The record, 5 juillet 1996, vendredi 5 juillet 1996

Mutual Funds how do yours compare to the best?Call Calvin T.Chan Financial Advisor (819) 822-4460 / 1 800-561-3718 • midland WALWYN The Voice of the Eastern Townships since 1837 FRIDAY July 5, 1996 WEATHER, Page 2 65 cents Teachers’ voice y >4Br Meet Yvette Voisard, new head honcho of the Eastern Townships Association of Teachers, the union at the E.T.school board.Voisard loves her work, and she loves the Townships too.To find out more please turn to Page 4.record photo: cathy watson Hydro-Quebec’s No 2 executive leaving MONTREAL (CP) — Benoit Michel, Hydro-Quebec’s second-highest executive, has left the provincial government agency.In a brief statement Thur-sday, Hydro-Quebec said Michel’s departure came after a decision by the agency’s board.It said present challenges “-require a cohesion that has been difficult to maintain during the past few months.” Michel and board members were in apparent disagreement over Hydro-Quebec’s restructuring and the agency’s role.“Things like this are never done light-heartedly,” Hydro-Quebec spokesman Guy Versailles said in an interview.Michel, who was appointed president last December, had worked for Hydro-Quebec from 1963 to 1993, then became a See HYDRO: Page 2 Sexist j udge gets boot from bench Judicial committee says au revoir to Justice Bienvenue By Jack Branswell QUEBEC (CP) — A defiant Justice Jean Bienvenue refused to resign Thursday after a committee that investigated his disparaging comments about women and Jews recommended he be booted off the bench.The Canadian Judicial Council committee blasted the Quebec Superior Court judge in its 62-page report and said his conduct has tainted the legal system.Bienvenue wasn’t available for comment but a statement from his lawyer, Gabriel Lapointe, said the judge isn’t defeated yet.“He is disappointed by the decision of the committee but he is not ready to abandon ship,” Lapointe said after talking to Bienvenue, 67.The Judicial Council’s 35 judges will review the report in a meeting Sept.5 and then ‘We must find make their own recommendation to federal Justice Minister Allan Rock.This will be a first because although eight formal inquiries have begun since 1971, the judges involved have either quit or died before the council got involved.If they also call for Bienve-nue’s dismissal, a majority vote in a joint sitting of the Commons and the Senate would still be needed to remove the judge, who has sat on the bench since 1977.Bienvenue’s troubles began during the sentencing of Tracy Théberge — who had slit her former husband’s throat — when he said women can sink to greater depths of depravity than the vilest of men.He also said Jews didn’t suffer in Nazi gas chambers as he tried to make a comparison to Théberge’s violent act.The comments sparked outrage and Bienvenue apologized to Jews and women, but Quebec Justice Minister Paul Bégin and Rock still asked for a hearing into his conduct.Both Rock and Bégin refused to comment directly on the report Thursday.But the report from the five-member committee slammed Bienvenue for showing “an aggravating lack of sensitivity to the communities and indivi-duals offended by his remarks.” It also said he showed a “blatant lack of judgment” in making the inappropriate, sexist, and humiliating comments.Reaction to the decision was favorable.“I think the decision reestablishes somewhat the rules of conduct forjudges,” said Rei-sa Teitelbaum, a spokeswoman See JUDGE: Page 2 a way9 — Pettigrew Canada will suffer stage if unity woes * By Sandra Cordon REGINA (CP) — Canada will lose credibility on the world stage as well as suffering at home if it cannot resolve unity woes, Pierre Pettigrew, federal minister for international cooperation, said Thursday.Pettigrew said he agreed with Louis Saint-Laurent, prime minister in the late 1940s and 1950s, who warned Canada would play a significant role in world affairs only to the extent national unity is maintained.“To those words, I might add that a disunited Canada would also be without influence or credibility,” Pettigrew said in a speech to a service club.The speech was one of several Pettigrew is delivering on a swing through Western Canada.He has been carrying a message of greater national unity as well as meeting international development groups.He said in his speech Thursday that Canada has earned international respect by acting, at various times, as an adviser, referee, and broker between rich and poor countries.Membership in a diverse range of organizations, from on world continue the G-7 to the Francophonie and the Commonwealth, has given Canada a global platform.But that means little if the country can’t solve the unity struggle, said Pettigrew.Canadians, well-known for mediating conflicts and maintaining relationships around the world, must apply these skills to the unity debate at home, he said.“Somehow we must find a way to apply the values and qualities that have earned us the respect of the international community to our own national unity debate.” We see the agricultural world closely and inderstand the farmers' needsi • Credit Margins • Term Loans • Government Guaranteed • Loans • Savings Account • Term Deposit • Desjardins RRSPs • Desjardins RRIFs • Direct Deposit • Loan Insurance • VISA Dejardins •Multi-Service Card • Group Insurance SERVICE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY! Enquire today* at the following Caisses Populaires: Caisse Populaire de Lennoxville 564-5128 Caisse Populaire de Richmond 826-3745 Caisse Populaire de Stanstead 876-7551 Caisse Populaire de Waterville 837-3111 Caisse Populaire de Sutton (514) 538-3336 2—The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996 Cowansville teen accused in Tara Manning murder His parents did everything they could By Sharon McCully COWANSVILLE — Greg Bromby, formerly of Cowansville, will be tried in adult court for the May, 1994 rape and murder of Dorval teen Tara Manning.The Quebec Court of Appeal has yet to rule on whether Bromby was a minor at the time of the murder, but the trial and an appeal on the question of age will be heard independently.The 19-year old’s age was questioned when it was learned his adoptive mother and a nurse randomly chose his birth date.Since news of his arrest his adoptive parents, Roy and Elaine Bromby of Cowansville, have been anguishingin silence over the youth’s troubled past.Bromby was abandoned as a baby by his poverty-stricken Haitian mother, and spent most of his life in the care of Quebec Social Services.The Brombys believe the deprivation he experienced in infancy may have left irreparable scars.Elaine Bromby said from the moment she was handed the small child, she sensed something was amiss.“When I rocked him he would just lie there, unresponsive, never hugging or cuddling,” she recalled.“I’d lay him down in his crib, and he’d close his eyes and go to sleep.He didn’t cry or fuss.” The despondency worried the toddler’s mother, a registered nurse and mother of two.The severely malnourished baby, seemingly suffering from tuberculosis, had been found wrapped in a blanket outside a Haitian hospital for children.The missionary couple who ran the hospital brought the child to their home after determining he did not have TB and treated him for malnutrition and exposure.Medical experts estimated the baby’s age at 14 months, Inside Ann Landers .20 Behind the News .7 Births and deaths .15 Classified .16-17-18 Comics .19-20 Crossword .18-19 Editorial .6 Entertainment .10 Farm and Business .8-9 Living .12 Sports .22-23 The Townships .3-4-5 though he weighed a paltry 11 pounds.The Brombys, on a waiting list for a foreign adoption, agreed to adopt the child eight months later.Since there was no way to determine the baby’s precise birth date, the two couples agreed upon August 6, 1976, a date that would place the child under two, and therefore able to fly to Canada for free.The toddler arrived in Canada June 16,1978 and celebrated his second birthday on the prescribed date.Bromby said though she was intuitively uneasy about his unresponsive behavior, it wasn’t until the youngster began Kindergarten at the local French-language school that he began to exhibit behavioral problems.“We were told he was dyslexic and couldn’t learn, and he had bouts of aggressive behavior, possibly brought on by frustration,” she said.The parents switched the child to an English school, but the problems persisted.Educational assessments indicated a learning disability, but noted the child had an average or above-average IQ.“He began to lie and bully his older and quieter brother, his mother recalled.You couldn’t reason with him.It didn’t seem to register.” When he was seven, his distraught mother consulted a psychiatrist about his behavior.At the same time, Bromby was in the throes of a full clinical depression herself, and was hospitalized for two months, leaving her husband to care for their four children.After her release from hospital, the couple sought help from family counsellors who recommended the 10-year-old be placed in an emergency group home for children.Bromby says the little boy didn’t cry when his father delivered him to the emergency shelter — though the father wept openly.“I asked him once what he remembers about that day and he said, “Daddy bought me an W E AT HER Intermittent rain today but ending by late afternoon.Winds will be from 15 to 30 km and the high will be about 22.Saturday will be cloudy with clear periods and a 40 per cent chance of precipitation.Low of 12 and a high of 22.ice-cream on the way,” she recalled.It was the first of a long line of dates and institutions to mark the boy’s life.In the ensuing years, he would spend only a few months under one roof.While other boys his age were playing baseball and riding bikes, he was being shunted from one group home to another, undergoing psychiatric evaluations, finally ending up at the Shawbridge Youth Centre.His schooling was sporadic at best.“I couldn’t tell you how many social workers have been involved in his life,” his adoptive mother said.“At each institution there was a constant turnover of staff,” she said.“We were never dealing with the same people.There were dozens of reports and elaborate intervention plans but it seemed none of the recommendations were ever acted upon.” Roy Bromby said he juggled his work schedule to visit regularly with the youngster when he first entered a group home.“Later, we’d bring the whole JUDGE:—- Continued from page one for the Quebec branch of the Canadian Jewish Congress.Women’s activist Diane Lemieux said the report improves the judiciary’s image.“This committee proved that it can deal with this kind of problem and it’s very good for the Constitution and the credibility of the justice system,” she said.The report also concluded Bienvenue isn’t fit to sit on the Continued from page one consultant and worked for a year for the Olympic Installations Board.Michel and his boss, chairman Yvon Martineau, were grilled for 13 hours last February by a legislature committee.At the time, Guy Chevrette, cabinet minister responsible for Hydro-Quebec, criticized its request for rate hikes.Chevrette urged the executives to “show a little more humility, to get out of your glass bubble and recognize your mistakes or bad decisions, instead of always trying to justify yourselves.” family in to cook dinner for the staff and residents at the group home — and he would run away.” After repeated attempts at family reconciliation, social workers advised the family in 1988 to permanently sever their relationship as adoptive parents and turn legal custody of the 12-year-old over to Youth Protection.They broke off their painful relationship, but never gave up hope of reconciliation.‘When I told Greg our decision he didn’t cry or react, but the social worker had to leave the room because she was in tears,” his mother recalled.Two years later when it was obvious the youngster would not be returning to his adoptive family, Elaine Bromby delivered the news in a letter.“We’ve made the painful decision not to see you again,” she wrote.By then a full-time resident at the Shawbridge centre, Bromby found himself before Youth Court Judge Andrée Ruf-fo, who expressed dismay at his history of institutionalization since age 10.In an effort to introduce stability to his life, bench because citizens can reasonably question his impartiality.The committee’s recommendation was not unanimous.Jean-Claude Couture, the chief judge of the Tax Court of Cana- Ruffo prepared a long list of recommendations which included regular visits with his former adoptive parents, who were present in the courtroom, but the Brombys say social workers never acted on the recommendations.“It’s been one heartbreak after another,” his mother said, even though we were no longer his legal guardians.At one point when the Brombys learned the teenager was missing from Shawbridge for three months, they personally placed a missing persons ad in newspapers.Then last year came the most devastating news of all.The family learned the boy they had adopted in 1978 had been arrested for the brutal rape and murder of Lakeshore teenager Tara Manning.At a painful and traumatic court hearing, Elaine Bromby recounted the circumstances of his birth.“As painful as it was, I had to tell the truth about his birthdate,” she said.“I’m convinced the emotional abandonnment Greg suffered as an infant left irreparable scars.” da, dissented.“I am convinced that Mr.Justice Bienvenue never intended to insult or revile women and Jews,” Couture wrote.Removal from the bench was too harsh a penalty, he added.HYDRO: Bienvenue case background A committee of the Canadian Judicial Council has recommended that Justice Jean Bienvenue be removed from the bench for disparaging remarks about women and Jews.Some facts about the case: THE SPARK: Bienvenue’s problems began last December while sentencing Tracy Théberge for murder.JUDGE ON WOMEN: “It is said that when women ascend the scale of virtues, they reach higher than men and I have always believed this.And it is also said, and this too I believe, that when they decide to degrade themselves, they sink to depths to which even the vilest man could not sink.” JUDGE ON JEWS: “At the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, which I once visited horror-stricken, even the Nazis did not eliminate millions of Jews in a painful or bloody manner.They died in the gas chambers, without suffering.” THE INQUIRY COMMITTEE: Chief Justice of Quebec Pierre Michaud; Chief Justice Joseph Daigle, New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench; Chief Judge Jean-Claude Couture of the Tax Court of Canada; Quebec lawyers Paule Gauthier and Nathalie Des Rosiers.THE DECISION: Committee of the Canadian Judicial Council recommended Bienvenue be removed from the bench.NEXT STEP: The 35-member Canadian Judicial Council as a whole meets Sept.5 to review committee report and make its recommendation to federal Justice Minister Allan Rock.a division of Groupe Quebecor Inc.Recorfi 2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K 1A1 819-569-9511 819-569-9525 Fax: 819-569-3945 Member ABC, CARO, COMA.NMB.QCNA Randy Kinnear, Publisher.819-569-9511 Susan C.Mastine, Community Rel.819-569-9511 Charles Bury, Editor.819-569-6345 Alain Tétreault, Adv.Dir.819-569-9525 Richard Lessard, Prod.Mgr.819-569-9931 Mark Guillette, Press Sup.819-569-9931 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The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996—3 Townships Côté vindicated in Superior Court judgment Green people pleased with Pinnacle verdict FRELIGHSBURG (SM) — Three Frelighsburg conservation associations have issued a statement expressing their satisfaction with a court decision vindicating Guy Côté and praising the late conservationist’s role in preserving Pinnacle Mountain.Pinnacle Mountain developer Pierre Tellier pursued a $750,000 defamatory libel suit against the estate of Côté, who died in 1994, claiming the conservationist had deliberately maligned his reputation and manipulated the media.During 15 days of testimony in a Granby courtroom this spring, Superior Court Justice Léo Daigle found no evidence that Côté had acted improperly.In his 50-page ruling Daigle noted that Tellier “has not proved from any perspective that Guy L.Côté was the source of his misfortune, nor that he committed one or more of the alleged misdeeds which would have defamed the plaintiff.” Justice Daigle said members of the association for the conservation of Pinnacle Mountain, of which Côté was spokesman, “struggled democratically to conserve Pinnacle Mountain in its natural state by opposing the change in vocation zoning.” The coalition of conservation groups expressed satisfaction with the decision and its exoneration of Côté’s name and reputation.“Mr.Côté was a remarkably selfless man who brought disinterested compassion and great practical gifts to the defence of our beautiful mountain and its communities, human and natural, whom he felt were being done an unjustice,” the statement says.The coalition says Côté devoted the final seven years of his life to the cause of establishing “rational and democratic control” over the Pinnacle, the Two in hospital, one escapes injury Cowansville teens injured in an accidental pipe bomb blast By Sharon McCully COWANSVILLE — Two Cowansville teenagers are in hospital tonight after a pipe-bomb they were building exploded in front of them.A third teen narrowly escaped injury when then metal cylinder exploded throwing shrapnel into the ceiling.One 15-year old boy was transferred to the CHUS hospital in Sherbrooke where doctors will attempt to save his hand which was severly injured in the explosion, and treat chest wounds.His 16 -year old friend is in Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins-Hospital in Cowansville being treated for serious injuries to his eye and face.Cowansville police Sgt.Jacques Landry said both boys were seriously injured and were transported to hospital by ambulance shortly after lunchtime.Landry said the teens were using metal tubing from a telescope tripod to build the pipe-bomb.“They were filling the tube with 500 match-heads when it exploded in their faces,” he said.Provincial police from Quebec’s bomb squad were brought in to investigate the explosion and Landry said investigators pulled several pieces of the shattered metal from the basement ceiling of the boy’s home.Landry said it appears the teens were just experimenting with the bomb.“A pipe bomb was discovered in Sutton last week and everyone said it wasn’t dangerous,” Landry said.“Now people will see that pipe bombs are very dangerous.” Two afternoon attacks: City police hunt young rapist last remaining undeveloped mountain in the region.The groups are also viewing the court decision as a victory for environmentalists everywhere who are forced to defend their actions in legal challenges.“It is an important victory for groups which find themselves defending against lawsuits on flimsy grounds, instituted by promoters and corpo- rate interests in order to silence opposition to their projects,” say group spokesmen Richard Sommer and Hélène Doucet Leduc.“We rejoice with Guy Côté’s widow and family that his contribution and sacrifice are now a matter of public record,” the statement concludes.Developer Tellier has not indicated whether he intends to appeal the decision.Missing person: Police are looking for Isabelle Bolduc, missing since June 30.On the night of June 29 Bolduc told her sister she was going to the Fleuri-Bar, at 1133 13th Avenue North in east Sherbrooke, and would be home later.She was seen at the bar later that night, and is known to have left the establishment at about 3 a.m.June 30.The next morning she phoned her work, saying she was too sick to come in, but has not been seen since.Bolduc is French-speaking, 22 years old with green eyes and brown hair.She is about 1.6 metres (5-feet, 5-inches) tall and weighs about 64 kilograms (140 pounds).When last seen she was wearing black suede pants, white shirt and black vest.She has the distinctive habit of twisting and playing with her hair.Anyone with any information about her is asked to contact detective Roger Suprenant of the Sherbrooke Police at (819)-821-5544.Victims were buried Man faces 6 charges in Disraeli double murder SHERBROOKE — City police are looking for a man they believe has committed two sexual assaults.The first attack took place on July 1 near the Salle Maurice O’Bready on the campus of Sherbrooke University at about 5:45 p.m.Two days later a second attack took place at the intersection of Roy and Bonin Streets just before 5 p.m.In both cases the suspect threatened the victims with a small black revolver.Both victims gave police almost identical descriptions of their attacker.In the second case a woman passing by picked up the victim and took her home.Police believe the Good Samaritan may have seen the attacker and would like to speak with her.The attacker is described as a French-speaking white male of about 17 years of age.He is about 1.7 metres (5-feet 7-inches) tall and weighs about 59 kilograms (130 pounds).He had ratty brown hair, brown eyes, acne, and a thin face.In both cases he was wearing shorts and a cotton vest or shirt with green writing on it.Anyone with information on ( the two attacks is asked to contact Det.Gérard Leblanc at 821-5544.All calls are confidential.death SHERBROOKE (MC) — A 23-year-old man is facing a slew of charges in connection with the robbery and murder of a Disraeli couple.Sylvain Lessard, of St Etienne de Lauzon near Quebec City, appeared in court in Thetford Mines Thursday to face two charges of first degree murder, two charges of kidnapping, one count of sexual assault and one count of armed robbery.He is being held without bail.The bodies of Jean-Dénis Parent, 57, and Françoise Parent, 52, were discovered Wednesday afternoon after the recently-arrested Lessard told detectives where to look for them.Jean Dénis Parent was found buried in his own back yard, while the body of Françoise Beaulieu-Parent was found buried under rocks in a quarry on Sixth Range Road in nearby Saint Daniel, said Quebec Police Force spokesman Cst.Serge Dubord.The couple had been missing since June 21, and on June 26 the Quebec Police Force joined in the search.On June 28 the couple’s car was found abandoned in the parking lot of a shopping centre in Saint-Foy.Dubord said Lessard was a former resident of Disraeli, and had been back in the area visiting friends.He was arrested Wednesday in St-Etienne de Lauzon, where police say they found a television, VCR and firearms belonging to the Parents.No charges yet in East Angus Woman held for mental tests SHERBROOKE (MC) — Police will not be charging a local woman in connection with the death of an East Angus man — just yet.Pierre Olivier, 49, was found dead in his room by his brother at about 7:45 a.m.Wednesday at their East Angus home.After a preliminary investigation the Quebec Police Force arrested a 39-year-old woman they suspect played a role in Olivier’s death.Olivier’s body was sent to Montreal for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but preliminary results Thursday proved inconclusive.QPF spokesman Cst.Serge Dubord said Crown prosecutors have decided not to charge the woman until they know the exact cause of death.Dubord said the woman was transferred from police custody to a hospital Wednesday night where she is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.She remains under police guard at the hospital. Townships 4—The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996 Some paving for a service they don’t get?Confusion over 911 access in Stanstead East By Rita Legault SHERBROOKE — If your phone number begins with 838 and you live in Stanstead East, check your phone bill.Some residents of Stanstead East are being charged for the 911 emergency line, although they don’t yet have access to the service.Stanstead East resident Sharon Laberee called Bell to complain about the extra charges on Tuesday, but was unable to get any satisfaction.In fact, Bell insisted she does have access to 911.“I was told that ‘of course you’re getting the service,” Laberee said, adding that when she hung up she dialed 9-1-1 and got a recording saying she did not have access to the emergency service.Laberee called back and talked to another customer service clerk who promised to call her before the end of the week.NEED PROOF “Bell Canada says I have the service, and I don’t,” she said.“But they have to prove it to themselves first.” Laberee said her June phone bill has two extra charges: 32(2 for the 911 emergency service and a 47(2 “municipal charge”.“But it’s not the dollar,” she said.“It’s the principle.” Bell Canada spokesman Pierre Laporte said customers like Laberee should contact the utility and ask for a refund.“Those who don’t have the service shouldn’t be charged,” he said.“They should get in touch with customer service and have the charges erased from their bill.” Stanstead East residents will have to wait a while longer before they get access to the emergency service.The municipality signed a contract with Bell Quebec to get access to the service last August, but their request is still on hold.Neighboring Ayer’s Cliff, which shares the 838 phone exchange, just got on line.Stanstead East secretary-treasurer Scott Lothrop said the 911-contract was signed in August 1995, “but we haven’t got anything back from Bell on it — at least not lately.” NO DATE YET Bell spokesman Laporte said that no date has been set for the emergency service to be extended to Stanstead East, but that residents in the Three Villages will be getting it by November.Lothrop said when council passed a resolution for the 911-service, only numbers within the 838 exchange could get access.That’s because numbers in the 876 exchange were still a long distance phone call away from Sherbrooke.Now 876 lines are a local call to Sherbrooke, but Lothrop is unsure if that means those residents will now be able to access 911.m m w\ « Flash floods fouled up city sewers Sherbrooke surveys aftermath of the floods It must be monsoon season.The rain came back to the Eastern Townships again on Thursday afternoon.While flowers were left drooping, the rest of us simply ha ve to defy the rain for another day or two — like this kid defying safety, logic and gravity allat once on a swing at Parc Blanchard in Sherbrooke.By Rita Legault SHERBROOKE — Worried about another onslaught from Mother Nature, City of Sherbrooke work crews were busily unblocking storm sewers and drains all day Thursday.Heavy precipitation on Wednesday caused flash floods throughout the west end causing sewers to overflow, blocking storm drains with sand, gravel and other debris, and causing some sewers to overflow into the basements of dozens of merchants and citizens.The gushing water also washed away manhole covers, tore off chunks of sidewalks, was- hed out stretches of bicycle path and caused a large section of pavement on Wellington South to heave upward.“Our main concern is to ensure the safety of residents,” mayor Jean Perrault said at an afternoon press conference discussing the damage.“The priority is on urgent repairs in areas which represent a danger to the population,” said public works director Guy Labbé, adding that public works crews had to repair a number of damaged culverts and unblock sewers to ensure that a further downpour wouldn’t aggravate the situation.TOO MUCH RAIN Perrault said that by 9 a.m.Thursday morning, phones were ringing off the hook at city hall as more than 100 complaints were lodged over damage from backed up sewers which overflowed onto lawns and into basements.By 3 p.m.another 40 citizens had called to complain about damage.Of the 100 earlier calls, 76 were about sewage spills.Forty-five came from the west end, including the downtown where the worst damage occu-red.Some 28 calls came from the east end and three from the north end.The other two dozen complaints ranged from broken sump pumps, damaged wells and retaining walls, and dirt in swimming pools.By mid-afternoon, city works inspectors had visited about 50 residents who had complained of damage.City lawyer Isabelle Sauvé explained that residents wishing to lodge a damage complaint must write the city clerk withing 15 days.Complaints must include the date of the incident, details of the damage as well as the address of the claimant.COMPLAINTS She said the city will assess all complaints and, if it refuses to pay for repairs, citizens have six months to sue for damages.The city has a brochure explaining the procedure to lodge a formal complaint.Labbé said the city will have to determine if sewers were adequate or if the rain was so heavy that the city could not have prevented the damage.“We can’t design our system for such conditions,” he said, adding similar flooding has only occured one other time in the last 30 years.Mayor Perrault stressed that it was an act of God for which the city could not have been fully prepared.“The quantity of water that fell on us yesterday was exceptional,” he said, adding that the isolated shower wreaked havoc mostly in the west end.Labbé said public works and city managers were still assessing the damage Thursday afternoon and said it would be at least a day before they could even guess at how much the cleanup will cost.He pointed out that a cursory look at some of the damage may not be enough to determine damage to roadbeds and other infrastructures under the surface.In the meantime, public works crews headed into the streets with hoses and street cleaners to begin clearing away the debris. Townships The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996 5 Teachers union gets new head: Yvette Voisard Out of the science lab and By Cathy Watson Record Correspondent SHERBROOKE — The school year has ended and Yvette Voisard does not wax nostaligic as she sits in her science lab at Richmond Regional High School.After 27 years of teaching Voisard is ready for a change, and ready to take on the.challenge that her new position at the helm of the local teachers’ union will bring.Voisard was elected president of the Eastern Townships Association of Teachers (ETAT) this spring, replacing longtime president Ronald Ewing.The job doesn’t officially begin until late August, but Voisard has already given her new duties considerable thought.Moving from the classroom into ETAT’s only full-time union position seemed like a natural step to take, according to the former Montrealer.Drawn to teaching since she was a young girl, Voisard joked that she was attracted to the profession because one of her own teachers used to receive lots of Christmas presents from her pupils.“Now there’s a good reason to become a teacher,» Voisard grins.Yvette Voisard: ‘This is still home.We have something here that you can’t really put into words.’ record photo: cathy watson into the back room As ETAT president, Voisard plans to continue to voice her members’ concerns about the effects of Education Ministry cutbacks on classroom size and teacher workload.In any given year, between 250 and 300 teachers are employed by the Eastern Townships School Board, and any temptation to reduce staff to meet budget constraints will likely meet with strong disapproval.“We as teachers know whatit means when we lose half of a teacher in a school,» says Voisard, who has taught groups of more than 30 students at a time in laboratory settings.“The general public has to be aware that it’s not just Montreal that gets all the school cuts.Anybody who is a property owner or who has children in the public system, they have to realize that budget cuts are here and they’re here to stay.“It’s going to hurt financially and it may hurt somebody’s child in school.» From her early attraction to teaching, Voisard earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Montreal’s Mananopolis College in the 1960s, followed by a Bachelor of Education at St.Joseph’s.In 1969, Voisard and hus- band Paul, also a teacher, arrived in Richmond to fill two vacant positions at the newly built Richmond Regional High School, joining a staff of about 60 teachers.The couple quickly settled into small-town life, eventually resolving to stay permanently while they raised their children.Asked if she intends to take any political stands, as the union did during last fall’s referendum, Voisard replied: “Unless the executive gives me a mandate to work politically, there’s not much that I’ll be doing in that field.» On a personal level, Voisard doesn’t rule out the possibility of staying with her new union job until retirement — if her members are willing.After that, Voisard says she intends to continue to make the Eastern Townships her home as she pursues her many extracurricular hobbies.“Even if, politically, something should happen to Quebec, this is still home.We have something here that you can’t really put into words.There’s something here that I like and I want to stay and enjoy it,» she says, with just a touch of emotion in her voice.The wicked weather has played havoc I really must take time to smell the roses.Last weekend I was witness to huge doses of warmth and determination as communities across the Eastern Townships braved cloudy, damp weather and out-and-out downpours to carry on traditional Canada Day celebrations.Not only did parade and booth participants put on brave faces so that the shows would proceed, but there were also waving, smiling spectators to cheer everyone on.True Townships spirit that.The wicked weather has played havoc with many a plan in the last fortnight.This is most true for the farmers among us who have been tryi ng to get i n their first cut of hay.The fields of graceful tall timothy which not long ago were gently and rhythmically swaying in the breeze as if to a conductor’s baton, have been battered to the ground by wind and rain.Some farmers lost thousands of bales of high quality feed when days of showers soaked just cut fields.Lost feed, lost time, lost money, lost sleep.Life on the farm — always unpredictable.Mother Nature still reigns.Susan C.Mastine (See the related story on Page 9 — ed.) She has brought us some gifts, however, along with the less pleasant weather.Over the past week as I travelled to places like Barnston and Baldwin’s Mills, Bury and Knowl-ton, I’ve been admiring the gloriously-painted fields of wildflowers, with vivid patches of purple, white, red and yellow.They have brought to mind some of my favorite chil- dhood moments.I would pick bouquets of every summer field flower around — daisies, buttercups, vetches, red and yellow paintbrushes, pink and white clover.Then I would gently pluck each petal from each flower, putting it into a metal can.When all of the petals were in the container, I’d mix them with a little bit of water and dirt to make a ‘cake’.I rarely make cake nowadays, and I rarely pick flowers —although the garden’s full of fragrant summer blooms.I really must take time to smell the roses and the mock orange and to immerse myself in the beauty of the peonies, the sweet williams, the delphiniums.• • • Beryl Hughes from Ayer’s Cliff wrote to me back in March saying that last fall there were so many ladybugs around her house, “that it was impossible to sit outside on our gallery without being covered by the little creatu-res.” She sought professional advice from a nursery and was counselled to collect and freeze them, then to put them into her garden in late spring.I called her this week to find out what happened to the insects she froze.Bad luck, I’m afraid.Much to Mrs.Hughes disappointment, her ladybugs did not revive when taken from the freezer.Yet the ones that spent the winter under the eaves of the house did.None of our ladybugs survived the winter either.Many of them got overtanned in our kitchen lights.Our experience of storing ladybug bettles in the fridge was an utter failure.Some of the ones we collected woke up when Perry came to photograph them, then went back to sleep in their bug bottles.But there was no sign of life in late April when we went to let the bugs go in the garden.The topic of Ladybugs is bound to come up when I meet people.A couple of weeks ago the Bird Man from Danville told me that he’d never had a ladybug in the house until I wrote about them.The things I get blamed for! • • • One of our readers called to ask where she could get a copy of the map with the names of tiny villages and former hamlets.I found mine at Canadian Tire in Sherbrooke.In case there are others interested, here’s what to look for: it’s called Carte de I'Estrie — Eastern Townships Road map; it’s purple with a photograph of a covered bridge on the front; there is a c.i.o.- la Cartographie informatisée de l’Outaouais inc.- logo on the upper left corner.To the west, the map goes as far as Mawcock, Adamsville and Lake Selby; to the north, its boundaries are just beyond Melbourne, Danville, Notre-Dam-de-Ham, St-Julien, Courcelles and St-Ludger.In other words, it does not cover our entire region.There are similar maps for the Montéré-gie, Coeur du Quebec, and Chaudières-Appalaches regions that will give us the rarely-used place names and locations in the more western, northern and eastern parts of the Townships. Editorial 6—The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996 Wasted three months of good House time The House of Commons adjourned last week after a raucous and cranky week in the Chamber, leaving much unfinished business, a defeated government bill, an Airbus controversy that won’t go away and plenty of points of order and points of privilege on the Order Paper.Funny how the government has so much to do in so little time and yet manages to adjourn a day early for the summer, leaving bills blowing in the wind.Funnier still how the government rams so many of them through the House in the final week.Nonetheless, in the midst of the legislative madness, the House Affairs Committee, after a three-month so-called “investigation,” or “probe”, cleared Bloc Québécois MP Jean-Marc Jacob of contempt of Parliament for sending out a letter urging Quebec soldiers just days before the referendum to transfer their loyalties to Quebec in the event of a Yes vote.The letter was written on the Leader of the Official Opposition’s letterhead.It comes as no surprise that the government cleared Mr.Jacob of any wrongdoing since the Liberals were extremely nervous about angering Quebecers.What’s disappointing is how the government wasted three months of good House time on a report that says very little and offers even less.From the beginning, the entire committee investigation was a painful farce which in the end accomplished nothing and failed to offer any solutions.The government-dominated committee (which includes the membership of the chief government whip), found that Mr.Jacob used “extremely poor judgment”, was “ill-advised”, “mischievous” and said the letter was “clearly partisan propaganda which “contravened the traditional arm’s length relationship that exists between Parliament and the Canadian Armed Forces”.But it found that the letter “was not subversion or sedition or a call to arms.” It concluded there was no contempt and that no action would be taken.The report left Mr.Jacob triumphant in the House of Commons, prompting him to make a solemn declaration that wasn’t too solemn.He attacked Jim Hart, the Reform Party MP who introduced the motion, he criticized the House Speaker for ever deciding it was a question of privilege and later told reporters he would send a similar letter again.In the Commons, Mr.Jacob said: “I hereby declare that the hon.member for Okanagan-Similkameen-Merr-tt, through his overzealous accusations of call to arms and sedition, has deliberately led the House and yourself astray, thus bringing doubt and suspicion to be cast upon a member of the House of Commons, without any proof, since his charges were based solely upon false interpretation of my press release dated October 26,1995.” Both the Liberals and the Bloc concluded that the entire question was “a matter of political debate and ought never to have been raised before the House on a question of privilege, particulary one supported by unfounded accusations.” What’s maddening is that the government knew this all along, and yet wasted House time.Liberal MP Denis Paradis told Hill Times reporter Mike Scandiffio back in April that the Liberals were caught in the middle on this one, and dismissed it as a political game.How true.“If we are too tough on Jacob then he becomes a martyr, but then if we appear too lenient then we will lose support in other parts of Canada and give the Reform ammunition,” Mr.Paradis said.In fact, Liberal MP Paul Zed, the chair of the committee, told the Hill Times that he was frankly surprised the Speaker ever ruled it as privilege, hinting that the committee wanted this one like it wanted a hole in the head.The Liberals, who held private strategy sessions before every committee meeting, never bothered to call witnesses from the Defence Department or Defence Minister David Collenette himself.Instead, the Liberal-dominated committee called Mr.Jacob, Mr.Hart, two House of Commons legal experts and a couple of Parliamentary experts.The Jacob affair was nothing but a big waste of time, which is disappointing, but again, not surprising.JIM KRESKEY Jim Kreskey is editor of Hill Times, community newspaper of Parliament Hill.96 @ aûà vosmn WAR CRIMES TPIBVNAl I ew 40* ! Letter to the Editor Patriotic Canadians who are prepared to volunteer Patriotic Canadians Needed for a few hours! Each year volunteers from the Veterans Recognition and Remembrance Services attend remembrance services and resting places of Canadian veterans, in towns and villages throughout Europe, laying wreaths and floral tributes and remembering on behalf of Canadians, the contribution made by those who never returned home to Canada.The organization is embarking on a “Living Tribute” program in the spring of 1997, when trees will be planted accompanied by a remembrance plaque commemorating Canadian veterans.VRRS Canadian Committee needs patriotic Canadians who are prepared to volunteer for a few hours whilst organizing a onetime fundraising activity to help fund our visits and programs.Organize an activity big or small such as a sponsored swim or run, silence, barbecue, baseball game or a similar enjoyable event.For an organizer’s pack write to us at the address below.Alternatively, general donations by money order or postal order (in British pounds) can be sent, payable to, Veterans Recognition and Remembrance Services, 67 Brabner, Folkestone, Kent, England, CT19 6LP.We would like to thank all those who will show their support.PAT TIERNEY QPC, Chairperson VRRS Canadian Committee The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996_7 These local graduates willing to work in region As a community service to graduating students and potential employers in the Eastern Townships, Townshippers Association, in collaboration with local media, is publishing the names and qualifications of graduating students hoping to remain in the region.Employers wishing to find out more about the following potential employees should contact Erin or Trade at Townshippers Association in Ascot at (819) 566-5717 or Steve in Cowansville at (514) 268-4422.Name: Robyn Albers Education: Bachelor of Arts, Honors English - Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: librarian (shelver), media centre assistant: I did filing, typing (50wpm).scheduled appointments; editor for adult education curriculum; knowledge of WordPerfect 5.1.Paradox, Microsoft Word.Interests/Attributes: “I enjoy working with people and working outdoors.I enjoy working on challenging projects that change definition often." Employment Sought: in the fields of journalism, editing, teaching, anything related to working outdoors.Name: Line Coderre Education: Bachelor of Arts, Major - Business administration.Bishop's University; Diplôme deludes collegiales in Hotel management.Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Quebec Experience/Qualifications: trilingual (English, French and Spanish); waitress, chef, secretary- Interests/Attributes: Interested in human resources and languages.Employment Sought: Interested in a position within a human resources department; working in a bank.Name: Martin Duval Education: Bachelor of Arts, Honors - Applied Psychology, Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: training course at Hotel-Dieu Hospital in Sherbrooke; gas attendant in Magog (during school year); co-ordinator at Burger King (during CEGEP).Interests/Attributes: “I am hardworking, honest and respectful of others.I'm interested in helping others and have a very good sense of humor.” Employment Sought: work related to psychology or social work; willing to work with groups or individuals.Name: Willie F.Elman Education: Bachelor of Arts, Honors - Applied/Clinical Psychology, Bishop’s University.Experience/Qualifications: Five years in material manage- ment distribution (M.M.D.), Holy Cross Hospital, Calgary; four months at Alexander Galt Regional High School Learning Centre.Employment Sought: human resources/personnel management; research (medical, psychological, business).Valerie Anne Haddad is looking for marketing work.Name: Valerie Anne Haddad Education: Bachelor of Commerce, Major - Marketing; Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: "I have taken many advertising classes in university.I have a lot of experience working with the public and have taken many psychology classes which will contribute a lot to a career in marketing.” Interests/Attributes: "I am very hard working, motivated, organized person.I enjoy many cultural and athletic activities." Employment Sought: “I would like to work in marketing, either in advertising or consumer behavior.Gina Hartley is interested in geography-related jobs.Name: Gina Hartley Education: Bachelor of Arts, Major - Geography, Minor - Sociology, Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: ‘I have managed and been the instructor of my riding school for the past five summers.I have taken various courses in urban planning, resource development, geographic information systems and have done some field work in the physical geography area.I have a knowledge of French and computer software such as: WordPerfect; Microsoft Word; Quattro Pro and Geographic Information Systems.Interests/Attributes: “I am an outgoing person who is a willing and hard worker.I enjoy the outdoors and have a genuine interest in environmental aspects, especially those which concern the Eastern Townships region.I have a friendly personality and really enjoy working in team situations and with the public.” Employment Sought: "I would like to work for a planning department or in the area of natural resource development, where I can use my abilities to work with the public, outside in the field and also be able to use the skills I have learned at university.especially related to Geographic Information Systems.” Name: Michelle Labbe Education: Bachelor of Arts.Major - French, Bishop's University Experience/Qualifications: “I am bilingual and have a good knowledge of the Spanish language.I have a certificate in bar-tending.” Interests/Attributes: “I like to work with people and love kids.1 enjoy pracitsing my languages." Employment Sought: teaching French as a second language.Name: Chantal Lambert Education: Bachelor of Arts, Major - Psychology, Minor - Sociology, Bishop's University; certificate in services de garde du Quebec pour enfants.Experience/Qualifications: waitress at Buffet King Chow, monitor at English Second Language program at Champlain College, sales representative at Tristan et Iseut store; volunteer work: Big Buddies at Bishop's University.Interests/Attributes: “I am perfectly bilingual and have always loved to be with children and teenagers.I love outdoor activities such as biking and swimming; arts and crafts and aerobics.” Employment Sought: a job working with youth (children and teenagers) that need extra attention or who are from unfavorable environments; employment in social services of any kind.Christina Roberts wants Chartered Accountant.to be Name: Christina A.Roberts Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, Major - Accounting, Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: waitress, tour guide, telemarketer, teacher's aid, administrative assistant.Interests/Attributes: “I enjoy working with numbers and collect foreign currency and spoons.I enjoy swimming and biking.” Employment Sought: “I would like to find work related to accounting, bookkeeping, ac- counts payable or receivable, payroll, etc.; a position in a bank.I will eventually become a Chartered Accountant.” Sean McGillis is interested in finance and business.Name: Sean McGillis Education: B.B.A.Major - Finance.Minor - Economics, Bishop's University.Experience/Qualifications: Tree planting in Northern Ontario and in British Columbia; worked at Sharbot Lake Provincial park; worked at the Whistler Ski Resort restaurant.Interests/Attributes: outgoing personality; enjoy all sports and outdoor activities: very reliable and a dedicated worker.Employment Sought: Interested in any job in the business/finance or marketing fields.Brigitte Rodrigue majored in Marketing.Name: Brigitte Rodrigue Education: B.B.A Major - Marketing.Bishop's University Experience/Qualifications: Sales coordinator and representative for Latapie Marketing consultants Inc.; assisted with the Lafuma advertising campaign; external agent for the Ex-Club Interests/Attributes: Young dynamic and ambitious.Enjoy challenges.Employment Sought: A position in marketing within a company that will help me build my career.Name: Darius A.Sokal Education: Bachelor of Arts Honors - History, Bishop's University: Diploma in print journalism, Niagara College.Experience/Qualifications: Editor of the 1996 Bishop's Historical review; Reporter and photographer with the Independent and Weekend Focus newspapers.Interests/Attributes: Highly motivated.“My interests include athletics and scholastic reading.” Employment Sought: Editorial assistant or administrative position in the fields of communications or public relations.Name: Colette Stebenne Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, concentration - Finance, Bishop’s University- Experience/Qualifications: manager of a "Bar laitier" for three years; controlled finances, sales, product acquisitions, inventory.Interests/Attributes: “I enjoy working with people and challenging projects.” Employment Sought: a position in financial administration, financial management or financial planning that will require my best efforts. Farm and Business 8—The RECORD—Friday, July 5, 1996 One form for federal, provincial, municipal taxes Minister wants single tax collection system By Rob Carrick OTTAWA (CP) — Get ready to have Revenue Canada tax collectors take a more active role in your life.Revenue Minister Jane Stewart says she wants to create a powerful new agency that takes in federal, provincial and municipal taxes and even pays out social benefits.Stewart says her plan would save hundreds of millions in personal and corporate tax collection costs, and make Canada a more attractive place to do business.The new agency sounds a little like Big Brother, she conceded in an interview Thursday with The Canadian Press.Yet she said Canadians can be sold on the idea if it results in government dollars being spent more efficiently.“It really is an idea that makes sense to the public in terms of one tax payment, one tax collector, one set of forms,” she said.The idea of a joint federal-provincial tax collector was raised in the last throne speech as part of Ottawa’s proposals for re-distributing government powers.A federal document says the provinces could save up to $500 million in tax collection costs if they let Ottawa do the work for them through a new Canada Border and Revenue Service.Stewart said the new agency could also collect property taxes for municipalities, and even take on the job of sending out social program cheques now filled by Human Resources Development Canada.“HRD has a whole bunch of stuff that we could suck in,” she said.Stewart said she hopes to have legislation for a joint federal-provincial tax collector in place by Jan.1, 1998.She said the Western provinces have said they’re interested in streamlining tax administration and collection, as have Ontario and the three Atlantic provinces that will merge their sales taxes with the GST next April.Quebec will be the toughest sell.The province has refused to join talks to form a new national securities regulator and is unlikely to give up its own tax collection bureaucracy.Stewart said Quebec spends $350 million per year to administer and collect taxes.Job offer The Record and Canada Human Resource Centres across the Eastern Townships are publicizing job opportunities in the region.Persons who qualify for jobs should contact their nearest C.E.C.office or phone Telecentre at 564-4977(Sherbrooke) or (514) 776-5285 (Granby).2078173 LABORERS IN TEXTILE PROCESSING, Magog.$8.39'hr after 480 hrs, acc.to contract.Fast, factory exp.Folding, wrapping, etc.sheibiooM Jean-Charles Boily, François Bouchard, ll.b.LL.B., LL.M.(London School of Economics) ATTORNEYS AT LAW Offering a wide range of legal services in business law, litigation, civil and commercial law, banking and family law.455 King St.West Suite 610 Tel: (819) 563-4898 Sherbrooke (Quebec) J1H 6E9 Fax: (819) 563-5837 OTTAWA (CP) — Comments by Revenue Minister Jane Stewart on her plans for a single federal-provincial tax collector: “We’re ready to change.We can see that if we can break into something more unique .we’ll be more competitive and we’ll be more effective.” — on the need to make tax collection more efficient.“If there was one place where people sent their money, what’s so wrong with that — with acceptable accountability.” — on the public perception of a single tax collector.‘This is where the idea of something that is not a government department becomes so important.” — on the need to avoid the appearance of a federal power grab.“All we’re saying is, think about it.” — on negotiations with the provinces.Revenue Canada continues to combat the underground economy Over the past several years, Revenue Canada and Revenu Québec have developed a number of strategies to fight the underground economy.This was necessary to help reduce government deficits but aiso to ensure that everyone nays their fair share of taxes.It is not normal for the tax burden to be shouldered by honest people.Last week.National Revenue Minister Jane Stewart announced that the federal government has reached an agreement with leading representatives of Canada's construction and home-building industry and building trade unions and that a new reporting system was being introduced.The new system encourages individuals and businesses to voluntarily report all payments they make to contractors who provide construction services.Fax Talks This reporting system will reduce opportunities for under-the-table contractors to undermine legitimate new home builders and renovators.Since the system will be voluntary, it will not be costly to administer.Moreover, it will be retroactive to payments made to construction contractors since January 1, 1995.Revenue Canada will reevaluate the system in 1997.Although governments have made great strides to fight the underground economy, an aggressive policy to combat criminal activity (prostitution, drug trafficking, contraband activity) is still awaited, since this is where the largest amounts will be obtained.Réal Létourneau, CA, M.Fisc.Tax Department Raymond, Chabot, Martin, Paré General Partnership RAYMOND, CHABOT.MARTIN, PARÉ chartered accountants