The record, 11 mai 1984, vendredi 11 mai 1984

ÎT ^ w eather, paye 2 KICK Y KARSONS.AC.I h BURY PRIMARY Sherbrooke Friday, May 11, 1984 40 cents MfBWffilHP TMT WHÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊHÊÊÊÊ Bytec offers two new computers to schools Weekend Townships Week Timothy Belford interviews a local quilter whose talent led her to royalty /5 and Les 4-Temps choir continues to perform enthusiastically for Sherbrooke fans /4.Births, deaths .7 Business.5 Classified .10 Comics .11 Editorial .4 Living .6 Sports .8-9 "Gee, I’m sorry.We don't have any work for students.Have you tried Pluto?” MONTREAL (CP) — Bytec-Comterm Inc.which holds a tentative $25.7-million contract to supply 9,000 computers to Quebec schools, presented two new machines Thursday, but said only one of them can be delivered this September in time for the start of the academic year.Laurent Nadeau, president of the Montreal-based company, said the IBM-ccmpatible Comterm PC — an enlarged version of its Hyperion — has already passed Quebec Educa- tion Department tests for school computers and can be delivered in September.Bytec-Comterm’s second computer, the Max 20-E — an improved version of the French Matra computer — is still being tested and will only be ready for the January 1985 school term.Both have an equal memory ca pacity of 128 Kilobytes.Test results show the Comterm PC is “superior to all other products in the same family of micro- computers,’’ Nadeau told a news conference.The Max 20-E, conceived by the French firm Matra Micro Systèmes and perfected using Bytec-Comterm technology, replaces Matra’s Axel 20 which flunked Department of Education tests.POLITICALLY INSPIRED?The Axel 20 was the computer picked by the Quebec government when Premier Rene Levesque announced the computer deal with Ma- tra during a visit to France last De cernber Critics said the deal w as politically-inspired and other bids were given no consideration The Axel 20 was scrapped after failing Education Department tests, and the Matra Bytec-Comterm consortium was asked to come up with an improved computer.The main problems with the Axel were limited memory.no color graphics and a lack of See BYTEC page 2 ^ RECORD/CHARLt S Bl Water, water everywhere but.‘ 1 iSSBi sc r * r V: -S > ¦ hstrie-Eau, rumored to be a cousin of Youppi, is one tolling the virtues of clean water and the importance of civil servant who will be earning his pay in the month of conservation.May when he visits classrooms across the province ex- Angry Lévesque broadside brings apology from ‘social saboteurs’ MONTREAL (CP) — English-language radio station CFCF has apologized for running a day-long informal survey asking listeners if they agreed with the motives of the gunman who went on a bloody rampage at the Quebec national assembly Tuesday, killing three people and wounding 13.The apology followed a broadside fired by Premier Rene Levesque Thursday at what he called “social saboteurs” in the news media who provoke acts of violence in society.CFCF management said in a statement it agreed with critics that “the question was inappropriate and deplorable,” and apologized “to those the question offended.” The question asked of listeners was: “Many people calling radio phone-in shows in the wake of the national assembly shooting have expressed sympathy with the corporal’s motives.Do you feel this way?” Cpl.Denis Lortie, 25, of the Canadian Forces Station at Carp, Ont., has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with Tuesday’s shooting.DELIVERS TAPE The suspect in the shooting said in a tape delivered to a Quebec City radio station just before the incident that he wanted to destroy the Parti Québécois because of its policies on language and political independence for Quebec.At his first news conference since Tuesday’s bloodshed, Levesque referred to the station’s conduct as “unspeakable.” “There are people I could name that are agents provocateur, well-paidand well-established in the media, who are, I think, social saboteurs,” Levesque said.He named no names.The CFCF survey, called an “insta-poll,” was also denounced by Alliance Quebec, the main English rights pressure group in the province.“Its only result has been to serve as a catalyst for the worst possible sentiments of a small segment of the population,” the group said in a statement.“It has provoked further irrational anger at a time when Quebecers are still in shock over the horror of this week's events.” A CFCF spokesman said 971 callers endorsed the gunman’s motives, while 297 expressed disapproval.Res-ponsdents merely had to call a “yes” or “no” number and were not asked for their names.A senior pollster with the respected CROP survey group in Montreal said, “it’s worth zero scientifically.“It’s interesting as a sounding board of people's feelings, but for scientific value in terms of percentages, it’s worth nothing,” said Jordan Levitin, CROP’S associate director."Asking the question was provocative because it was just a day after the thing had happened.It’s just an immediate reaction from an anglophone audience, most of whom don’t agree with the PQ.” RAPS SURVEY Reed Scowen, an English-speaking Liberal member of the assembly, condemned the survey as unrepresentative of the English in Quebec, adding he was “putting it as mildly as I can.” The survey stirred up a hornet's nest of negative reaction.The Montreal daily Le Devoir iea-dlined its report: Lortie — Stunning support of anglophone listeners.On rival station CJAD, talkshow host Neil McKenty said he was “shocked" by what callers said about the incident on his own popular Montreal morning program.“The anger that is seething among Quebecers is incredible.People don't approve of acts of violence, but they applaud those who act.It’s no longera language question, but an economic one,” McKenty was quoted as saying.“Tuesday's drama released anger that for a long time has been pent up,” McKenty said.UNDERSTAND FURY In La Presse, deputy editor Michel Roy wrote that, judging from calls to his newspaper and radio stations, “a good many citizens tend to understand, even share the feelings of the young soldier who let loose his fury.” Violence can arise from desperation, he noted, and some "are beginning to feel, without saying so openly, that this route is not necessarily to be condemned.“This is of greater concern than security at the national assembly.” At his news conference, Levesque said there should be no hasty moves to tighten security in the assembly where about 300 lawmakers and ser vants work.He said there has to be a compromise between the requirements of security and public access.The assembly adjourned Wednesday for a week See JOYAL page 2 Sniper had six guns, 280 rounds QUEBEC (CP) — A man who kept police at bay for 25 hours after allegedly shooting two passersby in the street will appear in sessions court today to face three charges of attempted murder, police said Thursday Police found six guns — including close-and long-range rifles and shotguns and 280 rounds of ammunition — in the apartment where the suspect, identifed as Jean-Claude Nadeau.39, had been cooped up, said police spokesman Gaétan Laçasse.Nadeau, a 39-year-old unemployed shoe factory worker, will be charged with the attempted murder of Alain Beaulieu, 28, Josee Belanger, 23, and a city police officer whose identity is being witheld, Laçasse said Beaulieu and Belanger were both slightly injured early Wednesday when a sniper walking along the street near the Nadeau apartment opened fire with a shotgun.Both victims were released from the hospital soon after treatment SHOT AT POLICE The third charge stems from shots fired through the door of the Nadeau family’s second-floor apartment when police officers tried to open it with a key.No one was hit.The 10-odd families evacuated from Deregulation opens airways to competition, OTTAWA (CP) — Transport Minister Lloyd Axworthy promised Thursday to get the government off the backs of the airlines so fares can fall, but the industry, consumer representatives and opposition politicians said the increased competition may not quickly cause prices to drop.Axworthy outlined a wide-ranging new air transport policy that will allow new and existing airlines to apply to the Canadian Transport Commission to fly anywhere they want in southern Canada, however often they wish, using whatever aircraft they choose.And he told the commission to re- OTTAWA (CP) — Opposition MPs decried the increase in the trendsetting Bank of Canada rate to 11.72 per cent from 11.13 Thursday, saying high interest rates will force farmers off the land, close businesses and cause the housing market to collapse.The bank rate, set by the central bank each week at one-quarter of a percentage point above the average yield on three-month government treasury bills, is used by the chartered banks as a guide for setting interest rates.The central bank rate has been on a steady climb in the last three months after hovering around 10 per cent at the beginning of February.Prime Minister Trudeau defended t{ie rate increase in the Commons on vise pricing regulations over the next two years so carriers can lower fares as much as they want without first seeking commission approval.The proposals are a major victory for many companies, including War-dair Ltd.and other charter firms which have led the way in low-cost fares, who will be allowed to apply to fly anywhere in Canada.The commission will issue a report today on how it intends to change regulations.Once the revisions are in place, Axworthy said competition and consumer choices will increase and fares will naturally drop.He warned powerful Air Canada to Thursday, saying the Bank of Canada had to follow the lead set by U.S.banks earlier this week or risk a massive outflow of capital from Canada.The major U.S.banks increased their prime rate — the interest charged to top corporate customers — earlier this week to 12.5 per cent from 12.The major Canadian lending institutions followed suit, raising their prime to 12 per cent from 11.5.Economists predict Thursday’s increase in the bank rate will prompt the chartered banks to raise their rates again, although they may delay any increase until next week.NOT IN FAVOR Trudeau said Thursday he isn't in favor of the high interest policies set in the United States, but as long as the play fairly under the new rules.The Crown-owned carrier controls almost two-thirds of the domestic business, and Axworthy wants it to refrain from “unfair competitive practices” — including predatory pricing, cutting fares simply to drive others off routes.There will also be guards against other possible abuses of deregulat ion.Airlines will need commission approval to raise fares — the report today will outline details on that issue —-and they won’t be able to drop service unless another airline has entered that route.“The whole thrust of the policy is American banks are offering high rates, Canada must remain competitive.Even Canadian lenders want to get the best deal for their money, he said.“I don’t know many lenders who just out of a spirit of nationalism would want to lend their money to Canadians at a lower rate than they can get across the border in the U.S.” Trudeau added that currencies from all over the world are flowing to the United States and many have fal len further in value against the strong U.S.dollar than the Canadian dollar.The Canadian currency has been trading close to record lows this week, hovering around 77 cents (U.S.) in foreign exchange markets Trudeau made his comments after getting away from the government telling the airlines what to do,” Axworthy told a Commons committee.In his 23-page New Canadian Air Policy, Axworthy directed the commission to: —Give greater weight to the benefits of increased competition when considering "public convenience and necessity” in judging airline route applications.—Favor applications for service to such under used airports as Mirabel International near Montreal and Mount Hope in Hamilton.—Eliminate distinctions between local, regional and national carriers Conservative MP Gerry St.Germain said the housing market would collapse if mortgage rates reach 14 and 15 per cent Mortgage rates have been edging up along with the bank rate in recent weeks, with the average one-year rate now pegged at 12 per cent, the average three-year rate at 13.25 per cent and the five-year at 14 per cent.Consumer loans have followed a similar pattern.St.Germain, MP for the British Co lumbia riding of Mission-Port Moody, asked when the government will move to help homeowners by bringing in its long-awaited mortgage protection insurance.Finance Minister Marc Latonde has said that legislation is imminent.fare wars and allow them to fly anywhere they want, however often they like.—Permit carriers to use any type of aircraft they want.—Move toward a pricing regulation system that would allow within two years any discounting without restrictions or commission approval, with the exception of predatory pricing.—Report to him within 90 days on how it intends to hasten and simplify regulations.Axworthy also ordered his department to study airport and other federally built air system costs to see if they can be reduced.Lalonde wasn’t in the House to de fend the rate increase, but in a speech to the Canadian Federation of Labor in Edmonton he repeated his contention that Canada's economic recovery largely depends on U.S.interest rates and the economic strength of countries that import Canadian goods.Tory MP Otto Jelinek said the government’s policy of high interest rates and high taxation is crippling small business."The highest rate of potential job creation exists within the small business sector." said the member for the Ontario riding of Halton.“Likewise, the largest number of jobs are lost in small business when interest rates are allowed to rise, like they have done today," nearby homes Wednesday soon after the man barricaded himself inside the apartment in the working class district of St-Sauveur were allowed to return Thursday.Shortly after the drama began Wednesday, dozens of municipal police and a provincial police tactical squad cleared and cordoned off the area, bracing themselves for a long seige.Vowing to wait the suspect out instead of storming the house, they setup headquarters in a disused school across the street.The man refused to negotiate by telephone and also failed to respond when police sent a robot, equipped with microphone and speaker, up to the house in efforts to make contact.SUSPECT EMERGES Then early Thursday, after no signs of movement in the flat all night, tactical squad officers covering the back side of the house saw the suspect emerge onto a porch.“We invited him to come down," one of the officers told reporters af terwards."He was obviously scared.He tried to tell us to go upstairs and talk to him, but we didn’t bite." Then Nadeau changed his mind and walked quietly down the stairs into the waiting arms of police.It was about 6.30 a m EDT.A radiostation quoted Nadeau's brother as saying the suspect was tormented by Tuesday’s events at the na-tional assembly when a gunman sprayed the legislature with subma chine-gun fire, killing three government employees and wounding 13 other people.The sniping incident added to the shock and jitters that hit the provincial capital after the assembly shooting Sudden jump in bank rate has Tory opposition hopping