The record, 2 décembre 2002, lundi 2 décembre 2002

Sherbrooke (Q) | Honda honda See page a 2615 King St.West 9 SHERBROOKE THE CLASSIFIEDS 181915(9-9525 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 65 CENTS WWW.SHERBROOKERECORD.COM Monday, December 2, 2002 Poulin elected to lead new city of Magog By Nelson Afonso He was in favour of the merger from day one.and now Marc Poulin will get the opportunity to lead Magog into a new era after defeating Jean-Guy St-Roch by almost 2,600 votes Sunday.Poulin received 5,770 votes while St-Roch, the former Magog Township mayor, received 3,199 votes.Poulin was not available for comment by press time.Poulin found massive support in the municipality on Lake Memphremagog thanks to his anti-expansion stand concerning Intersan’s controversial plan to enlarge its Magog Township dump.He believes the region must take its time and maintain the current process that would see the MRC adopt a waste management program that would limit the amount of waste buried on the territory to 60,000 tonnes a year.The plan, which is being revised after public hearings, is scheduled to be adopted according to provincial legislation at the end of 2003.Opponent Jean-Guy St-Roch had taken up Intersan’s proposal, seeking an MRC resolution to approve a pilot project for landfill operations to build a bioreactor — a system that would speed up the decomposition of waste while creating energy for local industry — and accept 150,000 tonnes a year between now and 2005.He would put the MRC’s waste management plan on hold until the bioreactor was evaluated.Poulin promised during the campaign to keep taxes as low as possible, but would not bring forward any numbers until the city’s new budget is accepted.The city of Magog recorded an exceptional year of industrial growth and job creation in 2001, according to statistics.Between 2000 and 2001, Magog’s labour force grew by 632, an increase of 13 per cent.The manufacturing sector alone went from 4,808 jobs to 5,440, unparalleled growth in the history of the city.Industrial investment totaled $40.1 million, for a $10 million increase over the previous year.See Magog, Page 2 PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Marc Poulin was working the phones Sunday afternoon, and it may have worked as the former Magog mayor was elected as mayor of the newly amalgamated city of Magog.Jeffrey Mine resumes SQofficers explain new operations despite debt resource to TBL residents By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record Asbestos Despite a $112-million debt and cuts to future pension benefits for former employees, a Superior Court judge has allowed the Jeffrey Mine to resume operations today for the next four months in order to process some 40,000 tons of extracted asbestos.Judge Pierre Fournier gave permission on Friday after being petitioned by the mine’s owner Grant Thornton, Raymond Chabot (GTRC) and its former president Bernard Coulombe.The mine had ceased operations on Oct.7 after Coulombe announced it did not have enough money to continue and filed for bankruptcy protection.Coulombe resigned his position and the mine was placed in receivership with GTRC.Fournier accepted GTRC’s arguments that the mine must be reopened, yet remain under bankruptcy protection to fill a contract with ATK Thiokol Propulsion, an American contractor that makes rocket motors for the NASA space shuttle program.The petition was opposed by the mine’s creditors, which include the Caisse de depot et placement, Hydro-Quebec and the three CSD-affiliated unions, who represent former employees.The Caisse, a secured creditor which invests public pension money in Quebec companies, is owed $57 million.The loan is protected by a Quebec government guarantee program which will use taxpayer money to pay it off if the mine is forced into liquidation.Among the unsecured creditors are the employees, who are owed $14.2 million in vacation pay and benefits.Government utility Hydro-Quebec, also an unsecured creditor, is reportedly owed close to $8 million, but will continue to supply electricity for the mine because of a deposit of $275,000 paid by GTRC.See Jeffrey, Page 2 By Kate Shingler Knowlton More than 80 Town of Brome Lake (TBL) residents gathered at the Knowlton Community Centre Thursday night to attend an information session about the municipality’s new Sûreté du Québec (SQ police service.In the presence of Mayor Stanley Neil and councillors Thomas McGovern and Don Wing, Lieutenant Roger Poirier, director of the SQ detachment of the MRC Brome-Missisquoi, and agent Yvan Barrière gave a 30-minute power-point presentation briefing citizens on what they should expect from the SQteam, who will absorb the local police force in the near future.Barrière, who has worked in the area for 12 years, will be taking on the role of sponsor, an officer who is a familiar presence in the community, for the TBL region.There will be 47 SQofficers overseeing the Brome-Missisquoi region according to Poirier, who spoke only French to the crowd.At least seven solo patrol police officers will be on duty everyday from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m., and eight to nine patrollers working the night shift from 7 p.m.to 4 a.m.in four to five vehicles (at night it is standard procedure to assign two officers per police vehicle).From 4 to 7 a.m.at least six patrollers will be on the road in three to five cars.TBL police staff will be integrated into the SQ.Local police chief Richard Bur-combe and longtime officer Alfonsina Musto, both present Thursday night, will continue working in the area along with other municipal police.During the question period, several residents expressed disapproval about the police presence in town.The SQwill assign one permanent patrol car in the Brome Lake territory, while Cowansville regularly has two vehicles on duty.Poirier said the number of cars assigned to any given area is directly related to the number of calls the SQ receives for the region.See Cops, Page 2 page 2 Monday, December 2, 2002 recognize Jeffrey: Cont’d from Page 1 Because the project is temporary, Judge Fournier also ruled the mine is not obligated to recognize past union contracts concerning salaries and benefits, nor does it have to contribute to any past pension funds.When the mine went into receivership, all union contracts were canceled and the underfunded pension funds were transformed into private funds with an average solvency rate of less than 70 percent.According to Michel Desfossés, head of a workers co-operative that owns 30 per cent of the mine, the resumption of \*»J 20 2002 Draw 2002-11-30 0102 12 30 3Z 43 (4Z) 6/6 5/6+ 5/6 4/6 3/6 WINNERS 2 6 188 10,680 211,705 work is being financed by an advance payment of $3.5 million US from ATK.Desfossés added co-operative members are currently discussing the possibility of investing as much as $400,000 in the project, but has not yet called a meeting to vote on it.“We did send the judge a letter stating our interest in backing the project,” said Desfossés.“We felt such a letter would show him there are backers for the mine and that the workers should not be forgotten.” Desfossés believed most of the former workers would accept to work without a union contract for the next four months.“Most of them just want to return to work, even if they have to arrange individual contracts with the mine,” he said.“It’s less than a month before Christmas, so a lot Bonus: Total sales: Next grand prize (approx ): PRIZES $1,000,000.00 $88,060.10 $2,248.30 $75.80 $10.00 $12,532,127 $2,000,000 — WINNERS PRIZES lAiiMjigr Draw 6/6 0 $1,000,000.00 2002-11-30 5/6+ 0 $50,000.00 5/6 20 $500.00 06 11 26 29 3Z 49 4/6 3/6 1,074 19,694 $50.00 $5.00 Bonus: (12) Total sales: $569.563.00 tsmfi Draw 2002-11-29 7/7 WINNERS PRIZES $10,000,000.00 2 6/7+ 10 $87,368.50 H 19 23 28 3Z 40 4Z 6/7 300 $2,548.20 (21) 5/7 18,533 $147.30 Bonus: 4/7 393,902 $10.00 Total sales: $47,589,450 3/7+ 360,688 $10.00 Next grand prize: $2,500,000 3/7 3,275,870 Free play E§tra Draw 2002-11-29 Ejjjtra Draw 2002-11-30 NUMBER PRIZE NUMBER PRIZE 021428 $ 100,000 465350 $ 100,000 Claims: See back of tickets.In the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list of L-Q, the latter shall prevail.of the workers could use the money.And besides, many co-op members think it is important to keep the mine going under whatever conditions are necessary.If any of the workers don’t like the conditions, they don’t have to come back to work.” It is estimated that as many as 250 of the 360 workers laid off will be called back to work.Rodrigue Chartier, head of the mine’s hourly paid workers, said he was happy that many of his members can return to work, but reserved judgment on the lack of a union contract.“We want to see the mine working, but you must remember, it was the workers who sacrificed a lot to keep it going these past few years,” he said.Chartier pointed out that in 1998, his members took a 10 per cent pay cut to keep the mine open.In 2001, they opted not to renegotiate their labour contract despite having earlier called for a strike vote when labour talks broke down.Last Wednesday, it was the CSD who organized a march by about 3,000 members and local residents to protest the lack of support for the mine by the provincial and federal governments.Chartier said his union will decide next week if it will appeal Fournier’s ruling.Coulombe, who now acts as an adviser to GTRC, could not be reached for comment at press time.Desfossés said Coulombe is already en route to Asia and Australia to try and drum up more business for the mine from former clients.“If he can show them that our fibre is so good that the American space program needs it, then more orders can come in and the mine has a chance of staying open after the four months are up,” said Desfossés.“We have no choice but to keep the mine going.If we don’t, our competitors LAB Chrysotile in Thetford Mines will gobble up our clients and we’ll be left with nothing.” jK Mist SUR TOI 11 H ^ Cops:- Cont’d from Page 1 TBL’s calls make up 14 per cent of the total number received, while Cowans-ville’s make up 40 per cent.Knowlton business owner Chris Severs asked Poirier if the SQ.could assure the English-speaking population that officers will be bilingual.“I cannot guarantee the police officers will speak English,” said the Lieutenant in French.“But one of the team members will be able to.” Barrière agreed, adding the SQ.police officers “are making a great effort to speak English.” The organization is offering courses for employees who wish to improve their communication skills in the language, he noted.The new phone number to call for police assistance is the SQ.province-wide hotline, 310-4141.Residents will be receiving letters detailing the new contact information before Friday, Dec.6.The former TBL police line will also remain in service for at least six months.Magog:- Cont’d from Page 1 Poulin believes the city must be pro-active in attracting new workers to the area, emphasizing its low taxes, exceptional quality of life, and environmental issues.Poulin will be joined on City Council by Michel Bombardier (elected by acclamation in district 1); Gérald Dussault (district 2); Denise Poulin-Marcotte (district 3); Jean-Guy Gingras (district 4); Michel Voyer (district 5); Jacques Laurendeau (district 6); Gilbert Kurt Boucher (district 7); Gilles Robinson (district 8); Serge Gosselin (district 9) and Yvan Côté, who was elected by acclamation in district 10.Results District 1 : Michel Bombardier (acclaimed) District 2: Gérald Dussault 419; Gisèle Bisson 254; Gérald Deschênes 158 District 3: Denise Poulin-Marcotte 1,130; Serge Poulin 340 District 4: Jean-Guy Gingras 413; Jean-Yves Thériault 186 District 5: Michel Voyer 796; Jean-Louis Le Cavalier 251 District 6: Jacques Layurendeau 745; Marcel Lavoie 257 District 7: Gilbert Kurt Boucher 606; Roger Crevier 381 District 8: Gilles Robinson 514; Jean-Marie Bergeron 468 District 9: Serge Gosselin 379; Jocelyne Mongrain 231; Raymond Cloutier 202 District 10: Yvan Côté (acclaimed) Weather Monday: Intermittent light snow.High near minus 5.Tuesday: Variable cloudiness.Low near minus 11.High near minus 9.Wednesday: Sunny.Low near minus 15.High near minus 8.Thursday: Sunny.Low near minus 12.High near minus 5.Normals for the period: Low minus 11.High minus 1 Ben by Daniel Shelton \f\ (^S0TH?NGS ] / f A æK / - \WER£ LBAVIU&'J jg I (Æ rf^TT T THAT AFFLICTION ONLY &ETS WORSE WITH AGE.mm- < Monday, December 2, 2002 page 3 Witness testifies Renald Côté attacked her twice Editor’s warning: Some of the testimony reported in this story is extremely graphic and not appropriate for immature readers.Parental discretion is strongly advised.By Rita Legault Sherbrooke The third presumed victim in the trial of Renald Côté, the 51-year-old Magog man accused of incest with his daughter and sexual assault on two other victims, testified Friday that Côté pushed her down onto her bed and asked her to perform oral sex.That was the second time he attacked her, said the presumed victim.The first alleged attack occurred one evening in 1997 when the presumed victim had gone to Côté’s apartment in Magog Township with her two children and her mother.At one point they decided to pick up Kentucky Fried Chicken and, since she needed baby food for her youngest, she accompanied Côté into town.When they returned, she said Côté put the food on the steps and said: “You have to do something to deserve Kentucky.” She said he grabbed her wrists and leaned forward for a kiss.She testified she went to give him a friendly peck, but he kissed her full on the mouth, sticking his tongue out to French kiss her.“He moved his tongue against my gums and I gritted my teeth,” she recounted, adding Côté then stuck his hand up her shirt and fondled a breast.“I froze.He had never touched me before.He told me to keep quiet and that his wife would never believe me because I was considered the whore of the family,” said the woman, who is related to Côté.A teen at the time of the attack, the witness said when she went into the house, she rushed to the bathroom and vomited.“I was nervous.I found him disgusting and dirty.” Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Pierre Gagnon, the witness contradicted herself on details such as the length of the kiss and on whether he fondled one or both breasts.“But anyway, the facts are the same,” she insisted.“He tried to French kiss me and grabbed my breasts.” Under questioning, she also revealed she was anorexic at the time of the attack and prone to vomiting.Several months after the first alleged attack, the witness said she had been expecting Côté’s daughter Isabelle one evening when her father showed up instead.She was at home alone.She said Côté was angry that she had discussed the previous assault with her mother who had repeated the accusation to Côté’s wife Joanne Royer.Tire witness said Côté was angry, demanded she keep quiet about the incident, and repeated his comment that she was the family whore.The witness, who was washing a cup at the kitchen sink with her back to Côté, said he then came forward and pushed her towards her bedroom.“He pushed me against the wall, then onto the bed,” she said, adding she fell on her back.After that she said he sat on her bed and asked: ”Do you want to suck me.” “I said no,” the witness said, adding that she grabbed her cordless phone and ran to the bathroom where she locked herself in and called her sister who lived in the apartment building next door.“I told her to come over right away.” Her sister arrived, letting herself in with her own key, the witness said.By then, Côté was nonchalantly sitting at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee.He left shortly afterward, but the witness never told her sister what had happened.The witness said Côté was an authoritarian man who controlled his wife and children.She said he beat his sons and recalled a time where he hit his youngest son Serge with a belt leaving a red welt on his face.She said Côté would often slap his sons behind the head.“They didn’t complain.They couldn’t.They took their revenge out on Isabelle.” The witness also recalled how Côté fondled his daughter and how he would call her into the bathroom to wash his back.She said Isabelle had admitted she was being abused by her father and brothers 15 or 20 times.When asked by the defence lawyer why she didn’t encourage Côté to complain, she said “Isabelle had the gift of exaggeration.” Gagnon asked if the Côté girl did things to attract attention such as telling lies and exaggerate to get attention.“Yes, but some things didn’t surprise me because I had seen them myself,” she replied.The witness said she spoke to Isabelle after Renald and his sons Serge, 24, and Donald, 26, were arrested.“Isabelle told me if we stuck together her father wouldn’t get away with it.” Côté and his sons were picked up on June 27, 2001, and charged with five dozen counts of sex related crimes against Isabelle Côté.Renald also faces two charges of sexual assault on Friday’s witness, and one charge of assaulting a third woman.The sordid tale of incest and abuse came out after nursing staffers at the CHUS reported to police they had witnessed Côté fondling and kissing his daughter in an inappropriate fashion.Isabelle was being treated for ovarian cancer at the time.Accusations against the two sons are being dealt with separately.Côté’s trial continues next week, when the jury of eight men and four women is expected to hear testimony from Côté’s eldest son Donald and view videotapes of statements by Isabelle, who has since passed away.David Price, M.P.DAVID PRICE, M.P.Compton-Stanstead 4777 Bourque Blvd.Rock Forest, QC J1N 2G6 (819) 573-5200 office (819) 573-5190 fax email: pricedl @parl.gc.ca Cookshire (819)875-1157 Coaticook (819) 849-3113 www.davidprice.parl.gc.ca * s — •lit Raelians visit Sherbrooke PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Raelians brought their campaign to get Roman Catholics to renounce baptism to a Sherbrooke high school Friday.The sect says the religion condones lies, rape, pedophilia, hypocrisy and abuse of power.They handed out leaflets at Ecole Secondaire Montcalm on Portland Boulevard in Sherbrooke’s North Ward, urging Catholics to make an act of apostasy, which would remove them from the list of the baptized.Raelians believe aliens created life on Earth, that a world-shattering event is imminent, and that immortality can be achieved through cloning.In September, police were called to a Montreal high school after parents complained that members of the Raelian sect were distributing anti-Catholic pamphlets as their children were arriving at school.Weeks later, Raelians brought their message to a Montreal CEGEP.This is the second time in recent weeks the Valcourt-based movement has been in the local media.In the early hours of Nov.7, a man driving a Ford Escape sport utility crashed onto the grounds of UFOLand, a tourist attraction and campground set up by the Raelians.The SUV crashed into buildings, other vehicles and knocked over storage sheds.An investment decision so simple, it’s child’s play.(It must be a miracle.) On December ath, G1BC World Markets and CIBC Wood Gundy will donate its fees and commissions to children's charities.CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation www.childrensmirade.com fag U 4 Monday, December 2, 2002 THE CHUS joins battle against prostate cancer A ?* ¦ T fj l PERRY BEATON/SPEC1A1 Study coordinator Julie Menard was joined by oncologists Abdenour Nabid and Michel Carmel at the CHUS Friday to announce a partnership that will study the ejfects Vitamin E and Selenium have in preventing prostate cancer.We Need Your Help Cheques should be made payable to ETSB - Gift Basket Campaign.Mail to: AGRHS P.O.Box 5002 Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z9 Receipts will be issued.This Holiday! RECORD RECORD ¦ A.G.R.H.S.1195 Galt East Sherbrooke (819) 569-95251 Let’s make sure the food pantry is really stuffed this holiday season! We want to collect canned goods for Alexander Galt Christmas Basket Campaign - and we need your help.Just bring your donation of canned food (please, no fresh or frozen products) to these participating sponsors.All food is needed at this time of year to help less fortunate families - that’s why we need a ton of help to collect a ton of food.Do a little extra shopping.Ask friends, neighbours and family to help.C^udryj Flower Shop 49 Belvidere Lennoxville (819) 563-7272 Please bring your food items to any sponsor before December 14th.Gifts for children are also needed, if wrapped please indicate boy/girl, age group.The baskets will benefit families within the Eastern Townships School Board.Helping others is a great way to celebrate the holiday! Please give generously 1 Region’s hospital to study effects of Vitamin E, Selenium By Nelson Afonso Fleurimont I he region’s largest hospital is pushing ahead in its preventive efforts to fight one of the main killers among men: prostate cancer.Researchers and doctors at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) announced Friday they will collaborate with the National Cancer Institute of the United States to study the effects Vitamin E and Selenium have in preventing prostate cancer.“We think these two natural products have preventive effects and may decrease the possibility of contracting prostate cancer,” oncologist Dr.Abdenour Nabid told The Record.American researchers studying skin cance,inadvertently discovered that patients taking Selenium had a lower rate of prostate cancer.A Finnish study came to the same conclusion about the use of Vitamin E, although it was looking at lung cancer, said Dr.Michel Carmel.“This study is the first to combine both Selenium and Vitamin E and exclusively look at their effects on preventing prostate cancer,” said researcher and study co-ordinator Julie Ménard, adding the CHUS is hoping to recruit between 50 and 100 men from the region over the age of 55 within the next year.Overall the study, which involves research centres in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, began August, 2001, and hopes to follow the well-being of 32,400 participants over 10 years.15 ISSUS Magog.67 Main West Magog (819) 868-2527 203 Railroad Stanstead 1(819) 876-2785 t The CHUS joins the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and the Centre Hospitalier de 1’Universite Laval (CHUL) in Quebec City as the province’s only participants in the project.“This study is aggressive prevention and a way of seeing whether or not the prevention is working,” said a confident Nabid, adding the CHUS treats about 140 patients with prostate cancer per year.“Then we’ll be able to make recommendations if they do in fact make a difference, or tell people they don’t have any positive effects.” Nabid said the profile of prostate cancer patients has changed in the past 25 years.Patients used to come into his office with large tumors because the cancer had already devastated their bodies.Today, only about 10 per cent of patients get to his office when it is already too late.Screening is essential, continued Nabid, and must be done beginning at age 50, or five years earlier if the man has a family history of prostate cancer.In Canada, about 342 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every week.One in every nine men will suffer from the disease during their lives, while one in every 28 will die from it.The cancer, which usually takes between 10 and 15 years to develop, is the second most diagnosed form of cancer after skin cancer.It is also the second deadliest among men after lung cancer.Risks of contracting prostate cancer are greater for men over the age of 55 and who have a family history of the disease.Selenium is an anti-oxidant that can be found mainly in water, some meats and seafood.Anti-oxidants are believed to help control the damage caused to cells that eventually lead to prostate cancer.The study will look at men 55 years old and over, who have never had prostate cancer and have been in good health for at least the last five years.Participants will be split up into four groups: the first group will take both Selenium and Vitamin E tablets; the second will ingest Vitamin E and a placebo; the third will be given Selenium and a placebo while the final group will only receive placebos.Neither the participants nor the doctors involved will know which participants are taking what.Participants, who will not have to modify their diet for the study, will be asked to visit the hospital every six months for about 10 years for tests and to pick up their tablets.To become a participant or for information, call Julie Ménard at 819-829-3250. THEi Monday, December 2, 2002 page 5 Laissez-faire attitude ignorant say environmentalists By Stephen McDougall Special to The Record VlCTORIAVILLE Environmentalists opposed to the operation of the Magnola magnesium plant in Asbestos have charged Eastern Townships Regional Health Board officials with gross incompetence in dealing with toxic emissions coming from the plant.“We are shocked that they know so little about what is going on,” said Carol McKenty, a spokeswoman for the People Against Organochloride Collective.“When Magnola announced in October that their dioxin and furan emissions were higher than normal, the board said there was no cause for concern.” McKenty was referring to Dr.Louise Galarneau, who stated publicly that the Magnola emissions were no cause for alarm.“We are concerned by the test results,” she had said in October.“But it is premature to say that there is any danger to the public.” The Collective, along with a sister group, the Coalition for a Clean Magnola, have argued toxic organic emissions from the plant threaten the health of humans and animals in the Asbestos and Victori-aville areas.Magnola has argued the vast majority of the HCBs, PCBs, Dioxins and Furans are being contained in a water basin, and only a small amount are being sent into the air.Magnola extracts magnesium from waste asbestos tailings using an electrochemical process that includes chlorine and hydrogen.On Oct.10, the company announced higher than expected rates of dioxins and furans were being emitted from the plant’s ventilation stacks, and that corrective measures had been put in place.Plant General Manager Mike Agnew said that despite unexpected levels, the emissions were still within regulations set by the provincial government.But these statements by Galarneau and Agnew have been rejected by the environmentalists, who believe they are forgetting the larger picture.“These substances are very dangerous.They can cause developmental deficiencies in children and harm fetuses,” said McKenty.“Studies have shown these substances cannot be stored in basins for any length of time and only a little of them can cause a lot of damage.” She said the collective will continue to demonstrate against the operation of Magnola and what it claims is government indifference to the problem.She said another public event will be organized following the next public release of test results from the plant.Under the terms of the provincial decree that allowed Magnola’s parent company Noran-da to build the plant, test results on emissions into the air and into storage have to be released to the Magnola Citizens Committee, a group made up of concerned residents, public officials and company representatives.“We suspect the next results, which are due early this month, will reveal more bad news for the public,” said McKenty.“We have to remind the public that they are in danger now because of Magnola.” On Friday, about 75 collective members and supporters marched down Vic-toriaville’s main street of Notre Dame to protest inaction on the Magnola emissions.She said some supporters were students from the local CEGEP, who fear Magnola emissions will travel north with the wind to Victoriaville.McKenty said when the demonstration reached the local Quebec environment office, officials would not meet with them.“We got a polite reception by one civ:', servant that our message would be passed on to the minister and then the door was closed,” she said.McKenty suspects Quebec environment minister André Boisclair is being misinformed by health and environment officials, and said more public demonstrations are needed to pressure the government to act.“We are disturbed that a public minister is relying for his information on other public officials who don’t show any concern,” she said.“We heard him say recently that he does not understand all the scientific studies that have been done on organochlorides.” The environmentalists are also suspicious of the government’s motives, given that 20 per cent of the Magnola plant is owned by Société General du Financement (SGF), a Quebec government crown corporation.Brief Woman dies in head-on collision near Upton Staff A 57-year-old woman died yesterday afternoon when the car she was driving was involved in a head-on collision on Route 116 near Upton.The victim, whose name could not be released by press time yesterday, was travelling with a 59-year-old man who was seriously injured.He was taken to hospital in Saint-Hyacinthe.The driver and passenger of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.ASSEMBLÉE ANNUELLE L'Hôpital BMP vous invite à la présentation de son rapport annuel d'activités 2001-2002 Le mercredi 4 décembre 2002, à 19 heures À la cafétéria de l'hôpital ANNUAL MEETING The BMP Hospital invites you to a presentation of their 2001 -2002 Report of Activities Wednesday, December 4,2002 at 7:00 p.m.In the cafeteria of the hospital INFO : (450) 266-5522 I «BIEN SERVIR - WE CAM» 950, rue Principale, Cowansville 950, Main Street, Cowansville LET'S GIVE in LIVING COLOR Greetings' La Maison Aube-Lumière has as its mission to care for patients in the palliative stage of cancer, as well as to provide comfort and support to their families during these difficult times I promptly accepted to preside over the 11 annual pomsettia sale, thus offering my support to the marvelous work done by La Maison s personnel and numerous volunteers POINSETTIA SALE FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN Polnsettias: 6 inches = 8 inches = 10 inches = $17 $27 $37 During the Christmas season, 4500 poinsettias grown in the greenhouses of Serres & Pépinière St-Élie will be available to the citizens of Sherbrooke and the surrounding area i encourage you to purchase one of these magnificent Christmas flowers, symbols of warmth and life On behalf of the team at La Maison Aube-Lumière i wish to thank you for your generous support Together let us make life more colourful La Maison Aube-Lumière RESERVE NOW BY PHONE (819) 821-3120 OR FAX (819) 821-1 edition of the lean-Pierre Chicoine Honorary President SHERBROOKE Ujenthem.752, rue Conseil, 562-6254 Douce Folie en Fleurs.103.rue King Est, 822-9999 Fleurs Immortelles.1681.rue King Ouest.822-2343 EAST ANGUS Fleuriste Du Charme, centre commercial 150.rue Angus Nord.832-2002 BROMPTONVILLE Bouquet de Campagne.18.rue de i Église.846-4441 COOKSHIRE Fleuriste Cookshlre.45.rue Principale.875-3600 MAGOG Fleuriste Foliole, 451.rue Principale Ouest.843-0660 COATICOOK jardin des trouvailles, 012.rue Child.849-0299 ASBESTOS Fleuriste Côté, 251.I ’ Avenue.879-5647 On sale from November 21 to December 24, at La Baie, in the Carrefour de l'Estrie (La Baie mall) and at Serres et Pépinière St-Elie — Confident — l'union Complices U1^»aie Delta Protecteur- 3* Serre* et pepiniere 1 St-Elie Jean Grégoire 132233 te Accompagnateurs § ï« RECORD 102.7m Compagnons FALSE • i COPEPCO npfwflgo sim i f khs Val Estrie UuoufwyemB /VtooAger mm .——— — — — — ' ¦¦¦ .mi .1.i »».¦ -i ii !.-ii.¦¦ THEi page 6 Monday, December 2, 2002 Community Forum Scwion www.dolighon.com 'j?' i&vj**' :V; Letters to The Editor Tell, tell, tell what you know Î Dear Editor, I am a little more than surprised (and admittedly disturbed) at the reaction of | some Record readers who believe that I we are better off wearing blinders when ! it comes to hearing shocking news.I am very pleased that the Record has decided that we MUST know EVERY-| THING that happens in that courtroom.Sensationalism?How ridiculous is that?We, as a society, failed Isabelle.People surrounding her kept horrible secrets for her family.Someone, somewhere could have saved this little girl and her brothers.These two “parents” ( yes, mother too!) destroyed the lives of not only one of their precious children, but all three.This seems inconceivable to those of us whose lives centre around our children.Most parents unconditionally love their children, and will always ferociously protect them.But we need to wake up.There is “true” evil out there, and blatant ignorance will not help other children who need us to speak up.This story is about Isabelle.Disrespectful?Not a chance.She can teach us how to stop keeping secrets.Talk about it.Read about it.Be shocked.But, most of all tell, tell, tell what you know.Congrats to the Record for doing your part.Wendy Charby Knowlton TH E P.0.Bo* 1200 Sherbrooke jlH 516 or 1195 Galt E, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax:819-569-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Website: www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 5699511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Jamie Zachary Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(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 Knowlton office 38 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 $131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 S67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 $34.51 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 Your airport is out of control While securities regulators and other anti-corporate hunters set their sights on private enterprise, slipshod governance of the big public monopolies continues to escape public attention.Just about all government-run operations — school boards, liquor monopolies, power utilities, transport systems — are case studies in uncontrolled extravagance and consumer ripoff.Take a look, for example, at Canada’s major airports.Under the Liberals’ fraudulent “privatization” schemes of the 1990s, airports in Canada’s big cities were turned over to local airport authorities.In the short period since they were created, the big seven LAAs — Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton — have managed to turn themselves into little fiefdoms of unaccountable local political hackery.They live in a world of their own, feasting on monopoly and the plump airport improvement fees that are now standard.Airline passengers walking through airport terminals would be more financially secure wandering the streets of Kabul; there are muggers at every point, from parking to food to the infamous “temporary” airport improvements fees that never seem to disappear.With captive sources of revenue, the cost of running these outfits and their multibillion-dollar expansions is growing at rates unseen elsewhere in the economy.Figures compiled by a source show the operating costs of running the big seven airports jumped 47 per cent between 1997 and 2001 to almost $1 billion.Some airports are worse than others.Costs in Calgary, for example, grew 63 per cent to $78 million during the period; Montreal’s grew 65 per cent to $173 million.These are just the operating costs (which, by the way, include fat and escalating “ground lease” payments Ottawa extorted from the airports when they were “privatized.” The fees approached $250 million last year).In addition to operating costs, most airports are running up huge debts that also produce big debt service costs.The Greater Toronto Airport Authority has accumulated about $2 billion in debt so far on its way to $4.4 billion - assuming rumours of budget overruns are not true.As a result, the GTAA recorded $160 million in interest and amortization costs last year.Another measure is the fees charged for airport use per passenger.Air Canada calculates its average landing and terminal charge at airports per passenger has jumped more than 200 per cent since 1996, from $7.57 to $21.26.That’s on top of the $10 and $15 airport improvement fees paid directly by passengers.It’s a situation that needs more than just a little tinkering.Consultant J.A.A.Lovink, a management consultant and former federal civil servant, wrote last year in Policy Options that Canada is the only jurisdiction that tolerates open-ended local airport control.“Everywhere else in the world, even in countries, like the United States, which have a much longer history of local airport autonomy, national governments have retained powerful levers to ensure that important national transportation interests are not subordinated to local preferences." Everybody’s keen on fixing the “incentives” that supposedly distort private enterprise.The governance structure at the airports is a giant incentive to pander to local political interests at the expense of everybody else, especially passengers and airlines.The board of the Toronto authority is a monument to special interests and political connections who know nothing about airports.The chairman is a local construction industry bigwig and most of the other dozen board members are there to look after some constituency other than travellers and airline owners.Even the Canadian Auto Workers has a seat.The collective interest of such boards is likely to focus on boosting construction spending, lobbying for more infrastructure investment from local governments, and generating positive publicity whenever possible.All this is a Liberal creation, fostered by the prime minister’s malicious attack on the Pearson privatization program brought in by former prime minister Brian Mulroney.That privatization, while not perfect, at least forced the airport to promise never to bring in an airport improvement fee.It also put the airport under anti-competitive oversight of the federal Competition Bureau.But the Liberals scored big in Ontario by turning Pearson into an election scandal.After the election, they killed the original Mulroney deal that protected consumers, paying $700 million in compensation and other fees.Then they created a structure that left Pearson and the other airports with authorities that incorporated all the things they said was wrong with the Mulroney airport deal.$o when Collenette says he wants to review the local airport governance mess his government created, we should remember where the mess came from.SOUIHAM NEWS Viewpoint Terence Corcoran i NEXT WEEK A high-tech Christmas list for the computer fanatic in your family ¦¦THEb- RECORD Tel: 819-569-6345; Fax: 819-569-3945 Newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Monday, December 2, 2002 page 7 Let’s get crafty: make-it-yourself fun These days it seems like as soon as I get used to the sun being up, it’s headed for the horizon and it’s time to put the lights back on.For those of us who like to spend our time out in the garden doing things, this time of the year can be a challenge.For me it means hours of writing and designing web pages and graphics on my computer, or taking out my craft materials and making something either for myself or for a gift.If you have children or grandchildren, you I will really enjoy some of these projects; they can put smiles on little faces during the bad weather days of winter.Anna May Kinney Snow globes — Fun for kids This is a great winter’s day project for children.Never met a child that did not love playing with snow globes and this one is really easy and inexpensive to make.They also make great gifts.What you will need: Baby food jars (medium or large), Florist clay, Small figurine, White glitter or fake snow (available at stores during the holiday season), Hot glue gun or aquarium sealing glue (hot glue is cheaper), Ribbon, optional, Garland plastic greenery Directions: 1.Make sure jar is washed and clean.Note: Any jar will do if you desire a larger snow globe.Attach figurine to inside of jar lid using florist clay.2.If you are using a small object, it’s a good idea to build up the clay so the object will appear taller.mm 3.Attach any optional items with the clay (greenery, berries, etc.).Use your imagination, but make sure it is waterproof and won’t dissolve.4.Fill jar with water to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top.Use cold water, as warm water tends to get cloudy.Sprinkle one tablespoon (25 ml) of glitter or snow into water.5.Insert figurine in water, screw on lid.Let stand overnight, lid side up.Use glue/sealer to make your globe waterproof and attach decorative ribbon over lid.You may also paint the lid rather than use ribbon.Use your imagination; the possibilities are endless! The homemade wreath ANNA MAY KINNEY This festive wreath is relatively easy to make, for yourself or as a gift to others who might appreciate it.This pine cone wreath can be put together quickly, used to decorate your tree, hung on a door or window, or as a small gift.What you will need: Scissors, a glue gun, 1-6 inch grapevine wreath, a bag of moss, 15 small pine cones, 10 silver Christmas balls, one can of spray snow, one red bow.Directions: 1.Glue a row of small pine cones and a row of silver Christmas balls around the grapevine with a thick line of glue under each pinecone.These things should be as close to the inside of the wreath as possible without going over the edge of the inside of the wreath.2.Take some of your moss out now to fill in the spaces between the pinecones and balls.It will also cover up any glue that might have squeezed out from the sides of the pine cones.3.Squeeze small amounts of glue on the wreath where you want to place the moss and quickly insert the moss into the wreath.4.Continue filling in the wreath around the pinecones and balls until you have gone all the way around the wreath.5.Glue a red bow on at the base of the wreath and give the wreath a decorative spray of snow.6.Let dry.7.Hang and enjoy! CÜBM* lui'-'"'* aimât* Chang* lot Canada Canada Taking action on climate change Together, we can do it.Climate Change Plan for Canada The plan is balanced to ensure we can achieve economic and environmental goals and that no region will bear an unfair burden.Governments, industries and all Canadians have a role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Find out what you can do.To obtain your copy, call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232), TTY 1 800 465-7735 or visit canada.gc.ca to give us your views.Government Gouvernement of Canada du Canada page 8 Monday, December 2, 2002 Sherbrooke OUI Honda HONDA THE LARGEST USED VEHICLE CENTRE IN THE TOWNSHIPS • BUYING • • SELLING • • EXCHANGE • • FINANCING ON SITE• TA * ALL LISTED VEHICLES ARE PROTECTED BY THE EXCLUSIVE HONDA GOLD PLAN GUARANTEE T0160,000 KM.per week CIVIC LX 4d, auto per week 5^9 1998 w CIVIC cx 3d, silver per week 1998 CIVIC LX 4d, black pcr week 1998 CIVIC LX 4 d, 5 speed — per week $3^ 1998 CIVIC cx 3d, red per week ^3^ 1998 CIVIC LX 4d, silver per week ^/SjOk 1998 CIVIC LX 4d, auto * per week sa9 1999 *** CIVIC DX 2d,5 speed - per week ©A** 1999 CIVIC Hatchback auto, red - per week 1998 CIVIC DX hatchback, black per week 1999 CIVIC 4d, 5 sp, silver •* M Ok per week ®A^ 1999 CIVIC Hatchback black ^ * per week 1999 CIVIC LX 4d, auto, black ^ÈÊÊF per week 2000 CIVIC DX 2d, auto ^ per week ©3” 1997 ACCORD EX full, black, 56,000 km per week 50“ 1998 ACCORD LX 2d, fully equipped per week 50“ 1997 ACCORD SE mist, 72,000 km —Ok per week 2000 CIVIC SE 4d, auto, air ^ per week 50“ 1996 ODYSSEY 7 pass., full per week ©0> 2000 CIVIC DX 2 d, auto, silver per week 2000 CIVIC SE air black ** per week «*-7 9 2002 ^ ¦ '“GIVIC DXG blue _ per week 50“ 1999 ACCORD LX 4d, 5 speed - *•* per week A 2001 ¦ CIVIC LX auto, silver * on purchase, 60 months, cash down $2995, taxes extra, option $0 cash down available ^j^^r^urchase^B^nonths^^ashJowMaxe^ncluded^nlirriite^mileag^^^^^^^^ VEHICLES $10,000 AND LE$$ All vehicles are guaranteed one year or 24,000 km.1996 Acura Integra silver, 2d 1995 Hyundai auto, 89,000 km *5995 1991 Civic Hatchback red, 5 speed *3995 1995 Mystique very neg, 4d *6995 1995 Hyundai Accent auto, only 89,000 km *5995 1995 Civic SE air, auto *9995 1998 Pontiac Sunfire red, 2 door 69,000 km 2000 Accent 4d, 5 sp, silver Buy now Pay nothing before .June 2003 1994 Achieva V6 *3995 6 month guarantee 1997 Windstar V6,7 pass., 2’' guarantee or 50,000 km *9995 1998 Cavalier 2d, auto •T9SS 1997 Civic LX 4d, auto 1994 Accord EX 4d, auto *9995 1998 Sunfire red, 2d, 5 sp 1994 Grand Cherokee 4d, 4x4, 8 cyl.*9995 1997 Sunfire GT 5 speed, black MORE THAN 100 USED VEHICLES OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS TO LIQUIDATE 2615 King Street West, Sherbrooke sherbrookehonda.com • (819) 566-5322 Townships Life -THEi Generation Today Unplanned parenthood Over the past two decades, grandparents have become primary caretakers of their grandchildren at an unprecedented rate.Instead of spoiling and doting on their grandchildren in ways they never could with their own children, these grandparents have become surrogate parents dealing with the ups and downs of raising their children’s chil-,, dren.