The record, 26 février 1996, lundi 26 février 1996

5ttERBROO/(£ IBIBC a® Buih WrrhouT Compromise 2615 King St.W.Sherbrooke (819) 566-5322 The Voice of the Eastern Townships since 1837 MONDAY February 26, 1996 WEATHER, Page 2 50 cents Unions trash Quebec health-care slash plans MONTREAL (CP) — The Quebec government should spend more time and money steering its proposed healthcare reforms off the planning table and into the hospitals, the head of the Confederation of National Trade Unions warned Sunday.Gérald Larose cautioned the ‘We should do cash-strapped government against budget-cutting itself into a health-care system similar to that of the United States, with “one health-care system for the rich and another for the poor.“If we want to restructure in the health-care system, we have to invest in manpower,” better’ Bouchard braces for trouble but.By Don Macdonald QUEBEC (CP) — Lucien Bouchard warned his supporters Sunday to brace for protests over looming spending cuts but he promised to do a better job in slashing the deficit than Ontario Premier Mike Harris.“We must admit that (Harris) was very rough in the kind of decisions he made,” the Quebec premier told a news conference wrapping up a two-day Parti Québécois meeting.“I think we should Tlo better in Quebec.“And we should get a better answer maybe from people who will accept the fact that they have to protect not only themselves but the future of their children.” Some 100,000 protesters poured into Hamilton on Saturday to demonstrate against the Harris government in the latest wave of opposition to Ontario’s budgetary reductions.Bouchard used his speech on the need to fight the deficit after dousing a potentially explosive debate in the PQ over Quebec’s language laws.He said his PQ government will likely face a public outcry after bringing down a tough budget this spring to deal with a $3.9-billion deficit “nightmare.” But Quebecers will be more accepting of the cuts — which could total $1 billion this year See BOUCHARD Page 2 Larose said.“In professional retraining, in reassignment of personnel.That costs money.” Health Minister Jean Rochon has introduced a vast overhaul of the system based on more home-care, fewer shortterm hospital beds, more longterm beds for the elderly and more reliance on Quebec’s network of community healthcare clinics.Larose urged beefing up resources for the network of community clinics (CLSCs) which are expected to take up the slack caused by hospital closures.His appeal to spend in order to save money in the long run comes less than a week after the Quebec Hospital Association warned the government it must lure unionized employees — who have job security but are made redundant by the reforms — out of the system with more See HEALTH CARE Page 2 Officii .J,: Isill! High water: Rain and mild temperatures combined to cause more flooding in parts of the St.Francis River basin over the weekend.For the full story, please see inside RECORDJHgrn PERRY BÇATÇ»j ‘If it’s not bust, don’t fix it’ David Payne: No need to strengthen Law 101 MONTREAL (CP) — Quebec anglophones have made “enormous progress” in acquiring and using French and there’s little reason to toughen the province’s law on the French language, says the Parti Québé-cois’s only anglophone MNA.“If it’s not bust, don’t fix it,” David Payne told a Sunday radio show discussing a controversial report suggesting the language law should be beefed up.“What the PQ has never understood is that there has been enormous progress I think in 20 years on language,” Payne told radio listeners.His comment follows the release last week of a study by political scientist Josée Legault, and former language bureaucrat Michel Plourde suggesting tougher measures to ensure “-francophonization" of anglophones and allophones.Payne said Quebec anglophones are frustrated by some nationalists’ failure to recognize how bilingual they actually are.“What the anglo community cannot accept and grumbled a See PAYNE Pape 2 Premier calls for dialogue on language — Page 2 in 2—The RECORD—Monday, February 26, 1996 Trapping: One of North America’s first industries, trapping for fur still thrives if the busy participation at the trapping show in Fleurimont is any indication.The weekend gathering brought together trappers; sellers of new style, more humane traps and snares; and tools for practitioners of taxidermy.The first step in that art is, of course, skinning the animals, and experts were on hand to give demonstrations.Fans of guns using black powder— or the curious just come for a look — had an interesting selection.Townships RECORD PHOTOS/PERRY BEATON Premier calls for By Pierre April important to preserve the vita- QUEBEC (CP) — Premier % ar>d identity of the English Lucien Bouchard, under pres- community, sure from both extremes of “I think it’s time to stop being Quebec’s language debate, haunted by our old fears,” he issued a call on Saturday for said- “The language debate dialogue between the French doesn’t have to be a confronta-and English-speaking tion, and language rights aren’t communities.a Same where you add up the He told the Parti Québécois points.” national council that Quebec’s Bouchard’s speech to the 475 French majority must have lan- delegates appealed for calm guage security but it’s also after a week in wh’ch Quebec echoed with hardliners’ calls for T • J tougher application of the law JLÏ1S1O0 while others urged more openness.Ann Landers .14 Births and deaths .11 Comics .15 C'°ud>' WUh„a 40 PCr ceM Crossword .13,14 chance 01 flumM ln the Editorial.6 morning, clearing later with Entertainment .9 sun in the afternoon and a Farm and Business .7 high near -2.Outlook for Living.8 Tuesday: Sunny with a high Sports.16-17-18-19 near -0 and an overnight low The Townships .3-4-5 of -13.new dialogue on language “I don’t have the slightest doubt that achieving sovereignty is the best way to amend Law 101,” he said, referring to the Charter of the French Language which Quebec adopted in 1977.The law is the centrepiece of PAYNE: Continued from page one lot about — and I think they are right — is that credit has not been given for that.” Many anglophones are saying, ‘don’t touch Bill 101,’ — the commonly used name for the language legislation — because they’re frightened it’s going to be strengthened, Payne said.“On the other side, more hard-line francophones are saying don’t touch Bill 101 because they’re frightened it’s going to be watered down.“So perhaps we’ve got the mix which is necessary.” PQ concerns but Bouchard has been working hard to build bridges to the English community and is more moderate on language than his predecessor Jacques Parizeau.Bouchard has also declined to endorse PQ policies that would scrap Bill 86, a law allowing for bilingual signs.“We can have a dialogue between communities and individuals, to reach a mutually BOUCHARD: Continued from page one — because they will be made fairly and in the interest of future generations, he said.“There could be demonstrators, people who find it’s too tough,” Bouchard said in a speech to 500 PQ officials.“But we won’t see our children there (at the demonstrations).They won’t be able to go to the microphone to convince us.not to leave them our grocery bills.” advantageous linguistic balance.“Some people want to persuade us that dialogue means retreat, and co-operation means surrender.That’s not in my dictionary, and that’s not in our dictionary,” Bouchard declared.HEALTH:— Continued from page one profitable retirement packages.Quebec’s 180 hospitals and their 122,000 employees are preparing for the first of seven Montreal-area hospital shutdowns on April 1.The shutdowns will result in more than 5,000 hospitals workers being redeployed through the system.At the moment, only 60 per cent of those employees actually have jobs to be transferred to.The rest will be paid about $80 million annually to stay at home._______fagi tsecam a division of Groupe Quebecor Inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K 1A1 819-569-9511 819-569-9525 Fax: 819-569-3945 Member ABC.CARD, CDNA, NMB.QCNA Randy Kinnear, Publisher.819-569-9511 Charles Bury, Editor.819-569-6345 Lloyd G.Scheib, Adv.Dir.819-569-9525 Richard Lessard, Prod.Mgr.819-569-9931 Mark Guitlette, Press Sup.819-569-9931 Francine Thibault Comp.819-569-9931 Departments Accounting.819-569-9511 Advertising.819-569-9525 Circulation.819-569-9528 Knowlton office.514-242-1188 SSI ESI total 6.09 6.05 $99.14 3.05 3.03 $49.58 1.52 1.51 $24.78 Mail subscriptions Canada: 1 year 87.00 6 months 43.50 3 months 21.75 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.Back copies of The Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 percopy.Established February 9, 1897, incorporating the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) and the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879).The Record is published daily Monday to Friday by The Record Division, Groupe Quebecor Inc.Offices and plant located at 2850 Delorme Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 1A1.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675. Cutting through I-way hype: Coaticook area to try the on-line experience Martin Cauchon: The internet may be rural Canada’s best guarantee ¦ * 111»' By Dwane Wilkin COATICOOK — As the ribbon was cut at the new computer lab at Coaticook’s agricultural research centre, local businessman Serge Arsenault quipped that the information highway could be no worse than navigating the Eastern Townships Autoroute during a spring thaw.With a quick clip of the shears, Martin Cauchon, federal secretary of state for regional development, offically opened Coaticook’s new Centre for Community Access to the Internet — a roomful of blinking computer terminals ready to admit anyone so inclined to the much-hyped virtual world of networking personal computer users.As of last Friday, internet surfers from around the world have been able to visit the city of Coaticook at its own World Wide Web site, Le Pont, distinguished in part by the video image of the city’s most recognizable landmark — the suspension footbridge across the Coaticook gorge.Beginning March 4, the internet centre will offer courses to the public on how to navigate through cyberspace from their own home computers.“Our general objective is to show that the internet can promote local development,” said Arsenault, grocery store owner and president of Coaticook’s regional development office, SADC, which promoted and coordinated the internet project from its inception more than a year ago.The internet, the worldwide network of computer users linked through telephone lines, is the fastest growing manifestation of the I-way.It links users with a vast selection of raw information, library materials, bulletin board services, discussion groups, government agencies, merchants and potential consumers.‘We musn’t believe that the internet is an end in itself,” Arsenault said in a short speech to municipal representatives and members of the local business community.“But be assured that it will, in a very short time, bring about major changes in our daily lives.We don’t have to call on Jojo Savard to confirm it, simply listen to the talk around us.” The Coaticook internet program is one of 40 pilot projects that Industry Canada is sponsoring in rural regions across the country.According to Cauchon, recently appointed to the federal cabinet by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to boost Ottawa’s profile in Quebec, access to the internet may be rural Canada’s best guarantee against further isolation and economic marginalization.“New opportunities, innova- SHERBROOKE (CP) — Ottawa will make more headway in Quebec with cooperation than with confrontation, the federal government’s secretary of state for regional development said Sunday.Martin Cauchon rejected views held by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, who has raised the possibility of carving up an independent Quebec and returning some territory to Canada.Cauchon said he’s more conciliatory than some of his five commercial applications by local entrepreneurs, growing access to markets and a door on the world for community orga-niztions,” Cauchon enthused.“All this and more is within your reach.” What’s more, through an arrangement with the francophone Coaticook school board, residents of the outlying communities of Compton, Dixville, East Hereford, and Sainte-Edwidge de Clifton will also have access to the internet via local schools.Computer terminals at Stanstead’s Jardins des Frontières elementary school will also be linked within the next couple of months, and training sessions are now being scheduled through the adult education branch of the Commission scolaire de Coaticook.Gerald Ruest, the school board’s director general, said at least one internet course would be made available in English.Manon Cloutier, owner of Info-Détente, a bookstore-café cabinet colleagues and favors a so-called “Plan A,” for cooperation with Quebec rather than “Plan B,” which would develop the attack to be used if Quebecers vote for sovereignty.“There’s no Plan B,” said Cauchon.“I’m a federal MP.I believe right to my fingertips that Quebec’s development is best served by the federal system.I think like International Co-operation Minister Pierre Pettigrew and I support an approach based on cooperation, collaboration.in downtown Coaticook where cyber junkies can cruise the I-way while they munch on sandwiches, is one of a dozen “intérnauts” who’ll be offering the training sessions.Cloutier urged local entrepreneurs and even farmers to think of ways they might use the internet to their benefit, as either a source of information, a “Dion has a different approach which, clearly, isn’t mine.” Cauchon said he’s ready to co-operate with Quebec’s Parti Québécois government and Premier Lucien Bouchard.“I believe that Lucien Bouchard has an open mind.I sincerely believe there’s a great chance of collaboration with Quebec under Mr.Bouchard,” Cauchon told the Sherbrooke daily La Tribune.The Outremont MP said he favors constitutional recogni- marketing tool, or both.“The more people that plug in, the more people will use the internet for commercial purposes,” she said.“This way, more and more people in the future are going to have access to products and services on the internet.“Eventually, everyone will find something of interest.” on Quebec tion of Quebec as a distinct society but this isn’t the time to open another round of constitutional talks.What’s important is to establish a climate of trust and partnership between the two levels of government, to develop flexibility and respect for each other’s jurisdiction while moving to greater decentralization, he said.It’s possible to reach administrative agreements which would accomplish the same goals as constitutional agreements, Cauchon added.6A great chance of collaboration’ Federal minister opposes hard line Robbers hit at closing time: Unwelcome visitors at Katevale Caisse pop SHERBROOKE (DW) —The sleepy hamlet of Katevale got another rude taste of big-city crime Friday when gunman from outside the region entered the village’s tiny Caisse populaire just before closing time and proceeded to steal an undisclosed amount of cash.Bank customers were ordered to lie on the floor just before 5 p.m.while a pistol-brandishing stranger in his early 20s collected money from the till, provincial police Cst.Serge Dubord said.No one was injured in the holdup, the second in as many years at the same location.‘The world must be going crazy,” commented Pierre Give your kettle a break today Water now OK in Stanstead SHERBROOKE — It’s safe again to use the town water in Rock Island and Stanstead.Municipal officials in Stanstead gave the green light Friday to renewed consumption of unboiled tapwater in all parts of the area served by the International Water Company system.Beaupré, mayor of Ste-Catherine de Hatley, upon learning the news.Katevale is home to about 75 residents, all of whom still recall the robbery at the same Caisse populaire branch two years ago.“They found that guy, though,” added Beaupré.Caisse populaire manager Jean-Yves Caillier declined to say how much money was stolen during Friday’s heist, and refused to discuss how the robbery unfolded.Witnesses told police the bandit was helped by an accomplice seen waiting in a getaway car outside while the Caisse branch was being robbed.QPF officers alerted to the crime tried in vain to net the suspects in roadblocks around Katevale.brown 1981 Pontiac Parisienne Cst.Dubord said the car used — the same vehicle reported by the thieves as their getaway stolen in Boucherville, near vehicle was identified as a Montreal, on Friday morning.Garden in the garage: Pot raid in Knowlton KNOWLTON (SM) — Brome Lake police seized 180 pot plants from a two-car garage in Knowlton’s Conference Road sector Friday, arresting a man in his 30s.The seizure came following a two-week investigation by Brome Lake municipal officers.On Friday, seven officers from the municipal and provincial police forces arrived at the residence with a search warrant.Police Chief Peter Stone said the man, who will be charged this week, brought officers to the garage where a sophisticated greenhouse apparatus with controlled temperature and lighting was created to maximize growth.Stone said the seized plants and equipment have an estimated street value of $19,000. Townships 4—The REC ORD—Monday, February 26, 1996 We hope others will follow in their footsteps’ Lennoxville honors community stars LENNOXVILLE (RL) — The town of Lennoxville presented its outstanding achievement awards last week, honoring seven citizens for their contributions to the community.Town councillor Michael Sudlow, who chaired the evening at Uplands Museum in Lennxoville, said the citizens deserved to be recognized for making Lennoxville a better place to live.“It’s no coincidence that people from outside are knocking on the doors trying to get in,” Sudlow said, refering to requests from resi dents in some neighboring areas to join Lennoxville.“These people have contributed to the positive development of Lennoxville and we hope others will follow in their footsteps and initiate new and exciting ventures,” he said.Here are the recipients of the awards and the town’s reasons for their selection: ARTS & CULTURE - Nelson and Julie Gonyer have been the principal movers in many amateur threatrical performances in the Lennoxville area for the Bertin Bernier and James Lewis.past 15 years.As drama teacher at Alexander Galt Regional High School, Nelson has had great success in developing the acting talent of teenagers, culminating in the annual spring productions at the school.Julie has a flair for costume design which has been most evident in the adult Townships performances in which she also displays considerable acting talent.Richard Worsley and Alfred Whittier.Debbie Pellerin.Fellow winner Jutta Riegel was not present for the ceremony.record photo: perry beaton EDUCATION — Debbie Pellerin has been teaching Physical Education at Lennoxville Elementary School for approximately 15 years and her enthusiasm for all-round physical fitness for the whole school population has been reflected by the large numbers of pupils and former pupils who continue in sports, often to very high standards.Mrs.Pellerin’s program of all-round fitness particularly impressed the judges in this category.CITIZENSHIP & VOLUNTEER WORK — Richard Worsley and Alfred Whittier.Alfred Whittier loves to go alpine skiing, and he loves to help others enjoy the sport even those with physical handicaps.Having observed how these skiers were hoisted to mountain tops at more distant ski centres, he decided to look for a designeirblacksmith who could make a sled to haul handicapped skiers up mountains, since the regular skilifts were impossible to use.Richard Worsley was just the man for this project, and in late 1995 handed over his sled at Owl’s Head Ski Centre where Alfred Whittier runs a special Ski School for the physically i handicapped.Richard Worsley also made the equipment for the first shelter to be established on the recreation trail between Lennoxville and North Hatley, with the backing of Ascot Masonic Lodge.BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT — James Lewis.Gourmets of the region mourned the day the former Nichols’ Meat Market closed some four years ago, but 1995 saw the re-emergence of a high quality retail meat and seafood business on the site of the former one.The initial support for Boucherie James from the local community has been exceptional, indicating just how greatly they appreciate Mr.Lewis’ friendly service of high grade products.SPORTS—Jutta Riegel.Unlike many athletes, who usually fade away after their glory years, Jutta Riegel simulates a “chateau wine” and improves with the years as a veteran track and field performer.Although she competed in sprints and jumps, the pole-vault is her forte, and in 1995 she brought back home to Lennoxville the silver medal for the masters (55 years) pole vault in the World Championships, held in Buffalo, New York.URBANISM — Bertin Bernier.The grand old mansion at 10 Belvidere Street, Lennoxville, had been steadily decaying over the past decade but the Winder House was bought by Mr.Bernier in 1995 and painstakingly restored to its former glory both inside and on the exterior.The Heritage of Lennoxville has certainly received a shot-in-the-arm as a result.The fifth annual awards were judged by a panel made up fo mayor David Price and citizens Bruce Coulter and Charles Kobelt Sr.Price said many outstanding candidates were put forward, leaving the judges with some tough derisions.Winners Nelson and Julie Gonyer said they were surprised at their nomination, coining on the heels of a controversial Alexander Galt High School production of Robin Hood last year, which led to a debate in the Letters to the Editor columns of the Record.“We kinda knew we would ruffle a few feathers, but it led to a healthy debate,” Nelson Gonyer admitted in an interview before the presentations.“Drama is a mirror held up to life and some people don’t like the reflection,” he said, adding that many want real life “prettified and made easier to swallow”.Gonyer added that said some students took the criticism hard but that it was an important learning experience for them.Nelson and Julie Gonyer.PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR NEWSPAPER Imm _ The RECO^Dj—Monday, February 26, 1996—5 w .Ê ::î I ¦ m- a m m imtf* • ' ',v 'V> : - - - Rain turns into snow: Roads throughout the Eastern Townships were treacherous on Sunday as many motorists slid off into ditches all over the area.Frequently there was little damage, but tow trucks were kept busy.No one was hurt in this mishap (left) on Route 410 in Bromptonville.Even before the snow started on Sunday drivers were starting to fill up the ditches.This tractor-trailer (right) was swinging onto the Montreal autoroute from Route 55 when it got onto the soft shoulder, which pulled it into the ditch.The trailer swung around so that it blocked the road which had to be closed to remove the truck.The driver was unhurt, although he had quite a job tidying up his cab.record photo perry beaton Emergency services on alert High water haunts low-lying neighborhoods SHERBROOKE (DW) -Rain and mild temperatures combined to cause more flooding in parts of the St.Francis River basin over the weekend.Late on Friday Transport Quebec officials had to close Route 143 between Windsor and Bromptonville, as the river continued to spill over the asphalt.By Sunday the water was at least two feet above the road in many places, according to Paul-André Ponton, reached at his son’s house along the highway after the flooding had reached its highest peak.“There are three or four houses that are completely cut off,” Ponton said from the Val-Joli home, south of Windsor.“Here, you can still get in or out as long as you’ve got a truck.With a car, it just won’t pass.” Residents of a handful of homes here and in other riverside settlements left their homes on Saturday when the water began rising rapidly.Flooding problems were also reported in Richmond and Bishopton.In Sherbrooke, police were on alert all weekend as river levels mounted, but they didn’t have to intervene.“It came close,” said Lt.Bertrand Dussault.“It came up to 16 feet on Saturday night.We started to put the emergency service into force.“But it didn’t stay high.” By 9:30 p.m.Saturday, police noticed the water level dropping by a foot an hour, and the alert was called off, Dussault said.As of Sunday evening, Transport Quebec officials were still re-routing traffic along Route 143 at the Windsor and Bromptonville exits to Autoroute 55 on the other side of the river.Most people didn’t venture into the water with their cars, but at least one who did came RECORD PHOTO: PERRY BEATON Route 143 between Bromptonville and Windsor was closed due to flooding for the second time this winter.tow truck.out on the back of II »v gj #ravo c N