The record, 28 avril 1998, mardi 28 avril 1998

To find out what's happening in your community THE L Subscribe to 1 Sherbrooke 569-9528 Knowlton: 242-1188 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 I Coming May 1 St BINGO I 60 CENTS Tuesday, April 28, 1998 Townships Digest Media mogul John Bassett dead at 83 Media mogul John Bassett Jr., one time owner of The Record, died early Monday at the age of 83.Major John Bassett Sr., bought The Record in 1935 and held the position of president of the Sherbrooke Daily Record Company until 1945 when his son John Bassett Jr.took over and carried on until 1968.At the same time he was owner of The Record, Bassett launched CFTO TV and also ran the now defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper.In 1989 Bassett was appointed to head the review committee for Canada’s spy agency, CSIS.He had been in failing health for some time.John Bassett once owned The Record.Today’s Weather Sunny Complete weather: page 2 Inside Ann Landers .16 Crossword Births and Community Deaths .14,15 Forum Classified .18 Sports Comics .17 Cool, clear water in Compton PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT About 800 Compton residents will soon have clearer, better quality drinking water now that the municipality has begun work on a new water filtration plant.Currently, it’s safe to drink but unpleasant because of its strong odor and brownish color due to sulphur and iron deposits.There are also high, but not dangerous, levels of arsenic in the well water.The work is taking place thanks to a federal/provincial infrastructure grant.Each level of government is providing $49,975 of the $238,000 project.Engineer Roland Mongeau, St.François MNA Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Compton-Stanstead MP David Price and Compton Mayor Eugene Naylor were on hand 16-year-old said he didn’t feel well Police search for missing teen By Maurice Crossfield The Quebec Police Force is searching for a 16-year-old Beauce boy missing since Saturday night near Lambton.According to police, Samuel Maynard of St-Martin in the Beauce went out with friends that night to the Bar Au Pont De Fer on Route 263 between Lambton and Disraeli.QPF spokesman Cst.Serge Dubord said the boy’s friends told police Maynard said he didn’t feel well, and decided to stay in the car instead of entering the bar.At about 12:30 a.m.Sunday morning the friends said they went out to the car to check on him, but the car was empty and locked.Figuring he had gone inside to join them, the group decided to go back into the bar.However by closing time at 3 a.m.the group still hadn’t seen any sign of Maynard.After a brief search of the bar they figured then that he had met up with other friends and left.“Normally he would have stayed overnight with friends, but he never did,” said Dubord.By Sunday at noon the friends called Maynard’s father to say they didn’t know where his son was.Maynard’s father went to the scene, and looked around the immediate area for any sign of him.By 4 p.m.he contacted the QPF detachment in Lake Megantic to report his son missing.Monday QPF officers combed the vicinity around the Bar Au Pont De Fer.See missing, page 3 need information on wherabouts of •l Maynard ALL OUR PRICES ARE DISPLAYED -NO SURPRISES! 2200 Sherbrooke St., MAGOG MAGOG cHEV OLDS (Quebec) 843-6571 All the AVAILABLE REBATES with a vast YEARS CHOICE in STOCK ALL OUR PRICES ARE DISPLAYED Gilles Dion says Come see us before BUYING or LEASING -NO SURPRISES! MAGOG OLDS 2200 Sherbrooke St., MAGOG (Quebec) 843-6571 page 2 Tuesday, April 28, 1998 ¦ HHTHE— HIW ¦— I ! .— Record Thank goodness summer follows rites of spring Three D’s and a dust mop Ugh! It’s that time of the year again.Tax deadlines and spring cleaning always seem to return sooner than birthdays or vacation time.The days just zoom by as April 30 approaches.Yup, you guessed it - I have procrastinated once again, left everything until the last minute.I vow every May 1 not to doom my April weekends the following year to dreaded book work, thus delaying that other treasured seasonal ritual, spring cleaning.And how I envy those well-organized souls who dutifully month by month record income and expenditures and have their tax returns done in February, their spring cleaning completed in March.They are now reaping their rewards - raking lawns, starting gardens, wiling away their weekends.Grrrr.Not at them, at me, for not attacking this duty sooner.Chrétien’s Toronto Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, it seems, took the first opportunity he could upon Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s arrival for an official visit to his island fiefdom Sunday to attack the United States.This, of course, should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the demagogic career of the tinpot tyrant.But it does make one wonder why Chrétien is so willing to give Castro the opportunity to dump on our best friends and neighbors.Not that our foreign policy - or domestic policy either - should be at the mercy of Washington.It’s just that given the historic relationship between our country and the U.S., and the critical importance of our trade with them, one would hope that our leaders would have a good reason for upsetting the Americans.In visiting Cuba, Chrétien joins the many thousands of Canadians who go there every year to hypocritically enjoy cheap vacations thanks to the slave labor conditions of those waiting upon their every whim.Today’s Weather 4/' y ~ /Tubtforo.Mines i Richmond •' Lag-Meganti^ w Sherbrooke»/ i ./jCOWANSVlUJT ; V ^Stanstead REGIONAL FORECAST TUESDAY: Sunny, low near minus 2.High near 12.WEDNESDAY: Sunny.Low near 1.High near 15.THURSDAY: Mostly sunny.Low near 3.High near 17.Stories of people who arrive at the accountant’s office with a shoe box full of papers of all shapes and purpose abound at this time of year.I can proudly attest that I don’t use a footwear carton, and humbly admit that I enter with trepidation and frustration, wearily bearing a large brown envelope.Back in January of last year, I fell into my old routine - or lack thereof.A large, old enve- lope was dedicated to all bills, receipts, cash slips that might be needed for income tax purposes.Day after day, week after week, month after month, papers were added.Until the envelope got too full and started to rip.Then, everything got transferred to a plastic grocery bag, until a few weeks ago.Here’s what separates me from the shoe box set.As the deadline draws ever so near, terror strikes my heart.I claim rights to the tea room, spread everything onto three tables and as many chairs.I sort and separate, and begin to panic.Invariably, some of the required ‘pièces de justification’ are missing.“Where can they be?” becomes the focus of all conversation and concentration.After agonizing searches, several forgotten spots come to mind.Of course, where else would they have been, but in such places as summer purses, a letter box my husband filled with odds and ends of papers that had cluttered the kitchen beyond tolerable time, the catch-all drawer in the telephone stand, the office tray of items needing attention.Will I never learn?Susan Mastine Next task, list by category, add and recalculate to double-check, cross out and readjust when, groan, I unexpectedly come across one more slip of paper, hidden in the stack.Success, at last everything is narrowed down to a few pieces of paper with notes, a few envelopes, the long forms - all placed in that large manila envelope which I hand over to my accountant, with a sigh and much relief that I have survived this process one more time.Now if only I could adopt the three D’s of handling paper - deal with it, dump it or delegate it as soon as it’s in my hand, I’d be all set.Ah, the rites of spring.Now, next it’s curtains and windows, bedding and pillows, ceilings and walls.Clothesline and window cleaner, feather duster and floor mop, watch out! Unless the flowers claim my attention first! Let’s not forget island is run by a dictator Cuba visit a cheap shot at the U.S.Canada, to its shame, has been instrumental in helping prop up a tyrannical regime and the sad thing is that many Canadians - Chrétien included -think this is something we should be proud of.When Chrétien arrived in Havana on Sunday he helped Castro inaugurate the new international wing of the Jose Marti International Airport, which was built with Canadian financing.Chrétien boasted that it will serve as the terminal for the tens of thousands of Canadian tourists who go to Cuba each year.He didn’t mention anything about the working conditions of the people who serve them.Chrétien called the terminal symbolic of the “thriving commercial relationship” between Canada and Cuba and said the new terminal is “an expression of confidence in the increasing openness of Cuba to the wider world .in a global village that is becoming more and more interconnected.To a more dynamic, more democratic, more prosperous hemisphere that is becoming a family - una gran famila - with shared goals, shared values, shared hopes and dreams.” What utter crap.“More democratic?” Cuba?Let’s get real here.Castro doesn’t allow his people to share the goals, values, hopes and dreams that the people in most other countries in this hemisphere enjoy.Yet Chrétien went on to say that Canada and Cuba have always “chosen dialogue over confrontation, engagement over isolation, exchange over estrangement.And we have always done this in an atmosphere of mutual respect for each other’s independence and sovereignty.” Easy for him to say.But that’s essentially a cheap shot at the Americans - our friends, remember - who had considerable property stolen by Castro without compensation, some of which is being used now to profit Canadian firms.One wonders if Chrétien would be down there scratching Castro’s back and stroking his ego if millions of dollars worth of Canadian property had been stolen without compensation and American corporations were using that property to reap a profit for themselves and for Castro.As for Castro, he used the platform stupidly provided by Chrétien to rip into the 36-year-old U.S.embargo against Cuba.“No state should pretend to have the right to starve another people to death or let it die from diseases,” said Castro.“That is genocide.That is turning a nation into a ghetto and imposing on it a new version of the Holocaust; it’s like using biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.“Those who do such things should be taken before an international court of law to stand trial as war criminals.” That’s nice.This from the man who once had his Soviet friends aim nuclear missiles at American soil; the man who stole American property; who extracts huge per worker payments from foreign corporations - predominately Canadian - only to keep most of it for himself and allows a tiny portion to trickle on down to the actual worker.And there was our prime minister, without the guts to raise human rights matters in public, sitting by while a dictator calls our best friends and neighbors “war criminals.” Ah yes, it’s certainly a proud moment for Canada.Eh?SOUTHAM Syndicate Claire Hoy BEN® by DANIEL SHELTON ACTUALLY X WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT SELLING ANY OF MY TOOLS LIKE YOUW ^ LAST YEAR/ HEY THERE HI NEIGHBOR' HATLEY.ARE YOU LOOKING _______, TO m ANYTHING'! WHAT'S \f THIS?< ISOLP YOUR CAR THIS MORNING' Æiigigism fimiimmiiïYÊ 7/Ê&; 'iimiHSh V»~/1 Tuesday, April 28, 1998 page 3 Record Study rehashes anti-asbestos arguments - MNA British MP urges ban on asbestos By René Bruemmer Knowlton The asbestos industry has a new foe in Europe named Tom Cox, a Braitish MP who recently submitted a report to the European Council recommending a ban of the substance.The study on dangers to workers and the environment also suggests that asbestos substitutes should be used.Richmond MNA Yvon Vallières, MNA for the region where an entire town has been built on and named after the mineral, says thus far the report does not seem to be anything to be overly concerned about.“From what we’ve heard, the report has just been submitted, but no one has necessarily decided to follow it,” Vallières said in a telephone interview yesterday.“He (Cox) is looking for an interested ear, but hasn’t really found any yet.It is not an official document.” Vallières did say however that he wished asbestos supporters in this country would speak up as much as their anti-asbestos counterparts in Europe, who last year managed to have the substance banned in France.“They are not afraid to speak up, so I FILE PHOTO Richmond MNA Yvon Vallières wishes asbestos supporters would speak out in defense of product.don’t know why we seem to be,” Vallières said.He referred specifically to a repeated demand he’s registered with the federal government to lodge a formal complaint against France with the World Trade Organization for its asbestos ban, which members of the Canadian asbestos industry say is unmerited.To date, the Canadian government has refused to comply, as a formal complaint with the WTO is considered serious and could harm relations between the countries.Vallières noted that while Cox’s demand was not considered problematic now, if the British MP has his way, the current problem could go from “serious to very serious.” Cox is trying to promote the ban in Asia as well as Europe, a move that Vallières says involves more than 40 countries and could have a devastating effect on the industry.Quebec’s Mines and Resources minister, Denise Carrier-Perreault said in a press release that Cox’s study merely rehashed the traditional arguments of anti-asbestos groups and was not founded on any validated scientific study.Risk for construction workers cited in the report were based on past uses of asbestos that no longer exist.She said Cox’s report could cause health risks to the population by incit- ing asbestos removal.“We see that the Cox report is not based on scientific arguments, and that other reasons of a more obscure nature motivated its preparation and adoption.” Asbestos industry officials contend the basis of the French ban, and a possible European one, is due to the fact that European nations are producers of asbestos substitutes.The Health and Safety Commission of London advised British ministers last February to forgo an asbestos ban until a full understanding of the health effects could be determined by an independent study conducted by European scientists.A ban conducted without scientific backing could leave the UK open to “insurmountable legal challenges,” the commission advised.On April 7, the ministers of social affairs for the European Union decided not to ban asbestos, but to restrict the amount of professional exposure in an attempt to protect workers and to study and promote proper handling techniques.Nicolet commission to begin hearings into ice storm Staff A special travelling commission has been set up which will allow Quebecers to relive the ice storm this summer.The commission will visit one town in each regional municipality (MRC) affected by the January ice storm and the hydro blackout that followed it.At each of the public meetings any person or organized group can present a brief outlining their thoughts, criticisms and suggestions for the future.Anyone wishing to voice an opinion concerning the disaster and how it was handled will have until July 24 to submit a brief.Heading up the enquiry will be Austin mayor, engineer and former PQ hopeful Roger Nicolet.Nicolet has headed up several commissions over the last several years, including the hearings into the Saguenay floods in 1996 and the hearings into a proposed casino on Mount Orford in 1997.During this summer’s hearings, Nicolet and his fellow commissioners will also hear from specialists on the social, economic and technical effects of the disaster.The roving commission will be in Marieville on August 13, in Iberville on August 18 and in Granby Township on August 19.On August 26 it will be in Acton Vale, and on September 2 , in Cowansville.For more information on the hearings or where to submit briefs, contact the your nearest MRC headquarters.Austin mayor Roger Nicolet has headed up several commissions over the last several years, including the hearings into the Saguenay floods in 1996 and the hearings into a proposed casino on Mount Orford MISSING: Continued from page 1 A helicopter was called in to search the fields and wooded areas around the bar, as well as the shores of nearby Lake St-François.By suppertime Monday the search had failed to turn up any trace of the teen.Dubord said investigators spent Monday questioning friends and relatives of the missing person.He said all indications are that Maynard was not depressed, and had not been in any kind of trouble.“He seems to have been a good kid from a good family," Dubord said.If no sign has been found of Maynard by Tuesday morning, police will then launch a major search operation, complete with tracking dogs and police divers.Detectives from the QPF will also continue questioning anyone who has any information about what happened to Maynard.Samuel Maynard is described as 1.77 metres tall (about five-foot-eleven) and weighs between 61 and 62 kilos (about 135 pounds).He has brown hair and eyes and was last seen wearing black nylon pants and a matching black nylon jacket.Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Maynard is asked to contact the Lake Megantic detachment of the Quebec Police Force at (819) 583-1710, or any detachment of the QPF.Name change The volunteer committee of Dixville has voted unanimously to change its name to the “Roger Jean-Marie Committee” in recognition of his dedication to the municipality and to the region.The late Mr.Jean-Marie spent an enormous amount of time devoted to various causes in and around Dixville.He was an active member of the church, was a member of the Coaticook Hospital Foundation, participated in various committees including the Coaticook library, helped with the creation of the “Festival du lait” in Coaticook and was a celebrated veteran.His talent as a gatherer and a communicator will be missed.Thus for his extraordinary involvement and his great humanism, the Volunteer Committee of Dixville wishes to honor his memory within the community in which he gave so much. page 4 Tuesday, April 28, 1998 RECORD Making mental health Happy Spring! There is definitely something in the air that is putting a smile on peoples’ faces and a bounce in their stride.Aside from the extra boost of ozone in the air it has to be that spring is here! If you are like most of the world, the weather really does have quite an impact on our moods.To those of us working in the mental health Field, spring also brings a busy time we call Mental Health Week.May 4 through to the 10th, community organizations in the Townships, along with a few thousand others from across Canada are organizing activities to help Canadians learn skills to improve their mental health and their general wellbeing.Mental Health affects all aspects of life, yet in spite of the many studies that prove its importance, people continue to ignore it.In the workplace, at home or in schools, despite on-going education and research, mental health is still not considered with the same seriousness as physical health even though over 47 per cent of Canadians interviewed report problems associated with chronic stress.The psychological impact of stress can be poor work performance, poor family relations, bad-decision making, forgetfulness and poor concentration.In its worst state, anger and violence and even clinical depression can result from stress.The physical symptoms can matter include fatigue, headaches, muscle spasms, backache, recurring colds and flu and general poor health.During the upcoming week, we will be encouraging Townships’ citizens to “Make Mental Health Matter.” There are ways to improve your well-being; get in touch with your emotions, manage stress effectively, make friends who count, learn to cope with changes that affect you, work on building a healthy self esteem, and find a spirituality to call your own.Self knowledge and awareness are critical for your mental wellness, as are sharing your life with others, both giving and receiving support and encouragement.We mustn’t forget the physical component to good mental health.Studies show that moderate exercise helps to prevent stress from overwhelming us.But we all know that it just makes sense to let out tension physically.Basic living skills like a healthy diet and getting enough rest are elements which help us cope with the pressures of everyday life.Each day we wake up to events that challenge our mental well-being, some we can control while others are beyond our control.Our lives may become off balance because of external or internal forces.No matter what the reason, we all can take steps to improve our emotional well-being and that of those we care about.So from May 4 -10, we’ll be “Making Mental Health Matter” Won’t you join us?Mental health Helen Johnston Helping hand The Bell employees fund has once again demonstrated its commitment to women in distress by contributing $550 to L'Escale, a women's shelter.Pictured above are France Fournier presenting the cheque to Denise St-Pierre, director of L’Escale.Briefs Family Allowances The Family Allowance Program was modified on September 1, 1997.Payments continue to be made by the Régie des rentes du Quebec to persons who are supporting children under the age of 18.However, the amount paid now varies according to the type of family, its income, and the number of children.For purposes of family allowance, family income is understood to be the total income of both spouses.This income is written on the Avis de cotisation (Notice of contribution) issued by Revenue Quebec following the processing of the tax return form.To receive a family allowance you and your spouse must each submit an income tax return every year, even if you have no income to declare.The Régie des rentes determines the amount of the family allowance based on the information sent to it by Revenue Québec.At the end of June, families will re ceive a notice from the Régie indicating the amount of family allowance that will be paid from July 1998 to June 1999.Making changes Changes, which can be reported at any time during the year, are to be sent to Revenue Canada, which will in turn inform the Régie.You should report such changes as marriage, separation, divorce, death, change of address, change in family type (single parent or two parent), or number of children.Information To contact Revenue Canada by telephone, call 564-5888 or 1 800 959-7383.To contact the Régie des rentes, call 820-3575 or 1 800 667-9625.Property Evaluation Revision Since January 1, 1998, anyone wishing to contest or modify a property or rental evaluation has two recourses available.First, they must file a request for an administrative revision with the municipal body responsible for the evaluation; this step is a requirement for filing a complaint with the Bureau de révision foncière (property review board).If the administrative revision has not resulted in an agreement between the evaluator and the complainant, the latter can file a complaint with the Bureau de révision foncière.Important dates to remember: Mayl: Deadline for filing a request for an administrative revision.September 1: Deadline for reaching an agreement between the evaluator and complainant.October 1: Deadline for filing a request before the Bureau de révision foncière if there has not been an agreement.Have you or your spouse worked in the United States?Many people from the region still neglect to apply for their United States pension because they do not know they have the right to one, have misplaced their papers or do not know who to contact.If either you or your spouse (even if deceased) has participated in a social security plan in the United States, it is possible that you are eligible for pension, disability or survivor benefits from such a plan.Representatives from the Direction des equivalences et des ententes de sécurité sociale from the ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration will be in Lac-Mégantic on April 28 and in Sherbrooke on April 29 and 30 to meet with persons who want information or to make an application.Interested persons should call 1 800 565-7878 to make an appointment for an interview.Communications Québec MBaMBHMHHM Record Tuesday, April 28, 1998 page 5 Nothing significant will be decided during Chrétien’s visit It’s slow going for Canada’s plan to reform Cuba By Mike Trickey Southam News Havana Canadian officials are staking their relationship with Cuba on a 14-point joint declaration focused on reformation of the one-party state’s human rights and political systems.Officials talk almost exclusively of that declaration, signed 15 months ago during Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy’s controversial visit, when answering questions about what real progress is being made by Canada’s policy of “constructive engagement” with Cuba.HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE They note that the declaration marked the first time Cuba agreed to enter into a human rights dialogue with a western nation.They insist that is a signal of Cuba’s recognition nearly a decade after the Cold War ended that the world had changed and that it was going to have to make changes as well.Still, it is slow going.Axworthy admitted last week that nothing of major significance would be agreed upon during Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s two-night visit to Cuba, but said it was important to take the long-term view.IGNORED OPPORTUNITY That position has been parroted repeatedly here by Chrétien and his entourage of “senior officials”.But since Chrétien ignored an opportunity to speak frankly about Cuba’s political and human rights abuses to a national television audience at Sunday’s welcoming ceremony, while political prisoners continue to languish in jail, questions are being raised about what the 14-point program is actually accomplishing.“He is a very Communist person,” “He believes in the system he has.I don’t expect there will be a general election with an opposition next week,” said Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien about his Cuban host Fidel Castro.¦ J?' , ' , ' Guidelines Canada-Cuba By Mike Trickey Southam News Havana npike 14-point declaration of the I foreign affairs ministers of Cana-X da and Cuba was signed in January 1997 and has become the foundation of bilateral relations.Below are the 14 points as expressed in that document.1.Co-operation in the area of administration of justice and the judicial-legal system including exchanges of judges and judicial training.2.Support exchanges between the House of Commons and the National Assembly, focusing on the operations of both institutions.3.Exchange of experiences between both countries relating to the Cuban intention to strengthen within the National Assembly of People’s Power a citizens’ complaints commission.4.Broadening and deepening cooperation on the issue of human rights, which will include the preparation of seminars on diverse matters of mutual interest, academic exchanges between officials, professionals and experts, as well as sharing experiences and positions on the work of specialized organizations of the United Nations, 5.Supporting activities of Canadian and Cuban non-governmental or- -.' ' : ' ' : .' C i,‘.in.I Ï ' '' f i.' 'f % < % \ •__________________________ ganizations with the framework of bilateral co-operation between both countries and in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.6.Continuation of macroeconomic co-operation, with an initial focus in the areas of taxation and central banking, while studying joint areas in which Canada might continue to sup port the Cuban policy of economic reform.7.The negotiation of a foreign investment protection and promotion agreement.8.Further collaboration on narcotics interdiction, including the negotiation of a bilateral accord.9.The establishment of bilateral conversations on the issue of international terrorism and its prevention.10.The negotiation of a memorandum of understanding between Health Canada and the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba.11.The negotiation of an audio-visual co-production agreement.12.The renewal of a bilateral sports cooperation accord.13.The exploration of possibilities for joint research and development co-operation projects in developing countries in the areas of health and environment.14.The provision of food aid in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Lilly.There were signings Monday on three of the 14 points.These were memorandums of understanding on health, an agreement on audiovisual co-productions and renewal of a sports co-operation accord which will permit Canadian athletes to use Cuban training facilities during the cold winter months at home.The timing of the 1997 declaration signing, shortly after Cuba was blasted by Hurricane Lilly, was responsible for the last point in which Canada agreed to provide $5 million in canola cooking oil.Delivery has been completed and another of the 14 points was declared successfully completed.There have been various degrees of progress on other points, but nowhere has there been a clear example of the agreement fundamentally changing the way Fidel Castro’s regime conducts its affairs.REFORMING CUBA The main focus of the declaration is on reforming Cuba’s judicial, political and human rights practices.The results have been mixed - sometimes even embarrassing, as when Commons Speaker Gib Parent was host to a delegation of Cuban legislators and compared their one-party system to a New Brunswick election in which Frank McKenna’s Liberals won all the seats.York University professor James Hathaway has travelled to Cuba to begin a needs assessment in legal/judicial co-operation and follow-up meetings are planned in Cuba and Canada later this summer.But Cuba continues to lock up political prisoners.360 POLITICAL PRISONERS Canadian ambassador Keith Christie notes that a year-and-a-half ago Cuba had nearly 700 political prisoners compared to about 360 today.But among that number are four of the country’s best-known dissidents who were jailed last July and have been held in prison without trial, despite repeated questions about their case from Canada.The four wrote to Chrétien before he came to Cuba and on Monday he asked Castro personally for their release.Canadian officials say the four might end up in Canada, as did 14 other political prisoners released into Canadian exile in March.Canada has prepared a series of recommendations for the Cubans on creating a legitimate citizens’ complaints commission in the national assembly, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is the first Canadian leader to visit Cuba in a quarter-century.and Cuba has agreed to a visit by Canadian Human Rights commissioner Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay.But it is making no commitments about creating an independent ombudsman.Bilateral consultations on children’s rights and women’s rights have been held, with more scheduled later this year, and Canada is pushing for closer collaboration between Cuban and Canadian non-governmental organizations.But again, Cuba is making no commitments.Compensation for Canadians Cuba’s agreement last week to repay more than $12 million in compensation to a Canadian insurance company which had its property confiscated after the 1959 revolution will help clear the way for signing a foreign investment protection and promotion agreement.Canada has also been training Cuban Central Bank officials on taxation.Cuba has been more co-operative in crime-fighting efforts.Foreign Affairs and the RCMP are working with the Cubans to bring narcotics interdiction laws into hemispheric agreements.As well, Cuba renewed the bilateral anti-hijacking agreement in February and has said it is prepared to sign five international accords on terrorism.But for all that, Castro is not ready to scrap his revolution to meet the western world’s definition of how a country should be run and its people treated.“He is a very Communist person,” Chrétien said Monday.“He believes in the system he has.I don’t expect there will be a general election with an opposition next week." page 6 Tuesday, April 28, 1998 __ Record _=_ COMMUNITY FORUM Threat of revolt over Hepatitis C policy speaks volumes Rebel Liberal MPs find themselves in the untenable position of either voting against their conscience or voting against their government, thereby risking its demise on Tuesday.So much for conscience.Clearly even the seemingly remote prospect of a return to the polls effectively negates any freedom of choice being exercised on the Reform Party’s motion to compensate all Hepatitis C victims of tainted blood.The prime minister upped the ante when he announced that the Commons vote on compensating the victims would be a vote of confidence.-—” Given the current party standing in the House, the Liberals have 11 more seats than the combined opposition.As few as 10 dissenting Liberal MP’s could tip the scale in favor of the five Opposition parties, depending on House attendance.Chretien has underlined the importance with which he views the vote by cutting his already short trip to Cuba shorter, thus guaranteeing his own presence and insuring a command performance by his MPs.Liberal backbenchers have publicly revealed their unhappiness with their government’s policy to compensate only a portion of the tainted blood victims of Hepatitis C.They will meet with senior cabinet members on Monday to review the consequences should they decide to disobey their chief.Maybe they should ask Independent MP.John Nunziata to show them his scars.Interviewed on CBC’s The House, Mark Assad, Quebec Liberal MP allowed that he will vote with the government but ‘the battle is not over.’ He personally knows two brothers who have died from contaminated blood in his own constituency.He and other backbenchers want assurances that the compensation package will be improved before the showdown in the House this week.If the government could fall on a non confidence motion on the Hepatitis C file, it is only because the PM himself Viewpoint Ivy Weir chose to call it a non confidence motion.Until that moment, had the Reform Party won on an ordinary motion, no such prospect would have entered anyone’s mind.Preston Manning stated that the only reason Chrétien has declared it a confidence motion is to bring Liberal backbenchers to heel with the threat of an early election.Deputy Minister Herb Grey denies the charge, reiterating that a defeat would be a vote of non-confidence in the federal government, forcing it to renege on the agreement with the provinces, also party to the compensation package.’ The additional necessary costs to cover all tainted blood victims is said to have changed the equation.Estimates of the actual cost of an all encompassing compensation vary by staggering amounts, instantly placing the accuracy of all of them in doubt.After a long and exhaustive inquiry, Justice Horace Krever, appointed by the Liberals themselves to head the commission, recommended a no fault compensation to all the victims of the blood scandal.Federal Minister of Health Alan Rock along with his provincial counterparts, chose instead to compensate only those contaminated within a specific four year period, unleashing the current storm of protest.Other victims, the government says, can sue and be awarded damages if they can prove governmental negligence.How a leader with a lifetime of survival strategies behind him and a government in its second mandate, could have so mishandled the whole Hepatitis C dossier is not evident.That a backbench revolt is even being talked about speaks volumes.When a policy achieves the exact opposite of its goals, maybe its the policy that should be reviewed.The cry of poverty to justify the non-confidence motion rings hollow when substantial sums in the very recent past have been targeted for the likes of millennium celebrations.How many Hepatitis C victims will live to see them?a division of Communications Quebecor inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.JIK 1A1 Fax: 819-569-3945 Newsroom e-mail: record@interlinx.qc.ca Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 5696345 Sunil Mahtani Corresp.Editor .(819) 5696345 Susan Mastine Community Relat.(819) 5699511 Julie Vinette Adv.Dir.(819) 5699525 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 5699931 Mark Guillette Press Superv._(819) 5699931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising .(819)5699525 Circulation.(819)5699528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1 VO Tel: (514) 242-1188 Fax: (514) 243-5155 SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 8.35 $119.63 6 MONTHS 53.50 3.75 4.29 S61.54 3 MONTHS 27.00 1.89 2.17 S31.06 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 ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.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.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CDNA, NMB, QCNA ilVM VINT» M I O I A OH «00D.I SEE VÏHJVE MAD A CHANCE TO DEAD THE'MW® EDUCATION, HIGHER COSTS AKTiClE' WHAN Letters to the Editor Bouchard grasping at straws Dear Editor, The observations last week-end, attributed to premier Bouchard in respect of M.Charest, remind me of how petty and childish the whole political situation has become here in Quebec.What with the small-minded orders by the O.L.F.and the premier’s remarks, one has to wonder where we go from here.My contribution to all this nonsense is the following limerick.How Silly Can One Get M.Bouchard’s remarks must give pause To Charest who might wonder the cause.Compared to new “Coke, ” Is not much of a joke, Methinks Bouchard’s grasping at straws.Stewart Cowen Knowlton Please bring back Our Man Thursday Dear Editor, I’d like to express our feelings about William Cox retiring from writing his column.We wish that he’d come out of ‘it’ permanently as we and others will tremendously miss Our Man Thursday’s ‘down to earth’ writings.Sincerely, Thelma Rhicard, Stanbridge East Hilda Soles, Bedford Hearty thanks to Chantal Carrier Dear Editor, As only one of the 200 or so volunteers that attended the reception at the Amédée Beaudoin Community Center in Lennoxville on April 23 for the volunteers of North Hatley, Water-ville and Lennoxville, I would like to extend a hearty thank you to Chantal Carrier for a very enjoyable time.The effort, time and work that she put into this project was much appreciated.A big thank you to Chantal for a job well.Also thanks to Diana, Nancy and staff for the delicious refreshments.Sincerely, Alberta Everett Lennoxville Right on target Dear Editor, The independent dart zone would like to thank all the players who came to the benefit for the Mackay Centre as well as the dart teams, all those who donated prizes and money the Army and Navy for the use of the club.Thanks also to Marilyn McComb for all her help, to Cedric Cormier for being the auctioneer.Thanks also to John Spencer and Robin Springer from the Mackay centre.Freda Phancey Independent dart zone TH Ei Tuesday, April 28, 1998 page 7 Some young offenders could be made public Liberals to replace YOA with new youth law By Stephen Bindman and Jim Bronskill Southam News Ottawa The federal government plans to replace the much-maligned Young Offenders Act to signal a new approach to dealing with youth crime, Southam News has learned.Justice Minister Anne McLellan’s long-awaited strategy for “renewal of youth justice” will include tougher penalties for a small number of violent and repeat offenders.The package, to be unveiled in the next few weeks, will permit the naming of some young offenders convicted of serious crimes and will allow for the transfer to adult court of more youths charged with violent offences.McLellan has repeatedly said there are no “simplistic approaches” to the problem of youth crime and her package will combine measures to ensure the protection of society through crime prevention and enhanced rehabilitation of young offenders.But new legislation to replace the 14-year-old Young Offenders Act will not be tabled until the fall after another round of consultations with the provinces and interested groups.The Liberals plan to introduce a significant number of changes to the existing act and believe it will be easier to craft an entirely new law than add piecemeal amendments.But because the act has been the subject of so much public criticism, they also want to signal to Canadians that an entirely new legal regime is in place.The new youth justice law would, however, preserve many of the key parts of the old act that have been seen to be working.McLellan’s plan, which has already cleared a key cabinet committee, must still be approved by the full cabinet later this week and further changes are still possible.The package will retain a separate justice system to deal with young offenders and although some critics have suggested the maximum age in the law be lowered from 17, no change is contemplated.Among the changes being considered: • Improved sentencing options to require youths to account for their crimes, learn about the damage they caused and make reparations to the victim and community.• More alternatives to the formal court system for youths accused of minor criminal behavior.• Some young offenders could be named after they are convicted of serious crimes, though in some cases judges would have the discretion to ban publication.The Young Offenders Act now prohibits publication of any information that could identify a young person charged with a crime unless they are transferred to adult court or unless the young person wants to be identified and a judge decides it would not be contrary to their “best interests” to be named.A narrow exception also allows police to apply for permission to publicize for 48 hours the identity of a young person who has not yet been arrested and is considered a danger to the public.• A new category of offences that would require some youths to convince a judge they should remain in the youth system.Currently, 16- and 17-year olds charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated sexual assault are presumed to face trial in adult court and the package would add young persons who demonstrate a pattern of serious, violent crimes.Some 14-and 15-year-olds would also be presumed to face adult court.The youth reforms will come in a detailed response to last year’s report by the Commons justice committee, which conducted cross-country hearings and heard from more than 300 witnesses.The package will be the first major initiative for the justice minister from Alberta who must attempt to reconcile Reform calls for the toughening of the law with traditional Liberal values.In recent speeches, McLellan has said the current youth law works for about 85 per cent of young offenders, those who are charged with property crimes and are not repeat offenders.But she said the act’s credibility has suffered because of how it is perceived to respond to violent crime.“We must now confront the reality that the key piece of federal legislation dealing with young offenders is viewed as having little or no legitimacy,” she said earlier this month in New Brunswick.“For some, the youth justice system has sadly come to symbolize the failure of our criminal justice system to reflect the values of those it was meant to serve.” The justice minister, who faces daily questions in the Commons about when the long-awaited changes will be unveiled, said changes to the youth law are not the solution to the problem and her proposals will reflect that view.Early intervention for children at risk, prevention programs and other approaches involving families, communities, teachers and social workers, she has said, are the most effective way to deal with youth crime.“Despite what some might say, reforming our youth justice system to better reflect Canadians’ concern does not mean putting kids in jail.” Briefs Did you know?• The summer construction vacation period always falls during the last two full weeks of July.This year, it begins July 12 and ends July 25.• You are a landlord and your tenant has advised you in writing that he or she is not renewing the lease.You can put up the “FOR RENT” sign as soon as you receive notice.Apartment visits must take place between 7 and 9 p.m.And although law does not require it, it is preferable that tenants be advised of visits 24 hours in advance.• Two Canadian ministries have moved: The offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada are now located at 315 King Street West, office 212, Sherbrooke, J1H 1R1; Those of Canada Economic Development (formerly the Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec) are now located at 65 Belvédère Street North, office 240, Sherbrooke, J1J 4A6.Free publications Communication-Québec distributes free single copies of the many publications issued by Québec and Canadian government agencies.Here are some sample titles: • Need information about Old Age Security or the Canada Pension Plan?• 39 questions - The act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector.• Privacy deserves respect! - The act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector • Local Employment Centre (LEC) - We’re working for you! • Are you familiar with the Québec ombudsman?• Voluntary deposit • Assigning your lease or subletting?To obtain any of these publications simply telephone or visit Communication-Québec.Communication-Québec Your provincial and federal government information centre: 200 Belvédère Street North Office RC 02 Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 4A9 820-3000 1 800 363-1363 (toll free) Internet: “http://www.comm-qc.gouv.qc.ca” Teletype machine: 1 800 361-9596 (toll free) Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.Wednesday 10 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.(open at noon) Our clerks are bilingual, we have many free publications in French and English.Careers PRODUCTION 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PREPARATION INCLUDED BOTTLE, ROCKING, LULLABY, CAVALIER, REPEAT.BOTTLE, ROCKING, LULLABY, CAVALIER, REPEAT.ONLY A CAVALIER CAN KEEP UP WITH YOUR NEVER-ENDING ROUTINE.NOTHING STOPS A CAVALIER.' 2.2 Litre engine » 4-wheel anti-lock brakes 'Side-guard door beams 'Run down battery protection 'Dual airbags 'Independant front-wheel suspension '5-speed manual transmission 'Power assisted steering 'Safety body side moulding CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE The Chevrolet Oldsmobile Dealers of Quebec TîrGMümT [MigS Ü H Limited time retail offer applying on new 1998 base vehicles in stock.Model shown is for illustration purposes only.* Monthly payments based on a lease with initial down payment (or equivalent trade-in) of: $1,825.Licensing, insurance and taxes extra.Security deposit of $300 required.First month’s payment required upon delivery.Subject to credit approval.12 i'-*' p '„ f ^ An actor from the musical A Foogy Day will have to be on his toes throughout the play which the Shaw Festival is mounting as part of its salute to George Gershwin.By Jamie Portman Southam News Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.One night early in 1937, composer George Gershwin returned home late after a party, preoccupied with the songs that he and his lyricist brother Ira were contracted to write for a new Fred Astaire movie.Several had been completed, but the Gershwins were still searching for one big number which would be true to the spirit of a story about an American song-and-dance man who falls in love with a beautiful aristocrat during a visit to London.Ira later recalled that his ever-exuber-ant brother bounced into the living room at 1 a.m.and said: “How about some work?Got any ideas?” Ira replied that he’d been looking at the script, had spotted a scene where Astaire would be out in the fog, and had been struck by the possibility for an unusual song.“There’s never been a song about fog that I know of,” Ira told George.“How about ‘a foggy day in London’ or ‘a foggy day in London town?”’ George said he liked the idea but preferred the phrase ‘London town’ to just ‘London’.Then and there, George sat down to work on the melody while Ira busied himself with the lyrics.They finished the refrain of the song in less than an hour, went to bed, and the next morning decided that it still looked good.They then finished the verses over the next two days.In such ways did the Gershwins bring off their musical miracles.A few months later, George Gershwin was dead of a brain tumor at the tragically young age of 39.But A Foggy Day, that song put together in the small hours of a winter morning, became the signature tune of the new Astaire movie, A Damsel In Distress, and went on to become one of the most beloved hits in Tin Pan Alley’s history.Now it is providing the title for a “new” Gershwin musical which the Shaw Festival is mounting this spring as a centennial production honoring the legendary composer’s 100th birthday.For everyone connected with the offering, the venture is turning into a labor of love.“It’s a great honor and privilege to do a show like this,” says director Kelly Robinson.“It’s also fabulous and great -a ‘first time’ experience for me.It’s scary but also exciting.” Actor-dancer Jeffry Denman, who’ll be portraying the young American composer who finds romance in the London of the 1930s, is finding A Foggy Day to be a truly demanding show.It requires him to master half a dozen difficult tap routines under the watchful eye of choreographer William Orlowski.“I’m working my tail off,” Denman laughs.“But the music is really dynamite and it’s wonderful to be able to perform these songs and tap-dance them.” A Foggy Day begins public previews May 3 at the Royal George Theatre and officially opens its six-month run May 23.The festival is billing it as a “world premiere”, but artistic director Christopher Newton argues that it still meets the theatre’s mandate of presenting works by festival namesake Bernard Shaw (who lived from 1856 to 1950) and his contemporaries.Newton’s point is that Gershwin had originally conceived this story as a stage musical and that the show is faithfully based on source material from the 1920s and 1930s.The true genesis for A Foggy Day is not really the 1937 movie, A Damsel In Distress, but rather British humorist P.G.Wodehouse’s earlier novel of the same name about an American songwriter who falls in love with a young woman glimpsed on a foggy London day.Wodehouse and another writer, Ian Hay, later shaped it into a stage play.Newton says the Shaw wanted to pay tribute to Gershwin this year and he was fascinated by the idea of fulfilling the great composer’s original idea of turning the Wodehouse novel into a musical.A key player in bringing the dream to fruition was the University of Rochester’s John Mueller who had created a new version of the old Wodehouse-Hay script with the Gershwin songs included.This was workshopped by the festival last October and then with Mueller’s agreement, Canadian playwright Norm Foster was brought on board to reshape the material and ensure full integration of the songs.And speaking of the songs - this promises to be the sort of show which has patrons humming them even before they enter the theatre.To begin with, there are the numbers used in the 1937 movie - ranging from standard hits like A Foggy Day and Nice Work If You Can Get it to The Jolly Tar And The Milkmaid, a clever Gilbert and Sullivan parody which introduces audiences and Denman’s songwriter hero to the castle of Lady Jessica (Stephanie McNamara).But the Gershwin estate has also allowed the festival to throw in several other vintage Gershwin numbers - Love Is Here To Stay, Pay Some Attention To Me, I Can’t Be Bothered Now and He Loves And She Loves.Kelly Robinson, a successful director of both opera and musical theatre, says that whenever he listens to George Gershwin’s music, he’s aware of the melodic shortcomings of many contemporary Broadway shows.But Robinson also finds a dramatic and emotional subtext to Gershwin scores.“One of the interesting things about Gershwin’s music is that it is innately theatrical,” Robinson says during a break from rehearsals.“It is theatrical in that it not only reminds us that we are in a theatre watching and listening to these characters, but also in the sense that these people reveal things about themselves through their songs, things that surprise us and them and other people in the story." A Foggy Day begins previewing at the Shaw Festival’s Royal George Theatre May 3, opens May 23, and is scheduled to close Nov.1, although it may be held over.Further information is available by calling 1-800-511-SHAW or by visiting the festival on The Web at http://www.shawfest.sympatico.ca.Kelly Robinson is set to direct A Foogy Day at the Shaw Festival. page 10 Tuesday, April 28, 1998 THEi Tri-Us 'audry's Lennoxville Flower Shop From: (your name) (town) (daytime telephone number) Deadline for publication: May 5th c, Send to: Mother’s Day Tribute The Record, 2850 Delorme St., Sherbrooke J1K 1A1 Fax: (819) 569-3945 E-mail: record@interlinx.qc.ca In collaboration with: Lennoxville Tribute to Mothers are special to us forever.The Record invites readers to share their personal thoughts about their mothers with us.Tour message will be printed in a spe-ciaC feature in the May 8tfv edition of The Record.Please write your tribute on form betowy and send it to us as soon as possibCe.Several submissions will be selected at random on May 5th for prizes to be sent to either the author or the author’s mother.Mothers Day Tribute (Name) (Town) Message (25 words maximim) Find ways to avoid the burnout trap Burnout takes its toll on health care sector By Murielle Parkes Record Correspondent Mansonville Three English-language workshops on how to avoid care-giver burnout have been planned by the ‘Table de concertation” - a health services group for the elderly in the MRC Memphremagog.Hosting the events are the three MRC volunteer centres: Carrefour du Partage, Monday, April 27; Citizen Advocacy, Wednesday, April 29; and CAB Rediker, Thursday, April 30.The three and half hour training sessions will be lead by Diane Jacques, a consultant in interpersonal relations.The sessions, designed for anyone who is in a care-giver role, include some of the hows and what-to-dos about burnout.Jacques will look at how to recognize the warning signs, prevent burnout and manage stress, not only in a general fashion but also as they relate specifically to care givers.In the latter vein, she will be looking at the specific factors that exhaust individual participants, as well as to help find ways to avoid the burn-out trap.The organizing committee said that given the current climate of changes in services for the elderly burnout as a particularly appropriate topic to address.English workshops take place from 1 to 4:30 p.m.French-language sessions take place on the same days - from 8:30 to noon.Those interested should get in touch with their local volunteer centre: Carrefour du partage: (819) 843-8138; Citizen Advocacy: (514) 292-3114; and Rediker (819) 876- 7748.The Mansonville session takes place in the New Horizons Room of the Reilly House.Tax info is a phone call away “For People 55 and Over” To help retirees and those soon to re tire, Communication-Québec has just published an all-new edition of the guide For People 55 and Over, which gives information on the main government programs and services, both provincial and federal, for retirees.The guide is available free of charge from Communication-Québec.Income tax refunds The Automated Refund Infoline Service is a voice reply system provided by the ministère du Revenu du Québec that allows taxpayers to find out if their returns have been processed and the date of their refund, should they qualify.When using this service, have the following information on hand: social in- surance number; date of birth; net income (without cents) as it appears on line 275 of your Quebec Income Tax Return.To reach this service, provided 24 hours a day call: 1 888 811-7362.The Internet address is: “http ://www.revenu .gouv.qc.ca”.For Federal income tax returns you can use TIPS, an automated service which transmits personal and general information.When using this service, have the following information on hand: social insurance number; your date of birth; your total income as it appears on line 150 of your Federal Income Tax Return (before May 1, write the amount which appears in your 1996 return; after May 1, write the amount found on your 1997 return).Call 819-564-4225 or 1 800 567-7388.HANCCCK For a reliable ride $1Q50 K°ro ^ /each OADSIDE ASSISTANCE 24 hrs/day anywhere in North America with purchase of 4 Hankook tires* [wonder LIFETIME I*2ïï22ïï: warranty on ALL parts of exhaust system! PNEUS BELMONT INC.Exhaust & Brakes The only true life-time warranty as long as you own your car Robôrt Paré Gilles Niquette 930 Wellington St.S., Sherbrooke 563-6644 ^nstallationJialanceJaxes^xtraJJmj^ Have your say-fill out and return The Record's Readership Survey published last week.Send it in before May 4 and be eligible to win a prize. THE - Tuesday, April 28, 1998 page 11 Skate in crease rule has got to go Don’t look for Wings to repeat as champs South am News The Detroit Red Wings are down 2-1 in the series to the Phoenix Coyotes.Those 2-0 leads will kill you.Detroit, who were leading by two in the third, blew it, losing 3-2.They’re going to lose the series and little Mikey Vernon of the San Jose Sharks is laughing up his sleeve as they say.The game that killed the Wings was the second game where Chris Osgood let in seven goals in 20 shots.No Stanley Cup winner with that kind of goaltending.What a crowd in Phoenix.I was switching back and forth to the Bruins-Washington game and then back to Detroit and Phoenix.The sea of white shirts (which is a rip off of what the franchise got from the fans when they were in Winnipeg) in Phoenix was amazing, and the crowd was twice as loud as the one in Boston.And for some reason the game looked twice as fast as the Bruins game.• • • • • Jeremy Roenick and Rick Tocchet of the Coyotes are on fire.They’ve both got something to prove.They were both caught, or seen shall we say, drinking in the hotel bar the day of a game.The way they’re playing, coach Jim Schoenfeld should take the whole team in the bar for a quick one.Philly’s power play is one of the worst.Can Paul Coffey be that bad?Philly management say he’s lost a step, but he could lose three steps and still be faster than anyone.It’s tough to see a goal called back in OT because a guy had a toe in the crease.The Bruins had the game won on Sunday but for a toe of a Bruins player sticking in the crease.Once they go upstairs the question asked is “was he in the crease or not?” If yes, then it’s no goal.The question I ask, why go upstairs if the guy with toe in the crease had nothing to do with the goal?They’ve got to do something about that rule.I said automatically after that call back that Washington would get two penalties fast.Yep.Dale Hunter got two immediately.I’ll bet Larry Robinson wishes he had started Jamie Storr in goal for the series, especially when he played super in the second game.He was solid and L.A.should have won, he only let in two goals on 27 shots.Stéphane Fiset lets in five on 27 shots.It’s strange Larry didn’t start Jamie.In Storr’s last 12 games in the regular season he was 8-3-1.It is so sad to see the players falling down when they get touched.Even superstars have no pride.Raymond Bourque just gets touched in the back and down he goes.And the sad thing is the ref knows they are dives and they still call it.And they look for penalties in OT, so our media types will say what a courageous fellow the ref is for calling a penalty in OT.The players have orders, you feel a hook and you fall, you feel a stick on your back - fall, and the refs bite every time.It’s not who’s going to have the best team who wins it, the team who has the best actors will.Ottawa just keeps coming.Who would have thought they would be up 2-1 on the mighty New Jersey Devils?But with all the penalties, everybody is even.I like the way St.Louis is playing, and not just because my brother Dick is a Blues scout.Coach Joel Quenneville has done a great job.Brett Hull is a more all-round hockey player than he ever has been in his career.He’s bought into Joel’s system, he comes off on short shifts and he back checks.Before, you had to get a hook to get him off.Now he’s a hockey player, not just a scoring machine like Jammy Jagr.I have to confess the last couple of years my favorite team to watch was the Chicago Blackhawks.They hit anything that moved and played old-time hockey.But I could see them getting smaller and smaller and not as tough.They still gave everything every time they went on the ice and they still tried to hit, but they were just not big or tough enough to play that style.So it’s no playoffs for them.My advice is nobody is going to give you goal scorers, so go out and get big tough guys.Having Bob Probert back next year will help, but he can’t do it alone.People just can’t be running at Chris Chelios all night, and you can’t expect Chelios to play his style when he’s on his ass all night.Brian Bellows plays in Germany all year then joins the Washington Capitals for the playoffs.And now that Peter Bon-dra is out, Bellows is their best player.My question is, is it Bellows, or is it the league?Let’s hope it’s Bellows.Ron Francis, for some reason, was his own agent when he signed his last contract with Pittsburgh.And because of that contract, he’s been underpaid for years.He got smart this time around and got an agent.Being your own agent is like when you’re on trial and you act as your own lawyer.They say you have a fool for a lawyer.Everybody in Toronto used to say goalie Damien Rhodes was eccentric when he played with the Leafs.He was different, but he could stop pucks, and when the decision was made to let him go instead of Felix Potvin, I said, “big mistake.” T.O.could have traded Felix to Quebec (they were dying for a French goalie like Felix) they could have got Owen Nolan and Adam Foote for him.Nolan was on the outs with management and Foote had not blossomed yet.People laughed when Rhodes checked into a hotel instead of going home, he wanted to keep in his zone.Well they’re not laughing now that he’s given the Senators the series lead.1 like him, even if he bleached his hair blond.Have your hair purple if you like, just stop pucks baby! Hockey Talk Don Cherry Hockey fans around the world unite Duo score with on-line hockey site By Michael Ulmer Southam News Toronto Two Ottawa men are forming the first organi zation ever to link National Hockey League owners, managers and players with the fans who pay the freight.Jim Boone, 31, and Jim Spendlove, 43, work at the same Ottawa telecommunications firm, Stentor, but they first met three years ago playing shinny hockey.The two share a passion for the game and a belief that the people who run the NHL and those who play in the league are out of touch with the feelings of the fans.“You see (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman talking with (NHL Players’ Association head) Bob Goodenow at a game and they’re surrounded by fans,” Boone said.“But there are never any fans sitting between them.That’s what we want to do.” Rather than constantly carp about changes in the structure and playing of the game to open-line radio shows, the two decided to use technology as an instrument of change.The National Hockey League Fans’ Association hit the Internet on April 19.So far about 500 people have joined.The NHLFA page can be found at www.NHLFA.com.“It’s a little bit of a lobby group, a little bit of a consumer group,” Boone said.“We felt the fans weren’t being listened to and we said, let’s create an association where we can put questions to the fans and then forward the feelings of the fans to the media and the NHL.” There is no charge for NHLFA membership, but Boone and Spendlove are looking for sponsorship to circulate surveys by mail so they can also reach fans without Internet access.The two had few models on which to base the group.The only comparable organizations are the Major League Baseball Fans’ Association and the United Baseball Fans’ Association, two American groups that sprang up in the wake of the 1997 baseball strike.Mostly, Boone, who has a background in the Internet, and Spendlove, whose background is in promotions, have improvised.They have decided on two major fan surveys a year and will get feedback on everything from rink size and pricing policies to the way the game is played and officiated.Cuiswes cA.^£.HP» ALAIN LONGPRE, owner Wim Made-to-measure KITCHEN CUPBOARDS - BATHROOM CABINETS FREE Open daily 9 to 5 / Saturday 9 to noon 243 Bourque Blvd., Omerville (819) 843-7246 page 12 The Record, Tuesday, April 28, 1998 A SURE-FIRE OFFER ON HEAVY ARTILLERY.FINANCING ON PURCHASE FOR UP TO 48 MONTHS.$ 198 $ 269 ; Starting at ¦ W Id /month* Starting at f /month* Starting at ^7month* with a 36-month lease with a 36-month lease with a 36-month lease 389 SONOMA SLS Extended-cab A Starting at $ 17,298 with purchase.'* • 4-wheel anti-lock brakes • Dual airbags • AM/FM stereo cassette • 120 HP engine • 5-speed manual transmission • PASSLock theft déterrant system • Dark tinted windows JIMMY SL 4X4 2-door B • Locking rear differential • 4-wheel anti-lock brakes • Dual airbags • Air conditioner • AM/FM stereo cassette • Vortec 4300 190 HP V6 engine • 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive • PASSLock theft déterrant system • Aluminum wheels ¦ Luggage carrier • Tilt steering ¦ Cruise control • Electronic lock mechanism • Electric window lifts and rearview mirrors JIMMY SLT 4X4 4-door C Same options as the 2-door, pius : ‘ Fog lights • Dark tinted windows • Chrome grill • Heated rearview mirrors • CD player with anti-theft system • Leather seats, leathered steering wheel • Remote Keyless Entry System • Electric adjustible driver seat • And more! The Pontiac Buick GMC Dealers' Marketing Association of Quebec.The cm Card" Tj^T^ Limited time retail offer applying on new 1998 base vehicles in stock including the above-mentioned features.Models shown are for illustration purposes only.’Lease for personal use only.Monthly payments based on a 36-month lease with Initial downpayment or equivalent exchange of A: $2,700, B: $4,198, C: $4,099.Freight and preparation included.Licencing, insurance and taxes extra.First month’s payment and security deposit o< A $300.B: $325, C: $450 required upon delivery.Subject to credit approval.Fee of 12c per kilometer after 60,000 kilometers."Upon purchase, preparation included, freight ($685) and taxes extra Financing example' $10 000 including freight, preparation and taxes: 48 payments of $216.51, interest cost: $392.49, total cost: $10,392.42.'Roadside Assistance and the GM TOTAL™ Warranty are offered on all new GM vehicles for a duration of 3 years or 60,000 km, whichever comes first.""Registered trademark of General Motors Corporation.TO Bank user of Mark.See your participating dealer for all the details.PONTIAC BUICK Tuesday, April 28, 1998 page 13 =Record _ KIDS’ PAGE Polliwog Puzzle A frog had five polliwogs.A polliwog, also called a tadpole, is an immature frog or toad.Each was named after the first five letters of the alphabet: first two boys' then three girls' names.Discover which name belongs to each polliwog by marking each clue off on the chart.Names: Alfred Benny Christie Denise Ethel Clues: 1.Polliwog 1 is not a boy.2.Polliwog 5 is a girl.3.Alfred is not Polliwog 4.4.Polliwog 2 is not Benny.5.Polliwog 4 is a boy.6.Christie is not an even number.7.Ethel is an even number.8.Denise is a higher number than Christie.Polliwog # 1 Polliwog #2 Polliwog #3 Polliwog #4 Polliwog #5 Alfred Benny Christie Denise Ethel Z#-|»413 >#-Xuu»a "E#-p»J)iV :sja«suv • •• DOT • •• TO ••• DOT.A frog's life has three stages: 1 ) egg, 2) tadpole and 3) ( adult frog.Connect the dots to discover which stage of life this frog is in.Color the picture after you connect the dots.d c i t.?to .a < LU Z >.XI oo O) CD