The record, 3 novembre 2005, jeudi 3 novembre 2005

THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 -.».See coverage ofseveral municipal campaigns inside 75 cents + taxes PM#0040(X)7682 Thursday, November 3, 2005 / —!ç Leclaire sentenced to 23 years in prison Staff More than a year after murdering his spouse, putting her body in a trunk and dumping it in the woods, Christian Leclaire has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.Leclaire, 43, was sentenced by a judge in St-Hyacinthe Tuesday.In his ruling justice Guy Fortier decided the request put forward by both the prosecution and defence of an 18-year-sentence was too lenient.Fortier said the case was more one of murder than manslaughter, the charge to which Leclaire pleaded guilty on Monday.Anne Lapointe was killed during an argument with Leclaire at their home in Marieville on May 7, 2004.Two days later Leclaire put her body in a trunk, wrapped it in a green sheet and then dumped it in the woods somewhere between Marieville and Abercorn.Though he admitted to the crime when he was arrested, Leclaire couldn’t remember where he dumped Lapointe’s body.Systematic searches of the region between Marieville and Abercorn by both the Sûreté du Québec and by Lapointe’s family and friends failed to recover the body.Leclaire’s lawyer said he plans to appeal the sentence.Bombardier to eliminate 300 jobs Rona inaugurates store in Granby Transfer ATVproduction to Mexico By Stephen McDougall In an attempt to make its all-terrain vehicle (ATV) production line profitable again, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has decided to transfer it from its Valcourt factory to a new Mexico installation over the next three years.The cost to Bombardier will be $30 million to build a motor and assembly factory in Juarez, Mexico.The cost to the Eastern Townships will be the loss of300 jobs by the year 2008.At a meeting for some of its 2,700 employees at the Valcourt plant, Bombardier officials said the move was needed because of the high value of the Canadian dollar, which makes exports more expensive, and more competition from its Asian ATV competitors.“BRP is committed to file ATV business, and to maintaining a solid value proposition for our dealer network,” said president and CEO José Boisjoli.Please see Bombardier Page 7 WEB PHOTO Bombardier delivered news of the transfer of its ATV production to Mexico, to employees of the Valcourt plant yesterday afternoon.By Maurice Crossfield After $6 million in renovations and the hiring of 30 new employees, Granby’s Rona store is now ready to do competition with the other big box home renovation stores.“This new concept is at the leading edge of all hardware-renovation super stores in North America,” said Rona president Robert Dutton.When talking of the new store and its facilities, a lot of big numbers come into play: It has almost 117,000 square feet of retail floor space, almost 3,000 square feet of greenhouse and 30,000 square feet of garden centre.Outside there are 406 parking spaces for customers who will then be served by 200 employees, up from 170.There are even parking spots set aside for customers towing trailers.“We have businesses in the industrial Dignitaries donned safety glasses and vests for the ceremonial plank cutting.park that don’t have that many employees,” remarked Granby mayor Guy Racine during the inauguration ceremony Wednesday morning.“This was a project that required two years of planning,” said Jean-Guy Hébert, who has spent the last three decades with Rona and owns hardware stores in Granby, Cowansville, Knowlton, Famham and Bedford.Six years ago he partnered up with André Gagnon to create the Rona Le Please see Rona Page 7 Dr.Louis Pierre Brunei Magog Family Chiropractic Center ARE YOU TIRED of having the same old recurring health problems?GIVE YOUR BODY A BREAK and treat yourself to a spinal check-up On-the-spot x-rays Free consultation 333 St-Patrice Street West, Magog • 868"1222 Chiropractics has success with all these health problems: • Headaches and migraines • Neck, shoulder and arm aches • Tension points • Fatigue and energy loss • Digestion • Dizziness Dr.Patrick Laliberté page 2 Thursday, November 3, 2005 .RECORD Townshippers’ Volunteer Bank St.George’s Anglican Church St.George’s Anglican Church is seeking volunteers on an occasional basis to do crafts for their bazaar coming up Nov.12.Location: The church is in Georgeville but the offer is extended to anyone.Skills: Sewing, knitting, crochet, or other crafts.For more information, contact Evelina Smith, Townshippers’ Association’s Volunteer Bank Coordinator at 566-2182 (toll free 1-877-566-2182) or info@town-shippers.qc.ca, or Betty Stranger at (819) 843-8376.Leucan Montérégie Leucan Montérégie, a non-profit organization working with the families of children stricken with cancer, is seeking volunteers on an occasional basis to help out in the office, participate in fund-raising activities, and get involved in social activities and school awareness.Location: The office is located in Granby and serves the Montérégie region.Skills: Good listening skills, a sense of organization, and the ability to facilitate.For more information, contact George Courville, Coordinator of Partners for Health & Social Services - Town-ships-Montérégie Network at 263-4422 (toll free 1-866-263-4422) or gc@town-shippers.qc.ca, or Johanne Roy at 378-5509 (toll free 1-866-378-5509) or leucanmonteregie@bellnet.ca.Massey-Vanier High School Massey-Vanier High School is seeking volunteers to help with registrations for the Amnesty International visit.The organizers are looking for five adults and three students.This is a one-time volunteer commitment.Date: Nov.12 Time: All day starting at 8 a.m.- however, organizers are flexible if you can only stay the morning.Location: Massey-Vanier High School is located in Cowansville.Skills: Bilingualism would be an asset.For more information, contact George Courville, Coordinator of Partners for Health & Social Services - Town-ships-Montérégie Network at 263-4422 (toll free 1-866-263-4422) or gc@town-shippers.qc.ca, or Maryann Skinner at 263-3772 ext.402.On Volunteering Many people report that the number one reason that they do not volunteer is a lack of time.However, volunteering does not always require a large time commitment.It can be a few hours a day, a few hours a week, or a few hours a month.It is not the number of hours, but what you do with these hours that count.About the Volunteer Bank The Volunteer Bank is an initiative of Townshippers’ Association and was created as a result of a need expressed by English speakers to become more involved in their community, as well as to provide English-speaking volunteer support to community groups and organizations.Do you have a special talent, skill, or service you would like to provide on a volunteer basis?Is your group or organization looking for a few good volunteers?If so, contact Evelina Smith, Coordinator of Townshippers’ Association’s Volunteer Bank at 566-2182 (toll free 1-877-566-2182), info@township-pers.qc.ca, or George Courville, Coordinator of Partners for Health & Social Services - Townships-Montérégie Network at 263-4422 (toll free 1-866-263-4422), gc@townshippers.qc.ca.Help preserve the Robbery suspect gets region’s wild turkeys away empty-handed Staff CERFCHASSE and the Quebec fauna federation want to save the Estrie region’s wild turkeys.Conservationists are studying the wild turkey population in the region and need help from residents.They want to know how many turkeys are left and what they can do to improve the number of birds in the region.CERFCHASSE, Windsor’s wildlife conservation and hunting group, wants hunters and the general population to relay information about any wild turkey sightings.This includes the date, the number of males and females and the area where the birds were spotted.This information can be sent by fax at 819-845-1175, by email to cerfchasse@qc.aira.com or by mail at 54 St-Georges street, office 230, Windsor, Que., J1S 1J5.For more information check out the conservation group’s Web site at www.cerfchasse.com.Brome-Missisquoi Sûreté du Québec officers are looking for a man who tried to rob the a Sélect dépanneur in Cowansville last Wednesday.Police say the man entered the store alone around 6:30 p.m.Speaking in French, the man demanded the store clerk empty the register.The clerk refused and the man ran out of the store on foot.Police suspect the man may be involved in other recent robberies in the Cowansville area.The police describe the man as being between 1.70 and 1.78 metres, with brown hair.He was wearing a dark leather jacket and a blue shirt.Police estimate his age as between 25 and 35-years-old .Please direct any information to the Brome-Missisquoi SQ detachment at (450) 266-1122.Record Giveaway f.« jhe Record has two JL tickets to give away to this Saturday’s concert by the Sher-b r o o k e Symphony Orchestra, Fran-c o p h o n i e featuring the works of French composers such as Claude Debussy, Denis Gougeon and Ceesar Franck.The concert takes place at Salle Maurice O’Bready Sat., Nov.5 at 8 ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE SHERBROOKE p.m.To qualify for the tickets be the first caller to The Record newsroom at 10 a.m.Friday morning.569-6345 This weekend’s concert will be under the direction of guest con-ducter Raffi Armenian and will fea- ture accordian soloist Joseph Petrie.Weather Today: Cloudy.Rain beginning in the morning and ending in the evening.Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h late in the morning.High 9.Friday: Cloudy with 60 per cent chance of showers.Low 8.High 14.Saturday: Cloudy.Low 9.High 11.Sunday: Cloudy with 60 per cent chance of showers.Low 1.High 9.Ben by Daniel Shelton THÉ MINUTE I WAKE VP, HE'S STARING AT MV " ^ WHY CV YOU THINK IÂ1HIPING v IN wvmis — ¦¦¦¦ T .RECORD Thursday, November 3, 2005 page 3 High dollar, gas prices sink Camoplast factory in Kingsbury By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record The high Canadian dollar, the spiraling price of gasoline and increasing costs for plastic ingredients have forced the auto-parts maker Camoplast to announce the eventual closure of its Kingsbury factory by March of next year.“It’s with a lot of regret that we have to proceed with this closure,” wrote Camoplast vice president and general manager Jean-Francois Ferland in a statement issued from his Sherbrooke office.“We are concerned for the 95 employees who will lose their jobs from now until next spring, because they gave their all to this factory.” Camoplast official Yves Bellevance said the higher costs made the plant less competitive in the price-driven world of auto parts manufacturing.“Apart from the high dollar, the gasoline was making our transportation costs higher than our labour costs,” he said.“It is impossible to compete with these conditions.” Formerly known as the Rockland Rubber plant, the Kingsbury Camoplast factory has been in operation since the early 1980s, but was shut down in 1992 over a labour dispute which led to Camoplast sending the factory’s operation to the U.S.After failing to get an offer for the factory from another industry, Camoplast sold it to the town and later became its first tenant when resuming operations in the town in 1995.The factory makes plastic ventilation components for cars using a blow-molding process.Ferland said Camoplast will make every effort to find work for its employees at other company installations in the Eastern Townships.He said the company will also help set up a committee to get some of the employees retrained for new jobs.Bellevance said a similar Camoplast operation in nearby Richmond will not be affected by the Kingsbury closure.“The plant in Richmond makes other plastic car parts for the engine compartment,” he said.“That plant is still competitive so there are no WEB PHOTO gg'n*TV mbm*#*#*^ Camoplast specializes in tracked vehicles.plans to shut it down.” Apart from its E.T.operations, Camoplast has other factories in Canada, the United States and Finland with a total work force of 1,900 people.Jean Dandurand, mayor of Kingsbury, said the news is not good, but he is not ready to panic.“Camoplast still has a four-year lease with us and they’ve not made any mention of breaking it,” he said.“Market conditions could change and Camoplast is involved in a lot of projects.You notice it has no intention of shutting down its Richmond plant.” Dandurand added few of Kingsbury’s 150 residents will be affected by the closure, because only 11 of the 95 employees live in town.“The majority of the employees come from other towns,” he said.“If Camoplast does not come back, then we will have to organize a job retraining committee like they did for Richmond’s Brown Shoe factory closure and get these people other jobs.” Dandurand said the bulk of the town’s revenue, about $80,000, comes from the lease it has with Camoplast.Hells appeals conviction to Supreme Court Staff Sherbrooke Hells Angel Yvon Rodrigue is appealing his conviction for possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.In the appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada, lawyer Josée Ferrari is questioning whether the prosecution proved that the purpose was one dangerous to the public peace, whether Rodrigue had the benefit of reasonable doubt as to his specific intent and whether the trial judge reversed the burden of proof in presuming the dangerous purpose from the single fact that the weapons were located in a criminal group’s building.In its review of the facts of the case, the Supreme court notes that shots that were heard on July 19, 2000, in the afternoon, brought police officers to search a Hells Angels’ fortified clubhouse.Only Rodrigue was there at the time.Police officers searched the building and found a room, known as the “watch-room”, with hunting weapons in it.The watch-room was used to secure the building against rival gangs and, also, to slow down police coming in to execute search warrants.During their searches, the police officers also seized cartridges lying near the Hells Angels’ building.Rodrigue, a full-fledged member of Sherbrooke Chapter of the biker gang, was found guilty of possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.In April, Quebec’s Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, but on judge dissented remarking he would have granted the appeal and set aside the verdict of guilty.Rodrigue then decided to take his appeal to the next and final level, the Supreme Court of Canada.Canada's top court is scheduled to hear the motion on Nov.17.CAYAC Free professional and confidential support for crime victims and those closest to them 1 866 LE CAVAC • www.cavac.qc.ca CRIME VICTIMS ASSISTANCE CENTER Support, Help and Resources Justice Desjardins Financial Security E3 Eg Québec EM EM Pag fi 4 Thursday; Novém ber .V2M5 RECORD Municipal Elections 2005 Dump project, finances issues in St-François^Xavier-de-Brompton By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record St.François-Xavier de Brompton When the smoke clears from the 2005 municipal elections, one topic that will have to be settled at the St.Francis Valley municipal regional council (MRC) will be the future of a proposed expanded garbage dump site.For Daniel Morin, this issue is the main reason he has opted to run for mayor of St.François-Xavier-de-Bromp-ton (pop.2,200), where the dump is presently located.“1 have always been opposed to the expansion of this dump and I want to make sure this project does not see the light of day,” said Morin, an accountant at the Domtar paper plant in neighbouring Windsor.“It is an expensive undertaking that will threaten our local environment and it is not needed.1 believe I have the support of many of our residents and residents from other towns in our MRC.” The proposed project has been delayed because of political indecision at the MRC level.Slated for a vote last Jan- uary, the 18 mayors that make up the council opted to put off any vote until after the Nov.6 elections.MRC prefect Denis Allaire argued the mayors needed more time to consult with voters before deciding on the issue.The $20 million project would have created a dump three times its present size with a protective lining to prevent toxic leaching.To pay for the project, the MRC planners suggested it be open to garbage from other towns and MRCs of the Eastern Townships.Local environmentalists and concerned residents such as Morin have argued the dump would be abused by larger cities such as Sherbrooke, Montreal and even American municipalities looking for an easy and cheap place to park their waste.Morin and other dump opponents advocate leaving the present dump as it is and promoting more recycling of waste in the MRC towns.Morin said he is not convinced incumbent mayor Yvon Paquin is that committed to stopping the dump project.“He seems to be saying things that both pro and antidump advocates want to hear,” said Morin.“He argues we need a larger, better built-dump, but then says it should only be used by our own MRC.I believe if you build a larger dump, you are going to have to pay for it, and an easy way is to accept outside garbage.“Once you accept some garbage, you’re on a slippery slope towards accepting garbage from other regions and large cities.” Paquin, who has been mayor of the town for nine years, denies any ambivalence on the dump issue.“We have to upgrade the dump, yes, but for our own needs, not those of outsiders,” he said.“The $20 million price tag is not acceptable.Nor is the idea of taking in outside garbage to pay for that high price tag.We will have to modify the project to suit the needs of our MRC, and no other.” Paquin denies arguments that rebuilding the dump will gradually lead to outside garbage, given the fact that the present MRC has had an ongoing dumping arrangement with Fleurimont for several years.Morin fears that with Fleurimont now part of the City of Sherbrooke, the way is open to take in Sherbrooke garbage.“I know the Quebec government wants to pressure small towns such as ours to take in garbage from larger urban areas because we have such a small population,” said Paquin.“But if Quebec tries to pressure us, I and the members of our council will resist.Quebec does not have the right to impose this on us.” And the dump is not the only election issue in St.François-Xavier.Morin said he is also concerned about the way the town has handled its finances.He questions why the council tried to pass a $250,000 loan bylaw earlier this year that would have financed the paving of parts of the River road.This while the town already has real estate holdings it is not using.“The town has land worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that was supposed to be used for an industrial park, but no project has been initiated,” said Morin.“Then the town council tries to borrow more money.As mayor, I would want to take a good look at the finance books.” The loan bylaw was later rejected by over 200 residents who signed an opposition register that required only 91 signatures.Paquin admits the town has a plot of land worth about $110,000, but argued it is being used to promote the building of an industrial motel for small companies.“Our town could use the jobs those small companies can create,” he said.“But infrastructure should not suffer as a result.” Paquin said the $250,000 loan bylaw was too high, and vowed to introduce a new one for $192,000 to pave the River Road if he is returned to office.RECORD Michel Duval Advertising Consultant ^-^(1 * Tel.: 819-569-9525 V Fax: 819-821-3179 to #\ email: mduval@sherbrookerecord.com Blanchette seeks Richmond seat It only takes one day to make a wodd of difference.On December Oh.CIBC World Markets and C1BC Wood Gundy will donate their lees and commissions to children's charities.CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation www.childrensmiracle.com By Claudia Villemaire Richmond Daniel Blanchette, a volunteer fireman for 12 years, supporter of community sports and especially involved with the region’s young people, is contesting long-time Richmond councillor Real Veilleux.Well known as a community-minded citizen, Blanchette says he has plenty of ideas and projects he wants to bring to the council table.“We need to bring some youthful vigor to our council.I know there are currently several projects on the go which is good.But we must plan more for our young people and the security of every citizen.” Blanchette has also been taking part in the new civil security ‘regie’ which takes firefighters through a series of courses and training preparing them for serious emergencies such as floods and epidemics.Blanchette, who operates heavy machinery and works in the field of excavation and landscaping understands this town’s needs and challenges.“I think it’s time for some new blood on council, some youthful vigor.I’m 41-years-old and hope to work to bridge the gap between our young people and our older citizens.” “Public works and especially our young people would be priorities for me.” f When you can't breathe, nothing else matters! 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The Lung Association's B REATH W@ RKS Help for People with COPD • 1-866-717-COPD (2673) 1 ni TWim —RECORD Thursday, November 3, 2005 page 5 Municipal Elections 2005 Three councillor races in Bromont Pauline Quinlan Ruth Dupont Michel Bilodeau Alain Chénier Yves Gosselin Onil Couture Diane Perron Pierre Brassard Paul Rolland By Joshua Bleser Bromont Besides the mayoral race between the incumbent mayor Pauline Quinlan and Ruth Dupont, three of the six councillors in Bromont were elected by acclamation on Oct.14.In Districts 2, 3, and 4, however, the races are heating up.DISTRICT 2 Michel Bilodeau, Alain Chenier, and Yves R.Gosselin are squaring off in the Lac Bromont district, and not surprisingly, all three men identify as a top priority the protection of the lake which gives the district its name.The lake, like many others in the area, fell victim to blue algae this summer.Gosselin, who has been the president of the Association for the protection of Lac Bromont, has a very clear idea of what must be done.According to him, the Association has long requested an inspection of local residents’ septic installations, a request which is becoming more urgent as the lake gets older.According to both Gosselin and Bilodeau, the water quality of the lake’s tributaries must also be analyzed, and the dam which regulated the lake’s water level must be better managed.Bilodeau adds that he would like to see the shoreline reforested to prevent erosion.He also calls for the creation of a local committee to control the development of the land surrounding Lac Gale, recently regained by the town of Bromont for a new outdoor activity centre.Chénier, who was a town councillor in Lasalle for 12 years before settling in Bromont four years ago, is the only one of the three candidates who claims the control of public spending as his number one priority.He argues that taxes are too high, and that not enough of that money comes back to the residents of his district, who, he says, “would like the town to take care of current residents rather than future ones.” Chénier is banking on his experience in municipal politics, while Bilodeau calls himself a “Bromont veteran”, and Involved resident wants to join Gosselin is reminding voters of his industrial and international experience.DISTRICT 3 Onil Couture and Diane Perron are vying for the councillor’s seat in District 3 (Mont-Brome).Couture has lived in Bromont for 30 years and has sat on a number of municipal committees, including urban planning, sports and recreation, municipal court, and fire and safety.He was involved in the community garden project, as well as the inter-municipality agreement with Granby under which Bromont residents gained access to a many of Granby's sports and recreation services.Among his specific objectives if elected are the construction of an outdoor municipal pool and the creation of a neighbourhood watch group.He is also committed to the protection of Bromont’s green spaces and to the reduction of taxes and the debt through sound financial management.His opponent, Diane Perron, has lived in Bromont for 15 years and is no -stranger to munici- pal politics there if-tpi I either.She has til J.V'H been the president of By Claudia Villemaire Richmond Tiwenty-five years involved with soccer leagues and teams have given Clifford Lancaster a wealth of experience understanding the need for action that young people everywhere need.“That means there should be lots to choose from, different activities so that there’s something for everyone out there,” Clifford Lancaster stated as he talked about his reasons for taking on the challenge to win Seat # 6.Lancaster’s involvement with Richmond Exhibition as well as a quarter century with the soccer league gives him the advantage of knowing and listening to hundreds of folks with needs and opinions in this town of just over 3,000 .“I feel the community is not well enough informed.Things go on we never hear about until they’re done,” he explained.“A case in point is the ‘sidewalk affair’ on Dufferin Street.During the reconstruction of the street it was removed and never replaced before the residents were informed.We need more information on what’s going on,” he added.“And there have been other situations when it seemed as though the town authorities took matters into their own hands.Lancaster, who was employed at the H.H.Brown Shoe Company 31 years until it closed, emphasized his readiness to keep residents in his district, if elected, up to date on council activities and news.He still works for another local industry but has more time to devote to community affairs.“I would make sure the council is also informed on our needs in our district.That means'paying attention to what the citizens have to say, providing the best service possible.I want them to know they can call me anytime when there’s a problem,” he concluded.Bromont’s family committee, in charge of implementing the town’s family policy.Perron has also been very involved with the Ecole de la Chantignole since her arrival in Bromont, and she says that her leap into the race for councillor is a natural extension of her desire to make Bromont an inviting place for young and grow- ing families.Finally, Perron says she intends to play her part in insuring Bromont’s controlled and harmonious development, in accordance with the town’s tradition of environmental stewardship.DISTRICT 4 In the Shefford district, retired Hydro-Québec executive Pierre Brassard is looking to unseat Paul Rolland, who has held the position of councillor since 1996.The former was District 2 town councillor from November 2000 to April 2002.He has also served a five-year term as the president of the Canadian Management Institute for Montreal’s Ville-Marie district.Brassard highlights his devotion to his fellow residents and his freedom from restricting loyalty to either of the mayoral candidates as prime assets in his bid to represent Shefford on town council.His main objectives include the creation of a permanent environment committee, decreasing the tax rate, and opening Montreal Boulevard (which runs between Bromont Boulevard and Pierre-Laporte) to truck traffic, in order to free Shefford Street from the associated noise and to encourage tourists to take advantage of the many restaurants with outdoor terraces along Shefford Street.In addition to his long track record in Bromont politics, Paul Rolland also has extensive experience with the provincial government, most notably as cabinet director for the ministry of municipal affairs and a junior minister of regional affairs.In addition to lowering taxes and protecting green spaces, if re-elected Rolland hopes to oversee the creation of a new neighbourhood park (in the Royal Bromont sector) and neighbourhood watch committee, encourage the extension of walking and hiking trails, and improve the management of septic waste and general recycling facilities. face 6 Thursday, November 3, 2005 ^RECORD; Community Forum Letters to the editor Kudos to Martin and Layton Dear Editor, Tuesday was the day the country has been waiting for these many months.Justice John Gomery finally released his findings on the Sponsorship Scandal.I, with millions of others listened closely to what the media was saying, as well as many politicians.I’m a bit concerned that, up to this point I’ve heard no one commend Prime Minister Paul Martin for having the intestinal fortitude,(guts) to initiate the inquiry in the beginning.He must have known full well the risk he was taking.Listening to the discussions on both Global and the CBC Tuesday evening, one fact emerged for me.We have two level-headed party leaders in our Nation’s Capital: Paul Martin and Jack Layton, for which I thought, “thank God.” Despite their differences these two men have managed to work together for the good of this great nation Canada.It has taken compromise on both sides, but it has worked so far.Let’s hope they can continue for the some months to come.Thank You Justin Lowry, Sawyerville Farfan has served constituents Dear Editor, With the elections coming up soon we would like to say a word about Councillor Matthew Farfan.Matthew is a person that has always GASP! I HAD NO IDEA THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE DOING UPSTAIRS! Liberal BEST LITTLE POBKHOOSE IN CANADA FBIENDÇ IN LOW I PLACES mm* ¦ I 111 ¦ RECORD P.O.Bo* 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 5L6 or 1195 Galt E, SherbrookeJIG 1Y7 Fax: 819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroora@sherbrookerecord.com Websiie: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Nelson Afonso Corresp.Editor (819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine: Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-4856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)569-9511 Advertising.(819)569-9525 Circulation.(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowlton office 88-A Lakeside.Knowlton.Quebec.JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242 1188 Fax:(450)243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 1M.40 8.01 9.18 $131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 $67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 $3451 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 ofThe 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.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke, QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD.CNA, QCNA made himself available to the residents whenever they have had questions or problems concerning the town.He has assisted our family on maxty occasions.Over the last seven years he has constantly proved his devotion to the community and has given his time without hesitation.We feel that his reelection would be a benefit to Stanstead.The Roy Family Marcel, Pat, Michael and Richard Stanstead Residents have to carry the ball too Dear Editor, To clarify “Why didn’t town protest?” by Jane Hall, Nov.2,2005, she mentions the Waterloo solution to keeping our Post Office.It was not Waterloo Council, that came to the rescue.In fact when the public meeting at the time, showed so many people wanting to keep the existing Post Office and delivery system intact, the council under the direction of Mayor Masse, felt it was the people’s decision and withdrew the dossier from Canada Post, unsigned, leaving the responsibility in the hands of the public.Within three hours on Thanksgiving Weekend - Friday - two of our residents stood at the Post Office and collected over 300 signatures.These were forwarded to Ottawa with a properly endorsed petition and letter.Within two months, our plea with Canada Post was respected and as of today we are pleased with the results.Naturally some kiosks are in place, in rural areas and the outskirts - where there wasn’t a good system.I sent a copy of the letter I had written to Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, to The Record - dated Oct.15, 2003, protesting the proposal by Canada Post to change Waterloo’s system.This was the second time Canada Post had wanted to install boxes throughout the town.Over ten years earlier, Mayor André Belanger had signed an agreement with Canada Post.Fortunately two councillors who were opposed, alerted their citizens and we even had to have an injunction to stop proceedings and 26 pages of signatures included with our petition.The point I am making, is that we expect our councillors and Mayor to serve us, but it is the duty of every citizen to take responsibility and help these hard-working public figures to make the community work harmoniously.To mayors and councillors now facing a new mandate, I wish you all the “C”s.Constructive Criticism, and Cooperative Citizens.Shirley Maynes Beakes Waterloo Dirty campaigning should end Dear Editor, The article published and paid-for by Paul Masse, the incumbent Mayor of Waterloo, has left me nauseated (Waterloo Mayor, L.Paul Masse claims Russell’s “record is not straight”).The record that Mr.Masse has managed to set straight is his own record as an extremely unpleasant person when he feels threatened.Coalition Waterloo, under the leadership of Pascal Russell, has run a clean campaign, sticking to issues, solutions and the future of Waterloo via weekly public meetings over the past five weeks.Mr.Masse’s attack on the members of the Coalition are based on rumour and suppositions and he offers no hard facts to back up his complaints against them.I pray that the days of dirty campaigning in Waterloo will end on Nov.6 - ultimately it’s up to the voters to choose.Anne-Marie Cyr Waterloo The Record welcomes your letters to the editor.Please be sure to sign your name and include a telephone number.Only signed letters are considered for publication. , .iTIIE ¦ • RECORD Thursday, November 3, 20'0£ page 7 Running the repair rapids I’ve written before about how my family uses little quotation marks when they say I “fixed” something.This does not stop me from fulfilling my God-given right to tinker and/or putter.There are rumours, however, that I undertake these chores only so I’ll have something to write about.Our kitchen faucet had been dripping for about a week.I’ve replaced washers before with no personal injury or increase in insurance premiums so while Deb was at work one recent Saturday, I decided to surprise her by fixing it.How.hard could it be?Not very hard if you plan ahead.Me, I simply headed to the hardware store and picked up what’s called a “repair ldt,” a variety-pack of washers.This is the hardware equivalent of those $2 Surprise Bags lurk- Bombardier: Cont’d from Page 1 “Our goal is to continue manufacturing while increasing profitability and becoming more competitive.“We looked at various scenarios and transferring our operations to Mexico just made more sense.” BRP officials claim the company had a loss of $1.7 million in its second quarter for the fiscal year 2005-2006.One year ago, the company declared a profit of $28.5 million.Stock market reports indicate the company’s value has declined by over 18 percent in file past three months.BRP officials said the move to Mexico will not affect the Valcourt operation until 2007, when 150 positions will be eliminated.They added that in 2008, another 150 positions will be gone.The Mexican move will not affect the Valcourt plant’s production of snowmobiles and watercraft.BRP officials said the company is presently investing $10 million to upgrade their Ski-doo and Sea-doo assembly lines.They said a new line of products should be started by December.The move to Mexico will mean the transfer of tools and equipment from the Val- Rona:- Cont’d from Page 1 Régional on $t-Jude St.in Granby.Brisk business prompted the expansion into a warehouse store, putting it on par with businesses like Reno Depot and Home Depot.The newly expanded Rona offers 45,000 different items, ranging from the tools to do the job to the construction materials needed, from paint and wallpaper to concrete and lumber.Dutton noted that 80 per cent of Rona’s products are Canadian made, much of it from Quebec manufacturers.The sales teams in each department include experts to offer advice.Dutton explained to those present for ing around dépanneur checkouts that kids hound you into buying but end up being filled with junk that fell on the floor and other stuff the store couldn't sell.In other words, not a wise purchase.Back home, I shut the hot water off, unscrewed the tap and removed the cartridge.The tap was in bad shape.The metal around the base had eroded and something was crumbling around the cartridge.It was either a cork washer or years of accumulated gunk - plumbing toe jam.I turned on the cold water to rinse off the corrosion and cork/jam.Doing so, however, caused the cold to start running out of the empty hot water socket.I quickly shut off the cold.I decided it was a cork washer.But my court plant and from the company’s Rotax motor factory in Gunskirchen, Austria.Officials said there will be no layoffs at the Austrian plant BRP already has a factory in Juarez, Mexico where it makes parts for its watercraft and outboard engine products.Officials said the move to Mexico was also driven by the cheaper labour costs and a free-trade deal the country has worked out with the European union.The hope is that more BRP ATVs will be sold to Europe, where ATV riding is catching on as a hobby.Presently, BRP competes with Japanese firms Honda, $uzuki and Kawasaki for the worldwide ATV dollar.BRP was formed in 2003 after a financial restructuring that severed its majority ties with parent company Bombardier Inc.BRP is now majority owned by the American financial group Bain Capital, with minority ownership by the Beaudoin family and the province’s Caisse de depot et placement crown corporation.It presently has 6,200 employees in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway.Last year, it laid off 800 Canadian employees.Of those layoffs, 400 occurred at the Valcourt plant and another 200 occurred at its distribution centre in Sherbrooke.the grand opening that Rona now has some 560 stores of various sizes, employing 22,000 people across Canada and offering more than 13 million square feet of floor space.It racks up $4.8 billion in sales every year.To further mark the occasion the Rona Foundation presented a $5,000 cheque to the centres jeunesses de la Montérégie.The non-profit organization works in the Granby region to help troubled youth get back on track.Unlike other businesses which mark their expansions by cutting a ceremonial ribbon, Rona kept with its tradition of cutting a ceremonial plank.Officials donned vests and safety glasses before breaking out a pair of cordless circular saws, which, with a little difficulty, managed to eat their way through the lumber.repair kit didn’t have cork.Ah well, one washer’s as good as the next, right?I jammed a rubber ring over the cartridge and reinstalled it, even though I had forgotten to note exactly how it all was put together when I first disassembled it.It didn’t work.The tap dripped more.Hmmm, I guess one washer isn’t as good as the next.I decided to shut off the cold water in the basement, take the cold tap apart and see how it was put together.Aha.It all made sense now.I’d need to go get a cork washer.I put the cold tap back together, went down the basement and turned the water back on.Now, every so often you are given insight into how you would react in an emergency.Would you respond quickly and instinctively?Or would it be like one of those dreams where you’re running but don’t get anywhere because your feet have turned into freshly baked crème brûlées?In this case I was tested and found wanting.I was crème bruléed.In fiddling with the cold tap, I had unknowingly left it on full-blast.The hot water tap was still removed.When I turned on the cold in the basement, I heard the water running.And running and running.I went upstairs and looked across the room at the sink.Water was billowing out of the empty hot water socket onto the counter, floor, cupboards.Now, a quick-thinking person simply would have gone to the sink to shut off the cold water tap.No.Faced with this urgent, albeit non-bloodletting situation, I instead ran back down to the basement, found the main water line to the house and cranked it shut.By the time I did all this, a small pool had formed on the kitchen floor.As water ran across the floor, my first thought was, ‘Tve got 45 minutes until Deb gets home.” Not only did I clean it up but I went back to the hardware store, bought a frill replacement cartridge rather than fool around with washers and got both taps back together.Granted, because of the erosion, the grooves in the tap had worn away and the tap wouldn’t turn and right now you have to turn the hot water on and off with a vise grip.But the important tiling is that it “works." Ross Murray lives in Stanstead.He can be reached at ross_murray@sympatico.ca la chronique Government information Careful on the roads! Animals are not always just on the road signs This time of year, drivers should exercise extreme caution on the road since the chances of a collision with a deer are very high.Last year, on the 2000 kilometers under the responsibility of the ministère des Transports for the Eastern Townships, including urban areas, the rate of accidents involving deer was up 47% in October and 44% in November, with 131 and 153 accidents respectively.The increase in the white tailed deer population, together with the growing number of vehicles on the road, has contributed to the tripling of the frequency of accidents involving large animals in the Townships over the last fifteen years.The number of accidents has risen from 300 in 1990 to over 1000 annually.In addition, the year 2004 saw the highest number of accidents with large animals on roads throughout the region since 1990: 1139 collisions with deer out of a total of 3807 accidents.Remember also that dawn and twilight are the two periods during the day when deer move about the most.Accidents involving these animals thus occur most frequently during these times.So be twice as cautious, and remember that animals are not always just on the road signs.Stay alert! INFORMATION (toll free) Telephone: 1 800 363-1363 TDD service: 1 800 361-9596 www.gouv.qc.ca Québec ra a SstM Ross Murray Kir?! page 8 Thursday, November 3, 2005 -RFfORn — Municipal Elections 2005 Traffic, environment top list of borough concerns By Rita Legault The borough of Jacques Cartier district, home to most of the Cité des rivières waterfront development, is the city’s oldest and wealthiest.@tx:Citi-zens there have a number of concerns that range from heritage protection to traffic safety.Councillors have been working on a project to build a cultural community centre.BATTLE IN BECKETT In Beckett district 6.1 two-time councillor Jacques Testulat is running again but this time he is facing a challenge from political science student Geoffroy Bruneau.Testulat, who heads the CHARMES municipal river cleanup group, said he wants to promote sustainable development.He notes the city is about to adopt its urban zoning plant and he suggests it be modeled on Quebec City’s green plan.Testulat said the Beckett Woods is still threatened by plans to build a road through it and that he wants to ensure the city passes a policy to protect natural areas.He also wants to completely eliminate the use of pesticides on the territory of Sherbrooke in the next few years.Inspired by a recent Greenpeace conference at the University of Sherbrooke which discussed greenhouse gases and the melting of polar ice caps, Testulat said there is much the city could do to become more environmentally friendly.He suggests Sherbrooke develop along the lines of garden cities like Boston and Seattle, which recuperate rainwater.Along with the environmental, Testulat said he also wants to protect the history in the borough, including churches like Plymouth Trinity.“We have to leave a heritage to future generations,” he said.Testulat justified the money spent on Cité des rivières, remarking infrastructure grants from the federal and provincial government reduce the costs for Sherbrooke residents, and notes some of the money will be spent to clean up the shores of Lac des Nations.As another example, he said the construction of the arts centre downtown included some $350,000 to decontaminate the site.But, like most of his council colleagues, Testulat said the main concern in his district is speeding.He said the borough has addressed the issue with a citizen’s bumper sticker program where motorists pledge not to go over 50 kmph and invite their neighbors to do the same.The councillor said the program will be extended to the whole of Sherbrooke next year.Testulat, the only councillor to produce campaign pamphlets in English, said he has about 100 English-spealdng families in his district and the wanted them to be properly informed.Bruneau, who joined the race at the last minute along with two of his university buddies, complained that acclamations would be antidemocratic.He did not return our calls.HOWARD FIGHT In Domaine Howard district 6.2.Chan-tale L’Espérance is seeking a third mandate but is facing opposition from Jean Chenay.L’Espérance said she likes her district and thinks she can serve citizens by improving the quality of life in the district which comprises mainly the old North Ward of Sherbrooke.Her platform for the next four years aims to improve neighborhood safety, She said speed traps are not enough to stop speeding and they will have to find other methods to slow traffic.She also wants to review heavy traffic restrictions to keep noisy trucks out of her-itage neighborhoods such as queen, Moore, Montreal and a longer stretch of Prospect, as well as review and complete the bike path to make it safer.L’Espérance, who headed the city’s cultural committee, said she would like to see the trailer for skaters in Howard Park replaced by a permanent structure that could be used for activities year round, use the vacant third floor of the Armand Nadeau Pavilion in Jacques Cartier Park for community groups and enter a partnership with Montclam High School, the school board and a local foundation to build a cultural community centre for the north end.She would also like to complete the interlibrary loan network and eliminate fees for Sherbrooke five public libraries.L’Espérance suggests a buffer zone of light commercial activities for streets perpendicular to King to reduce noise and traffic for residential areas.She also wants more cultural activities on the Promenade des lac des Nation ad suggests extending the Rendez-Vous Howard to a two-day event.At the city level, L’Espérance would like to see a heritage protection plan that would include centennial tress as well as the realization of a social and community development plan.“If we don’t take care of the misery and poverty, we will have to face the consequences.Her opponent Chenay, who was brought up in the North Ward, has a different motivation for entering politics.“The real reason is I’m fed up with the kind of council we have.It disgusts me! When your see them spending $20 million on Cité des rivières and the water is polluted - I’m tired of priorities being put in the wrong places.“ Chenay said he is also angry at cronyism at city hall and can’t understand why the population is not scandalized by recent media reports about how city hall awards publicity contract Chenay charges that Perrault’s campaign manager Jean-Yves Laflamme, who’s communication firms received one-third of the value of the city’s publicity contracts over the past four years, was paid $320 a page to write a 14-page speech for the Chamber of Commerce."It was not a speech to the United Nations,” he said.“It was a speech to his pals at the Chamber of Commerce.” Meanwhile, he points out that Laflamme’s wife Louise Allard, who is paid by taxpayers to be Perrault’s chief of staff, should be writing his speeches and that the city has a communications department with a budget of more than $1 million a year.And, Chenay said that Mayor Perrault’s obsession with Cité des rivières is costing taxpayers a mint.“They claimed it would be an international tourism attraction.Come on!” He notes that while the city spent $1.6 million on a pedestrian footbridge over the river, the Montclam bridge beside it is crumbling.Chenay said many citizens he’s met during his door-to-door campaigning are disenchanted with politicians and have told them they will not vote.In the past, less than half the population turned out to the polls.Chenay, who said he decided “to stop complaining and do something,” said he has nothing against L'Espérance.“She’s a nice lady, but she was a member of the executive committee so these decision went by her.She’s an engineer and she lets the sewage treatment plants throw shit into our rivers and she did not say a word.” CALM IN MONTCALM In Montcalm district 6.3 councillor Marc Denault, who is seeking a second mandate on council, is also facing last minute opposition from political science student Olivier Bergeron.Denault said he wants to return to finish the projects he started, including a cultural centre for the borough and neighborhood watch committees in his district where public safety is a big concern.“We have accomplished a lot, but there is still a lot to do,” he said, noting that speeding is an ongoing concern, even at night.He is suggesting a night shift for the radar squad.Denault said the city has invested about $250,000 in local parks, but there are more projects to keep equipment up to date.On the city side, he is working to install synthetic turf football and soccer fields at both universities and the Collège de Sherbrooke that would serve local teams and make it possible for Sherbrooke to attract bigger sports events.Bilingual, Denault said he has few anglophones his district, but said he has been working with Bishop’s and the English community to ensure anglos have a place in the new City of Sherbrooke.Also, Denault said the city must follow through on investments of $12 million in sewage treatment plants over the next three years which will improve the quality of water for local rivers and lakes.Denault said few citizens in his district are complaining by Cité des rivières.“People in my district are well served by the protect but we will have to look at ways to expand the project to the whole city,” he said, noting the city should invest to expand its network of linear paths and “blue corridors”.He notes people from Deauville can canoe all the way to Lac des Nations along the Magog River.Bergeron has been doing some door-to-door campaigning, but The Record was unable to reach him.His number is not listed.CONTEST IN CARREFOUR Borough chair Dany Lachance, who is seeking a third mandate, is also facing a race in the Carrefour district 6.4.Her opponent is former educator and businessman Pierre Tardif.Lachance wants to keep her seat to follow through on the things she has started, including the establishment of a cultural community centre.“There are a lot of things to be adopted including the city’s zoning plan,” said the vice-chair of the city’s urban panning committee.Lachance said she was the Cité des rivières project to go ahead as planned.She’s also looking forward to the ecocente in the industrial park where city will be able to bring their large garbage items and non-recyclables for disposal or reuse.Like all of her colleagues, speeding is the main issue voters are talking to her about.She said the borough project of 50 kmph maximum is working, but that they must remain on top of the problem.Lachance said she has four main preoccupations: development, neighborhood safety, improving the quality of life, and developing and maintaining municipal infrastructures.Lachance, who has divvied her district into three neighborhoods, has published programs for each dealing with priorities for each sector including improvements to problem intersections, increased surveillance in parks to fight vandalism, and the installation of speed bumps.She also vowed to continue working with citizen committees to bring their concerns to council.Tardif said he was approached by citizens who wanted someone who was more visible and more available to deal with district concerns.During door-to-door campaigning at some 3400 addresses, Tardif said many people agreed they needed a stronger voice on council.“They said it was important to have a councillor who is available and they were pleased to hear I was retired,” said the former school teacher and insurance salesman, who had no specific promises but pledged to consult citizens more often and inform them better.Tardif, whose main concern at city hall is the burgeoning debt, said speeding is the main worry in the district.He also remarked the cultural community centre has been discussed for ages and should be built by now. : ¦.no.¦¦ .RECORD Thursday, November 3, 2005-page 9 Masse turns up heat in Waterloo, Russell fires back snowmobile suits ^ B4SS 27S$ By Joshua Bleser t 1 ^lc race for mayor in Waterloo continues to be among the most hotly con-JL tested in the region, as incumbent mayor L.Paul Masse published an advertisement in this week’s Brome County News lambasting his challenger, Pascal Russell, and the latter’s Coalition Waterloo team.Russell had not yet seen the ad when The Record reached him Wednesday morning, but after reading it, he was quick to respond to the charges it levels against him and his running mates.“It’s a bit childish of him to say only half of the truth,” Russell declared, before systematically defending himself and several of his teammates against Masse’s accusations.A persistent bone of contention between the two men is Russell’s recent high visibility in Waterloo and surrounding communities.Masse accused him of being “an opportunist who will take advantage of any opportunity to show off’, while Russell replied that he attends events of interest to him as a possible future mayor, and that he isn’t to blame if “people.are showing more interest in my personality than in him.” Perhaps of greater substance is Masse’s claim that “Russell and his team seem to make it a point of feeding wrong information to voters.” Masse argued most notably that it is not true that Robinson Park is in ruins; that the Sauvageau theatre groupe does, contrary to Coalition Waterloo’s claim, have storage space; and that Masse offered the former fire station to the United Painters, but they refused it.Russell retorted that Robinson Park’s stone walls are “totally falling apart” and that he is “surprised that no one has injured themselves” on the cracked stone stairway.Russell also explains that the storage space that the current administration has offered the theatre group is not insulated, thus causing damage to the costumes, and that the old fire station is unheated.As for Masse’s questioning Russell’s claim that five out of six of the latter’s running mates will be able to work full-time by pointing out that two of them already have “regular jobs”, Russell explained that although Lude Fréchette and Louise Côté do indeed have other jobs and will only work part-time as town councillors, he was including himself among the five members of the Coalition who could represent Waterloo’s dtizens full-time.Coalition Waterloo.Though Russell acknowledged that Côté and her husband recently bought a motor home to vacation in the U.S., he insisted that Masse’s claim that Côté will be out of town for four months of the year is “totally false.” “She will take a vacation in the summer like everyone else, and maybe a week in the winter,” Russell explained.Russell went on to correct what he sees as Masse’s own campaign of misinformation.He noted that despite Masse’s campaign promise to develop a family policy in consultation with tlie public, and the latter’s claim that his team has “been working on it for a few years”, there has been no public consultation so far.Russell also criticized Masse for taking credit for the building of the skateboard park, noting that members of the youth centre and many of Waterloo’s parents worked very hard on that projed.Finally, the game of electoral table tennis between the two mayoral candidates returned to what has become a common theme in the campaign; Masse boasts of the improvements made to the town under his watch, while Russell accuses him of taking all the credit and failing to acknowledge any mistakes.For example, while Masse stated in his ad that he did not, contrary to Coalition candidate Jean-Marie Lachapelle’s claim, dismantle CREW (the former development committee), but rather simply changed its name to the Waterloo Development Sodety, Russell responded that “every time a group of people get together to do something positive for Waterloo, Masse gets offended and does something different.” With the election mere days away, it is now up to the citizens of Waterloo to wade through this sea of attacks, responses, and counter-attacks.At any rate, it promises to be an interesting weekend.SCREAMING EAGLE 1/2 price SALE for 3 days only leather / fashion / sheep skin / motorcycle / snowmobile boots & accessories * on everything everything v everything parting Friday morning 9 a.m.DAVID ANDERSON 34,495 for the base car, $37.495 for the premium version.As for the look, well, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then BMW should be tickled pink.The back end bears an uncanny resemblance to the 7 Series’ now infamous "Bangle bump.” Indeed, the deck lid’s “shut line” is identical and the tail lights imitate the LED clusters that adorn BMW’s flagship to a T The powertrain also takes Hyundai up the ladder - a new 3.8-litre V-6 that’s married to a live-speed manuntatic.With 263 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, the Azera is not shy when prodded with enthusiasm.Adding variable valve timing to the intake side of the engine ensures it stays in the game throughout the rev range It is also surprisingly smooth and deceptively quick.From the driver’s seat, it feels as if the car is wafting its way up to 100 kilometres an hour and not blasting there, despite recording a quick 7 2 seconds to get there The five-speed manumatic also works very nicely.Left to its own devices, it upshifts quickly to give fuel economy priority Matting the gas induces a quick kick-down and, when used manually, the shifts are much less abrupt than Hyundai slush-boxes of yore.Riding on double wishbones up front, a multi-link design in back and anti-roll bars at both ends, the Azera provides a pretty good balance between ride and handling While the damping and spring rates are biased toward comfort, the car holds its line through faster corners with much more authority than the old XG.Adding a good Bosch-based electronic stability/traction control system, anti-lock brakes and 235/55RI7 tires delivers a solid dynamic package, the composed, predictable feel is a marked step up for Hyundai.Inside, the Azera is as good as anything offered under $50,000.meaning it’s loaded to class standards and then some.The base model gets all the usual power toys, including a 10-way driver’s seat, four-way passenger’s seat, sunroof and express up/down windows, automatic temperature/dual-zone climate controls, heated seats and a passable audio package It even has a full-sized spare as standard equipment, which is a rarity and a significant improvement over the usual temporary doughnut.The premium model adds full leather, power-adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers and a stronger six-disc sound system w ith premium speakers.There’s also a pleasant surprise - and a gripe On the plus side, the incredibly tacky faux wood trim used on previous Hyundais has been replaced with some rich-looking (still fake) stuff that contrasts nicely with plush aluminum-like accents.Throw in a two-tone interior finish, top- notch materials and commendable fit and finish and you have a pleasant place to spend time.The gripe is that even with the telescoping steering wheel adjustment fully forward, the wheel still sits too far back from the dash While it does not hurt overall ergonomics, it is disconcerting, something that bothered both my driving partner and me.The Azera is a large car - the long 2,780-inillimetre wheelbase provides a ton of space, especially in the rear.With the front seat set for my short legs, the stretch-out space is liino-like.Hyundai says it rivals the BMW 760i, Toyota Avalon and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.all of which are cavernous cars.There are also 60/40-split/folding rear seats and a large 16.6 cubic feet of trunk space.As for safety equipment, the Azera tops its immediate competition Along with the active electronic aids are no fewer than eight air bags - two front, two seat-mounted side bags, a pair of drop-down curtains and two rear-seat side-impact bags.The company also promises a five-star crash test rating.There you have it - a complete car for a surprising price.This, however, does not mean Hyundai is home free, as the company must convince potential customers that its reputation, hurt by past quality issues, has been restored.Simply getting people into the latest Sonata and new Azera will go a long way toward achieving this goal.The second, more difficult challenge is convincing the same people that parting with $40,000 for a Hyundai is not a misguided venture Fortunately, this is not insurmountable: The Azera doesn’t have to take a back seat to any of its immediate competition.automotive (s>sympatico.ca > «MAT I IMPORTS WELCOME HEREI \ms u Locally installed.Nationally guaranteed w i dLdxITO 1205 Wellington St.S.569-5959 563-0036 " - —THE ¦!.' — —RECORD Teachers, province remain at odds By Patrick Lavery Any hope for a quick resolution between Quebec’s public school teachers and the Ministry of Education is long gone.Negotiations broke down Oct.13 when the teachers walked away from the table.They have yet to return.The reason for the breakdown depends on which side you talk to.Union officials say that while a tentative deal was close at hand, government negotiators made changes, negating progress made.The government, staying mum on the union’s allegations, has maintained their line that there is a limited amount of money up for discussion and teachers need to realize that.Education Minister Jean-Marc Fournier invited teachers back to the table, but they have yet to reply.Instead, there have been rumblings of a teacher strike.Peter Langford, a teacher at Massey-Vanier and the Appalachian Teachers Association union representative on the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers, said teachers will head back to the table.It’s a question of when.“Every time we leave the table, the two sides regroup and come up with a mandate,” he said.The union is looking at mandating a three-day strike, though a vote has yet to be held.Langford, who is not a negotiator for the teacher’s union, said that there is more at stake than what has been stated publicly.He was critical of Quebec English School Board Association president Marcus Tabachnick’s recent comments that a verbal agreement had been reached between the English teacher’s union and the province.Tabachnick stated that the English teacher’s union held off on signing an agreement because its French counterpart disapproved.“The union leadership has told us that the deal is done,” Tabachnick said in a press release.“Our parents and our students are getting impatient, and rightly so.” The teacher’s union has denied that any deal was reached.“According to our lead negotiator, Alain Lombarg, there is no agreement,” said Langford.The negotiations have been taking place at two tables, with English negotiators at one and French at the other.Langford did say that progress had been made at the English table.“I think it’s fair to say, the English table is closer than the French table,” he said.Quebec public school teachers have been without a contract for the past three years.Negotiations with the province have dragged on, with the province halting talks at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.Both sides hoped for a quick resolution when talks started up again in August.Teachers and provincial negotiators have not met since Oct.13.The English teachers began using work-to-rule tactics at the beginning of the current school year.Athletic and cultural activities at the ETSB schools have been canceled indefinitely.Students at Alexander Galt Regional High School in Lennoxville held their own protest of the teacher’s strategy.walking out of class on the morning of Sept.21. Also See: • *• ¦\ *.* Stans tea Review Serving Stanstead and ITS BORDER COMMUNITY bn#* / Fix that bridge, quick! .see Page 14 NEWSROOM@SHERBROOKERECORD.COM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005 PAGE 13 Down to the wire in Stanstead By Nancy Nourse Record Correspondent It will be up to the residents of Stanstead on Nov.6 to choose the people they feel will do the best job of representing their interests for the next four years.Because Susan Wintle and Philippe Dutil have already been acclaimed to fill Seats 2 and 5, respectively, decisions must be made to fill the other six seats.We learned this week that the three-way race for mayor has now been reduced to a battle between incumbent Mayor Raymond Yates and councillor Jody Stone.Robert Sheldon withdrew his name from the race, and then threw his support behind Stone.Six candidates — Stéphane Goessens, Susan Wintle, Shari Rolleston, Michelle Richard, Philippe Dutil and Florent Roy — joined Stone in forming Team Action to run as a group.Seat 1: Stéphane Goessens vs.Matthew Farfan Matthew Farfan is a freelance editor, consultant and a graduate of McGill University.Fie has volunteered for numerous local organizations and boards, including Townshippers’ Foundation (as vice-president) and Memphremagog Conservation.He has represented Stanstead as a councillor for the past seven years.His experience in council includes stints on committees such as urban planning, International Water Co., land use, culture and health and sanitation.“I see this election as a win-win situation — if I win the election, I will have the opportunity to continue the work that was started while I was a member of the previous Council, and if my opponent wins, I will be able to spend more quality time with my wife and young daughter,” said Farfan.“(My wife) Josiane and I had many discussions before I made the final decision to run for a third term.While I wish the candidates running as Team Action the best of luck, I personally chose to run as an independent.Whether I win or lose, I will know that residents voted for me on the merits of NANCY NOURSE/CORRESPONDENT Stéphane Goessens wants to bring some youth to council what I could bring to the table, as an individual.” Farfan said his work in promoting the town to outsiders has made him proud.He prides himself on his work for the local door-to-door recycling program and hazardous waste pick-ups.He believes that to prosper, a town needs to address both environmental and economical issues.Goessens is a relative newcomer, not only to politics but also to Stanstead.He is a member of Team Action.He became owner of the former Bouchard Dépanneur in 2003, a business at the heart of the Rock Island sector of Stanstead.He has also recently purchased a house in the Beebe sector where he will make a home with his wife and four children.His first impression of Stanstead was a very positive one with many possibilities for the future.“There is a special quaintness about this town and the friendly hospitality offered by its citizens.That is is something that you don’t find in the bigger cities," he said.“I would like to see more being done to put Stanstead on the map.I feel that the area has so much to offer — 13 churches within Stanstead limits, the impressive architectural aspect, the Colby-Curtis Museum and now the new Granite Exposition & Museum which is set to open soon.“I feel that 1 belong here and I am willing to do what I can to fight for a bright future for Stanstead, with the same heart that Mayor Yates has shown in the last three years." Goessens went on to say that a town should present a certain image and pride in itself and the residents who live there.He is pleased to see an increased interest by other businesses to establish in the Stanstead area because this means not only more jobs for residents, but also job security for our children in the future.Seat 3: Serge Tougas vs.Shari Rolleston Roy Serge Tougas is making his third try at being elected to the Stanstead Council.He is the owner of Gîte La Grenouil-lière in the Beebe sector of Stanstead, a founding member of AGARS, a manager at Association des Loisirs de Stanstead, president of the local tourism committee and a familiar face and supporter at Border Fest and other community-oriented events.“I would like to see town-sponsored programs and projects that are open to a wider range of people, including more housing for both older and younger residents.1 would like to see more plans going through regarding the tourist industry, a pet project of mine, especially those created to beautify the Rock Island sector of town,” he explained.“These projects alone, I feel, would encourage more people to come to see what Stanstead has to offer.I am frustrated, however, that the Citizen’s Forum, that was held several years ago, which resulted in four basic plans of action, have had trouble being passed through the sub-committees of the council.Financially, I think the previous council has done a good job, but I would like to see the town office more NANCY NOURSE/CORRESPONDENT .Councillor Matthew Farfan thinks there’s a lot still to be done.accessible to the public.” Shari Rolleston Roy is also a member of Team Action.While she may not be a familiar face around the council room, she has spent her whole life in the Stanstead area.She graduated in commercial studies from the Ursuline Convent and served as a member of the parent’s committee at the school.She was involved as a Red Cross volunteer in Stanstead for many years.“I have been busy going door-to-door with other members of the team, informing people of their options and encouraging them to get out and vote.I believe that as a team, we can accomplish more than one person running alone,” she said.“I was very frustrated by the apparent disregard for the hard work put into the walking path by the school children and other residents of Stanstead when it came to the sale of the property along Notre Dame Blvd.If people are not able to find out what is taking place at Town Hall, then how is anyone to find out what is and is not working?” See Decisions, Page 14 page 14 Thursday, November 3, 2005 Stanstead REVIEW I want my bridge back! It’s been a lifetime.I’m ready to do a bridge-dance.I want my bridge back! Please bring my wonderful, wonderful bridge back to me.You see, that bridge has become MY bridge and 1 love my bridge.For 16 years, that bridge has been my loyal friend, a friend that I didn’t appreciate.That bridge worked hard to get me across a river that could be tricky, looking sweet and serene some days and then rising up and saying, “Gotcha!” on others.Now, that my friend-the-bridge is in the.bridge-hospital, I truly realize how unappreciated my bridge is in the town of Lennoxville.Let me tell you, there are plenty of bridge appreciators now.Every cloud has a silver lining.Mine seems to be Huntingville.I’m really getting to know the town of Huntingville.It has some pretty houses and appears to be a nice quiet town or at least it used to be a nice quiet town until we motorists started invading it twice a day.The level of pollution must surely be going up.Then again, there are those people who insist on cutting 30 seconds out of their route by driving right up through the centre of the village.Some of them are really moving and I wonder how safe it is for the little ones who are waiting for the school buses by the side of the road.There’s got to be worse detours in this world.Glenday Road can be very pretty.On some of our bright fall mornings when the sun shines on the golden and orange trees and you drive up to the top of “’—”" the hill overlooking Highway 108 with Neil Young’s ‘After the Gold Rush’ blaring on the stereo, you might feel really good about taking the long way around.You might feel good until you hit that set of holes or ruts in the road and your stomach sinks as you realize what the detour is doing to your car.I guess that I should be thankful that road crews are working on the dirt road daily Somebody’s Mother Ellen Goldfinch around the corner and got so shaken up that you could have put whip cream and cherries on top of me and called me a milk shake.Once the bridge repairs are over, you and I will be spending hundreds repairing our respective cars.The other day, we went for a drive over the border and the American border guard asked us what our license plate said.He couldn’t read the plate because it was too muddy.My husband explained that we were driving back roads every day be cause our local bridge was under construction.The border guard sighed and said, “I know exactly what you mean.” It was very kind of him not to bar us from his country because our car was too dirty.I am reasonably sure that no amount of car washing will remove the layers of dirt that daily driving on Glenday Road because during the heavy rains, I came piles on my car.Yet, this wouldn’t be a problem if I had my bridge back.Mostly, I feel like minutes of my life are being thrown away.My drive to work and back was five minutes each way.That was a gift of time, an addition of hours of my life.Now, if I have to go in for some event, I have to factor over a half an hour of driving and with the loss of light at the end of the day, I’m sure that I’m going to hit a deer.Yes, I will be the kiss of death for some poor, beautiful creature in the hills behind Huntingville.I would love to believe that this will all be over after Nov.8 but I know that it isn’t so.The floods have probably washed away weeks of work and it could be weeks more until my bridge rises out of the river like a phoenix out of a flame, ready to be my beloved bridge again.Until then, I’ll be working on my bridge-dance to speed up work on that bridge because when it comes back, my life comes back and the healing begins.Ellen Goldfinch may be reached at RADIOMOTHER@HOTMAIL.COM Yates believes re-election is possible By Nancy Nourse Record Correspondent When approached about the upcoming municipal election, incumbent Mayor Raymond Yates says he would respect the people's choice whichever way the results come in.He sincerely hopes residents of Stanstead will give him an opportunity to see the efforts he began three years ago come to fruition.“I have confidence in my record as mayor of Stanstead.I feel that 1 have worked hard and in a respectful manner to present a positive and friendly picture of Stanstead to not only the visitors to our fair town but also to those that I have encountered through business dealings," said Yates."I think that our citizens are smart enough to see for themselves all the improvements that have being made in the past few years.Stanstead has a lot to offer and I think people should know we exist.I have tried to do everything that I can to make sure it happens.” Mayor Yates is enthusiastic about the new industries and businesses that have begun to invest locally.He sees this as an important investment, not only for the future of today’s residents but future generations as well.He realizes the importance of keeping young people in the area or at least giving them a reason to one day come back.Yates has begun to work closely with Emploi Québec and other MRC organizations to create programs that will benefit the community.He feels he has made himself accessible to the people of Stanstead and has honestly tried to fino solutions for their issues.He would also like to set up programs that would make it easier for people to access information that could help them improve their future.“I have learned a great deal from working with more knowledgeable and experienced people than myself, such as François Lebrun who founded the Quebec/New England Cross-Border Forum which brought a large number of diversified businessmen to the Stanstead community on a regular basis," Yates explained."I also try to pattern my sense of business ethics after (Magog) Mayor Marc Poulin whom I feel has shown that he really cares about his community.There are always people out there that one can learn from if you open the doors to possibilities, no matter how much or how little education you may have."I have also learned that politics tend to change very rapidly and you must keep on top of what’s happening.As a part of the MRC decisionmaking process, it is very important that you make yourself aware of these changes in order to make a qualified decision.” nancy nourse/correspondent Mayor Raymond Yates likes his job.¦ it 4 THE wmm wmm üjff ¦ ¦I f Q S mmm cr < 45 THERE + Canadian Red Cross Québec Division www.redcross.ca 1800JYCROIX h 800 592-7649) GIFT OF BEING 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - 365 days a year The Quebec Division responds to nearly 700 emergency situations every year, coming to the assistance of thousands of victims.Help the Red Cross help others. Stanstead REVIEW Thursday, November 3, 2005 page 15 Decisions: Cont’d from Page 3 Seat 4: Ben Kramer vs.Michelle Richard Ben Kramer is running for re-election as councillor for the Stanstead.During his current three-year term, he has been involved in many committees.Kramer has chosen to run as an independent candidate in regard to the controversy surrounding the pros and cons of running as a team.He has declared his support for Yates, describing him as an individual who has wholeheartedly and tirelessly represented all levels of the population of Stanstead, regardless of their income or political stature within the community.If re-elected, Kramer promises to do his best to work with those elected to office by the people.“I believe that I was originally elected by the people to use my best judgment in representing their issues and concerns.If they are satisfied with the job that I have done over the last three years, I am confident that they will re-elect me,” he said.“I believe it is important to bring a diversified group of industries to the Stanstead area, thus avoiding another Butterfield dilemma, as we have experienced in the past.I enjoyed working with the members of the last council, that is to say that while we may have disagreed on various issues, I never left a meeting with a feeling of resentment of any kind.” Michelle Richard’s roots in Stanstead may not run as deeply as some other members of Team Action, but she has not only chosen Stanstead to make her home but has also established a successful inn - Gite Les Domaines Lee Farm.Richard came to Stanstead following a successful 27-jtt) year career in the Canadian Armed Forces.She says that despite living in many different communities, both large and small, the beauty of this area and the warmth and community-spirit of the people made her decision to reside in Stanstead an easy one.She sites determination, persistence, trust and confidence combined with motivation as being the keys to success of any kind.“I believe that communication skills and respect for the people that you are representing create the basis for a good candidate.I feel that my involvement in the military certainly proves that I am able to communicate well with and work well with others.I like a good challenge and I am certainly not afraid of one," she said.“When I was approached to run for council, I wasn’t sure about the concept of a team but the energy and openness of those on the team soon took away my doubts, making me confident in my own ability to make a difference.” Seat 6: Michael Tilton vs.Florent Roy Michael Tilton, also running as an independent, feels he has proven himself as a councillor over the last seven years, working to see the town grow in many ways.A fifth generation Tilton in the Stanstead area, he whole-heartily rebuts rumors that he would or could ever leave the community behind, even though his house is up for sale.He has implicated himself in not only municipal affairs but has also been elected to the governing board of Sunnyside School and as a representative to the parents’ board in Magog.He feels strongly about street repairs and a solid infrastructure as a means of selling the town to outside investors.“I have been defending the need at every budget for every dollar I can to do street repairs and infrastructure renewal.We have many streets that are long past their prime.We have succeeded in developing what I feel is a good plan for revitalization of these infrastructural concerns," he said."As members of the roadworks committee, Ben Kramer and I have worked hard to produce a surplus over the last three years making a rise in taxes unnecessary.With new money coming in from government projects in the near future, we would like to see as much of it as possible used toward rebuilding the town’s infrastructure." Florent Roy brings several years of experience as a councillor to the election campaign.He was involved as a councillor for Stanstead Plain and then played a major role in the merger which led to the forming of the Town of Stanstead, as we know it today.He is also a member of Team Action.If elected, he plans on keeping a close eye on the fiscal budget as he has being doing from the sidelines for the last several years.“I feel that it is important to spend money to build a better future but I also believe that there should be a conscious effort to find a balance in spending, to avoid an excessive balance on either side of the issue.Previously, I was involved with the public works Committee which takes up a big chunk of the budget.You have to analyze each situation and how many people your decision will affect — employees, machinery purchases, and choose the most effective path.People need to feel a sense of pride in their town,” concluded Roy.WIN AN ACADEMIC BURSARY! Once again this year, the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Stanstead is offering a chance to win an academic bursary.1 bursary of $400 for students in vocational or specialized secondary-level training 6 bursaries of $400 for students at the college level 6 bursaries of $600 for students at the university level 56,400 in prizes To be eligible, you must: • Be an active member of the Caisse on September l, 2005.• Provide proof of your status as a full-time student and proof of registration for January 2006.Send your contact information by December 9th, 2005 at 5:00 p.m.at the latest, to the Caisse populaire de Stanstead, at 484, rue Dufferin, Stanstead, QC JOB 3E0.The draw will be held on December 16, 2005.Forms and complete details are available at the Caisse.Telephone: (819) 876-7551 Fax: (819) 876-5663 Desjardins Caisse populaire de Stanstead High values.Sound assets.www.desjardins.ca page 16 Thursday, November 3, 2005 Sports Editor: Nelson Afonso Sports INSIDE Is LeBron James the NBA’s next MVP?.see Page 18 Gaiters have building blocks in place PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL sij < «1 ».* » » & * * $