The record, 22 mai 2009, vendredi 22 mai 2009

TalkÊFS See inside THE Intimate evening with local artists RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 WEEKEND EDITION 95 cents + taxes PM#0040007682 Friday, May 22, 2009 a*.High sch(Ki! drop-out rate on the rise pa« PISBfi Charles River Labs moves in PAttli 4.IÜ He says, SHE SAYS.“There are no longer any obstacles to moving forward with phase two of the project.” Jean-Pierre Blackburn (The Record, may 21) GORDON ALEXANDER David Stevens said the garage has no intention of dosing its doors, when business is actually up so far in 2009.Townships hit hard by GM closures By Sarah Rogers Sherbrooke General Motors’ decision to close almost half of its Canadian dealerships is hitting hard in the Eastern Townships.In Quebec, 70 of 129 dealerships were notified by the company this week that their service agreements would not be renewed and at least a handful GM retailers in the Townships are expected to close their doors by the end of the year, including Beaucage Chevrolet Cadillac in Sherbrooke and Thibault Pontiac Buick in Magog.GM Canada began to notify its dealerships Wednesday of who would not see their service agreements renewed following an October 2010 expiry, but will not be providing a list of retailers slated for closure.“Dealerships are independent businesses,” said GM Canada spokeswoman Adria Mackenzie.“We’ve left it at their discretion how they want to inform their employees and customers.” GM is restructuring ahead of June 1 deadline to qualify for a rescue package from both the Canadian and American governments.At the end of their revisions, the company will have closed roughly 300, or 42 per cent, of their affiliated outlets across the country.See General Motors on page 5 YOUR HOUSE, A SIZABLE ASSET [ FOR FINANCING The Versatile Line of Credit, which is based on the net market value of your home, allows you to finance a multitude of projects at an extremely advantageous interest rate.Whether you're planning to renovate, complete a personal project or purchase a new vehicle, you now have the freedom to manage and use your funds as you see fit.So go ahead, give your projects wings.with the Versatile Line of Credit.See your advisor.YOUR RENOVATIONS.It's more than a bank.It's Desjardins.VERSATILE LINE OF CREDIT EH Desjardins 1-800-CAISSES desjardins.com Money working for people page 2 Friday, May 22, 2009 ; ¦¦¦¦THE.RECORD BMO President addresses high school drop—out rates (Staff) Bank of Montreal president Jacques Ménard is encouraging business people in the region to join his fight against school drop-outs.Ménard recently headed up a group who authored a report on Quebec’s school drop-out rate, proposing measures to boost the province’s graduation rate to more than 80 per cent among 20-year-olds by 2020.Ménard, who penned a book on the province’s drop-out rates after the March report release, was invited to speak in Sherbrooke by the Fondation pour les élèves de la commission scolaire de la région de Sherbrooke.The Estrie places 14 out of Quebec’s 17 regions for dropouts.Quebec’s current graduation rate is 69 per cent, but Sherbrooke and the surrounding region fall below that average.Locally, four out of ten students do not complete their secondary studies.Drop-outs who enter the workforce will earn on average $15,000 less a year than those with a high school diploma, Ménard told an audience at the Sherbrooke golf club Wednesday.One of the measures Ménard has recommended to increase graduation rates is the expansion of support services for parents, future parents and toddlers from underprivileged backgrounds.COURTESY SXC.HU Draw results: 2009-05-20 22 26 39 48 02 18 30 38 Winners 0 0 19 1,301 24,157 15,117 Bonus Winners 1 14 602 33,024 609,990 430.914 otai sales Next grand prize (approx.) : Prizes $49,851,871.00 $292,297.50 $6,372.70 $224.60 $10.00 $5.00 $71,979,798 S4,000,000 Prizes $2,000,000.00 $75,000.00 $750.00 5.00 $10.00 $5.00 $1.508.535.00 6/6 5/6+b 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/6+b Total sales 3763476 BHSZi TONIGHT S JACKPOT $12,000,000 (approx.) the event ol discrepancy between this list and the official winning nst of Loto-Québec, the latter shali prevail THE GIFT OF BEING THERE 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year Across the world Acroiss the street Canadian Red Cross Québec Division www.redcross.ca 1 800 JYCROIX (18oo 592-7649) This beautiful sun comes from Victoria Ruf.Jeez, the Ruf family is just full of weather people Weather TODAY: ISOLATED SHOWERS.HIGH OF 16 SATURDAY: ISOLATED SHOWERS.HIGH OF 16.LOW OF 6.SUNDAY: SUNNY.HIGH OF 18.LOW OF 8.More guilt in Gas-fixing Fraud Scandal By Tory Davis Two more people and a company pled guilty to charges of conspiracy for attempting to fix the price of gasoline in Victoriaville.Jean-Yves Plourde, a former independent dealer, pled guilty in the price-fixing conspiracy, selling gasoline for Olco.He was sentenced to 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.The other conspirator who pled guilty Thursday was Daniel Drouin, formerly of Les Petroles Cardin Inc.; his sentencing was postponed to a later date.The company itself sold petroleum products for Sonerco and Axco, and was also implicated in the conspiracy, ordered to pay $90,000 in restitution.“Price-fixing is a fraud against the consumers and.the Competition Bureau will not hesitate to seek serious penalties against offenders when it uncovers evidence that they have broken the law,” declared Melanie L.Aitken, Interim Commissioner of the Competition.The pleas take the total guilty sentences to eight individuals and five companies.In total, $2.7 million in fines have been ordered, and 44 BUI \y] REGULAR 33Ï* COURTESY SXC.HU total months of incarceration have been doled out to four of the eight people.A total of 13 individuals and 11 companies have been accused of gasoline price-fixing in Victoriav-iile, Thetford Mines, Magog and Sherbrooke.Ben by Daniel Shelton WERE YOU JUST TALKING TO THAT Plant?jj—-f MMM HAIM, THERE ARE UNKNOWN CONNECTIONS 8ETV1/EEN USANP THE PLANT W0RLMNP 5PEAKING TO THEM CAN BE BENEFICIAL/ BEING THAT IM SUCH A BROWN THUMB ANRALL/ J THOUGHT A LITTLE TALK MIGHT HELP IT SURVIVE BEING TRANSPLANTS?1 BP THE K 0p LOOKS OF II f I HOPE SHE .WAS GIVING IT THE LAST < RECORD Friday, May 22, 2009 page 3 National Sidebar Feds tighten credit card regulations (TD) Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced nine new regulations for credit card companies, including new rules for interest rate changes.The federal government set new regulations that will require credit card operators to announce changes in interest rates and other fees, and provide a “clear indication”of how long it will take to pay off debt if the minimum payment is made monthly- Another of the rules requires companies to gain a cardholder’s consent before raising the credit limit.Flaherty’s announcement follows suit of the U.S.Congress, which is expected to sign a similar bill into law on Friday.The legislation of the Obama Administration also addresses rules on who can receive credit cards and how long cardholders have to pay their bills.The Supreme Court will address journalists’ rights case (TD)The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal case launched by the Globe and Mail over confidentiality of sources.The source in question provided the scoop for the $100 million dollar federal sponsorship scandal.The journalist who broke the story, Daniel Leblanc of the Globe and Mail, refers to the source simply as “ma chouette”.One of the promotional firms accused in the scandal, Groupe Polygone, served Leblanc with a summons about the identity of the informant.Ottawa is suing the company.The Globe and Mail believes that the revelation of the source violates freedom of expression guarantees in the Canadian and Quebec charters of rights.Canadian Forces seek help from Kenyan prosecutors (TD) Canada’s anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden are looking to recruit the Kenyan courts to judge apprehended pirates.Currently, as Canada has no jurisdiction in the area under international law, any pirates apprehended by Canadian forces, namely the HMCS Winnipeg, are disarmed and released.However, Defence Minister Peter MacKay is soliciting help from the Kenyan government, that pirates apprehended by Canadian Forces can be turned over to Kenyan authorities.From there, the Kenyan courts can mete out punishment.Canadian diplomats are seeking a swift response from Nairobi.The Kenyan government has similar agreements in place with other countires.Fast Chicken St.Hubert to expand By Stephen McDougall Drummondville St.Hubert, the oldest and most famous roast chicken restaurant chain in Quebec, plans to get leaner and faster in order to expand into smaller markers and take on a growing number of fast food and family-themed restaurants in the province."We are always innovating and adapting because the competition is heavy," said St.Hubert public relations official Josee Vaillancourt."That means some of our more traditional sit-down restaurants could be transformed into express outlets because our clientele want fewer choices, lower prices and faster service." That transformation was seen earlier this year when its long-time Drummondville restaurant went from a sit-down-and-be-served style to one more similar to a fast-food Macdonalds format.Comfortable, padded chairs went plastic, interior decor went minimal and only the more popular dishes were offered at a long counter full of trays.Outside, a host of parking spaces usually set aside for visiting customers is now reserved for delivery cars and pick-up service.Even the barbacue sauce the chain is famous for is no longer served in individual cups with the meal.Rather, it is provided as a limitless condiment from a push dispenser.Instead, the limitless amount of coleslaw usually brought to the customer in a dish by a waitress is now limited to one styrofoam container on the serving tray."The chicken that our customers love is still the same," said Vaillancourt."But now it is served faster and costs less.Customers don’t have to wait for their food and be dependent on servers." Vaillancourt said the transformation was made in Drummondville because much of the clientele comes off the nearby Trans-Canada highway and does not have a lot of time for a meal."Most of them are going between Quebec City and Montreal on business and are on a schedule, so eating time has to stay at a minimum," she said."The franchise owner of the restaurant noticed the decline last year and we decided that a faster format was needed." Vaillancourt said the chain now has 21 express outlets, but argued the format is not suited for all of the chain's 100 restaurants in Quebec.She said it would only be the case if the tradtional restaurant is underperforming."We don't think the traditional restaurants in Sherbrooke, St.Hyacinthe, Victoriaville or Thetford Mines will change for now," she said."We are concentrating our express outlets on smaller towns in the province where fast-food outlets are popular." But that didn't prevent the 58-year-old chain from transforming its first restaurant on St.Hubert street in Mon- 'WjSt'dty lig® i i&Js — COURTESY FlOCKR.COM St Hubert might be in the need of more delivery cars as they plan to expand services, potentially compromising the home-grown family style Quebecers have come to know and love treal to the new format in 1995."It was a our first restaurant, but despite its history, we decided it was in the best interest of our public to make the change," she said.She said the decade-old St.Hub bars installed in most of the restaurants have been a success and will remain a fixture in the chain, but will not be part of the express format.She said the bars have helped the traditional restaurants because bar customers eventually get hungry and do not have to travel far for a meal.What has not been a success for the chain is the market outside of Quebec.Vaillancourt admits expanding outside of the province has not worked, citing rival roast chicken chains such as Swiss Chalet for blocking progress.She also does not rule out cultural differences between Quebec and other-provinces for the blockage."Swiss Chalet is popular in Ontario, CLOGGING CONCERT Alexander Galt Regional High School May 29th, 2009,7:30 p.m.featuring: An Evening of Song and Dance with The Rainbow Country Cloggers Entertaining you with: Country, Pop, and Irish Dancing ^ Come join us lor an evening of fun! s All Welcome Free Will Donations but not in Quebec," she said."At the same time, we had several restaurants in Ontario in the 1980s, but are now down to just three.Maybe St.Hubert is recognized as a Quebec institution that cannot be promoted outside the province.It could make for an interesting sociological study." She added the chain’s only other restaurant outside of Quebec is in Moncton, New Brunswick, which has a large francophone population.Commission scolaire Ik.\ „ Eastern Townships School Board Moving ahead.Together.Aller de l'avant.Ensemble.PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that, at the meeting of the Council of Commissioners to be held on June 23, 2009, the By-Law entitled Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for the Commissioners of the Eastern Townships School board will be considered for adoption.A copy of this By-Law may be examined at the office of the undersigned.Given in Magog, Quebec, on this 22nd day of May 2009.Chantal C.Beaulieu Secretary General 101 Du Moulin, Suite 205 Magog QC J1X 6H8 page 4 Friday, May 22, 2009 RECORD Charles River Labs to open new complex in Sherbrooke ’ 5 as ¦ i *, î^> ?• rt - If this feels like a math test, visit mathliteracy.ca or call 1-800-303-1004.Math solves problems CANADA PowAiMm pcm filykibimillrn SAVINGS.YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.QUEBEC SAVINGS BONDS + Redeemable daily, without penalty.+ Guaranteed minimum annual rate.+ 2009 issue; offered until June 1.STEP-UP BONDS + Redeemable each year, on their anniversary date, without penalty.+ Step-up rates guaranteed for 10 years.+ Offered throughout the year.LEARN ABOUT OUR ACCOUNTS AND OTHER SAVINGS PRODUCTS: • Investment Savings Account • TFSA • RRSP • RRIF • LIRA • LIF • Fixed-rate Bonds • Discount Bonds • Securi+ Bonds • Stock Index Bonds • Flexi-Plus Savings • Periodic Savings Plan by instalments BONUS OF 1% the first year on new RRSR RRIF URA and LIF funds + Capital guaranteed 100% by the Québec government.+ No management or administration fees.ÉPARGNE your PLACEMENTS SAV,NGS KLA guaranteed QUEBEC 100% 1 800 463-5229 I www.epq.gouv.qc.ca Épargne Placements .t E3 E3 Québec E3 es page 8 Friday, May 22, 2009 ; .—THF mii RECORD Managing business cashflow 'WËÊ0*' të$Êd££;L By Gary Andrews Remember being paid - and paid on time - is not a given.I have taken the opportunity to list below some common sense tips to help manage your cashflow: Set your terms of business before doing business - and put them in writing.You will not be paid in 30 days unless your customers know that’s what you expect.Do credit checks before doing business -and monitor late payments.If companies are taking longer and longer to pay, find out if there is a problem.Do not wait until they leave you with a bad debt.Encourage prompt payment.Consider charging interest on late payments (your legal right on debts outstanding after 30 days) or - if your profit margins allow - offering a discount for prompt payment.Invoice promptly - and once again make payment terms clear.Check that the customer is happy - there may often be a reason for late or nonpayment.Never give a customer a reason not to pay.Make it easy for them to pay by offering as many ways of getting paid as you can.BACS payments are fast and attract lower bank charges.Or a standing order can be used if they pay the same amount regularly.With cheques your late payers can always use the excuse “it’s in the mail”.Contact customers to check they received the invoice and then find out when they are going to pay.Prevention is best COURTESY GARY ANDREWS Check that they are a good risk - by referring to a credit reference agency and by asking for bank and trade references.Set clear credit limits for every customer - to limit potential losses.Consider credit insurance - it will cover the debts owed to you.Watch out for debtor warning signs Mistakes on cheques - they forget to sign, words or figures differ, or cheques hre wrongly dated - these may be genuine errors or may be a means of buying extra time.Constant queries - about the product or service or about the invoice.Again these could be delaying tactics.Excuses - like the cheque is in the post.Rumours - staff often pick up on these first.Trading at their credit limit - if a customer is continually trading up to the limit or asking to exceed it, it should ring alarm bells.However, it may be that they are buying more from you and so need an increased limit.Paying Suppliers The reason why most businesses fail is simple, they run out of cash to pay theirbills.They run out of cash because they have failed to keep on top of cashflow.As the economy is in a downturn, suppliers may want to protect their financial position by: Reducing the amount of trade credit they will advance you Asking for payment more quickly Asking for stage payments or even cash on delivery To ensure that you are not being squeezed on both sides you need to manage this side of the cashflow equation and remain a low risk for your suppliers: Make sure you know when you are expected to pay - not all suppliers have clear terms and conditions.Pay on time - and if you can’t do so, contact your suppliers to explain why.Protect your credit rating - don’t wait until the start of court proceedings to pay.Once your credit rating is damaged, you may find it hard to get any credit at all.Try to negotiate longer payment terms - if you are finding your customers are taking longer to pay you -if not, see if you can get a discount for prompt payment.Maintaining Profit Margins The flip side of price is cost - you can maintain profit margins even if you are reducing prices, provided you also reduce the cost of what you are making or providing.For example, don’t hang on to things you don’t need - it costs you to house, insure and maintain them.Consider selling surplus machinery or unsold stock, even if you don’t make a profit, to release some working capital.It is vital to keep overhead down but avoid cutting: Stock levels to such a low point that you cannot fill new orders Staff you need to run your business Sales and marketing expenditure which you need to attract new business Investment in equipment or product development that enables you to remain competitive Insurance as you could leave your business inadequately covered.Cutting Costs Don’t get emotionally involved.Make hard-headed business decisions.You may want to keep a particular office open because it was where you started or a certain product line because you created it.If it is losing you money, you have to lose it - or risk losing your business.Make decisions based on the facts and real data.A “gut feel" is not always good enough.It is only when you see what is profitable and what is not that you can make a decision.Start with non-essential expenditure -then tackle fixed costs such as utilities, stationery and other outgoings.Pass on price cuts.If you are under pressure to cut your prices ask your suppliers to do the same - if you can.If they won’t negotiate on price ask for longer payment periods or shop around.I hope this has been useful to think about and challenging if you haven’t already started to be proactive in this area.It may be obvious for some, but with so many other business activities that companies keep juggling with and prioritizing, it may be a good time to review your cash flow policies.Gary Andrews is President of redconsulting services Inc; based in Sherbrooke.Québec and has significant experience in managing corporate challenges and business in many European countries.South Africa.Saudi Arabia.UAE and North America.For further details of the support that red-consulting can provide to your organization or business, please visit www.redconsulting.ca For further details of the support that redconsulting can provide to your organization or business, please visit www.redconsulting.ca Live bands ail weekend! Country * Biuegrass, Rock ‘n Roll • Folk Bring your own chairs Camping ($6.oo/night) 1,1 Anniversary Music Fest 2009 to benefit "[he ChiWrene ’founojat'ior] of Canadq SHINE! June 6'h & June 7’h ‘ Ayer’s Cliff Fairgrounds RAiN 0*_____—- Information: (819) 823-2009 Website: www.themusicfest.org v.(819) Admission: s8°°/day, $12Q0/weekend, Children 12 & under; free • $40/family weekend pass For tfie wfio(e family! Chuck Wagon rides Silent Auction Cowpattie Bingo - Canteen Come see our new Kids area with many new surprises! Sponsored by the Fair Board Mechoui on Saturday, s1500 In collaboration with RECORD ' .— —THK —¦ !¦» ¦¦¦ I.I ¦¦¦¦ '¦ ¦¦¦!¦ " " 11 ¦¦¦¦¦ - ______________RECORD________________Friday, May 22, 2009 page 9 Of Moose and Men : : : ¦ ».*«'»«•*> : rmsmama vzassifyttm ; i.k3ait!» msm ¦^20% ¦¦ : 'S***.# general." Simard would not commit to any financial help for the festival, but did not rule it out either.Cossette hopes the government will agree to a fund-sharing program, where the federation and hunting clubs match the government dollar for dollar."We are asking the various clubs to get involved and find ways to raise money and organize local activities," he said."Then we want the makers and sellers of hunting gear to get involved and consider being sponsors.We believe most the stores that sell gear, including the major chains, are interested given the popularity of the sport." Cossette estimated each region of the province needs a minimum $10,000 to fund festival activies.He said his federation has earmarked $90,000 for the festival."If the government can’t fund us directly, we By Stephen McDougall Deer and bears beware; hunters in Quebec are hoping to promote their sport with a provincial festival next year."It is still in the proposal stages, but we have started doing some planning," said Alain Cossette, director of the Quebec federation of hunters and fishers."If we get some help from the province, we hope to have events and exhibitions in every region.We want it to be an annual event like we now have with the Fishing festival, which is in its 10th year.” Cossette said the festival is important because hunting is growing in popularity, partly because more women are taking up the sport."Our last information indicates that about 25 percent of 1.1 million certified hunters here are women," he said."A lot of them got interested in the sport because their spouses and their children are into it.The hunting trip becomes a family activity."That number is high because when I was last in France, the number of female hunters there was about one percent." He added the sport’s image is also changing because more hunters are coming from urban rather than rural parts of the province."It used to be hunters came from small towns and many were farmers looking for food for their families," he said."Now, about three quarters of our members come from cities such as Montreal and Quebec City or suburbs close by.That proves how popular the sport is here." The targets for hunters have not changed much, he added.The most popular wild animals being hunted are still the deer and moose, with ducks not far behind."There is more activity around wild turkeys and bears but they are harder to find.Some hunters tried to introduce pheasants into the wild, but they were small and did not survive our cold winters.In the north, caribou remains the popular animal." He added that most hunters still use rifles, but some are now using longbows and arrows, which are cheaper and easier to maintain, but require more physical skill.Cossette's festival plans are being encouraged by Quebec's wildlife minister Serge Simard.At a federation congress in April, Simard pledged his support for the festival project."Hunting is important for the Quebec economy and a festival is a good idea that could increase tourism here," he told the federation members, who number some 125,000 in total."We count on the federation to be our eyes on the ground when it comes to hunting and fishing activities and tourism as well as wildlife management in COURTESY wua MEDIA hope they can provide services for our activities with their wildlife department and their game wardens." Besides promoting the sport, Cossette said the festival wants to give the public information on wildlife conservation, game cooking methods and hunter safety COURTESY WIKI MEDIA THE $****?• t he***; c r o s s GIFT OF BEING 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - 365 days a year The Quebec Division responds to nearly 700 emergency situations every year, coming to the assistance of thousands of victims.Help the Red Cross help others.THERE + Canadian Red Cross Québec Division www.redcross.ca 1800 JYCR0IX (1800 592-7649) ¦¦.—¦i—— N •, .1 ¦th>:¦¦ — ——¦—— ii i.2 2009 PFrnpn Practicing the “Golden Rule” By Anna May Kinney During the last couple of years there have been a few of stories highlighting Quebec news, which are of special interest to parents.While some may think that these subjects have nothing to do with one another, 1 beg to differ.One of these issues is the new multi- cultural religious class that is being shoved down parents’ throats; the other more pressing and even dangerous issue is the asbestos that keeps showing up within our schools.First let’s begin with the Quebec Government’s obsession in educating young minds in the various religious beliefs and customs from around the world.This is being done with little regard to what each family wants and believes safe for their children to be exposed to, and even in some cases infringing on the religious beliefs of the parents in the hope that we can live together with more understanding and respect for each other.Having spent five years studying world religion, practices and customs and while as an adult, I could easily read other’s opinions, beliefs and not be influenced to “convert” to something that would have sent my family into a tailspin.Children (that’s what we call those under eighteen) are easily persuaded and influenced by others.Parents have a legitimate reason to protest when their children are given information of any kind that they believe that they are NOT ready to fully grasp.Parents have always been allowed to make such decisions on behalf of their children, and when governments decide that THEY have this right, I believe some would call it leaning to fascism or communism.During my intense religious studies, there was one principle that I found that united most if not all of the world’s great religions.Following this one principal, and knowing your neighbor who’s of a different religious background also follows the same principal, should be enough to foster respect and kindness, even acceptance of his or her strange custom or dress.This principle is often referred to as the Golden Rule.Here are quotes from five of the world’s greatest religions; Christianity: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that meh should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.Confucianism : 'Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' - reciprocity.Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire."’ Doctrine of the Mean 13.3 Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.Mahabharata 5:1517 Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5 Baha'i Faith: "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf Not our children While the knowledge that asbestos was used in Quebec schools and the danger it poses to our children has been known for some time.The June 5, 2008 CBC news article “Asbestos eradication planned for Montreal schools” stated that there were plans that would eliminate asbestos that summer from two-dozen buildings belonging to the Commission Scolaire de Montreal.The same article went on to say; “But the so-called miracle material is also highly toxic when inhaled.Asbestos fibres are linked to mesothelioma, a form of cancer, and asbestosis, a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting lung tissue.The material has been banned in many countries because of the associated health risks, but Quebec remains one of the leading producers of asbestos in the world.” No parent would want their child exposed to something that could cause serious, even life threatening health problems.So it’s only right for parents to be upset when things like this happen.The Federal Government is also spending millions of dollars to get asbestos from Parliament buildings, all to protect the politicians and federal workers.Religion, Ethics and Asbestos Now let’s put things together and see what we have.We have a government that wants families to forget about what they personally believe in is right for their children, in the hopes that learning about different religions will foster better understanding, tolerance and brotherhood between immigrants and those born here.Doesn’t this sound good?This same government has been on a campaign to justify millions of tax payers’ dollars ($50 million tax dollars since 1984) going to an industry that no other G8 country takes part in, which most of the world prohibits imports of.Knowing that experts in health and science have denounced this asbestos industry and export, Canada continues to export this toxic mineral to third world countries, our biggest client being India, where asbestos is illegal to mine yet imported to be used by the building industry.For more information about asbestos and what it has done to our population, what it’s doing to those in the third world and to help stop our tax dollars being spent on a dying industry that is responsible for pain, suffering and death, please take the time to read www.canadianasbestosexports.ca created by Michaela Keyserlingk, who’s husband was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma.While every minute is precious to the Keyser-lingks, Michaela is fighting a battle for all those wives, husbands, mothers and fathers who work unprotected, breathing in these fibres and shortening their lives as they sort different batches of asbestos by hand.There’s a great picture, taken by Greenpeace, about this on the website along with info on how you can get active and help stop this from happening.Now getting back to the connection between these topics.It seems kind of ironic that the Quebec Government wants our children to learn about religions around the world, so THEY can show more understanding to others.Yet, while they don’t want either our children or politicians to breath in asbestos fibres, they don’t care about those in the third world who don’t even know enough to wear a mask when working around this deadly mineral.Where’s the golden rule?Maybe our politicians were absent during religious instruction when they taught, “do unto others as you’d like them to do to YOU.” Maybe it’s time we remind them that values start in our homes and continue with our leaders.Briefs Arrests made in April crash (Staff) Sherbrooke police have finally made arrests in an April car crash that caused the death of a 68-year-old man, determining it was two drivers participating in a street race that caused the fatal collision.On April 26, the victim was leaving a King Street East restaurant in Sherbrooke when he was struck by a speeding vehicle.The man died almost instantly, while his partner who accompanied him suffered from severe shock.A 26-year-old driver, Louis-Philippe Blais was arrested and appeared in court earlier this week on charges of dangerous driving and the less common participation in street racing causing death, said Sherbrooke police spokesman Martin Carrier.A Sûreté du Québec expert reconstructed the accident scene to determine that the vehicle that struck the victim was involved in a street race at the time of the collision.Carrier said that police would soon arrest another driver involved in the April 26 street race.Calling all clutterbugs (CP) The Centre pour femmes immigrantes, a non-profit organization which offers free service such as vocational guidance, psychological support, francisation and troubleshooting to immigrant women in the Townships, is collecting items for their annual garage sale in June.Donations of dishçs, pots, toys and various other objects are being accepted at the centre located at 942 Belvedere south and proceeds raised from the garage sale, held during the second week of June, will allow the centre to continue it’s work.For more information call the centres director at 819-822-2259.Shocking News: More Roadwork (McD) The Quebec Ministry of Transport is advising the population that paving work has begun on a 4 km section of Highway 147 between Compton and Waterville and will continue until June 12.The work will the recquire the closing of one lane out of two between 6 a.m.and 6 p.m.Signalers will direct traffic during these hours.Career ^BCS College- School ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT BCS, a co-educational independent boarding school, grades 7 to 12, is looking for a full time Administrative Assistant for its Development Office.Reporting to the Director of Development, executes all secretarial tasks related to the Department.Requirements - Secretarial Diploma or equivalent - 3-5 years pertinent experience, preferably in a school - Bilingual (written and spoken English/French) - Appropriate computer skills including data base management The ideal candidate must be available to work extra hours during peak periods.The candidate will have strong interpersonal and organisational skills; the candidate must show ability to work alone or in a team and to work under deadline pressure.We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.Please send your curriculum vitae before May 30,2009 to: Wendy Johnson Bishops College School 80 Moulton Hill Road, CP 5001 Sherbrooke, Qc J1M 1Z8 Fax: 819-822-3886 e-mail: wjohnson@bishopscollegeschool.com We regret that only applicants to be interviewed will be contacted „ re***1 Hill” ¦ H”*” Hill” nil”” ¦me» Ifllil •¦¦Ill jlfjlHH*™” isibibcbbii ISH'I»” igiiaHlH” ktfllllVHI HBlifl ’p««eca ¦ ;üuiB*a« wimble Briiffffii IjuiKpni fÜiKM piilfOF S|||i8«I[I« mm ENTREPÔT @ ihcfmag