The record, 31 mars 2004, mercredi 31 mars 2004

RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Kehne exhibition opens.See Page Brome County News Granby ER hits 520 per cent capacity 70 CENTS WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM By Maurice Crossfield The Granby Hospital emergency room was in crisis mode Tuesday, faced with its busiest day ever.“We had 52 people on stretchers at about 8 a.m., with a capacity of ten,” said Granby Hospital director general René Giard.“By noon we were down to 42 by placing some of the patients elsewhere, but it remains extremely crowded at 42.” That’s the highest level of overcrowding in the Montérégie administrative region this year.Faced with such numbers, the hospital took the exceptional measure of issuing an advisory for the public to stay away if at all possible.People with health problems were advised to call the Info Santé line, or try going to private medical clinics.“At least for the people who can find other solutions than the emergency," Giard said.“But the emergency is still open for the people who need it.” Giard said the hospital even consid- ered rerouting ambulances to other hospitals.But he said Granby’s two neighboring hospitals, the Brome-Missisquoi Perkins in Cowansville and the Honore-Mercier in St-Hyacinthe, are already very busy and unable to handle the excess.Please see Granby Page 3 A family-friendly budget By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Families were the big winners in the provincial budget yesterday as Finance Minister Yves Séguin announced measures from family allowance cheques to the elimination of provincial sales taxes on diapers, baby bottles and breast-feeding supplies starting today.“I am presenting a budget of change, a budget that honours our commitments and puts money back into the pockets of Quebec families,” Séguin said, boasting Jhe budget helps families, people with low incomes and the middle class.In all, Séguin said the government will put some $1 billion back in taxpayers’ pockets.Most of the money, some $550 million to families with children under 18, will come in quarterly child assistance cheques from the government.“The government wants to build a Quebec in which families will flourish,” Sequin said.Another $243 million will be spent on a “work premium” that will offer income supplements to low-income earners.That, Séguin said, will encourage young Quebecers to get off welfare.“Too many Quebecers do not partici- WEB PHOTO Quebec Finance Minister Yves Se'guin's budget focused on the health, education and well-being of Quebecers.pate in the labour market,” Séguin said.“Everything must be done to induce Quebecers to enter the job market and stay there.’” Please see budget Page 4 Freedom vs Finals tom peacock The warm weather lured hundreds of students from their studies yesterday as the temperature hit double figures for the first time in months.For more on the real meaning of spring, please see Page 8.* _>'„V V'.T-,t » "i 4 MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES CHINESE BOXING, ETC.with Gaétan Carrier 7th degree black belt 4- times/week — 050°° monthly 645 St.Paul St., Sherbrooke (corner of Belvedere) 347-1888 page 2 Wednesday, March 31, 2004 ! ¦¦ THE ¦¦¦ RECORD Source-Soleil gets support Staff The Caisse Populaire des Plateaux de Sherbrooke announced a major contribution to the Maison Source-Soleil, a home for young people trying to find their way in society, at a press conference yesterday.Roger Durand announced that the Caisse will provide $10,000 per year over the next three years to the home where young people between the ages of 18 and 30 can access a variety of services, including a place to stay, support finding a job or returning to school, help managing personal budgets, and the chance to participate in numerous other activities.Other Sherbrooke businesses, including Club Progrès, Radio-Canada Estrie and TQS Estrie also contribute significant funds every year to the home.The Source-Soleil will hold its third annual fundraising dinner on April 15 at three separate restaurants in Sherbrooke: L’Arlequin, du Bacchus et L’Entr’Amis.For more information call Josée Harrisson at: 563-1131.iesm v ' .PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Pictured are: Caisse Populaire president Roger Durand, President of the Board of Directors of Source-Soleil André-Rémy Blais, and Martine Bolduc, singer and spokesperson for the home.Briefs Bagging groceries for a good cause Volunteers from Centre d’Entraide Plus de TEstrie will be bagging groceries at the Super C in Fleurimont April 1, 2 and 3.The event is to raise money to support the organization’s home visit program for low-income families.Hydro rates up in Magog Hydro-Magog will be raising rates April 1 by 1.4 per cent.The rate increase was approved by Magog council March 22 after a similar rate increase was granted to Hydro Quebec by the Régie de l’énergie.The rate increase will effect about 7,800 residential, commercial and industrial clients in the Magog area.Water works in Scotstown The provincial government has announced a grant to Scotstown for work to be done to the town’s water system.The $737,500 will bring the town’s system up to current standards, and will include work to eliminate any risk of bacterial contamination, as well as the construction of three wells.The project, funded through Infrastructures Quebec, will employ 19 people.Scotstown has a population of just over 700.More Townshippers unemployed last month The unemployment rate in the Eastern Townships rose from 8.2 per cent to 10 per cent last month.The region lost 3,200 jobs, bringing the number of jobs to 139,700.In Sherbrooke, the unemployment rate was 8.1 per cent, compared to an overall rate for the province of Quebec of 9.6 per cent.Planning a garage sale?The city of Sherbrooke is promoting the second R — Reuse — for their annual yard sale weekend, June 5 and 6.Permits are available by filling out the coupon in the March issue of the infoSherbrookois, and will be only $10 instead of the usual $25.All residents having yard sales must get a permit by May 7 at either the borough office or at 145 Wellington North.A complete list of all the sales will be printed in La Tribune on June 5.A map will also be available marked with all the locations.Last year 706 residents took part in the sale.Blood Donor Clinics Thursday, April 1 Saint-Hyadnthe Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Hyacinthe Auditorium (Salle du Bazar) 1800 Dessaulles Street 9:30 a.m.to 3 p.m.Objective: 75 donors Making a difference The Regroupement des organismes communautaires (ROC) de l’Estrie wants to remind the public of the contributions of local community organizations.The ROC, in a release sent yesterday, highlighted the contribution to community lifecof the many orgnizations, especially those providing social services to Townshippers.Lucky winners Winner of the Monjoye Ski Tickets is Zdenek Palik of Sherbrooke.Winners of tickets to the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra season Finale April 3 are: David and Shirley Nortcliffe of Cookshire and Julie Perkins of Lennoxville Weather Today:CloudyShowers beginning in the afternoon.High 10.Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud.Low 1.High 5.Friday: A mix of sun and cloud.60 per cent chance of showers.Low minus 3.High plus 4.Staurday: Periods of rain.Low zero.High 10.Normals for the period: Low minus 5.High 6.Ben by Daniel Shelton ”7ITS JUST THADl ( WELL.UMM.J V_ok*C_Jr V "\ THAT &00K, MOMMY.' CAN YOU REAO THAT BOOK TO ME?'font £ UMM."LOVE YOU FOREVER, WRITTEN BY ROBERT MUNSCH, MLUUSTRATEP BY 5NIF.: SH-SHEILA Mc6RAW.;'5Klf'' BOY' THAT'S A PRETTY POWERFUL BOOK IF EVEN THE CREPITS MAKE YOU CRY/ ¦«¦THE ¦¦ i - RECORD Wednesday, March 31, 2004 page 3 Sherbrooke to help Memphremagog fight landfill City approves $4 million arts center conditional on grant from Quebec By Rita Legault Sherbrooke "T a jhile it will leave the talking to \/\f officials from the Memphrem-V V agog MRC, the City of Sherbrooke will be a full partner in contesting the expansion of the landfill in Coventry, Vermont.Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault said Monday the city will pay half the cost of documentation being prepared by Teknika, the firm hired to prepare regional arguments against the landfill development which is slated to double in size and accept most of the waste produced in the state of Vermont.Perrault, who just returned from vacation, said councillor and Environment Committee chair Bernard Tanguay has been in contact with Memphremagog MRC warden Roger Nicolet to discuss the issue and that Sherbrooke plans to be very active in protecting the lake which serves as a drinking water reservoir for some FILE PHOTO Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault said the arts community has lobbied extensively for an arts centre.120,000 city residents.Perrault said he has also accepted an invitation from provincial Environ- ment Minister Thomas Mulcair to sit on the newly revived Quebec- Vermont Committee on Lake Memphremagog where he will join a representative from the Memphremagog MRC and Canadian co-chair Emile Grieco, the director of the regional Environment Quebec office.Perrault made the comments after Monday night’s lightning council meeting, which was over in 15 minutes.Perrault explained that council meets every second Monday and that months with five Mondays are rare.Because council had already met twice in March, there were few subjects to tackle.Councillors voted in favor of a new $4 million arts centre that would be built at the corner of Aberdeen and Wellington.Perrault said construction of the Centre de production des arts de la scène, which would house a number of theatre and dance companies, is contingent on 50 per cent participation from the provincial government.Perrault said the arts community has been seeking an arts centre for the past 15 years and he notes construction in the old downtown area would help revitalize the neighborhood.He notes the area is already sprucing up thanks to the restoration of the old train station by Limocar.Perrault said the cost of the project soared because the city decided to build a new building rather than renovate an old building on Kitchener.An additional $300,000 will be needed to decontaminate the soil at the Aberdeen site.Council also approved funding for Phase 2 of the reorganization of the municipal police force.That will mean the hiring of 19 new officers and white collar workers.Fleurimont Borough president Francis Gagnon said he was pleased the re organization has arrived at this phase and noted boroughs will be better protected with a new community services program.Police committee chief Robert Pouliot noted that thanks to the new program and hiring of more officers, there will also be a greater police presence downtown, in parks and throughout the city.Granby: Cont’d from Page 1 At the BMP Hospital Monday afternoon there were 21 patients on stretchers in the ER, which has a normal stretcher capacity of 12.BMP spokesman Josée Darche said ER traffic picked up last week with a rise in the number of elderly patients, primarily with heart and lung problems.No Surprise The sudden rise in traffic at the Granby ER wasn’t a surprise, Giard said.He said every spring there’s an increase in the number of people seeking health care.Though he didn’t give specific reasons, he said factors such as the change from winter to spring, with people becoming more active again, is likely a factor.“The period of April, May and June is always very busy,” he said.“These aren’t people who come for nothing.Their needs are obvious.” The busy period comes after a very busy winter for Quebec hospitals, particularly Granby and the BMP.The Granby Hospital regularly exceeded 400 per cent capacity during the winter months.Double capacity came to be a normal fact of life.With a relatively small emergency room capacity and a large population, Giard said he was hoping for some good news out of Quebec finance minister Yves Séguin’s budget Tuesday.The Granby Hospital has been lobbying for a $22 million expansion and renovation project for the emergency, a project cited as a priority by the regional health board.It was also a promise of Shefford MNA Bernard Brodeur in the last provincial election.Part of the problem is also the lack of available long term care beds in Haute-Yamaska.In the coming years an additional 300 to 400 more long term beds will be needed to keep pace with the aging population.Giard said early Tuesday after-noon he would be watching Séguin’s budget closely.“This project is a very important project for us,” he said.“We are hoping there will be an announcement.” ¦mmm Granby Zoo welcomes prickly newcomer f « ^he Granby Zoo’s newest arrival isn’t exactly I cuddly.This little guy is an African porcu-JL pine, born on March 19.:Its parents arrived from the Staten Island Zoo, from which they were borrowed.Granby Zoo spokesman Paul Labreque said it is fairly rare for African porcupines to successfully reproduce in captivity.A baby was born at the zoo a few years ago, but failed to survive.This time the youngster, who will likely be named Punky, appears to be in excellent health.Though it is still hard to tell for sure, Labreque said Punky seems to be a male.Zoo officials are now trying to work out an agreement to have Punky become a permanent resident of Granby Zoo.irnrrrr il Lose up to 7 lbs, a week! TOeONFth at real Summer is closer than you think! Different programs.Different products.BIG DIFFERENCE IN RESULTS! Cathy ' f-m ¦ (Jo f+4 4j.PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Heather Bowman, t ^dent, and Doreen Morrissette, treasurer, of the Contact Sher-Lenn Group presented Carole Madcnish, principal of Sherbrooke Elementary School, with a donation for the school’s hot lunch program.Contact Sher-Lenn is a networking group of local business people from the Sherbrooke region.Bowman is the director of the University of Sherbrooke Geriatric Institute Foundation, andMorrissette is the director of the Charpentier International Language Centre.W**