The record, 21 février 2006, mardi 21 février 2006

THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 - " Thibault PONTIAC • BUICK • CMC MAGOG See Used List in Classifieds 1761 Sherbrooke St • 843-5767 Asbestos man plunges to his death.Was he pushed?.See Page 3 75 cents + taxes PM#0040007682 Tuesday, February 21, 2006 No sign of annual flu epidemic yet Increased vaccination may limit spread of flu virus — health officials By Pamela Daoust Sherbrooke Flu season usually peaks around this time of the year.But, this year, flu has barely showed up at all.So far this year, only three people have been hospitalised at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) because of the flu.At this same date last year, 300 were hospitalised due to influenza, the flu virus.Dr.Suzanne Ménard from the Estrie regional public health department said many factors might explain a weak flu season.“There are a lot of hypotheses.Maybe the virus is less strong, maybe it is the same virus as last year, or maybe an increase in flu shots this year has helped contain the virus," she said.Each year, public health departments across Quebec set up free vaccination programs.Last year about 60,000 people in the region were vaccinated.The number of flu shots distributed this year will only be counted at the end of March, but Ménard estimates some 68 000 flu shots were distributed this season in the Sherbrooke area.Usually there is an increase of five per cent each year in distributed flu shots, which should have amounted to 3.000 more shots this year.However, 8.000 more shots were distributed this season in the region.See Wait, Page 8 Stukely man dies in Waterloo crash Staff M n accident on Horizon Boulevard in Waterloo led to the death of a outh Stukely man Monday morn- ing.Two people were riding in a car when the driver, a 36-year-old Waterloo man, lost control of his vehicle near 11 Horizon Boulevard at about 5:15 a.m.He slid into the oncoming lane and slammed into a utility pole with the front passenger door of the car.Sûreté du Québec spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel said the passenger, 38-year-old Gabriel Gagné, was later declared dead at hospital.Police are continuing to investigate the causes of the accident.Ruel said early indications are the roads wefe icy in places at the time of the crash.It is also possible the driver was going too fast for the conditions of the road.N, - J ¦ Canadian Women Strike Gold CANWEST NEWS The Canadian women’s hockey team scored its way to another Olympic gold medal, beating Sweden 4-1 on Monday.Sherbrooke native Sarah Vaillancourt had an assist in the winning effort.The women went undefeated in tournament, outscoring their opponents 46-2.Scoring for Canada were Gillian Apps (pictured), Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper and Jayna Hefford.Charline Labonté made eight saves for the win.Operjlsd by Fly Taranto Direct ( Sherbrooke » Toronto \id\day thrl Friday ^ Ask for our TRIAL OFFER 1 866 537-1223 www.airsherbrooke.com page 2 Tuesday, February 21, 2006 lll—THI.«¦!! RECORD Cowansville sanitary landfill invests millions Staff As the business of recycling management grows, so too, apparently, does that of garbage management.The intermunicipal landfill in Cowansville (la Régie intermunicipale d’élimination de déchets solides de Brome-Missisquoi, or the RIEDSBM) will be investing millions of dollars in the coming years to meet demand as well as government requirements.First on the agenda is a $1-million-plus investment over the coming year in technology to capture the biogas emitted from landfilled waste before it is released into the atmosphere, a measure required under provincial environmental law.The RIF.DSBM is also looking at ways of marketing these biogases as an energy source.During this same timeframe, three new cells will be built at a cost of $4 million.R1EDSBM president Yvon Couture says the current cells will be full by the middle of next year.News of the investments comes at the heels of major spending by the RIEDSBM over the past two years.In 2004 the sanitary landfill bought a $720,000 ultra-modern compactor to increase its capacity from 57,500 to 75,000 metric tons; last year, RIEDSBM spent $101,000 on a scale that allows the site to accommodate longer trucks (up to 80 feet).Also last year, the RIEDSBM invested $70,000 in a container park that accepts dry materials such as wood, concrete, asphalt, computers, and television sets from individuals and businesses five days per week on a pay-by-weight basis.Add to these expenses a $10 per metric ton tax levied on landfills by the provincial government as an incentive to encourage users to landfill only that which cannot be recycled or reused, and the RIEDSBM’s commitment to contribute $75,000 per year toward the implementation of Brome-Mis-sisquoi’s waste management plan, and the result is higher fees for users.According to Couture, however, even with the $3.50 per metric ton price increase this year — which brings the rate to $34 per ton for municipalities in Brome-Missisquoi and $36 for the 15 municipalities outside of Brome-Missisquoi that have contracts with the RIEDSBM — the Cowansville landfill’s users benefit from the lowest rates on the market.About 50,000 of the 75,000 metric tons of garbage currently landfilled at the RIEDSBM come from Brome-Missisquoi; the other 25,000 come from Austin, East Bolton, Bromont, Potton Township, Eastman, Sabrevois, Saint-Alphonse de Granby, Saint-Étienne de Bolton, Clarenceville, and South Stukely.Health and crime crises could dominate global security scene The value of worldwide criminal activity between $500 billion US and $1.5 trillion By James Gordon Health crises and transnational criminal activity are poised to dominate the global security scene over the next 15 years, a major economic think-tank predicts, and Canada will be poorly protected against them.In a new research report, the Conference Board of Canada says a likely “imminent” flu pandemic would kill 1.6-million Canadians and grind the manufacturing industry to a halt.“Border disruptions would shatter integrated production lines and could last more than a year,” the organization says.“Direct medical costs could surpass hundreds of millions of dollars.” It calls on Canadian businesses to prepare now by co-ordinating with government agencies, reduce the risk of disease transmission in the workplace and form plans to maintain essential business functions despite high employee absenteeism.The report, titled: “Facing Risks: Global Security Trends and Canada,” is the fourth in a series of five global economic forecasts issued by the board.It notes health crises such as a flu pandemic “will worsen existing inequalities in Canada," such as concentration of income and regional disparities.“The continuing challenges confronting Canada’s public health-care system will create profound differences between those who can afford private care and those who cannot,” the report says.Transnational crime will also widen the rich-poor gap, according to the board.“Criminal organizations do not need an epidemiological disaster to enrich their coffers,” the report says, putting the value of worldwide criminal activity between $500 billion US and $1.5 trillion.“This value is likely to increase in coming years, riding the many waves of globalization _ from increasingly efficient transportation and communications networks, to the perpetuation of pockets of extremely poor governance," the document reads.“Drug production and trafficking will remain the most significant illegal activity in the world.” To protect against health and crime risks, the board suggests enhancing and tailoring social programs to certain “vulnerable populations.“There is some evidence that economic insecurity and poverty in Canada will be concentrated in distinct groups, particularly among aboriginal people and recent visible minority immigrants,” the organization says.“The consequences of their vulnerabilities will generate wider social ills that will affect all Canadians.” The six-page report also makes reference to international terrorism, saying Canada is vulnerable to attacks on energy infrastructure aimed at disrupting service to the United States.“Managing our relations with the United States will be a perennial source of concern, especially since the primary market for our resources will remain the United States,” it says.On a global level, the board predicts; “The rise of Asia will have momentous security implications.A very cold peace will prevail and skirmishes may erupt between larger powers and their smaller neighbours.” In addition, more state and non-state organizations will obtain powerful weapons of mass destruction.Balances of power will keep them in check, but “the risk of dangerous accidents will increase.” While Canada will become increasingly marginal on the world stage by 2020, the organization argues the country can stay relevant by further entrenching itself in pertinent international organizations.The Conference Board of Canada did not respond to a request for an interview about the report.—CanWest News Service Weather Today: Cloudy.Periods of snow beginning in the morning and ending in the evening.Amount 2 to 4 cm.Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light late in the day.High minus 5.Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud.Low minus 15.High minus 5.Thursday: Periods of snow.Low minus 10.High minus 3.Friday: Periods of snow.Low minus 13.High minus 7.Ben by Daniel Shelton .A REAL LITTLE TERROR'SHE TAUGHT HIM IN grape SCHOOL, ANp NOW HE'S A P0CTOR' poem STEVEN JOHNSON' THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE' WHAT'S UP?OH, MY MOM RAN INTO SOME60PY WEUSEP TO KNOW SO, YOU ALSO KNEW HIM?YUP.HE GREW UP IN THE NBSHKRHCOP; KEPTASKINOME outall through HIGH SCHOOL- WELL, OBVIOUSLY I kepttorning HIM CÜWN' I PIPNT KNOW HEP BECOME, A POCTCR ¦ nu» RECORD Tuesday, February 21, 2006 page 3 Windsor’s striking workers get a helping hand Strike enters week three By Brion Robinson Sherbrooke About two dozen striking union workers in Windsor got a helping hand from some 46,500 fellow union members from across the province on Monday.The president of the public service workers’ federation visited the workers crowded around an open fire in front of the town hall Monday.The Fédération des employées et employés de services publics (FEESP) represents some 46,500 workers.About 5,000 of which make up public service workers.President Ginette Guérin said the workers’ demands are no different than those of other unions and the federation is behind them all the way.The union members have been on strike for about three weeks.They are demanding higher wages and more work hours.The president of the municipal workers’ union affiliated with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), Alain Bisson, said he expected the strike to last this long, adding the union members are prepared to walk the picket lines as long as it takes.Negotiations between both sides have been at a standstill since the mayor left for a Florida holiday last week and the town’s general manager took a leave of absence.The major sticking points include providing more hours for municipal workers and eliminating subcontracting.Work hours were cut and senior workers were laid off in the latest municipal budget.Bisson said he understands the city’s argument for subcontracting when workers get overloaded, but PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL ¦ '*> & * X'Zf/.' >; i ! ^ ’V.'- -***> *2 •»! Striking town workers in Windsor crowded around an open fire in front of the town hall Monday.They want better wages and an increased workload.doesn’t believe work hours or jobs should be cut in favour of subcontracting.“Some employees have had their work hours reduced from 30 to 10 hours a week,” said the president.“Who can live off that?” The striking workers want a longterm agreement with the town to hand over snow-clearing duties to municipal workers.The previous year, the town signed a one-year contract with workers giving them a two per cent wage increase and responsibility for clearing snow from the roads — a job reserved for usually contractors.The union said the project saved the town some $47,000.Bisson pointed out that councillors, who make decent wages, should recognize the importance of steady work and respect their right to fair wages and working conditions.Bisson said the union has been trying to contact the negotiator for the town but he hasn’t returned calls.The workers have been on strike since Jan.31.They voted to strike after dozens of negotiation meetings came up short on both sides.In a previous interview, Windsor Mayor Malcolm Wheeler told The Record the town cut services and raised taxes to prepare for a possible major decrease in tax revenue.The town’s largest tax payer, the Domtar paper mill, is expected to apply for a much lower tax rate based on its latest evaluation.The mill, valued at $116 million, contributes 46 per cent of the town’s tax revenue.A significant devaluation could deplete the town’s coffers.Bisson said the union is prepared to work with the town if tax revenue decreases, but until that time its workers deserve more money and work hours.The strike has been hard on the town’s economy.Besides reduced work hours and fewer full-time workers, the strike has already lead to the cancellation of a Bantam hockey tournament.Other services, including the library and indoor pool, have been put on hold.Town hall has also reduced its operating hours to two days per week — Thursday and Friday.Local CSN president Jean Lacharité said the workers have been living off strike pay long enough and union members and taxpayers deserve more respect from their council.“We want them to show us some respect,” he said.Bisson said union members will provide essential services like snow clearing and managing the drinking water but most municipal services will not be available.Did dispute lead to fatal stairway shove?Staff The Sûreté du Québec is investigating a suspicious death in Asbestos Monday morning that apparently happened during a late-night altercation between friends.A woman at 45 Coakley called police at about 12:45 a.m.Monday morning for a domestic dispute.By the time the SQ patrollers arrived on the scene the victim had already been taken away in an ambulance.“The officers were able to determine that the victim had fallen down a flight of stairs,” said SQ spokesman Const.Louis-Philippe Ruel.“But there is a question of if he was pushed or not.” The victim, a 45-year-old man, was declared dead later at hospital.Ruel said the man had apparently come to visit a coworker for the evening.A dispute escalated into a fight, and the visitor headed out the door.He then fell down the stairs.An autopsy is being carried out on the man to determine if he was pushed down the stairs and if that was what in fact killed him.If so his former friend, a 24 year-old, could face manslaughter or murder charges.Police arrested him and brought him in for questioning, holding him in custody pending his first court appearance.RECORD r Happy Birthday • • • J' Tin vint» or in> Faitiin TowNiNirt unci i*97 Yves Robert Granny , * | | | Advertising Consultant A % Have a Great Day! Sherbrooke - Magog - Stanstead Love, Tel.: 819-569-9525 • 8(X)-463-9525 • Totter, Cookie & Sara .email: production@sherbrookerecord.com ^ • ‘ X.KO XO i *J page 4 Tuesday, February 21, 2006 i ¦THE» RECORD Asbestos residents asked to be vigilant with rehab residence Maison L’Estime set up two years ago in the former Foyer Asbestos to treat addicts, alcoholics By Stephen MacDougall Asbestos Townspeople opposed to the transformation of an old age home into a drug and alcohol detox centre want locals to be vigilante and contact authorities if they discover criminal acts they believe are linked to the centre.“The centre has been told by the authorities to improve the way it operates and make reports to them on its progress,” said Josée Frechette, a businesswoman and former member of the committee, on Monday.“We ask all residents of Asbestos to be vigilant and report anything they be-lieve is wrong or dangerous to the health authorities.” Maison L’Estime was set up two years ago in the former Foyer Asbestos to treat addicts and alcoholics, many of whom were sent there by provincial courts and prisons across Quebec.It had been the target of several complaints by Asbestos residents and business owners during that time.The complaints centred around shoplifting in town stores as well as vandalism and unsolved break-in investigations.The sale of the former residence to the centre was delayed one year while the committee tried to negotiate with center staff on how to improve the treatment and supervision of the rehab residents.When talks between the two sides broke down last summer, an investigator from the Estrie regional health agency was called in to find out if the centre’s operation met government standards.The investigator for the agency Michael Rochette told The Record there were some irregularities in the centre’s operation, but not enough to have the residence shut down.“We studied the meals, the state of health, the distribution of medications.first aid, emergency measures, the attitude of the staff and the efforts for this residence to be certified by the government,” said Rochette.“We have let the centre know there has to be improvement every three months.” Following the agency’s report, the centre was able to complete the purchase of the residence from its former owners, the Asbestos Hospital centre.Rochette said the agency’s investigation and subsequent report cannot be made public because it includes personal information and is therefore subject to provincial government privacy rules.But he added the agency made three recommendations that it expects the centre to adhere to.That includes obtaining government certification for its rehabilitation operation; periodically reporting to the health board on efforts to improve and maintain services and establishing a complaint office in early 2006 for locals.Officials for Maison L’Estime could not be reached for comment before press time.The Foi Iclîlé^ ta your donations lTION fa* enahCetf the CHVS to purchase new equipment Centre hospitalier UNIVERSITAIRE DE SHERBROOKE SaturometBr Maternity ward At a cost of $350 The equipment purchased for the Maternity Ward is quite useful.This new equipment is used tn check the level of oxygen in the blood of each newborn baby within the first 24 hours of life.Should the first measurements of oxygen by the saturometer be unsatisfactory, then it is used to carry out a series of additional tests as part of a rigorous follow-up pro- j ANOTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT LBUU FINANCED THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS AT A COST OF $950 Condition du CHUS, 580 Bowen Street S, Sherbrooke QC JIG 2E8 / (819) 820-6450 - 1-866-820-6450 - r-fondationchus.org Proud to contribute for the better health of our community! PRQMUTUEL Promutuel Appalaches - St-François Promutuel Coaticook - Sherbrooke Promutuel Drummond Promutuel Monts et Rives Promutuel Valmont Say you read it in The Record MIKE P1NGREPS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS STALKING?OH NO.I WOULDN’T CALL IT STALKING: A city councilman in Northglenn, Colo., can’t get used to the idea that his former girlfriend has moved on.After spotting her and her new beau on the highway, he followed them, honking his horn and flashing his lights.She called the cops.Over the next three days, he sent her 20 text messages, criticizing her new relationship.Then, he threw eggs at her new boyfriend’s car twice in two days when he saw it parked in front of her house.When arrested, he told police he was not stalking her.READY TO MEET THE DAY ARE WE?A man was arrested for drug possession in Monroe County, Fla.He was driving to work at the time.He was not wearing pants.NO?!?WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NOr?On Valentine’s Day, a disc jockey in Coventry, England, brought his girlfriend to the studio and surprised her by proposing to her on the air.He expected her to accept.She did not.FREAKED OUT?NO KIDDING: A woman in Cumbria, England, is still breastfeeding her daughter, despite the fact that she is eight years old.The child sometimes asks to be fed when they are in public, and mom always accommodates her.“I try to be discreet.but people get freaked out by it,” she said.NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, TOO! While shopping at the Wal-Mart in Newburgh, N.Y., an 18-year-old female ran into her exboyfriend with his new girlfriend.After a heated discussion during which the former lovers exchanged blows, she stabbed him.Authorities weren’t surprised.The two had gotten into a fistfight at another department store two weeks earlier.I COULDN’T TAKE BEING LOCKED UP: In order to dodge an 18-month jail sentence, a man in the Czech Republic hid in a walled-off cellar area beneath his mother’s kitchen floor — for four years.YOU AGAIN!?A man in Bochum, Germany, fled from a cab to beat the fare after the driver took him to his destination.The man waited for a while, then called for another cab to take him somewhere else.Much to his surprise, the same driver came to pick him up.Read a second Looking Glass at pin- GREESLOOKINGGLASS.COM. RECORD Tuesday, February 21, 2006 page 5 Sherbrooke gives capital fund needed boost By Marissa Larouche-Smart Sherbrooke The city of Sherbrooke announced Monday it plans to give the Ensemble campaign a boost by offering tax breaks in hopes of attracting more investors.La campagne Ensemble is a capital fund that links the University of Sherbrooke, the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), Health and Social Services — Sherbrooke University Geriatric Institute as well as the Séminaire de Sherbrooke.The partnership is devoted to improving their health, research and education resources.Mayor Jean Perrault said the City will reinvest half of the taxes it will collect from new projects generated by the Ensemble campaign over the next 10 years.“I am delighted and proud of this partnership which demonstrates Sherbrooke’s strong desire to take its economic future in hand by sticking with along credible and dynamic partners,” he said during Monday’s press confer- ence.At the end of the 10-year period, the city will collect the total of the revenues generated by these new projects.Perrault also pointed out that direct and indirect jobs will be created.In September, 2005, Henri-Paul Rousseau, president of the Ensemble campaign, announced they raised $60.5 million of their projected $90 million.Now with the city backing the project, stake holders hope to add a competitive edge to their bids aiming to attract investors for Sherbrooke’s health and education institutions.This project is hailed to be a “win, win, win” according to Patricia Gauthier, CHUS director, because it benefits all institutions involved, and the money will give a helping hand to research projects that lack funding.Bruno-Marie Béchard, University of Sherbrooke rector, spoke for Rousseau and said that joining such a partnership sends a clear message to future donors that the City of Sherbrooke is committed to its health, education and research institutions.mm ' «t ¦£Tii *i»n W 3 'akunhmMm ^ÿvubnckt HW**** PERRY BKATON/SPFCIAL Pictured are Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault, CHUS director Patricia Gauthier, campaign president Henri-Paul Rousseau and University of Sherbrooke rector Bruno-Marie Béchard.Townshippers’, partners want to improve rural transportation Townshippers’ Association is conducting a needs assessment and feasibility study to improve rural transportation services for the English-speaking community in the Eastern Townships.This study will explore initiatives that exist now or are envisaged in the Townships, as well as success stories in other geographical regions.Following a January call for bids, the services of Groupe Recherche Focus have been retained to study and recommend a plan of action for meeting transportation needs in outlying areas.“English-speaking people are.scattered widely across the Eastern Townships, and transportation is a key need that has been mentioned again and again,” noted Heather Bowman, president of Townshippers’ Association.“English speakers aged 15-44 have lower levels of education, employment and income than their French-speaking counterparts.It’s a vicious cycle.Lack of transportation contributes to lack of education, which leads to lack of employment and lower income.Townshippers’ Association is exploring ways to turn this around.” Partners include the Megantic County Development Corporation in the Thetford Mines area, the Lennoxville & District Women’s Centre in the Estrie region, the Avante Women’s Centre in the Townships portion of the Montérégie and the Eastern Townships School Board, among others.The study is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Development of Official-Language Communities program.For more information, contact Townshippers’ Association’s Lennoxville office at 819-566-5717 (toll free 1-866-566-5717) or ta@townshippers.qc.ca.YOU'LL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY ÉPARGNE PLACEMENTS QUEBEC'S RRSPs MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN YOU THINK B0NUS0F • Minimum purchase $100 A B • No management or administration fees I • Refund of transfer fees on any amount of $1000 or more transferred into | / \/ one of our registered accounts, up to 5% of the amount transferred the firs( year (or (maximum of $125) new RRSP funds.* Step-up Bonds * Fixed-rate Bonds • Stock- ndex Bonds 1 800 463-5229 Call us Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.to 8 p.m., and Saturdays during February from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.to learn more about our products, visit wwyy.epq.gouv.qc.ca * For StocR-index Bonds, the 1% bonus applies to the capital invested.Épargne Placements Québec EE page 6 Tuesday, February 21, 2006 jœcord: Community Forum Inventors wanted Sometimes political ideas are like inventions.They may very well be original, but not necessarily timely enough to qualify for patents.That’s right; somebody else either conceived the idea first or at least won the race to the patent office.That’s the way it was on Valentine’s Day when I suggested in this space that Stephen Harper’s appointment of an elected Liberal Member of Parliament to his Conservative Cabinet supported a case for proportional representation.And surprise, surprise; in other papers, the same brain wave appeared.Some scribblers might react negatively to finding that they’ve been beaten to the punch, but this one takes it as encouraging that others see merit in Viewpoint Don Healy RECORD P0.Bra 1200 Shertrookf Jill 510 or 1195 Gall E, Sherbrooke JIG in Fax:819-569-3945 e-mah: nemroom@shcrbrookcrecord com Websitf: www.shrrbrookmconl.coin Kanuy Kinnkar Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 5696345 Nelson Afonso Corresp.Editor .(819) 5696345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mur.(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) 243-515S MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 120 00 8 40 9.63 SI38.03 6 MONTHS 63.00 441 5.06 $72.47 3 MONTHS 32.00 2.24 2.57 S36.81 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.PM 80040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke.QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA.QCNA the same notion and is spurred on to expand on it.According to polls, the concept of proportional representation is widely supported by Canadian voters and if our governments, federal and provincial at least, don’t move toward addressing the pit-falls of our present winner-takes-all system of assigning representation, Canada will remain a member of a very exclusive club.Most democracies have gone the proportional representation route and, despite some problems, have stayed with it.For what it’s worth, here’s my suggestion for step one, at least, toward proportional representation.In order to introduce a level of proportional representation in the House of Commons without waiting for resolution of the inevitable endless debates over how to apply proportional representation to the House as a whole, Parliament could amend present practice of Cabinet selection so that it is composed of MPs from all parties elected (and recognized as parties according to present rules) on a proportional-to-pop-ular-support basis.That is, the Cabinet would be a multi-party body with ministers chosen in accordance with each party’s proportion of popular support.(Example: if the Conservatives earn 40 per cent of the popular vote, the Liberals get 30 per cent, the NDP has 20 per cent and the Bloc is supported by 10 per cent, then 40 per cent of the Cabinet Ministers would be Conservatives, 30 per cent would be Liberals and so on.) This way, even if the House of Commons seats were not close to proportional, at least the Cabinet composition would be.And since the Prime Minister is a Cabinet member, he (or she) ought to be the leader of the party with the greatest public support, not necessarily the leader of the party with the most seats.I can hear the reaction already to the possibility that Bloc Québécois MPs could hold Cabinet posts, but does that really make any less sense than separatists sitting in the Parliament of the country they are intent on destroying, even being recognized as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition?With a proportional representation Cabinet, just think how different the reaction would have been to David Emerson’s appointment to Cabinet from what we have just witnessed.Emerson’s supporters would still be represented by the Liberal they elected and given the added advantage of representation in both the House of Commons as a whole as well as in the Cabinet.Even though the Liberals weren’t chosen by present rules to govern, they would still exercise influence more in keeping with their level of popular support.I sincerely hope that readers recognize that this proposal is intended to generate thoughts and discussions within a serious look at proportional representation.In no way is it intended as anything like a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.If readers keep in mind that The Record sees itself as a community newspaper — a forum for the exchange of ideas — some will, I hope, be stimulated to respond.Letters to The Editor Let’s be honest about dollars at Montjoye Dear Editor, Gina Fattore, councillor for Hatley Township, said she was opposed to the tree cutting in Montjoye Park and that she didn’t plan to give up her fight.Mayor Levac told landowner Pierre Guilbault that the cutting would only last a few months and the contractors for the board would be clearing mainly underbrush and dead trees.Well, eight months have past and I don’t know if they have stopped logging yet; but I understand that an average logging truck will hold 50 logs and each log can be 16 feet long.The average price for a log is somewhere between $100 and $500, depending on how they are graded.I am not an expert on logs, but a middle of the road price would be $250 per log, so $250 x 50 logs is $12,500 per day.Take that and make it over four weeks and you’ve got $62,000.The total for our eight months is then $2 million.Not bad for a ski area that used to operate on next to nothing for overhead.I didn’t know underbrush and old trees were worth so much and we must remember all this for the benefit of the skiers, hikers and tourists of the region.The municipality said it would only make $10,000 from the cutting.My family has lived in the Townships since 1860 and we still own property in the area and we pay taxes to the city of Sherbrooke.It upsets me to see parts of the last wilderness in southern Quebec being destroyed for the almighty dollar.Don Martin Melbourne, Ont. Don Cherry has no business being in Turin with the CBC broadcast squad.Whether he has any business being on television at all is an argument for another day.But Cherry — lovable loudmouth, or cantankerous blowhard — is the antithesis of the Olympic spirit.His heroes are the toothless millionaires of the NHL, goons and skill players alike — but he has a well-known soft spot for the goons.He has eased up on those sissy Europeans in recent years, the ones who are whomping Canada in Italy.The heralded Canadian men’s team was beaten by the Swiss.You don’t get much more European than that.Then the Finns.Who will beat them next?The girls’ team?In fact, Canada’s women were playing for gold on Monday, after an effortless march through the earlier competition.^RECORD, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 page 7 Perspectives Don Cherry go home They played so well that Cherry, usually a fan of women’s hockey, scolded them for “running up the score.” If they keep behaving that way, he groused, the Europeans who run the Olympics will drop hockey the way baseball was dropped from the summer games because one country was too dominant.Danielle Savageau, who coached the Canadian women to gold in Salt Lake City in 2000, wasn’t impressed with Cherry’s logic: “Would people expect Tiger Woods to bogey a hole on purpose if he had a 10-stroke lead?” she asked.Of course, she is a female coach and Cherry has been critical of women’s coaches.Without challenging his superior wisdom in these matters, Canada’s current team has a female coach, Melody Davidson — the only woman in the field — and it isn’t doing half bad.After Canada (the girls) shellacked Finland 6-0, CBC women’s hockey commentator Kylie Richardson gently twitted Cherry for his past remarks.He didn’t like that one bit, nor did he appreciate Canadian captain Cassie Campbell, who wasn’t eager to embrace his advice about not scoring so many goals.Not to worry.The men’s team seems to have got Cherry’s message loud and clear.Still, it isn’t fair to blame Cherry alone for hijacking coverage of the games, for hogging a spotlight that more properly belongs to skilled athletes who labour in obscurity for their moment with Ron MacLean.The whole NHLentourage — the players who are taking a break from their real jobs to play some international pond hockey: the scandals trailing them; questions about illegal drug use in the NHL; the dubious resumes of convicted thug Todd Bertuzzi, or Dany Heatley, charged with vehicular homicide: Jose Theodore’s hair restoration remedy — all of it contradicts the Olympic spirit.Besides, these guys are professionals; they have no more right to be in Turin than the Ice Capades’ clown.This isn’t hockey night in Canada.It’s the Olympics — flawed, overdone, but still inspiring.The unknowns who compete — Beckie Scott, Cindy Klassen, Duff Gibson to name a few — get one chance every four years to shine.And they do: it isn’t just their performances that inspire, but the sacrifice, character and discipline they need to get to Turin, never mind to the podium.Cherry should go home, take his pals with him, and leave the stage to sport’s true heroes.Susan Riley/CanWest News wif#' "¦ .V Getting business tax information online is easier than you think You don’t have to get all bent out ot shape in your dealings with the Canada Revenue Agency.In fact, nothing could be easier than getting correct answers to your tax questions or paying online securely.Simplify your tax processing today.Visit cra.gc.ca/eservices.¦ ^ ¦ Canada Revenue Agence du revenu Agency du Canada Point.Click.It’s that quick! cra.gc.ca/eservices Canada page 8 Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Thibault PONTIAC • BUICK • CMC André Durocher Johnny Boisvert Sales Rep.Sales Rep.Safes Manager M150 points Inspection M Manufacturer's Warranty Réjean Turgeon “ lei Jonathan Boisvert F & I M Road Assistance 4X4 GMC SIERRA" J2 995» BONNEVILLE .9 995» 4 DOORS.AUTO., A/C 6 995 2006 HONDA CIVIC ____________4 door, Black, 6000 km, 8 tires, pwr windows, air bags, 15 995 $ CHEVROLET MALIBU, V6, 4 door, auto, fully eq.CHEVROLET AVEO 5, auto., a/c, electric pkg 12 995$ or 59 $ / week.* CHEVROLET IMPALA,FULLY eq.iEISEEH PONTIAC PURSUIT, 4 door, auto, a/c, black, 21 000 km 14 995 $ PONTIAC PURSUIT, 21 000 km, 4 door, auto, a/c 14 995 $ or 74 $ / week.* PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 21 000 km, 4 dr, fully PONTIAC VIBE, 5 sp., a/c, 9 400 km 1J .SUNFIRE GT, 2 dr, sunroof, mags, electric pkg7"25 000 km PONTIAC GRAND AM, silver, 38 000 km, V6, fully eq.l FORD FOCUS WAGON, burgundy, a/c M CAVALIER, 4 dr., auto., silver, a/c fclrliClgor ) PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, V6, 60 000 km,J CHEVROLET IMPALA, silver.V6, 39 000 km, 13 99^ $ or éà i / wk1 kf Vitsl^XxslffsllF'Xifj 4 dr., auto.Black 11 995 $ HYUNDAI ACCENT, 2 dr., auto.7 995 $ or 39 $ / wk* PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 2 dr, 5 sp., blue, rear wing , low mileage CAVALIER| 4 dr burgundy, low mileage, 7 995 $ or 49 $ / wk* 4 dr, Silver, 86 000 km, A/C, pwr door locks, CD, 11 995 $ MAZDA PHOIEGE 5, 5 sp., blue, fully eq., mags, rare car PONTIAC SUNFIRE, 2 dr., blue auto.52 000 km CAVALIER, 2 dr., blue, 5 sp.nrERaHPMaam CAVAI IFR 4 dr aiitn red ;t/r fiR Rfin 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003 2003 11 995 sea 59 S wk.* Liquidation 9 995 S 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 |2000 2000 CAVALIER, 4 dr, auto., red, a/c, 68 500 km75 995 $ blue, 73 000 km 9 995$ or 59$/wk* 5, 2 dr, 5, sp.Black, A/C, pwr pkq, CD, Mags 9 995 $ HYUNDAI ACCENT GS, BLACK, 5 sp., 2 dr.EiæHH o| _________ 4 dr., auto., gold 9 995 $ HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAGON, 5 sp, greÿ f 2001 HONDA CIVIC LI 2001 2001 TOYOTA ECHO 39 $ / wk* 1999 1 99B 6 995 $ KIA SEPHIA, 4 dr., auto.103 000 km, 5 995 $ or 39 $ / wk* jCE, 4 dr., auto, 7 995 $ GREEN 5so EtEKH 4 dr., auto, beige 5 995 $ ETANT SENTRA XE, 1996 HONDA CIVIC LX 4 dr, 5, sp, 5 995 $ 2nd CHANCE FOR CREDIT with only 49* down (819) 843-5767 - ask for Réjean Turgeon CAVALKRISWl 5 SPEED* (S 995 * grandTam V6 Ærr\ LOW MILEAGE ***»' 11 995» 995» Liquidation 11 995 S Liquidation 14 995 S TRUCKS AND MINI-VANS 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA ext., fully eq., blue, lucky new owner ?18 995 $ 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE, 7 pass., V6, silver, 42 000 km, 6t@8S3| Guaranteed from GM until 25 oct 2008 or 100 000 km 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA ext., 8 pass., V6, fully eq., 2 A/C, dark blue, mags, CD, 56 000 km only, full GM warranty until Jan 2007 or 80 000 km, 16 995 $ 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA ext., 7 pass., V6, fully eq„ blue 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERABSHo, 4 x 4, 8 cyl., 4.8 litres nfc9«c£J! 2002 GMC SONOMA, V6, auto., King Cab, 68,000 km, 12 995 $ 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA, V6, 7 pass., full, 66 000 km only 2002 KIA SPORTAGE, 4 dr., 4 x 4, fully eq., 59 000 km, blue, _ 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, King Cab, 4x4, fully eq.8 cyl., auto., 2P896j.special| 2002 FORD F150, King Cab, B3H 4, a/c .low mileage , guaranteed 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA, 7 pass., bronze, V6, fully eq.2002 TRACKER, 4 x 4, 4 dr.black ____________ 2002 MONTANA, 76 000 km, fully eq.burgundy 2002 VENTURE EXT., 8 pass, fully eq., 2 a/c 45 000 km only| 2001 DODGE RAM 1500, red, 4x4, king cab, 6 pass., a/c, short bed, diff.lock, 85 000 km | 2000 CHEVROLET S10, king cab, auto., 6 cyl., 95 000 km, only 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500, burgundy, 8 cyl., 4x4, full T1taftfr$ l»i>umBuuin 'Purchase on 60 or 72 months 0 down, per week, taies and interest included Many others in stock 64 S week' Even Prices • Photo* for illustration purpose only 22445 —at Thibault MAGOG ! 1761, Sherbrooke Street • (819)843-5767 — "" "¦ 1 .— TIIK ¦¦¦ 1 111 —11 prrni?n Canadian drugmaker labelled a bio-pirate in international study By Steven Edwards The Canadian maker of a supposed natural treatment for impotence is branded a suspected “bio-pirate” by U.S.and South African environmental groups in a new study.The term refers to acquiring biological resources, ranging from plants to bacteria, without giving the country of origin a chance to negotiate a slice of any eventual profits.A United Nations bio-diversity convention grants countries sovereign rights over their flora and fauna, but there is little a government can do to claim compensation once a natural material is taken overseas.Canada will be a part of international talks in Brazil next month at which developing countries will lead calls for an eventual deal on who gets what.The new study — “Out of Africa: Mysteries of Access and Benefit Sharing” — points a finger of suspicion at some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies as it focuses on natural material taken from the world’s poorest continent to Western laboratories.“We’re against theft and against not recognizing these things couldn’t have happened without the countries from which they were taken,” said Beth Burrows, head of the Edmonds Institute in Washington state, which co-published the 54-page study with the.African Centre for Biosafety.“It’s not simply that someone (takes a) plant.They also talk to people who say: ‘You know we’ve been using this for 500 years.’ That’s their early science, and they deserve recognition, remuneration and respect.” Written by Jay McGown, a leading advocate of country-of-origin rights, the report says the Canadian company Option Biotech has patented the seeds of Aframo-mum stipulatum of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) “for use in” its product Biovigora, marketed as a sex-enhancer.McGown describes the plant as a member of the ginger family with “documented uses in Congolese traditional Wait: Cont’d from Page 1 Compared to last year, Ménard noticed that more people than ever were putting their names down on waiting lists for a flu shot.With the pandemic flu scare in October and November, more people were asking for a preventive flu shot than in previous years.However, flu season is not over yet.Quebec Ministry of Health spokesper- medicine.” A Web site promotion of Biovigora says Africans used Aframomum to season food, and tribesmen who consumed the “rare spice” were locally renowned “for centuries .for their particularly high vitality and their sexual capacities.” The seeds of Aframomum were “brought to a laboratory” for analysis, the company continues, adding on another Web page “scientists of Canada .discovered that Aframomum .was at the source of this sexual vitality.” McGov/n says the company has promoted the product as a natural alternative to the anti-impotence drug Viagra.“While ‘Biovigora’ may never rival Viagra as a multi-billion dollar moneymaker, it is a patented Option Biotech property sold at more than 750 stores across Canada,” he writes, saying it costs $34.99 for 24 capsules.But he adds his review of the company’s “available information” failed to produce evidence of a benefit sharing agreement— either with Congo or “any other country where A.stipulatum is used.” Burrows writes time restraints meant McGown’s research was not exhaustive.Health Canada says Biovigora has yet to be authorized for sale in Canada — though the company has applied for a licence, and the paperwork is working its way through the bureaucratic channels.Health Canada spokeswoman Nathalie Lalonde said department inspectors would be informed “for followup" that sales may be underway.No one from Option Biotech — also believed to have traded as Oasis Biotech, and said to operate from Sainte-Julie — returned calls for comment.China, India and Brazil — all with a huge diversity of plant and animal life — stand to benefit most from a benefits-sharing deal.But many Western companies argue they’re entitled to what they get because they finance the often huge research-and-development costs with no guarantee of success.—CanWest News Service son Dominique Breton said the flu season has not peaked in the United States or Europe either.“Flu season is late this year, but it will eventually come around.Maybe in two weeks,” Breton said.While the flu season usually peaks at the end of January or early February, Breton said it will probably peak in early March.It is still too early to say we will not have a flu epidemic this year.For now, Quebec public health specialists are still on the look out for a sign the flu season has arrived. Link Serving the greater Lennoxville area Also See: Bishop’s students and staffgetadose shave for cancer .see Page 10 NEWSROOM@SHERBROOKERECORD.COM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 Page 9 Dyer widens young perspectives ferry beaton/special s ÿiM ¦>?mm'm am.»* *» *.mm ttwà.1.a.’S «m m-rn,: -O « M* iaii ¦f—-imt * «» ' *