA in the National Assembly.The incumbents are set to fight to regain their ridings while MNAs Robert Benoit and Madeleine Bélanger have ceded their place to some prominent newcomers.In Orford, former University of Sherbrooke rector Pierre Reid, who has been PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Premier Bernard Landry is facing his eighth election and his first as premier.working in Ottawa as an assistant deputy minister and consultant for economic development in Quebec, was parachuted in to replace Benoit.In Megantic Compton, East Angus resident and riding vice-president Daniel Bouchard, who is the director general of the Société d’aide au développement de la collectivité du Haut St-François, won the nomination last Sunday.Affronting the Parti Québécois stronghold of Johnson - which is currently held by two-time MNA Claude Boucher - is Nicole Brouillette, a real estate agent from Racine.Earlier in the day, all three parties launched their campaigns in press conferences that followed Landry’s visit to Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault’s office to deposits the election writ.Sounding confident, outgoing Premier Landry, who is facing his eighth election but his first as party leader, said he believes his party can win a third consecutive mandate.Landry vaunted Quebec’s economic success, pointing out that it is the sixth leading economy in North America Landry also vowed to leave sovereignty on the backburner until he is convinced the party can win an election.“I don’t want the Quebec nation to lose another referendum.” Action démocratique du Québec Leader Mario Dumont said Quebecers are tired of the same old faces and quarrels and ready for change.And he said he hopes the provincial election campaign will be the scene of a real debate on Quebec’s future.Dumont said he was proud of his party’s work over the last few months in recruiting a solid team and developing its program which promotes families and the province’s outlying regions.Dumont also wants to reduce the debt and the size of government.PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Liberal leader Jean Charest says Liberals have a plan to cure health care. page 6 Thursday, March 13, 2003 ¦THE».Record Community Forum yjmm KfcSü&WE'D ftA&EDTO vmmt&m mmm mm* WE MAH) irt WÜMKM Letters to the editor Great new Web site design Dear Editor Just want to congratulate the Record on the new design of your Web site, clearer and easier to get around on, great job! Anna May Kinney Bury Editor’s note: Thanks.Credit goes to Michael Van Lierop at Northern Crown.Love new look Dear Editor, I’m a daily reader of the site and I must say I love the new look.The pic- ture in the corner for each page is a nice added touch.Especially the rose on the announcements page.Keep up the good work.Chris LeBlanc Timmins, ON We could help each other Dear Editor, I just visited your site http://www.sherbrookerecord.com/, and would like to congratulate you on a nice clean, crisp site - it’s very professional.1 have a Website too, and think we could be of benefit to each other.Peter Weston By e-mail P.O.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 516 or 1195 Galt E„ Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax:819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroora@sheitrookerecord.com Website: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher ____ Sharon McCully Editor .Jamie Zachary Corresp.Editor Richard Lessard Prod.Mcr.Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9511 .(819) 5696345 (819) 5696345 .(819) 569-9931 .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)569-9511 Advertising .(819)569-9525 Circulation.(819)569-9528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowi.ton office 88 Lakeside.Knowlton, Quebec.JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 114.40 8.01 9.18 S131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 S67.86 3 MONTHS 30,00 2.10 2.41 $34.51 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7, 1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA Do we really understand the Americans?We Canadians pride ourselves on knowing Americans more intimately than any other people in the world.But it may be time to ask ourselves the question: How well do we really understand what worries Americans and what motivates their policies?Most of us feel we need no coaching about America because 90 per cent of us live within 160 kilometers of the US border; we are their best customers and vice versa: we mesmerize ourselves with American TV daily; we drive their cars; and we watch and admire their movies, their baseball, football and, yes, even NASCAR racing.More intimately, many of us have relatives or friends in the US.In my case, which is not unusual, my sister and brother were both born in the US, and my friend and wife (same person) was born in Canada of American parents.And we, like millions of Canadians, travel frequently to the US.In fact, we returned a few days ago from the longest visit we’ve ever made to the US, nearly a month in South Carolina.The trip was revealing, especially because we count ourselves among those who think they know America and Americans well.We got some surprises.For a start, spending time in America helped us to understand that the all-consuming issue in the US is how vulnerable Americans still feel 17 months after the tragedy of Sept.11, 2001.The spontaneous friendliness to strangers, one of the trademarks of Americans, continues to be part of their daily routine.But just below the surface you sense the anxiety.You hear it on the talk shows, read it in letters to the editors and hear it in quiet chats over lunch or dinner.The new state-of-alert program run from Washington adds to the general feeling of unease.And then there are the long convoys of military trucks and equipment moving over the major highways towards airports for shipment, eventually, to the Persian Gulf.A country that is reminded of terror and war at every switch of the dial and turn of the head is an anxious country.And there is no doubt this anxiety explains much about US policy and the preoccupations of the president.The president, as you might expect, evokes strong feelings, both for and against.Yet many Americans who don’t support him on Iraq and feel he is an illegitimate president, because his victory in 2000 was so narrow, applaud his tenacity and leadership qualities.Most Democrats agree that he has performed extremely competently.George W.Bush displays many other qualities the world admires in Americans.One is their openness about what they do and say.Surely, no one can mistake what George W.Bush stands for.His message is clear.And while foreigners, including Canadians, often deride his messianic tone, his strong religious convictions are something most Americans share.Unlike most Canadians or Britons, for a majority of Americans religious beliefs play an important part of every day life.Idealism is another laudable American trait that the president echoes in every speech he makes.He and the American people put a high premium on “life and liberty,” especially liberty.And clearly one of the motivations for the policy of regime change in Iraq is the belief that if “life and liberty” could be restored there, it could become a model for other Middle Eastern countries.Bush’s Iraq policies, to be sure, are provoking strong opposition that is visible in the streets of the US and shouted from the university communities, the labour unions and, of course, Hollywood.But nothing has interfered with the high standard and wide range of views heard in the debate about terrorism and Iraq on American radio and TV.On this score, it is sad to say for a Canadian, but National Public Radio (NPR) and its TV cousin, PBS, are more independent and far more resourceful and professional than our CBC radio and TV.The private TV networks, too, contribute much to the discussion.In short, the de termination of the American media to let every view be heard and every piece of evidence be debated remains a remarkable example to the rest of us.While straightforwardness, idealism, sincere religious belief and making sure there is a full debate on contentious policies don’t assure that the policies are right, these remain a few of the attractive attributes of America today, even as it agonizes through one of the most trying periods in the last 50 years.In the rush to criticize, Canadians sometimes talk as if America should be more like the gentler, kinder Canada.But Americans are no more like Canadians than Canadians are like Americans.And that is not likely to change.And, finally, in the rush to criticize, we often forget that we have much to learn from Americans and still more to learn about them.JamesFerrabee is contributing editor of Policy Options, the 10-times-a-year public policy magazine of the IRPP .www.jferrabee@irpp.org Viewpoint James Ferrabee Thursday, March 13, 2003 page 7 ¦¦THE» - RECORD Robert Benoit bids farewell to the capital, 14 years as MNA MNA said he decided four years ago not to run again By Kate Shingler Longtime Orford MNA Robert Benoit was emotional as he packed up his office and left the provincial capital yesterday, ending more than a decade in provincial politics.“I had a hard time falling asleep last night.I did find it quite hard leaving (Quebec City) this morning.I felt sad getting in my car,” Benoit said from his cell phone early yesterday afternoon on the trip back home to the Townships.“The office is closed now.I have 24 boxes of documents packed up, some will go into archives and some I have taken with me,” he noted.Leaving the friends he has made over the years will be one of the most difficult parts of retiring from politics, he admitted.“For 14 years I have built real relationships with these people.We’ve become friends,” he said of his colleagues in the National Assembly.“I still have an apartment in Quebec City but it is sold, it will be (handed over) in June.” Looking ahead Benoit said he is excited about embarking on “another chapter,” and looks forward to pursuing his athletic interests including skiing, racquetball and tennis.“I want to have more time for life,” he said simply- The decision not to run again was made four years ago upon returning home the night of the last election, explained the father of two.“I got into bed and turned to my wife and said: ‘Gisèle, I won’t run again’.” Orford MNA Robert Benoit shares a laugh with Liberal leader Jean Charest.Yesterday was Benoit’s final day in his Quebec City office.TON/SPECIAL The man whose achievements in office include the establishment of the CRIFA agricultural training centre in Coaticook, the Massawippi Trails, and maintaining the Magog hospital operating room, said his involvement in local politics will continue.Fie plans on helping to promote his successor, Liberal candidate for the Orford riding, Pierre Reid, in the upcoming election."On Friday I will put up posters for Mr.Reid in Magog,” said Benoit.“I will be a volunteer!” Danville to limit right turns on red light at two intersections By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Rights turns on red lights may be legal in most of the province come April, but some towns are reserving the right to outlaw the maneuver at some intersections in order to protect the public.In Danville, the town council voted Tuesday night to restrict some turns at its two lighted intersections.At the Daniel Johnson-Route 116 intersection, motorists will not be allowed to turn right on a red if they are entering Route 116 heading towards Warwick and Victoriaville.At the Highway 255-Bypass road intersection, motorists will not be able turn right on a red if they heading towards the Savoura greenhouse complex.Town manager Michel Lecours said the restrictions were made because of poor visibility and poor road surfaces at those comers.“The town will post a sign at the intersection where the turn cannot be made,” he said.“It will consist of a black arrow with a prohibited red circle and bar superimposed on it.” The town also approved a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour for a section of the Craig Road head- ing towards Tingwick.The speed limit will apply from the intersection of Craig and Maple Grove to the Nicolet River bridge.The council also introduced legislation that would disallow the installation of a private water pressure booster pump in homes and buildings.The pumps are used by residents to increase the water pressure in their homes and buildings.But Lecours said they also cause pressure problems for neighbours and increase the risk of water contamination.“As soon as someone uses a booster pump, the pressure in their neighbour's water supply is lost,” he said.“The extra pressure and suction can also cause any dormant bacteria in the pipes to circulate in the system, which means we have to flush it out more often.That causes more costs to the town and more hassles for residents.” Lecours said the town has uncovered three such pumps in residents’ homes in the past year.He said any pumps used in homes and buildings must conform to the provincial building code.“These booster pumps definitely don’t conform to the code,” added Lecours.The proposed fine for anyone with such pumps would range from $50 to $300.Daignault Honoured Sara Daignault (nee Kingdonj, formerly of Sherbrooke, receiving the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative medal from the Hon.Myra Freeman.Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, Dec.16, 2002 at a gala ceremony at Halifax’s historical Pier 21.The medal was awarded to acknowledge several years of dedicated public service and especially, the last three years with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.mtttim WÊsÊSÊB ' .1mm.¦ :¦'* Ct VITAS o you know an individual or an organization deserving of recognition tor helping newcomers adjust and 2003 Cair for mutations ôism j*v.- >'¦-•¦¦¦ ».•; • integrate into Canadian society?If so, they may qualify- for one of 20 Citations for Citizenship from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.To get an information brochure and a nomination form, visit our Web site (www.cic.gc.ca) or contact: Integration Branch Citation for Citizenship Citizenship and Immigration Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 111 Telephone: (613) 957-9313 Fax: (613) 954-9144 Nominations must be postmarked no later than April 18, 2003.¦ ^ ¦ CtiuansNp and Cltoywinaté at /”> JIM ¦ Imrtograbon Canada Irnrxpmfon Canada V