The record, 29 octobre 2002, mardi 29 octobre 2002

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Call 569-9528 THE .Record The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 IM the — _ RECORD CLASSIFIEDS |819| 569-9525 65 CENTS WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Tuesday, October 29, 2002 Lawyers demand changes to family law bill Loblaw’s gets green light 64 per cent say yes to $40 million development Staff Sherbrooke Zoning changes required to build a Loblaw’s grocery store, a minimall and a residential development in the vacant lot across from the Carrefour de l’Estrie shopping centre got the green light on Sunday, thanks in large part to promises by Mayor Jean Perrault and city coil racil to find a remedy for traffic headaches in the sector.Council can go ahead with changes thanks to the results of Sunday’s referendum where only 180 residents of the congested neighborhood said no Please see Loblaws Page 13 Justice Minister resigns as lawyers meet By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Local family law advocates held a study day on Monday, taking time off work to protest planned government reforms on how child support is determined and how the courts deal with mediation and conjugal violence.Among other things, proposed modifications to the Civil Code would transfer the responsibility for revising child support payments from judges to bureaucrats, allow victims of conjugal violence to go to lower courts to have their spouses or parents expelled from the family home, and force all divorce and separation cases - including those where violence is a factor - to go through mediation before going to court.The changes would also hold child psychologists in contempt of court if they fail to meet tight court deadlines for child evaluations.The modifications aim to lighten the judicial process, but they will simply create more conflict, warns family Please see layers Page 14 PERRRY BEATON/SPEOAL Michèle Gérin, president of the St-Francis court district bar association and colleagues say changes to family law require more thought, consultation before being rushed into law.Justice Minister Paul Bégin resigned Monday and will sit as an Independent.Sweet or Scary?FERRY be axon/special Children got into the spirit of Halloween at the Lennoxville Library Saturday.For more please see Lennoxville Link inside.Winter Tires New technology A a m from )nnj)U HAWICK V" BELMONT TIRE inc EXHAUST - BRAKES - USED CARS The only true //fe-time warranty as long as you own your car.Robert Paré cco ccwii Gilles Niquette 930 Wellington St., Sherbrooke 000-004*» |Wo | MU LIFETIME WARRANTY on ALL parts of exhaust system! GENERAL TIRE G page 2 Tuesday, October 29.2002 RECORD Quebec eyes merging Jeffrey and LAB mines Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Asbestos The provincial natural resources minister has expressed interest in merging the recently shut down Jeffrey asbestos mine with two mines run by LAB Chrysotile in Thetford Mines, according to comments he made in the Quebec legislature last week.“I am deeply convinced, not that I like the idea, that we must integrate the two mine companies,” Francois Gendron said last Tuesday during the evening debate period.“We had earlier worked on this idea and proposed it, but it had not worked." When asked about Gendron’s comments on Thursday, press aid Claude Chartier would not elaborate, but confirmed that the minister will call a meeting for Nov.1 in Quebec City for all asbestos industry officials to discuss the idea, along with a host of other issues surrounding the future of the industry.“He wants to meet with mine owners, managers, union officials and political representatives affected by the industry,” said Chartier.“He wants to know more about the future demand for asbestos, if there is a possibility of merging Jeffrey and LAB and other ideas for keeping the industry going.” LAB stands for Lake Asbestos-Bell, the two mines presently under the company’s management.The mines are owned by Quebec City mining firm Mazarin Inc.LAB executive Normand Boutet said Thursday he was unaware of any such meeting or the idea of merging LAB with Jeffrey.“I remember about 15 years ago, there was a plan to join the marketing efforts of the two mines to ensure more demand, but it never worked out,” he said.The Jeffrey Mine ceased operations on Oct.7 after the Quebec government refused for a second time to give it financial aid.The closure meant the layoff of 360 people.Besides a lack of funds, the mine was closed down because of heavy competition and trade dumping by other asbestos suppliers in Russia, Brazil and Zimbabwe.With Jeffrey’s closing, the number of people employed in the province’s asbestos industry has shrunk below 900.Two years ago, the government had guaranteed the majority of a loan package made by the Caisse de depot et placement and two banks to finance the building of an underground shaft for the Jeffrey mine.According to recent figures, those guarantees cover 85 per cent of those loans, now worth about $65 million.Because the bulk of those loans are held by the Caisse, which is a provincial crown corporation, the Quebec government has, in effect, control over the future of the mine.At present, the mine is under bankruptcy protection and is in the receivership hands of accounting firm Raymond Chabot, Grant Thornton Inc.Chartier said the minister wants to keep the Jeffrey Mine operating, but admitted the present PQ administration does not want to pour more money into a company whose worldwide markets are weak.Though he admitted the Caisse, which invests more from the province’s public pension plan, is a crown corporation answerable to the government, he doubted whether the minister had any influence over its decisions.“We can only try and convince the Caisse to keep the mine open,” he said.“It could decide to liquidate and close the mine for good if it wants to.” Chartier said the minister is interested in keeping the mine going if more former clients of the mine show an interest in buying the fibre.Chartier said the mine still has about 125,000 tons of fibre in its warehouse and a few years left of unextracted fibre still in the open pit.Two weeks ago, officials from the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) visited the mine to see if supplies of the fibre could be secured for the rocket motors for their space shuttle program.«•Chartier admitted the inquiry by NASA is not a firm demand that could reopen the Jeffrey mine, but added it has given local mine employees some glimmer of hope.“Even if the order was small, it could mean jobs for some people for awhile,” he said.“The minister would like to know if other former clients are expressing an interest.” Gendron is not alone in wanting an amalgamation of the industry.Yves Harvey, head of SOQUIM, another crown corporation that invests public money in Quebec mining projects, believes the situation could force the two mine companies together.“With Jeffrey closed, the mines in Thetford will surely get more of the market share,” he said.“I think the market has no choice but to consolidate.If the government wants to keep Jeffrey from closing permanently and see an expensive underground shaft finally used, it has to do something.” In 1981, the Quebec government expropriated the Asbestos Corp.mines in Thetford, arguing the industry was not doing enough to create jobs for Quebec Flu vaccine schedule for Coaticook Influenza is a dangerous illness because it is a serious respiratory infection caused by a virus and can be much more severe than a common cold.At the Carrefour de la santé et des services sociaux de la MRC de Coaticook, ail seniors aged 60 or older can receive the influenza vaccine free.All persons with chronic lung, heart and kidney diseases, and those with diabetes, cancer, anemia or immunity problems and every person that takes care of them can also receive the influenza vaccine free.For anybody else who would like to receive the influenza vaccine, there will be a charge of $10.It is also possible for all seniors aged 65 or older or for all persons with any problem mentioned above to receive the pneumonia vaccine (free); you must know that this pneumonia vaccine named “pneumovax” workers.It created the Société National d’Amiante (SNA), a crown corporation to administer the newly acquired mines and proceeded to pour over $500 million into the operation.The project was a total failure, arriving just as demand for asbestos started to weaken because of a recession and concerns over worker health.Some forms of the fireproof fibre have been linked to lung diseases, leading to billions of dollars of lawsuits in the United States and bans on the fibre’s import in several countries.Chrysotile asbestos, mined in Asbestos and Thetford.is considered safe for use by industry and government as long as it is handled carefully.In 1986, the Quebec government under a new Liberal regime, sold off the asbestos mines in Thetford to Mazarin Inc.for $34.3 million, less than half of what it paid for them in 1981.cannot be given more than once in a lifetime.There will be influenza clinics for all the population of the MRC of Coaticook Coaticook and surroundings Monday, Nov.4 from 8:30 to 11:45 am.and 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.Monday, Nov.18 from 12 to 6 p.m.at the Centre de Jour, room number 3, at 138 Jeanne-Mance in Coaticook Wednesday, Nov.13 from 3 a.m.to noon at the Manoir de Chez-Nous, 4 Station Road, Compton Wednesday, Nov.13 from from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Foyer de Waterville, 265 Compton Est, Waterville You must make an appointment at 849-9102, ext, 1701.If we are not available, you can leave you name and telephone number on our mail box and we will will call you back as soon as possible.The influenza vaccine is the only way to prevent getting the flu.The Brief Weather Today: Variable cloudiness.High near 3.Winds northwesterly 15 to 30 km/h in the afternoon.Wednesday: Variable cloudiness.Low near minus 5.High near 5.Thursday: Showers.Low near minus 2.High near 5.Probability of precipitation 70 per cent.Friday: Variable cloudiness.Low near minus 2.High near 6.Ben by Daniel Shelton ( NATHAN ANPI / WERE INVITEP ! 1 TO THIS COSTUME ' •! EMOTV mui/iur PARTY TONIGHT.S0UNP5 LIKE FUN ' > WHERE RE YOU GOING?YEAH, EXCEPT WE HAv€ NOTHING TO WEAR -CANT AFTORPTO RENT ANYTHING EITHER.I WAS HOPING TO COMEUPWiïH SOME CREATIVE, FUNKY, WEIRP COMBINATION ON MY OWN/ SOMETHING UNUSUAL ' «THE¦ Record Tuesday, October 29, 2002 page 3 Defence claims diminished capacity in closing arguments Pierre Larochelle not conscious of his actions: Rancourt By Nelson Afonso Sherbrooke In closing arguments Monday, defence attorney Jean-Pierre Rancourt said his client Pierre Larochelle, should not be held criminally responsible for killing his wife on Oct.11, 2000.“You have to ask yourselves one big question, ‘could an individual commit this murder so coldheartedly knowing it was wrong’,” Rancourt asked the seven men and four women of the jury at the close of Larochelle’s first degree murder trial in Sherbrooke Monday.“The Crown believes he was conscious of his actions, but it’s our opinion that if you look at the evidence you will see that his level of consciousness was so diminished that he was no longer able to differentiate right from wrong.” Larochelle is accused of killing his estranged wife Céline Carrière, 35, two years ago because she had been dating his best friend Jean Bourdeau.Carrière’s body was found on the floor next to her bed, a yellow rope tied RLE PHOTO Closing arguments are being heard in the murder trial of Pierre Larochelle.to the bedpost had been wrapped around her neck.A steak knife, which police believe a depressed Larochelle used to slit his wrists, was also found on the bed in the room.Rancourt said that the man who was usually very chipper and positive, had become depressed and broken-hearted after his separation from Carrière on Aug.28, 2000, although the two continued to make love occasionally.He said evidence and testimony showed Larochelle was unaware of his actions when he killed the mother of his two daughters.Carrière was living in the basement of the family’s home while the couple was separated.Larochelle told Crown prosecutor André Campagna during the trial that he and Carrière made love on the evening of Oct.11 in the basement-while she was on the phone with her best friend.He said Carrière bragged about her relationship with Bourdeau in front of him in that conversation leading an upset Larochelle to eventually go back upstairs.The father of two daughters said the rest of the night is only a blur.Earlier during the trial, psychiatrists Dominique Bourget and Pierre Gagné testified that Larochelle snapped because he could not accept that his life was being torn apart.They believe he was suffering from dissociation, a state in which a person becomes somewhat removed from reality.Larochelle maintains he has no recollection of the night in question or what he told police and medical pro- Clien t was depressed.Defence attorney Jean-Pierre Rancourt.fessionals in the days following the murder.Crown expert psychiatrist Gilles Chamberland told the court during the trial that he believed Larochelle was conscious of his actions when he strangled his wife with a rope and then tried twice to commit suicide in the family’s Omerville home.Crown says Larochelle planned ex-wife’s murder By Nelson Afonso Sherbrooke The October, 2000 murder of Céline Carrière was well thought out and premeditated, Crown prosecutor Andre Campagna told the jury during the closing arguments of accused murderer Pierre Larochelle’s trial Monday in Sherbrooke.“We are not saying he is a hit man who is used to murdering people, but he is someone who committed premeditated murder once in his life,” Campagna said, while the families of both the accused and the victim looked on.“It’s not up to any of us to decide who dies and when.” Larochelle is accused of killing his estranged wife Céline Carrière on Oct.11, 2000 in the couplers home on Comeau Street in the small municipality of Omerville.The defence is arguing that Larochelle should not be held responsible for his actions that night because he was suffering from dissociation, a state in which a person becomes somewhat removed from reality.But Campagna argues the suicide letter left in a desk drawer at the crime scene is an essential piece of the puzzle that proves Larochelle executed his wife out of rage and despair.In the 10-page letter, Larochelle says he can no longer live without Carrière PERRY BEATON/SPEOAl Crown prosecutor André Campagna says murder was premeditated.or share her with another man.“Life is beautiful when we are in love, but when we lose our better half it is no longer livable,” he writes.“It’s not fair, I warned them.They started a war.” Larochelle goes on to thank friends and family for their support through the years, settles his debts with a brother-in-law and places his two daughters with family members.“We are going on a trip together for the rest of our lives.” Despite the fact that Larochelle has stated that he has no recollection of the events of Oct.11, the emergency room psychiatrist that treated him in the early hours of the following day said he was coherent and showed no signs of mental illness.Campagna added that based on the testimony of one psychiatrist and a few coworkers, Larochelle seemed to be turning his life around slightly in the weeks prior to the murder, that he was pleased with a new office and a new car he had purchased.Defence attorney Jean-Pierre Rancourt portrayed Larochelle as a deeply depressed individual unable to enjoy life or understand that his wife had fallen in love with another man and that she was not coming back to him.Campagna also reminded jurors of a statement made by a Magog man who had worked with Larochelle during the summer of 1999.Speaking about ruined relationships, Larochelle allegedly told Jacques Chaunt that if his wife ever cheated on him with another man, she would be better off dead.What would b jfgÜÜ®" 4435 Industrial Blvd., Sherbrooke (819) 569-5903 without steam/ CREATE YOUR OWN SPECIAL EFFECTS WITH DRY ICE FROM PRAXAIR Monday to Friday 8 a.m.to noon 1 p-m.to 8 p.m.RECORD Qo-cinn JCooey Advertising Consultant Tel.: 819-569-9525 Fax: 819-821-3179 email: sherbrookerecord@videotron.ca Pâtff Celebrate ,or Masquerades - costumes - Make-iij) - Decoration accessories - Handy items (plates, ustensils, glasses, table cloths) G80, King East, Sherbrooke (819) 5G3-GGG5 page 4 Tuesday, October 29, 2002 Record Equal Access PERRY BEATON/SPEOAL Members of Promotion Handicap, an umbrella group of twelve organizations representing 30,000 people in the region who live with some degree of handicap, met with Cité des Rivières planner Marie-Claude Bibeau to discuss plans for the mega-project.Bridgit Carrier who is visually impaired explained that handicapped people aren't just the ones who roll around in wheelchairs, but there are other impediments that can be helped with a little planning.One dilemma that became clear and with no easy solution was the problem of line skaters and boarders who, with their noise and speed, disturb the more mature and sedate pedestrians.The measures that might discourage these young folk would also prevent wheelchairs from using the most attractive parts of the path around the Lac des Nations.The plans for the banks of the Magog River were discussed.There are tentative plans for a walkway on the backs of the buildings on Frontenac below Dujferin Street.Because of the steepness of this area, it would be impossible for it to wheelchair accessible.This area is also being planned as a performance space, and the three areas would be wheelchair accessible.Municipal Elections 2002 South Durham candidates worry about population decline By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record j-|-jhis town may have only 965 residents, but the two new 1 candidates running for Seat one in the upcoming Nov.3 JL election want to make sure they keep every last one of them if South Durham is to have a future.Simon Dupuis, a school bus driver, argues the town needs to attract more small and medium sized industries to the town, and is willing to grant them a tax holiday for up to five years to get them to come."If people are leaving this town, it is because we do not have enough work for them here,” he said.“We had a chance to have a division of Bombardier come here years ago, but we lost out because of the taxes we charged.I know the Quebec government doesn’t like towns giving tax holidays, but how else will we get industries to come here.” Dupuis argued the town has about five square miles of land near the downtown core that is not being used and would be ideal for a factory or a shop.He added that the St.Lawrence and Atlantic rail line that runs through town could help transport goods in and out for any future factory.To keep the town’s youth from leaving, he has asked that a youth centre be set up at the former Durham school that some residents want renovated and used as a community center.“I know other residents want to put the money into building a new center, but I think it is a waste to build something new when an older building that is part of the town’s history is neglected,” he said.“Why not recycle what we have, especially if we can do it for less.Besides, older buildings give people here a chance to become more attached to their town." Dupuis, who does not hide the fact that he would like to become mayor of the town in the near future, would also make sure the town’s fire department is not underfunded or closed.“It is an essential service for our town and should be protected," he said.“I am not aware of all the costs involved, but 1 think we have to find ways to keep it properly funded.” The department presently has 17 volunteer firefighters and serves both the town and the neighbouring municipality of Lefebvre, which has no fire station of its own.But some town critics have charged that the agreement to assist Lefebvre is costing the town money because the distance between the two towns is farther than the eight kilometre maximum for shared fire services recommended by the provincial government.Dupuis said he would solve that problem by proposing a municipal merger with Lefebvre in order to protect the fire department.He added that if a merger was not feasible, then Lefebvre should find a way to better share its revenue with South Durham to pay for the fire department’s upkeep.Please see South Durham Page 5 record Tuesday, October 29, 2002 page 5 Municipal Elections 2002 War of words, numbers, continues in Waterloo By Maurice Crossfield f | |he war of words and numbers in I the Waterloo election campaign JL continues to heat up, with the mayor and his arch rival both sticking to their guns.“Mr.Masse can say all he wants, it is not us who lied," said André Beauregard of incumbent mayor Paul Masse Monday.“What do you want me to retract?” At issue is the interpretation of Waterloo’s finances and how they’ve been used during the election campaign.Using the same documents, both candidates have sharply different views of the town’s debt situation.Masse has been campaigning that the town’s collective debt, or the debt paid by the general tax rate will be $1.7 million by the end of the year.In terms of global debt, which includes debt paid by special taxes, the figure reaches just over $4 million.With $581,000 paid off on it this year, the global debt is expected to be $3.5 million by year’s end.Beauregard’s Union Démocratique Waterloo takes a different view of the same figures, however.They have taken the $4 million figure and added to it the cost of ongoing expenses, bringing the figure up to $4.5 million.“All we did was supply a photocopy of the Samson, Bélair report,” Beauregard said.“There is a difference of $3 million.” However in an interview with Samson, Belair, the French language La Voix de l’Est reported that ongoing expenses are generally not included when calculating debt.Late last week Masse sent a letter to Beauregard and the council candidates on his team.The letter said that if the Beauregard team did not retract its false statements about the debt by midnight Wednesday, legal action would be taken.“In the letter he sent us he says the debt is $3.5 million.That’s already twice what he’s been saying in his publicity,” Beauregard said.But Masse is adamant that he has never lied about the financial health of the municipality.“When I say our collective debt is $1.7 million I’m talking about the debt of all citizens of Waterloo," Masse said.“I didn’t invent the term collective debt.” Masse said “electoral folklore" in interpreting finances is common, but calling him a liar is another.Masse explained that the collective debt is the $1.7 million paid by the general tax rate, another $1.27 million is for the water treatment plant and paid through a water tax, another $250,000 is paid by residents of the Robinson sector for water and sewer upgrades, and $180,000 is being paid back by the Sûreté du Québec for renovations to their offices there.“I have the proof and they have the proof that I never lied,” he said.Masse said his instructions have been given to his legal representatives: If there has been no retraction by Friday at 9 a.m., legal proceedings will begin.“If they think I’m not serious, come hell or high water, whether I win or lose my election, they will get sued,” Masse said.South Durham: Beauregard team tries to disqualify opponent Cont’d from Page 4 Dupuis’ opponent Pierre Noel believes the town needs to better manage its fire department budget, but would not say what he would do about helping out Lefebvre.A volunteer firefighter himself since 1996, Noel does not believe the fire department has to be maintained at any cost.“We have enough equipment to take care of our town’s needs, and the amount of training needed for our personnel is minimal.“If we are to help out smaller towns near us, we have to see if we can afford to do this without jeopardizing our own town's safety.” An administrator at a CLSC in Sherbrooke, Noel has decided not to abandon his native town just to be closer to his work.In 1980, he left South Durham to join the Canadian Armed Forces medical corps, becoming a commissioned officer and seeing many parts of Canada and the world.But in 1995, he left the armed forces and returned home, convinced that small town life was better for him.He agrees with his rival that the town is still losing residents to larger towns where jobs are more plentiful, access to health care is easier and the stores are better.He believes that town services must improve, but admits the town finances are meager, so spending on new projects would be difficult.He has not made a decision on the future community center, arguing that the figures need to be better examined before a decision made.“We have an older building, the Durham School, now and the possibility of a newer building later, but we don’t know what the real cost will be for either choice,” he said.“Maybe we could save money by renovating the school, maybe not.” But he admits a decision will have to be made soon, if leisure activities are to increase and give residents a better incentive to remain in their home town rather than move to nearby Richmond, or larger cities such as Drummondville or Sherbrooke.“If we lose more people, this town will die.More houses will be abandoned and we will lose our tax base.” Drummond Monday, Nov.4 Armoury, 250 St-Louis Street Drummondville 10:30 a.m.to 8:30 p.m.Sûreté du Québec de la MRC Objective: 550 donors By Maurice Crossfield f-|-^he Waterloo election campaign I took an even nastier tone Monday, .X.with the Beauregard team trying to get incumbent mayor Paul Masse disqualified.In a letter sent to local media, the municipal affairs ministry, the director general of elections and Waterloo elections president Denise Bélanger, the Union démocratique Waterloo alleges that Masse’s candidacy forms were signed by someone who is not in fact a registered voter.The letter explains that David Pick-en signed the form, giving his address as 34 North.That is the address of his incorporated business “.therefore not authorized as a voter,” the letter says.“In this context it appears that the declaration of the candidacy of Leo-Paul Masse is non conforming to the municipal electoral law, and that you may not accept this candidacy as president of elections,” says the letter, written by Serge Girard, representative of the André Beauregard team.The letter then goes on to quote electoral law, stating that Masse should be disqualified.But elections president Bélanger said Picken is in fact a registered, qualified voter in Waterloo, owning property elsewhere in town.“Mr.Picken is on the electoral list,” Bélanger said.She said the address given makes no difference, because he is eligible to cast a ballot.For Masse, he says this is just the latest in a growing list of dirty tricks by his opponent.“These panicking idiots imagine that they can’t beat me, so they’re going to disqualify me,” Masse said.“I think I’m a little more cautious than that.” Quebec Association for Adult Learning Conference at Montreal’s Concordia University, November 8-9, 2002 Clearing the Hurdles: Overcoming the barriers to adult learning All workshops, discussions are for adults who want to reach their potential through adult education in English-speaking Quebec.For more information phone 514-848-2036, 450-691-1314 fax 514-848-4520 or e-mail qaal@concordia.ca Log on at http://doe.concordia.ca/qaal/ Some travel subsidies available. page 6 Tuesday, October 29, 2002 RECORD Community Forum Anglos reps make political calls in capital city In the quest for media attention, it may be the lot of Jean Charest’s Liberals, plodding unspectacularly to electoral victory, to get squeezed between the sinking Parti Québécois government and the rising Action Démocratique for the next little while.So it was last week.ADQ Leader Mario Dumont made a lunchtime appearance before about 100 members of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and scored major media time with his pronouncements about language.Shortly after, QCGN members crossed the street to meet privately with more than a half dozen Liberal MNAs and Jean Charest for a round-table discussion of issues of concern to the English-speaking community.Charest scored no public brownie points for that.Nonetheless, by clearly telling them that “we’re not taking you for granted” and showing a greater grasp of the issues than Dumont, he probably solidified Liberal standing among anglophone community representatives.“The fact is," said QCGN President Hugh Maynard afterwards, “the Liberals know they have a lot on the line now.” In Chateauguay riding, where Liberal |ean-Marc Fournier won by about 3,400 votes in 1998, the Anglophone vote is significant.If there were any shift of anglophone votes to ADQ the Liberals would be in trouble.Later in the week, the sad-sack PQ snagged the headlines because some members of the party's nationalist wing seem bent on Creating a new ideological rift by launching attacks on the social democratic credentials of three bright /oung ministers, and future leadership candidates, André Boisclair, François ^egault and Joseph Facal.There’s nothing better than the sound of a party splitting apart at the seams to ittract attention.Meanwhile, Charest gave a major ;peech before the Young Chamber of Commerce.It was dynamic, punchy, and in large measure, a repetition of the Liberal program unveiled earlier the fall.So he received scant media coverage.Nonetheless, he quietly solidified support from a group of voters that might otherwise be intrigued by ADQ’s twin slogans of a “new prosperity” and a “minimized government”.Such will be the lot of the Liberals for the next while.Caught between the PQ’s last gasps and ADQ’s first stumbling steps, the Liberals will continue to be ignored in the headlines and under-estimated in the polls.Until election day, when the non-stop regional tours, the informal gatherings, and the speeches will pay off.Mario among the Anglos Mario Dumont deserves credit though.He could have used his speech before the QCGN to troll for votes by pandering to the linguistic insecurities of a community that largely votes Liberal.He didn’t do that.He said he would not amend the Charter of the French Language to allow access for francophones to English schools, or to soften commercial sign laws or the regulations requiring the use of French on business web sites.“It’s not our intention to reopen the linguistic debate at all," he said.He also said he was opposed to the idea of reversing the forced mergers of municipalities.However, he gave an unequivocal “yes” when asked if he would uphold the right of English speakers to have access to health and social services in their own language.“For us, access to services in English is something that is unequivocal.” On that point, he mirrored the Liberal position.But given that Dumont was “not really up to scratch" on issues of concern to the English community, as one participant put it, he tried instead to appeal to the Anglophone community on another Provincial Affairs Glenn Wanamaker P.O.Box 1200 ShertirookeJIH 516 or 1195 Galt E, ShertrookeJlG 117 Fax: 819-569-3945 e-maii: newsroom - sherbrookerrcord com Website: www.shtrbrookCTtcord.com Randy Kinneak Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Jamie Zachary Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising.(819)569-9525 Circulation.(819)569-9528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec.JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 114.40 8.01 9.18 S131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 S67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 S34.51 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7,1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD.CNA.QCNA level.“You know as well as I do that a tremendous amount of energy has been invested in divisive issues.There’s a price to that and probably you could all give me experiences on that.Right now, the message we want to send people who are tired of divisive issues is let’s put our energies together,” he said.Alliance Quebec President Brent Tyler, who had raised the question of allowing businesses the right to choose the language of operation on the Internet, was not greatly impressed.“It’s a consensus of the elites," he said, referring to Dumont's status quo position on language laws, “but there is no consensus on the ground.I'm not disappointed with his answer.I expected an answer like that.” Peter Riordan, a Quebec Farmers’ Association director and Eastern Townships school board representative, had hoped Dumont might show openness on the issue of allowing francophones access to English schools.“He answered my question in the sense that we know where he stands but it’s not necessarily what we wanted to hear,” he said.“It leaves us with the question of what measures can still be taken to ensure the health and vigour of our small English schools and programs across the province.” That concern was echoed by Baie Comeau educator Brian Rock.“Our school in Fermont has only 10 kids, in Metis Beach about 30.There are 99 schools in Quebec with under 50 kids in them.The other two parties have backed away from the idea of a moratorium [on closure of a community’s last school], and Mario, being a man of the regions, what’s his take on this?If he’s going to speak for the regions, he has to address that.“He wants to stay away from all the hard issues'.To me, there is a dearth of leadership there because some of these are issues of concern for anglophones and allophones,” Rock said.Anthony Dumas, vice-president of The Coasters from the Lower North Shore, was hoping for some recognition of that region’s particular problems of economic under-development and geographic isolation.“We often feel we are penalized because of language, and I didn’t hear anything about development so that we would feel more a part [of Quebec).“A good percentage of people move to Ontario for work and never return.But they move because they’re forced to.In the fisheries alone, we depend on Newfoundland because they buy our fish.We don’t have access to markets in Quebec City or Montreal because it’s too expensive by ship.And by road, it’s the only place where you have to leave Quebec and travel through three provinces to get back to Quebec.” To get to Quebec City by land from Blanc Sablon, Dumas had to go via Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, a two-day journey.A plane ticket would have cost $1,200.Dumont’s call for a “new prosperity” and an end to the politics of division sounds nice, Dumas said.But a road and a true effort to be made a part of Quebec would be nicer.Glenn Wanamaker can be reached by email at wanamakerg@hotmail.com Letter to the editor Assistant coach is biased Dear Editor, Is it not a conflict of interest to have the man who is the assistant coach of the Bishop’s basketball team write an article about the team and talking about how good they will be in the city’s newspaper?I do not understand how a coach is supposed to be fair.I am writing about the article in today’s paper about the Bishop’s basketball team.Frank.P.McKay Sherbrooke Editor’s note: Good call.Foul goes to The Record and the writer scores a point with his shot.New to genealogy Dear Editor, My name is Ken Ardington and I was born in Cowansville, Qc.I’m trying to get info/contacts on my family name.Father was William, mother was Helen (nee: Emmett) Mother was also born in Cowansville.Died July 21 2000 .She was living on Dieppe St.Father died Feb 1,1999, also in Cowansville.I was born in Sweetsburg Nov 08, 1954, and was baptized at Trinity Church.as was my son Jonathan.I’m new to genealogy as well as the computer so any help would be most appreciated.Ken Ardington By e-mail mobile4all@hotmailxom : «THE — = RECORD Tuesday, October 29, 2002 page 7 Perspectives Failed mother raises successful son He succeeded in getting his apartment cleaned! I’ve failed as a mother,” I lamented as I bent down with a cooking pot full of hot water and household cleaner to tackle another part of the well-travelled, spill-endowed kitchen floor.My partner-in-life was attacking the sink heaped high with dirty dishes, the counters covered with unwashed utensils, and the stove stacked with pots and pans.This, we hoped he realized, was part of our birthday present to our Montreal-based son.Our last visit had been brief, just a stop really, to pick him up.We had put blinders on while we were in his apartment.“I know, I never set a proper example,” I admitted to my entourage.But he had known we were coming.I consoled myself with the recollection of the story of a college student filling the bathtub with dirty dishes and turning the shower on to make the job of washing them easier.And this young person had been raised in an always spotless home, the envy of every parent around.Too bad we hadn’t come across the book “Read This Before You Call Me! Love, Mom.(an essential guide to surviving on your own).” before our offspring left home.Published by the University of Toronto Press in 1994 and co-written by Gloria Crowley and Karen Kelly, this volume broaches important topics, such as what someone striking off on their own will need as basics and where to find them (besides the cupboards at mom and dad’s), how to do laundry, how to budget and how to save money.Plus, a few recipes are thrown in for good measure.During our afternoon stay in the big city, one of the staples listed in the book was not available to us - paper towels.But, at least we had access to cleaning cloths and all-purpose cleaner, dish towels and dish soap.Here’s the full list of non-perishable goods every home should possess, according to the authors: white and brown sugar, all-purpose flour, salt and pepper, chili powder, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, cinnamon, toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, laundry and dish soap and vinegar.What about parsley and thyme, baking powder and soda, vegetable oil, cocoa and chocolate chips?Recommended cleaning supplies include a pail; but that’s not an excuse for not washing the floor - a dishpan, large bowl or pot will do, as we demonstrated.Some of Crowley and Kelly’s general housekeeping hints include: • Make your bed as soon as you hop out of it.• Wipe down the shower walls after use.• Wipe down toilet and sink every morning.• Clean off the kitchen counter and wash the dishes before leaving your living space.Perhaps their next edition could add this advice: • Wipe off the sticky jam jar before returning it to the fridge.• When you get up from the sofa or the computer chair, look around you and take the mug or glass or plate into the kitchen and rinse it off; even better would be to wash it right then and there.• On your way out, pick up the stack of newspapers and drop them into the recycling bin - if not every day, at least on Saturdays.A chapter of this book is devoted to pointers for cleaning one’s living space, with emphasis on the kitchen, the bath- room and floors.It ends with the following message, a good reminder for many of us: “Remember, everything has a ‘home’.- clean clothes live in a drawer - soiled clothes live in a laundry basket - dishes live in a cupboard - food lives in a cupboard or refrigerator - you live in this environment, so keep it clean!!” The final section of the 155 page book features basic ways to cook eggs, meat, and vegetables, plus recipes for salads, lasagna, chili, pasta sauce, chicken wings, casseroles, cookies, snacks, dips, microwave fudge and muffins.This fundamental guide to living on one’s own says some things we, as parents, might not have thought of saying: some things our children may not have seen or heard, even if we did try to show or to tell them.And it’s a good reference book for the more experienced of us, too.Especially those for whom it’s a struggle to get everything sparkling, squeaky clean - like me.A copy of “Read This Before You Call Me! Love, Mom.” will stay here, and the two other copies I got at an auction last weekend will go to our sons.Maybe, there’s hope for us yet.Susan Mastine Say you read it in The Record IS IT CROWDED IN HERE.OR IS IT ME?A German policewoman obtained the mobile phone number of a fugitive, from justice, called him up, flirted with him and arranged a blind date.The man, who was wanted in the town of Recklinghausen, came to a bar in downtown Berlin “all dressed up” and unaware not only that his date was a cop, but that all the men at surrounding tables were undercover police officers, too.The date ended in his arrest.HONEY, NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW: An Albanian drug dealer was deported from Germany but slipped back in.and made the mistake of registering to marry his girlfriend in Cologne.He was arrested a half-hour before the ceremony was to begin.BUT OFFICER, THE HORSE WAS SOBER: Police arrested a man for drunken driving when they discovered him riding his horse down the sidewalk in IKE PINGREE’S THROUGH THE f V LOOKING GLASS \) ' Carson City, Nev., after having con- sumed 12 beers.OF COURSE I*LL COME BACK, DARLINGS man met an Australian woman who called herself Bergittia von Buelow de Rothschild over the Internet, brought her to Philadelphia and conducted a whirlwind courtship, culminating in his purchase of a diamond engagement ring worth more than $12,000.She took the ring, returned to Australia and stopped answering his e-mails.A private detective he hired found out she is a con artist.rr WAS, UM, A SECURITY MEASURE: A Southern California high school water polo coach was fired for his role in secretly videotaping girls undressing and taking showers in the locker room.I JUST FELT LIKE IT, OKT?A min going up an escalator to work in a Brisbane, Australia, shopping mall was squirted on the back of his pants with two packets of soy sauce by the man behind him.The victim told police he did not know the man, but, incredibly, it was not the first time the guy had done this to him.The squirter was arrested, but refused to explain why he did it.ITS GREAT TO BE THE KING: Swaziland’s King Mswati III noticed an 18-year-old girl named Zena Dlamini at the traditional reed dance of Swazi maidens, iiked what he saw, and decreed that she would become his 12th wife.But Zena’s mother has demanded that he return her daughter, and has gone to court to force him to do so.The nation's attorney general said the case will be settled in the tradition al way: “The king will decide whether tc keep the girl.in which case the mattei is at an end.” I THINK I CAN MAKE ENDS MEET NOW: A woman went to her bank in Stockholm to see if ner federal childcare allowance had been deposited into her account.She discovered that the Swedish government had mistakenly-given her $10 billion, an amount equivalent to the nation’s defense budget.She had been expecting $322.HIS ADDRESS.FOR EXAMPLE: Unable to stave off temptation any longer, a guard at a bank in Petah Tikva, Israel pulled his gun and robbed the bank.He made off with $21,000 but was expected to be captured soon, police said, because “we know everything about him.” www.pingreeslookingglass.com.E-mail: m pingree@bostonherald.com Subscribe to The Record today Call 569-9528 or 450-242-1188 page 8 THE RECORD Tuesday, October 29, 2002 I0RMAND CHOUINARD CO-HOST DIANE MARTIN CO-HOST IROUPE BE THERE AT THE 23“ Telethon at the centre culturel UNIVERSITY OF SHERBROOKE TION Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke rïra C3S3 102.7 FM énergle106.1 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22"« 2002 AT 7:00 pm on TVA TÉLÉ 7 *> (JUlBiCUt MIDI* ÎVA ro-y\ An invitation from: (^CASTONGUAY Beciucqge & MARTINEAU.Mrs.Janyne Hodder Honorary President ^mu.u .i @ RECORD CHLT65U ToTl>{^;~ N0U¥e"e LaVoixderEst multeMA/, V AA/ÎViiü La radio de l'information ' -s De partout., from anywhere jusque vous to anyone v&çÿ" '>- Link Serving the greater Lennoxville area Also See Stanstead Development Committee says they're on the right track .See Page 11 NEWSROOM@SHERBROOKERECORD.COM WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2002 Page 9 Popular bridge in Hatley Township replaced Materials used to build framework will not be harmful to enviomment By Kate Shingler Hatley Township new bridge on Chemin du Lac Road in Hatley Township was unveiled Monday morning.The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Township Pro Mayor Rosaire Desbiens; Township Councillor Steven Pidgeon; Pierre Laterreur, coordinator of the bridge project; municipal employee Steve Coles; and Orford MNA Robert Benoit.Located on a frequently travelled road in the area, popular with motorists and cyclists, the more than 50-year-old original wood bridge was falling apart and needed replacing, according to Desbiens.The Ministry of Transport subsidized the cost of the new bridge, roughly $200,000, and the Township paid for the construction of the approaches to the structure, noted the pro mayor.The materials used to build the support framework will not be harmful to the environment, explained Coles, who worked on the project with Laterreur.The bridge, which resembles an overpass as it remains relatively low to the water level, was erected in such a way that the natural flow of the river’s current should not be disrupted.Local talent gets first chance at Church St.Café KATE SHINGLER m w- - =.X RON A L'express QUINCAILLERIE MACLURE HARDWARE isg\ Glass & Screen Repairs Pipe Threading 155 Queen St., Lennoxville (819) 823-1222 1-866-823-1222 RODNEY LLOYD Affiliated Real Estate Agent Sidtcn Buying or selling properly?I have clients looking for homes, farms, wood lots, and lakefront property.Let my experience work for you! 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