The record, 19 février 2002, mardi 19 février 2002

THE - — THE ¦¦ RECORD CLASSIFIEDS |tt9|M5 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 65 CENTS WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Tuesday, February 19, 2002 Ottawa kicks in $16.4 million to help homeless It’s not just a big city problem says Minister Bradshaw By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Federal Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw was in town Monday morning to announce some $16.4 million in federal funding to help Quebec communities deal with homelessness.But a young woman known simply as Sylvie, who along with 150 or so impoverished and often troubled peers lives an uneasy life on the streets of Sherbrooke, failed to show up to address politicians and reporters at Monday’s press conference.Bradshaw, who is the federal coordinator on homelessness, made her provincial announcement at the modest offices of la Coalition sherbrookoise pour le travail de rue, an agency that provides support to street kids like Sylvie.Sylvie will probably turn up after dark, joining others seeking the anonymity of the streets.And when she does, outreach workers for the coalition will be there, handing out hot coffee, sandwiches, condoms, referrals to social or health care services, or whatever assistance they can provide to relieve the misery of life on the streets.Funding announced Monday will help the Sherbrooke street coalition Please see Bradshaw Page 3 Grandmother to 800 sail Joan Thompson, 91, is truly a remarkable women who has left her mark on thousands of people through decades of volunteering.Her contribution to others was recognized last week by the feder-| al government.For the story please see Page 4 Olympic Spirit DANIEL HUOT Teacher Jackie Loughheed, Hannah Carey, Andi Smith, Delie Eyonne represented China in the Lennoxville Olympics.See the Lennoxville Link inside for more on these winter games.TAX PLANNING SEMINAR EnS Investors KUsB Group “ SOLUTIONS BUILT AROUND YOU~ Protect your hard earned retirement savings.Tuesday, February 19th at 10:00 a.m.and 7:00 p.m.at McGreer Hall, Bishop’s University No admission charge and No obligation; seating is limited so call to reserve now at 566-0666 or 1-800-569-4662 Investment planning, Retirement planning.Tax planning, Mortgages, Insurance, Cash management, Estate planning.1 page 2 Tuesday, February 19, 2002 'THE' Traditional farm scenes are disappearing Nothing stays the same.A good thing, sometimes.Other times, don’t we wonder.Last summer, a trip to Ontario took us through many a countryside.Seemingly lifeless sights greeted us.Field upon field of crops.A distinct lack of pasture land.Rural roads with nary an animal in sight -for miles upon miles upon miles.It was eerie, lonely even, seeing no dairy cows, no beef cattle, no heavy horses -just the odd riding horse or a few race horses and a dog here and there.The one occasion when lots of animals were in evidence was on a Sundaymorning, when the Mennonite church we passed was having a service.There must have been a hundred mahogany-coloured horses attached to the black wagons and buggies of all shapes and sizes parked in the churchyard.Images from that vacation have been meandering through my mind for months.I can still visualize the newfangled dairy barns sitting back from the road with their Holsteins or Ayr-shires or Jerseys hidden inside.Seeded fields surround the buildings.There are no fence posts, no wire, no gates, no pastures.Incredible.Inconceivable.Unnatural.Landscapes without life.Back near home, an old farmer’s home is nestled next to a river at the bottom of a long, steep hill.Decades ago, the farm produced prime beef, Thanksgiving turkeys, maple syrup and red raspberries which were sold to town folk, along with a variety of garden vegetables.Diversification declined over the years.Farmers became specialists, phasing out some parts of their operations.A way of life has disappeared, as most rural folk placed all of their eggs in one basket, so to speak as they opted for one type of operation.This farm was no exception.But, except for in winter, there are still cows and calves in the pasture when we drive by.And fortunately, the collection of buildings still remains.The vocation of each of these buildings is unknown to me, but each is picturesque, a unique part of the view behind the big house as we cross the bridge over the Nicolet River.Fewer and fewer tangible symbols of days gone by are part of the scenery.Outbuildings are disappearing at an alarming rate - granaries, ice houses, hen houses.The hip-roofed, wooden barn is headed that way, too.Like rail fences, milk stands and threshing machines - they are becoming icons of the past.Like the outhouse, which was the theme of a coffee table book published a few years back.And which some people are trying to save, turning them into tool sheds in back yards in the city.Imagine! Not the kind of distinctiveness that appeals to me, I must confess.Our old outhouse was moved to the sugar woods a couple of decades back, for emergency use only.It’s been neglected over the years.Perhaps, I should have a good look at it.Maybe, I could revive it.The outhouse that serves my brother-in-law’s cabin in the woods features scented candles, a water pitcher and basin, fancy soaps and an attractive decor.Oh, but our unfinished bedroom should take priority, and the spare room needs repapering, and the softwood floors need resanding, and.I guess the outhouse will have to wait.Besides, the bird building, formerly the granary, needs sprucing up on the outside, and the peacock pen could use some straightening up, as could the other farm buildings.They’re not modern, metal structures at all.But at least when you drive by, you have a chance of seeing long-haired, long-horned Highland cattle, or cheeky White Chinese geese, or multi-coloured Leghorn roosters, or Border Cheviot sheep (recent acquisitions, thanks to our son), or a black cat.Life.Colour.Susan Mastine New QFA president elected Win a pair of tickets to a Canadiens game Cindy Duncan-McMillan, a beef pro-ducer from Farrellton in the Gatineau region, was elected president of the Quebec Farmers’ Association at the board of directors meeting held last week.After two terms as vice-president, Ms.Duncan-McMillan takes over from Diana Frizzle, a dairy farmer from Knowlton in the Brome-Missisquoi area, who had completed a third conservative one-year term, the maximum allowed in the association’s by-laws.Frizzle will continue as a member of the executive committee in her position as past-president.Albert Sylvester, a dairy farmer from Sawyerville in the Eastern Townships, was elected vice-president.He is joined on the executive committee by Jeannie Neveu, a dairy farmer from Rawdon in the Lanaudière region; Chris Judd, a dairy farmer from Shawville in the Pontiac; Doug Lang, a dairy farmer from Howick in the Chateauguay Valley; and Sylvie Mahannah, a dairy farmer from St-Télésphore in Vaudreuil-Soulanges.The QFA works on behalf of Quebec’s 2,000 English-speaking farmers to provide information and training services, as well as taking a leadership role in the areas of agriculture and rural development on behalf of the province’s English-speaking communities.The association is affiliated with the Union des Producteurs agricoles and the Quebec Community Groups Network.Be there when the Montreal Canadiens take on the Boston Bruins at the Molson Centre Wednesday, March 6.The Record has two tickets to give away for the game.To enter our Canadiens give-away contest, simply clip out five Montreal Canadiens logos that will appear on various pages of The Record between now and the deadline Feb 28.Send them toCanadiens Giveaway The Record, Box 1200, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1H 5L6 Winner of Sutton ski tickets Brian Rollins of Sutton is the winner of the pair of ski lift tickets for Mont Sutton.Watch for an opportunity to win a pair of tickets for Mont Orford.Weather Today: Sunny.Increasing cloudiness by midday.High near 3.Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a few showers.Low near 4.High near 6.Probability of precipitation 70 per cent.Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers.Low near 4.High near 6/ Friday: Cloudy with a few flurries.Low near minus 2.High near plus 2.Ben by Daniel Shelton "7 YOU PROMISE?YOUR MOM IV HaP REPAINT THEIR HOUSE?/ ./WELL.SHE ¥ OFFERED TO LEND US MONEY TDPUYAVAN-I HAP TO OFFER 50METHIN6 IN RETURN/ THINK AEOLTIT' ITS WORTH IT, ISN'T IT?\ AN?WHAT ABOUT YOUR PAP?HE'S OKAY WITH THAT?.I MEAN, AS LONG AS I HELP PAINT THEIR HOUSE, HE'S 1 WILLING TO LEND g us the money?f*y 1 Ï THE HOUSE AH2 THE GARAGE! ANP THAT'S MY FINAL OFFER. THEi Tuesday, February 19, 2002 page 3 Liberals will let courts decide UPA’s monopoly: Paradis By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Bedford t ».jhe Quebec Liberals will let the courts decide if the Quebec Farmers .X.Union, the UPA, will hold onto its monopoly as sole bargainer for farmers in this province, according to Pierre Paradis, the party’s agriculture critic in the Quebec Legislature.“I am a lawyer, and I am very respectful of the judicial system,” the member for Brome Missisquoi told The Record last Friday.“We have no platform drafted on the UPA, so we are going to let the system decide.” The UPA is the only group recognized by the Quebec government to represent the province’s farmers when it comes to agricultural policies and ministerial decisions.As a result, all Quebec farmers are forced to pay a minimum $250 in dues each year to the UPA.The dues and the policies of the UPA have recently been challenged by a group of individual farmers and by the Union Paysanne, a dissident farming group set up last year.These farmers argue the UPA has too much power and discourages small, family-run farms in favour of large “agri-business” farms that concentrate on exports and ignore environmental concerns.Paradis said both the UPA and its detractors need to be listened to by the Quebec government.But because some farmers are actively challenging the UPA monopoly in court, he argued further comments could put the cases into jeopardy.“If I say anything now, I could be severely criticized by the lawyers in these cases for interfering,” he said.Paradis did say that any decision made by a Liberal government on the UPA would “have to be in the pubic interest” and not exclude any farming group.But he also admitted the UPA’s influence over the present PQ government is very strong.“People can’t remember a decision made by an agriculture minister that did not contravene the UPA," he said.“An agriculture minister should be able to stand on his or her own two feet and do what's right for the province first.” He added that despite the high legal costs, many Quebec farmers have the means to pay for a constitutional challenge of the UPA’s monopoly.“If they pull together, they can do it.They don’t need the government or any political party to help them.” One farmer who has vowed to legally challenge the UPA monopoly is Guy Rocheleau from Bedford.Rocheleau is arguing that the UPA monopoly denies his constitutional right to Freedom of Association, as stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Rocheleau’s next court date with the UPA is set for May 21 before judge Pierre Boily in Superior Court in Granby.Paradis wasn’t always so carefiil about his position on the UPA.When he was first elected as a member for Brome Missisquoi in the early 1980s, Paradis was a vocal critic of the union.In 1984, at a Quebec Farmers Association banquet, he called its monopoly an “anachronism” in a democratic society.“It may be true that the majority of Quebec producers wish to belong to the UPA, but the fact remains this is their only legal choice,” he said.And before he got into politics, Paradis the lawyer challenged the power of certain UPA federations in court.In one case, Paradis represented egg producers who felt they were being strangled by Fedco, an egg marketing board run by the Quebec government and an egg producers federation affiliated to the UPA.“Fedco made no business sense,” he said.“Many producers felt Fedco mishandled the market and would not sell their eggs to it.” In a 1977 Superior Court decision, Fedco was allowed to continue as a marketing board, but farmers were not forced to pay dues to it or sell it all their eggs.Paradis said Fedco was closed down after 12 years of operation.PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL juin # i* & Street coalition coordinator Jean-François Roos said he considered holding the press conference with Claudette Bradshaw on the streets.But the weather is hard to predict, and besides, itinerants rarely make an appearance early in the day.Bradshaw: Cont’d from Page 1 and other organizations in their efforts to provide services to itinerants and homeless people in their communities.“Itinerancy is not just the absence of a roof,” said coalition vice-president Claude Martel, noting that some 150 people live a life of “instability and insecurity” in the streets of Sherbrooke.He said the federal grant will allow the coalition to hire four new outreach workers who will attempt to gradually gain the confidence of street people.“Continuity is important to the success of working with itinerants,” he said making a plea for consistent funding.Noting that funding for the current program expires in 2003, he asked the minister to provide future funding to secure their work.While funding for the National Homelessness Initiative was provided for in the February 2000 federal budget, projects for Quebec weren’t announced till this week - a fact noted by critics including social housing activists.It took until February 2001 for the provincial and federal governments to reach a deal that respects provincial jurisdictions, Bradshaw explained.“If took longer, but the foundations are solid,” she added.Unlike previous initiatives which invested mainly in Canada’s largest cities where the problem is more evident, this time Ottawa is spending 20 per cent of the new funds in the regions.“Every time I visit shelters in Toronto and other big cities I meet people from New Brunswick, from back home,” she commented, adding that she hopes to help troubled people at home before they migrate to larger urban centers.“Knowing what I know now, I would have put 40 per cent, not 20 per cent, in small centres.” “We can’t just do it in the 10 big cities.That will resolve nothing,” she said, adding that local solutions have to be found for a national problem.“We don’t just want to help, we want to respond to the needs of each community,” she said, adding that the government does not have all the answers.“We need to give communities and community agencies more autonomy to deal with the problems they understand best.” Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault agrees that itinerancy and homelessness are not just a big city problem.And while he applauded the federal funding announced for community agencies, he said the government must also make more funds available for social housing to prevent homelessness.“Itinerancy, homelessness and social housing go together,” he said, adding that federal funds other than infrastructure grants should be made available to build more low-cost housing.Parti Québécois MNA Claude Boucher said his government considers itinerancy and homelessness a priority and Quebec has put the accent on prevention and social reintegration.“Our government stresses prevention to avoid having people live with no shelter, no resources and no hope,” he said, adding that Quebec invested $84.8 million in the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative.Of the $16,450,618 handed out by the federal government in yesterday’s announcement, Sherbrooke-area organizations got a total of $608,411.The Coalition Sherbrookoise pour le travail deauie received $215,848 to increase the number of hours that outreach and community workers are available This project will also offer increased ac cess to the services offered in the Macadam J bus by increasing its presence in different areas; Service Budgétaire Pop ulaire de l’Estrie received $45,837 for it: Solutions Budget Plus program whief helps low-cost housing tenants experienc ing financial problems, and those wish ing to find housing in which they can be more autonomous, to learn to balance their budgets.The program will help them assume responsibility for their fi nancial obligations by providing then with a budget counselor and by creating ; support network for tenants.Maison Jeunes-Est will get $97,551 tc consolidate and develop reception, refer ral, crisis intervention, support and coun seling activities.It will also develop psycho-social services for young peoplt experiencing problems.La Chaudronnée de l’Estrie Inc.re ceived two grants.A first chunk o: $28,158 will help the group deal with the higher cost of food to provide healthy anc balanced meals that are accessible to the disadvantaged, to prevent health prob lems, and to create a new service to help users develop food management skills./ second grant of $65,343 will help develop a link with the most vulnerable popula tion groups, and continue public educa tion activities.Finally, La Source-Soleil Inc.de TEstrit will get $155,674 to provide all client: with services after they have been housec and to create an area conducive to studj and conducting job searches.The Montérégie region got a total o: $2,862,834, with much of it going to the South Shore of Montreal.Closer to the Townships, Contact Richelieu-Yamaskt received $13,000 to provide emergency housing in a private housing organiza tion with around-the-clock assistance page 4 Tuesday, February 19, 2002 RECORD Joan Thomson honoured for lifetime of volunteering Mary Sweeney with grandmother Joan Thompson and MP David Price at recent ceremony honouring Thompason's contribution to her community.PERRY BEATON/SPEC1A1 Serving the public for 79 years By Daniel Huot Sherbrooke For 91-year-old Joan Thomson, volunteering is a lifetime achievement.The Women’s Canadian Club of the Eastern Townships, which is under the patronage of Canada’s Governor-General, noted this, and on Wednesday evening Thomson was presented with a certificate from the federal government for decades of outstanding volunteer service.“My grandmother is full of life,” said Mary Sweeney, Thompson’s 17-year-old granddaughter.“She’s always doing stuff.When I call my grandma, she always says she’s done a million things.It’s funny when she says: T went to the hospital to visit old people and they’re younger than she is.’” Thomson began volunteering 79 years ago.“I was about 12,” she recalled.“I sold violets for the IODE (Independent Order of the Daughters of the Empire).’’ But pretty violets pale when compared to the horrors she faced near the battlegrounds of Europe during the Second World War - all without pay.“I got no pay,” said Thomson.“It was total volunteer work.” She set up a blood donor clinic and organized dances for Canadian soldiers prior to their overseas postings.Then she volunteered with the Red Cross and helped the needy overseas, in England and mainland Europe for over three years.“I think that when you’re so busy, you don't have time to be scared,” she said.“I saw bombs come down and I saw their results.One time, a colonel told us we had to sleep in the basement of the hospital.I told him there was no way I would sleep in the basement.” She got her way, but only after the officer warned her that he could not be held accountable for her safety.“We had no expenses,” said Thomson.“Our food, lodging and uniforms were supplied and the passage was paid across the cold Atlantic.” There was nothing to spend money on either in war-torn Europe.Handing out cigarettes in restaurants was a handy way to tip waiters.“We met the ambulances and looked after the wounded,” she continued.“We did everything nurses didn’t have the time to do.” In 1947, she returned to Canada and continued volunteering for various organizations.In 1950, she married Lome Thomson, and the couple had two children.“My husband was transferred to Sherbrooke from Montreal,” said Thomson.“I canvassed for cancer and the heart foundation, partly to get to know people.I was happy to do it.Some things have to be done.” But tragedy struck when her husband died 12 years later.Widowed, she had to find work to support her family, not an easy feat considering conditions for women 40 years ago.“I worked for many years for Sunlife,” she said.“I started when I was 18, and I stopped when I got married.Back then, when you got married, you lost your job.A lot of people don’t realize it nowadays.” Her new job, which didn’t pay much but allowed her to get by, consisted of taking care of younger students from Quebec’s Lower North Shore who came to Alexander Galt to study.She is now known as the grandmother of 804 North Shore students plus six grandchildren of her own.It was not a nine-to-five job, as Thomson put it.“I’d get calls at 6 a.m.or at midnight if a child complained of a pain, so he had to be brought to the hospital,” she remembered.“They flew them down from nine villages in the North Shore." Many of those students were the chil- dren of fishermen or Hydro-Québec workers.“I was with the school board for 17 years and I retired when I was 75,” she said.“I figured they didn’t pay me enough, so I quit.” Even though she worked mainly in the Sherbrooke area, she enjoyed the travels to Quebec’s north, where she met plenty of interesting people.“I met the folks and I loved their hospitality,” said Thomson.“Their language was different, their customs were different and their drinking habits were different.Many of them had never seen a cow.” Beyond work, Thomson found time to visit the Sherbrooke Hospital every Monday for 12 consecutive years to comfort patients.Today she continues to participate in a number of organizations, including ACW, the Naturalist’s Club, Upland’s Historical Society and the Canadian Club.At other times, she can be found in St.Peter’s Anglican Church’s Thrift Shop selling and sorting out clothes for the needy.“We don’t resell anything that has a rip or tear,” she noted.Participating is one thing, chairing or sitting on the executive committees of organizations is another.She said she’ll just continue to volunteer for the time being and will leave aside any administrative responsibilities.Thomson isn’t the type of person to let work interfere with having fun.She continues to travel to this day and will soon be leaving on a short trip to Egypt.“The only continent I haven’t been to is South America and I’m aiming for that some day,” she said.“Last year I was in Ireland and the year before in Scandinavia.It was beautiful.” At 91, she is still in top shape, full of good humor and has many plans for the future.Briefs Robbers take wine, smokes from Cookshire IGA Staff Three young robbers made off with cart loads of wine and cigarettes from the Cookshire IGA Sunday night.At about 10:40 p.m.the three men appeared at the cash with two grocery carts.One was filled with between 20 and 40 bottles of wine, while the other they filled with 25 cartons of cigarettes.One of the men pulled out a firearm during the robbery.Sûreté du Quebec spokesman Const.Serge Dubord said the men then made off in a getaway car, but none of the three employees saw it.There were no customers in the Principale St.grocery store at the time.Dubord said one of the robbers was small, about five-foot-four, and weighed about 125 pounds.He also had “the beginnings of some sort of moustache.” The other two robbers were thin, and about six-feet tall.Both men had dark hair, one wearing a black hat.One of the men had a black coat with white lines on one side.Dubord said all three appeared to be between 16 and 20 years old.The Haut-St-François detachment of the SQ is continuing its investigation.Police seize counterfeit bills Staff Hugo Lemay, 21, of Sherbrooke appeared in court in Sherbrooke Monday where he was charged with possession of counterfeit money.On Sunday, Sherbrooke Municipal Police Force officers arrested Lemay after obtaining a warrant in connection with an unrelated matter.RCMP spokesman Jim Moffat said the warrant followed a request for assistance from Quebec City police.Sherbrooke police then found 78 counterfeit $20 bills in the suspect’s possession.They transferred the file to the RCMP's commercial crime section to deal with the matter.“We don’t believe the suspect was producing the bills,” said Moffat.“We believe he was just passing them on.” The fake bills are slicker than regular bills.The golden seal on the upper left corner can be scratched off, whereas an authentic seal is resistant.Moffat said people who have spotted Lemay in stores within recent weeks should contact the RCMP’s commercial crime section at 819-564-5770.All calls will remain confidential. Tuesday, February 19, 2002 page 5 m%?\ Gwynne Dyer offers perspective on terrorist attacks PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Gwynn Dyer offered Alexander Galt students an historic perspective on terrorist attacks.happened since the events of Sept.11, Dyer said the crumbling of the World Trade Centre buildings can be traced to the desire of Muslim fundamentalists to see the Middle East bombed.“What they wanted to happen was for the Americans to retaliate, to attempt to stampede into a counter atrocity,” said Dyer.“The al-Qaeda (the network operated by Osama bin Laden, which orchestrated the attacks) wanted to sucker the Americans into retaliation and lashing out in fury and terror to indiscriminately kill thousands upon thousands of innocent Arabs and Muslims.If that occurred, it would spark a Muslim revolution in the Arab world.Bin Laden wanted to overthrow governments throughout the Middle East.They’re revolutionary, after all.” Dyer went on to pinpoint the time that he believed the initial planning stages of the Sept.11 attacks occurred, back in 1998 when suicide truck bombs exploded outside the American embassies in Africa, killing 24 people.The response from then U.S.president Bill Clinton was to fire 75 cruise missiles, which Dyer said made the Taliban realize that more furor would happen with a massive attack on the U.S.“It was interesting to see a different perspective,” said Galt student Alex Dezan after the address.“We only hear what the news says and this is a different theory that makes you think.He gave us the history about the past events, and knowing that background, what happened makes a little more sense.” Others agreed.“We’ve never heard that side, we only hear what the news and governments want us to think,” said Keith MacLean-Talbot.Added Marissa Kelso: “(Dyer’s speech) gave me a lot more information than 1 had heard.We definitely don’t hear the whole story all the time and this gives a new understanding.” By Arash Madani Special to The Record Lennoxville Despite what the American government and media want the public to believe, the world has not altered greatly since Sept.11, said renowned author, historian and journalist Gwynne Dyer at Alexander Galt High School Monday morning.Dyer, also a former host of a military television series on CBC and syndicated columnist for more than 150 major newspapers around the world, told more than 200 graduating students and staff at the regional high school that even with the attacks on New York and Washington, life has been affected minimally since terrorism became a household word last fall.“How much has the world changed?Not a hell of a lot, not really at all,” said the Newfoundland native, and former college professor.“World War III has been canceled and really, I haven’t seen the world looking this good in my lifetime.” The graduate of Memorial University (BA), Rice University (MA) and University of London (Ph.D), encouraged the senior class to think outside of the box when examining major world issues and the underlying reasons surrounding war.While trying to make sense of what La Pommeraie to keep radiology, lab a while longer ‘It's only the first part of the battle’ -Lafrance-Charlebois By Maurice Crossfield Radiology and laboratory services at the Farnham and Bedford CLSC have been given a temporary stay of execution.“It looks pretty good, but it’s only the first part of the battle,” said Lyse Lafrance-Charlebois, co-president of the coalition to save services in Farnham.Faced with having to trim $350,000 from its budget, the board of directors of the CLSC-CHSLD La Pommeraie presented the Montérégie regional health board with its options to balance the budget.In January the health board announced that it would accept La Pommeraie cutting radiology services in Bedford, and radiology and lab services in Farnham.Residents of those two towns would then have to travel to Cowansville or St-Jean for X-rays.The move was to cut $271,000 from the budget.Just how La Pommeraie was going to cut an additional $80,000 to comply with the province’s anti-deficit legislation was not yet decided.Monday Lafrance-Charlebois said the coalitions formed to fight the cuts had managed to get $200,000 to keep the radiology and lab services in operation for another year.As well, La Pommeraie has been allowed to register the remaining $150,000 as a deficit, she said.“It’s only the beginning, because the money won’t be there next year,” Lafrance-Charlebois said.The coalition president vowed to con- tinue fighting for funding, so that no services to the population will be cut in Brome-Missisquoi.She said the key would be to have the region included in the pilot projects for family medicine clinics this year.That would see various services grouped under one roof, and effectively save the radiology and lab services.“It would give us more possibilities,” Lafrance-Charlebois said.The official announcement was to be made at La Pommeraie’s regular board meeting in Cowansville Monday night.STOCK INDEX BONDS PLACEMENTS Invest on the St©ck Market without risking your capital! Companies included in the Québec-30 Index™ as at January 14, 2002: (For more information on the Québec-30 Index™: www.iq30-iq150.org) • Bombardier •BCE • Alcan Aluminium • National Bank ot Canada • Royal Bank • Power Corporation • Abitibi-Consolidatad • Canadian National Railway • Power Financial Corporation •C6I • Quebecor World • Dorntar • Bank of Montreal • Molson • Métro • Jean Coutu Group (PJC) • Industrial Alliance • BCE Emergis • G.T.C.Transcontinental •SNC Lavalin • Quebecor • Alimentation Couche Tard • Laurentian Bank of Canada • Saputo Stock Index Bonds: An investment whose return depends on the Stock Market performance of Québec’s 30 largest companies.Your capital is not at risk 5-10 terms year available Bonus of of invested capital, applicable on new RRSP funds .Minimum purchase of $100.» Stock Index Bonds can be held in an RRSP or non-registered account.• Tembec •Axcan Pharma • Groupe TVA • Cogeco Cable • Dorel Industries • Cascades Call usl 1 800 463-5229 For the Québec City region, call 521-5229.www.placementsqc.gouv.qc.c Placements __ Québec ran Building the future Business hours: Monday to Friday, de 8 a.m.to 8 p.m.and Saturdays during February, from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. page 6 Tuesday, February 19, 2002 Record Community Forum Permanent lobbyist registry will be set up T self.o paraphrase John F.Kennedy, ask not what your government can do for you, but what it will do to it- So what’s it going to be this week?A backbencher conspiracy of Landry loyalists to embarrass Pauline Marois?How about the defection of a PQ_ MNA to Action Démocratique?Maybe some unsolicited words from Jacques Parizeau as to why he should be drafted to replace Bernard Landry?In the wacky world inside the Landry government, anything is possible.Two weeks ago, with caucus members scratching and clawing each other over the anticipated Cabinet shuffle, the Premier had to cancel a foreign economic mission to come home and calm his troops.He handled that so well that Guy Chevrette and Jacques Brassard, two of the party’s longest-serving members, slammed the door, followed quickly by David Cliche.Within days of promoting more than half of his remaining caucus members to Cabinet jobs, he had to contradict one of them.The new Energy Minister, Rita Dionne-Marsolais, said in a Le Devoir interview she believed Hydro-Québec should be putting more emphasis on energy conservation as a way to slow the need for costly new hydro developments.She also questioned Hydro’s plan to get involved in natural gas exploration when the government already has an agency, la Société québécoise d’initiatives pétrolières, with that mandate.Her thoughts reflected a certain logic and common sense.However, she neglected to consider the government had just signed an historic deal with the Cree allowing Hycjroto move ahead with plans for a new James Bay hydro project.She also failed to realize that Hydro tells the minister what to do and not the other way around.Within hours, Cabinet colleagues, in National Assembly Glenn Wanamaker an elegant display of solidarity, were telling her to learn her files before opening her mouth.The Premier meanwhile said she was wrong, while Natural Resources Minister Gilles Baril chimed in that more dams mean more regional development.You can expect that that’s the last time we’ll hear from Dionne-Marsolais for a while.That was small potatoes though to what came next.Bad enough that Raymond Bréard made a pile of money lobbying his PQ_ friends in the short period between his PQjobs, but then the party executive and several Cabinet ministers openly disagreed on what to do.The executive fully backed Bréard while ministers, led by Pauline Marois, said that at the very least, he should be temporarily replaced.It is a bad sign when the elected politicians and the party executive can’t agree on an important issue of political ethics.But having lost the confidence of some of his Cabinet masters, and perhaps catching a glimpse of a political liability in the mirror, Bréard took the appropriate action and resigned.Baril resigns Still reeling from that embarrassment, Landry then had to accept the stunning resignation 24 hours later of his close friend and colleague Gilles Baril.In an emotional press conference, Baril said he could no longer stand the pressure and the stress on his family life.The controversy over his close friendship with a lobbyist, he indicated, was just the last straw.It’s rare that politicians show that kind of vulnerability.Few among us could accept the daily pummeling that politicians must endure, especially when the criticism targets the person and not the issue.P.O.Box 1200 SherbrookeJIH 5L6 or 1195 Gall E, SherbrookeJIG 1Y7 Fax:819-569-3945 ii-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WliBSl II: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinneak Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Jamie Zachary Corresp.Editor .(819) 5696345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mcr.(819) 5699931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 5699931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising .(819)5699525 Circulation.(819) 5699528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowi.ton 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 The job eats up time, separates you from family, and in the midst of a political storm, can leave you isolated and powerless - ironic when the ______ game is about power and wielding it.Liberal leader Jean Charest, as he did following the resignations of Guy Chevrette and Jacques Brassard, showed uncommon compassion towards Baril, the individual.He could have chosen to go for the jugular; instead he chose to sympathize with Baril’s struggle to achieve a balance in his personal life.But that’s not to say the Liberals will not try to prolong the PQ.’s agony.In committee last week, they demanded a public inquiry into lobbying practices so they could determine whether or not there exists a “broad network” of lobbyists operated by “the friends of Bernard Landry”.Making it sound as if there’s a shady get-rich scheme operating inside the PQ.is great political fun.It’s also highly effective, which is why Landry hastened to throw together legislation that would set rules to regulate lobbying.The lobby law In a weak effort to deflect attention, he blamed the Liberals for failing to support lobbyist legislation in 1998.In fact, the government itself decided to ignore the recommendation of an allparty committee to regulate lobbying.Today, it’s paying the price.As of this week, general ethical guidelines were to be distributed to politicians, their staffs, and senior public servants.When the National Assembly sits again next month, a bill will be introduced that will set up a permanent lobbyist registry that will apply to companies like the one at the centre of the recent uproar, Oxygène 9.It will also apply to groups that lobby over policy issues, such as business associations, unions, community organizations, and professional bodies.An ethics counsellor will be appointed, reporting directly to the National Assembly, and a code of ethics will be drawn up, applying to provincial and municipal politicians, and civil servants.When they leave politics, MNAs and ministers will not be allowed to work as lobbyists for two years; a one-year period will apply to senior civil servants.The most significant measure will outlaw conditional remuneration, that is, government grant money cannot be used to pay a lobbyist, as occurred in the case of Oxygène 9 and the association of major international festivals.The law, said Landry, will be “the best in the world”.Maybe so.But after the self-inflicted mess of these past few weeks, not even a panel of Olympic figure skating judges would award Landry a medal for that.(Glenn Wanamaker can be reached by e-mail at wanamakerg@hotmail.com.) „.»TOCX WTUUSIAHA £U?' NOV) TVIST LEAPT UP j\NDmOH,